Search Results

Will and how will the pandemic affect Hong Kong citizens’ outbound travel preferences and behaviors? How strong is the pent-up travel demand and how soon will people start travelling again? Will more people prefer travelling in groups to travelling individually after the pandemic? How acceptable are the COVID-19 testing and quarantine requirements to travellers and will they cut back on their travel budgets? To find out the answers, the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong (TIC) and TKS Exhibition Services Ltd (TKS), the organiser of the Hong Kong’s International Travel Expo (ITE) combining Leisure & MICE travels, have jointly conducted an online public survey from 30 April to 7 May 2021. The majority of the invitees to the survey are visitors to the public days of ITEs held in the past years. The response is most encouraging: 1,394 replies were received and almost half of them have arrived in the first two days! “We will share these very useful findings with our members, as well as our close business partners, such as the local/regional offices of the various national tourism organisations. We hope the information collected will facilitate their planning and preparation for the recovery,” Mrs Alice Chan, Executive Director of the TIC said. “We welcome the professional input from the TIC, particularly on the survey questions,” said Mr K S Tong, Managing Director of TKS, “and agree that it is now time to work together to speed up the recovery! ITE Hong Kong 2021, which has been rescheduled to 29 July to 1 August 2021 at the Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), will be one of the boosters.” Overall, the survey findings are positive. While those concerning “pent-up travel demand” (*1) are close to expectation, findings related to “travel budget” (*2) are happy surprises! The survey confirms that safety is a prime concern! Over three quarters of the respondents are willing to pay more for a safer journey (*3). Around 50% of the respondents consider quarantine both at destination and upon returning to Hong Kong unacceptable (*4a & 4b), which constitute a major deterrent to travel! Travellers are nevertheless more receptive to taking COVID-19 tests (*5) as over 70% of the respondents accept taking them at least once a week. It is important to note that travellers are much more concerned about travel restrictions and quarantine period and hygiene measures than price concession or flexible cancellation/ refund policies when selecting their destinations (*6)! Over 40% of the respondents consider that when restrictions are only partially lifted, it may be safer travelling in a group (*7). The majority of the respondents prefer travelling in smaller groups, with 40% opting for groups of 10 or less and 50% opting for groups of 11 to 20. (*8). The survey result shows that travellers from Hong Kong prefer destinations that are safer and closer to home (*9). The most popular destinations are Mainland China, Macau, Taiwan and Southeast Asia. It is likely that travellers, out of safety concerns, try to avoid visiting destinations which were comparatively more seriously affected by the pandemic and longer-haul flights at the early stage of recovery. As to the type of holiday preferred, over half of the respondents chose “Cuisine, Health, Shopping & Recreation”, followed by “In-depth travel” and “Family Fun / Visit”. It is noted that respondents who have participated in the survey represented mainly a mature, educated and middle-income group, with the majority of them being females (*11-*14). For enquiries about the survey, please contact the TIC at pr@tichk.org or TKS at info@tkshk.com. For enquiries about ITE Hong Kong, please contact TKS at travel@tkshk.com.

TIME Hotels, the UAE-headquartered hospitality company and hotel operator, is all set to reveal its plans to open eight new properties across the Middle East and the Indian Ocean, over the next 18 months. The properties, which will see the growth and launch of existing as well as new TIME Hotel brands to key territories throughout the region, will be unveiled during Arabian Travel Market 2021, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 16-19 May. Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels, said: “Our pipeline of hotels and residences will meet the demands of the ‘new normal’ - attracting overseas digital nomads and local visitors for staycations, as well as more traditional business and leisure segments by consistently offering a value-driven, high-quality experience across all of our branded properties. “We currently have 14 properties consisting of 1,465 keys in operation across the UAE and wider GCC with new additional properties opening this year in Dubai, Sharjah, Fujairah, Saudi Arabia and Egypt. In 2022, we are opening another property and our first hotel in Mauritius, the 120-key TIME Phoenix Hill. “Our goal is to expand our portfolio to 30 properties by 2025,” added Awadalla. This year, TIME Hotels will open three hotels in the UAE, the 91-key TIME Moonstone Hotel Apartments in Fujairah; the 99-key TIME Burj Al Saadah Hotel Apartments in Sharjah and the much awaited four-star, 232-room TIME Asma Hotel, in Al Barsha, Dubai. “Plans are in place for two floors of this hotel to be reserved exclusively for female travellers, with dedicated services, including: personalised room service, a female-only check-in counter, dedicated ladies-only guest relations, in-house baby-sitting services, and in-room tablets highlighting all of the services offered for women as well as enhanced bathroom amenities in each room,” said Awadalla. TIME has also been very active in Saudi Arabia and will shortly take over the management of two boutique hotels in Riyadh, the TIME Elite Suites in Al Muruj and the TIME Express Olaya Hotel in the Saudi capital’s upmarket Olaya district. TIME will also open its first two hotels in Egypt later this year – the five-star TIME Coral Resort Nuweiba in the Red Sea resort of Nuweiba and the four-star TIME Marina Hotel & Conference Centre near Al Alamein on the Mediterranean coast, which is being hailed as Egypt’s second capital. During a recent visit to check on the progress of the hotels, Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels commented: “Work is proceeding well at our TIME Marina Hotel and that property should be ready to open in August. As for the TIME Coral Resort, that hotel is already open and operating, so it is only a case of re-branding the hotel and opening under our management this summer. One additional TIME branded property will open next year bringing TIME’s overall portfolio to 22 properties by the end of 2022. The TIME brand will be making its debut on the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius next year, with the opening of the TIME Phoenix Hill. Located in Mauritius’ Cyber City of Ebene, the 120-key deluxe hotel apartment property comprises 11 floors featuring one, two and three-bedroom apartments, meeting rooms and café/lounge. Awadalla, concluded: “2020 was a very challenging year for hospitality, travel and tourism, right across the globe, but we are looking ahead at 2021 and beyond with great optimism. With so much pent-up demand as well as Expo 2020, we are looking forward to a very busy autumn and winter period.” TIME Hotels will be exhibiting on stand HC0625 during this year’s Arabian Travel Market.

DUBAI, 5 May 2021 – The successful face-to-face gathering of more than 370 delegates ahead of Expo 2020’s opening in October shows the next World Expo is set to become one of Dubai’s greatest success stories – a global experience that will demonstrate the emirate’s confidence, safety and openness to all visitors and further boost its thriving leisure and business tourism industries. Speaking after the two-day International Participants Meeting (IPM), which welcomed delegates from 173 of Expo’s 190-plus participating countries, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation and Director General, Expo 2020 Dubai and His Excellency Helal Saeed Al Marri, Director General of Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Director General of Dubai World Trade Centre Authority and member of the Expo 2020 Dubai Higher Committee praised Dubai’s confidence and vision and its unwavering commitment to host the next World Expo, with Expo and DTCM working closely to create an Expo that would excite and inspire visitors from all around the world. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, said: “Since the planning stages, we have worked hand-in-hand with DTCM to deliver an Expo that will attract visitors from across the planet and make Dubai and the UAE proud. As the world changed, we too have adapted, and thanks to our collaboration with DTCM, we have created an Expo that will delight and inspire explorers and entrepreneurs, children and grandparents, casual tourists and the curious who want to experience the future – now.” His Excellency Al Marri said: “Since inception, Dubai has exemplified what it means to succeed against all odds, rising with dignity and determination to become an economic engine and a vibrant hub for travellers from all over the world. Setting new benchmarks is engrained in our ethos, and to this end, we see Expo 2020 Dubai as a global pivot given where we all are today. “No one could have anticipated how COVID-19 would alter our realities so definitively, and yet, like the rest of the world, Dubai and Expo 2020 paused, reflected and persevered through unprecedented challenges, with our innate indomitable spirit, to re-emerge stronger and more optimistic for our collective future.” Implementing a phased economic reopening, Dubai began welcoming tourists once again in July 2020 – when the city’s first in-person, post-lockdown event was held – and has since remained open to the world, reinforcing the renewed need for global business and leisure travel. His Excellency added: “Dubai has successfully deployed its phased economic reopening that prioritised safety while minimising the impacts of the pandemic – an approach that sees us well-positioned to lead a post-pandemic recovery. As a thriving tourist destination and a global centre for the meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions (MICE) sector, we look forward to welcoming more of the world’s business and leisure travellers to Dubai over the coming months. “The new Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC), Expo 2020 Dubai, which hosted its inaugural event at the recent meeting of Expo’s international participants, will be a signature venue during Expo 2020 and through its legacy, providing new-age connectivity and networking opportunities for a global audience, catalysing industry, business and markets and driving economic growth in our region and the world.” Testament to Dubai’s future-focused strategies, Expo 2020 Dubai will galvanise the region’s thriving tourism and events industries, and DEC – a 45,000 sqm, state-of-the-art, multipurpose venue that is already 80 per cent booked for the duration of Expo – will play a fundamental role in attracting domestic, international and business travellers. A significant symbol of Expo’s long-term business and tourism legacy, DEC is among the permanent buildings that will be retained after Expo 2020 closes its doors, forming part of District 2020, a new urban innovation ecosystem and model global community of the future. Running from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 will coincide with the 50-year anniversary of the founding of the UAE, and highlight the country’s role as a global connecting hub for people, ideas and innovation. Visitors from across the globe are invited to join the making of a new world, as they discover life-changing innovations that will have a meaningful, positive impact on both people and planet.

Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, is the leading hotel from Barceló Hotel Group in United Arab Emirates and is the ideal destination for a once-in-a-lifetime family experience in a relaxing, magnificent and welcoming setting. Located in the iconic Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, the city of dreams, the luxury private beach hotel is the best choice for Indian travellers with its distinct cosmopolitan offerings and characteristics of a Royal Hideaway brand at Barceló Hotel Group. Offering elegance and exclusivity, Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel boasts a collection of 279 immaculate guestrooms and suites, 285 serviced apartments with stunning views of the Palm, Dubai Marina and the Arabian Gulf, 7 dynamic meeting rooms and banqueting spaces along with excellent facilities and compelling services. The property’s impressive restaurants, bars and lounges display tradition and innovation together,offering an extraordinary variety of global cuisines. As one of the top 5 North Indian restaurants in thecity, Khyber presents an intricate and rich North Indian palette of flavours to Dubai. The award-winning outlet with its roots originating from India is renowned for its breath-taking murals, ornatedetails and incomparable North Indian delicacies. Located on the 15th floor of the Hotel, guests aretransported into the heart of ‘olden day Mumbai’ through the authentic tastes, décor and soothingmusic. Guests can access the private beach providing magnificent panoramic views of The Palm Jumeirahand the stunning skyscrapers of the Dubai Marina. Enjoy a refreshing mocktail while lying on one ofthe sun loungers around the infinity pool. Families can have a relaxing ride on the Lazy River with aflowing current that allows you to float away and cool off. At Dukes The Palm, a Royal Hideaway Hotel, every stay brings special moments - the art of finemoments.

23 April, 2021, Kolkata/Jaipur (India): Shree Cement, one of India’s top cement manufacturers, is running its oxygen plants at 100 percent capacity to cater to the shortage of oxygen in the country. Shree Cement is continuing a steady supply of oxygen cylinders to hospitals across India from its production units in Rajasthan, Karnataka, Bihar, Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The plants are also providing free oxygen refills at all its units. While India’s massive vaccination program against Covid-19 to restore normalcy is currently on, the country has been hit by a second wave of more transmissible mutant variants of the Covid virus causing a sudden spike in the numbers of those affected. This has led to a shortage of oxygen in the hospitals. Covid-19 in its advanced stages leads to inflammation of lungs followed by Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, making it tough to breathe. These patients need oxygen support which is in short supply. The Shree Cement Management team, which has always put the safety and well-being of people above business, has pledged to maintain a steady supply of oxygen from all its units. Last year, the company constructed a dedicated ward for Covid patients in the Government Hospital of Pali district in Rajasthan. This centre is now operating as a critical care unit. The Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) team of Shree Cement has been working with women in the villages to get masks stitched, thereby providing them with a source of income in these hard times and also addressing the need for Covid safety protocols. The CSR team has also been creating awareness about Covid and provided medical support, ambulance etc., in remote villages adjoining the plants’ locations. Shree Cement Ltd (SCL) is one of India’s largest and fastest growing cement manufacturing groups. Shree Cement, which has plants in 10 states of India, acquired an overseas facility of Union Cement Company Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates. Shree Cement has achieved milestones and awards for innovative use of technology and meeting sustainable development goals. The company has been awarded among the Best Places to Work in Cement and Building Materials. Sector across the country and among 100 Best Places to Work for across all sectors by Great Places To Work Institute®, India.

