World Travel Essential

Over 55 Tourism Ministers from all around the world attended the WTTC summit – marking the evolution of the event into being one that represents both the private and public sectors. A number of them were in Riyadh for the first time, taking advantage of the fact of being here in order to forge links with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. One of them was Lennox Andrews – Tourism Minister for the tiny island state of Grenada...

In post-pandemic times, it seems travellers are more and more searching open spaces … and unique experiences. Speaking at the “Cities of Tomorrow” conference at the WTTC Summit, the head of Western Australia’s highly dynamic DMO, Carolyn Turnbull, touted the fact that in Perth and its environs one can find both. We spoke to her at the summit.

A key session of the WTTC Global Summit centered on sustainability - with an extraordinary gathering of leaders discussing the topic, none the least of whom was the former President of Indonesia. Richard Barnes met with him after the conference.

Holidays in Iraq may seem like a strange idea for most people today. But Baghdad-based DMC  Ali Al Makhzomy wants to change that, and he was at the WTTC Global Summit to spread the word. Richard Barnes asked him how he sees the sector developing in coming years.

Saudi Arabia is evolving … very quickly… The world renowned American travel business “guru”, Edie Rodriguez talks about how the Kingdom is facing the challenges of the coming years when it comes to reaching its 2030 tourism goals.

Many people have now heard of projects such as NEOM, Diriyah Gate or AlUla… but did you know about Sharqia? Richard Barnes speaks to the VP of Implementation and Projects for the region, which accounts for a very large percentage of Saudi’s eastern territory.

The man at the helm of the biggest online group booking platform is in Riyadh for the first time. Richard Barnes talks to him about his thoughts concerning the Kingdom and the future of mega-events here.

In Riyadh for the WTTC Summit, we ran into the man at the helm of the organisation running the highly successful Saudi Hospitality Investment Conference (amongst others). Richard Barnes spoke to him about the event… and his sentiment towards the tourism market per se in the Kingdom.

How does Europe fit into the amazing transformative regenerating process that’s rocking the tourism industry today? Richard Barnes talks to Eduardo Santander about this and other key factors affecting the market as we head into 2023.

The World Tourism Organisation’s mission to make the world a better place thanks to tourism is stronger than ever. We spoke with Mr Pololikashvili at the WTTC summit about the growing importance of Saudi Arabia as a destination.

Sameer Almakrani has been crowned best tour guide in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia… So who better to talk to about the evolution of the industry? We met with him in Jeddah

The World Expo in Dubai is creating an amazing new dynamic in regional tourism, and it’s an event definitely not to be missed. This week, we talk to Naim Maadad, CEO of Gates Hospitality in Dubai, about the impact of the show, along with his thoughts on the event. He also talks about the long-awaited reopening of his property in Dubai - the Six Senses Zighy Bay. And this week, Mary Gostelow takes us on a new tour of a fabulous classic - Le Crillon in Paris -  Rosewood Hotel.

Jordan’s Tourism Board had a major presence at the recent IFTM Top Resa show in Paris – as the first international trade fair they have attended since the onset of the Covid crisis. This week on World Travel Essential, we bring you the full version of my interview with Minister of Tourism and Antiquities, H.E. Nayef Al-Fayez, published in part in the official show magazine, IFTM Daily. And our special thanks go to the publishers, Cleverdis for the right to reproduce the interview. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of the Londoner.

The Maldives are hotter than ever as a destination … and this week we talk to Alex Chambers – CEO of Hummingbird Travel – about an enthralling new cultural tour of the islands that has been put together by Tomas Cochrane. Yes, culture and the Maldives CAN go together. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us for a close-up and personal tour of the Patina Maldives, Fari Islands. If your clients love the Maldives, you should not miss this episode!

Africa is trending, and Zanzibar is a very cool destination. This week, we are taking a close up look at an amazing resort in Zanzibar – the Tulia – where they’re going more than the extra mile when it comes to sustainability and working with the local community… and luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to the Big Apple, and one of her very favourite addresses there.

What are the latest trends in outbound high-end tourists from Eastern European countries? We discovered the answer recently at the second annual Luxury Bloc event in Prague, where the opening ceremony also saw an interesting roundtable of regional travel advisors, as well as fielding statistics on what is changing in terms of customer demand in terms of destinations. To get all the details, this week, we are talking to Gabriela Markova of Luxury Bloc. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of an amazing property in Dorset in the UK.

81% of travelers say heightened risk of cancellation is a barrier to booking travel this year with "refund uncertainty" the top concern. 62% of travelers likely to take-up new ‘Pay when you fly’ options to reduce expo-sure to the refund process. In an exclusive interview this week with Bart Tompkins, the man behind this new initiative from Amadeus, we hear about how this new initiative can help put more “backsides in seats” in planes. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to Gstaad.

