Breaking Travel News - ITB Berlin 2017 - Special Edition

I TB B E RLIN SPECIAL EDITION

2017 World Travel Awards has revealed the Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2017 will be hosted by the luxury Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai.

WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS HEADS TO SHANGHAI FOR ASIA & AUSTRALASIA GALA CEREMONY 2017 CEREMONY

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Rwanda’s Top 5

DESTINATIONS Volcanoes National Park the world’s remaining mountain gorillas. Rwanda is among only three countries in the world where you can trek to see the majestic gorillas up close – a truly once in a lifetime experience.

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can be explored by boat and provide the perfect location to relax and enjoy the peace of Rwanda’s countryside.

Nyungwe National PARK

Nyungwe is one of the oldest rainforests found anywhere on the continent. The lush, green forest is home to over 300 bird species and 13 primate species including chimpanzees and

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colobus monkeys. Take a stroll through the canopy along a 70m high walkway for exhilarating views of the rainforest.

Akagera National Park

Rwanda’s largest national park is home to a diverse array of plant and animal life. The lakes, papyrus swamps, savannah plains and rolling highlands make Akagera an incredibly scenic reserve. The park is home to the elusive Shoebill stork, seven newly introduced lions, elephant, leopard and the shy but stunning roan antelope.

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World Travel Awards heads to Shanghai for Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony 2017 Ceremony

The news comes as the industry leading awards programme begins its 24th year with the launch of the Grand Tour 2017. It will be the second time that World Travel Awards has visited China’s commercial capital, following a rapturously received debut at the Swissôtel Grand Shanghai back in 2008.

World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony in 2008. And I can think of no better partner for this event than the Grand Kempinski Shanghai combining, as it does, European luxury, Kempinski’s signature flair for service and the dynamism of Shanghai – the city everyone is talking about.”

A spectacular architectural achievement with sweeping views of the Huangpu River and the Shanghai skyline, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai will welcome hospitality leaders from across the regions as they gather to see who among them has been voted the crème de la crème on Friday, June 4th, 2017.

Cooke added: “I look forward to welcoming all of our nominees to the Grand Kempinski Shanghai in June.”

World Travel Awards President, Graham Cooke, said: “It will be a pleasure to return to Shanghai for the first time since the inaugural

four gourmet restaurants, three bars and onsite health club, while the city’s famous landmarks are a short stroll away.

“We are extremely proud and honoured to host the 24th annual World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai, an iconic luxury hotel in one of the most exciting cities of the world,” said Rudiger Hollweg, general manager at Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai.

“We look forward to celebrating the Asian and Australasian best of the best during a spectacular Gala Ceremony event at our hotel.”

Located in the Lujiazui financial and trade section of Shanghai’s prestigious Pudong District, the hotel offers 686 impeccable guestrooms - including superior, deluxe and executive room types - plus the Diplomatic, Imperial, Studio or Presidential suites. Beyond the bedrooms, guests can take advantage of the hotel’s

Voting for the World Travel Awards Asia & Australasia nominees is open until 17th April.

MORE INFORMATION World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

Each year, World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective success within each key geographical region. World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best networking opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international print and broadcast media.

Find out more at www.worldtravelawards.com

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ST. PETERSBURG REVEALED AS HOST FOR WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS EUROPE GALA CEREMONY 2017 St. Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development will welcome World Travel Awards to Russia for the first time in 2017, with the Europe Gala Ceremony 2017 set to take place in the capital of culture.

MORE INFORMATION Find out more about visiting St. Petersburg at www.visit-petersburg.ru or join the St. Petersburg Convention Bureau in Hall 3.1/607 here at ITB Berlin 2017.

There is more on the World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2017 at www.worldtravelawards.com

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S t . Pe t e r s b u r g r e v e a l e d a s h o s t f o r Wo r l d T r a v e l A w a r d s E u r o p e G a l a C e r e m o n y 2 0 1 7

Having itself been recognised as the World’s Leading Cultural City Destination in 2016 by voters from the World Travel Awards, the city will take hosting responsibilities on September 30th this year.

World Travel Awards president Graham Cooke said: “It will be an honour for World Travel Awards to visit for Russia for the first time in September. St. Petersburg is one of the most famous cities in the world and this is a fantastic opportunity for the city to take its rightful place as a top rank tourism destination.”

A global cultural centre, St. Petersburg is more than just home to the Hermitage Museum and the Kirov Ballet.

karev, said: “We will be honoured to host the leading European tourism industry professionals in St. Petersburg in 2017.

We are confident this event will be one of the best in the history of the World Travel Awards and we are pleased to invite everyone to the Europe Gala Ceremony in St. Petersburg; a city that is the pride not only of Russia and Europe, but of the whole world.”

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry. Today, the World Travel Awards brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire.

With an exceptionally rich history, centuries-old traditions and a bright future, this fascinating destination is built on more than 45 islands and has been modelled in the French style by some of the world’s great architects.

Each year World Travel Awards covers the globe with a series of regional gala ceremonies staged to recognise and celebrate individual and collective successes within each key geographical region.

St Petersburg Committee for Tourism Development chairman, Andrey Mush-

World Travel Awards Gala Ceremonies are widely regarded as the best network-

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ing opportunities in the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries, and international print and broadcast media.

The news comes at an exciting time for St Petersburg. The ceremony is one of a large number of important events on the horizon, with the FIFA Confederations Cup also set to visit St. Petersburg in 2017.

Lev Kuznetsov, deputy general manager, St Petersburg Tourism Information Bureau, part of the government of St. Petersburg, added: “Our city is the cultural tourist capital not only of Russia but of the world. The cultural heritage of our city is the heritage of the entire world.”

He continued: “Next year promises to become the top year for the number of visitors in St. Petersburg. I am sure that a visit to our city for everyone will become one of the most memorable experiences in life.

“Welcome to St. Petersburg!”

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MAP

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ALL THE LATEST FROM BREAKING TRAVEL NEWS… With so much to keep track of here at ITB Berlin it is easy to get lost. Fortunately Breaking Travel News is here to help, bringing you the latest headlines from the key players here at the world’s largest travel show.

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Quito and Corporación Quiport, the concessionaire of the Mariscal Sucre International Airport, will host Routes Americas 2018. The event is the only one on the international calendar that brings together airports and airlines of the region seeking to develop new connectivity alternatives. The news was announced during the closing session of the tenth annual Routes America forum that took place in Las Vegas, USA. The event is held in a different location every year to highlight the diverse aviation markets across the Americas.

Quito was proposed jointly by Quito Turismo, on behalf of the city, and by Corporación Quiport as responsible for

the overall administration of the Quito Mariscal Sucre Airport. Both entities, with the support of the Secretariat for Productive Development and Competitiveness, are already preparing for the edition of Routes Americas 2018 in Quito to ensure it is a memorable experience for all participants.

Steven Small, brand director of Routes, said: “Ecuador is an exciting ‘bucket list’ destination and its capital is rich in history and culture. Quito will make an excellent host city for Routes Americas.”

Routes America will provide Quito with the opportunity to open to new air connectivity services. This year’s event was attended by 750 delegates from 85

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airlines, 225 airports and 40 tourism authorities. Quito can expect a similar gathering of influential people in 2018.

Andrew O’Brian, president, Corporación Quiport, added: “Organising Routes Americas in Quito will be an invaluable opportunity to show the potential of this city as a top destination on a regional scale and the advantages offered by its airport to the airline industry. For Quiport, participating in Routes Americas has been a very important tool for our route development strategy.”

He concluded: “Quito and Ecuador offer a new world yet to be discovered.”

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COUNTRIES AND REGIONS ITB BERLIN 2017 Adventure Travel 4.1 Albania 1.2 Algeria 21 Argentina 1.1 Armenia 15.1 Aruba 3.1 Australia 5.2a Austria 17 Azerbaijan 2.1 Baden-Württemberg 6.2 Bahamas 3.1 Bahrain 23 Bangladesh 7.2a Barbados 3.1 Bavaria 6.2 Belarus 2.1 Belgium 10.2 Berlin 12 Bhutan 26 Bolivia 1.1 Bonaire 3.1 Bosnia and Herzegovina 1.2 Botswana 20 Brandenburg 12 Brazil 1.1 Bremen 6.2

British Virgin Islands Bulgaria Burundi Business Travel Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cancun Cape Verde Islands Chile China (P.R.) Colombia Congo (Rep.) Cook Islands Costa Rica Côte d'Ivoire Croatia Cruises Cuba Cultural Tourism Culture Lounge Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Dominica

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3.1 15.1 21 7.1a 26 21 2.1 3.1 20 1.1 26 1.1 21 5.2a 3.1 21 1.2 25 3.1 10.2 16 3.1 2.2 7.2b 18 3.1

Dominican Republic 3.1 Economy Accommodation 4.1 Ecuador 1.1 Egypt 23 El Salvador 3.1 Eritrea 21 Estonia 18 Ethiopia 21 eTravel World 6.1 Fiji 5.2a Finland 18 France 2.2 Gambia 21 Gay & Lesbian Travel 3.1 Georgia 15.1 Ghana 21 Gibraltar 2.2 Greece 2.2 Greenland 18 Guadeloupe 3.1 Guatemala 3.1 Guyana 3.1 Hamburg 6.2 Haiti 3.1 Hesse 7.2c Honduras 3.1 Hong Kong 26 Hungary 2.2 Iceland 18 India 5.2b

Countries and Regions ITB Berlin 2017

Indonesia Iraq Iran Ireland Israel Italy ITB Book World ITB Career World ITB Stage Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Korea (Rep.) Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liechtenstein Lithuania Lower Saxony Luxembourg Macao Macedonia (FYR) Madagascar Malawi Malaysia

26 21 7.2a 18 23 1.2 10.2 11.1 4.1 3.1 26 18 23 2.1 21 26 1.2 22 2.1 26 18 23 20 17 18 6.2 10.2 26 1.2 20 20 26

Philippines 26 Poland 15.1 Portugal 2.2, 4.2 PR Agencies & Publishing 5.3 Puerto Rico 3.1 Qatar 22 Responsible Tourism 4.1 RĂŠunion 20 Rhineland-Palatinate 8.2 Romania 7.2b Russia 2.1 Rwanda 21 Saarland 8.2 Saint Lucia 3.1 Sao TomĂŠ & Principe 20 Saxony 11.2 Saxony-Anhalt 11.2 Schleswig-Holstein 6.2 Serbia 2.2 Seychelles 20 Sierra Leone 21 Singapore 26 Sint Marteen 3.1 Slovakia 7.2b Slovenia 17 Solomon Islands 3.1 South Africa 20 South Sudan 21 Spain 4.2 Sri Lanka 5.2a Sudan 21 Suriname 3.1

Maldives 5.2a Mali 21 Malta 1.2 Martinique 3.1 Mauritius 20 Mayotte 20 Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania 6.2 Media Centre 6.3 Mexico 1.1 Mobile Travel Services 6.1 Moldova (Rep.) 7.2b Mongolia 26 Montenegro 1.2 Morocco 21 Mozambique 20 Myanmar 26 Namibia 20 Nepal 5.2a Netherlands, The 10.2 New Caledonia 5.2a New Zealand 5.2a Nicaragua 3.1 North Rhine-Westphalia 8.2 Norway 18 Oman 22 Pakistan 7.2a Palestinian Territories 21 Panama 3.1 Papua New Guinea 5.2a Paraguay 1.1 Peru 1.1

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Swaziland 20 Sweden 18 Switzerland 17 Tahiti 5.2a Taiwan 26 Tajikistan 2.1 Tanzania 21 Thailand 26 Thuringia 11.2 Tourism Companies

8.1, 9, 10.1, 24, 25 Travel Technology

5.1, 6.1, 8.1, 10.1 Trinidad and Tobago 3.1 Tunisia 21 Turkmenistan 2.1 Turkey 3.1, 3.2 Uganda 21 Ukraine 2.1 United Arab Emirates (UAE) 22 United Kingdom 18 Uruguay 1.1 USA 2.1 Uzbekistan 2.1 Vanuatu 5.2a Vatican City 1.2 Venezuela 1.1 Vietnam 26 YIG Lounge 4.1 Youth Travel 4.1 Zambia 20 Zanzibar 21

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Jamaica is known for its gorgeous beaches, turquoise seas, tropical terrain and rich island culture and now, visitors to the paradise island will have a new way to explore ‘real Jamaica’ thanks to Island Routes Caribbean Adventures’ brand new Mini-Routes Driving Tour.

This unique tour, which launches in March 2017 will allow visitors to drive themselves around the paradise island in custom-branded MINI Cooper cars.

Sightseers will be able to discover Jamaica’s breathtaking beauty, delicious local cuisine and rich history like never before, choosing from a range of stylish MINI Coopers including convertibles for sun worshippers, two-door models for loved-up couples and even four-door cars for families.

Escorted by an expert island guide, the fun-filled tours will take travellers from Montego Bay to Ocho Rios and from Montego Bay to Negril, stopping at picturesque

fishing villages, hidden waterfalls, pristine beaches, irresistible jerk stands and coconut vendors along the way.

This immersive tour, which is the first of its kind in Jamaica, will cater to both seasoned visitors as well as first time explorers, thanks to Island Routes’ plans to develop a whole series of Revolving Routes, which will offer a whole range of new paths to explore to ensure that visitors never get tired of exploring island life.

The adventure doesn’t end there for the island excursion company as Island Routes has also launched two new luxury catamarans that will take visitors cruising across the clear blue waters of the Caribbean complete with soothing reggae rhythms, thirst-quenching cocktails, spectacular panoramas, and a snorkelling adventure out at sea.

Holiday-makers can also ensure their holiday begins and ends in style thanks

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to the company’s new fleet of BMW 5 Series cars which offer private airport transfers and come complete with a private chauffeur, complimentary Wi-Fi and a selection of refreshing beverages.

COCO COLLECTION Coco Collection has celebrated the opening of the first Turtle Rescue Centre in the Maldives, at Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu.

First revealed in early 2015, the location is part of an official and exclusive partnership with the Olive Ridley Project.

Working together with keen like-minded individuals to protect the fragile natural environment of Maldives has always been a core pillar of the brand philosophy behind Coco Collection. In 2013, the properties of Coco Collection were introduced to the Olive Ridley Project by the former resident marine biologist, Chiara Fumagalli.

The Olive Ridley Project was set up to work towards protecting sea turtles and their habitats. Apart from actively

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removing ghost nets that pose a serious threat to sea turtles, they compile data identifying types of nets and fishing methods being used to figure out why so many nets are drifting in the Indian Ocean. Since 2013, Coco Collection has been working together with the project to rescue sea turtles that have been entangled and hold events at the resorts to educate guests and associates about the detrimental effects of these nets.

“The moment is finally here! Coco Collection has been on board with us from day one, and we are delighted to open the first Olive Ridley Project Marine Turtle Rescue Centre at Coco Palm,” said Martin Stelfox, founder, Olive Ridley Project.

“We are very grateful to the family for their vision as a responsible brand and for their dedication to conservation initiatives. From the beginning, guests and partners of Coco Collection have been supporting the project with generous donations during their stay.”

He added: “This eventually led to the construction of the centre, and our heartfelt gratitude goes out to them for their unwavering generosity. As much as we are involved in the removal of ghost gear from the ocean, turtles and marine life in general are still in danger of being entangled in nets and ingesting marine debris. Thankfully, we now have a dedicated place for them to be treated and recover from their injuries.”

Similar initiatives will take place in Coco Bodu Hithi at a later stage of this collaboration.

HARD ROCK HOTELS Hard Rock Hotels has announced the launch of its first hotel in China, Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen. Slated to open in summer 2017, the new Hard Rock property will offer a luxury stay for modern travellers who are seeking a reprieve from traditional accommodations.

Blending pop culture and premium hospitality, Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen promises a host of world-class leisure, dining and entertainment options and the thread that unites them all – music.

Destined to become a new landmark in the Guangdong region, Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen will continue the brand’s tradition of presenting memorable moments through music. Throughout the property, guests will enjoy rare and valuable memorabilia on display. Carefully chosen from Hard Rock’s world-famous, 80,000+ piece collection, each prized piece celebrates legendary music icons from around the world.

The 258 rooms and suites feature a creative mix of music-inspired décor and modern Chinese elements. A range of high-end accommodations, including Studio Suites, Rock Royalty Studio Suites and Rock Star Suite, provide the ultimate all-access pass to a luxury VIP experience, as well as stunning views of the surrounding area. While music

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soothes the soul, food satisfies the senses and Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen will boast a variety of dining destinations.

“We are proud to bring the Hard Rock Hotel experience to Mainland China where consumers are equally passionate about music and travel,” said Peter Wynne, area vice president of operations - Asia Pacific Hotels, Hard Rock Hotels. “While Hard Rock Hotel Shenzhen will offer a one-of-a-kind luxury experience, guests can expect the same music-centred fun as other Hard Rock Hotels around the world. As our brand has proven over the years, nothing is more universal than a love of music and having a great time.”

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F E AT U R E

ITB BERLIN CONVENTION: WELL PREPARED FOR TURBULENT TIMES With four days, 200 sessions, and 400 speakers – covering topics ranging from geopolitical crises and disasters to artificial intelligence – the ITB Convention is a must for those in the know.

At the ITB Berlin Convention, which takes place from today until March 11th, one of the key up-to-the-minute topics will be Disruptive Travel: The End of the World as We Know It. Leading international experts will show how tourism professionals are successfully taking on controversial issues and current challenges such as geopolitical crises, travel safety risks, and the use of artificial intelligence.

On March 8th the ITB Future Day will kick off events together with this year’s Convention & Culture Partner, Slovenia. The programme includes lectures on a new age defined by a lack of order and tourism in times of global political uncertainty. An exclusive global market survey conducted by Travelzoo and commissioned by ITB Berlin will provide information on how crises and disasters influence tourists.

Last year’s key topic on the service provided by humanoid robots will be continued in 2017 with a focus on artificial intelligence. At the ITB Future Day the following topic will be discussed: What is the status quo and what prospects can artificial intelligence offer for business, society and humankind?

The Next Big Thing: Artificial Intelligence – Disrupting Travel Choices and Bookings? will highlight the impact of artificial intelligence on business processes and report on experiences with chat-bots, virtual assistants and big data analysis etc.

On March 9th, the ITB Hospitality Day will also have information on artificial intelligence in the service sector. For example, robots mix cocktails at the bar on board the Royal Caribbean cruise liner Harmony of the Seas, and they also welcome guests at InterContinental hotels.

At the ITB Destination Days, which will take place on every day of the Convention, the focus will be on Botswana, the partner country of ITB Berlin.

On March 10th, the ITB Marketing & Distribution Day will look at how artificial intelligence can be usefully employed in tourism. A panel discussion under the heading of

On Thursday, March 9th, day two of this event, four panel discussions at the convention will examine the highly topical issue of Safety & Security. At a keynote

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ITB DESTINATION DAYS

On March 8th, day one of the ITB Destination Days, following an introduction the Botswana Forum will examine the country’s prospects for tourism.

I T B B e r l i n C o n v e n t i o n : We l l p r e p a r e d f o r t u r b u l e n t t i m e s

ABOUT ITB BERLIN CONVENTION ITB Berlin 2017 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday. From Wednesday to Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only.

The World Tourism Cities Federation is Co-Host of the ITB Berlin Convention. The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Turkey are Platinum Sponsors.

More details are available at www.itb-convention.com

session under the heading of The Status Quo and the Future of Security Policy and Technology experts will provide information on regions where risk levels are especially high, on suitable strategic and technical measures for improving safety and security, and offer advice for destinations on how to increase safety for travellers.

Afterwards, a panel discussion under the heading of The New Order of Tourism Destinations will confront the pressing issue of changing travel patterns and what solutions can be found in order to stabilise tourism demand.

On Friday, March 10th, the last day of the event will address controversial topics, for example Overtourism at Destinations. Pioneers in this field from affected tourism regions will reveal their successful strategies and

present examples of best practices ranging from hi-tech solutions to limiting tourism numbers.

Also on Friday, the ITB CSR Day will examine important aspects of sustainable tourism. The sessions will discuss Cimate – Customers – Communication: How Can Sustainable Travel be Marketed Successfully? and Sustainable Tourism Destinations – The Status Quo and Lessons Learned, topics that form part of a practical handbook introduced by the German Tourism Association with the support of the Federal Ministry of the Environment and the Federal Nature Conservation Bureau.

Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is free of charge for trade visitors. Numerous sessions at the ITB Berlin Convention will be streamed live on the internet.

