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25 NOVEMBER 2017 ISSUE 64
04 NEWS
02
EU TRAVEL AND TOURISM TRENDS FOR H1
BOEING REPORTS Q3 REVENUES
06 ROADMAP SIGNED BETWEEN MOLDOVA AND UKRAINE
05 Agents 09 Accommodation 16 Air
MARKET UPDATE
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Boeing Reports Q3 Revenues
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel JOURNALISTS Panayiotis Karanicholas Anna Spyrou CONTRIBUTOR Dominique Christou DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 WEBSITE www.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
Boeing Commercial Airplanes, the division of Boeing has reported third-quarter (Q3) revenue of EUR20.30 billion, with GAAP earnings per share of EUR2.59 and core earnings per share of EUR2.30, reflecting strong deliveries, services and delivery mix, and overall solid execution.
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uring Q3 the company delivered a record 202 airplanes, including 24 737 MAX 8 airplanes. The production rate increased to 47 per month on the 737 programme, and Boeing has confirmed plans to increase the 787 production rate to 14 per month in 2019. Our teams across all three business segments are driving execution with a focus on both productivity and growth, which has enabled Boeing to deliver solid Q3 financial results, [...]�, said Dennis Muilenburg, CEO, Boeing.
Record Number of Passengers for airBaltic
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com
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During the first nine months of the year, airBaltic has transported a total of 2,688,016 passengers, with 37,663 flights, to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia and the Middle East.
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he load factor for these months was at a level of 77.9 percent and once again it is the highest recorded for the airline. The flight punctuality indicator during the months under review reached a level of 87.1 percent. In September, the airline carried 342, 645 passengers, 24 percent more than in the same period in 2016 and the airline’s load factor was at a level of 79.5 percent. For the 2018 summer season of 2018, airBaltic has added Malaga, Lisbon, Split, Bordeaux, and Gdansk.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
NEWS
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Knight Frank Presents UK Hotel Performance
On November 09, Science Museum, London announced its newest exhibition, Superbugs, The Fight For Our Life. The exhibition explores humanity’s response to the unprecedented global threat of antibiotic resistance by examining the microscopic, human and global scales and scientific discoveries from across the globe. Visitors will glimpse 12 real bacteria colonies in the exhibition, including nine deadly bacteria that the World Health Organisation classifies as a significant threat to human health. Ian Blatchford, director, Science Museum, London, said, “As the home of the greatest medical collection in the world, it is fitting that the Science Museum is to open an exhibition on antibiotic resistance, the most pressing medical challenge facing our society.”
Louis Vuitton Foundation Hosts MoMA Exhibition
25 NOVEMBER 2017
Louis Vuiton Foundation
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night Frank has launched its first annual edition of The Knight Frank UK Hotel Trading Performance Review for this year, in partnership with HotStats. Included is a comprehensive analysis of the UK’s hotels trading performance, with a detailed review of hotel revenue, cost and profitability. Findings showed that hotels have enjoyed a particularly robust trading environment in both London and regional UK, reinforced by a weak currency, resulting in a greater than anticipated boost in tourism. The report noted that the depreciation of the GBP has caused expenses to increase across all hotel operating departments. Moreover, RevPAR is forecasted to grow by over seven percent for the year, driven by nine percent RevPAR growth in London and record high occupancy rates in the UK provinces.
Promoting MICE in Sicily
O ouis Vuitton Foundation will be hosting from October 11 and until March 05, 2018 an exceptional exhibition devoted to the unrivalled collection of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA). Drawing together a superb and far-reaching representation of the highly important artworks that MoMA has acquired since its founding in 1929, the exhibition includes masterworks ranging from the birth of modern art through trends and styles such as American abstraction, pop art and minimalism to the most contemporary art. Suzanne Pagé, artistic director, Louis Vuitton Foundation,explained, “This exhibition has two objectives, to show in Paris works that represent pivotal moments in the history of modern art, while eliciting the impact that the expanded and renovated MoMA will have on the international landscape.”
Science Museum, London
Superbugs Exhibition at the Science Museum
n October 08 – 10, the third edition of MCE South Europe took place at Four Points by Sheraton Catania Hotel & Conference Centre, showcasing South Europe as a resourceful MICE desti-
nation. A variety of South European MICE solution providers came to the island to represent their destination and build strong relationships with leading event planners keen on finding new business partnership. Daniela Marino, director, operations Sicilia Convention Bureau, said, “We are very proud of the excellent proceedings of the event in which every partner was fully involved to achieve excellence. We hope all participants had the time to discover the beauty of our island and we are confident to see successful MICE business as the result of it.''
Sicily
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NEWS
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EU Travel and Tourism Trends for H1 According to European Union Short-Term Tourism Trends report which presents the preliminary data for international tourist arrivals to the European Union (EU-28) during the first half (H1) of the year, 14 out of the 28 EU countries have recorded double-digit growth in arrivals during the period under review, while all EU-28 destinations received 231 million international tourists between January and June, marking a remarkable eight percent increase compared to the corresponding period in 2016.
