Travel Trade Europe, 25 October 2015, Issue 24 by Travel Trade Publications

25 OCTOBER 2015

ISSUE 24

EUROPE POSTS HIGHEST LOAD FACTOR

RANKED TOP IN MASTERCARD’S GLOBAL DESTINATION CITIES INDEX FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, LONDON LEFT BEHIND 131 DESTINATIONS, ASSERTING ITSELF AS AN ABSOLUTE LEADER IN TOURISM.

10 INTERVIEW WITH SONJA EIRAMO

17 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE

AIRPORTS

SHORT BREAK: LONDON

AGENTS

TOURISM BOARDS

ACCOMMODATION

RENDEZVOUS

AIR

TRAVEL TALK

WHO’S MOVED

NEWS & EVENTS

SHORT BREAK: London

MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba

EU: 880 Million Passengers in 2014 Some 879.4 million travellers flew within the European Union (EU) in 2014, 4.4 percent more than in 2013 and 16.9 percent more compared to 2009.

ne in four air passengers was recorded in the UK, where volumes reached 220 million. Germany came second and Spain third, while the largest rises were reported from Greece, Luxembourg and Poland. London’s Heathrow Airport remained the EU’s

CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Inna Armeanu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis

busiest hub with 73.4 million travellers, followed by Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Frankfurt Airport. Intra-EU transport represented 44.1 percent of the total, extra-EU traffic stood at 38.1 percent, while national transport accounted for fewer than one in every five passengers.

Ryanair: 9.55 Million Travellers in One Month Ryanair carried 9.55 million customers in September, marking a year-on-year increase of 12 percent.

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

he notable growth in demand boosted load factors by four percentage points to 94 percent and rolling annual traffic for the first nine months of the year by 16 percent to 97.3 million customers. Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer, Ryanair, attributed the positive results to the carrier’s low fares, strong forward bookings and the success of the company’s Always Getting Better customer experience programme, which, as Jacobs suggested, continues to deliver better than expected traffic and capacity utilisation on the airline’s biggest-ever summer schedule.

WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprinters Ltd P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprinters.com

Malta Outpaces Worldwide Growth EXCHANGE RATES

Accurate as of

22/10/2015 COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.13

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.73

Switzerland (CHF)

Franc

1.09

Japan (JPY)

Yen

135.46

Malta recorded a 5.3 percent increase in tourist arrivals during the first half of the year, well above the global average of four percent reported by the World Tourism Organization for the same period.

s a result, tourist export earnings for the Mediterranean country jumped six percent over the same timeframe in 2014, reaching EUR625.6 million, up 0.5 percent. As Edward Zammit Lewis, tourism minister, Malta, noted, the positive development achieved by the sector is being converted into a surge of direct revenue contribution towards the Maltese economy as well as job creation.

Malta

25 OCTOBER 2015

NEWS AIRPORTS

Warsaw Chopin Airport to Welcome Air Canada

Online Aircraft Noise Monitoring in Manchester

ir Canada revealed plans to launch direct flights between Warsaw and Toronto. Effective from June 16, 2016, the airline will offer three weekly services to the Polish capital on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays onboard a Boeing 767-300ER aircraft. “The development of long-distance services is one of our top priorities and we are focussing our commercial strategy on attracting new airlines and long-haul routes. Such actions help us to enhance Warsaw’s status as a transfer hub,” explained Michał Kaczmarzyk, director, Warsaw Chopin Airport. This is the fourth long-haul route announced for the hub for 2016.

Helsinki Airport Expansion on Track

anchester Airport unveiled a new online tool designed to enable members of the public to view flight and noise data collected by its new aircraft noise monitoring and tracking system, WebTrak. Wendy Sinfield, community relations manager, Manchester Airport, explained, “We recognise that aircraft landing and taking off at the airport can affect our neighbours. By making flight and noise information available on the Internet, people can go online and […] find details of a particular flight […], locate their property on a map and calculate the height that the aircraft was flying above and the distance from their property, and if they have a comment or concern about a particular flight they can report it to us using the same system.”

Air Traffic Up in Dublin

ublin Airport handled on average 585 commercial aircraft movements on a daily basis in August, leading to an 11 percent year-on-year rise in monthly traffic. Likewise, Cork Airport returned to growth, having registered a 1.3 percent improvement with 64 daily commercial services. In total, international arrivals and departure at the state’s airports rose 6.6 percent during the month under review and when combined, total flights in Irish airspace climbed 7.4 percent, meaning an average of 1,776 daily movements. As Eamonn Brennan, CEO, Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), noted, Dublin has now returned to pre-downturn levels, and IAA considers the development of a parallel runway at the airport crucial.

Dublin Airport

Helsinki Airport development project

reparations for Helsinki Airport’s terminal extension is well underway, with construction works expected to commence at the beginning of 2016. The main contractors have already been selected and the enlargement of the facility is planned to be completed as two large and two small contracts. The extension will increase the terminal by 75,000m2. Aircraft parking and taxiing spaces will be renewed in an area covering 65 football fields. The project will begin at the south wing of the non-Schengen area. Upon completion, construction of the west wing will commence, to be finalised in summer 2020.

