Travel Trade Europe, 25 april 2017, Issue 58

25 APRIL 2017 ISSUE 58

13 EUROSTARS 11TH PROPERTY SET TO IMPRESS

12 GENERAL

ITALY’S MEDICAL TOURISM HALLMARK

20 05 Cruising EXPLOREGB HAILED AS A GREAT SUCCESS

06 Technology 21 Who's Moved

MARKET UPDATE

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Aeroflot Reported Increased Traffic

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS Ellen Petty Maria Sabova CONTRIBUTORS Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou Dominique Christou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Magda Christou DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi

In January, Aeroflot Group and Aeroflot Airlines achieved year-on-year rises of 15.4 percent and 14.8 percent in passenger numbers, respectively.

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 WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES

T

he group carried 3.4 million passengers, while the airline transported 2.3 million travellers.

The companies marked a growth of the international segment, driven by stable macroeconomic situation, increased flight frequencies and the launch of flights to new international destinations. Furthermore, the development of the group’s Rossiya Airlines’ charter programme and of Pobeda Airlines’ international route network, resulted in 25.6 and 19.6 percent increase in international passengers’ figures for the group and Aeroflot Airlines, correspondingly.

During the month under review, the group increased its fleet to 293 aircraft, while the carrier’s inventory now boasts 190 airplanes, following the addition of Airbus A321.

Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com

Transavia Recorded Highest Growth across Air France KLM

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

11.4.2017

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

EUR1=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.06

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.86

Switzerland (CHF) Franc

1.07

Japan (JPY)

117.13

2

Yen

Air France KLM’s February air traffic results revealed that 6.5 million passengers were carried by the group during the month under review, representing 2.9 percent increase year-on-year.

H

ailed as one of the largest aviation groups in Europe, three of its members, Air France, KLM, HOP!, together carried 5.7 million passengers, a minor 0.1 percent rise. In its long-haul segment, Asia Pacific marked the highest increase in revenue passenger kilometres (RPK), which surged 6.4 percent over 2016.

The fourth group member, Transavia, alone recorded a strong growth of 30.2 percent year-on-year, with 0.8 million passengers carried in February, along with a boost in both capacity and RPK, up 26 percent and 25.3 percent, respectively, driven by introduction of new routes.

25 APRIL 2017

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE

Hotstats has released its UK Chain Hotels Market Review January 2017, indicating mixed results across the UK, with great success recorded in the North West, while hoteliers in Aberdeen continued to suffer from falling oil prices. On the other hand, addresses in Bristol were impacted by increasing operational costs.

Oversupply Creates Challenges in Aberdeen

F

ollowing on from huge drops in profit per room over the past two years, hotels recorded a substantial 41 percent year-on-year fall in this measure in January.

Despite occupancy marginally increasing by 1.5 percentage points compared to January 2016, it remained at just 54.4 percent, while RevPAR declined 14.9 percent as a result of a 17.2 percent decrease in achieved average room rate, to GBP63.52 (EUR73.04).

With the addition of numerous address in the past 24 months, combined with the ongoing impact of the 2014 Aberdeen oil downturn, the industry which once relied on commercial demand, attributed just 32.1 percent of total demand to this segment in the 12 months to January.

Bristol

Profit Falls in Bristol Despite Boost in RevPAR

Profit Soars in the North West

I

n January, properties in the North West achieved a 12.2 percent year-on-year boost in profit per room, led by a 9.2 percent jump in RevPAR. Occupancy rose 4.1 percentage points in the month under review, while achieved average room rate increased 2.4 percent compared to January 2016. Together, these parameters have maintained the continuing growth in RevPAR, which has soared 20.5 percent in the past 36 months, standing at GBP61.58 (EUR70.79) in the 12 months to January.

Growth was observed in both residential conference and corporate segments, up 6.5 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, enabling commercial rates in Manchester and Liverpool to be leveraged. Additionally, gross operating profit per available room surged 6.5 percent to reach GBP15.06 (EUR17.31).

25 APRIL 2017

E

ven with a two percent increase in RevPAR driven by a 1.3 percentage point rise in occupancy, hoteliers in Bristol reported a 12.5 percent year-on-year decline in profit per room in January.

In particular, properties suffered as a result of falling nonrooms revenues including decreases on a per available room basis in food and beverage as well as conference and banqueting, down 12.1 percent and 19.2 percent, correspondingly.

Alongside this, there were notable increases in operational costs, such as a 1.7 percent point rise in payroll, to account for 37.4 percent of total revenue, meaning that departmental operating profit dropped 6.7 percent to GBP39.57 (EUR45.51), equivalent to 50.6 percent of total revenue.

3

NEWS AGENTS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

ABTA Achieves Superbrand Status For the 11th year running, Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has been named as a Business Superbrand by Superbrands, and for the first time, a Consumer Superbrand.

T

he annual survey identifies and recognises leading brands from across the globe. The listed were judged by a council of senior marketing experts, 2,500 individual business professionals and 2,500 member of the British public. Achieving such status is considered to offer reassurance to customers and it will provide comfort that booking with an ABTA member ensures they are using a prestigious travel company.

TUI Re-Branding to Boost Growth

GBTA Survey Reveals Professionals’ Booking Habits

T

UI Group has initiated its oneBrand re-branding strategy to pursue a unified market presence, with its major European outlets already repositioned under TUI master brand.

Currently boasting a portfolio of more than 2,222 travel agencies across Europe, the network is further expected to grow by more than 600 shops due to the migration from Thomson to TUI in the UK and Ireland this year. The retail presence will consist of around 1,600 group-owned shops and some 1,200 franchise partners.

Erik Friemuth, chief marketing officer, TUI Group, noted, “Thanks to our oneBrand strategy […] our customers will experience our unified branding everywhere, from the airport via the bus transfer all the way to the hotel, they will always be asked to Follow the Smile.”

4

DMOs at ECM Cement Their Future

D A

ccording to Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) Foundation’s recently conducted review of corporate travellers based in Germany, the UK and France, Europe’s three largest business travel markets, it was found that the segment is increasingly booking direct with suppliers, along with embracing mobile, and sharing economy services.

