Daily Archives: November 26, 2020

This AI-enabled Mars exploration rover is as adorable as WALL-E! – Yanko Design

Posted: November 26, 2020 at 10:49 pm

Inhabitating a planet other than Earth is the next frontier for humankind, and were inching closer to that elusive dream, thanks to the rapid developments in science and technology. Already NASA has conducted unmanned missions on the Red Planet, and visionaries like Elon Musk already have their eyes set on colonizing Mars by 2050. This elusive dream has ignited the imagination of many who envision the future scenario, wherein, humans will rule the Red Planet.

This advanced rover christened Robonetica Explorer 1.0 is the culmination of the intuitive design thinkers AltSpace, Dmitry Lebedko, Dmitry Egorov, Oleg Butov, Yaroslav Goglev, Rashid Tagirov and Timur Mullya. The concept zeros-in on the importance of AI in the not so distant future. In fact, the Robonetica Explorer 1.0 is an AI and robotics platform envisioned by these young minds giving us a glimpse of what things could be like 4-5 decades in the future. Looking like an amalgam of the raw WALL-E robot and the sophisticated EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator) the swift robot will scout the planets surface for explorations missions. It has a fully movable head with advanced cameras and sensors presumably to look for signs of life. To conquer the harshest of terrains, Robonetica Explorer 1.0 has six robust wheels mounted on individual suspensions.

The rover is a window into the future for sure and the team has designed it to be more like an interactive being than an autonomous robot. Perhaps, an advanced AI-enabled being that has feelings just like WALL-E!

Designer: AltSpace for Robonetica

Read the original here:
This AI-enabled Mars exploration rover is as adorable as WALL-E! - Yanko Design

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on This AI-enabled Mars exploration rover is as adorable as WALL-E! – Yanko Design

How long will it take to reach Mars? – SwordsToday.ie

Posted: at 10:49 pm

Elon Musk has a vision to carry one million people to Mars by 2050.

Although the CEO of SpaceX recently revealed that humans plan to live on the planets glass domes, many are still questioning how long it will take to get there, even if life on Mars is ideal?

There is a long distance between Earth and Mars, which means that any trip to the red planet will take a long time.

This is further complicated by the fact that the distances are constantly changing as the two planets revolve around the sun.

The closest distance between Earth and Mars is 33.9 million miles 9,800 times the distance between London and New York.

However this is very rare: the most useful distance is the average, i.e. 140 million miles.

Earth scientists have already launched a bunch of space probes to (or near) Mars, so we have a rough idea of how long it will take with current technology.

Historically, the voyage took 128 to 333 days a long time for humans to travel in a narrow spacecraft.

No man has ever set foot on Mars.

The Soviets first sent unmanned spacecraft to Mars in the 1960s.

NASAs Mariner 4 was the first successful space probe to orbit Mars.

This happened in 1965. In 1971, Soviet spacecraft landed on the surface of the Red Planet.

Since then, several spacecraft have been sent to explore Mars, but we will have to wait a little longer to send one person.

NASA has once again revealed its goal of sending one man to Mars by 2037.

Currently, no strong evidence of Mars past or present life has been found.

This does not mean that scientists are not looking.

There is evidence that the dry planet once had surface water and habitable conditions.

However, just because a planet has habitable conditions does not automatically mean that it has lived there or that there is life there.

Mars is the second most habitable planet in our solar system.

It is neither too hot nor too cold, and is thought to have enough gravity to adapt to the human body.

However, there is no free oxygen in the atmosphere, so humans cannot breathe if they do not receive oxygen on their own.

Humans also need to wear a pressure suit.

The soil is toxic, water is scarce, and you need protection from radiation and cold.

If any living thing on Earth wants to survive on Mars it must be in some kind of protective bubble.

Some scientists thought it could be more habitable because we could change the atmosphere of the planets.

We do not know exactly when humans will land on Mars.

NASA plans to place a man and the first woman on the moon in 2024.

After this mission, the Red Planet will be on the agenda, with current estimates that by 2030 we could see one man on Mars.

Elon Musk has previously stated that he wants to send a team of humans to Mars within the next decade.

Here is what you need to know about the red planet

Stunning footage of Tesla Roadster and Starman floating in space after the launch of the SpaceX Falcon heavy rocket

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online News Team? Email Tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368. We pay Videos With. Click here Upload Yours.

Read more:
How long will it take to reach Mars? - SwordsToday.ie

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on How long will it take to reach Mars? – SwordsToday.ie

Mars mission: Elon Musk says first settlers on Red Planet will live in glass domes – EconoTimes

Posted: at 10:48 pm

One of the goals when it comes to the upcoming Mars missions is to colonize the neighboring planet. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk recently stated that those who would become the first settlers on the red planet would have to live in glass domes.

