Latest news with #Zanzibar
Travel Weekly
4 days ago
- Travel Weekly
Why using a reputable advisor matters
Nadia "Sparkle" Henry We all know that selling travel isn't properly regulated; anyone can do it, with or without credentials. Because of that, people without formal training can sell trips; unfortunately, that can lead to some very disappointing experiences. I'd like to share a real story about a woman named Sereena, one that went viral on TikTok. She posted a video of herself looking disgusted during what she called a "luxury safari." Her caption read: "POV: You spend over 36 hours in a car on a $5,000 trip to Tanzania with a well-known travel group." She also said, "The actual WORST travel experience of my life! The itinerary was so poorly planned. Every location was 5-12 hours apart. They lied about where we'd stay and took us to places not even on the itinerary." The video has attracted more than 3 million views, 147,000 likes and 1,480 comments and has been shared more than 13,000 times. I reposted it with the caption, "Sis! Next time, Travel with Sparkle would NEVER!" and tagged her. I also messaged her to express sympathy and to learn more about her experience. She told me she booked through a company referred to her by a friend who had traveled with the group before and had a positive experience. It was a bucket-list journey for her, to Kenya and Tanzania, including Zanzibar. She described long drives between destinations, with some lasting almost seven hours. I looked over her itinerary and noticed no flights between key safari regions, just long, bumpy rides in safari vehicles. Most of the hotels were far from luxurious. This wasn't the kind of trip you expect when you hear "luxury safari." Curious about the travel company she used, I looked at its website and Instagram posts. There were no affiliations with reputable travel organizations like ASTA, IATA, CLIA or certifications like Verified Travel Advisor (VTA), CTA or CTC displayed. There was no evidence of seller of travel licenses or of consortium membership, things professionals proudly display. As travel experts, we know true advisors have deep destination knowledge, strong supplier relationships and ongoing training. Planning an Africa safari is incredibly complex and requires precise coordination, something this company clearly lacked. So why would someone trust such an unqualified person with nearly $5,000 for a trip? Social media marketing and pretty websites often create the illusion of trust, worthiness and luxury. But anyone can sell travel with zero licensing or oversight. This is unlike real estate, where strict education, exams, licensing, ongoing training and regulatory enforcement protect consumers. I believe the travel industry should adopt similar standards. ASTA is leading the way with the VTA program, setting a benchmark for professionalism and ethics. Becoming VTA certified shows credibility, builds client confidence, earns industry recognition and sets advisors apart. As travel professionals, we must proudly and prominently display our credentials and educate clients -- and potential clients -- on their importance. This helps travelers make informed choices and ultimately find trusted, knowledgeable advisors who will craft exceptional trips. Here's what I always tell my clients: Just because someone has a great Instagram feed or a large following doesn't mean they're qualified to plan your trip. Beautiful marketing doesn't always equal experience or reliability. Before you trust anyone with your hard-earned money and once-in-a-lifetime travel experiences, it's important to verify their credentials, industry affiliations and partnerships with reputable suppliers. As a VTA-certified advisor, my job goes far beyond booking flights and hotels. I'm here to protect their investment, ensure a seamless travel experience and deliver a trip that exceeds their expectations. Clients deserve more than an itinerary that looks pretty on paper or a computer screen. They deserve professional guidance, honest expertise and peace of mind.
News24
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
‘You really are my world': Lorraine Moropa gushes over Tyler ICU on their anniversary
Tyler ICU and Lorraine Moropa recently celebrated their anniversary with heartfelt social media tributes. The couple got engaged earlier this year during a romantic Zanzibar beach proposal. Moropa has praises the DJ's consistency in love, calling him an 'answer to whispered prayers'. Celebrity couple Tyler ICU and actor Lorraine Moropa continue to serve relationship goals since becoming Instagram official and getting engaged. The pair recently celebrated their anniversary with heartfelt tributes to each other. 'There is something so sacred about doing life with someone who loves you gently, prays with you honestly, and chooses you daily. Our love is steady, grounding, and full of grace. A quiet answer to prayers I whispered when no one was listening,' Moropa wrote. Tyler equally expressed his love for Moropa. 'Mama ka Blue. One full year with my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you for sticking by my side, making it easy to love you. So blessed to share my life with you in this lifetime and beyond. I'm so in love with you in every reality we are in, I love you,' he wrote in the comments. In her sweet post, Moropa said the DJ was the only person under the sun she was determined to share her last slice of pizza with. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lorraine SA (@ 'Your love reaches the deepest parts of me and heals my inner child in ways I never thought possible. Thank you for praying with me, laughing with me, and loving me when I am cute and even when I am being a full-blown drama series.' The actor continued: 'God knew exactly what he was doing when he brought us together. You hold my hand in prayer and continue to grasp on it firmly when all odds are against us. Thank you for loving me the way you do. You really are my world.' This isn't the first time Moropa has publicly sung praises of her fiancé, particularly highlighting how consistent the Mnike hitmaker is when it comes to loving her and making her feel safe and secure in their relationship. She previously wrote, 'To be loved so gently, so slowly and so softly that you have no choice but to let your guard down, surrender, and be vulnerable is such an indescribable feeling, I cannot believe l've felt since l've met Blue's Dad.' The 28-year-old continued, 'You'd swear our paths just crossed, and I'm probably still infatuated because how can a person be so consistent? This is truly the kind of love that makes me believe in God if there were ever doubts in me.' Earlier this year, the pair made their engagement official when Tyler popped the question. Moropa posted pictures of them together at a beach in Zanzibar, proudly showing off her engagement ring. 'The 3rd of January was supposed to only be Baba ka boy's birthday, but it also became the beginning of the rest of my life,' Lorraine wrote. 'I said yes to a forever with my best friend. I couldn't be more grateful to God for this wonderful gift of love,' she continued.