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F E AT U R E

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY TAKES CENTRE STAGE AT ITB BERLIN

This year taking place on Thursday, March 9th, the agenda will once again feature the latest topics and high-ranking speakers will be taking an in-depth look at future trends in the hospitality industry.

senior vice president, global marketing and director of the Young Innovation Lab of Accor Hotels; and Paul Halpenny, director of Group Supply of the specialist booking platform Hostelworld.

The ITB Hospitality Day will begin by examining a global trend: the traditional youth hostel has become a social hub for teenagers of all ages. Addressing all globetrotters, regardless of their budget, the topic heading will be Hostels – Refreshed. Creative newcomers and established chains will both be having their say. They include Eric van Dijk, chief operating officer of Meininger Hotels; Frank Uffen, director of marketing and partnership of the new group The Student Hotels; Frédéric Fontaine,

Artificial intelligence will be one of the topics dominating the ITB Berlin Convention throughout, including during a debated entitled: Is the Hotel Industry Prepared to Welcome Digitalisation, with its Innovations in Automation, the Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence? The guests taking part in this discussion will be examining which ideas and interfaces make sense: Andriew Lim, professor for innovation and technopreneurship in hospitality at the Hotel School, The Hague; Hubert Viriot, chief

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As a driving force within the market and as an information platform for senior executives from the international hotel industry, over the last 12 years the ITB Hospitality Day has firmly established itself at the ITB Berlin Convention.

Cor porate social responsibility takes centre stage at

executive of the technology-oriented Yotel Hotels; Andreas Pröfrock, director of strategic alliances and technology partnerships of the IT Solution Providers Alcatel-Lucent; and the representative of a hotel chain.

Technology and taste have something in common, according to the award-winning Spanish chef Paco Roncero who will be staging a Sublimotion food show.

How are hotels dealing with food and beverage challenges? That is the question that internationally experienced gastronomy consultants will be discussing: Jean Georges Ploner (Netzwerk Global F&B Heroes); Christoph Hoffmann, chief executive of 25hours Hotel Company; and Urban Denk, director of culinary innovation and development, Steigenberger Hotels & Resorts.

The sensitive topic of Safety First will also be on the agenda of the ITB Hospitality Day. Faced with terrorism and other catastrophes, how can cities, hotel chains and other business partners regain the trust of travellers? Crisis managers and hotel owners are looking for wide-ranging security. Taking part in the panel discussion will be Paul Moxness, vice president, safety and security, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group; Gerhard Struger, regional vice president, Eastern Europe and Turkey, Accor Hotels/Swissôtel; Georges-Pierre Cladogenis, global product manager, safety and security, Carlson Wagonlit Travel; and Sebastien Maire, the new chief resilience officer of the city of Paris.

ITB CSR DAY The United Nations World Tourism Organisation has declared 2017 the year of sustainable tourism. The focus is on the economic, ecological and social objectives pursued by the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. For many years, ITB Berlin, through numerous initiatives, has campaigned for greater social equality, protecting the environment and human rights. It makes use

of its key role to promote a dialogue with companies in an effort to provide economically, socially and ecologically responsible tourism products and services.

In this context, the ITB CSR Day at the ITB Berlin Convention is a driving force. On March 10th, leading figures in politics, business and science will discuss innovative concepts, best practices and the economic potential of sustainable tourism. The main topic will be Sustainable Food and Beverages in the Hotel Industry and at Tourism Destinations. Food and drink are vital to life, a part of people’s lifestyle and important in tourism. At an event moderated by Christine Demen Meier, the chair of food and beverages at Écolehôtelière de Lausanne EHL, Olaf Koch, chief executive of Metro AG, and Carlos Martin-Rios, assistant professor at Ecolehôtelière de Lausanne, will discuss the future impact of Sustainable food and beverages and how hotel managers should address the issue and what obstacles need to be overcome.

Afterwards, a high-level panel discussion with sustainable tour operators, commercial airlines and experts from the German Travel Association will debate Climate – Customers – Communication: How Can Sustainable Travel be Marketed Successfully?. The panel will discuss the best communication methods for marketing tourism, which tools are tried and tested and the best arguments for convincing customers to book sustainable tours.

Under the heading of Sustainable Tourism Destinations – The Status Quo and Lessons Learned, one year after the practical guide to sustainable tourism destinations was launched with the Federal Ministry of the Environment and the Federal Nature Conservation Bureau at ITB Berlin 2016, the German Tourism Association will be summarising developments so far.

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MORE INFORMATION Find out more about the ITB Berlin Convention at www.itb-convention.com

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F E AT U R E

eTRAVEL WORLD: NEW IMPULSES FOR DIGITAL BUSINESS

New to ITB Berlin this year, eTravel World is located in the Travel Technology area of the show and is reserved exclusively for digital marketing, social media and mobile travel services.

Established companies and ambitious start-ups will present their latest innovations at the new eTravel World at ITB Berlin this year. Experts highlight important developments from the world of apps, mobile websites, social networks and blogs. Here you can find out how you can most effectively integrate online technologies into your marketing and distribution channels, and how you can turn your customers into ambassadors for your products and services.

Highlights are likely to include a focus on chatbots and case studies about virtual and augmented reality in destination marketing. In the pipeline are also lectures on influencer and trans-generational marketing, the sharing economy and vacation rental distribution. Experts from Slovenia, Croatia, Northern Africa, Iran, Brazil and other world regions will also speak about their experiences.

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Whether you are following innovative sessions on the eTravel Stage, visiting workshops in the eTravel Lab or seeing best case studies at the eTravel showroom – the ITB eTravel World provides always fresh impetus for your business!

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8TH Among the highlights on the first day is a session entitled Personalised Advertising Technology in the Travel Industry. Taking pace in Hall 6.1, on the eTravel Stage, the event how a travel company can grow its online customer base without using its own marketing budget. Find out how CVC – a South American OTA which has more Brazilian franchises than McDonalds – did just that.

The case study explains how CVC used Sociomantic Labs’ personalised display platform to reach new and existing customers with individually tailored display ads.

e T r a v e l Wo r l d : N e w I m p u l s e s f o r d i g i t a l b u s i n e s s

Later the same day, in Hall 7.1c, at the eTravel Lab, Take Me There Virtual Reality and the Customer Experience will examine the cutting edge of the travel sector. In an increasingly crowded marketplace, travel businesses and destinations need to find new ways to stand out. Virtual reality technology offers travellers the ability to create their own story when choosing destinations, accommodations and activities. How are the new tools being used in our industry to create immersive engagement with potential visitors? In this session, VR experts and travel businesses give examples of the best ways to leverage these new opportunities.

THURSDAY, MARCH 9TH On Thursday, March 9th, head over to Hall 7.1c and the eTravel Lab for From a Silo Mentality to Integrated Processes. Software solutions in the travel industry create new potentials through more efficient processes, from purchasing products all the way to sales. Tour operators are transforming from a silo organisation into modern, agile, decentralised organisations. Noticeably shorter reaction times to market changes, decentralised contracting, optimised use of

The lecture takes a look at the development, opportunities and challenges of this new channel and explains why it is important to act now to not miss the boat.

offers during holiday periods, capacity management which is updated daily, and real-time reporting all increase added-value and allow for demand-oriented marketing via diverse channels. Solutions to best practice cases from teamSolution Travel will reveal how travel industry businesses are shaping the digital transformation to be able to face the market’s biggest challenges even more effectively.

FRIDAY, MARCH 10TH On the final day of ITB Berlin this year Hall 7.1c and the eTravel Lab will welcome a session entitled The Potentials of Mobile Payment in the Tourism Industry. With the growing number of smartphone users worldwide, the potential users for mobile payments also increase.

Different applications are available to support various types of mobile payments, in particular the proximity mobile payments. Mobile wallets, one of the applications available on smartphone, would enable contactless payment technology, such as Apple Pay and Android Pay. A survey has shown the use of mobile payments has in particular been increasing among the young generation (Millennials).

This development offers opportunities to the companies within the tourism industry, where they may elaborate their sales and marketing strategies using mobile payments enablers.

On the same stage Conversational Interfaces: Where Are We Heading? will inform a high-level audience.

While many travel industry companies are still struggling with the implementation and realisation of their mobile services, the early adopters are already developing chatbots and applications for language-based digital assistants. This is being made possible by the combination of technological advances in areas like speech recognition and text comprehension with the provision of corresponding cloud-based services by heavyweights like Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Amazon and IBM. At the same time, messengers and assistants are emerging: completely new ecosystems which have a massive number of users and not only simplify but also monitor access to customers.

MORE INFORMATION eTravel World will welcome delegates to halls 6.1 and 7.1c during ITB Berlin 2017.

Head over to www.itb-berlin.de/en/ITBBerlin/DestinationsSegments/ETravelWorld for more information and timings.

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OPTIONS

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ORDER NOW Contact your World Travel Awards™ contact or contact us by: Email: awards@worldtravelawards.com Phone: +44 (0) 20 7925 0000

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F E AT U R E

NEW VILLAS NEAR COMPLETION AT INTERCONTINENTAL DANANG SUN PENINSULA RESORT InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort recognised as the World’s Leading Luxury Resort by the World Travel Awards in 2016 – is expanding its offering with the addition of 30 new beachfront Villas.

MORE INFORMATION Hidden in the myth-filled hills of ‘Monkey Mountain’ in the heart of the Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve, the five-star InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort is a work of art as much as a resort. Set in 39 hectares of stepped gardens leading down to a private beach – dramatic views of the sea can be enjoyed from all 200 rooms – every inch of this luxury resort is the stunning creation of star architect Bill Bensley and, as a result, is unique in design and concept.

For more information visit danang.intercontinental.com

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N e w v i l l a s n e a r c o m p l e t i o n a t I n t e r C o n t i n e n t a l D a n a n g S u n Pe n i n s u l a R e s o r t

architecture and interior design. Private dining rooms reveal the characters of this fictional clan: from the sensible Accountant’s Room, to the thrill-seeking Traveller’s Room, to the risqué Le Boudoir de La Madame.

Nestled away from the rest of the resort’s space and offering the ultimate in privacy, each new villa at InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula spans up to 800sqm.

Guests can relax in the serenity of their spacious room, complete with a commanding view of the East Sea from the private day beds of an outdoor terrace.

Each of the villas includes two private pools, two or three bedrooms and a large reception area, perfect for both relaxation and entertainment, as well as being en suite with a fully equipped kitchen. Each deluxe bedroom pampers guests with an expansive bathroom with two vanity areas, enormous designer marble bathtub, and an outdoor shower with the mythical Monkey Mountain as your backdrop.

The villas also feature a range of luxury amenities, full Club Peninsula benefits, and come with your own personal butler, professional chauffeur, and excellent chef.

Each is carefully trained to understand the needs of the most exquisite traveller to create that unique service experience.

INTERCONTINENTAL DANANG SUN PENINSULA RESORT Intercontinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort itself welcomes guests to magical Danang, a fascinating destination where

natural beauty, vibrant culture, and fascinating history all share the spotlight.

Home to three UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Danang is a dynamic, growing city with a panoramic riverfront area with a number of fantastic cultural, natural and heritages sites nearby such as Hue, Marble Mountains, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary and more.

Enjoy the very best of what the destination has to offer at the World’s Leading Luxury Resort 2016, InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort, a hillside resort and spa overlooking a sparkling private bay. Designed by star architect Bill Bensley, he reimagined Vietnamese design, history and myth with his characteristic whimsy to create a magical retreat over four levels - Heaven, Sky, Earth and Sea. From the moment you arrive, you’ll be pampered by the InterContinental Danang Sun Peninsula Resort’s personal service and unparalleled amenities.

Discover culinary artistry at La Maison 1888, by three-star Michelin chef Pierre Gagnaire. This signature restaurant has already become the number one gastronomic destination in Vietnam. La Maison 1888’s setting tells the story of a colonial French-Eurasian family through

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You can also dine at Citron, located on the highest level of the resort for that unparalleled panoramic view. Start your day at Citron with the a la carte breakfast menu, which offers everything from cereals and pastries to fresh eggs and traditional Vietnamese Pho. During the day Citron is open for lunch and dinner with a full menu that travels through the culinary map of Vietnam.

Set against a citric colour palette of yellow and green, temple-inspired lamps and wooden latticework and imperial Nguyen thrones recast as dining chairs.

Soothe your body and soul with custom spa packages at HARNN Heritage Spa. Crafted from healing wisdom passed down through generations, HARNN Heritage Spa is inspired by the practice of traditional Asian medicine and naturopathy, each HARNN treatment is thoughtfully designed to enhance your wellness. Only the finest botanical ingredients are used to create restorative harmony and health.

You can also treat yourself to the world’s finest pedicure at PEDI:MANI:CURE Studio by Bastien Gonzalez.

Adding to that magical experience, meet your neighbours, the rare red-shanked douc langurs who inhabit the lush forests of Monkey Mountain, or simply kick back and enjoy our 700-meter private beach.

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SINGAPORE’S

F E AT U R E

ITB BERLIN: WHAT IS LUXURY TRAVEL ALL ABOUT? Global travel is experiencing a paradigm change in established luxury markets. Delegates to ITB Berlin 2017 are here asked for their help in understanding this most significant of shifts.

Luxury travel is increasingly being defined intangibly.

Self-discovery, simplicity, authenticity, and slow movement, are all buzzwords of the moment, evocating sophisticated travel for the contemporary wealthy. This trend replaces the need for an opulent demonstration of wealth and influence, previously seen as vital to the luxury traveller.

But what are the real needs of the top-end traveller?

How can tour operators, hotels, cruise ship companies and destinations successfully tap into this market segment full of opinion leaders? Where is the journey heading? How

can the complexity of this topic be put into terms and definitions – and marketable concepts? What can be learned from best practice examples?

On the opposite page is the ITB Berlin Ten Commandments of Luxury Travel – a series of suggestions on what really matters in this sector. Messe Berlin is asking for your feedback to help answer the question. Simply select your top three and e-mail itb@ messe-berlin.de (with the reference Luxury Travel) or head over to www.facebook. com/ITBBerlin to submit your answers there! It’s that simple.

MORE INFORMATION ITB Berlin is where top decision-makers, experts, buyers and young professionals from every area of the touristic value-added chain meet to get information about important topics and the latest trends, establish business contacts and close global deals.

Find out more at www.itb-berlin.de

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I TB Berlin: W hat is luxur y travel all about?

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS OF LUXURY TRAVEL* WHICH THREE MATTER MOST TO YOU PERSONALLY? PLEASE RANK YOUR TOP THREE AND SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK: itb@messe-berlin.de, reference: “Luxury Travel”, or https://www.facebook.com/ITBBerlin ONE

Thou shalt exceed your guest‘s expectations – at all times and in all places.

TWO

Thou shalt provide personalized services for your guest – not just a perfunctory smile at check-in.

THREE

Thou shalt do all you can to ensure privacy for your guests so that they experience their stay as calm, peaceful and serene.

FOUR

Thou shalt grant your guest as much space as possible – and no efficiency-driven, square meter-reduced rooms! This space should be on, off and around the property.

FIVE

Thou shalt proactively respect the environment and act eco-sustainably and responsibly in all you do for your guest. Intact natural sanctuaries are the ultimate luxury retreats. Protecting them means protecting us.

SIX

Thou shalt treat your guest as a unique individual. Empathically understood, proactively assisted!

SEVEN Thou shalt give your guest the feeling of having unlimited time at one‘s disposal – time to live life to its fullest.

EIGHT

Thou shalt do everything in your power to alleviate any worries, troubles or burdens your guest is experiencing. Holding doors open and carrying luggage should be a matter of course.

NINE

Thou shalt make your guest‘s stay as safe and healthy as possible. Such an environment includes safe food, water, air and anything else to promote good health – along with paparazzi-free zones.

TEN

Thou shalt keep your guests adequately entertained from the first to the last minute of their stay. Keep the fire burning!

*

This compilation is based on 550 responses to a survey conducted at ITB Luxury Lab, March 2015.

Copyright / All rights reserved ® ITB Berlin, 2016.

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More www.itb-berlin.com/luxury

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F E AT U R E

EUROPCAR EXPANDS CHINA PRESENCE WITH SHOUQI CAR RENTAL DEAL Europcar Group and Shouqi Car Rental, a leading Car Rental company in China, have signed a worldwide commercial partnership to better serve their customers This partnership is an outstanding opportunity for Europcar to benefit from the strong inflow of Chinese tourists throughout the world - and particularly in Europe – and to give the Europcar customer access to one of China’s leading Rental Networks. This cooperation between Europcar and Shouqi is a key strategic step for both organizations delivering complementary networks to expand their global reach.

With this partnership, both Shouqi and Europcar customers will benefit from a consistent high quality service worldwide.

one of the largest and most important Tourism Group in China.

In 2015, 127 million Chinese people have travelled around the world, China being the largest tourism source market in the world and their amount of expenditure reached €292 billion (up by a quarter versus 2014). In addition Chinese customers have growing needs regarding car rental services when they travel.

Caroline Parot, Europcar Group chief executive, declared: “We are delighted to partner with Shouqi, one of the leading Car Rental Services in China and to make this key strategic move for both of our companies.

We share with Shouqi the same corporate culture of strong focus on customer service excellence and client satisfaction. Both of our teams are fully committed to delivering a consistent high quality service worldwide. This partnership is an important next step in our

Shouqi Car Rental is one of the leading mobility players in China with a fleet of more than 30,000 vehicles, approximately 500 stations, and covering more than 70 domestic cities. Shouqi Car Rental is a subsidiary of the Beijing Tourism Group,

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strategy of expanding our international footprint and to provide a global mobility network to our customers.”

Europcar Group is active in more than 140 countries and serves customers through an extensive vehicle rental network (3,600 points of sale worldwide in 2016) comprised of its wholly-owned subsidiaries as well as sites operated by franchisees and partners.

Jack Wei, Shouqi Car Rental chief operating officer said: “As a global leader in the car rental industry, Europcar has 3,600 stations distributed around the world, with

Europcar expands China presence with Shouqi Car Rental deal

the business covering over 140 countries. The cooperation with Europcar is a key strategic move of Shouqi Car Rental to explore the global car rental market, and provide its customers with more comfortable and convenient car rental services worldwide through a more standardized process and more considerate auto service overseas.”

GUIDAMI At the same time, Europcar has confirmed the acquisition of GuidaMi, the station-based car sharing company in Milan. The European vehicle rental services provider take control of the company through subsidiary Ubeeqo, an innovative mobility start-up in which Europcar owns a majority share. Italy becomes the sixth market in which Ubeeqo offers a ground breaking alternative to private cars.

Ubeeqo already operates in France, Belgium, Germany, the United Kingdom and Spain.

GuidaMi is the historical car sharing player in Milan with more than 150 cars already available in Milan’s streets with dedicated car park spaces within the city. GuidaMi opens the Italian market to Ubeeqo and offers an innovative and user friendly service.

“Milan is one of Europe’s most dynamic cities in the field of mobility solutions providing an alternative to private cars. We are glad, through this acquisition, to position Ubeeqo in this promising market with the same ambition we have in other cities: providing businesses and individuals with a ground breaking alternative to car ownership and encouraging those who still own cars to sell them” said Ubeeqo co-founder, Benoît Chatelier.

Ubeeqo’s mobility app will also be available for the Milanese.

This innovative mobility platform allows users to both book and pay for solutions like car sharing, car rental and taxi/chauffeur services.

This platform also appeals to business customers, thanks to its centralised billing, which provides a solution to limit the volume of expense accounts.

“Just a few months after the acquisition of Bluemove in Spain, the Europcar Group is once again, through Ubeeqo, expanding across the car sharing market and is making a lively entry into yet another European country where our group can capitalise on a solid position.

This new acquisition marks a key step in our drive to become a global mobility solutions leader,” stresses Fabrizio Ruggiero, head of mobility, Europcar Group.

BRUNEL As part of the same acquisition spree, Europcar has taken control of Brunel, a London-based ride-hailing business. Brunel is a leading provider of chauffeur and executive driver services, available via a mobile application. It primarily serves companies operating across a range of corporate markets, including investment banks, law, advisory firms and financial institutions.

The acquisition marks another step in Europcar’s strategy to build a broad-ranging mobility offering to its customers, providing a choice of travel solutions to meet the time and convenience requirements of each journey.

Fabrizio Ruggiero said: “This is another important step in Europcar’s path to be a key mobility provider. The addition of a ride-hailing business and

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executive driver service that has an excellent reputation both in the UK and worldwide means we can give our clients even greater choice for their travel needs providing us with a strong competitive advantage.”

Ruggiero added: “We were particularly attracted by Brunel’s mobility applications, their high quality service and their operational excellence.”

