10 JANUARY 2017 ISSUE 53
02 TUI GROUP REPORTS SUCCESSFUL 2015-2016
05 GENERAL
EUROPEAN ARRIVALS FELL 3.5 PERCENT IN Q3 2016
15 RECORD BREAKING NOVEMBER FOR WARSAW AIRPORT
06 Cruising 14 Airports 20 Travel Channels
MARKET UPDATE
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TUI Group Reports Successful 2015-2016
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Panayiotis Karanicholas Stella Alexandrou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi
Upon completion of its 2015-2016 financial year, TUI Group has revealed an operating result of EUR1 billion, up from 2014-2015 figure of EUR953, excluding specialist unit Travelopia, which is available for sale.
HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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t a constant exchange rate, the increase totals a boost of 14.5 percent, to EU1.9 billion, including a foreign exchange translation growth at five percent. Turnover was up 1.4 percent year-on-year, reaching EUR17.76 billion. Fritz Joussen, CEO, TUI Group, highlighted that the company’s transformation from a tour operator and distributor to a designer, developer and operator of holiday concepts, hotels and cruise vessels with a strong sales organisation, has proven successful due to the higher margins on offer.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
Impressive November for Austrian Airlines
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com
EXCHANGE RATES
as of
10.1.2017
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
EUR1=
US (USD)
Dollar
1.06
UK (GBP)
Pound
0.87
Switzerland (CHF) Franc
1.07
Japan (JPY)
122.63
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Yen
Austrian Airlines transported more than 870,000 passengers in the month of November, showing a 10.9 percent increase over 2015 figures.
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he flight offering in available seat kilometres was increased by 6.5 percent to more than 1.8 billion. Additionally, the airline sold close to 1.3 billion revenue passenger kilometres in November, an increase of 1.1 percent from the 2015 level. Passenger load factor was at an average of 71.0 percent, a decrease of 3.8 percentage points compared to November 2015, and the number of flights in the month under study rose by 11.9 percent to a total of 10,825 flights.
10 JANUARY 2017
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WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE
Hotstats European Chain Hotels Market Review October 2016 has revealed positive results for properties in Dublin, Hamburg and Moscow, all achieving success in the 10 months to October.
Hamburg Reaps the Rewards of Cutting Costs
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oteliers in Hamburg enjoyed a successful month, with a 10.1 percent increase in RevPAR, bolstered by a 6.2 percentage point climb in occupancy rates and a 2.1 percent rise in average room rate. The growth was attributed to effective cost reductions, including room expenses; food and beverage; property and maintenance, down 4.3 percent, 16.3 percent and 29.8 percent, respectively. While there was a 1.6 percent rise in payroll on a per available room basis, the overall 8.6 percent saving in overheads ensured a 26.4 percent boost in profit per room, to EUR73.76.
Profit Per Room in Dublin Continues to Soar
Dublin
Moscow Reports Success Despite Challenges
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n the 12 months to October, hoteliers in Moscow achieved a 13.2 percent year-on-year surge in gross operating profit per available room, to EUR35.22, despite economical uncertainty within Russia. In a bid to drive volume in the leisure segment, rates had fallen 10.6 percent in the period January – October. However, this was offset by a 5.5 percent boost in the corporate sector as well as growth in residential conference, up 2.4 percent. During the 10 months under review, RevPAR rose 12 percent, supported by ancillary revenues, marking a total revenue of EUR86.93 per available room.
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espite a slowing year-on-year profit in October, Dublin held its position as the city with the fastest growing profit in Europe, with a 25.5 percent boost in profit per room for the first 10 months of the year. This brought the profit per room in the 36 months to October to EUR83.95, a remarkable surge of 77.4 percent. The successful year-to-date has driven RevPAR up 17.2 percent, to EUR142.34, enabling profit conversion to rise to 36.8 percent of total revenue for this period. The Irish capital maintained strong occupancy levels due to both the city’s popularity and the limited number of new openings.
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NEWS
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ETC and EDEN Network Invest in Europe The European Travel Commission (ETC) and the European Destinations of Excellence Network (EDEN Network) announced the signature of a memorandum of understanding on the occasion of the European Tourism Day.
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TC and EDEN Network have commited to work together and to continue investing in the promotion of Europe as a travel destination in overseas markets, with the common view to strengthen the competitiveness of the European tourism industry as one of the main engines of economic growth and employment in Europe. “The EDEN Network comprises currently 72 off-the-beaten-track destinations and sites in natural areas, which are awarded for their efforts in sustainable development of tourism by the European Commission. These destinations represent some of the most stunning and pristine environments in the continent,” commented Xavier Lechien, president, EDEN Network.
Creativeworld Fair Experiences Growth
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he EUROPEANMOBILITY WEEK Participation Report for 2016 has reported the highest participation rate ever witnessed by the campaign, with 2,427 participating towns and cities. This figure indicates that there were over 550 more participating cities than in 2015, and an increase of 150 compared to the previous record, set five years earlier. As in previous editions of the campaign, Austria, Spain and Hungary were the top three countries in terms of participation. Each country witnessed a significant improvement in participation compared to 2015, with Austria adding 68 cities, Spain adding 73, and Hungary adding 32. Belgium experienced the greatest increase, with 82 extra towns and cities participating compared to 2015, leading to a total of 117 participants.
Murcia, Spain winners of 2015 EUROPEANMOBILITY WEEK
Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH
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ollowing its premier in 2012, Creativeworld is set to continue its growth this year as one of the world’s leading trade fairs for the hobby, arts & crafts and artists’ requisites sector. Totaling more than 335 exhibitors, the Frankfurt based event, running from 28 – 31 January, represents not only an annual growth rate of over 10 percent but also a new international record. This initiates expanded choice of national and international manufacturers for trade visitors. Commenting, Michael Reichhold, director, Creativeworld, Messe Frankfurt Exhibition GmbH, stated, “Creativeworld has consolidated its position as the leading platform for the creative hobby and arts & crafts sector, as well as for textile and artistic creativity, and is a fixed highlight on the international trade-fair landscape.”
