25 FEBRUARY 2017 ISSUE 56
06 ETC: LONG-HAUL ARRIVALS TO EUROPE FORECASTED TO GROW
12 TOURISM INITIATIVES
IRELAND WELCOMED 10.9 PERCENT MORE INTERNATIONAL ARRIVALS
09 05 Cruising AVANI BRAND TO REACH EUROPE
11 Rendezvous 14 Airports
MARKET UPDATE
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Lufthansa Group Carried 7.9 Million Passengers in January
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Panayiotis Karanicholas Maria Sabova Anna Spyrou 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 January, the airlines of Lufthansa Group, transported 7.9 million travellers across its network, a year-on-year increase of 12.6 percent.
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uring the respective month, capacity was also up, with a 9.9 percent increase in available seat kilometres over January 2015, while revenue passenger kilometres grew 10.5 percent. Seat load factor rose 0.4 percentage points to 76 percent. In terms of cargo, capacity increased 1.7 percent, with a 4.9 percent boost in revenue tonne kilometres and a two percentage point jump in cargo load factor. Furthermore, the group also fully acquired Brussels Airlines in January.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES
easyJet Delivers a Strong Quarter
Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com 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
In the quarter that ended December 31, 2016, easyJet achieved an 8.2 percent year-on-year increase in the number of passengers carried, resulting to 17.4 million, while revenue rose 7.2 percent to GBP997 million (EUR1.17 billion).
EXCHANGE RATES
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22.2.2017
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
EUR1=
US (USD)
Dollar
1.05
UK (GBP)
Pound
0.85
Switzerland (CHF) Franc
1.06
Japan (JPY)
118.78
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espite these figures and low fuel prices resulting in a 2.1 percent drop in cost per seat at constant currency, revenue per seat fell 8.2 percent at constant currency to GBP51.64 (EUR60.62) per seat. Non-seat revenue soared 19 percent, fuelled by improved in-flight products and partner agreements. During the quarter under review, easyJet delivered GBP14 million (EUR16.43 million) in lean cost savings through engineering, maintenance, volume-related airport savings and fleet up-gauging. The airline ended the quarter with cash and money deposits of GBP1.34 billion (EUR1.57 billion), while net cash stood at GBP217 million (EUR254.66).
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WEEKLY NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE
Hotstats’ UK Chain Hotels Market Review November 2016 has revealed a challenging month in the north east, increasing costs in Birmingham and success on the back of numerous events in Nottingham.
Rising Costs Impacted Profit in Birmingham
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n November 2016, hoteliers in Birmingham welcomed a four percent growth in RevPAR, despite the continued rising costs. In the period January – November, RevPAR in the city steadily climbed, up 7.1 percent compared to 2015, fuelled by increases in achieved room rate in both the corporate, residential and leisure segments, up 3.9 percent, 8.8 percent and 8.1 percent, correspondingly. The amplified use of online travel agents was evident in the 12.9 percent boost in rooms cost of sales, to GBP6.12 (EUR7.17) per available room. Furthermore, the year-todate rooms payroll reached GBP8.86 (EUR10.38), a surge of 8.8 percent, while profit conversion fell to 68.9 percent of rooms revenue.
Nottingham
Events Bolster Profits Nottingham
Testing Period for the North East
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roperties in the north east have experienced their eighth month of falling profit, with a year-on-year decline of 5.3 percent in profit per room during November 2016. Despite positive economic growth within the region during the year, there was a 3.7 percent drop in profit per room in the first 11 months in the year, a substantial contrast to the country-wide growth of three percent. Contributing to the challenging market is the addition of more than 1,400 rooms over the past two years. With around 400 more keys expected to be inaugurated in 2017 and a 1.2 percentage point rise in payroll to 31.8 percent of total revenue, hotels in the north east have a testing period ahead.
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s a result of a whole host of events in the city, hotels in Nottingham achieved a 16.9 percent year-on-year boost in profit per room, driven by an 8.6 percent jump in achieved room rate. While properties performed strongly through the yearto-date, September – November proved to be the most successful period, with RevPAR reaching GBP52.95 (EUR61.93), 14.6 percent above the 12 months to November 2016, which stood at GBP46.19 (EUR54.03). The increased achieved average room rate was primarily fuelled by the leisure segment, which soared 16.2 percent, making it 17.4 percent higher than the year-to-date average.
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NEWS
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Value of ABTA in the Corporate Sector is Highlighted According to research carried out by Censuswide, 82 percent of managers with decision-making responsibilities cite Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) membership as important or very important when choosing a travel management company (TMC).
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urthermore, this result was amplified to 92 percent among decision-makers at companies with 250 – 500 employees. Whilst noting that 73 percent of the general public view ABTA membership as essential or important, Victoria Bacon, director, brand and business development, ABTA, commented, “The fact that an even higher percentage of corporate managers see it as important when selecting a travel management company, is a clear indication of the value that ABTA membership brings to a TMC.”
EU to Remove Digital Barriers
Eiffel Tower’s New Renewable Energy Sources
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Wind turbines
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s part of the refurbishment of the first floor of the Eiffel Tower, Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel, the monument’s operator, has extended its commitment to sustainable development by installing two wind turbines. The vertical-axis turbines, each seven metres high and three metres wide were positioned on the second floor, 127m above the ground, where the wind conditions prove favourable for producing an estimated 10,000kWh annually, covering the energy needs of the first floor’s shop. The deployment of the turbines is an addition to already utilised alternative and renewable energy systems for running the monument’s facilities, such as solar panels, LED lighting, a rainwater retrieval system and temperature balancing heat pumps, to name a few.
uropean Union (EU) negotiators have agreed on new rules allowing Europeans to travel and enjoy online content services across borders. As a part of the vision, Digital Single Market, to modernise EU copyright rules, the future regulations will enable European citizens to use their mobile network subscriptions to access online content when travelling within EU. The new rules will reshape the ways in which travellers can access culture and entertainment services online while on the road around the EU. Andrus Ansip, vice president, Digital Single Market, commented, “The agreement will bring concrete benefits to Europeans. People who have subscribed to their favourite series, music and sports events at home will be able to enjoy them when they travel in Europe. This is a new important step in breaking down barriers in the Digital Single Market.”