25 OCTOBER 2015

SHORT BREAK LONDON

THE BEST OF THE BEST RANKED TOP IN MASTERCARD’S LATEST GLOBAL DESTINATION CITIES INDEX FOR THE SECOND CONSECUTIVE YEAR, LONDON LEFT BEHIND 131 DESTINATIONS, ASSERTING ITSELF AS AN ABSOLUTE LEADER WHEN IT COMES TO TOURISM. YET, FAR FROM RESTING ON ITS LAURELS, THE CITY IS DETERMINED TO FURTHER RAISE THE BAR.

 Ana Mladenovic

writes

ccording to Global Destination Cities Index, the UK capital is expected to welcome almost 19 million visitors by the end of the year – more than any city in the world. It is also set to have the highest visitor spending estimated at USD20.23 billion (EUR17.8 billion). In addition to being the most visited city globally, London boasts a continuous growth in arrivals as confirmed by London & Partners, the mayor’s offi-

cial promotional entity for the city. “In 2014 London welcomed 17.4 million international visits, up 3.5 percent from the previous record of 16.8 million visits in 2013,” revealed Chris Gottlieb, chief marketing and communications officer, London & Partners. Gottlieb further explained that the city’s tourism numbers are at a record high and the surge in international arrivals since the 2012 Olympic Games has been much welcomed as travellers are spending more in restaurants, hotels and all attractions than ever before. “In 2014, visitors boosted London’s economy by GBP11.8 billion (EUR15.93

billion) compared to GBP11.5 billion (EUR15.52 billion) in 2013, an increase of three percent,” he continued, adding that between 2009 and 2014, London

LONDON IN BRIEF Country: UK Currency: British Pound (GBP) Language: English Population: 8.6 million Calling Code: +44 20 Time Zone: GMT +0:00

has seen an impressive 22.5 percent surge in overseas arrivals. WORLDWIDE INTEREST In terms of tourism spend and volume, the top three sources for the city include the US, France and the domestic market, followed by European countries, such as Germany, Italy, Spain and the Netherlands, Gottlieb further elucidated. Europe is a key focus for the industry this year, as demand from across the continent is on a steady rise according to Patricia Yates, director of strategy and communication, VisitBritain. 25 OCTOBER 2015

LONDON SHORT BREAK “From January to March, there were 7.88 million visits from all European countries to London, which was a one percent increase on the same period in 2014,” explained Yates. Despite the steady development in the first quarter of the year, some still reported negative performance indicators. “The European markets have been hit hard [this year] by the strength of the Euro and we have seen a decline in our traffic for London from this region,” reported Rob Russell, director, AC Tours, a leisure operator that provides a onestop-shop for travellers’ needs, from accommodation to airport transfers and attractions. Fortunately for AC Tours, the strong demand from Scandinavia, Israel, the US and several other markets helped offset the loss. Non-Europeans also account for a major share for British Tours which specialises in private and special interest tours. “The majority of our clients are from the US, Canada and Australia,” said

25 OCTOBER 2015

Jason Doll-Steinberg, director, British Tours, revealing that European markets – mostly Western and Northern European countries – contribute to about a quarter of the company’s business. “We have a lot of Russian clients too, though there has been a recent decline due to the recent political situation. Lastly, we receive quite a lot of interest from South America – Spanish is the second most requested language after English,” he elaborated. NEVER COMPLACENT The industry is actively promoting the city to the international travel trade through a variety of channels, including workshops, road and trade shows as well as familiarisation trips. “Our events and missions are aimed at trade buyers, [that is] the contractors, as opposed to agents. These are basically ‘speed dating’ events between overseas buyers and UK suppliers,” explained Yates.

Specifically for the European markets, VisitBritain has three events lined up until March 2016, in addition to ITB Berlin, including Destination Britain Nordics, due to take place between December 2 – 4 in Stockholm, Sweden; Meet the French Trade, scheduled for January 28, 2016 in Paris; and ExploreGB in March 2016 in Liverpool. “This event allows us to also showcase Britain with buyers invited to attend one of 15 familiarisation visits around the country,” Yates highlighted. London & Partners, on the other hand, has a number of creative campaigns in place as confirmed by Gottlieb. These include the London’s Guest of Honour initiative as well as Autumn Season which highlights cultural events during autumn. Promoting the city’s buzzing cultural scene is a particular focus of the company, as culture is seen as the most common reason why tourists opt for the destination. “London’s museums and galleries received 17.9 million overseas visits, ac-

counting for 57 percent of the total 31.5 visits,” revealed Gottlieb. “In addition, the centuries-old history and heritage of the capital and world-famous attractions have a very strong pull. London & Partners and Visitlondon.com focus on the iconic, historic and cultural gems of the city through inspirational campaigns that not only excite, but also remind the world why London is the world’s most popular destination,” he added. When it comes to cultural sites and sightseeing, it seems that travellers are savvier than ever, increasingly opting for sites that closely match their own personal interests and aspirations. “Whilst tourists will always want to visit Westminster Abbey, [they] will also want to see the Beatles’ Abbey Road, the Olympic stadium site or the Downtown Abbey locations,” noted DollSteinberg, stressing that British Tours offers a range of special-interest itineraries to architectural marvels, private access to Stonehenge at dawn, military

