Author: travel

Though in Morocco, I was with my group at the Volubilis Ruins.  It was a bit of a blue chicken day, and the severe gentle was sort of bumming our images temper.

A single of the individuals in my workshop there stated anything along the strains, “this is absolutely a black and white pictures kind of day”.  

I agreed.

But, I’m terrible at black and white images.  For me, it’s generally been a factor wherever I only truly conclusion up with photos I love in black and white when I flip the graphic in submit-processing.  I not often go in producing a photo considering that it’ll be monochrome.  Black and white images is about seeing the tones in the globe, and I like to say that I’m tone blind.

Then, Joe Allam popped into the dialogue stating that he cherished how he can flip his Fujifilm digicam into black and white and see the planet in black and white through the viewfinder.

For me, that was an absolute light bulb instant.

“Of study course you can!”

Quickly, I went into the options of the Canon EOS R I was taking pictures on and modified the photograph model to monochrome.  I think most of the some others in our team did the exact same matter.  It thoroughly modified the mood.  We went from remaining variety of apathetic to photographing the ruins, to flawlessly absorbed by it.

It was the sort of natural and organic collaboration that I totally appreciate.  It’s one of the very best good reasons for performing images with many others. You never often understand new matters, but at times you get these light bulb moments.

So, for the relaxation of today’s weblog submit, I want to share with you some of my favorite images from the following 24 hours where by I shot all the things on my mirrorless camera in black and white.

Setting Your Mirrorless Camera for B&W Pictures

Photographs Fashion

If you’re curious how to do this, it’s fairly straightforward and can be completed on any mirrorless camera that I know.

Someplace in your camera menus you are going to have an solution for a thing like “picture style” as it is on Canon cameras.  There, you will be equipped to select the fashion of picture.  I ordinarily have mine set to “landscape” as I’m most often photographing character.  Nevertheless, you can established it to portrait, flat, or whatsoever custom made placing you prefer.

I need to mention, too, that by altering the photo style, it does not have an impact on your genuine photograph at all as very long as you’re generating images in Uncooked format.  In essence, all the picture design and style is heading to affect is the jpeg preview your camera provides on the Liquid crystal display and what you see by means of the digital viewfinder.

Shoot Raw

Now, until you want the options baked onto the image forever, you want to photograph in Raw.  If you shoot Uncooked, you’ll be capable to backtrack later.  For case in point, if you are getting photographs all working day with a black and white viewfinder, you will nevertheless have the capability to revert the impression back to color.

If you take your shots in JPEG with the image design and style established to monochome, you’ll conclude up with black and white pics no matter if you like it or not.

Can You Do This on a DSLR?

The clear remedy is, no.   But, which is not solely honest.

Certain, on DSLRs you do not have an electronic viewfinder.  You are seeking by means of an optical viewfinder which usually means that you’re looking by the lens at the environment as it really is.  On a mirrorless digital camera, you will searching at a little Lcd display screen.

There’s very good information, while.  If you are shooting on reside perspective, or on the Liquid crystal display you are going to still be equipped to consider your photographs this way.  Of system, you can generally shoot with a monochrome image style, and use the optical viewfinder.  That would result in black and white photographs on your Lcd, which you could preview that way.

Views on Capturing B&W

For me, it is like taking pictures backwards

I believe the most difficult point about photographing black and white pictures for me is that it goes towards my landscape photography educate of believed.  In landscapes, you are almost always trying to improve the dynamic vary.  But if you do that with black and white pictures you finish up with flat-searching grey visuals.  

With black and white pictures, you seriously require to research out the contrasts, shadows, and highlights and use them to your benefit.

Shadows and harsh light are your mates

When you are shooting color, it’s generally the scenario that you’re hoping to hit the publicity meter somewhere shut to the center.  You variety of want a correctly exposed graphic during the picture.  However, in black and white, it is significant to know how to use the highlights and shadows to your edge.  It’s similarly as crucial to recognize that the exposure doesn’t want to be “right”, it desires to be right for that photograph.

