Travel Trade Europe Issue 4 by Travel Trade Publications

AGENTS!... ...A new hotel booking system has arrived!

25 DECEMBER 2014

ISSUE 04

ENGLISH MICE BUSINESS EVOLVES IN 2015 BOTH MILAN AND PRAGUE ACHIEVED IMPRESSIVE YEAR-ONYEAR SURGES IN GROSS OPERATING PROFIT PER AVAILABLE ROOM BY 37.5 PERCENT AND 22.6 PERCENT RESPECTIVELY, ACCORDING TO THE LATEST DATA FROM HOTSTATS.

09 INTERVIEW WITH MIGUEL GALLEGO

21 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE CRUISING TOURISM BOARDS ACCOMMODATION AIRPORTS AIR RENDEZVOUS AGENTS TRAVEL TALK TRAVEL CHANNELS WHO’S MOVED PHOTO ALBUM NEWS & EVENTS

02 04 09 12 15 17 21 23 24 25 26 27 28

POSITIVE AUTUMN RESULTS FOR MILAN AND PRAGUE

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic

airberlin Reports Steady Business Growth

Aeroflot: 17.8 Million Passengers in Nine Months

airberlin transported 3,056,987 passengers in October, marking a solid 1.5 percent increase in comparison with the same month in 2013.

Russian airline, Aeroflot, announced that passenger traffic in September totalled 2.15 million, a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase.

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou

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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

LOT’s Dreamliners Carry Half a Million

EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft in LOT Polish Airlines’ fleet have already carried half a million travellers.

EXCHANGE RATES

Accurate as of

18/12/2014 COUNTRY

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1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.23

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.78

Switzerland (CHF)

Franc

1.20

Japan (JPY)

Yen

146.05

uring the same month, load factor decreased by 1.4 percentage points to 81.3 percent. According to the airline, this was mainly due to a decline in the specific metric on routes to Southeast Asia, as the company increased capacity to the region. Traveller movements in the first nine months of the year grew 13.4 percent year-on-year to reach 17.83 million. During the nine-month period, the airline significantly expanded its fleet, with 13 new Airbus A320s, three Boeing 737-800 and six Boeing 777-300ERs.

evenue passenger kilometres within its global flight network for the month grew by almost two percent year-on-year to reach 4.62 billion kilometres, while available seat kilometres (ASK) stood at 5.5 billion – 2.6 percent more than in September 2013. During the first 10 months of the year, the carrier saw 27.89 million passengers, 0.7 percent more than during the same period in 2013. ASK amounted to 50.89 billion kilometres, and RPK reached 42.8 billion kilometres.

“B

oeing 787 is an exceptionally comfortable aircraft that is appreciated by travellers especially on long-haul flights, such as the one to New York. It is because of the opportunity to fly in those jets and experience the highest onboard service standard that more and more customers choose LOT,” said Sebastian Mikosz, CEO, LOT Polish Airlines. He added that the airline has been carrying much more passengers than in 2013 on long-haul flights in all classes. 25 DECEMBER 2014

MARKET UPDATE

Solid Profitability for AEGEAN Airlines AEGEAN Airlines reported strong nine-month results, driven by network expansion and Olympic Air synergies.

he carrier’s consolidated revenue increased 10 percent to EUR736 million, pre-tax earnings improved to EUR105.4 million and net earnings rose 31 percent. Regarding passenger traffic, until September 30, ΑEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air carried 7.9 million people - an increase of 14 percent compared to 2013’s corresponding period, and load factor reached 79 percent. Traffic in the domestic and international network jumped 16 and 12 percent respectively, with demand out of Athens registering a higher growth rate of 18 percent.

25 DECEMBER 2014

UK’s Hotels Show Profits in All Regions Once again the UK provinces led the way to profit growth according to the latest data from HotStats.

uring the month of October, there was positive year-on-year movement in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR). Yorkshire and Humberside hoteliers experienced a 10 percent increase in this metric while London hoteliers registered a decline. The two regions recorded improvements in occupancy of 2.9 percentage points to 79.7 percent and in average room rate (ARR) of 5.6 percent. Negative performances were recorded in ancillary departments and total RevPAR levels were softened to a growth of 4.8 percent.

NEWS CRUISING kno u o y d i D

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Holland America Boosts Presence in the Mediterranean

olland America Line’s ms Koningsdam is set to sail to the Mediterranean on a seven-day Premiere Voyage in February 2016 and continue on a series of 12-day Premiere Sailings through early May 2016. Following its repositioning to Civitavecchia in early 2016,

the 2,650-guest ship will depart to Dubrovnik, Corfu, Katakolon and Naples, while the first itinerary will call at the ports of Katakolon, Piraeus, Rhodes and Crete in Greece, Istanbul and Kusadasi in Turkey, and Naples. The other voyages will visit various stations in Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, Gibraltar and Spain.

MSC Cruises and Air France Join Forces

Casa De Campo, La Romana, Dominican Republic

SC Cruises strengthened its cooperation with Air France through a new deal for 18 scheduled rotations between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and La Romana Airport Casa de Campo in the Dominican Republic, between December 7 – April 5, 2015. The new services, dedicated to cruise passengers, will be operated by a Boeing 747-400, offering 432 seats in a two-class configuration. Travellers are to enjoy dedicated check-in counters upon departure from Paris, and pre-flights are arranged for those coming from other regions of France and Europe. Gianni Onorato, CEO, MSC Cruises, commented, “This agreement allows us to reinforce and consolidate our development in the Caribbean and generally in the French market.”

25 DECEMBER 2014

NEWS

lga Kefalogianni, tourism minister, Greece, was speaking at a workshop held in Thessaloniki and referred to the great potential the country holds for medical tourism. She emphasised that this specific niche market is a big bet as well as a huge opportunity that, however, needs time to bear fruits. “The first medical tourists will be those who already know Greece as a tourism destination. The term ’medical tourism’ will distinguish Greece amongst its competitors. For the Greek tourism industry, the benefits will derive from the patients who will spread the word after their own experiences,” Kefalogianni concluded.

