10 Jan, 2021
Travellers’ average age, spending drops in post-Covid era
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., Jan. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ — Almost one year following the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the travel landscape is still unrecognizable from years past. Using data from trips booked in 2020, travel insurance comparison website, Squaremouth.com, reports that almost everything about travel has changed. Average Traveler Age Drops Squaremouth reports the average […]
more…29 Dec, 2020
A Compendium of Insightful Speeches on Thailand: The Greatest Story in Global Tourism HiSTORY
Bangkok — The Covid-19 crisis stifled what was to be a glorious year of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Thai Airways International. While 2020 turned out to be a year of commiseration, hitting the lowest point of a probable V-shaped recovery makes it the best time for some […]
more…19 Dec, 2020
Vaccine politics: Why Travel & Tourism workers should be prioritised
by Edmund Bartlett, Minister of Tourism, Jamaica Introduction: Tourism before the pandemic Over the past several decades, tourism has experienced continuous growth and diversification to become one of the fastest growing economic sectors in the world (UNWTO, 2019). International tourist arrivals increased from 25.3 million in 1950 to 1138 million in 2014 to 1500 million […]
more…26 Nov, 2020
Research Shows Younger Millennials Demand Societal Change, Their Top Concerns Now Include Death, Losing Loved Ones and Mental Health
NEW YORK, Nov. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — A new research study of more than 1,000 young Americans aged 14 to 28 found Generation Z and younger Millennials cited “equality for all” among their top hopes, “death and losing loved ones” among their top fears, and “better access to mental and emotional health services” as their […]
more…26 Nov, 2020
U.S., Thai Space Research Scientists Develop App to Monitor Air Quality in Mekong region
COLUMBIA, Md., Nov. 24, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Universities Space Research Association (USRA) scientists have collaboratively developed a web application that will help mitigate the impact of air pollution in Thailand where seasonal air pollution resulting from forest fires and agricultural burning create a major human health issues. The new app builds on existing air quality […]
more…17 Nov, 2020
U.S. Govt faces accountability for reportedly spying on Muslims using data from religious apps
WASHINGTON, DC – 11/16/2020 — CAIR media release – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, a leading U.S. Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today strongly condemned the U.S. government’s reported use of personal data from popular Muslim religious applications to target Muslims around the world, called for a congressional inquiry into the possible warrantless surveillance […]
more…13 Nov, 2020
WHO Director-General hails Thai success in containing Covid-19, urges world to follow suit
Geneva — World Health Organisation Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has hailed Thailand’s success in battling the Covid-19 virus as “an excellent example that with a whole-of-government, whole-of-society, comprehensive approach, this virus can be contained – even without a vaccine.” Delivering his closing remarks at the World Health Assembly on 13 November 2020, Dr […]
more…13 Nov, 2020
SDG 8, Decent Work, Dominates Entries by 30 Finalists of The Hospitality Challenge
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (PRWEB) November 12, 2020 – In June 2020, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Sommet Education launched the Hospitality Challenge. This was designed to identify ideas and individuals capable of accelerating the recovery of the tourism sector in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. The initiative has received almost 600 applications from all […]
more…10 Nov, 2020
World Resources Institute hails Biden win as a “New Day for Climate, Equity and the Economy”
WASHINGTON (November 7, 2020) — Joseph R. Biden and Kamala D. Harris have been elected as the next president and vice president of the United States. They received the most votes by a presidential ticket in U.S. history and were able to win several states that Donald Trump won in 2016. The U.S. House […]
more…6 Nov, 2020
Volvo Cars Thailand launches an expansive new warehouse in Thailand
BANGKOK, 5 November 2020 – Volvo Cars Thailand has launched a new dedicated Volvo warehouse for the first time in Thailand. The “Volvo Car Thailand Central Distribution & Training Center” (VCT CDTC) on Bangna-Trad Road Km 23, Samut Prakan Province, spread over an area of 23,331 square meters, is set to become Volvo’s one-stop hub […]
more…5 Nov, 2020
Enter the tourism industry’s new normal: Learning to live with the pandemic
by Julian Spindler Thailand’s world-class tourism industry, one of the twin drivers of our economy, is in a deep, coronavirus-induced coma, close to death. No life support is currently available. Pandemic paranoia has gripped the nation, freezing our bio-security risk management in full containment mode, meaning zero tolerance for local Covid-19 transmission. The socio-economic, and […]
more…3 Nov, 2020
25 Years since the death of the slogan “Peace Promotes Tourism”
Tomorrow, Nov 4, the world will be mesmerised by the U.S. elections. Forgotten in the heat of the political competition will be the 25th anniversary of The Day The World Really Changed — the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin, Israeli Prime Minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner, by a Jewish fanatic extremist terrorist named Yigal Amir. […]
more…29 Oct, 2020
The Best Speech I Ever Wrote for the Thai Minister of Tourism and Sports
Between 1995-2020, a full 25 years, I did a voluminous amount of contract work for the Tourism Authority of Thailand, including writing nearly all the speeches for their senior executives at major events such as the ITB Berlin, World Travel Market, Arabian Travel Market, etc. Looking back, the best speech I ever wrote was for […]
more…28 Oct, 2020
A 71st birthday tribute to the late Dr Surin Pitsuwan
Today would have been the 71st birthday of the late Dr Surin Pitsuwan, former ASEAN Secretary-General and Thai Foreign Minister. I am honoured to have been his friend and colleague over his distinguished career as one of Thailand’s finest politicians and technocrats. His many brilliant speeches and visionary activities, which I proudly covered, ranged from […]
more…26 Oct, 2020
To solve Thailand’s latest crisis, try reading a TAT brochure
Bangkok – What is happening in Thailand today is not actually supposed to be happening at all. According to the Tourism Authority of Thailand marketing brochures, this is a land of meditation, peace, tranquility and happiness full of friendly, hospitable, service-minded people who eat healthy food, holiday in dream destinations and bask in the harmony […]
more…24 Oct, 2020
Have Your Say: What do you think about the political protests in Thailand?
