Travel News

The administration of Jammu and Kashmir is introducing fresh programmes and tourism attractions as part of its preparation for the next G20 meeting. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, the secretary of tourism for Jammu and Kashmir, launches a hot air balloon at Zabarwan Park in Srinagar on Friday in advance of the G20 summit. Adventure events are held in Jammu and Kashmir to increase tourism before the G20 Summit. The picturesque region of Jammu and Kashmir is already well-known for its breathtaking natural landscape and rich cultural history, but the approaching G20 summit is now offering a special chance to highlight the region’s tourist potential on a worldwide scale.Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, the secretary of tourism for Jammu and Kashmir, launches a hot air balloon at Zabarwan Park in Srinagar on Friday in advance of the G20 summit. Adventure events are held in Jammu and Kashmir to increase tourism before the G20 Summit. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, the secretary of tourism for Jammu and Kashmir, launches a hot air balloon at Zabarwan Park in Srinagar on Friday in advance of the G20 summit. Adventure events are held in Jammu and Kashmir to increase tourism before the G20 Summit. The visiting delegates from various nations who will attend the summit, according to Syed Abid Rashid Shah, Secretary of Tourism, will serve as ambassadors to market the area as a popular travel destination on a worldwide scale. He said that the G20 gathering will assist to favourably represent J&K on the international stage. “We are expecting that the delegates visiting J&K will promote the UT as a global tourist destination,” he said. The administration of Jammu and Kashmir is introducing new projects and tourism attractions as part of its summit preparations. The hot air balloon and trekking adventure at Zabarwan Park, which Shah officially opened, is one such addition. The hot air balloon flight provides tourists with a one-of-a-kind and exhilarating experience by giving them a bird’s eye perspective of the lovely valley and its surrounds. “We continually work to develop fresh and distinctive experiences for visitors to J&K. The hot air balloon trip is one such activity that would enhance Srinagar’s appeal and draw more tourists, according to Shah. The Jammu and Kashmir administration wants to showcase the region’s various tourism attractions, such as its historical sites, lovely landscapes, and adventure sports, with the aid of the visiting delegates. Popular tourist destinations including the Dal Lake, the Mughal Gardens, and the Gulmarg ski resort are already located in the area. The G20 meeting offers Jammu and Kashmir the chance to become a popular travel destination on a worldwide scale. The administration is sure that the region will become a popular tourism destination with the help of the global community. We will keep working to achieve this aim, as Shah stated. The impending G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir is an opportunity for the area to promote its tourist potential to the globe in addition to being a political gathering. Jammu and Kashmir is well on its way to become a top international tourism destination thanks to new initiatives and attractions. Source: hindustantimes

Due to a new strike and the intensification of ongoing pay conflicts, rail travellers will face more travel mayhem on Saturday. On the day of the Eurovision Song Contest final in Liverpool, RMT members will stage walkouts at 14 railway operators around England. The action on Friday by the railway drivers’ union, Aslef, crippled services, resulting in a daylong train strike in several areas of England. Despite the ongoing impasse over the wage dispute, Aslef’s general secretary Mick Whelan disclosed that there had been no discussions with the Government since early January. He stated that unless they received a reasonable compensation offer, they would be willing to continue participating in industrial action. An offer of an 8% pay increase spread over two years has been called “risible” by Aslef. “The government seems to think they can starve us back to work, or that we will give up, but that isn’t going to happen,” said Mr. Whelan, who joined picket lines in Manchester and Liverpool. “There will be more strikes because we are in this for the long haul.” On May 31 and June 3, the days of the FA Cup Final at Wembley, Aslef has urged for more stoppages. After several weeks of discussions, the Rail Delivery Group claimed to have offered a “revised and fair offer” to the Aslef leadership, including a salary increase of 8% over two years. It would have implemented long-needed, logical upgrades that were already in place in some areas of the network, resulting in more trains operating on time for passengers. Sadly, this was turned down, a spokeswoman stated. On Saturday, travellers were advised to verify before leaving. Since Merseyrail is not impacted by the strike, it is anticipated that it will operate normally throughout the Eurovision Song Contest. Mick Lynch, the general secretary of the RMT, predicted strong support for the walkout on Saturday. This strike is being held in response to a recent re-ballot of members working for 14 railway operating firms, which overwhelmingly reaffirmed a mandate for more strike action, the speaker stated. “Throughout this conflict, the railway firms have been unable to propose a fair settlement because of government restrictions. “We’re striking so the government and employers can understand the intense resentment among train employees is very genuine. They need to acknowledge that fact, confront reality, and come up with better alternatives. “We are requesting that the rail companies sit down with RMT and engage in sincere negotiations to improve the situation for rail workers.” The RMT noted that when it recently reballotted its members, a “massive” vote in favour of continuing strike action was received. According to the union, Saturday was picked as the strike date since it was the final one permitted by employment regulations. On Saturday, there will be more rail services than on Friday, although several firms are limiting the number of routes and operating hours. Source: hindustantimes