SHORT BREAK LONDON are scheduled to launch on May 4, 2016, joining the recently inaugurated services to Kuala Lumpur, Sharm El Sheikh, Bilbao, Krakow and Reykjavik. “We have also increased frequencies on a number of routes and improved slot times to provide the best opportunities for our customers,” confirmed Joerg Tünsmeyer, head of Europe, North Africa and Latin America sales, British Airways.

“

IN 2014 LONDON WELCOMED 17.4 MILLION INTERNATIONAL VISITS

mission, airlines, trade unions and businesses across the country, Heathrow expansion is the right and deliverable solution for the whole of the UK,” asserted John Holland-Kaye, CEO, Heathrow Airport. “Every month that we delay is costing our economy GBP1 billion (EUR1.35 billion),” he said. However, Gatwick Airport also has a strong bid, having reported its 31st consecutive month of traffic growth in September with four million passengers on record, up six percent year-on-year. “Gatwick expects to pass the 40 million annual passengers mark this year, a milestone that the Airports Commission analysis predicted we will reach in a decade,” boasted Stewart Wingate, CEO, Gatwick Airport, stressing that a government decision in favour of the airport would mean that it could be operational by 2025. “Our runway proposal can be delivered faster, with a fraction of the environmental impact and at no cost to the

history and other unique offerings. Speaking of the latest trends in this respect, he highlighted the growing popularity of film tourism, “The latest blockbuster has the ability to make a historic attraction famous overnight,” added Doll-Steinberg. NEED FOR MORE ROUTES Leaving no space for complacency, London’s tourism scene is determined to grow even further. “The UK economy needs to compete in both established and emerging markets,” said Yates, noting that Britain currently enjoys good connectivity to established sources, but links to previously untapped locations are still weak. “Connectivity to emerging markets and cities is critical to securing tourism growth in the long term,” added Yates, highlighting that over 72 percent of all inbound visitors to the country arrive by air and with better connectivity in place, the UK could gain up to GBP78 billion (EUR105.3 billion) a year within 15 years. Local airlines seem committed to enhancing links. Ryanair, which operates from three of the city’s airports – London Luton Airport, London Stansted Airport and Gatwick Airport – is continuously adding new destinations to its network, thus opening up new markets. Its newly launched summer 2016 schedule, for

example, features more than 150 routes from the UK capital, including four new links to Milan, Verona, Sofia and Vilnius. “We are continuing to expand our London route network at our three airports, adding both a mix of leisure and business routes, which we promote through ongoing ad campaigns, email and social media. We will carry over 20 million people to and from London this year,” enthused Robin Kiely, head of communications, Ryanair. National carrier, British Airways reached out even further across the Atlantic with plans to commence services to San José, Costa Rica, and Lima, Peru, both to be served from Gatwick Airport; and San José, California, to be operated from Heathrow Airport. All three services

HEATHROW VS GATWICK However, crucial to any further growth of operations is the expansion of airport capacity, and the city is engulfed in a race for further development between Heathrow Airport and Gatwick Airport. The country’s main gateway, Heathrow Airport is experiencing a continuous growth in footfall. It recently celebrated August as its busiest month ever with 7.33 million passengers. This was announced on the heels of a poll by Populus which revealed that half of residents in 12 local consistencies back the project, whilst a third is against it. “With more local residents supporting Heathrow than opposing it, and with the backing of the Airports Com-

UK tax payer,” he asserted. Despite the commission favouring the expansion of Heathrow Airport and its bid for a third runway for the economic benefit that would be realised for the country’s local communities around west London and their members of Parliament strongly oppose it on the grounds of its higher cost and the fact that it would affect more people and contribute to greater noise and air pollution. So, as the UK government ponders at the question at hand, the city’s tourism industry awaits the final decision, expected over the upcoming months, which will determine its course and set it on a new path of growth and prosperity.  25 OCTOBER 2015

NEWS AGENTS

ABTA Concludes Annual Training Course

New Board of Directors for GBTA

T T

he Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) organised its final complaints handling workshop of the year at its London Bridge office. A full house of delegates were welcomed for a jampacked day to interact with other professionals, exchange views and partake in open discussions on the methods they use in their roles on a day-to-day basis. Speakers presented a number of topics, including, how to optimise and manage industry relationships, the significance of social media channels, complaints and communications and how ABTA can assist through its members’ overall journey.

uropean carriers saw traffic increase 5.7 percent in August as economic recovery in the Eurozone has continued to propel demand for international travel. Based on the International Air Transport Association’s data, capacity across the continent rose 4.1 percent, while load factor improved 1.3 percentage points to 88.3 percent, highest among all regions. Globally, total revenue passenger kilometres jumped 7.1 percent year-on-year, while capacity climbed 5.9 percent, leading to a 0.9 percentage points growth in load factor to 84.7 percent. The strongest results were reported from the Middle East, but all regions closed a positive month.

