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Iran says no plan yet to suspend Turkey flights due to virus

The Association of Iranian Airlines (AIA) on Sunday announced that it has no plan at present to suspend flights to and from Turkey due to the spread of a new coronavirus variant. “Flights between Iran and Turkey are operated on schedule and there is no plan yet to suspend them until [we receive] an official announcement from the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control,” said Maqsoud As’adi-Samani, the secretary of the association. He added that the issue is to be conferred in the next session of the national headquarters. “Airlines flying to Turkey will [immediately] halt the service if the headquarters votes to its suspension.” Iranian Health Minister Saeed Namaki on Saturday issued an order, restricting travels to and from Turkey for a week in a bid to help contain the new coronavirus variant. In a letter to the interior minister, Namaki stressed the need for closing air and land borders with the neighboring country for a week. Flights between the two neighbors have repeatedly been suspended in recent months for the sake of coronavirus concerns though passengers are required to observe strict health protocols and hold a well-being certificate with a negative coronavirus PCR test result.

Create: Apr 5, 2021 Edit: Apr 5, 2021 Regional News

Iranian tour operators ask government to issue visas for vaccinated travelers

Head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association Ebrahim Pourfaraj has asked the government to issue tourist visas for the international applicants who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. “The Ministry of Health and the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control can at least agree that the international tourists who have received the [second dose of] coronavirus vaccine would be allowed to enter Iran,” Pourfaraj said. He also lamented that the continuation of such a trend would result in losing international tourist markets more than before. “Or at least they should make it clear so that we can respond appropriately to foreign companies and tourists to not to miss the international tourist markets more than before.” Earlier this month, he said that the reasonable prices of Iran tours are expected to bring back the boom into the tourism sector of the country in the post coronavirus era. “Attractive tour plans are also being prepared for those who are eager to explore the historical attractions and natural wonders of the ancient country and want to experience a vacation here,” Pourfaraj said. He also expressed hope that international tour operators and companies who have worked with their Iranian counterparts for years, would put Iran back on the world’s travel route again, considering the facilities they can get at cheaper prices than in other countries. Referring to health tourism as a popular branch in Iran, he noted that medical services in Iran are provided at a lower price than what may be offered at double the price in other countries. Back in January, he announced that the tourist flow from across the world to Iran will return to normal in 2022. Although there are requests for traveling to Iran in the current year (2021), most travel agencies and tour operators believe that the flow will go back to normal in the next year, he explained. “Beginning mass vaccination against the coronavirus will provide better and safe conditions for international travels in 2022.” Last November, the World Tourism Organization announced that international tourist arrivals to Iran plunged 72% during the first eight months of 2020 when compared to 2019, highlighting the severe impact of COVID-19 as the main factor. Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan in October warned that Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism will be in a critical situation if the crises caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus continue. Last August, Mounesan said that Iran’s tourism has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. Furthermore, the minister also noted that the coronavirus pandemic should not bring traveling to a complete standstill. “Corona is a fact, but can the virus stop tourism? Certainly not. For us, the coronavirus is a new experience in dealing with crises that teaches tourism experts around the world how to deal with such a disaster, and thankfully governments are turning this into an opportunity for better planning.” Smart and responsible traveling should replace "do not travel” recommendations, the minister stressed, adding: “In our country, Corona has caused problems in the tourism industry and the worrying point is the continuation of this trend.” “We are well aware of what the National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control proclaims [the health protocols], hence as a proposal, we have formulated some smart, responsible travel packages by the implementation of which we could have secure travels,” the minister said. He has repeatedly announced that his ministry is in full coordination with the Ministry of Health for strictly implementing health protocols in travel destinations, hospitably centers, and museums, amongst others, underlining that “people’s health is our priority.” The ancient land embraces hundreds of historical sites 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, the country aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