DUBAI, 11 April 2021 – Expo 2020 Dubai has demonstrated that it is ready to fully open its doors to the world later this year, after safely and successfully welcoming more than 100,000 visitors to experience Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion. Running from 22 January until 10 April, the limited-time showcase was an opportunity for the UAE community to preview one of Expo 2020’s signature visitor experiences, providing a glimpse of what is to come when the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region welcomes visitors from around the world from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022. Marjan Faraidooni, Chief Experience Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai said: “As we continue to navigate this period of unprecedented change, we are delighted to have offered the UAE community the chance to preview the Sustainability Pavilion, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to bringing the world together and finding answers to our most pressing challenges. “Supported by our world-class partners, we have showcased our readiness to safely welcome the world and host a global event that not only excites and inspires, but also serves as a unique opportunity for humanity to come together in a spirit of optimism, hope and shared purpose.” Terra’s emotive visitor experience uncovers the hidden harmful impacts of our personal choices and seeks to empower all who visit to become agents of change, consider how their behaviour impacts the environment and break the cycle of consumerism. During the preview, a number of health and safety best practices – from social distancing and capacity controls to on-site rapid testing for staff and vendors – were incorporated across the site, aligned closely with the world’s leading medical authorities and scientific advice, to ensure the well-being of all involved. According to Expo 2020’s Pavilions Premiere Satisfaction Survey, guests ranked on-site health and safety precautions above eight on a scale of one to nine, highlighting Expo’s readiness to safely host the world when it opens its doors on 1 October. Visitors were similarly impressed with the service and cleanliness of Expo Rider, a dedicated, free of charge, public bus service that ferried visitors between Dubai Mall and Expo 2020 every 30 minutes. Following their visit to Terra, more than 90 per cent of those surveyed also said they were inspired to change their behaviour, from saving water to making a conscious effort to use less plastic. Throughout the three-month showcase, supported by Expo’s Official Partners and International Participants, Expo perfected a range of event-time systems and approaches to enhance and safeguard the visitor experience. Gerardo Canta, Senior Managing Director at Accenture in the Middle East, said: “As the Digital Services Partner and Systems Integrator of Expo 2020, Accenture played an important role in delivering a safe, secure and successful preview of Terra. Alongside Etisalat Digital, Accenture applied best-in-class systems and combined multiple Expo 2020 technologies to create an intelligent, integrated and seamless visitor experience, such as managing the digital services for the onboarding and accreditation of volunteers, contractors, and staff members and providing Expo’s on-ground teams with 360-degree visibility through smart operation platforms.” Shukri Eid, Managing Director, Cisco Gulf region, said: “During this special preview, we witnessed a great deal of public interest in what Expo 2020 has to offer, and our collective responsibility to look after the planet. Having the right technological infrastructure ready in time for the opening proved crucial, enabling interactive and educational visitor experiences to take place.” Dr Ahmed Bin Ali, Group Senior Vice President, Corporate Communication, Etisalat, said: “As the Official Telecommunications and Digital Services Premier Partner of Expo 2020 Dubai, Etisalat is proud to have supported Pavilions Premiere and the debut of Terra – The Sustainability Pavilion. We delivered state-of-art telecommunications and digital services with highly redundant Wi-Fi and 5G connectivity, providing a superior visitor experience thanks to the fastest network on earth. We are looking forward to when the doors open to one of the most inclusive and digitally advanced World Expos ever held, gathering visitors from around the globe to witness history in the making with this unique celebration.” Khalid Elgibali, Division President, Middle East and North Africa, Mastercard, said: “As the Official Payment Technology Partner of Expo 2020, we continue to collaborate with Expo to set the stage for connecting and inspiring millions of people – reimagining the future through collaboration, human-centric solutions, and inclusivity. The successful conclusion of this special preview is a testament to the extraordinary efforts of the Expo 2020 team in harnessing the power and endless possibilities of collaboration and technology. We commend everyone involved for the seamless way they ensured public safety, while offering a host of initiatives to captivate and inspire.” Sergio Maccotta, SAP SVP Middle East South, said:“We are proud to partner with Expo 2020 to present Terra, with retailers and food-and-beverage vendors integrating their points of sale with SAP’s Customer Checkout and S/4HANA solutions. I had the opportunity to see how organisers and vendors could seamlessly integrate their sales and financial data for real-time decision-making – ensuring fast and secure payments for visitors and better insights for vendors on their customers and products.” Helmut von Struve, CEO of Siemens in the UAE and the Middle East, said: “Expo 2020 is a prime example for what can be achieved through partnerships. By leveraging technology with purpose, together we were able to deliver an urban environment that’s smarter, more sustainable and more resilient. We see Expo 2020 as a blueprint for future smart cities and are proud that it will live on as one of Dubai’s major urban clusters for decades to come.” Anurag Agrawal, Managing Director, Canon Middle East and Turkey, said: "As the first single official printing and imaging provider for any Expo, we are extremely proud to be part of Expo 2020 and contributing not only to reimagining the visitor experience, but also enhancing security measures. With cyber-security being of paramount importance at Expo 2020, our robust hardware and cyber-secure networks and procedures ensured that all participants felt safe, secure and confident that their information was protected throughout the entire printing and imaging process. We commend all Partners, organisers and the entire Expo 2020 team on a tremendously successful special preview." Ali Bahlooq, General Manager, Esharah Etisalat Security Solutions, said: “As a leading systems integrator, we are honoured to be the Official Secure Systems Provider of Expo 2020, which will undoubtedly prove an extraordinary occasion for the world. We are proud that the state-of-the-art telecommunications infrastructure and end-user devices – supporting volunteers, security staff and first responders across Expo – ensured a safe and secure experience for everyone involved.” Expo 2020 Dubai will run from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, inviting visitors from every corner of the globe to join the making of a new world, as they discover life-changing innovations that will have a meaningful, positive impact on both people and planet.

Bangkok, Thailand – April 12, 2021 – VNU Asia Pacific, the organizer of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL, is ready to kick off the roadmap for 2021 show promotion and confirm the organization of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL, Southeast Asia’s leading exhibition and conference on Analytical Laboratory Technologies, Life Sciences, and Biotechnology Innovations (the 11th edition). The trade show will take place during September 1–3, 2021 at BITEC, Bangkok together with Bio Asia Pacific, the new leading conference and exhibition platform for Biotechnology, Life Sciences and Smart Health in Asia Pacific. VNU Asia Pacific, together with Science and Technology Trade Association (STTA), Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS) and more related partners from both government and private sectors, are collaborating to develop the trade show to serve the laboratory industry for the Southeast-Asia region. Turn Crisis into Opportunity for Success Even during the challenges generated by the COVID-19 pandemic last year, Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL still continued with the impressive success we expected. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL, along with Bio Asia Pacific 2020, concluded with 109 exhibiting companies and 8,067 trade visitors. 65% of total trade visitors were physical visitors while 35% were virtual. We had 47 physical conferences and 47 purely virtual conferences, plus 38 hybrid conferences (physical with live streamed content at YouTube LIVE). We had 328 successful virtual meetings over the course of three days. The main attraction of the exhibition hall, called “Bio Square,” featured the grandiose Opening Ceremony of the shows, including networking functions, start-up pitching, panel discussions, and thoughtful leadership. Following its success last year, ‘Bio Square’ will once again appear as the show’s highlight, with a further developed format to increase interest. In 2021, the show will focus more on the international attendee and also target local people who are interested in attending our show in-person or via virtual / online platforms, whether the travel restrictions remain or not, meeting the organizer’s mission to create an interaction platform for trading, knowledge sharing, research and increased business opportunities for the industry. “From last year, we have learned to adjust ourselves to the “New Normal” that we are in by promoting the usage of virtual exhibition platforms, online business matching systems, instant video calls, live streaming, and live broadcasting to respond to the changing needs of our customers. We have decided to focus more on local participants this year, and it was still a success because even though the number was relatively lower, the exhibitors were very satisfied with the quality of trade visitors,” stated Mr. Anucha Parnpichate, Project Manager of Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL. “However, we are also monitoring the COVID-19 pandemic situation and have prepared a response plan and are prepared for every situation that may arise in the future. Our goal is to try to stimulate the market, increase the opportunities for business match-making and maintain the investment stages for the laboratory market. In 2021, the show will present more on the new technology, innovation, MedTech, Bio Tech, Med Tech and Digital Health. Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL & Bio Asia Pacific will open for registration from 1 May 2021 onwards.” Insight market information on the webinar series Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, the common routines of people around the globe have been impacted, as well as global economic stability. The virus continues to evolve and disrupt. The best solution to the pandemic is to understand the cause of the disease, the spread of infection and how it can be prevented, as well as keep up to date with the progress of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in your country. This upcoming September, the organizer proudly presents the laboratory webinar series which also covers topics such as as surgical mask testing or controversial areas like cannabis in lab testing and more. The first webinar will start on May 20, 2021 and is on the topic “Surgical Mask Testing” by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Panich Intra, Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna, Thailand. The content will be divided into three parts including Quality of Face Mask: Testing, Regulation and Standard, Insight Interview with our keynote speaker for the journey of the mask testing institute, and end with a LAB Visit at the Research Unit of Electrostatic Applications in Energy and Environment. The webinar will be conducted in Thai only. If you are interested in attending, please register at https://forms.gle/YRxRQXmoWYYgggun7 Save the date: Thailand LAB INTERNATIONAL & Bio Asia Pacific showcases during September 1–3, 2021 at BITEC, Bangkok. For more information, please visit www.thailandlab.com and / or www.bioasiapacific.com Tel. +662 1116611 Ext. 240-243 / Email: thailandlab@vnuasiapacific.com or you can follow our social media via our Facebook page, Twitter, LinkedIn and Line Official.

Berlin/Mumbai, 9 April 2021 – With more than 400 buyers from MICE, Corporate and Leisure sectors, 150 international sponsors and exhibitors, the inaugural ITB India closes with a resounding success. ITB India Virtual 2021 took place as an entirely virtual event, hosted on ITB Community in Asia (ITB Community). With its virtual show floor, video streaming of keynotes and speeches and intelligent matchmaking tools, the platform offered the best opportunities for successful trade show results. Katrina Leung, Managing Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore): “We are very pleased that the first ever ITB India has been so well received by the travel industry. Even though we can’t meet in person in these challenging times, it is even more important to build the bridge to the Indian and South Asian travel markets and provide a virtual meeting place where the global community can come together and exchange ideas in order to rebuild travel.” Over 60-session conference led by 80+ top speakers “Rebuilding travel” was the theme of ITB India’s conference. The programme was specially curated to help reboot the Indian and South Asian travel industry through effective strategies for business sustainability. Industry heavyweights from India and international markets such as Airbnb, Amadeus, Booking.com, CWT, FCM Travel, Hilton, KAYAK, OYO, SAP Concur, SITE – Society of Incentive Travel Excellence, SOTC Travel, Thomas Cook India, Twitter and Yatra.com shed light on ways to build a more resilient travel industry moving forward through innovative solutions. The conference included over 60 sessions with more than 80 speakers and topics ranging from MICE, corporate, leisure and travel technology. 150 international sponsors and exhibitors at ITB India Virtual Next to ITB India’s conference, exhibitors like Belarus National Tourism Agency, German National Tourist Office, Israel Ministry of Tourism, Korea Tourism Organization, Visit Portugal, Zagreb Tourist Board and many more destinations showcased an array of current tourism offerings and destination highlights. This year, special focus was on Saudi, ITB India’s Official Partner Country. The Saudi Tourism Authority is building a global community dedicated to driving awareness of Saudi as a unique tourism destination offering authentic Arabian experiences to cultural explorers from around the world. ITB India’s platform not only offered exhibitors digital exhibition booths but also various opportunities for matchmaking and virtual business meetings. In three days, 9,500 online business appointments have been recorded. ITB India 2022 to take place as a live event The next ITB India will take place as a live event in Mumbai from 4 to 6 April 2022. ITB India 2022 is set to bring back the much-desired human connection and to facilitate face-to-face business meetings and networking. Exhibitors will benefit from reduced rebooking rates and early bird specials starting from USD 3,060 per 9sqm. Every physical booth confirmed will enjoy complimentary virtual benefits for extra branding opportunities. Find more information on http://bit.ly/ITBI2022SalesFlyer.

The 40th ASEAN Tourism Forum was scheduled to take place in Phnom Penh from January 16 to 22, 2021, but was postponed until early 2022 due to the COVID-19 global health crisis.This annual event brings together all ten ASEAN Member States' tourism industries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The hosting of the ATF is rotated among the member countries each year. The ASEAN Tourism Forum, established in 1981, is a cooperative regional initiative to promote the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) as a single tourist destination in Asia. This annual event brings together all ten ASEAN Member States' tourism industries: Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam. The hosting of the ATF is rotated among the member countries each year. In the notification on theme "ASEAN --A Community of Peace and Shared Future" by The NATION RELIGION KING, KINGDOM OF CAMBODIA is attached below.

Singapore – Scoot has been awarded the Diamond status in the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying global audit of airlines, becoming the first low-cost carrier (LCC) in the world to be accorded this highest attainable standard. The audit was jointly conducted by the Airline Passenger Experience Association (APEX), one of the world’s largest international airline associations, and aviation strategy firm SimpliFlying. Assessing the health safety measures adopted by Scoot in response to the Covid-19 pandemic against a 58-point checklist across 10 stages of the customer journey, the review spanned check-in and other pre-departure processes, inflight measures as well as postflight. Only airlines that reach hospital-grade standards of health and safety, scoring at least 200 points above the baseline Gold standard, are awarded the Diamond status. The standards are based on independently verified, validated, and certified airline health safety measures. Campbell Wilson, Scoot’s CEO, said, “Scoot is committed to providing customers with the highest level of confidence when they travel. Since the start of Covid-19, we have enhanced procedures and implemented measures across the customer journey, ranging from increased cleaning and distancing, deploying contactless check-in1 and inflight ordering, and trialling of digital pre-departure test verification tools amongst other initiatives. Scoot is proud to be the world’s first LCC to receive the highest Diamond status, and we’re heartened by this affirmation of our efforts to safeguard the health and safety of our customers and staff.” “Scoot’s leading steps for health safety including safe distancing measures in place across the customer journey and provision of care kits demonstrate the highest level of passenger care,” APEX CEO Dr. Joe Leader stated. “For the dozens of customer-centric steps taken in the care of travellers, we are honoured to award Scoot the Diamond status of the APEX Health Safety powered by SimpliFlying.” "Scoot has raised the bar for health and safety among LCCs by being the first LCC in the world to certify for a Diamond standard. Measures such as vaccinating all front-facing staff, adjusting its onboard services to a contactless one that can be accessed from one’s personal devices, and coming up with a 24/7 running Covid-19 risk assessment framework make the airline stand out among others," said SimpliFlying CEO Shashank Nigam. "Taking these above and beyond measures in ensuring health safety will help Scoot bolster trust among travellers," he added. In an airline safety rating by Airline Ratings, an international airline safety and product rating review website, Scoot also scored a full seven stars in both safety and Covid-19 compliance. The safety rating system considers factors such as the airline’s fatality and incident records, audits from aviation governing bodies and leading associations, as well as the airline’s compliance with international Covid-19 standards. For more information on Scoot’s health and safety measures, kindly refer to Annex

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted various aspects of our lives taking a toll on physical health and mental well-being for many. April 7th, celebrated as World Health Day, is a good time to get back on the health bandwagon. To help you with this, India’s leading nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar has some powerful tips for you. In her audiobook, “Secrets of Good Health with Rujuta Diwekar'' available on Audible, she guides her listeners to follow a path of sustainable and healthy living with simple advice delivered in conversational Hinglish. 1. Kickstart your day with fruit and soaked dry fruits: To stay energized through the day, it is important to start your day right. Rujuta recommends that you begin your day with either a fruit or soaked almonds or soaked raisin with 2 saffron strands for improved health in the long run! 2. Never set a weight loss goal: She stresses that one of the most useless things in life is to set a weight loss goal. Instead one should aim to reduce stress, ignorance and lack of education about health and fitness. Rujuta says body weight is not an indicator of fatness or fitness, it only shows what’s the relationship between Earth’s gravitational force with your body mass! So if we want to be healthy and beautiful it’s necessary to understand that good health has nothing to do with body weight, rather one should commit to healthy habits like exercise, good sleep and eating right! 3. Eat food that’s produced locally: Rujuta suggests that you always opt for local food, which is available close to you; at least within 100 kms and choose food that is ecological and economical. She emphasizes on eating seasonal food; For example during summer - watery fruits including watermelon or grains like ragi, and more. Her war cry? “Traditional food khaiye, cultural food khaiye.” 4. Ghee for a healthy me: Rujuta forever busts the “ghee will make me fat” myth! She says a teaspoon of ghee in every meal including lunch, dinner and breakfast. helps in providing fat-soluble vitamins like Vitamin D, A, E, K to the body! Ghee to dissolve fat? Wow! 5. Keep those gadgets away and reduce your screen time: An ongoing issue, especially during the pandemic, screen time is something that we all need to be mindful of. Rujuta urges listeners to keep mobile phones or any other gadgets away while having a meal. 6. Exercise for good health and mood: Like food, exercise is important too. Rujuta says, “If you have a body, you have to exercise.” As per Rujuta, exercise has four pillars: Strength, Stamina, Stability and Stretching. She further adds “At least 30 min of exercise or 3 hours a week is necessary for everybody.” Always remember to do a warm-up followed by a high-intensity workout and then other exercises and end with a cool down. “No drug is as powerful as exercise”. 7. Eat well and good sleep for full recovery: Rujuta’s mantra for good health is to follow exercise with recovery. A good night’s sleep ensures that your body recovers. Her tips for sound sleep include Eating wholesome food, like a banana, between 4 PM-6 PM, reducing stress, and having dinner by 8 PM for a peaceful sleep. As per Rujuta, rice (local and hand pounded/single polished rice) and anti-inflammatory drinks like turmeric milk (with 2 cashews, a pinch of jaifal and 2-3 kesar strands) are also recommended for a sound sleep.

