25 DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE 52
25 DECEMBER 2016 ISSUE 52
03 HOTEL PERFORMANCE
Riga
10 SHORT BREAK
08 VIRTUAL REALITY EXPECTED BY THEME PARK CUSTOMERS
09 Accommodation 13 Airports 23 Photo Album
MARKET UPDATE
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Aeroflot’s Net Profit Rockets Sixfold
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic 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 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
In the first nine months of the year, Aeroflot’s net profit, presented in line with Russian Accounting Standards, on a non-consolidated basis has increased sixfold to RUB42.8 billion (EUR600 million).
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evenue in the aforementioned period reached RUB328billion (EUR4.6 billion), a year-onyear boost of 20.2 percent, driven by a 10.4 percent growth in passenger numbers to 21.7 million. Meanwhile, cost of sale rose 18.2 percent compared to the same period in 2015, while gross profit soared 32.2 percent, reflecting the fact that revenue grew faster than expenses as a result of effective cost management. Revenue passenger kilometres climbed 11 percent to nearly 62 billion from January to September, while load factor increased by 1.8 percentage points to 82 percent.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
Ryanair Reports Positive Results
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
22.12.2016
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
EUR1=
US (USD)
Dollar
1.04
UK (GBP)
Pound
0.84
Switzerland (CHF) Franc
1.07
Japan (JPY)
122.94
2
Yen
For the month of November, Ryanair’s passengers traffic increased 15 percent to 8.8 million travellers, in addition to load factor rising two percentage points to 95 percent.
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tatistics also indicate that rolling annual traffic to November grew 16 percent to 115.5 million customers. Commenting on the results, Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing office, Ryanair, said, “Ryanair’s November traffic grew by 15 percent to 8.8 million customers, on the back of lower fares and the continuing success of our Always Getting Better customer experience programme.”
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WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE
International Tourists Strengthen Demand in Edinburgh
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dinburgh addresses saw an 18.4 surge in profit per room in October, fuelled by a boost in international visitors passing through Edinburgh Airport, up 23.6 percent. Occupancy climbed 1.9 percentage points, while achieved average room rate soared 10.1 percent year-onyear, meaning that RevPAR reached GBP92.29 (EUR109.81). Strong demand during the period January – October, enabled hoteliers to increase rates in both the corporate and leisure sectors, up 6.4 percent and 14.9 percent, respectively. Best available rate peaked at GBP120.65 (EUR143.55) in October, a year-on-year rise of 12.2 percent, while profit grew 9.8 percent, to GBP 53.89 (EUR64.07).
Newcastle Struggles with New Supply
Newcastle
Hotstats’ UK Chain Hotels Market Review October 2016 revealed mixed results across the UK, with Newcastle and the South West unable to match the positive results that the 2015 Rugby World Cup brought. However, impacted by the strong performance of Edinburgh Airport, hotels in the Scottish capital have experienced a boom in demand.
Positive 2016 in the South West Despite Poor October
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n October, profit per room in the South West dropped five percent compared to the same month in 2015, yet the region remained on course for a third consecutive year of growth. In the first 10 months of the year, gross operating profit per available room rose to GBP33.02 (EUR39.27), a year-onyear boost of 2.6 percent. A 2.2 percentage point decline in occupancy to 77.1 percent during the month under review is thought to be related to a strong 2015, when the South West reaped the benefits of the Rugby World Cup fixtures within the region. Decreases were also recorded in both the conference and group tour sectors, down 7.8 percent and 6.1 percent, correspondingly.
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otels in Newcastle suffered a 7.1 year-on-year plummet in RevPAR, and a subsequent eight percent fall in profit per room in the first 10 months of the year, in part due to the addition of around 820 new rooms to the market. Decline in profit was amplified in October, plunging 24 percent over the same month in 2015, where the city was reeling in the profits from three Rugby World Cup matches in the North Eastern city. Occupancy was recorded at 78.5 percent, a drop of 3.3 percentage points and achieved rate was down 15 percent, to just GBP59.43 (EUR70.65). A 3.8 percentage point increase in payroll to 29.1 percent of total revenue has also been putting pressure on hoteliers.
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NEWS
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HS2 route to East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester Increasing Capacity
HS2 route to East Midlands, Leeds and Manchester construction
The UK government sets out its preferred route for Phase Two of High Speed 2 (HS2) from Crewe to Manchester and the West Midlands to Leeds.
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ith the completion of this project expected in 2033, the full benefits of HS2 will be unlocked and the total number of main line commuter and intercity trains per hour will almost double to 48 while intercity seats will treble to almost 15,000 per hour. Overall, the new HS2 trains will carry over 300,000 people daily. The GBP900 million (EUR1.06 billion) development will create around 25,000 jobs during construction as well as 2,000 apprenticeships. It will also support growth in the wider economy, worth an additional 100,000 jobs indicating a clear sign of economic growth in the UK.