What could possibly seem 2 stops about-uncovered in color can often seem really appealing in black and white.  It goes the exact way for underexposed photos.

Use shadows as your frames

The history of pics, in particular in road photography, is practically as vital as the subject matter alone.  In black and white pictures I discovered that even much more the scenario.  If the history has the exact same tone as the matter, it can genuinely lead to the issue not standing out at all.

In black and white pictures, it’s so significant to come across dim tones and to use them as frames for the lighter areas of the graphic.  That seriously can help place target on the subject matter and attract the eye’s focus to it.  

Superior light-weight is bad

I recall listening to another person inform me as soon as, “there’s no such thing as bad light”.

I was so mad.  Of course there is terrible gentle.

In landscape images, and most types of images – to be straightforward, there is terrible light.  But, I believe the stage that the person was making an attempt to make is that there’s generally some thing you can do with the gentle that you have.  For illustration, at Volubilis, the light-weight was horrible for landscape photography, but the shadows and tones created it excellent for black and white.

I truly have to have to start reminding myself to no use lousy light as an excuse use it as a obstacle to try out a little something distinctive.

What is Future?

You have maybe browse about my escape from Morocco.  But, there is a movie about it coming up on my YouTube channel on Wednesday.  Then, I believe I have a couple merchandise I want to overview for you guys like the NiSi switch.  I’m also trying to make the most of my time in isolation listed here in the United kingdom, and I have a sneaky pictures vlog prepared.  The images podcast is also back.  I’m likely to test to publish 5 days a week above there.

Then, actually, I never know.  I’m hopeful that we’ll be back again on the highway soon.  Our condominium in Portugal is pretty much finished, I’d like to move in.  I’m nonetheless hopeful for my journeys to Iceland and Georgia too.  So, here’s hoping for some extra adventures before long.  Possibly I’ll do a tiny little bit extra black and white photography out on them.

British isles citizens have criticised the government’s £75m repatriation programme as far too very little, far too late and far too expensive.

British holidaymakers looking for to fly residence from the Philippines need to shell out £1,000 for a repatriation flight – 4 periods a lot more than travellers flown dwelling from Peru.

In typical occasions, connecting flights by means of Istanbul cost all over £350 1 way.

The Overseas Business office has organised two constitution flights from the Filipino funds, Manila, to London Heathrow, to bring again holidaymakers stranded when the region banned intercontinental flights in response to the coronavirus disaster.

They will use Philippine Airlines relatively than any of the British isles carriers that have agreed to repatriate British citizens.

Just one aircraft is scheduled to depart at noon on Tuesday 7 April, with a second an hour later on.

Connecting flights will operate from Cebu, Bohol, Puerto Princesa and Siargao for British travellers in this locations.

But some United kingdom citizens say the price is also high. Paul Swords tweeted: “Cannot find the money for it, thank you and fantastic night.”

Dan Gadsden wrote on Twitter: “Russia repat flights €100, Germany €200, France €250. All immediate from Cebu.

“Follow the precedent set listed here and subsidise, people can not manage £1,000.”

Ahead of the £75m airline was introduced, travellers from Peru ended up offered connecting flights from Cusco and Arequipa to Lima, jointly with nonstop flights on British Airways to Heathrow.

They had been not essential to pay back in progress and as an alternative signed an settlement to repay £250 on arrival in the United kingdom.

The price for every mile from Lima to London was 4p. In distinction, travellers from Manila ought to shell out 15p for every mile.

Novem Abellana tweeted: “How about me, an NHS Nurse? I departed Manchester on 9 March and arrived in Cebu on 10 March, the date it was declared pandemic. I experienced booked two flights for 28 March, but all ended up cancelled, even now waiting refund. “Please incorporate me if there are any repatriation, and make it absolutely free/low-cost.”