Bangkok — The ongoing political protests are sure to have a long-term impact on the future of Thailand, in equal measure as the economic fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. While the latter is getting saturation coverage in the travel trade media, the former is getting none. Such intellectual cowardice is typical of the Travel & […]
more…16 Oct, 2020
Thailand in crisis: Applying draconian medical solutions to political problems risks killing the patient
Bangkok – For several years, the Thai Travel & Tourism industry has marketed “Health & Wellness” as a major competitive niche. Campaigns have highlighted grassroots preventive measures such as Thai massage and meditation alongside curative capabilities such as qualified medical practitioners and high-tech, well-managed hospitals. Today, that holistic medical formula is entirely missing in the […]
more…15 Oct, 2020
Thailand’s image in a tailspin, will worsen recovery from Covid-19 crisis
Bangkok – Thailand’s carefully cultivated image as a country of peaceful, friendly, hospitable and service-minded people is again in a tailspin, thanks to a government crackdown on anti-establishment protestors. An official decree declaring a “Serious Emergency Situation” in Bangkok met with a response just 12 hours later from the civil society group, Asian Forum for […]
more…15 Oct, 2020
German flag waved at Thai protest rallies
Bangkok — The German flag is being waved at the anti-establishment protest rallies now under way in Bangkok. Due to the sensitive nature of the rallies and the potential threats to journalists reporting on them, this is being pointed out only as a matter of fact. However, it is not at all very difficult to […]
more…12 Oct, 2020
Survey Reveals The Impact Of Poor Sleep Quality On Mental Health During Covid
NORTH HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (PRWEB) October 10, 2020 – American mattress company, Puffy, has today released findings from a nationwide sleep survey exploring sleep quality, habits, mental health and well-being in 2020. Puffy surveyed over 4,400 adults from all 50 US states to capture how current world events, employment, health, and lifestyle changes have impacted perceptions […]
more…26 Sep, 2020
Edition 2: 21 Trends, Risks, Ideas, Policies and Strategies (TRIPS) to help decision-makers Build Back Better
Tourism Will Never Look The Same Again – Skyscanner Publishes New Trends Report Search patterns for domestic, regional and international flights indicate that recovery will be multispeed, tied to the global economy and driven by low cost carriers. At the same time, the decline in business travel revenues for other airlines calls for a rethink […]
more…26 Sep, 2020
Covid-19 Leaves Most Millennials Strapped for Cash, TD Bank Survey Finds
COVID-19 has placed additional strain on a generation already saddled with significant debt and increased living costs. More than 28% of millennials said they tapped into their emergency savings during the pandemic. Furthermore, one-in-five (20%) millennials don’t even have a savings account. CHERRY HILL, N.J., 22 September 2020, PRNewswire – TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, […]
more…26 Sep, 2020
Marketers Struggle to Forge the Future of Customer Experience
“Marketers have plenty of data, but now it’s about leveraging that data across channels and organizational touchpoints in real-time and in a way that feels personal, relevant and even anticipatory. This is the marketer’s mandate today.” In other words: Data, Data everywhere, but not a stat that makes any sense. SAN JOSE, Calif., 22 September […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Tourism Will Never Look The Same Again – Skyscanner Publishes New Trends Report
Search patterns for domestic, regional and international flights indicate that recovery will be multispeed, tied to the global economy and driven by low cost carriers. At the same time, the decline in business travel revenues for other airlines calls for a rethink of this part of the industry. LONDON, 22 September 2020, PRNewswire – Leading […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
How you look impacts on how you well you can sell, study shows
These novel findings, published in the prestigious international academic publication Journal of Marketing, give social sellers and e-marketers insight about how to leverage seller appearances in online selling. HONG KONG, 22 September 2020, PRNewswire – The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted e-commerce around the globe, including the consumer to consumer (C2C) markets on platforms such as […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Spread of Covid-19 Set to Create $8.5 Billion Clean Room Robot Markets by 2025
Looks like hotel housekeeping staff will need to shift their skills towards maintaining robots. DUBLIN, 22 September 2020, PRNewswire – The clean room robot market (including prices of peripherals, software, and system engineering) was valued at USD 5.6 billion in 2019 and is expected to grow to USD 8.5 billion by 2025, at a CAGR […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
International students’ learning activities seriously disturbed by Covid-19 pandemic
“The pandemic has impacted the physical and psychological wellbeing of international/non-local higher education students. Universities should do more to help international students to obtain proper health information and learn about local social and healthcare support systems, as well as improve psychological support.” HONG KONG, 22 September 2020, PRNewswire – In a recent survey conducted by […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Remote work set to nearly triple in post-Covid world, reports XpertHR Survey
“COVID-19 will shape the working world for years to come, in particular contributing to a rise in remote work set to last beyond the end of the current health crisis. Given the tremendous strains placed on workers during the pandemic, such as fear of layoffs, isolation of remote work, increased caregiving and homeschooling responsibilities, and […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Survey finds Americans are prioritizing saving during Covid-19 outbreak
“With today’s economic uncertainty, many people have taken steps to adjust their financial habits to save more and better prepare for the unexpected.” This is probably a worldwide trend, and will put another damper on discretionary spending, such as on travel. BIRMINGHAM, Ala., 21 September 2020, BUSINESS WIRE – The latest survey from Regions Next Step, Regions […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
FREE Download: Citrix Research Reveals Shape of Future Workplaces – More Robots, Fewer Managers