Through this acquisition, Europcar is able to meet its corporate customers’ highest expectations thanks to a dedicated tailor made service. As an example, Brunel offers specific added value services for roadshows and event management. These services are also available worldwide through a global network of partners in 75 countries, covering 480 cities.

Anthony Edwards, chief executive of Brunel added: “Over the last 30 years, Brunel has built a strong reputation based on our high quality of service but also on our ability to capitalize on new technology to innovate for customers. We are very excited about the opportunities of being part of the Europcar Group can provide us in order to accelerate our development.”

MORE INFORMATION Europcar is the European leader in vehicle rental service and is also a major player in mobility markets.

Find out more at www. europcar.com or head over to Hall 9/123 here at ITB Berlin.

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The Residence.

That’s Flying Reimagined.

Check in to this exclusive address and experience our three-room suite on board the A380. Designed for two guests, it offers a living room, double bedroom and ensuite shower room. It even comes with a personal Butler to attend to your every need. The Residence. Now accepting reservations.

F E AT U R E

ETIHAD SOARS SKYWARD IN 2016 Etihad Airways delivered another year of sustained growth in 2016, helped by new aircraft, additional frequencies and the introduction of further world-class products.

777-200 cargo freighters. An additional 12 aircraft are set for delivery in 2017, including nine Boeing 787s, two Airbus A380s and one A330-200 freighter.

Etihad carried a record 18.5 million guests during 2016, up six per cent on 2015. The airline was also part of the evolution of Etihad Aviation Group, a wider aviation and tourism business which now also includes Etihad Airways Engineering; Airline Equity Partners; Etihad Airport Services and Hala Group.

Etihad holds the strongest credit rating in the aviation industry (A by Fitch), demonstrating the strength of its successful business model which is widely acknowledged by the international financial community.

The formation of Etihad Aviation Group was announced in May 2016.

James Hogan, president and chief executive of Etihad Aviation Group, said: “Last year saw sustained growth in a very tough business environment. This is where Etihad Airways’ superior products and services show their true value and where the strength of the EAG business model comes into effect through its diversity of businesses, cost effective synergies and global spread of risk.”

During the year, Etihad Airways operated more than 109,000 scheduled passenger and cargo flights spanning around 446 million kilometres and 112 destinations. Capacity, measured in available seat kilometres, grew by nine per cent and passenger traffic, measured by revenue passenger kilometres, rose by eight per cent. The average load factor held steady at 79 per cent.

Etihad Airways’ fleet of 119 aircraft is one of the youngest and most environmentally-friendly in the industry, with an average age of six years. During the year, the airline took delivery of ten aircraft: three Airbus A380s, five Boeing 787s and two Boeing

He added: “Most importantly, in 2016 we were able to introduce our new group structure, which positions this business for longterm growth and development.”

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Etihad soars skyward in 2016

Last year was also a year of impressive accolades for Etihad Airways - the pinnacle being Etihad’s recognition as the World’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards for the eighth consecutive year

Etihad Regional, represents the seventh largest global grouping of airlines. In 2016, the combined fleet of 705 aircraft carried 126.6 million guests.

NEW ROUTES

During 2016, Etihad Cargo carried 592,700 tonnes, which was flat year-on-year. Etihad Cargo expanded its freighter services to several new markets, including Columbus Rickenbacker, Ohio in the US; East Midlands and London Stansted in the UK; Copenhagen; Brussels; Addis Ababa and Casablanca in Africa; Colombo; Muscat; and Zhengzhou in China. This brings the number of freighter-only destinations to 15.

HEAVY LIFTING

Etihad Airways launched Venice in Italy, Rabat in Morocco and Sabiha Gokcen in Turkey as new destinations in 2016. The much-admired Airbus A380 began serving Mumbai and Melbourne, and the Boeing 787 Dreamliner was deployed on new routes, including Perth, Shanghai, Johannesburg and Dusseldorf. The airline added a fifth daily flight on the Doha route, an extra daily flight to Cairo and Kozhikode, and increased frequencies to Dammam, Manila and Tehran.

Strong growth was achieved within the group’s loyalty businesses with over three million new members joining the Etihad Guest, MilleMiglia (Alitalia), topbonus (airberlin) and JetPrivilege programmes, which now provide benefits to nearly 20 million members.

Etihad Airways carried more than 76 per cent of the total passengers who travelled to and from Abu Dhabi International Airport in 2016. With the addition of the airline’s equity partners that operate flights into the UAE capital, the combined total rises to 86 per cent of passenger traffic at the airport.

EMIRATISATION The Etihad Aviation Group workforce, as of December 31st, stood at 26,635 employees, representing 150 nationalities. The airline continued to prioritise its Emiratisation programme, and in November, celebrated the graduation of 310 future leaders from the Future Leaders Programmes, a strong indication of the company’s commitment to investing in its people.

The airline’s codeshare and equity partnerships delivered 5.5 million passengers onto Etihad Airways’ flights, an increase of nine per cent over the five million passengers in 2015.

The airline launched new codeshare agreements with Avianca Colombia, Avianca Brasil, Kulula, Precision Air and Montenegro Airlines. Etihad Airways’ existing codeshares with airberlin, Alitalia, Brussels Airlines, Flynas, Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Hong Kong Airlines, and Virgin Australia were significantly expanded. Etihad Airways also launched new interline agreements with Lufthansa, Pegasus, Malindo and LATAM. As a result, the airline now offers a combined passenger and cargo network of nearly 600 destinations through its 188 interline and 53 codeshare partnerships.

There are currently more than 3,000 Emirati employees – 52 per cent of whom are women, including engineers and pilots.

Hogan added: “This will be another challenging year. We will continue to expand prudently and efficiently, reflecting the nature of the economic environment. We remain optimistic and have every belief that our robust business model will succeed and, most importantly, stand the test of time.”

Etihad Airways’ equity partner network, including airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia and

During the year, Etihad Guest marked its tenth anniversary and reached 4.7 million members.

ETIHAD AVIATION GROUP Etihad Aviation Group is a diversified global aviation and travel group comprising five business divisions – Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, Etihad Airways Engineering, Etihad Airport Services, Hala Group and Airline Equity Partners.

The group has minority investments in seven airlines: airberlin, Air Serbia, Air Seychelles, Alitalia, Jet Airways, Virgin Australia, and Swiss-based Darwin Airline, trading as Etihad Regional.

Find out more at www.etihad.com or head over to Hall 2.2/202 here at ITB Berlin 2017.

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F E AT U R E

FCM GROWS IN EUROPE FOLLOWING TRAVELLINK ACQUISITION The agreement, which was concluded in December 2016, includes Travellink Corporate’s operations in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.

FCM Travel Solutions is expanding its footprint in northern Europe following the acquisition by parent company, Flight Centre Travel Group, of Travellink Corporate from eDreams ODIGEO.

“As the flagship corporate travel division of Flight Centre Travel Group, FCM operates in more than 90 countries in Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia and the Americas. We wanted to strengthen our presence and operations in Northern Europe with a player that has a reputation for superb service,” said Steve Norris, corporate managing director, Flight Centre Travel Group.

“Travellink Corporate is a leading online travel provider at the forefront of providing clients with advanced technology to book business travel. Together FCM and Travellink Corporate combine the best technologies, skills and cultures to give corporate clients competitive business travel services and drive growth in this region,” said Norris.

The new operations will transition to the FCM brand during the course of 2017.

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“Travellink Corporate’s innovative and easy-to-use online-tools will give us a huge benefit in the corporate travel market in the region, especially as there will be changes to the Amadeus -based online booking tool during the coming year,” said Bodil Månsson, managing director Nordics, FCM Travel Solutions.

“We are looking forward to working closely with Travellink Corporate’s people to maximise opportunities and service customers in the best possible way.”

AUSTRALASIA FCM Travel Solutions has also recently announced the appointment of a new regional general manager.

Mary Gava has been appointed to the role and will be based in Sydney.

The role will provide greater focus and dedication to servicing FCM’s government relationships and growing Pinnacle – FCM’s experiential, ‘high touch’ premium offering for executives, delivered by highly experienced and innovative travel experts.

“We are very excited about Mary’s appointment – her

FCM grows in Europe following Travellink acquisition

MORE INFORMATION FCM Travel Solutions is the business travel partner of choice for large national, multinational and global corporations. The company is an award-winning global corporate travel management company ranking as one of the top five by size around the world. They operate a global network which spans more than 90 countries, employing over 6,000 people.

Find out more at www.fcm.travel

heavy involvement in the setup and on-going delivery of our Pinnacle offering, coupled with her extensive experience in leadership will ensure this area of our business succeeds,” said James Kavanagh, general manager – Australia, FCM Travel Solutions.

Gava has over twenty-one years’ experience in the travel industry and has worked on key transformation projects for FCM Travel Solutions since 2015 including engineering the Pinnacle value proposition and driving the E3-Serko transition. Prior to this, she spent seven years as executive general manager at the Concierge Travel Group consisting of Concierge Business Travel, luxury retail brand Concierge Traveller and luxury wholesale brand Elegant Resorts and Villas.

“I’m very excited to provide dedication to two incredibly important customer segments of FCM, while giving our fantastic people a stronger identity and opportunity to thrive,” said Gava on her new appointment.

News of the ANZ travel contract follows the organisation’s announcement of securing the NSW Government travel account earlier this year. ANZ now joins NAB as the second of Australia’s four “big banks” that are trading with FCM Travel Solutions.

Also in Australia, FCM Travel Solutions has been awarded the global travel contract for ANZ Bank. Kavanagh, said of the win that it was a true organisation-wide approach, leveraging international expertise from colleagues around the world as well as a key team from Australia to secure the business.

FCM 360

“We are very excited to bring on board this flagship customer – an organisation and household name known throughout Australia and New Zealand – it is a fantastic win for the business and a testament to the hard work of all the team members involved in the pitch,” said Kavanagh.

Finally, FCM Travel Solutions has launched FCM 360, the new product suite for customers which delivers an all-encompassing travel experience. FCM 360 consists of three categories of products and services falling under: FCM 360 technology, FCM 360 travel and FCM 360 services.

The account will place ANZ as FCM’s second largest customer world-wide.

The program provides real solutions for travellers, travel bookers and organisations designed to meet every need throughout the travel buying process. Global general manager for FCM Travel Solutions Marcus Eklund said that the FCM 360 product suite was born to demonstrate the total approach FCM take when developing and managing client travel programs.

“The win is reflective of significant investment and inroads we have made in our mobile and online technology offering, information security and technology products, our local market boutique service, multinational ‘big data’ reporting and duty of care provisions,” added Kavanagh.

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“Within FCM 360 we offer a wide range of specialist travel services and technology solutions which drives transformation of our clients’ business travel programs,” said Eklund. “In most markets we offer a complete suite of products and services ranging from our own exclusive travel product, best-in-class technology tools, specialised services and partnerships with leading providers, which demonstrates our holistic approach to travel management.

“When combined, FCM 360 offers our clients a complete and customised travel management solution that is available globally to meet the needs of our multinational customers,” added Marcus.

The launch of FCM 360 is a global initiative of FCM Travel Solutions across all 92 countries within the travel management company’s global network.

breakingtravelnews.com

Pa r a d i s e f o u n d w i t h A n d i l a n a B e a c h R e s o r t

PARADISE FOUND WITH ANDILANA BEACH RESORT The Andilana Beach Resort nestles within 150,000m2 of stunning, private parkland.

More than 500 coconut trees, 150 traveller’s palms (the national symbol of Madagascar), almost 500 bougainvillaeas, 400 hibiscuses and a multitude of vanilla orchids, cacao and cotton trees all combine to create a breath-taking explosion of colours and fragrances.

You are sure to come across Carolina, the great turtle who is the undoubted queen of the Andilana Beach Resort and who has spent more than 150 years growing old gracefully in our beautiful gardens. The enchanting lemurs are always ready to accept a banana and show off their physical prowess by leaping acrobatically from branch to branch. A magical atmosphere will envelop you under the Tree of Love; its red lanterns providing the perfect illumination as the sun sets.

The hibiscuses will win you over with their bright-red colouring, which contrasts beautifully with the luxuriant green of the parkland.

The bougainvillaeas add a splash of colour to our swimming pool and to the edging of the paths within the parkland, offering up eye-catching shades of lilac, red, white and orange.

NOSY BE

life! Open from April last year it is part of the ‘All Inclusive’ formula. Where the two beaches meet, the one dedicated to sport and entertainment and the one dedicated to full relax, covering an area of over 500 m2, under the shade of elegant white sails, you can have lunch without shoes, directly on the beach.

A dream holiday at the most beautiful and exclusive bay of Nosy Be. Don’t waste your time going anywhere else – the Andilana Beach Resort offers you the best of the best.

The resort has two immense, sandy beaches with a total length of over 800 metres, adding up to more than 20,000m2 of exclusive beach area. There’s nothing to rival it on Nosy Be. Two beaches, two different ways to enjoy your holiday.

Andilana gives you the freedom to choose exactly how you want to make the most of every single day of your trip.

Fresh and healthy choices and a big variety of pizza make the menu of the Beach Restaurant. The place is open from morning to sunset and, apart from lunch times, it is also a beach bar that allows you to savour a delightful cocktail or taste a coloured slush puppy just a few meters away from the shore! It is suitable also as customisable location for private events.

West Beach – A large, tropical, freshwater swimming pool, canoes, beach volleyball, boules courts, the diving centre and the games organised by the reps: all of this and more is available to ensure that your days are as fun-filled as possible.

BOUTIQUE The in-resort boutique has also had a facelift, with a new look and new goods.

Over 200 square meters of local, Asian and European fashion for a charming experience of international shopping. A lively atmosphere where you can share your passion: this is the brand new Andilana Fashion Outlet, a refined fusion of ethnic and elegant style.

East Beach - Get stuck into a good book or just lie back and soak up the sun, listening to the waves. Enjoy your time at the seaside just the way you want it.

ALL INCLUSIVE The third restaurant of Andilana Beach Resort has also now come to

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The Andilana Beach Resort is home to fantastic seas and endless beaches, but there’s more – the incredible biodiversity of Madagascar is on show in all its glory in this tropical wonderland.

MORE INFORMATION For more on visiting Andilana Beach Resort head over to www. andilanaresort.com

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ACCORHOTELS WELCOMES ABU DHABI’S FIRST ELECTRICAL CAR POWER STATION

MORE INFORMATION Find out more at www.sofitel.com

The first hotel electrical car power station in Abu Dhabi was officially opened at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche earlier, ushering in a new era of transportation for the emirate.

Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche has welcomed the first Emirates Electric Vehicle Road Trip (Emirates EVRT) and presentation of the first Tesla sport car. The 700 kilometre road trip across seven of the United Arab Emirates territories showcased the best of electric vehicle technology. At the same time, three new charging stations, supplied by ENGIE, have been unveiled at three AccorHotels properties: Marjan Island hotel in Ras Al Khaimah, Novotel hotel in Fujairah, and Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche.

The aim of the inaugural trip was to drive electric vehicle adoption in the UAE and accelerate the transition towards a sustainable low-carbon future.

AccorHotels was the official hospitality sponsor of the Emirates EVRT. This initiative became a part of Accor-

Hotels’ Planet 21 sustainable development program aimed to drive the change towards positive, more responsible and inventive hospitality.

Planet 21 demonstrates the group’s ambitious goals for 2020, based around four strategic priorities: work with its employees, involve its customers, innovate with its partners and work with local communities.

tigious district in the city and full of the characteristic charm of the seafront.

It is ideal for corporate guests especially with its close proximity to the business and financial centre as well as for having a conference centre that can accommodate up to 1,000 guests.

With its unique location of being just a stone’s throw from the vibrant seafront and a mere drive to Saadiyat Island – which is set to be the capital’s cultural district, and Yas Island where the famous amusement parks are – it is also idyllic for leisure getaways.

Following the successful trips in London and Europe, and the first ever trip through the Emirates, Global EVRT will cover even more terrain across Europe, the GCC, India, and China in the near future.

The hotel hosts 282 sea-view rooms arranged over 44 floors including 48 suites, 57 Club Rooms, four Imperial Suites and one Royal Suite, as well as three restaurants and three bars. Corniche All Day Dining is where French and Arabic culinary

SOFITEL ABU DHABI CORNICHE The Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, part of the Capital Plaza complex, enjoys a privileged location on the eastern tip of the Corniche Road, one of the most pres-

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tastes and flavours meet.

Contemporary Thai cuisine is presented at Silk & Spice.

Seafood dining is available at La Mer. Le Café Lobby Lounge is the perfect place for business or pleasure, to meet with friends and colleagues, or to take a break from the world. Jazz n’ Fizz bar is for after-work drinks and aperitifs. Chill’O pool bar and terrace is the ideal spot to enjoy dramatic sunsets in an atmosphere worthy of One Thousand and One Nights.

Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche is the first property within the GCC to host Sofitel’s signature So Spa accompanied by Sofitel’s So Fit concept. Both feature a full range of the latest equipment and facilities.

A swimming pool and whirlpool on the terrace of the hotel complements the offering.

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OUR WORLD IS YOUR PLAYGROUND DUBAI CREEK CITY CENTRE

PULLMAN DUBAI CREEK CITY CENTRE HOTEL & RESIDENCES Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel is only 10 minutes away from the Dubai Internatioal Airport and boasts 317 rooms and suites with a sleek minimalist interior design epitomizes the contemporary sophistication of this modern hotel. It blends luxurious comforts with high technology to provide an exceptional space in which to work, live and relax. For meeting conveniences, a business centre of 9 rooms in a dedicated meeting space of 909 squaremeters allows flexibility to host groups of different sizes from board meetings, conferences, social events to formal functions. Guests can also enjoy contemporary dining at the “Medley” restaurant; enjoy a power lunch or sweet delights at “Le Café”. Watch the latest sporting action at “La Fabrique” or relax while glancing at spectacular views over the old Dubai skyline at “Azure Pool Lounge” rooftop bar. A newly enhanced hotel in the heart of Old Dubai, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel is situated in Deira, Dubai’s heritage hub.

Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Residences Providing guests a distinguished residential address to call your own, Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Residences features a seamless contemporary interior that exudes simplicity with colourful accents throughout the design with its 133 apartments. Offering a cosmopolitan living that one expects while staying in such a centrally located place to live, it truly offers you the best of Old Dubai charm. With its connection to Deira City Centre Mall and Pullman Dubai Creek City Centre Hotel, both entertainment and service are at hand. Enjoy panoramic views of neighbouring Dubai Creek Golf & Yacht Club. A quick walk through the mall leads you to the Dubai Metro giving you the most convenient way to navigate the city. All in one property, it is ready to indulge its guests with its world renowned offerings from business to leisure. The premise offers the ideal venue to enjoy an authentic Arabian experience, shop and stay getaways, meetings that are kept upbeat with innovative break activities and the contemporary art scene that Pullman surrounds itself with.

PULLMAN DUBAI CREEK CITY CENTRE - Deira City Centre, P.O. Box 61871 Dubai, UAE - T. +971 (0)4 294 1222 - E. H2022@accor.com - pullman-dubai-creek-citycentre.com

F E AT U R E

OMAN AIR LOOKS FORWARD TO BRIGHT 2017 Continued fleet and network expansion together with a renewed focus on on-board services and developments will be a priority for Oman Air in 2017; ensuring the airline of the Sultanate of Oman continues to drive up revenues, increases its growing contribution to the national economy and delivers against its ten year development plan.

This message was reiterated at Oman Air’s major global conference in Muscat earlier. Even in the context of increasing global volatility, economic downturn and drastically reduced government support from over OMR100 million to just OMR20 million in 2016, Oman Air increased its contribution to Oman’s GDP by six per cent last year to OMR415 million.

This is projected to grow further to a staggering OMR900 million in 2017; creating employment opportunities to Omani nationals, bringing tourists to the Sultanate, building global connections and last but not the least, supporting small and medium enterprises.

This positive contribution to Oman’s economy can only be achieved by continuing to generate demand for Oman Air’s expanding network, fleet and services.

Continuing to differentiate will be a key focus for the coming year to

ensure the airline maintains the positive revenue trajectory achieved over the last two years. Increasing global competition and pressure from other carriers makes it imperative that Oman Air continues to stand out in an increasingly crowded market place.

The airline has continued to prove its worth on the international stage in 2016 with a raft of industry awards to add to its growing collection.