Travellers from India – from wherever 7 rescue flights will be working in the upcoming week – are remaining asked to fork out up to £681 a person way, a level of 14p for every mile.

The Independent has questioned the International Business for a response.

Even though there are a array of world-wide travel limitations currently in area, this doesn’t imply you want to place your travel designs permanently on hold. To the opposite, now is the time to dream and look in advance at fresh options. What greater area to offer destination inspiration than the breathtaking Caribbean ABC Islands?

The a few most westerly islands in the Caribbean Sea, identified to the north of Venezuela, are the Netherland Antilles ABC islands – specifically Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao. Giving a entirely Caribbean experience packed with one of a kind flora and fauna, this beautiful trio are positioned in 50 miles of each other, earning island-hopping on a superyacht constitution a breeze.

Aruba

Blessed with idyllic shorelines and an interesting record, Aruba is just one of the most culturally various nations in the Caribbean. At close to 21 miles long and 6 miles extensive, Aruba was first colonized around the 12 months 1000 by Venezuelan natives.

In the 17th century Dutch settlers arrived, which is why these days most Arubans speak Dutch along with Papiamento Creole. With a little inhabitants but extensive ethnic range, Aruba splits extra than 90 nationalities concerning a populace of 100,000 persons. Reflected in the island’s society and cuisine, Haitians, Dominicans and Columbians are all represented. With no main towns for every se, the island is designed up of 6 districts, namely Noord, Oranjestad, Paradera, San Nicolas, Santa Cruz and Savaneta.

The unofficial funds of society is Aruba’s most southerly district, San Nicolas, nicknamed the Dawn Aspect. Right here the streets are adorned with brightly colored murals by intercontinental avenue artists and each and every year the isle welcomes the Aruba Artwork Good. Delicacies here is a heady mix of each individual ethnic cuisine conceivable. Regular Aruban dishes of cornflour flatbread, beef stew and stuffed cheese are delightful and of course the seafood is contemporary just about every working day. Occupying pretty much 1 fifth of Aruba, Arikok Countrywide Park is 8,000 acres of safeguarded wilderness, crammed with the natural way taking place swimming pools or ‘conchis’ that pepper the east coast, featuring secured swimming. Head north to check out the Ayo rock formations, with panoramic sights of the island alone -notably fascinating are the Casibari Boulders that the Caiquetio Indians viewed as sacred.

As one of the beach front capitals of the Caribbean, Aruba boasts a lot of entire world-course sandy stretches lapped by turquoise waters. Serene seas, sweeping coastlines and excellent white sand can make for some certainly spectacular sights when approaching by yacht. No matter whether you seek reef-crammed strands for snorkelling and diving or wave-kissed coves for windsurfing thrills, the various assortment has some thing for anyone right here. Discovered on the wild eastern coast, Boca Grandi is breath-using. Popular with kitesurfers, the remote area implies you frequently have it all to your self – plus the incredible Tortuga Beach front Bar. Family members friendly Palm Seaside, gorgeous Infant Seaside and eco-wealthy Arashi Seaside are all highly favoured, giving comfortable attraction and amazing sights.

Bonaire

Unspoiled and breath-using, Bonaire is the perfect getaway island and 1 of the Caribbean’s finest stored insider secrets. Measuring just 294 sq. kilometres and property to around 19,000 citizens, the island’s elegant temperature and intriguing tradition are a large draw. With some of the world’s clearest waters for underwater adventures and best cruising grounds for superyachts to take pleasure in, this is an island for h2o lovers. Nature below is a massive pull for visitors and all coastal regions have been declared a maritime park that is now world famed for its conservation endeavours.

