Stage II/Issue 25
Locally written, globally distributed
We Are Back!
Operating in times of COVID-19 mmits u s l a tu ir v f o r a e y A / Trade Shows saloniki s e h T & i o n a H s n o ti / Destina In this issue. HanoiSevilleThessalonikiNizhny NovgorovNyíregyházánNerjaBerlinEdinburghGlasgowBelfastMalagaCape TownPragueMoscowBeirut 01 PORTADA TD25.indd 1
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Message from Enrique Ybarra President & CEO City Sightseeing Worldwide
Seville, Spain. The home of the first ever City Sightseeing operation which started on the 31st of March 1999
Dear Friends, We would have never imagined that we would have to face such extreme challenges as the ones we are facing in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the world to a standstill, has cost the lives of so many people, and given way to an unprecedented economic crisis. Thanks to our global presence, we have witnessed that the coronavirus effects have been similar throughout the world. Additionally, we are seeing the different health and safety measures different governments have put into place to deal with the situation at hand. With all this vital information, all at City Sightseeing have started a plan from the very beginning in order to help all our operators as they and the world recover. This plan is ongoing and under continuous review. As you can see in this new edition of Top Deck, we have continued promoting your operation and the global brand despite the circumstances. After showcasing in FITUR Madrid in January and celebrating the 5th Edition of The City Sightseeing Marathon Challenge in February, suddenly we had to change our plans due to the pandemic outbreak; however, we still managed to be present at the biggest trade shows – in virtual editions, and launch new exciting locations. On the other hand, this edition of Top Deck comes exclusively paperless. If we started a transition towards a completely digital environment in 2018, the situation caused by COVID-19 has accelerated the process. The same has happened in many other fields in which the developments that were underway have been forced to take a leap forward. Fortunately, the first vaccines against the coronavirus have been announced. Stock markets rebounded strongly with this news and the entire travel industry looks to the future with hope. Until these vaccines prove to be the solution we all hope for, I encourage you to face this difficult situation with a postive spirit as we move forward together towards the new reality, taking the necessary measures that will make our business stronger and help the tournism industry regain its leading position in the global economy. By doing this, we will be sure to make millions of travellers happy again. Yours sincerely,
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Stage II/Issue 25
Locally written, globally distributed
We Are Back!
Operating in times of COVID-19 of virtual summits / Trade Shows A year & Thessaloniki / Destinations Hanoi In this issue. HanoiSevilleThessalonikiNizhny NovgorovNyíregyházánNerjaBerlinEdinburghGlasgowBelfastMalagaCape TownPragueMoscowBeirut
/ Staff Editor Antonio M. Ortega. press@city-sightseeing.com Contributing writers Manolis Papadogiorgiakis, Sergei Lavrentyev, Zakarya Hamdan, Luis Miguel Labrado, Isaac Flores, Chelsey Smith, Manuel Jiménez, Paul Seeger, David Strainge, Elaine Green, George Grimley, Viviane, Nasr, Jane Marshall, Athena Papareskou, Lauren Mogannam. Production Antonio M. Ortega. Publisher City Sightseeing Worldwide
We welcome your thoughts about TOP DECK and any ideas you might have. Please send any suitable items for inclusion to: topdeck@city-sightseeing.com Views expressed in the pages of TOP DECK are not necessarily those of City Sightseeing Worldwide, their Franchisees, Associates and Partners or the Editors.
Hanoi, Vietnam Latest City Sightseeing launch 06/11
18/19
26/27
The Impact of COVID-19 in the Travel Industry
The World of City Sightseeing
Gallery / Corporate News
12/13
20/21
28/29
Special Feature: Online exposure
New destinations for the ‘New Normal’
Gallery / Tour News
14/15
22/23
New Destination: Hanoi, Vietnam
Special Feature: Safety first – PPE
Gallery / Staff stories
16/17
24/25
New Destination: Thessaloniki, Greece
Suppliers: Latest News
30/31
32/33 Gallery / The Best of Social Media
34 The Wall
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marketing@meingenieria.com (+34) 933208221
How COVID-19 changed our lives 2020 is by far the strangest year we have ever lived. A new virus has managed to stop the world, claiming thousands of victims and creating an unprecedented economic crisis. While a remedy for the disease caused by the new coronavirus is on the horizon, the world adapts to continue touring.
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he crisis caused by COVID19 has had a massive impact around the world, and thus in the travel industry as well. The losses are huge, the jobs of millions of people are in danger, and no one knows how long it will last. The recovery has already started and we are all learning to adapt to the situation and adopt a “new normal”. This is the summarised chronology of these crazy months.
Municipal Health Commission from their website on cases of “viral pneumonia of unknown cause” in the city of Wuhan.
21st January. The USA reported its first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus (first case in the Americas).
