30 pictures: Northern Ireland Travel & Tourism Awards reveal the winners at star-studded event

Travel

The Jet2.com and Jet2holidays team were also big winners on the evening, taking home four awards with Jet2.com picking up the award for Best Airline to Europe 2024 and Jet2holidays collecting the awards for Best Travel Internet Booking System 2024, Best Tour Operator to Europe 2024 and Best Sales Support Team to NI Travel Trade 2024.Local travel operator Travel Solutions picked up the award for Best Ski Operator 2024, while Robert Wilson picked up the award for NI Travel Trade Manager/ Representative of the Year 2024 – the second year in a row he has claimed the title.The McKeever Hotel Group, whose portfolio includes The Dunadry Hotel and Gardens, Corr’s Corner Hotel, the Dunsilly Hotel, Dillons Hotel, the Adair Arms Hotel and the Lodge Hotel Coleraine, were awarded the NI Tourism Industry Award 2024 while Ciaran O’Neill was awarded the NI Special Achievement Award 2024.With a career spanning over 35 years in the hospitality sector, Ciaran is the managing director at the Bishop’s Gate Hotel, Londonderry and has sat on the Board of Visit Derry for over a decade. His 14-year tenure on the Board of the Northern Ireland Hotels Federation culminated in his role as President in 2016 while his commitment to nurturing future talent in the tourism sector is shown through his role as Chair of the Hospitality and Tourism Skills Network (HATs).Meanwhile, the McKeever Hotel Group is a truly family affair that started out with a dream. A young man working as a chef from a very young age keen to learn and strive to grow. Roll forward to today and we have seen the company expand, moving into hotels, through both construction and acquisition. During their remarkable 50 years journey, the group have shown strong principles of forward thinking and continued growth, all the while giving back to the industry through service on local boards, contributing to sectoral bodies and supporting their people.This year’s Travel Student of the Year was Saffron Montgomery from the Belfast Metropolitan College while this year’s Travel Consultant of the Year was Cara Morgan from Terra Travel.There was stiff competition for this year’s Travel Consultant of the Year award, while all this year’s student nominees were extremely talented and showed excellent promise for their future careers in the travel and tourism industries.Another notable win at this year’s awards is Nicola Allison who, for the past five years has spearheaded the growth of the largest travel agency in Northern Ireland. Following the demise of Thomas Cook in 2019, she led her team through the transition to the Hays brand and now has 24 branches under her Regional Manager role, adding 3 new branches in the last few years. Her Northern Ireland region just recently achieved the status of number 1 region in the Hays network, a truly terrific achievement.This year the prestigious Northern Ireland Travel Industry Award went to Jill Russell. Jill has been an integral member of the Northern Ireland Travel industry for almost 40 years and a friend to all parts of the trade. Starting her career in 1984 with the English based school travel company Hormone Ski partners, over the next 12 years Jill built her reputation and a close network of colleagues. Following their buy-out by a multi-national, Jill couldn’t resist the offer to join one of Ireland’s most respected travel companies, Topflight. Jill is widely respected across all schools in Northern Ireland and the opportunity she has given to thousands of children across the country, she is a colleague and friend to everyone. Jill, who has been with Topflight for Schools for over 29 years, announced her retirement this year.This year’s Awards ceremony was hosted by local comedy husband and wife duo Diona Doherty and Sean Hegarty. Diona has starred in several hit