Tallink Shuttle Megastar to Start Operating
Asian Outbound Travel Boom to Continue in 2017
Tallink Shuttle Megastar
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allink’s new flagship Tallink Shuttle Megastar will start operating on the Tallinn-Helsinki route on January 29, 2017. Finnish engineers were in charge of the creation process of this 212m vessel advised by Tallink’s customer feedback. Moreover, the passengers’ room will increase 40 percent enhancing the ferry’s capacity to 2800 seats. Tallink Shuttle Megastar will feature, among others, seven dining options as well as recharge points in all resting and eating areas. The Tallinn-Helsinki route continues to be popular with at least three operating vessels transporting over 4.5 million passengers annually across the Gulf of Finland.
ouble-digit growth in Asian outbound travel was led by China, as ITB Berlin exclusively publishes latest results from IPK’s World Travel Monitor. According to the 24th World Travel Monitor Forum in Italy, Asians travelled more than ever so far this year, with a surge in trips to destinations within the region and including many more beach holidays. Once again, China was the driving force for growth with an 18 percent rise in outbound trips, excluding to Hong Kong and Macao. South Korea also performed very well this year, with an 11 percent rise in international travel, according to the figures. Holidays, which account for an overwhelming 81 percent of all trips by Asians, increased by 11 percent over the first eight months this year.
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NEWS TECHNOLOGY
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Sabre Unveils Virtual Payment for Air Bookings In a bid to increase both buyers and suppliers’ virtual payments, Sabre has partnered with Conferma to introduced Sabre Virtual Payment, an integrated solution for air tickets on Sabre Red Workspace.
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he digital payment capability is now offered as a new standard, providing agents with the ability to generate virtual cards as part of the existing ticketing process. Furthermore, the platform will enable travel agents to control factors such as credit limit and date restrictions, while increasing efficiency and eliminating the need to back office providers. The seamless offering also lowers the risk of fraud as Neil Fyfe, vice president, virtual payments, Sabre, explained, adding that it exposes corporate accounts and requires extra time for reconciliation, making it more secure.
BTU Utilise Travelport Smartpoint
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ravelport has announced a new agreement with Business Travel Unlimited (BTU), providers of business travel, incentive and group travel, as well as leisure travel in Austria and Germany. Through this agreement, BTU will be able to utilise Travelport’s extensive travel content through Travelport Smartpoint. BTU can also rely on support and training from Travelport’s global resources as well as customer support from the local sales team in Austria. Rudolf Mertl, managing director, Austria, Travelport, commented on the announcement, “We are proud to have signed this agreement with BTU, our first since announcing our recent integration into the wider Travelport group. BTU has seen the advantage of having a committed local team to serve its needs on the ground that is backed by global resources. […]”
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NEWS TECHNOLOGY
Marriot Announce Tech Start-up Winners
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Virtual Reality Expected by Theme Park Customers
The judging panel
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isitors around the globe believe that virtual reality, voiceactivation, 3D-printing and robots will become part of the theme park experience in the next three years. These findings were featured in the first Omnico Theme Park Barometer, where the interactions and predictions of more than 2,000 visitors to a destination resort or theme park in the US, UK and China, were explored. The research indicated that the list of fast-developing technology predictions for theme parks will be using virtual reality technology for both entertainment and visitor-guidance, with voiceactivated mobile apps and personal digital assistants were the next most popular choices. “[…]These types of technology will not only provide new forms of entertainment, they will assist visitors with finding their way around and help with queue-reduction and crowd-management,” said, Mel Taylor, CEO, Omnico Group.
Virtual Roller Coaster
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arriott’s TestBED, an accelerator programme created to find the most innovative tech startups in the hospitality sector declared the two winning start-ups. Dazzle, an in-room voice activated personal assistant that uses a duo of artificial intelligence and human brain to answer guest queries and services, along with Jambo, a location-based mobile platform that enables business professionals to connect and network. As a Judge, Elizabeth Varley, founder, TechHub, said, “The two start-ups will now go on to pilot their products in a Marriott Hotel in Europe, while receiving publicity and support from the brand, as well as exposure at relevant events and introductions to industry leaders. They will also gain invaluable insight and advice from professionals of the travel and hospitality industry with a series of tailored training days.”
Traveldoo Launches New App
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he Expedia-owned company Traveldoo Technologies has launched a new hotel booking mobile application. Through this app, bookings can be integrated into the back end of TMC’s system for additional support such as reporting and duty of care. The app includes hotels sorted by corporate preference, highlighted corporate rates and an approval process. Daniel Fitzgerald, chief performance officer, Traveldoo Technologies, said, “[…] Current consumer applications do not allow integration with the TMC, so bookings cannot be supported or used for rate negotiations, and there are issues around duty of care. The new Traveldoo app resolves these issues while providing an efficient and user friendly tool for travellers.”
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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prizeotel and Rezidor Joint Hotel Project
prizeotel hotel, Hannover
The Rezidor Hotel Group and prizeotel have announced their second joint hotel project in Erfurt, soon after announcing the signing of the prizeotel Bern, Switzerland.
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his EUR16 million project is evidence of Rezidor’s rapid expansion plans with prizeotel. The prizeotel Erfurt-City will comprise of 208 rooms, and is set to open its doors in 2019. Elie Younes, executive vice president, Rezidor Hotel Group, said, “Together with prizeotel, we want to drive qualitative growth in the market, and offer a bold and innovative brand to our guests. In terms of values and brand DNA, prizeotel fits very well with Rezidor, giving us the necessary credibility and speed to develop and operate successfully in the economy segment.”
