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25 JANUARY 2015
ISSUE 06
REVPAR FLATTERS TO DECEIVE IN MADRID ONE THIRD OF EUROPEAN BUSINESS TRAVEL BUYERS WILL HAVE MORE MONEY TO SPEND THIS YEAR BASED ON THE RESULTS OF THE ANNUAL BUYER SURVEY COMMISSIONED BY THE BUSINESS TRAVEL SHOW THAT WILL RUN IN LONDON.
06 RECORD TRAVELLER NUMBERS FOR VIKING LINE
10 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE TECHNOLOGY TOURISM BOARDS ACCOMMODATION AIRPORTS AIR RENDEZVOUS AGENTS TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL CHANNELS WHO’S MOVED PHOTO ALBUM NEWS & EVENTS
02 04 12 13 14 17 21 22 24 25 26 27 28
BUSINESS TRAVEL BUDGETS CONTINUE TO RISE
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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
Lisbon Airport Reaches New Passenger Record Lisbon Airport reached the 18 million passenger mark for the year 2014, setting a new annual record, which is two million more than in 2013.
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CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic
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e of th one r ts in g n i o n Be t airp Lisbo es larg Europe, o main w h Sout r t has t and o ? s p y Air runwa expand o t s inue cont
PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou 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 PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprinters Ltd P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprinters.com
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Lisbon
ut of the 30 biggest European airports, Lisbon’s hub had the third highest growth rate of the year at 13.5 percent. Athens came in first at 20.9 percent and Brussels ranked second with 14.8 percent. Turkish Airlines, member of Star Alliance, was one of the companies which contributed the most to the airport’s results. This year, the carrier plans to up the number of flights from Lisbon and Porto to Istanbul, strengthening its focus on Portugal.
Cyprus Airways Halts Operations Following the European Commission’s decision on state aid for the proposed restructuring plan, Cyprus Airways’ board of directors announced the airline’s voluntary liquidation.
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perations were suspended with immediate effect on January 9, after 68 years of services by the national
airline. Under emergency measures contained in the Law on Public Procurement, Top Kinisis Travel was appointed by the government to reticket Cyprus Airways’ passengers and alternative arrangements are being offered to all ticket holders. 25 JANUARY 2015
MARKET UPDATE
Aer Lingus Group Aeroflot Group: Reports December 2014 Double-digit Passenger Results Increase Aer Lingus Group has announced traffic statistics for December 2014, showing an 8.2 percent reduction in short-haul capacity compared to the same month in 2013.
Aeroflot Group handled over 32 million passengers between January and November 2014, up 10.2 percent year-on-year.
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n November 2014 alone, 2.6 million travellers used the company’s services, marking a 9.9 percent rise over the corresponding month in 2013 with revenue passenger kilometres jumping 4.3 percent. On domestic routes, group traffic and revenue passenger kilometres rose 23.6 percent and 22.2 percent respectively in November 2014, while on the international map, traffic and revenue passenger kilometres dropped 2.3 percent and 5.1 percent respectively, mainly due to declines in the charter flight segment, as well as lower frequency on Ukrainian routes.
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his is said to relate to planned network adjustments to protect margins, given seasonal demand conditions. The number of long-haul passengers, however, increased by 20 percent. Overall, the total number of passengers during the month dropped 4.5 percent. Total revenue passenger kilometres increased by more than six percent, while available seat kilometres rose by almost nine percent. Passenger load factor decreased by 1.8 percent.
Aeroflot's onboard services
Ryanair Ends 2014 on a High Note Ryanair has released its December 2014 traffic report, boasting a 20 percent year-on-year increase in the number of customers transported.
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he carrier’s load factor grew by seven percentage points to 88 percent, while the rolling annual traffic rose by six percent to 86.4 million customers. Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer, Ryanair, commented, “With our new routes, increased frequencies, improving customer experience and Business Plus service, Ryanair continues to deliver so much more than the lowest fares, in every market we operate in.” 25 JANUARY 2015
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NEWS TECHNOLOGY
evolution Distribution Has New Website
Air Serbia’s Division Certified for IMS
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Hotelzon Enters Ireland
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volution Distribution unveiled a new web space. The London-based hospitality technology company has also recently partnered with Exclusive Hotels in the UK to implement a new group booking engine concept and has signed a major deal with an iconic hotel yet to be revealed. Both agreements are due for launch later this year. The company is aiming to deliver highquality hotel reservation technologies, including tailor-made solutions to high-end hotels. Its innovative software and services include booking engine technology for individual hotels and groups, global distribution systems connectivity and representation, channel management, call centre reservation systems and a wide range of bespoke solutions.
otelzon is establishing new operations in Ireland, following its recent expansion into Denmark, France and Poland. All Irish operations will be based in Dublin and headed by Adrian Fitzgerald, sales manager, Ireland, Hotelzon. The move comes six months after the company was acquired by Travelport. Niklas Andréen, group vice president, hotel, car and digital media solutions, Travelport, commented, “I believe Hotelzon’s successful expansion into Ireland is invaluable for the continuation of driving the strategic development of both Travelport and Hotelzon. It is an exciting time for us and I look forward to the new opportunities this will bring.”
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ir Serbia Ground Services (ASGS), a division of the Serbian national carrier, announced that it has been certified for its integrated management system (IMS), becoming one of the first companies in the country’s civil aviation sector to hold a certificate for this quality management system. Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, said, “We are proud that ASGS has successfully confirmed the high level of services it offers through this certification process. Air Serbia is focussed on delivering the highest quality of service to its guests. ASGS once again proved that all parts of our organisation strive for the same objectives and that we are on the right path to achieve them.”
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Niklas Andréen
25 JANUARY 2015
NEWS
RevPAR Flatters to Deceive in Madrid and Vienna
Budapest and Munich Hotels Take the Lead
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n November 2014, Madrid hoteliers managed to simultaneously increase occupancy by 0.7 percentage points to 63.6 percent and average room rates (ARR) by 2.5 percent, resulting in a RevPAR growth of 3.7 percent to EUR79.97. On the other hand, properties in Vienna boosted ARR by 2.3 percent at the expense of occupancy which fell 1.3 percentage points, leading to a mere 0.4 percent uplift in RevPAR. Yet, hoteliers in both European capitals experienced disappointment, despite RevPAR growth, since mixed performances in ancillary, non-room revenues resulted in a total RevPAR softening in Madrid and a drop in Vienna.