TV shows including Derry Girls, Give My Head Peace and The Blame Game while Sean is easily recognisable from Britain’s Got Talent, Stand Up from the Sunflower and as the author of ‘Let me tell you a joke’ a new kids joke book released this year.The awards are only made possible with the continued support of the generous sponsors.This year’s celebrations kicked off with a Champagne drinks reception, hosted by Dublin Airport where guests were welcomed by a ceremonial piper, courtesy of Loganair.Hospitality was sponsored by Tourism Ireland with a fantastic ‘A Taste of Ireland’ menu while the wine was sponsored by Salou Tourism.This year’s Awards entertainment was a Peter Corry production called The Greatest Show.Stena Line once again presented every guest with a fantastic gift – every attendee on the evening received a voucher for a car and two passengers on any of Stena Line’s Irish Sea.Later in the evening, The Bourbon Street Band took to the main stage, while DJ Nathan entertained guests into the wee hours in the bar. The evening’s entertainment (and the late night pizzas) were provided by Jet2holidays.This year’s charity was the Motor Neurone Disease Association. This charity does fantastic work for individuals, families and those affected by the disease. All monies raised on the evening of the NI Travel & Tourism Awards will go directly to the charity to support the work they do.Stena Line, Travel Solutions, Yalago, Silversea Cruises and British Airways all returned as category sponsors for this year with the new addition of Visit Dubai as our brand new category sponsor.The Northern Ireland Travel and Tourism Awards are organised by Northern Ireland Travel News who also sponsored the highly coveted Travel Agent of the Year Award.This year the Travel Student of the Year award was sponsored by Bookit by NI Travel News.Oasis Travel have previously claimed the title of Travel Agent of the Year in 1993, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2016 and 2021.They added: “Massive congratulations to our head office branch in Lisburn who just went and scooped the prestigious NI Travel agent of the year award – so fitting considering Oasis Travel are celebrating 40 years in travel this year. Well done again to all the team from your colleagues here on the Lisburn Road!!”The Winners in full:Best Tourist Information Centre 2024 – Visit Belfast Visitor Information Centre Best NI Visitor Attraction 2024 – Titanic Belfast NI Tourism Industry Award 2024 – McKeever Hotels NI Special Achievement Award 2024 – Ciaran O’Neill NI Travel Student of the Year 2024 – Saffron Montgomery Best Luxury Cruise Company 2024 – Silversea Cruises Best River Cruise Company 2024 – Riviera Cruises Best Premium Cruise Company 2024 – Celebrity Cruises Best Mainstream Cruise Company 2024 – Royal Caribbean International Best Tourist Board Award 2024 – Spanish Tourism Office Best Holiday Add-Ons or Car Hire Provider 2024 – Do Something Different Best UK Airline 2024 – easyJet Best Airline to Europe 2024 – Jet2.com Best Airline Worldwide 2024 – Emirates Best Escorted Tours Operator 2024 – Newmarket Holidays NI Travel Trade Manager/ Representative of the Year 2024 – Robert Wilson Best Accommodation Only Specialist 2024 – STUBA Best Ferry Company 2024 – Stena Line Best Ski Operator 2024 – Travel Solutions Best Travel Internet Booking System 2024 – Jet2holidays Best Worldwide Tour Operator 2024 – If Only… Best Specialist Tour Operator 2024 – Beachcomber Tours Best Luxury Operator 2024 – If Only … Best Hotel Group 2024 – Iberostar Hotel Group Best Tour Operator to Europe 2024 – Jet2holidays NI Travel Industry Award 2024 – Nicola Allison Best Sales Support Team to NI Travel Trade 2024 – Jet2holidays NI Travel Consultant of the Year 2024 – Cara Morgan NI Travel & Tourism Industry’s Roll of Honour – Jill Russell Northern Ireland Travel Agent of the Year 2024 – Oasis Travel1

