25 JANUARY 2017 ISSUE 54
07 IRELAND PROVES A POPULAR CHOICE
04 NEWS
BOOST IN VISITOR NUMBERS EXPECTED IN UK
10 SCOTLAND HOME TO THIRD MARRIOTT PROPERTY
06 Cruising 12 Airports 21 Travel Channels
MARKET UPDATE
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Athens International Airport Reports Positive Figures
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALIST Ellen Petty
Athens International Airport
CONTRIBUTORS Dominique Christou Panayiotis Karanicholas Stella Alexandrou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi 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
During December 2016, passengers at Athens International Airport reached 1.35 million, corresponding to an increase of 14.3 percent compared to 2015.
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omestic travellers represented an 8.3 percent rise, while international passengers grew strong at 18 percent. Greek travellers contributed to a robust jump of 19 percent and foreign visitors also presented growth at a level of seven percent. Overall, in 2016, Athens International Airport recorded an all-time high performance, with 20.02 million passengers, surpassing previous year traffic by 1.9 million (10.7 percent). Both domestic and international passengers achieved double-digit growth levels of 11.2 percent and 10.4 percent, respectively, reaching 7.15 million and 12.87 million. This growth was driven by both the Greek residents’ dynamic growth of 15 percent, as well as the foreign visitors robust rise of eight percent.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
Ground-breaking Results for Edinburgh Airport
Edinburgh Airport
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 November 2016, Edinburgh Airport welcomed 890,966 passengers, marking another record-breaking month and the busiest ever November for a Scottish Airport. EXCHANGE RATES
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his figure shows a 20 percent increase over passengers travelling through the airport in November 2015. Commenting on the positive results, Gordon Dewar, CEO, Edinburgh Airport, said, “In what is traditionally one of the quiet months in aviation we have witnessed a 20 percent increase in passengers on international flights. We also have a healthy equilibrium of inbound and outbound passengers with the most balanced mix of any UK airport outside London. This fact, which reinforces the strength and appeal of Edinburgh as a destination and the global draw of Scotland, gives us greater confidence as we look at the opportunities and challenges ahead.”
25 JANUARY 2017
NEWS
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Visa-Free Travels to Grodno The first tourism information centre offering information about visa-free travels to Grodno has opened in Lithuania.
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he centre offers information about ways of visiting Grodno Oblast with a focus on recreation in the visa-free zone. The tourism information centre has been set up together with Lithuanian partners in the city of Birstonas. Commenting on this, Oleg Andreichik, head, Sport and Tourism Office, Grodno Oblast Executive Committee, said, “Tourism information centres are established with a view to providing quality information about opportunities in our region, the local tourism products and events to potential foreign tourists. Over 300 events of potential interest for foreign tourists are scheduled to take place in Grodno Oblast during this year.”
Oxfordshire Cashed in on Growing Tourism Figures
Lux Express Unveils Tallinn – Riga Route
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n a report commissioned by Experience Oxfordshire, it was shown that in 2015, the tourism industry supported 33,447 jobs in the county, a boost of 4.2 percent compared to 2014. The Economic Impact Report of Tourism for Oxfordshire also revealed that during the year under review, hotels welcomed a five percent rise in overnight stays, with a 4.1 percent increase in the value of such stays. Whilst mirroring the national trend of unchanged domestic visitors, their length of stay rose 3.4 percent, while expenditure grew some four percent. On the other hand, overseas arrivals soared eight percent, with a surge in both nights per trip and expenditure, up 10 percent and three percent, respectively.
25 JANUARY 2017
Lux Express Special
Blenheim Palace
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ux Express has launched a new service between Tallinn and Riga aboard a Lux Express Special coach. The route was inaugurated on January 09 and offers passengers a convenient connection between the two cities. Travellers have access to free Wi-Fi and hot drinks as well as an eight channel individual radio device. Single and twin reclining seats are available, each fitted with a seat belt and a power supply within the armrest. Furthermore, the coach features climate control and a toilet. Water, blankets and pillows are also available for purchase during the journey.
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NEWS
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Boost in Visitor Numbers Expected in UK
Forecasts from VisitBritain indicate that this year is set to be another record year for inbound tourism to the UK.
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pending by overseas visitors is predicted to reach GBP24.1 billion (EUR28.2) this year, an eight percent increase which is expected to top out at GBP22.3 billion (EUR26.18). The number of international arrivals to the UK is expected to rise this year to 38.1 million visits, up four percent over 2016 figures. Sally Balcombe, CEO, VisitBritain, said, “These figures not only underpin a longer-term pattern of growth for inbound tourism, one of our fastest growing export industries, but also demonstrates its growing importance as a key driver for economic growth and jobs.”
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau Expands
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he Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB) has recently announced the appointment of Atlantic Link as its in-country representation firm based in Copenhagen to expand on its current efforts and serve as an extension of the PHLCVB team in the Nordic region. Atlantic Link will work with tour operators on creating itineraries that incorporate Philadelphia and take advantage of the great value and landmarks the city offers. The opening of an in-country office increases opportunities for the PHLCVB team to engage more frequently with the travel trade, media, and consumers to enhance Philadelphia’s image. “The PHLCVB team has worked actively and successfully in the Nordic market over the last several years by building awareness through travel trade and press opportunities and we are beginning to see the results of our efforts, said Julie Coker Graham, president, PHLCVB.”