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Challenging November for Istanbul
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Marienplatz, Munich
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oteliers in Budapest and Munich reported a significant year-on-year surge in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) by 25.1 percent and 52.8 percent respectively, according to the November 2014 data from HotStats. The specific month was a strong one for hotels in the Hungarian capital, with increases in average room rate (ARR) of 10.4 percent and occupancy of 7.2 percentage points, leading to RevPAR growth of 21.9 percent to EUR64.66. Munich forged ahead among other European cities by recording the highest GOPPAR uplift of the month, while the double-digit surge in RevPAR (24.3 percent) was driven by a 19.1 percent boost in ARR and a 3.3 percentage point leap in occupancy.
otels in Istanbul registered negative year-on-year comparisons across all key performance indicators for November 2014. Both occupancy and average room rates (ARR) declined by 2.8 percentage points and 6.7 percent respectively to deliver a RevPAR drop of 10.3 percent. A general decrease in non-room revenues led to a total RevPAR fall of 12.1 percent and departmental operating profit per available room went down by 17.8 percent. Despite overheads per available room remaining virtually flat, payroll climbed by 4.9 percentage points and contributed to a gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) decline of 29.4 percent.
Istanbul
25 JANUARY 2015
NEWS
BUSINESS TRAVEL BUDGETS CONTINUE TO RISE One third of European business travel buyers will have more money to spend this year based on the results of the annual buyer survey commissioned by the Business Travel Show that will run between February 25 – 26 in London.
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lmost half of the buyers expect to manage more trips, with 47 percent of them anticipating their overall costs to rise. Airline pricing was voted as the biggest concern, followed by cost control, compliance, increased hotel rates and safety. As David Chapple, event director, Business Travel Show, noted, the figures are in line with Global Business Travel Association’s predictions that Europe will enjoy a five percent growth in business travel expenses, with buyers, however, still under pressure to spend smarter.
New Tourism Intergroup Formed
Dollar Thrifty Expands in Germany
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ollar Thrifty Automotive Group (DTAG), part of The Hertz Corporation, has kicked off the new year with the opening of 116 additional branches in Germany. The newly introduced airport and downtown locations further strengthen the brand’s existing network in some of the country’s most important destinations, including Berlin, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Cologne, Munich, Dresden and Nuremberg. The launches also mean that car rental customers now benefit from a larger and more modern fleet. Tom Kelley, vice president, Hertz Germany, explained, “So far, we have added over 320 Dollar Thrifty dual-branded locations in Europe, enlarging our DTAG’s global network of more than 1,700 branches, to better cater to our customers’ mobility needs.”
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European Parliament
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he formation of a new intergroup on the subject of tourism by Members of the European Parliament has sparked a positive response from the tourism industry across Europe. A statement signed by the representative organisations of all the major sub-sectors of the European tourism industry represented in the Network for the European Private Sector in Tourism, noted the delightful welcome of the formation of the new intergroup as it recognises the importance of tourism to the wider European community, considering that travel and tourism represents nine percent of Europe’s gross domestic product and 22 million jobs.
25 JANUARY 2015
NEWS Record Traveller Numbers for Viking Line
British Airways Magazine Gets New Look
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he number of passengers who travelled on Viking Line vessels during 2014 was 6,610,146, some 76,496 more than 2013, with the Helsinki – Tallinn route accounting for the largest increase thanks to the expanded services offered in summer 2014. In December 2014, the Finnish shipping company reached another significant milestone since service began in 1959 ,when the total number of passengers passed the 200 million mark. Additionally, cargo volumes continued to increase as the number of cargo units carried during 2014 was boosted by eight percent compared to 2013 and reached 129,255.
Viking Line
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n December 2014, British Airways Business Life inflight magazine received a new look, which is to be followed by a new online content hub, social engagement programme and business destination video this year. The new concept looks at trends and innovation, aiming to help savvy business flyers stay ahead of topics that matter to them, such as business tendencies, talent, technology and the latest happenings in global business hubs. Abigail Comber, head of global marketing, British Airways, said, “We are in the perfect position to add value to [business] customers’ journey by bringing them relevant and engaging business stories from expert journalists.”
Birmingham Predicts Bumper Year for Tourism
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ourism experts at Marketing Birmingham, which promotes the area as a leisure and business tourism destination, expect this to be a bumper year for the region. The city saw record visitor numbers in 2014 with 34 million tourists coming to the area, which included a 10 percent increase in travellers from Brazil, Russia, India and China. Marketing Birmingham expects that with a growing offer and more promotional work planned, this year could be an excellent one for both visitor numbers and spend. Birmingham’s tourism offer has been promoted across Asia, Australia, Europe and North America over the last four years, and the authority has worked closely with local partners, many of which are cultural and heritage attractions, in order to support the area’s growth as a must-visit destination.
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Birmingham
25 JANUARY 2015
NEWS TOURISM BOARDS VisitScotland’s Homecoming Campaign Exceeds All Expectations
Successful Tourism Year for Ireland
Bannockburn Live
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ourism Ireland is estimating to have welcomed about 1.8 million visitors contributing approximately GBP508 million (EUR650.24 million) in revenue to Northern Ireland’s economy in 2014. Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said, “I am pleased to report an increase of five percent in overseas visitor numbers to Northern Ireland, over 2013. It has been a good performance and reflects the sentiment we are hearing from our tourism industry partners.” In December 2014, Tourism Ireland launched its marketing plans to further promote Northern Ireland this year, aiming to welcome almost 1.9 million overseas visitors.