Payfast by Network partners with Amex to boost local business growth

Business News

Amex cardholders spend up to three times more annually compared to other networks, providing an opportunity to local merchants who offer distinctive, high-quality goods and services with exceptional value. In terms of reach, Amex is available in 30 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. The partnership with Payfast by Network will enable tens of thousands of merchants to access the Amex customer base.“As inbound travel to Africa increases, Amex is expanding our presence in the region. We want to reassure our cardholders that their payments will be accepted wherever they are, and this is particularly critical for corporate travellers. By accepting Amex payments, local merchants will be able to tap into a new market and grow their consumer base,” says Privesan Naidoo, executive: Trading Products at Amex. Across the globe, Amex card users tend to be higher spending, thanks to the brand’s appeal, strong security measures, excellent service, and rewards and lifestyle benefits. Amex SafeKey offers participating customers an extra layer of security. Choose the right digital payment solution for your business Digital payment solutions, such as Payfast by Network, are critical to the success of e-commerce ventures. Even the most desirable brand must be able to process customer payments quickly and efficiently for a frictionless experience. Payfast offers both payment aggregator and payment gateway solutions to facilitate electronic transactions from customers to both start-up and established businesses. Payment solutions can be tailored to business size and maturity. Payment aggregator: Ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and start-ups A payment aggregator simplifies the online payment process for merchants by providing a single integration point to accept payments online. Merchants benefit from a plug-and-play solution and don’t need to have a merchant account with a bank. They can easily sign up with an aggregator, which has its own bank account and can streamline payments by bringing multiple merchants together. This solution is ideal for small to medium-sized businesses and start-ups. Payment gateway solution: Ideal for large enterprises and businesses Businesses who use a payment gateway solution like the gateway solution offered by Payfast by Network (formally Paygate), are required to have their own merchant bank account, making this solution more appropriate for large enterprises and businesses such as those in the tourism, hospitality, property management and gaming industries that have high transaction volumes. The benefit is greater customisation, allowing them to control the checkout process, user experience and branding. Both types support multiple payment methods and offer additional features for even greater convenience, including payment requests and pay now buttons. Payfast by Network can advise on the best solution for your business. This article was sponsored by Network International.*Amex is operated under licence in SA by Nedbank.

Scientists have created an artificial tongue that moves and looks just like the real deal! Here’s why

Science and Health

Get ready to meet the newest member of the food science family: an artificial tongue that’s making waves (or should we say, moves?) in the world of soft food processing! Developed by researchers at the National Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment, this nifty gadget mimics real tongue movements, offering a groundbreaking way to understand how we enjoy our favorite soft treats.The artificial mouth features a silicone tongue designed to replicate the natural elasticity, wettability, and roughness of a human tongue. Powered by three inflatable and deflatable cavities that dance to the rhythm of compressed air, it can perform a variety of movements just like the real thing. With data gathered from Fujita Health University, researchers programmed the tongue to simulate the contractions and motions observed in living subjects, making it a game changer in food research.In a tasty test run, the artificial mouth took on some soft food classics: a creamy dessert, a chocolate mousse, and a chocolate fondant. The results were impressive! The food boluses it created were strikingly similar to those chewed up by healthy volunteers, matching up in firmness, adhesive properties, and viscosity. This means that the artificial mouth can accurately recreate the dynamics of oral processing, giving scientists valuable insights into how we interact with food.But why does all this matter? With the global population on the rise and an increasing number of individuals facing age-related challenges like sarcopenia (muscle loss) or difficulties with salivation and swallowing, there’s a pressing need for food products that cater to these specific dietary requirements. Current in vitro models often fall short, lacking the anatomical accuracy needed for effective product development. That’s where this artificial tongue comes in — offering a more precise and adaptable tool for researchers looking to create innovative food options.And the fun doesn’t stop there! The team is already looking ahead to future designs that will incorporate chewing, making this artificial mouth even more versatile. Imagine a world where our food can be designed and tested with the help of a “tongue” that truly knows its stuff! With this incredible invention, the future of food science looks not just smart but also deliciously exciting!The findings of this research have been published in Scientific Reports and can be accessed here.

