Starfish Travel Corporation Team

The Hyde Park Garden, a unique eating space with views over London’s best Royal parkland, is where guests of Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, may enjoy some peace and quiet while celebrating the glorious British summer. Visitors will go through the hotel to a quiet, distinctly British garden located in the Royal Park as they arrive by the famous gate on Knightsbridge and proceed to the Hyde Park Garden. The meal was influenced by British botanicals and, if feasible, British Isles products. English sparkling wines will be celebrated on the drinks menu together with inventive cocktails created to be savoured in the tranquilly of the garden. From 10 May 2023 until September, Hyde Park Garden will be accessible from 12 p.m. to 21 p.m. every day. Hyde Park Garden, which was created to blend in with the surrounding environment, will reflect the views of the royal park and offer the ideal venue for lunches, summertime cocktails, or an early-evening snack in the shade of the nearby trees. With wineries from Hampshire to Kent being included on the menu, English wines will be the star of the show. The Balfour Estate in Kent, which makes an award-winning Brut Rose, Rathfinny Estate in Sussex, a family-run business recognised for making some of the finest English sparkling wine, and Simpsons Wine Estate, a family-run estate famed for its English still wines are just a few examples of the hand-picked vendors. Leading mixologists at Mandarin Oriental have created inventive variations on traditional spritzes for these delightful drinks, which draw inspiration from nearby Hyde Park. Cocktails available to guests include the “Rose Garden” and the “Rosemary Margarita.” The Dinner by Heston Blumenthal team carefully studied the menu, visiting Kew Gardens and Hampton Court to find classic yet slightly unexplored foods. The meal will also include UK-native botanicals. Gentleman’s Relish is one of the signature meals. The gardener’s harvest included native lobster and pickled lemon, mint and pea and gammon salad mustard. Along with the main courses, a generous salad cart will be provided around the dining area. The menu will also include a variety of Porthilly oysters, including natural, Land and Sea, and the iconic Hyde Park Garden Oysters. Throughout the evening, visitors may choose from a variety of shared appetisers, including charcuterie and cheese platters that go great with spritz and wines. The hotel has teamed up with classic British apparel company Hackett Saville Row to create the staff costumes, and N.Peal cashmere shawls will be available for guests to stay warm as the evenings draw in. The workforce now gets fashionable hats from Lock & Co. Hatters so they can stay cool all summer long. Reiko Kaneko, a renowned ceramicist and designer, has created tableware with patterns that feature Hyde Park flowers in the distinctive hotel green. The table setting will be finished with leather place mats and wooden and straw serviette holders, which will compliment the soft natural tones with flashes of pink, salmon and fuchsia. During the day, glass watering-can carafes will be placed next to pots of local herbs and wildflowers on the tables, and at night, golden lamp shades will provide warmth. Hyde Park Garden will feature Summer Sessions, a series of unique events from May to September, throughout the summer. A Meet The Makers wine event, a lobster and chips feast with Rathfinny Wine Estate, and game evenings with luxury gamer and designer, Alexandra Llewellyn are just a few of the events that guests may purchase tickets for to celebrate English Sparkling Wines. The Hyde Park Garden is open every day from 12 p.m. to 21 p.m. Lunch is provided from 12 p.m. to 15 p.m., followed by beverages and small nibbles from 16 p.m. to 21 p.m. Table reservations will be available two weeks in advance, while Summer Sessions reservations will be available one month in advance. Source: breakingtravelnews

