Travel Trade Europe Issue 5 by Travel Trade Publications

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

10 JANUARY 2015

ISSUE 05

NIKI SERVES ATHENS VISITBERLIN UNVEILED THE LATEST TOURIST FIGURES FOR OCTOBER 2014, SHOWING A 5.1 PERCENT INCREASE IN ARRIVALS, REACHING 1,138,671, AND A 5.6 PERCENT RISE IN OVERNIGHT STAYS ACROSS BERLIN’S ACCOMMODATION ESTABLISHMENTS.

19 BRAVOFLY RUMBO GROUP TO ACQUIRE LASTMINUTE.COM

23 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 10 17 18 21 23 24 25 26 27 28

BERLIN RECORDS INCREASING VISITOR NUMBERS

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba

Aeroflot’s Revenue Surges Aeroflot published its consolidated financial statement for the nine months ending September 30, 2014, showing that revenue amounted to RUB236.7 billion (EUR3.6 billion), signalling a 6.5 percent year-on-year growth.

s Shamil Kurmashov, deputy CEO, finance, network and revenue management, Aeroflot, highlighted, the increase was achieved despite the fact that Russian airlines faced serious challenges in the third quarter, in particular a sharp decline in the rouble exchange rate versus key foreign currencies, as well as continued weakening of consumer demand and a downturn in the tourism industry. “In this environment, we continue to focus on optimisation of capacity and our route network, as well as operating cost controls and efficient financial risk management,” explained Kurmashov.

CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou

German Cities Challenged

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

According to the latest HotStats report for Europe, Cologne registered negative year-on-year comparisons across all key performance indicators in October 2014.

oth occupancy and average room rates (ARR) declined by 7.7 percentage points and 31.5 percent respectively to deliver a RevPAR drop of 38.1 percent. Additionally, hoteliers in another German city, Düsseldorf, also suffered from a combined decrease in occupancy, which dove 1.9 percentage points, and ARR, down 22.4 percent, resulting in a RevPAR decline of 24.4 percent. However, positive movements in non-room departments softened the total RevPAR drop of 18.8 percent.

Austrian Airlines: Over 10.4 Million Passengers Served EXCHANGE RATES

Accurate as of

9/1/2015 COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.17

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.78

Switzerland (CHF)

Franc

1.20

Japan (JPY)

Yen

140.81

More than 10.4 million passengers flew with Austrian Airlines between January – November 2014, corresponding to a marginal year-on-year decline of 0.6 percent.

he 7.6 percent surge in demand on intercontinental flights proved to be insufficient to offset the two percent drop in traffic within the European continent. Overall, capacity was expanded by 3.9 percent and revenue passenger kilometres rose 4.5 percent, leading to a capacity utilisation increase of 0.4 percentage points to 79.2 percent. According to Andreas Otto, chief commercial officer, Austrian Airlines, year-end figures were expected to reach those of 2013 when the airline handled a total of 11.3 million passengers. 10 JANUARY 2015

MARKET UPDATE

Close to 30 Million Transaero Does Well Airlines published its financial results for Passengers for airberlin Transaero the first nine months of 2014 showing a 6.4 percent More than two million travellers flew with airberlin in November 2014, marking a 0.5 percent year-on-year increase and bringing the annual traffic to 29.9 million passengers.

now k u o y Did

assenger turnover on domestic routes rose 35 percent, demonstrating the highest growth among the top five largest Russian carriers. In addition, load factor was also high at 85 percent. The airline’s cost reduction programme, adopted in 2012, delivered savings in the first three quarters of 2014, with selling costs reduced by eight percent and administrative costs cut down by 15 percent. The airline’s net profit reached RUB130 million (EUR1.9 million).

uses erlin e Etihad b r i a irlin in Abu nt a o b pare ays’ hu teway t a w a i r g s i A a A ast, bi as Dha Middle E ralia? the nd Aust a

year-on-year increase in traffic that reached 10.5 million travellers.

Austrian Airlines and Tyrolean to Merge in April airberlin onboard services

or the month under review, revenue passenger kilometres (RPK) within the airline’s network rose 5.3 percent to 3.3 billion. Available seat kilometres (ASK) amounted to 4.1 billion, up 5.4 percent, meaning that capacity utilisation rate remained stable at 80 percent. For the period between January and November 2014, ASK reached 55.050 billion, an increase of 2.9 percent, while RPK jumped 1.3 percent to 46.126 billion.

SAS Acquires Cimber

As of April 1, the entire flight operations of Tyrolean Airways will be integrated into parent company, Austrian Airlines.

he final date for the transaction was set after a consensus was reached on a new collective wage agreement for the crew. Besides some 3,200 flight attendees and pilots, 150 station employees in the federal provinces and 30 members in the flights operations administrations will also switch over to Austrian Airlines. Jaan Albrecht, CEO, Austrian Airlines, considered the merger as a sign of conciliation and as a starting point for a new the company. “The new Austrian unites the company under a common roof housing a regional and intercontinental airline. And it is going to fly higher and farther,” he added.

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) entered into an agreement to acquire 100 percent of shares in Danish regional and international carrier, Cimber.

ince 2004, the two companies have had a wet lease deal and the acquisition now enables SAS to transfer production with smaller aircraft to Cimber in a bid to achieve a more focussed and flexible production. As Rickard Gustafson, CEO, SAS, highlighted, the transaction gives the Stockholm-based airline access to a specialist within regional flights with a competitive production platform that complements SAS’ production of larger Airbus and Boeing aircraft. “Due to expected synergies, the acquisition of Cimber can also provide opportunities for SAS to maintain and develop regional routes within the network for the benefit of SAS customers,” added Gustafson. 10 JANUARY 2015

Austrian Airlines crew

NEWS CRUISING MSC Cruises Takes to the Skies

he first charter flight under the partnership between MSC Cruises and Air France-KLM carried 432 passengers from Paris to the Dominican Republic for a week-long Caribbean cruise, following a deal signed in December 2013. Meanwhile, the cruise line also announced that in response to soaring demand, it will deploy an additional ship in the eastern Mediterranean, offering holidaymakers access to Italian, Greek, Turkish and Croatian ports. The news comes after it was revealed that the most popular MSC Cruises itinerary in 2014 was sailed by MSC Preziosa out of Venice, calling at Bari, Katakolon, Izmir and Istanbul, before returning to Venice via Dubrovnik.