Dubai, UAE - 31 March 2021: IPL franchise Rajasthan Royals today announced an exciting partnership with Expo 2020 Dubai for the upcoming 14th season of the Indian Premier League (IPL). Taking place from 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 will welcome more than 190 nations and millions of people from across the globe to Dubai, UAE. For 182 visually striking, intellectually enlightening and emotionally inspiring days, visitors will experience a dynamic and diverse program, including innovation, culture, art, food, music and sport from every corner of the planet. As part of the association, Expo 2020 Dubai will appear on the front of the Rajasthan Royals' jersey as Principal Sponsor, helping to spread the Expo 2020 message to millions of cricket fans all over the world, with exactly six months until the event opens its doors. The first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Expo 2020 Dubai will be a global experience bringing together people, communities and nations to build bridges, inspire action and deliver real-life solutions to real-life challenges. With shared beliefs of innovation, collaboration and optimism for the future, the partnership reiterates Rajasthan Royals’ commitment to act as a vehicle for change, with a track record of providing opportunitiesto young individuals to create brighter futures for themselves. Jake Lush McCrum, Chief Operating Officer, Rajasthan Royals, said: "We are delighted to welcome Expo 2020 as our principal sponsor for this upcoming season. At the Royals we are driven by our ambition to impact society through cricket and this partnership with Expo 2020 is another exciting step on that journey. To support this incredible event in bringing together some of the brightest and most inquisitive minds to seek solutions to the world’s greatest challenges, is something that resonates extremely strongly with us. We hope this partnership will excite, inspire and bring many long-lasting positive relationships to benefit society more broadly.” The Royals’ team, under Director of Cricket Kumar Sangakkara (Sri Lanka) and the leadership of Captain Sanju Samson (India), and including renowned international stars Ben Stokes (England), Chris Morris (South Africa) and Jos Buttler (England), proves to be an ideal global brand to complement Expo 2020 Dubai’s vision. Sholto Douglas-Home, Chief Sales and Marcomms Officer, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: “Year after year, the IPL and the Rajasthan Royals unite the world with one of the most entertaining sporting events. Combined with the club’s commitment to a range of social development programs, this makes the partnership an ideal match with Expo 2020 Dubai’s vision of bringing people and communities together. The international reach of the tournament is a powerful vehicle for increasing awareness of Expo 2020 Dubai as we count down to our opening on 1 October.” The IPL broke viewership records during the 2020 season, with over 550 million viewers, and millions of cricket fans from around the world are expected to watch and support teams in the IPL this season. India is a key visitation market for Expo 2020 Dubai and will feature a dedicated India Pavilion.

Hong Kong leads the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 list with 11 entries and The Chairman becoming the first Hong Kong restaurant to win top spot. Launched in 2009, the Cantonese restaurant in Central is renowned for its authentic, ingredients-driven cuisine. It won both coveted titles – The Best Restaurant in Asia and The Best Restaurant in China. Held virtually before a global audience on 25 March, the Asia’s 50 Best Restaurants 2021 awards ceremony also announced other Hong Kong restaurants that made the list, including newcomer Mono (No.44), as well as re-entries Caprice (No.28) and Ta Vie (No.38). Vea (No.16) doubled as this year’s recipient of the Gin Mare Art of Hospitality Award. “This announcement marks a fruitful year for Hong Kong’s thriving dining scene, reflecting the rich diversity of local and international cuisines and admirable trove of culinary talent in the city,” said Mr Dane Cheng, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB). “It takes both passion and a strong, progressive entrepreneurial spirit to succeed in Hong Kong’s competitive restaurant industry. So my heartfelt congratulations to all the winning restaurants and sincere appreciation for all the effort they have put into making Hong Kong one of the world’s top food destinations.” Hong Kong is also represented by Neighborhood (No.17), Belon (No.25), 8½ Otto e Mezzo Bombana (No.33), Amber (No.37), Lung King Heen (No.47) and Seventh Son (No.48). For the full list, please visit www.theworlds50best.com/asia/en/list/1-50.

India, 25 March 2021 – Airbus has launched a travel companion app called “Tripset”. The application aggregates and provides flight and travel information to ease and restore passenger’s trust in their end-to-end journey when traveling by air during the COVID-19 pandemic. Tripset allows for passengers to be informed with the latest and most relevant travel conditions, restrictions and health requirements in place, without having to consult a variety of sources. Continuously evolving travel restrictions around the world can make the passenger’s journey challenging. Therefore, based on its award-winning iflyA380 app architecture and experience, Airbus is introducing a travel companion application to provide the flying public with up-to-date, real-time information in order to ensure a healthy, safe and smooth end-to-end trip. With two interfaces, enabling passengers to know both currently available flights and the destinations to which they can fly, Tripset is airport-, aircraft- and airline-agnostic. Once a ticket has been purchased, the app also provides passengers with information on what to expect at their departure and arrival destinations. Tripset is part of Airbus’ continuing commitment, alongside airlines, industry partners and regulatory agencies, to encourage the flying public to keep trust in air travel, supporting the safe and well-coordinated return to flight, which is essential for economic recovery from COVID-19. Tripset is free for download on Android / iOS from your regular AppStore.

With pandemics in better control and vaccinations started, Hong Kong now more ready to reopen borders, which many been calling so as to speedily revive the economy and meet pent-up travel demand! In fact, the call to reopen borders echo in many parts of the World. Hong Kong’s daily total of new case been dropping from lower triple digits in last November to double digits in January. In February, about half of the days saw daily total lower than 20 while in other days the daily new case mostly range between 20 and 40; and vaccination started with now two types of vaccine available. Into March, there are more days with daily new cases in single digit. On March 17, Hong Kong Chief Executive revealed in the Legislative Council efforts to lobby the mainland to waive some parts of its inbound restrictions for vaccinated Hong Kong citizens. In Hong Kong, there exist strong pent-up travel demand once restrictions lifted, revealed in a series of survey last year on ITE’s public and trade visitors! An online survey in late January this year with over 1700 replies from Hong Kong travel agents and hotels found around 20% respondents think it possible to resume cross border travel within 6 months (July this year) with mainland China cities. ITE 2021 goes Hybrid & Safety Measures in Fairground In short, good chance successfully holding ITE Hong Kong 2021, but for a wider safety margin and more time for preparations its date moves from June to July 29 – August 1. Preparations include, for examples, installing health and safety measures in the fairground; and activating online platform for not only for pre and post show online meetings but also as contingency during ITE just in case then some borders still remain closed. Based on bookings in May and June last year, ITE2021 will use 3 halls, namely Halls 1A, B and C of HKCEC, instead of 5 in a normal year! ITE well covers the Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (the Bay) comprises the two Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macao, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and 7 other municipalities in Guangdong Province. The Bay has over 72 million people but total number of confirmed cases fewer than 14,000! At the end of 2019, the Bay has a combined GDP of USD 1,679.5 billion and per capita GDP at USD 23,371. Thus, the Bay is a large and relatively safe source market. The annual ITE, which is Hong Kong’s only travel fair, has in its 2 trade days some 11000 buyers and trade visitors of whom over 60% from Hong Kong and 20% from other cities in the Bay; and around 85% of its some 75000 visitors in the 2 public days are FIT. That ITE 2021 eligible for government subsidy means exhibitors, foreign and local included, can enjoy substantial discount on space rental. (Details of our online platform, safety measures, profiles of visitors and market reports available at www.itehk.com) Worldwide, efforts to launch Vaccine Passport & Reviving Tourism In a move described by some foreign media as a first step to a global health passport for international travel, China on March 8 launch online application for Health Certificate! March 15, China’s embassies in Philippines, USA, Japan, Pakistan, Israel, Thailand and Gabon streamline visa procedure for foreigners inoculated with Chinese vaccine who visit China for business or humanitarian reason. This applies also to foreigners living in Hong Kong. IATA, the International Air Transport Association launches a Travel Pass mobile app which from March 15 Singapore Airline will use in some routes while 30 other airlines will start trial in the coming 2 months. IATA, in media interview this month, project personal and leisure travel will return from the second half of this year and tourists hungry to be free again. EU leaders agreed in a virtual summit on Feb 25 to launch vaccine passport on or before coming summer to help tourism industry to recover. In fact, the European Travel Commission, which conducted “Monitoring Sentiment for Domestic and Intra-European Travel” in last November and December, found growing interest to travel. The December survey found 52% of the European respondents plan to travel within the coming 6 months, which is 5% higher than that in November. From March 25, Seychelles will reopen to tourists with negative PCR test result. Thailand consider start selling inbound tour package in April, and from Oct 1, Thai resort islands of Phuket and Koh Samui will admit vaccinated foreign tourists without or with limited quarantine. Indonesia will form reciprocal travel corridor with countries with successful vaccination program, thus foreign visitors may visit Bali in June. Meanwhile, UK re-opening border as early as in May, and Greece on May 14. First held over 30 years ago, ITE Hong Kong is organized by TKS Exhibition Services Ltd. and enjoys strong support from China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, with Hong Kong Tourism Board, Macau Government Tourist Office, Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong and MICE trade associations etc. as Supporter! Highly international, 675 exhibitors in 2019 came from 56 countries and regions from Asia, Europe, the Americas and Oceania, and Africa; and 87.5% exhibitors from outside Hong Kong. Also, around half of the exhibiting countries and regions from outside Asia. ITE has separate days, admission policy, programs and promotions for its travel trade, MICE and FIT visitors. ITE’s B2B program include Concurrent Trade Forum, 25 to 30 seminars for travel trade and MICE, and Business Matching where sellers and buyers make quick dating. Also, exhibitor can rent purpose built seminar room inside exhibition halls to conduct its own business events, and the organizer will provide free promotion to get trade visitors to pre-register online. ITE draws in public days quality FIT who are well educated as over 40% of them with university while another 20% post-secondary education; travel enthusiasts with 13% having 6 or more oversea holidays in past year, 47% having 3 to 5 holidays and 37% having 1 to 2 holidays. Their two main purposes of visiting ITE are to plan and book holidays, and they fill up many of our some 100 travel seminars held in the public days. In short, ITE provides to the international travel trade a one-stop shopping platform covering the Asian travel trade mainly from Hong Kong and mainland China, MICE and quality FIT. For details, enquiry and space / booth booking etc., please visit www.itehk.com or contact TKS via Email: travel@tkshk.com | Wechat: ite-hongkong | Tel: +852 31550600.

Berlin/Mumbai, 24 March 2021 – The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) and ITB India have announced Saudi as the Official Partner Country of ITB India 2021. The inaugural ITB India Virtual Event, being held on 7 - 9 April 2021, is an annual B2B trade show and conference specifically curated to build a bridge to the Indian and South Asian travel market. STA is responsible for raising awareness of Saudi, the authentic home of Arabia, as a destination. The organization is focused on developing partnerships with travel trade partners around the world, to expand the reach of Saudi’s tourism offer and to drive conversion in key source markets. “The Saudi Tourism Authority is building a global community dedicated to driving awareness of Saudi as a unique tourism destination offering authentic Arabian experiences to cultural explorers from around the world,” said Fahd Hamidaddin, Chief Executive Officer of STA. “The destination’s wealth of heritage sites, its dynamic urban centers and the warm hospitality of the Saudi people make it a compelling destination for travelers seeking the new, unexpected stories that make a journey truly memorable.” As the Official Partner Country of ITB India, Saudi Tourism Authority will showcase an array of current tourism offerings and destination highlights as well as the exciting new developments on the horizon. Tourism is a strategic industry for the future of Saudi Arabian and the country is the world’s largest investor in sustainable tourism infrastructure and offerings. Projects such as the Red Sea and Amaala are setting new global standards in the development and management of tourism in harmony with the natural world. And new sites like AlUla and Diriyah are offering visitors a hitherto unexplored insight into the rich cultural history of Arabia. “Saudi offers Indian travelers a unique experience, grounded in Saudi hospitality and redolent of Arabian mystery,” said Fahd Hamidaddin. “Our partnership with ITB India is an important part of our long-term objective to engage, inspire, invite and delight Indian travelers to Saudi.” ITB India attendees will have an opportunity to visit Saudi Tourism Authority’s digital exhibition booth and arrange one-on-one meetings with STA representatives to learn more about the destination. For further enquiries, please reach out to info@messe-berlin.asia or contact us at +65 6635 1188.

