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Canadian travellers protest Trump tariffs by cancelling trips to the US
Following Donald Trump’s imposition of a 25 percent tariff on goods imported from Canada, travellers from the US’ northern neighbour are cancelling trips to key American destinations in protest. This boycott will have a significantly adverse effect on the US tourism sector, one of the most notable contributors to the national economy. According to the US Travel Association (USTA), the imposition of steep tariffs stands to lead to disaster for the US economy, especially in light of a wave of inbound trip cancellations following the President’s announcement. Canada puts its foot down Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently addressed both Americans and Canadian citizens on Saturday just as the tariffs were announced. He remarked that these would have dire implications for the economies of both nations, and advised Canadians to opt for in-country staycations rather than booking holidays across the border. Trudeau said: “Now is the time to choose Canada...It might mean changing your summer vacation plans to stay here in Canada and explore the many national and provincial parks, historical sites, and tourist destinations our great country has to offer.” Since the imposition of the tariff, Canadian travel agencies found themselves inundated with a slew of cancellations. How bad can it get for the US tourism economy? The simple answer is that it can be very bad. The state tourism authorities in Florida and Texas, the majority of foreign tourists making their way into the US mainland are Canadians. They have expressed fears of Canadians permanently calling a halt to any trips to the US, and this would lead to losses amounting to billions of dollars for both state and federal governments. The US National Travel and Tourism Office pointed out that the country saw 20.4 million Canadians in the past year, generating up to US$20.5 billion in total revenues. At the same time, tariff-driven cancellations will lead to a manpower crisis throughout the United States’ tourism and hospitality industry, as the massive drop in revenue will lead to layoffs if not addressed properly. Researchers at the USTA warn that even a ten percent reduction in inbound travel from Canada could lead to up to US$2.1 billion in losses and lay off up to 140,000 jobs through the travel, tourism, and hospitality sectors.
Trump Turnberry unveils stunning Wedding Showcase
Trump Turnberry is set to welcome leading figures from the wedding industry next month for an exclusive event as the iconic resort opens its doors on April 16 for the ‘Turnberry Wedding Showcase’. Previewing a busy season of celebration on the Ayrshire coast, attendees can enjoy a tour of Turnberry’s incredible ballrooms, sample delicious food and sip complimentary champagne to live music. Turnberry’s experienced team of wedding professionals will be on hand to answer questions alongside an array of top industry vendors. Renowned for its stunning coastal views, timeless architecture and world-class hospitality, Trump Turnberry is one of the UK’s most coveted luxury wedding destinations and offers two distinctive packages for couples. The ‘Happily Ever After’ package gives guests a quintessentially Turnberry celebration to the backdrop of the beautiful Scottish countryside, while ‘To Have and To Hold’ promises a glorious day that utilises the resort in all its glory. Turnberry weddings make full use of the resort’s range of elegant rooms, headlined by the magnificent Donald J. Trump Ballroom, a breath-taking space illuminated by crystal chandeliers. Other options include the enchanting Caledonia Ballroom, perfect for an intimate reception or the nearby Ailsa Craig Suite, a peerless backdrop for any ceremony. Meanwhile, the versatile Crystal Ballroom is an equally apt host for either ceremony or reception. Exquisite food is provided by Turnberry’s savant kitchen staff – though self-catering options are available on request – and, following the reception, the couple and their guests can retire to Turnberry’s 192 opulent rooms and suites. Ralph Porciani, General Manager of Trump Turnberry, said: “Over the years we have earned our reputation as a world-class luxury wedding destination, and we take that responsibility very seriously. “It is important to us that every couple who puts their trust in us to host their big day gets a perfect wedding – and while our ballrooms and the unparalleled views go a long way to making every event special, our team and the vendors we work with continue to be just as crucial. “The Wedding Showcase is a great opportunity to demonstrate the expertise we have got here at Trump Turnberry, and really shine a spotlight on our two packages and everything else this remarkable venue has to offer for nearly-weds.” Trump Turnberry needs no introduction to those familiar with Ayrshire, having stood on Scotland’s west coast for over a century. The lavish Edwardian hotel, trio of restaurants and immersive Spa at Turnberry have cemented the resort’s standing as a titan of the hospitality world. Turnberry is also one of golf’s most historic venues and storied landscapes, having staged four memorable Open Championships, and is home to three golf courses: the legendary Ailsa, the King Robert the Bruce and nine-hole Arran.
