TopDeck In this issue. LondonReykjavikHelsinkiMalagaBenalmadenaAntequeraNerjaDubaiBelfastBudapestDublinSevilleMoscowPalma de MallorcaSharjah
Stage II/Issue 17
WTM London Great Exposure in the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show t c je o r P n o h t a r a M S / Special Feature C ad to Dubai e / 2018 Conference H
City Sightseeing Worldwide Magazine December 2017.
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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 will always remember 2017 as a sensational year that has brought us a number of exciting projects. Looking back, we are satisfied that in 2017 we have been able to reach new markets while reinforcing our presence in already existing ones, helping further develop the global brand we share and making the City Sightseeing family flourish, offering confidence to travellers from all over the world. As reinforcement of our remarkable global presence, at City Sightseeing we have launched diverse activities that help give visibility to our brand and our network of cities, maintaining it as a reference in the tourism industry. Among them we must highlight the outstanding participation in the largest trade shows worldwide, with WTM London in November as the most representative example. Keeping this motivation in mind, we have launched the City Sightseeing Marathon Project which was presented at the last annual conference in Amsterdam and is now a reality. You can read an interesting article about this initiative in this issue of Top Deck. We will offer more details about these projects and the new challenges we face in 2018 at our next conference, which I have the pleasure to announce will be held in Dubai from the 27th to the 30th of April. Before that, it is possible that we will be present at the next major shows, FITUR Madrid or ITB Berlin. Meanwhile, I´d like to take the opportunity to send you my best wishes for a new year full of success.
Yours sincerely,
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TopDeck In this issue. LondonReykjavikHelsinkiMalagaBenalmadenaAntequeraNerjaDubaiBelfastBudapestDublinSevilleMoscowPalma de MallorcaSharjah
/ Contents
Stage II/Issue 17
WTM London Great Exposure in the World’s Largest Travel Trade Show Marathon Project / Special Feature CS to Dubai / 2018 Conference Head City Sightseeing Worldwide Magazine December 2017.
Locally written, globally distributed
TOP DECK has now entered into Stage II, with a new design and content layout. There have been 56 issues of Top Deck over the last 18 years.
/ Staff Editor Antonio M. Ortega. press@city-ss.com Associate editor Richard Morgan. Contributing writers Lauren Mogannam, Rocio Aparcero, Oliver Nicholls, Gonzalo Ruiz, Sergei Lavrentyev, Rosana Pajaron, George Grimley, Dorottya Torok, David McConn, Manu Rios, Mandi Jarman, David Chien, Mohamed Mouhadda, Maria Ribas. Production Antonio M. Ortega. Publisher City Sightseeing Worldwide
We welcome your views about TOP DECK and any stories you might have. Please send any suitable items for inclusion to: topdeck@city-sightseeing.com Printed by: Egondi Artes Gráficas This edition of Top Deck has been printed on CREATOR STAR FSC paper, where the virgin fibre comes from forests with strict criteria towards environmental protection. This FSC certified paper also incorporates other environmental standards such as chlorine-free bleaching. The FSC logo identifies products from well managed forests which are certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council.
Dubai to Host the 2018 Annual Conference in April 06/07
Report: Overtourism: Growth Is Not the Enemy
08/09
Inverview: Gloria Guevara – WTTC
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20/21
30/31
22/23
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Destination: Malaga The World of City Sightseeing
Special Feature: WTM London 2017
Special Feature: 2018 Annual Conference Announcement
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24/25
10/13
Destination: Reykjavik Views expressed in the pages of TOP DECK are not necessarily those of City Sightseeing Worldwide, their Franchisees, Associates and Partners or the Editors.
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Destination: Helsinki
Special Feature: City Sightseeing Marathon Project
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Suppliers: Latest News
Suppliers: Volvo Gallery / Corporate News Gallery / Tour News
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Gallery / Staff stories
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Gallery / Customers
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Tourism / Overtourism: Growth Is Not the Enemy
Tourism protests happen in the World’s top destinations such as Barcelona, Venice and Amsterdam. Residents claim that there has been substantial growth in the number of visitors and travel authorities interpret these demonstrations as a ‘wake-up call’. Where do we draw the line for tourism development in cities? Tourism has been incresing by 4% annually for more than 5 years in a row. Figures on international arrivals draw a Golden Era of the travel industry. Tourism companies and institutions celebrate this success – citizens not so much. Just the opposite, residents in some of the most important destinations in the world declare to be against tourism development. Last Summer, a group of demonstrators stopped a City Sightseeing bus in Barcelona and filmed a video in which they punctured the wheels and sprayed slogans against overtourism. Indeed Barcelona is one of the destinations where tourist saturation is more evident. Other cities like Venice and Amsterdam were highlighted as having the worst overcrowding. “This is a wake-up call; we have to make decisions now,” said UNWTO Secretary General Taleb Rifai in the latest edition of WTM London. In November, the British show held a Minister Summit on this topic with the participation of over 60 ministers of tourism and private sector leaders. The emergence of new tourism platform 06
services, or the so called sharing-economy, together with the growth of cruise line companies are seen as the main reasons why city centres are more and more overcrowded. Now leaders are drawing plans to deal with the rapid growth of visitors. The UK’s Tourism Minister John Glen proposed “to get the infrastructure right, and share data and solutions. It’s about diversifying options, and highlighting other options and make them readily available through technology.” Greece decided to promote tourism in the winter months, Costa Rica measures social development in tourism destinations, and Mexico spreads the word about its “magic towns” to highlight lesserknown cultural sites. Imagination is key in the way we engage more and better with local communities. Community engagement, communication, congestion management, adequate planning and product diversification were highlighted as key aspects in dealing with ‘overtourism’.