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

Steps Iran must take to become leading player in medical tourism

As you are well aware, medical tourism is booming worldwide as about 20 to 24 million people are traveling for medical treatments annually. Factors such as increased care needs over longer lifespans, rising healthcare costs, and constant pressures on some insurance industries are reasons behind why some opt to travel abroad. Regarding price competitiveness, Iran currently ranks first in the world but the country has not been very successful in attracting potential travelers as other competitors like Singapore and Turkey. People from the Persian Gulf littoral states, Iraq and Syria as well as Iranian expatriates residing in Canada and Germany constituted the majority of medical travelers to the Islamic Republic, who received plastic, cosmetics, open-heart, and orthopedic surgeries amongst other treatments over the past couple of years. A recent study co-authored by Iranian researchers Khalil Momeni, Ali Jannati, Rahim Khodayari-Zarnaq, Shabnam Ghasemyani, and Mohamadreza Havasian, suggests the main difference between Iran other countries they selected for the study lies in the organizational structure of the main stakeholders of the tourism industry; in other countries, this industry is organized and supervised by specific coordination bodies. Data were gathered from databases, including PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Scopus, Magiran, SID, and websites of the World Tourism Association, the Ministry of Tourism, and the Ministry of Health of the selected countries from 2000 to 2020. The study was published in the Melbourne-based Healthscope, which operates private hospitals, medical centers, and international pathology services. Six countries were selected purposefully, including Singapore, Turkey, Costa Rica, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, and Iran. They were compared in terms of the status of tourism and travel competitiveness, governance and policy-making status, the status of the medical tourism industry, and medical tourism infrastructure. In terms of tourism and travel competitiveness, Singapore, with a global rank of 17, was better than other countries. Based on the status of the medical tourism industry, Costa Rica ranked 7th in the world, and Singapore, the UAE (Dubai), Turkey, UAE (Abu Dhabi), Jordan, and Iran ranked 15, 22, 27, 31 35, and 41, respectively. In Iran, all indicators of medical tourism infrastructure were lower than those of other countries except for competitive prices. Comparative tables involved components, such as general profile, tourism and travel competitiveness, governance and policy, the status of the medical tourism industry, and medical tourism infrastructure in selected countries. The framework analysis based on the identified components was used to analyze the data. Furthermore, the study has confirmed that despite the legal framework for medical tourism development in Iran, this industry is currently facing several challenges. “These challenges are lack of specific medical tourism structure at the international, national, and regional levels, the lack of a medical tourism system, definition and formulation of laws, policies, and plans, the lack of infrastructure, and the lack of supervision system.” All of the indicators in tourism and travel competitiveness are low in Iran except pricing, which is ranked as the first cheapest country in the world. The growing medical tourism industry requires the optimal provision of all tourism infrastructures and not only the promotion of different indicators, the study suggests. Based on the report of the Medical Tourism Organization, the UAE, Turkey, and Jordan are the three most important destinations for medical tourism in West Asia. Even though Iran has good conditions in terms of competitive price, presence of skilled physicians, and low waiting time among the studied countries, but other medical tourism infrastructures are not enough invested. For example, until 2017, Iran has not been able to obtain a JCI license even for one hospital, and the average per capita physician/nurse index is much lower than the global one. To promote medical tourism, it is necessary to recognize the strategic medical tourism status of each province in the country, supply a specialized workforce, provide high-quality services, improve infrastructure, and promote a positive attitude of authorities to support the medical tourism industry. The study has also found that factors that can play a positive role in the development of medical tourism in Iran are advanced services for infertility treatment, cosmetic and dental surgery, organ transplantation and cell therapy, cultural similarity and familiarity with neighboring countries, and competitive prices. Measures, such as improving human resource communication skills and developing private hospitals following international standards, can also be effective in developing medical tourism. The main difference between the selected countries and Iran lies down in the organizational structure of the main stakeholders of the tourism industry. The study showed that one of the challenges for growing medical tourism in Iran is the presence of different organs of political and decision-making, as well as the cultural and political conditions. In all other countries, this industry is organized and supervised by specific coordination bodies. The revise of coordinating policies and strategies between various ministries, other government bodies, the private sector could help facilitate cross-sectoral coordination in this area. One of the important factors in the development of the medical tourism industry is the focus on attracting tourists from neighboring countries. Generally, certain populations are attracted more to certain locations. This might be due to a similar ethnic and cultural background. “To increase Iran’s ability to compete with countries in the region, such as Turkey, in attracting medical tourists, long-term plans should be developed to strengthen the infrastructure and cultural reforms, increase private sector participation and plan for the efficient use of mass media and local press for raising awareness. This requires a national effort and redefining the role of health tourism in the economy, as well as a strong trustee to follow up these measures,” the study suggests. According to the authors, the strengths points of the present study are the comprehensiveness of the selected countries and obtaining systematic information according to the appropriate strategy search. One of the limitations of the study is that in many items, the existing indicators are not updated, and some of the documents were in languages other than English and Persian. The Islamic Republic has set goals to exceed its yearly medical travelers to around two million in [calendar year] 1404 (March 2025-March 2026). Amongst Iran’s trump cards are the presence of credible surgeons and physicians, cutting-edge medical technologies, high-tech medicine and diverse specializations, super affordable procedures, and finally its hospitable people.