9th January. WHO reported Chinese authorities had determined the outbreak was caused by a novel coronavirus.
22nd to 26th January. FITUR Madrid took place in Spain. Still no concern regarding the spread of coronavirus.
11th January. Chinese media reported the first death from the novel coronavirus.
23rd January. A lockdown was declared in Wuhan.
31st December. WHO’s Country Office in China picked up a media statement by the Wuhan
13th January. First recorded case appears outside of China in Thailand.
24th January. France announced three cases of novel coronavirus. All three travelled from Wuhan (first confirmed cases in Europe).
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29th January. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) reported the first cases in the Middle East.
8th March. City Sightseeing Seoul stopped operating. First CS operation to cancel service.
30 January. WHO declared the novel coronavirus outbreak a public health emergency of international concern (PHEIC), the organisation’s highest level of alarm.
9th March. Lockdown in Italy.
11th February. WHO announced that the disease caused by the novel coronavirus would be named COVID-19. 27th February. WHO published guidance on the rational use of personal protective equipment in view of global shortages. 28th February. ITB Berlin cancelled the 2020 edition, originally set for 4th to 8th March. 7th March. Confirmed COVID-19 cases surpassed 100,000 globally.
Health
Industry
ATM Dubai postponed to 28th June. In the end it was cancelled. 11th March. WTTC postponed its Global Summit. 13th March. Europe became the epicentre of the pandemic with more reported cases and deaths than the rest of the world combined, apart from China. 14th March. Lockdown in Spain. 16th March. CS operations closed included Seville, Malaga, Mallorca, New Orleans and Athens.
17th March. Lockdown in France. 22th March. Mobility restrictions and mandatory working from home for non-essential workforce in New York, USA. 23rd March. Stay-at-home order in the UK. 27th March. National stay-at-home order for at least two weeks in Ireland. 31st March. City Sightseeing Kazan cancelled. Last CS operation to stop service. 4th April. WHO reported that over 1 million cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed worldwide, a more than tenfold increase in less than a month.
The CS Annual Conference set to be held in Budapest was postponed until Fall 2020. As of today, it will happen in 2021.
City Sightseeing
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14th April. Message from the City Sightseeing CEO to customers and partners. New flexibility and validy policies.
3rd June. Italy reopened to EU Tourism without quarantine 12th June. City Sightseeing San Antonio resumed service.
15th April. IPW USA cancelled. 12th May. Hilton Reopens All Hotels in Mainland China 21st May. Emirates resumes passenger flights to London, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Chicago, Toronto, Sydney and Melbourne. 23rd May. City Sightseeing Kiel resumed service. 24th May. City Sightseeing Sharjah resumed service. 25th May. Greece restarts ferry series between islands as tourism restarts. Hotels in Berlin and surroundings start to reopen. 27th May. WTTC launches world’s first ever global safety stamp to recognise “Safe Travels” protocols around the world. 29th May. City Sightseeing Berlin resumed service. Seatrade Med cancelled its September 2020 edition in Malaga, Spain. 1st June. Vatican Museums reopened.
12th June. City Sightseeing Trier resumed service. 21st June. City Sightseeing Moscow resumed service. 21st June. Spain reopened tourism to almost all European countries, sans quarantine. Full borders reopened in July. 25th June. WTTC laid out guidelines for a Safe and Seamless Travel in the “new normal” with the collaboration of City Sightseeing for the tours and activities sector.
2nd July. City Sightseeing Seville, Malaga, and Benalmadena resumed service. 3rd July. City Sightseeing Belfast, Malta, Prague, and Budapest resumed service. 6th July. City Sightseeing Mallorca resumed service. Non-essential travel from UK to some euro countries allowed. 7th July. Dubai reopened to tourists with negative COVID-19 certificate or airport testing. 11th July. City Sightseeing York and Bath resumed service. 13th July. City Sightseeing Gozo resumed service.
Eiffel Tower in Paris reopened. 25th June. City Sightseeing Beirut resumed service. 27th June. City Sightseeing Warsaw resumed service.
15th July. City Sightseeing Edinburgh resumed service. “Imagine Yourself” campaign kicked off.
UK announced to ditch a 14-day quarantine period for people arriving from countries with lower risk for COVID-19. 1st July. City Sightseeing Brussels, resumed service. Ryanair resumed 40% of flights. The “Celebrating Our Heroes” campaign kicked off.