DUBAI, 23 March 2021 – Urgent action must be taken to ensure clean, safe water for all, and the world needs to work together to ensure this finite life-sustaining resource – the lifeblood of our civilisations, economies and communities – is preserved for future generations. That was the call from global experts attending Expo Talks: Water, a virtual event held by Expo 2020 Dubai, in association with the Office of the UAE Minister of State for Food and Water Security, that gathered experts from across the planet, including His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, Head of State of the Principality of Monaco, to seek collaborative solutions to better preserve and sustainably manage water globally. Taking place one day after World Water Day, Expo Talks: Water, available on demand, explored the myriad ways in which water touches every aspect of human development, links with most of the Sustainable Development Goals and is essential to our hopes of a safe, clean and healthy future for people and planet. Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation, Director General of Expo 2020 Dubai and Chair of the National Committee on the Sustainable Development Goals, said: “There is an urgency to our looming global water crisis, and this is not only an economic challenge, but a question of justice, fairness and equity. How will we guarantee everyone access to this life-sustaining resource – no matter their place in the world? If we all commit to this shared global responsibility, the solutions lie within our grasp.” Her Excellency Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, UAE Minister of State for Food and Water Security, said: “We are living at a time when the ability of global communities around the world to access fresh water is increasingly under threat. Climate change is driving a shift in weather patterns that is resulting in increased droughts, more extreme weather events and rising desertification. The UAE knows only too well the pressures from having a lack of fresh water. However, we have been able to show the world what is possible with the application of innovation and technology. “Water security forms a nexus with energy and food security, with any action in one having a reaction in the other two. That is why we need to tackle water security as part of a holistic effort. Expo 2020 represents the ideal forum for the world to discuss this issue and showcase inspiring new ideas, enabling us to create a synergistic effect – but we must act now if we are to affect meaningful change.” Expo Talks: Water spanned topics from sanitation to food security and conservation to clean oceans, featuring experts from around the world, including pioneering oceanographer Dr Sylvia Earle, former Chief Scientist of the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, who addressed the need to protect the world’s oceans. “Healthy people need healthy water, and so do all other living things,” Dr Earle said. “We must protect the waters of the world as if our lives depend on it, because they do.” The event also spotlighted projects already supported by Expo 2020 through its global innovation and partnership programme, Expo Live, and via the Global Best Practice Programme (GBPP). These include the Nimr Water Treatment Plant – a sustainable constructed wetland that treats oil-contaminated water ecologically and has transformed arid desert into a resilient eco-system. As a professional services and technical solutions provider, Jacobs – part of the Jacobs Mace joint venture serving as Expo 2020’s Official Programme Delivery Management Provider – shares pioneering work with the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium. Jacobs provided design and engineering services to deliver the Seawater Energy and Agriculture System (SEAS) in the UAE – the world’s first bioenergy facility to produce aviation fuel and food using saltwater and maximising the desert ecosystem. International Participants – including Hungary, Panama, Peru and Portugal – shared their strategies for ensuring their communities have access to safe and affordable water and sanitation. Norway, whose pavilion at Expo will focus on ocean conservation and country’s seafaring heritage, brought together a panel of scientists, ocean advocates and policy-makers to discuss how protecting the ocean from climate change, overfishing and pollution is key to solving many other issues facing the world. A World Majlis session looked at the increasing threat to our oceans from climate change, and collected experts and thought-leaders, including Expo Partners DP World and DEWA, to probe how we can turn the tide of water pollution, including innovative economic and policy initiatives. Attendees were also given a glimpse of ‘Hammour House’, Expo 2020’s unique community art project that uses marine debris and is designed to raise awareness of ocean pollution and promote marine conservation. Expo Talks: Water was the tenth and final in the series thematic talks – launched in October 2020 with Space – that have brought together influential policy-makers, thought-leaders, Expo participants and the public to help shape the thought-provoking content and conversations taking place during Expo 2020. Running from 1 October 2021 until 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai will seek collaborative solutions to the world’s most pressing problems – including weeks dedicated to Climate and Biodiversity, Knowledge and Learning, and Water – to help build a cleaner, safer and healthier future for all.

DUBAI, 14 March 2021 – Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion is already inspiring action towards a cleaner, safer, healthier world, with 96 per cent of people who have visited the Expo 2020 Pavilions Premiere so far saying the experience has motivated them to change their behaviour. Since launching at the end of January, the Pavilions Premiere has offered more than 50,000 visitors an exciting glimpse at the Sustainability Pavilion’s world-class architecture, its inspiring exhibits and the stunning surrounding areas ahead of Expo’s official opening on 1 October. The experience includes an interactive walk through the roots of a forest and a journey of discovery into the depths of the ocean, and urges visitors to consider how their actions and consumerism impact the planet. Following their visit, 96 per cent of those surveyed said they were inspired to change their behaviour, from saving water to making a conscious effort to use less plastic. Mohamed AlAnsaari, Vice President, Communications, Expo 2020 said: “We have been truly humbled by the public’s response to the Expo Pavilions Premiere and Terra – the Sustainability Pavilion. From the outset, our ambition for Expo 2020 has been to offer an exceptional – and meaningful – visitor experience, and the feedback that we have received from people of all ages and nationalities has clearly demonstrated that we are on track to do just that.” “We are continuing to see high levels of demand for the Terra sneak preview and with just under one month to go until the Expo Pavilions Premiere closes as planned on 10 April, we have made the decision to keep the surprise of the incredible Alif – the Mobility Pavilion and the inspiring Mission Possible – the Opportunity Pavilion for the opening of the Expo itself, which is now just over six months away.” Rolando Martins, Chief Operations Officer, Expo 2020 said: “Delivering a safe and seamless experience for every kind of visitor has always been our highest priority and the global health challenges of the last year have put this into even sharper focus.” “From our online ticketing platform, to signage and wayfinding, parking and security, the Pavilions Premiere has enabled us to put our processes into practice. More than 650 Expo staff have worked over 320 operational hours to date, including 150 volunteers of more than 50 nationalities, ensuring that every member of our workforce is equipped with the skills and knowledge required to deliver an event of this scale and significance.” From social distancing and capacity control to on-site rapid testing for staff and vendors, the Pavilions Premiere has included a number of best practices to safeguard the health and well-being of everyone involved. Expo will continue to work closely with the world’s leading medical authorities and monitor the latest science and data to deliver a safe and exciting visitor experience at Expo 2020 Dubai. The Pavilions Premiere will remain open until 10 April, with visitors able to explore the Sustainability Pavilion and surrounding areas, enjoy entertainment and children’s activities and discover a range of F&B and retail outlets. Tickets, which must be pre-booked through the Expo website, cost AED 25 and are complimentary for visitors aged five and under, senior citizens and people of determination. As well as private vehicle and taxi, Expo 2020 can be reached by the Expo Rider – a dedicated, free of charge, public bus service departing from Dubai Mall bus station every 30 minutes. About Expo 2020 Dubai From 1 October 2021 to 31 March 2022, Expo 2020 Dubai will bring the world together in a spirit of hope and optimism and with a shared purpose towards solving some of our greatest challenges. It will showcase the greatest innovations, breakthroughs and ideas from around the planet, enabling action towards a better world under its theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ Expo 2020 will be an endless journey of discovery as more than 200 participants – including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses, and educational institutions, as well as millions of visitors – harness their collective power to change the world for the better Expo 2020’s sub-themes of Opportunity, Mobility and Sustainability will inspire visitors to make a conscious effort to think and live differently An entertaining global celebration with something for everyone, Expo 2020 will wow visitors with daily events, showcasing the best of technology, creativity and culture, while F&B outlets will feature cuisine from around the world The first World Expo to take place in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA), located on a 4.38 sqkm site adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South Built with a long-term legacy in mind, the Expo site is an example of innovation in action and will transform into District 2020, a blueprint for human-centric, smart and sustainable cities of the future, after Expo 2020 closes its doors

Barceló Hotel Group (BHG), the leading international hotel chain with over 250 properties, including 4 and 5-star urban and holiday hotels, spread across 22 countries, has signed up with 2HUB Reps as its Sales and Marketing representation partner in India for UAE properties. As part of its development strategy in GCC and other Asian markets, the group aims at strengthening its commercial ties with leading tour and travel companies in India to enhance collaboration and performance from the Indian market for BHG portfolio in UAE, that comprises of 5 hotels and 1,600 keys spread across iconic locations with a diversity of experiences impeccably adapted for Indian travellers. Guests will enjoy resort-style experiences offered by the legendary five-star Dukes The Palm, A Royal Hideaway Hotel, located on an exclusive area on The Palm Jumeirah that includes the award-winning fine dining North Indian restaurant Khyber, and Occidental Sharjah Grand, located in the Al Khalidiah area in Sharjah. For those in search of an urban city experience can stopover at the Barceló Residences Dubai Marina, situated in the heart of the vibrant Dubai Marina community. Occidental Dubai Production City offers guests the chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy metropolitan city and enjoy a hidden escape in Dubai, located minutes away from the World Expo site. Last but not least, recently opened Occidental Al Jaddaf, will offer the perfect blend between Spanish hospitality and Arabian culture, conveniently situated in close proximity to Dubai International Airport and central districts such as Healthcare City and the Historical District. 2HUB Reps will play the role of a strategic partner to establish consistent market presence and identify & implement best strategies to improve market performance. The proven track record of success of 2HUB Reps aid its expertise in the UAE market have been paramount to create this strategic partnership. “We are very excited to be partnering with 2HUB on this venture. The Indian market is very promising and teaming with opportunities. Through this partnership we are looking forward to strengthening our relations and presence within the market,” concludes Raquel Lopez, VP of Sales & Marketing GCC at Barceló Hotel Group. For further information please visit the Barceló Hotel Group website: www.barcelo.com

Berlin/Mumbai, XX. February 2021 – The inaugural ITB India Virtual Event, 7–9 April 2021, is an annual B2B trade show and conference curated to build the bridge to the Indian and South Asian travel market. The virtual show will convene key travel industry leaders and international exhibitors from MICE, Corporate and Leisure segments. Exhibitors of ITB India 2021 Virtual include National Tourism Organisations such as Business Events Perth, German National Tourism Organisation, Go Israel, Korea Tourism Organization, Sarawak Tourism Board, Saudi Tourism Authority, Visit Levi, Visit Portugal, Zagreb Tourist Board and more. The event will be hosted on ITB Community in Asia – a one of a kind, unrivalled 24/7 platform for trade professionals to forge connections, strike conversations and do business. “Rebuilding Travel” – overarching theme of conference programme The theme of this year’s ITB India Conference is “Rebuilding Travel”. While the travel industry is currently undergoing change, industry experts will share their ideas on the future of the Indian and South Asian travel markets. ITB India’s travel think tank will cover topics, ranging from Travel Recovery across MICE, Corporate, Leisure Travel and Travel Technology. The conference will kick-off with two keynote speeches, delivered by two industry heavy weights: Rohit Kapoor, CEO, India & South Asia, OYO and Abraham Alapatt, President & Group Head - Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation, Thomas Cook India. “Rebuilding Travel” – overarching theme of conference programme The theme of this year’s ITB India Conference is “Rebuilding Travel”. While the travel industry is currently undergoing change, industry experts will share their ideas on the future of the Indian and South Asian travel markets. ITB India’s travel think tank will cover topics, ranging from Travel Recovery across MICE, Corporate, Leisure Travel and Travel Technology. The conference will kick-off with two keynote speeches, delivered by two industry heavy weights: Rohit Kapoor, CEO, India & South Asia, OYO and Abraham Alapatt, President & Group Head - Marketing, Service Quality, Value Added Services & Innovation, Thomas Cook India. Among others, the conference brings together top leaders and industry experts from the private sector, such as Amanpreet Bajaj, Country Manager – India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong & Taiwan, Airbnb; Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka & Maldives, Booking.com; or Daniel D’souza, President & Country Head, Leisure, SOTC Travel. Top speakers from National Tourist Offices will include Yusuke Yamamoto, Executive Director, Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO); Iyad Rasbey, Executive Director, Destination Tourism Development & MICE, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA); Sisa Ntshona, CEO, South African Tourism; Kimarli Fernando, Chairperson, Sri Lanka Tourism; Steven Dixon, Regional Trade Marketing Manager Asia, Tourism New Zealand and Luís Araújo, President, VisitPortugal (Turismo de Portugal). Buyer Elite Programme Partners The Buyer Elite Partner Programme is a partnership programme dedicated to help attendees develop stronger trade ties with regional industry stakeholders. The key trade association partners who have already joined the programme are Association of Travel Agents of Bangladesh (ATAB), Eastern Himalaya Travel & Tour Operators Association (EHTTOA), Enterprising Travel Agent's Association (ETAA), Maharashtra Tour Organisers' Association (MTOA), Nepal Association of Tour & Travel Agents (NATTA), Network of Indian MICE Agents (NIMA), Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) and United Federation of Travel Agents Associations (UFTAA). Mutual agreements were established between ITB India and each Buyer Elite Programme Partner; to invite and promote ITB India to the association’s database of Indian and South Asian buyers and international trade attendees. Benefits of attending ITB India 2021 Indian and South Asian buyers may connect with key exhibitors through business matching with video calling and messaging functions, as well as a comprehensive supplier directory. In addition, all attendees have access to high-quality conferences and on-demand videos from industry experts. Key privileges include: Business Matching – Live platform to exchange business contacts and schedule virtual appointments. Delegates can benefit from business appointment via social video and messaging functions. Conference – A robust line-up of key industry speakers with thought-providing insights or showcases of innovative technology and solutions. Supplier Directory – A comprehensive view of all suppliers, such as company profiles, product resources and downloadable articles. On-demand Videos – All attendees of will be entitled to exclusive videos from virtual events or industry contributors. Book your booth now for ITB India 2021 Exhibitors who want to book a presence at ITB Berlin India 2021 can choose from three virtual exhibitor booth packages, starting from USD 1,050: Basic, Enhanced or Premium Packages. Exhibitors may register online via Exhibitors Registration.

Unable to view the picture please click the link https://jan-sampark.nic.in/campaigns/2021/07-Mar/MyGov/index.html

1 March 2021, Kolkata: A cop by profession, flautist Indrajit Basu’s performance at the prestigious Dover Lane Music Conference 2021 mesmerised the audience and connoisseurs of Indian classical music. Indrajit Basu performed in this 'Ivy League' music festival for the first time and won the hearts of listeners by his rendition of ragas patdeep and basant. He was adeptly accompanied by Ujjwal Bharati on the tabla. By profession Indrajit holds a responsible position in government service as a cop, but despite his professional constraints he does his riwaz regularly. Born in a family of cultural aficionados in Kolkata, Indrajit developed a deep love for culture, especially Indian Classical Music and started playing the bansuri (flute) from school days. Listening to all types of music was like breathing for him since his earliest years but he found Indian Classical Music as the most attractive genre of music amongst all. The transverse flute was selected by him as a medium of musically expressing himself. His formal tutelage in Indian Classical Music started much later after he graduated from Calcutta University. He was initiated as a disciple by Late Pandit Nikhilesh Roy of Rabindra Bharati University. Indrajit tried to imbibe the rich tradition of gayaki and soulfulness from his Guru Pt Nikhilesh Roy who was a disciple of Pt Gour Goswami. As a performer Indrajit has presented his bansuri recitals in many programmes in last couple of years in various places in West Bengal including at Uttarpara Sangeetchakra Annual Conference, Salt lake Music Festival, Dakshini Music Festival, Choudhury House Music Conference, Bangiya Sangeet Parishad Music Festival and others. Besides playing solo, Indrajit has a special liking for collaborating with different Indian classical instruments as jugalbandis. Indrajit Basu is also keen in spreading the fragrance of Hindustani Classical Music. Besides, inspiring persons coming to his proximity to organise classical concerts for instrumental/vocal both kind of artists, he himself has also organised quite a few classical music conferences of which Digha Shastriya Sangeet Festival, Swargiya Malati Basu Memorial Music Conference-2019 in the name of his mother are notable.

