Holiday & Travel

Travel rules have been relaxed for people arriving in England to work on poultry farms to ensure there is enough turkey available for Christmas dinners.

Seasonal workers from abroad can now start work straight away during their 14-day quarantine. The transport secretary said the new measures will ensure food producers can "keep up with the Christmas demand".

Industry groups had previously warned of turkey shortages without enough skilled workers to process the meat.

Under the new rules, seasonal staff must still self-isolate from the rest of the public for the first 14 days. To avoid any potential spread of coronavirus, they also have to form "cohorts", or live and work with a group of the same workers during their time in England. They will not be allowed to mix with other employees.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said: "Christmas dinner is the highlight of the year for many families and this year it will be particularly significant."

He added that the new measures would support businesses who "have faced unprecedented challenges from coronavirus".

The boss of the British Poultry Council (BPC) had urged the government to exempt seasonal workers from quarantine rules in October.

Richard Griffiths warned that 1,000 workers from the European Union were needed to stop Christmas supply from collapsing. He said he hoped that the new exemption would be "helpful" in the run-up to Christmas.

"Industry is determined to deliver Christmas to households across the nation. If the exemption helps us deliver a fantastic Christmas and helps our smaller seasonal producers out, then it can only be a good thing."

About 5,500 seasonal workers arrive on farms in England each year to help during the festive period, according to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

The type of skills turkey production requires are not available among UK workers, the BPC has previously said.

Workers need to have been trained specifically in Watok - Welfare of Animals at Time of Killing - and licensed to kill or slaughter animals, which means holding a certificate of competence from the Food Standards Agency.

"The UK meat industry needs access to reliable skilled workers wherever they come from in order to keep the flow of food from our farms to our plates," said Tony Goodger of the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers. He added: "What we need now is a clear steer that the system will be in place much earlier in 2021 should we need it."

This year, all non-UK seasonal poultry workers are required to leave England by 31 December, at which point the exemption will no longer be in force.

Data from a leading travel insurance comparison site confirm that demand from U.S.-based travellers for visiting the U.S. Virgin Islands has increased significantly.

Based on all travel insurance policies purchased through Squaremouth.com between March 12 and October 19, 2020, for all future travel, the USVI experienced an increase of more than 200 percent compared to the same period in 2019.

“The analysis from Squaremouth.com corroborates not only the findings of Travelzoo’s survey of American travellers in August, which showed that the Territory is the destination those travellers would most like to visit in the Caribbean over the next two years, but it also lines up with our observations and key indicators of exceptionally strong demand from the U.S. mainland for travel to the USVI,” said Joseph Boschulte, Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism.

Heading into the winter season, as public health concerns and travel restrictions coming out of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic continue to impact international travel, Americans are increasingly seeking options for exploring and experiencing domestic destinations, especially those that demonstrate a commitment to comprehensive health and safety protocols and guidelines. According to Squaremouth.com, the year-over-year change in purchases of travel insurance policies for the U.S. was 319%, while the U.S. Virgin Islands registered an increase of 207%.

“This is the first time the U.S. Virgin Islands has been identified as among the most popular destinations by this award-winning company, and we are deeply grateful to all our partners in the Territory’s tourism ecosystem - from hotel and tour operators to taxi drivers and the many entities engaged in our diverse marine tourism sector,” said Commissioner Boschulte.

The Commissioner also attributed the positive findings of the data analysis to the Department of Tourism’s coordinated marketing, public relations and communications initiatives, which include promoting and supporting the Territory’s COVID-19 public health practices widely to both residents and visitors.

Alluding to the Department’s strategic approach to marketing the Territory during the global health crisis, Commissioner Boschulte noted: “We have been proactive and vigilant in maintaining close and constant contact with our airline partners, wholesalers, travel advisors and meeting planners and their associations, members of the media and travel trade, as well as the general traveling public.” 

Besides the USVI, other Caribbean destinations making Squaremouth’s list of Top 10 Destinations (and their corresponding change in travel insurance policies purchased) include: Turks and Caicos Islands (303%); The Bahamas (-32%); Jamaica (27%), and Aruba (2%). Several carriers are expected to increase air service to the U.S. Virgin Islands. Prior to traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, all travellers aged five or older must submit a COVID-19 test result through the USVI Travel Screening Portal to avoid processing delays, enhanced health screening upon arrival in the Territory, and/or mandatory self-quarantine.

The international travel trade showITB Berlin 2021 will be taking place next March in an entirely virtual format, providing the industry with an online platform for global networking, business and content.

Set to take place from March 9-12, ITB Berlin 2021 and the accompanying ITB Berlin Convention will be open to trade visitors only.