Highest Participant Rate at EUROPEANMOBILTY WEEK 2016
10 JANUARY 2017
NEWS
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European Arrivals Fell 3.5 Percent in Q3 2016 According to Air Travellers’ Traffic Barometer, a report produced by European Cities Marketing and ForwardKeys, arrivals to Europe in the third quarter (Q3) of 2016 weakened.
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destinations. The most popular destinations for longhaul travellers in Q3 was, for the most part, those within the Iberian Peninsular, with Valencia, Seville, Barcelona, Madrid, Mallorca and Lisbon all among the top 10 growing hotspots. In particular, Barcelona and Madrid, with a volume growth of 9.5 percent and 8.5 percent, respectively, stood out as the most relevant cities in this indicator. Moreover, there was also a surge of interest in German cities, Hamburg and Berlin saw a boost in visitor numbers, up 11.4 percent and 6.5 percent, correspondingly. As of September 30, 2016, international bookings to Europe in the fourth quarter were
down some 1.7 percent, which despite the fall is more optimistic that Q3, in part due to a less negative drop in intra-European tourists. Led by a lack of interest from Japan, bookings from the Asia and Oceania region dropped 5.5 percent compared to the same period in 2015. Despite a slowing from North America, the outlook remained positive. Following the UK’s Brexit referendum and the cheaper pound, bookings to London were bolstered, the slight decrease of 0.6 percent is considered an improvement when compared to previous reports. Northern Europe, South-Western Europe, along with Dubrovnik were the fastest growing areas for Q4.
Dubrovnik
uring the period under review, international travel declined 3.5 percent year-on-year, while the long-haul segment – excluding intra-European flows – remained relatively resilient with a minor decrease of 0.3 percent. The maintenance of the long-haul sector was primarily due to a boost in arrivals from the Americas, which, thanks to visa exemption for some Latin American countries, was up 0.5 percent. As a result of the timing of Ramadan, travellers from the Middle East also rose in Q3. Meanwhile, inbound visitors from Asia and Oceania shrank 3.3 percent, which is thought to be over safety concerns amongst Japanese tourists and a growing range of alternative
ibtm World Barcelona
ibtm world Trends Watch Report Released
10 JANUARY 2017
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he 12th edition of the ibtm events’ annual ibtm world Trends Watch report, has predicted growth for the global MICE industry for the year. Authored by Rob Davidson, managing director, MICE Knowledge, and released, by ibtm world in Barcelona, the report is a concise synthesis of over 20 sources of current data, including surveys. Commenting on the findings, Davidson said, “[…] We are much better placed to respond to [these} challenges now than at any other time in our history, as our industry is now robustly underpinned by widespread professionalism and a sound education and training system that supports the industry’s existing and future professionals.”
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NEWS CRUISING
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MS Westerdam to Host Explorations Central Holland America Line is extending its destination experiences with the introduction of Explorations Central (EXC) on-board the MS Westerdam vessel early this year, and is scheduled to roll it out on all fleet members by 2018.
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MS Westerdam
s a central interactive and multifaceted shipboard centre redefining information and guest experiences, the EXC will offer enrichment of opportunities combining a wide array of indispensable travel resources. This centre-piece of interactive discovery is set to make travelling more engaging, vivid and meaningful. “EXC is revolutionising the way we deliver destinations to our guests, and it’s going to profoundly change how our guests are immersed in the history, culture and cuisine of the places we visit”, said Orlando Ashford, president, Holland America Lines.
Carnival Cruise Lines Enhance Fleet
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new 121,109 tonnes cruise ship, which will be the third vessel in the company’s Vista class series, to join the Carnival Cruise Line fleet in late 2019. The ship, under contract with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, was originally designated for the P&O Cruises Australia brand. In conjunction with this change, Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Splendor will be transferred to P&O Cruises Australia in late 2019. Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line, indicated that the introduction of these ships to the Carnival fleet provides the opportunity to offer the Vista class experience from a variety of homeports in addition to creating exciting new itinerary options across the balance of the Carnival Cruise Line fleet as this additional capacity is integrated into the deployment mix.
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Crystal River Cruises Enhance Global Itineries
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ollowing the Crystal Clear Choices promotion to now include additional Crystal Cruises’ voyages on more of their ships, Crystal River Cruises now offer discerning luxury travellers the ability to select their preferred value option on more global itineries. This opportunity is available on the Crystal Mozart and Crystal Yacht Expedition Cruises aboard Crystal Esprit. Crystal Clear Choices offer three exclusive incentives adding even more value to the all-inclusive experience with a choice between cruise fare savings via 60 voyages throughout the year, included in the programme. Edie Rodriguez, CEO, Crystal Cruises, said, “We continue to see the definition of value and luxury travel evolve to each traveller’s personal preferences, and we will always strive to accommodate and exceed each of our guest’s wishes.”
Exploring Europe in 2018 by Sea
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uests sailing on Norwegian Cruise Line will be able to enjoy a wide variety in Europe for summer
2018. In April 15, 2018, Norwegian Breakaway will depart from New York for a 12-night transatlantic voyage to London. Following her arrival in Europe, she will undergo enhancements in dry dock and then journey to her new seasonal homeports of Copenhagen and Warnemünde, where she will sail nine-night Scandinavia and Russia cruises through the summer season. Moreover, Norwegian Jade will return to Europe in summer 2018 and sail a series of Norway, Iceland and North Cape cruises from Southampton and Hamburg. Additionally, Norwegian Spirit will return, sailing longer 10-night Western Mediterranean and 11-night Mediterranean and Adriatic cruises from Civitavecchia. Lastly, Norwegian Star will sail to the Greek islands.