Kolkata, 19 February 2021: India and Denmark have begun a new era in the form of a far reaching Green Strategic Partnership that will enable Denmark in delivering sustainable solutions to India. The Green Strategic Partnership is a mutually beneficial arrangement to advance political cooperation, expand economic relations and green growth, create jobs and strengthen cooperation on addressing global challenges and opportunities with focus on an ambitious implementation of the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals.The agreement is in line with the vision expressed by H.E. Mette Frederiksen, Prime Minister of Denmark and Shri. Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, who held a virtual summit on September 28, 2020. India and Denmark agree to be at the forefront in the global fight against climate change. Both countries have set ambitious national targets on climate and energy that will contribute to an implementation of the Paris Agreement. Together, the two countries will show the world that delivering on ambitious climate and sustainable energy goals is possible. On the occasion of the conferring of knighthood on Ms. Smita Bajoria, Hony. Consul General of Denmark in Kolkata, by the Danish Ambassador H. E. Freddy Svane on behalf of the Queen of Denmark for the Serampore Initiative of restoration of Danish cultural heritage in Serampore. The Serampore Initiative The Serampore initiative of the National Museum of Denmark was established in 2008 with the aim of identifying remains of Indo-Danish history in Serampore and restoration of selected buildings from this period. Also to promote knowledge of the common Indo-Danish history of Serampore and promote the same in collaboration with local agencies. Ms. Smita Bajoria, Hony Consul General of Denmark in Kolkata, took up this initiative requesting the Urban Development Affairs Minister, Govt of West Bengal not to pull down the Governor House and coordinated the efforts of The National Museum of Denmark and Govt of West Bengal Heritage Commission for restoration of the Governor House. Was instrumental in introducing the National Museum of Denmark to the Stakeholders, Bishop of Church of North India under whose jurisdiction St. Olav’s Church fell for renovation of the church; As part of the Serampore Initiative The Governor’s House, St. Olav’s Church and Serampore College were restored.

L to R - CS Devendra Deshpande,VP, ICSI,CS Nagendra D Rao, President,ICSI,CS Sudhir Kr Banthiya, Chairman,EIRC of ICSI and CS Deepak Kr Khaitan, Council Member,ICSI at ICSI Press Confereence at Hotel Park on 19th February 2021 CS Nagendra D Rao, PRESIDENT of the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) while addressing a PRESS CONFERENCE at Hotel Park, Kolkata on 19th February 2021 stated that “ICSI has taken various initiatives towards growth and development of the members, students and the profession by undertaking extensive career counselling, professional development programmes, brand building, extensive research, re-organisation and infrastructure development, ICSI vision 2022 and globalisation of profession. President ICSI, informed that, ICSI has signed a MOU with Indian Institute of Management Calcutta today i.e. 19th February 2021 and the objective of the MOU is to facilitate a comprehensive partnership for imparting knowledge and skills in the areas of Joint Academic Research, Joint Workshops, Professional Development Programme for Company Secretaries, sharing resources and International Conferences besides awarding the toppers of programmes of IIM Calcutta with ICSI Signature Award Gold Medal and a scholarship to pursue the Company Secretary Course. He also spoke on the social initiatives undertaken by ICSI like Shaheed Ki Beti Certificate, Contribution to PM CARES FUND, Blood Bank Portal, ICSI Students Education Fund Trust and so on.

New Delhi, February 24, 2021 – Toshiba Transmission & Distribution Systems (India) Pvt. Ltd., (TTDI), a Toshiba Group company located in Telangana, India that manufactures and sells distribution transformers, power transformers and switchgears, along with EPC business, has been certified by Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) as a Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing (JIM). The JIM Project is a part of the Manufacturing Skill Transfer Promotion Program*1, a joint program by METI and India’s Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship launched in November 2016. The project aims to establish Japanese-style institutes in India for training Japanese standard shop floor leaders and engineers, focusing on areas such as kaizen and the 5S (sort, set in order, shine, standardize and sustain). These institutes will develop human resources that will play central roles in the manufacturing sites of the future. Since last year, TTDI has been providing fundamental skill training to newly hired personnel and multi-skill training to existing employees at its human resource development facility, the TTDI Skill Development Center. In recognition of its efforts, METI has certified it as a JIM, and from April 2021, TTDI JIM will be inaugurated in the TTDI Skill Development Center, the 15th accredited Japan-India Institute for Manufacturing. The new TTDI JIM will accept up to 120 under-graduates of local industrial training schools as technical trainees each year. They will receive training regarding welding, coil winding, assembly, painting, and more. Mr. Tomohiko Okada, Managing Director, Toshiba India Pvt. Ltd. commented, “Toshiba has identified India as a global manufacturing base and export hub. We are committed to support Government’s initiatives, “Make in India” & “Skill India” and the setting up of TTDI JIM is a very positive step in that direction, to build a better and stronger India, For a New Day”. Mr. Hiroshi Kaneta, Chairman and Managing Director of TTDI,said, “We are very proud of this accreditation. Through TTDI JIM, we wish to contribute to the development of the manufacturing industry by developing human resources in India. We are grateful to the Government of Telangana for their support in our endeavour. ” TTDI will further enhance its environmental, social and governance (ESG) activities based on the Toshiba Group’s management philosophy of “Committed to People, Committed to the Future,” and will help tackle social issues and challenges such as achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through its technologies and business activities. *1: This program was created to contribute to India’s goals of “Make-In-India” and “Skill India” for the Indian manufacturing sector, which is expected to achieve medium- and long-term economic growth.

The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) elected its new President & Vice-President for the term 2021-2022. CA. Nihar N Jambusaria has been elected as the President and CA. (Dr.) Debashis Mitra has been elected as the Vice-President of The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India w.e.f. February 12, 2021. A man of professional wisdom, vision and strong organisational skills with a firm belief in all round inclusive growth of Indian Chartered Accountancy profession, CA. Nihar N Jambusaria has been elected as the new President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) for the year 2021-22 wherein he is currently serving for third consecutive term, i.e. 2013-16, 2016-19 and 2019-22. A blend of erudition, experience, foresight, technical expertise and professional excellence worth emulating and a Fellow Chartered Accountant from Mumbai, CA. Jambusaria, qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1984 and was in practice for nearly 27 years. He has also served as Chairman of WIRC of ICAI in 2004-05. CA. Jambusaria is now Chairman of all Standing Committees including Executive, Finance and Examination Committees, besides being the ex-officio member of all Non-Standing Committees and Editor of ICAI Journal, The Chartered Accountant. CA. Jambusaria is Director of ICAI Registered Valuers Organisation (RVO) and also the representative from ICAI RVO on the "Committee to advise on Valuation matters”. CA. Jambusaria is Chairman of the ICAI Research wing, ICAI – Accounting Research Foundation and Extensible Business Reporting Language (XBRL) India. CA. (Dr.) Debashis Mitra, with his unequivocal commitment has been elected as the Vice-President of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India for the year 2021-22. After being part of the Central Council for the period 2016-19, Dr. Mitra is serving his second consecutive term in the Council for the period 2019-22. With great vigour and enthusiasm, he has been serving the accounting profession for last more than thirty-four years. Academically erudite Dr. Mitra, a senior practising member, is also a Cost Accountant, Company Secretary, Law graduate and a qualified Information Systems Auditor. With keen interest in academic research, he is doctorate in the complex and intrigue area of accounting standards and has been awarded Ph.D. on the topic ‘A Critical Study of Select Indian GAAP, US GAAP & IAS / IFRS.’ A persuasive and intense trainer, he is renowned for his interactive deliberations in International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and Corporate Laws. He has trained several officials of many corporate and non-corporate entities as well as Central and State governmental organisations. An avid speaker, he passionately shares his deep and incisive knowledge in India at various events organised by the ICAI, trade organisations and other reputed Institutes.

Hurawalhi Maldives is offering guests the opportunity to experience an Easter where the adults get all of the fun and all of the chocolate. Celebrations and events from 2nd- 4th April will guarantee an Easter to remember, chocolate at every opportunity and even a chance to win a trip back to Hurawalhi at a later date. Easter experiences at Hurawalhi will include: An Easter pool party with champagne, cocktails, ice-cream canapés, and summer music curated to evoke the perfect party atmosphere. The Hurawalhi Easter egg hunt with treasures including the chance for guests to win a complimentary one week stay at Hurawalhi, lunch for two at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant, a couple’s massage and much, much more. The chocolate Easter experience at Duniye Spa – a two-hour massage using the beautifying benefits of dark chocolate. The caffeine present in chocolate stimulates the circulation and improves blood flow which improves and invigorates skin cells, decreases the aging process and increases firmness of the skin. Chocolate is also rich in antioxidants which help increase the level of collagen and elastin in the skin. 3-course menu for two with chocolate dessert and wine tasting at 5.8 Undersea Restaurant. A champagne cruise on our luxury yacht, Bella. Relax under a blanket of stars at the outdoor cinema. There are also plenty of opportunities for guests to enjoy the rich and various marine life surrounding Hurawalhi for example, joining a bioluminescent night dive to see the reef glow, joining snorkel trips to swim with green sea turtles and manta rays or a jet ski safari in search of dolphins. Rates for Hurawalhi’s Ocean Villa start at US$580 per night, bed and breakfast with current 25% discount. Additional experiences and excursions are charged separately. Visit www.hurawalhi.com for more information.

Reed Exhibitions, organiser of the annual Arabian Travel Market (ATM) showcase in Dubai, has announced the return of Arabian Travel Week (ATW) between 16-26 May 2021. “This week-long festival of events is dedicated to travel professionals from all over world, to collaborate and shape the recovery of the Middle East travel industry, through exhibitions, conferences, breakfast briefings, awards, product launches and networking events,” Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market. “Essentially, Arabian Travel Week will provide a pivotal platform for the region’s travel and tourism industry, whether participating in-person at the events or virtually, over the course of 10 days – it will put a spotlight on Dubai, the UAE, GCC and of course the wider MENA region’s tourism sector,” she added. Now in its 28th year and working in collaboration with Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), ATM 2021 will play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week. “There will be a whole host of in-person seminars on ATM’s show floor specifically designed to support, inspire and innovate all travel and tourism professionals, looking at the latest trends in technology, sustainability and profiling the next generation of global travellers,” said Curtis. There will also be an array of high-profile keynote speakers and world-class technology experts lined up for the Travel Forward Theatre, providing industry-leading insights and discussing the latest technologies and trends that will shape the future of travel. Other notable features of Arabian Travel Week and in-person at ATM include ILTM Arabia 2021, buyer forums with networking dedicated to key source markets including Saudi Arabia, India and China, a hotel summit, the responsible tourism programme and the International Tourism & Investment Conference (ITIC) summit. Ibrahim Ayoub, Group CEO, ITIC & Invest Tourism Ltd said, “We are delighted to host in partnership with ATM, our ITIC Middle East Tourism Investment Summits, in-person on Wednesday, 19th May and followed by our virtual summit, a week later on Thursday, 27th May. We will bring together hospitality, tourism and financial services leaders to discuss how the Middle East’s travel and tourism industry can position their businesses to be ready for the post COVID-19 recovery, through instituting and making strategic investments to rebuild the sector.” “This year’s theme of ‘A New Dawn for Travel and Tourism’ has never been more relevant nor important - this message of recovery will be integrated into all of the show verticals and planned activities,” added Curtis. To complement the four-day in-person show, for the first time, a new hybrid format will mean a virtual ATM running a week after to reach a wider audience than ever before. ATM Virtual, which made its debut last year, proved to be a resounding success attracting 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries. “It is imperative that we include a virtual element to Arabian Travel Week because many industry professionals from around the world, may not be able to attend the in-person event for 2021. “Indeed, it would also be impossible for us, at this moment in time, to even begin to speculate on how effective the vaccine rollout will be and subsequently when governments around the world will start to withdraw their travel restrictions,” said Curtis. ATM Virtual will feature comprehensive webinars, live conference sessions, roundtables, speed networking events, virtual digital influencers’ speed networking session, one-to-one meetings, destination briefings, as well as facilitating new connections and offering a wide range of online business opportunities. A highlight on Arabian Travel Week’s agenda and part of ATM Virtual is Arival Dubai @ ATM. This event will feature a series of sessions covering current and future trends for operators of tours and attractions. Douglas Quinby, CEO of Arival said, "Arabian Travel Market has long been the event that gathers the global travel community around the Middle East, and its role in the revival of our industry is more important than ever. We are partnering with ATM to create a special virtual forum that assembles leading voices from tours and attractions, as well as technology innovators, from across the region to help our industry chart a path of resilience and resurgence in 2021 and beyond." The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the world’s premier business travel and meetings trade organisation, will also be participating at ATM Virtual for the first time. The GBTA will deliver the latest business travel content, research and education to drive the post-pandemic recovery and support growth in business travel. The show will strictly adhere to all DWTC’s stringent health and safety guidelines and will set out to provide a touchless and seamless experience. The team at DWTC are working hard to ensure that all events run safely and have implemented a range of measures including an enhanced cleaning regime, improved air circulation, multiple hand sanitiser stations and temperature checks.