Warwick pledges £700 million for campus’ new science precinct

Science and Health

The plans – known as the STEM Connect programme – were initially unveiled last November, although financial details of the expansion were released only on 16 October.Further plans related to new buildings for social science teaching, known as Social Sciences Connect, will be unveiled later this year as building work expected to last a decade starts on the STEM complex.
It is likely to be one of the biggest UK university building programmes announced recently, ahead of the £200 million being spent by the University of Oxford on its Life and Mind Building – the university’s largest building project ever – while the University of Northampton’s £330 million Waterside campus was opened in 2018.
While the University of Cambridge confirmed last year that it will spend about £680 million on estates over the next four years, university infrastructure spending is thought to be significantly down on previous years, with some £8.8 billion spent by higher education institutions in the five years up to 2018, according to figures collated by the Architects Journal.
Stuart Croft, Warwick’s vice-chancellor, said the investment “reaffirms our commitment to making a better world together through our research, education and innovation”.
“The Connect Programme demonstrates how we are fostering curiosity and creativity and creating a lasting impact for years to come. We will equip our students, researchers and partners to tackle the urgent global challenges of today and tomorrow,” he said.
On the financing of the project, he added: “We have carefully managed our finances and have strategically planned our investments to ensure long-term growth and stability in delivering world-leading education and research. Our governing body has rigorously reviewed our plans for the Connect Programme, and we are poised for steady growth.
“As part of this commitment to grow, we have pointed the way ahead by diversifying the way in which we run the university. This diversification – from online businesses to commercial ventures such as Warwick Conferences and the Science Park, generates income, creates jobs for our students and the wider community, and drives economic growth,” added Professor Croft.
“It is important we invest in our campus, through the Connect Programme, to enable further collaboration and interdisciplinary teaching and research opportunities that benefit our students, staff and wider society.”
Mark Williams, academic director for the STEM Connect Programme, said: “Through the STEM Connect Programme, we will firmly maintain the University of Warwick’s position as a global powerhouse for STEM, that will pave the way for groundbreaking research and education.
“The programme will also provide access to state-of-the-art facilities that will deliver both innovation and societal impact.”
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I’m forced to live in Travelodge with kids after my home burnt down in a toaster fire – I’m begging strangers to help me