Explaining the move, David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin, said: “The situation surrounding the pandemic remains difficult, particularly for the travel and tourism industry. Our decision to hold ITB Berlin 2021 as an entirely virtual event now provides exhibitors and trade visitors with maximum planning certainty.”

He added: “The event will be highly relevant in terms of content. In these challenging times, business meetings, exchanging specialist information and orientation are of special value for the industry.”

Among other features, the virtual concept of ITB Berlin 2021 will include numerous live-streamed high-level panel discussions and lectures as well as digital networking opportunities, an intelligent matchmaking event and a virtual exhibition area. On November 16, ITB Berlin will provide further information on exhibitor and sponsorship packages, tickets and booking options.

People in parts of the UK with high rates of Covid-19 will be banned from travelling to Wales under plans announced by Wales' first minister.

Mark Drakeford said he would go ahead if the prime minister did not impose travel restrictions in England. It is expected the ban will cover all of Northern Ireland, England's tier two and three areas and the Scottish central belt.

The UK government said the decision was "disappointing". And the head of the Police Federation in Wales warned the rules could be "unenforceable".

"There will also be plenty of individuals travelling legitimately from areas which are not high risk, and this will only add to the other difficulties officers face when policing the existing regulations," Mark Bleasdale said.

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said she fully supported Mr Drakeford's move. She said she would write to the prime minister seeking urgent talks over UK-wide travel restrictions and called for a "sensible agreement" between the four nations.

Mr Drakeford had written twice in recent weeks to Boris Johnson asking for travel to be restricted in and out of areas with high levels of transmission in England.

The UK government has repeatedly refused to do so, instead asking people in the Liverpool City Region to avoid non-essential travel.

UK government ministers plan to write to Mr Drakeford to raise their concerns about the travel ban and some of the language being used. Mr Drakeford said: "Evidence from public health professionals suggests coronavirus is moving from east to west across the UK and across Wales.

"As a general rule, it is concentrating in urban areas and then spreading to more sparsely populated areas as a result of people travelling."

He said the law will be "essentially designed to prevent people going to those holiday parts of Wales, the far west and the far southwest of Wales, where the virus is still in very low circulation".

The rules are planned to come into force on Friday at 18:00 BST.

Travel to and from the 17 local lockdown areas in Wales - covering most of the population - is already restricted. People can already only travel to places like Cardiff or Swansea if they have a reasonable excuse like work or education.

But travel is possible between areas that are subject to restrictions in England and the parts of Wales not under lockdown rules, such as Powys and Pembrokeshire.

The Welsh Government's plans would effectively restrict travel to those places, and also cover anyone from a low-Covid area of Wales travelling to high-Covid areas elsewhere who then return to Wales. Similar exemptions will apply to those that exist for Welsh local lockdown areas. Enforcement details are not been confirmed but it is likely breaking the law could attract a fixed penalty notice, or a fine if it goes to court.

A Welsh Government source stressed fines would be a last resort.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says people should use their common sense when travelling around the UK.

The first minister said it was "absolutely possible" to enforce the ban, "we did exactly this for many many weeks earlier this year".

He warned anyone planning to "evade" a police officer "trying to prevent people from travelling onwards".

"When they arrive in the far west of Wales, I'm afraid they will meet a local population that are fearful, that are anxious and are on the lookout for people who shouldn't be in those areas.

"So your difficulties aren't over by evading the police, there'll be other checks in the system."

Midcounties Co-operative, one of the UK’s largest independent consumer co-operatives, has finalised an agreement with award-winning, independent travel agency, Carrick Travel to transfer seven of its branches to the society’s retail travel division, Co-operative Travel.

The agreement sees the Carrick Travel branch in Cheylesmore, West Midlands and all colleagues employed there, join Co-operative Travel, effective 2 October 2020. The move takes the society’s portfolio of Co-operative Travel shops across England to 78.

Located at 161 Daventry Road in Cheylesmore, the travel agency remains open to customers and will complement Co-operative Travel’s existing West Midlands branches.

The shop will continue to trade as Carrick Travel but will be part of the Co-operative Travel family. 

Rad Sofronijevic, Chief Operating Officer of Co-operative Travel, said: “Despite the challenges of Covid-19, Travel remains core to Midcounties’ long-term strategy. The transfer of Carrick Travel gives us the opportunity to grow the Co-operative Travel operations for the benefit of our members, with shops that are located in the heart of their communities and to serve an additional customer base that complements our own.

“We look forward to nurturing and supporting the former Carrick Travel branches and their staff. Their welcome addition will strengthen the position of Midcounties Co-operative’s Travel division for the future”.