Expedia.com Adds Serbian Videos

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MarryAbroad Becomes Membership Organisation

Belgrade Fortress

Europe Posts Highest Load Factor

he Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) announced the results of a recent special election where Christle Johnson, vice president, travel and business services, Johnson Downie was appointed president. “Whether it is education and professional development opportunities or industry research and legislative advocacy, the entire business travel industry benefits from the work of our association,” Johnson enthused. Moreover, Mark Ziegler, senior travel manager, Americas, NetApp, will serve as GBTA’s new vice president.

opular travel portal, Expedia.com recently headed to Belgrade and Novi Sad to shoot promotional videos of the country and its capital city. The company’s crew filmed various locations across the two cities in a bid to create online tourist guides for potential visitors. In Belgrade, the team focussed on the famous fortress, while other attractions included Ada Ciganlija, Museum of Nikola Tesla and the Temple of Saint Sava. In Novi Sad one of the main locations was the Fruška Gora mountain.

estination wedding website, MarryAbroad.co.uk has relaunched as a membership organisation for global wedding industry professionals looking to attract UK couples. The online platform will feature extra offerings that the soon-to-be wife and husband can add to their existing packages, including document translation and foreign exchange services. Steph Bishop, co-founder, MarryAbroad.co.uk, explained, “The simple addition of offering document translation, which is very often needed when couples choose an overseas ceremony, plus the changing of money, can earn planners thousands in extra annual revenue, depending on their location and the amount of weddings they plan per year.”

25 OCTOBER 2015

NEWS G20 Tourism Ministers: Bridging a Gap

Slovenia MoreDays Foreign Tourists EuropeanLures Heritage in Portugal

Belém Tower in Lisbon

isitors took advantage of numerous activities, such as guided tours, workshops and shows at various monuments and museums across Portugal during the country’s European Heritage Days. The initiative of the Council of Europe and European Union spans 50 countries, and this year a special emphasis was placed on industrial heritage including factories, bridges, mills, canals, railway lines, shops, workers’ villages, mines, ports, heritage related to water and electricity, small artisanal industries, public and company archives and more.

he topic of how tourism can create employment as a means of reducing inequalities at national and international level was high on the agenda at the recent G20 Tourism Ministers meeting in Antalya. During his opening remarks at the assembly, Taleb Rifai, secretary general, World Tourism Organization, stated, “Tourism can promote more and better jobs, create opportunities for women and youth [and] stimulate entrepreneurship […],” Among the actions agreed upon were the promotion of jobs for women and youth whilst also fostering policies which address women’s empowerment; the advancement of decent work agenda, including issues of wage setting, social dialogue and protection; and the creation of stronger links between the private and public sectors as well as educational and training institutions, in order to close the gap between the needs of the market.

Adventure on the Eiffel Tower

L Eiffel Tower

a Verticale de la Tour Eiffel, an ascent race of the 1,665 steps of the Eiffel Tower will return for the second year on March 17, 2016. Unlike similar events, the challenge, which is set against the clock, will take place in open stairwells. The competition is expected to attract 100 seasoned sportsmen, 40 international elite athletes nominated by a committee of experts in the field, 50 amateur participants selected by a draw, and 10 chosen by the organisation as wildcard picks.

Momondo: Amsterdam Ranks Top

ccording to travel search website momondo.co.uk, Amsterdam is the top October half-term destination for British travellers. The Dutch city proved to be the most searched location over the past 18 months for the period between October 17 – 24, leaving behind Lisbon and Berlin. “A very short hop from London, at just over an hour’s flight time, Amsterdam is one of the closest mini-break destinations for Brits and a city full of charm,” said Lasse Skole Hansen, spokesperson, momondo.co.uk. In 2014, Bangkok stole the spotlight, followed by New York and Istanbul.

25 OCTOBER 2015

NEWS EUROCONTROL Partners with GCAA

Latvian City to Welcome New MICE Venue

ailed as the city of winds and music, Liepāja in Latvia is to soon boast a new concert hall. Lielais Dzintars will also be serving as a venue for conferences and corporate events. Designed by renowned Austrian architect Volker Giencke, the facility will feature five auditoria of various sizes, suitable for cultural and art happenings, corporate functions, banquets, conferences and lectures. “We wish to give the city a new identity – cultural identity, and the concert hall will provide an excellent foothold for achieving this. I am convinced that the development of the city, and the entire humanity, is only possible thanks to culture,” said Giencke.