Tourism boards turn to their national cuisine to trump rivals
As the travel industry’s recovery starts to gather pace, many tourist boards are looking to differentiate themselves from rival destinations by focusing on their cuisine rather than traditional natural hot spots, cities, or coastal locations, observes GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company. According to GlobalData’s Ads Database, Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs) for Turkey, Malta, and Indonesia have focused on their national cuisine to entice new tourists. Marketing campaigns have included glossy images and short videos covering traditional cooking methods to boost cultural appeal. The development of these marketing campaigns appears to be in response to growing demand for international cuisine and culinary experiences, with DMOs using this to gain a competitive advantage over rival destinations. Craig Bradley, Associate Travel & Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: “DMOs appear to be reacting to a change in traveler sentiment towards gastronomy. Development of this trend has been brought on by the pandemic, which has helped broaden the palates of many tourists despite the closure of many restaurants during 2020 and 2021. “Many restaurants needed to adapt to pandemic restrictions to survive, so they started selling meals via food delivery services such as Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats. These services have made international cuisines more accessible to consumers than ever before due to their low-touch service offering, intuitive smartphone apps, and efficient mobile payment systems. As a result, global awareness of alternative international cuisines has increased considerably enabling tourist boards to utilize this in attractive marketing campaigns to entice potential tourists.” This trend is unlikely to slow either, with the food delivery market set to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 7% between 2021 and 2025, according to a 2021 GlobalData Food Insights & Trends report. As a result, millions of individuals will continue to sample new cuisines and flavors from their local restaurants. According to a GlobalData Q4 2021 Global Consumer Survey, 47% of respondents said that they find the broader availability of cuisines the most appealing reason to consume food and drink outside of the home, highlighting the global appetite for experiencing new flavors. It is reasonable to assume that the same sentiment applies to tourists within a destination. Many will be enthusiastic about encountering local culture and customs, including food and drink. Bradley concludes: “In response to this development in consumer tastes, tourist boards have recognized an opportunity to use regional cuisine to create original marketing campaigns that can convey local culture within the tourist experience. This will be particularly attractive to niche tourists and millennial tourists, who typically search for more unique experiences. “However, it is important to note that linking destination marketing with gastronomic experiences is nothing new. Still, this type of promotional strategy is likely to grow in importance for DMOs as shown by Malta, Indonesia and Turkey, due to consumers becoming more exposed to culinary experiences.”
Face-to-face meetings still trump tech-facilitated interactions
Even though we are living in a tech-driven world and we have seen the benefits of the latest technology on how we communicate, an overwhelming majority (91%) of event planners value face-to-face meetings more than video interactions or conference calls, according to the latest research from Accor. Nearly three quarters (73%) believe kick-off meetings held face to face are invaluable, as they cement team bonds and client relationships. The most commonly cited reasons why people prefer face-to-face meetings are that they help build stronger relationships (71%) and that they allow participants to read the mood of a room and respond appropriately (49%). Face to face meetings are also praised for their productivity gains, with 44% of respondents saying they lead to a decrease in the time spent making decisions. The research also confirmed that event planners are becoming increasingly environmentally conscious, with two-thirds (66%) ranking a venue that minimises food waste as most important. Venues that enforce a no printing policy (28%) and use solar energy are also appealing to event planners. Event organisers cited the range of facilities or venues in a city (63%), connectivity (62%) and entertainment (22%) as the most important factors when considering where to host an event. Once the city or region has been chosen, good transport links were cited as the most important factor when booking a venue (69%), followed by the design of the meeting rooms (46%) and break out areas (45%). Venue and meeting room selection commences on average almost five months before the event takes place. Event planners also value hotel brand familiarity, with over two thirds (68%) stating that they would need to be familiar with a brand or hotel in order to book a meeting there. Dana Lewis, director of meetings, events and leisure, Accor Northern Europe, said: “This research clearly shows that the value of face-to-face kick-off meetings has not been lost in an ever-transforming digital age. The benefits of being able to judge a person’s body language and react in an appropriate manner mean that while technology can help our day to day lives in so many ways, it cannot replace face to face interactions.” Lewis continued: “It’s heartening to see that event planners and their clients are looking to environmentally conscious venues for their meeting needs, reflecting the growing focus on the impact of business operations on the world around us. At Accor we are passionate about sustainable development - as part of our Planet21 commitment to sustainability, we’ve planted over 100,000 trees in the UK in partnership with the Woodland Trust, and saved more than 26,000 meals in Northern Europe though an international partnership with food-waste app Too Good To Go.”