The Hon. Edmund Bartlett, Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, announced at a destination press briefing at the 41st Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association (CHTA) Caribbean Travel Marketplace in Barbados that Jamaica has welcomed more than one million visitors so far in 2023, surpassing this milestone roughly one month earlier than in 2022. He provided the assembled media with updates on Jamaica’s brisk tourist arrivals, investments, and efforts to strengthen the sector both locally and globally. “From January through December 2022 Jamaica welcomed 2,478,386 stopover arrivals, a 69.2% increase over 2021 and nearly a full recovery to 2019 highs,” stated Minister Bartlett. “As of May 10, we had welcomed more over a million visitors this year, bringing our destination on line with records set in 2019. This is a wonderful accomplishment as we have witnessed consistent growth in our visitor numbers and ongoing investment in the tourist industry. We anticipate attracting more than 3.8 million tourists in 2023 and increasing to more than 5 million visitors in 2025, according to our projections for the years 2023 through 2025. To maintain this growth’s upward trend, Minister Bartlett added, “This year, we’re adding additional flights from Chicago Midway, Denver, St. Louis, Dallas, Kansas City, and London Gatwick. Additionally, during the next two to five years, we want to build about 8,000 new hotel rooms and extend and modernise Sangster International Airport. Minister Bartlett said, “Furthermore, Jamaica has adopted the Blue Ocean Strategy to produce a more sustainable, varied tourism product. Along with the United Nations, we created Global Tourism Resilience Day, which will occur every year on February 17, with the intention of raising awareness of the need for tourism to recover quickly and take preventative measures against potential disruptions. Donovan White, Director of tourist, Jamaica Tourist Board, noted that “the fact that Jamaica’s tourism arrivals continue to rise is a clear testament to the success of our internal strategies, destination marketing initiatives, and relationships with key travel partners on island and worldwide.” “We are extremely grateful to everyone who has helped Jamaica succeed in expanding its tourism industry to levels that meet and will soon surpass 2019 record levels.” Minister Bartlett further mentioned that Jamaica is using important tourism pillars that highlight the area’s distinct culture and tradition while also catering to the needs of modern tourists who want more from their trips than just sun, sea, and sand. He also emphasised the necessity for careful management of the tourist sector, including the development of resilience so that it can continuously adjust to problems as they emerge and the implementation of strategies to safeguard it against any future shocks. Source: breakingtravelnews

According to Uber’s UK General Manager Andrew Brem, the action is “the latest and most ambitious step” in the company’s ambition to grow its primary ride-booking business. The San Francisco-based firm, which currently allows clients to purchase rail and bus tickets in the UK, has started introducing the new function to a small number of those customers and intends to do so more widely in the upcoming weeks, according to the article. According to the article, Uber has teamed with online travel agency Hopper to sell flights and will receive a modest profit from each transaction. Uber customers will just need to submit their flight details, such as the destination and departure airports, as well as the intended departure date. If going with a major airline, the business said they would then be able to choose one-way and return flights, as well as choose and pay for seats through the app. All of this is done as part of the business’s effort to develop “seamless door-to-door travel solutions”. According to Andrew Brem, general manager of Uber UK, “Our new functionality will make booking and managing air travel simple and stress-free, with the booking process taking as little as one minute.” Due to relationships with companies like Eurostar, Thames Clippers, Omio, National Rail, National Express, and Megabus, customers in the UK may already add reservations for trains, boats, and buses to their Uber accounts. According to The Verge, Brem stated that the train tickets have been “incredibly popular” thus far and that the number of bookings has climbed by 40% per month since the function was introduced in August of last year. It is the disruptive ride-share company’s most extensive move yet. When he combined Uber’s ride-hailing and Uber Eats food delivery services in 2019, Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, stated his ambition that the firm would become “an operating system for everyday life.” Source: escape