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rowth in international tourism receipts reported by the top five EU-28 destinations was fairly strong with Spain recording the highest growth by 12 percent , followed by the UK, France, Germany and Italy which registered 11, eight, four and three percent growth respectively. Meanwhile growth in international tourism expenditure was also robust in the four top EU source markets, with Germany recording three percent increase while UK, France and Italy registered eight, 11 and five percent increase respectively. International arrivals to the 26 destinations outside the EU grew six percent during H1 following the 2016 eight percent decline, with most destinations reporting robust results. Growth has been fuelled by the recovery of Turkey. In terms of international tourism expenditure, four of the world’s top 10 source markets belong to the EU-28. Germany recorded a three percent increase for the period under review while UK reported eight percent growth in spending in the first quarter of the year (Q1), despite the weaker British pound. Tourism spending from France grew 11 percent in H1, while Italy
recorded five percent growth. The remaining six destinations in the top 10 also reported growth in tourism spending with China being the world’s top source market, registering nine percent growth in expenditure in Q1, reflecting an increasing demand for international travel while the US recorded six percent increase during H1. The Republic of Korea posted 16 percent growth during H1 while Canada reported seven percent increase in tourism spending, rebounding after flat growth in 2016. Beyond the top 10, a number of EU-28 source markets showed strong growth in spending during H1 with Spain, Portugal and Ireland reporting double-digit growth in international tourism spending. Moreover Czech Republic and Austria reported strong results while other markets outside the EU-28 showing robust demand for outbound travel during the period under review included Ukraine, Thailand as well as Taiwan . Growth in spending rebounded remarkably after some years of declines in Brazil and Russia, the recovery of which is expected to have fuelled growth in arrivals to its main destinations markets, such as Turkey and Egypt.
Migration in Cities: Challenges and Opportunities
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he World Economic Forum has released its new report on migration and cities covering the different types and causes of migration. The report highlights how cities can more efficiently and effectively deliver urban infrastructure and services to meet the needs of migrants and their level of community engagement, policy reforms, and inclusive urban planning mechanisms. Hazem Galal, leader, global cities and government, PwC, revealed, “[…] By capitalising on the skills migrants have to offer, cities can either enhance their competitiveness or increase the overall cost on their welfare system resulting from unemployment. By incentivising private sector engagement and developing a working partnership, cities can ensure positive outcomes for migrants.”
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A4E to Reduce Airport Charges
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uring the second annual Airlines for Europe (A4E) CEO Forum, the final results of a York Aviation study under the title The Cost and Profitability of European Airports have been presented, showing that European passengers are paying excessive airport charges, particularly at monopoly airports and airports which operate under a Dual-Till regime. “The European Commission’s current regulatory evaluation process is an important step in addressing the abuse of market power by some European Airports. We look forward to concrete outcomes from this process, proceeding to the formulation of the new legislation necessary to tackle the supernormal returns by airports, which are bad for consumers, bad for tourism, bad for national economies […],” said Thomas Reynaert, managing director, A4E.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
NEWS AGENTS
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Building a Holiday with #ScotSpirit
Ireland Takes Part in a B2B Workshop in Germany
n October 18, VisitScotland opened the first ever Instagram Travel Agency, allowing visitors to build their own holidays to Scotland based entirely around other people’s Instagram photos. The #ScotSpirit Instagram Travel Agency takes away the time spent researching holidays online. Upon arrival, Instagram inspiration is delivered via photos of Scotland, and then staff suggest the ideal Scottish holiday itinerary. Visitors can then take the itinerary away to book in their own time. Charlie Smith, director, marketing, VisitScotland, said, “As a destination we are keen to develop and deliver our powerful national story, giving a respectful nod to the past but portraying a modern, welcoming and dynamic Scotland. […] VisitScotland has the biggest tourism Instagram account in Europe, with over 370,000 followers.”
ourism companies from the island of Ireland travelled to Offenbach, near Frankfurt, to take part in a B2B workshop and networking event with leading German tour operators. The delegation from Ireland, which included hotels, visitor attractions, coach operators and destination management companies, met with German, Swiss and Austrian tour operators, in a bid to convince the influential travel professionals in attendance to include the island of Ireland in their holiday programmes for 2018. Zoë Redmond, manager, Central Europe, Ireland Tourism, said, “Germany is our third-largest source of visitors, with the latest CSO figures showing growth of almost four percent increase for June to August.”
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25 NOVEMBER 2017
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Chinese Delegation Enables ETOA to Host Meetings
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EM, the European tourism association’s (ETOA) member-exclusive B2B networking event, matching tourism suppliers with global, European and domestic tour operators is set to facilitate 20,000 one to one meetings in London this year. The matchmaking workshop is 30 percent larger than it was in 2016, owing to an injection of 100 tour operator buyers from China, who are in London as part of the World Bridge Tourism project. The event will involve 1,000 participants, each following a personally-tailored itinerary of relevant, pre-arranged appointments. Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA, said, “The combination of GEM and World Bridge Tourism will bring together the most potent group of professional tourism buyers we have ever hosted.”
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NEWS DESTINATIONS Northern Ireland Reports Strong H1
Northern Ireland
Faith-Based Tourism in Malta
Roadmap Signed Between Moldova and Ukraine
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Saint John's Cathedral
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orthern Ireland saw eight percent growth in overseas holiday visitors during the first half of this year (H1), compared to the corresponding period in 2016. According to Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the island welcome 973,000 overseas visitors during the period under review, marking four percent growth compared to H1 in 2016. Commenting on the figures, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, explained, “We have been rolling out an extensive programme of promotions throughout this year to highlight Northern Ireland around the world [...].We also continue to promote Northern Ireland as a top golf destination [...].”
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n international conference was held in Qawra on October 18–19, co-convened by the Malta Tourism Authority, the University of Malta, the Dublin Institute of Technology and the Leeds Beckett University. The conference was a platform for the creation of a niche market of faith-based tourism meaning religious tourism and pilgrimages. Research has been conducted on faithbased tourism at the Institute for Tourism, Travel and Culture, within the University of Malta, and so a plan to develop this niche market and bring it to a more prominent position in the Maltese tourism product is a main aim for the country.
Copenhagen Secures Energy Summit
roadmap for the development of the Moldovan-Ukrainian cooperation for 2018 was signed by the prime ministers of the two countries. The document sets the priority directions and expresses the two states’ firm intention to further cooperate in implementing the association agreement with the European Union (EU). The roadmap also sees continuation of the joint control at the Moldovan-Ukrainian international border checkpoints and developing partnership to ensure an integrated management of the frontier, based on European standards, including on the Transnistrian segment. Moldova and Ukraine will foster cooperation in the economic sector in the process of production and export of goods to the EU.