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NEWS CRUISING
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M/S Viking XPRS’s Upgrade is Complete
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ravellers can now enjoy an improved restaurant and café, along with enhanced shopping options, 150 additional seats and the launch of Club C, a nightclub that also opens during the day. To enable guests to make the most of warmer weather, the sundeck has also been revamped and an outdoor bar will also be introduced in the summer months. Not only this, but during the dry-docking, the vessel was fitted with a new propeller that can be operated with just two engines, therefore reducing fuel consumption.
Carnival Announced New York Cruises
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arnival Cruise Line has announced that the new Carnival Horizon will offer a series of four-day Bermuda cruises from New York in spring and summer 2018. The announcement is part of the ship’s inaugural season that includes voyages to Europe from Barcelona and the Caribbean from New York and Miami. The long weekend cruises will depart Thursdays and feature a fullday visit to Bermuda where guests can relax on the island’s legendary pink beaches. Five Bermuda itineraries will be offered, departing May 24, June 21, July 19, August 16 and September 13, 2018. In total, Carnival Cruise Line will offer 18 different voyages to the island in 2017-2018 departing from five convenient East Coast homeports, incuding Baltimore, Charleston, New York, Port Canaveral and Fort Lauderdale.
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M/S Viking XPRS
As part of Viking Line’s commitment to modernise its fleet, M/S Viking XPRS has been renovated and has returned to serving passengers on its Helsinki – Tallinn route.
Burgess Expands Charter Fleet
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urgess has announced that the 58.6m Lürssen-Werft motor yacht CAPRI has now joined the Burgess charter fleet following her recent sale. In addition, the company has also announce the addition of 34m motor yacht FRIVOLOUS. CAPRI offers impressive volume with interiors including a vast main saloon, formal dining room and sky lounge. Spacious accommodation for 12 guests in six cabins is configured across a full beam master suite on the main deck plus three further doubles and a twin cabin. Meanwhile, FRIVOLOUS, delivered in 2009, is perfectly suited for island hopping and offers a stylish interior that accommodates 10 guests across five cabins including a spacious master complete with a split-level ensuite found on the main deck along while additional four can be found below deck.
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NEWS
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ETC: Long-haul Arrivals to Europe Forecasted to Grow
The EU Aims to Stabilise Aviation Emissions
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t the 2016 International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) Assembly, the European Union (EU) and its member states played an instrumental role in securing a deal on a global market-based measure to stabilise international aviation emissions. The system will require airlines to monitor and report their annual CO2 emissions on international routes and offset those exceeding 2020 levels. Following this deal at a global level, it was agreed that a revision of the EU Emissions Trading System is needed to maintain the contribution of the aviation sector to the European climate objectives, and for the smooth implementation of the ICAO Global MarketBased Measure. The commission has proposed to continue with the current geographic scope of the EU Emissions Trading System for aviation, covering flights between airports in the European Economic Area. This will ensure a level playing field and equal treatment of all airlines flying in Europe.
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uropean Travel Commission (ETC) has published the latest edition of its Long-Haul Travel Barometer which revealed that American, Japanese and Chinese respondents are more eager to travel to Europe compared to 2016, while tourists from Brazil have shown less enthusiasm. The report has also anticipated that France is likely to enjoy a boost in demand from Chinese, American and Japanese markets, predicted to grow 63 percent, 40 percent and 39 percent, respectively. Of those planning to visit Europe in the first four months of the year, 39 percent will do so as a couple, 32 percent will be accompanied by their family, 11 percent will be joined by friends, while 15 percent plan to travel alone.
11th Belarus Open Sambo Championships
Paris’ Olympic Bid Illuminated the Eiffel Tower
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he 11th Competition of the International Tournament Open Sambo Championships took place in Minsk on February 10 – 11. Athletes from Russia, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Ukraine participated fighting for the title, at the event which took place in the sports hall of the Minsk Palace. Vyacheslav Kot, head coach, Belarus sambo team, commented, “The forthcoming tournament is a great opportunity for our leading sambo wrestlers to rehearse ahead of the European Sambo Championship which is due in Minsk in May.”
2016 Open Sambo Championships
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The Eiffel Tower
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or the submission of the third and final application file of Paris’ bid for the 2024 Olympics Games, the Eiffel Tower was adorned with olympic colours on February 03. The occasion, broadcasted live on social media pages, allowed Paris 2024 organising committee to present the slogan of the city’s bid, Made for Sharing, behind which are the values of open-mindness and internationalism. The International Olympic Committee will reveal the host city of 2024 Olympic Games on September 13 in Lima, Peru.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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First IntercityHotel in Budapest Deutsche Hospitality is set to open its first Eastern Europe hotel in in Budapest in 2019.
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Prague, part of Marriott International, will mark the brand’s debut into the Czech Republic set to be located on Wenceslas Square in the heart of the capital city. The hotel, scheduled to open in 2020, will be a renovation of the former Grand Europa Hotel. The historic structure will be combined with a modern new building to create a blend of old world glamour and bold, contemporary design. The property will boast restored historical elements of the former residence infused with W’s design, complemented by a new oval-shaped extension. The two buildings will be fully connected to create 154 keys, including the Extreme Presidential Wow Suite, all utilising SPG Keyless entry systems, a rooftop bar, an array of culinary experiences, indoor WET pool deck, FIT fitness centre and an AWAY spa.
Eurostars Hotel Company Opens Eurostars Cascais Rendering of Eurostars Cascais
W Hotels to Debut in Prague
IntercityHotel Budapest
he new modern building featuring 300 rooms, will be located in front of the city’s eastern station. Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a broad range of facilities including a restaurant, bar, conference area and spacious underground parking. Although the IntercityHotel brand is mainly focussed in Germany, it has recently expanded to Austria, the Netherlands, Oman and China. In 2018, more openings are expected in Germany and three new destinations. Joachim Marusczyk, managing director, IntercityHotel, commented, “Budapest is a city with a great past and lots of potential. We are delighted that our brand will soon be able to offer a centrally positioned and modern hotel in such an attractive metropolis.”
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urostars Hotel Company, the hotel division of Grupo Hotusa, inaugurated Eurostars Cascais, hailed as the company’s ninth hotel in Portugal. This addition consolidates the organisation's plans to open three more hotels before the summer, namely; Eurostars Cais de Santarem in Lisbon, Exe Porto Centro and Exe Almada Porto, both located in Porto. The residence boasts 101 rooms, all outward-facing with a balcony. Set to cater business and leisure guests alike, it offers a café-restaurant, four meeting rooms with natural light and a landscaped swimming pool area. Amancio López Seijas, president, Grupo Hotusa, said, “Portugal has been a strategic country in our company's international expansion and will continue to be in the future, as the many projects currently under way in this destination demonstrate."