Network developments are continuing apace in 2017 with the revised flight agreement with the Government of India resulting in increased frequencies to five of Oman Air’s 11 Indian destinations and news of a new four times weekly flight from Muscat to Nairobi, Kenya to be launched at the end of March this year. Also a new daily flight to Manchester, UK starting from May 2017 and the increase of services to Pakistan with the launch of a new Muscat to Peshwar flight later in the year.

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INDIA As part of this expansion Oman Air is growing its capacity to India, where it will increase its weekly frequencies from 126 to 161 flights per week. The carrier currently flies between Oman and 11 destinations in India. The growth in capacity follows the recently signed agreement between the governments of Oman and India, where both sides agreed to increase the weekly seats.

Effective February onwards, Bombay, Delhi, Calicut and Hyderabad will be operated with 21 weekly flights each, and Lucknow with 14 weekly flights. With this development, Oman Air is flying its multi award winning wide bodied aircraft to select Indian destinations.

Oman Air chief executive Paul Gregorowitsch commented: “India is a key destination for Oman Air and we are delighted to be offering thousands more guests the opportunity to travel

Oman Air looks for ward to bright 2017

between Oman and India (and beyond). The demand for all 11 of our Indian destinations has always been high and the increased frequencies offer yet more choice and convenience to our guests.”

tourists to visit magnificent Oman as well as India’s beautiful touristic spots. The bilateral trade and investment opportunities between the two countries are even further encouraged.

He added: “Oman Air first launched flights to India in the 1990s and the demand for seats has grown exponentially among both business and leisure travellers, not only increasing tourism traffic and revenue but also promoting vital trade agreements between the two countries.”

In the UK, both daily Muscat to London flights operated

by Oman Air now arrive at and depart from Terminal 4 at Heathrow Airport.

The twice daily Oman Air flights had operated from Terminals 3 and 4; and the presence at just one terminal at one of the world’s busiest airports will further enhance the guest experience on one of Oman Air’s flagship routes.

The extended traffic entitlements will give a further boost to the tourism sector, prompting many discerning

Terminal 4 offers visitors a world class shopping experience with retail shops, book stores, electrical outlets, souvenir shops and much more. Oman Air passengers using Terminal 4 will continue to have usage of the designated lounge providing premium passengers state of the art facilities prior to their flight.

HEATHROW

Oman Air’s first service between Muscat and London was launched in 2007. This service departs Muscat at 14.00 and will now arrive at Heathrow Terminal 4 at 18:20. Return flights will depart Heathrow Terminal 4 at 20:15 and arrive in Muscat the following morning at 07:35. The second

service, launched earlier this year, flies through the night, departing Muscat at 01:25 and arriving in London Heathrow Terminal 4 at 06:30. Return flights depart Heathrow Terminal 4 at 08:25 and arrive in Muscat at 18:55.

All timings quoted are local timings.

The double daily flights between Muscat and London offer superb connectivity on the North Atlantic, with major cities in the USA and Canada in reach with short connection times at London Heathrow.

MORE INFORMATION Oman Air, the designated carrier of the Sultanate of Oman, is a business enterprise committed to the basic objective of providing safe, reliable and profitable air transport services for passengers and cargo as well as other aviation related services.

Apart from being recognised as a strong business presence, Oman Air is respected for its professional attitude and recommended for its punctuality and service excellence.

Find out more at Hall 2.2/203 here at ITB Berlin 2017 or visit www.omanair.com

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F E AT U R E

ROTANA TO ADD THOUSANDS OF ROOMS TO EXISTING SUPPLY IN UNITED ARAB EMIRATES

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Rotana, one of the leading hotel management companies in the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe, has announced plans to open seven new hotels in Dubai, four hotels in the capital Abu Dhabi and one in Ras Al Khaimah by the end of 2020.

Rotana to add thousands of rooms to existing supply in United Arab Emirates

Six of the upcoming properties will be five-star hotels, with the remaining properties comprising of a mix of four and three star hotels and hotel apartments. Upon completion, the new hotels will add 4,360 keys to Rotana’s existing inventory, taking its fast expanding portfolio in the UAE to 44 properties, including 21 in Dubai and 17 in Abu Dhabi, with a room inventory of 11,782.

The total value of the 12 upcoming properties managed by Rotana in the UAE is estimated at USD1.7 billion.

Omer Kaddouri, president and chief executive, Rotana, comments: “The UAE is our home market and even as we pursue our global ambitions and expand our footprint into new geographic regions, the country continues to remain the fulcrum around which Rotana’s business strategy is developed and implemented.

“With us bringing to the local market 12 new properties within the next four years, we further express our commitment to supporting the UAE’s tourism ambitions and reaffirming our belief in the long-term prospects of the country’s hospitality industry.

“This year, we will be introducing a number of five-star properties to the

market, including the all-new Saadiyat Rotana Resort and villas in Abu Dhabi, scheduled to open in quarter four of 2017. Ideal for both, business and leisure travellers, the resort will feature 354 upscale rooms and suites, 13 beach villas, a beach club and extensive conference facilities.”

Despite the challenging economic environment, the outlook for the hospitality sector in Dubai and Abu Dhabi remains positive. In previous UAE Real Estate 2016 mid-year market reviews, global consultancy firms listed the medium-to-long term outlook for the hospitality sector in Dubai and Abu Dhabi as positive, citing the opening of

theme parks and new tourist attractions as the main factors driving demand.

“Rotana already has a significant presence in the capital, and strengthening our portfolio with an additional four properties will allow us to further contribute to and capitalise on Abu Dhabi’s expanding tourism and hospitality sector,” added Kaddouri.

“While in Dubai, our seven upcoming properties will go a long way towards meeting the demand increase anticipated in the run-up to Expo 2020, and will help ramp up overall room capacity which is crucial to achieving the city’s ambitious tourism vision.”

MORE INFORMATION Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 100 properties throughout the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe with an aggressive expansion plan in place. Rotana has chosen to acknowledge how precious time is by making all time spent in their range of hotels ‘Treasured Time’.

This means Rotana has pledged to understand and meet the individual needs of all guests. In so doing, Rotana has evolved its product brands to include, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana and The Residences by Rotana.

Further information on any Rotana property, its brands or reservations can be obtained by visiting rotana.com or by contacting one of the regional sales offices.

Or head over to Hall 9/307 right here at ITB Berlin 2017 to find out more.

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F E AT U R E

ROTANA DEBUTS IN AFRICA WITH THE OPENING OF KIN PLAZA ARJAAN BY ROTANA

Rotana has made its long-awaited debut in Africa with the official opening of Kin Plaza Arjaan

by Rotana in Kinshasa, capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“Rotana has been increasingly looking to markets in Africa to drive business growth and expansion, and today we mark a major milestone in our efforts to extend our geographical presence in the continent,” said Omer Kaddouri, president, Rotana.

The luxury five-star hotel was inaugurated by governor of the city of Kinshasa, André Kimbuta Yongo, in the presence of prominent dignitaries and members of Rotana’s senior management including Nasser Al Nowais, chairman and Selim El Zyr, vice chairman.

“We are very excited to bring our decades of hospitality expertise to the Democratic Republic of Congo – a country we believe has immense tourism potential which has largely remained untapped.”

He added: “As the second largest city in Africa, Kinshasa offers tremendous business opportunities and is renowned for its nature attractions. Yet, the city is still vastly underserved when it comes to hospitality, especially in the upper end of the market. The opening of Kin Plaza Arjaan by Ro-

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tana marks a significant step in the further development of Kinshasa’s hospitality industry, and will enhance the city’s positioning and credentials as a destination that offers comfortable accommodation to visitors.

“The five-star hotel will bring a new standard of refinement and guest comfort to Congo’s fast-growing hospitality sector.”

A modern property equipped with contemporary technology and facilities, Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana include 101 luxurious rooms, studios and suites along with a selection of three food and beverage outlets. The hotel offers four meeting and conference rooms – all fully equipped with the latest technology and audio-visual equipment – in addition to a grand ballroom.

Rotana debuts in Africa with the opening of Kin Plaza Arjaan by Rotana

Strategically located in Gombe, on the crossroad of the Justice and Ouganda Avenues, the property offers direct access to the Kin Plaza shopping mall and is just minutes away from the main embassies and ministries, Gombe river and Boulevard du 30 Juin that connects the key business and leisure attractions of the city.

Rotana’s entry into the Democratic Republic of Congo will open up significant employment opportunities for Congolese nationals in the hospitality industry.

“At Rotana we strongly believe in nurturing local talent in each market where we operate,” Kaddouri said. “Through our unique human resources programme, we will make it a point in DRC to tap into the vast native talent pool across the country, ensuring talented young citizens are recruited and offered the

training, mentoring and work experience needed to excel in their careers, support their families, and contribute to national economic growth.”

Rotana currently has a number of projects under various stages of development across Africa including Marrakesh, Luanda, Nouakchott, Dar es Salaam and Lagos.

“We believe Africa has tremendous potential for growth, and we are committed to contributing to the development of the region’s tourism and hospitality sector by expanding our pipeline in the continent,” Kaddouri concluded.

Rotana is gearing up to open 17 new hotels by 2018 including seven in the UAE, four in Saudi Arabia, two properties each in Oman, Turkey and Iraq.

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MORE INFORMATION Rotana currently manages a portfolio of over 100 properties throughout the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and Eastern Europe with an aggressive expansion plan in place. Rotana has chosen to acknowledge how precious time is by making all time spent in their range of hotels ‘Treasured Time’.

This means Rotana has pledged to understand and meet the individual needs of all guests. In so doing, Rotana has evolved its product brands to include, Rotana Hotels & Resorts, Centro Hotels

by Rotana, Rayhaan Hotels & Resorts by Rotana, Arjaan Hotel Apartments by Rotana and The Residences by Rotana.

Further information on any Rotana property, its brands or reservations can be obtained by visiting rotana.com or heading over to Hall 9/307 right here at ITB Berlin 2017.

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F E AT U R E

ORIENT TOURS REVEALS NEW LOGO AS LEADERSHIP CHANGES TAKE EFFECT The new identity goes far beyond a logo, as it signals the transformation of the business, the way the respond to customer expectations, and its commitment to embrace change and opportunities in the inbound travel market.

Over 34 years, Orient Tours had been a brand that pioneered many innovations within the tour industry in the Middle East.

Orient Tours were the first in the business to have multilingual tour guides and drivers professionally trained on safety and first aid.

To improve the standards of their tour guides, Orient created the first Tour Guide Training Seminar in the Gulf.

Today, with its own branches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah and Muscat, and over 180

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In its latest move under new leadership, Orient Tours has undergone a complete renovation of its brand identity. The new branding will tie the solid foundations the company has built over the years with its plans for an exciting future.

direct employees, Orient Tours are ready to deliver outstanding experiences to visitors.

Though this is a tough time on different levels as far as business is concerned, Orient are quite positive and excited in terms of their strategies based on renewed brand identity.

This is much more than a chance in the logo and the official colours!

Announcing the change following recent recognition as the Middle East’s Leading Destination Management Company at the World Travel Awards, Orient Tours chief executive Asim Arshad said: “This revamp is a part of our overall growth strategy and enables us to redefine our identity while still maintaining our core values and customer expectations.”

O r i e n t To u r s r e v e a l s n e w l o g o a s l e a d e r s h i p c h a n g e s t a k e e f f e c t

Arshad, a veteran in the travel trade, has now taken over the mantle of heading Orient Tours in addition to the existing Orient Travel & Orient Cargo brand, making the Orient Group one of the largest privately owned companies in the Middle East.

A multi award winning chief executive, he has consistently been listed in the Forbes magazine top rankings and since taking over. Under his leadership, Orient Tours has established a new corporate structure and approach, as well as promoted a new generation of leaders.

haul of existing vehicles and upgrades to its exclusive safari camps.

New brand collateral, signage, an enhanced social media presence and an exciting new client website are all part of the elaborate marketing campaign that will be underway in the coming months.

The scope of the revamp includes a new logo, enhancing the brands fresh visual identity, complete refurbishment of all the Orient Tours outlets, new fleet additions and over-

MORE INFORMATION With a focus on international markets, Orient Tours has established dedicated divisions catering exclusively to Asia/ Pacific, European and American markets with local language capabilities and multilingual guides.

Find out more at www.orienttours.ae.

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F E AT U R E

DOUBLE VICTORY FOR LA CIGALE HOTEL, DOHA, AT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS

La Cigale, one of the most luxurious hotels in Qatari capital Doha, has been recognised with the titles of Middle East’s Leading Hotel Dining & Entertainment Experience and Qatar’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards. Here we take a tour to see what makes this property so special.

A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, La Cigale Hotel is a five-star accommodation nestled in the heart of the dynamic centre of Doha city, approximately 20 minutes away from Hamad International Airport. It is observed as a landmark for business and leisure travellers due to its attractive location from main business and touristic districts such as the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha Bay, old souks, shopping malls and Aspire Sports city.

The property has 225 luxurious rooms and suites; 11 dining and entertainment outlets with outdoor seating options; two stateof-the-art ballrooms; a 490 sqm gymnasium; a 20 meter long daylight indoor swimming pool and a deluxe spa.

The simple exterior provides a stark contrast to the stylish interior teemed with a touch of opulence and indulgence including tableaux by Carlos Cruiz-Diez, Edra Tatlin sofas infused with Swarovski crystals, Murano chandeliers, custom made seats by Poltrona Frau and Fendi and crystal Baccarat tables designed by Philippe Starck.

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D o u b l e v i c t o r y f o r L a C i g a l e H o t e l , D o h a , a t Wo r l d T r a v e l A w a r d s

ACCOMMODATION

Sky View is Doha’s favourite and most sophisticated nightlife spot with indoor double floor and outdoor rooftop sections with a magnificent panoramic view to the city; Madison Piano Bar is an energetic nightclub with live Arabic entertainment ambience.

Stylishly appointed, the rooms range from 34 to 84 square meters and each of the two royal suites located on the 18th floor is approximately 650 square meters in size. All guestrooms are equipped with signature amenities, 46-inch LED television, with RetroVue feature, broadcasting more than 150 international channels, in-room multi-purpose management remote control, and wireless and wired high-speed internet access.

BANQUET La Cigale Hotel offers a great choice and flexibility with the multiple space options. The multipurpose two luxurious ballrooms and six meeting rooms are suitable for conventions, banquets, conferences, wedding celebrations, exhibitions and fashion shows. With a private entrance, the 1,370 square meters Al Wajba ballroom is equipped with state-of-the-art audio and visual equipment and can accommodate up to 1,000 persons for banquet and 1,500 persons for theatre set-up.

For added indulgence, the hotel offers a dedicated Pillow Menu with 15 types of pillows, goose-down duvet, mattress and heavenly pad.

DINING Di Capri serves contemporary Italian cuisine. Le Central offers an extensive menu of Mediterranean favourites. YEN Sushi Bar presents creatively-crafted sushi and sashimi through a rotating belt. For international selections, Le Cigalon offers buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. Orangery Café Trottoir is a casual dining outlet with both indoor and outing seating. Shisha Garden serves Oriental mezzeh, BBQ grills and a variety of flavorsome shisha.

The 750 square meters Le Crillon Ballroom is located on the 19th floor of the hotel’s main building is adorned with Murano chandeliers and offers a panoramic view of the city. The ballroom can cater to different set up including banquet, boardroom, classroom and theatre.

La Cigale Traiteur is a gourmet haven with a wide selection of food items for takeaway or dine-in including cakes, pastries, 30 different flavours of ice cream, 70 types of homemade chocolates and 180 types of artisan cheese.

The Bridal Salon is divided into a living area, dressing, make-up and hairdressing rooms and is fully equipped to cater for the bride’s special preparations in a cosy environment with her entourage. The Executive Lounge, with dedicated butlers, serves light snacks and evening cocktails and provides an intimate setting for business meetings.

OZONE GYM & SPA

MORE INFORMATION

For recreational pursuits, the Ozone Gym & Spa has a diverse range of health and wellness activities complemented by a 20-metre long indoor swimming pool with Jacuzzi, a wellequipped 490 sqm gymnasium with certified instructors and a deluxe spa with six treatment rooms including a Duo Massage Room and a Traditional Arabic Hammam.

Experience five-star accommodation and a superb level of personal service in the heart of Doha, Qatar, at La Cigale Hotel. Behind its polished 20-story façade, this striking high-design hotel offers a stylish yet relaxing haven where business travellers can escape the city’s hectic pace. La Cigale is one of the city’s most esteemed hotels, an engaging blend of contemporary style and cosmopolitan ambiance.

Facilities in the gym and spa include treadmills, resistance machines, power plate machine, body composition analyzer machine, sauna, Jacuzzi, treatment rooms and indoor panoramic swimming pool with natural daylight. The extensive treatment menu offers body massage, body scrub, body wrap and facial treatments.

OTHER FACILITIES La Cigale Hotel has a beauty salon for men and women and a gift shop offering a selection of souvenirs; a flower shop with an array of fresh flowers for any occasions and seasons; and a cigar shop showcasing a range of fine cigars and accessories.

Find out more at www. lacigalehotel.com or visit the Qatar Tourism Authority in Hall 2.2/206 here at ITB Berlin 2016.

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A b u D h a b i Fa l c o n H o s p i t a l f l i e s h i g h

ABU DHABI FALCON HOSPITAL FLIES HIGH With visitor numbers increasing each year and voters at the World Travel Awards recognising the attraction as the best in the business last year, the future is bright for the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

Apart from being a unique, internationally renowned tourism attraction, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the leading centre for falcon medicine worldwide. It is also the world’s largest falcon hospital, with an influx of more than 11,500 falcon patients per year from all over UAE and the Gulf region.

Since Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital started its tourism program in 2007 the number of tourists visiting the facility has increased every year by an average of 20 per cent showing the tremendous interest from visitors all over the world in the stunning experience of the hospital.

Nowadays Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is one of the leading tourism attractions in Abu Dhabi and has been ranked as the second top tourism attraction in the emirate by TripAdvisor website for its high-quality tour program.

The unparalleled tours cover the fascinating history of falconry in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, the cradle of modern falconry. Tours then take visitors into the real life of modern falconry where they can interact with live falcons, take pictures with falcons on their arm, and watch the feeding of a falcon.

Another tour highlight is the aviary where falcons are flying freely inside - which gives an adrenalin boost to guests. The tour ends in a beautiful museum with historic photographs of traditional falconry. Fun and excitement is guaranteed by the sheer number of falcons that can be seen during the tour. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital tours give unforgettable memories to visitors.

WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS Moreover, the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital won the coveted title of World Responsible Tourism Award in 2016 at the annual World Travel Awards Grand Final.

This prestigious award follows the hospital’s winning streak over recent years, with the falconry claiming four consecutive Middle East’s Responsible Awards from 2013 to 2016.

MICE MORE INFORMATION Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is open to visitors for guided tours from Sundays to Thursdays at 10:00 and 14:00 and on Saturdays at 10:00.

However, the tourism offerings of Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital are not only for leisure tourism, but also cover MICE tourism with its state-of-the-art conference facilities.

The Shaheen Conference Centre is an ideal and unique corporate venue for innovative events, meetings, workshops and conferences. Apart from the modern conference room with advanced technologies, it houses a beautiful museum of the Emirati tradition of falconry which gives a special twist to conferences and events.

In order to facilitate bookings, an advanced and easy-touse online booking portal has been established so that tours can be booked and paid for.

For more information or bookings please visit www. falconhospital.com

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2012-2016

2015-2016

Maharajas’ Express

An experience unsurpassed I

ndia… a country with a history as old as time. A country where diverse dynasties have ruled through centuries, leaving their indelible imprint on the landscape, language and culture of the nation. Majestic palaces, forts, rich natural bounty, abundant wildlife….there’s so much to soak in and store memories for a lifetime. Come aboard Maharajas’ Express.

Journey Options Indian Splendour (7 Nights/8 Days) Delhi-Agra-Ranthambore-Jaipur-Bikaner-Jodhpur-UdaipurBalasinore-Mumbai Heritage of India (7 Nights/8 Days) Mumbai-Ajanta-Udaipur-Jodhpur-Bikaner-JaipurRanthambore-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra-Delhi Indian Panorama (7 Nights/8 Days) Delhi-Jaipur-Ranthambore-Fatehpur Sikri-Agra-GwaliorKhajuraho-Varanasi-Lucknow-Delhi Gems of India/Treasures of India (3 Nights/4 Days) Delhi-Agra-Ranthambore- Jaipur-Delhi Jewels of India* (6 Nights/7 Days) Delhi-Agra-Fatehpur Sikri-Ranthambore-Jaipur-Jodhpur-OsiyanUdaipur-Delhi Highlights All inclusive tariff including sightseeing and meals • 24-hour valet service • Complimentary house wines, spirits and beers • Sightseeing with entrance fee included • Services of an experienced tour director • Choice of optional excursions and spas at hotels • Paramedic onboard *Special departure: 19th March 2017

A luxury offering from

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (a Govt of India Enterprise) B-148, 11th Floor, Statesman House, Barakhamba Road, New Delhi 110001 +91 9717635915 • maharajas@irctc.com • www.the-maharajas.com

F E AT U R E

JUNGLE SUTRA FROM CREATIVE TRAVEL ENTERS 2017 WITH NEW PLANS AND NEW VIGOUR The Indian subcontinent - comprising of India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan - is home to about ten per cent of the world’s wildlife, although very few travellers are able to take advantage.

