25 JANUARY 2018 ISSUE 66
Fresh, daily, up-to-date, travel news
traveltradedaily.com
MARKET UPDATE
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Benefit from our intelligent services!
• maximise your business exposure • drive traffic directly to your company's website • promote your special offers and packages • expand your customer database • target market those who are looking to buy • create your own 'mini website' in an already established readership base
directoryoffers.traveltradedaily.com Add your business today! For FREE
25 JANUARY 2018 ISSUE 66
05 NEWS
Cruise Passengers Expected to Soar in Malta
03
SUCCESS OF HOTELBEDS’ PARTNER ISANGO!
11
MARRIOTT EXPANDS IN RUSSIA WITH VORONEZH PROPERTY
MARKET UPDATE
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
PASSENGER TRAFFIC RESULTS BY ACI
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
The global surge affecting freight volumes receded in September 2017, with yearover-year figures falling to 6.8 percent, according to the Airports Council International (ACI) survey.
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel PRESS Efi Rousi Maria Angelica Constantinou Athena Karsera Yiazou CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou 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.traveltradeweekly.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel
P
assenger traffic also slowed down slightly, dropping 1.6 percent from August 2017 to 5.1 percent. Following a particularly good summer period, year-to-date numbers for both markets remained high, at 8.4 percent and 6.5 percent respectively. Europe’s sustained growth in passenger traffic continued through the third quarter of 2017 seemingly unaffected by the geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, tracking its 9.3 percent year-to-date growth. Asia Pacific and Africa reached 7.3 percent and 6.6 percent respectively on a year-over-year basis. Latin America-Caribbean achieved moderate growth of 3.2 percent while the Middle East and North America had declines of 0.8 percent and 1.5 percent respectively.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES 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
EUROPE LEADS THE WAY AS GOPPAR INCREASE Europe’s economy is now booming, fuelling business and leisure tourism as Pablo Alonso, CEO, HotStats, highlighted, in the latest worldwide poll of full-service hotels from HotStats.
T
EXCHANGE RATES
as of
23.1.2018
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
EUR1=
US (USD)
Dollar
1.22
UK (GBP)
Pound
0.88
Switzerland (CHF) Franc
1.18
Japan (JPY)
135.27
2
Yen
Romantik Hotel, Zurich
he positive rise in occupancy and achieved average room rate contributed to a 5.5 percent increase in RevPAR, to EUR126.61. In addition, an increase in Non-Rooms Revenue and Conference and Banqueting resulted in a 6.4 percent increase, contributing to the five percent increase in TrevPAR, to EUR192.60, which maintained the upward trajectory in this measure for year-to-date 2017. The year-on-year growth in TrevPAR was further buoyed by a reduction in costs, which included a 0.3 percent saving in Payroll to 30.4 percent of total revenue. The cost decrease helped hotels in Europe record a 7.2 percent increase in GOPPAR, to EUR75.58, equaling to a conversion of 39.2 percent of total revenue.
25 JANUARY 2018
AGENTS
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Success of Hotelbeds’ Partner isango! Hotelbeds Group has revealed results confirming the successful growth of the group´s tours and activities partner isango! ,the web-based specialist retailer of tickets for tours, experiences and attractions.
O
verall isango! has achieved 87 percent growth in trading from 20142017, year-on-year representing a compounded annual growth rate of 36 percent. This success has been driven by a significant increase in the offering available on the isango! platform, which now sells 7,500 tours and activities in more than 300 destinations worldwide. Particular success has been achieved in gaining bookings from travellers in-destination, with a growth rate in bookings of 215 percent in 2017, and growing 640 percent over 2014-2017, as a result of its non-English language websites, which over the last three years have rapidly grown.
Thomas Cook to Open New Office in Palma
Expedia and ARC Improve Flight Search
T
homas Cook is opening a new office in Palma, Mallorca in February, to make room for its growing operations in its most popular holiday destination. The new office will employ close to 700 people, creating around 325 new roles in addition to Thomas Cook’s existing presence of 375 people. Peter Fankhauser, group CEO, Thomas Cook, said, “Our new office in Palma is a great example of how we can work smarter to bring expertise together in one place and provide a high quality service to all of Thomas Cook and its customers. This fantastic new building will let us grow our already sizeable presence and reaffirms our commitment to Palma. I look forward to visiting again when we have fully moved in.”
E
Fankhauser
xpedia and Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) released the findings of the fourth annual ARC Air Travel Outlook Report, a hallmark collaboration between two leaders in air travel. Expedia and ARC experts analysed flight data, drawing on billions of data points for domestic and international air travel globally to identify patterns travellers can use to find airfare savings this year. The report revealed how travellers can gain real value for money by being strategic about not only when they book a flight, but when they start their journey. It also reveals trends savvy leisure and corporate travellers can use to pay less for seats in the pointy end of a plane.
Holland America Line Academy Launches New Courses
T
o provide travel professionals with the most comprehensive tools needed to sell and grow their Holland America Line business, the cruise line has launched new Holland America Line Academy Core Courses. The online programme features four new core training sessions which are entitled The Holland America Line Difference, Destinations and Itinerary Planning, Selling Groups and Secrets of Sales Success. The interactive tools can be accessed through the PartnerSHIPS portal at
25 JANUARY 2018
GoHAL.com or halacademy.com. Travel professionals who complete all four courses and pass the exams by September 18, stand a chance to win a seven-day Vikings Saga cruise departing May 05, 2019. In addition to the grand prize cruise, 12 monthly winners will be randomly selected to receive a package of special Holland America Line logo items.
3
NEWS
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Frankfurt Rhine-Main
2018 Inauguration for Frankfurt Rhine-Main The Safe Cities Index, a report by The Economist Intelligence Unit, listed Frankfurt as one of the safest of 60 cities in the world to visit, with Tokyo being number one.
T
T
he old district in Frankfurt has been complemented with 15 new constructions and a further 20 new buildings, including shops, restaurants, and apartments. The updated old town will be completed in late spring, with a grand opening in September. Bad Homburg has long been famous for its spa culture and is surrounded by other highlights like the Hessenpark Open Air Museum and the Saalburg Fortress, to mention but a few. Moreover, two million roses are produced in Bad Homburg yearly and a Rose Festival is organised biennially, the next one taking place in July, luring travellers from all around the globe.
European Year of Cultural Heritage Takes Off
T
he celebrations for this year European Year of Cultural Heritage are taking off at the European Culture Forum in Milan. The main purpose of celebrating cultural heritage is to raise awareness of the social and economic importance of cultural heritage. Thousands of initiatives and events
across Europe will provide the possibility to involve citizens from all backgrounds. The aim is to reach out to the widest possible audience, in particular children and young people, local communities and people who are rarely in touch with culture, to promote a common sense of ownership.
