IMEX America’s Smart Monday, powered by MPI, will once again be an outstanding day of top class educational sessions, certificate and certification programs, and superb networking events when it takes place at The Venetian®|The Palazzo® Congress Center on October 12th before the major three day show begins.

Improving the tourism sector’s ability to nurture young talent was in focus at the UNWTO Forum on Talent Development in Tourism: Investing in Youth, which gathered in Medellín, Colombia, ahead of the 21st UNWTO General Assembly.
As a labour intensive sector, tourism’s capacity to attract, retain and develop human capital is essential to its competitiveness.

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has announced that it will manage a new luxury hotel and branded residences currently under development in Beirut. Scheduled to open in 2018, the project provides the Group with a unique opportunity to further extend its reach in the important Middle East market. The overall development comprises two adjacent buildings located in Beirut’s Central District at the heart of Lebanon’s capital. Mandarin Oriental, Beirut will be situated in the south tower, with 280 well-appointed rooms and suites and 25 serviced apartments.

PATA Travel Mart 2015 (PTM2015) officially opened in Bangalore, India with the official PTM2015 Opening Ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India. The Mart, generously hosted by the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, has attracted over 1,000 delegates from 61 destinations.The total number of delegates for PTM2015 includes 456 Sellers from 266 organisations and 28 destinations, along with 242 buyers from 233 organisations and 50 source markets.

The leading holiday car rental company promises to deliver a premium service but offering strong value for money. Goldcar to expand worldwide business in the United States, Canada, South America, Asia and Australia. Goldcar, an industry leader in the car rental market, has broadened its services through the Rhodium brand, a premium option for the holiday car rental market.

Tourism’s ability to foster inclusive development and social transformation will be the focus of the upcoming 21st Session of the UNWTO General Assembly meeting in Medellín, Colombia (12-17 September 2015).The Assembly takes places at a most dynamic time for the tourism sector. With five consecutive years of robust growth, tourism has been a major contributor to the economic recovery in many parts of the world, generating foreign earnings, employment and investment.