Who would have thought you could go deep diving - right in the centre of Dubai. Skiing maybe? Diving … well yes! On top of that’s it’s the world’s deepest man-made pool - at 60m all the way to the bottom. This week in World Travel Essential we talk to the man behind the new project, Jarrod Jablonski, about what is set to be an amazing adventure feature for those visiting the emirates. And Mary Gostelow takes us to Gstaad in the Swiss Alps!

This week, the World Travel Essential podcast, with Richard Barnes, pays a visit to Cambodia, where one super luxury hotel in Siem Reap has been working hard on designing bespoke authentic activities for visitors, in order for them to be really immersed into the local culture… and luxury travel guru Mark Gostelow takes us to visit something completely different – a modern luxury property in the UK with a different twist. Don’t miss it!

Accor and the International LGBTQ+ Travel Association (IGLTA) have announced a broad Global Partnership. Together, Accor and IGLTA will work to ensure the hospitality industry is a safe and inclusive space for all, and will facilitate and drive equality within the travel sector. This week on World Travel Essential, we talk to the man behind the project: Patrick Mendes, Group Chief Commercial Officer in charge of Sales, Marketing, Distribution and Loyalty. And luxury travel guru, Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of one of her favourite properties… this time in Singapore. It’s all on the World Travel Essential podcast. Don’t miss it.

What is the official outlook for European tourism this summer? This week, we go straight to the heart of the matter – with the European Travel Commission. World Travel Essential has a very special guest in the shape of ETC Research Manager Lyublena Dimova, who has just released an important study on European travel movements. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to – of all things - an extraordinary luxury modern pub. Don’t miss it!

This week, World Travel Essential spotlights key advances in Wellness – the trending sector in tourism at the moment. We bring you an exclusive interview with Global Wellness Institute CEO and Chairperson (and Almont Global Advisory Board member), Susie Ellis. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to an amazing property on an island in the River Thames.

This week, World Travel Essential spotlights Africa – what we believe is the trending continent for the next decade. We bring you an exclusive interview with Time & Tide Africa CEO, Bruce Simpson (formerly with Wilderness Safaris and North Island Seychelles) about how safaris are evolving, and why Madagascar looks like being a strong growth player in tourism in the next years.  And Mary Gostelow takes us to an amazing property in California’s Silicon Valley. Don’t miss it!

What’s at the top of YOUR travel bucket list? For more and more people, it’s a POLAR adventure! This week on World Travel Essential, my special guest is Andrew Schweitzer, UK Business Development Manager of Quark Expeditions – leader in Polar adventures. Just what makes a GREAT polar adventure? Andrew gives us the inside line. And this week, luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to Geneva. It’s all in the latest episode of WORLD TRAVEL ESSENTIAL!

What’s trending in terms of luxury travel for this summer? One person in the know is the incredibly dynamic (and personable) Gabriela Markova, organiser of Europe's LUXURY BLOC show (second edition taking place this summer), who is in constant contact with countless luxury destinations and providers. This week, I have asked Gabriela to come back and join me on the show to give us some insight on what’s coming up! And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to a charming property in the English countryside. It’s all on World Travel Essential.

Accor is “Unveiling the World” with its new global campaign celebrating the return of leisure travel and vacations abroad. The hotel group’s research indicates that 65% of respondents worldwide are likely to plan a leisure trip in the coming months. We decided to dig deeper and find out more about the campaign, so this week in the World Travel Essential podcast, Richard Barnes speaks with Steven Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer, Accor to get the “low down” on who it is targeting, and just what the new “message” is from Accor. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow this week takes us to Singapore. It’s all in the latest exciting episode of World Travel Essential! Don’t miss it.

This week saw the first major “live" trade event since the beginning of the Covid crisis, with the ATM show in Dubai. What was it like at the show? We talk to Yuriy Horovyy, CEO of Almont Travel in London (A Virtuoso member) and founding partner of Almont Global, who travelled to Dubai for the event. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of a fabulous property in Versailles, France. It’s all in the latest World Travel Essential Podcast.

With the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announcing a Destination Tracker in preparation for the restart of international travel, EVERYONE in the business wants to know more. This week in a special WTE podcast “three-way” interview feature, we talk to Linda Ristagno, Assistant Director, External Affairs – IATA and Sandra Carvão is Chief of Tourism Market Intelligence and Competitiveness at UNWTO to get ALL the background and facts concerning this exceptional new tool. Don’t miss it… ONLY on WORLD TRAVEL ESSENTIAL!

With trade events mainly on the “back burner” for so long, one that actually did take place last year, and is scheduled for its second edition in Prague this August is Luxury Bloc. The event is organised by the highly dynamic Gabriela Markova. Gabriela thus has her finger well and truly on the luxury travel industry “pulse”, so it’s with great interest and joy that we have her as a special guest on this week’s edition of the World Travel Essential podcast, as she talks not only about her event, but also about trends in the industry and some amazing new resorts and travel ideas. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to a favourite property in the big apple!

