PM HOLNESS CONFRONTS TRAVEL INDUSTRY TO SEIZE PROSPECTS INNATE OUT OF COVID

BY AKANKSHA DEAN 

The Global Tourism Resilience Forum held in Dubai at Expo 2020 in the DP Pavilion was an exceptional paradigm of ‘taking the bull by its horns’. Minister of Tourism for Jamaica and the Co-Chair of the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre (GTRCMC), Honourable Edmund Bartlett lead the affair.

 
The Most Admirable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica conveyed an influential and solicitous opening dialogue explaining the importance of awareness and resilience. “The recovery of the global tourism industry is a serious component of the overall pace of economic revival but particularly for the most tourism reliant regions of the world”. He continued, “the pandemic has fetched a gamble for shareholders to network more closely, to identify best practices, stratagems and modernisation that will endorse the recovery and build overall resilience for the future.”
 

Orators from the civic and private divisions pencilled on their experiences to share with the international spectators of travel and finance specialists. Minister Bartlett’s mission is to ensure the industry is distributing through action and deeds and he made that copiously clear. 
 
Four premeditated actions were publicised, the inauguration of a campaign to name February 17 as internationally accepted, Global Tourism Resilience Day. It is an enterprise that will take a year in the making but has already commenced with the provision of the United Nations and key trade associations across the globe. Thus, adding to global cognizance of the travel and tourism industry but drawing emphasis to preparedness and resilience undertakings. The second action was the declaration of the ambitious development plans of the GTRCMC. Two agreements were endorsed with Canada and Bulgaria and a third was endorsed in Jordan on the 20th of February to institute remote Centres.
 
The third deed was the revelation of a book published on resilience entitled, “Tourism Resilience and Recovery for Global Sustainability and Development” which is an alliance of PhD and graduate students with the forward by former UNWTO Secretary General, Dr. Taleb Rifai and edited by Professor Lloyd Waller, Executive Director of the GTRCMC and Minister Bartlett. And finally, not the least of which is Minister’s vision to generate a global tourism fund from where destinations or industry participants with inadequate resources can draw support in the case of disruption. An assembly of actions that are as great in scale as the accomplishments ahead. The spokespersons of the forum restated those disruptions will be ongoing so industry retorts must be idealistic and persistent to meet the challenges.
 

“Before the endemic, no one talked about resilience – sustainability was the chief subject. We have counterfeit ahead through these perilous actions of expansion, thought leadership, publication and Global Tourism Resilience Day,” concluded Minister Bartlett. But with a smile and an eye of more to come, he beamed at the audience thinking of “the formation of an international fund, global multi-national sustenance and subsidy movements, new tool expansion, technical novelties, dealings and publications. We will endeavour to affect the lives and livelihoods of millions for the better.” 

SHOPPING IN MADRID

 

All you want to know about Gran Via, the Mecca of Shopping & Entertainment in Madrid

 

·      BY AKANKSHA DEAN

 

Those on a holiday will be extremely astounded with the profusion of bargains Madrid offers! That said, as one of the style centres of the biosphere, it is no wonder that Madrid is clearly known for its outstanding shopping! The Gran Via is my favourite place !

 

GRAN VIA & AROUND - MECCA OF SHOPPING & ENTERTAINMENT

The buzzing Gran Via which runs from the Calle de Alcala to the Plaza De Espana is a Mecca for the local and tourists alike. It’s the Spanish Capital’s answer to Oxford Street, Piccadilly Circus and Broadway all rolled in to one! A great idea is to start from Puerta Del Sol Plaza which is one of the main centers of Madrid, with its streets splintering out to other famous landmarks and is full of shops and cafes. Devote time sauntering the eventful lanes and boulevards that bud from the plaza. Through this remarkable street you will also come across Madrid’s most applauded commercial center, El Corte Ingles which is profoundly armed with a diversity of clothing lines, shoes, cosmetics and even electronic gadgets. For a quirky surprise do drop by at the H & M store. After all, it’s not each day that figurines posture in the brightness of footlights and you find the fitting  rooms in the porticos of a past theatre. Also check out Zara a illustrious Galician store famed for spinning round stage designs at speedy swiftness and selling them at incredible deals. The flow of new designs is glittering, so if you like something, just go for it as it is not likely to be repetitive. Move on to Calle Mayor and follow the signs to Plaza Mayor a beautiful square completely surrounded by old Spanish architecture. In the past, it was the center of festivities, bullfights, royal coronations and executions. Now, it is still a place for festivities, and the perfect place to watch street performers and tourists over a café con leche. Altogether in all, Gran Via is  where you can purchase the finest pair of stylish coats, see the newest theater productions, take part in a gay parade, or just glee in the sweet metropolitan clamor. Gran Via exudes the crux of contemporary Madrid, serves as a favorite meeting point, and a fabulous example of a place where you’d like to spend your day and evening!