Apart from the excellent prospects on or beneath the waves, there are also a host of wonderful points to do and see on land in Bonaire. Rincon is Bonaire’s oldest town and also the oldest settlement in the ABC islands. Strategically designed in a valley to ward off invaders, this is exactly where you can see the 130+ yr old, historical past-filled Museo Chich’i Tan dwelling. Owning been the centre of the Caribbean’s salt marketplace for hundreds of years, the evaporation ponds on Bonaire cultivate breathtaking pink colored flats that make a fascinating visit. These are washed and stacked into tall pyramids that are then processed and delivered all around the entire world. Stroll as a result of the primary browsing district of Kaya Grandi and love the amazing architecture. The vibrant colonial-design properties right here day back again to the late 1800’s.

Hosting an abundance of incredible coral reefs and well-established shipwrecks, diving in Bonaire is chic with sites that are guarded from currents. Suitable for all skill amounts, this underwater paradise functions much more than 350 species of fish and 57 smooth and stony coral. Close by, uninhabited Klein Bonaire is only available by water. Surrounded by reefs it is a common dive and snorkel spot in greatest seclusion. Get an exhilarating kayak tour of Lac Bay mangrove forests – recognized as the nursery, you can notice newborn rays, seahorses and lobster thriving in the seagrass meadows below.

With an exceptional food scene, regionally sourced develop is divine and whole of flavour. There is an extraordinary blend of substantial-conclusion eateries and waterfront places to eat, giving genuine, classic fare. Sample the world’s only cactus liqueur, vivid green and built from the abundant, regional cadushi cactus – do not skip the probability for a tour of the Cadushy Distillery.

Curaçao

Wildly organic and crammed with wonderful seclusion off the beaten observe, Curaçao is a slice of paradise. With friendly locals, a yr-round temperate climate and limitless routines, this vibrant island genuinely packs a scenic punch. Consider a stroll close to the lively pedestrianised Punda Willemstad where quaint streets and alleys are comprehensive of shops, cafes and picturesque terraces. Background enthusiasts will relish the possibility to check out museums, plantations and colonial mansions.

From a yacht you can discover the abundant biodiversity and all-natural attractiveness of gorgeous limestone formations and the famed Madonna statue within the Hato Caves, fulfill turtles at the Shete Boka Countrywide Park and check out waves crash in opposition to an underground cave at Boka Tabla for an extraordinary knowledge. Soak up the sunshine throughout 35 spectacular beach locations, with golden stretches of sand and glowing turquoise waters. The compact seashore at Boka Sami is fantastic for snorkelling and diving with a fishing pier, a salt marsh trail behind and some wonderful community dining establishments. Diving is a nationwide pastime in Curaçao, with a vast array of sites and wrecks to discover. At Santa Martha there are numerous web sites with the remains of a modest airplane the place the conditions are perfect for using near-up macro images. Barracuda Point, also named Punt’I Piku, near Barbara Beach front at the mouth of Spanish Water is awash with barracudas and lively reef existence. Kathy’s Paradise in close proximity to Newport lives up to its title with a healthier reef protected in coral and sponges, ideally mixed with a dive at Smokey’s the place expertise divers will uncover overhangs and steep fall-offs.

Sail to Klein Curaçao, a small, desolate island of volcanic rock off the primary coastline, with the longest and whitest seashores. Listed here divers, snorkellers and fishing fans alike will be effectively catered for. Visit the narrow channel flanked by rocky cliffs to accessibility Playa Lagun, with a variety of bright reef fish and turtles to uncover among corals and sponges. Equally, character enthusiasts will appreciate Playa Santa Cruz, surrounded by a mangrove swamp that appeals to a host of intriguing neighborhood birds.
When the sun sets, the entertaining does not end in Curaçao. The multitude of lively restaurants, lounge bars, seaside golf equipment and casinos, make sure that amusement and cocktails go on into the early several hours.

As with the broader travel industry, the yachting market has felt the effect of logistical limits from COVID-19. Nevertheless, bookings are however getting designed with elevated adaptability in put, and charter brokers are quickly readily available to enable with potential programs for your subsequent terrific escape.

Nicholas Dean is Handling Associate of Ocean Independence. Ocean Independence is a world-wide leader in luxury yachting, offering a bespoke expertise across yacht constitution, income and administration.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxurious Vacation Web site in get to elevate your profile, please get in touch with us.

