UZBEKISTAN: Hyatt Regency Tashkent Is Open, The First Hyatt Brand In Uzbekistan

Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced opening of Hyatt Regency Tashkent, the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Uzbekistan.

The opening of Hyatt Regency Tashkent further expands Hyatt’s brand presence throughout Central Asia and significantly enriches its authentic and diversified brand experiences for guests.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation today announced the opening of Hyatt Regency Tashkent, the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Uzbekistan.

The opening of Hyatt Regency Tashkent further expands Hyatt’s brand presence throughout Central Asia and significantly enriches its authentic and diversified brand experiences for guests.

“We are delighted to welcome the first Hyatt-branded hotel to Uzbekistan’s capital city,” said Peter Fulton, group president – Europe, Africa and Middle East, Hyatt.

Hyatt Regency Tashkent has been thoughtfully designed to make guests feel welcome and comfortable so that they can socialize, connect and celebrate any occasion.

Hyatt Regency Tashkent offers guests easy access to local landmarks and tourist attractions, including the National Library, Chorsu Bazaar, Amir Temur Museum, and Mustaqillik Square.

Additionally, business travelers will be in close proximity to nearby government offices, embassies and numerous corporate offices.

It is extremely exciting to welcome guests to the first Hyatt Regency hotel in Uzbekistan, said Puneet Tandon, area vice president and general manager, Hyatt Regency Tashkent.

The opening of Hyatt Regency Tashkent will provide authentic service and superior facilities that cater to business travelers, leisure guests and groups of all sizes.

Also, The International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has two tour operator members in Uzbekistan: Havas Tour Service and Uzbekistan For You.

Both members showed their commitment to GREEN GROWTH + QUALITY = BUSINESS when they joined ICTP.

Uzbekistan is a Central Asian nation and former Soviet republic.

It’s known for its mosques, mausoleums, and other sites linked to the Silk Road – the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean. Samarkand, a major city on the route, contains a landmark of Islamic architecture: the Registan, a plaza bordered by 3 ornate mosaic-covered religious schools dating to the 15th and 17th centuries.

International Coalition of Tourism Partners is a coalition of tourism destinations and their stakeholders in 135 countries with headquarters in Hawaii, Brussels, Seychelles, and Bali.

SEYCHELLES: Developing Cruise Tourism

Seychelles has joined the eastern and southern African cruise industry as well as that of the Indian Ocean to seek new strategies for sustainable cruise tourism and to see how the competitive edge and market share within the international cruise business can be improved.

These strategies were being discussed at a workshop held this week at the Seychelles Ports Authority (SPA). The workshop was organized by the Port Management Association for Eastern and Southern Africa region (PMAESA) jointly with the Cruise Indian Ocean Association (CIOA), Seychelles Ports Authority, and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture.

Attending the opening ceremony held on Tuesday, were the PMAESA Secretary General, Nozipho Mdawe, and the Seychelles Minister for Foreign Affairs and Transport, Joel Morgan, and that of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange.

Also present were the chief executives of port authorities, tourism boards, and cruise operators from Africa and the Indian Ocean as well as other partners involved in the cruise tourism industry.

The workshop also gave delegates the chance to work together on new strategies for the marketing of the region as a cruise destination. In his opening address, Minister Morgan said cruise and super-yacht tourism is characterized by bringing large numbers of people to concentrated areas of destinations for brief periods.

The aim of the conference, which was held over two days, was to bring more awareness on the sustainable development of cruise tourism, develop cruise tourism strategies, and to catalyze collaboration in the region.

Miss Mdawe said Seychelles is listed as one of the best places to have on the itinerary by several cruise liners operating in the Indian Ocean. Hence, Seychelles is considered to be a valuable partner of the cruise tourism industry of eastern and southern Africa, she added.

On his part, Minister St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, said cruise ships coming to Seychelles are part and parcel of the blue economy. The tourism industry depends on that blue economy, and the country is one of the key promoters of the blue economy. He added that Seychelles acts as a bridge between the African and Asian ports, and promotes the diversity that exists in this region.

"We believe in working together, because no island can be an island unto itself. This is why with the islands of the Indian Ocean we have created the Vanilla Islands, and we are now successfully working in closer partnership with cruise ship companies such as Costa Cruises and Silversea Cruises. We are also actively working within the IORA and the East3Route of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, the Kingdom of Swaziland, Mozambique, and Seychelles to push for more focus on the cruise ship industry.

Today, we can say that Seychelles and the Vanilla Islands are the bridge between Africa and Asia, and we need to all rally to promote this region as the cruise ship route with diversity, because we have Africa, the Vanilla Islands, and Asia all working together as a region," said Minister St.Ange.

The Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture invited the PMAESA to work with the Seychelles Ports Authority and the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles to organize a follow-up meeting between the ports of the region and cruise ship operators in order to move the discussions of this latest Seychelles meeting further for the benefit of the people of the region and for the consolidation of the economy of the countries of the region.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

SEYCHELLES: Passengers Enjoy Seychelles In Luxury Cruise Ship

MSC Sinfonia of the MSC Cruises and MS Nautica which belongs to the Oceania Cruises fleet - left Seychelles earlier today after getting a taste of the Seychelles experience.

The Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, accompanied by the Principal Secretary for Tourism, Anne Lafortune, and the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Ports Authority, Lieutenant Colonel Andre Ciseau, and its Director for Business Development, David Bianchi, paid courtesy calls on the captains of the two ships as they were tied up alongside the quay in Port Victoria.