Hamburg Welcomes Westin Hotel
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ituated in the Speicherstadt warehouse district and overlooking Germany’s famed port city, Westin Hotels & Resorts has welcomed The Westin Hamburg. The address extends over 21 floors boasting 205 guestrooms and 39 suites, including top-floor owner’s suite spanning 160m2 with a private balcony affording a 270-degree vista. “We are thrilled to debut the Westin brand in Hamburg; and with six Westin hotels throughout Germany, the brand continues to meet the growing global demand for well-being among travellers while on the road,” said Brian Povinelli, global brand leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts. “The hotel’s commanding riverfront location [...] coupled with the brand’s distinct wellnessfocused amenities [...], ensures that guests will leave [the hotel] feeling better than when they arrived.”
25 DECEMBER APRIL 2016 2016
Marriott Teams with ETN and Goinstore
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arriott International announced in November its unique partnership with its European Convention Network (ECN) and London-based technology start-up, GoinStore . Through this conglomeration, meeting planners will have access to virtual live tours of meeting and event facilities of the ECN’s collection of 14 gold standard convention hotels in Europe. Pauline Bronkhorst, head, ECN, said, “We are really pleased with the progress we have made with the ECN since its launch earlier this year, and are thrilled to be working exclusively with GoinStore to continue to strengthen our offering and to set ourselves apart from competitors. […] Our virtual tours offer the perfect solution and planners can continue to enjoy personalised interaction combined with the benefits of state-of-the-art technology, [...].”
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SHORT BREAK RIGA
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OUT WITH THE OLD AND IN WITH
the New THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL’S LIVE RIGA TOURISM CAMPAIGN BOASTS RIGA AS A DESTINATION FOR YOUNG AND HIP CITY BREAK TRAVELLERS, A PLACE WHERE THE OLD AND THE NEW ENTWINE IN A FASCINATING CLASH OF CULTURES THAT ATTRACT FRESH VISITORS FROM AROUND THE GLOBE.
PANAYIOTIS KARANICHOLAS WRITES
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iga, having been long established for attracting the older genera- arts events and concerts.” Agreeing with this aspect, Sandis Solims, general tion of travellers, in recent years, has given way to statistics denot- manager, Hotel Gutenbergs indicted that, “Riga is mostly attractive to young ing a recent rise in youthful tourists seeking a more cultural node of visitors because of its rich nightlife, [...].” holiday-making. While keeping up with trends, Vladimirs Bessmertnovs, According to Ieva Lasmane, executive, marmarketing manager, Hotel Justus, commented on the comketing account, Riga Tourism Development Bupetitiveness in recent years in the tourist industry, by furRIGA IN BRIEF reau, key markets for young visitors are Estonia, ther indicating that they had to react to changes rapidly as Lithuania and Scandinavia. “Weekend travel to many new players come into the market. Riga is very accessible, [especially as these speCountry: Latvia cific markets] where we mostly work in business A PENNY SAVED IS A PENNY EARNED Currency: Euro (EUR) to consumer segments.” Further commenting, Language: Latvian Lasmane indicated that, “Young travellers in Shedding light on the country’s offerings, leaving aside the Population: 1.9 million general are those who enjoy the nightlife and antiquated side of Riga, urban travellers can indulge in the Calling Code: +371 active recreation possibilities in Riga, but we see numerous events and culinary delights highly renowned Capital Time Zone: GMT +2:00 more and more culture tourists in this segment by many. As stated by Lasmane, the Baltics-Positivus festias well that come [...] for different contemporary val that takes place in the month of July, is visited by many
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youth from abroad in close proximity of Riga, along with numerous concerts and food festivals, as asserted by Solomis. Affordability is at the peak of many young travellers check-list, along with effortless technological advances, aiding in excelling the holiday experience. Evita Gasporovicha, manager, sales and marketing, Neiburgs Hotel & Restaurant, indicated that their main plan is to keep their quality and number one position among Riga hotels, and boasted that this year business performance is much better compared to 2015. Facilitating the growth of tourism and the younger generation, the Riga International Airport has opened up many new routes, connecting thrill-seekers to numerous diverse European countries. “The main competitive advantage for Riga [...] is the best air connection to other European cities,” added, Lasmane, further indicating the the airport has played a major factor for doubling the number of tourist to Riga in the past six years. As the European capital of culture 2014 and the demand for short stay, overnight breaks peaking at 3.1 million in 2014, revelead by Euromonitor International, young travellers are more inclined to embark upon this cultural escapade. From the ease of today’s technology, simplifying ticket purchasing, through to the direct flights readily available, these all promote Riga as the destination for the urban tourist.
SHORT BREAK RIGA
26 – 35 years at 35 percent respectively, in the year 2014. For the first two quarters of this year, visitor growth has exceeded seven percent, with the historically dominant markets being Germany and Russia. According to Lasmane, the number of tourists from Germany are about the same as the number of tourists from Russia, which has historically been one of the key target markets. Other main target markets indicated by Lasmane are the UK, Scandinavia, Estonia and Lithuania, The Netherlands, and Italy. In summary, Riga is becoming ever so popular as an Eastern European destination for city breaks offering good value for money, great food and high quality services. The charm and architecture of the vintage town will not disappoint even the most demanding of travellers, according to Bessmernovs. Whether it is a short momentary spur of urban culture or even a quiet group visit, Riga’s future looks positive.
PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE As the city begins to urbanise, patience takes its toll. Neglected as it seemed, Riga’s Miera Iela street began emerging as hip. Edging on the appeal to fresh onlookers, are quaint bars, vintage shops and even tranquil coffee shops for those wanting to explore. Statistics shown on Live Riga branding and promotion strategy indicated that a majority of tourism is owed to the age groups of 16 – 25 years at 23 percent, and
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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New Shopping Mall and Hotel in Calvia Beach
IntercityHotel Braunschweig Opens
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eliá Hotels International (MHI), Calviá City Hall and the Balearic Government have begun construction work on a new hotel and shopping mall in Magaluf, Mallorca. The project will span across more than 5,000m2 of shopping facilities and terraces for which MHI and its partners will make an investment of almost EUR45 million, to be completed by 2018. Mark Hoddinott, executive vice president, real estate, Meliá Hotels International, said, “This new development is the best way to end a project in which the company has worked tirelessly to make Magaluf one of the best destinations in the Mediterranean.” The new hotel itself and the shopping mall are expected to create 260 new jobs and the elimination of the former all inclusive service will boost local consumption.
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IntercityHotel Braunschweig
eutsche Hospitality has recently opened IntercityHotel Braunschweig, boasting 174 rooms, a conference area, a restaurant, a bistro and a bar. Located next to the BraWoPark and main railway station of the city, the property offers, among others, an innovative mobile app, designed by the company Hotelbird, which allows visitors to enjoy the hotel’s services more conveniently though their cell phones. “The launch of the IntercityHotel Braunschweig is the starting signal for a whole new generation of IntercityHotels,” said, Puneet Chhatwal, CEO, Deutsche Hospitality. “We are delighted to be able to make our guest experience even more pleasant by offering a modern interior, convenient technology and a new gastronomic concept.”
London Expansion for Park Plaza Hotels
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ark Plaza Hotels and Resorts (PPHE) has revealed large expansion plans for London over the next few months. Following a number of new openings and renovations, the upscale brand is increasing its room count to 3,158 within the M25. The 494-key Park Plaza Waterloo is expected to open before the end of this year, closely followed by the launch of Park Plaza London Park Royal, located close to Wembley. The completion of major refurbishments at Park Plaza London Riverbank and Plaza on the River will see the group’s London portfolio grow to a total of eight properties. Greg Hegarty, regional general manager, UK, PPHE Hotel Group, said, “[…] We look forward to catering to popular demand while providing the contemporary design and exceptional service that is synonymous with the Park Plaza Hotels and Resorts brand.”
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Munich Airport Works on Expansion Munich Airport has announced plans to expand Terminal 1, with a new pier and a central building complex, giving the terminal additional capacity of six million passengers per year.
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Munich Airport
he new pier will be linked to the existing A and B modules of Terminal 1 and will extend 320m into the airport’s western apron. The overall architectural design is based on a three-level structure consisting of a core adjoining the existing Terminal 1 and a pier. The core building will contain the central security and passport control facilities and a marketplace with high-quality dining and retail offerings. The departure gates, inside the pier, will also be on this level. According to Michael Kekloh, CEO, Munich Airport, the new pier will go into operation in 2022 at the earliest and is set to cost a total of EUR400 million.
High Passenger Numbers for Edinburgh
London Stansted Sets All-Time Passenger Record
n October, Edinburgh Airport saw 1,129,720 passengers travel through its premises, making it the busiest October ever at a Scottish airport. The headline figure represents a 12.5 percent increase over October 2015 with the greatest growth area being passengers on international flights which had a 23.6 percent increase compared to the same month in 2015. Commenting on the results, Gordon Dewar, CEO, Edinburgh Airport, said, “These latest passenger figures are a direct result of the growth in passenger services offering choice of routes to and from Edinburgh. This growth benefits the economy of Edinburgh, the Lothians and all of Scotland. Unlike the majority of UK airports we have a strong balance of inbound and outbound passengers, this gives us greater confidence as we look at the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
wo more major milestones have been passed by London Stansted as the airport has set a new annual passenger record and experienced its busiest ever month of October. The airport’s rolling annual passenger total now stands at over 24.1 million, a new all-time high for Stansted, passing the previous record set in the year ending October 2007. Andrew Cowan, CEO, Stansted Airport, said, “We have worked very hard with our airline partners, particularly with Ryanair who have grown significantly at Stansted by adding lots of new routes and increased frequencies. We want to build on this success as we try and offer even more choice as we add new airlines and more destinations to the route network available from the airport.”
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25 DECEMBER 2016
New Hangar Joins Manchester Airport
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anchester Airport has opened its brand new hangar, which will play a crucial role in supporting the airport’s operations. The hangar covers 6,000m2 of floor space, allowing engineering and maintenance teams to work on up to three aircraft at the same time. After purchasing the hangar earlier this year Manchester Airport has prepared the hangar workspace, adjoining workshops and office areas so that they are equipped with everything the engineering and maintenance teams need. They have also converted an existing upstairs office complex into an open plan area with hot desk space, along with an engineering training class room.
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NEWS AIRPORTS
Gatwick Airport’s Interim Results and Upcoming Expansion
Gatwick airport
Liverpool Airport Improvements in Final Phase
Fraport Greece Implements SITA Tech
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esponsible for operating, maintaining and upgrading 14 Greek regional airports over a 40-year concession period, Fraport Greece has selected SITA’s state-of-the-art common-use terminal equipment to be implemented at all its airports. The technology allows the airlines to work seamlessly at the airports and to share check-in desks, kiosks and boarding areas while accessing their own airline-specific systems. Alexander Zinell, CEO, Fraport Greece, said, “Our aim is to reposition the 14 airports as modern, competitive gateways that support the growth of the regions and the country’s tourism industry overall. Technology will play a central role in achieving our vision for an improved passenger experience.” The company will invest around EUR330 million in the development of the airports’ infrastructure until 2020.