25 OCTOBER 2015

Lielais Dzintars concert hall

UROCONTROL has signed an agreement with the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE to enhance cooperation between the two organisations in the key area of exchange of flight data. The deal, which also covers updated flight plan and airport departure planning information, is set to help address the current lack of predictability of traffic between the Middle East and Europe which affects capacity. “With traffic between Europe and the Middle East predicted to grow at 3.6 percent a year over the next decade at least, it is clear that in order to deliver efficient air traffic services, we need to improve cooperation and exchange of information between the two regions,” said Frank Brenner, director general, EUROCONTROL.

NEWS TOURISM BOARDS Australia Remains a Stronghold for Scotland

England: Top Sporting Preferences Revealed

ince 2012, Scotland has been welcoming an increasing number of travellers from Australia year after year, according to figures released by VisitScotland. In 2014 alone, there were 158,000 trips made by tourists from the faraway country accounting for 1.67 million nights and GBP130 million (EUR178.8 million). With some 1.5 million Australians of Scots origin or with Scottish ancestry, Australia represents a key diaspora stronghold for the European country. Upon the Australian tennis team’s recent game in the David Cup series, Mike Cantlay, chairman, VisitScotland, noted that though the countries are rivals on the tennis court, visitors are very much welcome in Glasgow.

Sydney

Hungarian Tourism to Set New Records

T A

fter three months and 2,000 public nominations, VisitEngland has released its Home of Sport shortlist. The search for the country’s ultimate sporting capital requested participants to submit their related experiences and venues, spanning everything from favourite running routes and personal fitness challenges to stadia holding tens of thousands of fans and even pubs for watching the action. The six selected choices are Nottingham with most nominations, Yorkshire as the activities’ playground, rugby as the biggest claim to fame, Manchester for the best attractions, Gloucestershire for the quirkiest sports and London for its iconic venues and events.

Malta Courts Dutch Visitors

he number of guests at accommodation establishments in Hungary is set to reach 10 million by year-end, pushing guests nights up to over 25 million and revenues to HUF35 billion (EUR112 million). As Ádám Ruszinkó, deputy state secretary, tourism, Hungary, pinpointed, although the sector has recorded excellent results in each year since 2010, it is a fragile genre, and bad news may cause massive damage. That is why, according to Ruszinkó, it must be emphasised at every possible forum that Hungary is an absolutely safe and welcoming destination. Based on the World Tourism Organization’s figures, in the first half of the year, international tourist arrivals in Hungary grew by more than four times the global average, at 17.5 percent.

Budapest

Belarus Lures Extreme Sports Fans

Amsterdam

alta Tourism Authority’s Dutch office organised two events in a bid to further promote the destination in the Netherlands. Among the affairs were a Joseph Calleja concert held in Amsterdam, where the famed performer entertained and subsequently greeted the destination’s travel trade partners and specialists invited by the tourism body. The authority also hosted a networking function at the International Association for Shell and Spatial Structures (IASS) symposium where 30 MICE organisers were welcomed to observe SAIL-In Parade, a research project by five Maltese engineering graduates exhibited at the IASS conference in the capital city.

ore than 40 athletes from Belarus, Switzerland, Russia, Ukraine and Kazakhstan competed in Belarus’ Open Aerial Skiing Water-Ramp Championships at the end of September. The event took place at the Eastern European country’s new freestyle skiing centre in Minsk which has already welcomed more than 50,000 people since its official opening in April. Hailed as a unique facility in the whole world, Minsk Freestyle Skiing Center can accommodate some 500-600 visitors and 200 athletes at the same time. The establishment has been designed to provide ideal conditions for training and to host international competitions in synchronized swimming, diving, and freestyle skiing.

25 OCTOBER 2015

ACCOMMODATION NEWS

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s W brand will debut in Serbia in 2019 with W Belgrade and The Residences at W Belgrade. The 120-key property will be located within the Serbian capital’s 100ha waterfront development, and will boast a restaurant, bar and lobby area, as well as spa and fitness facilities, pool deck and a bar. The Residences at W Belgrade will offer 165 residential apartments in two towers, with access to the facilities and services of W Belgrade. According to Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, the properties will appeal to both local and international guests.

25 OCTOBER 2015

Scandic Hotels Launches by Scandic

Munich to Welcome IHG’s Fresh New Model

ordic hotel operator Scandic Hotels will soon unveil a new collection of unique properties, marketed under their own names with the extension, by Scandic. The first hotel of the brand will be Stockholm’s Scandic Grand Central, which will continue to operate as Central by Scandic on February 1, 2016. The capital’s property will be followed by a number of other hotels across Nordic countries with all of them being distinguished by their unique history and character. “By launching a collection of signature hotels, we will realise the hotels’ full potential in terms of customer offering and profitability,” said Frank Fiskers, president, Scandic Hotels.

