Venice is to ban loudspeakers in a bid to ease the impact of mass tourism on the Italian city.

The new rules will come into effect from June, according to a statement.

The use of loudspeakers has been banned as they can “generate confusion and disturbances”, it added.

Over-tourism is widely recognised as an urgent issue for the canal city, one of the most visited places in Europe.

Elisabetta Pesce, said the latest policies will be improving the management of groups organised in the historic centre.

The city is just 7.6 sq km (2.7 sq miles) in size. But it hosted almost 13 million tourists in 2019, according to the Italian national statistics institute.

Numbers of visitors may exceed pre-pandemic levels in the coming years.

More and more residents in Venice are choosing to leave, fearing that tourists could overwhelm the historic island city.

According to the most recent update from one of them, Ocio, the number of beds for tourists has risen to more than 50,000. It is exceeding those available to locals.

In July, experts from UNESCO said the city should be added to a list of World Heritage Sites in danger.

This is because, the impact of climate change and mass tourism threaten to cause irreversible changes to it.

The UN cultural body’s experts blamed the Italian authorities for a “lack of strategic vision” to solve the problems faced by one of Italy’s most picturesque cities.

Ultimately, UNESCO did not add Venice to the list.

Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said UNESCO had recognised attempts to address the island’s problems via an anti-flooding system and by the approval of the entry fee for tourists.

In 2021, large cruise ships could not enter the historic centre of Venice via the Giudecca canal after a ship crashed into a harbour.

Critics had also argued that the ships were causing pollution and eroding the foundations of the city, which suffers from regular flooding.

How have other hotspots dealt with over-tourism?

Venice is not unique among Italian and European hotspots in trying to address problems related to tourism.

In nearby Florence, authorities have banned new Airbnbs and short-term holiday lets in its historic city centre.

In 2019, the Italian capital Rome introduced fines aimed at tourists.

It is for barring men from being shirtless in public, banning so-called “love padlocks” from being attached to bridges and cracking down on messy foods around famous tourist attractions like the Trevi Fountain.

The picturesque fishing village of Portofino, on the Italian Riviera, has brought in no-waiting zones in photogenic spots, with Instagram-happy tourists facing fines of up to €275 (£238) if they linger too long for that perfect selfie.

Away from Italy, Athens in Greece capped visitor numbers at the iconic Acropolis to 20,000 a day, to try to reduce damage to the ancient temple complex.

And in the Austrian Alps, the town of Hallstatt – said to have inspired the setting of Disney film Frozen – has built wooden barriers to block views in popular spots for a lakeside snap, on top of capping the number of tourist buses and cars entering the area.

It’s the age of millennials and Gen Z, they are a generation that savours material possessions and additionally prefers spending money on travel as well as other experiences.  

The industry of short-term holiday rentals reaps the rewards of a growing trend towards inexpensive lodging options. Furthermore, staycations—especially among working professionals who want to integrate leisure time into their vacation—are becoming more and more prevalent. This is especially for travel nomads and millennials in India

The market insights for Indian short-term vacations have been listed as follows: 

It is projected that the Indian short-term vacation rental market will expand at a 15.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) through 2034. With an expected 3.47% annual growth rate through 2028, the vacation rental industry is expected to reach US$1.88 billion in 2023.

At least 70,000 houses in India are listed on Airbnb as of July 7, 2021, as reported by The Economic Times. Following the end of the COVID outbreak, Airbnb reservations have increased significantly in India. 

Compared to pre-pandemic levels, family travel on Airbnb in India rose by more than 90% in 2022. 

In addition, India’s total number of nights reserved on Airbnb increased by about 70% in 2022 over pre-pandemic levels.

A number of major companies are introducing cutting-edge products and services to enhance the experience of visitors and streamline governance for hotels. Virtual tours, property management software, online booking platforms, and augmented reality (AR) are some of the common technology solutions that operators utilise to improve the booking experience. Operators are improving the visitor experience, driving revenue growth, and raising booking rates by utilising these innovations.

In India, millennials and digital nomads are increasingly adopting short-term vacation rentals. Owing to digitization and the rapidly growing market, the tourism industry has grown exponentially. Furthermore, the future market insights for Indian short-term vacation are provided as follows:

Through 2034, there will likely be a 15.70% compound annual growth rate (CAGR) in India’s short-term holiday rental market. The following are key drivers of the industry’s expansion:

A growing number of customers are asking for customised alternatives when organising their vacations. · Millennials and digital nomads find these lodgings particularly tempting. This is expected to have a favourable impact on the short-term holiday rental business. This is due to the fact that short-term vacation rentals provide flexible and luxurious experiences that are tailored to their needs. Additionally, property owners are making use of their underutilised spaces and properties by renting them out. Proprietors can make passive revenue by renting these out.

