25 JULY 2017 ISSUE 61
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25 JULY 2017 ISSUE 61
06 GENERAL
05 LATVIAN DOMESTIC TRAVEL GROWTH SURPASSES OUTBOUND
ICCA: VIENNA WELCOMED THE MOST DELEGATES
11 HEATHROW TO LAUNCH FIRST FITNESS FACILITY
03 Agents 13 Air 19 Who's Moved
MARKET UPDATE
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RevPAR Growth Recorded Across Europe
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel SENIOR JOURNALIST Ellen Petty JOURNALISTS Maria Sabova Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou
Liverpool
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
European Cities Marketing (ECM) and MKG Group’s latest report, ECM-MKG European Destinations Observatory, revealed that in the first quarter (Q1) of the year, RevPAR across European cities soared 7.7 percent compared to Q1 2016.
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urthermore, occupancy jumped 3.1 percentage points and average daily rate increased 2.5 percent, with growth observed in all countries surveyed. In the UK, RevPAR rose 10 percent, while London, Liverpool and Edinburgh secured spots in the top five best occupancy rates across the continent. Meanwhile, Germany, Spain and Portugal all saw growth in RevPAR, up 8.3 percent, 8.3 percent and 15.6 percent, respectively. After challenging periods for France and Italy, they both saw a 5.1 percent climb in RevPAR in Q1.
WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
Malta Benefits from Soaring Tourism
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com
Malta
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com
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Malta welcomed 202,698 visitors in April, registering a significant 21.9 percent growth compared to the same month in 2016, as reported by Malta National Statistics Office.
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ontributing 50 percent to the overall growth figure, the largest increase was observed among tourists aged 25 to 44 years, a 17, 4 percent surge year-on-year. With Italy, Belgium and Germany representing the major source markets, the travellers’ also spend EUR30.6 million more than in 2016, with expenditure reaching a total of EUR153.7 million during the reviewed month. The figures confirmed continuous upward trajectory of tourist influx between January and April, which achieved a cumulative growth of 22.9 percent over the same period in 2016.
25 JULY 2017
NEWS AGENTS
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TUI Enhances EU Presence
TUI headquarters, Hanover
Complementing its existing office in Berlin, TUI is adding an office in Brussels, set to open in the second half of the year, to enable close liaison with European decision makers.
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onsidering the role that the European Union (EU) plays in tourism, being established in the city will also allow the group to easily participate in debates, which will increase the likelihood of the company’s input being taken into account on relevant issues. With an increasing volume of legislation being defined at an EU level, it is important for the group to participate in this process, consolidate EU partnerships from its new base, and contribute to future tourism strategies.
ECTAA Puts Spotlight on Portugal
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he European Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ECTAA) held its semi-annual meeting in the Portuguese city of Coimbra on May 31 – June 02, as part of its agenda to promote Portugal this year. ECTAA signed an agreement with Turismo Centro de Portugal to jointly promote the destination through the travel agency network. On the back of this agreement, 70 representatives of travel agents and associations convened at the meeting to receive updates on the latest developments affecting the European travel sector. During the occasion, participants also discussed the opportunities for boosting tourism to the destination across the agents’ networks, based on the positive momentum since the start of the year, during which Portugal reported a 20 percent growth in international arrivals.
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Lufthansa Adopts Amadeus Airport Pay
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iming to improve the airport experience for travellers by providing seamless and secure payment options, Lufthansa has recently adopted Amadeus Airport Pay, available in over 170 airports. Launched by Amadeus and Ingenico, the wireless payment solution is said to be the first in the industry to accept Europay, MasterCard, and Visa chip card payments. As a result, airlines can convert more ancillary sales by offering travellers a fast and secure payment method. Commenting on the occasion, Kai Schilb, head, payment, Lufthansa Group, stated, “Amadeus Airport Pay enables our travellers to choose customised ancillary services for their flight while checking in or at the gate – securely and with a variety of payment options, and without the need for detours.”
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NEWS AGENTS
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Jet2holidays to Treat Partners
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Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife
trengthening its commitment to travel partners, Jet2holidays has announced that its next VIP travel agent conferences will take place on November 27 – 29 and November 30 – December 02 at five-star Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife. The company plans to fly its top 240 independent travel delegates from Manchester Airport to attend the events, which will see interactive sales boosting sessions, presentations, supplier showcases and awards ceremony recognising the most successful agents, among other highlights. Alan Cross, head, trade, Jet2holidays, said, “[…] Partnerships with independent travel agents are an absolutely critical part of our business and these special VIP conferences at the amazing Hard Rock Hotel Tenerife will celebrate and strengthen them.”
Open Destinations Acquires Tineri
Tourico Holidays and Hotelbeds Officially One
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ravel technology provider Open Destinations has recently acquired a majority stake in Tineri, a mobile itinerary start-up application designed exclusively for the tour operator market. As Kevin O’Sullivan, CEO, Open Destinations, revealed, the acquisition is the result of the high demand the company witnessed among their worldwide customer base. “[...] Tineri allows [tour operators] to offer a fantastic looking mobile application that keeps their customers informed and provide high levels of service throughout the trip. Tour operators who invest in an app like Tineri can reinforce their brand and build customer loyalty,” elaborated O’Sullivan. As well as providing travellers with integrated in-depth itineraries, the application enables operators to collect real-time ratings of customer experiences during their trip.
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ourico Holidays has become a business unit of Hotelbeds Group, with a strategic integration plan being rolled out to combine the organisations in a phased approach. The clients and partners of both bedbanks will soon have the access to the complete range of services and technology solutions in the providers’ portfolios. Commenting on the company’s upcoming plans, Joan Vilà, executive chairman, Hotelbeds Group, said, “Our medium-term objective is to combine our respective best in class technology and distribution expertise for the benefit of both our hotel partners and clients. We will do this in stages and over the coming months will provide partners with further updates on how and when this will happen.”
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25 JULY 2017
NEWS
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Latvian Domestic Travel Growth Surpasses Outbound
According to Latvia Central Statistical Bureau, the number of domestic overnight trips rose 3.3 percent in 2016, while trips abroad only grew 0.7 percent, compared to 2015.
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ore specifically, Latvian residents took 3.1 million overnight trips around the Baltic state, with at least one night spent at rented or private accommodation. Some 7.2 million internal nights were recorded, a year-on-year jump of 10.6 percent, while average duration of stay increased 0.2 days, reaching 2.4 days. Despite this, domestic spending fell 7.2 percent to EUR111.3 million. Worth noting, 57.1 percent of all trips were made for visiting relatives or friends, while 39.1 percent were for recreation.