According to globally renowned architect, Jean-Philippe Nuel, the only alternative to the current crisis is to reinvent, revitalise and reposition the entire hotel industry. So just what should be done? This week on World Travel Essential, we talk with Sandy Stevens who co-founded in the United States--and leads--Studio Jean-Philippe Nuel & Partners. And with luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow, it’s time for something “completely different”. It’s all in this week’s edition of “World Travel Essential”.  On all popular podcast platforms.

One of the biggest questions for travel professionals today is “Where can my client travel right now? What borders are open for them?” With changes being announced sometimes several times a day by different nations, it’s a headache. This week, on World Travel Essential, we talk to Max Tremaine, the CEO of Sherpa°, a travel tech company that has launched an interactive world “travel reopening” map. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to a fabulous property in Moscow. It’s definitely a “not to be missed” episode!

Sarawak looks like trending as a “must be seen” destination thanks to a new blockbuster film about to be released. Previously carrying the working title “Rajah”, the upcoming Hollywood film based on Sarawak's first Rajah, Sir James Brooke, has been retitled Edge of the World, and is still on course for a June 2021 release.  Shot entirely on location, Edge of the World is set to be an incredible booster for the Malaysian state in Borneo. With this in mind, we have a chat this week in World Travel Essential with Gary Speldewinde – one of Sarawak’s most prolific inbound tour operators, about “destination Sarawak”. And luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to one of her favourite hotels in London!

If you are interested in how air travel is going to trend in the next months when it comes to Covid testing, vaccines etc, don’t miss this episode of World Travel Essential! Our special guest is Alan Murray Hayden - Head Airlines Support & Security for IATA, who reveals all the facts behind the IATA Travel Pass app.

What does the Travel Pass allow people to do? Why is this so important for airlines? How important is it to have a global standard? What about the digital green certificate? Where does IATA stand on that?

... and Luxury Travel Guru Mary Gostelow takes us to Johannesburg.

Thailand may reopen borders in July

A study by Euromonitor shows sustainability is fast growing as a top priority for travel consumers

A new IATA travel poll shows a growing confidence of travellers in air transport

Luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of one of her favourite properties in Munich

And in our special feature – WTTC President & CEO, Gloria Guevara, talks to us about the resilience of the travel industry.

The WTTC calls on EU leadership to pull together in order to avoid even greater disaster for the travel industry,

A movement has been launched in Thailand to reopen borders by 1 July,

Qantas launches mystery flights for domestic passengers,

Luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to one of her favourite haunts in London,

And in our special feature, hotel design legend, Michel Gicquel talks about the hotel room of tomorrow.

A series of recommendations are unveiled for the relaunch of tourism in Europe

Qantas pushes back estimates for reopening routes to Australasia all the way to November

Amadeus and IAG increasingly working together

And in our special feature, we’ll be talking to Filip Boyen, CEO of Forbes Travel Guide.

Google is hit with a million euro fine over misleading hotel ratings in France… we talk with French travel journalist Luc Citrinot about the question…

Accor has launched the Maison Delano Brand on a worldwide scale

We have updates on how Covid continues to affect the travel world,

And in our special feature – luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to one of her favourite places in Singapore…

The ongoing saga of vaccination passports takes a new turn

Business tourism isn’t really headed for the ditch

The global travel market is set to reach a trillion dollars by 2025

And in our special feature, luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to a very special property in Oman.

“It’s… unique. It’s not weird, but it’s unique, and it’s different. And – I know it’s a bold statement – nothing else like this exists in the world.” That’s how Winston Fisher – the brains behind the amazing new Vegas attraction, Area 15, describes his extraordinary new venture. Listen to his exclusive interview this week…

… And in essential travel news headlines, Accor group launches into an exciting new luxury venture, IATA welcomes proposals to reinvigorate progress towards the Single European Sky, British Airways is set to begin trialling a new travel health app on trans-Atlantic flights, and Dubai has become the “go to” destination for vaccination tourism.

Catch these and other essential tidbits in this week’s edition of World Travel Essential.

Surprise, surprise… the UK is closing all travel corridors

Israel announces a plan to open up fully to tourists by mid-year

Saudi Arabia has just launched a major new tourism TV ad campaign

Malaysia announces a new ten-year plan

Travel guru Mary Gostelow takes us to one of her favourite hotels in the UK,

And in our special feature, one of the world’s top hotel tech experts gives his vision for the next year

The WTTC says closing borders is counterproductive

Expedia shuts down offline concierge services

Seabourn introduces new pre and post cruise tours

Emirates brings back the A380 to its Sao Paulo route

And in our special feature, Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of a stately residence hotel in the UK.

This week in World Travel Essential:

The UK is hit hard with Covid restrictions over the holiday period

New Zealand set to create a travel bubble with Australia in Q1

IATA reveals details of a new travel pass

Marriott launches a special health protocol for meetings and events

Mary Gostelow is back in Dubai with another luxury hotel spotlight

And in our special feature, we look at a very worthy project with Lindbad expeditions – helping out in the Galapagos.