Kiwi artist Ruby Jones has brought the experience of hotel quarantine to life in a unique artist residency called 'Thanks from Iso'.
Jones collaborated with Accor New Zealand who approached the artist after receiving thousands of items of creative and written work from guests undergoing managed isolation in their hotels.
The material offers insights into the journey made by those who have experienced 14 days of managed isolation as well as those who have been working on the front line for the majority of the year.
Jones gained international prominence after her artwork was published on the front cover of Time magazine following the Christchurch mosque shootings.
As part of her 14-day residency at Allpress Studios in Auckland, Jones interviewed dozens of Kiwi workers and residents in isolation, creating a body of artwork designed to encompass the bravery and solidarity shown during the Covid-19 pandemic.
All 14 pieces of unique artwork will be donated to Auckland Museum.
Qatar: Who needs premium when our economy class is so good?
No need for premium option, says Qatar Airways head honcho. Photo Credit: Qatar Airways
Feisty Qatar Airways boss Akbar Al Baker bristled when asked at the Future Travel Experience virtual event whether his airline is considering a move to Premium Economy.
Al Baker suggested that the BBC interviewer might be confusing Qatar with another Middle Eastern airline.
“Why should we [introduce premium economy} , when we give such high standards of inflight service in economy, try to repackage it and call it premium economy?” the CEO responded.
Al Baker’s remarks are aimed at Emirates, which is set to debut premium economy on one of its new A380s later this month.
Live, Limitless and Tigers at Singapore Zoo
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) - Accor's lifestyle loyalty programme - has partnered with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS) to launch VIP programmes. Photo Credit: Accor
Fancy yourself as a tiger trainer? Or maybe develop a friendship with a chimp?
Accor Live Limitless (ALL) - Accor's lifestyle loyalty programme - has partnered with Wildlife Reserves Singapore (WRS), the operator of Jurong Bird Park, Night Safari, River Safari and Singapore Zoo.
These VIP experiences include a meeting with Dr Luis Carlos Neves, director of Zoology and Gail Laule, director of Animal Presentation, to learn how animal presenters interact with their animals and conduct positive reinforcement training for physical examinations.
Participating members can also try their hand at some animal training.
But maybe not the lions.
The VIP Experience Tour from 20 December includes entry to Singapore Zoo and Night Safari between 1 pm - 3.30 pm.
Qatar and Ponant go cruising
Fancy expedition cruise packages around Qatar’s coastline to see whale sharks, anyone? Photo Credit: BitsBobsQatarCruise
Discover Qatar, the destination management subsidiary of Qatar Airways, is dipping its toes into the expedition cruise business, partnering with Ponant to offer eight-night, nine-day expedition cruise packages around Qatar’s coastline.
Guests will travel on board Le Champlain, one of Ponant’s new explorer-class cruise ships.
Cruise season will start in April 2021 and will run seven consecutive weekly departures. Prices start from US$5,295 per person.
Jobs, jobs, jobs, but where are the workers?
The lack of casual workers is crippling Australia’s tourism industry so much that the Queensland government has launched a campaign to lure people to job vacancies across the state.
The ‘Give It A Go’ campaign highlights the job opportunities for baristas, waiters and kitchen hands in places like the Gold Coast and Cairns.
Gap year students and grey nomads – and everyone in between – are being targeted to take up jobs in the tourism industry.
Greyhound Queensland and Queensland Rail are also partnering in the campaign, offering discounted travel for those people relocating for a tourism job.