Musk has already been planning for potential colonization of the neighboring planet as space agencies are already preparing for the upcoming Mars missions. Musk shared on Twitter that because of the lack of atmosphere on Mars, the first people who will settle there will be temporarily residing in glass domes. However, before the first settlers arrive on Mars, the red planet will have to be terraformed as soon as possible. Terraforming refers to transforming a planet to make its conditions similar to Earths which would make it habitable for humans.

Life in glass domes at first. Eventually, terraformed to support life, like Earth, tweeted Musk. Terraforming will be too slow to be relevant in our lifetime. However, we can establish a human base in our lifetime. At least a future spacefaring civilization -- discovering our ruins -- will be impressed humans got that far.

Musk previously shared that a way to terraform Mars is through the use of thermonuclear explosives in its polar regions. These regions are where the most carbon dioxide on the planet is stored. This would result in carbon dioxide getting released into the atmosphere to thicken it, and making the planet warm enough to sustain liquid water. However, the SpaceX CEO already warned of the dangers of being among the first people to set foot on Mars.

Musk previously stated that being able to make the trip to Mars, more so get to work on establishing a base on Mars is not for the faint of heart. Musk warned that the first travelers to Mars may die in the midst of an attempt to put up a base.

Meanwhile, NASAs Perseverance Rover is currently on its way to the Red Planet and will touch down on the Martian surface next year. But even as it is on its way at the moment, the agency has recorded the sounds of space as the Rover makes its way to Mars. The agency has since released the recordings of space sounds on its SoundCloud, where a faint humming noise could be heard.

Read more:
Mars mission: Elon Musk says first settlers on Red Planet will live in glass domes - EconoTimes

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on Mars mission: Elon Musk says first settlers on Red Planet will live in glass domes – EconoTimes

Japan Startup Aims to Colonize the Moon – AkihabaraNews

Posted: at 10:48 pm

Akihabara News (Japan) The Tokyo-based start-up ispace Inc. is taking further steps in an attempt to realize its vision of beginning the human colonization of the Moon within just a few years.

In its latest move, ispace opened this month a new office in Denver, Colorado, utilizing part of the approximately US$125 million that it has so far been able to raise in investment in its decade-long history.

The Japanese firm recently announced the appointment of Kyle Acierno as the CEO of its US branch and hired Kursten ONeill, who had seven years experience at SpaceX, as its US lander program director.

Upon the opening of the Denver office, ONeill stated, I truly believe exploring the Moon, Mars, and beyond is our destiny as a human race; the uniting factor to further our presence among the stars. By joining ispace to lead our US lander mission to the Moon, Im excited to bring together the best and brightest to innovate, create, and inspire an even larger shift in aerospace advancement and exploration.

Company founder and CEO Takeshi Hakamada added, We are very pleased to begin active operations in the United States, which is spearheading the global momentum toward lunar exploration. We believe we can provide value to the United States by complementing the deep US-Japan collaboration on lunar exploration as a commercial services provider operating in both countries.

ispace has opened its office in Denver mainly to more closely cooperate with its US partners, especially the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and its Commercial Lunar Payload Services program.

That program aims to begin deliveries of cargo to the Moon, setting the stage for astronauts to start landing in 2024.

Currently, ispace is completing the lander design for its Mission 1 and expects to start assembling and testing it early next year.

Three years ago, ispace produced a video outlining its 2040 Vision of a Moon colony with a thousand inhabitants. It can be viewed below.

Read the original here:
Japan Startup Aims to Colonize the Moon - AkihabaraNews

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on Japan Startup Aims to Colonize the Moon – AkihabaraNews

Elon Musks Plans for Mars Are a Huge Waste of Money and Resources – Energy & Capital

Posted: at 10:48 pm

Elon Musk wants to send settlers to colonize Mars.

He said theyll ultimately have to terraform the planet, but first, theyll live in glass domes.

He also said he hoped to populate Mars with 1 million people in just 30 years.

Now, Ive never been one to trivialize big ideas. Particularly from Musk.

What hes done in terms of launching a transition away from the outdated internal combustion engine is truly amazing.

And his reusable rocket?

The implications of that technology will absolutely change the world.

But when it comes to Musks big plans for Mars, I have to call bullshit.

And also

As reported in The Independent, terraforming in this instance is a process that is believed would make Mars more habitable for human life:

This involves blasting the planet with nuclear weapons at its poles to cause the ice caps to melt and induce accelerated warming to make it comfortable for humans to live there.

Musk said, Eventually you can transform Mars into an Earth-like planet. Theres a fast way and a slow way. The fast way is to drop thermonuclear weapons over the poles.