Moldova
Positive Numbers for Scotland
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Copenhagen
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openhagen will host the first ever WindEurope Summit for both onshore and offshore wind energy in 2021. WindEurope, which is the European association for wind energy, is also the organiser of the conference and exhibition in 2019. The events will take place at Scandinavia's Bella Center Copenhagen and is expected to attract around 10,000 delegates from across Europe. Kit Lykketoft, convention director, Wonderful Copenhagen, said, "We are incredibly proud that Copenhagen has once again been chosen as host destination for a major WindEurope event. It is the result of a very successful partnership and collaboration over two decades between WindEurope and the destination partners, public as well as private.”
ccording to the International Passenger Survey tourism statistics, Scotland welcomed a growth of 10.8 perecent of overseas visitors from July 2016 to June this year and an increase of 19.4 percent in spend. In the second quater of the year alone, overseas visits have increased 21.6 percent. Aside the results from overseas visitors, Scotland witnessed a decrease of 10.2 percent in domectic visits. Commenting on the results, Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland, said, “It is magnificent to see such spectacular growth from international markets in what has been a busy year for tourism in Scotland. VisitScotland is committed to working in partnership with the government, businesses and communities so that Scotland remains a must-visit destination for future generations of holidaymakers.”
25 NOVEMBER 2017
NEWS DESTINATIONS Tallinn’s Tourism Scene Enhances
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allinn’s tourism scene now has more to offer with the addition of three new attractions. Firstly, the polar bears at Tallinn Zoo have moved into a new enclosure. The zoo has four resident polar bears dad Nord, mum Friida, and their two cubs, Aron and Nora. The Estonian Film Museum, affiliated with the Estonian History Museum, has opened its doors in the grounds of Maarjamäe Palace. Lastly, the basement of the building at Pagari 1 in the Old Town, which was home to one of the Era’s most infamous and fearsome prison cells, is now open for visitors for explore Tallinn’s history.
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Belfast Declared Number One Region
MTA Showcases Beauty of Maltese Islands
Belfast
Belarus Embraces Visa-free Programme
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insk has been visited by tourists from 68 countries visa-free with the help of Belarus’ new visa-free programme, according to Elena Plis, director, information and tourist centre, Minsk. In January – August this year, Minsk provided tourist services worth USD69 million (EUR58.7 million), up 34.1 percent from the same period a year ago. “As of October 13, a total of 56,000 tourists from 68 countries took advantage of the visa-free entry to Belarus. The biggest numbers of tourists came from Germany, Poland, Italy, the US and the UK. Moreover, passenger traffic at Minsk National Airport went up by 30 percent [...],” noted Plis.
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elfast and the Causeway Coast have been named the number one region in the world to visit in 2018 by Lonely Planet, according to its collection of the best destinations and experience, published in October 24. Tourism Ireland plans to take every opportunity to maximise this accolade for Northern Ireland over the coming months, with its promotional campaign to roll out in 14 different markets. Welcoming the news, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said, “The inclusion of Belfast and the Causeway Coast as the number one region in the world in Lonely Planet’s Best in Travel 2018 is wonderful news and will surely help to inspire travellers everywhere to put Northern Ireland on their holiday wish-list for 2018”
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alta Tourism Authority (MTA) has increased its marketing efforts in Japan and South Korea in order to provide greater exposure for the Maltese Islands in these markets and attract more visitors to the islands. At the beginning of October, the MTA office in Tokyo organised a joint seminar in conjunction with Turkish Airlines titled Visit Malta with Turkish Airlines. Key representatives from the travel industry in Japan attended, including travel agencies and journalists. During this seminar, attendees were shown the beauty of the Maltese Island and all it has to offer, from the numerous World Heritage sites to the variety of events which take place throughout the year, as well as the pristine waters around Malta, Gozo and Comino.
Minsk
Georgia Promotes Film Tourism
Scottish Hotel Market Leads the Way
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ccording to HotStats’ latest report, hotels in Scotland recorded a 15.8 percent year-on-year increase in GOPPAR during October, helping the UK hotel market maintain its upward trajectory in profit per room. Year-on-year growth in room revenue in the month under review was supported by increases in non-rooms departments, including food and beverage, conference and banqueting and leisure, which recorded more than 1.9 percent, 3.8 percent and 5.3 percent increase respectively. “Edinburgh has undoubtedly been the star of the show in the Scottish hotel market in [this year],“ said Pablo Alonso, CEO, HotStats.
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iming to celebrate the Year of Georgia Film, Georgia Tourism launched Georgia Film Selfie Spot Tour enabling visitors to travel around the state’s film hotspots and encourages social media fans to share their insta-worthy selfies. The tour includes 33 iconic film and TV sites across the state, including The Vampire Diaries, Forrest Gump, The Walking Dead and Baby Driver. “Visitors come from all over the world to follow in the footsteps of their favourite movie and TV personalities and the new Georgia Film Selfie Spot Tour will help them do just that. This is a fun and exciting way to experience these locations scattered all over Georgia," highlighted Kevin Langston, deputy commissioner, tourism, Georgia.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Hôtel Le Louis Versailles Château New Look Completely renovated, Hôtel Le Louis Versailles Château, is the newest addition to the McGallery collection.
Hôtel Le Louis Versailles Château
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ituated just 200 m from the Palace of Versailles and its gardens, the property is a 20-minute journey away from Paris. The 152-room hotel, featuring seven suites, conveys an antique ambience while having contemporary attributes. The design of the space reflects the harmony that exists between the architect and nature, a powerful theme running through the hotel decor, complimenting the gardens of the Château. Other features also include a fitness centre, nine modular meeting and conference rooms as well as the hotel’s bar-restaurant, L’Alcôve.
