Holiday & Travel

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. 

Qatar Airways has announced significant updates to its mobile app that allow passengers to plan their travel with greater ease, helping minimize physical contact and interactions throughout their journey. Members of Qatar Airways Privilege Club will earn 1,000 Qmiles when they download the mobile app.

With an updated, intuitively designed look and feel, the Qatar Airways mobile app now presents a personalised home screen that provides the most relevant information to each user. For those with an upcoming flight, the mobile app’s existing ‘My Trips’ feature will now be displayed on the home screen, highlighting the most important information at each stage of their journey. For those without a current booking, special offers will be displayed, tailored to their location. Additionally, the mobile app is now available in the Arabic language, demonstrating the airline’s commitment to Arabic-speaking customers around the world.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “Our refreshed mobile app is the perfect travel companion for our passengers, allowing them to take control of their travel plans, keep them informed at all times and, importantly in the current climate, limit physical contact throughout their journey.

“At Qatar Airways, we continue to invest in award-winning, five-star products and services across all stages of our customers’ journey, and digital technology plays an important role in this. Our customers expect their digital interactions with the Qatar Airways brand to be as smooth and seamless as their journey onboard, and we are working to ensure that our digital products continue to be world-class.”

With the airline’s mobile app’s ‘MyTrips’ feature, now prominently presented on the home screen, passengers can select their preferred seat and meals in advance, check-in online, download their boarding pass to a mobile wallet, and generate a baggage tag to print and attach to their luggage at home. Passengers can also enable notifications through the mobile app to receive important alerts about their upcoming flight’s departure times, check-in, boarding and baggage collection. Throughout the passenger’s journey, the mobile app can be used to track baggage and book Meet and Assist services at Hamad International Airport in Doha.

Other features of Qatar Airways’ mobile app will continue to be offered to its customers. Before travel, customers can use the mobile app to check the latest information on country and travel requirements, including visa and passport information.

Providing seamless booking options, the mobile app also includes a camera tool, allowing passengers to capture a photo of their passport or payment card without having to manually enter this information upon check out. Meanwhile, members of Qatar Airways’ loyalty programme, Privilege Club, can use the app to seamlessly log in with  fingerprint or facial recognition, book a trip using Cash + Qmiles, redeem Privilege Club awards, manage their accounts, and much more. Customers can download the mobile app at qatarairways.com/App.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ by the 2019 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘Best Airline in the Middle East’, ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘Best Business Class Seat’, in recognition of its ground-breaking Business Class experience, Qsuite. Its home and hub, Hamad International Airport (HIA), was named ‘Third Best Airport in the World’ by the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2020.

To ensure travellers can plan their travel with peace of mind in the current climate, the airline has extended its booking policies to offer even more choice to its passengers. The airline allows unlimited date changes, and passengers can change their destination as often as they need if it is within 5,000 miles of the original one. The airline will not charge any fare differences for travel completed before 31 December 2020, after which fare rules will apply. All tickets booked for travel up to 31 December 2020 will be valid for two years from the date of issuance.

Additionally, Qatar Airways has robust onboard safety measures in place 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.

Puerto Rico's plans to encourage more tourism from the U.S. mainland have backfired as the number of COVID-19 cases has spiked at the same time that the island has attracted more visitors, it was reports from the island.

Days after Puerto Rico launched a campaign to promote that the island would "formally reopen for inbound tourism on July 15" with new safety mandates for visitors, Gov. Wanda Vázquez pushed the date to Aug. 15. She also rolled back multiple reopening efforts, ordering bars, gyms, marinas, theatres and casinos to close down again until July 31.

The governor announced other rollbacks, including prohibiting alcohol sales after 7 p.m., limiting restaurant capacity to 50 percent and restricting beach access only to those who are exercising. A 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew will also remain, the NBC report continues.

Multiple social media videos went viral over the weekend, showing tourists fighting at the main international airport and violating mask mandates, as well as social distancing rules.