New Delhi, 11 February 2021: ZinQ Technologies, lifestyle and accessories startup has today announced the launch of a new slim keyboard - ZQ-1133. Priced at Rs. 799, this keyboard brings a right fit to the desktops. Being an Amazon exclusive brand, the product is available for purchase on Amazon website. As people around the world are settling back into work from office routine, ZinQ Technologies has rolled out a new product that will upgrade the office space. This best business keyboard is designed to be ergonomic - safe and comfortable to use for long periods of time. The black keyboard supports easy plug -and-play connectivity via the built-in USB interface that connects to PC and laptop. This keyboard has a full range of 104 keys including hotkeys and navigational control keys.The overall design of the keyboard is suited for a comfortable typing experience, allowing the wrist and fingers to sit with ease. Commenting on the launch, Mr. Arnav Mutneja, Founder, ZinQ Technologies said, “Our newest product has been designed for advanced users and brings consumers the most comfortable typing experience. Zinq Keyboard is a technologically advanced and innovative product from the house of IT accessories that encourage the users to be more productive and interact with their digital content at high speed.” This portable keyboard has a 5-feet wired cable which provides plenty of space for the keyboard to adjust in the place of work. It also comes with a 1-year warranty from the date of purchase as provided by the manufacturer. Specifications of the product Full-sized keyboard with 104 keys including Hotkeys and navigational control keys. Has LED lights for Num Lock, Caps Lock and Scroll Lock functions. Ergonomic design with robust key durability which can survive for millions of keystrokes without being damaged. Extremely lightweight and can be easily carried around in your bag, or case anywhere you go. Plug & Play connect enables the keyboard to instantly connect with your PC, laptop or any device with a USB port It has a 5-feet wired cable which provides plenty of space for the keyboard to adjust in your place of work. The noiseless linear keys go all the way down when pressed without creating any sound. That way you can work continuously without creating any disturbance. 1-Year Warranty from the date of purchase as provided by the manufacturer.

9th February 2021, Kolkata: Addressing a virtual session of Ek Mulakat Visesh filmmaker Deepa Mehta said, “Lot of my love for Indian cinema came before I became an NRI and I was very grounded in Indian cinema. I was a reluctant Canadian and for a long time I missed India. But home is actually defined by safety and if I don’t feel safe in India it is not home. I feel if India gives me her stories, Canada gives me the freedom to express them. I am a strange kind of NRI.” Deepa Mehta, who had faced a lot of controversy and outrage for her films Fire and had to close down production of her film Water in India, was responding to a question by Archana Dalmia, member Ehsaas Woman of Delhi - How has being an NRI shaped your Indianness and how has that Indianness moulded your filmmaking? The Ek Mulakat Visesh session, organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation of Kolkata and presented by Shree Cement, was introduced by Priyanshi Patel of Ehsaas Woman of Ahmedabad. Deepa Mehta’s work challenges stereotypes and is fearless and provocative. She recently shot the pilot and second episode for Netflix Original series, Leila, and is the creative executive producer of the show. She also directed The Manager – the pilot episode of Little America for Apple TV. Deepa’s film Midnight’s Children was shot in Sri Lanka and her latest feature film Funny Boy, based on award winning novel by Shyam Selvadurai, is also being shot in the island nation. “My love for Sri Lanka came because India didn’t love what I wanted to do,” Deepa said. Recounting how her passion for cinema came early in life, Deepa said, “My passion for cinema started when I was six-year-old. My father owned a movie hall and film distribution company in Punjab and Amritsar. After school we had to go and pick up dad and shoved on to the movie theatre to wait for him. I saw the film Mamta about eighty times in little bits and fell in love with it. I asked my father - How does this happen? He took me to the projection room and showed me what the film was like, then we walked down the aisle, he made me feel the screen which was a piece of cloth and I thought the whole thing was magical. Something that I couldn’t smell, touch the characters could evoke such emotions in me so it was the window that he opened that had me enthralled.” “Early on I thought Raj Kapoor was amazing. I saw Sri 420 over twenty times. Another very different film was Jagtey Raho which was a very brave film. Later on I got exposed to Bengali cinema and fell absolutely in love with Satyajit Ray and Ritwik Ghatak. Ray became my hero and to this day I think Charulata is a film that has always inspired me when I make a film on women. At present, the new filmmakers and directors I admire are Anubhav Sinha, Anurag Kashyap, Vikram Motwani,” said Oscar-nominated filmmaker Deepa Mehta who is inspired by the humanitarian cinema of Satyajit Ray, Vittorio De Sica, Yasujiro Ozu of the 50s. She feels humanity, compassion and passion are our saviours in this divisive world. On social media invading our lives, Deepa said, “It is a very powerful tool and how it enabled Trump. It is also a very destructive tool – immediate decimation and immediate elevation – it has no staying power. It is like dogs keeping barking, the caravan keeps moving on, that’s what I feel. Anything extreme is very dangerous.” Q: Where do you think filmmaking is going to be in 2030? “Streaming has completely changed the way we view films. Will we ever go back into theatres? I hope so. Because for me it is like going into a sacred space to see a cinema when you are not disturbed by anything. It will take another form, it has survived for so long. A desire for creating as human beings has lasted since the Natya Sastras. In the 2030s, in some form, dramas will exist because without dramas life is really boring,” Deepa, who feels every film has its destiny, said.

3 February, 2021, Bolpur (Kolkata): The Infant Jesus Church of Makrampur at Shantiniketan has installed a Station of The Cross – depicting the crucifixion of Christ - and a grotto in the shape of a conch shell dedicated to the Lady of Lourdes. “The Church, which is drawing a lot of visitors, has become a pilgrim centre in Birbhum district for people of all faiths since the Jubilee Year of Mercy declared by the Pope. It is an added attraction in Shantiniketan where people come to seek peace, tranquility and also appreciate the unique spiritual atmosphere. We shall celebrate a Feast on February 2, 2021, for the first time this year,” said Bolpur parish priest, Father Anthony Raj, who belongs to the Asansol diocese. “This year the patronal feast was held on 2nd February 2021 with the inauguration of open air Stations of the Cross with some 54 life-size statues depicting the incidents in the final journey of Jesus carrying his cross to be Crucified on Calvary hill. It was during these pandemic times that our Parish Pastoral Council decided to put up the Stations of the Cross and a Grotto dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes,” Fr Raj said. The Stations of The Cross, also known as The Way of the Cross, is a depiction of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ and accompanying prayers. The resurrection of Christ from the dead is celebrated as Easter - the oldest of Christian festivals. The Infant Jesus Church has a statue of Jesus under an imposing banyan tree seated in a lotus position imparting his teaching and blessings to all. This is in accordance with the popular tradition of open air classes started by Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore. The Church also has local Santhal tribal motifs and reliefs have been incorporated in the facade of the church designed and curated by Subrata Ganguly of Church Art of Kolkata - an art & design fabrication firm specializing in inculturation of local cultures in keeping with the canon laws and Christian traditions and conventions. The same local tribal art forms have also been incorporated in the stained glasses adorning the church. There is also a statue of a mother holding a child and a lamb which is symbolic of all—caring mother who is at the very centre of our community and social life. “The Stations of The Cross has 54 life-size statues and the grotto, in the shape of a conch shell, is influenced by Indian tradition. We have incorporated the local traditions of Shantiniketan while trying to integrate the church decor with the artistic style and philosophy of Kabi Guru Rabindranath Tagore and also popular traditions like the open air classrooms which he had started,” said Subrata Ganguly, founder-director of Church Art. Christian presence and influence was felt from the birth of Shantiniketan. Tagore had invited Bramhabandav Upadyaya the founding father of Indian Catholic theology, who spearheaded the Hinduisation of Christianity on the basis of his Thomistic reading of Saccidānanda. From May 1981, Salesians from Joypur, Suri parish, looked after the Bolpur mission and Salesian Fr Cyriac Manianchira purchased a plot of land to develop the Bolpur mission. In 1993, Salesians handed over Bolpur subdivision to the Archdiocese of Calcutta and Fr. Valerian Fernandes was appointed first Priest-in-Charge.

Colombo/New Delhi, 27th January 2021: Celebrating the spirit of resilience and renewed hope for the revival of travel in 2021, Sri Lanka has now reopened its borders for international travellers around the world. To mark this momentous occasion, Resplendent Ceylon welcomes discerning Indian guests back and has partnered with Jetpooling to launch bespoke, private jet experiential journeys. Patrons can now experience the benchmark hospitality and unparalleled service once again at the three resorts by Resplendent Ceylon, part of the family owned Dilmah Tea Company, and the sole member of Relais & Chateaux in Sri Lanka. As the pioneer in luxury experiential travel in Sri Lanka, Resplendent Ceylon has been curating a range of authentic experiences with distinctive hospitality over the years, while consistently contributing towards local communities and the environment. Ceylon Tea Trails, Cape Weligama and Wild Coast Tented Lodge, offer an enchanting circuit in the destination - from tea fields to clifftop beach and safari lodge. The brand’s SafeStay initiative implemented across the three resorts ensures the health and safety of all guests, teams, their families, and local communities. “We welcome this promising step taken by Sri Lanka Tourism authorities to reopen doors for international travellers in 2021. At Resplendent Ceylon, we recognise the constantly evolving travel expectations and continue on the path to inspire confidence in our guests. We are delighted to exclusively partner with Jetpooling to introduce seamless experiential luxury journeys across our collection for Indian guests.” said Malik Fernando, Managing Director, Resplendent Ceylon. To start with, the private jet experiential package curated for Ceylon Tea Trails invites guests to escape to the magical heart of the Ceylon tea region. Perched at an altitude of 1250 meters, this award-winning boutique resort consists of restored colonial era tea planters’ bungalows. This one-of-a-kind experience includes a 7-night fully inclusive stay (all meals, non-alcoholic/ alcoholic beverages selection, laundry) and accommodation at one of the three bungalows – Summerville Bungalow, Dunkeld Owner’s Cottage and Castlereagh Bungalow – each offering utmost privacy and safety. During the stay, guests can choose from a range of signature activities such as - indulgent dining experiences that include tea infused dinner or tea planter’s picnic lunch, kayaking and hiking for adventure enthusiasts, heritage city excursions and a guided tour of the Dunkeld Tea Factory. Resplendent Ceylon’s collaboration with Jetpooling further adds to the luxe quotient by providing specially crafted journeys via private jets to whisk the guests away for an ultimate vacation. Guests can choose to fly from Delhi or Mumbai to Colombo in a Dassault Falcon 2000 (12-seater) or an Embraer Legacy 650 (13-seater), respectively. Once in Colombo, their transfers to Ceylon Tea Trails will be via a helicopter ride. This package starts at Rs. 22.5 lakh++ for a couple. The Sri Lankan Tourism guidelines and ‘Safety Protocols’ approved by government authorities, are designed to ensure maximum safety for international travellers and the local communities. There is no quarantine restriction or minimum stay period, and guests visiting this island paradise will have access to all facilities at the officially listed - Certified ‘Safe and Secure’ Level 1 hotels. These steps establish a responsibly managed bio-bubble for international visitors. All three properties in the Resplendent Ceylon collection are a part of the certified list and look forward to welcoming back international and Indian guests in 2021. The brand has just released this video with a heart-warming message from Malik Fernando, showcasing the resorts and their teams who are eagerly waiting to welcome guests after a period of 10 months. For further information, please visit the brand website: resplendentceylon.com or Instagram page: @resplendentceylon For bookings, please contact: reservations@resplendentceylon.com, +94 11 7745730

The latest data analysis produced by YouGov for Reed Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), has revealed that 46% of luxury travellers in the Middle East, are planning to travel internationally at some stage during 2021. The survey also asked the same recipients if they were planning to take a domestic holiday or staycation during 2021 and more than half (52%) of the respondents confirmed that they would. Furthermore, 25% of respondents were planning to make a business trip, either domestically or internationally and 4% of respondents had no plans to travel anywhere in 2021. YouGov, which defines luxury travellers as those who tend to fly business or first-class and stay in five-star accommodation, also asked luxury travellers in the Middle East about their frequency of travel – 31% of respondents said they planned to travel twice over the next 12 months and 25% confirmed they were planning on making at least one overseas trip. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, which will take place live at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) 16-19 May 2021, said: “Luxury travellers from the Middle East are more likely to travel with their children, compared with those from other regions (40% versus 36%). And when you add that fact to their planned frequency of travel, it makes the Middle East’s outbound luxury travel sector, one of the most sought after globally.” According to the survey, Middle East luxury travellers are keen on destinations with outstanding natural beauty (34%), beach holidays (34%), conducive climate (29%) and connectivity (28%). The survey also uncovered that luxury travellers in the Middle East are most concerned about health risks of travelling (43%) and safety (35%). However, one in three respondents also said that the actual price and that it represented good value for money was still very important. “With vaccines being rolled out across the world, travel professionals operating in the luxury segment will welcome the insight this survey has provided, which affords them the opportunity to further develop their marketing strategies for the Middle East region and beyond,” added Curtis. Luxury is an integral part of ATM and has its own dedicated show, ILTM Arabia, which is co-located with ATM and scheduled to take place between 17th-18th May 2021. This two-day event provides each exhibitor with up to 40 fifteen-minute meetings with experienced luxury tour operators from across the Middle East. Luxury exhibitors participating at ATM this year include Emaar Hospitality, Nobu Hospitality, The Ritz-Carlton, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Wilderness Safaris, One&Only, Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Minor Hotels Group and Shangri-La, among others. Now in its 28th year and working in collaboration with DWTC and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the theme of the show next year will be ‘A new dawn for travel and tourism’ and the spotlight will be thrown onto the current state of the industry and more importantly, what the future holds. It will also look at the emerging trends and how innovation can drive the industry forward. ATM 2021 will also play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week and for the first time, a new hybrid format will be in place. This means an additional virtual ATM will be organised to run the following week, which will complement the live event by accommodating visitors who may be unable to travel to Dubai. The inaugural ATM Virtual 2020, attracted 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries, over three days.