British citizens stranded in India by the coronavirus lockdown must wait several more days for the first repatriation flights to the UK – which will initially serve only three locations across a vast country.

Scheduled flights to, from and within India have been suspended until 14 April, and tight restrictions are in place for domestic travel.

The British high commission in Delhi has announced “a first round of charter flights” from India, beginning on Sunday.

Seven India UK repatriation flights will commence on Wednesday 8 April from Goa to London Stansted. There will be additional departures from India’s leading resort location on Friday and Sunday. The one-way fare is £681.

Further flights will take-off from each of Delhi and Mumbai to London Heathrow on Thursday and Saturday. The fare is £581 from Delhi, £600 from Mumbai.

The British high commissioner, Jan Thompson, said in video statement: “Due to the current travel restrictions in India, it is only possible to book these flights if you are already in the state of departure.

“But please do not worry if you are not. Further information will follow on flights running from other locations in India.”

The repatriation flights are being organised as part of a £75m Foreign Office airlift announced by Dominic Raab. They are open only to British nationals, their spouses or partners and their children.

Passengers must register online through a commercial events company, CTM, but are warned: “Registration does not guarantee a place on a flight. “Those who are not allocated a place on a flight will be put on a waitlist for the next available set of flights.”

Travellers hoping to book are warned: “Anyone found not eligible to fly will be denied boarding and we reserve the right to deduct an administration fee before offering any refund.”

Prospective passengers must declare whether they are displaying any of the symptoms of coronavirus, including fever, dry cough or shortness of breath, and will not be allowed to travel if they are.

Passengers allowed to travel will probably be picked up from their current location, though some may be asked to meet at a muster point.

Anyone whose visas has expired must apply online for an extension before they are allowed to leave India.

The announcement of the flights prompted a furious response from British nationals elsewhere in India.

“Gol mol” tweeted: “Most British Asians are in Punjab, you claim you are ‘looking’ to see where large numbers are? STOP looking, you have all our details, NOW pull your finger out.”

Some British travellers complained the fare was too high. In normal times, one-way fares under £300 are widely available from Delhi and Mumbai to the UK.

Ashok Bharakda tweeted: “This is daylight robbery. What happened to the £75m allocated by Raab?”

There are also concerns about whether there will be any “social distancing” on board the aircraft. Around 2,000 passengers could be brought back on the seven flights, but this number would be sharply reduced if travellers are allocated seats with empty spaces between them.

The high commission said in a statement: “We are looking to arrange flights from other locations in India, where we know there are large numbers of British nationals.

“We will run flights based on need and circumstances.”

Several other countries have already operated repatriation flights from India to rescue their citizens, with Air France running multiple departures from Delhi to Paris. Some countries are believed have collected their citizens from a wider area in coaches.

So far the main focus for UK repatriation flights has been on Peru. British Airways has flown four Boeing 777s from Lima to London.

Other flights are being operated on behalf of the Foreign Office from Bolivia, Ecuador and the Philippines.

What a month it has been. Amid all the doom and gloom of the coronavirus pandemic, there are some positive stories that deserve to be heard, many of which come from within one of the industries most severely hit: travel. Sadly, these are often overlooked, so here I share with you just a small handful of some of the many ways that the travel industry is offering its support despite all the turmoil it currently finds itself in.

This is by no means an exhaustive list, but really just a snapshot of some of the many things going on; if you have other similar ‘good news’ stories to share that exemplify how the travel industry is doing its bit to help, please feel free to share them in the comments below.

Aviation

VistaJet is helping to ensure that those with critical travel requirements during this time of uncertainty are able to keep moving. Understanding the global community’s needs as the world works to respond to the evolving situation on COVID-19, VistaJet continues to identify new ways to be of help through its global network and infrastructure. The company is working directly with governments and consulates around the world, helping them to repatriate citizens by providing complimentary empty leg flights.