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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AVANI Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel rendering
AVANI Brand to Reach Europe
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vani Hotels & Resorts has announced its upcoming European debut by introducing AVANI Avenida Liberdade Lisbon Hotel in Portugal, slated to open in April. The EUR1.5 million reconstructions will turn the property into 119-key upscale hotel offering premier, deluxe and family rooms. Guests will enjoy a modern gym and Mediterranean inspired cuisine at the in-house restaurant. Business travellers will benefit from neighbouring conference and events centre, able to host up to 260 people. Alejandro Bernabe, group director, AVANI Hotels & Resorts, enthused that the company is thrilled to launch AVANI brand in dynamic Lisbon, where it will target millennial-minded travellers, whose mindset and attention to details correspond with the brand’ s design and values.
DUKES London Undergoing Renovations
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UKES London, a member of Small Hotels of the World, has begun a multimillion Euro upgrade to its public areas and bedrooms to offer a new and improved look to its guests, which began in January. Said to be the biggest investment that the property has seen in decades, the refurbishment will also see the launch of a new partnership with Liberty London, the department store’s first collaboration with a hotel. Furthermore, led by Nigel Mendham, executive chef, a new food and beverage outlet will be added, an all-day dining concept named GBR.
DUKES London
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NH Málaga Hotel to be Improved
NH Málaga Hotel
Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Introduces Brain Box
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adisson Blu Edwardian London, Heathrow Hotel, unveiled Brain Box Room, a leading meeting facility that has been developed with the latest technology designed to boost creative thinking. The breakout room caters to all kinds of creative minds by combining simple creative solutions such as flexible furniture layouts and Squiggle glass, allowing guests to write ideas on walls, incorporated with technology such as Barco Click, a USB connected button which allows clients to share their screen in one click and 65 inch touch screens. The venue provides an ideal environment for flexible working, brain storming sessions and more traditional meetings. Simon Wong, general manager, Radisson Blu Edwardian Heathrow Hotel, said, “The Radisson Blu Heathrow has always prided itself on providing excellent meeting space near the UK’s largest travel hub, making it a convenient choice for international visitors as well as domestic. However, now we are able to build on that experience and offer a unique and exciting space with the latest technology to become a catalyst in creative thinking and work.”
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Rendering of the upcoming Comfort Hotel
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s an outcome of a common agreement between NH Hotel Group and Hispania, NH Málaga Hotel will be repositioned and extended, following a transaction worth EUR41 million. The current 133-key property will face an expansion to the adjacent plot, increasing the lodging capacity to 245 guestrooms along with a complete refurbishment. After the completion, scheduled for the first quarter of 2019, Hispania will acquire the address while the NH Hotel Group will maintain its operator’s role. Ramón Aragonés, CEO, NH Hotel Group, explained, “The transaction is part of the company's asset rotation strategy and means improving the hotel and increasing the inventory of rooms once the expansion is completed, taking advantage of its potential under a long-term variable lease agreement.”
New Hotel Brands at Copenhagen Airport
Scandic Invests in Business Meetings Staff n response to its corporate customers’ demands, Scandic in close collaboration with Hyper Island business school, introduces a new concept in the business meeting sector. This year, it will offer a customer-focused training module to approximately 500 advisors in the Nordic countries and Europe. Among other things, the advisors will learn how to use various tools to design innovative meetings tailored to customer needs. Thomas Engelhart, commercial director, Hyper Island, commented, “In close dialogue with our customers, we are investing substantially to become the leading participant in the meetings industry in the Nordic region. We are addressing everything it takes to create a great meeting, from advice and structure to food and furnishings at the venue”.
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ordic Choice Hotels has unveiled plans to upgrade and rebrand an existing hotel at Copenhagen Airport while also develop a new property and conference centre, both owned by Copenhagen Airports. Currently known as Hilton Copenhagen Airport Hotel, from April 01, the address will be rebranded as Clarion Hotel Copenhagen Airport, under the group’s highend chain. The property is currently undergoing a DKK70 million (EUR9.41 million) refurbishment. Additionally, due to open in 2020, the new 500key project will fly the Comfort Hotel flag and feature a 3,000m2 meeting and conference centre. The announcement comes in line with the hub’s expansion plans of handling up to 40 million passengers every year.
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RENDEZVOUS
Q & A with
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SUSANA MARIN COE-ARCHER GENERAL MANAGER, ALMANAC BARCELONA
DUE TO OPEN LATER THIS YEAR, PREPARATIONS FOR ALMANAC BARCELONA, THE CITY’S LATEST LUXURY OFFERING, ARE WELL UNDERWAY. SUSANA MARIN COE-ARCHER, GENERAL MANAGER, ALMANAC BARCELONA, EXPLAINS WHAT IS BEING DONE TO DIFFERENTIATE IT FROM COMPETITION.
TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Congratulations on your appointment as general manager. What will be your main priorities for the property both pre- and post-launch? SUSANA MARIN COE-ARCHER: It is very important to understand the building, the details of the product that are going to dress the building, the location and the environment that surrounds it. Then, my priority [is] to envision a culture of service that will match perfectly with the outstanding product, and selecting the dream team that will be pas25 FEBRUARY 2017
sionate about that line of service and would help deploy that vision into conduct standards, therefore [providing] amazing experiences. The team has developed a detailed timeline with duties to be very ready for the opening date in terms of services and procedures aligned with our vision. Selecting and hiring the right team and talent will give the right soul to this wonderful property. Then an entire training programme will be deployed at all levels to engage the team in the philosophy, service procedures and the standards that we have decided. Having everyone onboard and aligned to be able to provide the best hotel and restaurant experience is our main priority pre-opening, post opening, and ongoing! TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How is the development going? SUSANA MARIN COE-ARCHER: Things are moving quite rapidly and we are on schedule [...] to open in summer, with a possible soft opening in late May. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What marketing strategies and promotional activities do you plan to undertake in order to attract guests? SUSANA MARIN COE-ARCHER: In early December 2016 I attended International Luxury Travel Market as our first event to introduce the hotel to the travel trade. I will also be attending the LE Miami this year. I will have a director of sales and marketing based at the hotel covering Europe and we have appointed sales representation in the US, UK, Europe and Middle East, [our key markets]. We will also have a strong online impact and work through this way of booking quite thoroughly to offer our future guests a very friendly and easy way to book directly through us.