25 JANUARY 2017
NEWS AGENTS
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The ETC Partner with EDEN network In December 2016, The European Travel Commission (ETC) and the European Destinations of Excellence Network (EDEN Network), announced a memorandum of understanding on the occasion of the European Tourism Day, the annual event organised by the European Commission in Brussels.
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he partnership is based on the commitment between ETC and EDEN Network in working together for continual investment in promoting Europe as a travel destination in overseas markets with the common view to strengthen the competitiveness of the EU tourism industry. Xavier Lechien, president, EDEN Network, said, “We look forward to working closely with ETC to present these European hidden gems to new audiences in international markets.”
Record Sales for AITO Members
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round 170 delegates attended the second Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) Specialist Travel Agents’ Domestic Conference, where it was revealed that in 2016, AITO member sales reached GBP58.7 million (EUR67.4 million), a year-on-year rise of 4.8 percent. During the event, a number of business sessions and workshops were held, along with a networking marketplace which was aided by the use of a new computerised appointment system. The most successful AITO agents were recognised during the All Stars Awards Ceremony, where members of the AITO All Stars incentive scheme with the most impressive sales figures were celebrated.
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NEWS CRUISING
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Steel Cut for Crystal River Yachts
Rendering of Crystal Debussy
Shipbuilders MV WERFTEN and Crystal Cruises celebrated the cutting of the first piece of steel for Crystal Debussy and Crystal Ravel, two Rhine Class luxury river yachts.
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ue to set sail in spring 2018, the structurally identical vessels will be approximately 135m long and accommodate 106 passengers aboard. The all-suites ship will feature king-sized beds with panoramic balcony windows, along with a butler service. Commenting on ceremonial start of construction, Edie Rodriguez, CEO, Crystal Cruises, said, “Today is another crowning achievement in the growth of the Crystal brand, as we take another step closer in further delivering the growing demand for a true luxury experience on Europe’s rivers.”
Carnival Cruises Enhances Bahamian Destinations
Viking Line Records a Stable Year
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Princess Cay
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he private Bahamian destination of Princess Cays has been added to the itineraries of six different Carnival Cruise Line ships beginning this May. Carnival Cruise Line ships are expected to make 40 calls to Princess Cays for the current year and 98 in 2018. Operated by Carnival Cruise Line sister company Princess Cruises, the island of Princess Cays is a tropical oasis where vacationers can enjoy a facility including a 162m2 complex, the highlight of which is by an observation tower offering panoramic views of the island, along with bars, restaurants and retail shops selling local crafts, souvenirs and artwork. “At Carnival, we are always looking for new and exciting destinations for our guests and Princess Cays is a beautiful island paradise with gorgeous beaches and an array of fun-in-the-sun activities that our guests will really enjoy experiencing on their vacation,” said Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line.
he year of 2016 was a stable year for Viking Line with the total number of passengers on the vessels reaching 6,502,191, which corresponds to a one percent decrease. The extensive modernisation of the fleet continued during 2016, with extensive dry-dockings for the Gabriella and Amorella. Measures were also carried out on the Viking Grace and Rosella to increase passenger comfort. Viking Line’s regular surveys in 2016 show that these efforts increased customer satisfaction. Great emphasis has been placed on environmentally sustainable concepts, a high level of passenger comfort and new customer experiences onboard. Commenting on the overview, Jan Hanses, CEO, Viking Line, said, “We look with confidence to the current year, which will be an exciting period with many new opportunities. We have great respect for external factors and how they can affect press release travel in our markets, but we are convinced that interest in sea travel will continue.”
25 JANUARY 2017
NEWS TOURISM
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Ireland Proves a Popular Choice
Dublin
From January to September 2016, Tourism Ireland welcomed a 10 percent growth in overseas visitors and a nine percent increase in their spends, spiking at EUR304 million compared to 2015 figures.
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ommenting on the Central Statistics Office figures, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said, “This was a strong performance and reflects the sentiment we have been hearing from our tourism industry partners, both overseas and here at home. We have just launched our marketing plans for this year, which will see us build on this year’s growth to deliver EUR5.7 billion in overseas tourism revenue to the economies north and south, by welcoming 10.6 million visitors.”
Important Year for Slovenia
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n 2016, Slovenian tourism saw record numbers as the 10 million overnight stays mark was exceeded once again. According to preliminary data of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 12 percent more foreign tourist arrivals and 10 percent more overnight stays by foreign tourists were recorded in the first eleven months of 2016, placing Slovenian tourism above the European average. In addition to record results, 2016 saw numerous successfully implemented projects, such as the global digital campaign, Slovenia – Make New Memories, and the launching of the new central Slovenian tourist portal, slovenia.info. Commenting on the results, Maja Pak, director, Slovenian Tourist Board, said, “[…] We achieved and exceeded the objectives set with this year’s ambitious marketing plan, which was prepared in partnership with the tourism industry.”