A new round of strikes will cause additional disruption for passengers, according to Ben Chapman of ITV News. Due to ongoing salary issues, train drivers and other workers are striking, causing further travel disruptions for rail customers. Following strikes on Friday, members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT) at train operators will walk out on Saturday in connection with ongoing issues. On May 31 and June 3, the days of the FA Cup final at Wembley, more strikes will take place. Here is a summary of each operator’s strike day strategy: West Coast Avanti No trains on Friday. With the exception of a few routes to and from Liverpool, which is hosting the Eurovision song contest, fewer trains than usual will run on Saturday and only between 7am and 7pm. c2c Friday: Regular schedule. Saturday: There won’t be any significant effects, although all services will go to/from London Fenchurch Street and won’t stop at Stratford or London Liverpool Street. Scottish Sleeper Friday: Regular schedule. On Saturday nights, The Caledonian Sleeper does not run. Railways Chiltern No trains on Friday. No trains will operate on Saturday north of Banbury. Only during the hours of about 9am and 9pm will services between London Marylebone and Banbury, Oxford, and Aylesbury through Amersham be reduced to one train per hour in each direction. CrossCountry No trains on Friday. On Saturday, there will be no direct trains between Birmingham New Street and Aberdeen, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow, Nottingham, or Stansted Airport. The services that do run will only be available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Northeastern Railway No trains on Friday. On Saturday, services are available from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. Between London St Pancras and each of Nottingham, Sheffield and Corby as well as a few regional lines, such as between Derby and Matlock, they will be limited to just one train per hour in each direction. line Elizabeth Friday: Regular schedule. On Saturday, there will be some service changes even though the Elizabeth line is not a party to the RMT’s labour dispute. Between Maidenhead and Reading, there are no trains at all before 7 a.m. or after 7 p.m. Express to Gatwick No trains on Friday. No trains will run on Saturday, however Southern and Thameslink will provide service to Gatwick. Big Central Friday: Regular schedule. Saturday: There will be a few minor service changes, although Grand Central is not a party to the RMT’s labour dispute. Superior Northern No trains on Friday. On Saturday, only a limited service will be provided, and only from 7am to 7pm. There won’t be any trains running between King’s Lynn and Ely. Western Great Railway On Friday, just a restricted service will be provided from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm. Reading and Didcot, Reading and Basingstoke, Reading and Redhill, Westbury and Swindon, Cardiff and Bristol, and Plymouth and Gunnislake will be the only lines that are available. There will be no Night Riviera sleeper service. On Saturday, just a limited service will be provided, from 7.30 am to 6.30 pm. Compared to Friday, more routes will be available, including new ones between Penzance and Plymouth, Slough and Windsor, London Paddington and Didcot Parkway, and London Paddington and Cardiff. larger Anglia Friday: Only between London Liverpool Street and Cambridge, Norwich, Southend, and Stansted Airport will a limited service be provided. On Saturday, trains will run from 7 a.m. until 11 p.m. The majority of routes will have regular or almost normal service, while certain routes may have a decreased frequency. Airport Express No trains on Friday. No trains on Saturday after 9 p.m. U.K. Trains Friday: Regular schedule. Saturday: Regular schedule. LNER, or London North Eastern Railway On Friday and Saturday, only a restricted timetable between London King’s Cross and Leeds and Edinburgh will be in effect. Northwestern Railway in London No trains on Friday. On Saturday, only a limited service will be provided, and only from 7am to 7pm. Only the routes connecting Birmingham New Street with London Euston, Birmingham International, and Liverpool Lime Street will be open. British Overground Friday: Regular schedule. On Saturday, a few of London Overground’s services will be somewhat altered despite the fact that it is not a party to the RMT’s labour dispute. Lumo Saturday and Friday: Regular schedule. Merseyrail No strikes had an impact on Friday or Saturday. Due to Eurovision, additional services will be provided. Northern No trains on Friday. Only a limited service will be provided on Saturday from 8 am to 5 pm. There won’t be many routes operating, such as those between Darlington and Saltburn, Leeds and York, and Liverpool Lime Street and Manchester. ScotRail Saturday and Friday: Regular schedule. Western South Railway Friday: Isle of Wight trains are not running. Between London Waterloo and Exeter, as well as in the Romsey region and on the suburban network, services will be cut back. On Saturday, a limited service will be available exclusively from 7am to 7pm. The only routes that will be available are those that go from London Waterloo to Windsor through Hounslow, Windsor via Richmond, Woking, and Basingstoke, between Basingstoke and Salisbury, and on the Isle of Wight. Southeastern No trains on Friday. On Saturday, just 58 of the 180 stations will be open, resulting in a lower level of service. Services may begin later and end sooner than usual, and trains that do operate will likely be busier than usual. Southern No trains on Friday. On Saturday, there will be a limited service. Between Hemel Hempstead and Clapham Junction, London Bridge and Norwood Junction, Southampton Central and Barnham, and Eastbourne and Ashford International, no trains will operate. St. Pancras Express On Friday, the number of trains will be cut in half to one per hour in each direction. On Saturday, trains will run at a frequency of one per hour in each direction, starting later and finishing sooner than usual. Thameslink No trains on Friday. On Saturday, only north and southbound trains will run between