A wave of lockdowns, cancellations, and closures came from East to West, following the spread of the coronavirus which affected most countries and destinations. 08
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16th July. Dubai restarted business events. 20th July. Virgin Atlantic resumed. 24th July. City Sightseeing Tallinn resumed service. 25th July. City Sightseeing Chester resumed service. 27th July. City Sightseeing Llandudno resumed service. 1st August. City Sightseeing Paris resumed service. 7th August. City Sightseeing Dublin resumed service. 14th August. WTTC and 120 of the world’s major travel & global business leaders sent a letter which urgently called on the Heads of State and international opposition leaders of the G7* group of countries, as well as
Australia, South Korea and Spain, as the biggest source markets in Travel & Tourism, for strong leadership and unprecedented international collaboration, to save the struggling Travel & Tourism sector and recover the millions of jobs already impacted. City Sightseeing featured between the leading travel companies backing the call along with British Airways, Emirates, Etihad, Accor, Hilton, Hyatt, InterContinental, Marriott, MeliĂĄ Hotels, Radisson, American Express, Expedia, TUI, Uber, and many more. 14th August. City Sightseeing Porto and Albufeira reopened. 16th August. MSC Cruises resumed services, joining other seven cruise ship companies restarting operations. Most of the sector forecast to reopen in the third quarter of 2020.
24th August. A Hong Kong citizen was released as the first-recorded person re-infected with COVID-19. 25th August. WTTC warned of 197+ million jobs in danger in the travel industry. Public-private partnerships are now more important than ever to overcome the crisis and tackle the pace of contagions. 18th September. City Sightseeing New Orleans to resume service on 15th October. 19th September. Royal Caribbean and Carnival announce first cruises by November. 21st September. 31.1 million cases of COVID-19 worldwide, with 21.3 million people recovered and 962,000 deaths. China, Russia and several companies work on a vaccine and make hopeful progress on tests with humans.
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“Who is in charge of getting us out of this crisis and will lead the world to save the jobs and secure the futures of the many millions of people globally? We have reached a stage where critical action is urgently needed. Any measures taken in silos moving forward will only worsen the plight of millions of ordinary people. We need to transcend politics and put the millions of livelihoods, which have been affected by COVID19, front and centre.”
“We are united in the common goal of tourism’s comeback to generate benefits going far beyond our sector. Trust and tourism will catalyse consumer demand, investments and jobs, thus generating opportunities for all.” Zurab Pololikashvili UNWTO Secretary-General
“We see green shoots of hope emerging as our global community turns its attention toward recovery from the COVID19 pandemic. But we know that travellers will only venture out into the world again when they feel it is safe to do so, making it critically important that we give them the confidence and peace of mind they need.” Chris Nasseta WTTC Chairman
Gloria Guevara WTTC President & CEO
What’s next? Calling for leadership and coordination in the fight against COVID19 11
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Trade shows cancelled, webinars carry on For some months, COVID-19 stopped the face-toface world, but this business always finds the way to keep going. The promotion, commercialisation and transmission of knowledge have continued virtually even in the strictest stages of lockdowns. And City Sightseeing has always been there.
W
ith webinars, virtual summits, and e-meetings, the travel industry is facing this unprecedented crisis caused by the COVID-19 by sharing ideas and knowledge. Our strong presence in the largest trade shows of the travel industry has not been possible in 2020, however, the City Sightseeing brand stood out in a handful of online events which emerged as an alternative to traditional summits and forums. Sponsorships have been one of the ways that have given City Sightseeing the opportunity to remain top-of-mind in a stage with plenty of event cancellations. As a Global Partner of the Arival Event, the global brand sponsored its webinars and virtual summits after ITB Berlin and the Arival Event scheduled the days leading up to the German show were cancelled. Thus the City Sightseeing brand continued to be well-positioned in the sector
through agreements with the organisers of these events. In August, City Sightseeing featured again as a sponsor of the Arival Virtual Summit Asia Pacific. This one-day webinar gathered 450+ key agents of the travel industry, who together represented 250 companies from 38 countries. The online attendees got access to exclusive insights on current trends and best practices from leading operators, online travel agencies, technology providers, and destinations across Asia Pacific. Along with these world-class events, City Sightseeing has sponsored other local and smaller events, trying to offer a safe, reliable, tech-friendly brand image that is ready to respond to the changes that are taking place. As the pandemic eases, City Sightseeing Worldwide will again promote its more than 100 operators at the largest events in the travel industry, including WTM London. Meanwhile, we will
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continue promoting the brand digitally. Of course, the City Sightseeing Worldwide team has also attended the most valuable webinars organised by relevant companies and institutions, including WTTC, Arival, and Expedia, in order to learn from others’ experience and discover the future of the travel industry in the so-called “new normal� from prominent speakers. We will of course share the conclusions with the City Sightseeing international network.
TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
“The New Era of Tourism” Symposium Apart from the sponsorships and registrations in several webinars and virtual summits of the travel industry, City Sightseeing has been invited to discuss our vision of the crisis and the changes experienced in our sector with other experts. One of this online events was the International Virtual Symposium “The New Era of Tourism”, organised by the National Council of Tourism Companies (CNET in Spanish), in Mexico.