A Roadmap Towards 2030
P
articipants from around the world joined the official closing ceremony of this year’s International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development at the Palace of Nations, in Geneva. The event reviewed the 2017´s main achievements and discussed the roadmap for advancing the contribution of tourism towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. “The International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, has been a unique opportunity for all of us to come together to promote the contribution of tourism to shape a better future for people and the planet and to contribute to making this world a better place,” said, Taleb Rifai, secretary general, World Tourism Organization.
Geneva
4
Troon Partners with Pravets Golf Club roon International announced its latest partnership with Pravets Golf Club in Bulgaria. Designed by Peter Harradine, the 18-hole, par 72 Championship course is regarded as one of the best clubs in the country, nestled amongst some of the most dramatic landscape. “Pravets Golf Club has the hallmarks of a premier golf venue. Harradine has created an exceptional layout, which with Troon’s oversight will grow in stature and quality. We share the owner’s ambition of creating a distinguished experience and welcoming members and guests to enjoy the venue and [...],” commented Mark Chapleski, president, Troon International.
UNWTO Appoints First Lady as Ambassador
E
liza Jean Reid, first lady, Iceland, has been nominated as Special Ambassador for Tourism and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The appointment took place at the second UNWTO/UNESCO World Conference on Tourism and Culture, an official International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development event, in Muscat, on December 11 - 12, 2017. In her intervention at the conference, Reid commented, “A strong, positive correlation exists between tourism and peace. The very existence of tourism depends on peace and security. Tourism represents a vital force for peace and a factor of friendship and understanding among the peoples of the world, [...].”
25 JANUARY 2018
CRUISING
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Malta
Cruise Passengers Expected to Soar in Malta The Malta Tourism Authority (MTA) announced that by the end of 2017, 780,000 passengers were expected to visit the Maltese Islands by means of cruise ships.
A
ccording to figures published by the National Statistics Office (NSO), 2016 was already a record year for cruise line passengers visiting Malta. A total of 682,222 passenger movements were recorded in 2016, which meant an increase of two percent on 2015. Additionally, the total number of cruise passengers registered during the first nine months of 2017 stood at 482,855,a rise of 7.6 percent over 2016, of which 72 percent came from Europe. The largest increase was recorded from the UK market, which advanced by 51,773 passengers. Speaking at a press event, Carlo Micallef, chief marketing officer, MTA, emphasised that the cruise industry is an important contributor to the Maltese economy.
TUI Group Extends Swiss Position
T
UI Group continues to invest in the growth area of cruises. In Switzerland, TUI Suisse is taking over Cruisetour and Croisimonde. Both companies are specialists in the marketing of cruises and jointly the market leaders in this field. As a result of the takeover, TUI Suisse is said to become the leading marketer of cruises in Switzerland and, at the same time, strengthen its own position as one of the country's largest tour operators. TUI Group is taking over 100 percent of the shares of Cruisetour and Croisimonde from their previous owners. Cruisetour has been operating in Switzerland for 15 years for cruise tours in German-speaking Switzerland and Frenchspeaking Switzerland. 25 JANUARY 2018
Major Improvements for Costa Magica and Costa Pacifica
Costa Magica
C
osta Cruises announced major shipboard improvements on Costa Magica and Costa Pacifica to further enhance the cruise experience before they reposition to the Caribbean for their scheduled winter cruises. Costa Magica, which left Marseille from its dry dock on November 25, 2017 underwent a major refurbishment of the restaurants and wellness areas. The spa’s wellness and gym spaces were also renovated and a sauna, thalasso-
therapy pool and thermal area were added to enhance the spa experience. On Costa Pacifica, which was dry docked from November 26 – December 07, 2017, new digital signage were installed including interactive screens featuring functions that will assist in guest’s orientation. The renovations also include the addition of Pizzeria Pummid’Oro on Costa Pacifica and the Gelateria Amarillo, featuring authentic Italian gelato, on both ships.
Viking Line Raises Funds for University of Helsinki Research
Aif Norkko, professor, Baltic Sea, research, Hanses and Takolander
T
o celebrate the centenary of Finland’s independence, Viking Line has raised funds to support Baltic Sea research. The company raised EUR50,000 for the Tvärminne Zoological Station, run by the University of Helsinki and the largest centre for Baltic Sea research and education in Finland. The station conducts research on biodiversity and the ecosystem as well as the effects of human activity on the Baltic Sea. Long-term work to improve the condition of the Baltic Sea has begun to yield results, but a great deal of basic research is still needed. In 2016, Viking Line donated EUR100,000 to the station. Combined with its contribution in 2017, the funds have enabled the university to hire another researcher for three years.
5
DESTINATIONS Slovenia Reaches Millions Globally
R
aising Slovenia’s profile as a green, active and healthy tourist destination, the country’s annual global digital campaign exceeded all expectations this year, reaching 117 million people. Organised by the Slovenian Tourist Board in cooperation with the country’s tourism sector, the campaign was held in 13 languages and targeted 21 countries from April 19 - November 15. During the digital campaign, visits to www.slovenia.info, where the advertisements led, increased by 200 percent. June 2017 saw the largest increase in website visitors, when close to 48,000 were recorded in just one day. The greatest responses came from Italy, the US, Canada and Spain.
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Paris Becomes Preferred Destination for Americans Following a substantial decrease in US travellers planning to spend their holidays in Paris in 2016, the city projects a 16.3 percent increase in US visitors for 2017, according to part two of Allianz Global Assistance’s Top 10 Holiday Destination Report.
Bella Center Copenhagen Predicts 2018 Success
T
he congress city of Copenhagen and congress venue Bella Center Copenhagen have attracted a wide range of large conferences scheduled for this year Lise Sparre Milandt, director, congress and event sales, Bella Center Copenhagen, said, "With an estimated 73,000 delegates from across the world attending prestigious conferences and congresses at Bella Center Copenhagen, 2018 is set to be another busy congress year." Upcoming events to be hosted, by Bella Center Copenhagen include international happenings such as the Urology Congress.
D
espite this increase, parts of the UK, including London and Manchester, will experience a decrease from 2016 levels. The report reviewed more than 760 thousand Americans’ travel plans during the peak holiday travel season, and found that while Paris saw a significant decrease in US travellers during 2016’s holiday season, down 12.8 percent from 2015, the city has risen for 2017 and remains as the second most popular European destination.
Sofia Welcomes Chinese Cultural Centre
W
hat has been hailed as the first Chinese Cultural Centre in Central and Southeastern Europe opened its doors in Sofia. The eight-storey building covers an area of almost 4,000 m2 and will have several functions, to present unique Chinese traditions and the country’s contemporary achievements, to develop and organise cultural activities, to provide information and organise educational courses, exhibitions, calligraphy classes, and more. Sofia Municipality maintains a very good relationship with the Chinese Embassy where in 2016 it hosted the 16+1 meeting.