Eight-time winner of Travel Weekly’s “Agent Achievement Award for Central England - Small Agency”, Carrick Travel’s shops supported 10,000 customers with their travel arrangements over the last 12 months.

Tina Nason and Tracey Carter, owners of Carrick Travel, who will not be joining those staff transferring to Co-operative Travel, as part of the agreement, said: “It is with a heavy heart that we bid farewell to Carrick Travel. However, we are incredibly happy that the journeys of our valued customers and many of our talented colleagues will continue under Co-operative Travel. The protection of our staff and clients has always been our highest priority. By agreeing a transfer with The Midcounties Co-operative, particularly with the security that being part of a diverse business provides during these tough times in travel, we are ensuring the protection of our clients and as many of our colleagues’ jobs as possible.

“We have operated Carrick Travel very much as a family business with our stores playing an important role in the communities they serve. Co-operative Travel’s community-focused mindset and principles of care and compassion match our own ethos and we know that our team members and clients will be passed into very safe hands.”

The seven branches that have transferred to Co-operative Travel are in Kenilworth (Warwickshire), Stratford Upon Avon (Warwickshire), Leamington Spa (Warwickshire), Cheylesmore (West Midlands), Pershore (Worcestershire), Grantham (Lincolnshire) and Newark (Nottinghamshire).  The four Carrick Travel branches that are not included in the transfer agreement closed their doors at the end of September 2020.

In line with the calibrated resumption of economic activities in Singapore, safe cruises will be piloted from November 2020 with enhanced safety protocols for two cruise lines that are homeported here. To provide assurance for safe cruising, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) is developing a mandatory CruiseSafe certification programme, which sets out stringent hygiene and safety measures throughout the passenger journey – from prior to boarding, to after disembarkation.

The safety and well-being of our local community, as well as passengers and crew remain the top priority. In light of this, the pilot cruises will be:

       round-trips with no ports of call;

       sailing at a reduced capacity of up to 50 percent; and

       only open to Singapore residents

To allow time to review the operationalisation of enhanced safety protocols, the pilot cruises will start from 6 November with Genting Cruise Lines’ World Dream. Royal Caribbean International’s Quantum of the Seas will begin sailing in December.

The Government will monitor the outcomes of the pilot sailings carefully in the coming months before deciding on the next steps for cruises.

STB’s CruiseSafe was created in consultation with the industry and is benchmarked against global health and safety standards. Singapore is one of the first countries in the world to develop and implement a mandatory audit and certification programme for cruise lines before they can commence sailings.

Prior to sailing, all cruise lines sailing out of Singapore must obtain the CruiseSafe certification, which requires independent assessment by a third-party certification firm. Genting Cruise Lines and Royal Caribbean International are in the process of attaining the certification. They were approved for the pilot as they have demonstrated the ability to put in place stringent protocols and precautionary measures as part of their CruiseSafe certification.

The CruiseSafe standards include:

1.    Infection control measures at every stage of a passenger’s journey, including a mandatory COVID-19 test prior to boarding

2.    Strict and frequent cleaning and sanitisation protocols onboard

3.    Safe management measures aligned with prevailing national policy at the time of sailing

4.    Ensuring 100 per cent fresh air throughout the ship

5.    Reducing ship capacity to enable sufficient safe distancing

6.    Setting up onboard measures to discourage close contact and inter-mingling between groups

7.    Emergency response plans for incidents relating to COVID-19

As part of CruiseSafe, the pilot cruises will have to comply with prevailing safe management measures, such as mask-wearing and 1m-safe distancing. To ensure compliance, regular inspections will be conducted on board during the pilots. Cruise lines that are found to be non-compliant will be subjected to penalties including fines, suspension of sailings and revocation of CruiseSafe certification.

The crew on pilot cruises are subjected to stringent measures beyond Singapore’s prevailing requirements for cross-border travel. For example, the crew who need to enter Singapore to serve on board the pilot cruises must first undergo 14 days isolation in their home country and must test negative for COVID-19 before their departure to Singapore. They will be tested on arrival in Singapore, serve a 14-day Stay-Home Notice (SHN) in Singapore, and will undergo another test at the end of their SHN. Once sailings begin, all crew members will also be routinely tested.

As the lead coordinator for cruise in ASEAN, Singapore aims to set a benchmark for the future of cruising in the region with the development of CruiseSafe standards. Singapore also remains confident of the long-term potential of cruising. Given our cruise industry’s strong fundamentals, we expect cruise performance to rebound when international travel recovers.