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High Tourism Employment in Scotland
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Glasgow
igures from the Office for National Statistics showed that the number of people working in the Scottish tourism industry went up by 11 percent between 2014 and 2015, to 217,000. This represents nine percent of the country’s total employment and is the highest tourism level since Business Register and Employment Survey (BRES) records began in 2009. Edinburgh and Glasgow are the two biggest tourism employers, with 34,600 and 30,800 respectively. Proportionally, however, Argyll and Bute is the region where tourism has the biggest impact on employment. The 6,500 tourism workers represent nearly 17 percent of total employment in the region. Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland, indicated that the new figures demonstrate the industry’s commitment to the 2020 strategy, which aims to generate economic growth through tourism.
Belarus Announces New Visa Legislation
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Belarus
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n accordance with the new wording of Belarus’ Tax Code, the new single rates of the consular fees for entry visas became effective as of January 01. The individual visa cost is USD57 (EUR53.40) and the group visa cost will be US10.50 (EUR9.80) per person. Different fees apply to residents of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Japan and Serbia. In particular, citizens of Japan and Serbia are exempt from the payment of consular fees in accordance with the bilateral agreements. Citizens of Poland and the Baltic states shall pay the consular fees at discounted rates, as before.
25 JANUARY 2017
NEWS TOURISM
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Promoting Scotland in India
Mumbai
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team of 10 tourism businesses joined VisitScotland in India with the aim to growing a market currently worth GBP12 million (EUR13.8 million) to the Scottish economy. The national tourism organisation, in partnership with Etihad Airways, led a twoweek business development mission in the emerging market which gave travel companies the opportunity to hold face-to-face meetings with up to 400 key tour operators in Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. In addition to the main schedule, representatives from VisitScotland and the other companies also conducted meetings with key partners in Pune and Ahmedabad. Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland, said, “India is an important emerging market for Scottish tourism and this business development mission, […].”
Brits Spent EUR51.1 Billion on Days Out
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ccording to data released by VisitEngland, in the first 11 months of 2016, Brits undertook a record breaking 1.35 billion day trips, up 14 percent, with expenditure reaching GBP45.3 billion (EUR51.1 billion), a year-onyear growth of seven percent. Commenting on the rise in domestic day trips, Sally Balcombe, CEO, VisitEngland, said, “It is great to see more people getting out and exploring the huge range of quality destinations and tourism products on offer right across the country. There is nowhere like England when it comes to incredible experiences on your doorstep.”
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Scotland Home to Third Marriott Property
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he flagship property has been part of a GBP30 million (EUR34.6 million) restoration project to combine both heritage and contemporary style, offering a total of 240 rooms, Courtyard Edinburgh extends through three adjoining Georgian townhouses into a new building connected by glass walkways to the rear. Featuring a variety of views of Calton Hill, Edinburgh’s New Town and across the Firth of Forth. Courtyard Edinburgh is the third Courtyard by Marriott in Scotland and follows the opening of Courtyard Glasgow Airport earlier in 2016 and Courtyard Aberdeen Airport, which opened in 2013.
Marriott Hotel Glasgow
Marriott International announced the upcoming addition of Courtyard Edinburgh to its portfolio in Scotland, following its opening in December 2016.
Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Gran Canaria Mogan
Puerto de Mogan Welcomes Radisson Blu
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adisson Blu Resort & Spa Gran Canaria Mogan has opened its doors. Located just one kilometre from the centre of Puerto de Mogan, known as Little Venice, the resort offers accommodation across 422 rooms and suites. Encompassed within the residence are three culinary options, pool lounge and entertainment room, bar, fitness and training centre with many amenities to cater to any leisure seeker. Finn Berstad, general manager, Radisson Blu Resort & Spa Gran Canaria Mogan, commented, “We really feel that we have the perfect product to serve leisure guests looking to relax, explore the island, or have an active break. We have a fantastic team in place ready to create memorable moments for our guests and I am really looking forward to a great opening and first year of business.”
25 JANUARY 2017
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
Mexico to Welcome Two Hotels
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wo new 25 year hotel leases were extended, alongside substantial renovations of landmark Radisson Blu hotels in Stockholm and Oslo. The Rezidor Hotel Group announced the long-term lease agreements of two hotels that are critical to the group's Scandinavian heritage and identity: Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Stockholm and Radisson Blu Scandinavia, Oslo, Norway. Both hotels are owned by KLP Eiendom, which also has three other Rezidor hotels. Philippe Dejonghe, senior vice president, asset management, The Rezidor Hotel Group, commented, “[…] We are pleased to announce two lease extensions at these strategic locations that will help to drive the future success of our business and help us further solidify our leading position as the international hotel operator in the Nordics."
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Radisson Blu Royal Viking Hotel, Stockholm
Rezidor Continues Investment in Nordic Flagships
nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced two newly-built 120-room Staybridge Suites hotels in the Mexican cities of Irapuato and Silao. Both properties will be operated by Grupo Presidente and are due to open later this year. The hotels will feature a mix of 84 studios, 24 onebedroom suites and 12 two-bedroom suites and will boast an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness centre and business centre, among others. Germán Ongay, regional vice president, franchise sales and development, Mexico, IHG, said, “The brand is designed to create a warm and social environment for travellers who are away from home for weeks or months at a time […].”