Cervo Debuts New Hotel in Switzerland
Bankside: New London Hotel Debut
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ocated in Switzerland's Pennine Alps with views of the Matterhorn, the Overlook Lodge by Cervo will be opening its doors this December. The five exclusive serviced apartments, housed in a newly built lodge, will have a fullyfurnished kitchen with a dining area, as well as a private terrace. The 152 m2 panoramic and penthouse apartments feature three bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms, as well as a loggia and balcony with Matterhorn views. Molton Brown amenities in all the apartments aim to cultivate a spa-like feel to the bathrooms. The concierge team at the neighbouring Cervo Mountain Boutique Resort is to provide ski passes for the Matterhorn Glacier Paradise slopes, or offer mountainside chalet-lunch.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
Scandic Hotels Partners with LocalTapiola
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ankside, a design-forward hotel in London, opens in September, 2018 on the south bank of the Thames, just minutes from the city and close to some of the capitals best loved landmarks. The Hotel will boast 161 airy rooms and suites with spaces for meetings and events, co-working areas and a relaxed neighbourhood-style restaurant and bar with an outdoor terrace. The Hotels interior showcases local craftsmen and heritage by cultivating a mid-century modern aesthetic. Corporate social responsibility was one of the hotels main focuses and thus the property includes in-room power-saving elements, rooftop beehives, an aim of zero waste landfill, sustainably-sourced wood and the use of non-or low-VOC paints throughout.
candic Hotels, one of the largest hotel companies in the Nordic countries, has signed an agreement with property owner LocalTapiola Real Estate Management to operate a new property in Hamburger Börs building in central Turku. Hamburger Börs has been an iconic hotel and restaurant complex since 1895. Under the new agreement, the address will be fully renovated and expanded over two years with Scandic Hotels expecting to gain access to the building in 2021. “[…] Scandic Hotels has a successful track record of operating large, prestigious, centrally-located hotels and we are very happy to have entered this agreement that will take us to the next step in the building’s history,” enthused Vesa Eskoli, director, real estate investment, LocalTapiola Real Estate Management.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION Presidential Palace in Albania Open for Visitors
Hyatt Announces Plans for Hotel in Frankfurt
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he former Royal Palace in Tirana, known as the Presidential Palace or as Palace of Brigades is now open for the public during weekends. The palace is surrounded by high walls and guards, and no one could enter without an invitation, until now. The President of the Republic of Albania hosts state receptions and ceremonies in the palace, such as the annual presidential ball. The Royal Gardens, situated near the Grand Park of Tirana, surround the Presidential Palace with 200 m area of trees. Overall, the park has an area of 74 ha showcasing fountains, sculptures, tree-lined gardens, flowers and labyrinths.
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Marriott Welcomes Hotel Sina Villa Medici
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Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with HR Group to open Hyatt House Frankfurt/Eschborn hotel in Germany, making its the second hotel in the country. Set to open in 2019, guests of the 109-room property will be able to enjoy The Commons, a lounge for guests to relax and socialise; a mini-market open 24/7; a fitness room, and a more facilities to create a welcoming stay. “We are delighted to announce plans for the second Hyatt House hotel in Germany,” said Guido Fredrich, vice president, acquisitions and development, Europe, Hyatt
utograph Collection Hotels, Marriott International’s collection of independent hotels, has announced the opening of Hotel Sina Villa Medici in Florence, its fourth hotel in Italy. The 99-room hotel showcases a contemporary, yet traditional design featuring five conference rooms, a gallery, a lounge bar, and the Da’Pescatore restaurant. Guests can also enjoy the hotel’s wellness centre, featuring a sauna, steam room and fitness space. “[…] Hotel Sina Villa Medici evokes the spirit and heritage of this captivating city and embodies our Exactly Like Nothing Else brand philosophy perfectly,” said John Licence, vice president, premium and select brands, Europe, Marriott International.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
NEWS AIRPORTS
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Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to Install Passenger Bridges Amsterdam Airport Schiphol in cooperation with CIMC-Tianda are designing and implementing robotic passenger bridges to reduce the waiting time of passengers on the aircraft. The airport plans to debut the first robotic passenger bridge in 2019.
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msterdam Airport Schiphol has carried out a successful trial involving the automatic connection of the airplane bridge. The operator enters the aircraft type and the bridge then makes its own way to the aircraft, stopping just outside the door. Development of a technology in which the bridge itself recognises the aircraft on the basis of the information in the flight information system, is now the airport's main focus. airport of the future.
Growth at Brussels South Charleroi Airport
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eptember came to an end with a two-figure growth at Brussels South Charleroi Airport, with 10 percent more passengers, over 2016 figures. Spain came out on top in September, as the most popular country to and from the airport, followed by Italy, France and Morocco. Jean-Jacques Cloquet, CEO, Brussels South Charleroi Airport, said, “September saw its fair share of nice and nasty surprises. This ninth month of the year was not easy for anyone, and our organisation has been reviewed in accordance with the current climate. However, we have seen healthy two-figure growth in passenger numbers, reassuring us of the quality of the work done by all of our staff and partners.”
Driverless Electric Bus at Helsinki Airport
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esting new technologies, the Finavia and Metropolia University of Applied Sciences is operating the driverless electric bus service for the months of October and November. Aiming for efficient travel, Helsiniki Airport has activated the bus service in the Terminal 2 region, where the bus service is open to the public for trial in a Monday to Friday programme. This experiment comprises part of Finavia's service development, aiming at smoother travel. Finavia tests the opportunities of new technologies for the airport of the future.
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London Stansted Airport Targets Growth
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ondon Stansted Airport has developed proposals that show how its growth can be achieved without increasing either the number of flights that are currently permitted to operate, or the size of the airport’s approved noise footprint. Currently, around 26 million passengers use Stansted each year, however its growth potential is limited by a planning cap which prevents the airport handling more than 35 million passengers. Following consultation, London Stansted Airport will now apply to raise the cap to 43 million passengers per annum to enable it to meet forecast growth over the next decade. “These plans provide a good balance between ensuring our future growth, support for the region’s economy and addressing concerns around local environmental impacts,” said Ken O’Toole, CEO, London Stansted Airport.