facilities, we will have an all-day dining restaurant Lãnia, accessible directly from the street, [for] both guests and locals. When travelling, your hunger may strike at odd hours, so we wish to take care of that need. Azimuth, our rooftop bar, pool and terrace, can be experienced year-round and the cocktail programme we are creating will take your tastebuds on a global journey. Back to the service levels though – the needs of any traveller, whether alone for business or travelling with extended family, [can] mean many different things and our entire team will contribute to that overall experience. We will tap into the knowledge of the people we have in place for the cultural experience, be it at one of the museums in the city, to the opera house. We have team members who have a passion for music, theatre or books, for example. We can provide insight beyond someone typing into the computer, to provide information on the latest exhibition at the museum, the most popular concert, or a secret poetry reading. In that regard, we are all encompassing because we live and breathe the city the way our guests wants to. There is never anything better than the local perspective. If we have a wine enthusiast we will arrange something very special in Penedes for example. We do not want to reveal too much at this point, but we hope to be distinct from our competitors in that regard. When you step into Almanac Barcelona, or Vienna and Prague in the future you will have a unique Almanac experience in each city, but there will be a common thread running through that which creates the distinct Almanac fingerprint.
TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How will Almanac Barcelona differentiate itself from other luxury properties in the city? SUSANA MARIN COE-ARCHER: There are so many beautiful hotels in the European Union and we live in a city with several exceptional properties. What sets hotels apart, aside from beautiful architecture and design, is service that can and will be experienced by each and every guest in a different way. In terms of
Almanac Barcelona
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NEWS TOURISM INITIATIVES
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Ireland Welcomed 10.9 Percent More International Arrivals In 2016, Ireland received a record-breaking 9.6 million overseas visitors, a year-on-year increase of 10.9 percent, as revealed by Tourism Ireland.
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n particular, there was a 19.4 percent jump in arrivals from North America compared to 2015, while travellers from mainland Europe and the UK also rose, up 8.5 percent and 10.6 percent, correspondingly. As well as noting that Ireland now welcomes 10 percent of all American visitors to Europe, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, added, “Our aim is to grow overseas tourism revenue 4.5 percent this year, to EUR5.7 billion, for the island of Ireland.” Gibbons also said that going forward, screen tourism will remain a priority, capitalising on the country’s connections with Star Wars and Game of Thrones.
Elena Kountoura represents GNTO at NYT Show
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lena Kountoura, minister tourism, Greece, attended the annual New York Times (NYT) travel show. In a special event on the European stage, held in the honor of Greece and the Greek minister, Kountoura highlighted Greece as a yearly attractive destination for tourists and invited US travellers to visit the country. In addition, Kountoura visited the Diaspora House where she discussed new strategies for opening the US tourism market with the president of the Federation of Greek Societies of Greater New York, and thanked him for his constant support of the Greek community in New York. Kountoura also attended a series of meetings in Chicago with major tour operators and travel agents aiming to enhance the presence of Greek tourism across the US.
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Likteņdārzs Memorial Site to Be Completed in 2018
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ith the support of the entire Latvian nation, Likteņdārzs memorial park will become a reality in 2018, coinciding with Latvia’s 100 anniversary. Likteņdārzs, which in the Latvian means the garden of destiny, is a place to remember all those who died for the freedom and independence of the nation. The project has been designed by the Japanese landscape architect Shunmyo Masuno and it combines expressive natural and man-made elements including a water channel flowing around an amphitheatre symbolising the tears of the victims. Located on Koknese Island, visitors can reach Likteņdārzs either by boat across the Daugava river or by car.
visitBerlin Enhances Customer Experiences
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he Berlin Convention Office of visitBerlin has redesigned its with new services offered to MICE planners. “Berlin is especially attractive to those organising international meetings thanks to its cosmopolitan and inspiring atmosphere,” said, Heike Mahmoud, director conventions, visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office. “This is now also reflected in our website for convention and event planners which helps them identify unique locations for their next meeting and also introduces them to the main Berlin apps we offer. Our new technical features make it easy to assemble the information they select, come back to it at a later time, and download it for later reference. The new website will be an important tool for our clients’ planning work.” The new site is mobile-ready and can be used on all devices.
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NEWS TOURISM INITIATIVES
Clyde Challenger, VisitScotland
Initiatives to Boost Scotland as a Top Sailing Destination
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hree public agencies have joined forces to establish Scotland as a top global destination for sailing. These companies consist of; Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), VisitScotland and Scottish Development International (SDI) who will be providing an excess of GBP140,000 (EUR164,860) package of support for industry body, Sail Scotland. The move forms part of Scotland’s marine tourism strategy, Awakening the Giant, which aims to increase the value of sailing tourism in Scotland. Investments include a GBP113,000 (EUR133,066) contributing from HIE over the next three years, funding from the VisitScotland Growth Fund totaling GBP22,500 (EUR26,497) and SDI adding GBP11,900 (EUR14,014), aiding the Support Sail Scotland’s marketing strategy. Social media campaign Legendary Sailing along with greater profile for Scotland at international boat shows. The first of these, being BOOT Holland, commenced February 10, followed by shows in Stockholm and Paris.
Highlights of Prague Galleries
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zech Tourism Authority invites visits to galleries and museums in Prague, by pointing out some of their current and upcoming history and art exhibitions. The National Gallery will feature the artwork of a renowned Chinese artist and activist Aj Wej-Wej from March 14, followed by a retrospective exhibition of Gerhard Richter, influenced with photographic realism and geometric abstraction, which will be showcased from April 26 – September 03 at Kinský Palace. The gallery’s permanent exhibitions include collections of medieval arts, Czech artwork from the period of Baroque and classicism to contemporary arts and Asian arts. Visitors of Prague can further admire the National Museum’ s Retro Exhibition, open until the end of April and DOX Contemporary Art Centre’ s exhibition dedicated to the life of the first Czech president Václav Havel.
