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Arif Alvi Welcomes | COTHM Team At President House

January 20, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

Islamabad: A team comprising of students and management had the opportunity to meet and talk with President Arif Alvi when the team visited President House on 14th January.

Led by a coach Miss Neelma Gul and supervisor Mrs Sadia Fuad, the students took questions from the President on their decisive victory in International Eurhodip Challenge 2020.

It is pertinent to mention that over 100 teams from 39 countries submitted their entries for this year’s competition, out of which 10 were shortlisted. The theme of this competition revolved around the role of a digital influencer in promoting a hotel brand amongst hotel school students.

The COTHM team comprised of 3 student members, Syed Mubashar Ali, Syed Hammad Bukhari and Abdul WahabAwan. Ms. Sadia Fuad and Neelma Gul served as the team’s coach while Mr Zaheer supervised the entire project with great zeal. Technical support was extended by Sarmad, Waqasand Adnan.

Not only met the President Alvi, but talked to him about a range of issues, including the importance of degree with skills, the need of vocational training, provision of employment opportunities and human resource development.

President Alvi lauded the collective efforts of faculty and students who managed to bag 1st position in international Eurhodip Challenge 2020 organized by Stenden Hotel Management School.

COTHM recruits, trains and develops outstanding professionals in the field of hospitality. The college leads the academic element and its founder, Mr Ahmad Shafiq added:

“It is really pleasing that the government and the President is finally taking an active interest in the education and vocational training in the field of hospitality and tourism.

“College of Tourism and Hotel Management continues to go from strength to strength and is proud to be playing such a major part in this exciting new development,” said Mr AhamdShafiq CEO and Founder COTHM.

“The University of Bedfordshire is at the forefront of innovative practice in social work higher education and we are delighted to be involved in delivering the Frontline Programme, which is making a major contribution to social work education and having a positive impact in support of vulnerable children.”

“When he was speaking to us, it was clear that he really valued our opinions and wanted to answer questions in the way most helpful to us,” the coach said. “He kept the mood light, making jokes, and it was great to see the genuine, funny and compassionate person behind all of the public appearances and policy decisions,” added a student.

Speaking to the team, the president answered a number of acute questions on employment, the necessity to raise scholarships and ensured government’s assistance to COTHM in future.

Traveling to Islamabad and meeting with the President and other Government Officials, was an experience the students and management of the college will never forget. What a perfect start to the New Year!

Filed Under: Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 56-2021

Emirates Launches | Much Awaited Global Sale

January 20, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

DUBAI: Emirates is launching its much-awaited global sale to inspire and encourage travellers to reconnect with family and friends or explore new destinations in the New Year.

 All-inclusive Economy Class fares from Dubai start at AED1, 055 ($287) to Karachi; AED1, 605 ($436.9) to Istanbul; AED1, 695 ($461.4) to Cairo; AED1, 995 ($543) to Moscow and AED4, 995 ($1,359.7) to Los Angeles. Business Class fares start at AED4, 495 to Karachi ($1,223.6); AED5, 995 ($1,631.9) to Cairo; AED8, 995 ($2,448.5) to Istanbul; AED9, 995 ($2,720.7) to Moscow and AED23, 995 ($6,531.7) to Los Angeles.

 Bookings have to be made between January 19 to February 2 for travel until June 15. Emirates customers can travel with peace of mind with the airline’s flexible booking options and multi-risk travel insurance including Covid-19 cover with every flight.

 Emirates Skywards, the loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, is also making sure members get the best out of their travels with special Cash+Miles rates. Bookings made from January 3 to February 1 for travel between January 3 and June 15 can enjoy a special conversion offer where 2,000 Skywards Miles is equivalent to $20 for Economy Class flights; and 2,000 Skywards Miles is equivalent to $40 for First and Business Class flights. With no minimum number of Miles needed to spend, Skywards members can pay for part of their ticket’s cost with as little as 1 Mile.

Emirates delivers outstanding value through industry-leading service and products across every class of travel. Customers can explore over 4,500 channels of on-demand entertainment on the airline’s award-winning inflight system, ice; as well as regionally inspired multi-course meals and complimentary beverages in every class.

Filed Under: Airlines, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 56-2021

PIA Celebrates | Its 66Th Anniversary

January 18, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

KARACHI: Last week Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) celebrated its 66th anniversary at its head office in Karachi.  Commemorating 66th year in service to the nation, PIA held a modest ceremony. The occasion was graced by celebrity performer and philanthropist   Mr. Shehzad Roy while Mr. Zaryab Sultan performed national songs for the audience. A ceremonial cake cutting ceremony was performed by CEO PIA Air Marshal Arshad Malik.

Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), the national flag carrier of Pakistan  PIA was founded on 29 October 1946 as Orient Airways, and was initially based in Calcutta, British India, before shifting operations to the newly independent state of Pakistan in 1947.

Orient Airways was nationalised to form the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIAC). The new airline commenced international services in 1955 to London, via Cairo and Rome.

PIA became the first Asian airline to operate jet aircraft with the induction of the Boeing 707 into commercial service on 7 March 1960   and later in 1964 became the first non-Communist airline to fly to China.

The airline played a vital role in the establishment of the Emirates airline in 1985. In 2004, PIA become the launch customer of the Boeing 777-200LR. On 10 November 2005, PIA used the Boeing 777-200LR to complete the world’s longest nonstop flight by a commercial airliner. This flight lasted 22 hours and 22 minutes on the eastbound route between Hong Kong and London.

Filed Under: Airlines, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 56-2020

Turkish Airlines Launches | New Hygiene Programme

January 18, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

ISTANBUL: Turkish Airlines has launched a new hygiene programme “TK Extra Care” which highlights new protective hygiene measures, in collaboration with the global carrier’s ambassador Dr. Mehmet Oz, the producer and host of the world-renowned “The Dr. Oz Show.”

 The announcement of the new animated in-flight video comes at a time when health and safety is a top consideration on travellers’ checklists. Inspired by the airline’s ongoing dedication to its passengers’ well-being, the three-minute video follows Dr. Oz through the travel experience passengers should expect when flying with the global airline today. From the moment Dr. Oz checks-in for his flight to when he arrives at his destination, viewers will not only be reminded of the airline’s hygiene protocols necessary for a safe flying experience, but will have full assurance that Turkey’s flag carrier is enforcing a higher level of protection for every stage of the journey that goes above and beyond industry standards.

 Turkish Airlines puts passenger hygiene at the forefront, protecting its guests at each stage of the journey. In the three-minute animated video, Dr. Oz shows that from checking-in online and carrying only personal items in the cabin, passenger contact is reduced. Viewers learn that upon entering the airport, all passengers must wear a mask and are provided with hand disinfectant and body temperature screenings throughout the terminal. The video also highlights that Turkish Airlines has taken extra safety steps to ensure peace of mind, such as disinfecting luggage with a UV system and boarding passengers in smaller groups from the back of the plane to the front. Hygiene Experts are present on each flight to maintain a high health and safety level, while each passenger will receive a hygiene kit upon boarding.

 Turkish Airlines Chairman of the Board and the Executive Committee, M. İlker Aycı, commented on the video’s debut; “There is no question that travellers around the world are facing an immense need for enforced safety measures and peace of mind while traveling. At Turkish Airlines, the hygiene standards for our passengers are our top priority and we offer the highest standards. These extra safety precautions have been introduced following the authorized committees’ evaluations and approvals. With the release of ‘TK Extra Care’, we are hopeful that viewers will recognize Turkish Airlines’ hard work and dedication in keeping both passengers and crews safe, and we are pleased to have Dr. Oz share our message with the world.”

Filed Under: Airlines, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 56-2020

Madrid Set To Host | Key Week For Global Tourism

January 18, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

MADRID: The global tourism sector is starting the New Year prepared to #RestartTourism when conditions allow, with the World Tourism Organization set to again bring together leaders from across the public and private sectors. Tomorrow in Madrid, the UNWTO Global Tourism Crisis Committee will hold its first meeting of the year. This meeting to advance concrete plans to ensure the restart of tourism will take place in the context of the UNWTO Executive Council.

On Monday (18 January), the Global Tourism Crisis Committee, established by UNWTO at the very start of the pandemic as a means to unite the sector and lead a strong and consistent response to the crisis, will meet for the first time this year. Taking advantage of the Executive Council celebrated the following day and hosted by Spain, this meeting will be a hybrid event, combining in-person and virtual participation. Once again, the Committee will bring together tourism leaders from around the world, as well as UN agencies and representatives from civil society and the private sector.

Key issues on the agenda include exploring how vaccines against COVID-19 can be part of a harmonized approach to restarting tourism, including through the potential use of health passports and other measures. UNWTO will also call on members of the Committee to join forces for a global campaign aimed at restoring confidence in tourism.

Executive Council meets for 113th Session

During the 113th session of the UNWTO Executive Council (19 January), representatives of the 35 Council members will be provided with updates on the implementation of the UNWTO Programme of Work and plans for 2021. The Executive Council will also explore current tourism trends, including the impact of the ongoing pandemic on the sector and what this means for livelihoods and tourism’s contribution to sustainable development. This hybrid event expects 150 in-person participants.

