Hello and welcome to World Travel Essential, produced by Almont Global. - More countries opening up around the globe

- Seabourn launches a special savings event

- Khiri Travel goes carbon neutral

- ABTA says travel advisors are now more essential than ever

And in a special feature, Mary Gostelow takes us on a tour of the hottest new 5-star property in Dubai.

That rounds up this week’s WTE … don’t forget to tell your friends and colleagues about the show. We’d also love to hear from you with your comments and suggestions for the show. You can email us at [email protected].

World Travel Essential • A podcast on Anchor

How is the discovery of Covid vaccines impacting travel bookings in the UK?

What’s the latest in border openings and quarantines?

Who can go skiing where in Europe over the holidays?

How important is “trust” in travel today?

Who got a sneak peek at the new luxury arrivals lounge in Dubai?

You’ll find all the answers... in World Travel Essential – the comprehensive weekly podcast for luxury travel professionals by Richard Barnes, produced and distributed by Almont Global.

The luxury travel industry is battling to find ways to emerge from the Covid doldrums as quickly as possible once the world opens up again. With European ambassadors meeting to discuss ways to streamline policies, the industry on the old continent is well positioned to get back on its feet in 2021. And with QANTAS celebrating 100 years of operation, we are reminded that the business is attaining a ripe old age! So what better time to launch a new hotel brand centred on the concept of “sustainability to the Nth degree”? Just a couple of the themes of this week’s “World Travel Essential” podcast – on all popular platforms. And in her special feature, Mary Gostelow takes us this week to Argentina!

Wellness is not just about spas and massages any more. The Global Wellness institute has just released a new report defining the “mental wellness” economy. In this week’s “essential” news, the European Travel Commission calls on even closer cooperation between states in a post covid world, the first human test of a hyperloop pod takes place in the Nevada desert, and a huge new waterpark opens its gates next to Austin, Texas. In our special feature this week, Mary Gostelow speaks with a true specialist in communication for luxury hotels… NMG Network’s Jason Cutinella… Just some of the topics in this week’s World Travel Essential podcast with Richard Barnes. Available on all popular podcast platforms.

Long haul travel sentiment is on the rise; world cultural leaders meet in Saudi Arabia; strong bookings for Seabourne’s 2022 world cruise; nostalgic moment as the last Lufthansa flight leaves Tegel airport; Jean Nouvel reveals details of an amazing resort in AlUla and Accor announces the newest landmark in Dubai. In a particularly yummy feature, Mary Gostelow takes us for a foodie visit of Munich. WTE – Richard Barnes’ “World Travel Essential” (sponsored by Monte Carlo SBM) covers all this… and much more - on all major podcast platforms.

In this week’s World Travel Essential, brought to you by SBM Monte-Carlo, the seemingly never-ending wait for the opening of Berlin’s controversial Brandenburg airport is finally over; driverless vehicles are to be tested at Yellowstone national park, we have updates on travel restrictions and border openings; Marriott extends its reach in Thailand; in our special feature, we talk to Jens Thraenhart, head of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office, and luxury travel guru Mary Gostelow catches up with Andrew Humphries - Acting CEO of Katara Hospitality. Don’t miss the show!!

In this week’s World Travel Essential (brought to you by SBM Monte-Carlo), a new whitepaper underlines the growing importance of wellness as a tourism drawcard; Americans are reported to be ready and rearing to travel again; when you can’t travel, you can now be teleported into a robot and visit various sites; rapid Covid testing is being trialled at Heathrow; a Chinese ballet star becomes a brand ambassador for the luxury collection. In our “special feature” section, Mary Gostelow speaks to two very different special guests – Duncan O’Rourke – CEO of Accor group for Northern Europe, and Vito Mollica – director of F&B for Four Seasons Florence. And in her “Girlahead” podcast, Mary catches up with Neil Jacobs of Six Senses. Don’t miss it!

In this week’s World Travel Essential, brought to you by SBM Monte-Carlo, the UNWTO is in Brussels for a series of top level meetings, the WTTC creates a new steering committee for the industry, American hotel CEOs have written to the white house calling or urgent funds to save the industry, there’s a big management shake-up at IAG, and in hospitality news, Rosewood adds Amsterdam to its portfolio. In our special feature, we talk to former Crystal Cruises and Ponant CEO Edie Rodriguez – now on the board of Saudi Arabia’s tourism authority…. and in her weekly Girlahead podcast, the legendary Mary Gostelow has a chat with Shangri-La’s Oliver Bonke about the luxury brand and hotels in general.

We are pleased to announce that World Travel Essential is brought to you this week by SBM Monte-Carlo: “reinventing Monaco in a new chapter for the 21st century”. This week, G20 tourism ministers put sustainability at the heart of industry recovery and growth.   Venice’s new MOSE system is deployed for the first time to prevent flooding. Ras Al Khaimah launches free Covid testing. British Airways farewells its two remaining 747s. Seabourn announces cruise cancellations... and fabulous hotel openings in Madrid and Abu Dhabi. In our special feature, we travel to an exclusive new golf resort in Tuscany... And in her weekly Girlahead podcast, the legendary Mary Gostelow talks to Bob van den Oord - COO of Langham Luxury Hotels & Resorts. 

It turns out that EU tourism ministers are really getting their acts together in trying to harmonise an industry approach across the continent. At least so says the WTTC. Singapore is easing entry restrictions on visitors from Australia and Vietnam, and Belize is starting to open up again. You have to give it to those Floridians! Miami is launching a cool new photo campaign to boost tourism. Despite all the gloomy news, there are some very bright spots with announcements of some very major new luxury hotel openings… our special feature, Embark Beyond CEO Jack Ezon explains work-from-hotels offerings… and Mary Gostelow’s Girlahead podcast features Lindsey Ueberroth, CEO of Preferred Hotels and Resorts.

Don’t miss all this and more in the second edition of World Travel Essential!