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10 FEBRUARY 2015
ISSUE 07
ALBANIA PROMOTED IN VIENNA A NEW PHOCUSWRIGHT STUDY SUGGESTS THAT DESPITE THE CURRENT ECONOMIC AND GEOPOLITICAL CLIMATE, EUROPEAN ONLINE TRAVEL GROSS BOOKINGS WILL CONTINUE TO GROW THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.
13 EXPEDIA TAKES OVER TRAVELOCITY
19 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
02
TECHNOLOGY
04
ACCOMMODATION
10
TOURISM BOARDS
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AIRPORTS
14
AIR
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AGENTS
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TRAVEL TALK
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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WHO’S MOVED
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PHOTO ALBUM
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NEWS & EVENTS
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EUROPEAN ONLINE TRAVEL BOOKINGS ON THE RISE
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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel
Austrian Airlines: 11.2 Million Passengers in 2014 Austrian Airlines operated more than 127,000 flights in 2014 and carried some 11.2 million passengers, corresponding to an average of about 348 services and more than 30,000 travellers per day.
ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
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CONTRIBUTORS
n balance, passenger volume dropped 1.1 percent compared to 2013 due to cancellations and frequency reductions in Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East. In Europe, 9.4 million travellers opted for Austrian Airlines, marking a 2.5 percent decline. Nevertheless, the number of passenger flying with Austrian Airlines on its international network rose by more than 120,000, up 7.3 percent, and all in all, load factor improved 0.3 percentage points to 78.9 percent.
Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian
DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou
WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou
Plus Two Million Passengers at Stansted Airport
DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670
WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel
EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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London’s Stansted Airport welcomed 19.98 million travellers in 2014, two million more than in 2013.
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he 12 percent year-on-year surge also means that 2014 was the hub’s busiest year since 2008. Meanwhile, total cargo tonnage for the year under review amounted to 226,000, up 6.9 percent. “We have made excellent progress on our GBP80 million (EUR106.17 million) terminal upgrade and we are now well into the final phase of this project,” said Andrew Harrison, managing director, Stansted Airport, disclosing that, among others, Flybe and Thomas Cook Airlines will be launching new routes from the airport.
Spanish and Portuguese Hotels Thrive Southern Europe reported a demand increase of 4.2 percent year-to-date in October 2014, with the highest occupancy change of all sub-regions on the continent, according to data from STR Global.
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he consistent demand rise for Spain, which surged 4.8 percent, and Portugal, which was boosted by 6.6 percent, positively affected all performance measures as both countries were able to achieve RevPAR growth of more than 10 percent. Overall, as supply showed low year-over-year increase of 0.6 percent, average daily rate (ADR) and PevPAR were able to pick up 3.7 percent and 7.4 percent respectively. 10 FEBRUARY 2015
MARKET UPDATE
Amsterdam and Brussels Close 2014 on a High Note The two capitals were amongst the best performing markets in Europe in December 2014.
Edinburgh Hotel Market Soars According to the latest data from HotStats, despite occupancy remaining virtually flat in 2014 at 79.3 percent, hoteliers in Edinburgh managed to drive RevPAR up by 5.3 percent.
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his was due to increases in all segment rates, with the largest year-onyear movements deriving from tours and groups and the corporate sector. Similar performances were recorded in ancillary departments. The month of December 2014 also fuelled the overall performance for Edinburgh hotels with RevPAR, total RevPAR and gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) surging by 10.4 percent, 8.1 percent and 8.2 percent respectively.
UK Hotels Celebrate a Great Year
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Amsterdam
oth cities achieved significant year-on-year growth in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) at 38.6 percent and 34.2 percent respectively, as the latest HotStats report revealed. Hotels in Amsterdam witnessed positive movements in 2014 across all key performance indicators with a 1.6 percentage points surge in occupancy and a 3.7 percent rise in RevPAR. In the Belgian capital, occupancy was up two percentage points. This however came at the cost of average room rate (ARR) which dropped 0.9 percent.
Challenging Month for Barcelona and ZĂźrich
Strong December 2014 results contributed to a great year for the UK hotel industry with gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) showing growth for London and the provinces compared to 2013, according to HotStats.
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outhwest hoteliers brought their share to the nation’s success with GOPPAR rising by nine percent in 2014. The sector in the region also experienced a 7.9 percent uplift in RevPAR thanks to increases in average room rate (ARR) and occupancy, up 5.2 percent and 1.8 percentage points respectively. Positive results were recorded in non-room departments and total RevPAR surged by 5.5 percent.
December 2014 proved to be a difficult month for hotels in both European destinations.
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verage room rate (ARR) and RevPAR declined 2.1 percent and 0.2 percent respectively in the Spanish city. Nevertheless for 2014, the results were much more positive in Barcelona with increases in all key performance indicators, with gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) jumping 7.8 percent year-on-year. ZĂźrich hoteliers experienced similar trends and despite the negative figures in December 2014, the sector closed the year with a GOPPAR annual surge of 2.2 percent. 10 FEBRUARY 2015
London
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NEWS TECHNOLOGY
Travelport Invests in German Company
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ravelport has acquired a majority stake in German tour operator distribution company, travel-IT. The European expert provides a platform that enables real-time offer, search and booking of content from all the major operators serving Germany, to consumers who purchase from travel retailers. Over the past two years, Travelport has invested more than USD475 million (EUR416 million) in developing its travel commerce platform to address the trends, inefficiencies and unmet needs of the travel industry and through its features and capabilities German tour operators will now also benefit from the company’s expertise and innovation. Travelport’s participation in equity of travel-IT formed part of a wider transaction which also saw some other German tour operators invest alongside.