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EXCLUSIVE: Industrie Africa Expands Into B2B With Launch of Retail Consultancy
PARIS — As it celebrates its fifth anniversary, Industrie Africa is expanding into the business-to-business segment with the launch of a retail consultancy for the luxury hospitality industry, paving the ground for a funding round next year. The fashion e-commerce platform's Select service is debuting with SoLA, short for Society of Luxury Artisanship, a concept store on Zanzibar's Bawe Island that carries designer labels from throughout Africa and beyond. More from WWD Veralab Sets International Expansion Plans, Starting From Spain Toteme to Open Second Store in London Consumers Are Focused on AI-Powered and Value Spending, While Retailers Face Supply Chain Challenges for the Second Half of 2025 Nisha Kanabar, founder and chief executive officer of Industrie Africa, saw a white space in the hospitality sector. 'While e-commerce is a very fundamental opportunity that enables access, I think it can be challenging as a channel to rely on. So for me, it was about how can we scale the connection of our designers to the customer that they're trying to reach?' she told WWD. 'Select is a special initiative in that it strives to embed Africa's design, fashion and lifestyle narratives into these spaces that already have existing emotional connections with consumers, and travel is a huge part of that. It turns product discovery into treasure or into collectibles, so it develops a further emotional connection with the designer than would exist otherwise through e-commerce,' she said. To mark their flagship project, Industrie Africa and SoLA on Friday released the first drop of an exclusive collaboration with Tongoro, the Senegalese label whose fans include Beyoncé Knowles-Carter. The range of limited-edition resortwear, designed specifically for the Zanzibar location, went on sale simultaneously at the SoLA store and online globally on marking the first in a series of collaborations between brands and partner properties. The Bawe Island resort, owned by the Karimjee Group conglomerate and operated by luxury hospitality group The Cocoon Collection, was named 'Best Hospitality Newcomer Worldwide 2025' by German luxury travel magazine Connoisseur Circle. Industrie Africa is working on a second SoLA location in Zanzibar, and in talks for further properties in the Serengeti region. Kanabar sees a rich seam of opportunity. 'Many high-end African properties — this is something we've realized — still think of retail in quite a limited way. Even the most beautiful, grandest properties will still look at their retail avenues as an afterthought,' she remarked. Industrie Africa offers a personalized approach, with introductions not limited to the 60-plus brands represented on its online platform. 'We're actually working with brands that perhaps the e-commerce model doesn't necessarily fit for,' she said. Each selection is tailored to the geography, guest profile, brand ethos and goals of the property. 'Provenance and artisanship serve as two really key pillars for us, and understanding how the guest interacts with the geography or the locality of a particular [property] is important in defining what that narrative might be,' the executive explained. 'It's something that we realized also aligns with macro trends in the hospitality sector, which is currently thriving despite the global economy. We realize that travelers are looking for cultural depth in their experiences. They're looking for more context, and I believe that African design really remains underutilized in that equation,' she said. While Kanabar described Industrie Africa as a hybrid, combining the curatorial viewpoint of a luxury e-commerce platform with the agility of a marketplace model, the physical retail locations will carry their own stock. 'That's a really important part of respecting a brand's point of view and their success, as you would respect that of a brand from anywhere else in the world,' she said. Select offers a variety of services ranging from seasonal advisory to full retail concept. 'Each engagement will be very site-specific and not copy-pasted or duplicated. And then, of course, there might be additional guest activations or capsule collaborations, or even private label. We're very flexible,' Kanabar said. 'It really depends on how deep a property wants to go in transforming their retail strategy.' Brands do not pay to participate in the program, ensuring an independent curation process. The items selected by Industrie Africa are identified by a special label, and customers will be encouraged to visit the website, maximizing opportunities for synergy. Founded in 2018 as a portal for discovering African designers, Industrie Africa launched e-commerce in 2020 and ships to 57 countries, though 80 percent of orders come from the U.S. Kanabar, who is based in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, declined to disclose revenues for the privately held business, but is preparing to welcome outside investors. 'As we expand this business model a little deeper into the B2B realm, and see where it could go and what it could be, for me, 2026 is a very likely timeframe for raising investments, as by then, we probably would have gotten an adequate amount of proof of concept, just like we did for e-commerce,' she said. 'The market is ever-evolving. We're trying to evolve with that market.' Best of WWD Macy's Is Closing 66 Stores in 2025 — Here's the List, Live Updates Inside the Demise of Lord & Taylor COVID-19 Spikes Elevate Retail Concerns