Novotel Hyderabad Airport, situated in GMR Aerocity, Hyderabad, has named Mr. Rahul Choudhary as the Director of Revenue. Boasting over 12 years of proficiency in yield management and comprehensive revenue strategies, he brings invaluable insights and leadership to propel the hotel’s financial success and enhance revenue management.

Mr. Choudhary’s illustrious journey in the hospitality sector reveals a consistent track record, emphasizing financial discipline and driving growth. Recognized for his strengths in demand management and marketing, he holds a specialization from the Cornell School of Hotel Administration.

Having been associated with prestigious brands such as ITC, Accor, and The Park, Mr. Choudhary has showcased his ability to drive revenue growth, enhance profitability, and elevate brand positioning.

Conveying excitement regarding Rahul’s new role, Mr. Sukhbir Singh, the General Manager at Novotel Hyderabad Airport, expressed, “We are delighted to have Rahul Choudhary join our team. His wealth of experience and remarkable accomplishments in revenue management seamlessly align with our dedication to providing exceptional guest experiences and fostering revenue growth. We believe Rahul’s expertise will enhance our strategies and solidify our standing as an industry leader.”

Novotel Hyderabad Airport anticipates that Mr. Rahul Choudhary’s visionary leadership and profound expertise will play a pivotal role in propelling the hotel towards new horizons of revenue growth and operational excellence.

Copitas, an elegant retreat nestled within Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru and recognized as #38 among Asia’s 50 Best Bars this year, proudly introduces its newly appointed Head Bartender, Jonas Vittur. Positioned on the 21st floor of the lavish Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru, Copitas boasts awe-inspiring panoramic views of the city at night and has firmly established itself as Bengaluru’s premier cocktail haven. Effortlessly chic and steeped in ambiance, Copitas exudes a relaxed yet sophisticated style, offering sprawling city vistas through its floor-to-ceiling windows—a haven for leisurely sundowners.

The hotel’s dedication to delivering innovative and personalized experiences sets it apart, and the beverage program exemplifies this commitment. With Jonas Vittur at the helm, Copitas eagerly anticipates an exciting new chapter, as he brings a wealth of global experiences to enrich the patrons’ journey.

Jonas’ journey through bartending boasts both variety and distinction. It all began at Dishoom Kings Cross in London, a venue inspired by the Irani Cafés of Bombay, where he quickly developed a deep connection with India. “My decision to pursue bartending is fueled by multiple reasons, but beyond my sheer passion lies the allure of blending front-of-house and back-of-house dynamics. Post-pandemic, I craved a new and substantial challenge. When the opportunity arose to move to India, it felt like fate,” Jonas reveals. His Indian adventure continued as the Bar Director & Mixology Consultant at Whisky Samba in Gurugram, where he achieved an impressive 24th position in the 30 Best Bars India list for 2023.

Before embarking on his Indian journey, Jonas left an indelible mark with his vision at the Nature Spa Resort Quelle in Italy and High Five in Tokyo, propelling him into the upper echelons of the world’s finest bars. Jonas, with his distinctive style, also held the role of Senior Bartender at Le Lion – Bar de Paris in Hamburg, achieving a remarkable 19th position in the World’s 50 Best Bars in 2015.

Despite having only experienced one brief night in Bengaluru during a business meeting, Jonas’s fleeting encounter with the city ignited the spark for his thrilling venture with this vibrant destination and Copitas. “Jonas’s extensive global experiences, his fervor for mixology, and his unique viewpoint will undoubtedly enhance the exceptional service and ambiance our guests anticipate,” remarks Savio Fernandes, Director of Food and Beverage. “His journey—from the tranquil Italian Alps to the bustling streets of Bengaluru—mirrors the diverse and dynamic spirit of Four Seasons, and we eagerly anticipate the distinctive flavors and vitality he will infuse into Copitas.”

Hailing from a quaint town nestled in the picturesque South Tyrol, a German-speaking region in the Italian Alps, Jonas brings forth a captivating fusion of Alpine charisma and worldly bartending expertise to the city’s glamorous cocktail scene. Beyond concocting beverages at the bar, Jonas finds solace in the adrenaline of ice hockey, cruising on his motorbike, and exploring nature through hiking adventures.