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isitScotland revealed that a record-breaking two million people attended 1,049 Year of Homecoming-themed events across Scotland in 2014, including Bannockburn Live, Glasgow Film Festival, Pertshire Amber, East Neuk Festival and Scotland’s Boat Show. The 2014 Homecoming programme saw many new events taking place, including The European Festival of Brass, The MTV European Music Awards, McLaren 2014 and Pipefest. The shows spanned every local authority area in the country, and the Awareness of the Year of Homecoming reached 83 percent of Scottish Households and over 93 percent of tourism businesses.
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UK Provinces Outpace London’s Profit Growth
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Belfast
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Estonia Joins EUROCONTROL
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London
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hile London hotels witnessed a slight increase in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) in November 2014, UK provinces, however, continued to show more positive year-on-year improvements. Based on the latest HotStats market review, hotels in Eastern UK achieved a combined uplift in occupancy of 3.4 percentage points and in average room rate (ARR) of 7.3 percent, leading to a 12.5 percent rise in RevPAR. Belfast, on the other hand, demonstrated a total RevPAR and GOPPAR improvements of 1.3 percent and 0.5 percent respectively, driven by increases in non-room revenue.
stonia officially became EUROCONTROL’s 41st Member State on January 1. With the accession of Estonia, the European organisation for the safety of air navigation covers all 28 European Union states. Frank Brenner, director general, EUROCONTROL, commented, “Over the last four years, Estonian air traffic increased by 22 percent. Estonia continues to rise to this challenge with a very strong performance and very few delays. That is not only appreciated by the airlines and the passengers but also by EUROCONTROL as the network manager.” Even before becoming a member state, the Baltic country actively participated in the network and has contributed to improve Europe’s air traffic management performance. Over the last six years, 15 airspace design improvement packages have been implemented and two more are planned.
25 JANUARY 2015
ACCOMMODATION NEWS
Autograph Collection Aims for the Heart of Barcelona
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utograph Collection is to welcome a new historical, boutique property to its portfolio with Hotel Cotton House Barcelona, located in a prime position on Barcelona’s Gran Vía. Housed in an iconic 19th century building, formerly the headquarters of the Association of Cotton Manufacturers, the property underwent an extensive restoration and refurbishment to embody the essence of the historic edifice. With 83 luxurious bedrooms, including seven spacious suites, from February 23 the boutique hotel will welcome guests through a covered hall of mirrors, leading them into the octagonal hall with two sweeping staircases. The former public areas of the building, open to all guests, now house a library, a restaurant and cocktail bar, a conservatory and a 300m2 terrace.
25 JANUARY 2015
Sheraton Celebrates Its Tajikistan Debut
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tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has entered Tajikistan with the opening of Sheraton Dushanbe Hotel. Centrally located, the property features 148 rooms, 1,672m2 of meeting facilities and three restaurants. Guests are offered convenient access to the city’s central business district, government offices and embassies, as well as the National Museum of Ancient Art, National Palace, a botanical garden and more. “This landmark opening in Tajikistan highlights the Sheraton brand’s long legacy of reaching new markets first and building meaningful relationships with owners and developers,” said Hoyt Harper, global brand leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, expressing confidence that the hotel will enhance the global appeal of Tajikistan’s capital city.
New Serviced Apartments on London’s Skyline
AC Hotels by Marriott Welcomes First Danish Hotel
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orporate accommodation solutions provider, Skyline Worldwide has launched its latest serviced apartment project, the luxurious 27-storey Altitude E1 by Skyline Worldwide in London’s City district. The introduction of the establishment comes after the launch of Kensington Apartments in West London and reinforces the firm’s development strategy in prime London locations. “The strong partnership between Skyline and its growing client base means that we can pursue a healthy growth strategy and continue to source new prime locations for the serviced and flexible accommodations that our clients demand,” said Sabrina Carparelli, head of sales, Europe, Middle East and Africa, Skyline Worldwide.
arriott International’s lifestyle brand, AC Hotels by Marriott announced its debut in Denmark, welcoming the 812-room AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen. The brand is in for a major global expansion aimed at the lifestyle-oriented business traveller, with recent openings including Istanbul and Valencia. Located just 10 minutes by metro from Copenhagen city centre, AC Hotel Bella Sky Copenhagen features dramatic modern architecture and interiors, spacious guestrooms, ranging from standard rooms to suites, and awe-inspiring views of the city’s skyline. The hotel will be operated by BC Hospitality Group under a franchise agreement and will participate in Marriott Rewards.
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NEWS AIRPORTS Some 55 Million Pass through Schiphol in 2014
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n 2014, a record number of 55 million passengers travelled via Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, representing an increase of 4.6 percent over 2013. Schiphol Group’s regional airports similarly reflected growth, with Eindhoven Airport and Rotterdam The Hague Airport welcoming 3.9 and 1.7 million passengers, respectively. “These figures show that Schiphol Group has achieved growth in all of its operations. […] In collaboration with our home carrier, KLM, other airlines and business partners, we will continue to work hard to strengthen the role of Schiphol as a main port with a view to remaining Europe’s preferred airport. Our regional airports equally play a key role here,” commented Jos Nijhuis, president, Schiphol Group.
Aéroports de Paris and Sodexi Launch New Freight Hub
Brussels Airport Caters to 6.5 Million Passengers
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ssessing 2014’s results, Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) announced that the year has ended on a positive note since 6,440,000 passengers went through it, six percent more than what was initially expected. “At the end of 2013, Ryanair’s announcement to reposition three aircrafts to [Brus-
sels] Airport created havoc. Together with our staff, we worked [...] to best cancel out the impact of this announcement. Our efforts allowed us to not only reduce the expected loss of customers […] but to also generate a better aircraft load factor,” explained JeanJacques Cloquet, CEO, BSCA.
