Capacity building and knowledge transfer are at the center of competitive destinations and sustainable development efforts. A new project, High Impact Tourism Training (HITT), implemented by SNV Netherlands Development Organisation with support from UNWTO, will provide training to 8.000 tourism workers and entrepreneurs from the informal sector in seven developing countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
The project, counting on funds of € 2 million (US$ 2.9 million) from the European Union, will provide vocational tourism training in Benin, Cambodia, Ghana, Mali, Mozambique, Nepal and Vietnam – countries where tourism is increasingly a leading source of employment and economic growth.

Bandar Lampung will be host of this year’s Indonesia’s annual travel mart Tourism Indonesia Mart & Expo (TIME) or Pasar Wisata Indonesia. This Indonesian premier tourism event will be held on 12 – 14 October 2011 at Novotel Hotel Lampung. Entering its 17th years of conduct, TIME is organized by Indonesian Tourism Council (MPI) supported by the Ministry of Culture of Tourism of Indonesia and the entire tourism components in Indonesia.
The Chairwoman and Steering Committee of TIME 2011, Meity Robot, said the conduct of TIME also supports the government program of “Wonderful Indonesia” as TIME is aimed at promoting Indonesia as tourist destination in international market and at the same time raise the country image as one of global travel destinations.

The Group income increases 10.7%, and the EBITDA 36.7% to €92.9 million in the first half of the year.
Implementation of the divestment plan launched last year has continued throughout 2011, with 90% of the plan complete. An initiatives plan has been implemented to contain costs and improve efficiency
NH Hoteles aims to complete the agreement with HNA Group by the end of the year

(MZ) The main figures for NH Hoteles as of 30th June 2011 show a recovery on the Group’s 2010 results. The Group achieved a net result of €22.5M, against losses of (40M) year on year for the same period.
NH Hoteles achieved a total income of 715.4 Euros in the first half of 2011, which means a 10.7% increase year on year.
The efforts implemented by the Company in terms of cost containment and strengthening of the sales network, amongst other things, allowed the group to generate an EBITDA of €92.9 million, an increase of 36.7% on June 2010.

Dusit International, one of Asia’s leading hotel groups, announced plans to open their first resort in the Maldives, Dusit Thani Maldives, Mudhdhoo Island, Baa Atoll.
Dusit International introduces first Resort in Maldives – Dusit Thani Maldives, Mudhdhoo, Baa Atoll

Located on the breathtaking Mudhdhoo Island, Northwest of Malé, this exquisite resort, scheduled to open in mid December this year, will feature 46 Beach Villas; two Beach Houses; 30 Water Villas; 20 Ocean Villas and two Ocean Houses, with extensive facilities including a 50-metre swimming pool, (the largest in the Maldives), and pool bar; over-water and grill restaurants; tree top spa; tennis courts; dive centre and extensive water activities in and around the resort. It is within 40 minutes travelling time via sea plane from Malé, and 10 minutes by speedboat from the new domestic airport.

Arriving at the top of the exhibition world in Asia with the most fully integrated convention facility is high on the agenda for Bangkok Land who has committed to spend Bt 3.1 billion on the complex within the next 12 months. An additional 50,000 sq m of convention space – IMPACT Convention Center will be complete by July 2012.

Reinhard Hohler, Chiang Mai

In June of 2011, the Caravelle Hotel in downtown Ho Chi Minh City joined a handful of leading hotels worldwide that have converted from magnetized room keys to advanced RFID (radio frequency identification) technology. The new keys only need to be in the proximity of the door to unlock it.
“Imagine walking up to your room with your hands full and letting the key in your wallet or pocket unlock the door for you – that can happen if your wallet is close enough to the lock,” says Mr. Borthwick, the hotel’s executive assistant manager of rooms. “Because the microchip communication with the lock is infallible, our guests will never have to come to the front desk with malfunctioning keys again.”