EasyJet has written to 9,000 UK-based staff, of whom 4,000 are trained in CPR, to invite them to volunteer for further training before helping out at the critical care field hospitals in London, Birmingham and Manchester. And Virgin Atlantic is contacting 4,000 of its employees with relevant skills that can be put to good use at the sites. Volunteers may perform support roles, such as changing beds under the guidance of trained nurses, and will continue to be paid by the airlines.

JetBlue has been using its empty planes to shuttle incoming medical volunteers to New York State free of charge.

Hotels and resorts

To care for communities impacted by the current global health crisis, Hyatt has made a donation of RMB 2 million to the China Women’s Development Foundation, a national public foundation that has been actively working to support the emergency relief works, including the donation of medical equipment and care programs for frontline medical members and their families during this crisis. The China Women’s Development Foundation has been operating two emergency relief programs to help the COVID-19 situation in Hubei province, particularly in Wuhan, the initial epicenter of the COVID-19 virus. The money will primarily go towards the purchasing of critical medical equipment such as respiration machines for local hospitals. Any remaining funds will be used for their “Jia Yu Anti-virus White Angel Project”, which provides protection gear, daily life essentials as well as family care and support to frontline medical workers.

Virgin Limited Edition are more than aware of some of the very vulnerable communities in which their properties operate. That’s why they are committed to retaining all of their local on-site nurses and medical centres to support their staff and the local communities. In South Africa, their Pride ‘n Purpose charity has already formed a COVID Support Volunteer Group that is now helping to educate some of the poorest and most at risk communities, as well as providing essential medical and food supplies. Together with Virgin Unite, they are now developing further plans to ensure they continue to support all of those communities – across all of their properties, during this ongoing crisis.

Andrew Ashcroft, is taking the lead on humanitarian work to support Belize by donating and raising over $60,000 (BZE) to transform a school into hospital on Ambergris Caye. Andrew has also kept his staff employed at Banyan Bay Suites, Grand Colony Villas and Alaia Belize (first Marriott in Belize) to ensure they’re supported financially and able to receive medical benefits. Additionally, his father, Lord Ashcroft has donated $10 million (BZE) to help Belize overcome COVID-19.

The Four Seasons Hotel New York, which is located on East 57th Street but is temporarily closed, is housing doctors, nurses and other medical workers free of charge. It is situated near a number of hospitals, including Mount Sinai, New York Presbyterian and Bellevue. Similar offers have since been extended by The Plaza Hotel on Central Park South, the St. Regis New York, Yotel and boutique hotels such as Midtown’s Room Mate Grace and the Wythe on the Brooklyn waterfront.

STAY in Hawley Wharf, Camden is offering bedrooms within its apartments for those working tirelessly to protect the country in nearby London hospitals. This offering will last for an initial one-month with a view to extend both the time frame and the number of beds if the cause requires it.

Over in China, LUX* Resorts & Hotels are ensuring their local communities are well looked after during these uncertain times. Both of the group’s properties in China, LUX* Tea Horse Road Lijang and LUX* Tea Horse Road Benzilan, are running regular food deliveries to those who are most vulnerable and unable to leave their homes during the ongoing period of self-isolation.

In response to the coronavirus pandemic, ILUNION Hotels has placed its hotel chain at the disposal of the Community of Madrid’s political and health authorities to take in patients across their 3 Madrid properties with mild cases of coronavirus, who need to isolate themselves during the coming weeks and cannot do so in their own homes.

The Deer Path Inn is launching an “Inn Good Times” online auction, offering exclusive experiences (including private mixology lessons with the inn’s chief spirits officer, a dinner for two in the private wine cellar, and more) to the highest bidders. All money raised will go to local Lake Forest, IL businesses impacted hardest by the government’s COVID-19 shutdown.