Norwegian Cruise Line Partners with Margaritaville

floating Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville restaurant and 5 O’Clock Somewhere Bar will soon set sail onboard the new Norwegian Escape. “Jimmy Buffett is an icon who embodies the island lifestyle and his Margaritaville lifestyle brand which includes restaurants and bars in its portfolio is a perfect fit for Norwegian Cruise Line and the incredible new Norwegian Escape, that will sail the Caribbean and offer our guests the first and only Margaritaville experience at sea,” said Kevin Sheehan, president, Norwegian Cruise Line.

Jimmy Buffett’s performance

Carnival Ships to Welcome Gamers

Carnival Sunshine

ropicana Entertainment, a wellrespected name in the gaming industry, and Carnival Cruise Lines have formed an alliance to offer an array of benefits to Trop Advantage players club members at seven Tropicanaowned casinos in the US. Guests will be eligible to receive complimentary and discounted trips through-

out the year aboard the company’s fleet, based on their level of play. “Carnival Cruise Lines shares our commitment to attentive service, delicious food and drink, and exceptional experiences, making this a meaningful partnership that will greatly benefit our players,” commented Tony Rodio, president, Tropicana Entertainment.

MSC Cruises to Sail to the Maltese Capital

SC Cruises has added Valetta to one of its top-selling Mediterranean cruise itineraries offered for the spring/summer season. The seven-day cruise to the Maltese capital encompasses seven ports of call spanning Genoa, Naples and Messina in Italy and the Tunisian coastal town of La Goulette, in addition to Valetta, Barcelona and Marseille. Two vessels will be deployed on this itinerary, MSC Preziosa and MSC Fantasia, and passengers will have the opportunity to tour each one of the cities.

Malta

10 JANUARY 2015

NEWS

BERLIN RECORDS INCREASING VISITOR NUMBERS VisitBerlin has unveiled the latest tourist figures for October 2014, showing a 5.1 percent increase in arrivals, reaching 1,138,671, and a 5.6 percent rise in overnight stays across the German capital’s accommodation establishments.

AIRail Takes Off in Austria

ignificant growth was recorded from a number of markets. As for the European ones, demand from the UK rose 8.4 percent, arrivals from Denmark were up 8.5 percent, from Ireland 25.5 and from Portugal 10.7 percent. Meanwhile, figures from the US rose 9.3 percent, from Brazil 12.6 percent, from Canada 9.3 percent, from Israel 26.6 percent, from China 23.9 percent, from South Korea 34.7 percent and from South Africa 21.5 percent.

Berlin

Liptov Welcomes Free Tourist Bus Rides

ustrian Airlines and national railway company, ÖBB have launched AIRail to offer direct rail connections between Linz’ central station and Vienna Airport for the airline’s passengers. Integrating the third largest Austrian city into the carrier’s network in this way, in addition to the five daily flights between the destinations already being offered, provides up to eight extra rail connections a day. Moreover, from December onwards, the rail link will be further extended, as ÖBB railjets and Intercity trains will be deployed every 30 minutes and the travel time will also be reduced.

AIRail crew

Hertz Increases European Presence

Jasná ski resort in the Liptov region

or the third time, attractions of Slovakia’s Liptov region are connected by the Ski & Aqua Bus, which made its first drive this season on December 25, 2014, delighting passengers with more stops than in previous years. This bus line now links the following tourist attractions: Jasná Nízke Tatry, Malinô Brdo, Bešeňová, Tatralandia water park, Lúčky, Liptovský Mikuláš, Ružomberok and Liptovský Ján, with new stops in Liptovský Trnovec and Bodice. There will also be night drives between Podbreziny in Liptovský Mikuláš and Jasná. The service is offered for free to all visitors to the region, under the condition that they hold a complimentary Liptov Region Card which also offers discounts on more than 50 attractions and ski passes.

he Hertz Corporation opened more than 80 new locations in European cities in 2014 as part of the company’s ongoing expansion across the continent’s urban hubs. The car rental brand has launched outlets in key cities including Madrid, Athens, Oslo and Stockholm in a bid to meet the rising demand in Europe’s most important train stations and city centres. Among the latest locations is the Puerta de Atocha train station in Madrid, one of the busiest gateways in the Spanish capital handling approximately 36 million visitors every year. The station’s position in the heart of the city also makes car hire convenient for its 3.2 million residents and the region’s 4.2 million annual overseas visitors.

kn Did you

ow. .

ny’s mpa ean o c The Europ d in first n opene 0? 5 o i 9 t loca ce in 1 Fran

10 JANUARY 2015

NEWS

Aeroflot Tops Global Punctuality Ranking

eroflot once again achieved the best ontime performance worldwide with 93.22 percent of the Russian airline’s flights landing on time in November 2014. Based on data compiled by FlightStats, globally, Scandinavian Airlines came second, followed by Austrian Airlines. The top 10 included another four European carriers with KLM ranking as fifth, Iberia as seventh, Lufthansa as eighth and airberlin as 10th. Commenting on the company’s leading position, Vitaly Saveliev, CEO, Aeroflot, said, “The first key to success for any company in the transportation sector is to provide high quality transport services. This is especially true for airlines because we face more stringent requirements, and the air transport sector is extremely competitive.”

Festive Season Sparks Interest in Summer Holidays

homson and First Choice reported that nearly 940,000 people in the UK turned to computers, mobiles and tablets on 2014’s Christmas Day and Boxing Day to plan a summer holiday, with the number of searches on their websites increasing by almost a third compared to 2013. Favourite destinations included the traditionally popular Tenerife, as well as Greece, Cyprus and Goa. First Choice saw a 100 percent rise in mobile searches on Christmas Day and 88 percent on Boxing Day, while Thomson recorded a 63 percent surge on tablet searches. Andrew Flintham, commercial director, Thomson and First Choice, said, “For the majority, time off over the festive period with our families gives us the chance to search for a holiday to look forward to.”

Gatwick Airport Teams Up with Amadeus

echnology provider for the global travel industry, Amadeus celebrated the first client to implement its cloud-based Airport-Collaborative Decision Making Portal (A-CDM). London's Gatwick Airport is among the first partners to join the Europe-wide A-CDM standard, alongside airports in Munich, Paris, Madrid and Zurich. The new portal aims to harmonise timely information sharing between airport operators, airlines, ground handlers and air traffic management to improve operational efficiency. Michael Ibbitson, chief information officer, Gatwick Airport, enthused, “We estimate that thanks to Amadeus’ A-CDM Portal, we will be able to increase capacity to more than 40 million passengers on a single runway following wider adoption of the portal in the next year or so.”