Singapore travel companies to reap rewards from Trump-Kim summit
United States president Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, and former NBA superstar Dennis Rodman are not the only people that flew to Singapore this week. The country has also welcomed tourists hoping to bear witness to the historic event. Singapore’s national brand is set to benefit from the summit as a neutral nation as well as a travel destination. In a press conference, Singapore’s prime minister Lee Hsien Loong said that the meeting will have a positive impact on the country’s global publicity. He added that the event will show what Singapore can do on the international stage. The sheer number of people trying to get a glimpse of the heads of state benefitted hotels, restaurants and retailers that were able to cash in on the increased interest in the city. Similar to the royal wedding, establishments in Singapore saw the Trump-Kim summit as a marketing opportunity with summit-themed drinks, meals, merch and more. In restaurants, selected items on the menu were given a Trump-Kim twist. For example, Wolf Burgers invited the leaders to 'settle the beef' over its Burger for World Peace. The international media were also treated with journalist discounts and complimentary drinks, presumably in the hope of a bit of free press. Sentosa Island The Trump-Kim summit also put Singapore’s crown Sentosa Island on the world map as well as the accommodations where the leaders stayed in and where the meeting took place. DPRK leader Kim made a bit of advertising on his own by playing the role of a tourist and taking selfies in some of the city’s major attractions such as Gardens by the Bay, Marina Bay Sands and Jubilee Bridge before the official meeting with Trump. Singapore spent US$15 million for hosting the summit, but officials hope that the meeting will save the world from a nuclear war and boost the country’s tourism at the same time. In 2017, the Singapore Tourism Board recorded 17.4 million tourist arrivals. Oliver Chong, the tourism board’s executive director of communications and marketing capability, said: “As with all high-profile visits, it places Singapore on the map for international audiences and showcases Singapore as an ideal destination, especially for businesses and meetings.”
Host hotel of Trump-Kim summit, Capella Hotel Group, to go from strength to strength
The Capella Hotel in Singapore will go into the history books as the host venue for the historic Trump-Kim summit this week, but Capella Hotel Group is making waves on its own thanks to its rapid growth. Capella Hotel Group is, at the moment, relatively small compared to its competitors, but the Singapore-based hotel group has nine properties in operation and three hotels slated to open within the next eight months. It also has 10 properties and a third brand in the pipeline. The hotel group is not fixated on the number of rooms they own, but rather on the experience of their guests that they believe will put them on the top. Pipeline and strategy “Within the next eight months, we will add Capella Ubud, Capella Sanya and Capella Bangkok to our portfolio of hotels in operation. In the pipeline are ten projects under development, including marquee Capella properties in Maldives and Sydney,” Capella Hotel Group spokesperson Joleena Seah told me via email. With the next three openings in Asia, it is safe to say that the company is banking on the region. In a previous interview, CEO Nicholas Clayton said: “Asia is where we feel the hotel business can be profitable.” While most hotels bank on corporate travel, Clayton said that the hotel will not fight for corporate or group business. Instead, the group will focus on leisure. For example, Capella Bangkok will be located on the Chao Phraya River and will be mostly leisure with perhaps only 30% for corporate business. Third brand - for the rich Capella Hotel Group confirmed to me via email that it is working on a third brand that will cater to “affluent leisure travellers” adding to their current brands - Capella and Solis. The third brand named Patina will emerge in 2020 in Sydney and will be bigger than most Capella hotels. This will be closely followed by a property in the Maldives, which the company hopes to be the top luxury hotel in the place. Nicholas Clayton, CEO of Capella Hotel Group “Our expansion plan focuses on gateway cities and resort destinations for the affluent leisure travellers,” Seah said. While most Capella hotels are mostly new builds, the hotel group has a penchant for converting historical building into hotels. Clayton said that two adjoining former government buildings in Sydney will become a Capella with 70 rooms and a Patina with 200 rooms. The company has several properties in historic buildings that were either hotels or had other uses. Its Shanghai hotel is built in a 1930s neighbourhood created by a French real estate company. Capella Singapore, where the Trump-Kim Summit was held, was restored from buildings that used to house the British officers of the Royal Artillery and their families in the 1880s. Clayton also said that every hotel is treated individually that affect the selection of supplies and equipment as well as the branding. Capella Hotel Group is relying on word of mouth to attract guests and hopes that the pleasing experience of guests will help create a buzz in the market.