6
Tourism Ireland Welcomes Visitor Growth
T
ourism Ireland welcomed 8,531,500 overseas visitors during the period January to October 2017, representing a growth of 3.1 percent from the same period during 2016. North American visitors went up by 16.4 percent between January to October 2016 while visitors from Australia and developing markets increased by 14.7 percent and from Europe by 4.4 percent. Visitor numbers from the UK continues to be a concern, down 6.1 percent for the period under review, due to the fall in the value of GBP, which has made holidays and short breaks in Ireland more expensive for British visitors. Commenting on the above figures showing the growth of visitor numbers, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said that increases in direct air access, plus market diversification strategy, have been key factors.
MTA Assists Thomas Cook’s Brochures
M
alta Tourism Authority (MTA) assisted Thomas Cook Group in the launch of the 2018 summer brochures of its brands Thomas Cook Signature and Neckermann Reisen in Malta. Over 60 top-notch German travel journalists accepted the invitation to visit the Maltese Islands for the launch, together with various high-level Thomas Cook executives. Paul Bugeja, CEO, MTA, highlighted that the Maltese Islands have seen an increase from the German incoming market in the period January to September, 2017, with an increase of 24 percent, when compared to the same period for 2016. “The Thomas Cook brochure launch and visit by renowned journalists will result in extensive media coverage for the Maltese Islands as the host country of this successful event,” said Bugeja. 25 JANUARY 2018
NEWS Greek Gastronomy in the Centre of Brussels
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Visa-Free Visitors to Belarus Exceeds 76,500
M
ore than 76,500 outbound tourists have taken advantage of the visafree entry to Belarus. Residence requirements are said to be relaxed for highly qualified specialists employed by commercial entities in terms of obtaining a permanent residence permit. Financial compensation for a certain category of persons of interest for Belarus’ economy is also under consideration. “We also plan to develop strategic cooperation, primarily with Russia, and also with the European Union given that an agreement on assistance to Belarus with countering illegal migration has been signed and shall come into force [this year]. This is why we will introduce a whole set of measures to fight illegal migration and regulate migration flows,” said Aleksei Begun, head, citizenship and migration department, Belarusian Interior Ministry.
A
iming to promote Greece as a gastronomic destination, the Greek Tourism Organisation of the Netherlands teamed up with Discovering Network absl to bring the Greek food culture to Belgium. On December 06, 2017, at Schuman Square in Brussels, the event Rond Point Schuman Lights UP took place where Greek food was served as part of the Discovering Greek Products in Belgium initiative. Belgians are said to link tasting experiences with choice of holiday destination and therefore Greek products, gastronomy and nutrition are a main attraction for potential high-income tourists.
Belarus
Spain Hailed Most Popular Golf Destination
S
pain remains the first choice golf destination, with at least 14 percent of worldwide golfers from each market visiting the country for the sport in the last 12 months, a new survey by SPORTS MARKETING SURVEYS INC has revealed. The second most popular golf destination from the
Visitors Increase in Ireland
Minsk to Host Vietnam’s Days of Culture in 2018
T
ourism Ireland welcomed a growth of 3.7 percent, over the 11 month period in 2017. Almost 9.25 million overseas visitors have chosen Ireland during January to November, 2017, according to Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland. “We have seen exceptional results from North America in 2017, almost two million visitors so far, up 16.6 percent on January to November 2017. I also welcome the growth in visitor numbers from Australia and developing markets up 13.1 percent; and from mainland Europe up 5.5 percent, with important markets like Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the Nordic Region all recording strong growth. Increases in direct air access, plus our market diversification strategy, have been key factors,” added, Gibbons
UK, Sweden and France was Portugal while for German golfers, who spend the most on golf holidays, the second most visited destination was Austria, with 13.4 percent of people taking a golf holiday to the country this year. The survey also identified South Africa, Turkey and Thailand as key growth markets.
T Northern Ireland
he Days of Culture of Vietnam is set to take place in Minsk in June, announced Le Anh, ambassador, extraordinary and plenipotentiary, Vietnam to Belarus, at an event to sum up the Belarus-Vietnam cooperation during this year. The embassy pays great attention to culture, as Anh noted, “We hope that our friendship and all-round cooperation will keep developing at all levels, including the cultural one.” Anh put special focus on Belarus-Vietnam trade and economic relations.
Reykjavik’s Commitment to Responsible Tourism
R
eykjavík City aims to make sustainable and responsible tourism attainable. Quality and the environment are decisive factors, which is mirrored in the tourism strategy for the city of Reykjavík. In 2017, Visit Reykjavík cooperated with Festa on an incentive project where over 300 companies connected with tourism, declared their participation in responsible tourism by agreeing on clear and simple measures. Visit Reykjavík works in a very close collaboration with Safetravel, creating an of-
8
ficial source for safe adventure in Iceland. In addition, Visit Reykjavík supports the The Icelandic Pledge, a publicprivate partnership established to improve the competitiveness of Iceland by promoting Iceland as a tourism destination. The Reykjavík City Card, a product offered by Visit Reykjavík offering easy, affordable and green access to the city's museums and galleries, geothermal pools and public transport, builds on the city’s step to being more eco-friendly.
25 JANUARY 2018
ACCOMMODATION
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Roomers Munich
Autograph Collection Hotels Welcomes Roomers Munich Autograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s collection of independent hotels, has announced the opening of its fourth venue in Germany, Roomers Munich, in the city’s Westend.
T
he property’s 281 guestrooms and suites are equipped with a Bang & Olufsen Sound System, Nespresso Machine, Apple TV and Android Miracast to free Wi-Fi, and room bar. The hotel has a restaurant, Izakaya Asian Kitchen & Bar, and two bars, namely Roomers Bar and Hidden Room. For guests seeking relaxation, the Roomers Spa by Shan Rahimkhan, offers five treatment rooms, an infinity Jacuzzi, a bar, a projection screen, and day beds where snacks and drinks are served. Conferences and events are also catered for across the hotel’s seven individual conference rooms, 850m2 event area, and two outdoor terraces accommodating up to 500 guests.
NH Hotel Group Supports Make-AWish International
N
H Hotel Group is to donate 600 rooms to sick children and their families who are travelling, for their most heartfelt wishes, as part of the company’s agreement with MakeA-Wish International. Specifically, the rooms NH Hotel Group will donate to Make-A-Wish will be located in hotels in over 15 cities across Spain, Italy, Germany, Belgium, Switzerland, the UK and Portugal, with the aim to extend to new countries and cities in the future. The agreement signed by NH Hotel Group and Make-A-Wish International falls under the company's Hotels with a Heart programme, aiming to help foundations and non-profit organisations.
Hyatt Centric Brand Expands in Europe
H
yatt has expanded the Hyatt Centric brand with several consecutive international hotel openings in two of Europe’s most coveted destinations. Hyatt Centric La Rosière, the first Hyatt Centric hotel in France and first Hyatt ski resort in Europe, opened its doors on December 15, 2017, and Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid on December 20,2017, marking the first Hyatt hotel in mainland Spain. Steve Haggerty, global head, capital strategy and franchising, Hyatt, commented, “[…] We continue to increase our brand presence where our guests travel most and further connect with millennial-minded guests [...].”