Puerto Rico was initially praised for being one of the first U.S. jurisdictions to put drastic measures in place, such as implementing an island-wide curfew and banning cruise ships, as well as closing schools and all nonessential businesses, to avoid overwhelming the island's fragile health care system in March.

But a recent surge in COVID-19 cases has coincided with Puerto Rico's efforts to reopen nonessential businesses and tourist attractions. Over the past week, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases jumped by more than 1,000, while the number of probable cases increased by almost 1,300.

Gustavo Segura Sancho

The President of Costa Rica, Mr. Carlos Alvarado Quesada, has appointed Gustavo Segura Sancho as the country’s new Tourism Minister and Executive President of the Costa Rica Tourism Board (ICT), replacing María Amalia Revelo Raventós as head of the department.
 
Gustavo Segura Sancho has a degree in Economics from the University of Costa Rica and an MBA in Sustainable Development from the prestigious INCAE Business School. His professional career includes extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He spent seven years in the hotel industry as well as six years as a member of the Board of Directors of the Costa Rican Tourism Board (ICT), five of them as its Vice President.
 
Due to his vast experience in sustainable tourism, Segura Sancho was a key player in the implementation of Costa Rica’s Certificate for Sustainable Tourism (CST). The CST categorises companies based on the degree to which they adhere to sustainable practices – a pioneering programme launched by Costa Rica in 1997 and backed by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO).
 
Three clear areas are the main priorities for Gustavo Segura Sancho as Tourism Minister: the return of international flights gradually and safely; the implementation of tools to ease the financial difficulties of tourism companies; and the execution of measures to reactivate the economy.
 
“It is a great honour to serve Costa Rica as its new Tourism Minister, a position that comes with even a higher responsibility at this time due to the complex situation caused by Covid-19, a pandemic that has been particularly harmful to the tourism industry. It is my wish and task that Costa Rica remains a key global tourism player,” Gustavo Segura Sancho said.
 
The now former Tourism Minister, María Amalia Revelo Raventós, handed over her position to the President last week due to health reasons.

Holiday firms are "frantically busy" taking bookings for cottages, caravan sites and holiday parks after lockdown restrictions were eased.

Restrictions were lifted, with holidaymakers now able to stay in self-contained accommodation for the first time since March.

Three Cliffs Bay Holiday Park in the Gower took 300 bookings in one day.
And Plassey Holiday Park in Wrexham said their tents, lodges and caravan sites were fully booked within hours.

Owner of Plassey Holiday Park, Sarah Brookshaw, said: "We are Covid-19 secure and have complied with all the government requests. We've trained all the staff, put hand sanitiser and distance markers all around the site."

Elizabeth Daniel, owner of Brecon Beacons Holiday Cottages, said the business has been "frantically busy" since the restrictions were lifted.

The British Holiday & Home Parks Association tweeted: "Sending every good wish to @BHHPA members in Wales Flag as you welcome your customers back."

Andrew Campbell, chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance, said: "There was a flurry of phone calls to properties and agencies, which is simply lovely to see.
"People just wanted to get out and come to Wales. You can feel the joy, it's radiating off them." He added many of the holidaymakers were from Wales looking for a staycation, but there were also a "high percentage of people from England".

Tourism in Wales directly supports about 120,000 jobs - almost 10% of Wales' workforce - and contributes 6% of all Gross Value Added to the Welsh economy.

Across Wales, the sector is estimated to be worth more than £3bn - and £585m to the Pembrokeshire economy alone. The industry had been on course to increase its overnight spend by visitors in Wales this year by 10% compared with eight years ago.

VIVA Cruises completes first post Covid-19 cruise on VIVA TIARA’s maiden voyage

The first post Covid-19 cruise from river cruise specialist, VIVA Cruises, has recently come to an end after a safe and pleasant eight-night journey along the scenic Rhine River on the maiden voyage of the new VIVA TIARA.
 
The VIVA TIARA was thoroughly refurbished earlier this year and is the very first ship owned by the young European river tour operator. The maiden voyage and VIVA Cruises’ first post Covid-19 cruise  sailed with a limited number of passengers on board and featured all the new required health and safety measures.
 
