Travel Trade Europe 25 June 2015 issue 16 by Travel Trade Publications

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25 JUNE 2015

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ME MILAN IL DUCA UNVEILED IN FASHION DISTRICT NETHERLANDS-BASED EFTELING THEME PARK RESORT HAS UNVEILED A NEW GOLDMINE-THEMED DIVE ROLLERCOASTER.

15 AIRBALTIC LINKS TALLINN AND BERLIN

19 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE

PERFORMANCE

AIRPORTS

CRUISING

TOURISM BOARDS

ACCOMMODATION

AIR

RENDEZVOUS

TRAVEL CHANNELS

WHO’S MOVED

PHOTO ALBUM

NEWS & EVENTS

EFTELING THEME PARK UNVEILS NEW ROLLERCOASTER

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba

Monarch on Track to Complete Turnaround Monarch reported a loss of GBP69.9 million (EUR95.2 million) for the six months ending April 30, down from GBP110.6 million (EUR150.6 million) in the corresponding period in 2014.

he carrier’s winter losses for the November 2014 – April period improved by a bigger than forecast GBP40 million (EUR54.5 million). Monarch has completed the final phase of its restructuring programme that begun in 2014 and has created a revitalised, entirely scheduled network of destinations for discerning leisure customers, placing the company on track to return to profitability.

CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Inna Armeanu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

Traffic Growth for Ryanair Ryanair’s customer traffic surged 16 percent to 9.5 million customers in May, and load factor rose seven percentage points to 92 percent.

urthermore, rolling annual traffic in May grew 13 percent to 93.1 million customers. Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer, Ryanair, attributed these positive results to the airline’s lower fares, stronger forward bookings and the continuing success of Ryanair’s Always Getting Better customer experience improvement programme.

More Guests in Latvia’s Hotels in Q1 EXCHANGE RATES

In the first quarter (Q1) of the year, Latvian hotels and accommodation establishments reported around 360,500 visitors, 3.4 percent more than in the same period in 2014, according to the country’s Central Statistical Bureau.

Accurate as of

25/6/2015 COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.12

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.71

Switzerland (CHF)

Franc

1.04

Japan (JPY)

Yen

138.81

Riga

ut of all visitors, 65 percent were foreign and 35 local residents. Riga hosted 83.5 percent of all foreign travellers, followed by Jūrmala and Liepāja, with seven percent and 1.2 percent respectively. The three cities were the favourites for domestic travellers as well, followed by Ventspils, Daugavpils and the Sigulda county. Total number of nights spent in accommodation establishments totalled 693,000, and the average length of stay of foreign visitors was two nights. 25 JUNE 2015

MARKET UPDATE

Wizz Air: 20 Percent Traffic Increase

AEGEAN Boosts Global Traffic in Q1

Over 1.6 million passengers travelled with Wizz Air in May, In the first quarter (Q1) of the year, AEGEAN Airlines’ marking a sound 20 percent year-on-year growth. international passenger traffic rose 22 percent, with the Athens base being the main driver with 26 percent growth.

he number of travellers carried on the domestic network climbed seven percent. Overall, the total figure of passenger movements surged 13 percent to 1.8 million as the company invested more capacity, either by maintaining routes launched in the previous summer season for the winter months as well, or by increasing frequencies on existing itineraries. Consolidated revenue touched EUR138.1 million, a three percent year-on-year boost.

he rise in traffic is in line with the 18 percent surge in capacity to more than 1.8 million seats, resulting in a 1.6 percentage point improvement in load factor to 89 percent. For the 12 rolling months, the low-cost carrier registered over 17 million passengers, up 19 percent, and close to 19.6 million seats, 18 percent more than in the corresponding period in 2014. May saw a number of developments for the company, including the launch of the new corporate brand and the addition of two new Airbus A320s to the fleet.

London Lags Behind UK Provinces In April, London hotels posted negative results, with a decrease in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) mainly driven by room revenues, according to the latest data from HotStats.

Transaero: 1.23 Million Passengers in May

oreover, the Russian carrier’s load factor amounted to 84 percent, a year-on-year boost of two percent. The highest passenger traffic growth was recorded on routes to destinations such as Simferopol, Sochi, Anapa, Kaliningrad, Beijin and Egyptian tourist resorts. “We tried to take into account at utmost the current situation in the tourist market and the actual passenger demand when planning our summer timetable and, in particular, our May holidays operations,” said Olga Pleshakova, CEO, Transaero Airlines, who suggested that these arrangements enhanced business efficiency and contributed to the improvement of the company’s operating results. 25 JUNE 2015

London

In May, Transaero Airlines carried 1.23 million passengers, recording a seven percent traffic growth compared to the same period in 2014.

n the other hand, the UK provinces once again recorded positive year-on-year movements across all key performance indicators. Hotels in the North West of the country achieved a combined uplift in occupancy of 1.9 percentage points and in average room rate (ARR) of four percent resulting in an increase of 6.7 percent in RevPAR.

NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE

Moscow and Paris Fall Behind

roperties in Moscow registered negative year-onyear comparisons across all key performance indicators for the month of April. Both occupancy and ARR plummeted by 4.5 percentage points and 4.4 percent respectively to deliver a RevPAR drop of 10.7 percent. A closer look into the rooms department showed a 42.5 percent increase in travel agency commission per occupied room compared to the same period in 2014. Paris hotels also suffered from a combined decrease in occupancy, which fell 1.4 percentage points, and ARR declining 4.2 percent, resulting in a RevPAR plunge of 5.9 percent. Moreover, mixed results were recorded in non-room revenues and total RevPAR diminished by 6.1 percent to EUR334.13. With payroll rising by 2.6 percentage points, DOPPAR went down by 10 percent to EUR158.78, and GOPPAR fell by 18.4 percent to EUR80.60.

In April, Spain and Belgium seemed to be doing fine in terms of their hotel market activities; however, things did not look so bright on the other side of the continent, with Russia struggling to keep up as both occupancy and room rates plummeted. A similar negative climate existed in Switzerland where RevPAR appeared increased but profits were still low.