“We cannot continue to build five-star hotels in three-star communities. Jobs and charity are not enough – we need to diversify visitors’ activities, reduce seasonality and raise awareness of less busy destinations” TALEB RIFAI UNWTO SecretaryGeneral
Tourism industry News Snippets UNWTO appoints Special Ambassador H.E. Ms. Eliza Jean Reid, First Lady of Iceland has been nominated as Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The appointment took place at the second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, an official event of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, being held in Muscat, Sultanate of Oman on 11 and 12 December. Source: www.unwto.org
Innovation in Tourism Awards in FITUR Madrid
“It is very important to highlight the benefits of tourism to local communities. Barcelona, for example, used to have a high crime rate and unemployment before the development of tourism, and Miami is a great model to follow as it has developed effective policies to deal with cruise passengers” GLORIA GUEVARA WTTC President
“People spend money locally if they stay locally. Policies need to be different in different places, as needs are all different.” PATRICK ROBINSON Airbnb Head of Policy for EMEA
“Cruise lines bring valuable tourists without the need to build new hotels in Venice – and they were more beneficial than day-trippers who arrived by car with their own sandwiches” MANFREDI LEFEBVRE D’OVIDIO Silversea Cruises’ Chairman
The World Tourism Organisation has announced the names of the fourteen finalists for the 14th edition of the UNWTO Innovation in Tourism Awards. They were shortlisted from among 128 projects entered from 55 countries and the winners will be announced on 17 January 2018 in FITUR Madrid. Source: www.ifema.es
World Travel Monitor Forum warns overtourism Around 50 tourism experts and academics from around the world present the latest figures and current trends in international tourism at the 25th World Travel Monitor Forum in Pisa, Italy (November 9-10). The main conclusion was the need to face overtourism with new solutions. Source: www.itb-berlin.de 07
Gloria Guevara / President & CEO WTTC
Gloria Guevara joined WTTC in August 2017, following a wide-ranging career in Travel & Tourism that made her one of the most influential women in Mexico, recognised by both CNN and Expansion. Involved in the travel industry in both the public and private sectors, Gloria can act as the link between these two worlds.
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Congratulations for your appointment as WTTC President. How do you feel in this new era? Thank you! My appointment for WTTC comes at a very good time for tourism worldwide. The sector is booming and travelling is becoming easier and more affordable for everyone, but we cannot forget that the expansion in the sector comes with challenges. We are engaging the public and private sector for actions and solutions. In the past years, both WTTC and UNWTO have worked on Public-Private Partnerships. How are you going to manage this? Partnerships between the public and private sectors are essential for sustainable development of the sector. The private sector
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cannot work separately from the government. In my career path, I have worked on both sides and I understand deeply the issues that the industry faces. I have the eyes of the private sector, but I speak the language of the public administration and understand their concerns. We will continue to work closely with UNWTO (World Tourism Organization) and other government bodies such as the UNFCCC and the G20, among others. What do you see as the guidelines of your mandate in the WTTC? My guidelines comprises the general challenges and struggles of the travel sector around the world. We advocate three main pillars: security and travel facilitation,
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crisis management, and sustainable growth. In times where terrorism poses a threat to the travel industry, we believe that is possible to ensure the safety and security of travellers and improve their experience by adopting biometrics. It is crucial that the global tourism industry works closely with the public sector and embrace new technology to improve travellers’ safety and cross-border security. Visa waiver programmes and visa facilitation are also essential measures to boost tourism worldwide. Preventing and managing crisis such as natural disasters, illness outbreaks, and political unrest is as important as developing recovery plans. Efficiency in communicating to travellers about the current
situation is key for the industry, as wrong perceptions can keep travellers away, cause disruptions, and damage the economy. We must ensure that the travel industry keeps growing in a sustainable way. Leaders in the private and public sectors are discussing solutions for the overcrowding situation in major destinations. We also need to guarantee that tourism is environmentally friendly and not harmful to natural and cultural heritage. In your opinion, what are currently the main challenges in the travel industry? In a nutshell, the main challenge for the sector is to keep growing in a sustainable way, to keep creating jobs and boosting the economy
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worldwide, whilst assuring travellers’ safety and security, protecting the environment, and the destinations’ heritage. From the WTTC you are boosting research and investigation. According to this key information, how do you see the travel industry in the future? The Travel & Tourism sector is strategic for the global economy, as it represents 10% of global GDP (US$ 7.6 trillion) around the world. Tourism accounts for 4.4% of the world´s investment, and we forecast that by 2027 annual investment in Travel & Tourism will increase by US$500 billion. Developing sustainable tourism is key for job creation, as it employs 292 million people globally or 10%
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of the world workforce. For the next ten years, 100 million additional jobs will be generated. Tourism plays a crucial role in driving cities’ development, as revealed in our newly launched report City Travel & Tourism impact. In Madrid, for instance, international expense is two thirds of the city’s Travel & Tourism revenue. As the city is also an important hub for flights between Europe and Latin America, it contributes 10% of the national Travel & Tourism GDP. Unemployment is high overall in Spain, but almost 3% of jobs in Madrid are directly within the tourism industry. That gives a clear picture on how essential tourism is to the Spanish economy and its recovery. 09
Trade Shows / Promotion of Dream Destinations at WTM London
World Travel Market was again the meeting point for the City Sightseeing family to catch up and promote the global brand, as well as for the over 120 destinations involved in the international network. It proved to offer great exposure and business opportunities. From 6th to 8th November, the City Sightseeing global brand was featured in the World’s largest travel trade show – World Travel Market. Up to 5,000 exhibitors from 182 countries and regions see this major event as the opportunity to display their services and attractions. With more than 51,000 participants and the facilitation of £2.8 billion in industry deals, WTM is a must within the City Sightseeing calendar. Once again, London gave the global brand the opportunity to gather some of the worldwide operators at the stand UKI 250, together with key agents, OTA’s and city representatives from the over 120 destinations involved in the City Sightseeing network. UK operators like Edinburgh, Oxford, Bath and Dublin were present in the London show, as well as many other members of the family – New York, Hollywood / LA, 10
San Francisco, Orlando, Amsterdam, Athens, Corfu, Oslo, Tblisi, Italy, etc. You can see an album with some of the operators visiting the stand in page 12. WTM London was an excellent opportunity to catch up with existing operators and also a fantastic showcase for the global brand. Many opportunities popped up during the show and some exciting new destinations are in project for the upcoming months. As the leading marketplace for the travel industry, WTM gathered the most important tour operators, agents and OTA’s that were also received in the City Sightseeing stand by the Global Sales, New Developments and Marketing and Communications departments. Keep Calm and Travel On As WTM London was the perfect opportunity for us to promote our
WTM LONDON 2017 ATTRACTED MORE THAN 5,000 EXHIBITORS FROM 182 COUNTRIES AND REGIONS AND 51,000 PARTICIPANTS Views of the City Sightseeing stand at the ExCeL, pins of the City Sightseeing destinations at the stands, and advertising of City Sightseeing in the ExCeL halls.