Hotels throughout the Middle East region are preparing to capitalise on the pent-up global demand for workations, driven in the main by the social restrictions imposed by governments across the world over the past ten months. According to research conducted as well as commissioned by Reed Travel Exhibitions, the organiser of Arabian Travel Market (ATM), many travel experts are expecting a surge in workations in 2021 and beyond, a trend that was apparent in 2019, but one which now has such pent-up demand due to the coronavirus travel restrictions. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, which will take place live at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) 16-19 May 2021, said: “The hotel industry in the Middle East has gradually started to recover, especially in places such as Dubai. Staycations created the initial demand after lockdown, the next step has been the continued growth of workations, which are also referred to as bleisure stays, which tend to bring in more visitors from overseas.” Fueling this growth are companies like Facebook, Twitter and Spotify which have announced that employees can work from home indefinitely, leading many experts to predict that these digital professionals are likely to work remotely, whilst still connecting safely and securely with their physical offices. “Longer term, the ‘on the go’ executive will be a far more common sight in hotels, whether it’s Gen Z singletons, millennial professionals, or freelancers who can earn a living from a laptop,” added Curtis. With over 50% of the world’s working population doing so from home and the rise of entrepreneurial digital nomads who prefer to work remotely, the popularity of workations will only increase. This will alleviate the boredom of living and working from home, even after the pandemic has finally been eradicated and obviously in the short term, it will provide much needed revenue to not only hotels but the travel trade in general, not to mention government coffers. “And on that point, as an example, Dubai has introduced a remote visa programme that would entitle visitors to stay for up to 12 months, with access to co-working spaces and government support services,” said Curtis. To accommodate the needs of the ‘new normal’ smart working traveller even further, an increasing number of hotels in the MENA region are offering pop-up co-working spaces with the aim of rethinking and making the most of the hotel space, which is no longer considered just as a place to stay, instead, it becomes a potential work environment. “Covid-19 has completely disrupted the traditional office culture and the hospitality sector has been quick to offer alternative solutions for those looking to combine working from home with leisure time. The introduction of the workation concept is not just a novel idea, it’s about making adjustments to meet the new market demands, allowing those who are not currently working from their office to enjoy a luxury hospitality experience whilst continuing their work commitments,” said Mark Kirby, COO of Emaar Hospitality. Further afield in the Maldives for example, hotels are offering the ultimate ‘workation packages’ where guests can work from a secluded beach house, with personal desks and high-speed WiFi. Some hotels in India have created indoor and outdoor common areas that function as work-friendly spaces, many others have opted for dedicated spaces poolside where remote workers get a table, chair and parasol, WiFi and power socket, as well as the ubiquitous sun lounger. “Depending on the effectiveness of the vaccines being rolled out, as well as travel and other social restrictions, this demand could broaden to include families. If children are being home-schooled it would make little difference if they were at home or on a workation with their parents. Indeed, time away from long cold winter nights in northern Europe, would undoubtedly improve a family’s state of mind,” added Curtis. Now in its 28th year and working in collaboration with DWTC and Dubai’s Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the theme of the show next year will be ‘A new dawn for travel and tourism’ and the spotlight will be thrown onto the current state of the industry and more importantly, what the future holds. It will also look at the emerging trends and how innovation can drive the industry forward. ATM 2021 will also play an integral role in Arabian Travel Week and for the first time, a new hybrid format will be in place. This means an additional virtual ATM will be organised to run the following week, which will complement the live event by accommodating visitors who may be unable to travel to Dubai. The inaugural ATM Virtual 2020, attracted 12,000 online attendees from 140 countries, over three days.

There is no greater responsibility than protecting our planet and people from the threat of climate change. The science is clear that we must urgently scale up action and work together to reduce the impacts of global warming and to ensure a greener, more resilient future for us all. The Paris Agreement provides the right framework to achieve this. Our efforts must include support for those countries and communities at the frontline of climate change. It is vital that we take renewed action to hold the temperature rise to well below 2 degrees and take best efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees. On 12 December we will be celebrating the five year anniversary of the Paris Agreement. We must ensure that it is implemented in full. We note with regret that the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement has formally come into effect today. As we look towards COP26 in Glasgow, we remain committed to working with all US stakeholders and partners around the world to accelerate climate action, and with all signatories to ensure the full implementation of the Paris Agreement.

20 January 2021, Kolkata: “I won’t join politics as I can’t change my own personality for politics. I didn't join politics because I had learnt that it was not possible to air an opinion contrasting with the party chief. I don’t want to curb my own, natural way of thinking,” said India’s first World Cup winning captain, Kapil Dev, at a session of Ek Mulakat Visesh organized by Prabha Khaitan Foundation of Kolkata and presented by Shree Cement. The lively session was introduced by Ruhi Syal in which the ace cricketer was in conversation with Archana Dalmia of Ehsaas Woman of Delhi with hundreds of guests joining in from all over India. “Winning or losing an election is different as long as I have an opinion of my own. I would even stand with the opposition if my opinion matches with it. That's the way politics is in my mind,” Kapil Dev said. Kapil Dev who has played cameos in films over the years feels like politics, acting isn’t his cup of tea, “My mother had said I should never do anything other than sports as I do not have a good appearance. So I never tried acting. I haven't acted in a cameo but just played the Kapil Dev role to make a movie better and look authentic.” Regarding a forthcoming biopic in which Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone would portray him and his wife Romi, the former Indian cricket captain said, “The film is on the 1983 Indian cricket team that won the World Cup. The film is about the journey of India’s World Cup win. The makers are going to show both good and bad experiences of that journey.” When asked - “Was winning the World Cup in 1983 still the most defining moment of your life?” Kapil Dev said, “Not at all. I don’t think so. The most important moment is still the day when I was born and the second most important day was when I played for India first. To me, as a kid, the most important was to represent the country. That was the best time of my life.” Commenting on India’s changing sporting scenario Kapil Dev said, “Cricket is not only about the World Cup. It is about people like Dhoni, myself, Harbhajan Singh or Zaheer Khan who came from very small towns. Thirty years ago cricketers hardly used to come from small towns or tier two or tier three cities. Now 90 per cent of the cricketers come from semi-metro cities and towns. In twenty years from now, I am sure lots of cricketers will come out from very small towns, may be from villages because sports have gone to all across India. Now Natarajan (T Natarajan), the bowler who is playing for India, is the son of a mother who runs a tea stall and a father who is working as a coolie. He is playing for India! That's the change that sports have brought to this country.” As a role model for young and budding cricketers, Kapil Dev said, “No, I think role models keep on changing from time to time. The role models of today's generation are Yuvraj Singh, Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly. Maybe after 10 years, the role models would probably be Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan because every generation keeps on changing. Thirty years later, the kids won't know so many cricketers who have played in my time.” Responding to a question by Archana Dalmia, “You had no social media in your time. Do you think it was a blessing or a curse?” Kapil Dev said, “I think both. I will only ask people to use this medium for betterment. We should try to share good news on social media and be proud of those because at the end of the day, knowledge is strength. Technology, if it is taken in the right spirit, is wonderful, otherwise it can be devastating.” What makes the legend happy? “Give me fresh food, good friends, a game of golf and I am happy. I like to make my life very simple and look for happiness within myself,” he said. Kapil Dev would also, apart from his family, like to have dinner with personalities like Nelson Mandela, Mother Teresa and Ratan Tata “who have done wonderful things in life.”

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, January 19, 2021: UAE-headquartered hospitality company TIME Hotels has underscored its commitment to staff welfare and dedication to positively supporting local communities with the launch of the group’s 2021 CSR calendar. The campaign, which is based around the four pillars of workplace, marketplace community and environment, has been a mainstay of TIME Hotels' commitment to improving others' lives and forms part of a 12-month programme of initiatives. Each month TIME will focus on a different theme with the year kicking off with team building and strengthening bonds within the workplace. A range of health initiatives will also take place in the first half of the year, as well as a cleanup drive to support environmental goals and a focus on female employees as part of International Women’s Day. Earth Hour and Ramadan will be honoured in March and April, respectively. The second part of the year will begin with a blood donation drive. Breast cancer awareness will occur throughout October and prostate cancer awareness in November, before rounding out the year with a special festive celebration. A happiness initiative will be rolled out throughout the year, focusing on both employees and hotel guests. Eddie Ignatius, Corporate Director of Quality & Business Excellence, TIME Hotels, said: “After the difficulties faced within the tourism industry in 2020, staff morale and workplace happiness are now more than ever, of the utmost importance. As such, we have developed a range of initiatives to create a safe, warm, engaging and proactive work environment conducive to success in 2021. "Over the years, we have built a reputation for delivering wide-reaching CSR initiatives that have benefited communities in the UAE and internationally, where our mandate has always been to help those most in need. CSR forms an integral part of our business strategy and part of our operations across our portfolio of properties, in line with our ‘You Really Matter’ slogan.” Despite the challenges faced in 2020, TIME Hotels rolled out a unique outreach programme during the year. Over 70% of staff took part in the company’s initiative to wear national dress every Thursday, which provided an opportunity to interact with guests and discuss their homeland's history and heritage. As part of International Women’s Day, female staff members participated in self-defence classes under the expert eye of a 3rd Dan black belt and certified taekwondo coach. The TIME Hotels team also took part in the Dubai Fitness Challenge, clocking up over 4.5 billion steps totalling more than 3 million kilometres. These initiatives contributed to TIME Hotels being awarded the Happiness at Work Award in the category Best Employee Engagement Program awarded by Sustainable Mindz and the Dubai Chamber of Commerce CSR Label for the sixth consecutive year, obtaining the highest score compared to the overall average in the process. In terms of supporting the local community, TIME Hotels employees collected and donated over 25kgs of aluminium cans to the Emirates Environmental Group can collection drive, and offered complimentary stays for medical front line workers across its portfolio of properties. TIME Hotels was also awarded the Green Key environmental accolade thanks to a range of sustainable concepts and waste management programs. “We believe in the importance of giving back to the community in which we operate for a better tomorrow’s world,” concluded Ignatius. For more information, please log onto http://www.timehotels.ae/ and https://www.tomorrowsworld.ae/

15 January 2021, Kolkata: Commenting on India-US relations under US President Joe Biden, British economist and politician, Lord Meghnad Desai, said, “I don’t think Kamala Harris is going to be absolutely 24X7 friend of India. She has her own views on many things. India and USA will probably have differences as Biden is on the soft left of American politics as Donald Trump is on the populist right of American politics. Therefore, there may be differences between Narendra Modi and Joe Biden on questions of human rights, Kashmir and so on. There already have been differences even when Trump was President with the Congressional Democratic members in America.” Lord Meghnad Desai was addressing an online session of Kitaab series organised by Prabha Khaitan Foundation of Kolkata and presented by Shree Cement where his latest book “Rebellious Lord: An Autobiography” was formally launched by guest conversationalist Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Indian economist and former civil servant. The Kitaab session was formally initiated by Ms Priyanshi Patel of Ehsaas Woman of Ahmedabad and was joined in by guests from all over the world. On India-China relations Desai said, “There is no solution to the India-China issue. It is a clash of two very deep nationalisms; two old cultures. How we are going to reconcile is very difficult.” Lord Meghnad Jagdishchandra Desai, is a British politician, life peer, author, economist, commentator, columnist and a film buff who has written over 30 books on economics, politics, history, cinema and fiction. He was awarded Padma Bhushan in 2008 by the Indian Government. He resigned from the Labour Party in November last year after 49-years citing anti-semitism. Talking of Indian films Desai said, “Bollywood and Indian films have an uncanny ability to tell India’s story to the world since Raj Kapoor’s times, even as it changes. I am a great fan of Bollywood, including southern films, which is a very good storyteller with content and entertainment,” Desai said. Regarding his analysis of the economic policies of the BJP in the mid 90s, Meghnad Desai said, “The BJP had a very muddled economic policy 25 years ago. Mentor, Deen Dayal Upadhyay had a kind of third-way idea, neither capitalism nor socialism. It was a khichadi. The Singh-Rao reforms were successful and instead of opposing those reforms, they swam with the tide. So their manifestos were totally irrelevant as to what they did.”

Mumbai, 12th January 2021: While COVID-19 may have halted our travel plans, it has also given some of the world’s most popular tourist destinations a much-needed moment of rest as travellers stayed indoors. This pause in globetrotting has inspired hopeful Indian travellers to become more aware of the wider impact of their trips, with 70% of Indian travellers wanting to travel more sustainably in the future, as per Booking.com’s Future of Travel research findings. The survey conducted by leading digital travel platform Booking.com also reveals that 78% of Indian travellers expect the travel industry to offer more sustainable travel options to meet their goals of sustainable travel in the future. Unfollowing the crowd Indian travellers planning to travel in 2021 have expressed a wish to avoid other tourists, with a spike in interest towards exploring lesser-known destinations this year. Based on our research, 76% of Indian travellers will stay away from crowded tourist attractions, indicating that destinations will need to adopt new, smart crowd management measures to appease travellers. The report further states that 54% of Indian travellers will visit alternative destinations in a bid to avoid travelling during peak season and 49% of Indian travellers will prefer alternative destinations to avoid overcrowding. Supporting local communities As the pandemic has amplified people’s awareness about their impact on the environment and local communities, travellers are now more aware of their impact than ever before, which will pave the way for more sustainable and regenerative travel in the future. 75% of Indian travellers indicated that they want their travel choices to also support the destination’s recovery efforts, and 73% of Indian travellers want to see how their spendings go back into supporting the local community. Recycle and upcycle The impact of Coronavirus has inspired 55% of Indian travellers to consider reducing waste and recycle their plastic when travelling once travel restrictions are lifted, showing that people are not just committed to protecting themselves, but also the places they visit. To make sustainable travel easier for everyone, Booking.com is encouraging accommodation providers to make more sustainable choices. As a signatory to the Global Tourism Plastics Initiative (GTPI) led by World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Booking.com has committed to advocate for more sustainable practices and the elimination of the unnecessary use of single-use plastics in the travel and tourism industry. This includes promoting the GTPI’s recently published guide to Booking.com’s global network of accommodation providers, which offers practical advice to maintain high levels of safety and hygiene, without relying on single-use plastic products that further contribute to widespread pollution issues for communities and ecosystems around the world. Towards a sustainable future While travel has the power to broaden horizons, open up opportunities and connect people and cultures from around the world, every trip also has an impact on the environment and local communities. Booking.com wants to help lead the way in making sure that the impact of travel on people and places is both positive and long-lasting. In addition to developing resources with tips and information to help properties operate more sustainably overall, the company is testing features that enable properties to highlight their own eco-friendly efforts to potential customers on Booking.com. These first sustainable practices that have been identified (including efforts to eliminate single-use plastics, electricity-saving measures and initiatives to reduce water usage) can be easily implemented by accommodation partners and can also be verified by guests. Commenting on the Future of Travel study, Ritu Mehrotra, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives at Booking.com said, “At Booking.com, we believe travel has the power to transform lives for the better. As a leading digital travel platform, we believe sustainable travel will ensure future travellers can continue to encounter a world full of destinations sti ll worth exploring. For the past couple of years, we have worked alongside industry stakeholders to design and implement initiatives and products that support communities, reduce over-tourism, preserve culture and protect the environment. In doing so, we are fostering a long-term future where the whole industry works hand in hand to further transform the global travel experience into a powerful force for good.” METHODOLOGY / NOTES TO EDITORS *Research commissioned by Booking.com and conducted among a sampl e of adults who have traveled for business or leisure in the past 12 months, and must be planning to travel in the next 12 months (if/once travel restrictions are lifted). In total 20,934 respondents across 28 countries and territories were polled (including 999 from USA, 496 from Canada, 497 from Mexico, 997 from Colombia, 999 from Brazil, 499 from Argentina, 995 from Australia, 499 from New Zealand, 999 from Spain, 996 from Italy, 996 from France, 999 from UK, 996 from Germany, 498 from Netherlands, 499 from Denmark, 499 from Sweden, 498 from Croatia, 1001 from Russia, 498 from Israel, 997 from India, 994 from China, 499 from Hong Kong, 497 from Thailand, 496 from Singapore, 499 from Taiwan, 997 from South Korea, 500 from Vietnam and 995 from Japan). Resp ondents completed an online survey in July 2020.