10 JANUARY 2017
NEWS
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Specialist Training Courses Offered to Holland America Associates
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n the latest installment of Holland America Line Specialist Training Courses, travel professionals can learn the ins and outs of selling and sailing in the Mediterranean. The academy designed the online courses to help travel professionals increase their cruise sales by giving insider tips, tricks and tools centered around a specific destination. Commenting on this new advancement, Denella Richard, senior director, trade communications and engagement, Holland America Line, stated, "The Mediterranean is one of the most diverse and intricate regions we offer, so its important to provide our travel partners with the training they need to successfully sell our cruises.�
Miniature Museum Comes to Minsk
A Surprise for Belmond Travellers
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10 JANUARY 2017
ecember 24, 2016, Minsk welcomed a museum dedicated to miniature architectural models of Belarusian attractions, located in the Palace of Culture of Trade Unions in Minsk. The exposition The Country in Miniature includes 15 models, with three more to go on display in January, and set to extend to 70 exhibits in the future. The museum features the mini replicas of famous castles Nesvizh, Lida, and Kossovo, and also the Zhirovichy Monastery, Trinity Suburb of Minsk, the Palace of Rumyantsevs-Paskevichs in Gomel, Belovezhskaya Pushcha, Brest Fortress, and more.
n November 17, 2016, Belmond surprised around 180 commuters travelling from Ashford International train station in Kent to London Victoria. Belmond offered passengers a rare chance to enjoy the luxury of slow travel, whereby Belmond British Pullman took passengers on a direct nonstop 1.5 hour route that passed through Charing, Maidstone East, Otford and Swanley. Stewards welcomed commuters to a plush roomy armchair and table set with white linen, silverware and crystal. A three-course breakfast was served, alongside entertainment by the Spitfire Sisters. Gary Franklin, managing director, trains and cruises, Belmond, said, “We felt commuters have had a rough ride recently, so we wanted to sprinkle some magic on the rails and do something that reminded people just how wonderful train travel can be.�
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NEWS DESTINATIONS
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Minsk to Construct New Sports Facilities
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ollowing voting procedures at the 45th General Assembly of the European Olympic Committees in Minsk last quarter, 2016 Belarus was elected to host the second European Games in 2019. As such, new sports facilities will be built in Minsk to host the event as Andrei Shorets, mayor, Minsk, exclaimed, “Our number one goal is to build the track-and-field stadium Dinamo that will host the opening ceremony. The second facility, the Rhythmic Gymnastics Center, is scheduled to be delivered in mid 2018.” The Minsk authorities acknowledge that there will be big numbers of tourists coming to the Belarusian capital for the games, in light of this, there are also plans to create hospitality zones and the set-up of an organising committee to prepare for the European event.
Budapest Historic Baths Magnetise Tourism
Poland Hosts 2017 Congress on Ethics and Tourism
Rudas Baths octagonal room
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rom wellness retreats, to relaxing nodes of pleasure or even business travel alike, escapades to one of Budapest’s seven public thermal baths offering a nostalgic glimpse into history, whilst being in close distance proximity of the city centre are looking promising. The oldest, being the Rudas Baths, features an octagonal room dating to 1550 with one main pool encircled by four smaller ones of varying temperatures. A 9m dome covers the stone echo chamber embraced by colored beams of light from pieces of stained glass in the ceiling overlook the sulfuric water said to have curative properties. Alternatively there is the Szechenyi Baths of 1900 known for its grandeur, as one of the largest thermal spas in Europe, and surrounded by an additional 15 smaller pools.
Krakow
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n light of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017, the third international Congress on Ethics and Tourism will be held in Poland in April this year. Organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), in collaboration with the European Commission and the Polish government, the event will focus on the shared responsibility of all stakeholders in promoting a more sustainable tourism sector. “With more than 1.2 billion international tourists crossing international borders in one single year and the prospects of continuous growth, it is crucial that we manage growth in an ethical and responsible manner” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO.
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NEWS DESTINATIONS
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Greek Tourism Board Announce Survey Results
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ollowing a qualitative investigation, the Greek National Tourism Board announced that results revealed that nine out of 10 visitors of Greece are satisfied with their experience in the country. The survey conducted was implemented in October 12 – 24, 2016, with a collective sample of 2,179 tourists, via face-to-face interviews at 10 airports. Results showed that 67 percent of participants indicated that the country exceeded their expectations with a further 60 percent marking the country as an established destination. Over half of the interviewers stated that they will visit again and will share their experiences. Mild weather, gastronomic offerings, reasonable pricing and less bustling, make Greece a preferred holiday destination in the autumn months with space for improvement in the support structure for the tourist products, meaning roads, infrastructure, and cleanliness amid others.
Slovenia Goes Digital
Slovenia
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ollowing decisions to focus on digital content marketing, the Slovenian Tourist Boards goals yield towards their 2016-2017 digital campaign called Slovenia-Make New Memories which exceeded expectations, leading to the construction of a new tourist information website. Launched in December 2016, the new website design follows latest Internet technology trends.
25 JANUARY 10 APRIL 2016 2017
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Athens Set to Welcome Choice Hotels Choice Hotels International announced its signing of a multi-unit development agreement with GVK Enterprises, a hospitality management and development firm, set to introduce and establish a hotel portfolio in Greece.
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Budapest Welcomes Four-star Property
Athens
oasting 101 rooms, Exe Danube Budapest stands out for its elegant décor and offers a snack bar and a restaurant also suitable for group events. Amancio López Seijas, president, Grupo Hotusa, said, “2016 has been a record year in terms of the number of hotels we have added to Eurostars Hotel Company, and it consolidates our focus on internationalising our model in as many countries as we are capable of doing.”
Enhancing Hospitality Job Opportunities
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oasting 101 rooms, Exe Danube Budapest stands out for its elegant décor and offers a snack bar and a restaurant also suitable for group events. Amancio López Seijas, president, Grupo Hotusa, said, “2016 has been a record year in terms of the number of hotels we have added to Eurostars Hotel Company, and it consolidates our focus on internationalising our model in as many countries as we are capable of doing.”