The VIVA TIARA boasts 76 light-flooded outside cabins, most of them with French balconies. Departing from the German city of Düsseldorf on 26 June, the ship took passengers down the Rhine until the Austrian city of Engelhartszell an der Donau, arriving on 4 July.
 
The itinerary featured the German cities of Koblenz, Rüdesheim am Rhein, Frankfurt and Nürnberg; the castles and palaces of the Rhine Valley region and the fine wines of the Rheingau district before crossing the border to Austria. All 95 passengers on board (70% of capacity) were extremely satisfied with the new experience on board.
 
Andrea Kruse, COO of VIVA Cruises and a guest on the VIVA TIARA cruise, said: “We all had a very positive experience on this first post Covid-19 cruise, which was very special for us not only due to the current extraordinary situation but also as it was VIVA TIARA’s maiden voyage. It was very rewarding to see how all the new safety regulations were observed by everyone on board. Whether it is by flight, train or car, we are ready to welcome visitors from all over Europe again.”
 
New health measures implanted on board include regular temperature checks, compulsory facemasks, one-way system in corridors, à la carte meals, having a doctor throughout the duration of the cruise, amongst many others.
 
Throughout July and August, VIVA Cruises will be also operating four-night cruises in Germany, along the Main and Rhine rivers, on board MS TREASURES and MS INSPIRE. Additional four- and six-night cruises along the Rhine and Danube rivers are also scheduled from September onwards. 
 
All itineraries will include VIVA Cruises’ signature VIVA All-Inclusive product, which includes full board, high-quality alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, minibar, beauty products from luxury cosmetic brand, Rituals, and all tips and gratuities.
 

Cars which find their own parking spaces and trams which report their own faults are just some of the futuristic transport systems being developed under a new agreement.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will see Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), West Midlands 5G (WM5G) and Vodafone work together to improve the way we travel around the region.

5G innovation will also play a key role in the region’s post coronavirus economic recovery plan, driving investment and delivering new jobs. The partnership is already in discussion regarding projects where 5G can potentially improve transport and support congestion and emissions reductions.

The agreement, signed by the Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street on behalf of TfWM and Director of Vodafone Business Anne Sheehan, will see the partners share information and expertise and develop cutting-edge transport systems and technology using the region’s growing 5G mobile network.

Two 5G mobility projects already under development and led by WM5G are:

• The Kerbside Parking Availability Trial: The West Midlands is the first region in the UK to trial the concept of 5G-enabled identification of live kerbside parking availability. With the support of parking technology provider AppyWay, a series of trials took place in Sparkhill. The demonstration saw a live HD street scan being captured from a vehicle travelling an agreed section of roadway. The footage was transmitted and processed via 5G networks to confirm parking availability in real-time to the AppyParking app. By unlocking real-time availability parking data to drivers journey times, the flow of traffic and emissions levels can be improved. This will reduce congestion, improve air quality within urban environments, and make it more accessible for visitors to access our city centres and local highstreets. 

• Connected tram trial: 5G is also proving to be an enabler on public transport. WM5G has been working with GoMedia – a leading infotainment provider – on some more practical solutions for the region’s tram network. By plugging CCTV systems into a 5G network, hi-resolution video footage can be monitored in real-time far more efficiently. In a world of social distancing, this can help transport operators determined the effectiveness of public safety measures on their services. Here 5G is enabling an intervention without the need for draconian measures to ensure public health and safety.  The footage is captured and monitored at secure locations, protecting not only the safety of the network’s passengers but also their privacy. The same principles can be replicated outside of the carriage and at our stops and stations, enabling safeguarding at a safe, social distance and controlling the number of passengers.

Mayor of the West Midlands Andy Street said: “We have seen how vital good connectivity is during this pandemic, not only keeping many businesses going, but keeping friends and families connected.

“That is why I want the West Midlands to be at the forefront of 5G, using the technology to find new ways of working, travelling and staying connected. And when it comes to travel we are not just investing billions in rail, trams and bus technology, but, through our Future Transport Zone and 5G Testbed, we are looking to lead the way on developing the transport systems of the future.