New Mall Changes Bratislava’s Shopping Habits

n November, a new shopping and entertainment centre opened its doors in Bratislava. The EUR150 million Bory Mall is located at the north-western part of the city and features 196 shops, restaurants and cafés. Spreading over 54,000m2, the commercial centre brings along a modern concept aimed at families as it offers a mix of shopping, amusement and service facilities. The specific area of the Slovak capital lacked this kind of offering, therefore the mall is set to significantly simplify the life of people at the suburbs of Bratislava, confirmed Milan Klégr, manager, Bory Mall. Additionally, the new centre features 2,400 parking spaces, while the newly-introduced shuttle buses catering to the mall’s visitors will soon be enhanced.

Bory Mall

Good Potential for Greek Medical Tourism

Limassol: Europe’s Top Rising Destination

T Limassol Marina

he Cypriot coastal city of Limassol has been voted as Europe’s top rising destination by the TripAdvisor community. The rapidly-developing destination, which has recently unveiled its luxurious marina project, stole the spotlight from Bodrum and Kazan, which ranked as second and third respectively, on the

website’s Destinations on the Rise list which was compiled based on positive feedback and increased interest. The top 10 also included Cadiz, Minsk, Giardini Naxos and Salerno, Karlovy Vary, Bonifacio and Potsdam. On the global scene, the Vietnamese city of Da Nang ranked first, followed by Sihanoukville, Cambodia and Limassol.

A Berlin Legend Reborn as Hotel Zoo Opens

A Hotel Zoo

mid the revitalisation of Berlin’s City West, the iconic Hotel Zoo has been reinvented. With 145 rooms and suites, a rooftop terrace, a light-flooded living room, a winter garden and the intimate Grace Bar, the property becomes Design Hotels’ fifth member in the German capital. Those entering the doors of Hotel Zoo are welcomed onto a jade-coloured carpet with black and white crouching leopards woven into it. The 22m catwalk runs the length of the entrance and leads guests to a floating reception. 25 DECEMBER 2014

NEWS

European Cycling Challenge Returns

ologna is inviting citizens from other European cities to take part in the fourth edition of the European Cycling Challenge which will run throughout May 2015 and will see cyclists tracking the distance they have covered by bicycle during the month. The total distance in each city will then be added up and compared, and the city with the most active citizens will be crowned winner. This year, 32 European cities took part with 17,000 cyclists covering more than a million kilometres, saving around 180 tonnes of CO2.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car Heads into the Baltics

nterprise Rent-A-Car has appointed Bioline as its franchise partner in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Bioline already has branches at the major airports of Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius and plans to develop its network across the three countries. Following on from the deal, a phased roll-out will see the Enterprise Rent-A-Car brand appear at Baltic locations, alongside an integration programme designed to bring the businesses closer together. Peter Smith, vice president, global franchising, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, commented, “This is the beginning of what we hope will be a long-term relationship to serve customers in these important countries.”

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Eurostar Connects London and Geneva

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Eurostar

ravellers can now reach Geneva from London in just over six hours with Eurostar’s new service. The newly-introduced year-round route, offered three times a week, is operated with the international high-speed train service TGV Lyria via Lille and will shortly be followed by the refurbishment of the Lille Europe station, significantly increasing its capacity. Recent Eurostar customer research revealed the Swiss city as one of the most desirable destinations for UK customers and travelling by high-speed rail offers an attractive alternative to flying, pinpointed Nick Mercer, commercial director, Eurostar.

25 DECEMBER 2014

TOURISM BOARDS NEWS English MICE Business Evolves in 2015

n line with VisitEnglandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s prediction that sport, history and energy concerns will influence the MICE industry in 2015, the country will welcome several venues, including a new Velodrome in Derby, a multi-purpose facility called Magic Garden at the Hampton Court Palace, an 18th century prison in the Cotswolds which will be available for events, and a new semi-

nar building at Robinson College. Birmingham will unveil Resorts World, complete with The Vox Conference Centre and a casino, while Manchester will welcome HOME, a versatile cultural centre. Low Wood Bay Resort in the Lake District also plans to introduce a technology to use lake energy to power a convention and exhibition centre.

Connecting Canada and Ireland

ive Irish tourism companies joined Tourism Ireland in Canada for a sales event titled Connect Canada II, targeting 60 top travel agents, as well as 20 travel and lifestyle media representatives, based in Calgary, Edmonton and Vancouver. The four-day blitz provided Tourism Ireland and the Irish tourism companies with a valuable opportunity to network and position the country as a must-see destination for Canadian holidaymakers. It also emphasised that Ireland is a yearround destination, with direct flights to Dublin from Toronto. Dana Welch, country manager, Canada, Tourism Ireland, commented that the European hub has never been so convenient or more affordable to get to.

Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s representatives at a media networking event in Vancouver

25 DECEMBER 2014

NEWS TOURISM BOARDS VisitBerlin Reveals Growth in Figures

isitBerlin reported an increase in tourist arrivals to the city, with around 8.8 million visitors recorded in the period between January – September, a 3.9 percent rise against the numbers during the same period in 2013. September alone saw figures jump 4.8 percent to reach almost 1.1 million.

According to VisitBerlin estimates, the growth trend is likely to continue as more than one million visitors flocked to the city to commemorate 25 years since the fall of the Berlin Wall in early November. Also, online coverage of the anniversary weekend reached more than 400 million Internet users.

Berlin

Lithuania Showcases Tourism Opportunities

Scotland to Look at the Bigger Picture

Ireland Ready to Do Business in Belgium

n a keynote speech at the Business Tourism Scotland conference entitled The Very Big Picture, author and TV presenter Ben Hammersley urged members of Scotland’s business tourism industry to harness technology to improve the happiness of their workforce and prevent it from becoming psychologically frustrated. He explained that conference organisers and office managers should pay particular attention to environmental psychology and stressed that, even when modern technology allows virtual meetings to take place, face-to-face gatherings are still incredibly valuable, but only if they are run properly.

Kaunas

he Lithuanian State Department of Tourism (LSDT) held an event for the German travel trade industry in Munich, with seven Lithuanian tourism partners presenting their product to 24 leisure and MICE tour operators. Raimonda Balnienė, chief advisor, LSDT, welcomed the guests and encouraged them to develop new tourism products to Lithuania. Participants appreciated the possibility to learn about the destination as well as having the chance to directly get in touch with Lithuanian partners.