“Driven by flexible models and intelligent solutions that remove the complexity and noise from work, employees will be more engaged and productive and fuel innovation and growth like never before.” FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., 21 September 2020, BUSINESS WIRE – What does the future of work hold? In a world where it’s impossible to predict what will happen […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Covid-19 Reshuffles Healthcare Executives’ Priorities
“Healthcare leaders are accelerating digital and payment transformation, with an emphasis on the consumer experience, telehealth, and interoperability. As a result, stakeholders are increasing investment in healthcare IT and fast-tracking initiatives to help prepare for the pandemic’s aftermath and future pandemics.” The result “could be a real game-changer for payers, providers, and consumers.” NASHVILLE, Tenn., […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Visa Helps Prepare Small Businesses for the Holiday Buying Season
This is a laudable lifeline for Small Businesses. While it will certainly help them survive over the short-term, it will also accelerate the long-term shift towards contactless payments and cryptocurrencies. The jury is still out on those, with a lot more homework needed to assess their impact on security, privacy and, at a broader level, […]
more…25 Sep, 2020
Avaya Enables Students and Teachers to Bridge the Gap in the Digital Classroom Era
Another example of the edu-revolution set to roll out, impacting international education. Students will be able to access quality education from anywhere, at significantly reduced costs and minus the onerous visa requirements. Student travel worldwide will certainly be impacted. SANTA CLARA, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE – Avaya (NYSE: AVYA), which claims to be a global leader in solutions […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
American Workers Experiencing Work-From-Home Culture Shock
The Work-From-Home culture is creating a whole new set of risks, threats and opportunities, and will prove to be a double-edged sword for Travel & Tourism. Traffic rush-hours may become a thing of the past but corporate espionage will become a piece of cake. MINNEAPOLIS, 21 September 2020, BUSINESS WIRE – Today, EPIC unveiled the results of […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Taiwan Claims Launch of World’s First Business Speed-dating Platform
These techno-events will impact the MICE sector in the same way that social media has decimated the traditional media and OTAs decimated the travel agents. Given the pressure on costs and the growing time-hassle factor of travelling, business matchmaking platforms will become perfectly viable alternatives to trade shows. Convention Centres and MICE bureaux face some […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Stand together and build a just world, UN chief says in Int’l Day of Peace message
Even though Peace is the basic prerequisite for Tourism, this important commemorative day is usually ignored by the Travel & Tourism industry. Long after the Covid-19 pandemic fades into history, Travel & Tourism flows worldwide will continue to face the threat of regional, local and global conflicts, all of them man-made. Do industry leaders ever […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Global solution to Covid-19 in sight, ‘we sink or we swim together’ – WHO chief
Why isn’t the Travel & Tourism industry inviting public health officials to give talks on the prospects and politics of vaccine development? I have yet to see them on any of the “resilience, recovery, rebuild, restructure, etc., etc.,” forums, local, regional or global. As normalcy will not return until a vaccine is made public, the […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Peace Pilot completes circumnavigation of the only two places on Earth where there has always been peace
What a trip! Travel & Tourism could do with more such inspirational adventures. SAN DIEGO, 21 September 2020, BUSINESS WIRE – Nine months and several “pandemic pauses” after takeoff on a planned five-month global Pole-to-Pole peace mission “One Planet, One People, One Plane: Oneness for Humanity,” San Diego pilot and former Naval officer Robert DeLaurentis returned home […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
The future of MICE events in the age of machines: The Great Wave—a Transformative, Global Business Festival
Travel & Tourism forums are badly in need of some heavy-duty restructuring away from their boring and now outdated structure. This event offers some brainstorming ideas. BERLIN, 21 September 2020, BUSINESS WIRE – The House of Beautiful Business, a global think tank and community to humanize business in the age of machines, officially announces the full scope […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Covid-19 forces one of the biggest surges in tech investment in history
This news may make the tech sector salivate, but the speed and scope of the upheaval will only replace one set of problems with another. That will create more headaches, especially for the Travel & Tourism sector. LONDON, 22 September 2020, PRNewswire – Companies spent the equivalent of around US$15bn extra a week on technology to […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
FORTUNE announces Sixth Annual “Change the World” List of Companies That Are Doing Well By Doing Good
Does such a list exist in Travel & Tourism? May be worth replicating. NEW YORK, 21 September 2020, PRNewswire – Today, FORTUNE reveals its sixth annual “Change the World” list, which showcases over 50 companies that have made an important social or environmental impact through their profit-making strategy and operations this year. Companies are recognized for innovative business strategies […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Employers brace for mental health crisis
The disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic will lead to significant increases in human insecurity and instability, as this report indicates. Families already under financial stress will face the highest levels of mental stress. That may create another opportunity, or aggravate existing social crises like alcoholism and domestic violence. CHATTANOOGA, Tenn., 21 September 2020, PRNewswire – Mental […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Report probes how employers can improve job satisfaction and retention in post-Covid era
This report is for sale, but provides a good template for HR departments to conduct a similar exercise. The questions asked are quite enlightening in themselves. INCLINE VILLAGE, Nev., 21 September 2020, PRNewswire – MetricNet has published the results of its 2020 Job Satisfaction and Employee Retention Survey. The complete 100+ page report is now available for immediate […]
more…24 Sep, 2020
Life Insurance Industry Invests In Cognitive Health To Tackle Future Of Aging