The study, Booking Behaviour II, conducted in partnership with Concur Technologies, detailed that nearly a third of those surveyed expect to use alternative channels more often in the next year. However, the growth in direct bookings will not necessarily be at the expense of booking through an online booking tool (OBT), a significant share of professionals are also expected to rely on OBTs more often in the near future.

uring the last European Cities Marketing's (ECM) meeting in Gdansk, attendees were asked to determine and overcome 32 challenges for Destination Marketing Organisations (DMOs).

To reach this objective, ECM joined forces with the Digital Tourism Think Tank (DTTT), connecting hundreds of destinations throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa by creating platforms for knowledge transfer, the exchange of best practice, and expert leadership in destination marketing.

Conclusions were focussed on the value of having both creative and productive skillsets.

The workshop followed the conclusions of a joint report, Destination transformation and disruptions in digital, which identified leadership, digital first as well as content and creativity as priorities.

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS CRUISING

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Costa Cruises Boost Online Presence Costa Cruises announced CostaExtra, the new tool exclusively designed for travel professionals in North America, which provides key information and materials to help agents expand their knowledge of the brand.

T

he user-friendly interface includes a vibrant homepage with a navigational toolbar that features a search function and nine quick links to blog posts, videos, photos, cruise fares, itineraries, promotions and a range of downloadable content.

"Travel professionals are the core of our business, and by developing CostaExtra our goal was to provide a go-to hub for agents that they can use when booking, planning and promoting Costa Cruises in North America," said Scott Knutson, vice president, sales and marketing, North America, Costa Cruises.

Celebrity Edge Set to Raise the Bar

C

elebrity Cruises offered a first look at the transformed Celebrity Edge cruise liner, with dramatically expanded staterooms and a shipclimbing Magic Carpet platform.

Furthermore, passengers can enjoy two new categories of suites, including The Retreat, which boasts a private pool on an excusive sundeck, along with a lounge and personal butler service.

Devised by world-class architects and designers, the 2,918-guest vessel aims to make discerning global travellers redefine how they experience the world and vacation alike.

“Celebrity Edge is one of the most exciting, innovative and transformational ships I have ever been involved with," said, Richard Fain, CEO, Royal Caribbean Cruises.

25 APRIL 2017

Balmoral to Depart from Rosyth

I

n 2018-2019, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines’ flagship, Balmoral, will sail from Edinburgh’s Rosyth for the first time, operating a total of nine cruises on their 1,350-guest liner.

The holidays on offer, from May to July, include a five-night Norwegian Fjords departure, a 14-night Scandinavia and St. Petersburg Baltic discovery, and a nine-night German waterways experience.

Justin Stanton, director, sales and marketing, Fred.

Olsen Cruise Lines, said, “We are proud of Fred. Olsen’s long-standing links with Scotland, and we are looking forward to introducing our flagship Balmoral to Edinburgh in 2018, further enhancing our cruises for Scottish guests.”

5

NEWS TECHNOLOGY

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

New Partnership for TUI fly and Amadeus In an attempt to improve payment processes, TUI fly has recently signed a new agreement with Amadeus, adopting Amadeus Premium Authorisation and Amadeus Card Capture.

T

he collaboration allows the airline to better control card acceptance rates, which in turn could lead to higher sales and lower transaction costs. In addition, TUI fly renewed its distribution agreement with Amadeus, making a broad range of fares including 20kg free baggage allowance, free desk or web check-in and onboard catering available to travel agents.

Celia Pereiro, head, travel payments, Amadeus, commented, “Our global team of travel payment experts will unlock smart payments management for TUI fly, helping the airline reach new customers as it evolves into a competitive scheduled carrier.”

Norwegian and EAN to Boost Customer Service

Phocuswright Gives EU Payment Insights

F N

orwegian has launched a global partnership with Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN), giving the carrier’s customers access to exclusive rates at a broader range of hotels whilst earning cost savings on all flights.

Following the agreement, the airline has added nearly 300,000 of EAN’s hotels and more than 100 million reviews to its flight offering with EAN’s Hotels.com for Partners product.

Along with an enhanced selection of hotels, passengers will benefit from discounted package rates when booking a flight and a hotel on Norwegian’s new cobranded website, whilst EAN will provide online accommodation suggestions within flight booking confirmation emails, giving the recipient the choice and flexibility to pay for their hotel reservation at the time of booking or upon arrival.

6

ollowing a recently conducted survey, Norm Rose, senior market analyst, technology and corporate, Phocuswright, revealed that just eight percent of respondents support mobile payments.

According to the report, while mobile technology continues to disrupt the travel experience, it has not yet impacted the European payment process. Of the mobile payment options, credit cards are the most popular mobile method with a 93 percent adoption rate, followed by debit cards at 52 percent.

Rose, commented, "Even though consumers are increasingly using mobile devices for travel planning, the majority of digital bookings continue to come from desktops."

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Tourism in European Cities Soared in 2016 According to European Cities Marketing, there was a 3.6 percent growth in city tourism in 2016, with increases from both domestic and international markets, up six percent and 2.3 percent, respectively.

I

Madrid

n terms of bednights, London, Paris and Berlin were the most popular destinations, in that order. Of the top 10 list, Madrid saw the highest growth in bednights, up 9.4 percent, followed by Barcelona with a rise of 7.5 percent.

The US, Germany and the UK were the main source markets, collectively accounting for around 30 percent of all travellers. Arrivals from Italy, Japan and Russia decreased 4.3 percent, 11.8 percent and 12.4 percent, correspondingly. Meanwhile, China represented the fastest growing market at 2.2 percent.

Burgeoning EU Tourism

Hertz RollsOut New Driver Service

F

8

I

nternational tourist arrivals to the European Union (EU) increased four percent in 2016, reaching almost 500 million or 40 percent of the world’s total, as shown by preliminary results released in World Tourism Organization’s report European Union Short-Term Tourism Trends.