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Exe Danube Budapest
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he Red Carnation Hotel Collection has announced the launch of a new apprenticeship programme across its six London hotels; The Milestone Hotel, The Egerton House Hotel, The Chesterfield Mayfair, The Montague on the Gardens, Hotel 41 and The Rubens at the Palace in Belgravia. Since the launch of the new initiative, which is being run in partnership with hospitality training experts Umbrella Training, the hotel brand has successfully enrolled 17 additional apprentices in various areas of the business ahead of the this year’s Apprenticeship Levy, and will continue to develop and roll out the scheme when the levy comes in to play in April. Claire Golden, director, human resources, Red Carnation Hotel Collection, said that the programme will attract and develop young talented individuals that are looking to get a foot on the ladder in this industry, complementing the brand’s renowned existing training and further enriching progression opportunities for its employees.
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Preparations for Adria Hotel Forum Underway
IntercityHotel’s Vast Expansion
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he fifth edition of the international hotel investment conference, Adria Hotel Forum, will be held on February 08 – 09, at the Sheraton hotel in Zagreb with the theme Investments in Hotel Industry: Development and beyond. The forum is a meeting place for leading hotel chains, property owners and managers, as well as professionals from the field of hotel industry investment to exchange sustainable ideas and projects that foster and benefit the development of the community. New panelists to the event include, Dirk Bakker, partner, Coliers International; Branko Bogunović, partner, Hotel & Destination Consulting; and Paul Pisani, senior vice president development, Corinthia Hotels.
Hamburg
Sheraton Zagreb Hotel
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hree new hotels are soon to join the portfolio of Deutsche Hospitality’s subsidiary IntercityHotel at locations in Hamburg-Barmbek, Dortmund und Hildesheim. Firstly, The IntercityHotel HamburgBarmbek, will boast 209 rooms and will open in 2018, followed by The IntercityHotel Dortmund making its entrance within the same year, offering 229 rooms and will be situated close to the city’s shopping area. Opening in 2019, The IntercityHotel Hildesheim will be located in the immediate vicinity of the main railway station, and will boast 148 rooms. “The new hotels represent a continuation of the strategy adopted by IntercityHotel to expanding its brand presence at attractive and strategically significant locations,” commented Joachim Maruszcyk, managing director, IntercityHotel.
Moscow to Welcome Rezidor Property
Moscow
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10 JANUARY 2017
he Rezidor Hotel Group has announced the signing of Park Inn by Radisson Izmailovo, Moscow, set to open in the first quarter the year. Situated in the eastern district of Moscow, the 109-room property will offer the all-day restaurant Park Café and terrace, a Park Bar, a 65m2 gym and divisible meeting rooms. Commenting on the upcoming hotel, Luybov Rudnykh, general manager, Park Inn by Radisson Izmailovo, Moscow, said, “The Park Inn by Radisson brand is well-known to Russian and international guests for its colourful, dynamic, midscale proposition providing a hassle-free and easy hotel experience. Friendly, positive, vibrant, uncomplicated; [the hotel] will deliver successfully on the brand's high standards and add colour to all our guests' stays."
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Deutsche Hospitality to Expand in Hanover
Kensington Welcomes Holiday Inn
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Holiday Inn London - Kensington
Hanover
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nterContinental Hotels Group announced the opening of Holiday Inn London – Kensington. The hotel is located on the doorstep of the city’s most popular landmarks including Kensington Palace and Royal Albert Hall, as well as offering easy access to Heathrow airport. Featuring 708 rooms, the hotel offers, among others, meeting rooms accommodating up to 250 people, with the latest in audio visual equipment, dining spaces, bars, as well as the Imagine Health Club and Spa. Zeljko Stasevic, general manager, Holiday Inn London – Kensington, said, “Located just a stone’s throw from Hyde Park and with the best of London right on the doorstep, we cannot wait to welcome guests from across the globe who are visiting our vibrant capital.”
eutsche Hospitality is developing a new upper midrange IntercityHotel on Berliner Allee in the very heart of Hanover, set to open in 2019. When work is complete, the hotel will offer 220 rooms and four conference rooms as well as featuring a modern interior design scheme by an Italian architect. The new hotel will join an existing IntercityHotel located on the south-west side of Hanover’s main railway station, which will undergo modernisation during the course of 2017. "We have taken the decision to expand our capacities in Hanover because of rising demand for both hotel rooms and conference space. The IntercityHotel is already extremely successfully established in the city, and this is a development which we aim to build on,” said Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Deutsche Hospitality.
Restel Teams Up with Cubanacan
Park Inn by Radisson Opens in Latvia
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he colourful and dynamic midscale hotel brand, Park Inn by Radisson, has announced the opening of a new residence in Riga Barona. Operated by Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, The Park Inn by Radisson Riga, Barona is the latest addition to the portfolio and the first branded hotel residence apartment conveniently located in the heart of the city centre at Krisjana Barona iela. The address boasts 78 spacious apartments, which are equipped with a kitchenette, smart television and free Wi-Fi. It also offers a 24-hour reception service, a coffee shop conveniently located on the ground floor, and a connection to the Tokyo City restaurant. Michel Stalport, vice president, Eastern Europe and Russia, Rezidor, said, “The residences will complement our portfolio of five hotels featuring 1,300 rooms in Latvia, making us the leading international hotel operator in the region.”
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estel, a hotel reservation centre belonging to Grupo Hotusa, has incorporated the 50 establishments of the Cubanacan, marking the first direct integration agreement made by an international operator with a Cuban hotel chain. Commenting on the agreement, Carlos del Estal, general manager, Restel, said, “We are proud that Restel is the first reservation centre to establish direct integration with a Cuban chain, which makes us one of the most qualified hotel distributors in the world for travel agencies in that destination. This operation forms part of a global strategy to increase the presence of Hotusa Group’s different business lines on the island.”
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French Travel Professionals Experienced Ireland
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heir itinerary included a visit to Titanic Belfast, as well as a drive along the Causeway Coastal Route, with stops en route at places like The Gobbins, Ballygally, Dunluce Castle and the Giant’s Causeway. Monica MacLaverty, manager, southern Europe, Tourism Ireland, said, “France is one of the top markets for tourism to Northern Ireland, delivering 57,000 visitors in 2015 […]. We have a busy promotional programme under way right now – aimed at boosting late-season travel to Northern Ireland from France and to position us well for the year.”