This announcement says that the insurance industry is moving “towards serving the whole person — from heart disease and diabetes prevention to stress management, and, now, cognitive health.” In other words, prevention is better than cure to bolster profits. A holistic approach is essential, and early warnings are imperative. Same formula could be applied to […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Edition 1: 21 Trends, Risks, Ideas, Policies and Strategies (TRIPS) to help decision-makers Build Back Better
A weekly roundup by Imtiaz Muqbil, one of the Asia-Pacific region’s longest-serving travel industry journalists, to help Travel & Tourism decision-makers absorb ideas, understand trends, monitor innovations and beware of risks and threats in the post-Covid era. To be published every Friday. Click on any of the links. Top UN economists warn of crises of […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Top UN economists warn of crises of our own making if five danger-zone ‘megatrends’ left unchecked
United Nations, 17 September 2021, (UNCTAD News release) — Five human‑made “megatrends” will continue to dominate and frustrate global efforts to put the world on a more sustainable and prosperous path, unless urgent policy interventions to influence them are taken now, the UN Economist Network warned today in a new report. The chief economists in the […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Swiss Running Brand ‘On’ Launches Ground-Breaking Sustainability Initiative With The Shoe You’ll Never Own
Sustainability ideas in full bloom. Same concept could be applied to thousands of other products, reducing the volume of waste by a quantum. ZURICH, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – Swiss-based high-performance running brand, On, today announces the launch of its world-first, subscription-based service to bring fully recyclable sportswear to On customers worldwide. The subscription service, named […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Middle School Students Lend a Helping Hand to Small Businesses Struggling with Covid-19 downturn
SAN JOSE, Calif., 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – As small businesses across the country are struggling to bring in revenue during the COVID-19 pandemic, the California-based nonprofit, Elevate the Future (ETF) is providing them with free assistance. So far, they’ve helped over 20 businesses and are beginning to scale nationwide. Businesses interested in these services may sign […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
New White Paper outlines strategies for ‘Aging in Place with Remote Patient Care’
Very useful tips and ideas for coping with the challenge of ageing societies. PLANO, Texas, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – Vivify Health, the developer of the nation’s leading connected care platform for remote patient care, today announced the release of a new white paper, “Aging in Place with Remote Patient Care.” The paper examines the accelerated adoption […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Food Tourism Innovation Summit Slated for October 30
LONDON, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – This year’s FoodTreX Innovation Summit is slated to take place online on Friday, October 30. FoodTreX Innovation is where professionals working in food, beverage, tourism and hospitality come every year to get ideas and inspiration about how to leverage better the power of food tourism for their own businesses, organizations and […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Nine Key Trends Reshaping Industries Caused by COVID-19
NEW YORK, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – No economy, industry, or businesses has been spared from the effects of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Some industries have naturally been affected more than others and the impacts have been on a larger scale. Major economies were already experiencing a slowdown due to other factors and this global pandemic […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
24HourDocs.com Launches Online Telemedicine Website in California
This will impact the entire Health & Wellness sector, for sure. But privacy and consumer protection issues will need to be addressed. Insurance coverage, too. LOS ANGELES, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – 24HourDocs.com launched an online portal for patients in California to see a doctor 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the comfort […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Superb Images Star in Ad Campaign Paying Homage to the Strength of New York City
NEW YORK, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – This week, EmblemHealth launched “New New York,” a brand advertising campaign featuring original photography by humanitarian photojournalist Peter Turnley. EmblemHealth has provided New York families with quality, affordable health coverage for more than 80 years and has seen its members through pivotal moments in the city’s history. New York has […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
How to Hire an Intern: Find the Best Student Interns With Barefoot Student
May be better to hire an intern and create a job than to deploy a robot. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – Hiring an intern is a valuable way to develop leadership programs, delegate tasks, seek out future talent and improve the overall structure of your company. But what should you look for in an intern, […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Survey: Most Teens Say Online Learning Is Worse Than In-Person, but Only 19% Favour Return to Full In-Person Instruction
This survey result proves that the rush to shift all life online may not work out the way it is projected to. Human touch will always prevail. A balance needs to be found. Good news for the MICE sector. SAN FRANCISCO, 16 September 2020, PRNewswire – A new poll released by Common Sense/SurveyMonkey shows that teens are taking […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
You Are Worth $1,275 on the Dark Web, New Study by PrivacyAffairs Finds
Does this matter to the Travel & Tourism industry? Sure it does. When was the last time anyone saw it being raised at a Travel & Tourism technology forum? NEW YORK, 16 September 2020, PRNewswire – Credit card details, online banking logins, and social media credentials are available on the dark web at worryingly low prices. Researchers […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Deloitte and Kellogg School of Management Chief Strategy Officer Study: Most CSOs feel uncomfortable with technobabble gobbledygook
A very powerful, insightful study. It finds that “many Chief Strategy Officers feel uncomfortable with all the nuances, jargon, acronyms and complexity that is associated with technology.” Absolutely spot on. If no-one understands what all this stuff means, how can anyone be expected to know what it is supposed to do? Message to the technobabblers: […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Debt.com survey: When health suffers, finances go on life support