Travelodge Opens its Third Hotel in Bath
T
ravelodge, one of Bath’s first budget hotel brands, has also become what is hailed to be the city’s largest hotel chain after opening its third hotel in the vicinity. Situated in the historic Westgate building, Bath City Centre (Bath Spa) Travelodge is a 56-room hotel representing an investment of GBP12 million (EUR13.59 million). Travelodge has also announced the completion of a GBP2 million (EUR2.27 million) modernisation makeover at its 125-room, Bath Waterside Travelodge hotel. The new look upgraded Bath Waterside Travelodge hotel now features 30 SuperRooms, the company’s new premium economy room proposal featuring additional creature comforts, 95 enhanced Travelodgical rooms, and a new look Bar Café. 25 JANUARY 2018
9
ACCOMMODATION
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
PHNR New Executive Floor
IHG Signs 10th Hotel in Eastern Europe
P
remier Hotels and Resorts (PHNR) welcomed its Executive Floor in Premier Palace Hotel Kharkiv. The new Executive Floor has a separated reception desk, fully equipped with all office equipment for providing business centre services and all settlement operations, including a concierge service. Every guest is now able to have a rest in the Executive Lounge, which is a cosy hall with a bar and area for breakfast. Its total capacity is up to 20 seats and it serves coffee, tea, soft drinks and water, as well as refined snacks during afternoon tea and more. Other benefits include free laundry of two pieces of clothing during guests’ stay; a luxury set of mini perfumes; one place in the car park; and access to the spa.
I
nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced its 10th signing in the Eastern Europe region, with partners Ghelamco. Crowne Plaza Warsaw Hub will be the first Crowne Plaza in Poland and will be built alongside Holiday Inn Express Warsaw hub, becoming IHG’s first dual-branded complex in the market. The 212-room property will include a Sky Bar complete with terrace overlooking the city. With more than 2000 m2 of meeting space, a gym, spa and almost 900 m2 dedicated to dining, the hotel will be geared towards business travellers to Poland’s capital. The 218-room Holiday Inn Express Warsaw Hub will offer guests simple and smart accommodation at an affordable price. Guest rooms will feature the Holiday Inn Express Next Generation design and will feature a 250 m2 dining facility.
Renovated Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel, Stavanger Opens
T
he Radisson Blu Atlantic Hotel, Stavanger has reopened its doors following more than a year of NOK465 million (EUR47.56 million) renovations. The hotel has an all-new reception area while the guestrooms, 15 meeting rooms with a total capacity of more than 2,000 visitors, and public areas have been revamped. The property’s new restaurant opened in January. Rezidor Hotel Group and KLP cooperated on the renovation, and Rezidor invested approximately NOK165 million (EUR16.87million) and KLP, through its property company, NOK300 million (EUR30.68 million.) The renovation was part of Rezidor Hotel Group's most extensive renovation effort in the Nordic region. The hotel group will, within the next few years, have invested EUR110 million in the renovations of several Radisson Blu and Park Inn by Radisson hotels in the area.
10
Crowne Plaza Warsaw Hub
Steigenberger Hotel München
Steigenberger Hotel München Debut
S
teigenberger Hotel München has opened for business as the first hotel in the Bavarian capital to operate under the Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts brand. Bavarian style is reflected in the property’s 292 rooms and suites, some of which offer panoramic views stretching as far as the Alpine foothills. The property aims to reflect modern Bavarian savoir vivre with highlights including a 22 m high foyer and giant crystal beer container located in the bar, which is also stocked with regional craft beers. Beer occupies a key role in the Valentinum & Bar restaurant area but Bavaria’s favourite drink is also presented in a number of original ways throughout the hotel. Even the health and beauty spa facility has been designed to resemble a beer factory. 25 JANUARY 2018
ACCOMMODATION
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Marriott Expands in Russia with Voronezh Property
M
Voronezh Marriott Hotel
Pandox Entrusts NH Hotel Group with Two Brussels Hotels
N
H Hotel Group and Pandox have entered into an agreement for the lease of the BLOOM! and Berlaymont hotels in Brussels. Under the agreement, NH Hotel Group will begin to operate both establishments from February 01, under 20year leases, in which the rent will be variable and with a basket of losses to limit downside in a potential change of the cycle. The BLOOM! Hotel offers a combination of 305 rooms and 2,000 m2 for hosting events and meetings at a central location in downtown Brussels. The Berlaymont Hotel with its 214 bedrooms and seven meeting rooms is strategically located next to the European Commission and close to the European Parliament and train and metro stations that service all of Brussels.
25 JANUARY 2018
arriott Hotels, part of Marriott International, has expanded in Russia with the opening of Voronezh Marriott Hotel. Located a short walk away from cultural attractions in the centre of Voronezh, the new property offers 221 guestrooms. For those staying in executive rooms and suites, M Club Lounge provides an exclusive space for complimentary breakfast, drinks and snacks throughout the day. Situated on the eighth floor, overlooking the city skyline, the hotel’s conference and meeting facilities offer spaces suitable for a range of events. With a total floor space of 1,000 m2, there are nine conference halls, with views of the city. A grand ballroom is also present catering for up to 550 guests, in addition to a range of restaurant and bar options.
Campanile Opens Hotel in Paris
T
he Campanile Paris-Saclay hotel has opened its doors in the heart of the Paris-Saclay cluster, as one of the flagship projects of the Grand Paris development programme. With 110 rooms, the property offers the new Le Comptoir concept, providing snack service and a place to relax to every guest. The reception is the hotel’s living area, perfect for gathering with friends or colleagues. Guests can enjoy a relaxing moment in the lounge-bar any time of day for cold or hot snacks while sharing a drink.
Paris
Hyatt Regency Debuts in Moscow
H
yatt Regency brand announced its debut in Moscow with the opening of Hyatt Regency Moscow Petrovsky Park. The hotel features 298 guestrooms and 39 suites and is suitable for both business and leisure travellers. It includes three on-site restaurants and bars, Heritage Restaurant, the Oriental Cocktail Bar & Restaurant, and the Promenade Lounge is a peaceful and private escape that gives guests the opportunity to unwind by the evening fire. Guests can also enjoy the Olympus Fitness & Spa, which features a 24-hour gym, a 25 m indoor swimming pool, lounging area, Jacuzzi, saunas and steam rooms. The hotel can accommodate a variety of events including gala dinners and grand social events, offering 3,500 m2 of event space.