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Upgraded Floor 3 Retail Area
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fter the completion of the GBP2.4 million (EUR2.9 million) project of the first stage of terminal improvements, Liverpool John Lennon Airport now moves on to the latest phase of development work, aimed at further improving the customer experience for departing passengers. Approximately GBP4 million (EUR4.7 million) is being invested in a refurbishment and upgrade of approximately 2,000m2 of the upper floor of the departure lounge, bringing this in line with those areas of the terminal that have undergone similar improvements over the past 18 months. The project will be completed in June, 2017 and will feature among others, completely new washroom facilities, large flight information screens and new seating.
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ccording to Gatwick Airport’s recent interim results, passenger numbers and EBITDA both increased by 6.3 percent and EBITDA 9.8 percent respectively compared to 2015, and cargo also surged by 14 percent. The long-haul growth increased by 21 percent accompanying the start of British Airways’ new service to Cape Town and from summer 2017, Tianjin Airlines’ new route to Xi’an, China. Moreover, a GBP250 million (EUR300 million) investment for the forthcoming financial year is part of the airport’s GBP1.2 billion (EUR1.4 billion) transformative capital investment plan to be spent over five years on projects including the expansion of departure lounges shopping facilities, railway station and airport parking. In addition to that, Gatwick Airport aims to strengthen its operational resilience with additional pier capacity and optimisation of the airfield.
Linking Liverpool Airport with Manchester City Centre
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iverpool John Lennon Airport has welcomed the latest operator to carry passengers to and from the airport, and will provide services with a link closer to home, with regular departures by coach between the airport and Manchester city centre. Aintree based operator Northwest Coachlines now provide a service that operates up to 13 return journeys each day from Manchester Shudehill Interchange and Manchester Piccadilly to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The coach schedule is aimed to link with as many departing and arriving flights as possible at the airport throughout the day.
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NEWS
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NUKU Reopens to Visitors
Ireland Reports Superb Growth
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Ireland
NUKU
allinn based theatre and puppetry museum complex, NUKU, has reopened after 13 months of renovations worth around EUR6 million. As part of the expansion, a new 1,400m2 theatre building and the 422-seat Ferdinand Hall were constructed , as well as additional exhibition rooms and work spaces within the museum. To celebrate the re-launch, a new exhibition has been launched named The Creation of NUKU, which will be offered alongside the permanent offering. The first production to hit the new stage was The Magician’s Elephant, directed by Sander Pukk, which opened December 04.
ourism Ireland has welcomed a significant 11.6 percent growth in overseas visitors for January – October this year. It was a good period for overseas visitors to Ireland, with almost 8.3 million arrivals, while October, in particular, was the best ever month for Irish tourism, with an influx of more than 830,000 recorded. Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said, “We will [soon] outline our plans for 2017, when we will be pulling out all the stops to ensure that the island of Ireland continues to increase its share of the global travel business.”
Belarus-Scandinavia Cross-Border Cycling Route
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Harvest Caye
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ourists from Scandinavia will soon be able to travel to Belarus’ Grodno Oblast by bike. Vladimir Kravtsov, governor, Grodno Oblast, Belarus, said, “We work hard to develop cycling routes, create the necessary infrastructure in the park and include our routes in the European cycle route network that already features the Green Velo trail between the Baltic countries and Transcarpathia and the R11 Greece-Scandinavia route.” The recent launch of visa-free travel to the park has opened up a great opportunity for Swedish tourists to visit Belarus, and the initiative, according to diplomats from both sides, is very promising.
Experiencing Belize with Norwegian
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arvest Caye, Norwegian Cruise Line’s highly-anticipated Caribbean destination experience in Southern Belize, welcomed its first guests on November 25, transferring from Norwegian Dawn, sailing from New Orleans. Harvest Caye offers Caribbean travellers an authentic Belizean experience that highlights the country’s beauty and nature, along with resort-style amenities, eco-activities and interactive wildlife programmes, in addition to a cross-island zip line. Frank Del Rio, president, Norwegian Cruise Line, said, “We have worked closely with the government of Belize to ensure that that this spectacular destination was authentic for our guests, provided economic opportunities for the local community and preserved and protected Belize’s incredible natural beauty.”
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NEWS AIR
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Further Flexibility for Customers As of January 2017, Air France and KLM will introduce an enriched economy class offer on all their international flights within Europe, and to North Africa and Israel. Customers will now be able to choose from three products, each offering specific services and conditions.
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he Light product is for passengers looking for the lowest available fare and travelling without checked in baggage, the Standard product, offers passengers additional benefits, such as the possibility to check in one item of baggage free of charge and to change their ticket for a fee. Lastly, there is Flex fee, offering maximum flexibility and the possibility to take advantage of the SkyPriority service for seamless, priority access at the airport.