Dunluce Castle
Tourism Ireland and Tourism Northern Ireland recently welcomed 11 French group travel organisers visiting Northern Ireland, experiencing first-hand some of the many things to see and do.
Latvia to Host Final Stage of Rally
Convention Centre Dublin Set to Generate Healthy Profits
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orecasted to generate a generous EUR55.5 million for the local Irish economy, The Convention Centre Dublin (CCD) has secured 90 events in the last six months, including 32 conferences, set to attract over 37,000 international delegates to Dublin. Paul Carnell, sales director, CCD, commented, “We are delighted to have secured such a large number of conferences in recent months. We are very proud of the contribution these events will make to the Irish economy and look forward to welcoming the many visitors and delegates from a range of industries and areas.” The CCD also confirmed a number of international corporate conferences including Spark Summit Europe, Microsoft Tech Gathering and BioProduction Congress.
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The Convention Centre Dublin
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he final stage of the 2017 FIA European Rally Championship will take place in Latvia, on October 06-08, 2017, in the Liepaja and Kuldiga areas. The race will include eight stages in total, with the championship’s first stage to be held in April in Azores, before moving on to Latvia for the final eighth stage. "I am convinced that we will give the visitors of the European Rally Championship stage an unparalleled and remarkably vibrant motorsport festival, which will remain in the memories of the Rally Liepaja guests for a very long time," commented Raimonds Strokšs, stage organiser, FIA European Rally Championship.
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Munich Airport’s Climate Targets Munich Airport is set to become Germany's first airport to achieve carbon-neutral operations.
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Munich Airport
arbon emissions directly attributable to the airport's operations will be reduced by 60 percent by 2030, and the remaining 40 percent will take the form of carbon offsets. The costs of this climate protection programme between now and 2030 will total EUR150 million. The package of measures for achieving carbon neutrality at Munich Airport covers all areas, but especially the energy supply, efficiency improvements in building systems, vehicle fleet optimisation, exterior lighting and further improvements in electric power use of the baggage transport system. Michael Kerkloh, CEO, Munich Airport, said, "As Europe's first five-star airport, we also set very high standards for climate protection. With our far-reaching climate targets we want to help ensure that the airport's operations and ongoing development are pursued in ways that preserve the opportunities and possibilities of future generations.”
CAA Sets Guidance for Passengers with Hidden Disabilities
High Cargo Volumes at Budapest Airport
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rom January until November, 2016, air cargo volume exceeded 90718 tonnes at Budapest Ferenc International Airport, illustrating the excellent performance of domestic companies, as the volume of export cargo carried by aircraft now exceeds the volume of import cargo. The airport’s statistics have shown that the ratio of import and export volumes was balanced until 2015, but for 2016, export volumes have been increasing faster than ever. Significantly increased turnover has been produced primarily by the electronic industry, producers of automotive parts, telecommunication technologies, and the pharmaceutical industry. “We are really proud of the rapid growth of air cargo volume reaching 16.4 percent for 2016, as this is a clear sign of good performance of the Hungarian economy,” said René Droese, property director, Budapest Airport.
ivil Aviation Authority (CAA) has set out new guidance on how UK airports should support people with hidden disabilities while promoting the assistance available to passengers with such disabilities, including dementia, autism, mental health problems, hearing loss and visual impairment. The guidance is part of the CAA’s ongoing drive to promote the assistance available to passengers with disabilities. The regulations are set to aid passengers visiting the UK airports in getting more support and more effective communication ahead of travel, helping to reduce stress and anxiety when travelling.
10 JANUARY 2017
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Record Breaking November For Warsaw Airport
Improvement for European Airports
Warsaw Chopin Airport
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uring November 2016, Warsaw Chopin Airport handled more than one million passengers, a year-on-year boost of 31.5 percent, smashing October’s record of highest percentage surge, at 21 percent. The total for the first 11 months of the year stood at 11.8 million people, up 13 percent compared to 2015. The number of domestic travellers rose 13 percent to 1.3 million, while international flyers soared 12.7 percent to 10.6 million. November 2016 marked the 19th consecutive month of increasing passenger traffic as well as the 26th month of continual traffic growth.
CI EUROPE released the traffic report for October which reported a robust increase of 6.1 percent across the European airport network. Airports in the EU saw passenger traffic increase by an average of 7.1 percent, with impressive double digit growth in Southern and Eastern Europe , particulary in Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Hungary, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia and Spain. Passenger traffic at non-European airports grew by 2.7 percent, a welcome development following nearly six consecutive months of traffic loss. This is the result of a combination of much improved traffic performance for Russian airports, a traffic recovery gathering pace for airports in Turkey as well as sustained growth in other countries such as Ukraine and Georgia. Moreover, freight traffic across Europe jumped by 8.7 percent, the best monthly performance since May 2011.
Schönefeld Airport Terminal D
New Terminal Opened at Schönefeld Airport
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lughafen Berlin Brandenburg put the new Terminal D at Berlin Schönefeld Airport into operation on December 02, 2016. The 4,150 m² building contains a technical area and office rooms for the federal police, customs, border veterinary service and crop protection as well as an automated border control (eGate) where EU citizens with an electronic passport (EasyPASS) are able to pass swiftly through border security. The terminal is designed to meet the passengers’ needs including short paths and attractive retail and catering facilities.
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NEWS AIR
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BA Reach Half a Million Milestone British Airways (BA) celebrated four years at Leeds Bradford Airport with news that more than half a million customers have flown to London and beyond from the heart of Yorkshire.
Leeds Bradford Airport
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he three-a-day direct service to London Heathrow was launched on December 9, 2012, opening up the world to Yorkshire with connections to BA’s global network from its flagship Terminal 5 home. Simon Lea, manager, Leeds Bradford Airport, BA, said, “We remain fully committed to Leeds Bradford Airport and the fact that we have reached this milestone figure in four years is due to the loyalty of our customers in Yorkshire who are benefitting from a direct air link to the capital, some excellent onward connections and great low fares.”