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

Iran, Slovakia seek to expand tourism ties

Iran and Slovakia on Thursday held an online meeting, in which high-level tourism officials, tour operators, and hoteliers discussed ways to boost tourism ties between the two countries in the post-coronavirus era. A key priority for Iran’s tourism sector is to restore tourism ties with previous markets and expand into new international markets such as Slovakia when the coronavirus crisis comes to an end, Mohammad Qasemi, the director for marketing and advertising at the tourism ministry said, IRNA reported. Regarding the unique characteristics and features of Iranian tourism as a different destination for the visitors from Slovakia, he emphasized the need for enhanced private sector relationships between the two countries to lead to the development of an efficient bilateral tourism exchange. Emphasizing the two countries’ capacity for caving, hydrotherapy, skiing, and national and natural parks, he also suggested that successful experiences be shared through training workshops and courses between the two sides. Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian official reminded the tremendous impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on global tourism, adding that the Iranian government has provided support for travel businesses affected by the disease. The Slovak delegation also hailed the expansion of ties in the arenas of tourism and cultural heritage. Moreover, the Slovak Association of Tour Operators & Travel Agents (SACKA) expressed readiness to start bilateral tourism as soon as the virus is contained. The two centuries also agreed to draft a memorandum of understanding to lay the ground for further cooperation including fam tours for media personnel and tour operators. Last November, the World Tourism Organization announced that international tourist arrivals to Iran plunged 72% during the first eight months of 2020 when compared to 2019, highlighting the severe impact of COVID-19 as the main factor. Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan in October warned that Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism will be in a critical situation if the crises caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus continue. Last August, Mounesan said that Iran’s tourism has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. He also noted that the coronavirus pandemic should not bring traveling to a complete standstill. “Corona is a fact, but can the virus stop tourism? Certainly not. For us, the coronavirus is a new experience in dealing with crises that teaches tourism experts around the world how to deal with such a disaster, and thankfully governments are turning this into an opportunity for better planning.” Optimistic forecasts, however, expect Iran to 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. The latest available data show eight million tourists visited the Islamic Republic during the first ten months of the past Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019). Iran welcomed some 7.8 million foreign nationals a year earlier, achieving a 52.5 percent increase year on year. The ancient land embraces hundreds of historical sites 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, the country aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

