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Some $52.3m allocated to support tourism in Qom

Some 2.2 trillion rials ($52.3 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) have been allocated to support tourism-related projects across Qom province. Of the figure, approximately 105 billion rials ($2.5 million) have been loaned to six tourism-related projects so far, provincial tourism chief Alireza Arjmandi said on Wednesday. It would be impossible to complete such major projects without bank financing, he explained. The country’s second-holiest city after Mashhad, Qom is home to both the magnificent shrine of Hazrat-e Masumeh (SA) and the major religious madrasas (schools). Apart from sightseers and pilgrims who visit Qom to pay homage at the holy shrine, the city is also a top destination for Shiite scholars and students who come from across the world to learn Islamic studies at its madrasas and browse through eminent religious bookshops. The city’s antiquity goes back to the Sassanid era (224 CE–651) and several historical mosques, mansions, and natural sceneries have been scattered across the city as well as towns and villages nearby.

Create: May 20, 2021 Edit: May 20, 2021 Regional News

Peachtree Hotel Group Completes Multimillion-Dollar Renovation of Hampton Inn Baltimore

Peachtree Hotel Group (“Peachtree”) has completed a $5.3 million renovation of the Hampton Inn by Hilton Baltimore-Downtown Convention Center. The property-wide renovation of the 8-story, 126-room hotel featured a complete modernization of all guestrooms, public spaces and exterior settings. The hotel, operated by Peachtree Hospitality Management (“PHM”), a division of Peachtree, is located at 550 Washington Blvd. Peachtree acquired the property in 2019 due to its irreplaceable location in downtown Baltimore. The hotel is conveniently located across the street from Oriole Park at Camden Yards and adjacent to the Baltimore Convention Center. The hotel is also a short walk from the University of Maryland Medical Center, M&T Bank Stadium, home of the Baltimore Ravens, and the Horseshoe Casino Baltimore. “We are pleased with the improvements to the Hampton Inn, making it the most recently renovated hotel in the area,” said Patrick Short, president of PHM. “The top-to-bottom renovations were designed to meet the exacting demands of today’s business and leisure travelers.” The guestroom refurbishments focused on adding comfortable seating, enhanced lighting, contemporary artwork and room furnishings, and new televisions. The guest bathroom renovations included modern vanities and tub-to-shower conversions. To enhance the guest arrival experience, the hotel has new furniture, flooring, contemporary artwork and a reimaged front desk. The exterior setting was enhanced with brickwork and painting, with upgrades to lighting and seating. The hotel also has an updated pool area, corridors, public restrooms, a meeting room and a fitness room with all new equipment. “We have taken great steps to improve the guest experience while ensuring our guests are comfortable with the level of cleanliness throughout the hotel,” Short said.

Create: May 19, 2021 Edit: May 19, 2021 International News

Village Hotels Installs Google Nest Hub Solution Powered by Volara Across All 32 U.K. Hotels