global network, the City Sightseeing Worldwide Marketing Department launched a special campaign on Facebook that allowed attendees to choose their dream destination in the World and take part in a giveaway of a full tourist experience in one of over 120 cities. The full album and the winner are available on the City Sightseeing Facebook. Main Topics of the Show This year’s World Travel Market focused on different themes that are currently important subjects throughout the travel industry. Responsible tourism was discussed on November 8th – World Responsible Tourism Day, concerns on overtourism, the rights of the disabled and the opportunity of accessible travel, and a Digital Influencers Speed Networking session were among the most interesting topics of this 2017 edition. 11
1 Visitors at the information desk. 2 Isaac Flores (City Sightseeing Spain), Jeronimo Cardenas (City Sightseeing Worldwide), Wim van Meerveld (City Sightseeing Amsterdam) and Marcos Ybarra (City Sightseeing Palma). 3 David McConn (City Sightseeing Dublin) in a meeting with DESIC. 4 Edmund Hinks and Athena Papareskou from City Sightseeing Athens. 5 Manolis Papadiorgiakis (City Sightseeing Corfu) and Gonzalo Ruiz (City Sightseeing Worldwide). 6 Visit of the Corfu city council. 7 Jane Marshall from City Sightseeing Oxford. 8 Var Na-Ji Grytbakk (City Sightseeing Norway) and Rocio Aparcero (City Sightseeing Worldwide). 9 Kenny Campbell and Elaine Green from City Sightseeing Edinburgh. 10 Kami Farhadi from City Sightseeing Hollywood / LA. 11 Visit of the Seville city council. 12 Marcos Ybarra and Richard Kerekes (City Sightseeing New York). 13 Tim Sanders (City Sightseeing Bournemouth) and Jeronimo Cardenas. 14 Oliver Nicholls (City Sightseeing Worldwide) in a meeting. 15 Henrik Bendix with Enrique Ybarra. 12
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In His Words / Björn Ragnarsson – City Sightseeing Reykjavik
Reykjavik
Björn Ragnarsson Managing Director CS Reykjavik
City Sightseeing Reykjavik is a rich, safe and exotic destination, the northernmost one in the City Sightseeing portfolio. It became very popular and brings the global brand network something different. Björn Ragnarsson runs our operations in the Icelandic capital.
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The Global Brand “It is valuable for us to be a part of the City Sightseeing family. Our goal is to offer our customer a memorable visit from Iceland and our service is a part of their experience” The Future “In 5 to 10 years we will be leading an e-mobility in City Sightseeing all around the world where customers will have interactive communication and get information on-site in their own languages” 14
What do you think Reykjavik is bringing to the City Sightseeing portfolio? Though Reykjavík is one of the smallest cities in the world twothirds of the Icelandic population lives in Reykjavík and surrounding communities. With City Sightseeing in Reykjavík you can easily get around and visit many of the most interesting sights in Reykjavík with audio guidance. How is your operation helping visitors to discover the city? Reykjavik Excursions operates the Flybus from Keflavík International Airport to Reykjavík city centre and vice versa together with a wide variety of day tours. We offer our customers the possibility to buy a combo ticket including City Sightseeing and our most popular day tour The Golden Circle, where we visit three of Iceland’s most famous sights, Thingvellir
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National Park, Geysir geothermal area and Gullfoss waterfall. How do you see the City Sightseeing brand helping your operation and the city in terms of brand recognition, synergies, know-how, etc? For us at Reykjavik Excursions, it is valuable to be a part of the City Sightseeing family. Our goal is to offer our customers a memorable visit from Iceland and our service is a part of their experience. Early next year we are expecting a new fleet of double-deckers for our City Sightseeing operation. How do you see the global brand in 5-10 years’ time? In 5 to 10 years we will be leading an e-mobility in City Sightseeing all around the world where customers will have interactive communication and get information on-site in their own languages.
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/ REYKJAVIK NORTHERNMOST CITY SIGHTSEEING OPERATION / Destination Reykjavik has a relatively short history compared to other cities in Europe, however it is said that it was the first permanent settlement in Iceland, by 870 AD. The city was properly founded in 1786 and today it is considered as one of the safest cities in the World and is also famous for quality restaurants, pubs and great nightlife. An impressive collection of attractions and historic places make Reykjavík a must see. From the harbour you can go whale watching or go on a Northern Lights tour, in the city and surrounding communities there are many great indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools with various hot tubs and saunas, and definitely you have to discover the glass dome building, Perlan. “There are two things that guests visiting Iceland must taste, i.e. our fish and our lamb” says Ragnarsson.
/ Highlights
> The World’s northernmost capital of a sovereign state > Location of the first permanent settlement in Iceland > One of the the cleanest, greenest, and safest cities in the world
CS Reykjavik bus
City Sightseeing Reykjavik Start Point: Harpa Concert Hall & Conference Centre Duration: 60 mins Frequency: Every 30 mins Season: All Year Round Ticket Length: 24 h Commentary: Pre-recorded English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Swedish, Icelandic >The city in figures Reykjavik 123,000 inhabitants 2 million tourists Speak Icelandic
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In His Words / Peter Kåla – City Sightseeing Helsinki
Helsinki
Peter Kåla Director CS Helsinki
2017 Success “In 2017 Helsinki received 266 cruise ships bringing 478.000 passengers. The number of passengers is an all time high result!” The City Sightseeing Brand “It’s important to be recognizable for our customers by branding our buses in the correct way and dress the sales staff in the proper outfit” 16
After years of modest growth in numbers of visitors Helsinki has grown over 12 % in 2017. City Sightseeing Helsinki is the easiest way to access the main attraction of this destination located between “East and West”.
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What customers are you focused on and who would you like to reach? The Cruise Line passengers have traditionally been a very important customer group for our Hop On Hop Off services. In 2017 Helsinki received 266 cruise ships bringing 478.000 passengers. The number of passengers is an all time high result! Helsinki remains one of the most popular foreign destinations for Russian tourists thanks to the location. Russians are starting to travel abroad actively again, and are coming back to Finland. We are yet far from top numbers of past times, but the tendency is looking promising. The strength of the Chinese market has been a proven trend in 2017 and it is likely to continue. Millennials (children of the baby boomers) have been steadily ascending to their current platform as leaders in tourism for a few years now. This generation “Y” has grown up with different digital technologies and is a group of experienced individual travelers.
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How do you see the brand in helping your operation? In today’s global market, it is critical to stand apart from the crowd. The market is becoming even more challenging with new product offers being launched each year. Thanks to the brand recognition of City Sightseeing we are able to attract customers both online and offline. On destination level it’s important to be recognizable for our customers by branding our buses in the correct way and dress the sales staff in the proper outfit. By joint marketing efforts with the nearby destinations we can create real value for the customers (i.e. the “City Sightseeing Baltic & Nordic offer” – Do 3 cities and get the 4th city for free.) How do you see the brand in 5-10 years’ time? People tend to do business with companies they are familiar with, so the importance of the brand strength will continue or even be more important in the future. But not just as a trademark or graphic element but the entire customer experience…
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/ HELSINKI ON THE SHORES OF THE BALTIC SEA
/ Destination Helsinki offers lots to see, do and experience for visitors of all ages. If you are planning to visit the capital of Finland you will be greeted with a pleasant seasonal climate, shimmering beaches and enchanting architectural wonders like Helsinki Cathedral, Parliament, Suomenlinna Sea Fortress, Rock Church etc. The archipelago, parks and wildlife areas in the city will give a refreshing respite from the hustle and bustle of the city. On the other hand, market stalls everywhere in Helsinki overflow with seasonal produce and local delicacies. Finns are really passionate about their food and they know how to celebrate it.