“It’s exciting to think about what we can achieve in this area moving forward, and I am delighted we have been able to sign this new partnership with Vodafone.”

Director of Vodafone Business, Anne Sheehan, commented, “We’re hugely excited to be working on such innovative projects here in the West Midlands. We believe 5G has the potential to revolutionise transport. Its ultra-high bandwidth and low latency are perfect for real-time interactions that will underpin solutions to some of the biggest transport issues we face today, such as congestion and emission levels.  It’s fantastic to be able to explore such solutions as part of the 5G Testbed and give the West Midlands the opportunity to become a global leader in this space.”

Cllr Ian Ward, Birmingham City Council leader and WMCA portfolio holder for transport said: “These projects show how we can harness cutting edge technology to make travel around the West Midlands easier, faster and more convenient. Whether it is improving safety on the Metro network or cutting the numbers of motorists circulating our cities searching for parking spaces.

“We are developing the next generation of transport systems through the Future Transport Zone and 5G testbed as we look to tackle the problems of climate change, pollution and traffic congestion and build our economy following the lockdown.”

TfWM, which is part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), was awarded £22 million Future Transport Zone funding to work with universities and industry on exciting new technologies that can place the West Midlands at the heart of the next transport revolution.

West Midlands 5G Testbed has been set up by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and WMCA to accelerate the deployment of 5G networks and to develop new 5G services across the region.

The MOU allows collaboration on systems which help improve air quality, reduce congestion, accelerate connected and autonomous vehicle technology, provide public health benefits and help the WMCA and TfWM achieve its aim of building a healthier, happier, better connected and more prosperous West Midlands.

CrossCountry have released a statement regarding train travel in the coming weeks.

“The Government's advice is to not travel by train unless absolutely necessary. However, as more people begin returning to work over the coming weeks, we need to ensure our timetable and services can support this expected increase. We do ask that you travel in an alternative way if this is available to you. This means we can keep our trains clear for those who really need them.

“From Monday 6 July, we will run an amended timetable, with added time provided at certain stations to give you enough time to board and alight safely. We’ve also added more carriages to help maintain social distancing on-board where possible.

The timetable changes affect the following routes:

• Manchester Piccadilly to Reading
• Bristol Temple Meads to Newcastle
• Birmingham New Street to Leicester
• Nottingham to Birmingham New Street

As part of this timetable change, we will reduce or remove stops at some stations, which are all detailed on our website. We advise that you check your journey before you travel.  “

UK holidaymakers are expected to be allowed to travel to Spain, France and Greece this summer after ministers confirmed people returning from certain countries will not have to quarantine.

The rules will be relaxed on 6 July after a review of health measures.

The full list of travel corridors with the UK will be published next week.
Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Belgium, Turkey, Germany and Norway are also expected to feature but it is thought Portugal and Sweden will not.

A government spokesman said the new rules would give people "the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad" while also boosting the UK economy - but stressed the relaxation depended on risks staying low.

Portugal has seen a rise in the number of new cases in and around Lisbon recently, while Sweden is also unlikely to be on the list because the infection rate there is higher than in the UK.

But the government spokesman conceded there would be nothing to stop someone avoiding quarantine by flying into a Spanish airport, driving over the border into Portugal for their holiday and returning by the same route.

The travel sector has gone to war with the government over its blanket quarantine policy.

So a more nuanced, risk-based approach will quieten the critics to some extent.

But the storm of controversy swirling around this policy won't completely go away.
Portugal, which will probably not be on next week's list of exemptions, feels hard done-by.
The country is desperate that UK tourists return.

And although in public health terms the US is not currently close to being on the list, it does potentially present a tricky diplomatic dynamic, given the normally cosy relationship between Washington and London.

And the transatlantic flight market is lucrative too.

This announcement is a step in the right direction for UK aviation, but they want testing at airports to also provide another way for passengers to be exempt. So far, in public, the government has said very little about that.

Last week, one of the UK's largest aviation firms, Swissport, said it wanted to begin testing passengers for Covid-19 at a major UK airport.