Barcelona and Brussels Take the Lead

RevPAR Up, Profits Down in Z端rich

otels in Z端rich demonstrated once again that RevPAR alone can be a misleading indicator of hotel performance with a rise of 0.2 percent this April, as both total RevPAR and GOPPAR levels went down by 3.1 percent and 14.9 percent respectively. A three percentage point increase in demand in contrast to a 3.9 percent drop in ARR delivered the RevPAR growth. However, mixed performances in ancillary revenues resulted in total RevPAR levels falling by 3.1 percent to EUR218.42 and DOPPAR also declined by six percent to EUR99.88. Surging overhead and payroll costs did not help the overall performance and GOPPAR plunged by 14.9 percent to EUR50.53 compared to the same period in 2014.

oth Barcelona and Brussels hoteliers reported significant year-on-year surges in gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) of 30.5 percent and 34.7 percent respectively, according to the latest data from HotStats. April was a strong month for hotels in the Catalan capital with rises in average room rate (ARR) of 11.6 percent and occupancy of 3.7 percentage points, leading to a RevPAR growth of 17.1 percent to EUR149.92. Hotels in the Belgian capital simultaneously increased occupancy, which climbed 1.6 percentage points, and ARR, up 15.3 percent to produce a RevPAR uplift of 17.8 percent in April, compared to the same period in 2014.

Z端rich

25 JUNE 2015

TECHNOLOGY NEWS

Hotelogix: Cloud Technology Supports Hotels

Illusions Online Begins Operations in Lisbon

Poken Teams Up with QuickMobile

roperty management system Hotelogix sees cloud technology as the driving force behind better control of business, expanded market reach, improved guest experience and better cost controls for small and mid-sized accommodation units. “Smaller hotels and independent operators have struggled for years to compete with the big brands and remain profitable; they are looking for the right tools to manage their property better and sell more rooms online,” supported Aditya Sanghi, CEO, Hotelogix. He added that existing legacy solutions are holding these properties back from reaching out to customers in real time and the answer to that is migrating on-premises technology to a cloud-based system.

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llusions Online has been rapidly expanding its operations over the last two years, and the Dubai-based company is now putting some firm footprints on the ground by having established a new regional office in Lisbon to cover Europe and Latin America. The new operation will perform business development and support activities focussed on these two considerable travel markets. The new team comes with extensive travel domain experience and a strong mandate to build upon the company’s customer base. In addition, the team will also work on forging partnerships with providers of unique travel content to expand the global travel marketplace, i-World Travel eXchange.

oken, the 360 Event Platform, has partnered with app developer QuickMobile to enhance its event tool offering. To date, Poken has been offering its clients a mobile website accessible on any smartphone including Blackberry, while now its complete end-to-end toolset for event managers is enhanced with, My Event Pro, a fully-configurable native event app for iPhone and Android. Stephane Doutriaux, CEO, Poken, stated, “By partnering with QuickMobile, we aim to further develop the digital and physical event experience for attendees, exhibitors and organisers, as we have been doing successfully for the past eight years.”

NEWS AIRPORTS

Charging Point at Liverpool Airport

iverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) boasts Merseyside’s first rapid charging point for electric vehicles. The new facility, part of Ecotricity’s Electric Highway which belongs to the UK’s national network of electric charging stations, is powered with 100 percent renewable energy from sun and wind and is free for everyone to use. “The journey to the airport can be one of the major contributors to CO2 emissions associated with our business,” reminded Andrew Dutton, head of environment, LJLA, adding that by installing the charging point the airport is giving customers with electric or hybrid cars the opportunity to use these vehicles on a potential lengthy journey to the hub.

Positive Passenger Growth at LJLA

iverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) experienced a 7.5 percent growth in passenger numbers in May, the fourth consecutive year-on-year monthly increase in passenger throughput. Figures for the first five months of the year are now over five percent higher than for the same period in 2014 and reflect the recent upsurge in business at the airport. May’s levels follow previous encouraging monthly surges and follow on from a number of recent new route announcements, which are expected to help the growth in passenger numbers continue throughout the year.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Improving Taxi Services at Copenhagen Airport

new taxi management system will be implemented at Copenhagen Airport this summer to improve service for travellers, provide more space and substantially reduce idle time for taxi drivers. The system will ensure that the number of taxis at the airport matches passenger demand through an information system that continuously provides digital updates to dispatch centres about the demand for taxicabs. Vehicles currently wait an average of 42 minutes for a fare at Copenhagen Airport. The ambition is a 50 percent reduction in this waiting time, to an average maximum of 20 minutes. This will save taxi drivers some 330,000 hours of queuing a year and substantially reduce their environmental impact.

Passengers Wait Less in Copenhagen

aiting times for security screening at Copenhagen Airport were reduced by 18 percent, following the launch of a domestic programme designed to address travellers’ concerns. The average waiting time at peak periods dropped from around six minutes to 4.8 minutes. The airport has launched a number of initiatives that is set to help increase commuter satisfaction. Among those are more staff at security screening, two commuter lanes and a better dialogue with commuters, explained Henrik Peter Jørgensen, vice president, communications, Copenhagen Airports.

Copenhagen Airport 25 JUNE 2015

CRUISING NEWS

Norwegian Epic

New Packages on Norwegian Cruise Line Slovenia Lures More Foreign Tourists

orwegian Cruise Line unveiled the Freestyle Choice offers for June and July giving guests the chance to choose from four packages which include complimentary beverages, dining, offshore excursions or Wi-Fi, subject to specific criteria. The promotion is applicable on multiple sailings in Europe, South America, Alaska, the Caribbean as well as transatlantic voyages. Revealing the company’s hidden card, Nick Wilkinson, director of business development, Norwegian Cruise Line, said, “Our largest ship, Norwegian Epic, which sails on a seven-night Mediterranean schedule from Barcelona every Sunday and from Civitavecchia, Rome every Wednesday has been very popular amongst guests from the Middle East.”