“This cruise pilot is a valuable opportunity for cruise operators to reinvent the entire cruise experience in order to regain the confidence of passengers. As ASEAN’s lead coordinator for cruise development, Singapore remains committed to supporting and growing cruise tourism in the region. We will continue to work with cruise lines and our industry stakeholders to chart a new course for safe cruising,” said Mr Keith Tan, Chief Executive, Singapore Tourism Board.

To prepare for the eventual recovery of the cruise industry, STB has also partnered Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Travel Weekly Asia to hold a series of training webinars for regional travel agents under the ambit of CruiseWorld Asia 2020^]. Travel agents are key to the industry, accounting for about 80 per cent of cruise packages sold in the region. The trainings will take place in October and focus on strengthening consumers’ confidence to cruise again by raising awareness of cruise lines’ enhanced sanitisation measures on-board and rebuilding the demand for cruise.

The Covid-19 crisis has disproportionately affected tourism, a sector that accounts for millions of jobs around the globe. While no one can say with certainty when tourism will recover, people are starting to dream again of getaways whether closer to home or to remote destinations.

As more and more people go online to search where and when they can travel, accelerating the digitalization of the tourism sector will be key to adapting to the new tourism reality.

That is why the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and Google have partnered for an online Acceleration Program for UNWTO Member States' tourism ministers, top travel associations and tourism boards to further develop innovation and digital transformation skills.

Ahead of World Tourism Day, the first UNWTO & Google Tourism Acceleration Program took place, focusing on insights from South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria. Tourism is the backbone of many economies around the world. As data from UNWTO shows, tourism represents 9% of global trade for Africa and 1 in 10 jobs directly and indirectly. Moreover, the sector drives inclusive growth, as women make 54% of the workforce.

Natalia Bayona, UNWTO Director of Innovation, Digital Transformation and Investments, said: "UNWTO is committed to helping Africa grow back stronger. With the right policies, training and management in place, innovation and technology have the potential to foster new and better jobs and business opportunities for tourism in Africa while improving the overall wellbeing and prosperity of the region".

Africa is home to 30% of the world’s population, adding every year hundreds of millions of new online users. Google is a highly trusted partner in Africa to find relevant and reliable information, and Search is one of the places they go when researching and booking travel.

Google’s Director of Government Affairs and Public Policy for Emerging Market, Doron Avni, said: "We’re here to help the tourism sector rise up from this unprecedented crisis and emerge stronger.

“Our travel data insights and tools can help tourism authorities identify and understand the barriers and drivers to visit travel destinations for better tourism planning."

The president of the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) welcomed the focus of World Tourism Day this year on the important, but often overlooked, linkages between tourism and rural development.

Applauding the World Tourism Organization’s (UNWTO) celebration of tourism’s essential role in providing opportunities beyond major urban centres, Patricia Affonso-Dass noted that many of the Caribbean’s rural areas have benefited from tourism’s development and are now challenged with working together to revitalize tourism, as their communities have been particularly hard hit by the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

“The Caribbean is replete with examples of how tourism has been key to the development of rural communities. Many of our hotels in rural areas are major generators for other economic activity in their communities beyond the creation of jobs at the resorts,” said Affonso-Dass.

“These hotels have spawned a range of businesses and jobs which otherwise would not exist without tourism, including new attractions, ground transportation services, restaurants, musicians and entertainment providers, fishermen, farmers, and other support services for hotels. 

"As tourism-generated dollars circulate from visitor spending and employee earnings, they in turn support the grocery stores, petrol stations, banks, insurance companies, and public services that help to build and maintain roads, utilities, sanitation facilities, health clinics, police and fire securities, and other infrastructure which is so essential to rural development,” she added. 

The tourism leader optimistically reflected that the slowdown of visitor arrivals to the Caribbean due to the pandemic was a golden opportunity for the region to invest in showcasing the beauty, diversity and productivity of rural areas through the development of more agricultural tourism offerings, which help to preserve and promote history and culture.

“The beauty of our coasts, beaches, reefs, and seas is well known but we should support and highlight the potential of our inland farming communities to feed and sustain not only our residents, but also the formal tourism sector, and encourage visitors to experience the simple joys of Caribbean country life through agritourism,” Affonso-Dass urged.

The CHTA leader believes the economic benefit to territories and countries is another strong argument for supporting the rural environs: “While we have made real headway in recent years integrating local produce into hotel and restaurant menus, we need to continue and streamline this effort by working with farmers to strengthen critical supply chain challenges and implementing virtual clearing houses that would allow farmers to know what products are needed in what quantities, at what standard and in what timeframes so that they can maximize the value from their production. This way we all benefit and our visitors can enjoy a real taste of our distinctive regional flavours while giving our farmers, large and small, more sustainable livelihoods.”