Electric Aircraft Comes to Norway
Eurowings Continues North America Expansion
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Seattle
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he electric aircraft Airbus E-Fan arrived in Norway during the Zero-conference, following achievements such as crossing the English Channel in 2015 with a flight time of 53 minutes. Dag Falk-Petersen, CEO, Avinor, said, “Electrified aviation is becoming a reality and opens up to the vision of a fossil free aviation future. The development of zero-emission aircrafts and bio jetfuel are two of the most promising aspects on the road towards a sustainable aviation.” The ambitions behind the development of this aircraft shows that there are actually no limitations as to what can be achieved through electrification in the transport sector, indicated, Marius Holm, head, Zero.
E-Fan 2.0
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s part of the development of its long-haul offerings, Eurowings has unveiled two additional destinations in the US, namely Seattle and Orlando. Due to launch in July, 2017, the low-cost carrier will serve Orlando twice weekly on Wednesdays and Saturdays, while reaching Seattle three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Both routes, departing from Cologne Bonn Airport, will be operated with an Airbus A330 and join the German carrier’s existing schedules to Las Vegas and Miami. Passengers will be able to choose from three classes and each aircraft will feature high-quality catering, an in-flight entertainment system as well as Internet services.
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NEWS AIR
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New Blue Air Copenhagen-Turin Route
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lue Air will be opening an inaugural route from Copenhagen Airport (CPH) to Turin in the spring of 2017. Blue Air will operate three services a week between CPH and the north Italian city, deploying a 120-seat Boeing 737-500. Departures will be on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. Peter Krogsgaard, commercial director, Copenhagen Airport, said, “We are experiencing a big increase in the number of Italian tourists travelling to Denmark. This is largely due to the fact that in recent years we have attracted more new routes to Italy. […] The new route also means fresh opportunities for Danes, and the route to Turin will take many Danish ski tourists even closer to some of the most attractive skiing resorts in the Italian and French Alps.”
Outstanding Results for LOT
New Codeshare between British Airways and Alaska Airlines
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OT Polish Airlines has carried a total of five million passengers from the beginning of year. This number is a record in the history of the airline and is the result of intensive development of the carrier introducing 23 new connections this year alone. Commenting on the positive performance levels, Rafal Milczarski, CEO, LOT Polish Airlines, said, “We are glad that our passengers appreciate our dynamic development. It is for them that we are implementing new connections, modernising our fleet, and improving our product so that travelling with us is always pleasant. Therefore, we would like to say thank you to all those passengers who have chosen our services and enabled us to break this outstanding record. We promise you: this is not the end.”
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ritish Airways (BA) has signed a new partnership with Alaska Airlines (AA) which will enable customers to be able to book seats on AA flights to seven destinations across the West Coast of America and three in Hawaii. Travellers will have the option to fly onwards to Honolulu, Kona and Kahului from Alaska’s hub in Seattle. BA customers can also purchase tickets from Seattle on to Salt Lake City, Boise, Fairbanks and Spokane and from San Jose to Santa Ana. Alex Cruz, executive chairman, BA, said, “The codeshare will make onward connections to Alaska’s vast network of destinations seamless, from the booking process through to flying and will open up the picturesque beaches of Hawaii, Salt Lake City’s ski slopes and the tech hub of Santa Ana.”
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NEWS AIR
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Air Malta to Increase Summer Flights
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Connecting Italy and Latin America
Amsterdam
ir Malta is planning to operate 150 weekly flights to 29 destinations in summer 2017, running from the March 26 to October 28. Air Malta’s summer schedule sees the airline operate increased frequencies on Munich, Brussels, Amsterdam, Vienna, Zurich, Rome, Catania, Lyon, Palermo, Prague and Moscow. The airline will operate with up to double-daily flights in peak summer to Munich, Rome and Catania. The carrrier will decrease some frequencies for all or part of the season on London Gatwick, Berlin, Manchester and Geneva and dropping Athens and Frankfurt. However, the airline will still retain its codeshare flights to Frankfurt which Lufthansa will be operating with two daily flights.
Croatia Airlines’ Increased Performance
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litalia has strengthened its ties between Italy and Latin America with the launch of twice-weekly flights to Cuba. Commenting on the new route, Cramer Ball, CEO, Alitalia, said, “The new service is another step forward in our strategy to build our long-haul network and it promises to be a very attractive route as not only is Havana a vibrant tourist attraction but one that is of growing interest to the Italian business community. The Cuban city is our fourth new long haul destinations this year and I am confident that we will add to our long-haul network next year.”
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uring the first half (H1) of the year, Croatia Airlines, continued to show a positive upward trend, with a two percent growth in the number of passengers compared to the same period in 2015. Total sales increased one percent, which was achieved thanks to a five percent year-on-year boost in domestic market sales, a clear indicator of a recovery in the domestic market. Overall, in H1 of the year, the airline carried out 12,388 flights and transported 822,260 passengers.
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NEWS AIR
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Wizz Air Reveals Olympic Design Aircraft
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izz Air in partnership with Budapest Airport and the Budapest 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Bid, revealed the livery of its unique Budapest aircraft. As part of its support towards the Budapest 2024 Olympic and Paralympic bid, the airline has decorated one Airbus A321 and one Airbus A320 aircraft in its Budapest fleet with unique livery carrying the Olympic design elements. The motif reflect the waves of the Danube River that flows through the heart of the city, as well as the historic monument of the Statue of Liberty located on one of the highest hills of the Hungarian capital. Both aircraft will feature the image for the entire duration of the Olympic and Paralympic Bid, until August 31, 2017.