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Alitalia Teams Up with Sabre
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litalia has selected Sabre to help drive its newly announced Reinventing Alitalia modernisation programme. Under the long-term agreement, Alitalia will migrate to Sabre’s integrated, Software-asa-Service platform for all critical airline operations, including its SabreSonic Customer Sales & Service passenger reservations system. The carrier will use capabilities and insights provided by Sabre’s solutions to seek new revenue and cost-saving opportunities in its drive toward its 2017 revitalisation goal. Silvano Cassano, CEO, Alitalia, said, “[Sabre’s] integrated technology gives us a single view of our operations and will transform the way we operate today, resulting in stronger performance and higher customer satisfaction and loyalty.”
Copa Airlines Selects SabreSonic
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ne of the leading network carriers in Latin America, Copa Airlines is to leverage the breadth of Sabre’s technology portfolio, including the SabreSonic Customer Sales & Service reservations system and airline retailing solutions, enabling the carrier to personalise its flight experience for travellers. “The SabreSonic reservations system will deliver new capabilities and flexible technology that will enhance our ability to provide the best possible customer experience,” said Glen Baker, chief information officer, Copa Airlines. Based in Central America, the carrier serves a growing network of 70 regional and international destinations from Tocumen International Airport in Panama.
CTI Starts the Year with New Head Office Location
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orporate Travel International (CTI) has completed the relocation of its head office from Wilmslow to Manchester city centre. The step is a part of the company’s continued expansion following a management buyout in 2012 and the launch of CTI Sherpa, hailed as the world’s first intelligent online booking tool for corporate travel. Ian White, CEO, CTI, said, “This move allows us to support Manchester businesses with our smarter approach to corporate travel and also reinforces our commitment to regional offices. Along with the relocation of our Bristol office, all six of our travel management offices are now in city centre locations.”
10 FEBRUARY 2015
NEWS
EUROPEAN ONLINE TRAVEL BOOKINGS ON THE RISE A new Phocuswright study suggests that despite the current economic and geopolitical climate, European online travel gross bookings will continue to grow throughout the year.
Croatia Boasts Tourism Growth
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nline bookings expanded by eight percent in 2013 and the trend is set to remain strong through 2016, according to the European Online Travel Overview Tenth Edition, which also highlighted that travellers are increasingly going online to purchase travel services. Internet-based travel agencies seem to be pulling business away from traditional offline channels at a faster rate compared to supplier websites and apps, which controlled 60 of the total online market in 2014.
New Casino to Open in Malta
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ccording to the latest data released by the national as well as local tourist organisations, Croatia saw 13.05 million tourist arrivals in 2014, five percent more than in 2013. Tourist nights increased by two percent year-on-year to reach 73.6 million. International arrivals jumped 5.2 percent, while the number of domestic travellers rose by one percent. “Despite the fact that 2014 was a very challenging and demanding year, great results have been achieved, pointing to the stability of the Croatian tourism sector. Pre- and post-season results are particularly cheering as they show that the measures we are taking in order to prolong the tourist season are bearing fruits,” said Darko Lorencin, tourism minister, Croatia.
Hvar, Croatia
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Positive Numbers at Messukeskus Helsinki
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lympic Entertainment Group (OEG), in cooperation with Maltese hotel and entertainment enterprise, Eden Leisure Group, is planning to open a new casino in Malta. OEG will invest up to EUR7 million into the project which is scheduled for completion in the second half of the year. Spanning close to 2,700m2, Casino Malta by Olympic Casino will be located at InterContinental Malta Hotel. The country’s newest gaming venue will feature more than 250 slots, close to 30 casino and poker tables as well as sports betting and bar area.
n 2014, Messukeskus Helsinki attracted altogether 1,146,090 visitors to fairs, meetings, congresses, corporate events and other happenings. One million people came to the venue to attend fairs, while meetings, congresses and other events brought in over 100,000 visitors. "We strive to serve the Finnish business life and our one million visitors as well as possible. This year our focus is on developing digital services. We create better services for the exhibitors and offer more content to our visitors both online and to their mobile phones. The basis for everything is to create successful encounters that will boost the businesses of our clients,” said Anni Vepsäläinen, CEO, Messukeskus Helsinki.
Messukeskus Helsinki
10 FEBRUARY 2015
NEWS GTE and England Golf Join Forces
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olf Tourism England (GTE), the recentlyformed body charged with generating more visitor income for English golf courses from tourism, announced the formation of a strategic partnership with England Golf. The agreement signals England Golf’s support for the membership body, which intends to unite the
stakeholders within golf tourism in one of the sport’s most developed markets. Commenting on the deal, David Joy, CEO, England Golf, said, “This new partnership offers an excellent opportunity to support and educate clubs to promote themselves to tourists from home and abroad and increase their visitor income.”
Europe Remains the World′s Most Visited Region
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Zagreb among Europe’s Best
Portuguese Palaces Now on Google Maps
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agreb has been ranked among the top 20 European destinations as listed by the organisers of the European Best Destinations portal competition. An official announcement confirming the ranking was made by Zagreb Tourist Board. This comes as no surprise as the city took the second spot in 2014’s list, leaving behind prominent destinations such as Vienna, Budapest, Madrid, Milan, Rome and Berlin.
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Rome
he number of international travellers worldwide reached 1.14 billion in 2014, 51 million more than in 2013, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). Europe remained the most visited region with 588 million tourists, equal to over half of the global total with Northern Europe alongside Southern and Mediterranean Europe leading the growth. Arrivals in Central and Eastern Europe stagnated after three years of strong increases. As Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO, highlighted, tourism has proven a resilient economic activity for destinations all around the world, but particularly for Europe, as the region struggles to consolidate its way out of one of the worst economic periods in its history.