The CEO of Nocturne Luxury Villas, Scott Wiseman, has recently declared the employment of Victoria Johne as the general manager of WIMCO St. Barth Properties. Johne brings with her over 15 years of experience to this new position.

WIMCO St. Barth Properties embodies 380 private luxury villas for rent on St. Barth. The portfolio has wide choices starting from one- to two-bedroom retreats to outstanding eleven-bedroom villas. WIMCO St. Barth Properties is the special favored partner of Virtuoso on St. Barth for luxury villa rentals along with concierge service.

Awards like the Top Three Villa Rental Companies In The World received from the readers of Conde Nast Traveller UK, Magellan Award for Excellence in Vacation Rentals, Travvy Award for Excellence in Service, Caribbean’s Best Villa Rental Company from the readers of the Caribbean Journal, and a Conde Nast Traveler Travel Specialist for St. Barth tops the chart.

Johne will supervise all features of the business in her new role, starting right from leading tactical initiatives to managing day-to-day operations. She will head a team of skilled professionals at the Newport-based office, as well as a robust on-island concierge and service team of around 20 people.

Spain’s Iberia will resume flights between Madrid–Barajas Airport (MAD) and Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) in October 2024, restarting a route not served by the airline since 2020.

Iberia says in a statement the MAD-NRT route will mark the Oneworld carrier’s return to Japan. The airline suspended the MAD-NRT route in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Iberia’s exlcusive year-round service will open from Oct. 27, 2024.

It will operate 3X-weekly with an Airbus A350 aircraft configured to carry 330 passengers, including 31 in business class.

Iberia says it will offer more than 45,000 seats on the route during the 2024-25 northern hemisphere winter season through March 25, 2025.

“Due to the closure of Russian airspace, the flight path to Tokyo has been adjusted,” the airline says.

Given the critical role of winds in route planning, customers flying roundtrip with Iberia will do a round-the-world trip, as the outbound from Madrid to Tokyo will be done across the south and the inbound across the north.

María Jesús López Solás, Iberia’s commercial and network development and alliances director, says the carrier’s return to the Japanese capital, “together with the recently launched direct flights to Doha … confirms our commitment to Asia.”

“The economic growth of the countries in this continent is immense, as indicated by all the forecasts for the coming decades,” she adds.

Iberia says it will time flights to MAD so NRT-originating passengers can connect to the carrier’s services to destinations throughout Europe and to Latin America.

Due to rapid digitisation, the travel landscape underwent a major seismic shift at a global level. With this aspect, making travel bookings online has become hassle-free and easier. This has consequently contributed to the industry’s growth. In addition to this, there has been a growing trend pertaining to the industry, propelled by an uptick in online payment methods through UPI and NEFT. Furthermore, people prefer to make travel arrangements on their mobile devices, which happens to thrive as an emerging factor. The years 2024–2030 will look forward to factors that have been embedded in the industry’s growth.

Rise in Online Booking Devices

The convenience of using devices like mobile phones and tablets for making bookings has inevitably grown paramount. With more travellers turning to their smartphones and tablets for real-time bookings, the evaluation plays a key role in highlighting the segment’s rapid rise.

Dynamic service options for varied sectors

The online travel business has been divided into many segments. It is instrumental in describing the service categories that are inclusive of vacation packages, transportation, and lodging. There are vacation packages that are personalized and couple-oriented and happen to be facilitated by the social media influence alongside the travel patterns.

Regional Markets Boosting Industry Growth

In terms of regional markets, China has emerged as a major leader and has shown potential within the travel market. To be precise, the tech-savvy consumer base creates a win-win situation for the travel market where expenditure and revenue structures are managed in a profitable way. In addition to this, the increased mobile and internet penetration has helped the government enhance the travel infrastructure in China.

Decoding Key Industry Disruptors

The travel firms that operate in the online mode are instrumental in the integration of machine learning, artificial intelligence, and big data analytics. These aspects contribute to the sector’s development. It provides room for customization as well as flexibility because of the burgeoning young consumers.

Market competitors’ strategic outlook

Breaking into the market can be a major challenge. Devising an effective pricing strategy for the middle class is beneficial. Middle-class people oftentimes try to negotiate and go for the best viable option. Customer acquisition is now an important aspect. Since customers are major stakeholders in this business, Travel companies try to understand the competitor’s strategy and create a plan that would be suitably profitable for the customers.