 

QUIRKY FACTS

Posh Madrid girls are known as pijas!

Rebajas means sales

Shopping in stilettos is de rigueur alias fashion.

 

FAST FACTS

Best way to move around in Madrid- Take a bus or a metro to reach these shopping areas. It costs only 1 Euro to travel to any point.

Best Place to Stay close to all the shopping areas- Situated on the impressive Paseo de La Castellana, Madrid’s key avenue is Hotel Hesperia, Paseo de la Castellana 57.

 

TOP 5 MUST DO SHOPPING 

El Corte Ingles -The most famed chain store in Spain. 

Preto & Branko- A unique store at the Plaza Mayor offering Clothes, shoes, gifts watches, jewellery etc only in black and white. 

Sfera - Sells casual and formal clothing and accessories for both men and women. The shop in Gran via is a great option.

Bershka- It is a part of the Spanish group called Inditex, and also includes Zara- It is for the young and hip generation and is all over Madrid.

 

The Jamaica Pavilion receives over 84,000 visitors in the first three months of the World Expo 2020 Dubai

The Jamaica Pavilion Receives Over 84,000 Visitors in the First Three Months of The World Expo 2020 Dubai 

The leitmotif Jamaica Makes It Move has ministered the Jamaica Pavilion to be a must visit Pavilion at Expo 2020. It is the dazzling music that welcomes you to this exquisite rotunda alongside the Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee, that is available daily by Mokha 1450 at the pavilion. It showcases sports legends like Usain Bolt, that assist the Pavilion to personify the exceptional beauty of the island nation.

 

The Jamaica Pavilion has been regarded both the ‘coolest’ and ‘must see’ Pavilions at Expo 2020 Dubai, because it has managed to exhibit the social, economic, and cultural vibrance of the Jamaican people in one frame.  The visitor numbers are backing the laurels credited to the Jamaica Pavilion.

 The average number of visitors per day stands at 930.58, which accounts for 0.945% of the total number of visitors at the Expo. The Jamaica Pavilion harboured maximum number of visitors in a single day – almost 4000 on the UAE National Day on 02 December 2021.

“Receiving almost 1% of all Expo visitors is proof that Jamaica as a travel and a business destination generates tremendous interest. While the Jamaica Pavilion showcases business opportunities for alliances and investments, for the Middle East and other markets, the uniqueness of the pavilion reflects the culture of Jamaica, which has been a crucial aspect in attracting visitors from across the globe”, stated Donovan White, Director of Tourism of Jamaica.

 

Commenting on this milestone, Mr. Ainsley Brown, part of the Pavilion Team, representing the Jamaica Special Economic Zone Authority (JSEZA), said “The fact that we are attracting almost 1% of the total visitors to the expo, Jamaica is boldly saying on the global stage – wi day ya! (We are here!).

 

A team from JSEZA forms a major part of the multi-agency Jamaican delegation to Dubai. The others that form a part are the Jamaica Tourist Board and Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport (MCGES). Jamaica, having over 84,000 visitors or close to 1% of all Expo visitors from October to December 2021, highlights the importance of the ‘Brand Jamaica’. The island through its history, cultural and artistic front, has had an extended and strong influence internationally.

 

The Jamaica Pavilion is suitably located in proximity to one of the key entrances to the Expo, located near the main metro line in and out of the Expo grounds.

 

MANDARIN ORIENTAL MILAN...AN IDEAL LUXURY HOTEL

The Mandarin Oriental is not only located next to the visible opera house La Scala, but also in close proximity of pretty much all noteworthy attractions in Milan.