Positive Q1 for Lithuania’s Tourism
Moldova Hosted UNWTO Meeting
ccording to Lithuanian Department of Statistics, about 500,000 tourists visited Lithuania during the first quarter of the year (Q1) with at least one overnight stay, indicating a 8.6 percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2016. While domestic travellers accounted for 51 percent of holidaymakers, 82 percent of international tourists derived from European countries, while the flow of arrivals from the US increased by 27 percent compared to the same period in 2016. Vilnius proved to be the most favourite destination with more than half of all tourists choosing an overnight stay in Lithuania’s capital. Indrė Trakimaitė-Šeškuvienė, acting head, Lithuania Tourism Department, revealed that the figures draw an optimistic picture, showing that the country can effectively reduce the seasonality.
he 61st Meeting of the World Travel Organization (UNWTO) Commission for Europe took place on June 06, welcoming over 30 countries and UNWTO affiliate members. The meeting reviewed the work of the organisation’s technical committees on competitiveness, sustainability and statistics as well as the activities of its member states to celebrate the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development 2017. Further items on the agenda included the transformation of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics into an international convention, the creation of national committees on tourism ethics and UNWTO’s priorities for 2018 and 2019. Commenting on the event, Taleb Rifai, secretary general, UNWTO, highlighted the strong commitment Moldova has demonstrated towards sustainable tourism and its potential to develop into a must-see destination.
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Tourism Ireland Teams Up With AWOL
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fter partnering with AWOL, a mobile-first travel title aiming to inspire young Australians to travel the world, Tourism Ireland launched a promotional campaign, highlighting some of the island’s top destinations via AWOL’s social channels. Sofia Hansson, manager, Australia and New Zealand, Tourism Ireland, commented, “Our latest promotion with AWOL should prove to be a really effective way of engaging with our target audience of social energisers in Australia, helping to really bring our message of fun and excitement to life. We want to show them that Ireland is a unique and different destination on the edge of Europe and inspire them to begin planning their holiday to Ireland very soon [...].”
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NEWS
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ICCA: Vienna Welcomed the Most Delegates Vienna
International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) has published its rankings for the number of participants of international association meetings in 2016, naming Vienna as the top city in terms of delegates with 120,000 attendees across 186 meetings, and second for the number of events.
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eanwhile, Seoul, ranked 10th for the amount of meetings, is in second place with almost 105,000 attendees, followed by Barcelona and Copenhagen. In terms of countries, the top three by total participants aligns with the number of meetings. The US held 934 meetings with an estimated 401,332 delegates, followed by Germany and the UK, with 280,108 and 228,642 attendees, respectively.
Long-Haul Arrivals Propelled Europe’s Success
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ccording to Air Travellers’ Traffic Barometer, produced by European Cities Marketing and ForwardKeys, the number of long-haul travellers arriving to Europe in the first quarter of this year rose 8.3 percent year-on-year. While intra-European flows, some 60 percent of all arrivals, remained at the same level as 2016, the total number of international arrivals grew 3.5 percent, bolstered by a 6.7 percent surge in North American tourists. In the second quarter (Q2) of this year, there was a high increase in bookings compared to Q2 in 2016, with London standing out in terms of forecasted growth.
Belarus to Grow Green Cities
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elarus Green Cities project is taking on new members, with 10 additional cities set to join the initiative supporting green urban developments in small and medium-sized towns across the country. The USD3 million project executed by Belarus Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Protection, aims to enhance urban energy efficiency and improve air quality along with building sustainable transportation facilities in specific locations, with Novopolotsk, Polotsk and Novogrudok nominated as the project’s pioneers. Irina Usova, head, Belarus Green Cities, clarified that the additional participating cities will be revealed based on the interest in the project.
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Scotland’s Steam Train Back on Track
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isitScotland has announced the relaunch of an iconic steam train set to serve Scotland’s newest scenic rail route in August. Offering passengers a bespoke steam experience on a train hauled by a Black Five steam locomotive, the journey back in time will originate in Linlithgow before travelling over the Forth Rail Bridge and round the Fife coast before heading south on the Borders Railway to Tweedbank. Malcolm Roughead, chief executive, VisitScotland, enthused, “The Borders Railway has had a massive impact on the local economy since it was reopened less than two years ago and opportunities like this continue to shine the global spotlight on the quality of tourism offering in this country.”
European City Tourism Continued to Grow
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uropean Cities Marketing Benchmarking Report 2017 revealed that between 2012 – 2016, bednights in European cities increased 14.2 percent, a faster rate than that of the 28 European Union nations, which saw a rise of 8.8 percent during the period under review. Despite year-on-year declines of 3.2 percent and 8.2 percent, London and Paris, correspondingly, were ranked in first and second position in 2016 for the number of bednights. Meanwhile, Berlin, Rome and Barcelona also were in the top five cities. Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, president, European Cities Marketing, said, “We saw another exceptionally successful year for city tourism in Europe, despite major challenges arising.”
25 JULY 2017
NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Hamburg to Welcome Six New Hotels Hamburg Convention Bureau has revealed that in the second half of this year, Hamburg is expected to see openings of six new properties.
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he first of the anticipated additions, the four-star INNSIDE Hamburg Hafen welcome its first guests in July, boosting the hospitality market with 207 keys. Furthermore, as a lasting tribute to the city, Kuehne + Nagel group plans to launch a five-star luxury address, The Fontenay in October. Adina Apartment Hotel will expand the city’s portfolio with 202 rooms during the last quarter of the year, while Ruby Hotel will add 289 rooms overlooking the city’s river channels. To follow, the city will also witness the openings of the four-star Courtyard by Marriott and Holiday Inn Hamburg City Nord.
NATO Summit Fuelled Growth in Brussels
Mövenpick Hotel Basel to Debut in 2019
Le Méridien Visconti Rome Unveiled
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övenpick Hotels & Resorts has recently announced its plans to launch Mövenpick Hotel Basel, in 2019. Featuring 264 spacious rooms and suites, including 50 Mövenpick Sleep rooms where guests can enjoy individually adjustable beds, the address will also offer 1,800m2 of meeting space along with an upscale brasserie restaurant and a show kitchen serving international dishes. Commenting on the group's sixth property in Switzerland, Ola Ivarsson, chief operating officer, Europe, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, stated, “With our Swiss roots and our distinctive service we are delighted to be able to offer this very special hotel to customers in Basel.”
ccording to Hotstats’ European Chain Hotels Market Review May 2017, hoteliers in Brussels recorded a 116.8 percent increase in profit per room compared to May 2016, thanks to the North Atlantic Treat Organization (NATO) Summit. During the month under review, occupancy rose 18.7 percentage points to reach 75.1 percent, while a three percent year-on-year jump in achieved average room rate to EUR144.28 helped fuel a 37.2 percent surge in RevPAR, which reached EUR108.37. Moreover, non-rooms revenue also climbed, including food and beverage along with conference and banqueting, up 23.2 percent and 26.4 percent, respectively. Overall, this drove a 28.9 percent surge in total RevPAR to EUR148.77.
