World Rugby has confirmed the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 schedule which also has at stake qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Both the Women’s (Dubai) and the Men’s (Hong Kong) 2023 Series will see starts in Asia.

The rugby sevens is back to full force with a full line-up of hosts and teams for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series in 2023, which is the biggest to date. Both women’s and men’s teams will return to Hong Kong for the traditional marquee event from 31 March – 2 April 2023. The top four women’s and men’s teams in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 will book their places in Paris 2024 Olympic Games.



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PATA x CVENT: The Future of Events 2023

 on Thursday, March 16 at 1 PM SGT/GMT+8.

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10:30 AM New Delhi | 4 PM Sydney | 6 PM Auckland | Mar 15, 10 PM Los Angeles

What does the future of events look like right now?

Now that in-person events are back in full swing, what’s going to happen to virtual and hybrid events?

How should hotels & destinations prepare to react to these future trends?

What is the next big disruption for events that stakeholders need to prepare for?



TOKYO NOW

 https://conta.cc/3SIqm9S

The sakura trees bloom in spring, but their cycles differ in each area. The blooming date changes every year, so if you are planning a visit, be sure to check the latest information in advance.

The number of visitors to Japan from abroad spikes in spring, especially in April as many people come to view the cherry blossoms (sakura), which bloom freely all around the country.

Eimei Back to China from Japan

Eimei and twins Ouhin and Touhin flew from Kansai Airport in Osaka Prefecture on a charter plane after they had been transported from Adventure World Zoo and amusement park in Wakayama Prefecture with signs written in Chinese that read, "Thank you, Eimei" and "Take care, Ouhin and Touhin."

The 30-year-old male panda has been in the spotlight for most of his life as the "oldest giant panda living in Japan" whose human equivalent age is 90, the "super papa" of 16 giant panda cubs, and "the special envoy for Sino-Japan friendship." At 28, he and his then 20-year-old mate, Rauhin, welcomed a new cub, making him the oldest panda in captivity to produce offspring through natural breeding.

Eimei or Yong Ming in Chinese, has lived in Japan for 28 years, and has returned to China for giant panda protection, and breeding research, while his two daughters will begin their search for mates.

Flight on TAP AIR PORTUGAL for PORTO with a brief stop in Lisbon.

We had fun at the same time getting some rest and food at the Tap Lounge.

When people think about visiting Portugal, their first thought is to go to Lisbon, the capital. Porto might be the second-largest city in the country after Lisbon, but it is not the second best! 280 km north of Lisbon, the beautiful city of Porto lies along the Douro River. Home to Port wine, street art, and “francesinhas”, Porto is one of the world’s top 100 cities with the most international visitors. Over 1 million tourists visit Porto every year, as well as thousands of digital nomads and remote workers looking to make the city a temporary home.

One of the oldest in Europe, Porto’s old town in the city center is a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1996! It is no surprise that Porto is a city with a rich history and culture.

Porto has been inhabited by different groups throughout the ages, making it a melting point of heritage and history. The city was first inhabited by Celtic people. Then, during the Roman occupation of the Iberian Peninsula in the fourth century, the city was transformed into a commercial port. They renamed the city “Portus Cale”, meaning “Port of Cale” (Cale is the original name for Celtic). Fun fact: this has been referred to as the origin of the name Portugal. The Visigoths then took possession of the city in the sixth century but lost it to Moors in the eighth century. (CTTO)

Our hotel was top notch, the Pestana Palácio do Freixo.

Located 3 km from the centre of one of Portugal’s most vibrant regions, the Palácio do Freixo is classified in 1910 as a National Monument and is a unique example of Baroque architecture, with about 10 thousand m2 of gardens and green spaces offering breathtaking views of the Douro River.

The setting of an excellent Urban Resort, it is a member of the exclusive consortium The Leading Hotels of the World and provides you with an unparalleled experience that marries traditional values with contemporary comfort.

It is characterized by its sumptuous eighteenth century architecture. It was built by Nicolau Nasoni, one of the most important architects that helped Porto become a World Heritage Site. (CTTO) Contributed by Joebert Opulencia



This is an amazing story of a Nepalese woman whose passion, perseverance and hard work have allowed her to ascend Mt. Everest 10 times! Repeatedly, she has found a way to overcome obstacles, but not once has she been offered a sponsorship, something many of her male counterparts have. I love this story, and have been following it for the past four years because it proves what's possible but it's also a powerful reminder of just how wide the gender gap remains still today.

Lhakpa Sherpa is a single mother who works shifts at Whole Foods, and she just climbed Everest for the 10th time. Unlike the routines of most climbers, who drop into specialized training for months or even years, Lhakpa's training regimen took place at a Whole Foods in West Hartford, Conn., where she carried large stacks of boxed fruits and vegetables. She lives, works and trains – essentially while doing her job.

Twenty-two years ago, Lhakpa became the first Nepali woman to climb Everest (and make it down alive: Pasang Lamu Sherpa achieved the feat in 1993 but perished on the descent). To get that opportunity, she had taken the long, hard way from her village in the Makalu region, where she lived with 10 siblings, and worked as a porter since she was 15.

How she has managed these 10 summits and breaking her own record is a remarkable story. At 29,032 feet, it is considered the tallest point on Earth. Once, she “climbed Everest eight months after giving birth to my first daughter,” she told the BBC in 2016, “and I climbed when I was two months pregnant with my smaller daughter. It was not easy, but I managed all right.” She has broken records not only through her ever-increasing number of summits, but also by climbing together with her brother, Mingma Gelu, and sister Ming Kipa.

Lhakpa Sherpa, 48, was recently featured in the New York Times sports section. She is training now for her 11th. “I hope I will bring 20 daughters,” she said. “I want to teach them climbing skills and show them that all girls can climb mountains.”



Just as the seemingly quintessential American ketchup has Chinese origins, the seemingly quintessential Chinese daan tat actually has its roots in Great Britain and Portugal. However, both the English and Portuguese versions ultimately come from the king of pastries, France, while the egg tarts you'll find in Chinese restaurants and bakeries today are distinct from their European cousins. In China, there are two kinds of egg tarts that are very popular; Hong Kong daan tat and Macanese egg tart.

With its distinctive caramelized, creme brulee-like topping, pastéis de nata are arguably Portugal’s favorite dessert. They were supposedly first made in the 13th century by monks in the Jeronimos Monastery in Lisbon. Legend says the monks had been based in France, where they learned of delectable pastries, and that they needed a way to use up the yolks separated from the egg whites that were used to starch clothing. What better way than in yummy tarts?

Elizabeth Chin

Editor

PATA New York Chapter

Email: newyorkpata@gmail.com

https://newyorkpata.org