The Landal Gwel an Mor resort in Portreath, Cornwall are supporting the fight against coronavirus by providing free accommodation to doctors and nurses working at the Royal Cornwall Hospital. With the resort a short drive away from the county’s main hospital, the holiday centre is working with the NHS to offer a comfortable and convenient place to stay for local health workers, allowing them to continue with their vital roles. Doctors and nurses have moved in, with the majority staying at the resort as they have vulnerable family members, so need to be away from their homes to continue their work plus those who have returned to the area to assist with the ‘NHS needs you’ recruitment push.

Little Emperors, the private members luxury hotel club is donating 50% of all new member sign-ups and referrals and 10% of all renewal fees in March, April and May to Heroes+. Their mission is to support the welfare and wellbeing of NHS staff as they fight COVID-10. Their aims are to support the physical, mental, and day to day wellbeing of NHS staff across the nation. Physically to support the protection of the staff on the frontline. Mentally they aim to provide counselling and psychological services. Day to day they want to set up a hassle -free small grants service to support childcare, transport, to provide perks for hospital facilities and more.

Quinta do Lago resort in the Algarve is doing a couple of community/charity focused initiatives to support local communities throughout this time, such as donating all produce that could not be used in the now-closed restaurants to local welfare charities in Quarteira and Almancil.

The Ranch at Rock Creek, a glamping retreat in rural Philipsburg, Montana (www.theranchatrockcreek.com) is providing food and assistance for the elderly located in extremely remote areas of the surrounding Granite County. This is a true frontier area with 2 people per square mile and 65% of its population is over the age of 60, so this assistance has been vital.

Silversands Grenada, a luxury resort on the Caribbean island of Grenada, is using its final hours before the island goes on lockdown to deliver care packages, food and water to hospital workers and police officers stationed at road check stations. The property also regularly works with a network of single mother farmers through a program called GRENROP to purchase the majority of produce for its restaurants, providing financial support and stability for the community year-round.

Acre Resort in Los Cabos, which has a working farm that normally provides 70% of the ingredients for the restaurant’s farm-to-table menu, is distributing the daily haul from the farm to the local community instead as the restaurant and hotel are now temporarily closed. Each day the hotel’s owners and small remaining farm staff will share the harvest with those in need.

The Beverly Hills Hotel is protecting its employees’ jobs and salaries regardless of the duration of the pandemic and donating its famous McCarthy salads to medical workers in Los Angeles. The hotel is also delivering 400 meals to the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

The Crescent Hotel Beverly Hills in partnership with Chef 2 Door (C2D) is giving away 200 free chef-created boxed meals for curb-side pickup in Beverly Hills.

JW Marriott Grand Rapids is supporting local organization Kids’ Food Basket by provide evening meals and other nutritional services to children in need and donating 20 percent of every bill from curbside pick-up orders from the hotel’s French bistro, Margaux.

Family owned and operated, Bluefields Bay Villas is a collection of six all-inclusive luxury villas located on Jamaica’s south coast, where the island’s countryside meets the sea. While the resort’s doors are closed during this time, Washington D.C. native Braxton Moncure and his family have forgoed their salaries, committed to covering health insurance for all employees, providing a weekly $2,000 stipend for any team members who are 55 years and older and offering complimentary lunch for those in need seven days a week.

Kimpton Fitzroy London, in the heart of Bloomsbury, is serving free breakfast and lunch to healthcare and emergency workers, service industry employees, and local residents.

Restaurants

Michelin-starred restaurant Alchemilla in Nottingham, UK, is launching a home delivery service for self-isolating customers and offering free meals to frontline NHS staff.

Maximilian Strohe and Ilona Scholl, owners of the Michelin-starred Tulus Lotrek, decided they would do something to help. For the last few weeks, they have been providing gourmet meals to hospitals and other healthcare institutions in Berlin – free of charge.