Seized inside four 18th century buildings watching two parallel streets, the hotel exemplifies the elegance of its former era though offering exclusive conveniences for today’s travellers. Initially erected as a well-appointed manor house as Palazzo Confalonieri, the edifice later held the city’s tax office, between the 1930s and 1950s, and a bank, from the 1960s. Idiosyncratic coats of arms of ancient ‘Lombard provinces’ are noticeable on walls above the arched colonnade, shining its impressive past. Talking of inspiring, all the 104 stylish rooms and 34 suites come with exclusive designs.  Balconies with spectacular views of the old town, dining facilities and invincible service make it a very extraordinary property. Aperitivo aka Italy’s answer to happy hours and Mandarin Oriental’s bar, accessible from Via Monte di Pietà, besides its main entrance is a hot spot for the same. 

With its expansive, U-shaped bar counter, Mandarin Bar & Bistrot is the hotel’s impressive heart. Fenced in a black and white mosaic; composed with glasses, mirrors and other emulating surfaces, these walls edge views of a secret courtyard noticeable through glass doors. The mood in the bar evolves from relaxed daytime oasis to vibrant nightspot as the hours pass by. 

The hotel’s Italian fine-dining restaurant, Seta, skins its own central courtyard, embracing it on three sides so these outer and inner empires unite into one melodious whole. This is where you can treat yourself to a delicious eight-course meal that includes everything from chicken neck and risotto to cauliflower in an almond milk sauce and ravioli. It is no surprise that this was awarded with one Michelin star only four months after the opening, trailed by a second Michelin in November 2016. The private room between Mandarin Bar & Bistrot and the restaurant reception is ideal for an intimate table for two. Looking out onto via Monte di Pietà, the room has oak panelled walls that add to its sense of cosiness. You can choose from Ad hoc menus created by the chef! Also, La Loggia, a corner of the courtyard subtly fenced by columns, and yet, absorbed in the ether and allure of Mandarin Bar & Bistrot, is the ultimate backdrop for cherished, al fresco cocktails and dinners with the bistro menu.  With six private treatment rooms, a dedicated Thai massage room and a VIP suite, the Spa is a winner! Relax with a Mandarin Oriental signature massage and a dip in the pool — the perfect way to unwind at the end of a stylish holiday away.

QUICK TAKE

MANDARIN ORIENTAL, MILAN

WHERE? – Via Andegari, 9 - 20121 Milan, Italy 

CALL – +39 02 8731 8888 

WEB  www.mandarinoriental.com/milan

WALLET: A Mandarin room starts from 950 Euros (approx. INR 83,000per night and a junior terrace suite starts from 1250 Euros (approx. INR 1,10,000) a night 

 

My story first published in The Man Magazine

FIRST DOMESTIC FLIGHT IN THE PANDEMIC WITH THE FAMILY

First Hand Experience of flying with my family In the Pandemic. We Chose IndiGo as they are excellent with wheel chair passengers and the flights have a history of reaching bang on time.

A FEW MANDATES

Web check-in is a mandate. IndiGo is swift in prompting at each step of the way about. I have booked into Row 1 for our flight to Udaipur as its convenient more so as my grandmother is travelling with us. Apart from the web check-in, I generate baggage tags online as well. I also fill in the health declaration, as instructed by the Government of India, another mandate one needs to sign off on before finally getting the boarding pass.

AT THE AIRPORT

The safety gear has progressed to admit you into the airport. Earlier a copy of the ticket and identification worked. Now, the security workforces sit behind a glass partition to safeguard distance from passengers, and also scan your boarding pass bar code for a validity check. This slightly slows the process but it’s for our own safety and a good idea is to reach 2 hours prior to departure. I have booked a wheel chair for my grandmother and the IndiGo staff is all ready for it right at the entrance. The wheel chair is sanitised yet again in front of us which makes us feel more confident. There are several IndiGo personnel at the airport terminal, just that the new procedures make everything contactless, so I work things on my own while one of the kind ladies guides me through it.

My baggage tag and my boarding pass were tagged together to match via a barcode scanner at bag drop. I did not have to touch the machine; only official personnel did. I  put my bags on the belt myself, and immediately received an email and a text message from IndiGo informing me that my bags were collected along with the tracking number and we are right in time for a quick snack before we board the plane.

IN FLIGHT

At the boarding gate we are handed out our Passenger Safety Kit. On-board aircraft in India, it is a mandate to wear a face mask and a face shield.