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

Radisson Individuals Debuts in India With the First Hotel Opening in Imphal

Radisson Hotel Group is proud to announce the debut of Radisson Individuals in India with the opening of Classic Grande Imphal, a member of Radisson Individuals today. Radisson Individuals offers independent hotels, along with local and regional hotel chains, the opportunity to benefit from Radisson Hotel Group’s international awareness and experience with the freedom to maintain their individual uniqueness and identity. Each hotel joining the Radisson Individuals brand is selected for their own characteristics and personalities. The brand offers guests an opportunity to discover new locations around the world, while experiencing Radisson Hotel Group’s high standards of quality and Yes I Can! service, combined with the local flavors and personality of each hotel. The brand was launched last year and is expected to be a key contributor to the Group’s growth story in the market. “We are excited to enter this new partnership launching Radisson Individuals in India. The hotel’s strong service standards, matched by our global expertise and robust distribution will co-create unparalleled experiences for guests looking to travel to the beautiful city of Imphal,” said Zubin Saxena, Managing Director and Vice President, Operations, South Asia, Radisson Hotel Group. Overlooking the majestic Baruni Twin Hills and ridges, Classic Grande Imphal, a member of Radisson Individuals features 171 uniquely designed rooms. The hotel is strategically built in the commercial hub of Imphal at Chingmeirong and is just nine kilometers away from Bir Tikendrajit International Airport. The hotel’s convenient access makes it a prime choice for business and leisure travelers visiting the city. Spread over 54,000 square feet, the hotel’s modern architecture and state-of-the-art room designs exuberate world-class living. It features rooms across Superior, Deluxe, Suite and Presidential Suite categories, two banquet halls with capacity of 100 to 250 pax and a meeting room. Housing exciting dining options that suit all tastes, the hotel includes some of the finest restaurant options such as Aroma – multicuisine restaurant; Panorama – grills and kebabs and Atrium – coffee lounge. The hotel also features a full-service spa – Oriyana, a contemporary fitness center with modern equipment and a swimming pool. “We are delighted to be affiliated to Radisson Hotel Group. Radisson Individuals represents a great opportunity for us to enhance our visibility, nurture customer confidence, and access a wider guest database. With this association we will be able to take the hotel to new heights and deliver globally recognized experiences with a touch of local,” said Dr. Thangjam Dhabali Singh, Owner, Chairman & Managing Director, Babina Group. Salam Sachhidanand Singh, General Manager, Classic Grande Imphal, a member of Radisson Individuals added, “The hotel focuses on style, function and services that provide an upscale and comfortable experience for guests. Easy access from Bir Tikendrajit International Airport and our unmatched hospitality make Classic Grande Imphal, a member of Radisson Individuals a preferred choice for our guests.” Classic Grande Imphal, a member of Radisson Individuals will be implementing the Radisson Hotels Safety Protocol, launched in collaboration with SGS, the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. With safety protocols in place, guests can safely check-in and check-out with a peace of mind.

Create: Mar 9, 2021 Edit: Mar 10, 2021 International News

Affordable prices expected to bring back boom into Iran tourism

The reasonable prices of Iran tours are expected to bring back the boom into the tourism sector of the country in post coronavirus era, the head of the Iranian Tour Operators Association has said. “Attractive tour plans are also being prepared for those who are eager to explore the historical attractions and natural wonders of the ancient country and want to experience a vacation here,” Ebrahim Pourfaraj said on Thursday. He also expressed hope that international tour operators and companies who have worked with their Iranian counterparts for years, would put Iran back on the world’s travel route again, considering the facilities they can get at cheaper prices than in other countries. Referring to health tourism as a popular branch in Iran, he noted that medical services in Iran are provided at a lower price than what may be offered at double the price in other countries. Back in January, the official announced that the tourist flow from across the world to Iran will return to normal in 2022. Although there are requests for traveling to Iran in the current year (2021), most travel agencies and tour operators believe that the flow will go back to normal in the next year, he explained. Beginning mass vaccination against the coronavirus will provide better and safe conditions for international travels in 2022, he added. Last November, the World Tourism Organization announced that international tourist arrivals to Iran plunged 72% during the first eight months of 2020 when compared to 2019, highlighting the severe impact of COVID-19 as the main factor. Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan in October warned that Iran’s cultural heritage and tourism will be in a critical situation if the crises caused by the outbreak of the coronavirus continue. Last August, Mounesan said that Iran’s tourism has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. He also noted that the coronavirus pandemic should not bring traveling to a complete standstill. “Corona is a fact, but can the virus stop tourism? Certainly not. For us, the coronavirus is a new experience in dealing with crises that teaches tourism experts around the world how to deal with such a disaster, and thankfully governments are turning this into an opportunity for better planning.” Optimistic forecasts, however, expect Iran to 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. The latest available data show eight million tourists visited the Islamic Republic during the first ten months of the past Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019). Iran welcomed some 7.8 million foreign nationals a year earlier, achieving a 52.5 percent increase year on year. The ancient land embraces hundreds of historical sites 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, the country aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025.