Additional Routes and Frequencies for Bulgaria Air
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ulgaria Air has announced two new routes and increased frequencies on another two itineraries. The carrier has added a third service on its Sofia – Malaga pathway, every Thursday as well as a second service from Sofia to Palma de Mallorca. Furthermore, Bulgaria Air now offers enhanced convenience through its Sofia hub, with the launch of a Varna – Sofia – Athens route, which will operate every Wednesday and Thursday with a journey time of three hours. In addition, the airline has also inaugurated a Madrid – Sofia – Varna schedule, with a travel time of just five hours.
Austrian Airlines Conclude Wet Lease Agreement
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ustrian Airlines and airberlin have concluded a wet lease agreement stipulating the lease of five aircraft operated by the airberlin Group. The airplanes will be successively integrated into the Austrian Airlines fleet in the months of March and April. At present, the entire Austrian Airlines fleet consists of 80 aircraft. The airplanes to be leased by Austrian Airlines from airberlin involve five Airbus A320 jets, which will be operated in the future displaying the Austrian Airlines colours. The aircraft will be leased together with pilots and flight attendants. Austrian Airlines already has 31 aircraft of the A320 family in its fleet and six A321 planes. The wet lease agreement with airberlin will raise the number of Airbus jets in the Austrian Airlines fleet to 36 in total. “With the five aircraft from airberlin, we will take advantage of market opportunities to strengthen our leading position at our hub Vienna”, explains, Kay Kratky, CEO, Austrian Airlines.
airBaltic to Serve Madrid
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s of May 26, airBaltic will begin operating flights from Riga to Madrid three times a week. The new route will offer Latvia as an exciting destination, as well as provide convenient connections to destinations in the Baltic Sea region, the Nordic countries, Russia and CIS countries. “A connection between the Latvian and Spanish capitals will offer new opportunities for both business and leisure travellers,” commenting Wolfgang Reuss, executive vice president, airBaltic.
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NEWS AIR
Connecting Sweden and Singapore
Enhancing Ties between Ireland and Iceland
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s of May 30, Singapore Airlines will offer flights to Stockholm via Moscow, five times a week, codeshared with Scandinavian Airlines. Commenting on the upcoming route, Rickard Gustafson, CEO, Scandinavian Airlines, said, “We look forward to developing our collaboration further with Singapore Airlines and thereby be able to offer our customers a new route to Singapore from Stockholm, and also from there onwards into Asia, Australia and New Zealand.”
Reykjavik
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olish airline LOT is to begin a direct connection between Krakow and Chicago in July, with one weekly flight. The connection between the two destinations will be operated by the airlines’ Dreamliner that is expected to join the carrier’s fleet in the middle of the year. The decision to launch this connection was made based on detailed analysis of the number of passengers travelling along this route. Data for the past few years indicated that the number of passengers were clearly growing. “LOT has been trying to win the hearts of new passengers, and especially of the Polish Americans that have always been choosing the carrier. We strive to become the preferred airline of all passengers travelling between Poland and the US,” commented, Rafal‚ Milczarski, CEO, LOT.
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Norwegian Launches New Routes from Germany
Düsseldorf
Chicago
LOT to Connect Poland with Chicago
s of June, Icelandair will offer a new flight from Reykjavik to Belfast, in an effort to boost leisure travel from Iceland to Northern Ireland. Commenting on the upcoming service Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said, “Not only will it help grow visitor numbers from Iceland, but this new service will also offer connectivity between North America and Belfast. We look forward to cooperating with Icelandair, Belfast City Airport and other tourism partners, to maximise the promotion of this new service [..]. “
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ow-cost carrier Norwegian, has unveiled eight new routes from Germany to Spanish destinations as part of its summer schedule which will bring the total seats to and from Düsseldorf and Hannover to 170,000 and 50,000, respectively. Passengers flying out of Düsseldorf can now reach Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona and Tenerife, while travellers from Hannover can fly direct to Alicante, Malaga and Palme de Mallorca. Thomas Ramdahl, chief commercial officer, Norwegian, noted, “We hope and believe that even more Germans will enjoy flying in our brand new and more environmentally friendly fleet of Boeing 737-800 aircraft with free WiFi on board.”
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TAP Portugal Enhances Connections
Monarch Eliminates Credit Card Fees
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ravellers now booking through Monarch’s website for flights and holidays will no longer be charged for paying with their credit card. Based on the average booking value of a holiday, this will enable a family of four to save GBP40 (EUR48) to GBP60 (EUR71) on their trip. Commenting on the initiative, Ian Chambers, CEO, Monarch, said, “Going to zero percent for credit card bookings means that our customers can get the best value from their flight and holiday bookings, and benefit from the protection that credit cards offer, without having to pay extra for it.”
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Qantas Group Direct Flights from London to Perth
Toronto
s of this summer, TAP Portugal will offer flights to six new destinations along with the reinforcement of operations to a few other destinations already served. Destinations joining the airline’s route are Toronto, Budapest, Bucharest, Las Palmas, Alicante and Stuttgart. In parallel, the airline will also reinforce its frequencies to Madrid, Manchester, Moscow, Dusseldorf and Faro. The growth planned for the year comes in line with the expansion strategy of the company launched in 2016, an intense year during which TAP Portugal not only increased its activity but also introduced numerous changes.
Positive November for Brussels Airlines
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antas Group confirms operations of non-stop flights from Perth to London using the Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The 14,498 km route will begin in March, 2018 and is expected to boost tourism in both directions. Seats on the Perth-London flights will go on sale this April for the first services in March 2018. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners used on the route will carry 236 passengers across business, premium economy and economy cabins. Commenting on the new link, Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas Group, highlighted, “A direct flight makes travelling from the UK to Australia a much more attractive proposition to millions of people. We expect many travellers from Europe will start their time in Australia with a visit to Perth before going on to see other parts of the country.”
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russels Airlines recorded passenger numbers at 608,095 in November, a 9.8 percent increase over the same period in 2015. On the European network, the airline registered a 10.8 percent growth and the North American flights attracted 40.8 percent more passengers, whilst on the contrary passenger numbers to Africa dipped three percent. The overall seat load factor remained stable at 71.5 percent, alongside strong freight activity of an increase of 23.6 percent over 2015 figures.