UNWTO has reported that young people have been especially hard hit by the pandemic, with youth in rural communities three times more likely to be unemployed than older adults, making rural tourism an important social adhesive.

“Supporting tourism recovery and strengthening its linkages to the rural areas would allow our young people to remain and earn a sustainable living in their beloved lands rather than migrating within their home countries or abroad,” observed Affonso-Dass.

Indeed, she pointed to United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres’ statement that for rural communities, indigenous peoples and many other historically marginalized populations, tourism has been a vehicle for integration, empowerment and income generation.

The CHTA president emphasized that rural communities were typically much less prepared to deal with the short- and long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. “This is due to several factors, such as aging populations, the difficulty in sustaining durable livelihoods and the difficulty and cost of developing and maintaining efficient and reliable communication so they can quickly identify the food needs of consumers. And, we totally agree with the UNWTO that tourism offers a solution to all of these challenges,” she said.

World Tourism Day 2020 was celebrated by UNWTO’s member states on September 27, 2020, as well as by cities and other destinations and private sector organizations and individual travellers. 

It comes as the world continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Specialist travel insurance comparison site, Medical Travel Compared has analysed which 2021 holiday destinations those in the West Midlands have been searching for on Google and identified that the far-flung aspirational beach settings of The Maldives is the most searched for.

There is a clear north vs. south divide when you compare the preferred dream beach location, with those in the North of the UK and Northern Ireland picking Mexico as the most wanderlust-worthy destination, while searches for The Maldives dominate in the south.

The UK’s most searched-for holiday destinations for 2021:

1. The Maldives
2. Mexico
3. Bali
4. Dubai
5. Thailand
6. Turkey
7. Barbados
8. Greece
9. Jamaica
10. Cuba

A survey of over 3,000 UK travellers conducted by the travel insurer earlier this year found that four in five of us (83%) feel optimistic about travel next year and it’s clear to see Brits are using this time in lockdown to research next year’s aspirational getaway.

Tommy Lloyd, Chief Product Officer at Medical Travel Compared comments: “As a nation we’ve seen a huge rise in demand for staycations since the Coronavirus pandemic, but our research reveals that people are longing to experience the world. It’s great to see that travel confidence for 2021 is high and Britons haven’t lost their wanderlust despite the various lockdown and quarantine measures currently in place.

“Our research shows that Brits are keen to visit destinations that are not currently on the UK’s quarantine travel-free list. We ask the British Government reviews travel guidance for all destinations to see if any countries on the long-haul list can be added safely.”

British tour operator Thomas Cook is back and this time around with a different business model.

They re-launched on Wednesday as an online-only venture, one year after a collapse that left hundreds of thousands of travellers stranded.

The company has reinvented itself as a digital booking platform as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hobble global demand for travel.

Its new website caters only to "quarantine-free destinations" from the United Kingdom, such as Corfu, Cyprus and Rome.

Thomas Cook went bust last September, leaving 600,000 travellers grounded and wiping out thousands of jobs. The company's previous business was centred on selling flights on its own airline, along with hotel rooms, from brick-and-mortar stores.

The 179-year-old brand was acquired in November by Fosun Tourism, a Chinese company that also owns Club Med.

Its chair and CEO Qian Jiannong said that the brand's British revival followed the launch of another online platform for Thomas Cook in China.

In a statement he said: "As one of the world's leading tourism and leisure groups, the group values Thomas Cook's 180 years' heritage and global brand influence."

"Supporting the growth of the brand in China and its relaunch in the UK is a big step in our plan to turn Thomas Cook into a global success story."

U.S. travellers to the Caribbean can breathe easier thanks to a new partnership between the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA) and Trip Mate, offering travel protection if the unexpected happens with a visit booked at participating member hotels.

Trip Mate, one of the global leaders in administering protection to travellers and hotels, will now lock arms with CHTA so that member hotels can offer a comprehensive Travel Protection Plan for covered cancellations, interruptions, delays, baggage mishaps and medical situations that may arise during a guest’s trip.   

Frank Comito, CEO and Director General of CHTA, noted that “people planning travel during these unprecedented times are concerned about the unpredictable, but their worries may be eased with coverage under our CHTA Member Exclusive Travel Protection Plan.” 

He said the plan helps to protect guests as well as the health of hotel revenues, and comes at a time when more travellers are looking for added assurances to protect themselves before they take to the skies.