The Executive Council meeting will also include the election for the position of UNWTO Secretary-General for the term 2022-2025. Incumbent Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili has made himself available for re-election for a second term, while the Kingdom of Bahrain has nominated Shaikha Mai bint Mohammed Al Khalifa for the position.

Filed Under: Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 56-2020

Tourism Suffers The Most

January 18, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

LONDON: The UK will remove all remaining countries from the travel corridor from Monday, December 18. Prime Minister Boris Johnson used this afternoon’s Downing Street briefing to announce all corridors will be temporarily closed as the government battles to contain new variants of Covid.

It will apply across the UK from 4am Monday.

It means anyone entering the UK from any country will have to quarantine for 10 days on arrival, in addition to presenting a negative Covid test.

Incoming passengers will still have the test-to-release option where they can take a test after five days to release themselves from quarantine early.

Johnson said enforcement at the borders will also be stepped up.

The government has already banned travellers from South America and Portugal following the emergence of a worrying strain of Covid in Brazil.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps tweeted: “Travel Corridors assess public health risk from the original SARS-COV-2, but it’s impossible for the Joint Biosecurity Centre to provide live scientific updates to predict which countries or regions will now originate new variants. Travel Corridors are therefore suspended for now.”

He added: “There will be more enforcement checks & fewer exemptions. International arrivals will need to have a negative COVID-19 test & self-isolate for 10 days or Test to Release after 5. This action will slow the spread of new variants whilst millions receive their vaccinations.”

Filed Under: Airlines, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 56-2020

Etihad Allows | Children to Fly For Free

January 15, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

ABU DHABI: Adults who book their next flight to Abu Dhabi or Dubai with Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, can take their children for free.

 With every adult ticket booked before January 28, for travel until September 30, up to two children will travel free – so two adults can bring four children, free. Fares to Abu Dhabi and Dubai start from just GBP299 ($406.2) in Economy class.

 To give guests peace of mind and to offer an extra level of reassurance to travel, Etihad is the only airline in the world requiring 100 per cent of its passengers to show a negative PCR test before departure, and on arrival in Abu Dhabi.

 Abu Dhabi is a diverse destination with desertscapes, fabulous beaches and warm, clear waters. The modern, cosmopolitan capital city features thrilling headline attractions such as Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, as well as cultural highlights including the Louvre Abu Dhabi and the famous Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque.

 Adventurers will appreciate the opportunity the emirate presents for kayaking in the mangroves, sand boarding in the desert, jet-skiing, go-karting and more. Travellers in need of rest and rejuvenation will find peace in the many tranquil spaces across the city, from serene beaches to luxury spas.

 Flying to, from, and via Abu Dhabi is supported by the airline’s fully redesigned Etihad Wellness sanitisation and safety programme, which ensures the highest standards of hygiene are maintained at every stage of the customer journey.

 This includes specially trained Wellness Ambassadors, a first in the industry, who have been introduced by the airline to provide essential travel health information and care on the ground and on every flight, so guests can fly with greater ease and confidence. All passengers travelling with Etihad receive complimentary Covid-19 insurance. 

 The sale starts on January 14 and ends on January 28 at etihad.com. Offer valid for children up to 11 years old.

Filed Under: Airlines, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 55-2020

UNWTO Election | Shaika Mai Challenges Zurab Pololikashvili

January 14, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

MANAMA: Shaika Mai Al-Khalifa from the kingdom of Bahrain will challenge the incumbent, Zurab Pololikashvili, for the role of Secretary General of the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).

Pololikashvili was appointed to the role in 2017 and will seek a second three-year mandate during an executive council meeting of the body in Madrid this month.

Shaika Mai is currently in the Spanish capital for the event, presenting her candidacy for the role.

During her stay, she has met with a wide range of representatives from member states to set out her vision for the future of the tourism sector.

Last year was a hugely challenging one for tourism, with international arrivals falling by 72 per cent over the first ten months of 2020.

The sector was hit by restrictions on travel, low consumer confidence and a global struggle to contain the Covid-19 virus, all of which contributed to the worst year on record in the history of tourism.

According to the latest tourism data from the UNWTO, destinations welcomed 900 million fewer international tourists between January and October when compared with the same period of 2019.

This translates into a loss of US$935 billion in export revenues from international tourism, more than ten times the loss in 2009 under the impact of the global economic crisis.

Ahead of the meeting, Shaika Mai said: “I am enjoying the beautiful city of Madrid, and my visit so far has been very successful.

“I am confidently approaching a winning majority based upon the commitments of those who believe that it is time for a paradigm shift for the tourism sector.”  

Shaika Mai  Al-Khalifa promised a dynamic and transparent leadership of UNWTO.

In her vision statement, she states that within the first twelve months of her term she will have listened to every member state of the organisation and drafted a strategy based on what the members need.