Design Hotels Expands Collection
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esign Hotels has added five new properties to its portfolio, celebrating creativity, diversity and innovation. Two US-based additions include The Dwell Hotel in Tennessee, a 16-key boutique address that blends vintage furniture and bold colours, along with Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in Hunter Mountain, a 38-room lodge overlooking Hudson Valley. Furthermore, HUUS Gstaad is a 136-room resort in the Swiss Alps with inclusive spaces as well as fine restaurants, a bar, a family area and an adventure lounge. Overlooking Osawa mountain pass, Satoyama Jujo’s 12 guestrooms take inspiration from the priciples of traditional Japenese architecture. Lastly, Hotel Carlota in Ecuador, with just 12 keys, boasts panoramic views of Quito’s UNESCO-listed neighbourhood.
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Munich Airport’s Strong Growth Munich Airport's robust upward trend continued in 2016 with new records for total passengers and freight turnover.
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he number of passengers increased by 1.3 million, or three percent, over 2015 figures, to a new all-time high of 42.3 million. The number of aircraft movements grew up by almost four percent. Demand was particularly strong for routes to Asia, where passenger numbers rose by more than five percent as compared with 2015. Continental traffic, with a total of 25.8 million passengers in 2016, remained the strongest segment at the airport, with an increase of four percent. "The strong gains in our traffic figures clearly demonstrate once again that growth in demand for mobility is steadily rising. This will continue in the coming year,” said Michael Kerkloh, CEO, Munich Airport.
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busy month of December 2016 helped take the total passenger numbers at Liverpool John Lennon Airport to over 4.8 million, for the reported year with an increase of 11 percent compared to 2015 and the highest levels for five years. Complementing the growth in traffic has been the ongoing investment to improve passenger facilities and further raise customer service levels. The airport has also continued to be one of the best airports in the UK for on-time performance, with more scheduled flights departing on time than the majority of other UK airports. Andrew Cornish, CEO, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented, “Looking ahead, improved passenger facilities and some of the industry’s best operational performance means that we have also been able to create the right airport environment for our airline and tour operator partners to commit to further growth [this year] and we expect this coming year to be even busier.”
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Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Impressive Results for Liverpool Airport
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Further Catering to Chinese Passengers
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ith Chinese passengers being the most rapidly growing customer group at Helsinki Airport, their travel experience will now be enhanced as the airport has enabled payment though AliPay. Hailed as the first airport in Europe to carry out this initiative, AliPay can now be used at the airport’s Iittala, M-Box, Finspiration, Lindroos and Moomin shop outlets, with the aim of all of the airport’s commercial operators accepting AliPay in the future. “Familiar and easy payment options increase the feeling of smooth and safe travel for Chinese passengers,” commented Elena Stenholm, director, commercial services, Helsinki Airport.
Copenhagen Airport to Expand
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Copenhagen Airport
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et to create capacity and facilities handling 40 million passengers a year and new itineraries, including 17 long-haul routes, Copenhagen Airport (CPH) is scheduled for major expansion. The construction period alone and the development of the hub will create 12,500 new jobs. The plan for expanding CPH was presented by Thomas Woldbye, CEO, Copenhagen Airport, accompanied by, among others, Brian Mikkelsen, minister for business, Denmark. With a total investment of around DKK20 billion (EUR219 million ), the expansion of Copenhagen Airport is set to become one of the largest privately financed construction projects in Danish history.
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Bristol Airport to Host New BLIP Systems
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Bristol Airport
o ensure the passenger experience remains positive as volumes increase, the airport has enlisted the expertise of software specialists Gentrack to implement BLIP Systems´ BlipTrack Kerb-to-Gate Solution. The technology will provide the airport with a cohesive picture of guest experiences, from the moment they arrive, to when they leave, and everywhere in between. This system aids the hub in retrieving both live and historical information about specific patterns, such as walking routes, entrance and exit usage and time spent in specific areas such as car parks, check-in, security, lounges, gates and more. Managers will be provided with an understanding of how disruptions or changes affect standard behavior and how to optimise each and every area to operate optimally. Passenger numbers exceeded the seven million milestone for the first time in Bristol Airport´s history in 2016.
Heathrow to Welcome Flybe
Brussels South Charleroi Airport Celebrate Passenger Increase
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he year 2016 set new records for Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) with five percent more passengers recorded travelling through compared to 2015. some 7,303,720 passengers came through BSCA in 2016, compared with 6,956,302 in 2015. December, 2016 was also a good month, with 537,729 visitors recording 14 percent more than in 2015 when 472,350 passengers stepped on to the tarmac at the airport.
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Brussels South Charleroi Airport
s of March 26, Flybe will serve Heathrow Airport for the first time, offering a choice of more than 40 scheduled flights a week from Aberdeen and Edinburgh. Commenting on the important move, Simon Laffin, executive chairman, Flybe, said, “The new routes to Heathrow Airport complement the existing ones we operate to London City, and will benefit our business customers and customers in Scotland who want to connect with our longhaul codeshare partners.”
