Vancouver, B.C. –October 4th, 2023 – Coast Hotels Limited, a fully owned subsidiary of APA Hotel Canada, Inc. and one of North America’s fastest-growing and one of Canada’s largest hotel brands, hosted the 21^st Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic in July of this year. This tournament, supported by over 25 partner vendors, a fully sold-out field of golfers, and a dinner attended by over 180 guests raised valuable funds for two charities this year: the ALS Society of BC and the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre.

“Giving back to the communities we live, work, and operate in is woven into the fabric of Coast Hotels and aligns closely with our values,” said Mr. Jin Sasaki, President of Coast Hotels. “The opportunity to support the valuable and important work of each of these organizations is a privilege.”

Nina Krieger, Executive Director of the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre noted that the donation will help fund their ongoing commitment and ability to develop and deliver Holocaust-based anti-racism education programs across British Columbia.

Coast Hotels has a very personal connection to the ALS Society of British Columbia, as Shuhachi Naito, a former executive and long-time Coast Ambassador lost his battle to ALS in 2014. “It was through Shu that we came to know of the important work that the ALS Society of British Columbia is doing to support medical advances and to assist ALS patients and families with impactful programs and services”, stated Mark Hope, Senior Vice President Development for Coast Hotels. “We know the difference that Wendy Toyer, Executive Director, and the whole ALS Society team are making in helping combat this horrible disease.”

The 21^st Annual Coast Hotels Shuhachi Naito Golf Classic raised over $80,000.00 this year and has surpassed $1,200,000.00 in funds donated to charities since its inception. Next year’s tournament will be held on Thursday, July 11, 2024.

We’ve gained a new weapon in the fight against harmful and often antibiotic-resistant pathogens with the development of a unique material engineered to limit disease spread and replace current cumbersome cleaning protocols on high-touch surfaces like door knobs and hand rails.

Using the Canadian Light Source (CLS) at the University of Saskatchewan (USask), researchers from the University of Windsor (UWindsor) have developed and tested a compound of ionic (salt-based) fluids and copper nanoparticles that can coat surfaces and provide germ-free protection that lasts far longer than conventional bleach-based cleaning. For Dr. Abhinandan (Ronnie) Banerjee, the composite material is far superior to “somebody with bleach and a rag trying to keep surfaces sanitized.”

Early in the Covid-19 pandemic, Banerjee and colleagues on the UWindsor’s Trant Team -- a research group focused on synthetic bioorganic materials -- set their sights on improving sanitizing protocols, which at the time often involved frequent application of compounds like bleach. “The problem with conventional sanitization techniques is it’s not a one-and-done kind of thing,” they said. “It requires a dedicated employee or automation” to keep surfaces germ free. Additionally, frequent wiping of a surface can etch the underlying material, creating even more opportunities for pathogens to gather.

The team came up with a material that takes advantage of copper’s natural germicidal properties. Now they’re formulating a new combination of materials that will be easy to apply to surfaces and durable. Banerjee explained the copper nanoparticles are electrostatically attracted to the cell walls of pathogens, “which they weaken and break down, essentially causing bacterial annihilation.”

The group’s results are published in the journal RSC Sustainability under the creative title “Lethal Weapon IL (Ionic Liquid).” A recently awarded provisional patent gives Banerjee and their team time to find an industrial sponsor to aid in the eventual commercialization of the microbial coating material.

Sima Dehghandokht, a UWindsor PhD student who brought her food microbiology expertise to the Trant group two years ago, said the material’s potential applications go beyond door knobs, hand rails and elevator buttons, to include hospitals, greenhouses, agri-food production facilities and even scientific labs “where we deal with pathogens and harmful bacteria all the time. This could make scientists’ lives easier.”

It is important, she added, to consider the harmful environmental effects of antimicrobials like bleach, given they need repeated applications and then product disposal.

Both researchers acknowledge there are still questions to be answered about the copper-based material. Determining exactly how long the coating remains effective is an important next step, as is exploring the antimicrobial effects of other nanoparticles like zinc and iron, both of which are “literally dirt cheap,” said Banerjee. “We need to look at how changing the properties of the nanoparticles may have an effect on extending the antimicrobial life of the coating but also maybe killing more aggressive bacteria that are not easily killed by a simple rub with bleach.”

“We also need to check the toxicity of the compound,” said Dahghandokht, to determine if contact with the material could cause an allergic reaction. Fortunately, the Trant Team has access to a 3D bioprinter that can replicate human skin cell lines for further testing.

Banerjee and Dahghandokht agree having access to CLS technology is, and remains, critical to the development of their antimicrobial coating.