Boeing Partners with Gatwick Airport
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oeing’s proposed plan with Gatwick Airport to build a new aircraft hangar has been granted permission to go ahead by Crawley Borough Council, with full works scheduled to commence later this year. The facility will be fully operational in early 2019, and will add on-site engineering and maintenance capability for operators of Boeing aircraft at Gatwick Airport. Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer, Gatwick Airport, stated, “The hangar facility will provide a new level of on-site engineering capability, which supports our airlines here in the UK. Initiatives like this are ever more vital as we strive for continued operational efficiency as we respond to the demand from airlines and passengers for more services at Gatwick Airport.”
25 NOVEMBER 2017
NEWS AIRPORTS
Schiphol Reveals Traffic Figures
Jet2.com Invests in London Stansted Airport
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et2.com has announced further investment and job creation at London Stansted Airport, as part of an ongoing commitment to developing customer experience and operations at the base. As a result of a 60 percent estimated increase in capacity for summer 2018, Jet.com is seeking to recruit over 160 new jobs to fill for ramp management, ramp agent, baggage loader and dispatch positions for summer 2018. Steve Heapy, CEO, Jet2.com, commented, “[...]. To support this and to provide Jet2.com and Jet2holidays customers with the best possible experience, we are investing significantly into our operation. This will enable us to build on our award-winning service and deliver an even better end-to-end customer experience for our customers at London Stansted Airport.”
London Stansted Airport
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msterdam’s Schiphol airport saw 6.2 million passengers travelling to, from or via the airport during September this year. This is an increase of 6.7 percent relative to 2016. This increase was driven by a sharp growth in the number of passengers starting or ending their trip at Schiphol by 9.2 percent, as well as a slight growth in transfer of 2.5 percent. The total number of passenger flights increased by 2.4 percent, while there were six percent more cargo movements than in 2016. Partially due to the higher load factor of full freighters, the total cargo volume saw an increase of 10.9 percent.
Schiphol
Winter Timetable to Begin at Munich Airport
Finavia to Expand Terminal 1
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Helsinki Airport
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inavia has invested EUR900 million in the development of Helsinki Airport, starting with the expansion of Terminal 1, which began on October 16. An extension with seven new departure gates will be built on the far end of Terminal 1. The added passenger area amounts to 3,350 m2. The objective of the arrangement is to increase the efficiency of fleet usage. Passenger transport on buses between the terminal and the planes will be reduced. The new facilities are to be opened in June 2019. “Our passenger volumes are now growing rapidly. New routes are being opened frequently at Helsinki Airport, and the number of flights to existing destinations is increasing. The increased amount of long-haul traffic opens many new routes to European and domestic destinations,” said Henri Hansson, technical director, Finavia.
unich Airport’s winter timetable is to operate during the period of October 29 - March 24, 2018. Alongside 17 airports in Germany, travellers from Munich can choose from among 136 European cities. In the intercontinental segment, 54 destinations worldwide will be served from the German city. Concerning the winter programme, Eurowings will take over many routes previously serviced by airberlin. Lufthansa has 150 weekly departures from Munich to many destinations in Germany and Europe and with the start of the winter timetable; the airline will also offer daily services to US destinations and to Tokyo.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
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NEWS AIRPORTS
Vรกclav Havel Airport Prague Ready for Winter Season
September Passenger Increase in Brussels
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25 NOVEMBER 2017
Vรกclav Havel Airport Prague
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n October 29, the winter schedule came into effect at Vรกclav Havel Airport Prague, with the addition of 61 airlines planned to operate at the airport during the season and 56 air carriers servicing passenger routes. The new schedule features regular connections to 112 destinations, which is eight more than the same period in 2016. Passengers can also look forward to flights to 11 new destinations. The UK will be the country with the most operated destinations, followed by Russia with 10 destinations and Spain, Italy and France with nine destinations. Iceland and Georgia are the new additions to the list. The winter schedule will be in effect until March 24, 2018.
eptember came to an end with two-figure growth, at Brussels South Charleroi Airport, with 10 percent more passengers crossing the tarmac, compared with September 2016 figures. The increase in passenger numbers can be explained by a rise in occupancy rates at the airport which were around 90 percent, a two percent increase over the same period in 2016. When it comes to the most popular countries available to and from the airport it was Spain that came out on top in September, followed by Italy, France and Morocco. There was a change in fifth place, with Poland being replaced by Romania.
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NEWS AIR
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British Airways Expands Inverness-Heathrow Service British Airways (BA) announced the expanding to its Inverness-Heathrow service from seven to 10 flights a week from March, 2018.
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he new schedule which came in to effect at the beginning of September, will see a 30 percent increase in capacity on the route, and is said to be the second major boost to the economy of the highlands and islands generated by BA, following the airline’s extended code share agreement with Scottish airline Loganair. Phyllis Stuart, manager, Inverness, BA said, “We are delighted to be able to offer our customers more flights from the highland capital, offering more seats on the route after a successful first 18 months operating the route.”
AEGEAN Strengthens Position in Europe
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he objectives of Aegean Airlines (AEGEAN) extended programme for 2018, is to further strengthen its position in the European market and widen its support for Greek tourism and local communities. The strengthening of the company’s network in 2018 will offer increased accessibility, through new connections in key markets that function as vital sources of tourism for Greece, such as France, Italy and Germany. AEGEAN’s flight network for 2018, includes 18 new routes, corresponding to 11 new destinations from the Athens base. In addition to its business development, AEGEAN also places special emphasis on the systematic support of Greek tourism, both by participating in collective initiatives and through self-developed and self-implemented actions and activities.