Visitors may take use of the resort’s many amenities, including the Spa, Infinity Pool, Outdoor and Indoor Games, and Fireplace, to make their stay unforgettable. NEW DELHI With the launch of its newest luxury resort, WelcomHeritage Ayatana in the tourist hub of Ooty, WelcomHeritage is increasing its presence in South India. The brand has a history of providing contemporary luxury accommodation in upscale and unusual locations, and this new hotel carries on that tradition. “With the launch of our second hotel in the beautiful hill town of Ooty, we are happy to continue our growth in South India. A tribute to our dedication to providing distinctive and genuine experiences for our visitors while conserving India’s rich cultural and natural history is WelcomHeritage Ayatana. We are convinced that WelcomHeritage Ayatana will become a sought-after destination for travellers searching for a genuinely unforgettable experience in South India because of its magnificent setting, great service, and opulent facilities, says Abinash Manghani, CEO of WelcomHeritage Hotels. Visitors may pick from an outstanding choice of lodgings at the resort. Traditional soft furnishings may be found in the Standard villa, which combines colonial history with modern luxury. While the Deluxe Garden Pool Villa elevates leisure with a private pool, the Deluxe Garden Cottage offers a magnificent haven from the noise and bustle with enhanced solitude. The Presidential Suite provides the most opulent experience possible by fusing breathtaking natural beauty and towering views with the utmost in contemporary comfort and conveniences. The resort’s signature restaurant, Tycoons, serves gourmet cuisine with cuisines from all around the world. Visitors may relish the mouthwatering food while taking in the tranquil hillside scenery. The Bar provides the ideal setting for relaxation by looking out over the exquisite flora. A wonderful visit may be had by guests by taking use of the resort’s many amenities, including the Spa, Infinity Pool, Outdoor and Indoor Games, and Fireplace. WelcomeHeritage Ayatana, Ooty also has a wide range of thrilling excursions, such as the Botanical Garden, which was established in 1848 and provides a wonderful sense of nature surrounded by well-kept flora. Visitors who want to unwind and take a boat trip to feel the peace of the sea should stay at the Ooty Boat House. Another must-see place is the Rose Garden, where guests may stroll leisurely among the exquisite hues and tranquil scent of roses. “We are thrilled to introduce our first property in Tamil Nadu, which draws inspiration from the region’s colonial heritage,” said Vishal Tony, the creator of Ayatana, in reference to the opening of the Ooty resort. Our goal is to provide our visitors with a genuine and revitalising experience so they may make lifelong memories. Ooty, which has beautiful scenery, tea farms, and a rich cultural past, was the ideal location for us. It is the perfect getaway location for families and couples. Source: traveldailynews

Secretary Frasco personally gave each attendee a goodie basket full of necessities that they might find helpful in performing their duties as tour guides, such as a lapel microphone, sunglasses, hat, and other accessories, as a token of appreciation for the dedication of the tourism frontliners. Yesterday (May 11), to commemorate the Department of Tourism’s (DOT) 50th founding anniversary, department representatives led by Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco invited tour operators and leaders of tour operator associations to a low-key reception at the Casa Blanca in Intramuros to honour the frontline workers’ efforts to promote Philippine tourism despite the pandemic and other difficulties. “Today, we commemorate the Department of Tourism’s 50th anniversary. And I felt that it was important to celebrate this day not only with the officials and staff of the Department of Tourism but, more importantly, with those who have been on the front lines of tourism and have taken on the responsibility of advocating for our nation, persuading our friends from all over the world to keep visiting, and who have demonstrated to us what it means to love the Philippines by their example—by your example—as Secretary Frasc said. She said, “I could not find it in my heart to share it with anyone but our frontliners. Speaking in front of about 50 representatives from the Federation of Professional Tour Guides Association, Inc. (TGFED), as well as organisations based in the NCR like the Accredited Tourist Guides Services Cooperatives, Inc. (ACTSCOOP), Fort Santiago Volunteer Tour Guides, Inc., GUIDES INC. (NCR Multi-Lingual Tour Guides Association), Japanese-Speaking Tour Guides Association (JASTA), Multi-Lingual Accredited Tour Guides Association of the Philippines (MULATGAP Secretary Frasco noted that her former position had given her the opportunity to witness firsthand how the pandemic had ravaged and starved the tourist business. She added, “Therefore, it is a feeling of urgency that I would like to bring to the Department, as well as a local viewpoint. one that consistently considers the well-being, viewpoints, and issues of people who are on the frontlines and in the field. Because I sincerely think that without the ability to convert into practical execution by our tourist frontliners, none of our tourism programmes and plans can succeed. Recall that the DOT first convened a listening session with associations of tour guides and guides in March, at which none other than Secretary Frasco emphasised the crucial part that tourism frontliners like tour guides play in the success of the Department’s initiatives, particularly in promoting the nation’s rich culture and heritage. Secretary Frasco cited the nation’s most recent accolades from around the world as evidence that the DOT must assist those who continue to promote the Philippines, including tour guides, tour operators, travel agents, and every single part of the tourism value chain that contributes to the growth of our industry. Secretary Frasco personally gave each attendee a goodie basket full of necessities that they might find helpful in performing their duties as tour guides, such as a lapel microphone, sunglasses, hat, and other accessories, as a token of appreciation for the dedication of the tourism frontliners. “Every time you go out into the world and tell the narrative of the Filipino people, you aid the Filipino families who depend on the travel and tourism sector, you contribute to nation-building, and you help our nation reach its full potential. Therefore, I implore you, my dear tour guides, to keep spreading the good word about the Philippines and to keep lovingly retelling the Filipino tale. Undersecretary Ferdinand Jumapao, DOT-NCR Regional Director Sharlene Zabala-Batin, and Intramuros Administrator Atty. Joan Padilla are also present during the lunch event with tourist leaders. Source: traveldailynews