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Queluz National Palace in Sintra
oogle has recently expanded its Google Indoor Maps collection with the addition of the palaces of Pena, Sintra, Queluz and Monserrate in Portugal to its Indoor Maps function. The move enables Google Maps users, on all types of devices, to access the layouts of each of these historic places, across their various floors. The addition of the palaces has been implemented in partnership with Parques de Sintra-Monte da Lua, the organisation responsible for managing top natural and cultural values in the area. Google Indoor Maps now covers 49 sites across Portugal.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
NEWS ACCOMMODATION
All New Baglioni SPA in London
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aglioni Hotel London has completed the full renovation of its urban
spa. Designed by Milanese architects Rebosio+Spagnulo, Baglioni SPA is hailed as an ideal place to relax both body and mind and restore wellbeing. Open to both hotel guests and external clients, the spa offers female and male Turkish baths, three treatment rooms for massages, facial and body treatments with Natura Bissé products and beauty services. Exclusive to Baglioni Hotel London, Natura Bissé has developed unique signature facial and body treatments. The brand new spa also features a modern gym, newly refurbished with the latest cardio, free weights and strength training equipment.
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GHOW Starts the Year on a High Note
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reat Hotels of the World (GHOW) shared the latest news from its portfolio, spanning hotel refurbishments, recognitions, various prestigious events and anniversaries. This spring, Dublin’s Sandymount Hotel will unveil its 60 refurbished rooms following a EUR1 million upgrade, while Old Swan & Minster Mill in Oxfordshire and the renovated Altis Grand in Lisbon recently received various accolades. Also in Portugal, Vidago Palace scooped two awards from World Golf Awards and World Luxury Hotel Awards 2014, while Dom Pedro Palace was selected to host Modalisboa and was named the official hotel of the 18th Portuguese Golden Globe awards. In New Delhi, The Metropolitan Hotel & Spa is preparing to celebrate its 15th anniversary this year.
First Italian Property for Rosewood
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osewood Hotels & Resorts has been appointed to manage Castiglion del Bosco, the Italian resort located in Montalcino, Tuscany. The property now bears the name Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco. The resort is an 800-yearold estate comprising the ruins of a castle, a medieval church, and a once important farming village and social hub, the Borgo, which is new at the project with 23 suites. In addition, guests can also choose from 10 villas which have been created from restored farmhouses, and feature antique furniture. Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco also offers a cooking school, an organic kitchen garden, a spa, an infinity pool, fitness centre and a 18-hole golf course set within a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Accor Presents Solid Growth in 2014
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he vast majority of Accor’s markets reported solid growth in 2014, with revenue reaching EUR5.45 billion, up 3.8 percent year-onyear, buoyed by a similar boost of 4.8 percent in the second half of the 2014. Accor HotelServices’ fourth quarter revenue showed robust gains across all regions, with the Middle East registering a particularly sound 8.8 percent increase. Sébastien Bazin, chairman, Accor, said, “Accor’s growth in 2014 is even more remarkable in light of the mixed economic environment during the year and the fact that a major transformation was underway within the group. […] Thanks to the rigorous implementation of our new strategy and the faster pace of growth in the fourth quarter, we are raising our earnings before interest and tax target.”
10 FEBRUARY 2015
NEWS ACCOMMODATION Hilton Paris Opera Completes EUR43.8 Million Renovation
Vienna Welcomes New Hotels
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Hilton Paris Opera
isitors to the Austrian capital can now choose from a wide range of new accommodation options from upmarket establishments to contemporary design hotels. The former retirement home next to Prater has been transformed into a 95-key budget property under Magdas Hotel name, and work is also underway on Mariahilferstrasse where a shopping centre will turn into the 372-room Hotel Cocoon Wien, due to open in October. Also scheduled for launch this autumn is a new property on the Ringstrasse Boulevard. In the main train stations area a number of new options are to open in the coming months, including the 135-unit Schani Wien, the 300-key Star Inn Hotel Premium Wien Hauptbahnhof and the 533-room Motel One Wien – Hauptbahnhof.
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ollowing a EUR43.8 million revamp, Hilton Paris Opera has unveiled its chic and contemporary new look. Having first opened in 1889, the hotel features 268 rooms and suites, all of which, along with Le Grand Salon, several bars, restaurants, as well as meeting and event spaces have undergone a major transformation. As Simon Vincent, president, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Hilton Worldwide, pinpointed, France has the largest inbound tourism market in Europe with visitor numbers set to reach 100 million by 2018.
IHG Expands Extended Stay Portfolio
New Wing Unveiled at Hilton London Paddington Hotel
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ilton Worldwide has recently celebrated the opening of an exclusive wing at Hilton London Paddington Hotel, The GWR Tower Rooms and Tower Lounge@Paddington. This multimillion euro investment restored the former Great Western Royal Hotel, one of London’s most iconic Victorian landmarks built in 1854. Located at Paddington Station, the hotel is just a 15 minutes’ drive from Heathrow Airport, and has four underground lines at its doorstep.
Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade Announced Grand Hotel Esplanade
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has opened its fifth Staybridge Suites-branded property in the UK. The new-built Staybridge Suites London Vauxhall in Spring Mews features 93 suites offering a destination where guests can live temporarily, rather than simply stay for a night or two, said John Wagner, director, Cycas Hospitality, the management company of the property. Over the years, Vauxhall London has become a hotbed of development activity. The recently opened 132-room Holiday Inn Express London, Vauxhall Nine Elms is less than a five-minute drive from Staybridge Suites London Vauxhall.
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urther cementing its presence in Germany, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has penned a new deal with Esplanade Operation for Sheraton Berlin Grand Hotel Esplanade. The property will open following the conversion of the existing Grand Hotel Esplanade, and will continue to be operated by EVENT Hotel Group. It will offer 34 rooms, two restaurants and two bars, plus a swimming pool and 12 meeting rooms. Bart Carnahan, senior vice president, acquisitions and development, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, said, “Berlin is the gateway to Central and Eastern Europe and this signing underscores our commitment to growth in the region.”
