Happywhale tail-recognition software shows animal crossed oceans for an extraordinary migration In a whale of a tale about whales’ tails, a team of marine ecologists has tracked a humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) more than 13,000 kilometers, from Colombia to Tanzania. The observation was made possible by modified facial recognition software designed to identify the giant aquatic mammals by the distinctive shapes of their tales, or flukes. It beats the previous of record for a humpback of 10,000 kilometers. Such a long migration “is extraordinary,” says Jeremy Goldbogen, a comparative physiologist at Stanford University who was not involved with the work, published recently in Royal Society Open Science. The observation also demonstrates the utility of the fluke-identification...
Read MoreMonth: December 2024
Hong Kong’s home airline is named Design Airline of the Year, Asia and wins Best New Business Class for Aria Suite and Best New Premium Economy Cathay Pacific has been honoured with three prestigious awards at TheDesignAir Awards 2024, including Design Airline of the Year, Asia, 2024. The airline received an outstanding overall Design Score of 81.9, placing it among the top six Design Airlines in the world and underscoring its commitment to excellence in design and customer experience. Hong Kong’s home airline also received Best New Business Class, 2024 for its recently launched Aria Suite and Best New Premium Economy, 2024. Both the Aria Suite and the new Premium Economy cabin products were launched in October 2024 onboard the airline’s retrofitted Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. ...
Read MoreMinor Hotels, one of the world’s fastest-growing global hospitality groups, has further expanded its Australasian portfolio, announcing the signing of the management letting rights for the landmark Queens Wharf Residences development from early 2025, setting a new benchmark for urban tourism in Brisbane. Queens Wharf Residences, the tallest tower within the iconic new world-class precinct Queen’s Wharf Brisbane, is a 64-storey development that redefines the skyline of Queensland’s capital and heralds a new era for Brisbane as a major tourism, leisure and entertainment destination. The property features meticulously designed 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments with balconies and innovative winter gardens equipped with lift-and-tilt windows, allowing guests to embrace Brisbane’s subt...
Read MoreTourism Minister Mohamed Riyas launches multilingual Sabarimala Microsite and E-brochure Kerala Tourism has launched a multi-language microsite and an e-brochure providing comprehensive information about Sabarimala. Tourism and Public Works Minister PA Mohamed Riyas launched the two initiatives at a function here on Wednesday. The multilingual microsite provides pilgrims across the country with information about the hill shrine's traditions, customs, and culture, as well as the latest updates and geographical insights. The site is available in five languages: English, Hindi, Telugu, Tamil, and Kannada. It also includes short footage providing all the details of southern India’s prominent pilgrim site. “The microsite and e-brochure are vital steps towards including our heritag...
Read MoreNew hotel in Greater Noida Knowledge Park is designed to expand and elevate accommodation options for business, family and solo travellers in key Indian markets IHG Hotels & Resorts, a global leader in hospitality, has announced the opening of a new Holiday Inn Express property in India. The new hotel launched in Greater Noida Knowledge Park marks a significant addition to the brand’s growing portfolio in the country. Holiday Inn Express champions simple, smart travel and was created in 1991 to challenge convention in the travel industry. The brand caters to smart, savvy travelers who are on the move and two steps ahead and need a hotel to serve as a no-fuss base camp where they can rest, relax, and recharge before making their next connection. Holiday Inn Express is committed...
Read MoreImprovements to provide opportunities for more guests to visit breathtaking destination Half Moon Cay, the highly-rated and award-winning exclusive destination known for beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters in The Bahamas, is being renamed RelaxAway, Half Moon Cay in support of its enhancements and the experience guests can expect as they are immersed in this tropical paradise. The announcement was made today jointly by Holland America Line and Carnival Cruise Line. The 2,052-passenger Carnival Imagination is anchored off the coast of Half Moon Cay, a private Bahamian island available to Carnival Cruise Lines' guests. (Photo by Andy Newman/Carnival Cruise Lines) The two cruise lines are partnering on the enhancements, which will include an expanded beachfront experience, lu...
Read MoreAnantara Layan Phuket Resort has invited guests to experience DARA Cuisine Phuket’s Cosmic Culinary Journey, an innovative series celebrating the artistry of Michelin-starred chefs, Thailand’s rich culinary heritage, and the creative brilliance of Chef Hong, DARA’s resident culinary visionary. The resort proudly announced the grand opening of DARA Cuisine Phuket and Sky Observatory in April 2024, a one-of-a-kind venue blending modern Thai dining with celestial exploration. Nestled within the serene Anantara Layan Phuket Resort, DARA (meaning "star" in Thai) features a grill-focused menu highlighting seasonal ingredients, guided stargazing paired with celestial-inspired cocktails, and interactive Thai cooking classes. Honoring Thailand’s culinary heritage and Andaman seafarers who navig...
Read MoreThe 10 winners of the 2024 Matador Network Travel Awards were recently announced by the leading travel publisher. Half the honorees were nominated and chosen by the in-house team of Matador world-travel experts who developed points-based ranking criteria. The other half are readers' choice honorees, a new wrinkle added to Matador's travel awards this year. "Some people love to travel just to see new places, and others travel with very specific ideas about what they want their experience to be," says Matador Network CEO Ross Borden. "These award-winning destinations, whether chosen by Matador experts or Matador readers, combine those two desires. Every location on this list is a great place to explore, and they also have the ability to scratch a certain, specific itch like no other." ...
Read MoreCruise Critic names the top cruise lines of the year in 2024's 'Best in Cruise Awards' Explora, AmaWaterways and Lindblad also receive the top honor in their respective categories Cruise Critic, the world's leading cruise reviews site and online cruise community, has named the winners of its 16th annual cruise awards in its new Cruise Critic Best in Cruise Awards – naming the best cruise lines and destinations of the year, based on expert insight and traveler ratings. This year's awards are the site's most comprehensive to-date, combining the highly coveted editor-selected awards with the site's popular consumer-led Cruisers' Choice awards, which are based entirely on ratings and reviews from cruisers over the past year. "Our editors have spent months at sea this year, collecti...
Read MoreThis year will be the world's warmest since records began, with extraordinarily high temperatures expected to persist into at least the first few months of 2025, European Union scientists said on Monday. The data from the EU's Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S) comes two weeks after U.N. climate talks yielded a $300 billion deal to tackle climate change, a package poorer countries blasted as insufficient to cover the soaring cost of climate-related disasters. C3S said data from January to November had confirmed 2024 is now certain to be the hottest year on record, and the first in which average global temperatures exceed 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above the 1850-1900 pre-industrial period. FILE PHOTO: A tourist uses a fountain to cool off amid a heatwave, i...
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