Gulf Business
16-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Zanzibar's Tourism Minister on its vision for growth, GCC visitors and eco-tourism
Image: Supplied With its pristine beaches, Swahili culture, and rising appeal as a luxury destination, Zanzibar is positioning itself as a leading player in sustainable tourism. In this exclusive interview with Gulf Business , Mudrick Ramadhan Soragha, Minister of Tourism of Zanzibar, outlines the island's vision for high-value, low-impact tourism, discussing everything from strategic partnerships with Gulf nations and rising GCC visitor numbers to eco-resorts, cultural conservation, and a new digitally enabled airport terminal. Zanzibar is gaining attention as a premium beach and cultural destination. How is your tourism strategy balancing luxury development with the need to preserve the island's natural ecosystems and Swahili heritage? Zanzibar's tourism strategy is guided by the principle of 'sustainability with authenticity'. We recognise that while luxury tourism is vital to our economic growth, it must not come at the expense of our fragile marine ecosystems or our centuries-old Swahili heritage. To ensure this balance, we have implemented rigorous environmental impact assessments as a prerequisite for all developments. We actively encourage sustainable design, favoring vernacular, low-impact architecture that integrates seamlessly with the natural and cultural landscape. We are also working closely with UNESCO to safeguard heritage assets and ensure that all tourism development aligns with Zanzibar's unique cultural identity. Finally, community engagement remains central, ensuring that development uplifts local livelihoods and reflects the essence of Zanzibari heritage. Many GCC countries are investing in luxury coastal developments and year-round beach tourism. What lessons or partnerships can Zanzibar explore with Gulf nations to enhance its own beach tourism offerings sustainably ? The visionary transformation of the Gulf into a hub for year-round luxury tourism provides a compelling blueprint for Zanzibar. We are exploring bilateral partnerships with the UAE, Qatar, and Bahrain in areas such as hospitality investment, cultural exchange, and green infrastructure. The Gulf region's expertise in integrating climate-adaptive technologies, wellness and heritage experiences, and halal-friendly hospitality aligns well with Zanzibar's ambitions. Already, we are in advanced discussions with entities like Qatar's Retaj Group and other private investors in the region. We want to ensure that future investors prioritise integrating the local community and that developments will directly benefit the local population. Ways to achieve this are to employ island staff for all hotel functions and to source furniture, arts and interior design from local artisans. Our goal is to foster long-term Gulf-Zanzibar tourism investment corridors built on mutual values of innovation, sustainability, and respect for heritage. With increasing tourism from the Middle East to East Africa, how is Zanzibar tailoring its tourism products to attract high-value travellers from the GCC while maintaining authentic experiences? We are curating a suite of tourism experiences that speak directly to the preferences of Gulf travellers, particularly families, discerning couples, and faith-conscious tourists. These include ultra-private beachfront villas, halal culinary offerings, and bespoke cultural journeys that honor Zanzibar's deep Islamic heritage. We are also enhancing air connectivity and simplifying visa procedures for GCC nationals. This is why Zanzibar proactively pursued the opportunity to host the AVIADEV conference, as part of a broader strategy to attract more direct flights to the island. Yet, even as we elevate our service offering to match the expectations of high-net-worth visitors, we remain committed to preserving Zanzibar's soul, be it through traditional dhow sailing excursions, spice plantation tours, or immersive experiences. Read: Over-tourism and climate change are placing strain on coastal destinations globally. What policies or infrastructure investments is your ministry prioritising to make Zanzibar's beach tourism climate-resilient and environmentally sustainable? We are acutely aware that Zanzibar's future depends on ecological resilience. Central to our blue economy policy is our Marine Spatial Planning initiative, an ambitious coastal zoning project, in collaboration with various environmental partners, aimed at ensuring the sustainable use of marine and coastal resources. In parallel, we are upgrading waste and water management infrastructure within major tourism zones and investing in the training of local communities on sustainable best practices. We are also establishing marine protected areas and implementing coral reef restoration projects, particularly around Pemba Island—a vital biodiversity hotspot. Our long-term vision emphasises low-density, high-value tourism. By championing eco-conscious resorts over mass tourism models, we aim to protect both our environment and our cultural identity for generations to come. How is Zanzibar leveraging digital tools, eco-certifications and smart tourism strategies to remain competitive in a global market? Zanzibar is undergoing a digital transformation with the roll-out of smart visitor data systems, online licensing, and digital promotion platforms. Through a