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A New Experience with Allure of the Seas

llure of the Seas is entering Europe with new vacation and retail experiences, after an extensive revitalisation. The Royal Caribbean International’s ship is delivering Europe’s must-see cities such as Barcelona, Marseille, Pisa and Rome. The updated vessel boasts 18 restaurants, 10 new suites and staterooms, and brand name boutiques, offering a superior shopping experience. Guests aboard Allure of the Seas can also enjoy a 25m foot zip line, a 13m rock-climbing wall, and a whirlpool, along with many more amenities and activities, with bird’s-eye views while sailing through Europe.

NEWS AGENTS Kuoni UK Staff Goes Greener

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el over For he Trav T d e , l ears has t 10 y ndation ects tha u o Fo ful pr j ravel ess et succ able th o work e n t e bl stry aina indu s a sust rd e? towa futur

he Travel Foundation assembled a training quiz for Kuoni Travel’s UK team to help staff members better understand what sustainability means for people, the environment, the industry and businesses. As Derek Jones, managing director, Kuoni Travel, explained, in recent years, a number of new employees have joined the company, many of whom were new to the industry and unfamiliar with the concept and significance of sustainability. “We want to continue to keep the issues around responsible travel front of mind,” stressed Jones. “The Kuoni Go Greener training is clear and jargon-free […]. It is completely tailored to our business.”

Digital Enhancements for TUI Apps

aving already registered more than one million downloads to date, TUI Travel’s Thomson and First Choice are introducing new digital enhancements to their mobile applications. Using their mobile boarding passes, which can be obtained after checking in online, customers will now enjoy a paperless airport experience making the start of their journey even more hassle-free. Holiday-makers are now also able to book in-flight extras or upgrade their seats, in addition to the existing features, such as weather forecast and exchange rates. As John Boughton, director, ancillaries and commercial, Thomson and First Choice, explained, the aim is to enhance the customer experience at every step of the journey.

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NEWS TOURISM BOARDS

Dunluce Castle, Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland: Double-digit Increase in Arrivals

orthern Ireland recorded an 11 percent rise in the volume of overseas holiday-makers in 2014, with figures from Great Britain up 12 percent. As Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, explained, all in all, overseas arrivals rose six percent as compared to 2013, propelled by a 38 percent surge from North America. The authority also registered an exceptional 14 percent year-on-year growth in foreign visitors between February and April. Gibbons attributed the success to the tourism body’s packed programme of promotions throughout 2014 and revealed a bouquet of upcoming initiatives. “We continue to highlight iconic experiences all over Northern Ireland, including Titanic Belfast, the Giant’s Causeway and out unique National Trust properties,” pointed out a few features Gibbons.

Tallinn Sees 3.81 Million Passengers in 2014

Positive Results for Malta

allinn welcomed 3.81 million travellers in 2014, half of which stayed overnight in the city, according to a study conducted by TNS Emor. Around 37 percent of all foreign visitors stayed at paid accommodation establishments, while 14 percent stayed with friends or relatives. Out of the 1.87 million international day trippers, 470,000 were cruise ship passengers. Main activities of visitors include visiting cafés, shopping and sightseeing. Other districts of Tallinn and the surrounding areas of the city were also popular, in addition to the Old Town and city centre.

Tallinn

Malta

alta continues to attract an increasing number of travellers, with arrivals and overnight stays for the first quarter of the year standing at 273,965 and 1,438,989, up 4.5 percent and 4.8 percent respectively. According to Malta Tourism Authority, net occupancy rates for the three-month period surged from 43 percent in 2014 to 46.8 percent, proving that improvement during the winter months is helping tourism establishments to raise their bed utilisation. This, as the tourism body pinpointed, is in line with the government policy to channel growth into the off-peak periods of the year.

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NEWS Travelling above All for Brits

PortAventura’s Ferrari Land Sees Groundbreaking Slovenia Lures More Foreign Tourists Ceremony

Rendering of the park

groundbreaking ceremony recently took place for the first Ferrari Land in PortAventura Resort, the most important project of the resort in the last 20 years. The ceremony was attended by a number of local dignitaries and senior members of the Ferrari F1 Team, as well as Arturo Mas-Sardá, president, PortAventura Resort and Sergio Feder, executive chairman, PortAventura Resort. “It gives us great pride to collaborate with such an iconic brand like Ferrari, which enjoys great prestige worldwide, and develop together Ferrari Land in its exclusive form for Europe,” said Feder.

PASTA Promotes Walking and Cycling

he European Union-founded Physical Activity Through Sustainable Transport Approaches (PASTA) is seeking best practice examples from cities across the continent on walking and cycling. The idea behind the initiative is to bring together measures that have been shown to improve the health and wellbeing of citizens alongside examples of successful cooperation across diverse sectors

he global travel and tourism industry employs more people than the automotive manufacturing, mining and financial services combined globally, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)’s research. Having supported 277 million jobs in 2014, equal to 9.4 percent of global employment, travel and tourism comes third out of eight sectors, right behind retail and agriculture. Currently the second-fastest growing sector, it is expected to develop 3.9 percent per annum over the next decade, well outpacing the global economy. In 2014, the sector generated some USD7.6 trillion, making it the fourth largest GDP contributor after mining, financial services and retail.

Intermodal Transport on the Rise in Austria

and city departments. The top five most representative projects will be selected and published as part of a handbook in 2017. “A key output of PASTA will be a collection of good practice examples and recommendations; we are interested to find out from cities which measures promoting active mobility have worked well for them,” said Florinda Boschetti, project coordinator, PASTA.