Participants at Tourism Ireland’s business tourism sales blitz

everal tourism companies from around Ireland travelled to Brussels to take part in a sales event organised by Tourism Ireland, targeting influential international associations and incentive agents in the Belgian capital. Business tourism is a lucrative segment, offering significant economic benefits and, given that the headquarters of more than 2,000 associations are based in Belgium, the city is an important source of association conference events for Ireland. Danielle Neyts, country manager, Belgium, Tourism Ireland, expressed delight that so many key business tourism decision-makers took the time to hear about the country’s meetings and conference facilities and what makes Ireland unique as a business destination.

25 DECEMBER 2014

NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Rezidor Strengthens Position in CIS

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group is extending its network in the CIS with the addition of the first Radisson Blu hotel in Minsk, featuring 200 rooms. It will enjoy a prime location and is slated to open in 2017. The hotel group also announced a Radisson Residence in Zavidovo, northeast of Moscow, which will comprise 200 apartments and is to launch by year-end. Wolfgang Neumann, CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Group, commented, “Both signings [...] underline our unchanged commitment to this emerging market.”

Morgans Hotel Group Unveils Istanbul Property

levating Istanbul’s luxury accommodation offering, Morgans Hotel Group has opened the boutique 10 Karakoy, a Morgans Original. Built in 1875, the property features six floors and offers 71 guestrooms, each of which boasts custom-designed furniture, luxurious bathroom amenities, LED TVs and docking stations. Jason Kalisman, interim CEO, Morgans Hotel Group, enthused, “Istanbul is a vibrant city and Karakoy is a neighbourhood that helps define the city's energy and excitement.”

Marriott Debuts in Bosnia and Herzegovina

esidence Inn Sarajevo has opened its doors, marking Marriott International’s entry into Bosnia and Herzegovina. The 75-suite property is hailed as the first internationally-branded hotel in the country and is expected to fill the gap in the extended stay market. Located just 20 minutes from the airport and close to the old city, Residence Inn Sarajevo boasts spacious living spaces, fully-equipped kitchens and separate areas for eating, working and relaxing. Additional amenities include free grocery delivery, airport pick up and drop off, and a fitness centre with sauna.

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10 Karakoy, a Morgans Original

JW Marriott Brings an Island Resort to Venice

ebuting in Italy, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts will open its first European resort in Venice in March 2015. The 266-room property on Rose Island overlooks St Mark’s Square, boasting restored buildings, landscaped gardens, fruit arbours, olive groves, nine food and beverage outlets, a wine academy and a cooking school are among its highlights. Mitzi Gaskins, vice president, JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts, stated, “The opening of our first property in Italy marks a time of great growth and development for the JW Marriott brand.”

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JW Marriott Venice Resort & Spa

25 DECEMBER 2014

ACCOMMODATION NEWS NH Hotel Group Unveils New Service

H Hotel Group has revealed its new product for the business tourism segment, High Tech Made Easy, designed to provide customers with cutting-edge technology which aims to ensure high performance and high-impact meetings and events. Rufino Pérez Fernández, chief commercial officer, NH Hotel Group,

noted, “The new High Tech Made Easy service brings together the latest technology in videoconferencing and collaboration systems […], enabling participants located far away to intervene in events in real time, thereby eliminating costly travel and helping reduce associated expenses.”

The Lanesborough, London

Oetker to Manage The Lanesborough

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etker Collection is to enter the UK, taking over the management of The Lanesborough, London. The property, which overlooks Hyde Park and boasts 93 rooms and suites, has been closed for complete renovations since late 2013, and is set to reopen in spring 2015. Frank Marrenbach, CEO, Oetker Collection, commented, “The Lanesborough is clearly a landmark within the European hospitality landscape with an exceptional heritage and a strong unique identity, and it will fit perfectly in our collection of masterpiece hotels.”

25 DECEMBER 2014

NEWS ACCOMMODATION

POSITIVE AUTUMN RESULTS FOR MILAN AND PRAGUE

RevPAR Boosted in Warsaw

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Milan

Both Milan and Prague achieved impressive year-on-year surges in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) by 37.5 percent and 22.6 percent respectively, according to the latest data from HotStats.

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otels in the Polish capital of Warsaw demonstrated once again that RevPAR alone can be a misleading indicator of hotel performance, as although the metric rose 1.2 percent this October, both total RevPAR and gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) levels went down by 1.6 percent and two percent respectively. A 2.6 percentage point drop in demand in contrast to a 4.3 percent increase in average room rates (ARR) delivered the RevPAR growth. However, a general decrease in non-room RevPAR from beverage, food and meeting room hire led to a total RevPAR drop.

Oceania Club Voted Europe’s Top All-inclusive Resort

Ikos Oceania

n October, Milan hotels managed to increase average room rate (ARR) by 16.2 percent but at the expense of occupancy, which surged only by 0.9 percentage points, resulting in a RevPAR rise of 17.4 percent. Hotels in the Czech capital simultaneously increased occupancy, which notably rose 5.1 percentage points, and ARR to produce a RevPAR growth of 18.3 percent compared to the same period in 2013.