In this event, City Sightseeing’s President & CEO Enrique Ybarra held an interview regarding the topic of “New Travellers” in order to share the safety measures implemented in the CS network.
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Hanoi The so-called “Paris of the East” used to be the most visited city in Vietnam, remaining year over year over among the Top 10 preferences for travellers. The Vietnam capital is the newest City Sightseeing launch.
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Vietnam was influenced by the COVID-19 epidemic very early with a lockdown during April and the second wave arrived at the end of July. It seriously affected the Vietnam Tourism Industry and of course, our company is also heavily influenced when it is socially isolated and closed to tourists. Up to now, basically, the social and economic activities have returned, but still must ensure the Government’s epidemic prevention and control measures. For the safety of the people, reopening for tourists is expected in March 2021.
The use of the City Sightseeing brand in Vietnam will help the company build a new image with world-standard processes and quality for vehicles and staff.
How has the COVID-19 impacted to the country and your business?
Nguyen Tat Hieu Managing Director CS Hanoi
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How do you think the City Sightseeing brand can help you in this situation?
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How do you see this partnership expanding in the country?
We believe in strongly developing tourism in Vietnam when the epidemic is stable and wish to expand to Ho Chi Minh City, Ha Long, Da Lat, Hue, Phu Quoc… The global brand will help us to achieve.
TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
The Operation CS Hanoi operates one bus route with a 90-minute duration, 14 stops and a prerecorded commentary in 14 languages. In the first weeks of operation, as the COVID-19 travel restrictions lay down, the CS Hanoi buses run every 60 minutes from 9:15 to 16:15 Friday-Sunday. Tickets available include 4, 24 or 48-hour Hop-On Hop-Off validity.
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anoi is the capital of Vietnam and the most important Northern city in the country in terms of culture, commerce, and education. Picturesque pagodas, mouth-watering street food on every corner and chaotic markets stand out in this lively, vibrant city worth to visit. Made up with Chinese, French and Southeast Asian influences, Hanoi is a city with a fascinating history and at a same time a buzzing destination with plenty of things to see and do. The Hanoi Cathedral which, nestled in the chaotic Old Quarter, the Bach Ma Temple, Hoan Kiem Lake, the Taoist temple of Quan Thanh, the Tran Quoc Pagoda, and the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum are some of the most popular visits in the city. A new exciting destination expanding the global brand in South East Asia!
Highlights Located in part of the Red River Delta, Hanoi is the capital of Vietnam and the commercial, cultural, and educational centre of the Northern Vietnam region Over 8 million people live in Hanoi, with an estimated population of 20 million within the metropolitan area Vietnam’s most visited city, with 4.8 million overnight international visitors in 2018
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Thessaloniki Along with Corfu and Athens, Thessaloniki is expanding the presence of the City Sightseeing brand in Greece with a new operation to show travellers the most exciting sights of the co-capital of Greece.
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How do you see the different CS operations in the country taking advantage of a stronger presence of the brand?
Evaggelos Tsokas Managing Director CS Thessaloniki
City Sightseeing is the most recognisable brand for a traveller, which offers us the possibility to develop our services and promote them worldwide in a way that only an international corporate brand can do. On the other hand, its dynamic presence in different areas of Greece will allow us to create new synergies and partnerships between the operators and with third parties that will further enhance the service in Greece as well as further momentum to the local operators and the brand itself. 16
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How do you see your operation embracing the brand’s new vision?
Of course, we will launch new means of sustainability transport and including new experiences and attractions to our ticket, it will be a great advantage to our operations.
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As you started operating, the COVID-19 arrived to Greece. How was dealing with the pandemic in Thessaloniki? Unfortunately, we had to suspend all our services. This situation leads us to think differently than previous years in order to pace the new travel habits.
TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
The Operation Before COVID-19, CS Thessaloniki operated one bus route with a 75-minute duration, 6 stops (up to 10 expected) and a prerecorded commentary in 12 languages. In full operation, 6 open-top double-decker buses will tour the city (4 of them with retractable roof). Three daily bus excursions will take visitors to nearby regions of Kalambaka & Meteora, Edessa & Loutra Pozar, and Pella & Vergina.
T
hessaloniki has for many years been an attractive tourist destination for a number of reasons. These include its rich historical and cultural heritage, its natural and geographical location, its entertainment, its cuisine, its proximity to Halkidiki region, the university and the student community, film festivals, business exhibitions, and the fact that it is the second largest transport hub in Greece. Once in Thessaloniki, the traveller cannot miss the White Tower, which is the landmark of the city, built in 1430. Next to it, the statue of Alexander the Great, the King of the Macedonians, riding his horse Voukefala. The most important museums of the city are located in the surrounding area of the Thessaloniki International Fair. In the centre of Thessaloniki, the Aristotelous Square is the heart of the city, a modern shopping centre that coexists with the traditional markets like Modiano and Kapani. Yet historic and vibrant, Thessaloniki is an amazing destination to discover.