Trump administration plans to scour social media of immigrants before US entry
Trump may soon require almost all visa applicants to submit social media information for review Would you be happy to give up five years of your social media history to get into the United States? Well, soon, you might not have any choice. The Trump administration has announced plans to require all immigrants and travellers to submit five years’ worth of their social media history before entering the country. There are exceptions for diplomatic and official visa holders, and people coming in from visa-exempt countries like the UK, but it's estimated that around 14.7 million people would potentially be affected by this move, including both immigrant and non-immigrant visa holders. If the plan is approved, the US government will have the right to scour social media histories, which also means people would have to be more careful when mentioning Trump and his offices on major social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. In addition, applicants would also be required to submit their email addresses, telephone numbers, and travel history from the past five years. The public notice (which can be downloaded below) was submitted by the State Department last week and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has 60 days to decide on whether to approve. DOWNLOAD: 60-Day Notice of Proposed Information Collection Hina Shamsi, director of the American Civil Liberties Union’s National Security Project, said: “This attempt to collect a massive amount of information on the social media activity of millions of visa applicants is yet another ineffective and deeply problematic Trump administration plan. "It will infringe on the rights of immigrants and U.S. citizens by chilling freedom of speech and association, particularly because people will now have to wonder if what they say online will be misconstrued or misunderstood by a government official.” "It will infringe on the rights of immigrants and U.S. citizens" The opposition Advocates and critics have been vocal in opposing the move. Not only because it is invasive on privacy grounds, but it will also slow the process and make it harder to be accepted for a visa. On the other side, federal authorities think this move is necessary to improve the country’s national security. Since Trump’s early days in office, he’s been known to be strict when it comes to immigration, but this is the first time that the government will formally require applicants to disclose social media information before entering the country. "There is a real risk that social media vetting will unfairly target immigrants and travellers" Shamsi added: "There is a real risk that social media vetting will unfairly target immigrants and travellers from Muslim-majority countries for discriminatory visa denials, without doing anything to protect national security.” The ACLU has opposed previous attempts by federal government agencies to collect social media information from immigrants or travellers to the U.S. because these attempts will cause immigrants and their online contacts, such as U.S. citizen family, friends, acquaintances, and business associates to self-censor what they say online.
Trump adds North Korea, Chad and Venezuela to travel ban
American president Donald Trump has expanded his administration’s controversial travel ban to include citizens of North Korea, Venezuela, and Chad. A presidential proclamation was issued on Sunday seeking to expand the restrictions. The White House said the new rules follow a review of information sharing by foreign governments. “Making America safe is my number one priority. “We will not admit those into our country we cannot safely vet,” Trump explained The three new countries join five others from original travel ban enacted earlier this year: Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia. But the new proclamation removed restrictions that were placed on Sudan. The White House said North Korea did not co-operate with the US government “in any respect” and failed all requirements for travel to the USA. As such, all travel to the US by its citizens has been banned Chad did not share terrorism-related and other public information the US required. Therefore, business and tourist visas for its nationals are suspended, the Trump administration added. At the same time, only “certain Venezuelan government officials and their immediate family members” have been banned. The restrictions on Venezuelans apply only to government officials and their family members. A factsheet released by the White House explains the new restrictions in more detail. Original post by:
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