Bristol Airport Boasts New Electric Vehicle Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport
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B Bristol Airport
éroports de Paris and Sodexi, which specialises in express transport operations, put into service a new 7,600m2 express freight warehouse at Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport which will be used to manage and process flows of air freight and mail. Construction of the logistics building was completed in autumn 2014, following an investment of EUR22 million by Sodexi and its shareholders, Air France and Geopost. The new facility can process up to 55,000 tonnes per year from over 160,000 commercial flights, while it combines around 600m2 of offices and a semi-underground car park with 200 spaces, manoeuvring areas and a number of green spaces.
ristol Airport has received a new electric vehicle, Nissan e-NV200, for use by its in-house information technology team. The vehicle is entirely powered by electricity, and will be charged through a newly installed charging socket in front of the airport’s administration building. Also, passengers using electric vehicles to drive to and from the airport can now use two new charging points in the short-stay car park. Melanie King, environment manager, Bristol Airport, commented, “Sustainability is a key focus for us and we are always looking to explore technology which can help us reduce our impact on the local environment.” 25 JANUARY 2015
NEWS AIRPORTS
Copenhagen Airport Celebrates Milestone
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Helsinki Airport Soon to Get a Rail Connection
EU and Non-EU Airports Perform Alike
Record Year at Bristol Airport
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he 25 millionth traveller in 2014 passed through the Danish airport on December 18, 2014, marking yet another milestone in the hub’s 90-year history. As Marie-Louise Lotz, head of passenger services, Copenhagen Airports, noted, the past 90 years have been a wild ride for the capital’s airport: a journey from the beginnings in 1925 as a local airfield with grass runways to one of Northern Europe’s key international transport hubs. Copenhagen Airport is now right on track to surpass the 700 million passenger mark this spring.
his summer, with the opening of the Ring Rail Line, Helsinki Airport will get a train connection to the city’s centre. Ville Haapasaari, director, Helsinki Airport, confirmed that this is one of the hub’s most important service improvements during the past 15 years. “The rail line, and the fact that people can travel all the way to the centre of the Finnish capital by train, will strengthen our status as a world-class airport,” he enthused, adding that the Ring Rail Line will provide a new travel alternative for flight passengers that have easy access to train services.
Copenhagen Airport
Helsinki Airport
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irports Council International (ACI) Europe released its traffic report for November 2014, indicating that passenger traffic at Europe’s airports surged by 5.3 percent. More specifically, growth at hubs in the European Union (EU) reported strong results of 5.3 percent year-on-year, while at non-EU airports, such as in Iceland, Norway, Russia, Switzerland and Turkey, passenger traffic grew by a near identical 5.4 percent. Freight traffic across the European airport network reported a boost of three percent while aircraft movements were up 1.7 percent. “Traffic at EU airports continues to significantly outperform economic growth […] mainly driven by low-cost airline traffic,” explained Olivier Jankovec, director general, ACI Europe.
ristol Airport handled a total of 6.3 million passengers in 2014, representing a 3.45 percent yearon-year surge and surpassing the previous annual record set in 2008. The growth, which occurred for the fifth consecutive year, was achieved without increasing the number of commercial flights, by the introduction of larger aircraft on a number of well-established routes. With services to a raft of new destinations set to commence in the coming months, thanks to easyJet’s new operations, passenger figures are set to continue climbing throughout the year thus the management is committed to further improve the airport’s facilities with work currently underway on an eastern terminal extension as well as the car parks.
25 JANUARY 2015
AIR NEWS Pegasus Expands Its European Network
Wizz Air Serves Geneva from Transylvania
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urkish low-cost carrier, Pegasus Airlines, has celebrated the addition of Lyon, Nice and Milan-Malpensa to its growing network, bringing the total number of its destinations to 89. The carrier is now present in 36 countries. Lyon and Nice flights are scheduled to be launched in March, with the former being offered thrice weekly and the latter five times per week. Flights to Milan, also due to commence in March, will be offered four times per week. All three destinations are to be served from Istanbul’s Sabiha Gokcen Airport.
Transylvania
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airberlin Codeshares with Bulgaria Air
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irberlin and Bulgaria Air now offer codeshare flights on selected routes across Europe. The German carrier has placed its code on its partner’s services from Berlin, Frankfurt and Vienna to Sofia, introducing nonstop options for the first time from Austria to the Bulgarian capital. In turn, Bulgaria Air will also apply its code to a number of flights, resulting in increased domestic operations within Germany. In addition, airberlin’s direct services from Berlin to Copenhagen, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Helsinki will also fly with the Bulgarian airline’s code and passengers from Sofia are also able to avail of long-haul connections to Chicago, New York and Abu Dhabi, among others.
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n addition to the three weekly departures from Geneva Airport to the Romanian capital, Bucharest, Wizz Air has also recently launched new services to ClujNapoca in Transylvania, flying to the city two times per week. The crew celebrated the first flight to Transylvania by showing vampire teeth when welcoming passengers.
Flybe Adds to Summer Schedule
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irmingham passengers will be able to fly direct to Deauville for the first time this summer, with Flybe having added this third new French route to its summer schedule. The thrice-weekly service will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays between June 22 – September 26. Flybe will operate 26 routes from Birmingham during summer, with a total of 339 flights a week including two other new French summer routes to Bastia on the northern tip of the French island of Corsica and to Biarritz.
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NEWS AIR
Air France-KLM Witnesses Steady Load Factor
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fter completing the year, Air France-KLM announced that in December 2014, the airline carried a total of 6.2 million passengers. At the same time, and while the company’s long-haul routes displayed a minor decline of 0.9 percent, short-haul itineraries were boosted by 1.3 percent. The load factor was the metric which indicated the most positive results, having climbed to 83 percent overall for the specific month. Air France-KLM witnessed a decline in cargo traffic with a 4.2 drop in December 2014.
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Germania to Fly to Tehran
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erlin-based carrier, Germania, is further expanding its global reach with the launch of scheduled services to Tehran. Starting February 22, the airline will offer twice-weekly flights between Berlin Schönefeld Airport and the Iranian capital on Wednesdays and Sundays. The German carrier also operates to Mashhad, as well as other key business and leisure destinations in the region, including Beirut, Erbil, Sulaymaniyah, Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam.
Air Lituanica to Accelerate Growth
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ollowing a steady growth since its inception in 2013, Air Lituanica has launched a new route connecting Vilnius and Stockholm Bromma Airport in January. “Convenient morning and evening flights to the central airport of the Swedish capital city are firstly intended for frequent business passengers,” stated Simonas Bartkus, chief commercial officer, Air Lituanica. In light of the above, the carrier expects to carry over 200,000 passengers this year; roughly 50 percent more than the 132,000 transported in 2014.