Travel

A SINGLE mother and her two children are living in a Travelodge in Bristol after they “lost everything” to a fire which sparked from a toaster and ravaged their home.Dionne Barnes, 52, had lived in her two-bedroom flat in Croydon House, Easton, for seven years when the toaster began to produce sparks and “bang” at around 3pm on September 28 after her 16-year-old son Toure attempted to use it.5Dionne Barnes, a freelance security guard who is living at a Travelodge in Bristol with her two children, after they “lost everything” to a fire that sparked from a toaster and ravaged their homeCredit: PA5The tragic aftermath of Dionne’s flat following the fireCredit: PA5Dionne is now begging strangers for help following the incidentCredit: PA5Dionne said she received a panicked call from her son to say “the flat is burning down”, prompting the mother to rush to the scene from the Trinity Centre, a community hub in the areaCredit: PA5She said they moved around to three different hotels in the area for a handful of nights before they were placed in a Travelodge in Emersons Green at no cost to the familyCredit: PAThe freelance security worker said she received a call from her son to say “the flat is burning down”, prompting her to rush home where she said she could “smell smoke” and “feel the heat” of the blaze from outside her front door.Thankfully, no-one was injured and the fire was contained to their home on the 10th floor of a 16-storey tower block – but it was too late to retrieve any of their personal belongings as the “flames were too high” and Dionne said the family have “lost everything” to the blaze.Dionne, her son, and her 10-year-old daughter Mihema-Re – who was with another relative at the time of the fire, have since been living in a Travelodge in Emersons Green and it is thought they will be staying put for at least the next month while they wait for temporary accommodation to become available via Bristol City Council.A family friend has set up a GoFundMe page to help support them, which has raised nearly £4,000 and left Dionne feeling “overwhelmed” at the generosity of others.read more on homes“I feel emotional, I feel very displaced and out of sorts,” Dionne told PA Real Life.“I’m not me, I’m usually quite jolly and the life and soul of the party, but I feel melancholy.”On September 28, Dionne said her son Toure was making some toast at around 3pm that afternoon.“The way he described it to me was that he went to make some toast but as soon as he turned it on, the toaster started to spark,” Dionne said.“He switched it off straight away and left the room before he said he later heard a bang.“He said he came out of his bedroom to go into the kitchen and as he got to the door, he saw flames and ran.”Huge explosion & towering inferno 200ft high erupts from Russian oil terminal after massive Ukrainian missile strikeDionne said she received a panicked call from her son to say “the flat is burning down”, prompting the mother to rush to the scene from the Trinity Centre, a community hub in the area.“I had a phone call and my son said ‘the flat is burning down’,” Dionne said.“Luckily, my cousin was there at the same time but he was just down at the shop so he got there a couple of seconds before me.“I got there and I could smell smoke and feel the heat.“My cousin said I couldn’t go in as the flames were too high.”Avon Fire and Rescue Service was called to the scene, with Dionne saying they “came quite soon” and were “really, really good”.Thankfully, no-one was injured and Dionne said the fire was contained to their flat on the 10th floor of a 16-storey tower block.“My initial reaction was relief – I thought ‘oh my god, my son is okay’ and then I was like ‘oh my god, everything’s gone’,” Dionne said.“It was just the fear, even though I know I’ve lost everything, but to what degree had I lost everything.Apply for emergency housing from your councilTo get emergency temporary accommodation in the UK, you can contact your local council’s homeless team during working hours to ask if you need emergency housing. You can enter your postcode on Advicenow to find your council’s emergency housing information.The council will provide emergency housing if they believe you are homeless and meet certain criteria, such as being in priority need or vulnerable, or meeting immigration conditions. The type of accommodation offered will depend on your household size and any special requirements. In some cases, the only accommodation available may be outside of your borough or even outside of London.“We have managed to save photographs and documents but everything has gone practically.”She added: “My kitchen door actually wasn’t a fire door.“I’m hoping to find out why there wasn’t one on my kitchen.”Dionne said the family were helped by a “fantastic” representative from Bristol City Council who was able to support them in sourcing emergency accommodation.She said they moved around to three different hotels in the area for a handful of nights before they were placed in a Travelodge in Emersons Green at no cost to the family.“I’m a very homely person – it’s only me and my children who live in Bristol, most of our family are not here – so for our chosen family, I’m kind of like the base,” she said.I’m not used to needing help, I’m the one who is supposed to give help so now I’m the one needing it, it’s really weirdDionne Barnes52“It just doesn’t feel right to be in such limbo.“I’m not used to needing help, I’m the one who is supposed to give help so now I’m the one needing it, it’s really weird.”Returning back to their former home has been emotional, Dionne said, and her daughter is unable to go into the property.“It’s awful and I just burst into tears, it’s devastating to see,” she said.“I’ve been back almost every day since the fire just to collect bits and pieces but I find it difficult to be in there – I just find it oppressing and a very sad place to be.“My daughter was crying her eyes out and she’s scared to go in.“I think my son is a bit traumatised, he’s trying to pretend he’s okay, but it’s affected him quite a lot especially as he is the one who was there.”Dionne has been informed the family will be residing at the hotel until at least November 14, but she is waiting for more information on the next steps.“The situation with temporary accommodation is dire, there is nothing really available at the moment,” she said.Dionne also said the location is proving tricky in terms of getting her children to and from school – where it is now taking an hour for the family to complete a journey that used to take 12 minutes.“We’ve managed to get new school uniforms but it’s difficult to get them washed,” Dionne added.I feel absolutely overwhelmed and I can’t believe the generosity of peopleDionne Barnes52“Friends have offered me their kitchen so I can cook, and fortunately I’m a good cook so I can feed other people at the same time, but it’s hard.”A GoFundMe page has been set up by a friend of the family to help support them through the coming months, raising nearly £4,000 as of October 15.“I feel absolutely overwhelmed and I can’t believe the generosity of people,” Dionne said.“It just means that when we finally get somewhere, I can organise my children’s rooms and my children’s lives without having to worry.”A spokesperson for Avon Fire and Rescue Service said: “We were called at 3:14pm on September 28 to reports of a fire in a high-rise residential building on Croydon Street in Easton, Bristol.“Crews from Temple Fire Station were first on the scene and found a fire in the kitchen of a flat.“Four firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the flat and extinguished the fire.“Thankfully no one was injured during the fire.“The cause of the fire is thought to be accidental.”Read more on the Scottish SunPA Real Life has contacted Bristol City Council for comment.To find out more, visit the fundraiser for the family at: gofundme.com/f/help-for-dionne-and.