CHTA's Travel Protection Plan covers a guest's hotel booking (non-refundable expenses paid for the portion of a hotel booking that goes unused) and additional transportation expenses if a guest needs to interrupt his or her trip due to a covered reason, which includes sickness. As with medical expense coverage, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related illnesses are included.

The Travel Protection Plan is available to members of both CHTA as well as national and local hotel associations. Properties that are not CHTA members can also take advantage of the offer for a limited time. The plan is applicable only to U.S. citizens or residents.

Comito emphasized that hotels which are not currently offering opt-in traveler insurance to further support their cancellation policies are missing an opportunity to generate more business, as consumers are increasingly looking for added assurances.

A recent survey by Oracle and Skift reveals that with so much uncertainty ahead, consumers are also demanding flexible cancellation and refund policies, which travel insurance helps to address. 

The tourism chief also noted that due to the pandemic, “a growing number of countries throughout the world, including several in the Caribbean, now require travel protection to enter their country.”

He said the plan provides both guests and hosts “a way to protect your investment when it comes to travel planning.” 

Sailrock Resort, the premium vacation resort on South Caicos, has been included in the prestigious list of American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts, a collection of luxury hotels and resorts offering exclusive benefits to holders of the coveted Platinum and Centurion Cards.

Known for its laid-back luxury, Sailrock attracts savvy, well traveled guests who appreciate the resort’s blend of elegance and privacy with its finely appointed and lavishly apportioned suites set amongst calming gardens and featuring breathtaking ocean vistas. 

The barefoot luxury of Sailrock attracts a discriminating group of travelers, which accounts for its inclusion as one of only four Turks and Caicos resorts, and one of 45 Caribbean properties in this premium collection. Its peninsula location, finely detailed amenities, five-star luxe offerings and close proximity and accessibility to Turks and Caicos gateway and feeder cities, coupled with high-end lifestyle offerings, make the resort a stand-out in an increasingly homogenized market.

“It is an honor for Sailrock to be included in this exclusive portfolio of luxury hotels and resorts,” said Kashmie Ali, Sailrock’s Managing Director. “This is a testament to our team’s dedication and commitment to providing five-star hospitality to our guests,” added Ali, who explained that the concentration on intensive staff training also sets Sailrock apart from its competition.

The first-class amenities and service offered by Sailrock Resort through the partnership include the stress-reducing exclusive daily breakfast cards for two; room upgrades; early check-in where available; and late check-out. Also included is a US $100 credit for spa services. Sailrock Resort recently unveiled its expanded portfolio featuring the Three-Bedroom Oceanfront Coral Villa for travelers seeking luxury, elegance and privacy. 

Secluded beaches are features of the five-star resort, which is equipped with a large infinity pool, spa cabanas, and a fitness facility with easy access to a fresh market. Fine dining options are available at the Great House Restaurant and Bar, and The Cove Restaurant and Beach Bar. The Caicos Bank, a short stroll away, feeds from the Caribbean Sea and is the site of non-motorised water sports, bone fishing, beach service, beachfront dining and scheduled weekly bonfires. 

The beaches, each stretching up to a mile for leisurely walks, enhance the allure of Sailrock’s laid-back luxury. Wading or snorkeling in the lagoons rewards guests with the colorful displays of a living coral reef, and many other unique experiences await discovery.   

Sailrock Resort’s low-density footprint features 36 suites and beachfront and Peninsula villas designed for luxury and provides spectacular views on over 770 acres -- plenty of room to practice social distancing while connecting with loved ones on a private slice of the Caribbean. Its flexible ownership model welcomes both year-round residents and short-term guests through the resort's rental program.

The results are out and Bay Gardens Resorts is in: Four of the St. Lucian-owned group’s properties as well as one of its popular restaurants and its pioneering water sports park have been honoured with Tripadvisor 2020 Travelers’ Choice awards. 
 
Tripadvisor honors for this year went to Bay Gardens Hotel, Bay Gardens Inn, Bay Gardens Marina Haven, the Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa, Hi-Tide Restaurant, and Splash Island Water Park.
 
The coveted award program celebrates travellers' favourite hotels, restaurants and airlines around the world, honouring 4,817 unique businesses this year. Winners are calculated based on the quality and quantity of the millions of reviews, opinions and ratings collected on Tripadvisor in 2019, prior to the pandemic. With over 8.7 million businesses listed on Tripadvisor, these awards are considered true testament to the outstanding service and quality that winners consistently provide to their guests.
 
Bay Gardens Resorts are no strangers to Tripadvisor accolades, having been recognized multiple times under the previous Certificate of Excellence award program. “We hope to continue thrilling our guests and pursuing our goal of excelling in all areas of these Travellers’ Choice awards,” remarked Sanovnik Destang, Executive Director of Bay Gardens Resorts.
 