He also suggested"a system of giant mirrors could be placed in orbit around Mars in order to reflect sunlight onto the surface."

No one has a price tag for any of this, by the way, but we do know that, according to Musk, it will cost $500,000 to send a single person to Mars.

And if Musk is trying to get 1 million humans to the red planet, youre looking at $500 billion.

And for what?

Why would we spend a half-trillion dollars to send people to Mars?

Well, according to Musk, we must colonize Mars to preserve our species after a third world war.

Seriously?

I dont know about you, but that seems like an awful lot of money to spend to preserve a species that put itself in this precarious situation to begin with.

Perhaps we should really ask ourselves if our species is even worth preserving at all...

And if it is, maybe we should table the Mars colonization thing for a bit while we figure out how to ensure our survival on this planet. Its not that we dont have the tools, intelligence, and resources to make that happen.

I imagine that with a half-trillion dollars to spend, we could make some pretty meaningful inroads into ensuring our survival for a very long time right here on Earth.

Certainly the ROI would be a lot higher.

Look, Im not trying to trivialize the value of Musks ability to make the impossible, well, possible.

What he did with Tesla and SpaceX is truly inspirational and has made a lot of people very, very rich.

But I would never invest in some fakakta plan to put a million people on Mars. Its stupid and a giant waste of money and resources.

What isnt stupid, however, is something Musk recently mentioned about a new energy technology that he says will be much bigger than anything hes accomplished with electric cars.

And thats a pretty bold statement to make when you consider Tesla is solely responsible for launching the electric car revolution.

Today, nearly every major automaker has dozens of new electric cars in development or on the roads. And that all started after Musk showed that electric cars didnt have to be glorified golf carts and, of course, people would buy them.

The Best Free Investment You'll Ever Make

Our analysts have traveled the world over, dedicated to finding the best and most profitable investments in the global energy markets. All you have to do to join our Energy and Capital investment community is sign up for the daily newsletter below.

You''ll also get our free report, 3 Blue Chip Dividend Stocks to Double by our resident expert Christian DeHaemer.

But this new technology hes talking about has nothing to do with electric cars. In fact, Musk said this technology will not only dwarf what weve seen with the electric car, but the market will grow much, much faster.

So what is it?

And why is he so bullish on it?

Well, it is pretty incredible.

Its a new energy technology that can power the 90 million-plus buildings and homes in the U.S. alone and do it more cheaply than any fossil fuel or other renewable energy technology currently on the market.

So cheap, in fact, it can do it for virtually nothing 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Apple already has $3 billion invested in a version of this technology, and Facebook is ponying up $416 million.

Bottom line: Unless you hate money, you need to learn everything you can about this technology now, and that includes the name of the company producing it and, of course, its stock symbol.

You can get access to all this information in this recent investor note.

Theres also a special report that outlines this technology, who invented it, and how much its worth. That report can be downloaded here.

I know its Thanksgiving, and not a lot of folks are thinking about investing right now.

But I am.

And given the potential of this new technology that Elon Musk is salivating over, Id be a fool not to.

Click here to learn more.

To a new way of life and a new generation of wealth...

Jeff Siegel

@JeffSiegel on Twitter

Jeff is the founder and managing editor of Green Chip Stocks, a private investment community that capitalizes on opportunities in alternative energy, organic food markets, legal cannabis, and socially responsible investing. He has been a featured guest on Fox, CNBC, and Bloomberg Asia, and is the author of the best-selling book, Investing in Renewable Energy: Making Money on Green Chip Stocks. For more on Jeff, go to his editor's page.

Trillions will be spent to secure the world's energy supply over the next two decades...and all sources are on the table. Oil, natural gas, solar, wind. There will be money made. Follow the money trail. Sign up for Energy and Capital now - it's entirely free!

We never spam! View our Privacy Policy

After getting your report, youll begin receiving the Energy and Capital e-Letter, delivered to your inbox daily.

See more here:
Elon Musks Plans for Mars Are a Huge Waste of Money and Resources - Energy & Capital

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on Elon Musks Plans for Mars Are a Huge Waste of Money and Resources – Energy & Capital

The Interplanetary Transport Platform and Space Travel Community Network – Your Digital Wall

Posted: at 10:48 pm

(YourDigitalWall Editorial):- San Francisco, Oct 22, 2020 (Issuewire.com)Interplanetary Transport, the main information platform, network portal, and project organization was started in 2015 and founded in 2016 by Oliver Gediminas Caplikas. The official pages were registered by the founder and are saved by international rights. Most of the projects and websites are in work and will be published if they are ready so far, even if it needs some years more, especially in these times. Interplanetary Internet and international partners will support various project developments. Joint ventures, long-term cooperations, collaborations, or other sustainable partnerships are welcome. New investors and sponsors are invited to join the outstanding projects. You can get more details on the official pages and request information by the official channels.