10 FEBRUARY 2015
TOURISM BOARDS NEWS The Netherlands Received 14 Million Tourists in 2014
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ome 14 million international visitors were welcomed in the Netherlands in 2014, a 10 percent increase over 2013, with most of them coming from Germany, and China showing the biggest growth percentage-wise. The UK was the first runner-up, while Belgium came
third. Despite the fact that this year the government will invest 50 percent less in the branding and marketing of the destination, as Jos Vranken, managing director, NBTC, the agency responsible for branding and marketing the Netherlands, commented, the country expects four percent more visitors.
Neighbours Dominate Georgian Tourism
Tourism Ireland Welcomes New Verona Flight
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eorgia welcomed over 1.3 million international visitors in the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2014, 91 percent of whom originated from neighbouring countries. The top source market remained Armenia, but significant increases were also recorded from Poland and Ukraine at 25 percent and 13 percent respectively, thanks to new air connections and effective promotions by the Georgian National Tourism Administration (GNTA). European Union member countries on the other hand accounted for 3.4 percent. All in all, international figures showed a one percent growth over the corresponding period in 2013. Based on GNTA’s statistics, in Q4 2014, the total number of accommodation units in the country stood at 1,221 with 42,474 beds.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
Belfast
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ourism Ireland saluted the announcement by Jet2. com of a new flight from Verona to Belfast. Upon welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, commented, “As an island, the importance of convenient, direct, nonstop flights cannot be overstated; they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in visitor numbers. Tourism Ireland is committed to working with Jet2. com and other tourism interests, through co-operative marketing, to drive demand for this new service; as we work with other carriers and partners to promote and help maintain vital routes and services to Northern Ireland.”
Albania Promoted in Vienna
VisitScotland Lures with Bollywood Appeal
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lbanian National Tourism Agency recently took part at the Ferien Messe Wien, that ran between January 15 – 18 in the Austrian capital. Its stand was visited by a significant number of guests and friends, as well as representatives of prominent travel and tourism media outlets. Members of the agency also met with Arjan Bimo, Albanian ambassador to Austria, as well as two employees of the embassy.
Messe Wien
head of its forthcoming sales mission to India, VisitScotland had created a special online map, Bollywood Scotland, which highlights locations throughout the country that provides backdrops for some of Bollywood’s famous stars and iconic musical and film sequences. The map, along with a marketing toolkit, has been made available to the Indian travel trade, while consumers will be able to access it via the VisitScotland website. Vineet Lal, senior marketing manager, emerging markets, VisitScotland, enthused, “Romantic Scotland and the age-old romance of Bollywood are the perfect match. Bollywood film-makers have an enduring love affair with our cities, castles, lochs and glens, making Scotland the perfect stage for their dreamy love songs and elaborate dance numbers.”
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NEWS AIRPORTS Genève Aéroport Enhances Services
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n a bid to ensure added convenience to passengers, Genève Aéroport now provides 90 minutes of complimentary Internet that can be used over several sessions. Guests can connect either though an SMS authentication process, or by using their identity document or boarding pass. In addition, travellers can also enjoy a new foreign currency ordering service provided by American Express, which enables them to either collect their order at the American Express office in the transit zone, or have it delivered to them in the lounge.
ACI: Airports Fuel Economic Growth
Taste of Finland at Helsinki Airport
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Improved Check-in at Göteborg's Airport
irports Council International (ACI) Europe released a new study examining the economic impact of European airports. The report also looks into the significant indirect, induced and catalytic benefits of airport activities that, according to the document, boost overall national and European economic performance by fostering increased trade, greater investments, more tourism activity and better productivity. Commenting on the findings, Arnaud Feist, president, ACI Europe, said that airports are a key driver and facilitator of economic growth and prosperity in today’s globalised world, and divulged that for every 10 percent increase in a country’s air connectivity, GDP per capita is lifted by 0.5 percent.
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elsinki Airport now boasts a redesigned luggage lobby lounge that blends Finnish nature and technological expertise – a creation of the internationally acclaimed interior decoration architect and sculptor Stefan Lindfors. The new features include a fabric-covered ceiling, live footage of nature projected on one of
the walls, glass showcases of Finnish plants and forest wildlife and a hand-drawn circuit board pattern to reflect the country's IT expertise. “Helsinki Airport is Finland's business card and for many passengers the first contact with Finland. That is why it is important that we stand out from other airports in a surprising way,” stated Ville Haapasaari, director, Helsinki Airport.
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Göteborg Landvetter Airport
ravellers to Göteborg Landvetter Airport will soon be able to check in even smoother as 12 self-service bag drop machines from Norwegian DSG will be installed in the check-in hall. According to Charlotte Ljunggren, airport director, Göteborg Landvetter Airport, this gives passengers the opportunity to effectively manage their time. “This is a natural step forward when the ability to self check in and receive their boarding card via various mobile solutions is common among airlines. Now even the baggage handling is possible to control yourself, if you want to,” added Ljunggren.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
AIR NEWS S7 Airlines and Montenegro Airlines Codeshare
Norwegian Adds Three Destinations
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tockholm – Corsica, Madrid – Nice and London – Kefalonia are the new routes commencing in April for Norwegian. Between April and October, passengers will have the option to visit the Mediterranean destinations through the carrier’s services which will be offered once-weekly, except Madrid – Nice which will be available twice a week. “We see that our customers appreciate Norwegian’s large route network, low fares, new aircraft, free in-flight Wi-Fi and friendly service onboard. We are pleased to offer even more destinations and departures to well-established and popular destinations,” said Thomas Ramdahl, chief commercial officer, Norwegian.