The hotel’s location is ideal—it’s close to the beach and a number of Digha’s well-known attractions, such the renowned Digha Convention Centre. The Digha Pride Biznotel Canopus has opened in the seaside town of Digha, according to Pride Hotels Group. The Pride Biznotel Canopus Digha is a classy hotel with luxurious lodgings in a fantastic location and a variety of services that make it the ideal place for both business and pleasure travellers. The hotel’s location is ideal—it’s close to the beach and a number of Digha’s well-known attractions, such the renowned Digha Convention Centre. releasing the launch date “We are thrilled to be opening our first hotel in Digha,” said Atul Upadhyay, senior vice president of Pride Hotels Group. Both visitors and business travellers may have a nice and convenient stay in this area. The hotel is adjacent to some of the most well-known tourist destinations, including the New Digha Sea Beach, Dheusagar Park, and Amravati Park, and gives tourists a great beachside vacation. We are certain that the hotel will provide everyone of our visitors a first-class experience. “We are excited to announce the opening of Pride Biznotel Canopus Digha. With this launch, we are reaffirming our commitment to offering our clients top-notch hospitality services that will leave a lasting impression. According to Mr. Binay Thakur, AVP of Pride Hotels Group, our guests can expect a first-rate experience that blends luxury and ease. The 1,500 square foot Imperial Banquet at Pride Biznotel Canopus Digha is the perfect location for business meetings, training sessions, social events, and weddings in Digha. The hotel also provides visitors a swimming pool and a fitness centre. Visitors have a variety of eating alternatives, including Café Pride, a multi-cuisine restaurant that also serves traditional Bengali dishes. The soon-to-open opulent rooftop restaurant Puran Da Dhaba will guarantee that diners get to savour delicious real punjabi cuisine. Visitors may take part in a beautiful gourmet trip that includes many different types of culinary delights. Each room comes with an LED TV, a minibar, a tea/coffee maker, Wi-Fi, a heater, and comfy mattresses. With 5,390 rooms, 109 restaurants, and 152 banquet, lawn, and conference spaces, Pride Hotels Group is present in over 56 fantastic places. Under the brand names “Pride Plaza Hotel,” an Indian Luxury Collection, “Pride Hotel,” conveniently located business hotels, “Pride Resort,” breathtaking destinations, “Pride Biznotel,” a new concept for premium luxury serviced apartments, and “Pride Suites,” the group operates and manages a chain of hotels. Celebrities, businesses, and local and international visitors all value and use all brands. Current locations include New Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Pune, Nagpur, Bangalore, Chennai, Goa, Jaipur, Indore, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Mussoorie, Puri, Gangtok, Anand, Alkapuri, Manjusar (Vadodara), Sasan Gir, Somnath, Bhopal, Haldwani, Ranakpur, Rishikesh, Digha, and Rudraprayag. Upcoming locations are Daman, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Agra, Dwaraka, Jabalpur, Bhopal, Bharuch, Haldwani, Nainital, Jim Corbett, Dehradun, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Varanasi, Rajkot, Kanpur, Neemrana, Mysore, Gurugram, Aurangabad, Halol, Yawatmal, Bengaluru, Greater Noida, Motera (Ahmedabad), Lonavala, Ambaji, Veraval, Amritsar among others. Source: traveldailynews