With the right support, the main project development of the communication portal and information platform will not just inform about interesting developments for upcoming space developments and innovations for Earth, Moon, Mars, and space. Together we can work on awesome developments and projects like moon drones, space drones, space debris clean up solutions, better interplanetary internet services, and much more of awesome space stuff. Help us to reach new frontiers and horizons, for a better future on Earth and in space. Interplanetary Transport project developments like the Cargo Spacecraft project working on recyclable and reusable transport systems. Old parts of cargo ships, satellites and space crafts can be used to build big cargo ships in space. Innovative foldable containers, thin solar panels and solar foils will provide enough energy. Sustainable propulsion technologies with an alternative or renewable fuels will power the autonomous transport ships between space stations, moons and planets like Mars. Much of the materials and fuels can be mined on asteroids and the moons in future.

More on Yourdigitalwall:

For advanced space exploration and space colonization or space settlement, we need a special space station and base camp for the Moon. For advanced space travels and interplanetary transport logistics, we need a moon and mars station, a kind of hub or gateway in the orbits. Humanity and especially the space industry should rethink their space programs towards more reusable and sustainable space developments. There are much good cleantech and Greentech developments on Earth that can be used for space, lunar, and Mars missions. Many old satellites could be reactivated and upgraded as carriers for new technologies, even as simple communication node they would be useful. It is really time for startups who work on satellite or spacecraft recycling and upcycling solutions.

Another great idea is to use old space stations for future space exploration. The next generations will thank us and they will have a kind of live museum of the human history of space travel. The International Space Station can be sent into higher Earth orbit and later after the official lifespan in moon or Mars orbit or even into deep space! The station can be used as an autonomous science lab, similar to satellites with sensors and scientific equipment. It is a chance to use the ISS as an unmanned space system, network node/server, and science platform with a lot of new sensors to study our solar system. Change from wasting resources to a sustainable space economy, industry and space society. Start to clean up and recycle the space debris, use lasers, and other innovative tools for small parts. Collect bigger parts of space junk with special satellites or cargo spaceships.

Newest developments and projects are Cargo Spacecraft, Galactic Internet, Interplanetary Europe, Lunar Base Camp, Moon Base Station, Moon Drone, Moon Station EU, Solar System Internet Hub,.. tbc.

Check also the project Greening Mars. All kinds of cleantech, greening, GreenTech, and sustainable space projects or innovative ideas are welcome. Think about green spots or oases on moons and desert planets like Mars, no problem with greening space stations and greenhouse spaceships. But we need to care about our planet first! If the Earth becomes a desert planet we dont need to travel or colonize Mars. Even space exploration or space travel makes no sense with such problems on Earth which should be solved primarily. We need to reduce deforestation, desertification and global warming on planet Earth before it is too late. Each day humans destroying so many species on Earth, some of them are even unknown. The mass extinction goes on, the space programs should care more about. Lets discuss such important issues and topics. You are welcome to join the Interplanetary Internet and Interplanetary Transport network groups on Facebook and Linkedin. The founder focusing since 2017 on the climate crisis and climate change problems. Thats why he started new projects and initiatives like the Greening Deserts Greening Camps and the Trillion Trees Initiative to reduce the human-made deforestation, desertification and global warming. The projects have big potential to improve the air quality, biodiversity, soil and water quality worldwide. Humanity needs healthy environments and functioning ecosystems to expand or to be really productive. We need a healthy planet Earth for future generations and developments. Without that there wont be a real future for humanity on Earth and in space. Constructive feedback, useful advises and real support is always welcome.

Interesting space quotes:

As we begin to comprehend that the earth itself is a kind of manned spaceship hurtling through the infinity of space it will seem increasingly absurd that we have not better organized the life of the human family. Hubert H. Humphrey

Human exploration and colonization of Mars will keep us busy for hundreds, even thousands, of years. During that time, there will be advances in nanotechnology, space sailing, robotics, biomolecular engineering, and artificial intelligence. These advances are occurring even now, affecting our outlook about what it means to be human and engage in human activity. Those technologies will not merely allow us to stay home on Earth and Mars, but our minds will extend our presence throughout the universe so that we will not need or want to extend our bodies there even if we could, which I think is doubtful. Louis Friedman

I look up at the night sky, and I know that, yes, we are part of this Universe, we are in this Universe, but perhaps more important than both of those facts is that the Universe is in us. When I reflect on that fact, I look up many people feel small because theyre small and the Universe is big, but I feel big because my atoms came from those stars. Neil deGrasse Tyson