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ussian carrier, S7 Airlines and Montenegro Airlines signed a codeshare agreement for flights between Moscow and Tivat. As of mid-January, S7 Airlines added three more scheduled weekly frequencies on the route, complementing its existing four-weekly operations. Moreover, passengers of the Montenegrin carrier will be able to benefit from S7 Airlines’ connections at Moscow Domodedovo Airport to other Russian cities such as Saint Petersburg, Kazan, Yekaterinburg, Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Ufa, Samara, Chelyabinsk, Kaliningrad, Volgograd and Rostov-on-Don.
New Air France Cabins to São Paulo
Austrian Expands Athens Operations
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is sa e world’ rian h Aust lished t interna b n r a o t a i l s t e nec regu first l air con , when 8 tiona ril 191 route s p t i A d d n i ene ienna an p o it V n ee ? betw Kiev
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tarting April 29, Austrian Airlines will increase its services to and from Athens, offering four additional night flights per week from Vienna. As a result, the national carrier will provide up to 11 weekly frequencies to the Greek capital. With transfer passengers comprising 75 percent of the total on this route, Austrian Airlines aims to offer additional capacity on its network, creating greater transit possibilities via Vienna.
São Paulo
Revamped Alitalia Boasts New Strategy, Routes and Branding
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he new Air France cabin classes are now available on flights to São Paulo. After New York, Tokyo, Singapore, Jakarta and Shanghai, Brazil’s economic capital is also benefitting from the new product. The carrier continues to deploy its new cabins on its Boeing 777s, with passengers in business, premium economy and economy class enjoying the benefits. Air France is offering 14 weekly flights to São Paulo from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, and the gradual implementation of equipped aircraft will result in up to seven weekly services taking off furnished with the new cabins this summer.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
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id-January saw the unveiling of a fresh strategy for Alitalia with new routes, upgraded product and service standards, a novel cost management strategy and branding. The new Alitalia commenced operations on January 1, following the completion of equity investments by its existing shareholders and Etihad Airways. Luca di Montezemolo, chairman, Alitalia, commented, “The energies, passion and expertise I have experienced at Alitalia in recent weeks do not leave any doubt that the airline we are unveiling today will become once again a premium Italian airline recognised worldwide. This is why I believe the people in Alitalia are a pillar of the history we are about to write.”
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NEWS AIR AEGEAN Airlines Supports Cyprus΄ Air Connectivity
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s of March 30, AEGEAN Airlines will operate four Airbus A320 aircraft on its routes to Cyprus, while the number of destinations directly connected to the island will increase to 14, translating into more than 1.5 million seats per annum. As of April, the carrier will introduce direct services between Athens and Paphos, and operations to the Greek capital as well as Thessaloniki will also be enhanced with additional frequencies. The new summer schedule also includes direct connections to Heraklion and Rhodes, while flights to Mykonos and Santorini will be inaugurated in July and August respectively. Additionally, direct services from Cyprus to Heathrow Airport, Paris, Munich, Rome and Milan, have been added.
Thessaloniki to Join airBaltic Network
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irBaltic is to launch operations between Riga and Thessaloniki, starting June 5, with two flights per week. Christophe Viatte, chief commercial officer, airBaltic, commented, “Thessaloniki is renowned for its vibrant cultural life, its ancient history which is visible on the facades of its impressive churches, monuments and buildings, while also being on the shores of the Aegean Sea. It is an ideal holiday destination for culture lovers and sunshine seekers alike. We are delighted to be adding this destination to our route map, broadening summer holiday options for travellers from the Baltic region, and strengthening direct links between northern and southern Europe.”
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LOT Cargo Heads to New York
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OT Cargo has recently launched a New York – Warsaw freight route, served by an all-cargo Boeing 767-300 aircraft and operated by Cargojet Airways. This year, flights are set to run from January – April and October – December. During January and March, operations will be offered on a weekly basis, while February is set to see two flights per week. The schedule is designed to cater to clients from Poland and neighbouring countries such as the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, Austria, Germany, Belarus and Lithuania, as well as Switzerland, Denmark, Romania and Italy. LOT Cargo decided to offer freight services to the US due to a low number of passenger flights during the winter season, resulting in limited air cargo and mail possibilities.
Olympic Holidays and Monarch Airlines Resume Relationship
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lympic Holidays and Monarch Airlines have confirmed that they have settled their differences on confidential terms and have agreed to resume the commercial relationship that they previously had for some 13 years and which both recognise was mutually positive and beneficial.
Czech Airlines Cements Moravian-Silesian Presence
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zech Airlines revealed plans to launch thrice-weekly services on the Ostrava – Düsseldorf route in March, which will be served by an ATR 72 aircraft with a short stop in Prague. In addition to this, the carrier is set to open a new ticketing office at Leoš Janáček Airport Ostrava. “Czech Airlines plans to continue developing its air services from Ostrava. […] The Moravian-Silesian Region is the fastest developing region in the Czech Republic with interesting potential for new connections which make both economic and business sense. It would be a shame not to use this potential,” stated Ján Tóth, director of sales and marketing, Czech Airlines.
10 FEBRUARY 2015
AIR NEWS Aeroflot Strengthens Domestic Capacity
Lufthansa Transfers Routes to Germanwings
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eroflot and Sukhoi Civil Aircraft (SCA) penned an agreement for 20 new Sukhoi Superjet 100 (SSJ-100) aircraft. The deal builds on an existing contract for 30 SSJ-100s and all of the 50 aircraft are expected to be delivered by 2017. The new SSJ-100s, that will be deployed on short-haul domestic routes operated by Aeroflot Group subsidiaries, will accommodate 87 passengers in a dual-class configuration. Reflecting the speedy growth of Russian air traffic, in November 2014 alone, Aeroflot Group’s domestic traffic increased 23.6 percent year-on-year.
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ufthansa Group has transferred its Düsseldorf – Zürich route from Lufthansa to Germanwings meaning that all domestic and European services, except the ones at the Frankfurt and Munich hubs, are now operated by the lowcost carrier. Carsten Spohr, chairman, Lufthansa Group, said, “The success of the project will bolster our confidence for the creation of our new Eurowings, which will be launched before the year is over.” In addition to this, the company also plans to boost its green credentials by fuelling its aircraft at Oslo’s airport with a biokerosene mixture.