AOK Kitchen, Kelly Landesberg’s restaurant, is helping with the family’s Corona Care Challenge initiative and producing thousands of individual portions of favourite homemade meals like lasagne, shepherd’s pie and stews. Head Chef Kostas Rampias has enlisted a team of chefs to help him prepare the meals which are then delivered to NHS hospital loading bays around London. So far, they have reached 15 hospitals and are seeing a demand for several more as hospital workers are messaging the team directly. They hope to continue this incredible momentum for as long as they can, but they need continued funds to meet the demand. They have also recently asked for any companies that can, to donate beauty products such as lip balm, hand cream and face cream for the NHS workers that are struggling with wearing masks all day every day.

Wellness

Six Senses has launched a new initiative called At Home with Six Senses which offers new free online wellness programming for sheltering in place. Offerings include different guided meditations and healthy recipe/cooking demonstrations on the brand’s Facebook page.

Tour operators

Ecuador tour operator and DMC, Metropolitan Touring, has been working hand-in-hand with the Ecuadorian Government Council to help them acquire testing and health equipment to further combat the spread and impact of COVID-19 in the Galapagos Islands. The group’s chairman, Roque Sevilla, has committed to contributing US$ 200,000 in funds and together with other boat operators in the archipelago, Metropolitan Touring have been working on a plan to create a virtual call centre for the Galapagos manned by the medical officers whom usually attend guests aboard their fleet of 3 expedition vessels. The call center is now live and aims to support the health authorities on the islands by answering inhabitants’ calls and web chats about their suspected symptoms. An integral part of the tourism sector in the Galapagos Islands for over 50 years, the company is eager to do their utmost to support the Galapagos Government Council at this difficult time. As part of the State of Emergency declared by the Ecuadorian government, and to safeguard the population of the islands and minimize the risk of the infection, the government has limited access to the islands by plane to those carrying cargo and emergency staff only.

Ultra-luxe Africa travel specialist ROAR AFRICA is focused on bringing an end to illegal wildlife trade, which is the root cause of the COVID-19 pandemic. Their efforts differ from the many physical/in-kind gestures that many luxury hospitality brands have initiated but are equally impactful and significant. For example, ROAR AFRICA has an Emirates Private Jet Safari taking place in September of this year, priced at $125,000 per person for up to 10 people. The trip has been planned since last November, and while there was a charitable component built into it to make it carbon positive and benefit organizations on the ground in Africa, 100% of the proceeds of the trip will be donated to benefit the Great Plains Conservancy.

Original Travel launched a campaign called At Your Service. The idea is to show their thanks to the workforce of the NHS by gathering together a group of like-minded Great British Brands to offer goods and services from their fields of expertise that can be won by members of the NHS team through a free to enter raffle which will open on 7th April (World Health Day).

Venues

ExCeL London – the venue for the World Travel Market each year and one of the largest covered spaces in London – has been transformed into a 4,000 bed coronavirus hospital and re-branded as NHS Nightingale. With more than 80 wards each containing 42 beds, NHS Nightingale will become one of the biggest hospitals in the world and will play a major part in fighting the coronavirus in the UK.

In a further effort to help and support the community, LABS is offering its largest event space, Camden House, plus a number of private offices across its buildings, for the emergency services and critical call centres to use as they require. The 13,000 sq ft of space at Camden House will become a ‘common room’ for those on the frontline with complimentary tea and coffee provided day and night.

Miami Beach Convention Center is donating excess, unopened food from cancelled meetings and galas to local charities via Food Rescue US, a platform that matches last-minute food donations with volunteers who can pick up and deliver it to a local charity or source in need.

In Lexington, KY, VisitLEX and Keeneland Racecourse (the famed race track where Derby qualifying races usually take place) have teamed up with non-profit community kitchen FoodChain to launch NOURISH LEX – an initiative supporting the local hospitality industry by hiring displaced restaurant  workers  to cook  fresh, healthy food  for locals and their families. Keeneland has already  donated 1,500 pounds of dry goods (which had been previously ordered for their spring race meet) to FoodChain.  The model is such that it can be lifted and rolled out at other restaurants in the future.

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