The economic fallout will be the next chapter of the Covid-19 crisis, impacting countries, communities and societies for years after the health issues are resolved. Dealing with that, too, will require money — lots and lots of it. Where will it come from? FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., 16 September 2020, PRNewswire – Even adults who do not contract […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
New wave of famine could sweep the globe, overwhelming nations already weakened by years of conflict, warn UN officials
United Nations, 18 September 2020, (UN News) – The global hunger crisis caused by conflict – and now compounded by COVID-19 – is moving into a dangerous phase, the head of the UN World Food Programme (WFP) said on Thursday, stressing that without resources, a wave of famine could sweep the globe, overwhelming nations […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Bespoke’s Customer Engagement Chat Service ‘Bebot’ Launches at Vienna Airport
Travel & Tourism was once very proud of its human touch and personal service. Strangely, it does not seem to have much to say about its fraying credibility as robots take over nearly all points-of-contact jobs. TOKYO, 15 September 2020, PRNewswire – Vienna Airport and Bespoke Inc. are proud to announce the launch of Artificial Intelligence (AI) […]
more…18 Sep, 2020
Groundbreaking AI-based Platform Maps And Monitors The Drivers Of California Wildfire
Satellite imagery, sourced from the “eyes in the skies”, is a highly effective way to address many of the sustainability challenges facing Travel & Tourism, such as a deforestation, marine pollution, flooding, water levels, forest encroachment, and much more. If the industry can overcome its myopic obsession with social media, it may realise that technology […]
more…17 Sep, 2020
KnowLedger Publishes NextGen Wealth Management Trends for 2020 and Beyond
KIMBERTON, Pa., Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — KnowLedger, a fast-growing accounting technology company, has published a new white paper that examines the challenges and opportunities for family offices and other wealth management firms in today’s volatile economy. This special, 20-page report examines how recent events and market trends—as well as demographic, social, and technology shifts—are creating […]
more…17 Sep, 2020
Fodor’s and WebMD Launch E-book to Help Travelers Decide Whether, When, and Where to Travel in the Age of COVID-19
NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As millions of people look forward to a return to travel, a new e-book, launched today from Fodor’s and WebMD, can help travelers navigate the ‘new normal’ in the age of Covid-19. Fodor’s Guide to Safe and Healthy Travel: Practical Tips and Information for the Age of COVID-19 […]
more…17 Sep, 2020
Tech Companies Pledge to Preserve Addressable Advertising with Privacy
Such a pledge would be welcome in the Travel & Tourism industry too. NEW YORK, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — As the IAB Tech Lab’s REBOOT 2020 virtual summit kicks off today (and continues on the 16th and 17th), IAB Tech Lab Board members have committed to the principles of Project Rearc and collaboration towards open […]
more…17 Sep, 2020
“State of Women in Tech” Report Details Rampant Harassment and Discrimination Across Silicon Valley and Tech Industry
Has similar research ever been conducted in Travel & Tourism? No? I wonder why… May prove embarrassing to some heavyweight CEOs. WASHINGTON, Sept. 15, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Nearly 50% of women founders and women working in tech have experienced harassment, a statistic that has barely budged since 2017, according to Women Who Tech’s new report State […]
more…17 Sep, 2020
Californians Move To Protect Their Privacy, Restrict the Sale of Personal Information
As the Covid-19 pandemic triggers massive shifts to online communications, payments, education, health & wellness, meetings, and more, the issue of privacy protection is rarely mentioned. Travel & Tourism technobabble forums tend to gloss over this issue, which is not surprising, give the industry’s long-standing fondness for sweeping sensitive issues under the carpet. One day, […]
more…16 Sep, 2020
Certification scheme tests all seafood for mercury levels
As hygiene, health and safety are now global priorities, this certification would help restaurants boost their competitive advantage. Assuring patrons that all the fish consumed in the restaurant has been tested for mercury levels would certainly go a long way towards boosting sales. Surely, our institutes of technology across Asia can come up with something […]
more…16 Sep, 2020
U.S. 2020 aerospace and defense report shows why global conflicts and crises are here to stay
This report should be must-reading in the Travel & Tourism sector. It proves that the benign sounding “aerospace and defense” (read: armaments and weaponry) industry is a major driver of jobs and economic livelihood in the U.S. If this is expanded worldwide, the numbers become even more sinister. To survive economically, the “aerospace and defense” […]
more…16 Sep, 2020
70% of Consumers say They Will Exclusively Shop with Brands that “Personally Understand Them” this Holiday Season
This media release is a clear indication of the extent to which technology can be used (or misused) to influence decision-making. This sentence says it all: “The retailers that use real-time data to understand individual consumer preferences, make changes the data shows are needed, and effectively leverage multiple channels will be much more successful in […]
more…16 Sep, 2020
Trust, Balance, Communication: Employees Worldwide Share Top COVID-19 Concerns for the Workplace of Today and Tomorrow
Technology is pervading and intruding into every aspect of life, but when crises strike, old-fashioned human relations count for everything. It’s all about trust, balance, communications. That message comes out loud and clear in this survey. LOWELL, Mass., 15 September 2020, BUSINESS WIRE – In a sweeping survey of employees and business leaders across 11 nations, The […]
more…1 Sep, 2020
Customers Want Effective Experiences Most of All, Aspect Software’s Consumer Index Reveals
WESTFORD, Mass.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–August 20, 2020 – As part of Aspect’s ongoing desire to report on current customer experience sentiment across a variety of customer service and contact center interactions, Aspect Software, in partnership with Farrell Insight, conducted a national study of 1,100 Americans 18–74 years of age. The macro objective of this specific study is […]
more…1 Sep, 2020
Pandemic To Drive Web Conferencing Market to $78.5 Billion by 2030
NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, lockdown measures have been imposed in various countries, so that person–person contact can be limited and the virus spread contained. This has forced a large number of companies across all verticals to either cease operations or shift to the work-from-home (WFH) model, till […]
more…1 Sep, 2020
10 Key Trends gathered at the 2020 China Beauty Expo
SHANGHAI, Aug. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — On July 11, the 25th China Beauty Expo and Supply World came to a successful end at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre. Featuring 15 large halls, 10 theme halls, and dozens of brand VIP halls, the expo covered a total exhibition area of 220,000 square meters, the three-day […]
more…1 Sep, 2020
“Doesn’t dining out sound good?”: U.S. Restaurant Association Launches Revival Campaign
WASHINGTON, Aug. 31, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — Grills firing up; silverware against a plate; and the familiar clink as glasses connect over the laughter of friends together again, these are the rhythms and rituals of dining out that the National Restaurant Association is highlighting in its new multimedia Restaurant Revival campaign launching today. The national ad taps […]
more…11 Aug, 2020
Geopolitical impact of Covid-19 pandemic enters the agendas of global Travel & Tourism forums
Bangkok – The far-reaching geopolitical impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the future of tourism is to be the topic of a game-changing webinar to be organised by the Jamaican Tourism Minister Edmund Bartlett on Aug 26. Former UN World Tourism Organisation Secretary-General Dr Taleb Rifai and Chairperson of the UN SDGs Advocate Alumni Ambassador […]
more…5 Aug, 2020
Survey flags the Top Three Learning, Development and Training Activities of HR departments
NEW PROVIDENCE, N.J., Aug. 4, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The three learning, development, and training activities in which HR staff are most involved are sexual harassment prevention training, anti-discrimination training, and new hire onboarding, according to 325 US employers responding to XpertHR’s 2020 Survey on Learning, Development, and Training. The survey asked about 10 learning, development, […]
more…27 Jul, 2020
The Death of the UN Sustainable Development Goals
The COVID-19 pandemic and accompanying global recession is set to trigger “years of depressed and disrupted economic growth”, UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned on July 1, 2020. He painted a grim picture of acute suffering, saying that extreme poverty and hunger are set to increase drastically. Many healthcare systems are at breaking point and a […]
more…21 Jul, 2020
How Visit Thailand Year 1987 crafted the original “New Normal” for global tourism
Bangkok – In 1987, Thailand spearheaded an historic event which crafted a “New Normal” for Global Travel & Tourism well before the current rage. With an unprecedented show of political, social, economic and cultural unity, the Thai people celebrated the auspicious 60th birthday of His Majesty the late King Bhumibhol Adulyadej the Great with Visit […]
more…19 Jul, 2020
How the Pandemic Has Become a Windfall for Video Conferencing Platforms
PALM BEACH, Florida, July 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The face of video communication has changed dramatically due to the global pandemic. In 2020, there’s a huge range of video communication platforms to choose from based on your needs… which is spurring the growth of the global video conferencing markets. A recent report from MarketsAndMarkets said […]
more…9 Jul, 2020
Samui Unlock Sale: Thai Tourism private sector fails the balance test – again!
Bangkok – The first Thai domestic travel promotion event launched after the gradual relaxation of the Covid-19 lockdowns saw the tourism private sector turn up for another resilience-and-recovery campaign. True to form, it repeated all the same mistakes of previous post-crises campaigns. Focussing on the popular Samui island, the event was awash with discounts and […]
more…2 Jul, 2020
1980 UNWTO Manila Declaration Shows How Global Travel & Tourism Failed Its Mandate and Vision
Bangkok – In hot pursuit of REcovery from the devastation caused by Covid-19, global Travel & Tourism is abuzz with “New Normal” buzzwords: REthink, REbuild, REdesign, REform, REimagine, REinvent, RE-this and RE-that. A better option would be to press the REwind button and REflect on its own history, especially the failures and mistakes. If the […]
more…24 Jun, 2020
REality Check: FCCT event will help Thai tourism prepare for the next potential crisis
Bangkok – The Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand will organise a livestream panel discussion on “Thai History and Nationhood since 1932”. It will be broadcast via the FCCT’s Facebook page with English translation at 7 pm tonight. A line-up of eminent scholars, social activists and political scientists will discuss the upheavals and turbulence that have […]
more…23 Jun, 2020
Dump bloggers and influencers, cut military budgets to help global Travel & Tourism “Build Back Better”
Bangkok – The Travel & Tourism industry should dump bloggers and influencers and redirect its marketing budgets into quality journalism and communications platforms if it wants to attract “quality tourists.” As a self-proclaimed “industry of peace,” it should also start paying more serious attention to the trillions of dollars wasted on global wars and conflict […]
more…18 Jun, 2020
Unity, Accountability, Transparency, Efficiency: Thai PM launches post-Covid nation rebuilding agenda
Bangkok — Thai Prime Minister Gen (retd) Prayuth Chan-o-cha has launched a new nation-rebuilding programme for the post-Covid era, one that will “lay down the fundamentals for sustainable prosperity, and open the way for Thais to rediscover who and what they really are and all that they are truly capable of achieving.” In a nationwide […]
more…11 Jun, 2020
As Thailand eyes victory over the virus, a return to the “Old Normal” seems certain
Bangkok – Thailand is within sight of declaring victory over the dreaded Covid-19 virus. As it is has done through many previous crises over the past 40 years, Thailand overcame what the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand (FCCT) called its “celebrated ‘mai pen rai’ culture” to discipline itself and absorb serious short-term pain in order […]
more…8 Jun, 2020
How Thailand Contained Covid-19: Why a Public Health System with Popular Support Matters
Bangkok – One of ASEAN’s preeminent political scientists has heaped praise on the Thai healthcare system for the clean-up campaign that averted a potential Covid-19 disaster, but also obliquely hinted whether the kingdom can also clean up its fractious and divided political system, too. In an analysis published on June 7, Prof Walden Bello, Co-chair […]
more…8 Jun, 2020
FCCT June 9 Live Webcast: Why has Thailand done so well combating Covid-19?