Scotland Builds upon Massive Golf Momentum

isitScotland saw more than 340,000 spectators attending golf events across the country in 2014. Some of the most prestigious competitions included The Ryder Cup, The Junior Ryder Cup and five other professional tournaments. “The economic impact of these spectators […] is significant and underlines the reasons why Scotland places so much importance on staging the world’s biggest and best golf events,” said Mike Cantlay, chairman, VisitScotland. “There is simply no better way to follow up 2014 than with The Open at St Andrews, the Women’s British Open at Turnberry and the Aberdeen Asset Management Scottish Open alongside many other top-class events which will bring spectators from all over the world to Scotland to watch and play golf,” he enthused.

10 JANUARY 2015

TOURISM BOARDS NEWS Ireland Welcomes New US Route

reland’s tourism authority welcomed United Airlines’ decision to launch new summer services between Chicago and Dublin, effective from June. Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, commented, “[The] announcement by United Airlines is more good news for Irish tourism for this year. [...].

As an island, the importance of convenient, direct, nonstop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.” He further suggested that 2014 is set to become another record year for tourism from the US with more than one million American visitors.

Malta Showcases MICE Offerings at EIBTM

Ireland to Boost American Tourist Numbers

Albania Pushes for Deeper Tourism Cooperation

ourism Ireland, together with a delegation of 20 enterprises, undertook a three-day trade and media blitz in the US, with events having taken place in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle. With the Aer Lingus route between San Francisco and Dublin due to become daily this summer, the sales trip offered the opportunity to target travel agents and tour operators on the west coast. Commenting on the initiative, Alison Metcalfe, head of North America, Tourism Ireland, said, “The US is one of the most important markets [...] and Tourism Ireland has undertaken a busy programme of promotions throughout 2014 to grow American visitor numbers.”

10 JANUARY 2015

Malta

alta Tourism Authority (MTA) took part at EIBTM, showcasing the country’s tourism offerings to MICE-specialised audiences gathered in Barcelona in mid-November 2014. Trade partners such as Air Malta and 16 other entities spanning destination management companies, hotels and others, exhibited alongside MTA, gaining significant attention. The Maltese stand featured numerous meetings, presentations and entertainment, as well as local delicacies. Paul Bugeja, CEO, MTA, commented, “The Maltese islands have recently seen a steady increase in the number of incentive and conference events. However, we need to stay on top of our game and listen to what the client wants in order to further grow this important sector.”

Ulcinj in Montenegro

ational Tourism Agency (NTA) of Albania participated in a conference titled Montenegro, Albania and Kosovo – Opportunities for the Joint Production and Development on Promoting Tourism, which was held in the Montenegrin city of Ulcinj in December 2014. Albania was represented at the event by Elena Bardhi, director of projects and foreign relations, NTA, who made a presentation on the achievements made in the region so far. She also highlighted opportunities and potential benefits of cooperation between the three sides, such as promotion of joint cultural routes and cultural heritage, and creation of joint tourism packages.

NEWS ACCOMMODATION London Marriott Hotel Park Lane Gets A Luxury Makeover

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide announced the opening of an Element-branded hotel in New Hampshire, US. Element Hanover-Lebanon offers a fresh, reimagined perspective on the extended stay experience with 120 rooms and an atmosphere designed to fuel a life in balance and on the move. Ideally located at the entrance of Altaria Business Park, the new hotel is a key anchor of a mixed-use complex owned and developed by Norwich Partners, and is managed by True North Hotel Group. "Element Hanover-Lebanon provides a compelling, new option for travellers in an unbeatable location," said Brian McGuinness, senior vice president, specialty select brands, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel, Belgrade

Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel, Belgrade Opens for Business

London Marriott Hotel Park Lane

Element Brand Debuts in New Hampshire

ondon Marriott Hotel Park Lane is set to complete an extensive renovation in June, further raising the bar for hotels in the capital’s Mayfair area. The interiors of the Grande II listed property are currently undergoing a transformation to epitomise Mayfair elegance and compete with the best addresses in London. “The new design, an increased suite count, an elevated service and an enhanced in-room offering will make us even more appealing to the luxury market,” suggested Nicolas Kipper, general manager, London Marriott Hotel Park Lane. The makeover will extend to all 152 rooms and will also include the introduction of five new suites and the redesign of the lobby, executive lounge as well as the meeting rooms.

Autograph Collection Debuts in Azerbaijan

M C

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has unveiled Radisson Blu Old Mill Hotel, Belgrade, bringing world-class style and sophistication to the vibrant Serbian capital. “Eastern Europe is an important growth market for our group, and this opening further strengthens our network in the region,” said Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group. Centrally located, the property boasts an impressive façade of glass and stone, in addition to 236 guestrooms and suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, the brand’s signature services and free Wi-Fi. Other facilities include a lounge with panoramic vistas, a restaurant, 500m² of meetings and conference space and a fitness hub.

arriott International has added two luxurious hotels from Azerbaijan’s Shahdag Mountain Resort to its Autograph Collection, the 167-room Pik Palace Shahdag and the 164-key Park Chalet Shahdag. These will be followed by two more properties from the Azeri capital in June, including the 818-unit Boulevard Hotel Baku and 150-room Intourist Hotel Baku. As John Licence, European continent brand leader, Autograph Collection, noted, Azerbaijan has seen outstanding developments in its tourism infrastructure in recent years. “Autograph Collection is known for creating authentic experiences for travellers that are nothing less than unique, nothing short of exceptional – which is why Azerbaijan and the four properties are the perfect fit for the brand,” concluded Licence.

Park Chalet Shahdag

10 JANUARY 2015

NEWS ACCOMMODATION New Owner for Park Inn by Radisson Amsterdam

QHotels Expands Portfolio to 27 Hotels

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has introduced the new owner of the 478-room Park Inn by Radisson Amsterdam. Omnam Investment Group has acquired the property, set to welcome its first guests in 2016, which will be deemed as a new European flagship for the company’s mid-market brand. Wolfgang Neumann, CEO, The Rezidor Hotel Grouop, commented, “We are delighted to complete this exciting project together with Omnam Investment Group and thank the new owners for their trust in us. Amsterdam is one of the most important hotel markets in Europe, and we have a strong presence with five hotels and almost, 1,300 rooms in operation and under development.”

kno u o y d Di

isson Rad han y b t Inn ore Park d has m across bran 0 hotels Middle 14 e, the a, and p c Euro nd Afri as? a ic r t Eas e Ame th

Cameron House on Loch Lomond

n an effort to strengthen its nationwide presence, UK-based QHotels has expanded its portfolio with the addition of six former De Vere Hotels and De Vere Luxury Lodges. The six additions, all located across the UK, will now be managed alongside the existing QHotels. Michael Purtill, managing director, QHotels, commented, “This is a really positive move that will help drive long-term, sustained growth for the QHotels brand. The six hotels are an excellent fit as they are renowned for their first-rate facilities, catering, and service. This aligns with our guest-first ethos and enables us to effectively expand our UK reach.“

Champneys Tring Unveils Renovations

n an effort to celebrate its 90th year in health and wellbeing, London’s Champneys Tring is to unveil significant improvements to its health spa and services. The new facilities and services include the Champneys Ritual Detox Centre, designed to reinvigorate and revitalise visitors, as well as the new Medical and Wellbeing Centre at Tring which will ensure clients’ overall health and vitality are cared for during visits. Furthermore, guest rooms will also be renovated, and the boutique, nail salon and hair salon will be remodelled into a spacious and chic environment to shop and unwind.