UK-funded programme we are also piloting the introduction of eco-certifications for hotels and tour operators and promoting sustainable practices via capacity building for small enterprises. By aligning with global sustainability benchmarks and embedding digital innovation, we aim to position Zanzibar as a regional leader in responsible tourism. Give us a breakdown of people visiting Zanzibar from the GCC, highlighting perhaps the UAE as well as Saudi Arabia and other key source markets. The Middle East, particularly the Gulf region, is emerging as a high-potential source market for Zanzibar. In 2024, arrivals from the UAE reached approximately 11,000, while Saudi Arabia accounted for 9,500 visitors. Collectively, Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain contributed an additional 6,000 tourists. These numbers place the GCC firmly within our top ten non-African source markets. Our objective is to double this volume by 2027, supported by strategic airline partnerships, destination marketing, and tailored hospitality offerings. Overall, 71.6 per cent of arrivals into Zanzibar were from Europe, with Italy, Germany, France, and Poland leading. African arrivals also grew strongly, with South Africa and Kenya showing double-digit growth. The majority of travellers (86 per cent) are Millennials and Gen Z, with an average stay of eight nights. At 98.3 percent, leisure remains the primary purpose of travel to the island. Tell us about the investment from the government towards tourism. Key investments to support the island's continued tourism growth include the construction of the new international airport terminal at Abeid Amani Karume International Airport, which has expanded the airport's capacity to 1.5 million annual passengers and enhanced air connectivity to the destination. With tourism now contributing over 27 per cent to Zanzibar's GDP, accounting for 80 per cent of its foreign exchange earnings, and sector revenues exceeding $1bn in 2024, we are also developing state-of-the-art Tourism Training Institutes to equip the local workforce with the skills needed to meet international hospitality standards. Moreover, substantial public-private investment is being directed toward eco-resorts, wellness centers, and sustainable marinas. Our heritage conservation initiatives are equally robust, and we are restoring architectural treasures in Stone Town and other cultural sites. To protect travellers and reinforce market confidence, we are introducing tourism insurance schemes and launching digital service platforms. All of these are anchored in our national vision of building a resilient, inclusive, and globally competitive tourism economy, grounded in sustainability and driven by innovation.
India.com
12-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
After Trapit Bansal, Meta hires ex-Apple AI genius for record-breaking Rs 16700000000 job offer, his name is.., will work as..
After making headlines with a record-breaking salary with its job offer of Rs 854 crore to young tech talent Trapit Bansal, Meta Platforms Inc. has now made another splash with another significant hire. According to a Bloomberg report citing those familiar with the deal, Meta recruited Ruoming Pang, the former head of Apple's AI models team, for more than $200 million to join its Superintelligence Team. Converting into Indian currency, Pang's deal translates to over Rs 1,600 crore. Meta is paying out a lot in bonuses, stock bonuses, and long-term contracts to attract some of the best talent from firms such as Apple, OpenAI, and Google. This is a sign of how seriously these tech giants are taking the battle for the best AI talent. Ruoming Pang, who previously led Apple's AI models team, is the most recent big recruit for Meta's Superintelligence group, which is building advanced AI that can perform tasks as well or better than humans. Pang's pay package is one of the largest in history for a tech engineer, rivaling top CEO's compensation packages. Apple chose not to match Meta's offer, which illustrates how the pursuit of AI talent is changing how firms approach recruiting in technology. Ruoming Pang is an eminent AI researcher and engineer who has significantly impacted the future of AI at leading technology companies. He has a PhD from Princeton University and worked for Google on notable AI projects such as the Lingvo speech framework and Zanzibar, a global authorization system used by all of Google's services. Ruoming Pang began working at Apple in 2021 and quickly progressed to lead the Foundation Models team. During his tenure, the team was responsible for innovative and disruptive work like Genmoji, personalized on-device AI notifications, and a greatly enhanced Siri. Overseeing more than 100 engineers working on large language models and generative AI, he played a central role in driving Apple's ambitious yet low-key AI initiatives. Meta has been working to recruit the top AI talent from technology companies like Apple, Google, and OpenAI, and Ruoming Pang is one of their most valuable new hires to date. According to industry sources, Apple made no effort to counter Pang away from Meta which is said to exceed the annual compensation of Apple CEO Tim Cook. According to Ruoming Pang's educational qualification, he studied BS, Computer Science from Shanghai Jiao Tong University. In 2000, he completed his Master's degree, Computer Science from the University of Southern California. Additionally, he completed his PhD, Computer Science at Princeton University.