Jungle Sutra from Creative Travel aims to change that.

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Jungle Sutra from Creative Travel enters 2017 with new plans and new vigour

ing some of the larger more enigmatic species such as the Bengal Tiger,” explains at Jungle Sutra spokesman.

“Our aim is to showcase that the subcontinent as a wilderness destination is no less than Africa, South America or North America when it comes to traveling for wildlife.”

The Indian subcontinent, as a tourism destination, is often associated with just a few of its many diverse cultural facets and experiences.

For example, its natural wonders are usually significantly undervalued. Did you know the majestic power of the tiger? The stealth of the leopard? The roar of the lion? These are just three of the 15 wild cat species to be found in India.

The Jungle Sutra approach will be experiential and interest based. The company aims to launch specialised experiences targeting various interest areas such as primate tours, herpetology tours, bear expeditions, diving expeditions, and photography tours as well as art tours.

But did you know that India also has mega fauna including wild elephants, rhino, wild water buffalo and gaur, as well as a diverse range of canine, including the dhole (Indian wild dog), jackal, striped hyena, fox and wolves. There are also four species of bear, the sloth, Himalayan black bear, brown bear and sun bear.

Scary to some, there are also 270 species of snakes, including the king cobra, while some 1,250 species of birds and one ape, the hoolock gibbon, can also be found.

“The wilderness experience within the subcontinent is constantly changing and slowly we find more and more regions trying different ways of exploring our natural habitat,” continued the Jungle Sutra spokesman. “Today in India one can explore its wilderness on foot by participating in walking safaris, use canoe safaris to explore rivers and streams in and around the parks, explore

“We begin this year with a focus on showcasing our natural heritage in its entirety rather than highlight-

the jungles on the ultimate all terrain experience – the back of an elephants that lets you get closer to wildlife, spot the nocturnal animals on night drives what’s more is even camping and trekking inside core tiger reserve can be offered as an experience today.”

The Jungle Sutra approach not only showcases the diversity that India offers but also enables travellers to visit the year round.

Gone are the days when you embark upon a tiger safari in the winter months. JungleSutra is ushering in this change when you explore the amphibians and reptiles in monsoons, travel to see the bears and primates in autumn, watch the Amur falcons migrate in early winters, climb the Himalayas in search of the snow leopard in winters, watch elephant migration in spring, experience the dragonfly migration on the monsoon winds and search for the big cats in the summer months.

“We have something to showcase all-round the year.”

MORE INFORMATION JungleSutra – Wildlife Journeys by Creative Travel has been especially crafted to showcase the subcontinent’s more sought after wildlife, as well as introducing the lesser known species that as of now, the area may not be known for.

The company doesn’t just focus on Jeep safaris but a whole array of safari activities encompassing walking safaris, boating, canoeing, cycling, horseback safaris and elephant safaris. At JungleSutra they aim to make experiences experiential, showcasing the complete diversity of the natural heritage and at the same time explore a variety of avenues to give back to nature as well as working with local populations and conservation projects.

Jungle Sutra are very keen to change the way people perceive wildlife in the Indian subcontinent, taking guests into the more remote and therefore less visited parks, inform travellers about the more unusual species that as of now India is not known for, and customise experiences based on a guest’s particular areas of interest.

JungleSutra are a team of wildlife enthusiasts that curate your itineraries.

Find out more at ITB Berlin this week at Hall 5.2B/219 or visit www.creative.travel.

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FANTASTIC SAINT PETERSBURG WELCOMES YOU! Due to dynamic actions of the Government of Saint Petersburg focused on development of tourist industry, objects of city’s tourist infrastructure received a number of awards justifying its high international status and quality of services rendered.

Opinions of tourists happen to be the most important assessment of the work done. We will keep on doing our best to ensure that travelling to Saint Petersburg provides true pleasure to guests in future and contributes to forming a bright and appealing image of the city where one wants to come back to over and over again.

A.Mushkarev, Chairman, St. Petersburg Committee for tourism development

www.visit-petersburg.ru www.saintpetersburgcb.com

To stroll around royal park-and-palace ensembles St. Petersburg like an Empress wears a rich necklace — a necklace of royal summer residences located in the suburbs of the city.

Peterhof impresses by its numerous fountains, cascades and park pavilions .

The Catherine palace in Tsarskoe Selo is best known for the Golden Enfilade of state rooms that includes the world-famous Amber Room.

Pavlovsk is a cozy royal palace with unique chinaware, and amazing landscape park.

To touch the Russian Imperial history Saint Petersburg is the city of the white nights, draw bridges, royal palaces, museums and theatres, the cultural capital of Russia. It is the second largest city in Russia and the third one in Europe (after Moscow and London).

At 313, Saint Petersburg is quite young, yet the city has an impressive history. For a long time St. Petersburg remained the capital of the Russian Empire, and it was St. Petersburg that laid the foundation of socialist regime in the country

To get warm in winter The best opera and ballet performances, theatre and music festivals are performed at the season when the rivers and canals stand still, covered with the white armour of ice. Incredible Pancake week is a tasty period — to eat Russian dishes and to feel the spirit of Russia.

To crown it all the museums in winter are not overcrowded and the prices in the hotels decrease. Winter is time for magnificent balls that allow their guests to feel themselves like an Emperor

Saint Petersburg: A place to meet Saint Petersburg provides excellent modern congress and exhibition facilities, enabling it to hold world-class events.

The incentive and event industry in Saint Petersburg offers endless capabilities for business events, team building, corporate leisure and even exciting adventures.

The city possesses a wide range of exhibition spaces, conference halls and venues, comfortable hotels, and cosy restaurants with excellent cuisine.

Saint Petersburg restaurant festival-2017 From 01 to 30 November in Saint Petersburg the «Saint Petersburg restaurant festival-2017» will be held.

Since its foundation St. Petersburg has become not only the capital city but also a kind of trendsetter in architecture, culture, history, and the art of cooking.

Due to the fact that in the period of construction St. Petersburg the most famous and most talented European artists of the time were invited. With them our city began the tradition of cooking dishes from different European countries.

Chefs from France, Italy and Germany creatively reworked old recipes of Russian cuisine, so many Russian dishes and recipes have found an European tradition.

Later the influence of Petersburg’s cuisine began spreading across the territory of Russia, contributing to the diversity of traditional recipes from various regions of the country.

Nowadays we can confidently talk about the special Petersburg style of Russian cuisine imbued with the spirit of history, traditions, culinary experiments and innovations.

The program of the «Saint Petersburg restaurant festival-2017» includes themed dinners in restaurants, parties, workshops and master classes, shows in cooking the meals of Petersburg cuisine’s, activities for children and a special children’s menu, as well as exhibitions, competitions and much more.

The full program of the «Saint Petersburg restaurant festival-2017» you can see on St. Petersburg Official City Guide www.visit-petersburg.ru

Festival of Lights Festival of Lights is becoming one of the most exciting gala events in Saint Petersburg in spring and autumn.

The festival brings together artists, painters and musicians and thousands of visitors who enjoy all patterns of light on different historical monuments.

The festival will bring to life miraculous breathtaking art by newest 3D-mapping and audiovisual technologies.

To feel the city’s soul Modern St. Petersburg, crisscrossed by numerous rivers and canals, stands on more than 100 islands, which are linked to one another by more than 400 bridges. This is why the city is often called “the Venice of the North”.

Nearly every building in the downtown is considered to be a historic monument, hence the city’s definition — “open-air museum”. Its historical centre, palace and park ensembles are inscribed in the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites.

Churches and cathedrals Saint Petersburg was planned as a Westoriented city and has always been renowned for its hospitality. Peter the Great encouraged foreigners, especially from Europe, to come to the new capital: they brought a new way of life, knowledge and traditions. To make foreigners feel comfortable in the city Peter the Great and his successors paid much attention to the construction of churches and cathedrals for people of various religions.

Though Saint Petersburg is known as a city of different creeds, it is the Orthodoxy that has long been the official religion of Russia.

That is why special emphasis was laid on orthodox churches. The world’s best architects built churches and cathedrals in Saint Petersburg. Sublimity of St.Isaac’s Cathedrals, proportion of the Nikolsky (St.Nicholas’) Cathedral, smartness of the Church of Resurrection of Christ (Spas-na-Krovi) always attract visitors of the city. The beauty and splendor of their inner decorations make indelible impressions upon guests’ minds.

To immerse yourself in St. Petersburg romantics During the “white nights” the Petersburgers flock to the banks of the Neva to see the sun set. The “white nights” period lasts from May to July. Countless festivals and concerts are held in the parks and on the city’s squares and embankments: Scarlet Sails school leavers festival, River Carnival, Festival of Ice Crackers, Festivals of garden art. During such days the city marks its anniversary – on May 27th. Every day from May to October sometime after two o’clock in the morning the multi-tonne wings of the bridges swing gently upwards to let vessels on the river pass.

FIFA Confederations Cup 2017/FIFA World Cup 2018 St. Petersburg city centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tourism is one of the key sectors of the city’s economy. St. Petersburg welcomes up to seven million tourists each year, more than any other city in Russia.

In the same artistic tradition, a new state-of-theart 70,000-seat stadium is being constructed on Krestovsky Island facing the Baltic Sea. Resembling a spaceship, it was designed by the famous architect Kisho Kurokawa. The stadium will have a retractable pitch, ensuring that the quality of the turf remains high regardless of the weather. The Saint Petersburg Stadium in Saint Petersburg will host the final of FIFA Confederations Cup on 2 July 2017 and the semi-final of FIFA World Cup on 10 July 2018.

To travel without visa The travelers arriving to St. Petersburg by sea (ferry or cruise ship) can get 72 hours visa-free entry and stay in the city if they have the tour program (voucher). The passengers can acquire the voucher on the board of a ship.

There are just 4 steps to visa-free entry: 1. Purchase an airline ticket to Helsinki There are more than 10 airlines that provide direct flights from European cities to Helsinki

2. Book a ferry cabin St. Peter Line ferries sail from Helsinki every two days according to schedule (at approximately 6 p.m.). Travel time is about 13–15 hours. Estimated time of arrival in Saint Petersburg is 9 a.m. the following day. The ferry sails back from Saint Petersburg 3 days later.

3. Book a transfer from the seaport of Saint Petersburg The ferry company will provide a transfer service to the city centre and also to some hotels. It is a paid service, but it is mandatory if you would like to purchase a visa-free cruise travel. The transfer fee is 25 euro.

4. Select a hotel to stay in the city centre After selecting a cabin and booking the transfer service you can select a hotel in the city centre from the list of hotels.

Please note that to use the visa-free stay option, you may only choose a hotel to stay from the list of hotels included in your tour group program.

Your travel agent will provide you with the full list of the hotels available for booking and the room prices, or, if you book a St. Peter Line Company ferry online, you can select a hotel online.

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EIGHT WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS TITLES IN ROW FOR CALETA HOTEL, GIBRALTAR The Caleta Hotel has emerged victorious at World Travel Awards Europe Gala Ceremony 2016, winning Gibraltar’s Leading Hotel for the eighth consecutive year.

The industry’s elite - including chief executives of leading travel companies, government ministers, and tourist board chiefs attended the glittering gala event, which was hosted at Forte Village Resort, Sardinia, Italy, in September.

The 23rd annual awards recognise travel companies for delivering an outstanding customer experience and are voted by travel professionals and consumers worldwide.

Kevin Taylor, senior vice president, World Travel Awards, said: “Winning is tough but staying on top is even tougher, and The Caleta Hotel has proven its world-class credentials by winning Gibraltar’s

categories, entered the competition for the World Travel Awards, the most influential accolade in travel.

Leading Hotel for the eighth year in succession.”

He added: “Its location is unrivalled – a tranquil spot overlooking the Mediterranean yet also close to the heart of Gibraltar’s action. The facilities are equally excellent, especially the health and beauty centre, and the conferencing, making The Caleta ideal for both business and leisure travellers.”

CALETA HOTEL

In a further celebration, Caleta also took the title of Gibraltar’s Leading Conference Hotel for the second time in 2016.

The Caleta Hotel Gibraltar offers high quality conference, wedding, accommodation, restaurant and leisure facilities to an international clientele of business and leisure visitors to Gibraltar. The hotel boasts modern well-appointed rooms and suites, restaurants, a lounge bar, health and beauty club and the best wedding, conference and banqueting facilities.

More than 500 organisations across Europe, spanning more than 125

It is located on the tranquil eastside of the Rock; a vantage point that of-

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MORE INFORMATION For more information head over to www.caletahotel.com

fers stunning views of the Mediterranean Sea and the coastline of the Costa del Sol. The Caleta Hotel overlooks the peaceful former fishing village of Catalan Bay, yet it is just minutes away from the centre and airport of this lively little metropolis.

On clear days, the North African coast, on the other side of the Straits of Gibraltar, seems close enough to touch - creating a visual spectacle that offers 180-degree views of sea, sky and the meeting of two continents.

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F E AT U R E

CULTURAL TOURISM IN ST. PETERSBURG, RUSSIA With the World Travel Awards set to visit St. Petersburg in September this year for the Europe Gala Ceremony, the Russian cultural capital is leveraging its artistic wonders to become a true global destination. Here we find out more.

The cultural capital of St. Petersburg is unrivalled by any city in Europe. The artistic collection housed at the State Hermitage includes more than three million works alone, a showcase of world culture through the centuries.

The museum starts its history from the collections gained by Russian empress Catherine II in a private capacity, and traces the lineage of artistic endeavour to the present day. The main expositions of the State Hermitage occupy 365 halls in the main museum complex, situated in the historical centre of St. Petersburg. It is represented by six buildings, built in the XVIII-XIX centuries, the most significant one of which is the Winter Palace - the former emperor’s residence.

The Hermitage collection includes paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and sculpture

by Michelangelo, which can be found nowhere else in Russia, as well as the largest collection of Rembrandts outside of the Netherlands. It is calculated that,

in order to view each of the museum’s exhibits for one minute each, visitors would need to spend eight years in the museum without sleep!

Equally impressive is the Kunstkamera, which has been the symbol of the Russian Academy of Sciences since the early 18th century. Founded by Peter the Great’s decree, the museum opened to the public in 1714. Located on the banks of the Neva in the centre of St. Petersburg, its purpose was to collect and examine natural and human curiosities and rarities. Today, its collections are among the most complete and interesting in the world, containing nearly one million artefacts and reflecting the diversity of traditional cultures in the old and new world.

Located to the north-east of the historic centre, next to the Tavricheskiy Garden, the Tauride Palace is one of the largest and most impressive in St Petersburg. Nowadays the palace

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is home to the Inter-parliamentary Assembly of the Commonwealth of Independent States, and is not open for sightseeing. However, since 2010, the halls of the palace have been used to host Potemkin Evenings, concerts of 18th century music performed on authentic instruments by some of the best local ensembles.

The Tavricheskiy Palace was built between 1783 and 1789 by Ivan Starov, one of the leading court architects of the period, for Prince Grigory Potemkin, the close confidant and lover of Catherine the Great. The palace was built and named in honour of his key role in the annexation of the Crimea, for which he was awarded the title Prince of Tauris in reference to the Ancient Greek name for the region. Starov designed the palace in strict Palladian style, and its simple facades were in sharp contrast to the richly decorated interiors and the lavish lifestyle led by Potemkin when

C u l t u r a l t o u r i s m i n S t . Pe t e r s b u r g , R u s s i a

in St Petersburg, as he threw a series of increasingly grand and expensive parties in an effort to shore up his waning influence.

RELIGIOUS TOURISM For those interested in the religious history of Russia, the Kazan Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in St. Petersburg. It was built in 1801-1811 by the architect Andrey Voronikhin on the orders of Emperor Paul I who wanted the cathedral to resemble St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. The cathedral - one of the most venerated icons in Russia - is a monument to glory of Russian arms. The famous Russian Field Marshal Mikhail Kutuzov, who won the most important campaign of 1812, was buried inside the Kazan Cathedral. In 1932-1991 it housed the Museum of the History of Religion and Atheism.

Of course, as a city of many islands, St Petersburg is also famous for its bridges.

The first pontoon bridge connected

Admiralteyskiy and Vasilievsky Isles in 1856, directly in front of the Winter Palace, but in 1896-1897 it was relocated to the place where today the Palace Bridge is situated. The permanent iron drawbridge that now stands on the site was constructed in 1912-1916 by engineers A. Pshenitzkiy and R. Meltzer, with some of the wooden elements of bridge’s construction remaining unchanged till 1978. Palace Bridge is technically the most perfect one of all Neva’s bridges, with a unique mechanism allowing the lifting of the 700 ton bridge spans.

Perhaps most famous of all the sights in St. Petersburg is Alexander Column – built to honour the emperor Alexander I, who reigned from 1801-25. The monument is the focal point of Palace Square and celebrates the Russian victory in the war with Napoleon’s France. The column was designed by the French-born architect Auguste de Montferrand and was built between 1830 and 1834 with Swiss-born architect Antonio Adamini.

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The tallest of its kind in the world, it stands at 47.5 metres high and is topped with a statue of an angel holding a cross.

The statue of the angel was designed by the Russian sculptor Boris Orlovsky, while the face of the angel bears great similarity to the face of Emperor Alexander I.

MORE INFORMATION Find out more about visiting St. Petersburg at www.visit-petersburg.ru or join the St. Petersburg Convention Bureau in Hall 3.1/607 here at ITB Berlin 2017.

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Maharajas's Express, the luxury tourist train owned and operated by Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (a Govt of India Enterprise). Arguably the most luxurious train in the world, it has carved a niche for itself in the Luxury Train Segment in a short span of time.

take care of the guests. All coaches have Direct Dialing telephones to make international calls, in room electronic safety lockers and spacious wardrobes. Both the Presidential Suite and Suites have Bath Tub and Mini Bar Services also.

Maharajas' Express is enviable in many aspects most spacious cabins, environment friendly toilet systems, Wi-Fi internet connectivity, CCTV cameras in Public Areas to ensure security, individual climate control in each cabin and much more.

To take care of medical needs of guests, a Paramedic is available 24X7 onboard. And while the guests are in awe of the train, the itineraries have been crafted to give them an insight into imperial India. There are Six journeys to choose from:

A lifetime experience, the journey on Maharajas' Express brings one closer to bygone era of imperial India. So while the chefs, trained in world cuisine, tickle the taste buds with their gourmet delights from the state of the art kitchen, the barman, servers and valets pamper guests and take care of all their needs during the entire journey.

The Heritage of India Mumbai – Ajanta – Udaipur – Jodhpur – Bikaner – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra – Delhi Gems of India/Treasures of India Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Delhi

Savoring the culinary delights sitting in either of the two restaurants, one can have a glimpse of the picturesque hinterland from the large windows specially created for the Maharajs' Express. This coupled with piped music makes dining on the Maharajs' Express a memorable experience. The menus are a mix of traditional Indian and continental dishes, to suit all requirements.

The Indian Panorama

For the book lovers, Maharajas’ Express has the best collection on Indian art, culture, history. The guests can relax in the Safari Bar or the Rajah Club, and choose from our selection of house pours which are complimentary, choicest wines and liquors.

The Jewels of India*

With 4 categories of onboard accommodation to choose from, guests can select the cabin they would wish to spend their sojourn. The train can accommodate 88 guests. The coaches named after precious gems have personal Valets attached to

Delhi – Jaipur – Ranthambore – Agra – Gwalior – Khajuraho – Varanasi – Lucknow – Delhi The Indian Splendour Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Bikaner – Jodhpur – Udaipur – Balasinor – Mumbai

Delhi – Agra – Ranthambore – Jaipur – Jodhpur Osiyan – Udaipur – Delhi The offboard experience with our experienced escorts, Guest Relation Executives include visit to important monuments coupled with unique activities and events at exclusive locations, making the overall experience, truly an enriching one. *One time special departure on 19th March 2017

TO KNOW MORE LOG ON TO WWW. THE-MAHARAJAS.COM

F E AT U R E

HAINAN AIRLINES UPS STAKE IN TIANJIN AIRLINES HNA Group-subsidiary Hainan Airlines has completed the acquisition of a 48.2 per cent stake in Tianjin Airlines, another HNA subsidiary.