Champneys Tring

10 JANUARY 2015

NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Helsinki to Welcome New Hotel

lmarinen and Kämp Group have agreed on the development of a new lifestyle hotel in Helsinki’s city centre. Set to open in 2016, the 70-room GLO Maxim will be developed in the building that has housed the historical movie theatre Maxim. In conjunction with the new development, the movie theatre screen will remain as theatre space, and movies will continue to be shown there in the future as well. Ilmarinen is the owner of the building and Kämp Group will be the hotel operator. “We are very satisfied that we have found a new partner who will lease the space from us, and who is interested in investing into Maxim’s future,” said Esko Torsti, head of non-listed investments, Ilmarinen.

King Evelthon Stabilises Tsokkos Hotels

Third InterCityHotel Opens in Hamburg

Mona Hotel in Ankara Joins WIH

yprus-based Tsokkos Hotels announced the group’s results for 2014’s first nine months, showing a turnover of EUR40.6 million compared to EUR36.37 in the corresponding period in 2013. The increase was attributed to the opening of the five-star King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort in Paphos. Net profit after tax reached EUR2.84 million. A company announcement supported that the current situation in the Eurozone and Ukraine affected the yearly results which may have fluctuations difficult to predict.

King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort

nterCityHotel Hamburg Dammtor-Messe has opened its doors, becoming the 37th property in the portfolio of Steigenberger Hotels’ subsidiary InterCityHotel. The hotel offers 275 rooms, a conference area on the 13th floor with six meeting rooms, a restaurant, a bistro lounge and a bar. According to Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Steigenberger Hotels, the new opening forms part of an expansion strategy which places emphasis on the further development of the group’s brands. “The launch of a third InterCityHotel in Hamburg [enabled] us to bring the year 2014 to a successful conclusion. We will begin [this year] in a similar vein when InterCityHotel Enschede opens [this month] and becomes our first venture into the Netherlands,” revealed Joachim Marusczyk, managing director, InterCityHotel.

arwick International Hotels (WIH) has welcomed a new affiliate member, Mona Hotel, Turkey. Set in the heart of Ankara, the boutique hotel boasts an elegant art-deco style with a breakfast hall, a greenhouse and a terrace. Its rooms feature classic and modern furnishings and guests can choose between king-size or twin bed options, while its penthouse suites offer contemporary and stylish experience with a luxurious touch. This latest addition further enhances the international reach of WIH which has now more than 55 hotels on five continents.

Mona Hotel

10 JANUARY 2015

ACCOMMODATION NEWS Marriott Adds to Its Scottish Portfolio

arriott International and Aberdeen City Council have signed an agreement to launch a Residence Inn by Marriott property in the new Marishal Square development in the centre of Aber-

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group has announced a deal with Block Geo Group to develop Park Inn by Radisson Tori Tbilisi, the company’s second Park Inn-branded property in the Georgian capital. With this announcement, Carlson Rezidor now boasts six hotels across the country. “Georgia is a key growth market for us, and we are delighted to further strengthen our network across the country together with our partners”, said Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group. The 180-room hotel is located just 200m from the Georgian Parliament, and offers easy access to ExpoGeorgia as well as the airport. Guest will be offered two food and beverage outlets and expansive meetings facilities.

IHG Signs Two European Hotels

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is further extending its European footprint with the addition of two properties under its InterContinental brand. Located in the former Four Seasons Dublin, the newly unveiled InterContinental Dublin features 197 rooms, an indoor pool, spa and fitness centre, two res-

taurants and bars and over 1,400m2 of meeting and event space. Due to open in 2016, InterContinental Baku will mark the brand’s debut in Azerbaijan. Located in the heart of the capital’s shopping district, the new-built property will boast 105 units.

Starwood Cements Presence in Croatia Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel

New Park Inn by Radisson in Tbilisi

Residence Inn Aberdeen

deen. Scheduled to be completed by summer 2017, the 126-room hotel will be aimed at extended-stay business and leisure travellers. Speaking about Residence Inn by Marriott’s arrival to the Scottish city, Tim Walton, vice president, international development, Marriott International, said, “The brand prides itself on giving guests everything they need to thrive on longer stays, and we are confident that the modern and stylish design of the hotel combined with the excellent location at the heart of Aberdeen will offer a dynamic hotel experience in the city.”

S Rendering of Park Inn by Radisson Tori Tbilisi

10 JANUARY 2015

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has partnered with Hoteli Dubrovacka Rivijera to open a new Sheraton-branded property in Dubrovnik. Due to welcome its first guests in the second quarter of the year, Sheraton Dubrovnik Riviera Hotel will mark the company’s entry into the popular tourist destination and its fourth project in Croatia. As Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, highlighted, the group’s expanding footprint reflects the country’s continuing prominence as a travel destinations and the growing demand for strong and globally recognised brands along the Adriatic coast. Located along the Dubrovnik riviera, the hotel will feature 250 rooms and one of the largest conference facilities along the Croatian Adriatic coast with approximately 1,000m2 of meeting space.

NEWS ACCOMMODATION Increased Turnover in Cyprus

First Element Hotel in The Netherlands

S Cyprus

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has signed an agreement with Bari Gruppe to open the first Element hotel in The Netherlands. Located at Gelderlandplein in the vibrant Zuid area of the capital, Element Amsterdam will cater to today’s environmentally conscious travellers. It will offer a bright, modern design and greenminded sensibilities. Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa, and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, commented, “Following the success of the recently opened Element Frankfurt Airport Hotel, we are proud to expand our relationship with the Bari Gruppe as we introduce the first Element hotel in Amsterdam.”

he Statistical Service of Cyprus announced the Services Turnover Value Index of the accommodation and food service activities sector for the period July – September 2014. According to the report, the sector recorded a year-on-year increase of 1.6 percent. Overall, the industry’s index reached 167 units for the period under review. The Services Turnover Value Index reflects the monthly and quarterly changes of turnover and the base year is 2010, meaning that the index shows the changes in turnover of the reference period in relation with the turnover average of the year 2010.