Village Hotels has selected Volara to voice enable all guestrooms and guest services in its portfolio of hotels across the United Kingdom with Google’s hotel solution. Volara’s conversation-management software and secure integrations hub will enable guests staying at any of the innovative hotel brand’s 32 properties to use simple voice commands to interact with the hotel and personalise their experiences, from making service requests and setting alarms to asking for local recommendations and or hotel information. Together, this technology will enable Village Hotels’ guests to get what they want, when they want it, without lifting a finger. Further, frequent guests of Village Hotels can easily make their next reservation at any Village Hotels location — from Portsmouth to Bristol to London — by simply saying, “Hey Google, call reservations.” Volara’s platform-agnostic software turns popular voice assistants into a hotel business tool that drives more efficient guest service, influences guests’ behaviour by promoting hotel amenities and guest activities, measurably improves net promoter scores by 20 percent, and helps hoteliers understand their guests better. Volara’s secure integrations hub connects hotels to more than 50 powerful technologies, including property-management systems, IPTV systems, work order-management systems, room controls, guest-engagement platforms, valet software, staff alert technologies and more. Volara is the only hotel-focused solution with an Alexa for Business Solution Designation. Volara is a launch partner for Google’s Hotel Solution, Google Assistant Interpreter Mode, and Alexa for Hospitality. Today the company provides conversation management software and secure integrations for 98 percent of the hotels using voice assistants across the globe. “Village Hotels are designed to give travelers a truly immersive guest experience,” said Jon Davis, Village Hotels CTO. “That means giving guests a contactless way to talk to us. We want to answer their questions and fulfill requests quickly and accurately without a lot of staff interaction. To do this ― as well as to get to know our customers better and anticipate their needs on future stays at any hotel in our system — Village has become the first hotel brand to commit to voice enabling its entire portfolio with Google’s hotel solution customised, implemented, and supported by Volara. “From a Google Nest Hub smart display set up in each room, we can specifically and immediately address guest requests on voice command,” he said. “Guests can make their stay more seamless by saying things like ‘Hey Google, set an alarm for tomorrow morning at 8AM,’ or learn more about Village Hotels’ exclusive offers and popular loyalty program by saying things like ‘Hey Google, how do I join the Booking Revolution?’ or ‘Hey Google, tell me about VWorks.’ With the best of Google and Volara, we know we are getting the most secure and flexible platform in hospitality. Both companies share in our commitment to maintain guest privacy and deliver truly brand consistent experiences.” Village Hotel’s voice technology rollout began in 2019 at the Village Hotel Portsmouth, Village Hotel Bristol, and Village Hotel Basingstoke. Properties in London Watford, Farnborough, and Southampton Eastleigh have already been enabled with the solution in every guestroom. Over the coming months, the hotel brand will be bringing the solution to every guestroom at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Cardiff, Chester, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, Maidstone, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Solihull, Swansea, Swindon, Warrington, and Wirral. “Village Hotels is the first hotel brand to commit to voice enabling its entire portfolio,” said David Berger, Volara CEO. “As Village Hotels continue to grow, our solution will grow with it. This leading hotel brand is raising the bar on guest engagement — driving satisfaction and loyalty one guest voice command at a time. Together we are delivering contextually relevant, totally awesome, conversational experiences at scale.”

Create: May 19, 2021 Edit: May 19, 2021 International News

Amara Resort and Spa Embarks on Property-Wide, Multimillion-Dollar Renovation

Amara Resort and Spa, a beloved resort in Sedona, Ariz., announced today that it has embarked on a multimillion-dollar renovation that will bring a new and sophisticated “tree lodge” aesthetic to all 100 guestrooms and public spaces on property. Nestled along the banks of Oak Creek, the renovation will be completed in phases in an effort not to affect the guest experience. Amara’s signature restaurant, SaltRock Southwest Kitchen, and the award-winning Amara Spa will also be enhanced, with the full project slated to be completed in fall 2021 ahead of Labor Day weekend. “When the new design is unveiled later this year, Amara will not only have the newest guestrooms in the market but it will be a destination where locals and world travelers alike will come to be immersed in the local culture through well-appointed design elements and Sedona-centric programming,” said Nick Solomon, general manager of Amara. “With the resort’s panoramic red rock views, its creekside location and its walkability to the dining, shopping and entertainment in Uptown Sedona, there’s really no other property like it in Northern Arizona.” Taking inspiration from the surrounding red rocks, metaphysical energy and fabled vortexes for which the small resort town has become famous, the renovations at Amara will bring the outdoors in by encompassing all five of the natural elements surrounding the resort. Every room will feel like a sanctuary as neutral tones blend harmoniously with organic textures, while a deep blue feature wall will serve as an anchor to promote a sense of connection to the sights and sounds of the nearby babbling creek. Rich wooden elements like headboards handcrafted from local fallen trees, bedside lamps and new furnishings will allow guests to feel one with nature. New artwork, carpet and linens reflect the craftsmanship and traditions of the Hopi and Navajo tribes that are indigenous to Northern Arizona as bold patterns, geometric shapes and handwoven details create a more masculine identity. The bathrooms will also be elevated to introduce a more modern and functional approach with walk-in showers with rain shower heads and large porcelain tile that reflects the look of the sandstone layers. The redesigned experience will begin upon arrival as guests enter a social, comfortable and inviting lobby space that allows travelers to gather and recharge. With a strong connection to place, the dramatic, vaulted ceilings will be adorned with two eye-catching chandeliers inspired by star constellations, while wood accents and bold textures create a variety of subtle statement pieces through furniture, art and accessories. A focal point of the lobby will be an elongated bar that extends from the adjoining SaltRock Southwest Kitchen into the communal area in order to encourage guests to grab a cocktail, mix and mingle. Additionally, alterations to the Amara Spa will reconfigure the entry vestibule for dual access to the spa’s lobby and a brand-new fitness center, allowing the previous center to be converted into a private dining or multipurpose room adjacent to SaltRock. Just outside, guests can enjoy the cool mountain air while gazing out past the resort’s heated infinity-edge pool, playing games on the courtyard lawn or by grabbing a bite on SaltRock’s expansive patio that boasts some of the best views in Sedona. “The tree-lodge concept spoke to us the most for this renovation project as we felt that the high-vaulted ceiling and community environment in the lobby reminded us of an elevated Après-Ski ambience, while the rooms nestled amongst the trees gave us the nostalgia of a backyard treehouse,” said Anissa Mendil, of Mendil + Meyer Design Studio. “Our team is inspired by both the spiritual and adventurous personality of Sedona and we’re thrilled to have the opportunity to partner with Amara and breathe new life into this celebrated resort.”