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NEWS AIR
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Alitalia Codeshare with Air Seychelles Alitalia announced the expansion of its codeshare partnership with Air Seychelles, offering travellers convenient air connections to Madagascar and South Africa.
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nder the agreement, Alitalia will place its AZ flight code on Air Seychelles’ four-weekly service to Antananarivo and five-weekly service to Johannesburg. The Italian flag carrier will also codeshare on Air Seychelles’ upcoming twice-weekly service to Durban, set to commence on March 30. Cramer Ball, CEO, Alitalia, said, “Deepening our codeshare cooperation with Air Seychelles brings important benefits to our guests, who now have dozens of new travel options from Italy to Madagascar and South Africa via Seychelles.”
Flybe and Virgin Atlantic Team Up
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cottish travellers can now book flights to international destinations including Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Boston, Seattle, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Dubai, San Francisco and Washington following a new partnership between Virgin Atlantic and Flybe. The new Flybe codeshare flights to London Heathrow Airport will operate from March 26, offering four services a day from Edinburgh Airport, and up to three services a day from Aberdeen Airport. Erik Varwijk, executive vice president, commercial, Virgin Atlantic, said, “We look forward to offering easy connections to some of our most popular destinations such as the US cities of San Francisco and Boston, as well as helping to boost business and investment with access to major hubs such as Hong Kong and Dubai.”
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Enhancing Ties Between the UK and Greece
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Austrian Airlines Expands on European Routes
Air Serbia Reached a Milestone
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Enhancing Ties with the West Balkans
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n December 16, 2016, Air Serbia welcomed its 2.55 millionth guest for the respective year, surpassing the record passenger milestone achieved during the entire year of 2015. The lucky passenger, Biljana Stanivuković, was presented with two return tickets to any destination on Air Serbia’s shorthaul network after checking in for the airline's morning flight from Belgrade to London Heathrow Airport. Commenting on the milestone, Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, said, “Our traffic growth has been driven by the expansion of our network in Europe and to North America, and it is especially pleasing to see both our new and established routes performing well.
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et2.com is adding three Greek destinations to its summer schedule this year from Leeds Bradford Airport, in response to soaring demand for flights and package holidays to Greece. From July through September, additional weekly flights will operate to Zante every Thursday, bringing the total number of services to three per week. Crete will also see an additional weekly flight, whereby travellers will have the option of four flights a week to the Greek destination. Lastly, from July to September, Rhodes will be offered three times a week. Steve Heapy, CEO, Jet2.com, said, “The popularity of Greece shows no sign of slowing down, which is why we are cementing our position as Yorkshire’s leading operator to Greece by putting on even more flights.”
s of March 26, Austrian Airlines will offer more flights to Hamburg, Paris, Stockholm and Zurich, further expanding its flight offerings in Europe for the summer season. The airline will operate up to seven weekly flights to Zurich and up to four direct flights will take off from Vienna to Paris. Stockholm and Hamburg will be served daily, and travellers to Milan will be able to choose from up to six daily flights.
izz Air has introduced five new West Balkan routes from Budapest that will commence in April. The destinations are Skopje, Podgorica, Tirana, Prishtina and Sarajevo. The schedule will connect the countries directly, boost bidirectional tourism and establish an important link for trade and business between Hungary and the West Balkan region. József Váradi, CEO, Wizz Air, said that this move will help stimulate economic and business relations between the countries as well as further improve accessibility to Budapest where WIZZ Air offers a diverse network, comprising of 59 routes to 28 countries.
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NEWS AIR
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Lufthansa Welcomes A320neo
Impressive 2016 for Austrian Airlines
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new Airbus A320neo was delivered to Lufthansa on December 29, 2016. The transfer of the new aircraft, with the registration D-AINE, took place on the Airbus business premises in Hamburg, Finkenwerder. Certification for use of transport and an operating license was issued with the transfer of the aircraft to the home base in Frankfurt. Lufthansa will be the first company to enjoy the new upgraded generation Airbus A320neo and an additional 10 A320neo aircrafts are to be delivered to Lufthansa by the end of this year.
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n 2016, Austrian Airlines carried 11.4 million passengers, corresponding to a year-onyear rise of 5.1 percent. This increase is mainly due to the expanded bilateral flight traffic between Austria and Germany. The flight offering, measured in available seat kilometres, was increased by 4.9 percent to more than 24.4 billion. On the other hand, passenger load factor was at an average of 76.1 percent, a decrease of 1.9 percentage points compared to 2015.
A33-200 Joins Iberia Fleet
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beria has introdcued its latest Airbus A33-200, named Tokio in honour of the airlines latest destination to the Japanese capital. The new aircraft will be used on long-haul routes to the Americas and Asia with enhanced cabins including modernised technological advancements, including Wi-Fi capabilities. Whilst economy class has extra wide seating with fully adjustable headrest and a universal in-flight programme to cater all guests, business class offers comfort nodes including a fold-out two metre bed and lavish entertainment options via touch screens. The fleet liner is part of a 29 long-haul aircraft order to be delivered by 2020. The A330-200 is twin-engined boasting more fuel-efficiency, with a range of 11,500 km and a maximum take-off weight of 242 tonnes.