WTTC: Travel and Tourism Supports 277 Million Jobs

ravel search site momondo.co.uk found a resounding 21 percent of a 1,000 Brits surveyed prefer to spend their spare cash on holidays. This was when given a choice between a selection of ways to splurge, including on home improvements, clothes, health and wellbeing, dining out, cars and cultural events. Some 10 percent of Brits plan to spend between GBP4,000 (EUR5,490) and GBP8,000 (EUR10,980), and two percent plan to spend more than GBP8,000 (EUR10,980) on their summer holiday this year. When budgeting for a holiday however, momondo found 30 percent of Brits prefer to save money on their flight, leaving more to splash out on accommodation, dining and cultural experiences.

he majority of Austrians combine different forms of transport on their journey’s thanks to new technology and integrated transported hubs, according to a report by ecomobility experts, VCÖ. The report states that over half of Austrians use public transport, 70 percent cycle, eight out of 10 use a car at least occasionally, and 90 percent walk either every day or several times a week. VCÖ claims this is due to transport hubs making links to other forms of transport, including providing sheltered bicycle parking, car and bike sharing facilities, as well as up-to-date transport information that is accessible from smartphones.

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NEWS

EFTELING THEME PARK UNVEILS NEW ROLLERCOASTER

Eurostar Sets Off to the Sunshine

urostar has launched its new year-round service direct from London to Lyon, Avignon and Marseille. Passengers can now speed across the French countryside to reach the gastronomy, lavender fields and sunshine of the new destinations, within easy reach of the heart of London or Ashford. Furthermore, the south of France holiday atmosphere arrived at Eurostar stations with customers being offered speciality foods from the new destinations, as well as the chance to win tickets amongst other surprises. Travellers on the inaugural journey, on May 1, were also welcomed onboard by Eurostar staff sporting brand new uniforms to reflect the new destinations, with striped t-shirts and straw hats.

Efteling Theme Park

Netherlands-based Efteling Theme Park Resort has unveiled a new goldmine-themed dive rollercoaster.

Eurostar's Inaugural Service Departing St. Pancras International

Visitors Benefit from Berlin City Pass

ince its launch over two decades ago, the Berlin Welcome Card has become one of Europe’s most successfully city cards. The pass that comes with a practical guide and a map, serves the needs of both first-time and returning visitors. It combines classic tourist highlights along with new attractions including numerous museums and places, guided tours, as well as boat cruises. In addition, travellers can also take advantage of discounts between 25 and 50 percent at more than 200 places of interest in the German capital.

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Belfast Waterfront Geared Up to Showcase Extension

Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre

he Baron 1898 starts with a 37.5m freefall down a mineshaft, followed by a half loop and a half roll at 90km per hour into a Zero G roll, before finishing with a fast spiral. In addition to this, the park features a variety of rides and rollercoasters, including one in the dark, a double-rail wooden one, a bobsleigh ride and wild-water ride. Boat rides, a flying Thai temple, live performances, water shows and children’s rides are also available. As for accommodation, guests can choose between a themed hotel onsite and the Efteling Village Bosrijk, set in the woodlands.

elfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre will open the doors to its considerable extension in spring 2016 and is ready to welcome an influx of international business travellers. The expanded convention centre will feature double the event space, where already 50 national and international happenings are lined up to be among the first to benefit from the new enhanced multi-purpose space. Geoff Fenlon, interim managing director, Belfast Waterfront Conference and Exhibition Centre, noted, “In less than 350 days we are going to have a brand new worldclass conference centre in the heart of one of Europe’s most exciting cities that will offer the right kind of access and the right facilities for whatever event organisers might want.”

NEWS ACCOMMODATION Swiss-Belhotel International Opens Office in Athens

wiss-Belhotel International has taken another step in its worldwide expansion with the opening of a regional office for Europe in Athens. Gavin Faull, president, Swiss-Belhotel International, said negotiations were under way on a number of management opportunities in Europe, with three hotels expected to be in place later this year. ”We have long been looking at investing in Europe and the new regional office will provide us with a springboard into the market. We have achieved success in Asia Pacific and the Middle East and we feel the time is now right to take our nine international brands into Europe,” he said.

New Park Inn Announced for Iceland

arlson Rezidor Group will launch Park Inn by Radisson Keflavik International Airport in Iceland, a conversion of an existing hotel which will be rebranded in the third quarter of the year to join the two upper upscale Radisson Blu properties which the company operates in Reykjavik. “We believe that the international brand Park Inn by Radisson is an ideal support to our airport and convention hotel. The brand’s standards and Carlson Rezidor’s knowledge will open additional opportunities to us and increase our competitive advantage on Iceland’s growing hospitality market,” commented Bjarni Pálsson, owner, Park Inn by Radisson Keflavik International Airport.

Park Inn by Radisson Keflavik International Airport

edeman Hotels & Resorts International launched its latest venture, Park Dedeman Izmailovo Moscow. The 110-room hotel is in close proximity to the Russian capital’s transportation networks, business and shopping districts, as well as local art and entertainment venues. In 2014, the company introduced Dedeman Oskemen Tavros in Kazakhstan and Dedeman Bostanci in Istanbul, and this year saw the opening of its third hotel in Istanbul, Dedeman Park Levent. “By 2023, the very year that Turkey will celebrate its 100th birthday, our target is to reach 42 hotels in total, subdivided as 20 Dedeman and 22 Park Dedeman-branded properties,” confirmed Rifat Dedeman, vice chairman, Dedeman Hotels & Resorts International.

Gallery Hotel in Barcelona Upgraded to Four-star Superior

Barcelona

Park Dedeman Izmailovo Moscow

Park Dedeman Izmailovo Moscow Opens

Rocco Forte to Launch Events

occo Forte Hotels plans to introduce Rocco Forte Events, a newly-developed offering for meetings, conferences, events, and incentives. Creating a consistent offering across all the properties, from July 1 the group will launch silver, gold, and platinum packages with each being personalised to clients’ individual requirements with tiered benefits for meeting planners, as well as unique offerings for delegates throughout their stay. For true expert attention, the Rocco Forte Hotels events team is split into specialist areas covering executive meetings, incentives, car and product launches and road shows.

allery Hotel, a Warwick International Hotels affiliate member in Barcelona, has attained the four-star superior classification. Located in central Barcelona, Gallery Hotel’s elegant and spacious facilities, the cuisine served at its restaurant, its customer service and its values of excellence and commitment, all attributed to the upgrade in category. Most notably, the recent full refurbishment of its bedrooms, as well as major renovations to the overall hotel, positively affected the upgrade. The recently finished rooms have a clean and bright design, and are equipped with the latest technology.