Highlights The second-largest city in Greece, with over 1 million inhabitants in its metropolitan area, and the capital of the geographic region of Macedonia Founded in 315 BC, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site destination and the Cultural Capital of Greece A popular destination for travellers mainly from Israel, Cyprus, USA, Germany, and Italy, with over 2,4 million hotel overnights during 2019
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THE WORLD OF
CITY SIGHTSEEING Affiliate (*) Attractions (**)
CANADA Toronto
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Los Angeles & Hollywood Miami * Natchez New Orleans New York Orlando ** Philadelphia San Antonio San Francisco Seattle Washington DC *
ICELAND Reykjavik
PORTUGAL Albufeira Funchal Lisbon Porto Sintra
PANAMA Panama City COLOMBIA Cartagena
PERU Lima
SPAIN Antequera Arrecife Barcelona * Benalmadena Cadiz Cordoba Jerez Las Palmas Gran Canaria Lleida Malaga Nerja Palma De Mallorca Santa Cruz De Tenerife ** Santander Seville Toledo
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND Bath Galway Belfast Glasgow Bournemouth Inverness Brighton Llandudno & Conwy Cambridge London ** Cardiff Norwich Chester Oxford Derry/Londonderry Stratford-upon-Avon Dublin York Edinburgh Galashiels (Scotish Border)
BELGIUM Brussels BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA Sarajevo CYPRUS Limassol CZECH REPUBLIC Prague
RUSSIA Kazan Moscow St. Petersburg
DENMARK Copenhagen
Aarhus
ESTONIA Tallinn FINLAND Helsinki FRANCE Paris GERMANY Berlin Kiel
LEBANON Beirut
VIETNAM Hanoi Saigon (Coming Soon) UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Dubai Sharjah
GREECE Athens & Piraeus Corfu Thessaloniki HUNGARY Budapest LATVIA Riga (Coming Soon) LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg MALTA Gozo
SAUDI ARABIA Al Madinah
ITALY Florence Genoa Livorno Messina Milan Naples Padova Palermo Rome Sorrento Turin Verona
Potsdam Trier
Malta
NETHERLANDS Amsterdam Rotterdam SINGAPORE Singapore
SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town Johannesburg & Soweto
NORWAY Alesund Bergen Geiranger
Oslo Stavanger
POLAND Krakow Gdansk
Warsaw
SWEDEN Gothenburg AUSTRALIA Melbourne
UKRAINE Kiev
Stockholm
New destinations for the ‘new normal’ T
he City Sightseeing operators are waging an epic battle against the crisis caused by COVID-19. The new normal has brought new obligations and restrictions to our normal operations, but the biggest problem found in most cities is the reduction in the number of international travelers. For this reason, we are all testing new products, promotions, and services to reach national travellers. The constraints imposed by COVID-19 have sparked a revival of domestic tourism, and there are new opportunities emerging. With this purpose, City Sightseeing Russia launched in a destination
Nizhny Novogorov in Russia, and Nyíregyháza in Hungary are the latest destinations joining the City Sightseeing portfolio. In Nerja, already in the global brand’s network, a new service kicks off. National travellers find new attractions to enjoy. located halfway between Moscow and Kazan – Nizhny Novgorov, one of the oldest cities in the Russian Federation and the axis of art and culture in Russia. The operation was running until September.
Finally, City Sightseeing Malaga won the tender to operate the sightseeing train that takes visitors from Nerja, in Málaga, to the Nerja Cave, one of the most popular attractions in Southern Spain.
In line with this revival of domestic tourism, Nyíregyháza became the first rural city in Hungary to welcome the City Sightseeing red, double-decker buses. The tour connects Sóstó (the Nyíregyháza zoo) and the city centre every hour, passing by the rest of the main attractions of the Hungarian city.
New destinations close to existing City Sightseeing operations, new products and services, agreements with local authorities and with other city’s attractions are checked for speeding the recovery up. National travellers, regional travellers, and residents are demanded.
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TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
Nizhny (Russia)
Nyíregyháza (Hungary)
Nerja Cave (Spain)
Located between Moscow and Kazan, Nizhny Novgorov is an important economic, transportation, scientific, educational and cultural hub in Russia. Founded on the shores of the Volga River, Nizhny is also the main centre of river tourism in the country.
Nyíregyháza is one of the leading cities of Northern Hungary, only 250 km from Budapest. The city has developed since the 18th century, becoming the economic and cultural center of the region, and has doubled the number of visitors in just 10 years.
Nerja is one of the most popular destinations in the Spanish Costa del Sol. Apart from its wonderful beaches and privilege weather, breathtaking cliffs and tasty gastronomy, the city has one of the major attractions in Southern Spain –Nerja Cave.