“We could not have done this work without the high-intensity light of the CLS,” Banerjee said. “We were able to see what’s happening with the copper nanoparticles over time and how they released a payload that is toxic to bacteria. It (the CLS) has been an integral part of this research.”

Announced during the World Tourism Day celebrations in Riyadh, "Tourism Opens Minds" will showcase the powerful role that tourism plays in bridging cultures and promoting a more interconnected and harmonious world. To mark the launch, delegates gathered in Riyadh were presented with a special Pledge calling on them to actively work to promote new and under-appreciated destinations.

Tourism Recovering – But Old Patterns Remain

World Tourism Day 2023 was held as new data from UNWTO underscored the sector's recovery from the impacts of the pandemic. At the same time, however, research suggests that only a minority of tourists intend to seek out new or different destinations as they start travelling again.

According the UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, global tourism is on track to recover 80% and 95% international arrival numbers by the end of 2023.

Notably, however, a recent YouGov survey found that 66% of tourists believe that travelling to a place that provides familiarity is important. Just under half of respondents feel uncomfortable travelling to places they know little about.

This is despite the fact that, of those that do travel to new destinations, 83% agree that they come back with a changed or broadened perspective.

The data shows the need for initiatives such as 'Tourism Open Minds' to encourage consumers to diversify their travel habits, with UNWTO uniting the global sector behind this aim. The initiative also aims at allowing government officials, sector leaders and consumers help to mitigate the impacts of over-tourism, foster mutual understanding, conserve the environment and ensure equitable growth of the sector.

"A Unifying Force" For Good

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: "To ensure true global prosperity, we must work together to ensure that every country can harness the potential of a thriving tourism industry. The sector serves as a unifying force, fostering cultural understanding, strengthening bonds between societies, and championing environmental preservation.

"The 'Tourism Opens Minds' initiative extends a compelling invitation for travelers to broaden their horizons and explore the uncharted corners of our world. By doing so, it not only reveals the beauty of diverse destinations but also nurtures an appreciation for the cultures and people who call these places home."

His Excellency Ahmed Al-Khateeb, Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, said:"Since embarking on our tourism journey, Saudi Arabia has been committed to enhancing the sector and generating an impact extends beyond borders. Our contributions including pivotal partnerships such as the establishment of the UNWTO Middle East office in Riyadh, the creation of the Riyadh School for Travel and Hospitality and hosting record-breaking editions of the WTTC Global Forum and UNWTO World Tourism Day, underscore the immense potential of the sector when people from across the globe are united and connected.

"The UNWTO 'Tourism Opens Minds' Initiative is another important milestone for the tourism sector, and its launch at World Tourism Day in Riyadh is a continuation of our many previous commitments to the global tourism sector."

Tourism Leaders Pledge to Act

In Riyadh, high-level guests at the World Tourism Day celebrations were invited to agree to a Pledge, representing their shared commitment to work together to:

Make lesser-known destinations more welcoming and accessible;

Help to cater to, and foster, an environment that compliments trips to lesser-known destinations;

To be more open-minded to new cultures and destinations.

A new symbol to represent the initiative was also unveiled. Inspired by the colors of the flags of every country in the world, the symbol acts as a visual representation of working together to recognize the power of tourism in fostering cultural connections and sustainable growth for all.

Francis Léonard, CEO of Tip&Go, is proud to welcome Ken Minogue and his teams as authorized agents for the company in Canada.

Ken is the founder of Key Card Ads and one of the founders and principals of MTech Locks which boasts over 2500 installations in North America and 22 Employees in Canada. Ken is a veteran of professional services and international business development. He has worked in marketing for a variety of organizations, from large public companies to small/medium sized Alberta (Canada) businesses. Through each experience, Ken has added to an impressive skill set and gained business experience. With a passion for guiding and assisting his clients and partners with realizing their business goals, Ken will be supporting the Tip&Go team in Canada.

‘Ken has an impressive list of contacts in Canada with major hotel chains. With 7 account executives located all over the country, he will be a major asset for Tip&Go!’ said Francis Léonard.

Tip&Go

Tip&Go offers the hotel industry a modern, turnkey solution that is quick and easy to use for customers and employees. Tip&Go replaces the traditional envelope with an electronic Tip&Go envelope! Eliminates management and transaction costs for the hotel. Improves employee satisfaction and retention: tips can increase staff compensation by up to 30% without affecting the hotel's bottom line. Attract and retain talent, a daily source of motivation for existing team members.

Canadian sales teams:

BC: Justin Taylor This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

SK, MB: Robert Thompson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

AB: Ken Minogue This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

ON: Cathi Krewicki This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

QC: Jonathan Bourgeois This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Canada: Zach Thompson This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Major account: Éric Douay This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.