20 SPECIAL FEATURE
20 SPECIAL FEATURE CULTURAL TOURISM © Dezidor European Culture Guide – a valuable source – for the first time at ITB Asia Potemkin Steps ODESSA – THE COME-BACK OF A CULTURAL HOT-SPOT Odessa was once the cultural and intellectual centre of Ukraine, and the majority of the city’s most amazing buildings come from the pre-Soviet period. Odessa is a special place in the South of Ukraine, where thanks to a combination of more than 100 nationalities, a one and only language, t h e O d e s s a c u i s i n e a n d a u n i q u e O d e s s a h u m o u r w e r e f o r m e d . The inhabitants of the city affectionately call Odessa “mother”, her guests - “a pearl by the sea”. The Department of Culture and Tourism of Odessa City Council is at ITB Asia promoting the extraordinary cultural aspects of this city. The Council takes a direct part in the organization and undertaking of different m a s s - c u l t u r a l e v e n t s , making major efforts to increase the attractiveness o f O d e s s a , t h r o u g h promoting the city as a tourist and business capital of Ukraine both on national and international levels. The architecture of Odessa appears to have more of a Mediterranean or French influence, giving it a unique look and style. T h e m o s t s p e c t a c u l a r buildings cluster around the Deribasovskaya pedestrian street and Potemkin Steps. Highlights include the Opera house – the second biggest opera in the world after La Scala in Milan – and the Potemkin Steps. Opened in 1841, these 192 steps are the peculiar entrance to the city, the best recognised symbol of Odessa. The steps were designed to give an optical illusion – when one looks down from the top, the stairs can’t be seen but when one looks from the bottom, all one sees is stairs. In 2016, a programme w a s l a u n c h e d b y t h e local tourism authority to increase the international tourist flow by 2020, as the city had previously p r i m a r i l y c a t e r e d t o domestic tourism. Odessa is rapidly integrating into the global tourism industry, with the city offering all the prerequisites for the development of domestic a n d f o r e i g n t o u r i s m : geographic location, a favourable climate, the largest seaport of Ukraine, r e s o r t a n d r e c r e a t i o n complexes, social and cultural infrastructure STAND N34 - BASEMENT 2 “Where to go in Europe? The European Culture Guide”, a brand of SIMsKultur, is present at ITB Asia as an excellent source of information and inspiration both for tourism professionals and for their end clients. With its rich, unique cultural heritage and variety of cultural offerings, Europe is a popular destination for cultural tourists from all over the world. Every seventh tourist comes to Europe for cultural reasons. Cultural trips to Europe have increased by around 30%. The European Culture Guide is the information platform of European cultural providers, presenting the best cultural sites and events from all over Europe. Festivals, museums, opera houses and theatres, cultural regions and UNESCO World Heritage sites are presented at international trade fairs as well as in print and online media to a wide audience of experts and visitors from all over the world. UNWTO CODE OF ETHICS AT THE HEART OF THE PROTECTION OF SITES The Global Code of Ethics for Tourism of the UNWTO prescribes the protection of natural, artistic, archaeological and cultural heritage, to allow traditional cultural products, crafts and folklore to survive and flourish, rather than causing them to degenerate and become standardised. “In the thousands of years chronicling mankind’s progress, civilizations have flourished and fallen, and in their wake, left legacies bearing their indelible mark in the history of the world. These legacies showcase the Brandenburg Gate SIMsKultur has been successfully present at the ITB Berlin for 8 years with its cultural exchange and is expanding its activities to Asia this year for the first time. Travel professionals are able to take advantage of this opportunity to learn more about culture in Europe and to benefit from the high profit rates of cultural tourism as well as educational and study trips STAND U37 - LEVEL 1 Zurab Pololikashvili Secretary-General, World Tourism Organisation pinnacle of mankind’s abilities, be they in outstanding monuments or in the uniqueness of paintings and music. Heritage tells mankind’s story. Tourism enlivens this heritage” said Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General, World Tourism Organisation” ITB ASIA NEWS • Wednesday 16 October 2019 www.itb-asia-news.com