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NEWS AIR
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TUI fly Increases Services
S7 to Fly to Sicily
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ue to take off in April 27, S7 has announced the launch of its route between Moscow Domodedovo and Catania–Fontanarossa Airport, the sixth Italian destination in the airline’s network. The direct flights to the Sicilian town will operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays with an Airbus A320. The service is expecting boosted tourism between the two countries, providing further links to Italy, with the flight joining Verona, Naples, Turin, Pisa and Genoa as destinations that will be serviced by the carrier this summer.
Sicily
UI fly is set to expand operations at Brussels South Charleroi Airport BSCA), whereby a fifth airplane will be joining the other four already based at the airport. This move allows the airline to increase the frequency of some flights, as well as adding new destinations to the existing options to and from Brussels. Bosnia-Herzegovina, Egypt and Italy will be added to the five countries already offered by the airline, in addition to an increase of flights to Morocco. Commenting on the initiative, Jean-Jacques Cloquet, CEO, BSCA, said, “We would, of course, like to thank TUI fly for their faith in BSCA and we are thrilled that we can develop our respective activities together.”
Monarch Expands its Summer Schedule
Dubrovnik
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s part of this year’s summer programme, Monarch has revealed two additional routes, from Birmingham to Porto and between Manchester and Dubrovnik. The Birmingham – Porto route is expected to commence April 28 and will operate three times weekly on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Meanwhile, the Manchester – Dubrovnik service will run twice a week on Wednesdays and Saturdays and is due to take off on April 29. Moreover, Monarch has added a Tuesday flight to the Croatian city from Gatwick Airport. In addition to these new destinations, the carrier will increase the frequency on its Manchester – Gibraltar schedule, adding a Tuesday flight to make it a five times weekly service.
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EASA Opinion Proposal
EasyJet Doubles Number of Female Pilots
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n October 2015 easyJet launched its Amy Johnson Flying Initiative with the aim of doubling the number of female entrant pilots to 12 percent over two years. With only three percent of commercial airline female pilots worldwide and only 450 of them having achieved the rank of captain. EasyJet received over 600 applicants, enabling the airline to achieve the 12 percent target in year one - recruiting 33 female new entrant pilots. The airline currently has 164 female pilots in total, of which 62 are captains. Based on current recruitment plans this would mean that easyJet would be recruiting around 50 female pilots a year.
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ASA published a proposal to the European Commission on new operational rules to better support pilot mental fitness. Released in a document known as an Opinion 14/2016 , the proposals include new requirements. These requirements are contained in the so-called Air OPS Implementing Rules. The proposed rules have been subject to consultation with all stakeholders concerned. As part of a total system approach, they complement the proposals EASA issued in August 2016, on the update of medical requirements for pilots. The proposals address relevant safety recommendations made after the Flight 9525 accident by the EASA-led Task Force, as well as by the French Bureau d’Enquêtes et d’Analyses.
UNWTO and ETC Discussing Crisis
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he World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the European Travel Commission (ETC) have co-organised a working session with European countries to discuss crisis communications in tourism. The event was held at UNWTO headquarters in Madrid. Attended by representatives from 13 countries, the meeting was to advance crisis communications coordination and preparedness for all destinations. "No nation on Earth is free from suffering a crisis and we should assume that crisis management has a highly relevant communications angle that can help diminishing the impact as well as to fasten the recovery process. Having a quick, transparent and credible support when the crisis occurs is part of that process," said, Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO, during his intervention.
Air Serbia Increased its Pilot Training Capacity
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s part of its efforts to strengthen its pilot training, Air Serbia has become an Approved Training Organisation (ATO), able to conduct type rating training on Airbus A320 and A330 aircraft, as well as deliver Cross Crew Qualifications for pilots transitioning from A320 to A330 planes. Whilst noting that Airbus jets are the backbone of the carrier’s fleet, Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, said, “Becoming a certified ATO shows that Air Serbia has built up a remarkable amount of experience and technical know-how on Airbus aircraft.” The programme will also ensure the airline has the right resources to achieve its strategic fleet and network objectives, explained Kondić, adding, “[...] By enhancing our inhouse training capacity we can better plan for future growth.”
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Monitoring Tourism Development
Gatwick Foundation Fund Rewards 31 Projects Across the UK
Gatwick Foundation Fund
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he newly established Gatwick Foundation Fund rewards 31 projects across Kent, Surrey and Sussex including a mix of local charities and voluntary organisations with a key focus on young people, the elderly, disability groups, families, education and training. The Gatwick Foundation Fund was established to provide GBP 150,000 (EUR176.000),on annual funds on top of Gatwick’s existing charitable donations, to local charities and non-profit organisations. Gatwick employees also have the opportunity to be closely associated with projects close to their heart by offering their support and expertise.
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he Blue Community Observatory hosted by the Patel College of Global Sustainability of the University of South Florida, has become the latest member of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) International Network of Sustainable Tourism Observatories. This observatory monitors the impact of tourism in parts of the Pinella and Manatee counties, two popular tourist destinations in Florida. The work of the observatory is focussed on areas such as local satisfaction with tourism in the destination; seasonality patterns; energy, waste and water control; food production, clean marinas, education, and policies related to the science of planetary boundaries, among others. “During this year, the work of the observatories will be prominently featured globally as crucial elements to monitor tourism development and ensure the sustainability of our sector,” said Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO.
Aviation Benefits for Sustainable Development Highlighted
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Travel Trends Data
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nited Nations’ first ever Global Sustainable Transport Conference took place in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan. Fang Liu, secretary general, International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), attended the conference and analised the case of sustainable socio-economic development and contribution to civil aviation. During the conference, the key objectives being pursued globally for air transport modernisation and investment was highlighted, as well as the dependable returns from those investments for the implementation of ICAO standards and global plan, which governments could expect in terms of sustainable development and enhanced prosperity. Liu also commented on the importance of the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation which was recently agreed at ICAO’s 39th Assembly.