Create: May 19, 2021 Edit: May 19, 2021 International News

Collaboration of nations to deepen Iran-Russia relations

Iran’s Minister of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts Ali Asghar Mounesan said in a meeting with the Russian Ambassador to Tehran Levan Jagarian here on Tuesday evening that deepening the bilateral relations is possible through collaboration between the two nations. Tehran favors further improvement of comprehensive bilateral relations with Russia, but this is possible through upgrading the two nations’ ties, said Mounesan. Referring to his first visit to Russia, the Iranian official said the signing of the Shared Action Program and lifting the visa requirement for tourist groups of both countries are among the most important steps taken in that respect. Ambassador Jagarian, too, in the meeting referred to the ongoing visit of a group of Russian tourism industry activists in Iran and noted that the group in its visit identified Iran’s tourism potentials and is scheduled to depart for Russia tomorrow (on Wednesday). The Russian tourists are very eager to visit unexplored and adventurist destinations, and Iran with its historical background, natural attractions and unique potentials in ecotourism is an appropriate destination for them,” he said, referring to the Russians’ enthusiasm for visiting Iran.

Create: May 19, 2021 Edit: May 19, 2021 Regional News

Think In-Room Wellness to Welcome Back Post-Pandemic Guests

The concept we want you to remember is ‘post-COVID stress disorder’ (PCSD), inscribing those guests who are emerging from the pandemic, and most likely vaccinated, yet still have some lingering fears about travel and their exposure to the virus. To quell these doubts, and turn a buck while at it, consider the idea of merchandising spa and wellness products within the guestroom. As background, it’s important to note that with all the lockdowns of 2020 and repeated messaging about physical distancing and self-isolation, new habits have solidified and have caused many of us to become more introspective or introverted, even as we opt to set sail and explore the world once again. Thus, customers will expect hotels to respond to this behavioral shift with new amenities in the guestroom so that we can all still have a great hotel experience but without strictly relying upon access to onsite (and potentially high contact) facilities to achieve this. Indeed, most of the major brands are already seizing upon this in-room wellness trend, like Accor’s All Stay Well or Hyatt Together which are both on-demand content services offering a range of exercise, meditation, mobility, sleep or yoga routines, often through partnerships with leading players in the wellness space. What we emphasize here is that if the big chains are bolstering their brand standards in this regard, then you cannot allow your property to get left behind. The beauty therein is that wellness is such a catchall term these days that you can get as creative as your budget permits to build a unique interpretation. While you may not have the resources to put together a full-fledged app, this shouldn’t stop you from exploring your options. Get your team together; make it a fun brainstorming exercise. Here are some ideas: Onsite fitness, meditation or yoga calls, kept within the new guidelines for viral safety via clearly marked attendee floor circles, strict online booking for contact tracing and the option of a video alternative for those who want to remain in their rooms Basic exercise equipment like yoga mats, bands, roam rollers or light weights, available in the room or at request, and always disinfected prior to delivery Healthy foods with nutritional tidbits, available as a surprise-and-delight welcome amenity, as part of a rejuvenated room service program or in the minibar, again abiding by sanitization rules In-room aromatherapy, which can encompass flowers, allergen-free materials, essential oil diffusers or branded scents Anything else that can bring the calming experience of an onsite spa into the guestroom such as beauty product or grooming samples Personal wellness consultations, conducted either in-person with physical distancing, or via your preferred platform for videoconferencing Mindfulness enhancers such as stimulating in-room artwork, hydrotherapy, daily haikus or thoughtful materials accessible via a phone, tablet or TV Undoubtedly your team can come up with a myriad of incredible recommendations that are tailored to your specific region if you give them a day or two. Importantly with all of these ideas listed above, there’s the possibility for an upsell by making these prearrival purchases, add-on services at any extra cost, bundling them into a rooms package or incorporating them into a higher product tier. Take heed, though, as right now these wellness amenities can be marketed or sold as a value-add for your brand. Similar to what we’ve seen with the rapid adoption of upgraded cleanliness and safety SOPs this past spring, these aspirational trends can have a way of quickly becoming the expectation. The more that chains embrace in-room wellness, the more likely these amenities are to be perceived as hospitality standards rather than noteworthy value-adds. To get started, it need not be something so elaborate and comprehensive. Simple is often better.