Belarusian Culture Days Arrived in Hungary
National Gallery Prague
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Baku to Host AITF 2017
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n line with the Belarus-Hungary economic cooperation, Hungary hosted Days of Belarusian Culture on February 08 – 11. Supported by Belarusian culture ministry and the governments of both countries, the programme of the event featured concerts of the State Dance Ensemble of Belarus and the vocal group Camerata of the Belarusian State Philharmonic Society, which performed in the cities of Gödöllő and Budapest.
n April 06 – 08, the annual Azerbaijan International Travel and Tourism Fair Exhibition (AITF 2017) will be held at the Baku Expo Centre. The 16th edition of the event is set to bring together representatives of the tourism world, government institutions, national and regional tourism organisations, as well as the mass media. Important meetings, partnership agreements and the announcement of new programmes and destinations are expected to be highlights of the show. This year, the exhibition will present a variety of destinations, airlines, hotel chains and other tourism services. AITF 2017 will welcome participants from around the globe who have already confirmed their participation with national and regional stands and for the first time, Colombia and Cuba will be present with the support of the Colombian Embassy. Among the foreign newcomers are holiday companies from Italy, China and the UK.
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Edinburgh Airport Commits to Improving Accessibility Edinburgh Airport, in conjunction with the Queen Elizabeth Foundation’s TryB4uFly, hosted, Passengers with Reduced Mobility Open Day, on February 03.
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he event gave the opportunity to individual travellers, parents, health care and support professionals to exchange ideas with airport representatives, to discuss challenges and to suggest solutions for more comfortable and confident air travel. Commenting on the occasion, Gordon Dewar, CEO, Edinburgh Airport, said, “We aim to make Edinburgh Airport the most accessible airport for everyone, regardless of what mobility requirements guests may have. […] This open day is a great opportunity for us to engage with our passengers and understand how we can make their journey as easy as possible.”
Dublin Airport Celebrates Record Charity Fundraising
Gatwick Airport Implements Noise Reduction Initiatives
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ver the last decade, Dublin Airport staff have raised over EUR2 million for 18 Irish charities. The annual Charities of the Year programme, managed by the airport’s staff, holds a series of fundraising events for selected charities, which in 2016 reached EUR300,000 worth of donations and marked a milestone in such efforts. The initiatives are also supported by passengers’ contributions to charity boxes available at the airport. Kevin Toland, CEO, Dublin Airport, expressed, “The amount raised during 2016 is 25 percent up on the previous year, making it the largest sum raised ever in a single year. I am immensely proud of the continuing support and passion of the staff in raising this massive sum of money for charity.”
Gatwick Airport
Dublin Airport staff
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s shown in the first annual progress report titled Independent Arrivals Review of Gatwick Airport, the London hub has achieved 11 out of 23 recommendations to alleviate the noise impact on the local community The recommendations form part of Gatwick Airport’s programme of continuous improvement, as published in its final action plan in June 2016. Work on the remaining recommendations is underway, with five near to completion. One achievement is that four out of the five largest operators will modify Airbus A320's to prevent the tendency to create a highpitched whine on descent.
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Frankfurt Airport Goes Green
Reducing Congestion in Glasgow Airport
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Glasgow Airport’s New Pick-Up and Drop-Off Area
ith the creation of multiple green spaces, Frankfurt Airport has transformed its departure lounges and waiting areas into an oases of tranquillity and relaxation. The new modern light-coloured seats surrounded by artificial plants and trees offer the ultimate in-sitting comfort while enhancing passenger’s satisfaction levels. In Concourses D and E travellers can relax in a hanging garden where they can observe plants integrated in walls. The plants are automatically irrigated on a drainage system based on hydroculture techniques. Live plants provide oxygen from photosynthesis while reducing carbon dioxide concentration and dust in the air contributing to the growing environmentally friendly spirit.
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lasgow Airport has revealed plans to reduce congestion with the construction of a new pick-up and dropoff facility. Customers can now pay a fee to stay up to 10 minutes in drop-off areas while Blue badge holders are entitled to up to 30 minutes free parking in the short stay car park. Amanda McMillan, managing director, Glasgow Airport, noted, ‘’I appreciate that not everyone will be supportive of the new charging structure, […] we have now reached a point whereby a chargeable facility is the only way to address congestion, discourage non-airport traffic and encourage best use of our road network.’’ The new pick-up and drop-off areas will open to the public at the end of April. In addition, a new consolidated car rental centre opened on February 13 housing all the rental companies currently operating from Glasgow Airport.
Frankfurt Airport’s Hanging Garden
bmi Regional Facilitates Airport Train Connection
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n line with creating a new base at Birmingham Airport, bmi regional has partnered with Virgin Trains to provide a convenient train connection from the hub to the UK’s largest cities. By adding the train travel booking service, passengers travelling between Birmingham and the carrier’s new destinations Graz, Gothenburg and Nuremberg, now have access to an extensive high-speed train network to conveniently connect with London, the North West and Scotland among other destinations across the UK. Mandy Robinson, head of sales, Virgin Trains, enthused, “We are delighted to be able to partner with bmi regional to offer their customers even more choice when travelling to and from Birmingham. With fast and frequent services to Birmingham Airport, getting to the airport by rail could not be easier […].”
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NEWS AIR
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Ryanair’s Extra Flights from Glasgow Ryanair has expanded its network from Glasgow Airport by introducing two new routes to Krakow and Madrid, scheduled to take off this October.
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airBaltic to Expand Russian Network
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irBaltic has announced a new route between Riga International Airport and Kazan International Airport with twice weekly flights commencing on April 26. Hailed as the world’s most punctual airline, the Latvian carrier will operate a Boeing 737 aircraft on the two hours and 25 minutes-long flight. Wolfgang Reuss, senior vicepresident, network management, airBaltic, said, “We are delighted to open Kazan which will add to our excellent Moscow and St. Petersburg services in Russia. The new route will strengthen the business and tourism ties between Kazan and Riga, and create convenient new connections with European and Scandinavian airports.”
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Air France Adds Three Destinations From Marseille
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his summer, Air France will launch direct, seasonal services from Marseille to Stockholm, Ibiza and Athens. Between July 24 – September 01, the airline will serve Athens on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays and fly to Ibiza on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. In order to meet the large demand for direct routes to France among Swedes, the carrier will operate the itinerary with an Airbus A320 between July 25 – August 31, on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Commenting on the additional schedule to Sweden, Elizabeth Axtelius, director, aviation business, Swedavia, said, “In addition to this new route, we have recently added destinations such as Lyon, Montpellier and an extension of the summer season through the route to Bordeaux.”