Hotel rendering

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Bordeaux Due for 2017

arlson Rezidor Hotel Group is to further strengthen its network in France with the 125-room Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Bordeaux. Set to welcome its first guests in the second quarter of 2017, the property will boast a breakfast area, dinner restaurant, lobby bar and a sky bar with panoramic views over Bordeaux and the river Garonne. Meeting facilities will comprise five conference rooms and a ballroom. On a surface of more than 1,500m2, the urban resort will offer a spa and a Balneotherapy area including ice tunnel, Hammam and sauna.

Radisson Blu Hotel & Spa Bordeaux rendering

10 JANUARY 2015

AIRPORTS NEWS

European Airports Improve Traffic Management

Faro Airport: Six Million Passengers

Major Upgrade at Gatwick Train Station

n industry consortium representing airlines, airports and air navigation service providers (ANSP) signed an agreement with the European Commission for the modernisation of the continent’s air traffic management (ATM) system. According to the deal, the Single European Sky ATM Research (SESAR) Deployment Alliance which comprises four airline groups, 25 major European airports and 11 ANSPs, will develop and implement a series of ATM processes and technologies. Olivier Jankovec, director general, Airports Council International Europe, commented, “We are entering an exciting new phase, moving from concepts to real life operations. As part of this challenge, we will be focussing on making sure that airports are required to deploy what is truly necessary for improving performance.”

10 JANUARY 2015

ortugal’s Faro Airport reached six million passengers in a year, in 2014. In 2006, Faro Airport marked the five million passenger landmark and since then its aircraft per hour processing capacity has increased from 22 to 24 movements while maintaining the passenger processing volume at 2,400 passengers. Moreover, between 2006 and 2014, the Portuguese hub has had an average annual growth rate of around 2.5 percent. Also, during this period, an 11 percent increase showed that staff at Faro Airport stand out for their courtesy and efficiency.

Faro Airport

atwick Airport’s train station is to get a major makeover with a GBP120.5 million (EUR152 million) redesign project transforming the hub and elevating passenger experience. Work is scheduled to start in 2017 and complete in 2020. During the three-year process, passengers will experience a seamless transition between the airport and the new station. Improvements and new features include a doubling in size of the concourse area to reduce congestion and improve the passenger experience; more escalators and lifts to improve access to all platforms; and intuitive passenger flow and clear concise information. Gatwick Airport will contribute GBP30 million (EUR59 million) and Network Rail a further GBP30 million (EUR59 million) toward the deal, which is still subject to further detailed commercial negotiations.

Warsaw Airport Receives 10 Millionth Passenger

he number of passengers handled at Warsaw Chopin Airport in a year has once again broken the 10 million barrier. Michał Kaczmarzyk, general director, Warsaw Chopin Airport, said that the ceremony, held in December 2014 to welcome the lucky passenger was the icing on the cake in the hub’s 80th anniversary year. “In the first year of its operation, the airport handled about 10,000 passengers. Now we welcome a thousand times as many people. Over the 80 years, the planes, procedures and expectations of travellers have changed, but one thing remains the same – our commitment to the comfort and safety of passengers,” he said.

NEWS AIR Alitalia Adds German Flights

UIA Expands Domestic Route Network

Kiev

litalia has commenced new services from Rome Fiumicino, Milan Linate and Venice to Berlin and Düsseldorf. The daily flights to Berlin and Düsseldorf are currently being operated by an Embraer 175 aircraft configured in two classes, while during the summer season, the carrier plans to increase capacity. With the introduction of new links to Berlin and Düsseldorf, Alitalia now offers 370,000 more seats to Germany, an increase of 66 percent compared to the previous winter season, further expanding its network, which was previously limited to flights from the Italian capital to Munich and from Rome and Milan Linate to Frankfurt.

s part of its upcoming summer operations, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will expand its domestic route network by launching nonstop scheduled services from Kiev to Zaporizhia, and from Kharkov and Lvov to Odessa. The new flights will be operated by Boeing 737 aircraft with two-class cabin layout. Evgeniya Satska, corporate press secretary, UIA, commented, “The expansion of UIA domestic route network is part of the company’s longterm development strategy. Despite challenging business environment, UIA is the only Ukraine’s carrier that not only fully complies with its obligations to passengers and maintains the integrity of its domestic route network, but also launches new flights to the cities of Ukraine strengthening cultural, economic, and social ties of Ukraine’s regions.”

airberlin Increases Bucharest Frequency

TAP Strengthens Digital Presence

Bucharest

A A

s part of its endeavours to offer better and more complete services to its customers, Portuguese carrier, TAP has added eight new European destinations to its list of airports at which mobile check-in is available. Passengers travelling from Geneva, Zurich, Zagreb, Vienna, Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg and Düsseldorf can now easily and comfortably check-in 23 hours prior to departure by using the airline’s application on their smartphones. Furthermore, the specific mobile app enables TAP customers to have complete up-to-date information about their flights in the case of any operational problems, and also keeps them updates with the aim of minimising any disruption and ensuring an overall relaxing journey.

s of March 30, airberlin will be doubling the number of flights from Berlin to Bucharest. The airline will then have two daily nonstop services to the Romanian capital, offering 13 new connecting destinations to and from the city. “Eastern Europe is an important growth market for airberlin. This additional daily frequency allows us to extend our offer for travellers to and from Bucharest. 13 new connections – including Madrid, Palma de Mallorca, Venice, Gdansk and Chicago will be available. These additional flights will also allow us to provide business travellers with even greater flexibility when planning their schedules,” said Mohammed Nasr, area manager, Eastern Europe, airberlin.

10 JANUARY 2015

AIR NEWS

Aeroflot Partners with Orenburg Airlines

Air France Codeshares with Air Austral

eroflot opened sales on Orenburg Airlines flights under Aeroflot commercial management. Starting from January 15, Orenburg Airlines flights to and from Vnukovo International Airport to Ekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnodar, Krasnoyarsk, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Omsk, Orenburg, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Chelyabinsk and Simferopol will be operated under Aeroflot’s code. Transfer of flights under the commercial management of Aeroflot is a part of the ongoing consolidation process of Aeroflot Group. Moreover, the company will obtain additional income from the sale of subsidiary airlines’ flights within all Aeroflot interline e-ticket agreements. A unified flight code with subsidiary airlines gives an opportunity to implement a codesharing agreement with third carriers.