Christie, the preeminent global art and luxury business, was established in 1766 and publishes a list of its sales.

The estimated global sales for Christie have totalled for the art and luxury categories are $6.2 billion, £5 billion, €5.8 billion, or HK$48.7 billion. This shows a rise of over 7% in pre-COVID levels back in 2019. There was a fall of 7% from the year 2022. This did not involve the exceptional Paul Allen sale. A reduction of 25% from 2022 that is inclusive of the Paul Allen collection sale.

The approximate sum associated with private sales is $1 billion or $1.2 billion. Furthermore, there was an increase in overall sales of 20% (up from 14% in 2022) or +5% from 2022. Christie’s conducted a private sale in 2023 to sell the piece with the highest value.

Guillaume Cerutti, who is the Chief Executive Officer of Christie, told the media that the lower auction was due to the record sales from the previous year. Further added is that it is solely the resultant condition of the art market contraction and the macro-environment.

There had been a rise in private sales as well as a strong influx of younger and newer clients at the auction.

With a strong sell-through rate of 84% for all lots at auction and total sales at 105% of low estimates, Christie’s continues to deliver strong results for consignors.

Other than that, in terms of luxury auction sales, Christie has a record for the same. It raised $1 billion and £790 million, along with The Bleu Royal, which happens to be the most costly jewel ever sold at auction, leading the way.

The results have shown that there has been a rise in the percentage of new customers, and a major section is comprised of millenials and Gen Z.

There has been an exponential expansion of Christie’s digital platform. Sales from online make up 66%. This has increased the number of bidders and buyers from the USA by 33%.

Coming to the worldwide sales rendered by Asian consumers. The ratio of new customers from China increased by 30%.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) and the oneworld Alliance will work together in the field of CO2 emission calculations.

IATA with all 13 oneworld member airlines committing to contributing operational data to IATA’s CO2 Connect emissions calculator.

This will further improve the quality and accuracy of the tool, as the percentage of airline-specific fuel burn data used by the calculator will substantially increase, with the data provided by the following oneworld member airlines: Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, Japan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways, Qantas, Royal Air Maroc, Royal Jordanian, and SriLankan Airlines.

IATA Senior Vice President, Sustainability and Chief Economist, Marie Owens Thomsen said: “travelers want to make informed choices regarding their CO2 footprint and IATA CO2 Connect set out to provide CO2 emission calculations based on operational data. We are delighted that oneworld will become the first airline alliance to join this initiative, bringing in its 13 member airlines as data contributors. Their decision underscores the importance of the industry’s objective of providing consistency and alignment in this field.”

oneworld Environmental and Sustainability Board Chair and General Manager Sustainability, Cathay Pacific, Grace Cheung said: “oneworld is proud to be the first global airline alliance to support IATA’s work to provide customers with high-quality estimates of the CO2 emissions of their flights. Our collaboration with IATA on CO2 Connect will in turn help key players across the aviation sector, including airlines, aircraft manufacturers and travel management companies among others, to make better and more informed choices for travelers and enhanced ESG reporting.”

IATA launched CO2 Connect in June 2022, with the objective of using member airline data, such as fuel burn, belly cargo and load factors, to provide high-quality per flight passenger CO2 emission calculations. Paired with other IATA and open market data sources, IATA CO2 Connect calculates CO2 emissions for 74 aircraft types, representing ~98% of the active global passenger fleet, and considers traffic data from 881 aircraft operators representing ~93% of global air travel.

IATA CO2 Connect data calculations are available to industry partners through an API or flat file, as well as via airline sales channels and travel management companies.

In a recent opinion poll*, 90% of travelers stated that they have a responsibility to know about the carbon emissions of their flight, but only two in five actually do so.

And while 84% of those surveyed acknowledged that it is easy to find tools to accurately estimate their carbon emissions, the vast majority (90%) expect airlines or travel agents to provide them with this information, indicating a reliance on the industry to proactively inform passengers about the carbon impact of their flights.

IATA CO2 Connect will continue to evolve and include new features, having just launched a corporate reporting solution to support the demand to accurately report CO2 emissions from business travel, and next year will be introducing CO2 compensation solutions to support airlines and other industry partners.

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) is expecting a busy end of year holiday season at New England airports.

The official end-of-the-year holiday travel season is already underway and will continue through Tuesday, January 2.

During this period, TSA is projecting higher than usual travel volumes at airports throughout New England.