She also pledges to work tirelessly to secure the resources required to realize those aspirations.

Shaika Mai added: “I am confident that the tourism sector will recover from this crisis as it has recovered from many previous crises.

“I believe that we need to work closely on the issue of travel protocols, in addition to working with governments on fiscal support schemes.

“It has been extremely difficult due to travel restrictions to travel to the member states and meet the national tourism organisations in person; but I have done the most I could do given the limitation of time and the circumstances of the pandemic.

“I am grateful to the commitment I received from so many countries and look forward to starting a new era.

“We are now confident we have a winning majority to deliver on this mandate.”

The Arab Tourism Ministers’ Council earlier unanimously approved the nomination of Shaika Mai for the role.

She is currently president of the Bahrain Authority for Culture & Antiquities (BACA)

Filed Under: Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 55-2020

Gulf Air Set To Move | Entire Ops To New Bahrain Terminal

January 13, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

MANAMA: Gulf Air, the national carrier of Bahrain, has announced that starting January 28, it plans to move its entire operations for inbound and outbound flights to the new Bahrain International Airport terminal.

 This will provide a brand new customer experience to its passengers flying through the airline’s hub, the Kingdom of Bahrain, it said.

The new airport terminal will open a new chapter in the kingdom’s journey in aviation history, support the strategic vision for Bahrain to strengthen its position as a hub and facilitate the movement of millions of passengers.

The new airport terminal will feature a dedicated check-in area for both Falcon Gold and economy class passengers of Gulf Air as well as a brand new Falcon Gold lounge that is double in size and capacity compared to the previous one in the old airport.

Taking into consideration all of the updated health and safety measures, the new state-of-the-art lounge will reflect new concepts of modern premium lounges yet keeping with the legacy and rich history of the 70-year-old Gulf Air brand.

 A number of features will be maintained from the previous lounge as well as newly introduced spaces such as a children’s area, shower rooms, prayer space, a quiet area along with live cooking stations and new food & beverage concepts. Operational around the clock and with a capacity of over 400 passengers at any given time, the new Falcon Gold lounge will be available to experience by the airline’s Falcon Gold passengers as well as its Black, Gold and Silver Falconflyer members.

 Ahead of moving to the new premises, Gulf Air’s Acting Chief Executive Officer Captain Waleed AlAlawi said: “It will be a big day for the Kingdom of Bahrain’s aviation history and for Gulf Air. We started our operations back in 1950 in a small facility in Muharraq and soon we will see a world-class airport being officially opened to welcome the world to our beloved Kingdom. The new airport is our new home and we are proud to have a bigger, more modern home to be Gulf Air’s hub.”

 He added: “With our own check-in area and a brand new Falcon Gold lounge, we are now more equipped than ever to carry and serve more passengers and expand our operations. We welcome our passengers to fly with us through the new airport which I am sure will impress everyone with its design, facilities, capacity and welcoming feel.”

Filed Under: Airlines, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 55-2020

St. Regis Cairo | Welcomes First Guests In Egypt

January 12, 2021 by holidayweekly Leave a Comment

CAIRO: Marriott International has announced the opening of the St. Regis Cairo. Rising tall on the banks of the River Nile; the hotel is an illustrious icon weaving a powerful story of luxury in the region.

Located at the north end of the corniche, the 39-story hotel offers easy access to the magnificent monuments of a city steeped in history.

“Egypt has historically been one of our key markets and strategically significant to our growth in the region,” said Satya Anand, president for Europe, Middle East and Africa, Marriott International.

“Cairo is a storied destination that has long mesmerised the global traveller with its incredible energy offering a vibrant mix of history, culture, tradition and glamour.

“The St. Regis Cairo is an exciting addition to our fast-growing brand portfolio and is set to elevate Cairo’s luxury hospitality landscape with its remarkable design, uncompromising service, and exceptional culinary venues.”

With its striking architecture, created by renowned architect Michael Graves, the St. Regis Cairo firmly establishes itself as a pivotal landmark in the city and beyond, carefully balancing opulence with refinement and elegance to evoke a profound sense of grandeur.

The St. Regis Cairo boasts 286 lavishly appointed rooms and suites and 80 luxurious apartments, that offer unmatched indulgence.

Abdullah Bin Hamad Al Attiyah, chief executive of Qatari Diar, added: “We are delighted to strengthen our global portfolio of hospitality developments with the opening of the St. Regis Cairo.

“This luxury landmark will introduce higher standards of hospitality to this beautiful destination with its unparalleled levels of luxury and exceptional service – both of which the iconic St. Regis brand is renowned for.”

Filed Under: Hotel, Latest News, News Tagged With: volume 55-2020

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