Create: May 17, 2021 Edit: May 17, 2021 Hotel Management

SERENA Hotel Aventura, Tapestry Collection by Hilton Opens in South Florida

SERENA Hotel Aventura, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, a 10-story, 100-room boutique hotel, welcomed its first guests on May 13. Infused with the dynamic spirit of this highly celebrated South Florida destination, the upscale hotel features a variety of in-demand amenities – a highlight of which is a vibrant rooftop entertainment area and pool with 360-degree city views. “We’re excited to introduce a unique new boutique hotel that embraces everything there is to love about Aventura – a hotel we know our local neighbors are going to love to visit, as well as those coming to the area from out of town,” said Ziad Chantiry, general manager, SERENA Hotel Aventura. “With superior amenities and a central location between two major South Florida cities surrounded by numerous top attractions, there is no doubt that SERENA Hotel Aventura is the perfect place to be — whether guests are traveling for work or for play.” Situated in the heart of the Aventura Medical District, SERENA Hotel Aventura offers a restful escape and proudly takes its name from the Latin word “serēnus” – meaning clear, tranquil or serene. Upon arrival, guests are welcomed by a modern and inviting atmosphere that will make them feel at home, while being treated with highly personalized service. Accommodations With a focus on contemporary design and upscale amenities, SERENA Hotel Aventura features 100 spacious guestrooms, 30 of which are suites outfitted with separate living areas, kitchenettes, dining tables and large bathrooms including a separate shower and tub. Standard guestrooms also offer seating areas with sofas along with work desks, creating a space perfect to welcome leisure guests or those with business to conduct during their visit to South Florida. Dining Paying homage to the area’s diverse and rich culture, SERENA Hotel Aventura offers a Mediterranean-Spanish inspired restaurant, Cielo Rooftop & Lounge, serving as a social gathering spot for locals and travelers alike. In addition, in the lobby, SERENA Hotel Café offers indoor and outdoor seating with selections including Lavazza coffee, sandwiches, paninis, pastries, beer and wine. Amenities A rooftop pool and entertainment area features lounge seating and panoramic city views, creating a relaxing, yet lively space for guests to unwind and catch Miami’s picturesque sunsets. Guests can also keep up with their workout routine in a 24-hour fitness center offering weights, treadmills, ellipticals and stationary bicycles. In addition, a dedicated room is available for business travelers to conduct small meetings. Location Positioned in the heart of South Florida midway between Fort Lauderdale and Miami, SERENA Hotel Aventura offers nearby access to world renowned shopping at Aventura Mall, with brand names like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Steve Madden and lululemon. Horseracing is nearby at The Village at Gulfstream Park, which also boasts an array of home stores, restaurants, art galleries, a bowling alley, fashion boutiques, and health and beauty services. Sunseekers can hit the shores of Sunny Isles Beach, just 15 minutes from the property. And, as the closest hotel to the Aventura Hospital & Medical Center, SERENA Hotel Aventura will be a safe haven for patients, families and medical workers. The hotel is also centrally positioned less than 30 minutes from Miami International Airport (MIA) and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL). Guests visiting SERENA Hotel Aventura will enjoy peace of mind from check-in to check-out with Hilton CleanStay, Hilton’s new program for an even safer and cleaner stay. New procedures include contactless digital check-in through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, and a Hilton CleanStay room seal to indicate that the room has not been entered since being thoroughly cleaned. SERENA Hotel Aventura is part of Hilton Honors, the award-winning guest loyalty program for Hilton’s 18 world-class brands. Hilton Honors members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels have access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows members to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount and free Standard WiFi. SERENA Hotel Aventura is located at 2820 NE 214th Street, inside Ivory 214 – a new state-of-the-art, mixed-use project featuring retail and office spaces. The hotel is developed by Aventura-based Rieber Developments and operated by Driftwood Hospitality Management.

Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 International News

Element by Westin Opens the 460-room Element Philadelphia in Pennsylvania

Element Hotels – part of Marriott Bonvoy’s extraordinary portfolio of 30 leading brands and designed for today’s healthy, active traveler – announce today the opening of Element Philadelphia, marking the brand’s debut in the city. Developed by Conshohoken-based Chestlen Development, the hotel will be the newest addition to Philadelphia’s reemerging hospitality scene, with travelers planning an average of 2.7 trips this year, according to a recent Visit Philadelphia report. Designed with a focus on sustainability and well-being, Element is ideal for families, groups and business travelers who want to maintain a balanced lifestyle while on the road. “Bringing the Element brand to Philadelphia was a strategic decision to appeal to the wellness-minded modern traveler, who is looking for self-sufficiency, more space to recharge, and amenities that align with their lifestyle,” stated Edward Baten, Complex General Manager, Element Philadelphia. “As the needs of travel, work and leisure have evolved over the last year, our offering is better suited than ever before to welcome guests with a range of work and life demands. Our flexible accommodations will open at a time when it’s needed most for leisure and business travelers alike.” Element Hotels has redefined the longer stay experience with a design philosophy that encourages guests to recharge and find focus. This approach is seen throughout Element Philadelphia, the brand’s largest property globally. The hotel’s 460 bright and modern guest rooms are positioned in an ideal Center City location and boast impressive views of Philadelphia’s historic architecture and skyline. The sunlit Sky Lobby will offer open seating for work and relaxation, and a range of safe, socially distanced amenities for guests to utilize. Fully equipped kitchens in every room, a business center, Motion Fitness center and guest laundry services create flexible work-from-anywhere possibilities. At Element Philadelphia, guests will be energized with a food and beverage program that prioritizes fresh, healthy ingredients. A complimentary Rise breakfast starts the day and the Relax evening reception invites guests to unwind together in the Sky Lobby. Balanced grab-and-go meals, snacks and beverages are available from the Restore gourmet pantry, which features products from local producers. In addition, guests are invited to eat well from the comfort of their own room. With kitchens stocked with everything needed to create a home-cooked meal, Element hopes to inspire guests by introducing local culinary and nutritional voices to provide easy-to-follow recipes. These digital recipes and meal ideas, which will be accessible via in-room QR codes and in pre-arrival emails, will feature fresh, local ingredients that can be picked up at iconic neighborhood markets such as Di Bruno Brothers and Reading Terminal Market. Designed to get visitors moving, Element Philadelphia features a Bikes to Borrow program with its custom-designed Priority Bicycles in unmistakable Element green. The Bikes to Borrow program provides suggested routes to help guests experience the city’s history, art or nearby bike trails. Whether on two wheels or walking with a four-legged friend, Element encourages guests and their pets to explore more. Element’s pet-friendly program includes a signature dog bed, treats, water bowls, eco-friendly clean-up supplies and more for travelers visiting with pets. Element Philadelphia offers more space for guests to live their lives in rooms ranging in size from a Standard guest room, to Deluxe and Executive guest rooms, to One Bedroom Suites. The signature Westin Heavenly® beds and spa-inspired bathrooms feature rain showers designed to infuse a sense of calm. Element is proud to be green from the ground up and has built a smarter, better place to stay. When choosing materials, Element Philadelphia’s design team pioneered eco-friendly, sustainable design that improves hotel air quality, minimizes pollutants and chemicals, and gives guests ample access to natural light, resulting in a cleaner, healthier environment. The hotel also integrates eco-friendly materials and practices into its design in a variety of ways, including: Electric vehicle charging stations Guestrooms featuring carpets with up to 100% recycled content Wall art mounted on a base made from recycled tires Walls featuring low-VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints Bathrooms featuring low-flow faucets and fixtures Silverware and glassware provided, minimizing single-use plastics and disposable waste Recycling is made easy with bins in every guestroom and throughout public spaces Filtered water is available in all guestrooms and in the public spaces through a dispenser unit Element Philadelphia uses only 100% recycled postconsumer wastepaper for all printing and stationery needs Element Philadelphia will soon provide access to over 45,000 square feet of purpose-built event space, fully adaptable for the changing dynamics of indoor meetings, events and celebrations. Guests of Element Philadelphia can travel with confidence with services adapted for COVID-19, adhering to Marriott’s Commitment to Clean standards throughout their stay, including contactless check-in, social distancing, increased cleanliness protocols and new UV-light cleaning technologies. Consisting of in-house and outside experts in food safety, hygiene and infection prevention, and hotel operations, the Marriott Cleanliness Council has redefined cleaning and safety standards.

Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 International News

Kish Island to become intl tourist destination for Fisher's New Year celebrations

Head of Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage office of Kish Free Zone has said that the Persian Gulf island will become an international tourist destination for Fisher's New Year or as it called in the local language Nowruz-e Sayyad day. Nowruze Sayyad Day or Fisher's New Year is being celebrated annually on July 19. Locals, especially fishermen in southern regions of Iran, celebrate Nowruz-e Sayyad day, meaning the Fisher's New Year. Fishing is a major part of the island’s life and different seasons and periods are defined according to its cycles. Unlike other parts of Iran which celebrate the costumery Nowruz in late March, local people in southern Islands celebrate their New Year as well which called the Fisherman’s Nowruz, (Norwuz-e Sayyad) at the beginning of the main fishing season in late July. In this ceremony, the villagers wear new clothes and paint their animals with a red mud called Gelak and take them to the sea, and the indigenous women receive guests with cooked pastries made from dates called Ranginak. The locals would not go fishing or eat fish or other seafood on this day and believe that all fish are free and should reproduce. Head of Tourism Development and Cultural Heritage office of Kish Free Zone Mahan Modavvan told IRNA on Saturday that his organization, according to its goal and duties, is seeking to hold Nowruz-e Sayyad Day or Fisher's New Year celebrations in the summer festivals that are being held annually in this region. He said that various festivals such as fishing, seafood, water-based activities, and handicrafts exhibitions are scheduled in this celebration too. Although Kish Island is active in different sections of trade as well as oil and gas - it was even the greatest trading hub in the Persian Gulf during the Seljuk empire (1037-1194 AD) - its economy today is based mostly on tourism. The Island has the required infrastructure so that it has been called "the most complete international tourist region in Iran". Hosting about 1.5 million tourists every year, Kish Island has an average of 20,000 internal and international flights annually. It has 52 hotels (12 5-star ones), 2 apartment hotels and 2 resorts. However, the coronavirus outbreak hit the Island's tourism industry this year, so that it is now using its minimum capacity after two months of total lockdown.

Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 Regional News

Intl. webinar to discuss ways to preserve Persepolis for future generations

A host of experts will be discussing archaeological findings and the latest attempts for the conservation of the UNESCO-registered Persepolis for future generations. “In this webinar, experts and researchers in the fields of archaeology, conservation and restoration, archeology, linguistics, documentation, architecture and civil engineering, geology, biology, law, statistics, etc. will discuss and exchange views on the ancient Persepolis during a four-day international webinar, which starts on Sunday,” CHTN quoted the organizers as saying on Saturday. Archaeological achievements in the World Heritage site will be discussed on the first day of the conference while decades of conservation, restoration, documentation projects would be topics for the second day. On the third day, applied research on conservation and restoration, documentation will be scrutinized. Moreover, comprehensive conservation plans for the architecture and conservation of the site are set to be conferred on the last day of the event. Persepolis, also known as Takht-e Jamshid, whose magnificent ruins rest at the foot of Kuh-e Rahmat (Mountain of Mercy) is situated 60 kilometers northeast of the city of Shiraz in Fars province. The ruined royal city ranks among the archaeological sites which have no equivalent, considering its unique architecture, urban planning, construction technology, and art. Persepolis was burnt by Alexander the Great in 330 BC apparently as revenge to the Persians because it seems the Persian King Xerxes had burnt the Greek City of Athens around 150 years earlier. The city’s immense terrace was begun about 518 BC by Darius the Great, the Achaemenid Empire’s king. On this terrace, successive kings erected a series of architecturally stunning palatial buildings, among them the massive Apadana palace and the Throne Hall (“Hundred-Column Hall”). This 13-ha ensemble of majestic approaches, monumental stairways, throne rooms (Apadana), reception rooms, and dependencies is classified among the world’s greatest archaeological sites. The site is marked by a large terrace with its east side abutting the Kuh-e Rahmat (“Mount of Mercy”). The other three sides are formed by a retaining wall, varying in height with the slope of the ground from 13 to 41 feet (4 to 12 meters); on the west side, a magnificent double stair in two flights of 111 short stone steps leads to the top. On the terrace are the ruins of several colossal buildings, all constructed of a dark gray stone (often polished to a marble-like surface) from the adjacent mountain. According to Britannica, the stone was cut with the utmost precision into blocks of great size, which were laid without mortar; many of them are still in place. Especially striking are the huge columns, 13 of which still stand in the audience hall of Darius I (the Great; reigned 522–486 BC), known as the Apadana, the name given to a similar hall built by Darius at Susa. There are two more columns still standing in the entrance hall of the Gate of Xerxes, and a third has been assembled there from its broken pieces. In 1933 two sets of gold and silver plates recording in the three forms of cuneiform—ancient Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian—the boundaries of the Persian empire were discovered in the foundations of Darius’s hall of audience. Several inscriptions, cut in stone, of Darius I, Xerxes I, and Artaxerxes III indicate to which monarch the various buildings were attributed.

Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 Regional News

Intl. travels fall by 80% in Iran due to coronavirus

The average of international travels to and from Iran fell by 80 percent during the past Iranian calendar year 1399 (ended on March 20, 2021) from a year earlier. “During this period, 4,343,163 passengers entered the country, which included 3,030,464 Iranian passengers and 512,699 international travelers,” Mehr quoted Arezou Ghaniun, an official with the Islamic Republic of Iran's Customs Administration, as saying on Saturday. “From the beginning of 1399 to the end of it, we saw a significant reduction in passenger traffic to the country or vice versa in land, sea, rail and air borders, which were caused by various coronavirus restrictions.” International tourist arrivals to Iran plunged 72% during the first eight months of the year when compared to 2019, according to data compiled by the World Tourism Organization. Restrictions on travel introduced in response to the COVID-19 pandemic continue to hit global tourism hard, with the latest data from the UNWTO showing a 70% fall in international arrivals for the first eight months of 2020. Iran, however, has experienced different rates of downfall for inbound passengers over the past months. In the first three months of 2020 (January, February, March), the tourism industry of the country recorded negative rates of 90, 92, and 94 percent, respectively, compared to the same period last year, according to the organization. The fall reached 96 and 97 percent in April and May. And in June, a negative 84% was recorded. But the interesting point in the statistics published by the World Tourism Organization is a steep slope of the improvement of Iran’s tourism arrivals during the last two months, as such growth has leaped 35% in July and August. Optimistic forecasts, expect the country would achieve a tourism boom after coronavirus contained, believing its impact would be temporary and short-lived for a country that ranked the third fastest-growing tourism destination in 2019. According to the newest UNWTO Barometer, international arrivals plunged 81% in July and 79% in August, traditionally the two busiest months of the year and the peak of the Northern Hemisphere summer season. The drop until August represents 700 million fewer arrivals compared to the same period in 2019 and translates into a loss of US$ 730 billion in export revenues from international tourism. This is more than eight times the loss experienced on the back of the 2009 global economic and financial crisis. “This unprecedented decline is having dramatic social and economic consequences, and puts millions of jobs and businesses at risk,” warned UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili. “This underlines the urgent need to safely restart tourism, in a timely and coordinated manner”. UNWTO’s Panel of Experts foresees a rebound in international tourism in the current year, mostly in the third quarter. However, some experts suggest the rebound could occur only in 2022. Travel restrictions are seen as the main barrier standing in the way of the recovery of international tourism, along with slow virus containment and low consumer confidence. The lack of coordinated response among countries to ensure harmonized protocols and coordinated restrictions, as well as the deteriorating economic environment, were also identified by experts as important obstacles for recovery. The Islamic Republic expects to reap a bonanza from its numerous tourist spots such as bazaars, museums, mosques, bridges, bathhouses, madrasas, mausoleums, churches, towers, and mansions, of which 24 being inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Under the 2025 Tourism Vision Plan, Iran aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