Brussels Airlines Adds New Destinations
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russels Airline’s added 10 new destinations and increased its seats offer. This winter, the airline will serve 80 destinations from Brussels Airport, including 59 short- and medium haul destinations and 21 longhaul, including 10 newcomers. The new flights will include Cabo Verde, Madeira, Tunisia and Egypt, while the Canary Islands offer grows with the addition of Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Tenerife will become a daily service and Gran Canaria gets more frequencies. Meanwhile, Bordeaux will be served several times a week.
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New Routes by Finnair to Norway
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eaching Bergen and Tromsø, Finnair has added new routes which will be operated by Norwegian regional airline Wideroe. As of May 15, 2018, Wideroe will operate the itinerary from Bergen to Helsinki daily, with a brandnew Embraer aircraft 190-E2. The flight’s schedule will connect to Finnair’s Asian flights as well as to Finnair’s European network. The new flight routes enable connections to Asian cities and European destinations through Helsinki Airport for Finnair's customers in Norway. “We are excited to offer new direct flights to Bergen and Tromsø. The Nordics are attracting more and more travellers, and we believe our Asian customers will appreciate these additions to our extensive networt,” said Juha Järvinen, chief commercial officer, Finnair.
LOT Introduces Flights on Warsaw-Oslo
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OT Polish Airlines announced the addition of new flights from Warsaw Chopin Airport to Oslo Gardermoen from March 25, 2018. The airline will offer 13 flights per week on the Warsaw-Oslo route which will be operated twice daily. For the flights, Embraer 195 with a seat capacity of 112 passengers in three travel classes, business, economy premium and economy, will be used. Adrian Kubicki, director corporate communications, LOT, said, “Thanks to flights recently offered by LOT, passengers from Warsaw, Polish regional airports and a number of airports in Central and Eastern Europe will be able to fly into Oslo in the morning and return in the evening, which is very important for passengers travelling for business.”
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Aeroflot Announces Winter Schedule
Austrian Airlines Boeing 767 Takes Off
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Austrian Airlines’ premium economy
eroflot announced the launch of its winter schedule which will operate from October 29 through March 24, 2018. The new schedule includes flights to 137 destinations in 51 countries, with 50 routes inside Russia and 72 other international flights, including 50 routes to European destinations, 13 routes to Asia, five routes to the US and four routes to the Middle East. Compared to this summer, the airline will increase frequencies by seven flights per week to five domestic destinations; Krasnoyarsk, Perm, Rostov, Surgut and Chelyabinsk. An additional daily flight will be added from Moscow to Budapest, Dubai, Milan, Istanbul and Helsinki.
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he first Austrian Airlines long-haul jet Boeing 767 took off on its official maiden flight from Vienna to Chicago featuring the new premium economy class seats which provide room for a total of 18 passengers in the first refitted jet. Passengers can enjoy the benefits of the new travel class, while a total of 252 new premium economy seats will be installed in all of the airline’s 12 long-haul aircraft up until spring 2018. Some of the new features include new seats with a broader seat surface, footrest starting in the second row or leg support with integrated footrest in the first row, a separate central armrest with fold-out table and cocktail table and 12-inch screen with remote control.
SWISS New Service to São Paulo
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wiss International Air Lines (SWISS) service network will extend to a further destination in the coming winter timetable period and will be newly operated to and from São Paulo in Brazil. SWISS will operate its new long-haul aircraft, the Boeing 777300ER, on services between Zurich and São Paulo in the coming 20172018 winter schedules. Four of SWISS’s seven weekly flights to Brazil’s city will be operated with Boeing 777 equipment from February 08, 2018 onwards, while the remaining three continue to be operated with Airbus A340-300 aircraft and on March 09, 2018 the service will become an all-Boeing 777 operation. SWISS will also be adding further frequencies to its Berlin and Dusseldorf routes.
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Air France-KLM Continuous Growth
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or the winter season, from October 29 to March 24, 2018, Air FranceKLM is to continue its growth strategy by offering 52 new services. The group is increasing capacity by 5.5 percent compared to the 2016 winter season. Growth will be driven by the long-haul passenger network, up 4.7 percent, the medium- and short-haul passenger network up 5.5 percent and Transavia’s low-cost operations, increasing 14.6 percent. “[…] Air France-KLM is resuming the offensive in the air transport market and is maintaining its growth commitments. Thanks to our powerful network, our strategic partnerships and more flexible management, we are able to adapt and respond to the stronger demand on both leisure and business routes,” said Jean-Marc Janaillac, CEO, Air France-KLM.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
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Lufthansa Adds New Destinations for Summer
HOP! Air Frances’ New Frequencies to Toulon
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Toulon
s of March 25, 2018, HOP! Air France will operate two daily flights connecting Toulon-Hyères to Paris-Charles de Gaulle, with a 70-seater Embraer 170. The new service will offer customers departing from Toulon a choice of simplified connections to the Air France-KLM group’s medium and long-haul network via the Paris-Charles de Gaulle hub. They will also benefit from a single ticket for their entire trip and their baggage checked through to their final destination. The service meets customers’ expectations on two levels; by offering companies the possibility to gain access to new markets and boost the business and tourism sector in Toulon and its region.
Scandinavian Airlines Adds to Summer Routes
ufthansa announced its flight programme for the 2018 summer season, with the new programme for Europe extended to include five attractive new destinations. As of March 31, 2018, for the first time, the airline will start operating flights from Frankfurt to Santorini, once a week. Other flight additions include Menorca, starting from April 28, 2018, with flights leaving from Frankfurt every Saturday, and a Frankfurt – Glasgow route from March 26, 2018. Additionally, Chisinau will be served from the German city, as of March 25, 2018. From Munich, the airline will be serving Funchal Madeira as of March 31, 2018, every Saturday.