However, the government has not indicated whether it is willing to allow passengers travelling from at-risk countries who test negative to be exempt from quarantine.

UK travellers will still have to hand over the address they plan to stay at on their return from abroad, no matter which country they are coming back from.

Travel industry group ABTA described the relaxation of quarantine rules as "encouraging".

"Confirmation of the list of countries is eagerly anticipated by the travel industry, and should encourage customers to book," it said in a statement.

"The blanket Foreign Office advice against all but essential travel is still a major impediment to travel, however, and we look forward to the government adopting a similar risk-based approach to that advice."

The UK introduced rules requiring all people arriving in the UK to self-isolate for 14 days on 8 June. It was widely criticised by the travel industry and MPs of all parties.

Home Secretary Priti Patel said the laws were designed "to prevent a second wave" of coronavirus.

On 17 March, the Foreign Office issued a global advisory against all but essential international travel.

For some countries this will now be eased. However, travel advice will be reviewed separately from decisions on travel corridors.

"Our public health measures at the border were put in place to manage the risk of imported cases and help prevent a second wave of the virus, and will continue to support our fight against coronavirus," said a government spokesman.

"Our new risk-assessment system will enable us to carefully open a number of safe travel routes around the world - giving people the opportunity for a summer holiday abroad and boosting the UK economy through tourism and business.

"But we will not hesitate to put on the brakes if any risks re-emerge, and this system will enable us to take swift action to re-introduce self-isolation measures if new outbreaks occur overseas."

Qatar Airways becomes largest carrier operating over 15,000 flights to take 1.8 million people home
 
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented challenges for the global aviation industry. Qatar Airways has led the industry during these challenging times taking people home safely and reliably on more flights to more destinations than any other airline, becoming the largest airline in the world over the past three months. These efforts have established the carrier as the airline passengers, governments and industry partners can rely on and trust.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “During this crisis more passengers have chosen to fly with Qatar Airways than any other airline, and we appreciate the trust they have placed in us. We have become the largest global carrier flying over 50 million kilometres to repatriate over 1.8 million passengers on over 15,000 flights.

This has enabled us to accumulate unrivalled experience of how to safely and reliably carry passengers during these uncertain times.

“Our wide network of flights during this period has ensured we have kept up to date with the latest in international airport procedures and implemented the most advanced safety and hygiene measures on board our aircraft and in our award winning home and hub, Hamad International Airport, recently voted the Best Airport in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year. This is why more people rely on us for international travel than any other airline during this crisis and why we will continue to ensure the safest and most reliable experience for our passengers as we resume flights to more destinations over the summer.

“Qatar Airways is a carrier that has been recognised as the World’s Best Airline on five occasions by Skytrax, built significant goodwill with governments and embassies as we assisted stranded citizens and most importantly, been available non-stop for stranded passengers during the pandemic. We have been here 24/7 during the darkest days and will continue to be a friend in need as confidence returns and people restart their travel plans.”

Passenger and Cargo Operations

While many airlines have been forced or chosen to suspend operations, Qatar Airways has maintained a robust and agile network helping to take over 1.8 million passengers home.

The airline has also worked closely with governments, and companies around the world to operate over 220 charters and extra sector flights helping reunite over 62,000 people with their loved ones. As the global recovery from COVID-19 begins, the airline recently announced plans to gradually rebuild its network in line with passenger demand evolution and the expected relaxation of entry restrictions around the world. By the end of June, the airline plans to expand its network to 80* destinations with more to be added by the end of the Summer Season.

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’s cargo division has significantly increased operations to support global trade and the transport of essential medical and aid supplies to impacted regions. The air freight carrier has further established itself as the industry leader operating around 180 flights per day, utilising passenger aircraft to carry freight-only in addition to the airline’s fleet of 28 freighters. Working closely with governments and NGOs around the globe, Qatar Airways Cargo has transported over 175,000 tonnes of medical and aid supplies to impacted regions, the equivalent of roughly 1,750 fully loaded Boeing 777 freighters.