The city is known for its 16th-century Kremlin, ringed by 13 fortified towers, and the green-spired Cathedral of the Archangel Michael.
The Nyíregyháza zoo, exhibiting more than 500 species, is the most iconic attraction in this rural destination that CS Budapest is developing since August.
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With almost 5 km of caverns, the Nerja Cave is visited not only for people on vacation in the city but from the whole Andalusian coast and nationals.
Safety first: New PPE available in the Purchasing Catalogue In line with the recommendations from different governments and health officials, PPE supplies are available through the City Sightseeing Purchasing Dept.
A
s more than 30 City Sightseeing operations managed to be back in 2020 in different parts of the world, it has been possible to see how the way the hop-on hop-off service has changed since the COVID-19 outbreak.
At City Sightseeing the health and safety of our staff and guests is our top priority, so that we introduced several new health and safety measures to ensure we can keep offering a fantastic service at all our worldwide operations while ensuring the safety of all.
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One of the measures is using Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), which is now mandatory in many countries and highly advisable everywhere. That’s why the City Sightseeing Purchasing Department included in its catalogue everything needed to minimise the risk of contagion. All these products are available at the best prices and quickly due to shorter production periods.
TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
Corporate Personal Protective Equipment Now you can operate safely in City-Sightseeing style thanks to the Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) included in the City Sightseeing Purchasing Department catalogue, safety and the friendly design of the global brand alike.
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News Discover the latest products, services, and novelties from our providers who are constantly innovating.
UNVI available DDOT Full electric, Hybrid, CNG/ LNG and Diesel Euro 6
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s 2019 has been the year to confirm the transition towards alternative powertrains, 2020 is going to see this through with new orders from new but also current customers. The main tourism capitals keep trusting in our topquality product, with the widest option ranges for each customer, for the conversion of their fleet towards a greener operation. This “made to order� approach, in combination with cost savings (fuel economy), is continuously supporting the migration to more sustainable operation. From our different powertrain options for the sightseeing market, which are the 100% electric, CNG and hybrid versions, on top of the cleaner than ever diesel with latest Euro 6 version, in 2020 we will deliver the first LNG URBIS Open Top units. This version is enlarging our powertrain portfolio to provide our customers with countless options. The 6 units CNG URBIS Open Top delivered in 2019 have been well received by the final customers, giving them another clean option to combine with the Fully Zero Emission solution of our 100% electric e.DDOT, already available in four of the most touristic European capitals.
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TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
Let’s get organized, see Conquering new everything together: markets Bus Operative!
D
ESIC’s Bus Operative is a cloud-based system where the needs of your management, drivers, and passengers are all connected. A smart travel system that connects all the 3 types of users in a synchronized manner, and ensures you a better overview of your whole ongoing operation. And by now, a lot of City Sightseeing operatives know this very well.
O
ne of our purposes for Multimedia & Engineering this year was to expand our horizons and reach new markets with our services.
We are very proud to announce that we have managed to reach Norway and equip 8 tourist buses with our MTG multilanguage systems.
Probably many of you can remember that at last year’s Annual Conference in Seville, CS LA/Hollywood won the free 3-month trial of Bus Operative. As they obviously wanted to schedule the installation process for their off-peak season, the winter months seemed to be the best choice to do this. Finally, they were able to test this unique smart travel system on their buses before the COVID-19 outbreak, in their office, and with their passengers.
It has been an achievement that would not have been possible without the dedication of our team and the firm idea of trusting our services.
Also, CS New Orleans is among their latest clients, and although they are similarly still in the first phase after the installation processes, they will soon experience the great advantages the system offers. Being a huge operative with numerous lines and stops, Bus Operative will definitely make everyday life’s tasks easier for them.
In Multimedia & Engineering we appreciate this user requirement, since it has been the one that has led us to explore new paths and leave our comfort zone.
As a company, you must always overcome different obstacles along the way, especially in such a saturated market and with users who are increasingly better informed and aware of what services they want to receive and for which they would not be willing to pay.
We finished February satisfied and eager to continue building a path in international markets throughout 2020.
Then everything changed. However, we are all in the same boat, and we are all in this together. We face this storm together, and we will come through it. 25
Corporate News from the Global Brand
At the busiest FITUR Madrid In January, the Spanish show saw an important growth in participation, new features, and was yet another excellent opportunity for us to showcase and meet with operators, partners, and friends.
Latest integrations
Safe Travels Stamp
CS Convention
Vouchers from HotelsPro and Google Reserve are available to scan with the City Sightseeing Marketplace App, as this OTA joins our scanning system. Go paperless with the City Sightseeing App!