The kit also includes a couple of sanitiser sachets for use on the flight. At the boarding gate, we scan in ourselves, rather than IndiGo’s gate representative scanning us in and giving it back. Another example of making sure that there is no contact between the representative and the passenger. Since grandmother is on the wheel chair, she gets to pre board and I get a little sneak peek into how well the IndiGo work force team sanitises the Lean Clean Flying Machine. I witness each seat and touchpoints on the plane being wiped down with Airbus-approved disinfectants, ensuring that passengers in this shared space are cautious not to have to touch anything that was not sanitised before the flight. What builds more confidence in me most about IndiGo is the powerful, in-built air filtration systems on all of its aircrafts which give assurance of the removal of viruses and bacteria. An incessant top to bottom air circulation cuts the jeopardy of cross-contamination. All the air in the cabin is fully filtered and refreshed every 2-3 minutes.

We took off soon after boarding and once airborne, the meal service began….what a flight without food after all? I have pre booked my parents and I Chicken Junglee sandwiches and a tomato and cucumber sandwich for my grandmother which came with a choice of drink. Though we took off our masks to eat, but kept the face shield on.

ARRIVING INTO UDAIPUR

Thankfully people adhered to IndiGo cabin crew’s constant announcements of wearing masks on and deplaning row by row. The wheel chair assistant is all ready for my grandmother and once bags are picked we que up for temperature checks and contacts noted before we head out to the city of Lakes. It was the first time we travelled as a family on a flight after the pandemic hit and we felt every bit safe with all the precaution that was being taken at the airport and by the IndiGo at every step of the way in terms of cleanliness and hygiene. The signature Lean Clean Flying Machine suits IndiGo very well. At the LeelaPalace Udaipur too where we stay, the hotel offers us a revised experience, but one is still wrapped in a warm welcome, even if the smiles are concealed by masks.

Thanks chiefly to moderately strict, movement directives, disinfecting measures and cluster congregation bounds applied by the Leela Group’s Suraksha programme, it is back to somewhat forthcoming normality. We feel safe, if sporadically surreal, but it does not take too long to enthral this ‘new normal’ into our holiday routing which includes purchasing tons of masks, sanitisers and sprays.

For more Information Log on to https://www.goindigo.in/

My story first published in Asian Community News

TIJARA FORT PALACE…..STEEPED IN HISTORY

 

It’s not every day you get to live in a Fort Palace. The four days at Tijara fuse into a haze of long, relaxing days. I swiftly blend into the Princess lifestyle and simple pleasures – sitting with a book in the open or lazing in the hammock near the poolside where I take in breath-taking views with every sip of my Masala Chai. It is sheer delight to unwind in such fashion.

A WARM WELCOME

We sweep up the hilly driveway, metres from sprawling green land. The smart doorman greets me at the entrance, makes me sanitize my hands and checks my temperature. Good first impressions? I would say they succeed. From my arrival in the grand foyer, filled with an old world charm and craftsmanship I am swept into another world. The ‘Kaanch Mahal’ adjacent to the lobby grabs my attention immediately and beckons me to stop by for lunch before I actually head up to my room (read palace). I am absolutely refreshed after a delicious Rajasthani meal of local vegetables and a light chicken curry! Tijara Fort Palace…now we are talking!

HISTORY

There’s a rare charisma about staying at a property, which has stories from the 19th century. This fortress non hotel is an unfinished brilliance of three structures, built in the Rajput-Afghan grace with initial colonial stimuli: the Mardana for the royal men, the Rani Mahal for the maharanis and a desire palace on the brink of a plateau, watching a water body called the Hawa Mahal, palace of winds. Thus staying here makes for a great weekend getaway as it offers the exclusive chance to wake up in a once incomplete and uninhibited palace that has now been tenderly reinstated and made into a dream. It makes you step back in time and carousal in the splendours and mysteries of the past.

FOOD

The acme of my sojourn here, apart from the character and the view, is absolutely the food. Lingering through a meal is one of the vital experiences here. Somehow we just remain longer over the same amount of food; the ever smiling restaurant staff seems in no hurry to whisk us out. Nothing can be more imperative than relishing one’s meal, they think at Neemrana’sTijara Fort Palace, and they do so correctly, I feel.

MOOD

Race for the top spot amid Delhi’s around town staycations is fierce, a continuous battle of one-upmanship as each vies to out-wow the others and shove the boundaries. Who knows what will come up with next, but for the time being Tijara Fort Palace must assuredly have the number one spot. Personally, they have me with the amazing culture blended in everything so beautifully! What a time to be alive!