Hyatt Regency Moscow Petrovsky Park
11
ACCOMMODATION
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Hyatt Centric La Rosiere Debuts
H
yatt Centric La Rosière, the first Hyatt Centric hotel in France and the first Hyatt ski resort in Europe, has officially opened. Located at an altitude of 1850 m, the property offers 69 suites, including 12 family suites. The hotel boasts a slope-side location offering immediate access to ski lifts. Yannick Aubry, general manager, Hyatt Centric La Rosière, said, “[…] The hotel is ideally
located to provide guests with a launch pad to discover the best the region has to offer, whether that be the more than 160 km of piste on our doorstep, or exploring the charms and hospitality of a traditional Savoyard mountain village.” There is a variety of food and beverage options available. A spa, swimming pool, sauna, steam room and outdoor hot tub are also available on site, in addition to yoga classes and fitness lessons.
Scandic Hotels to Open New Frankfurt Venue
S
candic Hotels has signed a long-term lease agreement with developer B&L Group regarding the operation of a new property in Frankfurt. The conference and event hotel will be part of the new Hafenpark Quarter, a mixeduse development on the banks of the Main River, close to the city centre and next to the new headquarters of the European Central Bank. It is expected to open in 2021. The new address will encompass 22,000 m² and have 506 rooms and 2,000 m² of state of the art conference and event space. It will also offer an attractive restaurant and bar, excellent modern fitness facilities as well as one of the largest ballrooms in Frankfurt at 600 m². Scandic Frankfurt Hafenpark
Hyatt Centric La Rosière
Hotel Jumpstart Finalists Announced
Hotel Indigo Debuts in Belgium
E
xpedia Affiliate Network (EAN) and Hotels.com announced the top five finalists for Hotel Jumpstart, a mentorship-driven accelerator programme aimed at supporting travel-tech start-ups of the future. Following a selection process from more than 230 applications, a panel of expert judges from EAN and Hotels.com heard 10 shortlisted candidates present their proposals, before selecting the top five. Over the next six months, the chosen five will be mentored by subject matter experts from Hotels.com and EAN, who will lead them through a specially designed programme including advisory workshops and mentoring sessions covering everything from product development and machine learning to strategy, sales and marketing.
12
Hotel Indigo Antwerp City Centre
I
ntercontinental Hotels Group has opened its first Hotel Indigo in Belgium. Within walking distance of some of Antwerp’s main attractions, including world-class museums and, a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, Hotel Indigo Antwerp City Centre offers 82 guestrooms, complimentary Wi-Fi, an in-room Nespresso machine and an onsite restaurant, namely QA’s Kitchen Gaétan Demoor, general manager, Hotel Indigo Antwerp City Centre, commented, “We are delighted to be the latest addition to the Hotel Indigo portfolio in Europe and to be the brand’s debut in Belgium. This city has so much to offer guests and the hotel is in the perfect location. We can not wait to help our guests explore our exciting local neighbourhood.” 25 JANUARY 2018
AIRPORTS
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Copenhagen Airports
Copenhagen Airport Reduces Airline Charges Copenhagen Airports is implementing two initiatives, both of which will reduce the charges that airlines pay for using the airport.
25 JANUARY 2018
F
rom April 01, airlines will pay 10 percent less on average to use the airport facilities. Furthermore, an incentive scheme will be introduced that will make charges 35 percent lower for frequent feeder flights between regional airports and Copenhagen Airports. According to Lars Nørby Johansen, chairman, Copenhagen Airports, the reduction in charges is part of an overall strategy to strengthen Copenhagen airport’s position as a North European hub. “We want to strengthen our hub status, so the lower prices will particularly benefit airlines that fly several times daily on the shorter routes between Copenhagen Airports and the regional airports,” said Johansen.
Glasgow Airport to Increase Security
G
lasgow Airport has invested EUR1.52 million to increase capacity in its Central Search facility in the main terminal by 20 percent, with works underway. The overhaul will see a complete reconfiguration of the entrance to the airport’s Central Search facility area which will increase the number of security lanes from 10 to 12. Existing self-service boarding pass scanners will be relocated to a presearch preparation area on the first floor at the top of the escalators with capacity doubled from five to 10. Two wider gates will also be installed to support passengers with restricted mobility as they pass through security. The first phase of the project has commenced and will be completed by March.
13
AIRPORTS
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Manchester Airport Adds More Passengers
Over 2.2 million Passengers at Brussels Airport in October
N
B
ovember 2017 saw 1,731,446 passengers travel through Manchester Airport, up two percent on 2016 figures and marks another month of growth for the UK’s third biggest airport. It comes as the Civil Aviation Authority data reveals Manchester Airport added more passengers than any other UK airport between April-September in 2017. The airport added 1.27 million passengers compared to Gatwick and Heathrow airports. Manchester Airport’s annual rolling passenger numbers now stand at 27,764,247, an increase of 9.7 percent year on year. The top five destinations in November, 2017 were Amsterdam, Dublin, Dubai, Tenerife and Paris – Charles De Gaulle
russels Airport started the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2017 with over 2.2 million passengers in October, up 8.5 percent on the same month in 2016. Air cargo traffic on the other hand continues to decline by 3.4 percent. Cargo transport at Brussels Airport continued to decline with a 3.4 percent decrease in October, while the full-freighter segment has recorded a drop of 23 percent. With an 8.3 percent growth recorded in October, 2017, integrator traffic confirms the positive trend of the past few months.
Prague Airport Meets Five-Year Environment Goal
P Manchester Airport
rague Airport has met its goal to reduce its carbon footprint, meeting the target of getting nine percent below 2009 figures. For its measurable results and attempts to engage airport business partners in joint efforts to reduce greenhouse gasses generated by their operations, the airport has also been awarded an Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 Certificate.
Record-Breaking Passenger Numbers at Helsinki Airport
Soňa Hykyšová, environment protection manager, Prague Airport, noted, “Prague Airport is currently among 47 airports which, under Level 3 of the programme, also attempt to achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions from take-offs and landings, passenger and staff ground transport, including business trips, as well as to reduce other emissions not directly under its control.”
Norwegian Purchases More London Gatwick Slots
N Helsinki Airport
H
elsinki Airport reached a milestone, as passenger numbers reached 18 million, exceeding all expectations. The greatest growth comes from flights between Europe and Asia, especially China. Finavia is investing EUR900 million in the development and expansion of Helsinki Airport. The aim is to further strengthen the position of Helsinki Airport as a significant airline hub between Europe and Asia. The massive extension will allow the airport to serve 30 million passengers annually. “[...] In 2019, we will open a stunning central Plaza in the long-distance flight area in terminal 2, including a brand new security control area, [...] and seven additional departure gates in the extension of terminal 1,” said Ville Haapasaari, airport director, Helsinki Airport.
14
orwegian has acquired an additional 28 weekly slots at London Gatwick Airport from this summer. The take-off and landing slots, purchased from Small Planet Airlines, will allow Norwegian to plan for continued growth at the airport as the airline heads into what it expects to be its busiest ever year in the UK. London Gatwick Airport is at the heart of Norwegian’s UK operation, where the airline already flies more than 4.6 million passengers each year to over 30 global destinations. Thomas Ramdahl, chief commercial officer, Norwegian, commented, “[…] Together with the launch of new routes to Argentina, Chicago and Austin this year, [...] at London Gatwick is another huge boost as we get ready for our biggest ever year in the UK.”