New Delhi, 11th January 2021: After successfully completing a pilot in Bidar (Karnataka) & Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), the Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY – Employees’ State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) converged scheme has been expanded to 113 districts across four states of Madhya Pradesh (except Indore district), Maharashtra (except South Mumbai area, Pune, and Kolhapur districts), and Chhattisgarh (except Raipur and Korba districts) and four districts of Karnataka – Bidar, Chikballapur, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts. Starting today 28 lakh ESIC beneficiary families in these districts will be able to avail cashless treatment at any of hospitals empanelled under Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana across the country. Speaking about the expansion of the scheme, Dr. Indu Bhushan, Chief Executive Officer, National Health Authority (NHA) said, “The National Health Authority and ESIC have been working continuously with a common goal to provide social security benefits in the form of cashless healthcare to its insured beneficiaries. We have jointly decided to expand the inpatient services under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY to all ESIC beneficiaries located in 113 districts across Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Chhattisgarh and Karnataka at any empanelled hospital anywhere across the country. I am pleased to share with you that on the first day of its expanded operations, 10 beneficiaries have already been admitted and receiving treatment under Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY.” To ensure seamless services to ESIC beneficiaries, NHA has made the necessary changes in the PM-JAY IT platform to enable seamless hospitalisation and claims payment. It has also sensitized the Empanelled Health Care Providers (EHCPs) and different stakeholders to ensure smooth implementation. As under the current process, all the payments for the treatments will be done by the National Health Authority to the hospitals against their claims. A dedicated call centre toll-free helpline 14588 has been setup by National Health Authority to take up all queries and grievances from the general public. National Health Authority and Employees’ State Insurance Corporation had entered into an agreement to extend cashless treatment to ESIC beneficiaries through the PM-JAY network hospitals and provide increased accessibility to better quality healthcare services and larger choice. The project was launched in a pilot phase in two districts, Bidder (Karnataka) & Ahmednagar (Maharashtra). Under the scheme, 32 beneficiaries availed the inpatient treatment services at PM-JAY hospitals. Based on the learning and experience in the pilot phase, the PM-JAY - ESIC converged scheme has been expanded for beneficiaries residing across 113 districts of 4 states – Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka (four districts).

National, 6th January 2021: Indoor Air Quality has been troubling facility managers for quite some time now. Contaminated central air handling systems can become breeding grounds for mold, mildew, and other sources of biological contaminants and can then distribute these contaminants through the offices or homes. Indoor Healthy air has assumed greater significance in the fight against Covid 19. To increase the safety of people working or living in enclosed environments, Milagrow, India’s No.1 service robots brand, has launched two advanced industry-grade duct cleaning robots. Milagrow Hydra & Milagrow Viper. Both the robots help with cleaning accumulated dirt, dust smut, etc in rectangular or round air ducts with a diameter between 100-350mm. This will be useful for facility managers across corporates, factories, hotels, restaurants, airports, healthcare companies, etc. The latest addition to Milagrow’s product portfolio, Hydra is the world’s most versatile duct cleaning robot that cleans large and medium-sized rectangular or round ducts between 250-1000 mm in size. It can also climb up to 30 degrees. It comes with an extendable telescopic cleaning arm, 3-way camera to leave no dead corners. A rotation rate of 297 rpm, 360-degree maneuverability on its own axis, variable speed control provides it with huge versatility. The full set of Milagrow Hydra weighing includes a cleaning robot, smart control box, 20 m flexible cable, an 1800W, 60L vacuum cleaner, 4 types of brush heads for different size ducts. Meanwhile, Milagrow Viper is the world’s thinnest, lightest, portable, compact, powerful duct cleaner that cleans round and rectangular ducts between 100-350mm. It comes with three PA 66 nylon brushes that have long durability and spins both sides and cleans efficiently without damaging the duct. Its footswitch makes for easy movement control whereas the flexible shaft bracket ensures easy storage. Viper’s Omni-directional wheel eases maneuvering around. The full set of Milagrow Viper includes the robot, control box, 10 m shaft/cable, sliding car, footswitch, and 3 types of brushes. Priced at Rs. 1,199,000 and Rs. 3,99,000 respectively, both Hydra and Viper come with a 1 year comprehensive warranty. Speaking on the launch, Mr. Rajeev Karwal, Founder Chairman of Milagrow Robots, said, “Today’s launch of Air Duct Cleaning Robots show our commitment to providing robotic and automation solutions to various chores or menial tasks where humans serve other humans at great risk to their own safety. Cleaning and maintaining Air Ducts was a very difficult task for facility managers and the launch of Milagrow Hydra and Viper air duct cleaning robots shall go a long way to make the task safe and also freeing up the time of manpower for higher value-added jobs.”

In December 2020, Touriosity has reached this important milestone! This magazine was born out of a casual discussion about the love for travel 9 years back. We were lucky, and grateful, to have friends from all over the world join us in course of time and gradually become part of our extended family. Through twists and turns, surprises and shocks, hardship as well as fun, and definitely a lot of learning, it has turned 100th in December 2020! Yes, all was not bad about this year after all. This feat would not have been possible without the cooperation of and encouragement from all our writers, photographers, regular columnists, other contributors, employees, interns, volunteers, readers, subscribers and everybody else who have supported us! We take this opportunity to put on record the names of all our 221 contributors (writers, columnists and photographers) who made the 100 monthly issues of TOURIOSITY a reality with their beautiful stories, regular columns and captivating photographs. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our patrons and contributors for embarking on the journey with us. We thought it fit to personally thank each of our 221 contributors over these 100 issues by listing out their names. Snapshot of the pages are provided below. This issue has another brilliant cover by Chris Nettekoven and more than 100 photos by Grete Howard. Kindly check the link wherein an acknowledgement has been specially dedicated to our contributors. It is also possible to download the 100th issue special edition from this link. Touriosity 100th Issue Milestone

Saturday, 21 November, marks exactly two years until the next and groundbreaking edition of the FIFA World Cup™. The compact nature, modern landscape and fascinating culture offered by the first edition of the event to be held in the Middle East and Arab world will guarantee a unique experience in 2022. Among the many distinctive features, travelling fans will have the opportunity to potentially attend more than one match a day during the group stage, which will feature an exciting schedule with four daily fixtures, as announced earlier this year. Infrastructure planned for the event has reached 90% completion, with the three stadiums that have already been finalised – Khalifa International, Al Janoub and Education City – safely hosting more than 100 matches in 2020 in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three more tournament venues are in the final stages of construction: Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium, Al Bayt and Al Thumama. The main works at the remaining two stadiums – Ras Abu Aboud and Lusail – are set to be completed in 2021. Countrywide infrastructure is also being delivered at a rapid pace, including the state-of-the-art Doha Metro – which was successfully utilised by fans during the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019™ – new roads and the expansion of Hamad International Airport, which is planned to cater for more than 50 million visitors a year by 2022. “2020 has surely been a challenging year for the entire world, and football was no exception. Despite the difficulties, steady progress was made in the last few months, showing yet again Qatar’s strong and continued commitment – under the leadership of the Amir, whom I personally thank – to hosting an unforgettable FIFA World Cup in two years’ time, which will no doubt build a legacy long beyond 2022,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino. “Besides the very important labour reforms recently announced by the government, progress has also been made on stadium construction, along with the implementation of strict measures to protect workers’ health. During my short visit to Doha a few weeks ago, I witnessed first-hand how well preparations have advanced, and I am looking forward with confidence to Qatar 2022, for the transformative impact it is already having on the country and the region, for the unique experience it will provide fans from all over the world and, of course, for witnessing the best World Cup ever.” HE Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, added: “We are immensely proud of the progress we have made over the last ten years. Both tournament and national infrastructure projects are well advanced, with everything on track to be completed well ahead of the big kick-off. Our legacy projects, meanwhile, are already having an impact on people’s lives in areas such as workers’ rights, education and entrepreneurship.” “This is an incredibly important FIFA World Cup – for Qatar, the region and the world. Qatar 2022 will introduce billions of people to the Middle East and Arab world for the first time, and help to foster a greater understanding and break down stereotypes that people may have of our country and region. We’re very excited to welcome the world in 2022.” Qatar will host the most compact version of the FIFA World Cup in modern times. All the stadiums are in close proximity to one another and will be linked by an ultra-modern transport infrastructure, meaning short travel times for fans, players and media. Visitors will be able to stay in one location throughout the tournament and will not be required to take any internal flights. The longest distance between stadiums is 75km (Al Bayt to Al Janoub), while the shortest is just 5km (Education City to Al Rayyan). In July, it was confirmed that the opening match would take place at the stunning Al Bayt Stadium, a 60,000 capacity venue designed to resemble a traditional tent used in the Arab world. The final will be staged at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium on 18 December 2022 – Qatar National Day, which is a public holiday.

Mumbai, December 17, 2020: IndusInd Bank in partnership with Mastercard announced the launch of its first metal credit card - ‘PIONEER Heritage’ for the Bank’s ultra-high net worth segment of customers. Equipped with best-in-class features & privileges across an array of categories like travel, wellness, lifestyle among others, the all-new credit card has been specially curated to match the requirements of affluent Indian professionals and entrepreneurs. It is also part of the ‘World Elite’ platform by Mastercard comprising privileges that complement the lifestyle of the discerning few. The ‘World Elite’ platform is Mastercard’s signature global program that offers the choicest benefits to HNI cardholders across their passion points. With the launch of the ‘Pioneer Heritage Credit Card’, IndusInd Bank has joined the ranks with few other banks globally, that offer a credit card which has been exquisitely crafted with metal. Speaking on the launch of the new card, Mr. Samir Dewan, Head - Affluent Banking, IndusInd Bank said, “At IndusInd Bank, we believe that it is important to anticipate our customers’ needs, and curate the most rewarding experiences for them. With the launch of the PIONEER Heritage Credit Card, we are strengthening as well as broadening our card proposition for the PIONEER banking customers, providing them access to world class services by leveraging on our wide network and relationships. We believe, the new credit card is a compelling proposition that offers best-in-class privileges and indulgences across travel, wellness, lifestyle and luxury categories, thereby offering our wealth customers with an unmatched banking experience.” Commenting on the launch, Mr. Aman Ahuja, Vice President, Product and Innovation, South Asia, Mastercard said “Mastercard is pleased to partner with IndusInd Bank for the launch of our very first metal credit card ‘PIONEER Heritage’. India has over a million millionaires, and the number is growing by 12-13% every year. These High-Net-Worth-Individuals (HNWIs) exhibit an increasing demand for services, experiences, and differentiated products. Mastercard is committed to bringing customized experiences to this elite, affluent segment. This metal credit card is specially designed to offer Priceless moments to the ultra-high net worth segment of customers to meet their diverse preferences with meticulously customized offerings. This card offers a combination of niche banking solutions and carefully curated lifestyle privileges.” Key benefits of the ‘IndusInd Bank Pioneer Heritage Credit Card’ include: Travel: Unlimited complimentary access to participating international and domestic airport lounges Financial: Waiver on card annual fee if the cardholder meets the minimum spends criteria of INR 10,00,000 or more (combined spends of Primary and all Add-on Cards, if any) during the period Lifetime waiver of late payment charges, cash advance fee as well as over limit fee Lifestyle: Unlimited complimentary golf games and lessons at select golf courses in India 4 complimentary movie tickets per quarter as well as 20% discount on events on bookmyshow.com Complimentary membership for the card holder and his/her spouse to the Club ITC Culinaire Insurance: Complimentary personal air accident cover of Rs. 2.5 crores Insurance cover for a sum up to the credit limit on the card Lost baggage insurance of Rs.1,00,000 Loss of travel document insurance of Rs. 75,000 To apply for the ‘IndusInd Bank Pioneer Heritage Credit Card’, one can visit any of the existing IndusInd Bank PIONEER lounges or can also contact their PIONEER relationship manger. More information on this credit card is available on < https://bank.indusind.com/pioneer/personal-banking/cards/pioneer-heritgae-credit-card.html >

UAE-headquartered TIME Hotels Management has officially taken over the management of the Onyx Hotel Apartments in Al Qusais, Dubai, its fifth property in Dubai and its seventh in the UAE. TIME Hotels took over day-to-day operations of the rebranded TIME Onyx Hotel Apartments Al Qusais on Saturday (12th December) following an official handover ceremony, which was attended by Mohamed Awadalla, CEO, TIME Hotels and Ali Mohammad Obaid Al Qutami Al Suwaidi, Managing Director, Jams HR Solutions. Commenting, TIME Hotels CEO, Mohamed Awadalla, said: “This latest management acquisition, further reinforces our steady and focused growth strategy to expand our footprint in the UAE responsibly. The UAE hospitality sector has grown steadily in confidence, since the initial COVID-19 lockdown in April and now that vaccines are ready to be rolled out, I am very optimistic that our industry will rebound in 2021, especially during the build up to Expo 2020.” Conveniently located near Dubai’s commercial district, airport and an array of tourist attractions and major shopping destinations, TIME Onyx Hotel Apartments, Al Qusais, comprises 176 elegantly furnished apartments, including 42 studios, 99 one-bedroom apartments and 35 two-bedroom apartments. The property features Foodio, an all-day dining restaurant, Bites Café, a business centre, prayer room and a gift shop. Guests also have access to a temperature-controlled roof-top swimming pool, kids’ pool, jacuzzi and a fully equipped 24-hour gym. For those looking for total relaxation, guests can indulge in a ladies or gents sauna and steam room. For business executives, there is a business centre and a multi-purpose meeting room capable of accommodating 30 people. “TIME Onyx Hotel Apartment has been classified as a Deluxe Hotel Apartment and due to our location and our facilities, we are ideally suited for both corporate and leisure guests, whether it’s a short family weekend break, or an executive looking for a base, while making lengthy business trips, or working on local projects,” said Karim Ellecy, General Manager. For more information, please log onto http://www.timehotels.ae/.