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ACCOMMODATION NEWS

ME Milan Il Duca Unveiled in Fashion District

New Owner for InterContinental Paris Le Grand

Prague Welcomes easyHotel

eliá Hotels International’s ME by Meliá has launched its first Italian luxury lifestyle hotel in the heart of Milan’s fashion and design district. ME Milan Il Duca is centrally located in the Piazza della Repubblica shopping area, and occupies the site of the former l’Hotel Duca di Milano, which has since been renovated to become a cosmopolitan hub with modern interiors. The hotel is a fusion of traditional and contemporary Italian design, and features 132 modern rooms. In addition, the property boasts two flexible meeting rooms and a 24-hour fitness centre. Present will also be the first Italian branch from contemporary restaurant STK, which will offer a selection of steaks and grills.

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ollowing receipt of relevant regulatory approvals, InterContinental Hotels Group has completed the sale of InterContinental Paris Le Grand to Constellation Hotels France Grand, an affiliate of Constellation Hotels Holding. Gross disposal proceeds of EUR330 million have been received in cash to be used for general corporate purposes. The hotel group will continue to manage the hotel under a long-term management contract.

InterContinental Paris Le Grand

n early June, easyHotel Prague opened its doors on the western side of the city centre in close proximity to a wealth of entertainment options, restaurants, bars and coffee shops. Hospitality consultancy company, Diverse Hospitality Solutions assisted in the project in regards to its preopening and operational setup. The new hotel boasts 88 rooms, all of which are air-conditioned, fully heated and equipped with Wi-Fi, a TV and en-suite bathroom. Simon Champion, CEO, easyHotel, said, “We are delighted to open a franchised hotel in Prague which provides customers with exactly what they want – a good quality hotel at an affordable price. We believe that the international nature of our brand should fit well with the significant inbound tourism into the city.”

Ascott Reveals European Expansion Plans

he Ascott Limited welcomed Tony Tan, president, Singapore, to its newly-opened Citadines Suites Arc de Triomphe Paris, as part of its celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of trade relations between Singapore and France. Simultaneously, the company also announced its plans to target 10,000 apartment units in Europe by 2020. Currently, the company manages 42 properties on the continent with more than 5,000 apartment units in six countries, 27 of which are located in France alone. Lee Chee Koon, CEO, The Ascott Limited, noted, “Our asset size in Europe is over USD1.5 billion (EUR1.33 billion). We will continue to deepen Ascott’s presence in gateway cities [...].”

NEWS AIR Air Malta Updates Assistant Dogs Policy

Flybe Now Serving Bastia

lybe has started a new twice weekly service to Bastia in Corsica from Southampton Airport, which will operate during the summer on Thursdays and Sundays, through to September 27. Dave Lees, managing director, Southampton Airport, said, “We are delighted to add yet another summer sun destination to our programme, making holidays from Southampton Airport even more attractive.”

ssistant dogs can now travel with their owners on every Air Malta flight, according to the latest update to the national airline’s Policy on Carriage of Assistance Dogs. The updated policy comes after discussions held between Leone Sciberras, chairman, Malta Guide Dogs Foundation, and Fabian Mizzi, executive, passenger handling, Air Malta. Mizzi said the airline felt the need to update its policy because it is confident that, so long as the dog meets the full membership criteria of the International Guide Dog Federation or Assistance Dog International and is well trained, it will pose no risk to other travelling passengers.

Monarch Launches Flights to Lyon for Skiers

onarch is to launch a new route from Manchester Airport to Lyon as part of its winter ski programme. The flights will commence on December 20 and operate until April 10, 2016, departing from Manchester early in the morning, allowing skiers to be on the slopes in the early afternoon. Marjan Schoeke, head of network development, Monarch, said, “We are delighted to be expanding our ski programme from Manchester Airport to Lyon for the upcoming 2015/16 ski season and we are sure it will be very popular with our customers. Our choice of European destinations for skiers is growing with more destinations and frequencies on offer for [this] winter than ever before.”

Pobeda Welcomes Millionth Passenger

n June 3, Pobeda carried its millionth passenger since commencing operations on December 1, 2014. A ceremony to celebrate the landmark was held at Pobeda’s home airport of Vnukovo. Vitaly Saveliev, CEO, Aeroflot, said, “The first million passengers is a milestone for Pobeda and illustrates yet again that a low-cost carrier is in high demand in Russia and can be successful. This project has exceeded our expectations. In less than half a year Pobeda has become one of the 10 largest carriers in the country.”

Norwegian: Load Factor Up 7.9 Percentage Points

orwegian carried some 2.4 million passengers in May, up 13 percent, leading to a 7.9 percentage point’s rise in capacity utilisation to 84.9

percent. Noting that the growth needs to be viewed in light of the weak traffic in the corresponding month in 2014, due to the cabin union strike, Bjørn Kjos, CEO, Norwegian, expressed his delight at the positive statistics. “The traffic figures show that an increasing number of customers choose Norwegian. Future summer booking figures are positive, which not least reflect our European and intercontinental growth,” added Kjos.

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RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What are the main reasons behind the doubledigit surge in arrivals to the country? KONSTANTINOS ZDRALIS: Several and different changes of our touristic product contributed to this increase. [It is] a fact that after a couple of years of negative marketing and deep political and financial instability that prohibited travellers from visiting Greece, 2014 proved to be the turning point. The country proved that it can get through [difficult times] and it is not standing opposite the main European governments that are also the main source markets, any more. The second factor is that in the meantime, during 2011 and 2013, the local tourism industry realised that to survive, the restructuring of the product, its marketing and its pricing was needed. […]

Q & A with Konstantinos Zdralis

DIRECTOR OF SALES, MAKEDONIA PALACE HOTEL, THESSALONIKI

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: The government has proposed plans to impose an 18 percent tax on hotels to revitalise the economy. How would this action affect the industry? In what other ways could tourism help reenergise the country’s economic development?