DETROIT (AP) — In an effort to demand more compensation, pilots from one of the country’s largest airlines protested in picket lines at significant airports on Friday, just before of what might be a record-breaking summer travel season. While attempting to reach an agreement with airline management over a new contract, the United Airlines pilots have been working without a pay increase for more than four years. But a strike by the pilots is unlikely to happen soon. The last strike at an American airline took place more than ten years ago, and federal legislation makes it exceedingly difficult for unions to carry out walkouts in the aviation sector. Following resounding strikes authorization votes by pilots at American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, United pilots have launched nationwide demonstrations. According to union leaders, the next group to vote may be United pilots. All three airlines’ pilots are aiming to equal or surpass the agreement that Delta Air Lines and its pilots achieved earlier this year, which increased pay rates by 34% over four years. The top pay at United for a captain is $369 per hour on two-aisle aircraft, or “widebodies,” which are typically used for international flights, and $297 per hour on “narrowbodies” like Boeing 737s. According to the Labour Department, airline pilots fly 75 hours a month on average. Although United has promised to match the Delta increase, a deal may not be possible with that proposal alone. Garth Thompson, chair of the United wing of the Air Line Pilots Association, stated that there was still more work to be done in order to overcome some of the concerns on the table. Thompson said that the two parties’ negotiations on scheduling, especially the union’s desire to restrict United’s power to force pilots to work on their days off, had prevented them from discussing salaries. A spokesperson for United, Joshua Freed, stated, “We’re continuing to work with the Air Line Pilots Association on the industry-leading deal we have put on the table for our world-class pilots.” According to the pilots, United should give them a bonus for saving the airline from the coronavirus epidemic. Pilot Arzu Delp protested at San Francisco International Airport. “We made quite a few sacrifices during the pandemic, and we feel that it is now time for the company to step up and to give us a contract, acknowledging the sacrifices and the contributions that we have made,” he said. The United pilots’ starting point is the Delta deal, which will cost Delta $7.2 billion over four years. According to Blaise Waguespack, an instructor of airline management and marketing at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, all airlines are struggling with increased labour expenses, which may be reflected in the cost of a ticket. However, supply and demand also affect ticket prices. Airlines are generating a lot of money, according to Giselle Ascione, a United customer in San Francisco, and “the pilots as well as the attendants should be paid.” Common sense says it. Strikes are unlikely in the coming months, when millions of Americans plan to fly for their summer vacation, even if the airlines and their unions are unable to rapidly come to an agreement. U.S. law prohibits airline and railway employees from going on strike or being locked out until federal mediators rule that further discussions are useless. Even when the National Mediation Board does, there is a “cooling-off” period during which the White House and Congress can prevent a strike from taking place. Bill Clinton acted in this manner shortly after pilots in 1997 started striking against American. The prospect of a walkout was eliminated in December when President Joe Biden signed legislation enacted by Congress imposing contract terms on freight railway workers. Spirit Airlines was the site of the most recent strike at a U.S. airline in 2010. The United union president Thompson promised that his pilots “will continue to work in 2023” despite obstacles including a “aggressive” summer flying schedule. Over the years, airline employees have engaged in labour actions that didn’t amount to strikes but nonetheless interfered with flights. Although the sum was eventually lowered, a federal judge fined the American Airlines pilots’ union $45 million for a 1999 sickout that severely hampered the airline’s operations. A federal court ordered American’s aeroplane mechanic unions to end what the airline described as an unlawful labour halt in 2019. Congress would not approve an airline strike due to the potential economic damage, according to Arthur Wheaton, head of labour studies at Cornell University, but disgruntled pilots might still cause problems in other ways. “They constantly believe in the rule of labour. They may respond, ‘We’re not working any overtime,’” Wheaton said. The capacity to do that can be a negotiation strategy. “I don’t anticipate the pilots trying to intentionally muck up travel for everyone,” the negotiator said. Because companies rely on finding pilots and flight attendants to pick up extra hours during seasons of high travel demand, airlines are susceptible to work-to-rule demonstrations. Despite the legal obstacles to a walkout, strike ballots have grown in popularity because unions think they provide them negotiating power. Additionally, a lack of pilots gives those unions an advantage in negotiations. About 14,000 pilots work for Chicago-based United, and the union anticipates that at least 2,000 of them will protest on Friday at 10 airports from Newark, New Jersey, to Los Angeles. Additionally, the union is circulating pamphlets that emphasise the pilots’ demand for improved scheduling that balances work and life, but leave out any discussion of compensation. Source: hindustantimes