/ Highlights
> The world’s northernmost metro area of over one million people > One of the world’s most livable city > Historically connected closely to Tallinn (Estonia), Stockholm (Sweden), and Saint Petersburg (Russia)
CS Helsinki buses
City Sightseeing Helsinki Start Point: Senate Square Duration: 90 minutes Frequency: Every 30 mins Season: May to September Ticket Length: 24/48 hours Commentary: Pre-recorded English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Swedish, Finnish >The city in figures Helsinki 640,000 inhabitants 4 million tourists Speak Finnish and Swedish
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In His Words / Luis Miguel Labrado – City Sightseeing Malaga
Malaga
Luis Miguel Labrado Operations Manager CS Malaga
City Sightseeing Malaga has grown rapidly, becoming one of the busiest operations in Spain. Luis Miguel Labrado is in charge of four cities – Malaga, Benalmadena, Antequera and Nerja – and more developments are to come.
1 Growth in Malaga “Lots of opportunities in Malaga. I am happy to announce two new developments –a boat tour in the Malaga bay and a sightseeing train through the waterfront of Malaga” The Future of the Brand “City Sightseeing is already the best way to experience a destination, linking sights, attractions, restaurants and the whole touristic offer to the customers” 18
City Sightseeing Nerja has just launched and it is your fourth operation in Malaga. Where is the limit? There is no limits when one have this so involved team. In the other hand we are lucky to operate in Malaga, which is a worldclass destination. We have lots of opportunities – the Costa del Sol, the city of Malaga with prestigious museums like Picasso Malaga, Thyssenn Collection, Russian Museum or Pompidou, and an historic city like Antequera. In addition, Public-Private Partnerships are a role model in Malaga, Benalmadena, Antequera and Nerja. We work closely with the city councils and other attractions to create interesting products and making the experience in the city unforgetable. Lots of opportunities in Malaga. I am happy to announce two new developments –a boat tour in the Malaga Bay and a sightseeing train through the waterfront of Malaga.
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How do you see the brand in helping your operation? I am proud to say that Malaga was one of the first destinations joining the City Sightseeing network. We started operating here in 2001 with only eleven people and today we are over 50 in four cities. That’s crazy and it couldn’t be possible without the assistance of the City Sightseeing brand in terms of know how, global sales, marketing, supplies... We see every day the importance of been part of this great family. How do you see the brand in 5-10 years’ time? I think travellers are increasingly seeing City Sightseeing not only as a way to discover the city by bus (or boat or train) but as the way to truly experience the destination. We offer means of transport, commentaries and entrance to the best attractions, we drive tourists to the different points of interest and is thanks to our team that the visitor enjoy the best of the city.
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/ MALAGA PROVINCE SUN & CULTURE / Malaga The capital of the Costa del Sol, the main tourist region in Spain, is a vibrant city with plenty of museums, restaurants and attractions. A cultural destination and the entrance to the province.
/ Benalmadena Theme parks, marinas and beaches stand out in one of the busiest destinations of the Costa del Sol. A lovely seaside village with lots to see and do.
/ Antequera Monuments, museums, archaeological sites and amazing landscapes in a historic city located in the heart of Andalusia. Malaga’s charm is also inland.
/ Nerja With a sunny, subtropical climate, Nerja is home to the famous Nerja Caves and the Balcon the Europa, a stunning balcony in the cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. 19
CANADA Toronto
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Chicago Los Angeles & Hollywood Miami Natchez New Orleans New York Orlando Philadelphia San Antonio San Francisco (2018) Seattle Washington DC
ICELAND Reykjavik
PORTUGAL Albufeira Aveiro Funchal Lisbon Porto Sintra
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN Cartagena Panama City San Juan SOUTH AMERICA Lima
THE WORLD OF
CITY SIGHTSEEING
SPAIN Antequera Arrecife Barcelona* Benalmadena Cadiz Cordoba Jerez de la Frontera Las Palmas de Gran Canaria Lleida Malaga Nerja Palma de Mallorca Santander Seville Toledo
U B B B B C C C D D E
N a e * a z a a a a a a
UNITED KINGDOM & IRELAND Bath Galway Belfast Glasgow Bournemouth Inverness Brighton Llandudno & Conwy Cambridge London Cardiff Newcastle/Gateshead Chester Norwich Derry/Londonderry Oxford Dublin Stratford upon Avon Edinburgh Windsor York
REST OF EUROPE: BELGIUM Brussels
RUSSIA Kazan Moscow St. Petersburg
CYPRUS Paphos
Limassol (2018)
Larnaca (2018)
Agia Napa (2018)
CZECH REPUBLIC Prague DENMARK Aarhus
Copenhagen
ESTONIA Tallinn FINLAND Helsinki FRANCE Paris GEORGIA Tbilisi GERMANY Aachen* Berlin Cologne* Dortmund* Düsseldorf*
Hannover* Kiel Potsdam Stuttgart* Trier
GREECE Athens & Piraeus Corfu MIDDLE EAST: UNITED ARAB EMIRATES Dubai Sharjah SAUDI ARABIA Al Madinah Riyadh ITALY Florence Genoa Livorno Messina Milan Naples Padova Palermo Rome Sorrento Turin Verona
HUNGARY Budapest LUXEMBOURG Luxembourg
SINGAPORE Singapore
SOUTH AFRICA Cape Town Johannesburg & Soweto
MALTA Gozo
Malta
NETHERLANDS Rotterdam Amsterdam AUSTRALIA Melbourne
NORWAY Alesund Bergen Geiranger
Oslo Stavanger
POLAND Gdansk Warsaw
Kraków
SWEDEN Gothenburg
Stockholm
UKRAINE Kiev
r e o *City Sightseeing Affiliate
Special Feature / Heading to Dubai 2018
The City Sightseeing Annual Conference will be held at the end of April in one of the World’s most impressive destinations – Dubai. See you in this incredible capital, where engineering and technology have their main showcase. Dubai will host the annual 2018 City Sightseeing Annual Conference. From April 27th to 30th, where more than 100 operations under the global brand will meet once again to learn about new developments in Sales, Technology and promotion of the international network throughout the last year. If you loved our latest summit in Amsterdam 2017, you’ll also enjoy it in one of the most impressive destinations of the world. According to the MasterCard Global Destinations Index, Dubai is the fourth most visited city in the World with 14.87 million visitors in 2016, and the top destination in visitor expense with $28.50 billion USD. The forecast for 2017 is a 7.7 percent increase in arrivals and 10.2 percent increase in spending power. In other words, Dubai is a hub for the world’s tourism and with its outstanding position, it will continue in the upcoming years with 22
World Class events like the Expo 2020 Dubai. In addition to this, the election of this destination recognizes the excellent work done by our colleagues of City Sightseeing Dubai. Awarded Best New Operation in 2015, the Emirati operation was one of the most important launches of the industry with 20 brand new open top double decker buses and over 100 employees. Today it is a role model within the global brand’s portfolio. The 2018 City Sightseeing Conference will be celebrated right after ATM Dubai, where the brand will feature again our very own stand in one of the busiest trade shows in the travel industry. Dubai 2018 will be surely one of the most successful conferences and it will be made possible thanks to the partnership with dnata/Emirates Group.