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he twice-weekly service to John Paul II Kraków-Balice International Airport and the four times weekly schedule to Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport both respond to growing passenger demand since the low cost carrier established its base in Glasgow in 2014, as indicated by Amanda McMillan, managing director, Glasgow Airport. McMillan further added that both destinations have a strong potential to attract business and leisure travellers as Glasgow enjoys mutual economic ties with Madrid, and Krakow represents a rich cultural centre. The launch of the Krakow route brings the number of Polish itineraries from Glasgow to nine.
Budapest Welcomed First easyJet Link
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udapest Airport celebrated its first new route of 2017, as easyJet launched its first link to the Netherlands from Hungary. The carrier’s three times weekly service to Amsterdam will be the airport’s second link to the Dutch capital city, providing an additional 500 oneway weekly seats on the direct service. Commenting on the inaugural flight, Kam Jandu, chief commercial officer, Budapest Airport, said, “easyJet’s operation is a great addition to our network, being our first low-cost service to Amsterdam and targeting a different passenger segment from KLM’s existing link. In 2016 we witnessed 26 percent growth on the route, proving the popularity of the city pair and the high demand for more choice and availability.”
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NEWS AIR
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Georgian Airways Resumes Flights to Kharkiv
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bilisi and Kharkiv will once again be connected on a regular basis by Georgian Airlines. After a four-year gap, the carrier is resuming direct regular flights from Georgia’s capital city to Kharkiv. Effective from April 12, Georgian Airways will operate two flights per week on Wednesdays and Saturdays onboard a Boeing 737. The journey will last two hours and 20 minutes.
bmi Unveils New Baggage and Seating Policy
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n an attempt to make life easier for its customers. bmi regional has now increased the standard free baggage allowance to 23kg. In addition bmi regional customers have the opportunity to pre-book their seats up to 48 hours before their flight for an extra fee. Jochen Schnadt, chief commercial officer, bmi regional, noted, “These changes are all part of our strategy to enhance and simplify our product offering […] we believe that our new baggage and seating policy will give customers greater flexibility, greater choice and make travelling with us even easier”.
Extra Moscow Frequencies by Bulgaria Air
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ulgaria Air has announced increased regular flights from Varna and Burgas airports to Moscow, scheduled for the summer season. The all inclusive tickets for the itineraries will feature onboard catering, seat selection, a 10kg hand and 23kg checked-in luggage including all airport taxes. Attracting the Russian market, the airline now cooperates with Russian tour agencies, offering flights to Bulgarian mountain resorts until the end of the winter season. The guests can also benefit from complimentary transportation of ski and snowboard equipment until March 31 to all its direct destinations. Together with its partners, the Bulgarian national carrier services over 400 destinations in Europe, Asia, Africa and the US.
Burgas Airport
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NEWS AIR
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BA Expands Stansted Network
Aeroflot Expands Itinerary
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Florence
rom May, British Airways (BA) will launch services to Florence, Geneva and Nice, all taking off from London Stansted Airport as part of its summer schedule, bringing the total number of destinations served from the hub to eight. Furthermore, the carrier will resume its flights to Malaga and Faro during the summer period, while its Ibiza and Palma routes will increase to three times a week and twice-weekly, respectively. Commenting on the announcement, Andrew Cowan, CEO, London Stansted Airport, said, “BA enjoyed a really successful first year at the airport and this boost in services is a clear demonstration of the strength of demand that exists across the region.”
Flybe Prolongs Winter Routes from UK Hubs
eroflot announced its expanded flight service between Moscow and Vienna to four routes per day, launched on February 01. With this flight increase, the Russian airline now offer 28 weekly flights on the Vienna-MoscowSheremetyevo route. The expanded itenerary was officially announced at a photo session featuring Vadim Kolomychenko, director, Aeroflot, along with Igor Nikitin, of the Russian Embassy, Austria, Ekaterina Kohlhauser, VisitRussia, and Julian Jäger, member, management board, Flughafen Wien. “With this additional route, the number of weekly flight connections from Vienna to Russia rises to 69, showing that the travel destination of Russia is recovering. The increased frequencies send a strong signal. That is why I expect considerable growth in passenger volumes to Moscow in 2017,” said Jäger.
Germania Adds Rovaniemi to its Network
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ermania has announced a new twice-weekly route between Berlin-Schönefeld Airport and Rovaniemi Airport. Flights to the Finnish city in the Lapland province will be operated on Wednesdays and Sundays with a Boeing 737-700. In an effort to accommodate winter sports lovers, the airline offers complimentary transport for ski and snowboard equipment on this service. This marks the German carrier’s second destination in Finland, after Kittilä. Germania, an independent airline, carries more than 2.8 million passengers annually on its fleet of 29 aircraft to over 40 European, North African and Middle Eastern destinations.
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ow-cost airline Flybe has announced that it will extend its winter schedule to Geneva Airport and Chambéry Airport, providing passengers from three UK hubs more opportunities to take advantage of the offpeak ski season. From both Cardiff and Exeter airfields, services to Geneva will now extend until April 15, while the weekly Saturday route to Chambéry will be operated until March 15. Meanwhile, winter sports enthusiasts travelling from the Birmingham gateway will have the chance to reach both destinations until April 15. The abovementioned routes were recently launched by the airline to further enhance connectivity to key winter destinations.
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NEWS AIR
S7 Airlines Introduces New Flights from Moscow to Urumqi
SAS Announced Latest Additions to its Portfolio
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Airlines has announced the launch of new flights from Moscow to Urumqi, China. The new itineraries include direct flights to Urumqi Airport commencing April 30 and scheduled on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays. Return flights from Urumqi hub will depart on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The routes will be operated onboard Airbus A320 aircraft with both economy and business class sections. “Urumqi is one of the biggest commercial and tourist centres in China. Tourists come to Urumqi for mountain trekking in the Tian Shan Mountains, travelling to the mountain lake Tianchi and famous lavender fields, and, of course, for shopping. Tourists from China will be able to take direct flights to Moscow and continue their travelling around Russia, using a vast S7 Airlines flight network”, said, Igor Veretennikov, commercial director, S7 Group.
