TravelWise with Phil Blizzard

A new season of travel podcasts and Phil Blizzard is off on  his first flight for over 18 months, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Flying with Emirates from Dubai to Barcelona on a Boeing 777 Phil samples the Emirates Business Class experience - from the limousine pick-up to the 'new norm' check-in and the flight itself.  So fasten your seat belts and get ready for take off.

In this interview special  Phil Blizzard zoom's across to Koh Samui, Thailand to talk to Bruce Ryder, General Manager , Kamalaya Wellness Santuary.  With the island just opening to international visitors we hear about the procedure for travelling to Koh Samui - including the 'sealed route' from Bangkok. We talk about island life in this COVID era and discover what the santuary offers guests from across the world.

Kamalaya Koh Samui is an multi award-winning Wellness Sanctuary with a unique & integral wellness approach with a synergy of healing therapies from East and West, a sublimely beautiful natural environment, inspired healthy cuisine, and holistic fitness practices. Guests are taken on a joyful inward journey to health, happiness and fulfilment. 

This Staycation Special from the Park Hyatt, Dubai continues as Phil Blizzard soaks up the atmosphere of the pools, talks spa relaxation with the resort managing director Stephan Schupbach. Exploration of the resort continues with culinary offerings - from France to Spain and the not to be missed legendary Boardwalk.  Located alongside the Dubai Creek the resort is a sanctuary in the very heart of Dubai with a multitude of restaurants, a white sandy beach,  swimming pools.  

Located alongside the Dubai Creek the resort is a sanctuary in the very heart of Dubai with a multitude of restaurants, a white sandy beach,  swimming pools.  Phil Blizzard checks into the Park Hyatt, Dubai to discover what the resort has to offer and is greeted by the Managing Director - Stephan Schupbach who provides an overview of the resort.  In this, the first part, Phil also talks to Patrick Fernandez,  Director F & B about the culinary tour which guests can enjoy and then heads off to Thailand as well as the Greek Islands! How .. just listen in.

In this edition Phil Blizzard has the latest travel news - including Italy and Phuket, Thailand to welcome international visitors - in June and July, respectively.  Flyduabi launches new services to Mykonos and Santorini in Greece, plus Shamal Shiekh, Egypt. To find out more about flydubai's other summer destinations and the airlines adaptability to market opportunities Phil talks to Jeyhun Efendi, Snr VP - Commercial Operations, flydubai whilst attending the Arabian Travel Market. But first there is  a link up with Richard Jackson at Thailand's Surf FM radio station to talk about the travel situation, generally, and also a focus for visitors to Dubai

Breaking Travel News podcast from the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai with Phil Blizzard reporting on the latest news and talking to key players from the travel industry. On Day 3 the key interviews for this podcast include a look at Dubai Expo - what visitors from across the globe can expect. I have  a very lively conversation with Sumathi Ramanathan,  VP – Market Strategy & Sales, Expo 2020 Dubai  - fasten your seat belts for this!!  Plus a fascinating insight into one of the major projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with New Yorker Jerry Inzerillo, CEO,  Diriyah Gate Development Authority, KSA

Breaking Travel News podcast from the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai with Phil Blizzard reporting on the latest news and talking to key players from the travel industry. On Day 2 the big news is the announcement from Dubai Tourism on the relaxing of covid restrictions on hotels and the start of events - both outdoors and indoors. An the key interviews for this podcast included Adnan Kazim, COO,  Emirates Airline and  Raki Phiips, CEO, Rasl Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority.

TravelWise in conjunction with Breaking Travel News brings you the latest news from the Arabian Travel Market, Dubai. This in-person event is the first in the world and Phil Blizzard reports from this ground breaking event with the latest news and interviews from key participants. The show was opened by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, CEO of Emirates and  in the podcast for Day 1 there is breaking news from Abu Dubai and the northern emirate of Ras al Khaimah and interviews with flydubai and Abu Dhabi Tourism.

An aviation special looking at the  Global 7500 from Bombardier which is the largest business jet and the one with the longest range, making the aircraft capable of flying non-stop from Dubai to San Francisco. On the occasion of its debut flight into Dubai Phil Blizzard 'sits down' with Thomas Flohr, Founder & Chairman of Vista Global. to talk about the aircraft and much more.  Expect to hear insights into the growth of business aviation,  the significance of long distance private aviation flights, to corporations and individuals in the region, and the way Vista Global and it's membership model is turning companies away from owning their very own private jets.

An aviation special looking at the return to service  Boeing 737-Max in the flydubai fleet of aircraft.  In this episode of TravelWise Phil Blizzard features key aspects and insights from a  briefing from hosted by flydubai.  Captain Patrick Gozenbach, Senior Vice President, Flight Operations, flydubai talks about aircraft certification and pilot training, amongst other things and Andrew Glover, Head of Maintenance, flydubai provides insights on the preparation of the  737 -Max for certification by the GCAA (General Civil Aviation Authority).  My questions on customer confidence is answered by Mike Evans, Senior Vice President, Customer Experience, Brand & Communications, flydubai