The busiest days of the holiday season locally and nationally for air travel will possibly be Thursday, December 21 and Friday, December 22 as well as Thursday, December 28 and Friday, December 29, 2023.      

“Our Transportation Security Officers throughout New England did a fantastic job meeting travel volume demand during the Thanksgiving holiday season.” said Bob Allison, TSA Federal Security Director for Massachusetts. “They kept airport screening lanes efficiently moving to ensure more nearly 1-million passengers arrived at their destinations safely, and I expect more of the same for the end-of-year holidays.”

In order to keep screening lanes moving quickly throughout the holiday season, travelers can help by following these tips:Travelling with food

Tip #1: Get to the airport early

Travelers should arrive a minimum of 90 minutes to two hours before their scheduled domestic flights and three hours before scheduled international flights.

If you find yourself waiting in a security checkpoint lane, use that time to your advantage. That’s the ideal time to remove items from your pockets and place them into a carry-on bag.

It’s also the time to get out your ID and boarding pass so you’re not fumbling in your wallet for your ID when you step up to the TSA travel document checking podium.

Tip #2: Know before you go

Travellers need to know what can and cannot go in their carry-on bag, from firearms to oversize liquids.

Passengers will spend more time in the security checkpoint if their carry-on items trigger an alarm because it results in TSA’s need to resolve the alarm by opening the carry-on bag to determine what triggered the alarm.

The most common item that travelers bring to the checkpoint that is not permitted through the screening process are liquids, gels and aerosols that are larger than the acceptable limit.

Each passenger may carry liquids, gels and aerosols that are 3.4 ounces (100 ml) or smaller through a checkpoint as long as those items fit into a one quart-sized, resealable bag. This is known as the 3-1-1 bag.

Common travel items that must comply with the liquids rule include toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, sun block, body spray, mouthwash and lotions.

Containers of liquids, gels and aerosols that are larger can be transported in checked baggage. This includes snow globes, which are popular at this time of the year.

TSA officers also are seeing travellers arrive at the checkpoint with bottles of water, juice, energy drinks, coffee and soda.

TSA officers will give travellers the choice to exit the security checkpoint to drink their beverages in the terminal or allow the officer to dispose of it. Travellers may bring empty containers such as a water bottle or insulated container through checkpoints and fill them after passing through the checkpoint.

Nationally TSA is on pace to set a record for the most firearms caught at checkpoints in a year. “In New England we’ve detected a record number 52 firearms at security checkpoints,” Allison said. “We’re hoping to see fewer travelers bringing guns to checkpoints. We need all responsible gun owners to clear their carry-on bag of any weapons, ammunition and any other dangerous items before they come to the airport. Bringing a firearm to the checkpoint could result in that traveler missing their flight. It also disrupts and severely delays the screening process for everyone in line.” 

Tip #3: Use TSA’s tools for your resources

Unsure if an item should be packed in a carry-on bag, checked bag, either or neither? Download the free myTSA app, which has a handy “What can I bring?” feature that allows you to type in the item to find out if it can fly. Or ask on Twitter or Facebook Messenger at @AskTSA. Travelers may send a question by texting “Travel” to AskTSA (275-872).

TSA Cares is a helpline that provides travelers with disabilities, medical conditions and other special circumstances additional assistance during the security screening process.

Call 72 hours prior to traveling at 855-787-2227 with questions about screening policies, procedures and what to expect at the security checkpoint. Or email TSA Cares.

TSA Cares is available 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. ET on weekdays and from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET on weekends and holidays.

Use of gift boxes and gift bags are recommended for travelling with gifts.

Tip #4: Traveling with gifts

This is the time of year that passengers travel with gifts. TSA recommends packing gifts in gift bags or boxes instead of wrapping them because if a gift triggers an alarm, it will need to be opened to resolve the alarm. Wrapped presents that trigger an alarm will need the gift wrap removed, but if the gift is in a bag or a box, it is much easier for TSA to look at the item to resolve the alarm.

Tip #5: Traveling with food

Individuals often like to travel with food items during the holiday season. Foods may be transported on flights. Solid food items like fruitcake, candy canes and chocolates are solids and may be transported in a carry-on bag.

However, liquids and spreadable foods such as egg nog, wine, champagne, maple syrup and preserves are not solid and should be packed in checked bags.

Here’s a helpful tip: If you can spill it, spread it, spray it, pump it or pour it and it is larger than 3.4 ounces, it needs to be packed in a checked bag.