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  • UNESCO commends Canadian governments

    In its review of Canada’s Nomination of Pimachiowin Aki for World Heritage Status, the realm Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) deferred final decisions until the following World Heritage Committee meeting.  UNESCO pointed to “fundamental issues” within the evaluation process that prevented them from recognising the worth of “the indissoluble bonds that exist in some places between culture and nature.”  It further resolved to, “examine options for changes to the standards and/or Advisory Body evaluation processes to handle the problems raised by the nomination.”

    UNESCO commended the Governments of Canada, Manitoba, Ontario and the five aboriginal nations who drafted their nomination.  It praised their, “exemplary efforts to develop a nomination which will protect, maintain and restore the numerous cultural and natural assets and values related to Pimachiowin Aki.”
    Pimachiowin Aki, an aboriginal territory whose name means, “The Land Which provides Life” in Ojibwe, encompasses 33,400 square kilometers (12,895 square miles) of Ashinaabek aboriginal territory in northern Canada in the North American Boreal Shield, the biggest of Canada’s terrestrial eco-zones.  Five aboriginal nations: Bloodvein River First Nation, Little Grand Rapids First Nation, Pauingassi First Nation, Pikangikum First Nation, and Poplar River First Nation have occupied the land for greater than 6,000 years.

    At this meeting, the nomination drew praise from other nations within the world who acknowledged the exceptionality of the positioning, particularly with regard to its discuss the interrelationship between culture and nature, and expressed regret on the current inability of the method to adequately recognise the price of that relationship.

    “The Governments of Manitoba, Ontario, and the five First Nations of Pimachiowin Aki are to be commended for seeing the price in forging a brand new path in keeping with recognising not only the price of the land and the indigenous cultures, however the unique relationship between the 2,” Mathew Jacobson, boreal conservation officer with The Pew Charitable Trusts. “It is our belief that ultimately this nomination process will result not just within the inscription of Pimachiowin Aki as a global Heritage Site but in addition in a much better evaluation process it truly is more open to and respectful of the values of all aboriginal people.”

    This decision was made at a gathering of the sector Heritage Committee meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The realm Heritage List is maintained by UNESCO, which seeks to encourage the identification, protection, and preservation around the globe of cultural and natural heritage that may be considered to be of exceptional value to humanity.

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  • News: Priceline’s Partner Network to inks tackle MapQuest

    Priceline Partner Network has signed a partnership with MapQuest to power its newly launched feature to book travel, MapQuest. The partnership will give travellers access to thousands of hotel, airline and rental car services during the MapQuest ecosystem.

  • Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa appoints new general manager

    Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has announced the appointment of Julian Moore as General Manager, effective April 2013. Julian returns to the Maldives property, having been portion of the pre-opening team within the lead as much as the hotel’s launch in 2009.

    With a career in hospitality spanning 30 years, Julian brings a wealth of expertise to Hadahaa. He has an intensive understanding of leading luxury island resorts, managing new and existing properties, and has over five years experience within the Maldives. Julian also has vast knowledge of Hadahaa, having spent two years as General Manager of the valuables prior to the hole.

    Originally from Australia, Julian has previously held management positions at Coco Palm Dhunikolhu, Maldives; Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa, Maldives; The Royal Mirage, Dubai; Longitude 131, Australia; and Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Thailand. Previous to joining Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Julian was General Manager at Pacific Resort Aitutaki inside the Cook Islands, where he was selected General Manager of the Year for the South Pacific in both 2011 and 2012 on the annual HM Industry Awards in Australia.

    Speaking about his appointment, Julian said: “I am delighted to go back to Hadahaa and to enroll in the renowned Hyatt brand. Since its launch in September 2009, Hadahaa has become one of the vital finest luxury resorts within the Maldives, and i’m excited to be able to construct at the excellent work of the former GM, Pierre Lang.”

    Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa underwent an in depth refurbishment in 2012, to coincide with the launch of a brand new regional airport inside the south of the Maldives. Maldivian now flies five times daily to Kooddoo Airport the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, reducing the inner journey time to Hadahaa by nearly half (now 1 hour from Male).

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  • News: Qatar expands North America route network

    Qatar Airways marked another route milestone yesterday with the official launch of scheduled passenger flights to Chicago – its fifth North American destination. Initially starting as a thrice-weekly service, the Doha-based airline will enhance capacity at the non-stop Chicago path to a regular operation from June 15.

  • ICTP supports uplifting new technology development

    In a letter from the book, “Green Growth and Travelism – Letters from Leaders,” Frank McCosker shows how the web technology revolutionises the best way people travel and the way the disruptive technology, “Super Wi-Fi,” can actually provide the much-needed cheap and seamless access to the net.

    This “Super Wi-Fi” technology leverages unused TV spectrum to supply Internet access at broadband sorts of speed. Its main advantages are that it may possibly cover distances anywhere between three and ten times more than those covered by existing unlicensed wireless solutions and that its signal is way less impeded by obstructions equivalent to walls and buildings.

    The Super Wi-Fi cannot only reduce the digital divide between rural and concrete areas, in addition to between developed and fewer-developed countries, at a reasonable price, it might probably also achieve this sustainably. Indeed, base stations may be designed to run on wind or solar energy, therefore, making a green and sustainable broadband solution.

    As expanding connectivity goes hand in hand with expanding tourism, such disruptive innovation is primordial. McCosker predicts that universal access to broadband can be one of the crucial important drivers of financial growth supporting the expansion of inbound and outbound tourism within the coming decade.

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