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The deal makes Hainan Airlines the controlling stakeholder in the Tianjin-based carrier with an 87.3 per cent stake. Hainan purchased a 39.1 per cent stake in Tianjin in 2013 and 2014 through a cash investment in an effort to increase Tianjin’s competitiveness. In September 2016, Hainan collected more than CNY16.5 billion by circulating non-public A shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange, of which CNY5.6 billion was used to pay for the 48.2 per cent stake.

Tianjin Airlines has two other shareholders: Tianjin Chuangxin Investment Partner, which has an 8.5 per cent stake, and Tianjin Bonded Area Investment, which holds a 4.2 per cent stake.

Launched in June 2009, Tianjin Airlines is a joint venture set up by HNA Group and the Tianjin municipal government. The carrier operates more than 90 aircraft on more than 200 domestic and 30 international routes to over 100 destinations. In 2015, Tianjin transported more than 11 million passengers.

Last year, Tianjin Airlines began expanding its Airbus A330 long-haul fleet, which enabled the carrier to open three intercontinental routes, comprising Tianjin-Chongqing-London, Tianjin-Moscow and Tianjin-Chongqing-Auckland. This year, the carrier is scheduled to open Xi’an-London services in May and Tianjin-Paris services by the end of the year.

Hainan Airlines ups stake in Tianjin Airlines

UNITED STATES Hainan Airlines has also confirmed it will soon launch a pair of new air routes connecting Los Angeles with the two largest cities in western China. Hainan is planning to launch new trans-Pacific services from Chengdu and Chongqing to LAX, with services due to commence on March 15th and 21st respectively.

Both routes will be operated twice a week using Hainan Airlines’ Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft.

The news comes as Hainan Airlines seeks to establish a base at Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport.

Following exploratory talks with the local government, airline president Sun Jianfeng signed an initial agreement wherein the two sides agreed to implement various aviation-related projects. Among the proposals are the establishment of a base, and the strengthening of the airfield’s maintenance operations, air cargo, and business aviation and food & beverage facilities.

Once operational, Chengdu will be Hainan Airlines’ most westerly base in China after Beijing Capital, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Sanya, Shenzhen, and Xi’an Xianyang.

Hainan Airlines currently connects Chengdu with Beijing Capital, Guangzhou, Haikou, Sanya, Shenzhen, Urumqi, and Xi’an Xianyang.

ITALY In Europe, Hainan Airlines has formed a new partnership with Alitalia that will provide Chinese travellers with connections to multiple destinations across Italy.

The Chinese carrier already flies to Rome from Xi’an and Chongqing, and passengers on these services will now be able to connect onwards to nine Italian destinations: Bari, Bologna, Catania, Florence, Milan, Naples, Turin, Venice and Verona.

MORE INFORMATION Since its beginning, Hainan Airlines has seen 23 years of safe operations and has accumulated over five million hours of safe flights. The airlines’ fleet is mainly comprised of Boeing 737s and 787s, and Airbus 330s.

Hainan Airlines will also codeshare on Alitalia’s direct Rome-Beijing flights.

In return, Alitalia will place its code on Hainan Airlines’ domestic flights connecting Beijing with Chongqing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Xi’an, Chongqing with Guangzhou and Shanghai, and Xi’an with Chengdu, Guangzhou and Shanghai. Alitalia will also codeshare on Hainan Airlines’ Rome flights, enabling single-ticket travel on a host of new routings between Italy and China.

As of December, Hainan Airlines has 162 aircrafts in operation, which are used for both passenger and cargo transportation, and provide passengers with individual space in first class, and a spacious new business class.

Find our more on the official website at www.hainanairlines.com

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F E AT U R E

HNA TOURISM APPOINTS GONZÁLEZ TEJERA TO LEAD CARLSON HOTELS HNA Tourism has confirmed it will bring in Federico González Tejera, formerly chief executive of NH Hotel Group, to lead its new acquisition.

Federico González Tejera, who led the Spanish hotelier NH Hotel Group, will become chief executive of Minnetonka-based Carlson Hotels followings its acquisition by HNA Tourism.

Carlson is best known for its Radisson hotel brands. At the same time, Charles Mobus, a former chairman of NH, has become a director at Carlson.

“Carlson Hotels is a respected leader in the global hospitality industry and has a portfolio of world-class brands,” González said of his appointment. “I am excited to have the opportunity to lead this great business and continue to drive global growth.”

González succeeds David Berg, chief executive since 2015.

are confident in his ability to build upon this strong foundation.”

“David Berg led Carlson Hotels through a successful period of global portfolio growth while at the same time increasing profitability, improving competitiveness, and delivering substantial gains in guest satisfaction,” Mobus added.

Carlson has about 1,400 hotels around the world, including the various Radisson brands and Country Inns & Suites.

HILTON WORLDWIDE The deal for Carlson Hotels is the latest to bolster the growing HNA portfolio.

HNA Tourism is a Chinese conglomerate with hotel and travel businesses around the world, founded in Beijing in March 2007.

Last year Hilton Worldwide and owner Blackstone revealed HNA had acquired an approximate 25 per cent equity interest in Hilton, establishing a long-term strategic investment in the hotel company.

In a statement Mobus said: “Federico has an established track record and long-held experience in the hospitality industry, and we

The transaction is valued at approximately $6.5 billion, or $26.25 per share in cash, reducing Blackstone’s interest in Hilton to

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H N A To u r i s m a p p o i n t s G o n z á l e z Te j e r a t o l e a d C a r l s o n H o t e l s

MORE INFORMATION HNA Group is a global Fortune 500 company focused on tourism, logistics and financial services. Since its founding in 1993, HNA Group has evolved from a regional airline based on Hainan Island into a global company with over $90 billion of assets, $30 billion in annual revenues and an international workforce of nearly 200,000 employees, primarily across North America, Europe and Asia.

HNA’s tourism business is a fast-growing, vertically-integrated global player with market-leading positions in aviation, hotels and travel services. HNA operates and invests in nearly 2,000 hotels with over 300,000 rooms across major markets, and has 1,250 aircraft carrying over 90 million passengers to 260 cities worldwide.

For more information head over to www. hnagroup.com.

approximately 21 per cent. Following Hilton’s spin-offs of Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations, HNA now owns approximately 25 per cent of all three companies.

to working together on new initiatives that leverage our respective strengths, expertise and tourism platforms to provide travellers more choice, value and world-class services.”

As part of the transaction, HNA has entered into a stockholders agreement with Hilton, and into similar agreements with Park Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Grand Vacations, effective upon closing. The agreement allows HNA to appoint two directors (one HNA member and one independent member) to Hilton’s board of directors, bringing the total to ten members. Pursuant to the agreement, HNA has agreed to certain restrictions on its ability to sell any of its interest in Hilton for a twoyear period, and to limitations on HNA’s ability to acquire more than 25 per cent of Hilton’s outstanding shares, without Hilton’s consent.

Evercore served as exclusive financial advisor and WilmerHale and Morris, Nichols, Arsht & Tunnell LLP served as legal advisors to the special committee of Hilton’s board. J.P. Morgan served as exclusive financial advisor and Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP served as legal counsel to HNA.

“Hilton is an iconic global hospitality company with an unmatched portfolio of high-quality brands and a reputation for operational excellence,” said Adam Tan, vice chairman and chief executive of HNA Group. “This investment is consistent with our strategy to enhance our global tourism business, and we look forward

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“We are pleased to welcome HNA Group as a long-term investor and strategic partner,” said Christopher Nassetta, president of Hilton.

“HNA Group has a broad portfolio of successful travel and hospitality businesses and a proven track record of creating value in this industry. We believe this mutually beneficial relationship will open new opportunities for our brands and guests around the world, particularly in light of HNA’s strong position in the fast-growing Chinese travel and tourism market, the largest outbound travel and tourism market in the world.”

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F E AT U R E

INTERCONTINENTAL SAMUI BAAN TALING NGAM RESORT SCOOPS TOP WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS CROWN Voters at the World Travel Awards have recognised InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort as the World’s Leading Wedding Resort 2016. Here we take a tour of the property to find out more.

Thailand is a firm favourite with British couples looking for an exotic long-haul honeymoon destination and Koh Samui has it all – beautiful white sand beaches, crystal-clear turquoise waters, interesting places to visit and scrumptious food.

Popular for all these reasons and more is the luxurious InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort, a ‘home on a beautiful cliff’. It is romantic, elegant and inviting and the perfect choice for couples planning their honeymoon this year.

The resort is small enough – 79 rooms, suites and villas

and invites them to scratch the surface of Koh Samui history. Learn about the rich indigenous culture which was discovered in the late 1800’s and how it became a peaceful haven for fishermen, sailors and sea traders – like the visitors of today.

set across 22 acres – to feel discreet and private, yet big enough to offer several enticing reasons to leave the tranquility and quiet seclusion. From the fabulous open-air cocktail bar with mesmerising views across The Gulf of Thailand to the award-winning spa with its private couple’s treatment room and a menu bursting with pampering journeys inspired by Thai and Asian traditions and heritage.

Visit the traditional fishing villages of Bo Phut, shop in Chaweng and Lamai, take a boat ride and go snorkelling at Koh Tao Turtle Island.

Couples will also see for themselves how the island’s residents have entertained themselves throughout the centuries by watching some buffalo fighting.

The In The Know concierge takes guests beyond the palm-fringed tropical paradise of InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort

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Retreat back to InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort and for the more active couples – jump on a mountain bike, enjoy a Thai boxing or yoga class, play a game of tennis or simply relax on the white sandy beach or next to the beautiful infinity pool with a book – there really is something for everyone.

Foodies will not be disappointed with the two restaurants – Amber and Flames – elegant, stylish and romantic, they offer dreamy views across the ocean and a delicious menu of Thai and Asian dishes.

InterCont inental S amui B a an Taling Ngam Res or t s co ops top World Travel Awards crow n

Amber is an elegant yet relaxed all-day dining experience with a Thai and Asian influenced menu. Guests can enjoy ‘eating in the kitchen’ as chefs prepare dishes at a live cooking station or dine alfresco with spectacular views of the Gulf of Thailand. For wine-lovers, Amber’s in-room wine cellar has more than 1,000 labels, ensuring every dish can be perfectly paired.

In turn, Flames is a casual and stylish open-plan beachfront restaurant inspired by ‘Fire’. The menu of Thai and modern European cuisine includes a live charcoal grill display prepared by request. The interiors are inspired by the sea. An outdoor lounge area provides a more relaxed setting to enjoy the fine dining menu under the stars.

For even more intimacy, why not book a private candlelit dinner on the beach?

CLUB INTERCONTINENTAL One of InterContinental’s flagship hotels in Asia, the Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort offers guests Club Intercontinental, a new level of service which redefines luxury.

The service includes: a 24-hour personalised butler service, complimentary pressing of two items of clothing per stay, additional in-room amenities and access to a private Club pool.

Daily afternoon tea, daily cocktail hour from 18:00-20:00 in a dedicated outdoor lounge at Air Bar, unlimited mini bar soft drinks and coffee and tea throughout the resort, return airport transfers, complimentary breakfast at Amber and free kids’ entertainment at Planet Trekkers.

MORE INFORMATION InterContinental Samui Baan Taling Ngam Resort is a beautiful luxury resort on the Thai island of Koh Samui. Set on a cliff which descends to a white sandy beach, it is surrounded by 22 acres of lush tropical gardens and enjoys fantastic views of the Gulf of Thailand, the nearby Five Islands and Ang Thong National Marine Park.

Head over to http://samui.intercontinental.com

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DEER JET COMPLETES ACQUISITION OF UAS INTERNATIONAL TRIP SUPPORT Leading business aviation company Deer Jet has completed the acquisition of a major stake in UAS International Trip Support. As part of the deal Deer Jet has become the major shareholder of the global flight support solutions provider.

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D e e r J e t c o m p l e t e s a c q u i s i t i o n o f UA S I n t e r n a t i o n a l T r i p S u p p o r t

The agreement was completed by UAS’ existing shareholders and Deer Jet chairman Zhang Peng. UAS Group executive management continues under the leadership of both founders Mohammed Husary, who maintains the role of executive president, and Omar Hosari, who will continue as chief executive.

Husary said: “We’re delighted that this partnership is now ratified, it is the result of a long period of discussion and negotiation between our two companies.

We are also extremely pleased to have such a pioneering and successful partner as Deer Jet is a major boon for UAS’ global strategic objectives.”

He added: “Our two companies reach and expertise will have a massive impact on the solutions we can both offer.”

The strategic alliance is set to benefit the two industry heavy-weights and their clients by significantly improving their capabilities and accelerating strategic goals to enhance international business aviation flights and user experience.

Hosari added: “This partnership was designed to facilitate both UAS and Deer Jet’s ambitions to increase our influence

in the international aviation industry.

From an operational viewpoint, we’ve ironed out the finer points and are currently finalising our mid to long-term business plan.

“Our clients can now expect a broadened range of services delivered to the same levels of efficiency, quality, and operational excellence they have come to expect from us.”

UAS is now the flight support partner for the impressive fleet of 90 aircraft that Deer Jet operates and manages. The fleet includes the world’s only BBJ 787 in VVIP configuration - the Dream Jet. Deer Jet operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of HNA Group, a Fortune 500 company, and by joining the Deer Jet family, UAS will have more opportunities to serve the group’s airlines.

Deer Jet president Zhang Peng concluded: “We are delighted to conclude the share acquisition of UAS and very excited to see the valuable synergies our companies are about to create in the near future.

“After founding Hong Kong Jet, and acquiring shares of Asia Jet, Hawker Pa-

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cific and UAS, Deer Jet will continue to expand its global range through strategic partnerships with the best companies in the world of business aviation.”

For second consecutive year, Deer Jet has been selected as the World’s Leading Private Jet Charter by the World Travel Awards, a strong statement on our longstanding leadership and firm commitment towards excellence in service.

MORE INFORMATION Deer Jet was established in 1995 as the very first business jet operator in China, providing clients with a comprehensive range of services including private jet charter, aircraft management, medical rescue, aircraft sales, maintenance, helicopter operations, and luxury yacht services.

To date, the company operates and manages a fleet of 90 aircraft flying to 820 airports across 180 countries and territories.

For more on Deer Jet head over to the official website at www.deerjet.com

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F E AT U R E

RWANDA TO WELCOME WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS IN 2017 Rwanda will welcome the World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017 later this year. Here we take a tour of this remarkable destination to find out more.

Rwanda is a proud member of the 125 million person strong East African Community. The residents of Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Burundi include a blend of both nationals as well as a vibrant expatriate resident population. Many of these neighbours are curious and in search of short getaways they can access with ease for weekends and holidays.

Rwanda is becoming an ideal option with its high level of safety, excellent travel infrastructure, friendly local hosts and a variety of attractions to keep visitors entertained for days.

For visitors from further afield the majestic mountain gorilla is the top tourist attraction drawing people to Rwanda. The famous Kwita Izina, or gorilla naming ceremony, is based on a centuries old Rwandan tradition for giving a name to a new-born. The national festival was officially launched as an annual program in 2005 and has so far seen 173 baby gorillas named.

Special guests invited to name a baby gorilla include Rwandan president Paul Kagame, first lady Jeanette Kagame, various Hollywood stars, global and local celebrities, renowned journalists, tourism personalities and conservationists among others.

However once in the country, guests discover there are many more days’ worth of exploring to be had. Rwanda is becoming known as having the best-hidden adventures in Africa, great for multi-sporting trips. Few people know of the country’s diverse geography, from the thousand hills and volcanoes, rain forests and savannahs, to lakes and rivers.

BIODIVERSITY Rwanda’s lush, biodiversity makes for the perfect backdrop for a green

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getaway. Environmental protection is a top priority for the country; in fact plastic bags are banned and will be confiscated at the borders.

Litter is virtually non-existent and pathways are kept green and pristine for residents and visitors alike to enjoy.

Some of the most popular green experiences include bird watching, where guests can catch a glimpse of rare and beautiful species on Rwanda’s bird checklist. The nation boasts one of the highest concentrations of birds per square kilometre in Africa.

Nyungwe National Park is home to over 160 species of orchids, eight of which are endemic to Rwanda, offering a chance to see and smell one of the world’s greatest concentrations of these exotic flowers.

There are also numerous rustic to luxury eco-friendly lodges and tour operators in Rwanda. Ecotourism goes beyond being responsible to the environment, it also showcases cultural heritage and ensures local residents benefit from visits to their region through community based tourism products such as visits to a rural village to partake in food tasting, basket weaving and traditional dance.

Agritourism is growing in demand globally, with Rwanda leading the way. It entails tours “for the senses” as visitors explore farms and plantations of coffee, tea, honey, pineapple, bananas and the like. Tea and Coffee Route experiences allow visitors to learn about growing and production processes in some of the world’s best plantations.

ENDURING SPIRIT Visitors are often surprised at the incredibly positive outlook and warm hospitality of Rwandans. The genocide memorial is included on every city tour and is a must-see to understand Rwanda’s painful past,

R w a n d a t o w e l c o m e Wo r l d T r a v e l A w a r d s i n 2 0 1 7

which has labelled the country for years; however, their impressive turnaround story has turned them in an inspiration among African countries.

The Genocide Memorial in Gisozi acts as a humbling reminder to those present and honours those lost. This is a worthwhile visit for travellers who want to gain insight on their past and appreciate how far Rwanda has persevered.

Music and dance plays an important role in the traditions of Rwandan people.

Performances range from demonstrations of bravery and excellence, to humorous dance styles and lyrics, to artistry and traditional agricultural roots.

Traditional songs are often accompanied by a solitary lulunga - a harp-like instrument with eight strings. More celebratory dances are backed by a drum orchestra, which typically comprises seven to nine members who collectively produce a hypnotic and exciting explosion set of intertwining rhythms.

Besides finding handcrafted treasures while on countrywide travels, an extensive selection of painted and handcrafted artefacts can be viewed in craft villages, shops and numerous art galleries in Kigali. An excellent place in Kigali to peruse and purchase includes CAPLAKI

Craft Village for traditional handicrafts while contemporary art is available from Ivuka Arts, Inema Art Centre and Uburanga Art Studio to name a few.

A distinctively Rwandan craft is the Imigongo or cow dung paintings that are produced by a local co-operative in the village of Nyakarambi.

KIGALI Rwanda’s capital city has recently unveiled the new US$ 300 million Kigali Convention Centre. Positioned on a hilltop in the heart of Kigali near Parliament, the development is set to be one of the most recognised modern structures in Africa.

Encompassing a translucent Dome, a multi-functional hall with a maximum capacity of 2,600, the KCC will help position Rwanda as the leading MICE destination in East Africa.

The MICE tourism sector has been identified by the Rwanda Development Board as providing a clear and long-term opportunity to diversify and grow Rwanda’s export strategy. In tandem with the KCC a number of international 5-star hotels are being developed (for example Radisson Blu, Marriott, Park Inn) with over 600 rooms coming onto the market.

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MORE INFORMATION There might be more to a visit to Rwanda than you expect! Visit www.rwandatourism.com to find out more or check in with the Rwanda Development Board at Stand Hall 21A/120 here at ITB Berlin 2017.

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F E AT U R E

Promising a level of unprecedented luxury never before seen on the island of Saint Lucia, Sandals Resorts International has announced its plan to add a fourth resort to its award-winning list of properties on the Eastern Caribbean island.

SANDALS TO ADD FOURTH RESORT IN SAINT LUCIA

The Sandals brand has enjoyed tremendous success in Saint Lucia since 1993 and the newest resort, to be named Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia, will by all indications be a game changer. The new resort is set to break ground in spring 2017 on 19 acres of land next to the existing Sandals Grande Saint Lucian Resort.

Also on offer are 350 rooms and suites inclusive of the exotic SkyPool Butler Suites and all-butler signature swim-up Rondoval Suites, a first of their kind in the chain. The new resort will also feature an elaborate entertainment package to include a main stage with a 20’ high LED screen and a mobile DJ party scene.

Building on the concept of unparalleled luxury and innovation which has come to be synonymous with Sandals LaSource Grenada, and indeed with the Sandals of the future, Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will boast an exotic infinity-edge sky pool bar offering picturesque views of the island’s beautiful north coast.