According to the review, the 28 EU countries boasted a solid boost in international travellers, exceeding the world’s average growth rate, and increasing by 21 million in 2016. It also marked the seventh consecutive year of an upward trajectory for the region, now with 107 million more tourists than in 2008, the year preceding a period of economic instability. The positive figures reinforce the valuable contribution of the industry to economic development, job creation and social well-being in the EU.

Paris

ollowing a partnership with Blacklane, Hertz has launched Hertz Driver Services powered by Blacklane, offering airport transfers, limousines, and chauffeur services, adding professional drivers to its worldwide transportation portfolio.

Clients in Belgium, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Spain and the UK can now book the ground transportation to complement car rental.

Jens Wohltorf, CEO, Blacklane, said, “Business and leisure travellers trust Hertz around the world for its quality vehicles and high level of service. […]. Allowing customers to book rental cars and chauffeured transportation for the same trip simplifies travel planning and will help customers take the stress out of travel.”

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Lithuania Marked Record Tourism Growth

Dublin to Host IDHA for the First Time

T

he Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) has been chosen to host the 2022 International Symposium on Dental Hygiene (ISDH).

The bid was secured by Irish Dental Hygienists’ Association and Keynote PCO at the 2016 edition of the event in Basel, the second attempt to bring the conference to Dublin.

ISDH is held every three years and offers an opportunity for participants to get together and exchange points of views on issues pertaining to dental hygiene. Some 1,200 delegates are expected to attend in 2022, including dental and oral hygienists, medical and dental practitioners and allied healthcare experts.

25 APRIL 2017 2016

Birštonas

L

ithuanian tourism marketing initiatives have proven successful as the destination saw high influx of visitors in 2016, recording an overall increase of 9.8 percent compared to the 5.9 percent growth seen in 2015.

According to 2016 statistical data from accommodation providers, the country welcomed 1.49 million international tourists who stayed at least one night, a 9.4 percent increase year-on-year.

Domestic tourism also rose 10.2 percent over 2015, with 1.26 million locals travelling within the country and booking at least one night out of their homes.

The most significant growth among the priority markets was demonstrated by French travellers, with 36,000 guests staying in properties across the country during the year under review, marking a 19.6 percent increase over 2015.

Ljublijana’s Eco-efforts Showcased at ITB Berlin

A

t ITB Berlin 2017, Petra Stušek, managing director, Ljubljana Tourism, presented the key sustainable tourism practices of the city as part of the Slovenia Makes You Green panel.

While highlighting Ljubljana’s recognitions in the field of sustainable development, Stušek, pinpointed, “[…] All the changes have significantly influenced the tourist development and atmosphere in the city. [...] We encourage all stakeholders in tourism development to go green and visitors of Ljubljana to leave only footprints and take only memories.”

In 2016, not only was Slovenia named as the first Green Country in the World, Ljubljana was the European Green Capital 2016 and 17 locations in the country were among the top 100 greenest destinations across the globe.

9

NEWS US Visitors to Switzerland Boom

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Russians Visiting Greece Set to Soar

W

ith more Americans travelling to Switzerland, visiting main cities and mountain regions, the number of US arrivals and overnight stays increased for the seventh consecutive year in 2016.

During the year under review, the number of US arrivals rose 6.5 percent, while the number of overnight stays reached 1.84 million, up 5.5 percent compared to 2015.

Overall, there has been a total growth of more than 30 percent since 2009.

While mentioning that Switzerland was named as the best country in the world according to a recent study by U.S. News & World Report, Alex Herrmann, director, Americas, Switzerland Tourism, said, “This will hopefully motivate even more Americans to find their way – or their way back – to Switzerland.“

Santorini

Zurich

G

reek National Tourism Organization (GNTO) participated in this year’s Moscow International Travel and Tourism Exhibition (MITT).

According to feedback collected from Russian travel agents and tour operators, visitors from Russia to Greece are expected to exceed one million during the summer months.

According to Dimitris Trifonopoulos, secretary general, GNTO, the encouraging messages from Russia are the result of a speedier Schengen visa procedure. In addition, GNTO members underlined the readiness of the Greek consular services in Russia, in order to meet the increased demand for visas by Russian nationals wishing to travel to Greece, which skyrocketed in the first two months of the year.

During the exhibition, GNTO was named as Τez Tour’s leading partner during the Tez WorldBerry awards.

Ireland Becomes a Business Hub

Ireland

F

10

ive Irish tourism companies attended Succesful Meetings University (SMU) International in New York from March 10 – 12, to promote Ireland as a top destination for business tourism.

Among them was Tourism Ireland, aiming to tap into the lucrative sector as business travellers spend around 2.5 times more than the average holidaymaker.

Alison Metcalfe, head, North America brand, Tourism Ireland, commented, “Events like SMU International are important platforms to continue to build awareness of Ireland and our world-class business tourism offering.”

With its participation in SMU, Tourism Ireland, aims to build on the success of 2016, which was the fourth record-breaking year in a row for Irish tourism from North America.

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

F

ollowing the newly formed partnership with Space Time Concepts, Cologne Tourist Board now offers exclusive two-hour tours of the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) on the grounds of the German Aerospace Centre in Cologne-Wahnheide.

Available for groups of up to 25 participants, the excursion, organised by Space Time Concepts can be booked in either English or German and includes a presentation as well as a guided tour of the training centre. After the visit, guests are free to ask questions regarding the work of the EAC, astronaut training and space travel.

European Astronaut Centre, Cologne-Wahnheide

Cologne Tourist Board Partners with Space Time Concepts

Four Pillar Strategy For Bratislava Tourist Board

I

Bratislava

n collaboration with marketing specialists Pádraic Gilligan and Patrick Delaney as well as Slovak Tourist Board, the Bratislava Tourist Board (BTB) introduced its new pillars for communication in the field of congress tourism.

Following several months of work to identify the regions’ competitive advantage in the world of MICE, BTB presented four pillars for future communication under the Bratislava brand at a conference held on March 10.