Le Méridien Visconti Rome
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e Méridien Hotels & Resorts, part of Marriott International, announced the opening of Le Méridien Visconti Rome, a reimagined palace featuring 240-keys. Following its meticulous renovation and conversion, the property, owned and managed by Toti Group, now boasts custom-designed guestrooms, suites and transformed public spaces, including the brand’s signature lobby concept, Le Méridien Hub. “After reintroducing the brand’s flagship hotel in Paris in 2016, Le Méridien continues to bring glamour to travel with the opening of Le Méridien Visconti Rome, showcasing the best of Italian design and our bold Destination Unlocked positioning,” commented George Fleck, vice president, global brand marketing and management, Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION TCI Research and HOTREC Identify European Trends
TUI Blue Debuts in Croatia
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TUI Blue Jadran
n a TCI Research survey commissioned by HOTREC, five trends and opportunities were revealed to help hospitality decision makers optimise customer attraction and retention. The first key pillar is meeting guest expectations, as shown TRAVELSAT’s Global Satisfaction Index, which identified competitive scores from the Chinese and Indian markets. Authenticity, flexibility and genuinely friendly staff are seen as important hotel features, along with a private and safe environment. Thirdly, guests not only appreciate feeling at home, but they seek hassle-free experiences. Meanwhile, millennials look for unique accommodation options that quench their thirst for discovery with innovative and personalised experiences. Finally, visitors expect restaurants to provide the ultimate authenticity of a destination, while offering safe food.
The Albus Goes Carbon Neutral
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UI Group has opened TUI Blue Jadran, the seventh hotel opened under the new experience-led brand and the first of its kind in Croatia. The property features 161 keys, including 12 junior suites and 11 swim-up suites with private pools. Located between the sea and Biokovo mountains, the address offers many opportunities for outdoor activities, complemented by Bluef!t Park and infinity pool. A number of the group’s existing hotels are being repositioned under the TUI Blue brand, including the upcoming launches of TUI Blue Rocador in Mallorca, TUI Blue Falesia in Portugal, TUI Blue Palm Beach Palace in Djerba and TUI Blue Marmaris in Turkey.
Vienna to Welcome Rosewood Hotels & Resorts
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osewood Hotels & Resorts has recently been appointed by Erste Group, one of the largest financial services providers in Central and Eastern Europe, to manage Rosewood Vienna, expected to open in 2021. Marking the brand’s fifth property in Europe, the new address will feature 99 spacious guestrooms and suites alongside a variety of dining and entertainment options, including a rooftop bar with exceptional views of the city. Additionally, the property will feature meeting spaces as well as a Rosewood spa. Commenting on the new opening, Sonia Cheng, CEO, Rosewood Hotel Group, stated, “Vienna’s rich heritage, sophisticated cultural offerings, and thriving culinary scene make it a natural fit for Rosewood’s European portfolio.”
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he Albus Design Hotel Amsterdam City Centre became what is said to be the first completely carbon neutral hotel in Europe, thanks to the specially purchased state-of-the-art system that cools and heats all of rooms without emitting any CO2 emissions. In addition, the hotel’s tap water heats up to a maximum of 90 degrees in a sustainable manner. By 2025, Amsterdam intends to achieve a 40 percent reduction in CO2 emissions, with the city expressing the intention to be fully carbon-neutral by 2050, in a bid to meet the requirements laid out by The Paris Agreement, a global unification of countries responding to the threat of global climate change.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION Warsaw Welcomes IHG’s Indigo Hotel
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ontinuing to grow its Polish portfolio, InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced opening of Hotel Indigo Warsaw Nowy Świat, one of the capital’s most fashionable areas. Inspired by local culture and modern lifestyle, the property boasts 60 individually designed rooms, offering enhanced comfort. Guests are also able to enjoy contemporary restaurant Florentine, which fuses Middle Eastern cuisine with local flavours and an old-fashioned inspired Bourbon Lounge Bar. Tom Rowntree, vice president, brand management, Europe, Hotel Indigo, IHG, commented, “Boutique is the fastest growing segment in our industry, and with tourism to Eastern Europe continuing to rise, it is an exciting time to be opening our second Hotel Indigo in Poland following Hotel Indigo Krakow - Old Town.”
W Barcelona Unveiled its New Face
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Hotels Worldwide’s flagship address W Barcelona has revealed its transformation which includes the addition of Europe’s first state-of-the-art W Sound Suite. The private music studio and writer’s room represents a signature element of the property’s new face, enabling professional artists, musicians and producers to record in style while on the road. The hotel’s 473 guestrooms have been redesigned with inspiration from the city and the sea, while new in-room features and services have also been added. Anthony Ingham, global brand leader, W Hotels Worldwide, said, “[…] The completion of this multi-million Euro makeover ensures this beachside escape will continue to lead the market with its forward-thinking decor and unrivaled guest experience.”
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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Finavia Boosts Eco Efforts Finavia, the operator of Helsinki Airport, has decided to further enhance its climate programme, with the aim of reducing its carbon dioxide emissions caused by the operations of its 21 airports to zero by 2020.
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Gatwick Airport Installs Indoor Nagivation
Berlin Hub to Welcome M4 Smart Sensor
Edinburgh and Beijing Airports Strengthen Ties
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erlin Schönefeld Airport is said to be the first hub in Europe to install Park Assist’s M4 SmartSensors, a camera-based parking guidance system (PGS). In partnership with European parking facilities operator and service provider, APCOA Parking, Park Assist will introduce its advanced PGS smart sensor to help the airport provide a seamless parking experience for travellers. Visitors will be offered to what is said to be an effortless parking experience with the smart sensor and real time digital signage guidance to unoccupied spaces, alongside a Find Your Car feature, and opportunities to select premium-parking benefits.