Chisinau and Moscow Connected
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ir Moldova launched services between Chisinau and Moscow’s Sheremetyevo International Airport. Using an Airbus A320, the national airline offers four weekly flights. The route further enhances the Russian hub’s potential and network expansion programme. Air Moldova currently operates to 23 destinations from Chisinau International Airport, including Athens, Antalya, Bucharest, Bologna, Frankfurt, Istanbul, Larnaca, Lisbon, London, Madrid, Paris and Sochi, among others.
25 JANUARY 2015
AIR NEWS Flybe Strengthens Cooperation with Cathay Pacific Airways
Hahn Air Deepens Ties with Jet Asia Airways
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Blue Air Extends Online Check-in
Amsterdam Schiphol Airport
lybe has recently celebrated the extension of its new codeshare agreement with the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, now offering seamless connections through Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Paris-Charles de Gaulle, in addition to those through Manchester. Passengers flying onwards through the French capital can now connect from Birmingham, Exeter and Manchester, while those using Amsterdam as their gateway can connect from Birmingham and Southampton. Established in 1946, Cathay Pacific Airways serves more than 90 destinations in some 35 countries across Asia, Europe, North America and the Middle East.
erman carrier, Hahn Air, has recently announced an expansion of its cooperation with Jet Asia Airways from Thailand. The Thai airline, which is already available under Hahn Air Systems’ H1 two letter code, can now be issued under its designator JF on HR-169 tickets by over 95,000 travel agencies worldwide. Founded in 2009, Jet Asia Airways is a regional airline offering scheduled services between Bangkok and Tokyo and is based at Suvarnabhumi International Airport.
Norwegian: 24 Million Passengers in 2014
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orwegian registered its highest-ever passenger figures in a single year with almost 24 million travellers in 2014, an increase of three million compared to 2013. The record-breaking number means that since its inaugural flight in 2002, 130 million passengers have flown with the carrier. As a result of increased demand, load factor for 2014 reached 81 percent versus 78 percent in 2013 as the airline continued to renew its fleet and expand its global reach with new routes. As Bjorn Kjos, CEO, Norwegian, pinpointed, the UK, the US and Spain are examples of markets with large customer volumes where growth boosts future competitiveness, which in turn secures jobs at Norwegian.
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ishing to meet passengers’ needs, Blue Air is extending the availability of its online check-in facility. As of January 9, the online service is available 30 days before the flight, so that passengers have more time available for their travel plans, while they can check-in up to four hours before departure. The service is available for flights leaving from Bacău, Barcelona, Brussels, Bucharest, Catania, Cologne, Larnaca, Madrid, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Nice, Paris, Rome, Sibiu, Turin Caselle, Turin Cuneo and Valencia. For all other flights of the Romanian carrier, the check-in procedure can be completed at the airport before departure, free of charge.
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NEWS AIR Wizz Air Links Larnaca and Katowice
Vueling: Paying with Cell Phones
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s part of the airline’s network development in Poland, Wizz Air plans to launch direct services between Katowice and Larnaca. Starting June 26, the low-cost carrier will operate two weekly flights between the coastal destination and the southern Polish city on Wednesdays and Sundays. The new route is part of Wizz Air’s Polish growth strategy which also includes additional services between Warsaw and Stavanger and from Katowice to Bristol and Bologna. In addition, starting June 26 and June 27 respectively, the airline will also offer more flights on two Gdansk routes to Trondheim, increasing to three weekly services, and London Luton, operating three times per day.
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ueling has implemented contactless systems for paying with cell phones, as it has deployed two revolutionary systems on its app to enable users to automatically enter their personal and credit card data during the purchase process. The near field communication system reads and transmits wireless data and needs a contactless credit card and a terminal enabled for its use. In addition, the scanning system only requires a camera phone to photograph the credit card. The system extracts the necessary data from the photo and transmits it automatically to the app. Samuel Lacarta, chief, information technology, Vueling, commented, “We have to take advantage of the speed of technological advances to enable the customer to worry only about when and where to fly.”
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AZAL Welcomes Dreamliner
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zerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) enlarged its fleet with a new Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The national carrier’s new aircraft features 18 seats in business class, 35 in premium economy and 157 in economy class. Due to a variety of advanced technologies, passengers who will travel on the Dreamliner will be able to enjoy all its benefits in the form of increased comfort which is achieved by adjusting the humidity and air pressure in the passenger cabin, as well as by the use of antiallergenic materials in the coating of the passenger seats.
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eroflot Group’s low-cost subsidiary, Pobeda has launched daily flights between Moscow and Makhachkala, as of January 15. The destination became the 12th Russian city on the carrier’s road map and is served from Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport. Pobeda provides flights from Moscow to Volgograd, Samara, Yekaterinburg, Perm, Tyumen, Belgorod, Surgut, Vladikavkaz, Chelyabinsk, Sochi and Mineralnye Vody.
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Makhachkala
Pobeda Serves Makhachkala
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RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How many visitors did England receive in 2014 and how many are forecasted to visit the country this year? JAMES BERRESFORD: Early indications are that demand is softening although trends remain strong going forward. We are optimistic that an exceptional number of high-profile events and anniversaries will have a positive impact on tourist figures this year. We expect the Rugby World Cup 2015 and other significant occasions like the 800 year anniversary of the Magna Carta, the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s’ death and the America’s Cup World Series in Portsmouth this July to generate a significant amount for the economy.