MS Nautica’s previous port of call was in Cochine, India, before arriving in Seychelles on November 8.

The ship, which is of 180 metes long, is carrying a total of 629 passengers and 399 members of crew.

MSC Sinfonia’s previous port of call was in Jordan before making its way to Port Victoria. The ship, which is carrying a total of 1,800 passengers, is a one-day trip to Seychelles.

A strong team of 726 crew members ensure that the passengers enjoy their holiday at sea in luxury and comfort.

Minister St.Ange said it is important on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism and Culture, the Seychelles Tourism Board, and the Seychelles Ports Authority, to welcome the captain, his team, and the passengers to Seychelles and to hold discussions.

One main point discussed was the involvement of local artists to perform on the ships, to promote the Seychelles culture and raise the profile of the islands.

Gifts were exchanged on both ships as souvenirs of these port calls. Minister St.Ange said these books will help the passengers to learn more about Seychelles.

During discussions held with the captains, Minister St.Ange was happy to hear that the passengers had positive feedback on their short visit to Seychelles.

Except for the rain, the visitors have described Seychelles as a safe and beautiful destination and have appreciated the help received during their stay.

Minister St.Ange said cruise ship business is part of the tourism industry of Seychelles, and everything which touches this vital industry, which is the pillar of the country’s economy, needs to be protected.

MS Nautica is expected to be back in Seychelles during the month of December. Minister St.Ange and his delegation were given a tour of the two ships.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) . For more information on Seychelles Minister of Tourism and Culture Alain St.Ange,

SEYCHELLES: Tourism Minister Meets Brazilian Tour Operators

Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, was the guest of honor at a dinner organized for the main outbound tour operators of Sao Paulo.

The dinner, organized jointly by Gisele Abrahao of the Seychelles Tourism Board’s Brazil Office, and Stephane Perard, the Brazil Emirates Area Manager, was the opportunity to focus the travel trade of Brazil on Seychelles as the new holiday destination for Brazilians.

Some 37 heads of Brazil’s biggest and most important outbound tour operators responded to the invitation by the islands’ Tourism Board Brazil Office and Emirates for this get-together evening to mark the working visit in Sao Paulo by the Seychelles Minister. When he addressed the tour operators, Stephane Perard, the Area Manager for Emirates in Brazil, said that Emirates was happy to be working with the Seychelles Tourism Board to help generate more traffic to these mid-ocean islands via Dubai. “We believe that Emirates is an ideal partner for Seychelles and are thankful that Minister St.Ange is with us tonight. Who better than this Minister responsible for Tourism to be here tonight to speak about the Seychelles?” Stephane Perard of Emirates Brazil said.

When he was invited to address the gathered tour operators, Alain St.Ange, the Seychelles Minister for Tourism and Culture, said that he believed Seychelles was now the new holiday destination for Brazilians. “This we know from the different meetings we have had since my arrival in Brazil.

“But to make this become a reality, we need you, the outbound tour operators, to work with us and put packages with Seychelles as the add-on from Dubai as your favorite offer. I appealed to Emirates to relook at its airfare to Seychelles via Dubai, and tonight Stephane Perard of Emirates accepted to launch a new special offer to mark this Seychelles evening in Sao Paulo.

“We heard your appeal for a more balanced fare, and tonight we are confirming a fare that will make flights to Seychelles more comparative to those of other destinations of our region. We now need your commitment and support to get increases in bookings for Seychelles,” Minister St.Ange said.

As pictures of the islands were screened in the restaurant, the Seychelles Minister sold Seychelles to the tour operators who had not yet visited Seychelles and said that he was hoping that by December a marked increase in visitor arrival numbers from Brazil would be recorded. Minister St.Ange thanked Emirates and the Brazilian tour operators for their support and said that he was committed to consolidate the working partnership that had now been launched.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .

SEYCHELLES: Seychelles Tourism Trade Supports Tourism Week

In the past years, trade partners have always been supportive of the Seychelles Tourism Board’s call to join forces in organizing Tourism Week.

This year again, tourism trade partners have played the game, showing a government and private sector partnership can also work in organizing a national event. Constance Ephelia Resort, one of the leading resorts in sustainable practices, is proposing on September 25, an open presentation on sustainable practices.

The presentation which will be given by Ultsch-Unrath, the resort’s environment project manager, will take a look at initiatives implemented at the resort in sustainable tourism and the results achieved in socio-economic and environmental spheres.

The resort will also introduce a mangrove walk and talk with members of Sustainability for Seychelles.

The educational talk will be an opportunity for the resort’s guests to learn more about the importance of protecting the mangrove habitat for future generations.

Savoy Seychelles Resort & Spa is opening its food and beverage corner on September 25 for families and friends to join in for a competition and make their own burgers.

The resort is also offering on the same day a special Tourism Week promotion with competitive prices at its spa and wellness center, and a BBQ special on September 23 at Gecko Beach Bar.

The resort’s organic fruit, vegetable, and herb garden will also be opened to give members of the public an idea on how the resort’s chef makes use of organic ingredients in their dishes.

The garden open day will be held on September 25. Small operators in the tourism industry have also joined in the celebrations. Dolphin Nemo Glass Bottom Boat, a fervent supporter of Tourism Week, is offering an out-of-sea excursion promotion on September 27.

More trade partners are expected in the coming days to join the Tourism Week program of activities.
The Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism, Board Sherin Naiken, thanked trade partners for their valuable contributions and for rallying alongside the Seychelles Tourism Board to make Tourism Week a success.

She appealed for more trade partners to join in the celebrations.

Seychelles is a founding member of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) .