SWISS Adds New Destinations
25 NOVEMBER 2017
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wiss International Airlines (SWISS) is to further expand its summer 2018 route network in with new destinations served from Zurich. The new flights will be introduced to the French cities of Bordeaux and Marseille, services will be resumed to Kiev and the airline will operate to Wroclaw in Southern Poland for the first time. Flights to Bordeaux will be operated with 12 weekly services from the end March 2018, onwards. The airline will also be introducing a new thrice-weekly service between Zurich and Marseille on April 21, 2018. The new thrice-weekly service to Wroclaw which will commence with the start of the winter schedule will also be continued in the summer period.
Bordeaux
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candinavian Airlines continues to expand its offering to and from Scandinavia and has launched 27 new non-stop routes to be served from several of its hubs, beginning March 24, 2018. The seasonal summer 2018 routes also include new destinations on the airlines’ route map featuring Verona, Sarajevo, Genoa, Toulon and Beirut as well as Portugal, Spain, Croatia and Italy. “We continue to strengthen our offer for leisure travel during the summer period. [...] We continue to develop sustainable travel, including investments on biofuel and 30 new flights with up to 18 percent lower fuel consumption and emissions. We look forward to wishing our travellers a warm welcome on board,” said Rickard Gustafson, president, Scandinavian Airlines.
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easyJet Connects Liverpool with Venice
Air Corsica Launches First UK Flights
Corsica
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asyJet celebrated its inaugural flight to Venice, from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, taking the number of routes operated from Liverpool to 29. The new destination will provide added choice for both leisure and business travellers across the north west, and will operate twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Paul Winfield, director, air service development, Liverpool John Lennon Airport, commented, “We are delighted to welcome this new service to Venice, a destination that will be popular for our catchment in the north west and beyond.”
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ir Corsica is to launch its first ever UK service from London Stansted Airport to Corsica in summer 2018. The flights, which will run from May 03 to November 04, 2018 will operate up to nine times a week and serve three of the islands’ airports; Bastia, Ajacio and Figari, using the airline’s latest 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. Ken O’ Toole, CEO, London Stansted Airport, said, “I am delighted to welcome Air Corsica to London Stansted as our latest airline partner and very much look forward to the launch of its first ever scheduled flights to and from the UK when they begin the new service in May 2018.”
airBaltic Launches Flights to Sochi
easyJet crew celebrating
New York Welcomes TAP’s Retro Flight
New York
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assengers of the Portuguese airline TAP, boarded on a trip towards the 70’s joined by Rosa Mota, Olympic marathon champion and Henrique Sá Pessoaas, chef, as special guests, to New York. As was the case with the previous retro flights, TAP recreated, for this experience, the atmosphere of the 1970s, from the check-in desks to the inflight entertainment. Passengers on this flight were offered retro bag tags and boarding pass card wallets on arrival at the airport, as well as a time-traveller’s diploma.
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irBaltic will launch two new routes from Riga to Sochi twice a week from May 14, 2018 and six times weekly to Kaliningrad on April 15, 2018. Both routes will offer new travel options for travellers from the Baltics and Russia with convenient connections via Riga. For 2018 summer season the airline has added Malaga, Lisbon, Split, Bordeau and Gdansk. Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice president, network management, airBaltic, said, “We are delighted to add Sochi and Kaliningrad to our route map in 2018, increasing the number of new destinations for next year to seven. Both routes will strengthen the business and tourism ties between Russia and Latvia, and will create convenient new connections with European and Scandinavian airports.”
Sochi
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Expedition to Kurzeme Region
Ēdole Castle
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three-day expedition to Kurzeme, was embarked in mid-August by local travellers, adventure enthusiasts and an Eaglewood Films videographer. In Kurzeme, nature influences the urban development and the videographer focused on showcasing this through film. The trip began in Riga and the explorers continued travelling through fishing villages along the coast of the Riga Sea Gulf towards the west part of Latvia. The end-destination of the route was the Pape Nature Park. Other destinations included the nature park of Engure, the Venta waterfall and the Ēdole Castle. The port city of Ventspils, hailed to be one of the friendliest recreation places for families with children in all Europe was also in the inteniary.
Disneyland Paris to Welcome Marvel Super Heroes
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ave Bushore, vice president, Marvel Studios, and Mark Huffman, creative director, Disneyland Paris, announced that the Marvel Super Heroes will come to Disneyland Paris, from June 10 to September 30, 2018. Iron Man, Thor, Captain America, Spider Man, Star-Lord and Black Widow will appear for the first time exclusively at Disneyland Paris and will feature in the Walt Disney Studios Park for exciting meet and greets. Disneyland Paris is also re-imagining from October 2018 one of its resort hotels. Disney’s Hotel New York, The Art of Marvel, will transport guests to the action-packed, inspiring world of Super Heroes and is expected to open in 2020.
Costa Cruises Improves Employees Benefits
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osta Cruises has introduced its Sm@rt Working Costa – Moving Forward!, whereby employees in the company’s offices can work from home or another suitable location of their choice one day a week using laptops, an Internet connection and a softphone programme. The programme has already been launched at the company's Genoa head office and by the end of the year will gradually be extended to all of the company's international offices.
Norwegian Launches Plant for the Planet
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orwegian has launched another initiative to its sustainability work, Plant for the Planet. As one of the first airlines in the world, Norwegian will plant trees to benefit the environment, which will be done in partnership with the Global Climate Institute. Initially Norwegian will plant 7,000 trees in the UK and Spain, one tree for every person working at the airline. The launch of the initiative took place in Oxford, where a group of Norwegian employees across all areas of the business, planted the first trees.
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CARSTEN SEUBERT has been recently appointed as the new hotel manager of Hotel Adlon in Berlin. Bringing with him an impressive career in the luxury hotel sector, which has not only provided him with extensive international experience and specialist knowledge but has also demonstrated his organisational talent, Seubert held a number of senior roles and he has last worked at Kempinski Hotel Grand Arena where he served as general manager since 2015. This position included the planning and organisation of renovation work in the guest rooms, suites and public areas of the resort. In his new role, Seubert will be managing the resort’s team and will be leading its operations.