First look at Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce-inspired Christmas movie – and its release is only weeks away

Arts & Culture, Film & TV

A NEW holiday romance inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is premiering this Christmas. The pop sensation’s relationship with the Kansas City Chiefs football player caused a stir around the world, so it’s not that surprising that Lifetime is now releasing a Christmas based on their relationship. 7A holiday romance inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce is premiering this ChristmasCredit: Getty7It follows a pop star who falls in love with a professional football playerCredit: Youtube / Lifetime7They begin dating after publicly announces he has a crush on herCredit: Lifetime7The upcoming movie promises romance and lots of light-hearted Christmas funCredit: Youtube / LifetimeLifetime confirmed their full holiday movie slate yesterday (Tuesday 15) and released first look images from the upcoming flick, along with an exciting teaser clip. Aptly titled Christmas in the Spotlight, the sweet holiday rom-com stars Jessica Lord, Laith Wallschleger, Jeannie Mai and Haley Kalil.Though the film may not be officially inspired by Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, the story similarity is uncanny. It follows pop star named Bowyn (Jessica) who hasn’t found Mr. Right, until she meets a professional football player (Laith) backstage at one of her shows. After Drew publicly declares he has a crush on Bowyn, they begin dating.READ MORE ON CHRISTMAS MOVIESSounds familiar, right?Taylor and Travis famously began dating after he attended the Eras Tour in July 2023 and made his feelings for the popstar known. The official synopsis for the real-life-inspired movie teases: “With each passing day they spend together, their feelings grow stronger… but can it last in the limelight, especially when they both have such hectic schedules? “With people questioning if their feelings for each other are real or just for show, the pressure mounts from the press, paparazzi, their fans and even their family.”In the first image, Jessica and Laith’s characters can be seen attending a formal holiday event together.There are also other pictures which showcase the fun tone of the film with one a shot of Laith’s character celebrating at a party and another of him dressed up as Santa Claus. Bowyn seems to enjoy this dress-up as she raises her glass to toast him. ‘Is that an engagement ring?’ eagle-eyed fans cry as Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce cuddle up at MLB playoff game Clips from the promo video which tease these scenes also complement the movie’s fun festive tone. Christmas in the Spotlight is set to premiere on November 23 on Lifetime at 8pm. Its U.K. release date has yet to be confirmed. Along with Christmas in the Spotlight, Lifetime has announced the debut of 11 other holiday films across the festive period with the likes of Jennifer Love Hewitt, Tia Mowry, Maria Menounos, BeBe Winans, Deborah Joy Winans, Vivica A. Fox, Jackée Harry, Romeo Miller, Sarah Drew, Teri Hatcher, Sasha Pieterse, Mitchell Slaggert, Brian Hallisay, RonReaco Lee, among their star-studded casts.7In one scene Laith’s character enjoys time at a partyCredit: Youtube / Lifetime7Before dressing up as Santa Claus to impress the pop starCredit: Youtube / Lifetime7The movie is inspired by Travis and Taylor’s real-life romanceCredit: Getty