These unprecedented times have seen the airline operate services to many destinations for the first time, helping repatriate stranded travellers and deliver essential supplies to where they are needed. Some of the new destinations Qatar Airways has touched down in during this period include Brisbane, Christchurch, Port Moresby, Toronto, and Vancouver for passenger flights and Perth, Valencia, and Warsaw for freighter flights.

Safeguarding our passengers and staff

Qatar Airways has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew. The airline has implemented several changes, including the introduction of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits for cabin crew while onboard, as well as a modified service that reduces interactions between the passengers and the crew inflight.

Cabin crew have already been wearing PPE suits during flights for a number of weeks in addition to safety goggles, gloves and a mask to provide even greater reassurance to customers in addition to enhanced hygienic measures already in place. The airline now requires passengers to wear face coverings inflight and recommends people bring their own for fit and comfort purposes.

Passengers flying Business Class on Qsuite equipped aircraft can avail of the enhanced privacy this award-winning suite provides, including sliding privacy partitions and fully closing doors that create a private sanctuary. Passengers can also opt to use the ‘Do Not Disturb (DND)’ indicator in their private suite, if they wish to limit their interactions with the cabin crew. Qsuite continues to be available on flights to more than 30 destinations including London, Sydney, Singapore and Dallas Fort Worth with plans to add it more routes throughout the summer.

As an airline, Qatar Airways maintains the highest possible hygiene standards, which include the regular disinfection of aircraft, the use of cleaning products recommended by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the World Health Organization (WHO), and thermal screening of crew.
In addition, Qatar Airways’ aircraft feature the most advanced air filtration systems, equipped with industrial-size HEPA filters that remove 99.97% of viral and bacterial contaminants from re-circulated air, providing the most effective protection against infection.

Hamad International Airport

Hamad International Airport (HIA) is also robustly minimising any risks to the health and safety of passengers and staff. As a vital pillar to Qatar’s national economy, HIA’s doors remain open as it continues its operations to take people home, and ensure food security for the State of Qatar through air cargo.

HIA has implemented stringent cleaning procedures and closed most of the non-essential passenger facilities. The airport is implementing innovative solutions to maintain the highest levels of hygiene including the use of disinfection robots, advanced thermal temperature screening, and ultraviolet luggage disinfection. All passenger touchpoints are sanitized every 10-15 minutes and every boarding gate and bus gate counter is cleaned after each flight.

Staff working at the airport have been provided additional training in terms of protecting themselves and others in light of the current situation and implementing the highest health and safety measurements. In addition, hand sanitizers are provided at immigration and security screening points. A social distancing policy has been implemented at the airport, and staff wear masks and disposable gloves to protect them from any infection. All staff are briefed to change their masks in line with WHO recommendations.

HIA was recently ranked “Third Best Airport in the World”, among 550 airports worldwide, by the SKYTRAX World Airport Awards 2020. Rising from fourth position in 2019 to third in 2020, HIA has been steadily rising in the ‘World's Best Airports’ rankings since the start of its operations in 2014. In addition, HIA was voted the ‘Best Airport in the Middle East’ for the sixth year in a row and ‘Best Staff Service in the Middle East’ for the fifth year in a row.

The recently announced expansion of HIA will increase the airport’s capacity to more than 53 million passengers annually by 2022, further positioning as the airport of choice in the region for savvy international travellers. The terminal building will be the first airport in the MENA region to achieve a 4-star Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) rating, which is the first performance-based system in the MENA region, developed for rating the green buildings and infrastructures. The terminal will also be a LEED Silver certified building with innovative measures of energy efficiency across the entire building.

*Subject to regulatory approval

Airline will operate three-weekly flights to Venice, starting 15 July 2020

Flights to Dublin, Milan and Rome will increase to daily services from 13 June 2020

DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways is pleased to announce the airline will be resuming services to Venice, Italy starting from 15 July 2020. The popular tourist destination and major arts and cultural centre will become the airline’s third destination in Italy to resume flights, marking a significant step in the resumption of global leisure travel.