Q & A with
James Berresford CEO, VISITENGLAND
TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How many of the inbound travellers hailed from Europe and which are the most important European feeder markets for the country? JAMES BERRESFORD: Our latest full annual figures show that just over 28.6 million inbound visitors came to England in 2013 and a number of them hailed from Europe. France, Germany and Ireland are currently the most important feeder markets for English tourism but Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, Poland and Belgium also feature in the our top 10 markets for inbound visitors to England annually. VisitBritain’s current forecast is that 57 percent of visits to the UK will come from top European cities this year. VisitBritain figures on visitors from the rest of Europe also show a 13 percent rise to the UK between January – November 2014, but we have seen a marginal decline amongst nonEuropean countries. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: This year, running between March 14 – 22, the English Tourism Week (ETW) kick starts the tourism season. What initiatives are planned for this year’s ETW? JAMES BERRESFORD: With H.R.H. Prince of Wales as a patron, ETW is now in its fourth year and is now one of the key events in the tourism calendar. We will use this year’s ETW to demonstrate how tourism is a key driver for the economy, jobs and Brits' quality of life amongst key decision-makers at a national and local level through a number of different initiatives which 25 JANUARY 2015
high-quality facilities and infrastructure for visitors – and it will also give them an opportunity to pull pints and serve ice creams in their local communities. We are also hosting a Parliamentary Reception with The Tourism Alliance in Westminster looking at how government can help English tourism grow. We will be holding our first Access for All Conference in partnership with the award-winning Sandcastle Waterpark in Blackpool on March 18. Aimed at the tourist industry, this free event will help operators improve their facilities and services for disabled people and others with accessibility needs – a market now worth GBP12.4 billion (EUR16.2 billion) to England’s tourism industry. We will also be asking tourist organisations across the country to emulate VisitKent who organises a Big Weekend during the weekends before and after ETW. […] Finally, we have launched a new TV advertising campaign starring Shaun the Sheep promoting holidays at home. The aim of this campaign is to support tourist businesses who want to grow and make the most of the expected growth in domestic tourism. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: VisitEngland expects that sport and history will influence the MICE industry this year. How important is the business tourism sector for the country?
WITH THE ENGLISH TOURISM WEEK COMING UP, JAMES BERRESFORD, CEO, VISITENGLAND, REVEALS WHAT THE COUNTRY HAS IN STOCK FOR THIS YEAR’S VISITORS, AMONGST WHICH ARE THE BUSINESS TOURISTS WHO ACCOUNT FOR AN ESTIMATED OVERALL SPEND OF EUR43 BILLION PER YEAR IN THE UK. include the following: our Tourism Superstar campaign […] has run for the last three years and has been incredibly successful. We have already shortlisted a broad selection of candidates who have demonstrated an impressive commitment to their roles in tourism across England – our shortlist includes a doorman at The Lowry Hotel in Manchester, the head falconer at Leeds Castle and a publican in London. During ETW we will be announcing the winner of this year’s
competition. We are leading a national member of parliament (MP) and trade engagement programme which is aimed at encouraging business owners in the tourist trade to invite their local MPs to their businesses and/or visitor attractions. Our hope is that inviting MPs to visit tourist trades in their constituencies will help them and the public better understand the value of tourism to the economy and the importance of investing in
JAMES BERRESFORD: Business tourism plays a pivotal role in driving the country’s economy. Business events' spend in the UK is estimated at GBP33.3 billion (EUR43.1 billion) per year and England currently captures 90 percent of all business visitors spend to the UK. Business tourism is also on the rise. In the third quarter of 2013, we saw an 11 percent increase in business visits from overseas to the UK. Ernst & Young research estimates that rugby will generate GBP2.2 billion (EUR2.8 billion) for the UK economy alone. And much of that will be spent in the tourism sector creating growth and jobs across the country where matches are played. As well as sport, this is a busy year for heritage and we are already working hard with host cities to help them engage with tourist industry partners so that they have the market insight and support to make the most of any sporting and heritage milestones happening this year.
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NEWS AGENTS George Clooney Effect Boosts Overseas Wedding Business
TUI Travel: Another Record Year
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ver the past years, overseas weddings have become a blooming business with Kuoni Travel reporting a 20 percent increase in enquiries in nuptials in Italy since movie star, George Clooney tied the knot in Venice in September 2014. As the company’s first wedding and honeymoon report pinpoints, honeymoon types have also changed as today’s couples are increasingly well-travelled. The average spend on a honeymoon with Kuoni travel is at an all-time high at GBP5,743 (EUR7,362) per booking, up from GBP4,548 (EUR5,830) five years ago. Since 1999, the Maldives has been the top honeymoon destination; the UAE, however, has risen steadily since 2004 through the ranks to the second place with Indonesia and Mexico being new entries in the top 10.
ABTA Welcomes 13 New Members
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he Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) accepted 13 new members, one trading as a retailer, eight as principals and four as dual members. Among those who joined the organisation between October – December 2014 were Universal Travel House, JTB Europe, Water by Nature Rafting Journeys, The Global Work & Travel, Capristar, Uniworld River Cruises, European Travel Ventures, Morgan Travel, Thai Healthy Me, Munro’s Travel, Naturetrek, Berkley Travel and Egypt Tourism Bureau. As Mark Tanzer, CEO, ABTA, noted, the new partners join at an exciting time for the association with the recent launch of the new Travel with Confidence strapline, which is expected to bring added benefits for the members.
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UI Travel has delivered yet another record year with underlying operation profit rising four percent to GBP612 million (EUR785 million) or by 11 percent on a constant currency basis to GBP654 million (EUR838 million) in 2014. Friedrich Joussen, non-executive chairman, TUI Travel, expressed confidence that the recent merger of TUI Travel and TUI AG will bear strong results for both businesses. “The combined group will achieve further sustainable growth at a faster rate, delivering more value to both shareholders and customers,” added Joussen.
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ETOA and UKinbound Join Forces
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he European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) has formed a partnership with UKinbound to cooperate on the promotion of the country’s offering to international markets. UKinbound promotes tourism into the UK, representing over 300 tourism businesses including tourist boards, hotels and attractions. The deal will open business development opportunities to UK tourism businesses, exposing UKinbound’s members to ETOA’s network of international tourism buyers during the UK- and Ireland-focussed workshop, March Marketplace, to be held by the association.