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How have your key source markets changed over the years and what are the reasons? KONSTANTINOS ZDRALIS: Thessaloniki, being the second biggest city in the country, used to be solely a local MICE destination or just a pre and post one night stay on the way to Halkidiki and other islands. As of 2012, this started changing, placing Thessaloniki on the resort and city break map as well. The developments that reinforced this profile change [include] the reactivation of international flights from the city’s airport. Ryanair, Transavia, Wizz Air, Scandinavian Airlines, Alitalia, Air Serbia and even more AEGEAN Airlines and Turkish Airways all started using Thessaloniki’s airport due to its convenient location and competitive fares. As a result, the city is now easily approachable from all around Europe. Additionally, the municipality of Thessaloniki has played a very active role in this development by investing into the city’s marketing along with the hotel association and the convention bureau. All the above actions resulted in a shift from the local market to international markets such as Turkey, Israel, German and more recently Belgium and the Netherlands.

FOLLOWING YEARS OF STRUGGLE, 2014 BROUGHT SIGNS OF RECOVERY FOR THE GREEK TOURISM INDUSTRY WITH ARRIVALS RISING. KONSTANTINOS ZDRALIS, DIRECTOR OF SALES, MAKEDONIA PALACE HOTEL, THESSALONIKI, WEIGHS IN ON THE COUNTRY’S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT PATH.

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What aspects of Greece need more marketing in order to unlock the industry’s full potential? KONSTANTINOS ZDRALIS: We always say that Greece is not only sea and sun. 25 JUNE 2015

The variety of the country’s landscape, the provincial cities on the mainland, the thermal springs, the outdoor activities on the mountains, the wines [all deserve the promotion]. Few know that near Thessaloniki there are beautiful mountains and lakes, apart from the exotic coasts of Halkidiki. You can try Olympus trails, lunch in one of the picturesque shelters on the famous mountain and then, in less than an hour drive, you may windsurf or just enjoy a sandy coast. Greece is a boutique offering – the greatest range of experiences you may wish for, and all these options, all year around.

Makedonia Palace Hotel

KONSTANTINOS ZDRALIS: The current tax percentage is about 6.5 percent. Increasing it to 18 percent will undoubtedly result in a serious negative financial impact on the sector. In the last five years, the tax percentage has changed several times. It is not solely the rate increase that will make our product less competitive. It is even more that this unstable environment is not supporting the healthy entrepreneurship. Funding of new projects is always averted by such instabilities. On the other hand, it is true that the tourism sector should back up the country’s effort to exit this recession cycle. Since the tourism industry is one of the few [sectors] that continue to perform strongly, it is inevitable to get targeted by the international institutions’ austerity measures. I feel that this will deter the upward orbit and will permit to compete with destinations such as Turkey, Croatia and Spain, to gain a bigger share of the market. However, and trying always to keep an optimistic view of the situation, I believe that the ultimate factor to settle Greece’s place as a top destination, is to finalise this bailout agreement, that will create a safe and stable environment and better address tourists’ expectations. After all, as already mentioned, Greece is not a mass product. It is a boutique destination that should preserve and promote the values demanded by this boutique clientele.

NEWS AIR Thomson Airways Expands Dreamliner Fleet

Hahn Air’s New Interline Partners

wo years after taking delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Thomson Airways is gearing up to add up to four new Boeing 787-9 to its fleet. Besides converting two existing orders to the larger capacity aircraft, the company also placed an order for a third Boeing with an option to purchase a fourth one, growing its fleet to 13 aircraft by June 2016. The new planes will be deployed on long-haul routes to Mexico’s Caribbean coast, Sanford in Florida and Jamaica, where customer demand has been rising. “The Dreamliner is one of many ways in which we are innovating in the air,” commented John Murphy, managing director, Thomson Airways.

S7 Airlines Now Serves Nizhnekamsk Daily

7 Airlines commenced daily flights between Moscow Domodedovo Airport and Begishevo Airport in Nizhnekamsk. Begishevo Airport is located close to three large cities, namely Tatarstaz, Naberezhnye Chelny and Yelabuga, offering convenience for all travellers. S7 Airlines’ direct daily services from Moscow Domodedovo Airport depart at 23:55, with the returning flight from Nizhnekamsk leaving at 06:30. The links will be operated on an Airbus A319 liners equipped with economy and business class cabins.

Liverpool

Aer Lingus to Link Liverpool with Dublin

Thomson Airways Dreamliner

ahn Air welcomed 15 interline partners in this year. The airlines, which are now available on the HR-169 ticket, can be booked by 95,000 travel agencies worldwide through all major global distribution systems (GDS). With this move, Hahn Air now provides distribution services for a network of over 300 air and rail partners through travel agencies based on its ticketing platform and settlement services. Interline partners benefit from global ticket sales while outsourcing five major elements of indirect global distribution; a membership in Billing and Settlement Plans covering almost 190 markets worldwide; connectivity with all GDS; international money repatriation; global support for 95,000 travel agencies; as well as risk and fraud management.

iverpool John Lennon Airport will soon see Aer Lingus fly to Dublin, with October 23 being marked as the official launch date of services on the route. Passengers will be offered 16 flights per week, with departures from Liverpool being scheduled for 08: 40 and return flights leaving the Irish capital at 19:05. This timing is also convenient for seamless connections onwards to a number of Aer Lingus flights to the US and Canada. Andrew Cornish, CEO, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented, “This route will enhance the airport’s reputation as a convenient hassle free alternative for business travellers in particular, looking to do business both in Dublin or onward to the US.”

Jet2.com Links Vienna and Edinburgh

et2.com will connect Vienna with Edinburgh as of April 2016, flying between the two cities twice per week throughout the duration of its summer schedule. “Our existing scheduled service between Vienna and Manchester has proved to be hugely successful at both ends of the route, and we are confident our loyal Austrian business and leisure customers will appreciate the increasing choice and frequency of theJet2.com schedule,” said Steve Heapy, CEO, Jet2.com.