25 JANUARY 2018
AIR
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
British Airways Transforms Boarding Experience British Airways is said to become the first airline to trial self-service biometric boarding gates on international flights out of the US, working in partnership with Los Angeles International Airport.
I
nvesting in innovation and new technology, British Airways has begun an exclusive trial to improve the boarding process and reduce the amount of time it takes to board. The new technology, created by Vision-Box, is said to create a smoother journey for customers, as they will no longer need to present their passport or boarding pass at the gate; only at check in and security. Instead travellers can simply look into a camera prior to boarding, wait for their biometric data to be verified, and then walk onto the aircraft. The gates have been installed on three stands at Los Angeles International Airport and British Airways.
airBaltic Launches New Flights from Tallinn to London
a
irBaltic is set to launch a new direct service from Tallinn to London Gatwick Airport on March 27. The two weekly flights will offer convenient connections between the two cities. For the summer season of this year, airBaltic will also offer new services from Riga to Malaga, Lisbon, Split, Bordeaux, Gdansk, Sochi and Kaliningrad. Martin Gauss, CEO, airBaltic, said, “By adding London to our route map, we show our strong commitment to the Estonian market and our Estonian passengers. This summer we will offer at least seven direct services from Tallinn. We are proud to offer the best connectivity in and out from the Baltics, as airBaltic serves a combination of direct flights and convenient transfers via our main hub in Riga to Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and the CIS.� 25 JANUARY 2018
15
AIR
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
airBalticTraining Pilot Academy Opens Application Process
O
n December 11, 2017, airBaltic opened the application process for candidates to the airline’s newly established Pilot Academy at airBalticTraining. Persons selected will be the first class of students of the professional airline pilot training programme and will become airBaltic pilots upon completion of the programme. The application process for the first academic year ended on January 08. At the beginning airBaltic is planning to educate 20 pilots per year. airBalticTraining Pilot Academy is planning to start the first academic year in March with the theoretical training courses. Martin Gauss, CEO, airBaltic, said, “airBaltic is growing rapidly and over the next five years we are planning to recruit over 1,000 highly educated professionals[...].�
Alitalia Reports Digital Check-in Record
A
ccording to the latest data gathered by Alitalia, online check-in through the Alitalia application, the alitalia.com website and self-service checkin kiosks, at airports has reached 56 percent of total check-in operations. On average, 36,000 check-in operations are carried out through digital channels every day, compared to 28,000 performed at airport counters. Ticket purchase through the dedicated applica-
tion is also seeing a rapid growth, with sales volumes steadily above EUR130,000 per day, hailed as a record result for the airline. The increase in online demand has resulted in the introduction of brand-new features on the Alitalia application, currently the most popular check-in channel. Available on the Google Play Store and the App Store, it includes new features to simplify and speed up the user experience.
Alitalia customer using mobile phone app
16
Air France Supports Sustainable Tourism
A
iming to fully support sustainable tourism, Air France is a partner of the first edition of the Sustainable Tourism Awards, designed to promote responsible professionals, reward the best sustainable tourism initiatives, identify solutions for the future and share these concrete and reproducible actions as widely as possible. The event is hosted within the framework of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development and through its participation, Air France, is demonstrating its commitment to making tourism a catalyst for positive change. Air France is said to be making use of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development to raise awareness among its passengers through its in-flight Air France Magazine, as well as a short film on sustainable tourism available in the inflight entertainment selection on board its long-haul flights.
25 JANUARY 2018
AIR
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
British Airways and China Southern Airlines Enter Codeshare Agreement
A
s part of the new codeshare agreement, British Airways customers can now book seats on China Southern Airlines flights to four destinations in China, namely Shenyang, Harbin, Changchun and Dalian. The four destinations are also important business hubs in China, making trade between British and Chinese businesses across the country even easier. China Southern Airlines customers will also be able to book seats on British Airways flights to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle and Belfast, connecting through London’s Heathrow Airport. As part of the codeshare agreement, British Airways Executive Club members can collect Avios when booking on the British Airways code on China Southern Airlines flights.
IAA Estimates Air Traffic Growth Codeshare Agreement
T
he Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) announced its prediction that it has efficiently managed over 1.15 million flights in 2017. This marks an increase of approximately three percent over 2016. Dublin airport handles about 85 percent of all flights in/out of Ireland and are projecting an increase of about four percent for the full year. The IAA is forecast that record numbers for flights handled in Irish controlled airspace and at the three airports of Dublin, Cork and Shannon, for
the remainder of 2017. Total flights safely handled in Ireland for November was recorded at 83,352 movements, which is an increase of 2.6 percent over November 2016. Peter Kearney, CEO designate, IAA, said, “This year will bring new challenges, however the IAA operates a state-of-the-art air traffic management system, which has the capacity to handle more traffic this year and the years ahead.”
TAP Launches First Online Store
T
AP airline has launched its online store, TAP Store, in response to the requests of its customers and recovering its historical heritage, with more than 50 articles in its catalogue. From aircraft models and travel bags to fashion articles and accessories, the airline’s new merchandising lines promise to delight fans of aviation and collectors. In an initial phase, the purchase of products can be made on TAP Store’s website through credit or debit card and, alternatively, through the use of Victoria miles. Deliveries will be made directly to the addresses specified by Customers during the purchase, anywhere in the world, except Brazil, the US and Canada. From the beginning of this year, TAP will extend its sales platform to physical spaces and even on board its aircraft.
25 JANUARY 2018
17
AIR
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Air Malta Announces Comiso Flights
I
n line with its growth strategy, from December 17, 2017 Air Malta launched a twice weekly scheduled service to Sicily’s Comiso Airport. Having already restarted its increase from two to three weekly scheduled services to Palermo and along with 14 weekly flights to Catania, Air Malta now serves three Sicilian airports with a total of 38 weekly flights. Air Malta’s hand luggage only Go-Light fares will also apply on this new route. Joseph Galea, acting CEO, Air Malta, commented, “This new operation will facilitate the travel needs of the community residing in the Ragusa region, not only by travelling to Malta, but even beyond by connecting to other destinations through Malta on our network. This welcome addition is further proof of our commitment to Malta and Sicily […].”
Flair Airlines Enters Interline Agreement with Hahn Air
G
erman airline Hahn Air has announced a new partnership with Flair Airlines. The Canadian low-cost carrier from British Columbia has joined Hahn Air’s network of more than 300 partners to benefit from its distribution services. Specifically choosing the HR-169 product, Flair Airlines expands its commercial reach to more than 100 thousand travel agencies in over 190 markets worldwide, enabling the issuance of its flights on the HR-169 ticket through the Amadeus GDS. Mirza Smajic, director, passenger sales and marketing, Flair Airlines, commented, “We are very excited about this new era of optimised distribution where Flair Airlines has the ability to reach Hahn Air’s large network of travel agencies worldwide.”