10 JANUARY 2015

ir France and Air Austral have signed a codeshare agreement to facilitate travel for passengers between Europe and the Indian Ocean, and vice versa. The new partnership, which builds on the two airline’s existing interline deal, enables the European carrier to offer two new destinations in the Indian Ocean via Saint Denis de la Reunion to Dzaoudzi, Mayotte and Moroni, Comoros. In turn, Air Austral customers enjoy seamless travel to 40 European locations via Paris-Charles de Gaulle and other routes are expected to be added to the partnership in the coming months. According to Zoran Jelkić, executive vice president, Caribbean, Indian Ocean and Latin America, Air France-KLM, the agreement confirms the company’s commitment to expand its offering and further strengthen is partnerships in the region.

Wizz Air Steps Up Polish Operations

izz Air is poised to further grow its network to and from Poland. Effective from June 25, the lowcost carrier will commence a new service from Warsaw Chopin to Stavanger, Norway’s popular destination famed for its fiords and vibrant cultural life. From June 26, travellers will also have the chance to fly from Katowice to Bristol, Bologna, as well as Larnaca. In addition, starting June 26 and June 27 respectively, Wizz Air will also offer more flights on two Gdansk routes to Trondheim, Norway, increasing to three weekly services, and London Luton, operating three times per day.

kn Did you

ow. .

s offer Air to 17 z z i W s oute om 95 r tries fr n cou oland? P

NIKI Serves Athens

IKI is extending its services to Greece with Athens being included in the Austrian carrier’s upcoming summer schedule. As of April, NIKI will fly to Athens every day except Saturday with an Airbus A320, providing additional flexibility and various connecting flights for holiday and business travellers to Greece. In addition, passengers from the Mediterranean country will have access to NIKI’s services between Vienna and the global airberlin network. “Greece has become the strongest growth market for NIKI over the past few years. The recently decided-upon fleet conversion and our position as market leader will enable us to offer more flights from Vienna to Greece in the future,” said Christian Lesjak, managing director, NIKI.

NEWS AIR

audi NasJet and Luxembourgheadquartered Luxaviation Group entered into a strategic partnership targeting Europe, the Middle East and Asia. The alliance is set to create the second largest fleet in the global private aviation industry, with more than 150 business jets, and provide an enhanced network for optimised services and cross-continental travel for customers in the three regions. Saad Alazwari, CEO, NasJet, commented, “With [this] agreement, we set the foundation for a deeper cooperation with a solid operator in Europe. We are looking forward to further developing our partnership over the coming months and enhancing the services offered to our client base.”

Winter Sun Escapes with Lufthansa

ravellers wishing to bask in warm sunshine during the cold winter months will be able to fly from Germany to some of the most pleasant places next winter. Between December and April 2016, Lufthansa will operate two weekly flights from its hub in Frankfurt to Cancún, Mexico; Malé, Maldives; and Mauritius. The German airline will deploy an Airbus A340300 aircraft with 298 seats in business, premium economy and economy class on the new routes. The Frankfurt – Cancún service will run between December 8 and April 9, 2016, the Malé flight will be operated between December 9 and April 10, 2016 while the Mauritius route will operate between December 10 and April 11, 2016.

Punta Cancun

NasJet and Luxaviation to Transform Private Aviation

Arctic Airlink Connects Norway, Finland and Sweden

his month, Arctic Airink and Nextjet will launch the Arctic Airlink route, connecting three northern university towns; Oulu, Luleå and Tromsø. The service is expected to eliminate many of the challenges regarding travel between the three Nordic destinations which increasingly work in direct cooperation in business, academic, urban, administration and tourism sectors. Arctic Airlink is a local initiative that rests on a strong drive to take responsibility for developing northern Finland, Norway and Sweden in an east-west direction.

Air Serbia Launches Zagreb Flights

Zagreb

A 20

ir Serbia has recently celebrated the inauguration of services to Zagreb, its fourth destination in Croatia. The maiden flight was operated by the carrier’s Airbus A319 Novak Đoković aircraft, named after Serbia’s acclaimed tennis player, which carried a high-level delegation. Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, said, “Zagreb is an important addition to Air Serbia’s regional network. After 23 years, the air bridge between the two capitals is once again re-established. We are proud to be able to help bring closer the people and economies of the two countries.” 10 JANUARY 2015

RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Being organised for the first time in 2014 Greek Tourism Expo welcomed 162 exhibitors and 74 hosted buyers. How many visitors went through Greek Tourism Expo’s doors and which sectors proved to be most popular? CHRISTOFOROS PAPADIOTIS: The number of business visitors who came to the exhibition was 6,650 and in this number we must add a two percent which was public. These figures clearly show the professional nature of the exhibition since 45 percent were professionals from travel agencies and hotels, 38 percent were companies from the area of special forms of tourism, such as marine tourism and others, and 15 percent were from companies that are indirectly related to tourism, such as marketing and e-tourism companies, restaurants, and many more. The most popular sector of the exhibition was the Greek Islands.

Q & A with

Christoforos Papadiotis GENERAL MANAGER, LEADEREXPO

“

CHRISTOFOROS PAPADIOTIS: We are very satisfied as the first edition of the exhibition attracted 6,650 visitors from all tourism sectors. This number of professional visitors improves the potential of the exhibition so we hope that [the next edition] will attract more exhibitors and visitors.

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Which were the main focal points for Leaderexpo during the first Greek Tourism Expo and which issues seem to be attracting the biggest interest so as to be addressed at the second annual expo? CHRISTOFOROS PAPADIOTIS: The most successful and interesting results for both hosted buyers and exhibitors, was the private business-to-business meetings but in the second edition we will focus also on the business-to-consumer sector in order to increase the added value of the exhibition. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What are the current trends in Greek tourism? What has changed in regards to buyers demands as to what they want to see at a tourism expo?

THE FIRST EDITION OF THE EXHIBITION ATTRACTED 6,650 VISITORS

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How satisfied is Leaderexpo with the outcome of the exhibition?

The important thing is that a lot of interest was received by not only the popular islands, but also the lesser-known islands such as Naxos, Antiparos, Syros, Andros, Patmos, Limnos and Ikaria.

CHRISTOFOROS PAPADIOTIS: As we know, the trends in Greek tourism remain the sea and the sun but over the past years you can see more and more tourists also interested in the archaeological, adventure, sport and recreational tourism, agrotourism, ecotourism and of course gastronomy tourism.