M4 Smart-Sensors
ailed as a world first for airports, Gatwick Airport has installed a beacon based positioning system to enable blue dot on indoor maps in the airport, through its own and third-party mobile applications. Around 2,000 battery powered beacons have been installed across the hub’s two terminals, providing an indoor navigation system that is said to be more reliable than GPS. The initiative enables augmented reality wayfinding for passengers, showing directions in the camera view mobile devices, making it easier to locate check-in areas, departure gates, baggage belts and so on. Deployed in around three weeks, followed by two months of testing and calibration, the beacons are part of a GBP2.5 billion (USD3.2 billion) investment programme.
Helsinki Airport
his goal is expected to be achieved this summer at the Helsinki hub thanks to the construction of the solar power plant which is set to start producing energy in the second half of the year. Meanwhile, at its other gateways, Finavia is implementing various energy efficient initiatives such as fuelling ground vehicles with renewable diesel, along with utilising wind power and geothermal heat. The organisation is considered a key party to the commitment of European airport companies to have 100 carbonneutral airports in Europe by 2030.
dinburgh Airport and Beijing Capital International Airport (BCIA) have signed a strategic partnership agreement set to bring the cooperation between the hubs to a new level. The two gateways have agreed on a collaboration to develop a common understanding of both markets and to expand operation and commercial opportunities. Highlighting BCIA’s ability to process 94.39 million passengers a year, along with the successful performance of the Edinburgh hub, Gordon Dewar, chief executive, Edinburgh Airport, assured that both organisations will benefit from sharing the expertise while the partnership also brings the prospect of a direct link between the destinations ever closer.
25 JULY 2017
NEWS AIRPORTS
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Heathrow to Launch First Fitness Facility
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fter signing a contract with FlyFit, a wellness and fitness studio, Heathrow Airport has recently unveiled plans to open what is said to be the world’s first wellness and fitness studio in an airport. The new facility, which is expected to open in autumn, will be located after security in departures at Heathrow Terminal 2 and will provide rental clothing, showers and healthy food options. Lauren Perkins, chief marketing officer, FlyFit, revealed, “FlyFit was born out of our shared passion to improve health and well-being on the road for ourselves and others. We are creating a space for fitness and community that has previously been lacking in airports.”
Jet2.com Creates Branding Space in Edinburgh Airport
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n the context of promoting the airline and its offerings to new customers, Jet2.com’s branding team recently created a flexible branding space in the airline’s check-in area at Edinburgh Airport. The initiative involved the placement of 15 TV screens, displaying the company’s famous red livery. The massive installation took place over four nights, where a team of engineers carefully fixed the new technology. Chris Carter, senior marketing, executive, Jet2. com, commented, “We use digital screens as part of our branding elsewhere – but we normally only install one at a time! The install of 15 screens is the biggest digital branding install we have ever done – and the result looks great!”
Edinburgh Airport
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iming to better inform the public on some of the difficulties faced by people with autism, Glasgow Airport has recently launched Autism Reality Experience, an innovate series of training and tester sessions enabling both passengers and staff members to support people with autism and their families as they go through the hub’s main terminal. Commenting on the initiative, Paul Scott, manager, terminal compliance, Glasgow Airport, said, “[…] The number of requests we receive each year is increasing, so we thought it was important to bring in the Autism Reality Experience team today to ensure that both our staff and passengers can better appreciate the difficulties faced by people with autism doing something seemingly as straightforward as going through an airport.”
Autism Reality Experience team
Glasgow Airport Delivers Lessons on Autism
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Vienna Airport Reduces Carbon Footprint
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ienna International Airport has recently received Airport Carbon Accreditation Level 3 Optimisation, as a result of reducing its carbon footprint 27 percent since 2012. In addition, the hub managed to reduce its specific energy consumption 14 percent per traffic unit thanks to its ongoing ecological commitment and continuing improvements leading to cost savings. Sustainable improvements in energy efficiency have already been achieved by converting lighting and air conditioning systems, optimising the transmission grids and investing in its vehicle fleet. Drawing on a number of additional measures, including an investments of up to EUR30 million, the hub’s next target is to become carbon neutral by 2022.
Liverpool John Lennon Airport
Liverpool Airport Releases Ambitious Growth Plan
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iverpool John Lennon Airport has revealed an updated airport master plan, showing its long-term development vision, which will see the hub’s expansion in all business areas. Among others, the gateway plans to connect to more destinations, in line with the potential to grow annual passenger numbers from 4.8 million in 2016 to 7.8 million by 2030, and to 11 million by 2050. These increases will require investment in a proposed expansion of the terminal building, additional car parking, passenger facilities including hotels, retail, food and drink services and a potential extension of the runway. Meanwhile, growing cargo operations promises an influx of specialist aviation business and high quality employment opportunities.
25 JULY 2017
NEWS AIR
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Icelandair to Deliver Breakthrough Connectivity Icelandair and ViaSat announced the plans to launch what is said to be the fastest in-flight connectivity and Internet streaming service on its Boeing 737MAX flights between North America and Europe.
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ith the technical installations expected to begin in March 2018, the carrier will tap into powerful high capacity satellite communication system, which will facilitate continuous, reliable high-speed connectivity across a fleet of 16 jets reaching 43 destinations. “Icelandair continues to expand its global network with additional flights, aircraft and service capabilities across the Atlantic – our investment in new technology, from ViaSat, will deliver one of the best Internet experiences in the skies,” said, Guðmundur Óskarsson, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Icelandair.
Turkish Airlines Joins TSA’s Pre
S7 Airlines Links Moscow and Tehran
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7 Airlines has announced the expansion of its network with a new service between Moscow and Tehran, which took off on June 22. The outbound flights from Moscow Domodedovo Airport are operated on Mondays and Thursdays, while the return journey from Tehran’s hub is served on Tuesdays and Fridays. “The enthusiasts of unusual tourist routes and fans of excursion tours will truly appreciate the appearance of Tehran on the S7 Airlines flight map. […] Now passengers from Iran will not only be able to reach Moscow, but also travel to cities of the S7 Airlines wide route network with convenient connections at the Moscow Domodedovo Airport,” said Igor Veretennikov, commercial director, S7 Group.