From left: Claude Zammit Trevisan, Malta Tourism Authority, Silvio Meli, president, Comiso Airport, Joseph Galea, acting CEO, Air Malta, and Giorgio Cappello, CEO, Comiso Airport
Luxair Adds Linate to its Destination Network
L
Milan
18
uxair and Alitalia have signed an agreement for operating the Luxembourg – Milan Linate route. Travellers are now able to fly direct to Milan’s financial centre, thanks to the new Luxembourg-Linate route. The Linate Airport route has been added to the existing Luxair route to Malpensa International Airport, increasing the number of flights between Luxembourg and Milan to 30 flights a week. Flights to Malpensa and Linate may be combined, allowing passengers to travel via the two airports. Thus, passengers will benefit from optimised frequencies and increased flexibility. Alitalia will be operating this route for Luxair in an Embraer 175, 88seater twinjet. The code-share agreement between Luxair and Alitalia aims to make it easier for passengers to get to other Italian destinations from Luxembourg. 25 JANUARY 2018
AIR
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Lufthansa Expands Munich and Berlin Capacity
Brussels Airlines Continues Strong Growth in November
I
T
o further expand the additional available seating offered this winter, Lufthansa will employ longhaul aircraft between Munich and Berlin outside the usual schedule. Between December 20 – 22, 2017, an Airbus A340-600 with 281 seats flew back and forth between the two major cities once a day, replacing much smaller Airbus A320 aircraft which are usually used on this route. This meant that
Lufthansa was able to make it possible for significantly more passengers to fly to their Christmas break. The network airlines of Lufthansa Group are offering more than 700,000 individual seats on flights between Germany, Austria and Switzerland in their 2017/2018 winter schedule. They have increased their capacity on a large number or routes by a total of 25 percent between September 2017 and March this year.
Saint Martin
n November 2017, 94,862 more passengers flew with Brussels Airlines compared to November 2016. This passenger growth of 15.6 percent also led to an increase in the seat load factor. In total 702,908 passengers checked in for a Brussels Airlines flight, of which 571,647 chose a European destination, 12.1 percent more than in November 2016. The number of passengers that boarded a flight to or from the African continent grew by 34.4 percent as a result of the increased flight frequencies on existing routes and the addition of new destinations. The transatlantic connections also grew slightly by 2.6 percent.
easyJet Launches Additional Services from Liverpool
e Air France Resumes Saint Martin Flight
A
ir France resumed its non-stop flight schedule between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin-Juliana. Two special non-stop flights for the Christmas holiday period will operated between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin - Juliana on December 23, 2017 and January 06. From January 13 to March 26, Air France will operate a non-stop service between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin- Juliana once a week by Airbus A340 with a capacity of 275 seats. From June 14 to October 27, two weekly flights will operate between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Saint Martin- Juliana by Airbus A330-200, with a capacity of 208 seats.
25 JANUARY 2018
asyJet announced it will operate three new routes from Liverpool John Lennon Airport this summer, with departures to Dalaman, Palermo and Pula. The new routes mean easyJet now flies to 31 destinations from the airport and is expected to fly around 20,000 passengers between Liverpool and these new destinations next summer. The new routes will operate twice a week from July 28. easyJet has seen sustained expansion at Liverpool John Lennon Aiport in recent months having launched its first flight to Venice in November, 2017 and announced an additional Airbus A320 aircraft to be based at Liverpool for next summer. Ali Gayward, country manager, UK, easyJet, said, “We are delighted to be adding three new summer routes from Liverpool.”
19
AIR Iberia Boosts Puerto Rico as Holiday Destination
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
S7 Airlines to Launch Flights to Denmark and Sweden
S
7 Airlines opened new scheduled flights from St Petersburg to Scandinavian capitals, Copenhagen and Stockholm, which will operate from June. S7 Airlines will carry out flights to Denmark and Sweden on modern Embraer 170 aircraft designed to carry 78 passengers in its economy class cabin. “These destinations are perfect for those passengers of S7 Airlines who like to have a long weekend getaway in Europe. In a few days you can get around each and every of the 14 islands on which Stockholm is situated or thoroughly examine Stroget, one of the longest European pedestrian streets, and, of course, find the Little Mermaid of Andersen in the Copenhagen port,” said Igor Veretennikov, commerce director, S7 Group.
I
beria this year is boosting its seats to Puerto Rico by 24 percent in comparison to the current year. The Spanish airline will resume its nonstop route from Madrid to San Juan with three return flights a week between March 26 and October 26, and will operate five weekly flights between June 04 and August 04, 2018. A total of 62,208 seats will be available on the route, this year. The flights are timed to offer same-day connections for San Juan-bound customers from 23 cities in Spain and 30 in the rest of Europe and Africa. Iberia and the Puerto Rican Tourism Authority will also partner in a joint campaign promoting tourism to the island in all the cities served by Iberia.
Stockholm
Austrian Airlines’ Passenger Figures in November
A
ustrian Airlines transported around 953,000 passengers in November 2017, corresponding to a rise of 9.3 percent compared to the same month in 2016. This increase is mainly due to the expansion of European flight offering, measured in available seat kilometers (ASK) which was up by 0.3 percent to more than 1.8 billion. Revenue passenger kilometers increased by 3.5 percent to more than 1.3 billion. The passenger load factor was at an average of 73 percent in November 2017, an increase of 2.3 percent from November 2016. In the period January to November 2017, Austrian Airlines carried a total of nearly 12 million passengers, comprising a rise of 12.9 percent. The flight offering in ASK was up by 6.9 percent to more than 24 billion.
20
25 JANUARY 2018
TRAVEL CHANNELS
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Costa Cruises
Lukashenko to Build Science Park
Civitavecchia Joins the Costa Ships Food Donation Programme Costa Cruises and food-bank charity Fondazione Banco Alimentare Onlus have launched a new joint project to recover surplus food produced on cruise ships and re-use it for good causes. Onboard Costa Diadema, during the Costa flagships call at Civitavecchia, it was announced that the food prepared but not served in the ships restaurants will now be collected for distribution to a local organisation that helps disadvantaged young people. Five months after the Costa food donation programme began in Savona, 8,500 portions have been provided for people in need, and now Civitavecchia has also joined. “[...] This project actually confirms that it is always possible [...] to help society, even in the most unexpected places like on board of a cruise ship or other holiday and entertainment spots.[...],” said Maria Chiara Gadda, parliamentarian, Italy.