"Safety, innovation, the ability to excel in production on a global scale, and logistic accessibility are the four basic pillars that we will integrate into marketing communications for congress tourism under the Bratislava brand,” said, Alžbeta Melicharová., chairwoman, BTB.

25 APRIL 2017

11

NEWS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Italy’s Medical Tourism Hallmark Palazzo delle Stelline

Milan is to welcome medical tourism stakeholders at Intercare, the International Medical Tourism Exhibition, due to take place on May 25 – 27 at Palazzo delle Stelline.

B

uilding on the expanding trend of medical tourism, estimated to reach a value of EUR150 billion by 2018, the event will aim to boost the Italian and international medical sector by creating a forum of excellence for exchanging medical progress and experiences between 40 Italian and international participants and visitors.

Maurizio Cavezzali, CEO, Equipe International, stated, “Intercare is being launched to provide an Italian and international benchmark in medical tourism, a sector that is destined to grow exponentially in the years to come.”

Sustainable Tourism is Becoming Popular Among Europeans

Ireland Celebrated in Scotland

O I

n a recent survey, TUI Group examined travellers attitudes to sustainable travel in Germany, the UK, France, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands, finding that sustainable travel is in vogue among European holidaymakers.

Factors such as environmental protection, biodiversity, and better social standards for the destination’s local population, are becoming increasingly important. Compared with other nationalities, French, German and Belgian tourists showed a particularly strong commitment, while overall, the main motives shaping views to sustainability are environmental protection and animal welfare. The research also identified current obstacles to greater sustainability in tourism, with more than half of the respondents criticising the lack of information.

12

n the occasion of St. Patrick’s Day, Tourism Ireland joined celebrations in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Coatbridge in order to attract holidaymakers to Ireland.

Among others, a family event in Glasgow’s Merchant Square enabled the organisation to promote the island to an estimated 7,000 visitors, contributing in its efforts to increase the influx of Scottish travellers.

Commenting on the initiatives as well as inviting tourists to spend holidays or a long weekend break on the island this year, Amy Riddell, manager, Scotland, Tourism Ireland, revealed that the festivities traditionally mark the start of the tourism season for the organisation, which takes every opportunity to raise awareness of the destination’s offerings and capitalise on its heightened profile.

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS ACCOMMODATION

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Eurostars 11th Property Set to Impress

A

dded under lease, the property boasts 98 rooms, all of which include a terrace with views of the Ionian Sea, the Gulf of Naxos and Mount Etna. The hotel offers facilities such as a panoramic pool and a restaurant sheltered from the bay, along with a meeting room with natural light and a capacity of up to 150 people, deemed as an ideal place for holding events of a professional or personal nature.

Based in Taormina, Sicily, the property joins the group’s establishments in Rome, Naples, Palermo, Venice and Lucca.

Holiday Inn Expands in Germany

F

ollowing the success of 2016, when more than 100 hotels joined its network, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the signing of eight new addresses within the Holiday Inn brand family in Germany.

The new members include Holiday Inn Munich, Holiday Inn Express Munich North, Holiday Inn Express Berlin, Holiday Inn Express Fürth, Holiday Inn Express Leipzig, NOVUM Hotel Group, Holiday Inn Express Saarbrücken and Holiday Inn Express Erlangen.

Martin Bowen, associate vice president, Germany, IHG, commented, “Several of these new hotels are all with long-standing multiple development agreement partners who have established relationships with IHG, and understand the returns both [brands] deliver.”

25 APRIL 2017

Taormina, Sicily

Eurostars Hotel, the hotel division of Grupo Hotusa, has enhanced its portfolio with the addition of Eurostars Monte Tauro, marking its 11th Italian address.

Marriott's European Expansion

M

arriott International announced in March that it expects to dramatically increase the size of its portfolio in Europe across all segments of the industry, following a milestone year for the company in 2016.

The planned expansion is said to be the first development vision announced for the continent since the acquisition of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide in September 2016.

“2016 was a momentous year for both the company and our continent team. We added 40,000 rooms in Europe with the Starwood acquisition alone, and achieved our long-term goal to triple in size, [...],” said Amy McPherson, president, Europe, Marriott International.

13

NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Second NH Collection Frankfurt Property Announced

F

rom March 10 – July 23, Palazzo Strozzi is hosting Electronic Renaissance, an exhibition showcasing the work of Bill Viola, a contemporary video artist.

The show is a celebration of Viola’s special relationship with Florence, where his career in video art began and acts as a comparison between the artist’s works and masterpieces on loan from the great masters of the past, enabling a dialogue between old and contemporary.

In tribute, Starhotels is offering tickets for those wishing to stay at Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, Starhotels Michelangelo and Starhotels Tuscany, all in close proximity to the venue.

N Frankfurt

Palazzo Strozzi

Starhotels Caters for Art Lovers

Rezidor Boosts Polish Inventory

H Hotel Group has signed for a new address NH Collection Frankfurt Messe slated to open in early 2021.

The four-star property, part of a 120m high skyscraper, will boast 416 keys together with some 2,000m² area for meeting and events. Located in the booming business district, the high-rise building property will also be home to offices as well as restaurant, bar and fitness areas.

The latest addition to the brand’s network will mark the 56th address signed since the company launched its strategic plan in 2014. Currently, 67 NH Collection establishments are operated in Europe and Latin America, with 10 more scheduled to open before 2021.

Super 8 Network is Expanding in Europe

T

he Rezidor Hotel Group has unveiled Radisson Blu Hotel Sopot, slated to open on the Baltic coastline by the first quarter 2019, bringing the company’s Polish portfolio to 17 properties.

Situated in the tourist area and amongst developing urban and business centres, the 230-key address will feature a restaurant, a lobby bar, more than 900m² of extensive conference and meeting facilities along with a 900m² wellness area with a gym and indoor pool.

Elie Younes, executive vice president, The Rezidor Hotel Group, enthused, “[…] The project is in line with our strategy in Poland and answers the increasing demand for quality hotels in regional and domestic business and leisure destinations.”

W Sopot

14

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

yndham Hotel Group has announced the expansion of its development agreement with GS Star, to enhance its European offering with the addition of Super 8-branded hotels in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the Netherlands.