In space, race doesnt matter, nationality doesnt matter. In space, you see the world as a globe and you dont see the boundaries. Maggie Aderin-Pocock

The exploration of space will go ahead, whether we join in it or not, and it is one of the great adventures of all time, and no nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in the race for space. John F. Kennedy

Space is for everybody. Its not just for a few people in science or math, or for a select group of astronauts. Thats our new frontier out there, and its everybodys business to know about space. Christa McAuliffe

Space tourism will bloom very soon Regular tourist flights, orbital hotelsthen the real payoff begins. I foresee an interplanetary cruise ship, a lunar cycler. Assembled in Earth orbit, this liner is given a powerful pushsending it on its way to the moon. The lunar cycler will undergo a cosmic dance: loop around the moon, return to Earth, slingshot around Earth, and return to the moon again. The round-trip will take just over a week. And every time the lunar cycler swings by Earth, itll be met by a supply ferry, maybe even restocked with champagne, and boarded by a fresh group of travelers. Buzz Aldrin

Welcome to the future of humanity. A society of developers, explorers, pioneers, and real humane humans. The case we survive the climate crisis. We need to reduce deforestation, desertification, and global warming on planet Earth before it is too late. If the Earth becomes a desert planet we dont need to travel or colonize Mars. Even space travel makes no sense with such problems on Earth which should be solved primarily. Why humanity is wasting so much money and resources for space exploration who does not help to reduce the climate crisis? Why explore space for a single new life form like bacteria or unicellular organisms? Each day humans destroying so many species on Earth, some of them are even unknown. This is really senseless and paradoxical. The mass extinction goes on, the space programs should really care more about. Oliver G. Caplikas

Read the original post:
The Interplanetary Transport Platform and Space Travel Community Network - Your Digital Wall

Posted in Mars Colonization | Comments Off on The Interplanetary Transport Platform and Space Travel Community Network – Your Digital Wall

Tree pods and beach bedrooms: Social distancing in the Maldives – CNBC

Posted: at 10:47 pm

From treetop dining to underwater villas, the Maldives is coming up imaginative ways to help travelers stay socially distanced while still enjoying a vacation.

The island nation reopened to visitors on July 15, and more than 57,000 tourists have visited since. More airlines set to resume flights this month and next. Earlier in November, the country's tourist board launched a marketing campaign with the tagline: "Isolation never looked this good."

Visitors are required to show a negative Covid-19 test and fill out an online health declaration form. Resorts have increased cleaning and added contactless check-ins, but it's the privacy and seclusion that are likely to attract travelers.

At Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi, guests can eat in a treetop, nest-like bamboo pod at a restaurant called Terra. Six "naturally distanced" nests seat two people, while a seventh can accommodate four, and the menu includes ingredients such as Alba white truffles and Wagyu beef.

Restaurant Terra at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

Ithaafushi, which comprises three interconnecting islands, has seen increased demand for Terra, as well as in-room dining, and guests can also have spa treatments and yoga classes in their villas.

Travelers can book an entire island at Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.

Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi

One of the islands can be hired in its entirety. It includes three villas, five pools and a clubhouse, as well as a chef and concierge.

The Muraka residence at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island has a master bedroom submerged 16 feet underwater. With a 180-degree curved ceiling, it is effectively guests' private aquarium. Upstairs there are indoor and outdoor lounges, a private pool and a bedroom with sunset views.

An underwater bedroom at the MURAKA, part of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island.

Conrad Maldives Rangali Island | Justin Nicholas

A personal butler, chef and private seaplane transfers are available as part of a VIP package, which starts at $46,500 a night for stays in November and December.

Singer Rita Ora and model Cara Delevingne have partied at Finolhu in recent years. Its two-bedroom "rockstar villas," which come with wine cellar and bar, are the most popular rooms.

Guests at Maldivian island Finolhu can stay in a private "bubble tent" on the beach.

Finolhu

But for a more socially distanced vacation, Finolhu has a "beach bubble tent" an enclosed transparent bedroom on a sandbar surrounded by ocean views. It comes with its own "bubble butler," and bookings include a private barbecue on the beach.

For those looking for a quieter vacation, tiny Kandolhu has just 30 guest rooms. It's surrounded by a coral "garden" that's accessible from the island.

Kandholhu in the Maldives has just 30 guest rooms.

Kandolhu | Universal

Socially distanced evening entertainment includes a moonlight cinema where guests can watch a movie in seclusion on a private jetty, with cocktails and snacks.