Create: May 16, 2021 Edit: May 16, 2021 Regional News

Tehran, Yerevan discuss ways to deepen tourism ties

Iranian tourism minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan and Yerevan’s ambassador to Tehran Artashes Toumanian on Monday discussed ways to deepen ties in the realms of tourism and cultural heritage. The officials exchanged views on how to boost travel when the coronavirus is controlled with help of vaccines. “We are ready to increase the tourism ties between the two countries. It seems, within the next few months, the tourism sector would resume as [COVID-19] vaccination is underway worldwide,” Mounesan said. The Iranian minister attached great importance to tourism as a tool, which can foster peace and friendship between various nations. “We pay special attention to tourism with our neighbors because we believe tourism, in addition to economic matters, helps to promote friendship between the nations. Such relationship with Armenia has been improved after the [implementation of] a visa waiver [program].” The envoy, for his part, said many Armenians are not being introduced to Iran’s attractions. “The people of Armenia do not know much about Iran's tourist attractions, if [enough] information is provided and tourism officials and tour operators of the two countries work in this regard, they would be interested in traveling to Iran.” Joint work on the restoration of historical sites and monuments was another issue discussed in the Tehran meeting. “The arena of Iranian cultural heritage is important to us because it dates back to thousands of years ago,” Toumanian said. “We have good experience in the field of intangible cultural heritage and there are many similarities between the two countries in this regard. Armenian specialists can also help to restore the engravings of Iranian churches,” the ambassador explained. Talking about the coexistence of religions in Iran, Mounesan said: “In different cities of Iran, including Yazd, there are places of worship for Muslims, Jews, and Christians, which makes a nation proud. We have even managed to register several churches on the World Heritage list.” Armenian churches To the untrained eye, Iran’s earliest churches may seem modest structures to some but they bear testimony to a vast panorama of architectural and decorative scenes associated with Armenian culture blended with other regional cultures: Byzantine, Orthodox, Assyrian, Persian, and Muslim. St. Thaddeus, St. Stepanos, and the Chapel of Dzordzor are three photogenic ancient churches that constitute the Armenian Monastic Ensembles of Iran, which were collectively inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage in 2008. They are dotted in fresh and green lands of northwest Iran and are important pilgrimage sites for Armenian-Iranians and others from across the globe. Also known as the Qareh Klise (“the Black Church”), St. Thaddeus, as one of the oldest surviving Christian monuments in the country, is situated in Chaldoran county some 20 kilometers from Maku, adjacent to the borders of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Turkey. The Chapel of Dzordzor stands tall on the outskirts of Maku. The name narratively originates from a famous painter Hovans Yerz, known as Dzordzortzi, who supervised the chapel’s restoration for a while. The ancient Church shows off elaborate bas-reliefs of flowers, animals, and human figures on its façade and exterior walls. It bears verses of Old and New Testament in Armenian calligraphy as well.

Create: May 13, 2021 Edit: May 13, 2021 Regional News