According to the contract, a new Super 8 is expected to open its doors in Freiburg in the following months, followed by three new openings in Mainz, Oberhausen and Hamburg by the end of 2018, adding some 850 keys to the portfolio.

The announcement follows the successful openings of two Super 8 properties in Munich in 2016, the brand’s first venture into the continent.

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS AIRPORTS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Higher Investments to Elevate Copenhagen Airport

T

his year, Denmark’s international gateway will face a 20 percent year-on-year increase in annual funding for the expansion of now standing at DKK1.3 billion (EUR174.9 million). Meanwhile, DKK200 million (EUR26.9 million) will boost the construction project for handling higher aircraft and passenger capacities, among other projects.

Thomas Woldbye, CEO, Copenhagen Airports, noted, “[…] We want to be an attractive hub, therefore we are investing not only in building new capacity, but also in optimising processes, introducing new technology and making things smarter.”

Copenhagen Airport

As part of its overall DKK20 billion (EUR2.69 billion) expansion, Copenhagen Airports presented an investment package worth DKK500 million (EUR67.2 million) to reduce costs for airlines to make the hub more attractive and competitive.

Flughafen Wien Scored Success in February

Glasgow Hub Name BHF as its Charity

I

25 APRIL 2017

Glasgow Airport

G

lasgow Airport’s (GA) chaplaincy team has named British Heart Foundation (BHF) Scotland as its chosen charity for this year.

Staff from across the GA campus will raise funds to help the heart charity continue to fund life saving heart science and to support locals who are affected by heart disease.

James Cant, director, BHF Scotland, said, “The BHF is currently spending GBP18.5 million (EUR21.2 million) on research into heart disease and stroke in the city, including at our Centre of Research Excellence at the University of Glasgow.”

The airport has already partnered with BHF Scotland, investing GBP3,800 (EUR4,344) in its CPR kits to train staff and airport partners in life saving CPR skills.

n February, Flughafen Wien Group reported a 6.5 percent rise in passenger volume, to 1.7 million travellers.

In January and February, the number of passengers handled by the group, consisting of Vienna International Airport, Malta International Airport and Košice International Airport, climbed 8.7 percent to 3.5 million.

The Vienna hub generated a passenger increase of 5.5 percent in the first two months, while in February alone it served 1,392,409 passengers, up 3.2 percent year-on-year.

February also generated a strong growth in passenger numbers from the Malta hub with a 25.2 percent rise while the Košice base also showed a promising 7.5 percent increase.

15

NEWS AIRPORTS Record February for Heathrow Hub

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Gatwick Airport Hosts Learn Live

G

atwick Airport has become the first in the UK to use the Learn Live streaming platform to broadcast information to students thinking about pursuing a career at the gateway.

The channel enables the airport to transmit a series of monthly interactive video links to schools across the country, giving students an opportunity to ask questions directly to Gatwick Airport’s staff. Each session will cover a different theme and introduce students to the various career paths the hub has to offer, also providing inspiration for subject choice while considering a career at the premise. The broadcasts are recorded so the sessions can be viewed by those unable to take part in the live versions.

Gatwick Airport

H

eathrow Airport has achieved its best-ever February with 5.27 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 5.5 percent, adjusted to remove 2016’s leap day.

Furthermore, cargo volumes also rose to 127,000 tonnes, up 4.4 percent over February 2016, thanks to enhanced contributions from emerging markets, such as Brazil, India and China, up 10 percent, five percent and 4.2 percent, respectively. Healthy growth was also observed in freight to the Middle East, rising eight percent, and the US which grew seven percent.

John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow Airport, enthused, “Heathrow is off to a flying start this year – we are delivering the best service of any major airport in Europe to record numbers of passengers and boosting British exports with record cargo volumes.”

Belavia Announces Nizhniy Novgorod Itinerary

F

ollowing three years of negotiations with Strigino International Airport (SIA), Belavia – Belarusian Airlines has unveiled the launch of services to Nizhniy Novgorod, due to begin on May 30.

Flights will be operated four times weekly from Minsk National Airport on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays with an Embraer 195. The return schedule from SIA is planned to be carried out on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays.

According to Anatoly Gusarov, general director, Belavia – Belarusian Airlines, the route was approved upon consideration of the forecasted growth of passenger inflow to Russia, the lack of foreign carriers at the hub and the increased travel opportunities for locals.

16

25 APRIL 2017

NEWS AIR

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Croatia Airlines to Connect Helsinki and Zagreb

K

rešimir Kučko, CEO, Croatia Airlines, enthused, “[…] The Finnish market has a large potential, and that is why we are offering a high-quality, attractive product, which is the fastest connection to the southeastern part of Europe. […]”

The new itinerary will open the opportunity for travellers from Finland to access further tourist destinations from Zagreb, such as Pula, Dubrovnik, Zadar, Split and other European routes in the airline’s portfolio.

S7 Airlines Introduced Moscow-Petrozavodsk Route

Zagreb Airport Franjo Tuđman

Croatia Airlines has revealed its new route between Helsinki Airport and Zagreb Airport Franjo Tuđman, to be operated three times weekly from May 21.

UIA Enhances Summer Schedule

E S

7 Airlines expanded its network with the addition of a new itinerary between Moscow’s Domodedovo International Airport and Petrozavodsk Airport, as part of its summer schedule.

Flights commenced April 04 and run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays onboard an Airbus A319.

“The schedule is designed in a way that enables getting to Petrozavodsk not only from Moscow but also, with a convenient connection at Domodedovo Airport, from other Russian cities of the S7 Airlines route network,” commented, Igor Veretennikov, commercial director, S7 Group.

25 APRIL 2017

ffective June 15, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) will launch direct scheduled flights between Kiev's Boryspil International Airport and Budapest Ferenz Liszt International Airport.

The new daily service connecting the capitals will be operated using a Boeing 737-800.

The flights from Budapest are scheduled to provide convenient connections with UIA’s global network.