ORGANISED FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 2014 GREEK TOURISM EXPO ATTRACTED OVER 6,500 VISITORS. CHRISTOFOROS PAPADIOTIS, GENERAL MANAGER, LEADEREXPO, SPEAKS ABOUT THE EVENT AND EXPLAINS WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY TO EXPECT FOR THE NEXT STAGING OF THE EXPO.

“

IN THE SECOND EDITION WE WILL FOCUS ALSO ON THE BUSINESS-TOCONSUMER SECTOR

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Which regions exhibit the biggest interest for Greece and its tourism product? CHRISTOFOROS PAPADIOTIS: According to [feeedback from] the exhibitors, buyers and visitors, the biggest interest focussed on the city of Athens, the Greek Islands, sea tourism and also archeological places. 10 JANUARY 2015

The opening ceremony of the exhibition

NEWS AIR

SWISS to Cease Basel Operations

Norwegian Expands in Spain

wiss International Air Lines (SWISS) is to terminate its operations at EuroAirport Basel Mulhouse Freiburg, effective from May. The carrier cited changed market conditions and difficult political parameters, which, according to the company’s statement, offer no prospect of a premium airline to operate profitably in Basel. The carrier however maintains that the decision has been taken independently of whether the city may be chosen as a future Eurowings base by Lufthansa Group. Referring to how the region has evolved into a low-cost market, Harry Hohmeister, CEO, SWISS, said, “For a premium carrier like SWISS, it is simply impossible to operate profitably in this market environment.” The airline will continue to link Basel with the world by air from its Zurich hub.

candinavian low-cost carrier, Norwegian is to further consolidate its presence in the UK market by offering nonstop services to Madrid, Barcelona and Malaga. Starting March 30, the airline will operate three weekly flights between Birmingham and Malaga, while the following day will mark the inauguration of a new, thrice-weekly service to Madrid, which will be followed by the launch of the twice-weekly Birmingham – Barcelona route on June 1. Further cementing its ties with the UK, the carrier will fly two times a week between Edinburgh and Malaga effective from March 31. According to Paul Kehoe, CEO, Birmingham Airport, although Norwegian is new to the Midlands market, the airline’s low fares and efficient services are expected to attract high demand from both the business and the leisure sectors.

Ryanair Launches New Routes from Lisbon

Miami

Air France Goes Superjumbo on Miami Route

Milan

yanair has continued to grow its Lisbon base with three new daily destinations; Rome, Milan and Hamburg. Also Bremen and Eindhoven will be offered thrice-weekly. Out of the new routes, only Bremen has no other connection to the Portuguese capital. In addition to this, the low-cost carrier also revealed plans to increase existing frequencies to London, Pisa and Porto by seven, one and nine additional weekly flights respectively. Ryanair operates another 10 routes from Lisbon: Brussels, Beauvais, Dole, Dublin, Hahn, Manchester, Marseille, Porto, Pisa and Stansted.

he beginning of December 2014 saw Air France’s Airbus A380 land in Miami, marking the launch of new daily superjumbo services to the US. During the current winter season, the French flag carrier is scheduled to operate up to seven flights per week to the city, all of which will be served by the spacious A380 aircraft. Passengers can choose from a total of 516 seats, spread across four categories. The aircraft also features six bars to enable passengers to meet up and socialise during the flight, as well as an area dedicated to art and culture.

10 JANUARY 2015

AGENTS NEWS

Bravofly Rumbo Group to Acquire lastminute.com

uropean online travel agency (OTA), Bravofly Rumbo Group has made a bidding offer to buy lastminute.com from Sabre Corporation. Under the terms of the offer, valued at some USD120 million (EUR96.3 million), the group would purchase all of lastminute. com’s principal global operations located in the UK, France, Germany and Spain, reaching an expected combined gross travel value of nearly EUR2.5 billion and revenues of over EUR260 million. Acceptance of the bid is subject to the completion of employee information and consultation processes, following which closure would be expected in the first quarter of the year.

IATA and Agents Explore Impact of NDC Standard

he International Air Transport Association (IATA) and Coalition of National Travel Agent Associations (CNTAA) are working together on a study to look at potential benefits to travel agents as the New Distribution Capability (NDC) XML standard is considered for implementation by airlines and technology providers. The study will be examining the issues from the perspectives of large, medium and small agencies, including both business- and leisure-focussed travel agencies. “As a better understanding and acceptance of NDC by airlines becomes apparent, it is timely to now undertake this research study to investigate how travel agents might benefit from the implementation of the standard” said Jayson Westbury, CEO, The Australian Federation of Travel Agents.

kn u o y d i D

Travco Acquires Stake in Polish Company

ravco Group has agreed to purchase a 30 percent stake in the polish tour operator, Alfa Star. Announcing the acquisition, Hamed El Chiaty, chairman, Travco Group, suggested that the Egyptian company is keen on increasing its share in the future. “This marks a stepping stone for expanding our business in the Eastern European source market, thereby enhancing tourism arrivals from Poland to Egypt,” El Chiaty further explained. “We strongly believe in a very positive future and together we will work on increasing Alfa Star’s capture of the outbound travel market as we restore confidence in the Egyptian market.” In the medium-term, Travco Group plans to continue focussing on the Egyptian market but it also has plans to expand into other European countries.

ow. .

s span AA CNT cies from il, z agen lia, Bra , ia ra d t s n I u A da, and Cana Africa s? ie h r t Sou r count e h t o

Hamed El Chiaty 10 JANUARY 2015

TRAVEL TALK

Qatar Airways will increase its long-haul services from Manchester Airport

KEN O’TOOLE Chief commercial officer, Manchester Airports Group

“We are delighted that [as of February 15] Qatar Airways will increase its long-haul services from Manchester Airport, providing further direct connectivity to Doha and beyond. The service will provide increased choice to the 22 million passengers living close to Manchester Airport.”

We promise to invest more in the years ahead

ACHILLEAS DOROTHEOU CEO, Ikos Resorts

We will continue to invest in growing our fleet and capacity

We are delighted to be accepted as Gold Level GreenLeader

CHRISTEL CABANIER General manager, Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Midi

“We care about operating sustainably. This is a firm part of our core purpose. We are delighted to be accepted as Gold Level GreenLeader [in the TripAdvisor GreenLeaders programme, recognising hotels that engage in environmentally friendly practices and help travellers plan greener stay].”