Twice Daily Flights from Baku to Moscow
25 DECEMBER 2016
Moscow
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zerbaijan Airlines has increased the number of regular flights from Heydar Aliyev International Airport, Baku, to Vnukovo International Airport in Moscow, as of March 2017, with twice daily flights. Eldar Hajiyev, vice president, Azerbaijan Airlines and Vasily Alexandrov, director general, Vnukovo International Airport, signed the agreement for the new service in Moscow on November 29. At present, the airline operates regular flights to four Russian cities.
S7 Airlines Increase in Passenger Flow
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significant increase in operating activities of S7 Group airline companies was highlighted during October this year. The number of passengers carried by the airline increased by 20 percent, compared with the same period in 2015. The growth was noticed on both domestic and international routes, and for the month in review, passenger turnover had increased 22 percent and amounted to 2272613 thousand passenger kilometers. “[…] We are going to keep up the pace in the following […] months. Seeing as our indicators grow, it is also important for us to keep the flight regularity; this October, S7 Airlines has been named the most punctual airline company at the Domodedovo hub airport for eighth consecutive months”, noted, Igor Veretennikov, commerce director, S7 Group.
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NEWS AIR
Iberia to Launch Madrid-Basel Route
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New Kharkov-Kutaisi Route Launched
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t the beginning of the 2017 summer season, Iberia Group will be adding new destinations, as well as more capacity on some longhaul routes, while changing the operational model on others. In March, 2017, the airline will launch Madrid-Basel flights every day except Thursday, making the city Iberia’s third destination in Switzerland, while also inaugurating routes to Cardiff in Wales and to Cagliari in Sardinia, which it will operate during the summer months. The coming summer will also witness the launch of Iberia’s new Premium Economy class on some of its long-haul flights to the Americas. The new intermediate class features wider and more comfortable seats, extra leg-room, 13-inch individual screens, upgraded meal service, and an additional piece of luggage.
Embraer Joins Air Moldova
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kraine International Airlines (UIA) has launched non-stop scheduled flights connecting Kharkov, Ukraine and Kutaisi, Georgia. The itinerary provides passengers from Eastern Ukraine with an opportunity to quickly reach key cities and ski resorts of Georgia, such as Gudauri, Bakuriani and Borjomi. The outbound flights operate on Tuesdays and Fridays, with the inbound on Wednesdays and Saturdays respectively. The new flight path is the UIA third route connecting Ukraine and Georgia.
Air France’s First Boeing 787-9 Takes Off
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he French flag carrier, Air France, saw its first 787-9 Boeing land at Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG), Paris. The new plane made its test flight, operated by Boeing Pilots, at the airline’s Everett factory, which took it to Moses Lake Airport before returning to base. This 500th Boeing 787 will make its first commercial flight on January 9, 2017 between Paris-CDG and Cairo, Egypt.
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ir Moldova announced the expansion of its fleet with the arrival of a aircraft Embraer 190. The aircraft, manufactured in 2009, landed in Chisinau International Airport in November. This addition to the fleet comes as part of the company's development strategy, allowing Air Moldova to open up new routes and provide enhanced comfort and safety for passengers, whilst ensuring efficiency in fuel consumption and lower operational costs. The Brazilian made aircraft boasts 104 seats, offering altitudes of comfort, modern nodes and reliability, with a cruising speed of 840 km/h at a height of 12,600 m.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
UNWTO Supports Sudan´s Tourism Development
VisitScotland Brings Families Together Taleb Rifail secretary general, UNWTO
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he support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to Sudan’s tourism development was expressed by Taleb Rifail, secretary general, UNWTO, during his recent official visit to the country. Rifail met with H.E. Omar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir, president, Sudan, to present the Open Letter on Travel and Tourism campaign promoted by UNWTO in collaboration with the World Travel and Tourism Council regarding the value of tourism development in Sudan. The official visit also coincided with a three-day regional executive training on crisis communication in tourism organised and the UNWTO.
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ree short breaks and daytrips were offered by accommodation, transport and activity providers to over 250 struggling families, after VisitScotland put out an appeal in February, as part of a drive to illustrate the true spirit of Scotland through the warmth and generosity of the people. With one in three people in Scotland unable to take a holiday due to cost, ill-health or caring responsibilities, VisitScotland is hoping the ScotSpirit initiative will raise the importance of social tourism in the UK. For 58 percent of the ScotSpirit families, it was the first time they had had a break together as a family, 90 percent felt able to cope better after the trip, while 80 percent had more confidence, and 88 percent felt more optimistic about the future.
EOT at the Mice and Business Event
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or the 11th consecutive year, the MICE and Business Travel Event took place this October. The Greek tourist board (EOT) attended this event at Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, highlighting the Dutch market for alternative tourism and the possibilities for MICE tourism hosted by Greece. In light of this, the Greek attendees showcased 10 targeted promotional activities, hosted before, during and after the conference.