Novotel Athenes Supports Fine Arts

N Novotel Athenes

ovotel Athenes recently held an inauguration ceremony for the painting and photography exhibition titled Hallucinations. Fine arts group, Vivarte, hosted the event which also featured some works of the known Spanish artist Sandra Pons Carreras. The collection of paintings and photographs will be exhibited at the hotel until February 2015 and entrance for the audience will be free of charge.

ceania Club, Ikos Resort’s five-star property in Halkidiki, has been selected as the continent’s best all-inclusive resort in TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travelers’ Choice awards. The 298-room hotel, which boasts 350m of sandy beach, was highly praised for its attentive staff, outstanding accommodation and wellness facilities, the wide range of à la carte restaurants and its landscape, earning the property also a place among the world’s top 25 luxury all-inclusive resorts. As Achilleas Dorotheou, CEO, Ikos Resorts, commented, the company continues to invest in its properties to deliver consistently the highest quality of services thus, Oceania Club is currently undergoing a EUR4 million refurbishment and will reopen in March as Ikos Oceania. 25 DECEMBER 2014

AIRPORTS NEWS

Madrid Airport Announces Two New Spa Hubs

More Free Wi-Fi at Spanish Airports

dolfo Suárez MadridBarajas Airport is soon to unveil two new spa hubs, managed by SHA Wellness Clinic, located at Terminal 4 and the airport’s Satellite building. Both spa centres will open in March 2015, and will cover 60m2 and 101m2 respectively. Treatments on offer will be varied to include massages, nutritional consultations, facials, hairdressing, manicures, pedicures and more. Visitors will also be able to purchase cosmetics and beauty products. This new beauty and wellness service is to add more variety to the airport’s commercial offerings, all of which are tailored to provide travellers with a relaxing and enjoyable experience in a modern environment.

25 DECEMBER 2014

uring the festive season, Spanish airport operator Aena increased the free Internet time across 28 of its airports from 15 to 30 minutes. Hubs included in the offer, which will be valid until January 15, 2015, are Adolfo Suárez MadridBarajas Airport, Barcelona-El Prat Airport and Málaga-Costa del Sol Airport among others. Since January, passengers of all the airports participating in the promotion have enjoyed 6.5 million of free downloads.

Record Number of Passengers in EU

TAG Farnborough Airport Continues Investment

n 2013, 842 million passengers travelled by air in the 28 member states of the European Union (EU), marking a 1.7 percent rise over 2012. Based on data released by Eurostat, in 2013 intra-EU transport represented 43.3 percent of the total passenger volume, extraEU transport stood at 38.6 percent, while national transport accounted for fewer than one in every five passengers. The highest number of air travellers, 210 million, was recorded in the UK and consequently London’s Heathrow Airport remained the EU’s busiest hub, handling 72 million passengers.

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n the first half of the year, UK’s TAG Farnborough Airport,, which continues to receive more airliner-sized business jets from the Middle East, saw a 10 percent yearon-year increase in aircraft movements from operators flying Boeing Business Jets and Airbus Corporate Jets, and is now working towards further improving its facilities to cater for larger aircraft, Brandon O’Reilly, CEO, TAG Farnborough Airport, explained. Future investment plans include additional lounges and enhanced crew facilities. In early 2015, the airport will also introduce a fast-track entrance.

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TAG Farnborough Airport

NEWS AIRPORTS Istanbul Atatürk Airport Up for Enlargement

Budapest Airport Partners with Mercedes-Benz

openhagen Airport will invest DKK130 million (EUR17.5 million) in the 700m² expansion of its Terminal 2, and the addition of two new security lanes. The project is slated for completion before summer 2015. Also, Pier C, which handles the big intercontinental aircraft, is under expansion, and will emerge with new lounges and three gates by the end of 2015. "The three building projects are in line with our strategy of a phased expansion of the airport in the course of the next two to three decades, enabling us to handle 40 million passengers per year,” explained Thomas Woldbye, CEO, Copenhagen Airports.

TAV Operation Services Grows

AV Operation Services, a subsidiary of TAV Airports responsible for non-aviation revenues, has recently undertaken the operations of the Air France-KLM lounges at Frankfurt, Munich and Stuttgart airports and will soon start to provide services at Washington Airport. The company operates 30 lounges across Turkey’s airports and this number is to double by the end of 2015. “We started to transfer our know-how, which we accumulated at airports operated by TAV Airports, to other countries and airports on a global scale,” said Bora İşbulan, general manager, TAV Operation Services.

AV Airports will invest EUR75 million in Istanbul Atatürk Airport’s international terminal, expanding it by 27,000m², adding new passenger boarding bridges and check-in counters, as well as improving baggage handling and parking capacities. Works are expected to be completed in 2016. Sani Şener, president, TAV Airports, stated, “Istanbul Atatürk Airport has become one of the most important airports of the world and TAV Airports has a significant share in this achievement […]. We will continue our investments in the following six years without compromising service quality and passenger comfort.”

Liverpool Airport Backs Heathrow Expansion

Heathrow Airport

Copenhagen Airport

Copenhagen Airport Continues Upgrades

Istanbul Atatürk Airport

ercedes-Benz Hungária and Budapest Airport signed a longterm partnership agreement whereby Mercedes-Benz models will be added to the vehicle fleet at the airport, including those used in the handling of air traffic and in operation. Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airport, commented, “Both of our companies work in a highly competitive industry, automotive and aviation, where only commitment to excellence, perfect service to customers and sustainable growth can earn leading market positions.”

iverpool John Lennon Airport pledged support for Heathrow Airport’s expansion plans. In an open letter to the country’s Airport Commission, which will give its verdict in summer 2015, the management of the airport underlined that the socalled London Airports’ debate is not only about the capital city but the aviation industry as a whole. Regional gateways, including Liverpool, need to access global connectivity to better meet the needs of the areas they serve, thus demand for a link to a hub such as Heathrow Airport is self-evident, the document reinforced.

25 DECEMBER 2014

AIR NEWS airBaltic: Links to Dubrovnik

Ryanair Launches EFB

irBaltic is to launch a new route between Riga and Dubrovnik, on May 26, 2015, with one weekly flight. The itinerary offers a new summer holiday destination for travellers from the Baltics, and opens convenient travel options to Riga and beyond to destinations in Scandinavia and the CIS. Christophe Viatte, chief commercial officer, airBaltic, said, “With its breathtaking Old Town, imposing city walls and the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is one of Europe’s top summer destinations. Adding it to our route map enables travellers from the Baltic region to conveniently reach this popular destination.”