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SIMON DRAKE
CARSTEN SEUBERT
WHO’S MOVED
Drake will lead the hotel's operations
Stewart bring more than 10 years of experience
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DOMINIKA RUDNICK
FERGUS STEWART
Seubert has an extensive international experience
FERGUS STEWART has been appointed as vice president of luxury operations for Europe of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG). Bringing with him more than 10 years in the hospitality sector, Stewart started his career in London and worked for several luxury hotel brands across Thailand, Hong Kong, Singapore, Spain and the UK. Prior to his new position, Stewart served as vice president for Middle East operations of IHG in Dubai where he was responsible for over 70 hotels across seven countries. In his new role, Stewart will be responsible for operations across IHG’s luxury brands in Europe.
SIMON DRAKE has taken on the role of general manager of Tamburlaine Hotel, a property in Cambridge managed by O’Callaghan Hotels. Drake brings with him a wealth of experience in the luxury hospitality sector and has held a number of senior positions for several renowned brands including Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces. Prior to his new role, Drake served as general manager of Conrad London St. James. In his new role, Drake will be leading the resort’s team with the aim to redefine Cambridge’s hospitality scene.
DOMINIKA RUDNICK has been appointed as the new director of key account management and consortia of Deutsche Hospitality. Bringing with her 18 years of experience in the areas of sales, marketing and key account management, Rudnick has worked in the hotel business at both national and international level, including The Bari Group and Hyatt Hotels & Resorts. Rudnick’s most recent position, prior to joining Deutsche Hospitality was with KONE where she served as key account manager. In her new role, Rudnick will lead the group’s team which assists major customers of Deutsche Hospitality in the planning and execution of business travel and events while also acting as the central point of contact for consortia.
25 NOVEMBER 2017
PHOTO ALBUM
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Glasgow Airport welcomed the first passengers on Lufthansa’s newly launched Munich route with a Scottish-German fusion feast including a bitte square sausage bratwur
easyJet celebrated its first ever flight from Bristol to Stockholm
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Bombardier recognised outstanding commitment to aviation safety at the 21st edition of its Safety Standdown Award Gala
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Tourism Ireland highlighted Ireland’s unique offerings for potential visitors around the world, including the Star Wars connection with Ireland
KLM Royal Dutch Airline bids farewell to Fokker 70 , marking the end of a 97-year partnership with Fokker
25 OCTOBER 2017
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS IBTM WORLD Barcelona, Spain November 28 – 30 http://www.ibtmworld.com/ ibtm world delivers three inspirational days of business, networking and education to a community of international suppliers and buyers.
World Space Week at Techniquest Cardiff, Wales
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he annual event celebrated across the world, World Space Week, with the focus of celebrating the development of space science and technology to the betterment of the human condition, took place on October 09 – 15 at Techniquest in Cardiff, Wales. The event’s theme encouraged people to celebrate the past and future of space exploration with the title Exploring new worlds in space. Activities included planetarium shows which unveiled the story of Perseus and Pegasus and the earth’s beginning in a show called Search for Life. A virtual reality changing room was one of the weeks main attraction where attendants could try on space suits. In addition, the international space station activity allowed people to experience the feeling of space travelling.
VACANCES Geneva, Switzerland January 11 – 14, 2018 www.tofairs.com/expo Vacances offers the exhibiting companies the opportunity to present their tourism products and services to an interested audience.
FITUR Madrid, Spain January 17 – 21, 2018, www.ifema.es/fitur FITUR is a global meeting point for tourism professionals and the leading trade fair for inbound and outbound Ibero American markets.
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Innovation Expo 2018 in Rotterdam
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he Innovation Expo 2018, with the theme Global Challenges, Dutch Solutions, will be in Rotterdam on October 04, 2018. The event will be hosted at the Onderzeebootloods (Submarine Wharf ) on the RDM Rotterdam site. The Dutch government’s goals for the Innovation Expo 2018 are consistent with the UN sustainable development goals which are to promote innovation development in order to contribute to the social challenges the country and the world faces. RoboBusiness Europe and TUS Expo were also announced to take place in Rotterdam, World Trade Centre Rotterdam, in 2018. Both of the events are part of the International RoboticsWeek and focus entirely on robotics, artificial intelligence, and unmanned systems.
ITB Introduces New Homepage
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MATKA NORDIC TRAVEL FAIR Helsinki, Finland January 18 – 21, 2018 matka.messukeskus.com More than 1000 exhibitors from 80 different countries ensure an impressive start for the travel year. ITB Berlin
TB has introduced its new home page on its website www. itb.travel where users can see the entire range of events of ITB Berlin, ITB Asia, ITB China and the ITB Berlin Convention. The introductory page sets the tone for the entire global ITB network and the new menu bar also makes it easier to navigate the individual brands on the four websites. “ITB has long established itself as an international brand. With its leading trade shows in Berlin, Shanghai and Singapore it participates in the fastest-growing markets and is a trendsetter in the tourism world,” said David Ruetz, head, ITB Berlin.
Sagrada Familia Travelling Exhibition in Zaragoza
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he establishment of the travelling exhibition, Gaudi and the Sagrada Familia, an inside experience, took place at the Alma Mater Museum in Zaragoza, on October 06. The exhibition project offered by the Basilica will be on display in the Aragonese capital until January 07, 2018. The contents of this exhibit allow visitors to learn more about Gaudí as a person and his masterpiece, the importance of his contributions to the world of architecture and his main sources of inspiration. In addition, it also includes a tour of the Basilica, which he made uniquely expressive and symbolic, with its own identity, and which is now entering the final stretch towards 2026.
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