The national carrier of the State of Qatar will also increase flights to Dublin, Milan and Rome, with daily services starting from 13 June 2020. As one of the only global airlines to have maintained a significant schedule throughout this crisis, Qatar Airways is uniquely positioned to monitor trends in traffic flow and passenger bookings. The airline expects these additional flights to provide further seamless connectivity via its award-winning hub, Hamad International Airport, with its Asia-Pacific destinations, in particular Australia where the airline continues to operate 21 weekly flights to Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.

Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are excited to resume services to Venice, one of the most iconic and popular tourist destinations in the world. Throughout this crisis, our focus has been on helping to take people home and transporting medical aid and essential supplies to impacted regions. The resumption of services to Venice is a major milestone not just for our airline but also for the global tourism industry, indicating the start of the gradual return of international leisure travel. We look forward to supporting the many businesses in Venice that rely on international tourism and expanding these flights as demand grows.

“During this crisis, we have become the largest carrier flying over 50 million kilometres to repatriate over 1.8 million passengers on over 15,000 flights. This has enabled us to accumulate unrivalled experience of how to safely and reliably carry passengers during these uncertain times. Our wide network of flights during these challenging times has ensured we have kept up to date with the latest in international airport procedures and implemented the most advanced safety & hygiene measures on board our aircraft and in Hamad International Airport, recently voted the Best Airport in the Middle East for the sixth year in a row. We have been the airline passengers can rely on during this crisis and we will continue to ensure the safest and most reliable experience for our passengers as global travel recovers.”

Qatar Airways three-weekly flights to Venice will be operated by its state-of-the-art Boeing 787 Dreamliner, featuring 22 seats in Business Class and 232 Seats in Economy class. The airline has further enhanced its onboard safety measures for passengers and cabin crew. The airline is implementing several changes, including the introduction of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) suits for cabin crew while onboard, as well as a modified service that reduces interactions between the passengers and the crew inflight. Cabin crew have already been wearing PPE during flights for a number of weeks, including gloves and face masks. Passengers will also be required to wear face coverings inflight, with the carrier recommending travellers bring their own for fit and comfort purposes.

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. All tickets booked for travel up to 31 December 2020 will be valid for two years from the date of issuance. For full terms and conditions visit www.qatarairways.com/RelyOnUs.

Flight Schedule:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday

Doha (DOH) to Venice (VCE) QR125 departs: 08:20 arrives 13:15

Venice (VCE) to Doha (DOH) QR126 departs: 16:05 arrives 22:30

The national carrier of the State of Qatar has built a strong level of trust with passengers, governments, trade and airports  as a reliable partner during this crisis. With its plans for expanding its network and strengthening airline partnerships, the airline is well positioned to continue delivering on its mission to be the airline travellers can trust.

Leading river cruise operator, Scylla, has announced the sailing of 34 ships on Europe’s waterways with immediate effect – becoming one of the first companies to resume operations after Covid-19. The Swiss operator runs a fleet of riverboats for various European charter clients.
 
“We are very pleased that the industry is slowly recovering from the coronavirus crisis and that our riverboats can now be put back on Europe’s waterways, where they belong,” says Arno Reitsma, CEO of Scylla AG (pictured). “Guests will once again be able to enjoy some of the most exciting river cruises on Europe’s beautiful waterways, even though travel itself is now slightly different,” Mr Reitsma adds.
 
“It goes without saying that all necessary safety, security and hygiene standards have been implemented on board all our ships,” Mr Reitsma explains. One of these measures will be to maintain a safe distance during the entire time on board – only registered passengers who have previously undergone a health check will be allowed on the ship.
 
Fewer passengers on the ships, compulsory facemasks, regular disinfections and bringing meals and drinks directly to the table are also part of the new measures. In addition, a doctor will also be on board for health checks and consultations for all guests and crewmembers. "Travel has changed but passengers on our ships will still be able to enjoy our river cruises," Mr Reitsma says.
 
Scylla will start sailing on a selection of European waterways and the newly added “mini-cruises” (shorter cruises) are proving to be very popular, with strong forward bookings.