#1
Spending Power Destination
Save the Date
27/30 April 2018
One of the Largest Partnership with City Tour Launches dnata / Emirates
#4
Destination in Arrivals
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Special Feature / City Sightseeing Marathon Project
The latest campaign of the global brand in the social networks is focused on the runners’ world. A crowd of athletes that enjoy visiting cities around the globe with the main motivation of taking part in the most prestigious marathons and other popular races.
Every day, the City Sightseeing open top buses travel 175,000 kilometers, equivalent to travelling around the world 3.75 times. We run in the most wonderful destinations, allowing visitors to discover all of them from a different view point. On the other hand, every year at least 700,000 runners apply to take part in one of the 6 major marathons – New York, Chicago, Boston, London, Berlin and Tokyo. It is a big business and, of course, one important reason for travelling. Some runners travel alone, others with their parents. And all of them would like to visit the city again in the future. We share a passion – to run in the most exciting cities of the planet. It is clear that if there is a public, there is a market, and thanks to the 24
expansion of the City Sightseeing network there is a large number of marathons that many people want to run once in their lives. A total of 22 IAAF Gold / Silver / Bronze Label marathons take place in cities associated with the City Sightseeing global brand, including four out of the six major races. These are only some of the most famous, inspiring and beautiful races of the world. Virtually every City Sightseeing destination has a race that many would like to run at some point. We definitely share a passion with millions of runners that enjoy our destinations. Our first competition will prize three runners with free flights, accommodation, tourist experience and registration in the Seville Marathon, on the 25th of February.
WE SHARE A PASSION – TO RUN IN THE MOST EXCITING CITIES OF THE PLANET ASSOCIATED WITH THE CITY SIGHTSEEING NETWORK
Prizes
Flight
Accommodation
Experience
Registration Categories
Best Response
Best Time (Men)
Best Time (Women) 25
Suppliers / Latest News City Sightseeing leads innovation in the city tours industry thanks to the collaboration with its suppliers. This is some of the latest news from the transportation and technology companies involved in our global network.
>NEW UNVI COMPA T POWERED BY NATURAL GAS UNVI’s Open Top minibus range allows passengers to enjoy the most remarkable sights, monuments and landmarks, when access becomes difficult to bigger vehicles. Ranging from 16 to 43 seats of capacity these vehicles are perfect for visiting narrow streets in the city centre of old cities, but are also great for travelling outdoors, to vineyards or castles for example. The COMPA T model offers a complete powered panoramic saloon roof, a spacious and pleasant compartment, designed for passengers to travel comfortably. Its attractive design is characterised by aerodynamic and modern lines, and the use of the latest technology. UNVI is now able to offer this model powered by Natural Gas. This new model is safe, convenient and cost effective. COMPA T CNG is comparable to a diesel vehicle but it is cleaner for the environment and more economical to run. In addition, CNG engines run quieter than 26
common diesel engines, what makes them a great choice to further enjoy the trip. UNVI’s Open Top minibus range allows passengers to enjoy the most remarkable sights, monuments and landmarks, when access becomes difficult for bigger vehicles. Ranging from 16 to 43 seats of capacity these vehicles are perfect for visiting narrow streets in the city centre of old cities, but are also great for travelling outdoors, to vineyards or castles for example. UNVI is now able to offer this model powered by Natural Gas.
>NEW M&E LIVE TOURIST GUIDE M&E Multimedia & Engineering, Company specialized in multilingual guide systems launches the new Live Tourist Guide for walking tours, guided tours, museums and much more. Live Tourist Guide is a modern radio-guide, easy to use and comfortable to transport. With only our smartphone tablet that works like a transmitter for the guide, the
tourists can use their mobile phones as receivers. Forget about transporting 30 heavy/bulky receivers, and show photos and videos with the Live Guide tablet!
>BUS OPERATIVE IMPROVEMENTS FOR 2018 Smart travel system Bus Operative continues to grow, not only thanks to our efforts, but also to yours and your customers. We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome CS Toledo, our most recent addition to the Bus Operative family. In the last few months we’ve continued working in response to your needs and those of your customers. In our quest to constantly improve, we’ve created a list of what’s new for 2018, such as tracking customers’ geolocated data, links to your sales systems, intelligent content system for your customers and more options and immediacy in managing your services.
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SIGHTSEEING TRAINS
EQUIPMENT INCLUDED: •
Toyota Diesel 150cv euro 6 motor.
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Cabin air conditioner.
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Wagons with doors (right side).
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Two piston electric air compressor.
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2nd compressor battery.
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Wheelchair ramp.
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Push button stop system.
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Open door acoustic alarm.
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Replacement wheel.
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Control equipment box.
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Mandatory and courtesy lights, using the latest generation low consumption LED technology.
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Wide viewing angle from the driver’s cabin.
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Simple and practical hood opening.
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Sound equipment with long neck microphone, 4 speakers per wagon and radio, CD and USB.
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CitySightseeing painting.
ILERTREN A company with over 23 years’ experience in the industry, which gave us with the knowledge and expertise to begin to build our own trains in 2011. These many years of experience provided the insight to know the real needs of both passengers and the train driver which now enables us to produce a safe, high quality and unbeatably priced product. The locomotive model VS12 (New 2017) is based on a Toyota chassis with a 2.4L engine or 2.8l diesel CDI. Environmental regulation Euro 6 on emissions and development of a power of 150 hp or 180 hp. The maximum overhang is 15% or 18%. Three years or 100,000 km of TOYOTA International Official Guarantee.