SPECIAL FEATURE HOTEL & RESORT GROUPS – KEY TRENDS AND OPENINGS 21 Changing the face of Singapore… again An artist’s aerial view of the Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort expansion L a s Ve g a s S a n d s h a s embarked upon a US.3bn expansion plan for Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with a spectacular new tower and additional MICE space. The agreement with the Singapore government was announced in April, for a project immediately adjacent to the existing Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resort (IR). The key elements will be a stateof the-art 15,000-seat arena, a luxury hotel tower and additional MICE space. “Marina Bay Sands is an iconic tourism destination that has exceeded all of our hopes in growing leisure and business tourism in Singapore and it is a privilege to receive the Singapore government’s continued support for its development,” said Las Vegas Sands Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Sheldon G. Adelson. “The property has achieved amazing success for both Singapore and our company and we plan to create even more with this expansion.” Since opening in 2010, Marina Bay Sands has attracted more than 330 million visitors. The property has brought over 700 new MICE events to Singapore since opening and hosted 3,680 events at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in 2018 alone. The new 15,000-seat arena will, says the Sands group in an official statement, play a key role in bringing new and repeat visitors to Singapore. The hotel tower, which will feature approximately 1,000 allsuite rooms will also include a sky roof with a swimming pool and a signature restaurant. The tower will feature a dramatic atrium and terraces along with exciting food and beverage offerings and a combination of meeting rooms, ballrooms and exhibition halls. “ N e w l u x u r y h o t e l accommodations and a worldclass entertainment venue are exactly the catalysts we need to drive additional visitation to Singapore, and specifically to Marina Bay Sands,” said Rob Goldstein, the company’s president and chief operating officer. “The expansion of our Singapore IR is a key component of our company’s strategic growth plan and also reflects the strong tourism and business potential in Singapore” STAND E18 - BASEMENT 2 The Amara Singapore at dusk Renovation of Amara Singapore gives way to eco-friendly initiatives While unveiling new Premium Executive guest rooms, Amara Singapore is also launching new initiatives to strengthen eco-friendly practices. In the heart of Tanjong Pagar, close to the city’s Central Business District, Amara Singapore is the company’s flagship hotel with 384 guest rooms and suites as well as onsite dining options, wellness facilities and meeting spaces. The hotel recently unveiled its 27 Premium Executive guest rooms along with a refreshed gym and a pool bar on level six. The rooms mark the beginning of the hotel’s rejuvenation project, in which the remaining guest rooms and public spaces in Amara Singapore will be progressively refurbished. Clean lines, natural timber flooring and bespoke furniture reflect the brand’s design ethos of timeless aesthetics in the new rooms. All rooms feature a movable desk with lockable castors, providing a mobile and flexible workspace for the corporate traveller. The large bathroom with white marble finishes features a walk-in glass shower enclosure with a rain shower, vanity top, and ample storage spaces. The refurbishment was the opportunity to implement ecofriendly initiatives. All new guest rooms offer guests refillable glass water bottles in place of disposable plastic bottles. Each guest room is fitted with a full length glass window that optimises natural daylight, hence reducing the need to switch on in-room lights in the day. The new guest rooms are also equipped with energy-efficient motion sensor lights that switch off once the guests leave the space. With floor-to-ceiling glass panels and ample floor space, the gym offers guests a premium workout experience. The 24-hour modern wellness space is operated by Aileron Wellness, Singapore’s first knowledge-driven boutique gym. The facility is also fitted out with high performance equipment. For Dawn Teo, Senior Vice President of Amara Hotels and Resorts, it is important to ensure that the hotel is well equipped to exceed the expectations of guests: “the refurbishment is part of our vision to continually evolve, and offer an unforgettable stay experience” STAND F32 - BASEMENT 2 ITB ASIA NEWS • Wednesday 16 October 2019