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Airport of 2040 Revealed in New Study
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Safe Use of Drones a Priority for IAA
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perator and retailer, Airport Parking and Hotels (APH), has created a model of how an international airport could realistically look in 25 years, including descriptions of what passengers’ experiences will be like, using technology that is already being trialled and developed. The research shows how check-in, a major source of queues and frustration for travellers, will become automated by 2040. Passengers will be given a biometric token that will serve as their passport, boarding pass and ID for the journey, while laser molecular body scanners and chips in baggage or tags will also be integrated. Beverley Barden, head, marketing, APH, said, “In a few years, technological advances will enable airports to create a much more pleasant experience and work around the issues that they currently face.”
ith an increase in the sales of drones in Ireland this Christmas, the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) urges all owners to register drones weighing one kilogram or more and invest in quality training on how to use the drone safely. Ralph James, director, safety regulation, IAA, said “With the expected growth in the sales of drones over the Christmas period, the IAA must ensure that drones are used properly and in safe locations. They also need to ensure that they don’t cause harm to people or property, or interfere with other forms of aviation.” Registration of drones weighing one kilogram or more is a mandatory requirement. Over 6,000 drones and model aircraft have been registered with the IAA over the past year.
Cage-free Eggs for IHG
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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), has reinforced its commitment to the sustainable sourcing of food served at IHG-branded hotels globally, specifically with regards to cage-free eggs, in cooperation with The Humane League. The organisation’s goal is to source 100 percent cage-free eggs throughout its US, Canadian and European operations by 2022. This is a part of the overall goal which will aims to be met by 2025 and will contribute to IHG’s broader Responsible Business agenda and Sustainable Seafood Policy of the company. Paul Snyder, vice president, corporate responsibility – environmental sustainability, IGH, commented, “[…] Working with our partners, we look forward to encouraging supply chains around the world to increase the availability of cage-free eggs, so that our hotels can fulfill our ambition.”
UNICEF Renew Alliance with Melia Hotels International UNICEF project
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armelo Angulo Barturen, president, UNICEF Spanish committee and Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, CEO, Melia Hotels International, have confirmed that both organisations will maintain their commitment to the defence of children’s rights for another four years. Since the initial agreement that began in 2010, the alliance has exceeded all objectives and expectations, owed to the plentiful commitment shown by all Melia Hotels’ stake holders involved, generating an excess of EUR2.7 million for projects for children, not limited to the Dominican Republic, Mexico, Brazil and Indonesia. Jaume, commented, “The renewal of this strategic alliance and the commitment of our organisations join the principles and corporate values of Meliá, a family company with an international presence which places children at the heart of its social positioning.”
25 DECEMBER 2016
PHOTO ALBUM
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Travellers are making the most of the winter snow at Austria's ski town, Alpbach
Malcolm Roughead, chief executive, VisitScotland, at Edinburgh Airport’s VisitScotland iCentre.
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Guests at Aloft Liverpool can enjoy a butler service from the hotel's in-house robot
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Wedgewood teacups are creatively displayed at Shangri-La Hotel at The Shard
Vienna's Christmas markets are in full swing
25 DECEMBER 2016
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
Targeting Medical Tourism
FERIEN-MESSE WIEN Vienna, Austria January 12 – 15, 2017 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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or the first time, ITB Berlin 2017 will be fully devoting a platform to medical tourism, which has become an important fast-growing market. Medical service providers, hotels and destinations will be able to exhibit their products and services, while presentations and workshops will be held so that visitors can find out more about the latest trends and developments in this segment. According to a new report by VISA and Oxford Economics, the current turnover of the world’s medical tourism industry is around USD439 billion (EUR414 billion). Over the next 10 years annual growth is forecast to reach up to 25 percent. According to David Ruetz, head, ITB Berlin, medical tourism offers huge prospects for the global tourism industry. He added, “ITB Berlin aims to highlight this growth market and all its aspects and provide buyers and providers with a new platform.”
INTERNATIONAL TOURISM TRADE FAIR (FITUR)
Paris to Host ESC Congress 2019
Madrid, Spain January 18 – 22, 2017 www.ifema.es Spain’s must-attend event showcasing top and up-andcoming destinations from all around the world.
Paris
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he European Society of Cardiology (ESC) has announced that its annual congress will be held in Paris at the end of August, 2019. The ESC Congress is the world’s premier cardiovascular congress, attracting more than 30,000 healthcare professionals from more than 140 countries during a five-day scientific programme. “We are delighted to be returning to Paris, a destination which contributed to one of the greatest successes of the ESC. The ESC Congress 2011 that was held in The City of Light will be remembered as one of the most productive and well attended ESC events. We hope that this future edition will encounter even greater success in this very attractive capital,” said Isabel Bardinet, CEO, ESC.
EMITT Istanbul, Turkey January 26 – 29, 2017 www.emittinstanbul.com Industry professionals from more than 70 countries are expected to attend the exhibition focussing on the East Mediterranean.
Zagreb, Croatia February 08 – 09, 2017 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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ive cities of the Russian Federation welcomed Greek Gastronomic celebrations, in light of Greece-Russia 2016, the year devoted to both countries long standing relationships. The event, connected through direct flights, and organised by Russia and CIS Greek Tourism Organisation, began on November 25 in Aikaterinburg and continued through Kazan, Samara and Voronezh. The festivities ended in Moscow on the December 6, with the Russian Tourism Organisation taking part in the celebrations. The culinary events unfolded with the presence of travel agents, tour operators, journalists, television crews and local tourist officials, coupled with Russian-proficient chef Peter Lambrinidis and Emmanuel Rybakou presenting Greek dishes via the Greek street food concept Sympossio.
Sympossio Greek street food
ADRIA HOTEL FORUM
Sympossio at Greece-Russia 2016
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