Richard Barnes
Richard Barnes Editor-in-chief richard.barnes@cleverdis.com Tel: +33 (0) 4 42 77 46 00 Hotel & Tourism SMARTreport #35 2017 Summer Edition 5 FOREWORD TOURISM AS A GUIDING LIGHT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT As the United Nations Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development unfolds – an initiative for which Cleverdis has been named by the UNWTO as Campaign Supporter – it becomes increasingly evident that the mere act of travelling the world opens peoples’ eyes to the essential nature of sustainability. And as we arrive at the 22 nd session of the UNWTO General Assembly in Chengdu, China, more than ever, the future of the planet and its peoples takes centre stage. To this end, in this edition of the SMARTreport, we have chosen to spotlight the activities of the World Tourism Organisation with regard to sustainable tourism, but also to place the spotlight on a leading global figure when it comes to promoting this – in the shape of Lynn Cutter – former EVP at National Geographic, and a person with a deep concern for the methods and actions employed by all those in the industry when it comes to reducing our impact on the planet, helping local communities in a sustainable way through tourism, and building infrastructure that includes the latest “green” concepts and ideas. In no region is this more important today than perhaps Asia- Pacific – the featured region in this edition. Wishing each and every one happy reading… and a sustainable future! CONTENTS 6 EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW 6 THE DIRECTION OF SUSTAINABILITY IN TOURISM Lynn Cutter, Former Executive Vice President of Travel - National Geographic Partners 9 NEWS 9 GEORGIAN AMBASSADOR SET TO TAKE TOP ROLE AT WORLD TOURISM ORGANISATION Zurab Pololikashvili, Ambassador of Georgia in Spain 10 SUSTAINABLE TOURISM: TIME FOR A GLOBAL COMMITMENT 11 EVENTS 11 VIRTUOSO TRAVEL WEEK 13 THE TOP INDUSTRY EVENT IN THE WORLD’S CAPITAL OF TOURISM 14 HTNG EXPANDS INTO HOSPITALITY VERTICALS 15 EVENTS CALENDAR 17 ELITE TRAVEL TRENDS 17 EUROPE STILL TOP OF GLOBAL TRAVELLERS’ WISH LISTS THIS SUMMER 19 IN THE FIELD WITH EVELYNE GAUDIN PRIVATE ISLAND RESORTS AND NATURAL WONDERS 20 REALLY GETTING AWAY FROM IT ALL - IN THE ISLANDS OF TAHITI 21 ROMANTIC SECLUSION IN THE HEART OF BALI’S TROPICAL JUNGLE 21 LILY BEACH VOTED MALDIVES’ “LEADING ALLINCLUSIVE RESORT” 22 A NEW TAKE ON LUXURY IN ISTANBUL 23 A PRIVILEGED MOMENT 25 ASIA-PACIFIC 25 ASIAN TOURISTS BOOST REGIONAL TOURISM 26 AIR TRANSPORT APAC LEADS AIR PASSENGER GROWTH 28 ASIA-PACIFIC INBOUND TRENDS & FIGURES : ROSY PERSPECTIVES FOR HOTELIERS IN ASIA 30 MALDIVES: AIRLINES STEP-UP FREQUENCIES FOLLOWING QATAR AIRWAYS BAN 31 BEAUTIFUL REEF… BY NAME AND BY NATURE 32 A DIFFERENT TAKE ON SE ASIA Edouard George, President, Phoenix Voyages 33 MALAYSIA NAMED AS OFFICIAL PARTNER COUNTRY OF ITB BERLIN 2019 34 BALI: MASSIVE GROWTH CONTINUES 35 IA ORA NA 36 “PROUD TO BE PUNCHING ABOVE OUR WEIGHT” Dr Jennifer Cronin, President, Marco Polo Hotels 37 STAYING AHEAD OF THE GAME IN SEOUL Matthew Cooper, General Manager, JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square, Seoul 38 THE FRENCH TOUCH IN TOKYO 39 ASIA-PACIFIC OUTBOUND TRENDS & FIGURES: INDIA: ASIA’S NEXT BOOMING OUTBOUND MARKET 40 WELCOMING THE JAPANESE VISITOR 41 INNOVATIONS & TECHNOLOGIES 41 KEEPING UP WITH THE PHONES 42 APAC CONTINUES TO LEAD THE PUSH TOWARDS A COMPLETELY MOBILE TRAVELLER LIFE CYCLE 44 THE ONSET OF MOBILE 46 REDEFINING THE HOSPITALITY EXPERIENCE 48 IN THE FIELD WITH DAVID ESSERYK MOBILE APPS