Create: Mar 6, 2021 Edit: Mar 6, 2021 Regional News

Iran, Turkey to consider passport-free travels

A joint technical committee for tourism cooperation between Iran and Turkey has recently formulated a plan which reportedly could pave the way for bilateral passport-free travels. The proposal is to be discussed in detail by the tourism authorities of the two countries, ISNA reported on Monday. Turkey was among the top ten countries with the most arrivals in Iran during the [Iranian calendar] year 1398 [Mar. 2019 – Mar. 2020], according to data compiled by Iran’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts. Some Iranian travel experts emphasize the need to attain a balance in tourist flow rates between the two nations, saying the Islamic Republic should reach a balance with Turkey in the movement of tourist flow. Last year, Iranian travel agencies introduced a plan to offer stimulus packages and hold familiarization tours for Turkish agencies, tour operators, journalists, and influencers in a bid to attract more travelers from the neighboring country. “Iran will be organizing familiarization tours for about 100 Turkish tourism agencies after the [complete] reopening of joint borders and resuming [mutual] tourist relations,” according to Mehdi Rezaei, the secretary of the Turkey consortium at the Association of Iranian Travel Agents. “Fam tours had been planned for Turkish [travel] agencies and media for a period before the virus pandemic. Unfortunately, at the outset of the outbreak, the tours were postponed to another time when mutual travels are resumed.” “We must go to the heart of Turkey and introduce our country to them. In Iran, there are places that Turks wish to visit, such as the shrines in Neyshabour and Kashan. Many Turks are familiar with Iranian literature and poets, and Hafez’s poems are etched in the memory of many of them. We must develop these capacities.” The spread of the novel coronavirus has plunged the travel and tourism industry and economy in the global scene over the past couple of months as passenger traffic on airlines and hotel occupancy rates have fallen off a cliff compared to the same periods in previous years.

Create: Feb 17, 2021 Edit: Feb 17, 2021 Regional News

Tax on tourism comes with share of unknowns for an industry yet to recover from COVID-19

Tourism, which was once a beacon of hope for countries to diversify their economies, has been taking some serious battering since the spread of COVID-19. Its association with aviation, another main casualty of the pandemic, further deepened the scars for a sector that will need years to regain its pre-pandemic number of international arrivals - and with it - spending. While how long is anyone’s guess, preserving a country’s standing in tourism would take more than the pandemic going away and travellers getting back on planes. Akin to any other sector expected to drive diversification efforts, and overall economic growth in the country, tourism must be supported and nurtured to ensure its long-haul survival. COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of tourism, except that such importance is not linked to the number of travellers arriving at or going through a country’s points of entry. Rather, the economic activity that they generate in sectors directly associated with tourism, like hospitality.