Sukhoi Superjet 100
AEGEAN Increases Summer Operations
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EGEAN Airlines is to launch new direct routes from the UK to Larnaca and Heraklion. The flights to Larnaca will depart from Heathrow Airport daily as of March 29, while services to Heraklion will be operated from Gatwick Airport as of June 21, with up to six frequencies a week. AEGEAN Airlines will also renew its summer flight schedule to Athens from Birmingham, while its once seasonal services from Manchester Airport to the Greek capital are now offered all year round. The company´s new timetable includes 134 destinations with 15 million available seats, two million more than in 2014.
Heraklion
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Blue Air Opens Base in Cyprus lue Air has inaugurated its new operational base in Cyprus, offering direct flights from Larnaca to Athens and Thessaloniki with plans to add further routes in the near future. The Greek capital is being served seven times a week, while Thessaloniki is connected to the Cypriot town three times a week, complementing the Romanian low-cost carrier’s existing three-weekly flights to Bucharest. Welcoming Blue Air’s decision, Antonis Orthodoxou, managing director, Orthodoxou Travel, said, “It is with mixed emotions that we welcome the development of Blue Air flights to Athens and Thessaloniki. The new [situation] created in the aviation sector in the Cyprus market after the unpleasant developments with our national carrier, imposed initiatives to cover the large and important vacuum that resulted.”
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ou odox Or th l is Blue e e Trav exclusiv in Air’s entative es repr Cyprus?
Transaero Heads to India
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ransaero Airlines has launched, for the first time in its history, scheduled services between Moscow and New Delhi. Using a Boeing 767 aircraft with business, economy and tourist classes, the Russian carrier offers two weekly flights from Vnukovo International Airport. Transaero Airlines has a long history of flights to India, as it has been operating flights to Goa since 2003. The Russian airline is currently considering practical steps to perform passenger and cargo services between New Delhi and Singapore.
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NEWS AGENTS
Priceline and Expedia Dominate Global OTAs
ABTA Highlights Importance of Accessible Travel
Kuoni Group to Cease Tour Operations
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espite the rapid growth of online travel agencies (OTA) globally, Priceline and Expedia, considered the two largest worldwide, outpace the market by large, according to Phocuswright. Combined gross bookings of the two platforms surged from 38 percent of global OTA sales in 2011 to 47 percent in 2013, and the continued development of Priceline΄s Booking.com and Expedia's assumption of the Travelocity volume in 2014 point to future growth. Phocuswright highlighted that markets like Latin America, India, Russia and Asia have smaller but strong, independent OTAs with local expertise and first-mover advantage, but Booking.com is proving to be especially adept at leveraging its scale and marketing expertise. Also, TripAdvisor and Airbnb are players to look out for in the future.
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midst the peak booking season, the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has urged its members to use its comprehensive industry guidance on accessible travel in order to provide disabled and less mobile passengers optimum customer service. “Our guidance is the most comprehensive accessible travel resource available. It is a one-stop-shop for businesses looking for clarity on their obligations, and for practical support in improving holiday-makers’ experiences, and enabling travel with confidence for all customers,” said Nikki White, head of destinations and sustainability, ABTA, highlighting the importance of meeting the needs of customers with disabilities.
uoni Group revealed plans to exit from tour operating activities and focus on its core business as a service provider to the global travel industry and governments. The company will be structured into three divisions; Global Travel Distribution, Global Travel Services and VFS Global, and will target markets with long-term growth potential such as Asia, the Middle East and Africa. The planned move includes operations in Switzerland, the UK, the Benelux states, Hong Kong, China, India, as well as Finland and Scandinavia. Current and future customers will not be affected as all units will continue to deliver their services and the group intends to find new owners in the course of the year.
Greek Travel Agents Get a Taste of Bahrain
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ulf Air recently gave a number of prominent Greek travel agents and tour operators the opportunity to explore Bahrain with a familiarisation trip jointly hosted by the airline and The RitzCarlton, Bahrain Hotel & Spa. With the aim of promoting the Kingdom as both a business and tourism destination, the visit included tailored tours to historical and cultural sites supplemented by key meetings with local travel agents and trade members as well as meetings with Gulf Air’s executive management team. Launched in June 2014, Gulf Air’s four weekly flights between Bahrain and Athens operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays as well as Fridays.
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AGENTS NEWS TUI UK & Ireland Achieves ISO 50001
Top Kinisis Hellas Supports Blue Air
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οp Kinisis Travel has announced that its subsidiary Top Kinisis Hellas, based in Athens, has been appointed as the general sales agent of Romanian low-cost carrier, Blue Air in Greece. Top Kinisis Hellas was until recently the general sales agent of Cyprus Airways in the Mediterranean country. Blue Air has a fleet of 11 aircraft and will schedule flights from Athens and Thessaloniki to Larnaca three times a week.
Expedia Takes Over Travelocity
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Swedish Lapland
Simply Sweden Promotes Scandinavia
UI UK & Ireland has secured the internationally recognised ISO 50001 certification for energy management. This accolade makes TUI UK & Ireland one of approximately 100 companies in the UK to achieve this certification. The recognition builds on the company’s ongoing commitment to managing energy use effectively, reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and working to meet environmental targets. The British Standards Institution (BSI), the business standards company that reviewed TUI UK & Ireland’s energy management progress, highly commended TUI for its introduction of TUI Turtle Dashboards as a key initiative to promote energy reductions among its retail colleagues. A strong understanding of the company’s energy policy by its colleagues was also recognised by the assessors during BSI’s audit.