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AIR NEWS Austrian Airlines Expands Connections Between Linz and Vienna

ustrian Airlines has added four weekly afternoon flights between Linz and Vienna, along the existing six weekly flights, and seven direct connections each day with AlRail, the Austrian Federal Railways. Austrian Airlines will also introduce eight additional daily connections with AlRail as of December. Andreas Otto, chief operating officer, Austrian Airlines, noted, “The decisive reason for our decision to expand service is the commitment on the part of Linz Airport and the tourist board to intensify their efforts to increase passenger volume.”

Finnair Expands Australian and Asian Offering

airBaltic Links Tallinn and Berlin

irBaltic introduced its third direct route from the Estonian capital, linking it with Berlin. The new flights are operated four times per week by a Bombardier Q400 NextGen aircraft. Christophe Viatte, chief commercial officer, airBaltic, commented, “By improving links between the Baltic capitals and European cities, airBaltic is strengthening its position as a truly Baltic airline. In addition to our existing Tallinn – Paris route launched last year, travellers from Tallinn are able to benefit from a new direct connection to the heart of Europe.”

Charleroi to Welcome Another Wizz Air Flight

russels South Charleroi Airport is to add another Wizz Air service following the low-cost carrier’s announcement to operate twiceweekly flights between its new base in Debrecen and the Belgian capital. Effective from December 18, the airline will deploy

an Airbus A320 on the route, which will be operated on Mondays and Fridays, bringing the number of destinations served by Wizz Air from Brussels to 11. As Jószef Váradi, CEO, Wizz Air, said the new service will make East Hungary more accessible, boosting tourism and fostering economic development in the region.

Icelandair Expands in North America

innair is strengthening ties with fellow oneworld alliance members, Japan Airlines and Qantas Airways, with new codeshares on routes to Busan, South Korea and Perth, Australia. Busan is a new addition to the Finnish carrier’s extended network, which Finnair passengers can now reach daily via Tokyo Narita airport on services operated by Japan Airlines. Also, from June 26 travellers can connect to Perth via Singapore on Qantas Airways flights. This creates additional scheduling and route options for individuals who can also arrive to Perth via Hong Kong with oneworld partner Cathay Pacific Airways.

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celandair has launched nonstop services between Reykjavik and Portland, Oregon, the carrier’s 14th North American gateway. Birkir Holm Gudnason, CEO, Icelandair, described the latest addition to the route map as an ideal launch pad for the company’s continued expansion in the Pacific Northwest. “Our new flights from [Portland] will give the business community and the adventurous travellers of Portland a refreshing alternative when travelling to Iceland and beyond,” explained Gudnason, adding that while the service is currently seasonal, the management hopes to see the demand facilitate further growth in the years ahead.

NEWS

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Colosseum, Italy

European Commissioner: Tourism is a Vehicle of Development

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ourism is an important driver of economic growth and job creation, stressed Elżbieta Bieńkowska, commissioner, internal market, industry, entrepreneurship and small and medium enterprises (SME)s, European Commission, at the 111th general assemble of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA). As Bieńkowska noted, tourism is the third largest socio-economic activity in the European Union (EU), accounting for nine percent of the EU’s GDP and employing 10 percent of the total workforce, providing 12 million jobs. To retain Europe’s number one position, she set out eight priorities, such as streamlining regulatory and administrative framework, digitalisation of tourism SMEs, upgrading skills and competences, and promotion of sustainable tourism and traffic at low and medium seasons, among others.

ETC and UNWTO: Secrets of the Meeting Industry

he European Travel Commission (ETC) and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), with support from VisitFlanders, put the spotlight on the key criteria that influence the choice of a destination by meeting planners at the recent International Seminar on The Decision-Making Process of Meetings, Congresses, Conventions and Incentives Organisers. The seminar brought together leading industry experts who also addressed the economic and social impacts of meetings and events and outlined current and future trends. Tourism professionals and destination managers also had the chance to exchange best practice examples of successful destinations.

ETC to Meet in Belgrade this Autumn

he European Travel Commission (ETC) will hold its 90th General Meeting in Belgrade from October 7 – 9, following an invitation by the National Tourism Organisation of Serbia. Eduardo Santander, executive director, ETC, commented, “We are all looking forward to return to beautiful Belgrade and repeat the success of [...] April 2009. It is also a great moment to visit the capital of Serbia, which is among the 50 cities worldwide within the International Congress and Convention Association's destination ranking list [...].”

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

AEGEAN Wins Big at Freddie Awards AEGEAN Airlines’ Miles+Bonus programme was recognised with the Up and Coming Program of the Year accolade at the annual Freddie Awards.

his year, some 3.2 million members participated in the voting process and chose the Greek airline’s loyalty scheme as the best in its category. In addition, Miles+Bonus was also ranked among the four finalists on three other lists, including Best Customer Service, Best Elite Program and Program of the Year, out of 25 companies participating in each segment. “We feel that our effort to always return the trust of our members is being rewarded,” said Chara Dalekou, marketing director, AEGEAN Airlines, reinforcing the company’s commitment to continuously enhancing service levels.

Marina Valvi, head of loyalty marketing, AEGEAN Airlines (left) and Lily Kostogianni, head of loyalty product and air partnerships, AEGEAN Airlines

Kingston College Students Get a Taste of Working at Hertz

he Hertz Corporation’s (Hertz) Hertz London Heathrow operations hosted seven Kingston College travel and tourism students at week-long experience placement throughout April. Hertz and Kingston College connected through mutual affiliation with the Global and Travel Tourism Partnership, a multi-country educational foundation, to introduce students to career opportunities in travel and tourism. During the week-long placement, the students were given daily assignments in customer service, teamwork and office learning skills. Martin O'Brien, programme leader, service industries, Kingston College, noted, ”As many students are planning a career in travel and tourism or wider service industries, they particularly appreciated the opportunities to greet and help customers as well as work alongside the Hertz Heathrow team.”