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Croatia Airlines Inaugurated Helsinki Schedule
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iming to enhance security while taking the stress out of travel for transit passengers departing from US hubs, Turkish Airlines has recently signed an agreement with the US Transport Security Administration (TSA) to join its Pre programme. The expedited security screening programme means that travellers will not have to remove shoes, belts and light jackets while laptops and compliant liquids can remain in carry on luggage. Bilal Ekşi, CEO, Turkish Airlines, commented, “[...] TSA Pre is a highly reputable programme which always works with the leading airlines in the world. We are confident that this new agreement will support us in further enhancing the overall quality of our ground handling services to our passengers depart from the US.”
s the latest addition to Helsinki Airport, Croatia Airlines has kicked-off its summer season schedule to Zagreb, linking the hub with Southeastern Europe destinations. This route will be available until October 15. Due to an increased demand, reflected by a 24 percent year-on-year rise in the number of passengers on the route in 2016, the Helsinki gateway represents the carrier’s 39th destination, enabling the airline to explore further opportunities for its network growth. “Passenger records are being broken at great speed. […] The arrival of Croatia Airlines to Finland is indeed good news for people travelling to South-eastern Europe, because the airline’s onward flight possibilities from Zagreb make new destinations available. […],” said Ville Haapasaari, director, Helsinki Airport.
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Europcar and easyJet Continue Cooperation
Delta and Virgin Atlantic Expand Glasgow Offering
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elta Air Lines has recently launched its inaugural New York – Glasgow route, which will be operated daily throughout the summer season, providing convenient connections for Scottish travellers to more than 60 US destinations. Aiming to further strengthen its transatlantic network, the carrier’s partner Virgin Atlantic, also inaugurated an extended seasonal service from Glasgow to Orlando, on June 23, coinciding with the carrier’s 10th anniversary. Richard Myerscough, senior vice president, sales and distribution, Virgin Atlantic, commented, “[...] Our joint venture with Delta Air Lines has allowed us to give our Scottish customers more routes to the US destinations they want to fly to, creating more holiday and business opportunities than ever before.”
ollowing 13 years of successful cooperation, Europcar and easyJet have announced a two year extension of their partnership, reflecting an increased demand for car rental services among the carrier’s customers. Through the collaboration, travellers are able to benefit from the lowest price guarantee when renting a vehicle in 31 destinations in the airline’s portfolio. In celebration of the occasion, the carrier has adorned four of its aircraft with the rental provider’s logo. Carolyn McCall, CEO, easyJet, said, “It has never been easier to book flights and car hire together and this is clearly demonstrated with more and more people using this service every year. […] We are excited about the future innovations which will make travel easier for our passengers.”
LOT Enters Astana
Hahn Air and La Compagnie Utilise IET
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ahn Air announced a new Interline Electronic Ticketing Agreement (IET) with La Compagnie, to cater to businessclass flights from Paris to New York via the German carriers’ network of more than 300 air, rail and shuttle partners, whilst enhancing its global distribution. Flights are now available on Hahn Air’s HR-169 tickets to travel agents using Amadeus, Galileo, Sabre, Apollo and Worldspan under La Compagnie IATA code B0. “[…] We are happy to complement our portfolio with an exceptional airline that truly caters to the business traveller,” commented Steve Knackstedt, vice president, airline business group, Hahn Air. He further stated that through the agreement, La Compagnie will not only generate incremental business but also gain access to his companies growing network of interline partners.
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OT Polish Airlines has started its new service to Astana, launching what is said to be the first direct connection between Poland and Kazakhstan. The Polish carrier’s newly acquired Boeing 737-800 NGs will be used to operate the four weekly flights. “Until now there has been no direct route connecting Poland and Central Asia. Kazakhstan is currently the most dynamically growing business centre in the entire region. Exports to the Republic of Kazakhstan play an important role in Polish sales abroad, making that country Poland’s strategic business among Central Asian countries,” commented, Rafa Milczarski, CEO, LOT.
25 JULY 2017
NEWS AIR
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Air India to Open Delhi – Copenhagen Route
Norwegian Enters the US via Rome
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s a result of active negotiations, Air India has announced introduction of three weekly nonstop services from Delhi to Copenhagen scheduled to take-off on September 16. Served with Boeing 787 Dreamliner on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, the highly-anticipated link is expected to elevate the trade and tourism ties between the destinations. Following the earlier announcement of the Delhi – Stockholm route commencing in August, the Scandinavian region is set to create a firm Indian footprint through the carrier’s services. Ole Birk Olesen, transport, building, housing minister, Denmark, commented on the occasion, “This will be of major importance to Danish companies in India and will boost trade between the two countries. For Danish and Indian tourists, a direct connection will mean a faster and more pleasant journey.”
Indira Gandhi International Airport
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orwegian announced the launch of flights from Rome to three cities in the US including, Los Angeles, New York City and Oakland, from November. Rome will serve as the airline’s seventh long-haul European destination departing from the US following Barcelona, which will launch this June, alongside Paris, London, and the Scandinavian capitals of Copenhagen, Oslo and Stockholm. Thomas Ramdahl, chief commercial officer, Norwegian, commented, “Rome is […] a favourite among Americans, so it was an obvious choice for us as we continue to expand our transatlantic presence. Soon Norwegian will offer more transatlantic routes than any other airline in the world. More transatlantic routes mean we will create more US and European jobs and offer travellers even more affordable fares.”
Finnair Takes-Off to San Francisco
Air Malta Enhance Tech Initiatives
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innair has announced the opening of its new long-haul route from Helsinki Airport to San Francisco, providing travellers a seamless link until September 30. The three weekly services will take off from the Helsinki hub on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, with convenient times for passengers departing from Scandinavia, the Baltic countries, Russia and Central Europe. On the back of its expansion plans, the carrier will also serve extra itineraries to New York, Chicago and Miami in the summer, reflecting higher traveller demand for services demonstrated by over a million passengers carried in May, a 9.4 percent year-on-year growth.
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n a bid to maintain a leading position in the adoption of latest flight deck technologies, Air Malta, in collaboration with three other international operators, was invited by Jeppesen to participate in a product testing and evaluation programme involving their new and upcoming electronic charting application called Jeppesen Flight Deck Pro 3.0. The Electronic Flight Bag is intended to reduce pilot workload, increase situational awareness, lower operating costs through reduced fuel consumption based on weight savings, and help Air Malta reduce its carbon emissions and become more environmentally friendly. This initiative coincides with the carrier’s early introduction of what is said to be the first European operator to successfully deploy a paperless flight deck operation using tablet devices and Jeppesen electronic charts in early 2014.
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IAA and Isavia Introduce Full Unlimited Virtual Operations
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RwandAir Adds Brussels to Route Map
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n the context of expanding its European network, RwandAir has recently announced the launch of its new nonstop flight between Kigali International Airport and Brussels Airport, offering customers the chance to experience the wide range of cultural attractions and green spaces in Belgium’s capital. Operated with an Airbus A330, equipped with inflight connectivity, the itinerary will be running three times weekly via London. Commenting on the new service, Chance Ndagano, CEO, RwandAir, revealed, “Adding Brussels to our fast growing network, reaffirms our commitment to create new opportunities for both continents with smooth connections from cities with high demand and will go a long way in boosting trade and tourism.”