Announcement by the Foreign Correspondents Club of Thailand. As of June 2, Thailand had officially confirmed 3,085 cases of Covid-19 and suffered 58 deaths; only 59 infected people were still hospitalized. The pandemic is far from over, and has completely changed the way people live. It has also wrought economic mayhem that has yet to […]
more…3 Jun, 2020
UN Human Rights chief alarmed by Asia-wide clampdown on freedom of expression during COVID-19
GENEVA (3 June 2020) – UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet expressed alarm at the clampdown on freedom of expression in parts of the Asia-Pacific during the COVID-19 crisis, saying any actions taken to stop the spread of false information must be proportionate. Many countries in the region already have laws governing alleged […]
more…28 May, 2020
Thai Prime Minister, Foreign Minister flag importance of balance in “Build Back Better” strategy
Bangkok – Two of Thailand’s top leaders have reaffirmed the importance of balance and the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy in charting the future course of national development, with tourism playing a major role. Thai Prime Minister Gen (retd) Prayut Chan-o-cha reaffirmed this in two speeches to local and international audiences on May 21 and May 26, […]
more…13 May, 2020
NGO World Animal Protection pushing for permanent end to Global Wildlife Trade
NEW YORK, 12 May 2020, PRNewswire – Wildlife trade has become big business and the subsequent exploitation of wild animals puts our health, economies and biodiversity at risk, says World Animal Protection as it launches a global campaign today, targeting G20 leaders to support a permanent wildlife trade ban to protect animals and prevent future zoonotic pandemics. […]
more…13 May, 2020
เคล็ดลับและกับดัก: การทำงานจากที่บ้านระหว่างช่วงวิกฤต
โดย Mishari Muqbil และ Pakapak Sangkhasuntorn วิกฤตการณ์ครั้งใหญ่ที่คนทั้งโลกกำลังต้องเผชิญหน้ากันอย่างคาดไม่ถึงอยู่ในตอนนี้ นโยบายการห้ามการเดินทางบีบบังคับให้บริษัทต่าง ๆ ต้องให้พนักงานทำงานจากที่บ้านแทนการเดินทางเข้ามาทำงานยังออฟฟิศ เหตุนี้ทำให้เกิดการพลิกผันในรูปแบบการทำงานและการใช้ชีวิตของคนจากที่เคยเป็นมา แต่อย่างไรก็ดียังมีบางคนที่รู้สึกมีความสุขจากความเพลิดเพลินของการทำงานจากที่บ้านมาหลายปีแล้ว จากรูปแบบการทำงานที่เรียกว่า “การทำงานจากระยะทางไกล (Remote Work)” Gitlab เป็นตัวอย่างที่ดีที่สุดตัวอย่างหนึ่งสำหรับบริษัทที่มีพนักงานถึงหนึ่งพันสองร้อยคนจากหกสิบห้าประเทศ ที่ทำงานร่วมกันโดยไม่มีออฟฟิศ นี่คือบริษัทที่ทำงานจากระยะทางไกลอย่างแท้จริง คู่มือการทำงานของพวกเขาคือสิ่งที่ควรค่าแก่การศึกษาอย่างแท้จริง ถ้าคุณอยากจะรู้วิธีการจัดการกับทีมงานให้ทำงานจากระยะทางไกลแบบมีประสิทธิภาพได้ ลองอ่านดูที่นี่ https://about.gitlab.com/company/culture/all-remote/ และเนื้อหาต่อจากนี้คือเคล็ดลับบางประการสำหรับมือใหม่ที่ต้องทำงานจากที่บ้าน วัดผลลัพธ์จากการทำงาน (+) ในมุมมองของบริษัทสิ่งสำคัญที่สุดของการทำงานจากที่บ้านก็คือการวัดผลลัพธ์จากการทำงาน หลายบริษัทคุ้นเคยกับการให้พนักงานคอยอยู่รอบ ๆ เพื่อรอรับคำสั่ง แต่การทำงานจากระยะทางไกลนั้นมีแนวคิดที่ต่างออกไป เมื่อมีการมอบหมายงาน และตัวงานมีการวัดผลในแง่มุมของผลงานหรือที่ดีกว่านั้นคือผลลัพธ์ แต่ไม่ใช่เวลาที่ใช้สำหรับการทำงานนั้น ๆ ตัวอย่างของผลงานอาจจะเป็น “การสร้างแคมเปญโซเชี่ยลมีเดีย” ผลลัพธ์ก็คือ “ลูกค้าใหม่หนึ่งร้อยคน” เมื่อกำหนดเนื้อหางานและผลลัพธ์ได้แล้วย่อมแปลว่าพนักงานจะมีความยืดหยุ่นในการจัดรูปแบบการทำงานและชีวิตส่วนตัวในสภาวะแวดล้อมการทำงานที่มีขอบเขตไม่ชัดเจน บางคนสามารถทำงานรวดเดียวได้แปดชั่วโมงติดต่อกัน บางคนอาจจะรู้สึกว่าอยากทำงานหกชั่วโมงในตอนเช้า และอีกสองชั่วโมงในช่วงหัวค่ำ และบางคนอาจจะตัดสินใจว่าตนเองต้องการใช้เวลาแค่สี่ชั่วโมงในการจัดการงานทั้งหมดของตัวเอง จงเตรียมพร้อมสำหรับสิ่งเหล่านี้ ยืดหยุ่นในสิ่งที่จำเป็น และต้องมั่นใจว่าคุณจะวัดผลในสิ่งที่สำคัญ หลายบริษัทที่ทำงานจากระยะทางไกล กำหนดให้พนักงานเข้ามาแสดงตัวในช่วงเวลาบางช่วง เพื่อแสดงให้เห็นว่าพวกเขามีความพร้อมที่จะทำงานในวันนั้น แต่ไม่ได้มีการติดตามผลว่าพนักงานลงมือทำงานจริง ๆ […]
more…11 May, 2020
Smokers opting out, thanks to COVID-19 Pandemic health fears, stress
NEW DELHI, India, May 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The damage done by the COVID-19 pandemic is twofold: in addition to suffering from direct effects of the virus, the world is grappling with the challenge of social distancing. The mental and physical toll of this practice may be particularly profound for millions of smokers who, as […]
more…9 May, 2020
Hotels in focus as Thai PM holds second personal meeting with tourism sector