City Sightseeing contributed to the WTTC’s Attractions’ Health and Safety Travel Protocols which allows those putting recommendations into practice to feature the ‘Safe Travels’ Stamp.
On 20th and 21st February, over 70 members of the City Sightseeing Worldwide team met in Seville to share knowlegde and align around the global brand’s new vision.
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TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
#CitySightseeingCares
In New York Celebrating Our Heroes From doctors to public transport staff to supermarket employees, a wide array of people who were and are still working on the front lines to combat COVID-19 are honoured in our campaign “Celebrating Our Heroes”. This gives the City Sightseeing operations involved with the campaign can thank our heroes in this difficult situation.
In May, CS New York partnered with Buca di Beppo to donate 300 meals to the First Responders at Lenox Hill Hospital and The Mount Sinai Hospital.
Volunteering SA
In Málaga
In Seville
In May, CS San Antonio volunteered at the San Antonio Hotel & Lodging Association and SA Food Bank Hospitality Distribution, helping fight hunger through food distribution.
CS Málaga donated 1.650 ponchos to the local authorities in Málaga in order to help protect their social workers from COVID-19 due to the shortage experienced in Spain during March/April.
In April, CS Seville donated 20,000 ponchos to 35 organisations, including nurses, hospital workers, and ambulance drivers. In mid-March, 2,000 disinfectant wipes and 300 hand sanitisers were donated
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CS Operators Outstanding News from Your Operations
Marathon Challenge #5 On 22nd and 23rd February, The CS Marathon Challenge took place in Seville, in one of the few marathons of 2020. Nathan, Karima, and Shaun could travel and run for the CS Running Team.
TripAdvisor Awards
GYG Awards
Staycation in Belfast
Five City Sightseeing operations featured within the Top 10 HopOn Hop-Off Experiences in the world in the latest edition of the Tripadvisor Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best Awards.
CS Glasgow and CS Edinburgh won the GetYourGuide Awards 2020 in the ‘Best Family-Friendly Experiences’ category. Congratulations!
CS Belfast partnered with Dream Apartments to launch “staycation” packages for Summer 2020. Great initiative, as our customers are mainly locals and nationals due to COVID-19.
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TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
City Sightseeing UK operators Forum
Beirut, Stay Strong
In December 2019, the City Sightseeing operators from the UK and Ireland got together in Glasgow with City Sightseeing Worldwide staff to discuss important topics, such as technological innovations, marketing, and branding. After the COVID-19 outbreak, other regional meetings were held virtually. Especially during these uncertain times, working closely is key for the City Sightseeing international network.
This is a message of support and appreciation to our CS operator in Lebanon and the lovely people of Beirut who suffered the horrible blast in the port. We hope you’ll be back very soon!
Cueva de Nerja
York is ‘Good to Go’ Rediscover Oxford
CS Málaga is adding new exciting products to the City Sightseeing portfolio, now with a sightseeing train tour to the Cueva de Nerja (Nerja’s Cave), one of the most iconic attractions in Southern Spain.
The Tourism agency VisitEngland awarded CS York its “We’re Good to Go” confidence mark. The company also presented new open-top low emission buses.
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CS Oxford partnered with the Oxford City Council to take the city’s residents on an open-top double-decker bus through the city’s history and its most famous sites for about one hour.
CS Family Staff Stories
EuroCityVision song contest During the strictest part of lockdown in Spain, the CS operations managers challenged their teams to take part in a video & music competition while staying at home. Who won? Discover it bit.ly/EuroCityVision
Leading the recovery Smile! We’re Back
CS Kazan in Berlin
In these difficult times, leaders are closer than ever to their teams. At least, that’s what we see from Blerta Pasha in Prague, Luis Miguel Labrado in Malaga, Daniel Vidal in Seville, and many more around the world.
In March, CS Berlin met CS Kazan when Muzaffar Sobirjanov visitied the German capital. Nobody could imagine that a few weeks later Kazan would be the last CS operation operatings and Berlin, one of the first to reopen.
After the rain the sun comes out. That’s what we understand from Anna’s lovely smile in Moscow. All the best for our Russian friends!
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TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
Katie, from Glasgow Sharjah Appreciation In memoriam Shamil Do you want to know about the “Day in the Life” of our colleague from Glasgow Katie Tennant? Visit thingstodoingla.com/ blog/a-day-in-the-life-ofkatie-tennant/.
CS Sharjah is one of the most iconic attractions in the Emirate of Sharjah. Our teammate Bhaji received a “Certificate For Appreciation” from the University of Sharjah in the name of the operation.
Adriana, Lima
Thomas, Bournemouth
Our colleague Olga Medina, from City Sightseeing Lima, gave birth a lovely baby, Adriana, one of the newest members of the CS Family.
Thomas is the son of Kamilla Gallai-Dinc, from CS Bournemouth. Look at his beautiful smile, take a look at his clothes – he is already one more at CS Bournemouth!