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he Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) and Iceland-based Isavia have implemented full unlimited virtual joint operations, which enables each aeronautical communications centre to be fully interconnected. Both bodies have introduced Rohde & Schwarz’s VCS-4G Voice Communications Control System (VCCS) to aiding in directing both companies to become what is said to be the worlds first cross border aeronautical communications centre. Peter Kearney, director, ATM operation and strategy, IAA, stated, “The IAA continuously introduces innovative ATM solutions which provides enhanced services to our customers and increases safety in our business, the virtual centre concept will ensure business continuity by reassigning resources and supporting infrastructure in the event of a catastrophic facility failure either at Ballygirreen, Ireland or Gufunes, Iceland.”
Austrian Airlines Maintains Growth
Alitalia Links Rome and Los Angeles
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ustrian Airlines increased its passenger volume in May with 1.2 million travellers, corresponding to 15.1 percent year-on-year rise, while passenger load factor increased 0.3 percentage points to 74.1 percent. The month under review also saw available seat kilometres jump 9.1 percent to more than 2.4 billion, while revenue passenger kilometres grew 9.5 percent to 1.8 billion. The company attributed the positive figures to the new airberlin aircraft deployed in March and the associated expansion of European services, along with boosted bilateral flight traffic between Austria and Germany. Overall, during the period January – May, over 4.5 million passengers travelled on board the airline’s flights, a 12.6 percent climb over the same period in 2016.
litalia is set to operate direct flights between Rome and Los Angeles during the winter season, following the airlines decision to extend this service which was operated in the previous years only between April and October, with three weekly frequencies. The new itinerary will benefit from an additional three weekly frequencies on board the 293-seat Boeing 777 aircraft, on a threeclass configuration comprising business, premium economy and economy, boasting completely renewed interiors. The announced route is one of the only direct connection between Italy and the West Coast of the US, allowing travellers to reach what is said to be the most popular tourist destinations in California and numerous other cities in North, Central and South America, following the codeshare agreement with Delta Air Lines.
Los Angeles
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Christiano Ronaldo International Airport
Norwegian Improves Connections to Southern Europe
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ollowing high demand for services to Southern Europe, on November 04, Norwegian Air Shuttle will launch non-stop once-weekly flights from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Madeira in Portugal and Fuerteventura in Spain. Commenting on the upcoming itineraries, Thomas Ramdahl, chief commercial officer, Norwegian Air Shuttle, pinpointed, “There is really strong interest among travellers in Sweden to fly to Southern Europe, so it is really good news that we can now offer another two popular destinations non-stop from Stockholm.” The carrier also announced that it has increased the number of departures to existing routes to Marrakech and Tel Aviv to twice weekly.
Beijing Capital Airlines Joins Hahn Air’s Network
Blue Air and Boeing Unveil Aircraft Order
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t this year’s International Paris Air Show, Blue Air announced a firm order for six Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft and an additional two options, becoming what is said to be the first Romanian B737 MAX operator. The carrier will also lease a further six B737 MAXs 8 and six Next-Generation B737-800s from Air Lease Corporation. Gheorghe Racaru, general manager, Blue Air, commented, “Due to our great partnership with Boeing, Blue Air has a long history of operating the 737 that has resulted in unmatched operational reliability and leading safety record. By placing a firm order with Boeing as well as contracting additional aircraft from our strategic partner Air Lease Corporation, Blue Air will incorporate 20 ultra-modern aircraft into its fleet.”
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eijing Capital Airlines has signed an interline electronic ticketing agreement with Hahn Air, an airline and provider of distribution and ticketing services, joining the German company’s network of 300 air, rail and shuttle partners. This initiative allows the Chinese airline to sell its flights even in markets where it is not participating in the local bill settlement plan. Travel agents worldwide using major global distribution systems can issue the services of Beijing Capital Airlines through Hahn Air tickets. Steve Knackstedt, vice president, airline business group, Hahn Air, revealed, “With Beijing Capital Airlines we are adding a wealth of new routes and destinations to cater to the demand of passengers worldwide.”
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iming to expand its winter flight schedule from Brussels South Charleroi Airport, TUI fly Belgium has recently announced new routes to Sharm El Sheikh and Murcia. The Brussels – Sharm El Sheikh service will be available once weekly on Saturdays from October 28, while the twice weekly flight to Murcia will take off on October 27 and fly on Mondays and Fridays. Jean-Jacques Cloquet, CEO, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, commented, “With these new destinations, our passengers will be able to get away from the Belgian winter and jet off to milder destinations. This fantastic news consolidates the existing partnership, and we are delighted with the success enjoyed by the new routes launched this summer […].”
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Brussels South Charleroi Airport
TUI Adds New Routes from Brussels Hub
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Sky Express and Blue Air Announce Codeshare
British Airways Adds Winter Sun Routes
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n the back of increased demand for seats in the winter season, British Airways has added extra services to sunny destinations from Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport. The winter flight programme features a new route from Heathrow Airport to Tenerife available from October 21, complementing the carrier’s regular six weekly services to the largest Canary island from Gatwick Airport. From October 29, schedules from Heathrow Airport to Palma, Malaga and Palermo will operate year-round, while three weekly flights from Gatwick Airport to Paphos will also be served. Sean Doyle, director, network and alliances, British Airways, said, “Our flights to European sunshine destinations are proving incredible popular with customers, which is why we are laying on even more flights […].”
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ky Express and Blue Air have entered into a codeshare agreement which will enable Blue Air passengers from Cyprus the opportunity to travel to Greek islands via Sky Express. Meanwhile travellers from the islands of Greece can book tickets with the Greek airline to fly to Larnaca with Blue Air, through Athens or Thessaloniki. Ioannis Lidakis, commercial manager, Sky Express, commented, “[…] Sky Express and Blue Air connects very popular destinations such as Cyprus and the Greek Islands. Travellers from Cyprus will be able to enjoy the unique experience of flying with Sky Express, complemented by free access to business lounges both in Athens and Thessaloniki, free handbag and baggage and in-flight service.”
LOT’s Route to Chicago Takes Off Tenerife
L Aeroflot and Alipay Cater for Chinese Flyers
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n a bid to enhance service for Chinese customers, Aeroflot has added Alipay as a new online payment option, earning the carrier the status of the first transport partner of the Chinese payment system provider in Russia. This addition expands the range of options available to passengers when paying for flights and other services. With its strong foothold in China and steadily growing traffic numbers of Chinese business and leisure tourists to Russia, the carrier has enhanced its services for the segment, such as Chinese version of the website and revamped tailored in-flight services. Reflecting the efforts, in April, the carrier was named a Favourite International Airline in China at the Flyer Award Ceremony 2017 in Shanghai.