“We are proud of our personnel that has worked hard to exceed the highest expectations of our sophisticated customers. We are also grateful that [with the Europe’s Top All Inclusive accolade at TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travelers’ Choice awards] our customers have acknowledged the continuous training and development of our personnel, as well as the upgrading of our services and property facilities. We promise to invest more in the years ahead and consistently deliver the highest quality of services across all Ikos Resorts.”

DIMITRIS GEROGIANNIS Managing director, AEGEAN Airlines

“Our expansion strategy has yielded positive results in a period of intensifying competition and despite traffic weakness demonstrated from the Russian market. We will continue to invest in growing our fleet and capacity, adding destinations and penetrating new source markets for Greek tourism. Our key priorities involve continuous investments in growing our network, achieving scale economies as well as focusing on new service offerings to our passengers within a fast changing competitive environment.”

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

10 JANUARY 2015

WHO’S MOVED

STEFAN KREUZPAINTNER

MARIA GUADALUPE ONTIVEROS

Stefan Kreuzpaintner has taken over as vice president for pricing and revenue management at Brussels Airlines. Together with his team, he will make sure that the company stays at the forefront of the most advanced and dynamic pricing and revenue management systems, while at the same time ensuring the competitiveness of the carrier. Kreuzpaintner started his career with Lufthansa in 2003, looking after network planning in Africa and the Middle East where he was responsible for the company’s network management processes. Since October 1, 2012, he served as Lufthansa’s general manager responsible for the sales and marketing activities of the group members, including Brussels Airlines, in the strategic markets of Spain and Portugal.

Maria Guadalupe Ontiveros has joined luxury Mexicanowned hotel group Velas Resorts as the new regional sales manager for the UK. Her experience and contacts are considered key to increasing the company’s profile in the UK and other European markets, as she has more than 28 years experience in luxury tourism. Ontiveros previously worked as director of marketing and public relations for Europe at the Mexican Tourist Board, a position which she held since 2009. She joined the board in 1986 and was promoted to deputy director in 2000, before becoming regional deputy director in 2004. Her achievements included the creation of new flights to Cancun with British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and she also played a key role in bringing Mexican exhibitions to London.

MICHAEL BAYLEY

LISA LUTOFF-PERLO

Michael Bayley has been named as Royal Caribbean International’s new president and CEO. Bayley, who worked his way up from the assistant purser position aboard the Nordic Prince, assumes the brand’s helm after a successful term as president and CEO of Celebrity Cruises where he delivered strong results while building the company’s modern luxury positioning. Prior to that, Bayley served in various senior roles at Royal Caribbean International, including executive vice president of operations. In addition, he is also credited for playing a major role in the company’s international expansion, helping launch operations in markets around the globe. In his new roles, Bayley aims to take the company to higher levels of success.

Lisa Lutoff-Perlo has become Celebrity Cruises’ new president and CEO. Lutoff-Perlo’s career at Royal Caribbean Cruises began as a direct sales manager at the New England office and after a successful sales career she made her mark as a specialist in bringing new ships to the market for both Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. She now takes the helm at Celebrity Cruises after serving as executive vice president of operations at Royal Caribbean Cruises; a position in which she played a critical in the successful launch of Quantum of the Seas, the first in the company’s newest class of luxury ships. In addition, Lutoff-Perlo also contributed to the introduction of the company’s Voyager, Radiance and Solstice classes.

10 JANUARY 2015

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...

airberlin came home from the 33rd Mercury Award Ceremony in Abu Dhabi with the Golden Award for the varied onboard Sansibar gourmet meals it serves

dnata welcomes Cathay Pacific at Manchester International Airport

Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam is honoured to be awarded two Michelin stars for its fine-dining restaurant Librijeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Zusje Amsterdam.

10 JANUARY 2015

Air Serbia received the Route of the Week award from anna.aero for its Belgrade - Zagreb service

Hotel Splendid in Montenegro hosted European Council for Nuclear Research's symposium

Viking Line welcomed its 200 millionth passenger

NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS BC Hospitality Invests in Congress Market

C Hospitality Group, which operates Bella Center Copenhagen, has restructured its sales and production operations. The new organisational arrangement is to ensure that customers involved in planning trade fairs, congresses, conferences and other events have a dedicated contact that assists them throughout the entire sales and planning phases, as well as during the event. “The fundamental restructuring of the entire company’s organisation and production will ensure that we are competitive in relation to price, but to a very great extent also in terms of quality and service, and will enable BC Hospitality Group to achieve its goal of becoming Denmark’s leading hospitality company,” said Allan Agerholm, chief hospitality officer, BC Hospitality Group.

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

FERIEN-MESSE WIEN

Polish Sport Projects Highlighted in Milan

oland’s Ministry of Sport and Tourism revealed that the latest European Union sport directors’ meeting, held in December 2014 in Milan, focussed on the role of multisport clubs as models of social capital building, as well as methods of counteracting violence in sport. Polish projects Animator: my pitch Orlik and Fans Together were singled out as examples of successful initiatives to enhance security in sport.

CCD Secures 120 Events in Six Months

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

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

The Convention Centre Dublin

he Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) has secured 120 events between July and December 2014, including 25 international conferences, booked up until 2018. These 25 conferences range in size from 500 to 2,000 delegates and are forecasted to generate over EUR30 million for the local economy. They include the first ever Dublin International Game Music Festival in April, which will celebrate video game music; the Digital Solutions Cooperative, which is to showcase HP Graphic Arts in July; and the 68th ESOMAR Congress, expected to attract 1,000 market research experts in September. “We have had an unprecedented run of confirmations over the last six months [of 2014] and continue to see huge interest in what The CCD has to offer as a European conference venue”, said Nick Waight, CEO, The CCD.

Boating Season Starts at Messukeskus Helsinki

he international boat show Vene 15 Båt is to be held at Messukeskus Helsinki from February 6 -15. Commissioned by the Finnish Marine Industries Federation Finnboat, the convention centre organises the event annually. Hailed as the largest boating happening in Northern Europe presenting the latest boats and related products, Vene 15 Båt’s programme includes various seminars and info sessions. Hundreds of exhibitors are expected at the venue to showcase their products and services, boats, equipment and gear for boating as in 2014, the event’s 383 exhibiting companies occupied 25,000m2 of exhibition space and attracted 69,000 visitors.

EAST MEDITERRANEAN INTERNATIONAL TOURISM AND TRAVEL EXHIBITION (EMITT) Istanbul, Turkey January 22 – 25 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 www.ifema.es A global meeting point for tourism professionals for the Ibero-American markets.

10 JANUARY 2015