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imply Sweden, a UK-based tour operator to Sweden and Norway, has launched a dedicated page on its website for travel agents interested in selling trips to Scandinavia. Through the platform, agents can learn more about adventure holiday opportunities in Svalbard and Swedish Lapland, as well as luxury cruises on the Göta Kanal. The page also features abundant information about Sweden’s Icehotel, including the best times to visit, room descriptions, tips on what to pack for a comfortable stay and flights information from the UK.
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dia's Expe n 2014 i rly nue reve hed nea n? c o a i l e l r 5 bi EUR
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xpedia has acquired Travelocity from Sabre for USD280 million in cash. The transaction follows the 2013 strategic marketing deal between Expedia and Travelocity under which Expedia has powered the technology platforms for Travelocity’s US and Canadian websites and ensured access to its supply and customer programme. “Our primary focus at Sabre is to provide mission-critical software solutions to our global airline, hospitality, and travel agency customers – and to help them support their customers every day,” said Tom Klein, CEO, Sabre.
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TRAVEL TALK
HARALD WILHELM Chief financial officer, Airbus Group
Both the EIB and Airbus Group share a common goal
There is a need to better explain [...] the crucial role of air connectivity
“The new [EUR500 million finance contract in support of Airbus Group programmes in Europe] underlines the company’s strong focus on innovation and research. We highly appreciate this latest commitment from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is one of Airbus Group’s key financing partners. Both the EIB and Airbus Group share a common goal when it comes to increasing innovation and improving efficiency in the European aerospace industry.”
“With the European Commission now conducting a review of aviation policy and preparing a new aviation package, there is a need to better explain and substantiate the crucial role of air connectivity and its interactions with the economy. […] Airports and their associated aviation partners are not just providing a service to other industries and the travelling public, but they are in fact a key driver of economic growth. […] For every 10 percent increase in a country’s air connectivity, GDP per capita is lifted by 0.5 percent.”
ARNAUD FEIST President, Airports Council International Europe
We aim to welcome 7.74 million visitors [this year]
We feel that Cyprus is our home
TUDOR CONSTANTINESCU Chief commercial officer, Blue Air
“We want to thank the Cypriot traveller who trusted and supported us over the past seven years for our Larnaca – Bucharest flights. We, in turn, to reciprocate this love and trust, are giving the opportunity to the Cypriot passengers to travel cheap and safe to other destinations, starting with Athens and Thessaloniki and we are simultaneously contributing to the creation of new jobs. With seven years of presence in the Cyprus market, we feel that Cyprus is our home.”
NIALL GIBBONS CEO, Tourism Ireland
“Looking to the year ahead, ambitious targets have been set to ensure that tourism growth continues. Following [2014’s] success, we will be pulling out all the stops this year, to keep the momentum going and ensure that this is the best year ever for Irish tourism when we aim to welcome 7.74 million visitors; surpassing the previous record year of 2007.”
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Troon to Manage Florida Golf Club Upscale golf course management, development and marketing company, Troon has been selected to manage Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida.
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he 18-hole championship golf course at Frenchman’s Reserve is designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer. In addition to the championship golf course, world-class amenities include a state-of-the-art grand clubhouse, rejuvenating spa and fitness centre, formal and casual dining options, six lighted Hydrogrid clay tennis courts, a resort-style outdoor pool and whirlpool, and several guest suites. Jim McLaughlin, senior vice president, Troon Privé Operations, said, “We are honoured to have been selected by them and are confident that our management practices will contribute positively to the experience at this widely renowned club.”
Frenchman’s Reserve Country Club
airBaltic Ranks First in Punctuality
Aeroflot Helps Children in Need
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eroflot is summing up the results of the charity programme, A Heart With Two Wings. As part of the initiative, more than 700 children from different regions of Russia have received medical care in 2014. The programme was launched in 2013 with the aim to help children with rare diseases of the immune system, musculoskeletal system and gastrointestinal system living across Russia and to undergo treatment or to get medical consultations in Moscow in a leading centre, with the airlines providing the tickets. “I am happy to know that the company not only performs as a carrier only, but also has a direct relation to the improvement the children’s health,” said Vitaly Saveliev, CEO, Aeroflot.
London and Santiago Top American Express Travel Survey
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atvian airline, airBaltic has been ranked number one globally in punctuality in 2014 by OAG analysts, who tracked the performance of a total of 43.5 million flight records. Martin Gauss, CEO, airBaltic, said, “Our customers can rely on a consistently punctual service. We are a very proud team at airBaltic to have achieved this result.” According to OAG, airBaltic achieved an on-time performance of 94.9 percent for flights linking Riga with destinations in Europe, Middle East and Russia and the CIS. That means that more than nine airBaltic aircraft out of 10 arrive on time.
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, the 010 ar 2 e Sinc ous Dak s fam y passe go Rall Santia ugh cts r th o d attra illion n m a ur s? ly fo near pectator s
ccording to an American Express Travel survey, perennial favourites and exciting new locations are trending this year. Topping the list were London and Santiago in Chile, which offers a range of outdoor adventures. The survey also found that 86 percent of travel counsellors report customers are spending more or the same on travel this year than in 2014, with many customers splurging on upgrading hotel accommodations, planning on-trip activities, taking longer trips and upgrading their class of airline service. Laura Fink, vice president, global marketing and communications, American Express Travel, explained that travellers want to see the world on their own terms, and they are willing to spend more on things like room accommodations and on-trip activities in order to create memorable experiences.
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WHO’S MOVED
JON BROOK
NICK PILBEAM
Jon Brook has been named golf director of Chateau d’Augerville, Troon’s first facility in France. Having worked in the industry for over two decades, Brook joins the property’s team with a wealth of experience. No stranger to high-profile facilities, he recently completed an assignment for Troon at a luxury golf tuition venue in the Maldives, namely Private Moments by Olazábal on Velaa Private Island, Noonu Atoll. Prior to that, Brook has also worked with a number of UK facilities, including Wentworth Club, The RAC Club in Epsom and Burhill Golf Club. As Chateau d’Augerville undergoes a refurbishment and investment project, Brook will spearhead the work of Troon’s agronomy team and greenkeeping staff.