25 DECEMBER 2014

easyJet to Open New Base in Porto

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yanair introduced Electronic Flight Bags (EFB) for all pilots across its entire fleet of 300 Boeing 737800 aircraft, which will see all of them using iPads in place of traditional flight manuals. Pilots now have full electronic use of Boeing’s Onboard Performance Tool, which includes take-off performance calculations, as well as instant access to the most recent electronic flight manuals, which is to further improve time management and productivity and reduce dependency on paper products.

eroportos de Portugal announced that British lowcost carrier, easyJet will introduce four new routes from Porto Airport in spring 2015, officially setting up its second base in Portugal. The new destinations announced are Manchester, Bristol, Nantes and London Luton Airport. According to the data released, easyJet’s new Porto base, a EUR80 million investment, will accept two stationed Airbus A320 aircraft. The airline will also improve the schedule of all its existing flights from the Portuguese hub, connecting the city to nine European destinations.

NEWS AIR

Bulgaria Air to Fly Daily to Berlin

ulgaria Air announced that it will increase the frequency of its flights to and from Berlin’s Tegel Airport. As of January 14, 2015 the national carrier’s direct services to the German destination will become daily. The airline also went ahead to change the departure and arrival times in order to accommodate the new schedule. Accordingly, from Monday to Saturday the take off from Sofia will be at 06:10 and from Berlin at 09:40. On Sundays the timings will be differentiated to an afternoon departure.

Austrian Airlines’ Global Routes Soar

total of 9.7 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines from January – October, corresponding to the same level as in the first nine months of 2013. Passenger growth of 8.6 percent was achieved on intercontinental flights, in contrast to traffic on the European continent. In October alone, more than 993,000 passengers flew with the carrier. The 4.6 percent decline in a year-on-year comparison is mainly attributable to the crisis regions of Russia, Ukraine and the Middle East. On balance, capacity was increased by 3.4 percent, and revenue passenger kilometres were up 1.1 percent.

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UK Scraps APD for Children

rom May 2015, air passenger duty (APD) for children under the age of 12 on economy travel will be eradicated in the UK, as per a governmental decision. The exemption, supported by the national aviation industry, will also be extended to travellers under 16 from May 2016. Liverpool John Lennon Airport, which along with other airport operators have lobbied the government for some time over this tax, welcomed the decision, arguing however that it should be completely scrapped in order to stimulate the market.

Iberia to Add 13 New Routes

panish carriers Iberia and Iberia Express will significantly boost their operations this coming summer through the launch of 13 new services and increased frequencies on a number of routes. Passengers looking for new destinations will be offered nonstop connections from Madrid to Florence, Naples, Palermo, Catania, Verona, Manchester, Edinburgh, Hamburg, Funchal and Budapest. Other new routes will include Asturias to Tenerife, and from Madrid to Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Gatwick Airport. Additionally, the group will add 65 weekly frequencies to 24 existing Spanish, European and long-haul respires. According to Luis Gallego, CEO, Iberia, the increased operations underscore the effectiveness of the company’s costcutting measures.

25 DECEMBER 2014

AIR NEWS

Lufthansa Returns to Miami

n early December, Lufthansa resumed flights to Miami from Munich, five times per week. “We are delighted to be able to offer our passengers our latest product in all travel classes on flights to and from Miami and to provide a high level of travel comfort,” enthused Thomas Klühr, member of the board, finances and Munich hub, Lufthansa. Miami is known for its wide beaches and many tourist attractions such as the Art Deco District, Little Havanna and Coral Gables. It is ideal for trips to the Everglades and the Florida Keys, while Orlando and nearby Cape Canaveral are only a few hours’ drive. Miami is also renowned as the cruise gateway to the Caribbean.

25 DECEMBER 2014

LOT Leases Dreamliner

n a bid to utilise its long-haul fleet more efficiently, LOT Polish Airlines signed a one-year deal to lease one of its Dreamliners to Air Europa, starting from April 2015. “Leasing the Dreamliner results directly from the restructuring plan that we have been consistently implementing. Until the end of 2015, LOT cannot launch any new connections in its network due to the public aid received in 2012,” explained Sebastian Mikosz, CEO, LOT Polish Airlines. “However [...] we are working hard to boost effective use of our long-haul fleet and thus improve financial results.”

BA Unveils New Virtual Reality Experiences

ritish Airways (BA) enabled its customers to enjoy three iconic US experiences. Riding a bucking bronco in Texas, roller skating down the boardwalk on a California beach and ice skating overlooking New York’s skyline became possible using Oculus Rift virtual reality headsets. Paolo De Renzis, area commercial manager, Middle East and Central Asia, BA, added, “Today’s travellers are checking out their destinations on TripAdvisor, street view and maps and this is the next step to let the customer actually experience destinations in the virtual world.”

Flybe and Cathay Pacific Sign Codeshare Deal

lybe has secured a new codeshare agreement with the Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific Airways, offering its passengers in Aberdeen, Belfast, Edinburgh, Exeter, Inverness, the Isle of Man and Southampton better connections to Asian destinations via Manchester. Travellers will be able to use a single ticket to connect to any of the carrier’s four weekly flights from Manchester to Hong Kong. Paul Simmons, chief commercial officer, Flybe, commented, “We are now giving customers in the UK regions access to Hong Kong through Manchester Airport and relieving them of the need to undertake long road or rail journeys to the UK’s congested southeast hub airports.”

NEWS AIR easyJet Carries 5.8 Million in October

Wizz Air Teams Up with rentalcars.com

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izz Air announced rentalcars.com as its car rental booking platform. During the flight booking process, the airline’s customers will be offered the option to rent a vehicle upon their arrival at their destination airport. The car hire service offers a 24/7 multilingual call center support as well as payments in various currencies. Peter Rooney, director, sales and marketing, rentalcars.com, said, “We will continue to support [Wizz Air’s] online car rental business and maximise its ancillary revenue. Our focus is to provide the best car rental experience to its customers and consequently increase its loyalty repeat customers.”

Air France-KLM Increases Services to Canada

airBaltic to Launch Riga – Aalborg

atvian airline airBaltic will introduce a new route between Riga and Aalborg, on April 18, 2015, which is set to offer convenient travel between the two cities, and beyond to destinations in the Baltics, Europe, Scandinavia, CIS and the Middle East. Christophe Viatte, chief commercial officer, airBaltic, said, “Aalborg will become our third destination in Denmark. The route will complement our existing services from Copenhagen and Billund to Riga, offering convenient connections to the Latvian capital and onwards.” airBaltic will fly between the two Scandinavian capitals once a week.

