News

Oakwood Celebrates 10,000th Key Milestone With Australian Debut Of Oakwood Premier

Hospitality management company Oakwood has crossed the historic milestone of 10,000 keys across more than 62 operating properties worldwide with the opening of Oakwood Premier Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. A debut for the Oakwood Premier brand in Australasia, the new landmark is one of the tallest, single-purpose developments in Australia, soaring 140 metres and 40 storeys over the new central business district with inspiring views of the CBD and the Yarra River, South Melbourne, Albert Park and Port Phillip Bay. Amidst the peaks and troughs of the evolving pandemic situation, Oakwood as a group has continued pushing boundaries with eight new property openings, 10 signings and the launch of a new brand - Oakwood Living, in the U.S. in 2021. The official opening of Oakwood Premier Melbourne now extends the Oakwood Premier brand presence to 10 of the world’s favourite gateway cities, including Bangalore; Guangzhou; Incheon; Jakarta; Singapore; Seoul; Tokyo and Tonglu with a healthy growth momentum that includes two marquee developments in the pipeline: Oakwood Premier Phnom Penh in Cambodia, which is scheduled to open in 2022, and Oakwood Premier Kuala Lumpur, which will open at the world’s second tallest building Merdeka 118 in 2024. “As we strive towards our goal of doubling Oakwood’s portfolio of managed properties by 2025, we are cognizant of evolving traveller preferences and expectations. Within our ecosystem of eight distinctive Oakwood experiences, we are committed to continuous innovation and evolution with a guest-first approach to cater to both business and leisure travellers at different cycles of their life,” said Dean Schreiber, chief executive officer of Oakwood. “Tailored luxury is the foundation of Oakwood Premier. We are excited to debut this distinctive style of hospitality at Oakwood Premier Melbourne, which marks the significant milestone of Oakwood’s storied legacy in hospitality excellence by housing our 10,000th key.”

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Goa tourism board’s first meet delves into masterplan, policy

The Goa Tourism Board (GTB) held its first meeting on Thursday wherein members were given presentations on the tourism masterplan and tourism policy, a road map for further development of destination Goa. Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant, who is the Chairperson of GTB, said that the board will work towards promotion of heritage and culture of Goa, and open new avenues of tourism. The board will also work towards reducing bottlenecks in implementation of tourism projects. It will implement the tourism master plan that aims to transform Goa into an innovative and responsible tourism destination, while preserving the state’s culture, heritage and natural assets. “All decisions regarding promotion of Goa will be taken by the board. The appointment of a Chief Executive Officer was also discussed,” Sawant told reporters post the meeting. The Goa Tourism Board has a provision to appoint a Chief Executive Officer who shall not be a government functionary, unlike other corporations and boards. Tourism Minister, Manohar Ajgaonkar, who is the Co-Chairperson, said that Goa Tourism Board will ensure sustainable and speedy growth of the tourism sector. “It will play an instrumental role in implementing the tourism policy and introduction of several new tourism services in the state,” Ajgaonkar said. A board member said that all three major committees, including the highpowered committee headed by the chief minister, have been dissolved and their powers now rests with the board. As provided, empowered committees were formed. The empowered committees will assist the board in its various functions, the officer said. The board, he said, also decided to appoint a legal consultant that would help drafting a legislation that is needed to implement provisions of the policy. Presently, the tourism department does not have a tourism legislation. “Whatever available is piecemeal. We have some guidelines and policies. All of it has to be consolidated and made into a single legislation,” he said. The next meeting of the board is likely to take place next year when the new government is formed. The board has to meet at least once in three months. The development of additional infrastructure to facilitate tourism business such as public conveniences, beach infrastructure, security and surveillance, roadside amenities and signages will be done through Goa Tourism Board.

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Kuwait mandates Covid-19 booster dose mandatory for travellers

Looking at the rising Covid-19 cases in the region, Kuwait has made the Covid-19 booster dose mandatory for travellers who have completed nine months after receiving the second dose of the vaccine. The Kuwait Civil Aviation Authority in a statement said that the Gulf nation will not consider people fully vaccinated unless they have received a booster dose of vaccine after nine months after taking the second dose. The order will come into effect starting Sunday, December 26, 00:01 am Kuwait Local Time and will be valid until further order. Without booster shots, Kuwaiti citizens will not be allowed to fly out of the country. The order further stated that incoming travellers to Kuwait will be required to obtain a negative PCR test report not older than 48 hours on arrival from the time of giving the sample. Otherwise, the passengers will not be accepted at the Kuwait International Airport. Later, the travellers must undergo home quarantine for 10-days unless they take a PCR test and the report comes negative within 72 hours of their arrival. Arrival requirements People immunised in the state of Kuwait must provide proof of immunisation upon arrival in the country through immune or Kuwait mobile ID. Travellers must provide proof of immunisation by presenting a vaccination certificate, where the name should match the credentials in the passport. An electronically readable QR code should also be present on the certificate else it must be uploaded through the Ministry of Health website for authentication. Non-immunised domestic workers can be recruited as listed in the above item by registration in the Bilsalamah platform. Fully vaccinated persons can attend conferences, weddings, and other social events. Wearing a face mask is no longer mandatory while outside, but remains compulsory in indoor spaces, such as malls or restaurants.