“We pride ourselves on continuously raising the bar and Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will completely re-energise the tourism market in Saint Lucia,” promised Sandals chairman, Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart. “Since we first opened Sandals Regency La Toc in 1993 we have consistently invested millions of dollars to re-imagine our offerings to ensure our resorts and the Saint Lucian destina-

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tion is among the best in the world and thereby boosting the local economy.”

In addition to the Luxury Included amenities and more quality inclusions that have come to be associated with the Sandals experience, guests at Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia will be wowed upon entry with a contemporary open lobby featuring and a multi-purpose ‘Living Room’ with specialty piano bar, bowling and games, all state of the art.

The resort will also boast Saint Lucia’s first Café de Paris, Sandals’ signature French Patisserie as well as an exquisite Butler Lounge convenient for guests with late departures. To complete the luxury experience, Sandals LaSource Saint Lucia

Sandals to add four th resor t in Saint Lucia

will offer the luxuries of a full service Red Lane Spa, exciting shopping options in a European style plaza featuring indulgent stores and exhilarating entertainment.

“We are very excited about the addition of this six-Star resort and what it means not just for Sandals but for Saint Lucia,” Stewart added. “We are thankful for the support we have received in Saint Lucia throughout the years and we look forward to revolutionising the hospitality industry and to giving our guests a new level of luxury. This resort will set the stage for the continued revolution of the tourism product in the Caribbean.”

The new resort will join the existing Sandals Regency La Toc, Sandals Halcyon and Sandals Grande Saint Lucian properties and bring Sandals’ room count in Saint Lucia to over 800, confirming its place as the largest hotel operator on the island, directly employing over 1,300 people.

SANDALS SOUTH COAST At the same time, Sandals has relaunched the award-winning Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa as Sandals South Coast. The totally reimagined Luxury Included resort unveils recent renovations that embrace and incorporate the natural beauty and bounty of the 50-acre property’s stunning beachfront setting in Jamaica’s South Coast region.

“With this re-launch, we have brought our most innovative ideas and concepts to absolutely reimagine the guest experience,” said Stewart. “The results further embody the beauty of the region embracing the incredible beach and water this resort boasts nestled within 500 acres of nature preserve.”

over-the-water bar where guests can enjoy their cocktails in hammocks suspended above the Caribbean Sea. Additional renovations included upgrades to the resort’s existing five restaurants in November 2016, as well as four new five star Global Gourmet dining options. Following the success of the Over-the-Water Villas at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Sandals also plans to open 12 over-the-water bungalows accessible via a heart shaped pier in July 2017.

All accommodations at Sandals South Coast are ocean-facing allowing guests to maximise their enjoyment of the beach and some of the most memorable sunsets in Jamaica.

The multi-million dollar renovation of Sandals South Coast includes the new Bar-Tender, a floating, ocean-based swim up bar. Also on offer at the resort is Latitudes, Sandals’ first dedicated

MORE INFORMATION Sandals Resorts offers two people in love with the most romantic, Luxury-Included holiday experience in the Caribbean. With 15 stunning beachfront settings in Jamaica, Antigua, Saint Lucia, The Bahamas, Barbados and Grenada, Sandals Resorts offers more quality inclusions than any other resort company on the planet.

For more information about the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included difference visit www.sandals.com or head over to Hall 22A/102 here at ITB Berlin 2017

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DELTA SHARES MORE THAN $1 BILLION IN PROFITS WITH STAFF Delta Air Lines has paid out nearly $5 billion in profit sharing over five years, rewarding employees, and stimulating local economies.

Delta has confirmed it will pay out more than $1 billion in profit sharing for the third year in a row as the carrier celebrates the outstanding accomplishments made possible by its more than 80,000 employees around the world.

“No other company and certainly no other airline has ever shared $1 billion in profits with its employees,” said Delta chief executive Ed Bastian.

“We are so proud and excited to celebrate with all Delta people worldwide, who serve our customers and run the most reliable airline operation in the world.”

The airline has paid out nearly $5 billion through its profit sharing program over the past five years. Through the program, employees share in the success they create together through hard work and a focus on the customer.

Delta employees will be honoured for their record-breaking performance at events held across its global network. The airline also will thank employees with ad placements in US

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newspapers, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, among others.

Delta’s profit sharing payouts will have an even bigger impact on local communities than the numbers suggest because of what economists call “the multiplier effect.”

For example, in metro Atlanta, where Delta will pay its more than 32,000 employees more than $392 million, the economic impact will actually be more than double: an estimated $957 million, according to a local economist.

In addition to profit sharing, Delta’s Shared Rewards program pays out monthly bonuses for meeting corporate operational goals throughout the year. In 2016, Delta employees earned more than $90 million in Shared Rewards as the company achieved history-making operational and financial results.

Employees will also receive a six per cent raise in base pay in April, resulting in a total pay rate increase of 25 per cent in two years.

Delta shares more than $1 billion in profits with staff

MULTIPLIER EFFECT Jeff Rosensweig, professor of Goizueta Business School at Emory University and director of the John Robson Program for Business, Public Policy and Government, explained the theory behind the multiplier effect.

“In the frequently cited ‘multiplier effect,’ the increased income earned by people selling goods and services purchased with money from Delta profit sharing is, in turn, spent partly on local products,” Rosensweig said.

“Then, the people who sell those products will start a third round of spending, and so on.”

Rosensweig, who specialises in global economics, also noted that profit sharing guarantees that a sizable share of profits is injected directly into the communities where Delta employees live and work.

“Profit sharing by corporations is one of the best ways to help an economy,” Rosensweig said. “Although some of these increments to income will be saved or spent outside of the local economy, much of it will be ploughed into increased purchases from local businesses.

Further, given the location of many Delta employees in Atlanta, a significant amount of their spending will boost minority and women-owned businesses.”

As an added benefit of pumping more money into the economy, businesses are

more able to hire and retain employees. Humphreys said that the pay-outs in Atlanta supports the creation of nearly 4,000 full- and parttime jobs outside of Delta.

relationship with Aeromexico, a partnership built on our shared commitment to our customers in the US and Mexico,” said Bastian. “The tender offer and investment will further strengthen the relationship that will be established when our joint cooperation agreement is implemented in the second quarter.”

Other markets that saw top pay-outs include New York City, with more than $119 million and Detroit, with more than $100 million.

Delta and Aeroméxico launched their first codeshare in 1994. In 2011, Delta entered into an enhanced commercial agreement with Aeroméxico, and in 2012, Delta invested USD $65 million in shares of Grupo Aeroméxico, the parent company of Aeroméxico. In March 2015, Delta and Aeroméxico entered into a joint cooperation agree-

AEROMÉXICO Delta Air Lines also recently launched a cash tender offer through the Mexican Stock Exchange to acquire up to an additional 32 per cent of the outstanding capital stock of Grupo Aeroméxico for MXN$53 per share. The difference from the previously announced tender price of MXN $43.59 is the result of interim exchange rate movements and other factors. Completion of the cash tender offer is subject to certain conditions including acceptance of the offer by holders of at least twenty-five per cent of the outstanding shares of Grupo Aeroméxico and receipt of required antitrust approvals in Mexico.

Currently, Delta owns approximately 4.2 per cent of the outstanding shares of Grupo Aeroméxico and holds options to acquire an additional 12.8 per cent. If fully subscribed, following completion of the tender offer, Delta would own and/or have options to acquire up to a total of 49 per cent of the outstanding shares of Grupo Aeroméxico.

ment relating to flights between the United States and Mexico and the parties filed an application with the US department of transportation seeking approval of the agreement and immunity from the United States antitrust laws for the joint cooperation.

In December 2016, the DOT issued a final order granting approval of, and immunity from the United States antitrust laws with respect to, the joint cooperation agreement, subject to certain conditions.

MORE INFORMATION Delta Air Lines serves nearly 180 million customers each year. With an industry-leading global network, Delta and the Delta Connection carriers offer service to 330 destinations in 61 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Atlanta, Delta employs nearly 80,000 employees worldwide and operates a mainline fleet of more than 800 aircraft.

“This is the next step in expanding our longstanding

Find our more at www.delta.com or head over to Hall 25/128 here at ITB Berlin 2017.

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F E AT U R E

NCL CELEBRATES FIRST STEEL CUTTING FOR NORWEGIAN

BLISS

Norwegian Cruise Line is celebrating the cutting of the first piece of steel for Norwegian Bliss, the line’s sixteenth ship and the first designed for the ultimate Alaska cruising experience.

Norwegian Cruise Line and Meyer Werft executives gathered at the latter’s Laser Centre in Papenburg, Germany, to mark the ceremonial start of construction of Norwegian Bliss. The ship is set for delivery in spring 2018 and will be the twelfth Norwegian ship built by Meyer Werft.

Frank Del Rio, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, pressed the start button of the computer-controlled cutting machine, commencing construction. The first plate of steel was cut by a plasma torch in the yard’s state-of-the-art facility and will become part of the first of 81 blocks that will comprise the new vessel.

“We are thrilled to celebrate the start of construction for Norwegian Bliss, our latest and most innovative ship yet,” said Del Rio. “Norwegian Bliss will offer the ultimate in Alaska adventures, both on and off the ship, and we look forward to welcoming guests on-board in June 2018.”

The third ship in the line’s Breakaway-Plus class, Norwegian Bliss will be the first cruise ship custom-built with features and amenities for the ultimate Alaska cruise experience and the first Norwegian Cruise Line ship to make its debut in Seattle.

At approximately 167,800 gross tons and accommodating 4,000 guests, Norwegian Bliss will sail weekly seven-night Alaska cruises each Saturday from Pier 66 in Seattle, offering guests the premier way to see America’s last frontier, while also providing all of the innovative

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NCL celebrates first steel cutting for Nor weg ian Bliss

features, entertainment, signature dining and on-board experiences that Norwegian Cruise Line is known for around the globe.

BLISS HOMEPORT The brand’s sixteenth ship will set sail for the cruise capital of the world after her inaugural summer season in Alaska, to seasonally homeport in Miami in winter 2018.

Beginning on November 17th, 2018, Norwegian Bliss will sail seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruises each Saturday from PortMiami, featuring calls in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands; Tortola, British Virgin Islands and Nassau, Bahamas.

Norwegian Bliss will feature two observation lounges, including one exclusive to guests of The Haven, perfect for whale watching in Alaska or taking in sunsets in the Caribbean.

“We are incredibly excited that we are once again bringing our newest and most innovative ship to Miami, with the arrival of Norwegian Bliss in November 2018,” said Andy Stuart, chief executive of Norwegian Cruise Line. “As the Caribbean is our most sought-after winter destination, there was no question that Norwegian Bliss would sail from Miami.”

CUBA CRUISE Norwegian Cruise Line has also recently extended its offering of weekly round-trip cruises from Miami to Cuba aboard Norwegian Sky, the largest vessel sailing to Cuba, through December 2017. Together with the five previously announced cruises in May 2017, these 25 additional cruises, which start in June 2017, all feature an overnight stay in Cuba’s historical and culturally-rich capital of Havana.

“We are thrilled to be the first cruise line able to offer weekly sailings from Miami to Cuba through the fall of 2017, all with overnights in the beautiful city of Havana,” said Stuart. “We have seen great demand from our guests for sailings to Cuba and we look forward to providing more opportunities for them to experience this incredibly culture-rich destination on a weekly basis.”

Norwegian Sky will sail four-day round-trip cruises from Miami each Monday, featuring an overnight in the capital of Havana as well as a call on Great Stirrup Cay,

Norwegian’s private island in the Bahamas. The ship will dock right in the heart of Havana, offering guests the opportunity to visit historical sites such as Old Havana, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; view incredible art and listen to the vibrant local music scene; and visit Cuba’s warm and friendly residents through people-to-people exchanges.

MORE INFORMATION Norwegian Cruise Line is the innovator in cruise travel with a 50-year history of breaking the boundaries of traditional cruising. Most notably, Norwegian revolutionised the cruise industry by offering guests the freedom and flexibility to design their ideal cruise holiday on their schedule.

Today, Norwegian invites guests to Feel Free to explore the world on one of 14 purpose-built ships, providing guests the opportunity to enjoy a relaxed, resort style cruise holiday on some of the newest and most contemporary ships at sea.

Norwegian Cruise Line was named the World’s Leading Cruise Line by the World Travel Awards in 2016.

He added: “This incredibly dynamic ship will offer stunning ocean views from almost every venue, spacious and thoughtfully designed accommodations that fit with every cruiser’s needs, and a variety of exciting and engaging venues that will continue Norwegian’s history of innovation in providing the ultimate dining and entertainment experiences at sea.”

Find out more at ncl.com or head over to Hall 25/160 here at ITB Berlin

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F E AT U R E

AMERICAN CRUISE LINES EXPANDS FLEET WITH THREE NEW SHIPS American Cruise Lines - the largest US river cruise company - has announced three new ships are currently under construction for its fleet.

The new ships, which are being built at Chesapeake Shipbuilding in Salisbury, Maryland, will continue to raise the standard for cruising in the United States.

American Cruise Lines has always chosen to build new ships, as it considers refurbished boats unable to meet guest expectations for comfort, spacious staterooms, and modern amenities.

American Constellation, the first one to be delivered, has a capacity of 170 passengers and is scheduled to begin cruising in May of this year.

Construction is currently

Much of American Constellations’ inaugural summer season will be spent on a new ten-night round-trip itinerary from Boston, Maryland to many popular destinations, including Bar Harbour, Newport, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.

a third ship which will be the lead in a series of new riverboats destined for the American rivers. This new, modern riverboat will carry approximately 195 passengers with a level of comfort unprecedented on the American rivers. American Cruise Lines will be relaying the details and renderings of this new riverboat in the near future.

The sister ship to American Constellation is also well underway, is scheduled to be completed in 2018, and will carry 170 passengers. Steel is now being fabricated for

“American Cruise Lines ships are the newest and most environmentally friendly in America,” said Timothy Beebe, vice president of American Cruise Lines. “By

with private balconies and floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors.

nine weeks ahead of schedule and the ship is now being outfitted with passenger details including marbled tile bathrooms and large sliding glass doors in each stateroom.

Recently the signature red, white, and blue stack was lifted into place on the top deck. Uniquely designed to navigate the coastal waters of the US, this new ship features active wing stabilisers, the latest green propulsion technology, and many modern amenities. It will also feature the largest staterooms in the industry

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American Cr uise Lines expands f leet with three new ships

continually designing and building brand new ships, we are able to exceed the expectations of seasoned European river travellers right here in the US.”

WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS The achievements of American Cruise Lines have also recently been recognised with two prestigious honours from the World Travel Awards. The line took the titles of World’s Leading River Cruise Company and World’s Leading Small Ships Cruise Line World Travel Awards Grand Final 2016.

These respected awards are voted on by travel and tourism professionals worldwide, and recognise organisations with a high standard of excellence within the industry.

American Cruise Lines has been consistently acknowledged for providing superb service aboard the most modern paddlewheelers and small cruise ships in the country. With a fleet of eight vessels, the company is committed to continually elevating the standard of cruising in America.

“It is an honour to be recognised by the top travel industry professionals,” said Beebe. “We are continually striving to improve our guests’ experience on-board, not only with modern accommodations, but also with outstanding personalised service, and exceptional enrichment programs.”

INCENTIVES Finally American Cruise Lines is offering attractive cruise inclusions aboard their new small cruise ships and paddlewheelers.

The line is offering all guests traveling on the Mississippi River and Columbia River a complimentary pre-cruise package which includes a premium hotel stay and transportation to the ship.

This not only makes getting to and boarding the ship easier, but also enhances the guest experience as participating hotels are ideally located in each vibrant port of call.

can wake up on the morning of the cruise and view the ship from their window.

“The complementary precruise packages which started as a short term promotion in 2016 have been so well received that they have been extended all the way through the 2017 schedule,” said Kallie Biggs, travel agent market manager.

“Additional packages are being planned, including one in the Boston area.”

American Cruise Line is offering the pre-cruise packages, as well as additional complementary excursions, in an effort to create a more inclusive experience for guests in 2017.

Mississippi cruises that depart from New Orleans have several complimentary hotels to choose from including the Omni Riverfront and the InterContinental St. Charles which are ideally located downtown, near the ship and French Quarter.

Guests can arrive a day before the cruise and enjoy all the area has to offer then meet our transportation the next morning for a seamless boarding process. Similar packages are offered in Memphis, St. Louis, St. Paul, Nashville and Pittsburgh.

MORE INFORMATION

Guests on the Columbia and Snake Rivers cruises receive a complimentary pre-cruise stay in Clarkston, Washington, but also have the option to purchase an enhanced package which includes two hotel nights in Clarkston (including one complimentary night) and a jetboat tour of Hells Canyon. At the complimentary hotel, guests

American Cruise Lines is committed to continuous growth through an innovative ship building program that elevates the standard of cruising in America. The line is the leader in the US with more than 35 itineraries ranging from four to 21-nights in length, which visit the Pacific north-west, Alaska, New England, the south-east and the Mississippi River.

To learn more about American Cruise Lines visit www. americancruiselines.com.

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The World’s Leading Ferry Website

Compagnia Italiana di Navigazione

NEW! Our customers love us!

We have loads of great customer reviews Trus ustpi p lot.c o .co.uk

Flexible, easy booking on all your devices!

Te c h n o l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n d r i v e s A f e r r y. c o . u k t o n e w h e i g h t s

TECHNOLOGICAL INNOVATION DRIVES AFERRY.CO.UK TO NEW HEIGHTS

Aferry’s upgraded website now shows all the booking and route options on one screen so the customer can select the right company and the right route at the right price. These improvements have seen the development of a new online messaging system through the My Account facility which allows customers to amend or cancel a booking or just send a query to the skilled customer service team.

Another new feature for 2017 on the website is the Different Return Details button as this open jaw facility has been requested by customers. It is very handy for all travellers whether business or leisure - whose itineraries may not allow travel in and out of the same port.

The upgraded Aferry app has also improved usability.

Last year saw 600,000 downloads and the achievement of a four star rating and it’s now even better.

clients to post their independent reviews of routes and ferry companies online, and along with the Routes section helps the potential customer decide on a ferry company or destination they may not have experienced before.

The new 2017 version has the ability to remember the user so there is no need to log in every time. Quotes can be stored and revisited at a later date; ensuring subsequent bookings are quicker and easier. Previous bookings and searches are also displayed, allowing ease of repeat reservations.

The past year has seen an expansion in the number of routes on offer on the site, increasing to over 2,000 using 150 different operators worldwide enabling ferry travel to be booked from Japan to Scandinavia, America to Australasia or simply to France or Ireland.

Consequently the volume of traffic on the site and number of passengers booked also rose substantially in both the business and leisure sectors.

The app can be downloaded from the App Store or Play and as an incentive, if users register before June 30th, they will enter the draw to win an Apple Watch.

Another aid to enhance the booking experience is the expanded YouTube facility where the customer can get a real feel for the journey before travel. There are also tips and tricks available for finding the best deals.

All of which might go some way in explaining why Aferry.co.uk has won the World’s Leading Ferry Company Award at the World Travel Awards for an impressive sixth consecutive year.

Customers are encouraged to subscribe to the newsletter which carries unique deals and offers that cannot be found on the site. A review section on the site allows

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Aferry.co.uk - the world’s leading ferry website and the industry frontrunner in booking technology - has taken great strides in improving the performance of both the website and application and over the course of the past year.

MORE INFORMATION Aferry.co.uk is the world’s largest online ferry ticket distribution network providing the ability to book over 80 major European ferry operators, and over 1,200 ferry routes throughout the UK, France, Spain, Ireland, Holland, the Mediterranean and the rest of Europe.

Find out more at www.aferry.com

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DFDS UPGRADES NORTH SEA FERRIES WITH £4.5M INVESTMENT Ferry operator DFDS has invested £4.5 million in refurbishing the two cruise ferries that operate on its Newcastle to Amsterdam service.

The ships, King Seaways and Princess Seaways, which can carry up to 1,250 passengers and 650 cars, have received extensive modernisations in recent weeks, including updated cabin interiors, improvements to public areas, new restaurant furnishings, and an expanded on board shop.

Changes to cabin accommodation on board include the creation of 39 new inside cabins with double beds.

Located in a good position at the front of the ship on deck eight, the cabins offer customers an additional option when booking, with increased comfort on offer at a reasonable price. In addition, the premium Commodore and Commodore De Luxe cabins on board have been renovated with new

carpets, décor and updated en suite bathrooms.

On King Seaways the Commodore De Luxe cabins now also feature double beds to offer a more comfortable night’s sleep for customers.

The guest services centres, Columbus Club, and bars on board have a brand new look and the ships’ four restaurants have all been face-lifted. DFDS carried 584,000 passengers and 121,000 cars from Newcastle to Amsterdam in 2016.