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AGENTS NEWS
Thomas Cook and Brussels Airlines Intensify Partnership
New Winter Destinations from the UK Revealed for 2015/16
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homas Cook and Brussels Airlines have expanded their strategic cooperation. This year, both companies will operate even more holiday flights together. “In 2014, Brussels Airlines operated 654 flights for Thomas Cook; this year that amount will increase to 824. Next to these chartered flights, we have also decided to book seats for our clients on several scheduled Brussels Airlines flights. Thanks to this cooperation, Thomas Cook clients have a choice between more flight days, making their travel plans more flexible,” explained Jan Dekeyser, chief commercial officer, Thomas Cook. Brussels Airlines will launch Ibiza this summer as its 11th new destination for the year, with the support of Thomas Cook.
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homson and First Choice revealed plans to increase capacity across regional airports for the winter 2015/2016 season, as well as on a number of new routes, including the first Boeing Dreamliner flight from London Stansted Airport to Montego Bay, Jamaica; a new link to Costa Rica from Gatwick Airport plus an additional flight to Goa; new routes to Gran Canaria from Aberdeen and Edinburgh; additional services to Cancun from Birmingham and Lanzarote from Cardiff; and new links to Cape Verde, Hurghada and Paphos.
TUI Travel’s Accommodation & Destinations Changes Name
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ollowing the merger of TUI Travel and TUI AG, TUI Travel Accommodation & Destinations announced that it will be renamed to Hotelbeds Group, a move that recognises the growth of the Hotelbeds brand. The renamed subsidiary recently presented its full-year results, announcing a boost in sales by 10 percent, for the year ending September 30, 2014. Among Hotelbeds Group's other brands are Destination Services, Activities, Laterooms.com, Intercruises and Roiback.
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ETOA Enters the Year with New Visual Identity
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uropean Tour Operators Association (ETOA) has unveiled a new logo and brand to reflect its leading role within the industry and its spirit of cooperation. Martine Ainsworth-Wells, director of marketing and commerce, ETOA, commented, “We have created a refreshed identity that is modern, bright and fit for purpose in the digital era. It offers an added visual illusion to viewers: is the graphic devise a compass, the sun or a star? All are travel-related icons and as such, the device is whatever the viewer wants it to be. This truly reflects our organisation’s flexibility, diverse offer and ability to serve our members’ needs now and in the future to ensure their economic well-being and that of Europe.”
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TRAVEL TALK
NICK WAIGHT CEO, The Convention Centre Dublin
We have built a solid reputation for exceptional events
We are adapting by expanding across Europe
“Since opening in 2010, we have built a solid reputation for exceptional events, delivered in an iconic, flexible venue, in the highly attractive and accessible city of Dublin. We are particularly delighted that this success is being actively endorsed by our clients, with 36 percent of these recent events comprising repeat clients, returning to host annual events at The Convention Centre Dublin.”
“The nature of travel is changing with people increasingly making impromptu journeys using multiple modes of transport. We are adapting by expanding across Europe, giving customers more choices and greater access to vehicles where it is most convenient. Madrid’s Puerta de Atocha location, one of our newest branches, is a prime example as it offers passengers the freedom to rent cars as soon as they get off the train, in the heart of one of Europe’s most inspiring cities.”
MICHEL TARIDE Group president, Hertz International
We are delighted Thomson and First Choice have chosen Bristol Airport
The inclusion of the Smithwicks Experience in Lonely Planet’s latest hot attractions list is really good news
NIALL GIBBONS CEO, Tourism Ireland
“The inclusion of the Smithwicks Experience in Lonely Planet’s latest hot attractions list is really good news and will surely help to inspire travellers everywhere to put Kilkenny and the southeast on their holiday wish list for the year. It also gives Tourism Ireland another wonderful hook to continue to promote Kilkenny and Ireland around the world as a must visit destination.”
SHAUN BROWNE Aviation director, Bristol Airport
“We are delighted Thomson and First Choice have chosen Bristol Airport to offer these exciting new destinations [to many regional airports], building on their strong existing programme. This is great news for holidaymakers across the West of England, for whom the combination of exotic new destinations and improved flight options to popular favourites is sure to be a winner.”
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 Search for Future Aviation Professionals
Ryanair: 91 Percent On-time Performance Despite unfavourable weather conditions, 91 percent of more than 39,000 Ryanair flights landed on-time in November 2014.
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uring the month under review, the low-cost airline carried a total of 6.3 million passengers, who, as Robin Kiely, head of communications, Ryanair, noted, enjoyed improved customer services. As a result of the carrier’s endeavours to ensure an enhanced travel experience, less than one complaint per 1,000 passengers was posted and only less than one bag complaint per 2,000 travellers. To maintain customer satisfaction, 99 percent of these have been answered within seven days.
Lufthansa Offers Helicopter Services
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he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) welcomed over 300 experts and students for the Second Next Generation of Aviation Professionals (NGAP) Symposium in Montreal. The NGAP initiative is aimed at ensuring that enough qualified aviation specialists are available to maintain the future international air transport system. “The shortage of pilots, air traffic controllers, engineers and mechanics we are facing around the world, as well as the need to accelerate training and certification […], are key areas where ICAO’s leadership and action will be instrumental to the future viability and sustainability of our global network,” stressed Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, council president, ICAO.
UNWTO Conference on Accessible Tourism
A Lufthansa Helicopter
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ki enthusiasts now have better access to the ski slopes in Germany, Austria and Switzerland thanks to Lufthansa’s new helicopter service. Departing from Munich, passengers can easily travel to GarmischPartenkirchen, Zillertal, Kitzbühel, SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser-Brixental or other resorts in the Alps – as long as there is a helipad on site. In Munich, Lufthansa customers will be collected directly from their aircraft and looked after by Munich Airport’s VIP service. The helicopter rides will operate until the end of April.
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chieving universal accessibility throughout the tourism value chain is the main call of action of the San Marino Declaration of Accessible Tourism, which was adopted at the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s first Conference on Accessible Tourism in Europe. The conference addressed how to advance quality, sustainability and competitiveness in accessible tourism, with a special focus on cultural heritage and the use of smart technologies. An important note made during the event was that increased accessibility benefits people with disabilities and special needs, while entailing significant economic opportunities for the sector. Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO, stressed, “People with disabilities and special needs should be able to actively take part in tourism just as any other traveller. Great strides have been made to advance universal accessibility, particularly in Europe, but there are still many opportunities to be seized.”