Bangkok – Thai Prime Minister Gen (retd) Prayuth Chan-o-cha continued his extraordinary personal interaction with the Thai tourism industry on 08 May with a meeting with committee members of the Thai Hotels Association to discuss the business impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and remedial measures for the kingdom’s top service sector and job-creating industry. Similar […]
more…5 May, 2020
Tips and Traps: Working from home during a crisis
By Mishari Muqbil and Pakapak Sangkhasuntorn Bangkok – The crisis that the world is facing now is unprecedented. Movement restriction policies are forcing companies to have their staff work from home instead of coming into the office, causing widespread disruption in process as well as culture. Some of us however have been enjoying the luxury […]
more…4 May, 2020
อนาคตของอุตสาหกรรมท่องเที่ยวและการเดินทางคืออะไร? เริ่มโดย…มอบความนับถือแก่ปู่ย่าตายาย
โดย Mishari Muqbil จากวิกฤตการณ์ของไวรัส โควิด 19 ที่รุนแรงขึ้นเรื่อย ๆ และยังมองไม่เห็นหนทางแก้ไข จึงเป็นเรื่องสำคัญที่เราจะต้องมองไปยังอนาคตระยะยาวว่าอุตสาหกรรมการท่องเที่ยวและการเดินทางจะพบกับผลกระทบอย่างไรบ้าง สิ่งใดจะเกิดความเปลี่ยนแปลง และสิ่งใดจะยังคงเป็นเหมือนเดิม มุมมองหนึ่งที่สามารถนำมาช่วยในการประเมินวิกฤตการณ์ครั้งนี้คือทฤษฎี Lindy Effect ซึ่งเป็นทฤษฎีที่ถูกคิดค้นขึ้นโดยนักวิทยาศาสตร์ชื่อว่า Benoit Mandlelbrot และถูกนำขยายความต่อโดย N. Taleb โดยใจความสำคัญของทฤษฎีนี้ก็คือ ยิ่งสิ่งใดดำรงอยู่มานานเท่าไร สิ่งนั้นยิ่งมีโอกาสจะดำรงอยู่ได้ยาวนานมากขึ้นเท่านั้น ยกตัวย่างเช่น กวีชื่อดังอย่างเชกสเปียร์ (Shakespeare) ผู้ได้รับการขนานนามยาวนานร่วม 400 ปี ดังนั้นเราจึงคาดหวังไว้ว่าผลงานของเขาจะโลดแล่นไปได้อีกถึง 400 ปี รวมเป็นเวลาร่วม 800 ปีเลยทีเดียว หรือหากเทียบกับนวนิยายยอดนิยมของไทยอย่าง “คู่กรรม” ที่ได้รับความนิยมมากว่า 40 ปีแล้ว ก็ย่อมคาดได้ว่านวนิยายเรื่องนี้จะยังคงความนิยมต่อไปได้อีก 40 ปีเช่นกัน แต่ในขณะเดียวกัน เราจะเห็นได้ว่ากระแสของละครดังอย่าง “บุพเพสันนิวาส” ในช่วงสองปีก่อนนั้นเริ่มซาลงไปบ้างแล้ว เราลองมาดูที่ภาพรวมของอุตสาหกรรมการท่องเที่ยวกันบ้าง เพื่อดูว่าทฤษฎี Lindy […]
more…1 May, 2020
Thai PM makes historic visit to tour operators HQ to hear industry’s concerns
Bangkok – In a global first, Thai Prime Minister Gen Prayuth Chan-o-cha personally visited the offices of the Association of Thai Travel Agents on April 30 to get a first-hand update on the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the country’s most important service economy sector and generator of foreign exchange. A spokesman for the […]
more…28 Apr, 2020
PwC Survey: As States Look to Reopen, CFOs Prioritise Workplace Safety and Employee Health
NEW YORK, April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The fourth release of PwC’s COVID-19 CFO Pulse Survey reveals 77% of US chief financial officers (CFOs) anticipate changing workplace safety measures upon returning to on-site work. As employers focus on protecting employees, 65% anticipate reconfiguring work sites to promote physical distancing and 52% anticipate changing and/or alternating shifts […]
more…28 Apr, 2020
Research Finds COVID-19 Robs Americans Of Sleep And Brings New Waves Of Stress
ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ — The Better Sleep Council (BSC), the consumer education arm of the International Sleep Products Association (ISPA), released its latest research findings from “The 2020 State of America’s Sleep” study. It revealed COVID-19’s arrival caused America’s quality of sleep to significantly decline. Read the report. The BSC launched wave two […]
more…28 Apr, 2020
The “Make America Great Again” dream is quickly being undone by Covid-19
By Hassanal Noor Rashid WHO IS AT FAULT? The Covid-19 pandemic has been a real roller-coaster ride as far as geo-politics is concerned. Through the chaos and the barrage of information and updates on the on-going pandemic, there are still those, especially among the political elite who have moved ahead of the pandemic management curve […]
more…27 Apr, 2020
COVID-19 Stimulus Measures Must Safeguard Nature and Reduce the Risk of Future Pandemics
Expert Guest Article by Professors Josef Settele, Sandra Díaz and Eduardo Brondizio and Dr. Peter Daszak on 27 April 2020 Click here to read this article in عربى / español / English / français / русский /中文 / Deutsch. There is a single species that is responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic – us. As with the climate and biodiversity crises, […]
more…