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Our Kazan team member passed away in the morning of 5th November, due to health complications caused by the coronavirus. Shamil Galiev was 71 years old. He has lived a long and happy life. Shamil was married for 45 year, survived by two sons and three grandchildren. Before joining City Sightseeing Kazan as technical director, he worked as a director for the city’s gypsum plant and autobus parks. Shamil helped establish the City Sightseeing operations in Kazan from day one. He always was optimistic and positive, did sports regularly until the day he got sick and went to hospital. The Tatarstan team loved and respected him and will miss him.
SuperPosts Best of Social Media
W
ithout a doubt this year has thrown us a curve ball most of us could have never dreamed of. All of us have seen our everyday lives change drastically due to the spread of COVID-19 throughout the world. However, despite, the global situation, we have seen the travel industry and the entire network band together to get important messages to our customers, travellers, and the world using social media networks.
Lauren Mogannam Online Communications Manager
From messages of hope to travel safety tips, we have seen a wide array of messages being sent out on social media networks. We even saw some of you start to dabble in the newest sensation- TIkTok. Make sure to check out the newest craze if you haven’t already, you are sure to love it. Here are some fantastic examples of content, even from those currently not operating, that showcase the current global climate, their cities, and the global brand.
Super Posts! From Facebook to Twitter to Instagram, there are constantly great posts published throughout the City Sightseeing network to promote the global brand, give information, and inspire those to hop-on and discover a city with City Sightseeing. Here are a few posts that we have selected that have done just that.
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TopDeck Magazine | #25 | October 2020
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The Wall
Social stories
Twitter | Facebook | TripAdvisor | TrustPilot | Viator | GetYourGuide @MaitlandWolf - Dublin. Want to explore #Dublin? The city bus tours in Dublin, @CitySSWorldwide, are a perfect way to see the city’s famous sights when you are short for time! Check out this video from @ connolly_cove. #ireland #travel buff.ly/2GdGjAU
cecile clave – Cardiff. I was looking forward to visit the castle in Cardiff but cause of Covid, it did not happen. Beforehand, I decided to book online the Sightseeing Tours Bus. I was upstairs shelted by the rain.
Anna G – Naples. Oggi abbiamo utilizzato il vostro servizio per fare un giro per la bellissima città di Napoli. È stata una bellissima esperienza perché oltre aver goduto delle meraviglie che offre questa bellissima città, abbiamo avuto il piacere di conoscere Ivana e Antonio che con la loro travolgente simpatia e accoglienza ci hanno permesso di rendere ancora più allegra e piacevole la nostra giornata... Vi ricorderemo con simpatia.... Saluti dai ragazzi di Alghero!!! Russel C. Always choose City Sightseeing when doing city breaks. Christina C - Prague. Great tour. Went my first day to see where I wanted to go back to on my own. I recommend it.
Nicolette Manuel – Cape Town. Absolutely fabulous. The beautiful views of Cape Town & the in-depth historical information provider on the bus via the earphones provided free of charge.
Beate - Oxford. Beim ersten Oxford-Besuch ein absolutes Muss, um einen Eindruck von der Stadt zu bekommen. Da man vom Bus aus auch die Übersicht hat, wo welche Sehenswürdigkeiten sind, ist dieses auch sehr hilfreich später zu Fuß Alles schneller zu finden.
The Tours gave us an historical commentary on Cardiff and its surroundings. I am pleased, I did book the Tours despite the rain. Linda Griffiths – Edinburgh. Brilliant way to see the sights of Edinburgh. You are able to get on and off when you want to along the route. Good hours entertainment with earphone commentary. shootster – Athens. Sehr zufrieden. Haltestellen an so gut wie jedem wichtigen Ausflugsziel in Athen. Schöne Tour rund um die Häfen von Piräus. Nur zu empfehlen. Yvonne - Belfast. brilliant really learned our tour guide was brilliant. @arivaltravel. A big shout out to our Global Sponsors for all the support you’ve provided! #bestpartoftravel #arivalevent @bokunHQ, @Checkfront, @ CitySSWorldwide, @ExpediaGroup, @FareHarbor, @ Groupon, @headout , @Musement, @rezdy_com, @ ViatorTravel, @Withlocals Andi - Palma. This was a good way to start our time in Florence. There is a lot of different areas to see and the bus tour gives you good overview. The bus was on schedule most of the time and it was nice to be able to track the bus location with the phone app. The bus staff is very friendly!
Social media really is the new phenomenon, so on this page we hope to feature the best feeds from our Franchisees, some of our customer comments and also from leading industry ‘tweeters’. Send your social media namTe to topdeck@city-sightseeing.com and we’ll follow you. You can start with following us @CitySSWorldwide
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smart travel system
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