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merican Express Travel experts have uncovered trends that will likely impact the state of luxury travel for the year based on qualitative, in-depth industry observations and internal data analysis. Findings showed that from the travel agents, personalisation and streamlined service are key motivators for today’s luxury traveller who expects immediate, one-stop-shop, customised travel experiences. Moreover, in the aviation sector, Claire Bennett, executive vice president, American Express Travel, noted that air travellers are opting for the convenience and value of paying one first-class fare to get it all, enhancing their overall experience. “Today, affluent consumers are more knowledgeable, are often in control of their travel experiences and across all ages, are in pursuit of curation, comfort and convenience. […] Consumers know what they want, and are becoming savvier about making their needs known to travel brands,” added, Bennett.
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WHO’S MOVED / TRAVEL TALK
CHAIRMAN, EUROPEAN TOUR OPERATORS ASSOCIATION
MARCO NOVELLA
Visas are the major obstacle to inbound tourism from India
Paris is a central element of any European tourist offer
Paris is a central element of any European tourist offer: if there is a best seller on the long-haul markets, it is a joint package of London and Paris. That Paris has suffered a decline in bookings [in 2016] has impacted demand throughout Europe.”
MARCO NOVELLA has begun his new role as managing director at Brown’s Hotel in London, where he will also oversee two additional Rocco Forte Hotels, The Balmoral and Hotel Amigo. Novella joins the group from his position as chief operating officer for Grace Hotels where he managed a portfolio of seven addresses and planned the launch of seven further offerings. Novella has extensive experience, having worked as general manager for a number of years with international groups, including Belmond and Starwood Hotels and Resorts. Novella will be responsible for the operations of the Londonbased property as well as its strategic direction.
TOM JENKINS
MARIO BODINI
CLÉMENT BEAUNE
CLÉMENT BEAUNE has been named as deputy chief executive officer of Aéroports de Paris Management. Prior to this appointment, Beaune served as a senior advisor for European, international and financial affairs in the French office of the minister of the economy, industry and the digital sector, after a stint as advisor for European and budgetary affairs. Beaune has also worked as a technical advisor on budgetary affairs in the prime minister of France’s office and held positions within the research and higher education bureau of the Budget Directorate within the ministry of the budget, public accounts and administrative reform.
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
CEO, EUROPEAN TOURISM ASSOCIATION
“If [the UK government] wants to increase exports to India, the easiest and swiftest way to do it is to welcome visitors from India who will arrive in the UK and spend their foreign currency in hotels, restaurants, taxis, shops and other attractions. That will instantly create jobs. Visas are the major obstacle to inbound tourism from India. This can be seen from a comparison of the UK’s tourism performance with other European countries that require a Schengen visa.”
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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PHOTO ALBUM
Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris unveiled its winter Ice Lounge
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Sweet treats with a view at Shangri-La Hotel Paris
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Glenmorangie has launched Bond House No 1, an exclusive collection of vintage single malt whiskies
Ferrari Celebrates 50 Years in Japan with the unveiling of their limited edition J50 Ferrari
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS FERIEN-MESSE WIEN Vienna, Austria January 12 – 15 www.ferien-messe.at An international tourism trade fair for holidays, travel and leisure where more than 800 exhibitors from over 70 countries are expected to showcase their offerings.
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18th Annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum
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lena Kountouras, tourism minister, Greece, participated in the 18th annual Capital Link Invest in Greece Forum in New York to promote new tourism environment and opportunities for new investments in the dynamically growing Greek tourist sector, and to boost tourist arrivals from the US. Kountouras was the keynote speaker for the Investment Opportunities in Tourism & Hospitality section.
Importance of Regional Collaboration Highlighted
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INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE FAIR (FITUR)
t the 120th Plenary Session of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union, Taleb Rifai, secretary general, World Tourism Organization, underscored the role that municipalities and regions play in the growth of sustainable and competitive tourism within Europe. Commenting on the travel industry’s contribution to socioeconomic and cultural development as well as regional cooperation, Rifai said, “This is the moment to lay the foundations for a new paradigm for the tourism sector; to embrace a sustainable, inclusive and responsible tourism sector that makes clear business sense, drives local development and builds a sense of common future in Europe.” Rifai also commended the European Capital of Tourism initiative, noting that it promotes local areas along with increasing residents’ pride.
Madrid, Spain January 18 – 22 www.ifema.es Spain’s must-attend event showcasing top and up-andcoming destinations from all around the world.
Rotterdam Hosts First Offshore Exhibition EMITT Istanbul, Turkey January 26 – 29 www.emittinstanbul.com Industry professionals from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the exhibition focussing on the East Mediterranean.
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ver 45 leading companies in the shipping and offshore maritime sector are among those who have contributed to the funding for the first ever exhibition in the Netherlands dedicated to the offshore sector, to be housed at The Maritime Museum Rotterdam for the next seven years. Visitors can experience what it is like to work at sea and people of all ages will be able to embark on a challenging search at sea for energy. Wearing a safety vest and helmet, they will experience what it is like to be on an offshore construction in the middle of the sea, and lots more. Frits Loomeijer, general director, Maritime Museum Rotterdam, said, “In a world where everyone has an opinion on energy, the Maritime Museum is offering its visitors a unique experience around energy production at sea, both now and in the future.”
ADRIA HOTEL FORUM Zagreb, Croatia February 08 – 09 www.adria-forum.eu A meeting place for leading hotel chains, owners and managers as well as other professionals working in the sector.
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Showcasing the Best of Madrid
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ue to take place on January 13 – 22, FESTITUR will showcase the best of Madrid with a programme full of cultural, recreational and gastronomic activities, during the staging of the International Tourism Trade Fair, FITUR. FESTITUR’s goal is to become a festival of tourist experiences offered by Madrid to its visitors during the international fair. It seeks to mobilise the participation of Madrid’s culture, leisure, gastronomy and spectacle businesses as well as the city as a whole and its citizens in promoting the tourist activities of the Spanish capital.
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