Whilst noting that Hungary is increasingly popular among Ukrainians, Evgeniya Satska, corporate press secretary, UIA, noted, “The launch of non-stop daily flights between Kiev and Budapest is feasible as we keep developing our network model by taking full advantage of Boryspil`s transit potential.”

17

NEWS AIR

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Austrian Airlines Maintains Upward Trend

airberlin and NIKI Unveil Summer Priorities

F a

irberlin and NIKI presented their new route map for the first time at ITB Berlin 2017. airberlin is set to reposition itself as a carrier with a focus on its hubs at Berlin and Dusseldorf. The core of its network will consist of domestic routes, European city destinations and more long-haul connections, including the US, Caribbean, Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Meanwhile, NIKI will serve popular holiday destinations in Europe, including Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with a focus on Mallorca, the Canaries and the Greek islands as part of its summer schedule, launched on March 26.

Air France Advances Domestic Summer Flights

ollowing a positive start to the year, Austrian Airlines has generated promising figures again in February by carrying close to 639,000 passengers, representing a 3.2 percent increase in volume over February 2016.

The increase is credited to the expanded bilateral flight traffic between Austria and Germany.

February also marked higher flight offering measured in available seat kilometres, up 2.6 percent year-on-year, to 1.5 billion.

On the other hand, the airline reported a 1.4 percent decrease in revenue passenger kilometres, while passenger load factor stood at 66.8 percent on average in February, a drop of 2.8 percentage points over the same month in 2016.

Overall, the period of January – February brought 1.3 million passengers onboard the carrier’s flights, comprising a rise of 5.8 percent.

airBaltic’s Paris Service is Launched

A

ir France is to deploy its Boeing 787 for two Paris-Charles de Gaulle – Nice Côte d' Azur International Airport round-trips on May 28 – 29, in response to the marked increase in travel over the period.

The high demand is due to the end of the Ascension holiday weekend, the 75th Monaco Formula 1 Grand Prix and the 70th edition of the Cannes Film Festival, of which the carrier has been a partner for 37 years.

Travellers will be able to enjoy the latest products and services on board, including HD touch screens giving passengers a private movie theatre experience, windows that are approximately 30 percent larger than on similar aircraft, as well as lower cabin altitude and enhanced in-flight humidity levels for greater comfort.

18

O

n March 26, airBaltic’s Vilnius to Paris route took off, offering customers more convenient travel between Lithuania and France.

With four flights weekly, the itinerary is served aboard a Boeing 737 aircraft with a total flight time of two hours and 45 minutes.

Whilst noting the addition to its network following encouraging demand, Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice president, network management, airBaltic, also commented, “The service from Vilnius adds to the existing Riga – Paris and Tallinn – Paris direct routes, and strengthens airBaltic’s presence in the Baltic states.”

25 APRIL 2017

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

NEWS AIR

AZALJET Now Explores Azerbaijani Regions

Ryanair to Serve Ukraine

A

ZALJET announced its commencement of regular flights from Moscow Vnukovo Airport to the Azerbaijani regions of Ganja and Gabala, which began on March 15.

On the occasion of the first Moscow – Ganja flight, an event was held with Eldar Hajiyev, vice president, Azerbaijan Airlines, and Vasily Alexandrov, director general, Vnukovo Airport, both in attendance.

Moscow – Ganja flights will be operated on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while the service to Gabala will run on Thursdays, both onboard Airbus A320s.

Boryspil International Airport

Ganja

R

yanair announced its first direct scheduled routes from London Stansted to both Kiev and Lviv in Ukraine.

From October, the airline will fly five times weekly to Kiev and twice weekly to Lviv, bringing the total number of destinations served by the carrier from the UK hub to 127 this winter.

Mats Sigurdson, director, aviation, Stansted Airport, said, “Kiev and Lviv are two fantastic new additions to London Stansted’s route network and they are our first ever direct services to these cities from the airport. We are delighted that Ryanair has announced these new connections as they provide even greater choice for both business and leisure passengers in the region.”

Public to Design Belavia Uniform

Flybe Boosts London to Amsterdam Service

B

Amsterdam

elavia – Belarusian Airlines, together with the information portal TUT.BY, announced a public voting contest following the tender for the development of the design of the pilot and cabin crew uniform in line with the rebranding of the airline.

After the designs had been submitted, a professional jury selected the outfits to be shared online for the general pupblic to vote for, as of April 14.

The winner of the most popular design will receive two tickets to Milan and invitation to Milan Fashion Week.

D

uring the period March 26 – October 27, Flybe is operating daily flights between London City Airport and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, due to popular demand for the service.

This offers greater flexibility for both business and leisure travellers who want to tailor the length of their trip to suit their needs.

The weekday flights depart from the UK capital early in the morning and return from Amsterdam in late afternoon, enabling convenient day return travel to the Dutch capital, allowing passengers to return to the UK in time for evening commitments.

25 APRIL 2017

19

SPECIAL REPORT: Explore GB

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

ExploreGB Hailed as a

Great Success ON MARCH 02 – 03, MORE THAN 830 DELEGATES DESCENDED ON THE SEASIDE RESORT OF BRIGHTON FOR EXPLOREGB, VISITBRITAIN’S FLAGSHIP ANNUAL TRADE EVENT, HELD FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR.

Brighton Palace Pier

ELLEN PETTY WRITES

D

uring the two-day workshop, at Brighton Centre, an average of 40,000 pre-scheduled meetings took place between more than 400 hosted international buyers from 40 countries and some 400 British and Irish suppliers and destinations, according to Carol Dray, commercial director, VisitBritain, making the event the largest to date.

Recognising the value in experiencing tourism products first-hand, VisitBritain also offered international buyers the opportunity to embark on familiarisation trips across the country, showcasing the best of different regions and the diversity of its product.

Steve Ridgway, the new chairman of the organisation, as of April 01, was also introduced and it was revealed that the 2018 edition of ExploreGB will be held in Newcastle.

The event served as a platform for VisitBritain and regional tourism authorities to disclose the successes of 2016 and unveil strategies for the current year.

ists by 2020, continuing the upward trajectory seen in recent years.