In the restaurant category, Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa’s elegant Hi-Tide restaurant, with its cosmopolitan fusion of Caribbean and international cuisine, earned top marks from travellers, delighting the culinary team at the eatery. 
 
Also receiving acclaim was Splash Island Water Park, St. Lucia’s first open-water sports park, located on the beautiful Reduit Beach, which includes a trampoline, climbing wall and water volleyball. The innovative water park, which is available to all Bay Gardens guests, has attracted over 100,000 visitors and locals since it was opened in 2015 by the park's managing director Julianna Ward-Destang.
 
Sanovnik Destang paid tribute to his St. Lucian and Caribbean on-island team: “We work hard to ensure our staff are well trained and cared for so they can deliver the highest quality service to our guests. These Tripadvisor awards are glittering confirmations of the natural hospitality of Caribbean people, and we are immensely proud of the recognition our team has received.”
 
Bay Gardens Resorts’ Managing Director Joyce Destang echoed the accolades pouring in from travelers around the world about the resort group’s dedicated team of employees. “We value and care for every member of our staff as if he or she were part of our own family,” she said. 
 
Travellers’ reviews consistently praise Bay Gardens for its facilities, which have recently been refreshed. “Just prior to the pandemic we completed extensive renovations, especially at Bay Gardens Hotel and Bay Gardens Beach Resort & Spa. Besides being lovingly refurbished, our properties are offering attractive specials, including our Grand Reopening BOGO (Buy one, get one free) which includes a free room upgrade,” noted Sanovnik Destang. 

Guests can be reassured by Bay Gardens’ meticulous anti-coronavirus regimens, which have been COVID-19 certified by the Ministry of Health in St. Lucia to keep guests and staff alike as safe as possible. “Our Paradise Protocols are stringently applied and clearly communicated to our guests and staff across our five properties to ensure the safety and comfort of our guests as well as our local communities,” stated Dr Tanya Destang-Beaubrun, the group’s resident medical professional. 

For any family, NHS or frontline worker that has been adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and needs a break, as part of the nation’s emotional and wellbeing recovery from the pandemic, the national charity (England & Wales) wants to give away free holidays to families in your area. 

The breaks have been funded from donations from members of the public to YHA’s Project90 appeal which was launched as part of the youth hostelling charity’s 90th anniversary celebrations.  

Donations to date will enable YHA to fund a total of 400 much-needed family breaks across England and Wales. 

Conscious that fewer people can now afford a break because of the pandemic, YHA particularly wants to hear from families that have been financially impacted in the crisis and are in need of some quality family time together. 

Family time together on holiday is more important than ever. In a survey* conducted by the 90 year old charity, it was found that more than three quarters (77%) of parents believe that an annual family holiday is important in order to spend more time with their family (78%), however 12% of survey respondents had not been able to take a family holiday at all in the last three years.

While the free breaks are being rolled out, fundraising for YHA’s Project90 campaign continues. YHA hopes to raise a further £120,000 to give breaks to 500 more families in need of rest, recuperation or spending quality time away together. The breaks are available at YHA’s network of youth hostels in England and Wales in both coastal and rural locations. 

The 153-strong network of youth hostels, which were closed during lockdown, re-opened on the 17 July with a pledge from the charity to play a key role in the recovery of society by helping people reconnect with each other, the outdoors, nature, culture and heritage. 

James Blake, Chief Executive of YHA (England & Wales) explained: “The pandemic has put enormous financial and emotional strain on many people and has left a number of NHS and frontline workers and families suffering hardship. A break away together can make all the difference to these families and be an important part of their wellbeing recovery. It will give them valuable time together to reconnect in the outdoors as well as have fun in the process.

“I very much hope that people will get in touch with us and either put themselves forward for a break or nominate a family that they feel would benefit from spending some quality time together.”
 
To donate to YHA’s Project90 campaign and help it reach even more families, visit: getinvolved.yha.org.uk/fundraising/appeals/project90/
 

A solar-powered scarecrow that mimics the calls of a hawk is being used to ward off birds causing delays to passengers travelling between Manchester and London Euston.

Large numbers of birds have been damaging the electric arms of Avanti West Coast’s Pendolino trains and overhead line equipment giving them power at Alstom depot in Longsight, Manchester.

Now Network Rail and the train operator has installed the device which humanely scares the birds away while protecting them from potential electrocution. Ridding the depot of birds means long-distance trains will stop being unexpectedly damaged, potentially taking them out of services or delayed in the depot while repairs are made. This will mean better journeys for commuters, holiday-makers and business people in future.