Vancouver, Canada

famous cosmopolitan coastal city in Canada’s British Columbia will soon be available nonstop from Paris-Charles de Gaulle, as from March 29, 2015, Air France will offer up to five weekly services between the airport and Vancouver. The new services will be in addition to KLM’s offering of seven weekly flights to the Canadian destination from Amsterdam-Schiphol. Additionally as of May 5, 2015, the Dutch airline will offer three weekly flights between Amsterdam and Edmonton while the frequency will increase to four weekly services. from June 22, 2015. Patrick Alexandre, executive vice president, commercial, passenger business, Air France-KLM, declared, “We are pleased and proud to be offering our customers the largest range of flights between Europe and Western Canada.”

ccording to data released by British lowcost carrier, easyJet served 5,835,145 passengers in October, registering a 5.5 percent year-on-year increase, while load factor for the month under review reached 90.9 percent. Additionally, in the 12 months covering November 2013 – October this year, easyJet transported a total of 65.07 million customers achieving a 90.7 percent load factor. The passenger traffic figures for the twelvemonth period indicate a 6.6 percent growth for the airline.

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RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Being the most visited region in the world, Europe has continued the strong pace of growth this year. Why is the continent a perennial favourite with travellers around the world? MIGUEL GALLEGO: Europe remains a favourite as it has much to offer to potential tourists – both European and non-European travellers. Its strengths lie in leveraging an immersive tourist experience. Relatively short travel distances allow travellers to delve into the region’s diverse cultures, histories, landscapes and gastronomy. ETC’s research in long-haul markets revealed that Europe builds on a reputation of well-developed tourism infrastructures, quality and safety. These strengths are not negligible advantages as they are especially important features to the unfamiliar first-time traveller from high potential emerging markets such as China and Brazil.

Q & A with Miguel Gallego

MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION MANAGER, EUROPEAN TRAVEL COMMISSION

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MIGUEL GALLEGO: Overall, Europe’s performance has been influenced by strong outbound travel from established European source markets, like Germany and the UK, and reassuring demand from Europe’s largest longhaul market, the US. In general, each country’s situation and performance is very much unique. In Southern Europe, increased business travel added to the good performance in leisure travel in certain destinations. Spain could highlight the diversity that exists as a holiday destination year-round and boost off-season travel. Both Cyprus and Serbia benefit25 DECEMBER 2014

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Which European countries or regions hold a great yet unexplored potential for tourism development? MIGUEL GALLEGO: Traditionally, select destinations in Central and Eastern Europe but also in the Southern and Mediterranean Europe display high growth potential. By promoting pan-European themes, especially long-haul travellers are invited to explore undiscovered gems in Europe’s offerings and divert tourist flows away from major tourist hubs. The recently revamped VisitEurope.com portal also features a series of recommended multi-destination trips around different themes. Each trip detail page highlights popular places and activities along the path as well as relevant off-the-beaten-track destinations. The European Destinations of Excellence is another important initiative that draws attention to some of Europe’s non-traditional tourist destinations and hidden gems.

THE REBOUND OF SHORT BREAKS LED TO POSITIVE RESULTS IN NORTHERN EUROPE

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Growth in large destinations in Southern as well as Northern Europe exceeded expectations in the first nine months of the year. Why do you think these areas are witnessing such a demand?

ed from diverted travel from Russia. Meanwhile, the rebound of short breaks led to positive results in Northern Europe, supported by strong demand from Europe’s largest outbound travel market, Germany.

STRIVING TO MAINTAIN INTEREST FROM LONGHAUL MARKETS AND ATTRACT THE RISING POWERHOUSE OF THE CHINESE OUTBOUND TOURISM MARKET SHOULD BE EUROPE’S PRIORITY, ACCORDING TO MIGUEL GALLEGO, MARKETING, PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION MANAGER, EUROPEAN TRAVEL COMMISSION (ETC).

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Which are Europe’s emerging inbound markets and how are they going to shape the region’s tourism image in the years to come? How do you see the continent’s tourism future? MIGUEL GALLEGO: A major market that attracts much attention is certainly China. The country has swiftly risen to become Europe’s 10th most important market in terms of international tourist arrivals. Over the past few years, travel from China has grown by nearly 20 percent per year and is projected to continue growing by two digits in the near future. As the market evolves, businesses will need to consider the needs and demands of a new clientele and offer appealing, targeted service, like Mandarin-speaking staff, adequate information and hospitality. Nevertheless, targeting a balanced mix of markets is required to keep close ties with established long-haul markets such as the US, Canada and Japan.

NEWS AIR Air Serbia Adds Slovenia and Montenegro Links

Austrian Airlines Delights with New Mauritius Route

Mauritius

erbian flag carrier, Air Serbia increased the number of flights it offers to Ljubljana, and added more seats to Podgorica. On December 12, the Belgrade – Ljubljana service became double-daily, while a larger aircraft with a two-class configuration is deployed on the Podgorica route for travellers to and from Montenegro. Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, commented, “It is about offering our business guests, those regularly commuting between major capital cities in the region, more attractive and convenient travel options.”

ustrian Airlines has introduced Mauritius to its global winter destinations network, with the inaugural flight being launched on October 29. “Demand is high in Austria for direct flights to long-haul tourist destinations,” explained Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Austrian Airlines. The airline expects local travellers to comprise two-thirds of those flying to Mauritius, whereas transfer passengers from other European destinations visiting the islands via the Vienna hub will make up the other third.

Ryanair to Open Copenhagen Base

yanair will open its second Danish base at Copenhagen Airport in March 2015 with up to four based aircraft and launch three brand new routes to London, Milan and Warsaw, with an additional 10 more new services to be announced in 2015. The EUR320 million investment is expected to see Ryanair deliver over one million passengers per annum and support 1,000 on-site jobs.