In 2016, the country welcomed 37.3 million inbound arrivals, yet spending dropped to GBP22.2 billion (EUR25.9 billion) as tourists increasingly seek value for money. Mullin also outlined the country’s cultural attractions as the primary motive for visiting the UK, cited by 44 percent of all visitors.

Adding to this, Richard Nicholls, head, research and forecasting, VisitBritain noted that while the number of holidaymakers remained stable at 13.8 million, an influx of travellers visiting friends and family was observed, up 10 percent year-on-year in 2016. Looking to this year, Nicholls highlighted along with a forecasted surge in spending, partly due to the value of its currency, the UK is expecting to achieve a jump in arrivals, supported by a four percent year-on-year increase in seat capacity on inbound flights.

ENGLAND CELEBRATES ITS LITERATURE

ries of a multitude of literary moments.

Following research carried out by the organisation, interest in this niche segment was revealed by the fact that more than half of tourists would visit a literary attraction, while 24 percent have already done so whilst on holiday.

Furthermore, in a bid to encourage travellers to venture out of London, which currently collects 54 percent of all tourism spend, VisitEngland is showcasing key destinations in coastal and rural England.

RECORD SUCCESS FOR NORTHERN IRELAND In 2016, Northern Ireland achieved its best year ever, with revenue reaching GBP527 million (EUR615.9 million), a year-on-year jump of nine percent, as revealed by Siobhan McManamy, director, markets, Tourism Ireland.

Furthermore, the number of visitors soared six percent, to two million.

Some key achievements for Belfast in particular, include being named Trendiest City 2016 by European MICE Awards as well as Titanic Belfast winning World’s Leading Tourist Attraction 2016 at the World Travel Awards. In terms of accommodation, the capital is expected to welcome more than 1,200 keys by 2018, while rooms in DerryLondonderry are set to soar 35 percent.

OPTIMISM ACROSS THE UK According to Clare Mullin, marketing director, VisitBritain, the UK is expecting to welcome some 40 million tour-

20

Laura Dewar, head, England public relations, VisitEngland, disclosed that this year has been labelled as the Year of Literary Heroes, marking the anniversa-

SCOTLAND HIGHLIGHTS HISTORY, HERITAGE AND ARCHAEOLOGY Linda McAllister, senior marketing

manager, VisitScotland, revealed that this year has been named as the Year of History, Heritage & Archaeology, as Scotland aims to capitalise on the country’s rich history, which is the main motivator for 32 percent of visitors. Along with the promotion of traditional music events and cultural festivals such as The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and Highland Games, VisitScotland is also placing emphasis on genealogy and ancestral tourism, which accounts for around 213,000 trips to the country each year.

WALES UNVEILS ITS YEAR OF LEGENDS On the back of success of 2016’s Year of Adventure, during which, Wales welcomed a 12 percent boost in international visitors along with a 44 percent surge in expenditure in day visitors, Rob Jones, media relations executive, VisitWales, unveiled this year as the Year of Legends. As part of this initiative, VisitWales is placing a great focus on its unique culture, heritage experiences as well as vibrant events and festivals. Thanks to a GBP85 million (EUR98 million) investment from the European Union to develop a range of destinations, tourism is forecast to increase 10 percent by 2020.

BRIGHTON’S EVENTS CALENDAR EXPECTED TO DRAW IN VISITORS This summer will see the launch of the Brighton and Hove’s new bikeshare scheme, with 400 bicycles set to be located at 40 hubs across the city, as described by Ruth Allsop, public relations and marketing executive, VisitBrighton. For the coming year, the organisation will place a focus on the city’s food and drink offerings, as well as its extensive outdoor calendar, climaxing in May, the city’s festival month.

25 APRIL 2017

CRAIG BONNAR has assumed the position of chief operating officer at Travelodge, where he will take direct management responsibility for leading the group’s hotel operations across its properties in the UK and Spain.

Bonnar joins the company from a 20-year career at ASDA, a British supermarket chain, where he gained extensive experience in leading large multi-site teams. During his time at the retailer, Bonnar held a number senior positions, including managing director of the cleaning and facilities business, City Facilities Management, as well as operations director for Scotland and Northern Ireland and head of retail operations. Additionally, Bonnar also served as vise president of the supermarket's store proposition and format development department.

FABRICE BINET has begun his new role as sales and business development director at bmi regional.

Now with 10 years of experience in the aviation industry, Binet first joined the airline in 2014. In 2016, he was promoted to a sales role, where he was responsible for key corporate accounts and drove business on routes in and out of France, Italy and the Czech Republic.

Binet will now be accountable for sales across the carrier’s network and will manage a team engaging with existing and potential clients across Europe.

Binet will lead the carrier's sales team

25 APRIL 2017

MIKE SCHWANKE

WHO’S MOVED

MIKE SCHWANKE has been appointed as the new managing director at Robinson Club, TUI Group’s premium holiday club resort provider.

Schwanke first joined the group in 2012 as director of marketing for TUI Cruises, where he most recently served as director of sales.

With extensive digital marketing and brand management expertise, Schwanke will lead marketing, sales and operations for the subsidiary. As part of his new role, he will also push Robinson Club’s growth, including its Asian expansion, with resorts in both Thailand and the Maldives set to open later this year.

Schwanke has extensive marketing experience

DOMINIQUE WOOD

FABRICE BINET

CRAIG BONNAR

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

DOMINIQUE WOOD has been named senior vice president, corporate communications at Air France KLM and vice president, corporate communications at Air France.

In addition to this appointment, she has also become a member of Air France’s executive committee.

Wood joins the group from Transdev, where she held the position of group communication director since 2014, alongside being the company’s acting secretary general between July – December 2016.

Since beginning her career in 1989, Wood has spent much of her time at W&Cie, which she first joined in 2001. From 2010, she held the position of managing director at the company, where she remained for a further four years.