ILERTREN - Tourist Trains Pol. Ind. Les Comes. C/ Avinguda Indústria, 1 25123 Torrefarrera (Lleida) Mobile +34 611 493 771 / Phone +34 973 247 035 export@ilertren.com / www.ilertren.com
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Supplier / New Volvo B5LH Double Decker Hybrid: driving a more sustainable city tourism
UNVI is the World’s largest manufacturer of city sightseeing buses. Urbis DD Open Top can be seen as part of the urban landscape of most European capitals and historical cities around the globe. Volvo Buses expand its range of products, releasing the new Volvo B5LH Double Decker Hybrid in Spain. This new bus completes the company’s hybrid offer, pairing with the Volvo 7900 Hybrid, and it is aimed at the tourism segment promoting a more sustainable transport solution. For many years now, Volvo Buses have been committed to developing sustainable transport solutions that reduce polluting emissions, without sacrificing efficiency. Following in this path, the Swedish brand has now launched in Spain its first double decker hybrid chassis.
FEATURES
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With the new Volvo B5LH double decker hybrid chassis, Volvo increases its offer to meet the current needs of the tourism sector in large cities, offering transport operators an efficient and environmentally friendly solution. The new Volvo B5LH double decker is equipped, as standard, with Volvo’s unique parallel hybrid technology. Thanks to this, these buses offer the maximum performance to the operators, providing energy efficiency, profitability and environmental care. This advanced system allows the vehicle to drive in complete electric mode up to 30 kilometres per hour, offering a reduction of up to 39% on
polluting emissions and a comfortable and silent journey for both passengers and pedestrians. Transport operators need reliable and efficient vehicles that allow them to develop their activity. The Volvo B5LH has Volvo’s proven technology, ensuring the reliability needed to offer maximum uptime and a long life. The structure of Volvo’s new double decker is designed to optimize weight in order to increase its transport capacity. The reduced weight of the Volvo chassis allows these vehicles to carry up to 75 people, granting the possibility for transport operators to adjust their vehicles to the specific
A lightweight design chassis which allows for increased passenger capacity.
Reduces up to 30% of fuel consumption, which allows for a significant reduction in emissions and CO2.
City Sightseeing Bath double-decker bus by UNVI
needs of each course, even in areas with a high density of passengers. In addition, the chassis is equipped with the latest generation of Volvo’s I-Shift gearbox. This gearbox has been designed to provide great driving and passenger comfort and excellent fuel economy in urban, interurban and tourist operations. This new chassis also includes the electronically controlled air suspension with kneeling function. This system offers passengers an easier, more comfortable access aboard the bus. In addition, the low floor throughout the whole length of the vehicle allows for an easier and more fluid movement of
the passengers inside the bus. Safety has always been a core value for Volvo. The Volvo B5LH integrates the EBS5 braking system, ABS, ASR and Hill Start Aid, which guarantees the passengers an effective braking system and a safe travel. The addition of the new Volvo B5LH Hybrid to the Spanish offer expands the company’s range of products, in a clear stake for cleaner transport solutions that are environmentally friendly and help us move everyday closer to our vision of the cities of the future. Volvo Buses is one of the world’s leading bus manufacturers, with a
strong focus on vehicles and systems for long-term sustainable public transport. The product range includes complete transport solutions, city buses, intercity buses and tourist coaches, as well as services in financing, vehicle servicing, vehicle diagnostics and traffic information. Volvo Buses is part of Volvo Group, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of trucks, buses and construction machines as well as drive systems for marine and industrial applications. Volvo Group also provides complete financing solutions. For more information visit http://www.volvobuses.com.
Equipped with the D5K Euro 6 5L diesel engine in combination with Volvo’s exclusive parallel hybrid tech
Capacity of up to 75 passengers
Optimized chassis for double decker bodywork
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Gallery / Corporate
> AT THE EXPEDIA PARTNER CONFERENCE
>CITY SIGHTSEEING IN THE WTTC DIRECTORY
Director of Global Distributions Oliver Nicholls attended the Expedia Partner Conference, held on December 6th & 7th in Las Vegas, USA. City Sightseeing joined this valuable event for two busy days of networking with Expedia employees and industry colleagues, plus learning from speakers like Mark Okerstrom, CEO of Expedia, and Visionary Simon Sinek.
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) is the main organisation for private companies within the travel industry. City Sightseeing has been a WTTC Regional Member since 2015 and is represented in its major events like the Annual Summit. In addition, every year the global brand features in the WTTC Directory, the document where the flagships of the sector are also included.
> RECOGNITION FOR CITY SIGHTSEEING KAZAN
> ROLE MODEL OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP
In December, our colleague from City Sightseeing Kazan Muzaffar Sobırjanov was awarded as Tatarstan’s Leader of Tourism in the Kazan Town Hall.
City Sightseeing was invited to give a speech in the closing ceremony of an entrepreneurship program in Seville, “100 Caminos al Éxito” (100 Ways to Success). Enrique Ybarra represented the brand and went through the company’s history and the expansion around the World.
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Gallery / SCR
> DREAM BUSES IN SPAIN FOR CHILDREN From December 26th to January 4th, City Sightseeing is launching special tours in Seville, Malaga, Cadiz, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and La Laguna and Puerto de la Cruz in Tenerife. The buses are customized with Christmas design and all funds will be donated to different NGOs to provide poor families with toys and make the dreams of sick children come true.
> CITY SIGHTSEEING BRIGHTON WITH CARERS HUB In November, City Sightseeing Brighton held the presentation of Carers Hub, a brand new initiative for unpaid Carers. Carers Hub is a partnership between three prominent local charities and Local Authority assessment staff, who have joined together to build a focal point for carers, ensuring carers receive the right support, at the right time, in the right place. The launch took place at i360 with the support of Caroline Lucas MP and Peter Kyle MP.
> SANTA BUS TOUR IN BELFAST
> OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD IN BUDAPEST
City Sightseeing Belfast is launching in December a Santa Bus tour which takes children and parents from High Street to Aunt Sandra’s Candy Factory, where they can meet Santa as he prepares all the sweets he needs to deliver across the World on Christmas Eve. This year City Sightseeing Belfast is also donating a portion of the ticket sales to two local charities.
Our colleagues from City Sightseeing Budapest supported Hungarian Baptist Aid in the #operationchristmaschild, their recurring mission to light up the joy of christmas for those who need the most. Our operator was invited to meet the Shoebox fairies at the Shoebox Castle at Deak Sqr, Budapest, and the customer´s generosity was awarded with free tours.