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OT Polish Airlines has launched a direct service between Kraków and Chicago, its sixth long-haul connection to North America. The carrier will operate the route once weekly throughout the year with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The decision to launch a direct flight between the cities was based on detailed traffic analysis which revealed that each year more than 90,000 passengers travel between the destinations with a stop over. Rafal Milczarski, CEO, LOT Polish Airlines, elaborated, “The number of passengers travelling between Kraków and Chicago since 2012 has grown on average by 17 percent a year, and LOT's strategy clearly states that we must not miss that potential.”
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WHO’S MOVED
THOMAS FISCHER has been named as the general manager of the new Steigenberger Hotel Munich, which is due to open its doors in December. Most recently, he worked as general manager at Corinthia Hotels in London and Budapest, and prior to this, he fulfilled the same role for Kempinski Hotels in Frankfurt and Moscow. As well as having gained a wealth of international managerial experience, Fischer was born in Munich, making him highly familiar with the destination which will help enable him to lead the property to success.
KAREN MCCARTHY
THOMAS FISCHER
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McCarthy will support the company's global growth plans
Schulz has been promoted to CEO
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PETER KRÜGER
BERND SCHULZ
Fischer has a wealth of international experience
BERND SCHULZ has been appointed as the CEO of i:FAO, a step up from his role of general manager at the corporate travel and expense technology provider. Prior to joining the company, Schulz served as general manager for Amadeus Germany, where he supervised development, sales, marketing, product management and delivery, along with the Swiss and Austrian markets. Before this, he was manager of global travel procurement between 1999 – 2008, and later head of global travel management for Siemens.
KAREN MCCARTHY has been announced as key account manager, customer services delivery team at Traveltek Group. McCarthy, who joins the company from easyJet, has more than 10 years of experience in account management, sales and business development roles with leading bed banks and tour operators, such as MedHotels and Youtravel. com. In her new role, McCarthy will support the company’s ambitious global growth plans by helping to expand its client base as well as deliver top customer service.
PETER KRÜGER has assumed the role of director of investor relations at TUI Group, where he will be responsible for strategic and financial projects as well as liaising with shareholders and analysts. He joins the company from Deutsche Bank, where he spent 13 years working in investment banking, most recently as managing director. During his career in the banking sector, Krüger was involved in a large number of mergers and acquisitions as well as equity and debt transactions for international groups and investors.
Krüger will be responsible for strategic and financial projects
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CHIARA RAVARA has been promoted to senior sales and marketing manager at Ryanair, a step up from her previous position of sales and marketing manager for Greece and the East Mediterranean market. Having worked for the carrier since 2014, Ravara was previously employed at AVIAREPS in Italy and has accumulated considerable industry experience. In her new role, she will oversee the company’s sales and marketing team and activities across 34 countries in Europe and North Africa, supporting its overall strategy of growth and in line with its customer experience improvement programme.
FRANÇOIS ARRIGHI
CHIARA RAVARA
WHO’S MOVED
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EAMONN BRENNAN
JOANNA SIMONS
Simons will provide valuable expertise
FRANÇOIS ARRIGHI has taken on the role of general manager of the new Four Seasons Hotel Megève, slated to open on time for 2017-2018 ski season. Not new to the company, Arrighi arrives to the mountain resort after serving as the hotel manager at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, where along with responsibility for daily operations, he also contributed in successful launch of two Michelin-star restaurants. Prior to joining the brand, he had spent several years in the French Alpine ski resorts of Courchevel and is now ready to take the after-skiing experiences to new heights.
Arrighi will take after-skiing experiences to new heights
Ravara has worked for Ryanair since 2014
JOANNA SIMONS has been named as the new chair of the board of directors at Experience Oxfordshire in the UK. Simons brings a wealth of experience to the role, having held trustee and director positions in a number of public sector companies, and more recently served as CEO of Oxfordshire County Council. In 2011, she was recognised for her services to local government with a Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In the voluntary role, Simons will contribute valuable experience and expertise that she has gained throughout her business career to develop tourism in Oxfordshire.
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EAMONN BRENNAN has been appointed as the new director general of EUROCONTROL European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation, effective from January 01, 2018. Currently serving as the CEO of Irish Aviation Authority, Brennan has provided what is said to be visionary leadership and has extensive understanding of the issue facing the industry. He was nominated for the new role by Ireland’s government, which he is set to serve for a five year tenure. At the helm of the European air traffic management industry, he will be invaluable in ensuring that the agency responds to the evolving needs of its stakeholders and support the full implementation of the Single European Sky in a pan-European context.
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WHO’S MOVED
TANGUY CARTUYVELS has been named as the vice president of marketing at Brussels Airlines, where he will reinforce the brand positioning of the carrier. After first gaining sales and marketing experience at Beiersdorf and Campbell’s, Cartuyvels joined Unilever in 2010, where he held several positions, the most recent of which was marketing director, which he held prior to this appointment. In his new role, Cartuyvels will implement a sustainable marketing strategy in line with the airline’s commercial plans.
YILMAZ YILDIRIMLAR
TANGUY CARTUYVELS
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JULIE WAKLEY has been appointed as the head of Great Britain at Tourism Ireland, marking a step up from her former role as the deputy head of the division responsible for consumer marketing. Sinse joining the tourism board in 2016, she has been instrumental in developing and delivering innovative marketing campaigns and strengthening relationships with key stakeholders across the UK. Prior to joining the organisation, Wakley served as marketing manager for BBC politics and current affairs departments, where she led the marketing activity for the broadcaster’s politics output on TV, radio and online.
Wakley has extensive marketing experience
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Yildirimlar will be responsible for 90 hotels
SCOTT HANNEY
JULIE WAKLEY
Cartuyvels will reinforce the brand positioning of Brussels Airlines
YILMAZ YILDIRIMLAR has taken on the role of area senior vice president for Central and Southern Europe at The Rezidor Hotel Group, a step up from his previous position of regional director in Eastern Europe, which he held from 2014. Yildirimlar first joined the group in 1995 and has worked in several leadership roles at Radisson Blu hotels in Amsterdam, Manchester and Bucharest. From 2011, he served as district director for South Eastern Europe. In his new position, he will be responsible for 90 hotels in 20 countries and aims to drive growth of the brand within the region.