Hello Kitty B ecomes Special Ambassador
Alexander Lukashenko, president, Belarus, instructed the setting up of a children’s science park in Belarus by September 01, as he spoke at the second Congress of Scientists of Belarus on December 13, 2017. Lukashenko believes the time has come to bring youth outreach activities to a new level. The most talented teachers and professors should be brought together to work with the younger generations as part of high-technology scientific platforms. “If we need to build a children’s science park with the participation of Belarus’ leading universities, let us do this. Maybe, we should even build a whole lot of parks at the universities that would like to do this. I instruct the Education Ministry to handle this task together with the Academy of Sciences, oblast executive committees,[…],”noted Lukashenko.
Sanrio’s character Hello Kitty, will promote this year’s campaign Travel. Enjoy. Respect. Hello Kitty will be supporting the World Tourism Organization with its advocacy efforts in communicating the messages of the International Year of Sustainable Tourism Development (IY2017) to the broadest extent possible, as well as highlighting the role of tourism in achieving the sustainable development goals with a global audience. The character will promote this year’s campaign Travel. Enjoy. Respect. Belarus
European Mobility Week Participation Report Released The European Mobility Week Participation Report has been published, providing a statistical overview and analysis the 2017 campaign. In participation terms, the 2017 campaign was the most successful to date, with 2,526 towns and cities taking part, an increase of 99 towns from 2016. Towns and cities from 50 countries took part in the campaign as 2017 saw Brazil re-join the campaign. As in previous editions, Austria, Spain and Hungary were the top three countries for towns and cities registered. Significant increases were also achieved in central and eastern Europe with Poland, Belarus, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Latvia and Romania marking improvements in participation levels. European Mobility Week 2017
25 JANUARY 2018
21
WHO’S MOVED
GILLES DE RICHEMOND has been appointed as chief information officer of AccorHotels. Richemond began his career in the Test Group before setting up Archimetrie. He moved to TPS then Canal Plus as head of distributed IT, and Transavia France to head up its information system. He has been managing director of Voyages-SNCF Technologies, running the voyages-sncf. com group’s technical division and SNCF’s Digital Factory. As the new chief information officer, Richemond will be responsible for taking decisions that concern IT equipment from suppliers for the creation of new systems. In addition, he will establish the information and communication technologies (ICT) strategy and ICT policy of AccorHotels.
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Gilles de Richemond
Luc Delafosse
SAM IOANNIDIS has been named general manager of Four Seasons Astir Palace Hotel Athens to open this year. Ioannidis joined the company in 1998, rising through the ranks in the food and beverage divisions of hotels in North America before heading to Europe for his first general manager assignment at Four Seasons Hotel Baku. Shortly after, he opened Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island in 2016. Ioannidis will be leading the team that will transform the historic property into the first Four Seasons experience in Greece.
Sam Ioannidis Ioannidis joined the Four Seasons brand in 1998
22
LUC DELAFOSSE has assumed the position of vice president for Europe and general manager of Jumeirah Carlton Tower. Delafosse brings with him 30 years of experience working in Monaco, Monte-Carlo, London, Dubai, Paris and Los Angeles. In addition to managing properties, he has been general manager at Hotel de Crillon in Paris and Waldorf Astoria in Beverley Hills, Burj Al Arab Jumeirah, the Savoy Hotel, The Meridien Piccadilly, The Ritz Hotel in London and the Hotel De Paris. In his new role, Delafose will have overall responsibility for strategy, structure, budgets, people, financial outcomes and scorecard metrics of Jumeirah Carlton Tower.
Delafosse brings with him 30 years of experience
SIRI WIKANDER has taken the position of director of people growth of Scandic Hotels. Wikander brings with her many years of experience working within digitalisation, communication and sustainability, and serving as head of people and culture at Hemfrid and also head of talent management at Axfood. Wikander will be primarily responsible for enhancing the employee and customer experience by capitalising on the potential of digitalisation at Scandic Hotels, including further developing Fuse, a new social platform for training and communication that Scandic Hotels is implementing.
Siri Wikander
Wikander brings years of experience within digitalisation
25 JANUARY 2018
PHOTO ALBUM
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
British Airways has partnered with multi-platinum singer-songwriter Kip Moore for a song writing competition
easyJet has teamed up TrustedHousesitters to make it easier for pet owners to explore Europe
ScotSpirit breaks, a nationwide project coordinated by the national tourism organisation and the Family Holiday Association by helping 420 struggling families in 2017
25 JANUARY 2018
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Starting with Stockholm, TUI is presenting its offices around the world online over the coming months
Globetrotting cyclists have launched a tour business in Dumfries and Galloway
23
NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS VAKANTIESALON VLAANDEREN Antwerp, Belgium January 25 – 28 www.vakantiesalon-antwerpen.be 400 exhibitors are ready to give you professional advice in the search for the perfect holiday package.
www.traveltradeeurope.travel
First European Swimming Event in Copenhagen
O
n December 13 – 17, 2017, the first sports event LEN European Short Course Championships took place in Copenhagen’s new venue Royal Arena, hosting swimmers from 40 countries. With more than one thousand athletes and delegates expected to participate, the swimming event was a good example of Royal Arena’s versatility. Having already hosted an array of events, including several concerts and last month’s BLAST Pro Series in Counter-Strike, the arena had two temporary pools installed prior to the championship, one for competition and one for training. “We are very excited about welcoming Europe’s best swimmers and their many fans to Copenhagen and we are confident that they will have a fantastic time both inside and outside of Royal Arena,” said Lars Vallentin Christensen, head, events, Wonderful Copenhagen.
ITF SLOVAKIATOUR Bratislava, Slovakia January 25 – 28 www.incheba.sk The fair of travel will bring tips for exploring the beautiful corners of Slovakia and the whole world.
THE HOLIDAY WORLD SHOW Dublin, Ireland January 26 – 28 www.holidayworldshow.com You will enjoy the NEW Show format where Exhibitors are grouped in nine distinct regions.
Minsk to Host International Book Fair
S
erbia will be the guest of honour at the 25th installment of the International Book Fair in Minsk from February 07-11. Kazakhstan will be the central exhibitor at the event which will also include an international literary symposium entitled Author and Time and an awards ceremony for The Art of Book national contest winners. Organised by the Belarusian Information Ministry, the Minsk City Hall, and the companies Belkniga and Makbel, the event will take place at the Belexpo national exhibition centre. The application deadline is January 31.
municon Conference Centre Expands
M
unich Airport’s hospitality and catering subsidiary Allresto, has expanded the airport’s conference and meeting capacity with a major refurbishment of the municon conference centre. municon now has 34 airy, well-lit rooms to choose from. All of the meeting rooms, with capacity ranging from four to 180 persons, are now equipped with advanced technology and new TV screens. The modern, open architecture provides pleasant surroundings for discussions, meetings and conferences. Just steps from Munich Airport's two terminals, municon is centrally located and easily accessible. It is already well established as a meeting point for international companies. Complementing the upscale surroundings and 25 DECEMBER 2017 excellent service, municon also has its own exclusive restaurant.
24
25 JANUARY 2018