Create: Feb 15, 2021 Edit: Feb 15, 2021 International News

IHG Opens Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpur in India

IHG:registered: Hotels & Resorts one of the world’s leading hotel companies, opens door to the newest hotel in the tricity – Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpur in association with ABC Sites Pvt Ltd. Featuring 131 keys with scenic city views, the hotel is located on Chandigarh- Ambala highway connecting the city of Chandigarh to all famous landmarks and attractions in the Northern belt. Distanced just 20 minutes away from the Chandigarh International Airport and 25 minutes from the Chandigarh Railway Station, the hotel is an ideal destination for leisure and business travellers alike. Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpur opens to a capacious lobby area and appoints modern rooms, finished with technological additions and boasts of the largest gym in the Chandigarh city, spread across incredible area of 10,000 sq ft. Coupled with a dedicated team of experts and hospitable staff members, the hotel also offers two distinctive dining options; an All Day Dining Restaurant – Viva that brings together Indian, Italian and Asian cuisine and the Lounge Bar, overlooking the city, serving as the perfect spot for the guests to unwind and relax. Besides, the new hotel provides an expansive indoor and outdoor space for corporate and social gatherings comprising of an impressive 8340 sq. ft. poolside terrace and 26000 sq. ft. of banqueting space. The incomparable banqueting space with 7200 sq. ft. of pillar-less grand ballroom and 4440 sq. ft. of pre-function area and rooftop pool terrace on the 14th floor that gives a 360-degree view of the city, makes the newly opened hotel a perfect venue for all kind of celebrations and events. Commenting on the inauguration of the new hotel, Sudeep Jain, Managing Director, IHG Hotels & Resorts, South West Asia adds: “We are delighted to open our second hotel in Chandigarh under our globally renowned brand Holiday Inn, as the tri-City area is increasingly gaining traction, both as a commercial hub and tourist destination. India has been a domestic focused market for IHG and the addition of Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpur to our brand portfolio will cater to the demand for quality accommodation and MICE requirements in the city.” Mr. NK Sharma – Director, ABC Sites Pvt Ltd adds,: “It has been a pleasure to associate with IHG Hotels & resorts, a reputed and trusted hospitality brand for the opening of Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpaur. We are pleased to inaugurate this new hotel and looking forward to welcoming guests. The brand Holiday Inn, holds a strong name in the country and is a great fit for a market like Chandigarh. Benefitting from its strategic location and contemporary design, we are certain the new addition to the portfolio will soon emerge as a popular choice amongst the travellers entering the city.” Holiday Inn Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpaur and IHG Way of CleanAs part of the IHG family, Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpaur will comply with IHG’s Way of Clean industry-leading standards, including the new IHG Clean Promise. IHG’s global Clean Promise was announced in May as part of an overhaul of IHG Way of Clean to introduce heightened cleanliness standards to protect guests in the wake of COVID. Using new, science-led protocols and service measures, partnering with industry leading experts Cleveland Clinic, Ecolab and Diversey, and launching a global IHG Clean Promise, these strengthened measures will give guests greater confidence and hotel teams the protection needed. Holiday Inn Chandigarh Zirakpaur is the latest addition to one of the world’s largest hotel companies, where guests can earn and redeem exclusive member benefits at over 5,900 hotels and major airlines globally through the IHG Rewards.