Nick Pilbeam has been appointed travel divisional director at Reed Exhibitions. Pilbeam, who brings with him vast growth strategy knowledge and industry insight, will head up the travel division of the company. He spent the majority of his career at British Airways Group (now known as International Airlines Group), before moving to Avios, the air miles loyalty programme. Prior to his recent move, he was accountable for the entry and global growth strategies into new market and new partners. Pilbeam replaces Richard Mortimore, who was promoted to CEO of Reed Exhibitions UK in 2014.
Pilbeam will head Reed's travel division
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SAM OTTER
PAUL RICKARD
Sam Otter has been selected to fill the newly-created position of global head of customer and marketing communications at Cheapflights. Otter, who began her marketing career at The Walt Disney Company, spent the last three and a half years at Virgin Holidays, serving most recently as head of marketing. Prior to that, she worked for eight years for mobile brand, O2. At Cheapflights she will be responsible for customer communications and engagement, in order to built deeper relationships with the company’s community of 100 million plus users around the world. Otter’s appointment comes in line with Cheapflights’ endeavours towards building strong engagement in the UK, US and other English-speaking countries.
Paul Rickard has joined the European Tourism Association (ETOA) as research consultant to direct the organisation’s industry insight projects. Rickard’s career has included various positions in TV marketing, research publishing, market research and strategy consultancy. Most recently, he served as tourism analyst at London & Partners where he was responsible for market and trends evaluation, behavioural insight and visitor forecasts. His extensive experience is set to support ETOA’s aim to fully evaluate the inbound European tourism market and share valuable insights with the organisation’s members.
Rickard will lead industry insight projects at ETOA
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PHOTO ALBUM
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to. Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Fashion icon Laura Bailey reopened Heathrow Airport's Terminal 5
A Lufthansa technician at work
Nine airlines and airport partners were presented with Brussels Airport Aviation Award
Heinemann Duty Free has opened another brand shop, the American-owned Victoria’s Secret at Terminal 2A of Budapest Liszt Ferenc International Airport
10 FEBRUARY 2015
A little snow will not stop Ryanair
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS Convene to Be a Success in Lithuania
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he third edition of Convene, that showcases the Baltic region to European meeting and incentive planners, is set to take place on February 11 – 12 in Vilnius, and is anticipated to see increased turnout. Exhibitors confirmed are from Denmark, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Belarus and Russia, and they represent convention bureaus, hotels, conference centres, special venues, destination management companies, professional conference organisers and specialist suppliers. Hosted by the Vilnius Convention Bureau, Convene will offer a fully hosted buyer programme with more than 160 buyers.
EXPLOREGB Berkshire, UK February 25 – 26 www.exploregb.org VisitBritain’s brand new flagship event targeting UK and Irish tourism suppliers and destinations.
BTL INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION
PSI Reports Steady Growth
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EVENTS
SI, a dedicated trade fair for the promotional products industry that took place in Düsseldorf in January, witnessed a 2.4 percent increase in exhibitor numbers. The event welcomed a total of 873 exhibitors from 38 countries and 16,290 visitors. Novel areas were unveiled, such as the CATWALK, located inside the Textile Area.
“PSI puts a human face on the market and gives a voice to the industry. This year’s PSI underscored that point,” said Michael Freter, director, PSI. Sustainability was one of the key trends at the event as, according to PSI Industry Barometer, nearly 60 percent of suppliers consider sustainability a topic of utmost importance.
Lisbon, Portugal February 25 – March 01 www.btl.fil.pt A business and networking event for all travel professionals and also an open stage for debate and discussion on the Portuguese tourism sector.
WTM Africa to Welcome New Exhibitors
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Cape Town International Convention Centre
orld Travel Market (WTM) Africa has added an array of new international exhibitors to this year΄s event, which is set to take place at Cape Town International Convention Centre from April 15 – 17. Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority is the latest organisation to sign up, while from the global accommodation sector, InterContinental Hotels Group, Best Western International and Hotel Verde are new exhibitors. Carol Weaving, managing director, Thebe Reed Exhibitions, WTM Africa, said, “As a direct result of [2014]’s success, this year’s event has been expanded from two to three days, and the exhibition floor space will be 50 percent bigger, thanks to increased interest from companies around the world.”
GTA Hosts Conference in Prague
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lobal travel distributor, GTA has organised its first annual European Sourcing, Sales and Operations Conference in the Czech capital. The event, which attracted 240 senior travel representatives, focussed on GTA΄s future strategy which is aimed at helping retail and wholesale, high street and online travel agents and tour operators benefit from the company’s global distribution network. “Our increased investment in the region has helped Prague become a great success story with room nights rising 65 percent in the last three years alone with other cities in the region such as Budapest also benefitting from interest [...],” pointed out John Taker, vice president, hotel sourcing, Europe, GTA.
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ITB BERLIN March 04 – 0 8 www.itb-berlin.de Destinations, tour operators, booking systems, hotels and other suppliers are all present at one of the largest European tourism fairs.
INTERNATIONAL SKI TRAVEL MARKET Davos, Switzerland March 23 – 24, 2015 www.istm.co.uk An exclusive event, bringing together up to 80 European and North American resorts, tourist boards, private sector ski properties and inbound ski travel suppliers.
KAZAKHSTAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM & TRAVEL FAIR (KITF) Almaty, Kazakhstan April 22 – 24, 2015 www.kitf.kz KITF was launched in 2001 and is now a leading travel event for inbound and outbound tourism in Kazakhstan.
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XX NEWS
03 NOVEMBER 2014
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