Scandic Grand Central exterior

Belgrade to Welcome W Hotel and Residences

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a franchise agreement with Primestar Hotel Group for a dual-branded development in Munich. The 118-room Holiday Inn Munich City – East will feature the brand’s signature Open Lobby, as well as stateof-the-art conference facilities with multi-functional meeting rooms, a restaurant and bar, as well as a gym and sauna. Meanwhile, the 189-key Holiday Inn Express Munich City – East will boast the latest technology and an Express Café and Bar. Due to open early 2018, the properties are in close proximity to the city centre and the airport.

NEWS ACCOMMODATION Wyndham Consolidates Russian Presence

Domes of Elounda

yndham Hotel Group is gearing up for the impending launch of Ramada Plaza Voronezh City Centre. The newly built property, the company’s first in the historic and cultural city, will offer 210 rooms across 16 floors, presenting a variety of accommodation styles. Extensive leisure facilities include a spa, relaxation area, gym and a steam room, while meetings and events venues along with food and beverage outlets will also be available. As Dan Ruff, president, Europe, Middle East, Eurasia and Africa, Wyndham Hotel Group, noted, the opening comes at a time when Russia is experiencing a rebound in air passenger traffic.

Autograph Penetrates Greece

utograph Collection Hotels has entered Greece with the addition of Domes of Elounda, in Crete. Located in the heart of the destination, the property boasts 78 suites and 40 villas, and it recently completed a multimillion euro expansion which includes 28 luxury residences outfitted with a vast array of amenities and private swimming pools, along with a brand new family area offering a range of activities for all ages. John Licence, brand leader, Europe, Autograph Collection Hotels, commented, “Domes of Elounda really is the ideal Greek addition to Autograph Collection Hotels, and contributes to ensuring that the brand’s offering is nothing short of collectively exceptional.”

New Hotel Indigo Penned for Berlin

Germany to Welcome 30th Meliá

ermany has become an important growth market for Meliá Hotels International as the group plans to introduce Meliá Frankfurt, its 30th hotel in the country, in early 2019. With the addition of the property, Germany will become the hotelier’s second largest market behind Spain. Located in the Bockenheim district, the property will boast 291 rooms, several dining options, a sky bar, meetings and events facilities and a spa. The 140m tall building will also house business apartments between the 16th – 40th floors. The company aims to boost brand awareness in the country and expects to benefit from trade fair activity in the city.

Sweden Adds Another Radisson Blu

Radisson Blu Metropol Hotel

Rendering of Hotel Indigo Berlin City - East Side

nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) is to further expand its footprint in Germany with the newbuild Hotel Indigo Berlin City - East Side set to open in 2017. Located in Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, one of the most creative districts in the German capital, the 119-key property will be part of Mercedes Platz development, due to open in 2018, which will feature numerous restaurants and bars, a 4,000-capacity event hall and a movie theatre. René Schappner, director of development, Germany, IHG, described Berlin as a city with numerous vibrant and distinct neighbourhoods which make perfect hosts for the brand.

adisson Blu Metropol Hotel opened in central Helsingborg. The new upper-upscale property, which offers 205 rooms and suites, is hailed as the largest in the city and a natural meeting place with international flair in the Söder area. It features a conference floor with eight units, of which the largest room can hold up to 150 seated guests. The Nordic region is an important market for both the brand and the company since it started its journey of innovation and growth in the area, pinpointed Tom Flanagan, area vice president, Nordics, The Rezidor Hotel Group. “With this opening, we continue to strengthen our leading position in the region, offering iconic hotels and world class hospitality to our guests,” added Flanagan.

25 OCTOBER 2015

RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What makes Lapland so special? And why should someone choose Saariselkä for an adventure? SONJA EIRAMO: The Finnish Lapland is an easy and safe destination to experience the remote arctic wilderness and weather. There are four very different seasons with very different things to experience. In the summer there is the midnight sun with 24 hours of sunlight and pleasant weather; not too hot and not too cold. It is a great place to escape the heat of Southern Europe. Autumn brings beautiful colours, berries and mushrooms. It is an excellent time to go hiking and also the first chance to see the Northern Lights – the season starts at the end of August. Kakslauttanen is one of the best places in the world to see the Northern Lights, with an eight-month-long season. Winter starts at the end of October, and we get lots of snow. Polar night, or ‘kaamos’ as we call it, is a magical period of winter when the sun does not come up at all. In January, the sun comes up for the first time and days start to get longer. March and April are beautiful spring months with lots of snow and long days, but still with dark nights and a chance to see the Northern Lights. There are lots of different activities to enjoy year round, and [a beautiful] nature to explore. Saariselkä is one of the most authentic destinations in Lapland, and it boasts an excellent location. It is next to Urho Kekkonen National Park, which is Finland’s largest, and is only a short distance from Lake Inari, the third largest lake in the country. It is also close to northern Norway and the Arctic Sea. Despite being in the wilderness it is easy to reach; Ivalo airport is 30km from Saariselkä village and 40km from Kakslauttanen, and there are daily one and a half hour flights from Helsinki. The area has good services and many activities to offer. In the winter it is perhaps the best destination in Finland for cross-country skiing, with 200km of skiing tracks. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: With significant investments being made in Lapland’s airports, how do you see tourism developing in the region and in Saariselkä in particular? 25 OCTOBER 2015