FAST FACTS

19th Century -Tijara Fort-Palace, Alwar, Rajasthan

Distance from Delhi? 100 kms

Tel: 0124- 4666 166 (8 am to 8pm)/ +91 9587885003

Email: tijara@neemranahotels.com

My story first published in Asian Community News

 

 

 

 

 

 

MENU CARDS FROM DUBAI

My know how of Middle Eastern food was built on grilled chicken, mezze and shawarma back home in Delhi, my trip to Abu Dhabi and Spain, a country I frequent often and sampling Baklava in Toronto at my Grandma’s place. In analysis I ponder this worked in my favour because it meant that I arrived in Dubai with precisely no anticipations when it came to the food the first time round. I soon discover diverse cuisine restaurants in Dubai are a reminder of just how multicultural the city is.

TRULY DUBAI

With a visa on arrival for Indians, thanks to the Valid US Visa planning a trip to Dubai is a breeze. I am in Dubai in less than three and a half hours and Check in at the Shangri-La, on Sheikh Zayed Road perfect starting point from which to ascertain the city’s vibrant energy. While I will travel to inordinate distances for anything allied to food, it’s not every day I step an abra boat to do so. To get to the Souk El-Kabeer, one needs to get by boat across to the Dubai Creek. Spices and Dates are the core attraction. I absolutely enjoy this. It’s time for my reservation up above the sprawling city at At.mosphere at the Burj Khalifa.

A glass of champagne in hand, I cannot get over the implausible 360 night-time view of this dazzling, radiantly lit sight in front of me which ominously sets the ambiance for my evening ahead. For dinner, Ayamna at Atlantis, The palm comes highly recommended. The menu is robust on Lebanese staples and the indication is to build as you choose with a tiny help from the server. 

They do excellent kebabs, but I prefer ordering nibbling dishes for diversity and punch, from crispy falafels and Fattoush to Hummus and garlicky grilled chicken wings. My Arabian Night fantasy completes with watching the talented belly dancer perform at regular intervals.

MORE FOOD

I am in Dubai, so a ‘dekho’ of the Dubai Mall is a must not only for the shopping but also the Food & Beverage. I trust there are over a monstrous 160 outlets in the mall including my name sake Dean and Deluca. I spot Din Tai Fung housed in a chic ambience with stellar views. I am lucky to get a table within 10 minutes and soon am lapping up the signature Xiao long bao, when the hot, tasty broth reaches your palate buds you will comprehend what all the fuss is about.

My dinner is booked at ‘Noire’ at the Fairmont. I am here to experience, ‘dining in the dark’, and contradictory to the adage, ‘eyes eat first! Blinded from what I am eating, I rely more intensely than ever on my other senses. With the logic of touch, I cautiously pass my fingers over my plate. I fork up a serving and snuffle like a well-versed connoisseur. My taste was working overtime on trying to decipher the complex mix of flavours on my plate. I am appreciating the texture of my food even more. Every crumb seemed like a work of well-thought-out art. But what did I eat? Did I get any of it right? Maybe only bits of it. At the exit hall, the chef and his team reveal the dishes consumed in the dark. The menu changes every week to keep diners guessing!

LAST MEALS

The next day is Friday and also my last day but not without the Friday brunch, so I head to Hoi An, Vietnamese restaurant at Shangri-La. A sublime, crystal-clear beef pho, fragrant and flavourful, is what I begin with.  Vegetarian rice-paper summer rolls, with a suggestion of lemongrass, are subtle and refreshing. Soft-shell crab with salt and chilli is exactly as it should be, with apparent amounts of flavoursome, well-textured crab in a crunchy, tasty batter. Best part about the buffet, the food is brought a la carte style and tastes fresh and hot! 

I hear a lot about quality and quantity perfection at ‘Ribs & Brews’, an American style pub at the V Hotel , Al Habtoor city, so off I go for my last supper in Dubai…and order Carolina style ribs, smothered in a spicy barbecue sauce….decadent to the core! Interestingly, this dish made the cusp from cliché to clever global, drawing natives and expats alike. Probably thanks to its nifty presentation and mild fusion with the spice which you drink even with a Beer Shandy. Beer Shandy with spicy Ribs? Now that’s an idea to take home

First Published in Travel & Leisure Online