Transaero Airlines Introduces 10 New Winter Destinations

ussian carrier, Transaero Airlines has announced an expansion of its services for the 2014/2015 winter season with 10 new domestic and international routes. From Moscow’s Vnukovo International Airport, domestic passengers are offered a new link to Gorno-Altaysk, while from Moscow Domodedovo Airport they can fly to Bratsk, Kurgan, Murmansk, Naryan-Mar, Novokuznetsk, Ulan-Ude, Chita and Eilat. From St. Petereburg, Transaero Airlines offers twice-weekly flights to London on a Boeing 737 aircraft.

Aeroflot Flies to Tbilisi and Chisinau kno u o y d i D

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ussian flag carrier, Aeroflot has launched two new daily return routes to Tbilisi and Chisinau, both departing from Moscow. The two destinations will be served by an Airbus A320 aircraft from Sheremetyevo Airport’s Terminal D.

25 DECEMBER 2014

AGENTS NEWS

TUI Travel Posts Positive Results

UI Travel has reported positive financial results ahead of the group’s merger with German sister company, TUI AG. Based on the full-year preliminary results, TUI Travel’s underlying operating profit rose 11 percent on a constant currency basis to GBP654 million (EUR828.8 million), ahead of the previous guidance of nine percent. According to Peter Long, CEO, TUI Travel, the results demonstrate the strength and resilience of the company’s business model. “The merger with TUI AG will strengthen and future-proof our combined group. It will also enhance the certainty of long-term unique holiday growth and reinforce our clear competitive advantage through further control over the end-to-end customer experience,” added Long. While due to geopolitical conditions, the trading environment in Russia and Ukraine has remained challenging, the UK, Germany and the Netherlands have continued to drive business.

Thomas Cook Adjusts Prices in Light of APD Abolition

he upcoming abolition of Air Passenger Duty (APD) for travellers under the age of 12, slated for May 2015 in the UK, saw Thomas Cook decrease prices for the 2015 summer season. Customers who already secured holiday packages or flight-only bookings with Thomas Cook Airlines departing the UK from May 1, 2015 will receive a refund of any economy class APD paid for children aged under 12, while package holiday customers will receive reductions in their final balance 14 weeks before departure. Stefanie Berk, product and yield director, Thomas Cook UK, commented, “The abolition of APD for the under 12s and the savings this represents, together with our early booking offers and enhanced product offering, is undoubtedly fantastic news for all of our customers.” 25 DECEMBER 2014

TRAVEL TALK

Targeting markets with a high growth and high volume potential is an optimal mix

EDUARDO SANTANDER Executive director, European Travel Commission

“Targeting a mix of markets with a high growth potential, such as the BRIC markets, [Brazil, Russian, India and China] and with a high volume potential, is an optimal mix to strengthen flows of visitors to Europe. This strategy also proved effective in making the tourism sector less vulnerable to market downswings.”

One of our main strategies is to partner with key global airlines

MIKE CANTLAY Chairman, VisitScotland

We have committed to deliver a profit by the end of the year

Long-haul routes could compensate for the restrained demand in Europe

JAAN ALBRECHT CEO, Austrian Airlines

“The crisis regions in the Middle East, Russia and the Ukraine continue to dampen demand. However, growth on long-haul routes could compensate for the restrained demand in Europe. As a consequence, passenger volume could be maintained at the same level as in [2013].”

“[This] has been a year like no other […]. It is now more important than ever that we build upon this legacy and really get out there and take Scotland to the world. One of our main strategies is to partner with key global airlines and continue to further develop Scotland’s air connectivity. Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld alliance and this exciting new daily service will make it even easier for millions of members from across Africa, Australia, Asia and the Middle East to come and visit Scotland.”

DANE KONDIĆ CEO, Air Serbia

“Our focus on organic growth and codeshare partnerships is delivering strong results, notwithstanding strong competition and subdued economic growth in the region. We have committed to deliver a profit by the end of the year and we are on track to do that. We are confident we have the right business and customer strategy, and that we have the right people as part of the team for success.”

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

25 DECEMBER 2014

TRAVEL CHANNELS

Measuring Employment in Tourism Advancing towards a harmonised framework for analysing tourism employment data, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and International Labour Organization released a report providing statistical tools and best practice examples.

ntitled Measuring Employment in the Tourism Industries – Guide with Best Practices, the report aims to support decision making in the sector, which represents nine percent of global GDP and is a proven tool in advancing sustainable development. Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO, stressed that enhancing the quality and comparability of tourism employment statistics can significantly improve the capacity of stakeholders to monitor tourism labour markets and promote productive activities.

Guidelines for Transporting Lithium Batteries

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released the first edition of the Lithium Battery Risk Mitigation Guidance for Operators, a free online guide for airline operators with critical information related to the safe handling and transport of lithium batteries by air. “Lithium batteries are safe to transport provided that they are designed, tested, manufactured and packaged in accordance with the global transport safety standards,” said Kevin Hiatt, senior vice president, safety and flight operations, IATA.

ETC Outlines Travellers’ Characteristics

UIA Enters Deloitte’s Top 500

uropean Travel Commission (ETC) has brought out ETC Snapshots, a series of reports on select travel segments and markets prepared by the ETC Executive Unit. These documents provide a quick overview of travellers’ characteristics, the likes and dislikes of their holiday experience and their satisfaction with Europe compared to competing regions. Key recommendations are also provided with the aim of supporting ETC’s members. Through the research youth travellers were recognised as valuable visitors who seek novel and engaging experiences that go beyond leisure.

kraine International Airlines (UIA) entered the Central Europe Top 500 ranking compiled by Deloitte. The list is based on consolidated company revenues for the fiscal year ending 2013, while the ranking takes into account revenues reported by a particular legal entity operating in Central Europe. “In 2013, UIA demonstrated top tier performance. In 2013, we carried over 4.6 million passengers, doubled our fleet, expanded our route network by a hundred percent, launched long-haul flights and offered our passengers new web opportunities,” noted Evgeniya Satska, corporate press secretary, UIA.

25 DECEMBER 2014

WHO’S MOVED

JACKY TRESCH

CARINA MALMGREN HEANDER

Jacky Tresch has been welcomed onboard the team of InterContinental Genève as director of business development. In his new role, he will lead new business opportunities while strengthening commercial and marketing activities of the establishment, elevating the business to new heights. Tresch brings with him over 25 years of international expertise in the luxury hospitality sector. His career began at Hilton Strasbourg before deciding to step into the sales domain. Until 2006 he was employed by Sofitel Luxury Hotels, first as worldwide market positioning director and then as vice president of sales and marketing for Europe, Africa and the Middle East. Prior to joining InterContinental Genève, he was director of sales and marketing at Royal Savoy Lausanne.