Minsk Oblast and Zhejiang Province to Cooperate on Tourism

hina’s Zhejiang Province proposed developing tourism cooperation to Minsk Oblast when Li Qiang, province governor, Zhejiang Province, met with Semyon Shapiro, governor, Minsk Oblast. Qiang described the tourism potential of the Chinese province, as well as its plans to increase visitor numbers. He also expressed admiration of the Belarusian nature and highlighted the warm welcome his delegation received in Minsk. The Chinese delegation invited their Belarusian counterparts for a visit, and Shapiro suggested visits for cultural figures and journalists to the two areas.

UNWTO Conference Urges Mediterranean Cooperation

he ability to offer a high-quality visitor experience is crucial to enhance Mediterranean destinations’ competitiveness. Thus, the 2nd UNWTO Conference on Destination Management in the Mediterranean, which took place between June 22 – 24 in Budva, focussed on how strategic partnerships can propel the industry’s development. Accounting for one in three international tourist arrivals worldwide, over a quarter of total global tourism receipts, and almost 20 percent of the global cruise market, the Mediterranean is one of the world’s most visited regions. Organised by the World Tourism Organization and Montenegro’s Ministry of Sustainable Development and Tourism, the event gathered experts from Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Jordan, Spain, Portugal and Turkey.

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Work placement at Hertz

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WHO’S MOVED Carsten Fritz continues as the new director of Steigenberger Parkhotel Düsseldorf. New to the company, Fritz has spent over 25 years in the hotel sector. His professional career has included stints as director at various properties under The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company in Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Spain and Qatar.

CARSTEN FRITZ

MICHAEL KAIN

Fritz has previously worked in Europe, Asia and the Middle East

Michael Kain is moving to Steigenbeger Grandhotel Petersberg in Bonn-Königswinter, Germany as the property’s new director. Over the past 30 years, Kain has held various management positions with the company, having most recently served as director at Steigenberger Parkhotel Düsseldorf. He also successfully oversaw the completion and renovation works and the repositioning of Steigenberger Parkhotel Düsseldorf. Moving to Bonn-Königswinter, he is bringing extensive experience and know-how to the hotel.

Kain has been with the company for 30 years

JÜRGEN VON MASSOW

Jürgen von Massow has been selected to head Steigenberger Hotel Group’s business hotels division, effective from August 1. Von Massow’s professional experience has included posts as general manager at various properties in the Hyatt chain. Most recently he worked as vice president of operations at Dorint Hotels & Resorts. At Steigenberger Hotels, he will be focussing on securing and further developing operational standards and coordinating the future launches of the company’s business hotels. In addition, he will also be in charge of increasing profitability, including within the existing portfolio of hotels.

Von Massow worked as general manager at several hotels

RENATO MORETTO

Renato Moretto has been welcomed by Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living as the property’s new general manager. With 39 years’ experience in the hospitality sector, Moretto joins Jumeirah Group from Al Bandary Hotel Management in Qatar, where he was group director of operations, supervising the development of seven properties. Prior to that he worked as pre-opening general manager at Nungwi Resort & Spa in Tanzania, before which he was re-opening general manager at Regency Hotel and Convention Centre in Kuwait. Moretto’s experience includes positions at Sonesta Pharaoh Beach Resort in Egypt, Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort on St. Maarten in the Netherlands Antilles and the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham.

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PHOTO ALBUM

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Ryanair celebrated its inaugural flight to Chania, Greece

This summer there is a brand new uniform showcased across Bristol Airport

Heathrow Airport installed a two-storey high Statue of Liberty replica made using lipstick

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The German Olympic team leaving Frankfurt Airport for the European Games in Baku

After more than 20 years of annual flights with bmi regional, D Day War Veteran, William Milward was presented with a commemorative certificate and free ticket

USE THE C!TY FESTIVAL brought non-traditional forms of arts to Kosice's streets

NEWS & EVENTS Greece Showcased in Germany

EVENTS

MEX in Frankfurt saw the participation of Greece with a 250m2 pavilion which hosted a total of 26 exhibitors, including conference tour operators, exhibition centres, the Athens Convention Bureau, Thessaloniki Convention Bureau and General Pan-Hellenic Federation of Tourism Enterprises, as well as individual hoteliers. According to the show’s organisers, for the three days that it lasted, IMEX was visited by 9,000 hostel buyers and enabled more than 62,000 face-to-face meetings.

Greece's pavilion at IMEX

A New Look for CCH

ongress Center Hamburg (CCH) continues its legacy as one of Europe's largest convention venues after undergoing remodelling and comprehensive modernisation. With 12,000m2 of exhibition space, 12,000m2 of foyer space and 12,000 seats in up to 50 halls, the new CCH will be in perfect shape for the varying requirements of today's conventions and events when it reopens in 2019. The redesigned centre will be able to accommodate several concurrent events practically, without limitations. The entire project is budgeted for EUR194 million and construction work is scheduled to begin in early 2017 for completion in 2019.

INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART Bangalore, India July 10 – 12 www.iitmindia.com One of the country’s premier travel and tourism exhibitions established in 1998, this year launches in Bangalore with upcoming showings in Chennai, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkatta.

IBTM CHINA

Singapore, Singapore July 01 questexevent.com/AMITE/2015 A place for high-volume buyers based in Europe, North America and Asia Pacific with business interests in Asia.

Congress Center Hamburg

Yoga at the Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

ASIA MEETING & INCENTIVE TRAVEL EXCHANGE

oga enthusiast flocked to the square at the foot of the Eiffel Tower to mark the first world yoga day with a special yoga session. Celebrating the summer solstice, 1,500 fanatics, all dressed in white, rolled out their mats on the world-famous square on June 15 for an early morning exercise in the shadow of the French landmark. The programme continued throughout the week with one-hour sessions on the first level of the tower, offering a unique atmosphere for the ultimate wellbeing experience.

Beijing, China August 05 – 06 www.cibtm.com A place for the MICE industry decision-makers to meet for global business adventures.

ICOMEX Mexico City, Mexico August 25 – 26 www.icomex-mexico.com Part of ibtm events, the show focusses on incentives, congresses and conventions in Latin America.

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