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Finnair Launches Alipay Onboard
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innair has introduced Alipay onboard the Helsinki – Shangai route from January 27. The application will also be accepted at the Finnair lounge in the non-Schengen area, Helsinki. At the moment, Alipay is hailed as the largest online payment platform in the world, with over 450 million users in China. The partership will enable customers to pay for in-flight purchases, including tax-free items and travel extras. The application will initially be available for a month on a trial basis.
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candinavian Airlines (SAS) introduced a new direct route between Stockholm and Ibiza following the company’s efforts to increase the amount of flights and seats to southern Europe this coming summer. Compared to 2016's summer programme, 370,000 more seatswillbeavailabletoPortugal,Croatia,Spain,ItalyandGreece amounting to 170,000 more seats for the peak period between June – August. As of June 28, the carrier will offer a direct route between Stockholm and Ibiza, with departures every Wednesday. This addition serves as a supplement to the SAS portfolio including destinations such as Málaga, Palma, Palermo, Nice and Split. “We see a continued demand of popular leisure destinations and continue to develop our route network and our itineraries,” said, Fredrik Henriksson, head, media relations, SAS.
New CRJ900 to Join SAS
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ix CRJ900s are joining Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) network after a purchase agreement between BOMBARDIER, hailed as one of the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer, and CityJet. Pat Byrne, executive chairman, CityJet, commented, “The CRJ900 aircraft has proven to be cost efficient and operationally flexible in supporting our contract flying with SAS and we look forward to the delivery of up to ten more via the firm purchase agreement announced today.” CityJet currently owns eight CRJ900s which are on wet lease service with SAS and an additional four aircrafts are expected to be delivered this year.
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Airbus Test Craft to be Transferred to Museums in France
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BA Teams with NOLA to Serve Cocktails In-Flight
F Museum of Air and Space in Paris-Le Bourget
ollowing the launch of British Airways’ (BA) new route to New Orleans, the airline has teamed up with drinking den NOLA to create a New Orleans inspired cocktail and Creole food menu which will be served to all customers on flights between the two cities, from March 27 to April 27. Brett Milligan, executive chef, has collaborated with BA’s in-house chefs to create courses which blend authentic deep southern flavours alongside traditional cooking techniques. The airline is hosting a VIP charter flight to Mardi Gras where NOLA bartenders will be serving signature cocktails at 12,192m, while Nicole Scherzinger and YolanDa Brown will perform exclusively on board.
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s part of its contribution to preserving aviation heritage, Airbus will be transferring four of its test aircraft to the Museum of Air and Space in Paris-Le Bourget and Aeroscopia in Toulouse. These aircraft comprise of the A320 MSN1, the recently withdrawn from the test aircraft fleet, A340-600 MSN360, A380 MSN2 and A380 MSN4. The test fleet liners will benefit from measures taken to preserve their heritage and will soon be presented to the public, set to be unveiled via a special exhibit which will be created inside the aircraft’s interior, serving as an ode to the success of Airbus by 2018. The first aircraft transferred was the A380 MSN4, having arrived in Le Bourget on February 14. The remaining three aircraft maintained by Airbus Heritage in Toulouse, within the Airbus plant, will travel to Aeroscopia in Toulouse within the next two years.
Austrian Airlines Launches In-House Pilot Training
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n cooperation with Lufthansa Group’s European Flight Academy, Austrian Airlines has launched its first training programme for pilots. The inaugural group of 23 trainees began their theoretical training in February, which they will continue before travelling to the US for flight exercises in August. Upon graduation of the 21-month scheme, the students will receive an aircraft license, before starting their career with the airline. For this course, the prospective pilots will learn to operate a Bombardier Dash 8-400, Embraer 195 or an Airbus A320 aircraft. The subsequent course will commence in April, with a third due to begin in August this year.
Carnival Cruise Line’s Fundraising Success
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t. Jude Children’s Research Hospital received nearly USD250,000 (EUR231,550) from Carnival Cruise Line’ s guests who participated in the annual St. Jude Thanks and Giving campaign. The company has been the hospital’s official partner since 2010 and has supported the campaign for the fifth consecutive year. The donations were facilitated through the guests’ Sail & Sign shipboard accounts and were more than double the initial fundraising goal. The cruise line continues to support the hospital by taking part in a variety of initiatives to raise funds and awareness for the fight against childhood cancer and other diseases.
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Car Rental Commits to Fighting Hunger
Europe Close to Meeting Energy Targets
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uropean Commission’s (EC) 2016 assessment has revealed that Europe is on track to meeting its 2020 target of increasing its energy efficiency by 20 percent. The report disclosed that in regards of final energy consumption – the use of energy by end users – the region has already reached its target. However, when it comes to primary energy consumption, Europe is still 1.6 percent off its target of 1,483Mtoe. EC has suggested to raise the legally binding EU level target by 30 percent by 2030 which would create 400,000 new jobs, save EUR70 billion in fossil fuel import bills, cut gas imports by 12 percent as well as reduce health damage costs by up to EUR8.3 billion every year.
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nterprise Rent-A-Car has donated the first of six GBP500,000 (EUR582,000) annual grants to FareShare as part of its Fill Your Tank initiative. The USD60 million (EUR55.86 milllion) programme aims to combat hunger in North America and Europe, as part of the car rental company’s 60th anniversary celebrations. In Europe, Enterprise Rent-A-Car has partnered with The Global FoodBanking Network to address hunger in the UK through FareShare, with a total of GBP3 million (EUR3.49 million) of funding spread over a six year period. The financial support will enable the charity to increase its capacity to redistribute food to people in need across the UK.
IAA Tested Innovative Air Navigation Technology
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he Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has successfully completed trial tests of remote tower technology, which proved the system’s potential in improving cost efficiency for air navigation service providers. Based on over 50 demonstrations conducted in 2016, the project validated the capability of a single controller operation of multiple remote towers in a live air traffic environment. Peter Kearney, director, ATM operations and strategy, IAA, commented on the success, “The IAA has a strong tradition of being innovative to deliver cost efficiency, improved safety and higher productivity levels. We are delighted with the outcome of our trials. We believe this work represents the world’s first trial of multiple tower remote operation’s by a single air traffic controller. Remote tower technology will play a vital role in the future of air traffic service provision [...]”