Carina Malmgren Heander is a new management member for Scandinavian Airlines (SAS), since she took over as chief of staff with her responsibilities including human resources and communications. She has a broad background from large international retail and industrial companies where she has had responsibility for commercial projects, positions with accountability for earnings, as well as leading human resources positions. Taking over duties as of January 1, 2015, Heander’s new role with SAS will see her working together with all new colleagues to continue the transformation that the carrier has commenced and drive the continued changes that the company will implement on the journey towards sustainable profitability.

MARKUS SEMER

STEFAN PICHLER

Markus Semer has been promoted to Kempinski’s deputy CEO. He will continue in his responsibilities for group development through portfolio and associated business growth and will complement Alejandro Bernabe, CEO, Kempinski, and fellow management board members in implementing company strategy and change management as part of a smooth transition process; overseeing the related structural and process changes under his corporate affairs mandate. Semer was successively given responsibility for strategic planning and corporate affairs, and since 2013 he oversees the group’s development. Since Semer restructured development, Kempinski is well-represented in every region, ensuring a continuous pipeline of new projects.

Stefan Pichler has been appointed CEO of airberlin group as the German company moves forward with its previously announced restructuring programme to deliver longterm sustainable profitability. Taking over on February 1, 2015, Pichler will be responsible for all group businesses and airline brands, tasked to drive the group’s turnaround programme forward. A 25-year veteran of the air transport industry, he has vast experience in running profitable network, low-cost and charter airlines. He joins airberlin from Fiji Airways, where he has been leading a programme to return the carrier, formerly Air Pacific, to profitability. Fiji Airways reported its best ever first-half profitability and is on course to deliver record-breaking full year results.

25 DECEMBER 2014

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...

A total of 19 RIU hotels were awarded with the Gold Awards and Blue Star Awards by TUI UK & Ireland and TUI Nordic.

Melia Roma Aurelia Antica has received another award for its Hotel 6 Stelle project, carried out in partnership with the Italian Association of People with Down’s Syndrome

It took a team of eight to deliver and decorate The Ritz London's Christmas tree

25 DECEMBER 2014

Maciej Kołodziej was LOT Polish Airlines’ 500,000th passenger to buy for ticket on a Boeing 787 Dreamliner flight

Balloon Tallinn received the Tourism Act 2014 award

Ryanair celebrates carrying 100,000 passengers to Glasgow

Brian Gleeson, general manager, Radisson Blu Paradise Resort & Spa Sochi has been named Best Hotelier at the MKG Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2014

Santa visited New York Cafe at Boscolo Budapest

NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS Costa Daurada Unveils Significant International Growth

ne year on from hosting International Golf Travel Market (IGTM), local tourism officials from the Spanish coastal area of Costa Daurada witnessed a 42 percent surge in international golf rounds to date, in comparison to the same period for 2013. The figures detail organic growth from the region’s traditional markets as well as new tour operator clients from Central European markets and further afield from Canada and Russia. Octavi Bono, general manager, Costa Daurada Tourism Board, commented, “It is clear that tour operators’ first-hand experience of the region has been the key to increased sales, simultaneously enhancing the awareness and the reputation of our product offering.”

EVENTS VAKANTIEBEURS Utrecht, The Netherlands January 13 – 18, 2015 www.vakantiebeurs.nl With more than 1,400 exhibitors it is one of the most important touristic events in the country.

FERIEN-MESSE WIEN

Silver Wings Reveals New Catering Building

n November an official event was held in Sofia to celebrate the opening of the new in-flight catering building of Silver Wings, the company that serves national carrier, Bulgaria Air. The new building has been built and equipped to comply with the latest international requirements for food safety and security of flights. Besides Bulgaria Air, Silver Wings serves British Airways, Air France, Lufthansa, Wizz Air, Qatar Airways, Euro Jet, Net Jet and others.

ITB to Analyse Key Industry Trends

Vienna, Austria January 15 – 18, 2015 www.ferien-messe.at An international event for holidays, travel and leisure, and a leading tourism trade fair.

CMT Stuttgart, Germany January 17 – 25, 2015 www.messe-stuttgart.de Exhibitors from around the world present cycling, adventure, hiking, golfing and outdoor holidays.

Messe Berlin

esse Berlin, organisers of ITB Berlin, revealed a range of topics which will be discussed at the 2015 edition of the show, ranging from mountain tourism, to cruise industry and sustainable tourism. Also, on March 4, 2015, Simone Menne, chief financial officer, Lufthansa, will speak on the future of international air travel, while Darren Huston, president, Priceline Group, will be talking about the future of travel marketing. On March 6, 2015, Olivier Gremillon, managing director, Europe and Africa, Airbnb, will give his views on sharing economy, and ITB Destination Days will look at the booming industry offering film location tours. For career starters, ITB Young Professionals Day will feature discussions on business etiquette, technological expertise and more.

GTTP Enhances Travel Experience

he Global Travel and Tourism Partnership (GTTP) hosted its annual student/teacher conference at Le Méridien Nice from November 24 – 28. Some 22 high school students from 11 countries shared their findings on applying technology to enhance the visitor experience in their countries as well as the operations of the travel and tourism industry. Nancy Needham, executive director, GTTP, said, “Destinations want to continue being a place worth visiting. Sustainability means people have employment, environments are protected, and visitors have a positive impact on the destination they are visiting. It all takes work.”

EAST MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND TRAVEL EXHIBITION (EMITT) Istanbul, Turkey January 22 – 25, 2015 www.emittistanbul.com The 18th edition of EMITT will assign an entire hall to health care, aesthetics, thermal and spa tourism.

FITUR Madrid, Spain January 28 – February 1, 2015 www.ifema.es A global meeting point for tourism professionals for the Ibero-American markets.

25 DECEMBER 2014