Create: Feb 13, 2021 Edit: Feb 13, 2021 International News

5 Steps to Prepare Your Hotel Housekeeping Team for 2021 and Beyond

The challenges the hospitality industry has faced in the wake of COVID-19 reminds us how critical the housekeeping department’s role is to a hotel’s overall success. The urgency to prevent the spread of COVID-19 has accelerated change in our industry, including the need for new hygiene and cleaning processes. Even before the virus, 78% of hotel guests believed cleanliness to be the most crucial factor affecting their choice of where to stay, with hotel cleaning protocols moving up to the #1 top-ranked category for travel with COVID-19. As guests expect the highest standards of sanitation to feel at ease in a hotel and once again return to travel, operators worldwide need to work with their housekeeping teams to better prepare for the impacts of these new realities. By using this time to further analyze housekeeping practices, hotel leaders have an opportunity to take advantage of advancing technologies to more accurately plan for operational shifts that, at the end of the day, influence bottom-line results. Here are a few ways hoteliers can prepare their housekeeping team for success in 2021. 1. Create a Structured Cleaning Program Using Industry Best PracticesTo earn guest confidence, hotels will have to demonstrate that they provide a clean and safe environment and are following specific disinfecting protocols. As part of this new dynamic, the ability to develop and implement proven strategies to meet these new cleanliness standards will be critical to staying ahead of the competition. This is a good opportunity to establish clear step-by-step standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the protocols needed to enhance cleaning regimens. Creating a distinct checklist for each area of the property, including the lobby, restrooms, common areas, fitness center, and guest rooms, will help to ensure nothing gets missed. Hotels can look to their brand or management company for guidance on a structured program, or they can leverage one from trusted industry organizations like the AHLA’s Safe Stay program or Amadeus’ disinfecting housekeeping checklist, endorsed by the International Executive Housekeeping Association (IEHA). 2. Alter Schedules for Guest Room Cleaning Based on NeedMany hotels are shifting away from daily cleaning with automatic opt-out cleaning programs, leading to, in some cases, dirtier rooms upon departure. At the same time, the enforcement of new hygiene protocols, including the expansion of high touchpoints and frequency of cleaning, can increase the amount of time needed to spend in a room. Updated practices on the use of disinfectants and surface dwell times can additionally alter the flow in which rooms are serviced. So, what does this mean for housekeeping and operational teams? The rise in guestroom cleaning times can make forecasting labor and servicing pop-up requests a more complex endeavor. Lack of planning for additional time can also cause strain on staff, while last minute modifications to departure room schedules can impact room readiness. By tracking and analyzing the labor and resources needed to execute the tasks these rooms now require, hotels can adjust to new cleaning schedules, while identifying valuable areas for improvement that will ultimately increase both staff and guest satisfaction. 3. Monitor How Many Hours Guest Rooms are VacantAs new guidance is issued for businesses to mitigate the risk of COVID-19, the procedures within hotels also need to adapt. For instance, the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AHLA) recommends rooms be left vacant for 24-72 hours prior to or after cleaning if possible, while China requires hotels that host international guests to change linens and clean guestrooms and bathrooms daily. Consumers are increasingly calculating risks associated with travel and want to have complete transparency when it comes to COVID-19-specific protocols before even booking a hotel room. The ability to promise, then track and report the number of hours a room is vacant is a must in today’s business environment. 4. Understand Which Rooms are Not Being Serviced and WhyStreamlining productivity may mean having to leave rooms not serviced for the day. Although a part of daily housekeeping, one of the biggest challenges is measuring why a room was not serviced, or “dropped”. Perhaps there is a need to alter opt-out programs. Perhaps there is a need for more staff. Having the ability to identify, record, and flag rooms with a special service status like “dropped rooms” allows teams to truly understand why rooms are not being serviced. This process allows housekeeping managers to schedule staff effectively, as well as audit and reconcile room counts at the end of each day to optimize operations. With today’s lack of time and budget, gaining important insights into dropped rooms is pivotal to every housekeeping team’s success. 5. Leverage Automation to Drive ProductivityAs we evaluate new ways to face the challenges ahead, hotel leaders must consider how innovation can play a critical role in closing the gaps between team capabilities and achieving business goals. The right hotel technology can be a powerful tool in the decision-making process by reaching across the hotel’s ecosystem to orchestrate proactive tasks such as automating room assignments, schedule turnovers, and reprioritizing work. Gaining valuable insights from automation dashboards and reporting tools can also enable better decision making in a world of unknowns. Whether it’s wiping down frequently used areas like elevator buttons, delivering guest requests like soap or chargers, or managing dropped or vacant rooms, modernizing processes with a housekeeping solution can help to maximize operational capabilities while ensuring the highest standards are met. During times of unpredictability, the ability to intelligently automate the prioritization, communication, and dispatching of the entire housekeeping operation is more valuable than ever. This way, limited time and budget is spent where it is needed most. Resetting for 2021 and BeyondMoving forward, there will be no greater focus from a guest’s perspective than a hotel’s commitment to its cleaning initiatives. Resetting for success in 2021 and beyond means understanding how technology can significantly enhance our capabilities as individuals and designing new business procedures that support it. Reflecting this dynamic presents an opportunity to lead the way in delivering the processes needed to support both housekeeping teams and guest confidence in this new era of hospitality.