Max Foster, passenger director at DFDS, said: “We welcomed record numbers of passengers on board our ships last year and this investment is part of our continuous improvement programme, to ensure we always offer the best

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DFDS upgrades Nor th Sea fer ries with £4.5m investment

possible experience for our customers. The new look on both King Seaways and Princess Seaways provides a warm welcome for couples, friends and families who are taking a short break or starting their holiday with us in 2017.”

MORE INFORMATION

DFDS provides daily overnight departures to Holland.

The Newcastle-Amsterdam cruise ferries are equipped with four restaurants including the Explorers’ Steakhouse, an all-you-can-eat world-food buffet in the 7 Seas, the Blue Riband à la carte restaurant and ‘Little Italy’, a pasta and pizza restaurant. There are also a number of cafes and bars, as well as live music from a house band and acoustic troubadour. Other on board facilities include a shop, a casino, a cinema and a kids club to keep children entertained.

For further information about DFDS, or to find out about the latest sailing times, fares and offers across all routes from the UK, visit www.dfds.co.uk.

DFDS prides itself on offering world-class facilities and services and the widest choice of ferry routes into northern Europe. In the UK, the company operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.

DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and France on its Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais routes.

DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam. In addition, the DFDS network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven to Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is operated by Transmanche Ferries.

Alternatively head over to Hall 18/119 here at ITB Berlin 2017.

Commodore cabins are available for a small additional fee. They sleep three or four people and include a flat screen TV, sea view, steward service, complimentary mini bar and a complimentary hot breakfast buffet. Commodore De Luxe cabins are available on King Seaways and provide exclusive access to the Commodore De Luxe Lounge with free drinks, snacks, magazines and internet access.

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DFDS OVERCOMES BREXIT FEARS TO POST STRONG FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 2016 Ferry and logistics business DFDS reports little to fear from the Brexit effect as it continues to post record earnings.

The company’s annual report for 2016 showed that freight volumes and UK-Continental trade flows are holding up well despite the result of the UK referendum last June. However, the full impact of Brexit is unlikely to be felt until after the British government triggers Article 50, signalling the beginning of Britain’s formal departure from the EU free trade area and customs union. This is expect by the end of March.

Full-year revenues for DFDS were up by eight per cent compared with 2015, standing at 1.56 billion. Its shipping division accounted for £1.08 billion of this, up from £1.03 billion, driven by a 21 per cent increase in freight volumes. The company also carried 12 per cent more passengers during the year. Higher earnings for the shipping division helped pre-tax profits jump by 52 per cent to £182 million.

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DFDS overcomes Brexit fears to post strong financial results for 2016

MORE INFORMATION

Improved earnings on DFDS’ cross-Channel routes from Dover to Calais and Dunkirk accounted for almost half of the increase and the growth in both freight and passenger markets was reflected in strong market share gains in the latter part of the year.

“Our pursuit of excellence will continue in 2017, with further investment in our fleet, a focus on bringing digital innovation that benefits our customers, and a drive to further improve customer satisfaction with the services that we provide.”

While depreciation of the British pound in the last six months of the year impacted on the full-year result, this was offset by the continued increase in volumes and rates in the freight market.

This growth was made possible by increases in capacity, thanks to the introduction of two new ships - the Cote de Dunes and the Cote de Flandres - on the Dover to Calais service, and on the key freight corridor on the North Sea.

DFDS said rising freight volumes in the final quarter of 2016 indicate no impact on cross-border trade between the UK and Europe following the Brexit vote. The business carried 17 per cent more freight during this period than at the same time in 2015.

Passenger numbers on its routes also increased by six per cent over the same period.

Kasper Moos, senior vice president for DFDS in the UK, said: “Our earnings increased considerably during 2016, with the vote for Britain to leave the EU having little real impact on our performance. Thanks to our work to continuously improve our service and to better match capacity with demand across our network, we have continued to grow our markets and we’ve posted another year of record financial results.

As Britain leaves the EU, however, it will be forced to recalibrate its trading relationship with the free trade area, meaning the impact on cross border activity could take many years to materialise.

Looking ahead to 2017, DFDS expects revenues to increase by a further four per cent across its shipping and logistics business. With the Bank of England adjusting its growth expectations for the UK economy upwards to two per cent, freight volumes, seen as a marker of economic growth, are expected to continue to increase.

Moos added: “As a ferry and logistics operator with more than 2,200 employees in the UK, we are at the heart of the ongoing Brexit process and based on trends for the last few months of 2016, we do not expect to see any decline in trade in the near future.”

DFDS is Northern Europe’s largest integrated shipping and logistics company, with a network of around 30 routes and 50 freight and passenger ships.

The company was formed in 1866 by the merger of Denmark’s three biggest steamship lines of the day – DFDS stands for ‘The United Steamship Company’ in Danish. DFDS prides itself on offering world-class facilities and services and the widest choice of ferry routes into northern Europe.

The company will invest more than £60 million in two new, larger freight ships for its route from Immingham to the Netherlands, due for delivery in May, and in refits and upgrades to its wider fleet network during 2017.

In the UK, the company operates passenger ferry services on routes from Dover to Calais, Dover to Dunkirk, Newcastle to Amsterdam and Newhaven to Dieppe.

This will include improvements to passenger and freight areas on two cruise ferries on the Newcastle-Amsterdam service and on one of its Dover-Calais ships.

DFDS currently operates up to 54 sailings a day between Dover and France on its Dover-Dunkirk and Dover-Calais routes. DFDS also offers two daily sailings between Newcastle and Amsterdam.

In addition, the DFDS network includes a passenger and freight service between Newhaven to Dieppe, which has four daily sailings and is operated by Transmanche Ferries.

DFDS has been named Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator for the last six years by the World Travel Awards, as well as the World’s Leading Ferry Operator over the same period (2011-16).

Find out more at www.DFDS. co.uk or visit the company at Hall 18/119 here at ITB Berlin.

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JAMAICA STEPS INTO NEW GROOVE AS HOME PORT It has long been evident that, although a popular, even legendary cruise port, Montego Bay was missing out on big opportunities.

With just a single ship homeporting, its prime location of being in the centre of the Caribbean – just two sailing days away from other destinations – and berths that were unoccupied on the weekends made it clear that something had to give. Fast forward five years later to a very different picture: MSC Cruises and Aida Cruises each with two ships, and Tui Cruises, Celestyal Cruises, and Thompson Cruises with one ship each, will homeport in Montego Bay for the 2016/17 cruise season.

“We identified several strong European candidates to homeport. They listened to us about the obvious advantages that come for the location of Montego Bay, and we listened to them about their specific needs for homeporting,” explained William Tatham, Vice President, Cruise and Marina Operations at the Port Authority of Jamaica (PAJ).

One thing was clear, not each line had its own requirements and so the philosophy of flexibility was going to have to take the lead. “We wanted tailor-made solutions for each cruise partner and so we spent a lot of time researching and visiting the ports

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Ja m a i c a S t e p s i n t o N e w G r o o v e a s H o m e Po r t

they were most happy with. The ports themselves were very supportive of our investigative approach, and that was hugely helpful,” said Tatham who firmly believes that the entire region is strengthened when there are strong homeporting options.

two as ports of call. “We really expect strengthen the Jamaica profile through homeporting. Already we are beginning to see the multiplier effect of having the lines here for the season,” said Tatham.

Fresh on the heels of a US$100 million upgrade project, Montego Bay is ready to assume its new homeport position. The upgrade added 30,000 square feet at Berths 5/6, and included central air conditioning, emergency generators, a new information desk, the addition of a mezzanine floor to expand seating, the installation of 20 check in desks and seating accommodation for 250 passengers, plus new lighting as well as new floors.

There is also new retail space adjacent the terminal with in bond and souvenir stores and restaurants.

In Ocho Rios, operations at the Reynolds Pier will be boosted by a US$18 million upgrade with new breasting piles with new fenders and the installation of a breasting dolphin to ensure safe docking for larger vessels.

The aesthetics of the pier will also be polished up with the removal of the sugar loaders that had previously caused overhang issues to docking ships and presented a less than pleasant view to passengers. A new seafront promenade is being developed that will lead from the terminal to the town. The Port Authority has also undertaken a project for the upgrading of the local fisherman’s beach to transform it into an attractive tourist friendly location offering fresh seafood and souvenirs.

Montego Bay’s sister ports of Ocho Rios and Falmouth also benefit from homeporting with several of the lines adding these

Homeporting is not Jamaica’s only focus, as the Port Authority trains its sights on Kingston as a cruise destination. Last December, Pullmantur’s Monarch docked with 2,744 passengers, the largest ship ever to call on Kingston. With a host of cultural icons like the Bob Marley Museum, Devon House, and the National Gallery, and easy access to the island’s popular adventures like Dunn’s River Falls via the North South Highway, Kingston may well emerge as a huge cruise opportunity for the island. “We are exploring the idea of Kingston with a number of lines with culturally curious passenger profile. Over the past few years there has been casual interest, but our wish is to now see a more sustained calendar of calls,” said Tatham.

We are always examining the ways in which we can improve our products and services by keeping pace with industry trends and consulting with our partner lines. We are very determined to deliver the best cruise experience in the entire Caribbean.”

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A special Spring Treat: Ski + Golf in Kitzbühel The Legend. Kitzbühel is shaped by the extensive landscape paired with the majestic mountain backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser, Kitzbüheler Horn and Hahnenkamm and has always represented two main things – sports and lifestyle. While often claimed to be opposites, these two elements in fact form a charming symbiosis and perfectly represent the unique Kitzbühel way of life.

“Legends do more than just write history – they bring history to life!”

Skiing Legacy. The most legendary city of sports in the Alps is successfully making skiing history for more than 120 years now.

Being awarded both as “World’s Best Ski Resort” and “Austria’s Best Ski Resort 2016”, Kitzbühel is the first non-glacier ski resort to open its winter season and offers 190 days of skiing fun on 215 kilometers of slopes each year. The ski area is nestled between the Kitzbüheler Horn and Hahnenkamm mountains. Kitzbühel hosts international events like the world-famous Hahnenkamm race. Easy access, long winters and a high chance of snow sets Kitzbühel apart.

Alpine Golf Paradise. Kitzbühel doesn’t just have a great skiing tradition, golf also has a long history. The first golf course was officially opened on 30 July 1955. Wide tee shots fly past massive rocks, approach shots spin over deep ravines and putts roll over perfect greens. Welcome to a round of golf in Kitzbühel! Kitzbühel hosts 4 golf courses at the most of a five-minute drive.

Hence, Kitzbühel is rigthly called the golf paradise in the heart of the Tyrolean Alps,

characterised by its 4 idyllic golf courses right in the center of town and another 30 courses within a range of 100 kilometers.

“Kitzbühel – shaped by mountains, an enthusiasm for sport and a desire to succeed.

A passion which becomes a zest for life.”

Hence, the perfect symbiosis of skiing and golf is guaranteed with the Kitzbühel Ski + Golf Package. This special highlight offers the best of spring in Kitzbühel.

© Fotos: Michael Werlberger | Kitzbühel Tourismus © Kitzbühel-Schriftzug-Design: Alfons Walde 1933/VKB Wien

Ski + Golf: One card for two highlights!

15th Kitzbühel Golf Festival – “Gourmet” golf

Enjoy perfect carving on a sunny spring day, the culinary delights at one of the cosy mountain huts – where traditional Tyrolean style meets urban flair, and perform the perfect swing in a picturesque alpine setting. Ski + Golf combines perfectly the unique Kitzbühel way of life – both, active and delightful! Please find all the details for an unforgettable and joyful vacation at www.kitzbuehel-golf.com

It is definitely the best week of the year for golfers. The Kitzbühel Golf Festival features 10 tournaments such as the unique Streif Attack tournament, where famous athletes and amateur golfers take on the legendary Streif racing piste in summer.

The festival concept will also melt in the mouth of discerning food lovers, as 4 Gault et Millau award-winning chefs and six winegrowers will take part in the six-day festival, June, 18th to 25th 2017.

Kitzbühel – 1 town, 4 golf courses ard

Kitzbühel Golfc

Kitzbühel Golfcard The Kitzbühel Golfcard (Golf Alpin Card) grants access to more than 30 Golf Alpin clubs in Tyrol and Salzburg. The Kitzbühel Golfcard is available in three options – 5, 4 or 3 green fees.

When visiting Kitzbühel, variety is a must!

Hence, the 4 golf courses nestled in a distinctive alpine landscape set the scene for diversified chipping and putting in Kitzbühel. The greens and fairways at the two 18-hole courses and two 9-hole courses need to be played, to master the legendary Kitzbühel Golf Circuit. The Golfclub Kitzbühel-Schwarzsee was elected as Austria’s Golfclub of the year 2016. Perfect your game at Kitzbühels golf academies.

The magic of hiking in Kitzbühel Hiking sets you free. Some call it walking or mountaineering, others call it hiking or trekking. We simply call it experiencing Kitzbühel! Feel the rhythm of nature, your mind conjures up adventures and these shall become reality – Kitzbühel, a unique source of motivation!

“Gentle mountainscape, the blossoming meadows, the crystal clear water and that really special, magical feeling in the air – it’s summer in Kitzbühel!”

Kitzbühel fascinates with variety – gentle grassy hills and craggy peaks, always against the imposing backdrop of the Wilder Kaiser, Hohe Tauern and Großglockner. The welldeveloped network of trails extends over more than 1,000 kilometres, with specially designated routes for all levels of difficulty.

Grass-covered mountains are typical for Kitzbühel. Unlike the steep and craggy limestone mountains surrounding Kitzbühel, the grass mountains boast meadows and lush green mountain pastures – even above an altitude of 2,000 metres. In fact, the Geißstein is the highest grass-covered mountain in the Alps.

People have always sought out natural idylls and spiritual sources where they can replenish their energies and find inspiration.

Kitzbühel offers these “silent paths” and spiritual places, where you have the chance to escape your hectic everyday life and recuperate in peace and quiet. Leave the hustle and bustle behind, take a deep breath and relax. Kitzbühel is the perfect place to slow down, relax, refresh and get inspired, ready to write your own legend.

Hiking for connoisseurs. Kitzbühel guarantees incredibly beautiful panoramas, geological marvels, local specialites and

culinary delights. Magnificent walking trails amid the area’s beautiful natural landscapes allow amazing discoveries about mountain flora and geology and guide you toward plenty of culinary treats. In more than 60 alpine huts, traditional Tyrolean hospitality is expressed by spectacular views and lasting impressions.

Romantic paths in the valley, breathtaking views on mountain trails along grassy hills or up craggy peaks, gentle strolls around the historic city centre or around the moorland lakes – Kitzbühel takes you out for a memorable walk!

© Fotos: Michael Werlberger | Kitzbühel Tourismus © Kitzbühel-Schriftzug-Design: Alfons Walde 1933/VKB Wien

Kitzbühel, 365 days unforgettable moments When words are not enough. Kitzbühel offers a scope for you and your holiday dreams. Every day is an unforgettable experience in Kitzbühel. Whether it is in spring, summer, autumn or winter, the region changes its appearance with the seasons, but it never fails to fascinate with its beauty. The historic city center with its charming alleys, provides the perfect ambience to host a remarkable amount of international brands for an unimpeded shopping experience.

Authentic Tyrolean hospitality. Kitzbühel is firmly rooted, it is a place where tradition is well and alive. Deeply anchored in these old customs is the cuisine. Kitzbühel provides it all, from local specialities to gourmet cuisine. Also the accommodation lives up to the credo of variety, ranging from traditional inns to 5★ hotels, choose whatever pleases you most. Discover your zest for life in Kitzbühel, fueled by the magnificent nature, the manifold wellness offers and a rich variety of entertainment.

“When a new day dawns, the gentle natural landscape impresses.”

“Take on an exciting journey through Kitzbühel’s past and present.

Feel it, experience it!”

When events become occassions. It’s not just the natural surroundings that are thrilling. Kitzbühel has also plenty to offer in terms of sport and cultural events. No matter, whether racing up or down the Streif, serving at the centre court, competing at triathlons or chanting a classic concert in the historic city centre, Kitzbühel provides a unique stage.

“Kitzbühel – as leading hot spot in the Alps, charmingly combines tradition and lifestyle.”

The place to meet. Kitzbühel is popular for conferences and seminars, not solely because of its easy accessibility and ideal infrastructure, but also due to the leisure activities and incentives offered. Kitzbühel leaves no desire unfulfilled.

There is no doubt, Kitzbühel is worth a visit all year long, 365 days a year. The legendary Kitzbühel way of life awaits you.

Don’t dream it, book it. booking.kitzbuehel.com

F E AT U R E

WORLD SKI AWARDS RECOGNISES INDUSTRY ELITE IN KITZBÜHEL Legendary French ski destination Val Thorens took the title of World’s Best Ski Resort at the 2016 World Ski Awards in Kitzbühel, Austria. Here we look back the event and honour the best of the best.

The fourth instalment of the red-carpet World Ski Awards took place on November 19th, 2016, at the five-star A-ROSA Kitzbühel, welcoming the elite of the ski hospitality industry to Austria. Among the winners were W Verbier, walking away with the title of World’s Best Ski Hotel, and LAAX, recognised by voters as the World’s Best Freestyle Resort.

They joined French ski destination Val Thorens, which took the title of World’s Best Ski Resort.

Chalet Pont Du Cam was also honoured during the glittering ceremony, taking the title of World’s Best New Ski Chalet, while The Westin Rusutsu Resort took the trophy for World’s Best New Ski Hotel, Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel was recognised as the World’s Best Ski Resort Company, and Ski-Lifts was awarded the title of World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator.

In a first for World Ski Awards, Hokkaido Backcountry Club took the title of World’s Best Heli-Ski Operator.

An extensive programme of events took place over the weekend, seeing guests invited to engage in three days of exclusive networking events, private skiing, sight-seeing tours and a host of other activities.

number of ballots cast by leading ski tourism professionals. These were tallied alongside the votes of hundreds of thousands of ski consumers from around the world, with the winners revealed earlier this evening at A-ROSA Kitzbühel.

World Ski Awards managing director Sion Rapson said: “The 2016 World Ski Awards has been our most successful to date, firmly cementing our position as the global benchmark for ski hospitality. It was a pleasure to recognise so many industry leaders and I hope their recognition, both by their peers and members of public ski community, will inspire them to aim ever higher in the pursuit of excellence.”

The event saw industry leaders from around the world gather in Austria, with delegates from the Chinese ski community attending for the first time.

In a unique presentation, the World Ski Awards Academy honoured Pierre Josserand, pioneer of the Val Thorens ski resort in France, with the title of Outstanding Contribution to Ski Tourism.

Voting for the 2016 Gala Ceremony closed at the end of September, with a record

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On a night of high drama, Switzerland-based tour operator Leo Trippi successfully defended the title of World’s Best Ski Travel Agent, while Bighorn claimed the title of World’s Best Ski Chalet and The Vale Niseko was honoured with the prize for World’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel.

During the event Ski Dubai was also honoured with the title of World’s Best Indoor Ski Resort, while Sunweb walked away with the trophy for the World’s Best Ski Tour Operator.

Wo r l d S k i A w a r d s r e c o g n i s e s i n d u s t r y e l i t e i n K i t z b ü h e l

Oliver Corkhill and Celine Renaud, from Leo Trippi, collect the award for World’s Best Ski Travel Agent from World Ski Awards managing director Sion Rapson

Pierre Josserand was recognised for his Outstanding Contribution to Ski Tourism

Signe Reisch, president of Kitzbühel Tourism, congratulates winners

The team from Val Thorens celebrate taking the World’s Best Ski Resort title

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The fourth World Ski Awards Gala Ceremony was the most successful yet

Host Steve Rider welcomes guests to the event

Guests were invited to ski the famous Hahnenkamm during a weekend of celebrations

Some 200 industry leaders were in attendance at the A-ROSA Kitzbühel

The trophy for World’s Best Ski Resort Company went to Bergbahn AG Kitzbühel

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The Westin Rusutsu Resort take the title for World’s Best New Ski Hotel 2016

Ski hospitality leaders from around the world gathered in Austria for the event

Guests celebrate during the welcome dinner

Richard Smith, managing director of Ski-Lifts picks up the trophy for World’s Best Ski Transfer Operator

Reto Gurtner, president of the management board at LAAX, celebrates recognise by the World Ski Awards

MORE INFORMATION World Ski Awards will return to Kitzbühel from November 17th-19th this year.

Find out more about at www.worldskiawards.com.

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