21

TRAVEL CHANNELS

Discreet Special Assistance at Bristol Airport

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Enterpise Fights Hunger in Ireland Crosscare volunteers

M

arking its 20th anniversary in Ireland, Enterprise Rent-A-Car donated the first of six EUR20,000 annual contributions to social support agency Crosscare to help overcome food poverty in Ireland.

In cooperation with The Global Food Banking Network, the grant will help Crosscare to increase the capacity to redistribute surplus food to people in need throughout the country and to supply the charity’s cafés.

The initiative is a part of the company’s 60th global anniversary and following decision to invest USD60 million (EUR56.2 million) in total, over the next six years, to address hunger situations in the European and North American countries where it owns business operations.

B

ristol Airport, in collaboration with OCS Group and local charities, recently introduced a hidden disabilities assistance card to identify passengers with additional support needed.

The card can be handed to airport staff as a sign that a passenger may need more time to process information, help in avoiding crowded places or extra assistance in reading departure boards or flight information.

A full training programme has been delivered to all airport customer-facing staff in preparation of the initiative.

OCS Group has also worked with Thumbs Up World to produce a booklet containing useful information for passengers with hidden disabilities travelling through the hub. All new amenities can be obtained upon request at the OCS special assistance desk in the main terminal.

EASA: Cabin Air Quality is Adequate

E

uropean Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) recently published the results of a research commissioned to gain understanding of cabin air quality onboard large commercial aircraft.

Cabin air quality measurement campaign, conducted by Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine and the Hannover Medical School, concluded that cabin and cockpit air quality is similar or better than what is observed in normal indoor environments.

The second study, Characterisation of the toxicity of aviation turbine engine oils after pyrolysis, conducted by Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research and the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, defined that neuroactive products are present, but that their concentration in the presence of an intact lung barrier is too low to be a major concern for neuronal function.

Belarus Culinary Map Goes Digital

T

he culinary map of Belarus has become readily available online via the Gastinia website.

The online gastronomic directory was developed by the Belarusian Public Association Recreation in the Countryside, in partnership with students from the International Relations Department of the Belarusian State University.

The site showcases a wide variety of local dishes and recipes along with Belarusian history, and information regarding gastronomic routes and festivals across the region.

The goal of the project is to demonstrate Belarus’ rich culinary heritage which is said to have survived mostly in the rural areas.

Belarus

22

25 APRIL 2017

PHOTO ALBUM

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Air Serbia adorned an Airbus A319 with musician Goran Bregović, as part of its living legends programme

Travel in style with Champneys with their chauffer driven Bentley

Take a Shot!

Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.

Acropolis Museum in Athens Hosted Robert Wilson's artwork

Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

Brussels Airport keeps its younger flyers busy with Smurfs in the family security check lanes

John Legend joined Disneyland's Paris 25th anniversary celebrations

25 APRIL 2017

23

NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS GTM GERMANY TRAVEL MART Nuremberg, Germany May 07 – 09 www.germany-travel-mart.de The 43rd edition of the show, where German suppliers will meet with international buyers from 45 countries.

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Madrid Hosted the Automotive Industry

H

ailed as one of Spain’s leading international trade fairs for the automotive industry, Motortec Automechanika Madrid took place on March 15 – 18.

Organised by IFEMA – Feria de Madrid, the annual event targeted trade visitors from the Iberian Peninsula, Latin America and North Africa. More than 650 companies participated, promoting assorted services and products.

Along with the varied commercial offerings, the exhibition hall became a forum for the discussion and analysis of the sector's current position, through an extensive programme of technical sessions and networking activities along with, workshops and showrooms. Discussions focussed on addressing issues related to electromechanics.

REGION TOUR EXPO

ACI Unveiled New Airport Guidelines

Trencin, Slovakia May 12 – 13 www.expocenter.sk The sixth annual tourism exhibition covering the Slovak and Czech regions

A

irports Council International (ACI) released a new policy brief, at ACI-World Bank Annual Aviation Symposium of the ACI 9th Annual Airport Economics & Finance Conference & Exhibition, held in London on March 20 – 22.

Providing recommendations on airport ownership, economic regulation and financial performance, the policy is based on dataset and inventory of the world’s major commercial airports. ACI’s global medium-term forecast shows a 33 percent growth in passenger volumes from 2015 – 2020, with many national governments facing a predicament where the surge in air transport demand is outstripping available airport infrastructure. The ACI framework therefore aims to put forth practical guidelines to encourage investment to the industry while demonstrating the need for flexibility and consistency in regulations governing airport revenues and capital investments.

IMEX Frankfurt, Germany May 16 – 18 www.imex-frankfurt.com A one-stop shop for meetings, events and incentive travel programmes where more than 3,500 exhibitors are expected to showcase their offerings

ISH Successfully Concluded

I

SH, a trade fair for the combination of water and energy solutions, held in Frankfurt am Main on March 14 – 18, has demonstrated positive growth on domestic and international levels by closing this year’s edition with satisfactory figures of 2,482 exhibitors and 200,114 visitors.

Worldmarket leaders showcasing their offerings and visitors, keen to discover the innovations and trends, met on 260,000m² area of the Frankfurt Fair and Exhibition Centre. The event’s success was measured with the large number of generated contracts which led to over 80 percent satisfaction level mark by the exhibitors and a potentially record-breaking 97 percent satisfaction from the visitors’ side.

INTERCARE INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL TOURISM EXHIBITION Milan, Italy May 25 – 27 www.inter-care.it An opportunity for international medical and tourism operators to forge working relationships.

24

Sigulda Opera Festival Promises Something Unique

T

he Sigulda Opera Festival, taking place from July 28 – 30, will be held in the open-air garden of the New Castle of Sigulda and outdoor stage of Sigulda Castle Ruins with a panoramic view of Latvia’s Gauja Valley.

The festival will feature a series of concerts, such as young talents and church music and will be held at the Sigulda Evangelical Lutheran Church, concluded with a Gala Concert.

Cosidered the pinnacle of the event, visitors will have the opportunity to watch the never-staged before opera Falstaff by Giuseppe Verdi, among many other shows.

25 APRIL 2017