Create: Feb 9, 2021 Edit: Feb 9, 2021 Housekeeping

Tourism projects worth $334m inaugurated nationwide

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani on Tuesday inaugurated tens of tourism-related projects via a video conference on the occasion of Ten-Day Dawn (Jan. 31- Feb. 10, marking the victory anniversary of the Islamic Revolution). A total investment value of 14 trillion rials (about $334 million at the official exchange rate of 42,000 rials per dollar) is channeled through the projects countrywide, Cultural Heritage, Tourism, and Handicrafts Minister Ali-Asghar Mounesan announced on Monday. Tourism-related projects worth 220 trillion rials ($5.2 billion) had previously come on stream since President Rouhani inaugurated his second four-year term in 2017. With these new projects being taken into account, the total investments in this sector are added up to 234 trillion rials ($5.5 billion), which is a new record, the tourism minister explained. The Ministry of Cultural Heritage, Tourism and Handicrafts has played an important role in the country’s currency earnings, as in 2019, the tourism sector’s share of the country’s GDP was $11.8 billion, which is a very significant number, Mounesan said. Referring to passenger flows, he stated some 8.8 million foreign nationals visited the Islamic Republic during the first ten months of the past Iranian year 1398(March 20, 2019-March 19, 2020) before the coronavirus outbreak puts almost everything on a halt. Despite the coronavirus pandemic and the damages it has caused to the country’s tourism, this sector is still running and several projects are underway, the official added. Back in August, the minister announced that Iran’s travel sector has suffered a loss of 12 trillion rials (some $2.85 billion) since the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, however, he mentioned that all the tourism businesses across the country will have the capacity to fully resume their activities both in domestic and foreign markets. “Many tourism projects have been completed, or are being implemented, showing that a very good capacity has been created in the field of tourism in the country and [this trend] should not be stopped,” he explained. Mounesan went on to say that 2,451 tourism-related projects worth 1,370 trillion rials (around $32 billion) are being implemented across the country that signals a prosperous future for Iran’s tourism sector. The tourism minister also said the coronavirus pandemic should not bring traveling to a complete standstill. “Corona is a fact, but can the virus stop tourism? Certainly not. For us, the coronavirus is a new experience in dealing with crises that teaches tourism experts around the world how to deal with such a disaster, and thankfully governments are turning this into an opportunity for better planning.” Some experts believe that the coronavirus pandemic may turn tours and travels into luxury items as observing health protocols will raise the cost of travel in the country. Mohammad Ali Vaqefi, the vice president of the Iranian Tour Operators Association, warned earlier in June that with the continuation of the coronavirus outbreak, tourists may prefer individual travel rather than tours, adding that they may also choose to go on a trip by their vehicles and stay in tents or nature instead of hotels. In the global scene, part of the new travel puzzle is the jet-set mindset focusing on tough hygiene care and social distancing as cardinal guidelines for slowing the spread of the virus. So the average expenditure will be raised for a typical traveler particularly inbound passengers so lesser ones can afford to buy privacy and space and safer travel amenities. Iran 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, it aims to increase the number of tourist arrivals from 4.8 million in 2014 to 20 million in 2025. The latest available data show eight million tourists visited the Islamic Republic during the first ten months of the past Iranian calendar year (started March 21, 2019).

Create: Feb 4, 2021 Edit: Feb 4, 2021 Regional News

United Airlines warns 14,000 jobs at risk when payroll aid expires

United Airlines said on Friday it has sent warnings of potential furloughs to some 14,000 employees whose jobs are at risk once a second round of payroll support for airlines expires on April 1, as demand for air travel has been hard hit by the coronavirus pandemic. Chicago-based United had recalled 13,000 employees from furlough when the fresh payroll package was passed in December. “Despite ongoing efforts to distribute vaccines, customer demand has not changed much since we recalled those employees. today,” United told employees, while saying it was monitoring demand and advocating for continued government support. Congress approved $15 billion in new payroll assistance in December to help keep more than 32,000 airline workers on payrolls through March 31, after awarding $25 billion in March for passenger airlines in payroll assistance and $25 billion in low-cost government loans. American Airlines, which had furloughed 19,000 workers in October, did not immediately comment on Friday on whether it would issue new notices of potential layoffs. On Thursday, Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA), representing workers at 17 airlines, urged Congress to extend a passenger airline payroll assistance program for a third time. United’s Friday memo said “we’re continuing to monitor demand and advocate for continued government support, and we are all working hard toward the day when we can bring back our furloughed co-workers permanently.” American Airlines chief executive Doug Parker said on Thursday that “April 1 is approaching and demand hasn’t gotten much better… So we are definitely going to need to address this, unless demand starts to pick up.”

Create: Jan 30, 2021 Edit: Jan 30, 2021 International News