Kurumba is the original private island resort in the Maldives. Opened in 1972, it is a 10-minute speedboat ride from Velana InternationalAirport, the main airport in the Maldives.

Kurumba in the Maldives is offering a day of socially-distanced activities via its app.

Kurumba | Universal

Its recently-launched resort app lets guests book "Just You and Me Time," a day of socially distanced activities, including a private breakfast, snorkeling, a delivered lunch, a spa treatment, private dinner and movie night.

Those who want to work from isolation can book a month's "Work from Paradise" package on the Pullman Maldives Maamutaa.

The Pullman Maldives Maamutaa has launched a "Work from Paradise" package.

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa

The stay includes a personal trainer, one dive or one spa treatment per week, a day trip to sister property Mercure Maldives Kooddoo and one night in an underwater aqua villa a 200-square-meter abode with an underwater bedroom.

People staying at the Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu resort in the Maldives' southern Baa Atoll can escape for a "Cast Away" break in a rustic room on the deserted Embudhoo island, a short speedboat ride away.

The private island of Embudhoo is part of the Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu resort in the Maldives.

Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu

Described as "the ultimate private and isolated getaway," travelers get the secluded island to themselves for two nights, taking breakfast and lunch picnics with them and enjoying a barbecue dinner in the evening.

See the rest here:

Tree pods and beach bedrooms: Social distancing in the Maldives - CNBC

Posted in Private Islands | Comments Off on Tree pods and beach bedrooms: Social distancing in the Maldives – CNBC

Scrub Island Resort to re-open | Business | virginislandsdailynews.com – Virgin Islands Daily News

Posted: at 10:47 pm

The AAA Four-Diamond Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina is now taking reservations in advance of their Dec. 1 reopening. Situated on its own private island in the British Virgin Islands, the resort will once again welcome overnight guests and marina visitors, following a months-long closure of the entire Caribbean territory earlier this year due to the coronavirus. Having completed extensive preparations to safely welcome guests back, the resort has reactivated its online reservation system.

Weve been working diligently to comply with the travel protocols laid out by the BVI government, and to make sure the return of our guests is as safe as possible so they can relax and enjoy this fabulous island retreat, said resort General Manager Michael Schoonewagen. Our resort guests have the entire island to themselves, with ample space to spread out and enjoy the stunning natural Caribbean beauty in complete privacy. And the marina is perfect for those who want to venture out on a wide variety of land and sea excursions that still meet health and safety measures.

Several overnight options are available for both land guests and sailing vessels at the luxury resort. The property features 52 guest accommodations, including suites with gourmet kitchens, spacious living areas and private/oversized balconies, as well as a collection of two-, three-, four- and six-bedroom villas. The 55-slip marina can accommodate five mega yachts up to 170 feet. The resort boasts two private beaches, a waterfront infinity pool, an intimate spa, world-class dining, and access to dive and sailing charters, hiking, paddleboarding, kayaking, snorkeling and more. An on-site boutique with high-end resort wear and accessories, a sundries shop offering grab and go options and a full-service provisions store with gourmet foods, fresh produce, meats, seafood, beer, wine, spirits and more are all available to resort and mooring guests.

All overnight guests at Scrub Island must adhere to a set of travel protocols and restrictions in accordance with guidelines established by the British Virgins Islands government, outlined on the destinations official travel website. As a member of Marriotts prestigious Autograph Collection, the resort also follows the brands Commitment to Clean program, providing a safe environment for guests and staff.

For reservations or more information, visit ScrubIsland.com or call 877-890-7444.

Read more from the original source:

Scrub Island Resort to re-open | Business | virginislandsdailynews.com - Virgin Islands Daily News

Posted in Private Islands | Comments Off on Scrub Island Resort to re-open | Business | virginislandsdailynews.com – Virgin Islands Daily News

What Does the Future of Luxury Travel Look Like in a Post-Coronavirus World? – Luxury Travel Magazine

Posted: at 10:47 pm

TheCOVID-19 pandemic is far from over, with many industries being badly affected by its impact. It goes without saying that the travel industry has been hit particularly hard: Global tourism lost 245bn in just five months. And whilst much of the world is currently combating a second wave, it is becoming apparent that the luxury travel industry will be changing for the foreseeable future if not forever.

But how have luxury travel companies adapted to the outbreak? What does this mean for the future of luxury travel? We spoke to Aruna Shah from Arburton, a London-based luxury travel concierge company, about their observations and predictions about the future of luxury travel.

Focus on Hygiene and Distance

While it may not be in place to the extent it is now, Social Distancing is here to stay.

Staying away from others will a prime concern for many who travel during and after COVID, luxury or otherwise, according to Shah.

And as such, they're concerned about the cleanliness of the facilities and being able to do things like checking in without having to be around another person.