Q & A with Sonja Eiramo

MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL, KAKSLAUTTANEN ARCTIC RESORT

ONE OF FINLAND’S MOST ORIGINAL EXPERIENCES, KAKSLAUTTANEN ARCTIC RESORT BECAME A WELL-KNOWN TRAVEL BUSINESS. SONJA EIRAMO, MARKETING, ADVERTISING AND COMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL, KAKSLAUTTANEN ARCTIC RESORT, EXPLAINS WHAT MAKES THE PROPERTY SO UNIQUE. SONJA EIRAMO: The number of visitors is growing steadily, especially from Asia. The Northern Lights combined with a safe destination will bring more guests in the future, too. In summer, the clean air and pleasant weather give such a sense of wellbeing that it will undoubtedly attract more guests to the region. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: The region is known as a one-of-a-kind

Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort

destination. What locally-inspired experiences can guests enjoy at the resort? SONJA EIRAMO: Kakslauttanen offers a wide range of unique accommodation. All our cozy, traditional log cabins have their own private sauna and fireplace. In our glass igloos you can enjoy the Northern Lights and the arctic sky in a warm place from a comfortable bed. For those looking for more luxury, we have queen suite log cabins and our honeymoon turf lodge. From November we are offering a totally new kind of accommodation, kelo-glass igloos, where guests can enjoy the best parts of both log cabins and glass igloos. Santa Claus lives all year round in Kakslauttanen and has his own Santa’s resort including both his home and a celebration house where you can have many different kinds of events, from gala dinners to concerts and product launches. Kakslauttanen is also an excellent place to enjoy a Finnish smoke sauna, with a swim in the lake in summer or the ice pool in winter. Altogether, we have five smoke saunas, one of which is the biggest in the world, accommodating up to 60 people. All our summer and winter activities offer amazing opportunities to explore the nature of Lapland and meet local Sami people. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Which types of guests are most common at your resort and how do you promote the destination to your target markets? SONJA EIRAMO: Kakslauttanen attracts all kinds of guests from all over the world. We are a very international resort. Our staff also comes from every corner of the globe. We work in close cooperation with many tour operators and travel agencies, and these are our most important partners. VisitFinland is also a very important organisation when it comes to promoting Lapland and Finland abroad. We also attend travel fairs and workshops around the world. Media outlets in many different countries have showcased us as well – we host many journalists at the resort. The Internet and social media are important channels for us, too.

NEWS AIR TAP Join Forces with Google

S7 Expands Domestic Coverage

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n a bid to maximise client numbers and foster loyalty, TAP has began working with Google on its digital progress. The airline aims to take advantage of online opportunities, increase sales and consolidate its online booking market share in countries and on routes it flies to. Furthermore, the Portuguese flag carrier hopes to encourage potential clients to explore what the company has to offer whilst purchasing tickets, hence further boosting sales through the website. The partnership strives to contribute towards the development of a holistic view of the customer by raising the proactivity in service through prospective analysis of the data of the users’ behaviour.

7 Airlines has launched direct services between Salekhard and Tyumen. The carrier deploys an Airbus A319 with 134 seats on the route which is being operated twice a week. As Igor Veretennikov, strategy director, S7 Airlines, pinpointed, the introduction of the itinerary follows the Salekhard – Moscow service, inaugurated earlier this year. “Passengers received an opportunity to choose, and the most convenient and cost-efficient flights are now available to them,” claimed Veretennikov.

Austrian Airlines Returns to Shanghai

Tyumen

Shanghai

Icelandair to Codeshare with Alaska Airlines

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ustrian Airlines plans to reintroduce flights to Shanghai. Starting April 4, 2016, the European carrier will offer five weekly services to the Chinese destination onboard a Boeing 777 aircraft, while as of May 1, 2016, operations will increase to daily frequencies. Austrian Airlines’ second destination in China after Beijing, Shanghai had already been a part of the carrier’s network between April 2004 and January 2007. “Shanghai once again offers potential thanks to the significantly improved market environment and increased local demand,” said Andreas Otto, chief commercial officer, Austrian Airlines.

celandair and Alaska Airlines have entered into a codeshare agreement and frequent flier partnership, ensuring seamless connections and rewarding passengers travelling between Europe and the US. Effective from November 1, customers will enjoy hassle-free reservation and ticketing processes, one-stop check-in, baggage check to final destination, coordinated flight schedules and several additional perks, making the travel experience between the destinations more enjoyable and efficient, suggested Helgi Mar Bjorgvinsson, senior vice president, sales and marketing, Icelandair. The European carrier operates flights to 16 cities in North America.