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Major Expansion for airBaltic
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irBaltic has received the second of its 20 Bombardier CS300 jets on firm order, ensuring the growth of the carrier with at least 10 additional routes and 16 percent more tickets on sale during this year. As of March the airline will offer up to four flights a week to Odessa and six weekly flights to Tampere in Finland from Riga. Moreover, from Vilnius, the airline will serve Munich and Paris with three and four weekly flights respectively. From May, Aberdeen, Geneva, Stavanger and Madrid will be served from Riga, three times a week, in addition to one weekly flight to Catania. Lastly, Gothenburg in Sweden will benefit from six weekly flights from Riga as of June.
Wizz Air’s Major Expansion Plans
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izz Air has unveiled expansion plans for this year with a sixth aircraft joining the Cluj-Napoca fleet in March which will enable four new routes to Stockholm, Bratislava, Larnaca and Malta. Another move is that the airline is set to open its 27th base on July 21 in Varna, Bulgaria with a one new Airbus A320 aircraft. Already served by Wizz Air flights, Varna will be the airline’s second Bulgarian airport with base operations. The new aircraft will increase the number of routes served from Varna to seven, with the addition of flights to Dortmund, Munich, Eindhoven, Larnaca and Milan. The frequency of the London Luton Airport service will also increase to 10 weekly flights.
Ryanair and Navitaire Extend Partnership
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yanair has renewed its agreement with Navitaire, whereby the airline will use the firm’s advanced ancillary and reservations solution including merchandising, distribution, digital and departure control platforms until 2025. Over the last 17 years, Ryanair has relied on Navitaire’s solutions to support its dramatic growth, drive strong ancillary revenue results, and help retain its position as the industry’s lowest operational cost structure and high profit airlines. John Hurley, chief technology officer, Ryanair, said, “Our partnership with Navitaire has helped us achieve consistent doubledigit growth and higher profitability, enabling more customers to travel than ever before. Navitaire understands what is important for our success, and offers the solutions we need to let us easily create ever-improving digital tools, ancillary services, powerful personalisation capabilities and customer service enhancements to fulfill our upcoming growth plans.”
25 JANUARY 2017
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RENDEZVOUS
Every year we are listed among the Best 10 Luxury Hotels of Russia according to TripAdvisor. Our target audience is not a tourist group but individual travellers aspiring to discover Russia and in particular, St. Petersburg.
Q & A with
TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What are the latest luxury tourism trends in Russia?
CHRISTINA KUZNETSOVA GENERAL MANAGER, DOMINA PRESTIGE ST. PETERSBURG
CONSIDERING THAT LUXURY FLOWS IN RUSSIA’S CULTURAL VEINS, CHRISTINA KUZNETSOVA, GENERAL MANAGER, DOMINA PRESTIGE ST. PETERSBURG, DISCUSSES RUSSIA AS AN ELITE DESTINATION AND THE ROLE OF THE HOTEL IN THE HIGH END HOSPITALITY SCENE.
CHRISTINA KUZNETSOVA: Luxury is a very broad concept so we attentively monitor the options that would be really interesting for the guests and respond to their demands. During the four years of the hotel’s existence it is perceptible how the idea of luxury evolves. It is becoming more various, and it is excellent because today, especially Russia, is ready to offer the diversity of special travel impressions. There is a classic Russian luxury that glorified the breadth of Russian souls across the world, and our concierges can arrange such truly unforgettable experience for our guests. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Do you offer personalised experiences or special packages to luxury seekers who are visiting? CHRISTINA KUZNETSOVA: There is another trend and requirement among the guests conscious refusal from the conspicuous consumption. When choosing a hotel, they are primarily looking for a guarantee of absolute privacy during the stay, adherence to incognito and the most personalised service. A hotel for them, is almost a speak-easy place, private favourite resort where you can escape for a few days or weeks. And their request when visiting St. Petersburg is an opportunity to attend such private characteristic places - art galleries, concerts, and tiny local restaurants . We provide this truly unique experience of staying in the city.
We build our relationship with guests in the way we are always there for helping them without importunity at the same time. You may come and stay at your room for some days sleeping off and recovering - the staff will be considerate, and the Russian cuisine dishes are easy to hold right in the room. Spending time in the most intensive way include excursions with a personal guide and visiting places closed to the public. It is even possible to organise a visit to the tzar's lounge an hour before the performance begins, there are no closed doors for our concierges. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Are there any interesting plans in the hotel’s future that visitors should look forward to? CHRISTINA KUZNETSOVA: Russia dynamically diversifies, extends its touristic product. Today you will be surprised when visiting St. Petersburg, not in the season of famous white nights but in winter, for example. In the snowy city there are plenty of things to do. Cultural life is in full swing - the most exciting theatrical and ballet premieres are held in this time. A stone throw away from the hotel there is a gorgeous new ice rink where you can feel like a child again or show your kids the mysterious Russia. When you stay in the thick of events in the historical city centre, you can feel as locals. In my mind, diving into the country fully, being not just a part of a tourist attraction but a part of the city's life - is the element of new luxury as well. The truest indicator for us, which we constantly check, is a number of regular guests. They make a third of the total, and we are planning to increase this index. In today's standardised world the home warmth is the most valuable element. People with pleasure return where they could feel it.
TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: From which countries or regions do most of your affluent clients come? CHRISTINA KUZNETSOVA: Taking into account that we belong to an Italian hotel chain, the majority of our guests are Europeans, primarily German, French, British and of course, Italian. Also, the percentage of US visitors is steadily high, and this number did not decrease, even during the period of obvious coolness in foreign policy between Russia and the US. We noticed a gradual increase of interest among the guests from the UAE, with exclusively individual visitors. 25 JANUARY 2017
Domina Prestige St. Petersburg
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NEWS AIR
Croatia Airlines Joins ERA
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roatia Airlines has joined the European Regions Airline Association (ERA), bringing the total number of airlines in ERA membership to 54 members. ERA is the only European trade body to include the full range of companies involved in European aviation including airlines, airports, manufacturers and suppliers, providing its members wih unparalleled networking opportunities through its events and industry groups throughout the year. “Undoubtedly, the membership in ERA will additionally improve our international reputation and open excellent opportunities to respond to the current business challenges. I look forward to the future cooperation with all ERA members in our efforts to make air transport an even more important factor of economic development and the connecting of Europe,” said Krešimir Kučko, CEO, Croatia Airlines.
mi regional has partnered with the Department for International Trade to support its Exporting is GREAT campaign with discounts for business travellers across its routes. The initiative aims to inspire businesses to take advantage of the global demand for British goods and services, with tens of thousands of exporting opportunities available for UK companies globally. As an official partner of the campaign and working closely with the Department for International Trade, bmi regional will be offering special rates for business travellers. Commenting on the partnership, Jochen Schnadt, chief commercial officer, bmi regional, said, “Business travel is a key part of our strategy and helping businesses, […]. Our vision as a partner is to help businesses reach their goals and opportunities by providing a quality, efficient and cost effective transport service.”
Positive Growth for Brussels Airlines
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n 2016, Brussels Airlines welcomed 7.7 million passengers on board its worldwide flights, an increase of 3.2 percent compared to 2015. The carrier closed 2016 with 7,736,791 passengers, which is almost a 250,000, or three percent, more than 2015 figures. The airline registered growth on its European, African and North American network. Out of the 7.7 million passengers, 6.5 million flew on a European flight, 883,995 travellers flew to and from Africa and 290,836 passengers travelled to or from the US. The year under review was also a period of growth for the airline’s cargo activity. The total volume of transported freight grew by six percent to 35,338 tons.
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Norwegian Announces New Job Positions for Scotland
Thomas Cook Gives Travel Boost for MUFC Fans in China
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orwegian has announced it will be creating more than 130 crew and pilot jobs in Scotland as it prepares for continued growth at Edinburgh Airport during the year. Norwegian began flying from Edinburgh in 2009 and has now carried over 1.1 million passengers with services to six European destinations. With a range of new aircraft being delivered during this year, including the brand new Boeing 737 MAX, Norwegian is planning additional routes from the Scottish capital. The new routes include plans for low-cost transatlantic flights from Edinburgh to the US east coast , along with affordable transatlantic travel to Scottish passengers. The new routes are also expected to generate increased inbound traffic from the US to Edinburgh, helping support tourism, business and hospitality opportunities in Scotland.
Old Trafford
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anchester United Football (MUFC) Club's Chinese fans will be given the chance to enjoy an official Old Trafford Match Break experience. The opportunity has arisen courtesy of a new exclusive agreement with the club’s official travel Services Provider Thomas Cook Sport, part of Thomas Cook. Richard Arnold, managing director, Manchester United Group, said, “Our partnership with Thomas Cook is a long-standing one and we are delighted it has been extended to China, where we have more United fans than anywhere else in the world. It is great for us that the packages on offer will give fans the opportunity to enjoy an official visit to Old Trafford.”
Bristol Airport increases Accessibility
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new Changing Places facility was recently opened in the landside area of the main terminal at Bristol Airport by Andy Wright, managing director, Accessible Travel, specialists in providing holidays for the less mobile. The Changing Places facility provides features including more space in the toilets to make it easier for helpers to assist, a height adjustable adultsized changing bench, and a tracking hoist system. “With the introduction of this more dignified and highly valued facility, Bristol Airport continues to demonstrate its commitment to supporting those passengers who require some additional assistance when travelling,” commented Wright.
Heathrow Passengers Prefer Healthy Meals
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ccording to Heathrow Airport’s on-board meal sales, travellers in 2016 opted for lighter, healthy food options when compared to 2015. The top five meal choices from more than 118 retailers were sushi, sandwiches, salads, noodles and pasta, in that order. Additionally, in line with the rise of the wellness movement, the hub’s water fountains have become increasingly popular along with the use of refillable bottles. The airport’s outlets also saw the sale of healthier snacks such as fruit and nuts, with the number of lighter bites transactions up 13 percent. Another apparent trend was the double digit growth of high-end products such as Gordon Ramsey’s Plane Food Picnic and Caviar House’s seafood hampers.