Hotels Are Changing and Adapting

Hotels which havent been repurposed to help aid the COVID relief effort are adopting forms of check-in to adhere to Social Distancing where there is no, or limited, contact with others. Hotels are rearranging themselves, their internal procedures, and even interiors in order to create enough space and a safe environment for guests.

With less room available for guests, the focus of luxury travelers will be privacy and personalized experiences, explains Shah.

Increased cleaning procedures have also gained in importance and have become the new arms race. There is also a focus on using cashless monetary exchanges and experimenting with keyless technology, so that there is less touching of common areas.

Personalized Social Distancing

There are still people traveling during the pandemic who wish to experience luxury destinations, and as such, the focus is on privacy, discretion, and personalization.

With Social Distancing being the norm, this means that luxury travel must embrace the new social distancing mandates and what their customers are looking for, said Shah.

Luxury travelers are focused even more on privacy than they would normally. With some hotels not being able to provide this option, they may look for private villas, private suites,private yachts,or fully-enclosed houses or pods so they will not have to interact with people outside of their "bubbles."

Social Distancing measures will also increase the need for personalized experiences. More privacy precludes the need for fully staffed yachts or villas for instance, and people will look to book more remote and local locations with urban locations expected to struggle. Hotels will have to offer variable dining times to adhere to Social Distancing, and some luxury hotel chains have even gotten creative by offering luxury quarantine stays.

The Rise of the Staycation

Staycations, or vacationing within one's home city or country, hasbeen huge in the United Kingdom, and luxury travel has been accepting far more locals. In addition to individuals wanting more privacy and distance, they are checking in to far more hotels near their hometowns than ever before.

2020 has truly been the year for travelers to begin to wander a bit closer to home and check out the attractions in their own backyards, said Shah.

For now, travel industry experts say the luxury market will remain more local with people not wanting to venture too far from home.

Luxury Travel Will Become More Bespoke

Luxury, especially in current times, means something else to everyone these days, so the qualifying criteria are becoming a lot more diverse. Price tag and exclusivity will no longer cut it.

With Social Distancing measures, the demands and definition of luxury travel will change for everyone. For some, it may mean more time with their family and privacy as hotel spaces are becoming rarer; for others, it may mean a private safari at a luxury lodge in Kenya.

Luxury travel will become more complex. More variables will need to be considered, which will make travel advisors job more demanding.

Traveling Will Temporarily Become Cheaper But More Expensive the More Bespoke

Some countries that rely on tourism for most of the economy have called for people to come to the country, even during the pandemic. Prices for flights in the UK were slashed during summer of 2020 in an effort to entice Brits away for cheap holidays.

A similar trend is expected until next year, as hotels and operators are likely to reduce prices and offer generous cancellation and rescheduling options to entice travelers. This proves a unique opportunity to increase the value of trips: For us as travel advisors and planners, it means that we can add more value to our clients experiences, said Shah.

However, whilst this is true for the most basic means of travel, the more bespoke luxury VIP travel will become, the more expensive it will likely become. Since theres higher demand in private jet hire, luxury ground services, private villas, we are expecting prices there to rise, said Shah.

Safety, Security, Personalization, Discretion

In these uncertain times, discretion, safety and quality in travel are more important than ever, said Shah.

Whilst the pre-COVID world was more about personalized experiences, the post-COVID world will come with the element of personalized social distancing, said Shah. The post-COVID world will mean that trust, flexibility, and safety will become more important than ever when traveling or when staying anywhere around the world.

How Will Luxury Travel Be Affected Going Forward? 6 Predictions.

The travel industry has certainly suffered during COVID, but things will get better. There are thousands of travelers, particularly in the luxury sector, who are dying to get out of their support bubbles and get on with life, said Shah.

Once COVID has calmed enough to start world travel again, luxury travellers will be ready, and they will more than likely be ready for a total escape. However, the demands within the industry will drastically change.

Alternative Transport Will Become More Important

On the ground, private transport will see a boost in intercity and intracity travel. Chauffeur services will become particularly popular there is almost no risk of cancellation, more privacy, and their reliability and flexibility will be key compared to other modes of transport.

In the sky, privacy will be a key concern. Private jets and private helicopters will become more popular as they guarantee travel in a bubble. Since they also lend themselves better to short-haul slights, demands for shorter flights especially will grow.

Travel will also become more local, as close-to-home travel will increase demand in alternative means of transport. However, this will likely come with an increase in price, since demand will be rising for those services.

The Importance of Sustainability Will Increase

Whilst sustainability has been a key focus in the past years, popular urban venues and activities (such as theatres, operas, etc.) and overcrowded tourist areas will not be an option for quite some time, said Shah.