> COMMITTED TO FIGHT AGAINST BREAST CANCER > SOCIAL CAMPAIGN WITH FUNDACION PEQUEÑO DESEO City Sightseeing Seville is celebrating the 25th Anniversary of Cia. Hispalense de Tranvias, the origin of the company. Among the different activities of the Anniversary, City Sightseeing is donating to Fundacion Pequeño Deseo €2 per traveller every 25th.
One more year, on October 19th different City Sightseeing operations joined together to raise funds for the investigation of breast cancer research and the treatment of patients. In addition to this, some buses included a big pink ribbon to raise awareness of the disease.
> CHRISTMAS SHOEBOX IN DUBLIN For the holidays, City Sightseeing Dublin collected shoe boxes filled with toys,#clothes, or sweets for children in need. For those who wanted to contribute, all they needed to do was fill a shoebox with goodies, wrap it, and drop it off at one of the offices in Dublin.
> OVER 3,300 SCHOOL CHILDREN ENJOY FREE TOURS IN PANAMA Mi Ruta PTY is a program of the City of Panama council focused on social tourism for school children of poor families and troubled neighbourhoods. At the end of the first edition, in September, City Sightseeing Panama boarded over 3,300 children thanks to this activity.
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Gallery / Tour stories
> AT GREEK TOURISM EXPO 2017 City Sightseeing Corfu, one of the latest additions to the global brand, is already showcasing the global brand in regional trade shows. In the picture, the City Sightseeing Corfu stand in Greek Tourism Expo 2017, at the Metropolitan Expo exhibition centre in Athens.
> CSPALMA FEATURES IN THE PALMA MARATHON On October 15th, City Sightseeing Palma had great visibility in the Palma de Mallorca Marathon with a double decker bus located at the start / finish line that was used by the speaker and the organisation of the race.
> SPECIAL TOURS FOR RUGBY SEVENS PUBLIC In October, City Sightseeing Dubai partnered with Arabian Adventures for a special offers for the fans of the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens. Every ticket gave permission to enjoy a free 12-hour tour of Dubai. The 48th edition of the Dubai Rugby Sevens was another huge success with over 100,000 fans in three days.
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> NEW HOP & SHOP ROUTE IN BUDAPEST In December, on time for Christmas, City Sightseeing Budapest announced its new route – Hop & Shop, the opportunity for visitors to enjoy shopping and restaurants in Budapest.
> SIGHTSEEING TRAIN OPPORTUNITY Are you planning to launch a sightseeing train tour in your city? This is your big opportunity with a special offer from our preferred provider Ilertren only for City Sightseeing operators. See more in page 27.
> CAPE TOWN WALKING TOURS The City Sightseeing Cape Town free walking tours have become a favorite among the visitors of the Mother City. Departing daily from the ticket office on 81 Long Street, the tour allows travellers either experience the Historic City Walk, or go on a Vibrant Bo-Kaap tour. For those who want to join the walking tours they only have to look for the City Sightseeing Cape Town bright red umbrellas!
> DAVID MAZOUZ JOINS RIDE OF FAME As of October, Ride of Fame has a new honoree in New York – actor David Mazouz, who plays the role of Bruce Wayne in the TV Series ‘Gotham’, became the latest celebrity to join the City Sightseeing New York event series.
> RUSSIANS ENJOY CHRISTMAS See below the City Sightseeing Christmas tree in GUM, Main Department Store on the Red square, Moscow, looking good in City Sightseeing style.
> BRAND EXPOSURE IN AL MADINAH Al Madinah is one of the latest destinations joining the City Sightseeing international portfolio. Our colleagues from Saudi Arabia embraced the global brand with enthusiasm and today you can see magnificent examples of brand visibility in the streets of The Radiant City.
> CS SHARJAH INCREASES SERVICES IN WINTER In keeping with the rising number of visitors and tourists, City Sightseeing Sharjah unveiled in October an increased service and announced new timings of its tours during the winter season – from 9am to 7pm. While many other operations in colder parts of the City Sightseeing network stop running these months, Sharjah picks up momentum.
> IN WINTER, CHILDREN TRAVEL FREE IN FLORENCE City Sightseeing Florence launched its Winter Promotion – from November 1st to February 28th for every paying adult a child can hop on board the bus for free.
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Gallery / CS Family
> CS WORLDWIDE JOINS CHRISTMAS JUMPER DAY Christmas Jumper Day was launched in 2012, as a fundraising campaign by Save the Children. The second or third Friday of December, people are encouraged to ‘make the world better with a sweater’, so they have to wear a Christmas jumper to school or work and then make a minimum £2 donation to Save the Children. And that’s what the City Sightseeing Worldwide staff in Birmingham did on December 15th.
> THE CITY SIGHTSEEING RUNNING TEAM IS HERE! There is a number of runners in the City Sightseeing family but we hadn´t had the chance to run as a team, with corporate T-shirts, and take part in a race... until Jose Maria Sanchez (CS Cordoba), Daniel Vidal (CS Seville), Isaac Flores (CS Spain), Jose Antonio Solano (CS Seville) and Antonio Ortega (CS Worldwide) ran and crossed the finish line together in the ABC & ESIC Race of Enterprises, in November. 34
> SPAIN ACCOUNTS MANAGERS MEET ANTEQUERA Antequera, Malaga is one of the latest City Sightseeing destinations. If you want to discover this historic city, ask first to the City Sightseeing Spain Accounts Managers who had their annual meeting in this lovely city in the heart of Andalusia. And they enjoyed a lot!
> AKSHATHA, FROM INDIA Akshatha is the niece of Sudha Shesadri, who works in the Finance Department of City Sightseeing Dubai. They are from India and they are definitely 100% City Sightseeing. Have you seen the lovely red bus made by Akshatha? Have you seen her smile? This is the happiness we want to see in the faces of our customers, our partners, our staff and their families.
> SAN FRANCISCO, MOSCOW & BERLIN IN HAMBURG In the picture (from left to right), Jessica Rebstock (CS San Francisco), Sergei Lavrentyev (CS Russia) and Malika Gharred (CS Berlin) in a lovely meeting in Hamburg, Germany. That’s what the members of the City Sightseeing family do when they gather anywhere.
> GEORGE GRIMLEY VISITS SEVILLE
> GAVI FROM AFRICA... AND NEW YORK
City Sightseeing Belfast operator George Grimley visited Seville in October. We had enough time to shoot a picture together in the City Sightseeing office in Spain.
Gavi is originally from Africa, but has been a true New Yorker for 15 years now! Look for him and the other official sales agents when you’re in New York City!
THE CS FAMILY GROWS!
> LUCA, SON OF MARTIN & TATIANA Luca is the first son of Martin Miodownik (Head of Technology Innovation) and Tatiana Toledo (Website Content Manager), two of our colleagues in City Sightseeing Worldwide.