Gordon Ramsey’s Plane Food Picnic
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THOMAS WINKELMANN
STEPHEN KING has been named head of airline relations at Gatwick Airport, where he will be responsible for the development of the hub’s existing relationships to enable them to reach their full potential. He will also be key growing the London airport's airline base. King joins the airport from Virgin Atlantic, where he oversaw revenue management and sales for both passenger travel and air cargo. Most recently, King led the carriers Asia Pacific team in Hong Kong. Prior to these positions, King also worked at American President Lines where he gained expertise in the shipping and freight industry.
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THOMAS WINKELMANN has been appointed CEO of airberlin group, a role in which he will head all of the group’s activities. Winkelmann began his 18-year career with Lufthansa Group, where he held a number of positions, including vice president for North and South America, CEO of the group’s low-cost subsidiary, Germanwings and CEO of Lufthansa Hub. Winkelmann will continue to implement the carrier’s transformation strategy, focus on the development of the airline’s long-haul network, reinforce the leadership team and drive the company forward.
Winkelmann will lead the group's growth
MARCEL DE NOOIJER
STEPHEN KING
WHO’S MOVED
MARCEL DE NOOIJER has been appointed executive vice president at Air FranceKLM Cargo and will also join the Air France-KLM Group executive committee. Since first joining KLM in 1995, de Nooijer has gained extensive commercial and operation experience under a variety of positions across the group and its cargo division. Since 2013, he had held the position of executive vice president of KLM Cargo and managing director at Martinair Holland prior to that. As part of his new position, de Nooijer aims to improve the quality of the service, gain access to new cargo markets and proceed with the digitisation of key processes.
De Nooijer plans to improve the quality of service
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Ayia Napa Cultural Winter 2017 was celebrated with traditional Rebetika dances
Courtyard by Marriott continues to expand across Europe with the opening of Courtyard Brussels EU
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Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg launched the new Terminal D at Berlin Schรถnefeld Airport
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Ice skating 57m above ground on the first floor of the Eiffel Tower
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Tour De Chocolat took chocolate lovers inside the world of Swiss chocolate
Taleb Rifai, secretary general, World Tourism Organization, presents The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development at FITUR 2017
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NEWS & EVENTS
Messe Berlin Turnover Surpasses Expectations
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ADRIA HOTEL FORUM
esse Berlin boasts a successful 2016 business year with turnover forecasted to close on around EUR308 million. Berlin’s trade fair company is due to exceed the EUR300 million mark for the first time. In 2014, a year with a similar number of events, Messe Berlin achieved a turnover of EUR270 million. This indicates that the company’s turnover has increased for the 10th year running and has almost doubled within a decade. In 2016 business in the capital and its surrounding region benefited from exhibitors and visitors from out of town who attended the trade fairs and congresses and boosted spending by around EUR1.7 billion. The land of Berlin’s public revenues derived directly from all sources amounted to EUR74 million.
Zagreb, Croatia February 08 – 09 www.adria-forum.eu A meeting place for leading hotel chains, owners and managers as well as other professionals working in the sector.
HOLIDAY WORLD Prague, Czech Republic February 16 – 19 www.holidayworld.cz The 26th edition of the international trade fair will also coincide with the 11th year of Top Gastro & Hotel.
Messe Berlin
BELGRADE TOURISM FAIR Belgrade, Serbia February 23 – 26 beogradskisajamturizma.rs Serbia’s ever growing tourism event will bring together tourism experts from Southeast Europe and further afield, providing opportunities to forge new partnerships.
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IMEX Forecasts This Year's Trends
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ooking ahead for this year’s IMEX exhibition, the company has identified trends which will have an impact on the meetings and events industry, throughout this year and 2018. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR), both offer exciting new frontiers for suppliers in the meetings and events industry, are expected to capture both the imagination and the headlines this year. Also on trend this year is tech-connecting; whereby networking technologies and apps are the key to targeting the right people at the right time. This also includes social networking and in particular, Snapchat. Disruption will also impact the industry, such as the effect of unexpected political results, and booking portals and event scammers with fake websites.
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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Messe Frankfurt Set to Enhance Its Future
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n addition to the expansion of the international Automechanika brand with new trade fairs in Birmingham, Jeddah and Ho Chi Minh City, Messe Frankfurt has also made acquisitions in the automotive sector. The first Busworld Russia powered by Autotrans took place in October 2016, while a new business-to-customer event was launched in South Africa, the South African Festival of Motoring at the Kyalami Grand Prix Circuit. By taking over Motobike Istanbul, Messe Frankfurt also strengthened its position in Turkey. The company has developed two new event concepts for the transport and logistics sectors. Scalex, having made its successful debut in Kenya in March 2016, and will also be held in South Africa this year along with Hypermotion. The trade fair and integrated conferences on intelligent systems and solutions for transport, mobility, logistics and digital infrastructure is set to close the gap in the national and international market for mobility fairs by launching the first platform with digital transformation as the superordinate theme by Messe Frankfurt.
Messe Frankfurt
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