Phil James, Network Rail’s North West route director, said: “As we start to welcome back passengers back on to North West railways, they want to know their services are reliable and on time. Birds at Alstom’s depot have become a real nuisance but this solution is a win win, protecting both the wildlife and the trains from harm.

“The electronic scarecrow is one of many methods we’re deploying across the North West to make our infrastructure more reliable, so we can deliver on-time train services that people of the North West can be proud of.”

Operations director at Avanti West Coast, Nick Westcott, said: “We’re always exploring new initiatives to make our route resilient to various scenarios and customers’ journeys more reliable. Birds can delay our trains or cause damage to them and the overhead wires, so working with Network Rail to install an electronic scarecrow will help to deter birds from the railway – improving the reliability of our customers’ journeys between Manchester and London.”

It’s thought birds are roosting on top of overhead line equipment and stationary trains because there is a recycling centre nearby.

When they fly or drop twigs on to electrical equipment, their wing spans can cause the cables to trip, leading to a loss of power and the bird’s death.
The £2000 equipment was successfully trialled and installed by Network Rail’s Manchester Maintenance Delivery unit team. 

Since December last year Avanti West Coast has experienced a total of 20 incidents across the North West relating to birds on overhead lines or being struck by trains.

This caused delays of more than nine hours for passengers (a total of 562 minutes).

Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the resumption of services to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (NBO) - Nairobi, Kenya with 14 weekly flights and to Kigali International Airport (KGL) - Kigali, Rwanda with three weekly flights. With the addition of Kigali and Nairobi, the airline now operates 33 weekly flights to eight destinations in Africa including Addis Ababa, Dar es Salaam, Djibouti, Kilimanjaro, Zanzibar and Tunis.

Being one of the largest passenger carriers during the pandemic with a promised steady schedule that never dropped below 30 destinations, the national carrier to the State of Qatar connects many passengers seamlessly via its award-winning home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA) to key destinations via its rapidly expanding network including Europe, Americas, Asia and Pacific via Doha.  
Qatar Airways has a strong relationship with Kenya and Rwanda with almost 15 years of operations to Nairobi and eight years of operations to Kigali. The award-winning airline began scheduled services from Nairobi on 15 November 2005 followed by Kigali on 24 March 2012 and Mombasa on 9 December 2018.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “We are delighted to resume flights to Nairobi and Kigali, totalling our flights to 33 weekly flights into Africa with eight destinations. Qatar Airways continues to maintain an expanding schedule with now more than 500 weekly flights to over 75 destinations. During the pandemic, Qatar Airways have become the largest global carrier to maintain its schedule in taking people home with the highest safety measures. Our wide network of flights during these challenging times has ensured we have kept up to date with the latest in international airport procedures. We also implemented the most advanced safety & hygiene measures on board our aircraft and in our home and hub at Hamad International Airport which was recently voted the Best Airport in the Middle East for the sixth year in a row.

“Qatar Airways has been the most reliable airline during the pandemic and will continue to ensure its promised five-star service and hospitality is delivered across its network. We hope to see many people come visit Kenya and Rwanda and explore the world’s stunning wildlife and more.”
During COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar Airways Cargo continued operating its scheduled twice-weekly with A330 freighters and four times weekly with Boeing 777 freighters to Nairobi along with freight charters. These flights provided much required capacity, supporting exporters and importers and bringing in essential medical supplies. With the resumption of passenger flights to Nairobi, the cargo carrier will operate 20 flights in total, offering more than 700 tonnes of cargo capacity each week, each way.

Qatar Airways has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew. The airline has introduced Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for cabin crew which includes gloves, face masks, safety glasses and a new protective gown that is fitted over their uniforms. A modified service that reduces interactions between passengers and the crew inflight has also been introduced. 

Onboard, all Qatar Airways passengers are now provided with a complimentary protective kit. Inside a ziplock pouch they will find a single-use surgical face mask, large disposable powder-free gloves and an alcohol-based hand sanitiser gel. The airline has also introduced disposable face shields for adults and children. Passengers travelling from Hamad International Airport (HIA) will receive their face shields at the check-in counters, whereas at other destinations, the face shields will be distributed at the boarding gates.

To ensure travellers can plan their travel with peace of mind, the airline has extended its booking policies to offer even more choice to its passengers. The airline will allow unlimited date changes, and passengers can change their destination as often as they need if it is within 5,000 miles of the original destination.

The airline will not charge any fare differences for travel completed before 31 December 2020, after which fare rules will apply.