> CARLOS, FROM SEVILLE
> YASSIN, FROM SHARJAH
Carlos is the first son of Julia Baca, Accounts Manager in City Sightseeing Spain. He was born in Seville on November 20th and his mother did a great job!
Mohamed Mouhadda has been working for City Sightseeing for years and today he is the Operations Manager in Sharjah. We are very happy with the birth of his first son, Yassin.
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Daniela Gerosa, our winner in WTM As you can read in pages 10/12, we launched a promotion during WTM in which you have to choose your dream destination. At the end of the show we draw an experience between the participants and Daniela (L) was the winner!
Bearnard tours with City Sightseeing Sevilla @adventures_of_bearnard is an Instagram profile where you can follow the wonderful trips of a travelling bear. We had Bearnard in November in Seville.
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City Sightseeing is pet friendly Look at this lovely passenger we had in Brussels. Thanks @michaeeeeeela for sharing!
Visit & campaign in Cape Town “Experience Cape Town with City Sightseeing for the ultimate journey. Welcoming visitors to the Mother City for another bumper tourism season� posted Shadow Minister of Tourism James Vos during a visit to our operation in South Africa.
CA Puebla discover Cordoba with us The running club from the Seville province Club Atletismo Puebla took part in November in the Cordoba Half Marathon. They took advantage to discover the city hopping on the red bus.
/ Customers
NFL Mascots on board in New York! On 8th November, our colleagues from New York had the opportunity to show the city to the National Football League mascots. Great fun on board!
CS Bournemouth inspired Jim Jones ‘A Town is Bourne’ is a tale about Bournemouth. Its author Jim Jones had the idea for the show when he was working as a tour guide for City Sightseeing Bournemouth.
Big Glasgow Wedding Big shout out to Stephen and Nick on their recent marriage nuptials and for choosing the City Sightseeing Glasgow big red open top bus to be a part of the big day. “We hope we made your day extra special!” said our colleagues from Glasgow
Newsletter.co.uk recommmends CS Glasgow “Probably the best way to appreciate Glasgow, and in particular its stunning and varied architecture, including the Art Nouveau magic of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, is to take the City Sightseeing Glasgow Hop on Hop off bus” posted News Letter in December.
Customer Look who rode with City Sightseeing Orlando on December 15th looking for who has been naughty and nice!
Children’s best choice The City Sightseeing bus is more and more demanded by families accross the globe. The Kid’s Commentary in some destinations plus special packages and attention to the children allowed us to become one of the most popular attractions for them.
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The wall! / Social stories
Twitter, Facebook or TripAdvisor anyone? We have collected some social media feeds from our industry.
LargePinotPlease — Cape Town. Whether you are here for a couple of days or weeks, this is definitely the best way to see the area. And it is a huge area. We have frequently used this type of bus to visit new cities and get our bearings but this surpasses them all. The shear distances they cover, the scenery and ease of access make them unmissable.
Stefania Colombo. Tour divertente e interessante! Lo staff è gentile ed educato! 5 stelle!
Lorna Mckimm. Absolutely brilliant night last night on the santa bus. Our elf Eddie was great fun and told us the bus only went on Christmas cheer so we all had to sing, he even had my son up for a dance off! . Uncle Jim in the candy factory had us all in stitches with his antics. The smell in the sweet factory was amazing and we all got to try some of the freshly made candy which was delicious. Number one elf gave us regular updates on Santas location and he arrived in time to meet all the kids. I would thoroughly recommend this tour to everyone, we laughed and sang from start to finish.
appetite4trvl – Athens. I absolutely love hop-on/ hop-off bus tours as I think they are a great way to see a new city when you’re short on time. I also think they are effective at getting someone oriented as to where specific sites are located. I’ve taken tours with the City Sightseeing brand in several European cities and have enjoyed all of them. Tracey S Mortimer. This was a good tour. Especially if you have never been to Toronto before and you book it on your 1st day definitely helps gets your bearings of the city @sharjahtourism. We invite you to see 18 tourist attractions in #Sharjah as you have never seen it before, Experience #citysightseeing Sharjah to enjoy the sights in a new & fun way Geneva Fielder Wheeless. Very good, inexpensive way to czech out the attractions of the beautiful city of Prague! Ruby Riz. Yesterday was the first time I’ve used a sightseeing tour and really enjoyed it - as did my children. Alistair was our guide and his knowledge of the city is fantastic - he was even helpful enough to give me directions to where I wanted to go. I’d thoroughly recommend taking the tour if you want to find out more about Glasgow! @LpaVisit. Recogida solidaria de
donativos y juguetes con motivo de la #Navidad con la guagua turística @ CSLasPalmasGC Un tour por 1 euro o juguete
@Kangapp. Citysightseeing: Ideal para recorrer la ciudad con niños @FPDeseo. El viaje de Cristian con sus padres fue ¡una gran sorpresa! Al llegar al @hoteldeljuguete dijo que: “¡Mi habitación es un sueño!”. También nos dijo que: “¡Ha sido maravilloso, me lo he pasado genial!” Gracias a todos en el #25CumpleUnDeseo de @CitySightseeing #deseocumplido
Chris F — Dublin. The Best Way to Get to Know Dublin. The first thing we did after arriving in Dublin was to book a Hop On/ Hop Off bus tour. The bus stopped at over 20 locations and helped us plan our activities for the rest of our visit. The bus driver also provided commentary that gave us a much better historical context than our guide books.
@realtriptravel. 44 paradas distribuidas en dos recorridos te harán ver #Moscú de una manera diferente y muy completa @CitySightseeing #RussiaCITYPASS Visit Dubai. See the main attractions of the city a with City Sightseeing Dubai hop-on hop off bus tour. With 40 bus stops, feel free to step off the bus at any point, there will be another one arriving every 20 minutes! #VisitDubai John Vanderwerff. Very informative and the audio was very useful. Plenty of buses. Lots of places to jump on and off to visit - we went to the Gassan diamond factory and it was fascinating. Normally we would walk to these places but it was very wet on the day of our tour. Would have been 5* but the earphones were to big for my 6 year olds ears! HelenChristmas — Johannesburg. A safe fascinating way to see and learn about Johannesburg.
Guy B – New York. The bus tour by its self was great,( we learned a lot of new info) but then we had 98 degrees sing to us WOW !!! This was a first time trip for my daughter and the money we saved let us give her more of the New York experience. Then the band came on, she will never forget that. THANK YOU !!
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 name to topdeck@city-sightseeing.com and we’ll follow you. You can start with following us @CitySSWorldwide 38