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WHO’S MOVED
CAROL ANNE O’NEILL
JAMES PARTRIDGE
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Carol Anne O’Neill has been named Ryanair’s new head of sales and marketing. O’Neill, who will be taking on her new role on January 26, joins the carrier from TUI Travel’s Falcon Holidays and Thomson, where she served as head of Ireland. Having previously worked for XL Airways and Wings Abroad, O’Neill has 28 years of experience in the travel industry, a key asset to Ryanair, which continues to roll out its Always Getting Better customer experience improvement programme. In her new position with the low-cost carrier, she will head the company’s sales and marketing team and will also be in charge of overseeing the airline’s activities across 30 countries in Europe and North Africa.
James Partridge has joined the team of Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living, London, as director of sales and marketing, where he will work on further developing the sales and marketing strategy for the luxury accommodation concept. With a proven sales track record, Partridge moves to Jumeirah Group from Dorchester Collection. In his previous post, he was responsible for managing a 35-strong sales and event planning team for three UK properties. His work experience includes positions such as opening general manager at Montpellier Chapter Hotel, Cheltenham; general manager at York & Albany Hotel; and roles at Maybourne Hotel Group, culminating in a two-year stint as house manager at Claridge’s, London.
CHRISTOF SPÄTH
Christof Späth has been appointed CEO of TAG Aviation Europe. Having served in various senior management positions at SR Technics, Jet Aviation, RUAG Aviation, General Electric and BMW Rolls-Royce, Späth has extensive experience and a proven track record in the aviation industry. Based in the company’s head office in Geneva, he will assume the executive responsibility and the overall leadership role for TAG Aviation’s European business units. Späth succeeds Rob Welsh, who will remain an adviser to the board of directors and a board member of TAG Aviation Asia.
Späth has a proven track record in the aviation industry
MARYAM BANIKARIM
Maryam Banikarim is relocating to Chicago to work as Hyatt’s new global chief marketing officer. Her energy, creativity and focus on people, along with her passion for innovation and proven track record, will be essential in driving the company’s individual brands and the experience, both online and offline. Over the past 20 years, her achievements have been widely recognised. Most recently, she served as the firstever chief marketing officer at Gannett Company and prior to that she was senior vice president at NBC Universal and chief marketing officer at Univision Communications. During her career, she also founded a strategy firm, consulting for world renowned companies.
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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...
Maritim Hotel Frankfurt trainees organised an evening for their friends and relatives
Cunard Line's Queen Mary 2 set of for its 2015 World Voyage
Wizz Air's crew celebrated its first flight to Transylvania by showing vampire teeth
Stefan Lindfors made Helsinki Airport a stage for introducing Finland to passengers waiting for their luggage
Tennis superstar Serena Williams recently stopped by Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile to mingle with LeClub Accorhotels members over afternoon tea
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS Sustainable Tourism Quiz Revamped
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o Greener Holidays, an introductory level training quiz for those wanting to learn more or refresh their knowledge on sustainable tourism, has recently had a makeover. The new quiz is aiming to be more practical, including links to current research and case studies, while it reflects today's consumer expectations, where businesses and staff need to understand the supply chain for the products that they are selling. The messages sent forward is that any type of holiday can be eco-friendly and it is now much easier to identify products that are greener.
Lithuania Hosts ADVENTUR 2015
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ithuania recently hosted Get Ready to Travel! ADVENTUR 2015, the country’s only international tourism, travel and active leisure exhibition, which took place from January 23 - 25 at Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre. The show was spread across three halls, focussing on the themes: Discover the World, Get to Know
Lithuania and Proactive Leisure. The focal point of this year’s exhibition was responsible travel planning, and it showcased a range of services spanning tours for pupils and students, family travel, special occasion options, and more. Onsite events included The World Nations Fair, Travel Photography and others.
New Exhibitions at Reykjavik Art Museum
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Reykjavik Art Museum
ix new exhibitions featuring works by around 100 artists have opened or will open in the coming months at Reykjavik Art Museum’s three different buildings, Hafnarhús, Kjarvalsstaðir and Ásmundarsafn. Kjarvalsstaðir presents Einar Hakonson’s Pulse of Time, as well as the exhibition Poetic Colour Palette by the Kjarval Collection. Hafnarhús opened Cory Arcangel’s display All the Small Things, and Reykjavík Art Museum gives an overview of painting in Iceland today through the exhibitions Just Painted I and II which will be opened at Hafnarhús and Kjarvalsstaðir in February and March. Lastly, the new exhibition in Ásmundarsafn commemorates the centenary of Icelandic women gaining the right to vote, under a royal decree of June 19, 1915.
EVENTS ALPE-ADRIA: TOURISM AND LEISURE SHOW Ljubljana, Slovenia January 28 – 31 alpeadria-tourismshow.com A leading tourism event in the Alps–Adriatic region showcasing products of interest to active break addicts and excursionists.
FITUR Madrid, Spain January 28 – February 1 www.ifema.es A global meeting point for tourism professionals for the Ibero-American markets.
ENTER 2015 Lugano, Switzerland February 3 – 6 www.enter2015.org A forum to actively discuss research on the application of information and communication technologies, to travel and tourism.
ExploreGB Berkshire, UK February 25 – 26 www.exploregb.org VisitBritain’s brand new flagship event targeting UK and Irish tourism suppliers and destinations.
Cologne under the Spotlight
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n exhibition entitled Cologne 1914, Major city in the West is on in the German city until April 19. Three venues in the city, Cologne City Museum, the MAKK Museum of Applied Art and the Stiftung Rheinisch-Westfälisches Wirtschaftsarchiv, will each be presenting one part of the exhibition, which explores Cologne’s importance in 1914 and the impact of the First World War on the city. The destination is also famous for perfumes thanks to Johann Maria Farina, who created his eau de cologne in 1708 and left behind Farina House, one of the world’s oldest working perfumeries, which now also houses a fragrance museum.
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ITB Berlin March 4 – 8 www.itb-berlin.de Destinations, tour operators, booking systems, carriers, hotels and other suppliers are all present at one of the largest European tourism fairs.
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