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Amid Covid-19 concerns, US expands interview waivers for H1B, L-1 visas

Amid growing concerns of Covid-19 surge, the US, on Thursday (local time), is temporarily dropping an in-person interview requirement for some work-visa categories - H-1B, L-1 and O-1. The State Department is temporarily dropping an in-person interview requirement for some work-visa categories in 2022 to ease visa issuances, as the Covid-19 pandemic stretches into the third year, the department announced. Applicants for H-1B, L-1 and O-1 visas applying from abroad won't be required to do an in-person interview at a US consulate, typically the final step before a visa is issued. Those categories represent the most common visa types companies use to attract high-skilled talent from abroad. The consular officers are now temporarily authorised, through December 31, 2022, to waive in-person interviews for certain individual petition-based non-immigrant work visas and their qualifying derivatives in the following categories: Persons in Specialty Occupations (H-1B visas), Trainee or Special Education Visitors (H-3 visas), Intracompany Transferees (L visas), Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement (O visas), Athletes, Artists, and Entertainers (P visas), and Participants in International Cultural Exchange Programmes (Q visas), added US State Department release. Additionally, the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has extended consular officers' current ability to waive the in-person interview, through December 31, 2022, for the following other categories of non-immigrant visas: Temporary Agricultural and Non-agricultural Workers (H-2 visas), Students (F and M visas), and Student Exchange Visitors (Academic J visas). We recognise the many contributions of international visitors to our communities and campuses. Lastly, the authorisation to waive the in-person interview for applicants renewing a visa in the same visa class within 48 months of the prior visa's expiration has been extended indefinitely, added the release. The Covid-19 pandemic resulted in profound reductions in the Department's visa processing capacity. As global travel rebounds, the US is taking these temporary steps to further commitment to safely and efficiently reduce visa wait times while maintaining national security. The determination was made with the concurrence of Department of Homeland Security partners. However, embassies and consulates may still require an in-person interview on a case-by-case basis and dependent upon local conditions. "We encourage applicants to check embassy and consulate websites for more detailed information about this development, as well as current operating status and services," added the release.

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Omicron update: Indians can visit Thailand via Phuket

Thailand’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration (CCSA) announced a temporary suspension of the Sandbox applications and Thailand's pass for all new ‘test and go’ from December 22, 2021. This move comes in wake of the rising number of Omicron cases in the country. As per the reports, Sandbox plan is a new model that allows fully vaccinated travellers to enter Thailand without quarantine. Now, as per the latest restrictions, travellers will be required to travel to Thailand via Phuket. Also, since Phuket has not yet imposed restrictions, Indian travellers will be allowed to enter Thailand under the Phuket Sandbox scheme. Reportedly, as per the said scheme, travellers will only be required to undergo a PCR test and wait in the hotel until the test result is received. If their test result comes negative, they will be allowed to move around in Phuket. Further, travellers will undergo the second RT-PCR test on the fifth or the sixth day, after which they will be allowed to travel to other parts of Thailand on completing seven days of stay in Phuket, without undergoing quarantine, or they can opt to return to their home country within seven days. So, if anyone plans to visit Phuket, they will be required to select Phuket 'SandBox’, and after spending seven days in Phuket, they can visit other destinations in Thailand. Referring to this, Director of Tourism Authority of Thailand Cholada Siddhivarn stated that they are happy to welcome Indians to Thailand, and that they have just altered the entry rules for people. She further added that travellers wishing to travel to Phuket can register for Thailand Pass under the Phuket Sandbox program and Happy Quarantine.

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Akasa Air Reveals Brand Identity

With India’s youngest and greenest fleet, the Akasa Air brand is built upon a clear promise to deliver a warm, reliable, and affordable travel experience. The Rising A is inspired by elements from the sky. It symbolises the warmth of the rising sun, the effortless flight of a bird and the dependability of an aircraft wing. ‘It’s Your Sky’ is the brand’s promise to embrace everyone and to create an inclusive environment for all Indians regardless of their socio-economic or cultural backgrounds. It is a powerful pledge of ownership, promise, and possibilities that accompany each traveller on their journeys. The brand colours, ‘Sunrise Orange’ and ‘Passionate Purple’ reflect the airline’s warm, youthful, and respectful nature. “Translating our purpose to serve every traveller with an innovative yet simple alternative required a modern and confident symbol. The Akasa Air brand identity encapsulates the collective spirit of flying and the individual pursuit of dreams for each of us,” comments Vinay Dube, Akasa Air Founder, MD and CEO. “It is our promise to all, regardless of backgrounds or beliefs, that it’s your sky, your dreams, your passions, and your personal journey, and Akasa Air is honoured to be a part of it.” "We wanted our logo to be simple, easy-to-recall and connect with our brand ethos. The Rising A seamlessly connects aviation & ascension and exudes warmth, dependability, freedom, and motion. We believe that the sky embraces everyone and is no longer the limit” adds Belson Coutinho, Co-Founder and Chief Marketing & Experience Officer, Akasa Air. “To bring this brand identity and promise to life, we are building a youthful, friendly, and dynamic culture of service and excellence, driven by a tech-led and sustainability-led strategy”, concludes Coutinho. In partnership with Akasa Air, the positioning and identity have been crafted by 26FIVE India Lab, a Mumbai-based brand engagement firm and part of NYC-headquartered 26FIVE Global Lab creative network. The project for the agency was led by aviation specialist Girish Nair and global brand strategist Sophie Ann Terrisse.

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