SCOTT HANNEY has taken on the role of general manager of customer service delivery division at Traveltek Group, a new position created in support of the travel technology provider’s global expansion plans. Specialised in operations and business support with almost two decades of industry experience, Hanney will lead the newly established team towards excellence in supporting the company’s fastgrowing international client portfolio. With a proven track record of success as an effective team leader, Hanney joins the company from Valmar Handling Services where he served as operations manager.
Hanney will lead the new team to excellence
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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Safety Forum Concluded in Brussels Record Breaking Vršič Retro Bike Climb Third annual climb of Vršič
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n June 06 – 07, the fifth annual Safety Forum took place, co-hosted by European Regions Airline Association (ERA), EUROCONTROL and Flight Safety Foundation. Around 300 international aviation safety experts attended the two-day event at EUROCONTROL’s headquarters in Brussels, which focussed on the concept of Preventing Runway Collisions. Simon McNamara, director general, ERA, commented, “While aviation remains an extremely safe means of transport, it is important that the industry continues to look at ways of further improving safety standards. The Safety Forum is now in its fifth successive year and is an excellent opportunity to share experiences, learn from international safety experts and ensure that the public’s safety remains aviation’s priority.”
he third annual climb of Vršič Pass using Rog Pony bicycles was held on June 03, during which three records were broken, including the overall number of participants as well as the fastest climb in both the men’s and women’s
categories. Primož Jurak won the men’s race in 44 minutes and 30 seconds, while Laura Šimenc broke the women’s record with a time of 52 minutes and 10 seconds. Organised by Slovenian Tourist Board as part of the 24th Tour of Slovenia, more than 900 cyclists attended the event at Kranjska Gora, where an expert panel also judged the cyclists’ best retro outfits. Cycling Ambassadors of Slovenia also participated and completed their cycling adventure around Slovenia on June 04.
Germany Celebrated 200 Years of Pedalling
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n light of the 200 year anniversary of the invention of the bicycle, The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has announced a line-up of events throughout the year to celebrate this historic occasion. GNTB organised night rides and mountain bike courses, scavenger hunts, pedelec tours and bicycle markets, among others. The programme also featured exhibitions and short film competitions, alongside more than 200 long-distance cycle routes. The Technoseum in Mannheim also hosted an exhibition dedicated to the history of the bicycle.
D Depp Surprised Disneyland Guests
uring a visit to Disneyland Paris, Johnny Depp and other Pirates of the Caribbean: Salazar’s Revenge cast members gave guests a surprise as they disembarked in front of a galleon moored at the park’s castle following a pirate-themed acrobatic show. In celebration of Disneyland Paris’ 25th anniversary, the overhauled Pirates of the Caribbean attraction reopened its doors on July 24 with two scenes featuring Jack Sparrow, on show for the first time in Europe. The attraction, first inaugurated in California in 1967, became part of Disneyland Paris in 1992. Guests also enjoy the ride in Orlando, Tokyo and the recently-opened Shanghai Park.
Depp and the cast of Pirates of the Caribbean
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Munich Airport hosted its second culinary festival Taste & Style on June 15 – 18
Blue Air's first flight from Glasgow to the Romanian city of IaĹ&#x;i took to the skies
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More than 150 divers from across Europe took part in European Divers Meeting Malta & Gozo
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Glasgow Airport became the airport in Scotland to gain Taste Our Best accreditation
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Service dog EJ, left, flew his 262nd flight, making him British Airways' most frequent canine flyer
At Stirling Castle, model Robyn Flemming marks the 25th anniversary of The Scottish Thistle Awards, and its new heritage experience category sponsored by Historic Environment Scotland
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS THE INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON TOURISM AND BUSINESS Lucerne, Switzerland August 31 – September 01 www.hslu.ch The second edition of event will see the presentation of research related to the tourism and hospitality sectors.
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Scotland Invests in Film Industry
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n June 08 at Eden Court Theatre in Inverness, INNOVATEFILM provided a networking opportunity for film industry leaders, while also highlighting the industry’s GBP50 million (EUR56.73 million) contribution to the Scottish economy and the opportunities the sector holds for future generations. Organised by VisitScotland’s business events team, the event was part of the national tourism organisation’s INNOVATETHENATION initiative that brings together academics, influencers and pioneers in a series of engaging talks. Fiona MacKinnon, manager, business development, business events team, VisitScotland, commented, “Film and the creative industries are a crucial sector in marketing Scotland both at home and around the world. By their very nature they have a unique ability to inspire and showcase our rugged and beautiful landscapes as well as our thriving cities.”
OTDYKH LEISURE Moscow, Russia September 20 – 23 www.tourismexpo.ru The 23rd edition of the exhibition will be held alongside its sister events focussing on MICE, luxury and medical tourism, spa and health.
Moldova’s International Business Forum Concludes
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he International Business Forum Investments and Collaboration Opportunities recently took place in Bălți, welcoming almost 220 local economic agents and representatives of 75 domestic and foreign companies. The brokerage event was organised by Moldova Chamber of Commerce and Industry with the support of the Enterprise Europe Network, central and local public authorities and international actors, including the public support institutions and organisations of business promotion. The forum aimed to promote the image of Moldova on an international scale, as well as showcase the local economy as an attractive space for business and investment development.
Minsk Celebrates 950th Anniversary
IFTM TOP RESA Paris, France September 26 – 29 www.iftm.fr More than 31,000 trade visitors are expected to attend the multi-target event with dedicated programmes for the leisure, business and MICE sectors.
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head of celebrating the 950th anniversary of Minsk on September 09, The National Academy of Sciences of Belarus (NASB), History Institute of NASB and Minsk City Hall organised an international scientific conference dedicated to the history of the Belarusian capital. Held at NASB on June 07 — 08, the conference titled Minsk and Minskers: Ten Centuries of History focussed on a wide range of topics, including ancient Minsk during the 11th – 13th centuries, Minsk in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth. Furthermore, delegates learnt about the tourism potential of the city.
AELTC Improves Tennis Facilities
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he All England Lawn Tennis Club (AELTC) announced further details on the range of enhancements to be introduced for The Championships Qualifying Competition in 2017. In light of AELTC’s commitment to improving facilities for both competitors and spectators, television coverage from the main show court will be available to spectators onsite via a video screen, and to fans worldwide online and via the AELTC’s broadcast partners. Additional benefits include a new stand with ring beams installed on two courts, with a further 10 to be added in 2018, allowing for inflatable court covers in the case of bad weather, whilst the introduction of ticketing will commence, improving security and safety, alongside additional operational measures to ease the impact on local residents.
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