N Norwegian Cruise Line Treats Loyal Guests
orwegian Cruise Line upgraded its loyalty programme, Latitudes Rewards, bringing its guests extra benefits available on all cruises from February 03. For more rewarding cruising experience, the benefits were enhanced across all scheme’s levels and include a bottle of wine, shore excursion discounts, free internet minutes, priority check-in and more onboard discounts, to name a few. The programme now features two extra tier levels for the most frequent clients providing rewards such as a dinner with the ship's officers or a complimentary seven-day cruise. Meg Lee, chief marketing officer, Norwegian Cruise Line, commented, “At Norwegian Cruise Line, we value our loyal guests and want to provide an aspirational and meaningful rewards programme. We have listened to our guests’ feedback and have enriched our programme with more valuable onboard amenities [...].“
Norwegian Sun
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WHO’S MOVED / TRAVEL TALK
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, RYANAIR
RAMÓN ARAGONÉS
We are pleased to have accessed the low cost Eurobond markets “We are pleased to have accessed the low cost Eurobond markets again. This EUR750 million transaction was keenly priced at a fixed coupon of 1.125 percent per annum. This low cost finance will enable us to further reduce our aircraft ownership costs while continuing to offer the lowest fares and best customer service through our Always Getting Better programme as we grow to 200 million customers per annum by 2024.”
RAMÓN ARAGONÉS has been named CEO of NH Hotel Group, where he will be instrumental in increasing the pace of the group’s growth. Prior to this appointment, as executive director of business and operations at the company, Aragonés oversaw the operations at nearly 400 hotels, executed a portfolio repositioning plan and rolled out a new sales and management strategy. Before joining the group, Aragonés worked as general manager and director of operations at Hesperia. In his new role, his priority will be to consolidate the group’s transformation project with the aim of maximising value creation, in line with the new phase of the company’s business plan.
RAFAŁ MILCZARSKI
NEIL SORAHAN
JUSTIN STANTON
JUSTIN STANTON has been named sales and marketing director at Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, a step up from his previous position of head of marketing at the company. Stanton first joined the cruise line in 2006 as marketing services manager, where he was responsible for brand advertising and the production of brochures. Prior to that, he worked in the sales and marketing team at Tapestry Holidays, contributing to a 20-year career in the industry. In his new role, Stanton will lead the sales, marketing and public relations departments and concentrate on enhancing the company’s relationships with trade partners as well as drive sales through travel agents.
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
CEO, LOT POLISH AIRLINES
This has proved to be an excellent choice “LOT is proud to be the very first airline in Europe, whose long haul fleet relies fully on the Dreamliner. After four years in operations this has proved to be an excellent choice. This aircraft [...] plays a crucial role in the development of our long haul network. [...] [The B787-9] will give us an opportunity to significantly increase the capacity on our existing, most popular routes, in additon to opening new ones. At the same time reduce fuel consumption, better cost and revenue per seat. This gives us a strong boost and makes our airline far more competitive. [...]”
TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
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PHOTO ALBUM
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More than eight million roses were flown into the UK through Heathrow Airport
Quarter-Concert and VIRSKY National Honoured Academic Dance Ensemble of Ukraine welcomed passengers at Boryspil International Airport
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to. Gordon Smith, national partnerships manager, VisitScotland, right, presented Taste Our Best Award to Ryan Flaherty, guest experience director, Caledonian Sleeper, left, in recognition of the train company’s use of local produce
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Design Hotels is set to open Myconian Kyma on the island of Mykonos, Greece
Combining things by Richard Alston Dance Company, Saatchi Gallery
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS ITB BERLIN Berlin, Germany March 08 – 12 www.itb-berlin.de Industry professionals from 187 countries are expected to attend one of the world’s biggest travel trade fairs.
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Berlin welcomed 2017 Berlinale Film Festival
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he 2017 edition of Berlin International Film Festival (Berinale) took place on February 09 – 19 and offered a wide range of options including cinema for younger audiences, independent and art house movies, new discoveries and new techniques in film production. More than 400 premiers around the world were hosted with approximately 20 films competing for the Golden Bear. Using the dedicated Berlinale application cinemagoers could also keep up to date with what's going on at the festival while staying in the German capital.
Next Festive Season’s Trends Unveiled
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he trade world has already witnessed the style of the next festive season during Christmasworld, an international trade fair for seasonal and festive decoration, which was held on January 27 – 31 in Frankfurt am Main. With 1,000 exhibitors from 42 countries, the event reached a record attendance as it showcased upcoming trends and innovative products to private buyers, manufacturers and retailers from various industries. The event run simultaneously with three other fairs, Floradecora, Paperworld and Creative world.
MITT Moscow, Russia March 14 – 16 www.mitt.ru The 24th edition of one of the leading business-to-business events, will offer a wealth of opportunities for partnerships within Russia, CIS, and beyond.
UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL & TOURISM SHOW (UITT) Kiev, Ukraine March 29 – 31 www.uitt-kiev.com Experts from 28 countries will exhibit and visitors can enjoy more than 100 hours of seminars and presentations.
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.
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ITB Berlin Partners with Bundesagentur für Arbeit
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ocated at MESSE Berlin, ITB Career Centre situated in hall 11.1, hosted in cooperation with the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), will be giving newcomers and those currently in employment, the opportunity to browse numerous vacancies in the tourism industry at the event. Jobseekers will be able to make immediate contact with personnel managers and apply for jobs directly at the show, while the advisory service of the agency will conduct thorough checks regarding job applications. More than 50 exhibitors, including German and foreign universities, technical colleges, professional academies and other service providers will be offering advice on degree courses and advanced training. Applicants will be informed on what the travel industry has to offer and establish important links with leading hotel chains, cruise companies and tour operators.
The Estonian Conferences Awarded
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he sixth edition of the competition Conference of the Year, held in Tallinn this January recognised the most outstanding and innovative conference organisers in the country, selected from 13 large-scale events. The first award was granted to the Baltic International Congress of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, for being the biggest professional conference held in the region in the last five years and bringing together over 700 participants from 11 countries. The prize for the most innovative conference was presented to the Roaster Camp, which gathered 130 leading coffee makers. The organisers of international conferences and conventions have had the opportunity to participate in the contest since 2011 when the event ambassadors, Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau and the Estonian Convention Bureau, first introduced the ceremony.
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