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

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

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

In their respective categories, JetBlue Airways, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines are ranked first. THE TROY, MICH. The previous two quarters have seen record income for airlines due to a mix of high demand, tight supply, and rising prices, but this era of increased revenues is coming at the expense of consumer pleasure. Customer satisfaction with major airlines is declining significantly for a second year in a row, according to the J.D. Power 2023 North America Airline Satisfaction Study, raising the possibility of brand damage if the current pattern of price increases, staffing shortages, and fewer routes persists. “If yield management were the only metric airlines needed to be successful over the long term, this would be a banner year for the industry because they are operating at peak economic efficiency,” said Michael Taylor, travel intelligence head at J.D. Power. However, from the standpoint of the client, this implies that there are fewer flights available, more expensive tickets, and packed planes. Although the market for leisure travel has not yet been affected by these issues, if this pattern continues, consumers may hit a breaking point and some airline brands may suffer. Some of the major conclusions of the 2023 research are as follows: The expense of travel is primarily to blame for the fall in overall customer satisfaction: On a scale of 1 to 1,000, the overall passenger satisfaction is 791, down 7 points from the previous year. After falling by 22 points from 2021 to 2022, passenger satisfaction has been declining for the past two years in a row. Cost and fees, which have decreased 17 points from 2022, are the main cause of this year’s loss in satisfaction. First-class travellers defy the norm: Passengers in the first/business sector have had a noticeably better experience, even if overall satisfaction is down. Scores on passenger satisfaction in this area have increased by 9 points since last year. The improvements can be attributed in part to higher food and beverage ratings because many services were restored for top class cabins after the epidemic. Low-cost carriers have hardship: The sector of economy/basic economy, where budget-conscious travellers have found fewer flight deals this year, has seen the greatest annual reductions in customer satisfaction. In the economy/basic economy group, satisfaction with costs and fees is down 19 points from a year earlier. Everyone can agree on one thing: Food and beverage, which is up overall 12 percent from 2022, is one of the few segments this year exhibiting development across all categories. Research Rankings With a score of 893, JetBlue Airways continues to lead the first/business sector in terms of customer satisfaction. United Airlines (848) is in third place, followed by Delta Air Lines (865). With an 848 rating, Delta Air Lines has the highest customer satisfaction rating in the premium economy category. Alaska Airlines (823) is in third place, followed by JetBlue Airways (840). With an 827 rating, Southwest Airlines continues to lead the economy/basic economy market in terms of customer satisfaction. JetBlue Airways (800) comes in third, followed by Delta Air Lines (801). The North America Airline Satisfaction Study evaluates the performance of eight variables (listed in alphabetical order): aircraft, luggage, boarding, check-in, cost and fees, flight crew, in-flight services, and reservation. These factors are used to determine how satisfied passengers are with North American airline carriers. Based on responses from 7,774 passengers, the survey gauges passenger happiness in three categories: first/business, premium economy, and economy/basic economy. A major North American airline flight during the previous month was required of respondents to a poll. Between March 2022 and March 2023, the study was conducted. 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

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