Recently, Qantas announced price reductions on more than 700,000 flights around Australia. The promotion begins today and lasts until May 16 for travel between mid-July and mid-December of this year. With flights from Sydney to Ballina starting at $99, now might be an excellent time to make a reservation if Byron Bay has been on your travel radar. Another option for travellers is to purchase a one-way ticket from Perth to Melbourne for $299. If you’re travelling from Brisbane to Sydney, tickets start at $139. The deal happens right before Mother’s Day. A Qantas spokeswoman told news.com.au, “We know people are thinking about connecting with family this weekend.” There are more than 700,000 fantastic value flights to help bring the family back together, whether you’re searching for a last-minute present for mother or arranging a catch-up later in the year. News.com.au is aware When purchasing the sale fares at qantas.com, Covid credits that were earned during the pandemic may be applied. It comes after the airline recently gave passengers an additional 12 months to fly by extending the trip expiry date for Covid credits. A real-life reunion between an Australian mother and her son who lives abroad after four years separated due to the pandemic is featured in the newest installment of Qantas’ “Feels like Home” campaign, which was unveiled in conjunction with the sale. The 60-second advertisement, which will debut on May 14 across TV, cinema, video, and outdoor platforms in time for Mother’s Day, will run until the end of June. At her 60th birthday celebration in rural Victoria, ‘the mum and son finally got a hug, and the responses are real’, a Qantas statement said. ‘The touching moment was caught in real time, and the feelings are true’. Martha Marlow, an Australian singer, performs Randy Newman’s Feels Like Home as the narrative is being presented. The Feels Like Home ad by Qantas, which debuted in 2014, is renowned for portraying actual Australians and actual staff members. Source: escape

The event will once again bring together the duty-free and travel-related retail sectors for a chance to network, learn, form relationships, and do business. The dates for the 2024 TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition & Conference have been released by TFWA. The event is scheduled to take place at the Marina Bay Sands Expo & Convention Centre in Singapore from May 12 to May 16. We’ll make further announcements when the time is right. “This event offers a special forum for company executives to share their knowledge, as well as to interact, transact business, and network with other industry experts. Erik Juul-Mortensen, president of TFWA, adds, “We look forward to welcoming all of our friends and colleagues from all over the world to Singapore once more next year.” Source: traveldailynews

was made clear by Secretary Frasco that “the DOT will subsequently come out with a tourism brand for the Philippines aligned with the country brand, and enhancing the present tagline.” Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco spoke about the national brand “We Give the World our Best” as it was unveiled by the Office of the Presidential Advisor on Creative Communications (OPACC) during the Department of Tourism (DOT) lunch event for tourism frontliners on Thursday, May 11. The advertisement, which emphasised the efforts of Filipino nurses, debuted in the UK. Secretary Frasco responded to the worry of those who could have mistaken the OPACC advertisement for the new tourism brand, saying that “the DOT will subsequently come out with a tourism brand for the Philippines aligned with the country brand, and enhancing the present tagline.” There are a lot of different viewpoints on this. We offer the world our best, however, is a truth, and I would want to remind our fellow Filipinos of this. Don’t you agree? Is it not accurate to say that our Filipino employees across the world have demonstrated nothing less than a devotion to duty, commitment to responsibility, readiness to go above and beyond, and a willingness to serve with love and compassion? We’re Filipino. With regard to the new national brand, Secretary Frasco declared, “We give the world our best. She described how she would go from town to town to attend festivals as a former local chief executive and former president of the League of Municipalities of the Philippines (LMP). The Secretary stated that she would always see how local governments and communities would all make the finest preparations for their visitors during these holidays “because that is the nature of being a Filipino”. “And for that reason, we firmly back our President’s mission to show the world that the Philippines is committed to producing nothing less than the greatest. And what we have to give in the Philippines further translates that notion. We have the greatest locations, beaches, and natural attractions. Additionally, we have the greatest tour guides, said Secretary Frasco. “That corresponds to all that is ingrained in the tourist industry’s feeling of hospitality and service. It is true that we give our best to the world. It is a cry to arms. Additionally, it is aspirational for individuals who may still encounter a variety of difficulties but who will finally have the chance to develop and reach their full potential thanks to government assistance. Source: traveldailynews