Hence, we will see a shift to more eco-tourism and nature experiences such as safaris, which travelers can do more safely, and which support the local economy around their usual travel destinations. Due to growing privacy concerns, access to space and nature will be more highly sought after.

Travel Advisors Will Become More Important

Travel advisors carried the largest weight of the complications which arose from borders closing, repatriating travelers, re-booking trips and cancellations.

The pandemic has shown that time is a luxury, and that the relationships that advisors have with hotels, tour operators, and restaurants are essential to deliver that trust, flexibility, and safety that travelers will be looking for, said Shah

The pandemic has also been an excellent time to forge these relationships, preparing the industry for a comeback once the pandemic is over, she adds.

Consequently, tours, excursions, and experiences will take a turn to personalized social distancing. As personal requirements become more complex, the role of travel advisors in delivering these personalized social distancing experiences will be key in satisfying this demand.

The Definition of Luxury Will Change

The meaning of luxury will change post-COVID and weigh more importance to the individuals own definition of luxury. More personalization will be key in delivering unique experiences for clients.

Privacy Will Become More Important

Privacy will become a lot more important and give rise to increasingly personalized experiences involving private jets, private helicopter charters, private islands, private villas and more. There will be less focus on requirements which were traditionally connotated with luxury, e.g. fully staffed yachts or villas, but more focus on remoteness, nature, openness and bespoke experiences.

The Industry Will Bounce Back

The travel industry will recover fast. People have been cooped up for months around the globe, and their wanderlust will be triggered once we can move freely again. The amount of jobs which depend on this sector is also huge: 10% of all employment around the globe depends on tourism, so it must return if not out of necessity.

Travel companies and especially the one specializing in luxury/bespoke travel should keep on top of any changes that are happening. They should be flexible enough to adjust and accommodate fast as this is going to be crucial going forward.

Getting Away During and After COVID

Are you thinking about booking a luxury vacation or staycation? Arburton work with some of the top luxury travel companies in the UK and the world and can help you book private travel to countries and cities of your choice.

Contact them nowto experience the best in first-class travel.

See the original post here:

What Does the Future of Luxury Travel Look Like in a Post-Coronavirus World? - Luxury Travel Magazine

Posted in Private Islands | Comments Off on What Does the Future of Luxury Travel Look Like in a Post-Coronavirus World? – Luxury Travel Magazine

Private Jetaway Is Leading the Way to Cabo San Lucas With Luxury Vetted Holiday Travel Retreats – PRNewswire

Posted: at 10:47 pm

PHOENIX, Nov. 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --As the travel and tourism industry continues to be impacted internationally by COVID-19, Private Jetaway, a luxury travel company with private jet-to-villa turn-key packages, continues to enhance their services in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. This world-renowned destination has been certified by the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) as a Safe Destination, and is open to international tourism.

Earlier this year Private Jetaway partnered with both Elegant Mexico, whose portfolio offers luxury private villa rentals at the heart of Los Cabos, and the Zadn, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the latest resort in the prestigious Ritz-Carlton Reserve portfolio in San Jos del Cabo. Private Jetaway offers their "UltraLuxe Jet-to-Villa Retreat" packages with both partners.

"We are here to make that experience comfortable and convenient while incorporating proper CDC protocols," says Wayne J. Rizzi, President of Private Jetaway. "Unlike other private jet and luxury travel companies that piecemeal their partnerships, Private Jetaway offers an ultraluxe package inclusive of ground transport, private jet and luxury villa intricately designed for each valued guest with one call."

UltraLuxe Jet-to-Villa Retreat

ABOUT PRIVATE JETAWAY Private Jetaway, established in 2000, is a word-class luxury travel company offering wellness-vetted destinations, private jets, luxury villas, private islands, catamarans, and yachts. Since inception, Private Jetaway has partnered with world renowned luxury travel providers to bring about the extraordinary in turnkey bow tied "packages," and to exceed the personalized expectations that world travelers anticipate. (https://www.privatejetaway.com/)

Name of Contact: Wayne J. Rizzi Title of Contact: PresidentCompany Name: Private JetawayContact Phone: +1 (623) 745-0505Contact Email: [emailprotected] Website URL: https://www.PrivateJetaway.com

SOURCE Private Jetaway

https://www.privatejetaway.com

Read the original post:

Private Jetaway Is Leading the Way to Cabo San Lucas With Luxury Vetted Holiday Travel Retreats - PRNewswire

Posted in Private Islands | Comments Off on Private Jetaway Is Leading the Way to Cabo San Lucas With Luxury Vetted Holiday Travel Retreats – PRNewswire