25 OCTOBER 2015

AIR NEWS Brussels Welcomes Emirates A380

o commemorate the first anniversary of Emirates’ operations to Belgium, the airline performed a one-off service with its flagship doubledecker Airbus A380 aircraft to Brussels Airport. As Jean-Pierre Martin, country manager, Belgium and Luxembourg, Emirates, noted, since September 2014, the normally deployed Boeing 777-300ER transported over 230,000 passengers on the route. “As the only airline to offer a first class product to the Middle East, we pride ourselves on offering our business and leisure passengers in Belgium a high quality onboard and on ground experience,” added Martin. Likewise, Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport Company, deemed the route a great success.

Stockholm Arlanda: New airBaltic Flights

irBaltic transferred its operations from Bromma Stockholm Airport to Stockholm Arlanda Airport, linking the Swedish capital with Riga and Vilnius. Flights to the Latvian city will be offered up to five times per day, while the capital of Lithuania will be connected to Stockholm with daily services on working days in addition to extra frequencies via Riga.

Load Factor Up for Brussels Airlines

he number of passengers flying with Brussels Airlines in August grew by 12.5 percent year-on-year to reach 700,891 travellers, pushing load factor to a record 83.9 percent. Traffic on European routes showed an increase of 13.4 percent compared to the same month in 2014, while flights to and from Africa carried almost eight percent more customers. On the American network, services to New York and Washington saw 9.2 percent more flyers. The most popular itineraries in the carrier’s European network proved to be the new Mediterranean destinations launched during summer.

25 OCTOBER 2015

TRAVEL TALK

The results show that the […] campaign was successful

MARTA KUČEROVÁ CEO, Slovak Tourism Board

“Our advertising mix […] included online campaigns on Google and YouTube, which referred potential visitors to [the tourism board’s] portal. [...] In the first seven months of this year, more than 1.2 million people interested in information about holiday opportunities in Slovakia visited the portal, which is an annual increase of 80 percent. The results show that the precisely-targeted campaign was successful. We expect that these results will also be reflected in an increase in the number of visitors to Slovakia in the second half of this year.”

The Liverpool to Bucharest and [...] Bacau routes represent a real success

GHEORGHE RACARU General manager, Blue Air

[Lufthansa] has consistently been one of the most innovative, forward-looking airlines

Passengers can enjoy the full benefit of our multibillion investments

JENS BISCHOF Chief commercial officer, Lufthansa Group

“From this year onwards our passengers can enjoy the full benefit of our multibillion investments in quality, equipment and services. This enables us to continue to further expand our leading position in the group of international premium airlines.”

”Liverpool to Cluj Napoca is the third route that we will open in less than a year since the first Blue Air flight from Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The Liverpool to Bucharest and Liverpool to Bacau routes represent a real success in Blue Air’s portfolio and this was possible thanks to the support of our partners in the UK and specifically due to the involvement of Liverpool John Lennon Airport.”

GRAHAM COOKE President, World Travel Awards

“It is an honour to recognise Lufthansa as Europe’s leading airline once again this year. During our 22-year history, the carrier has consistently been one of the most innovative, forwardlooking airlines in European aviation, and it is no surprise our voters have recognised their achievements once again [at this year’s World Travel Awards].”

TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

25 OCTOBER 2015

WHO’S MOVED

JÖRG EBERHART

HENGHONG YANG

Jörg Eberhart is Air Dolomiti’s new president and CEO. Between 2007 and 2010 he served as vice president of the marketing, network and commercial unit for the airline. With an entrepreneurial background, he has vast experience within Lufthansa Group in the operational and financial sectors. After obtaining a master’s degree in business administration, he served as a pilot for several years while also gaining experience as consultant for major companies. Eberhart then joined IVC Venture Capital as head of investment management. After his three-year tenure as vice President at Air Dolomiti, he returned to Lufthansa Group where he was CEO of Aerologic. Since 2012 he has been heading the SCORE programme within Lufthansa.

Henghong Yang has been announced as the new head of German Convention Bureau (GCB)’s China office. Yang has extensive experience in marketing European destinations in the Chinese market through his previous work with Austrian National Tourist Office and Switzerland Tourism. In addition, he also worked in the MICE sector as well as other areas at CYTS Tours, China. Based in GCB’s Beijing office, Yang will be responsible for providing knowledgeable and extensive support that meets the unique needs and requirements of local planners and partners in order to further strengthen the existing business ties between Germany and China.

Yang has extensive experience in marketing

FREDRIK WIRDENIUS

Fredrik Wirdenius has become member of Scandic Hotels’ board of directors. Wirdenius has close to 30 years of experience, having extensively worked in the Swedish and international real estate markets, seven of which has been CEO of Swedish property company, Vasakronan. In addition, he is also a member of the board of RICS Sweden and has knowledge from various managerial positions within the Skanska group in both Sweden as well as internationally.

Wirdenius is the CEO of Swedish company Vasakronan

CHRISTINA REINHOLD

Christina Reinhold is the new commercial director of InterCityHotel, one of the three brands of Steigenberger Hotels. Reinhold, who holds a degree in tourism management, will be in charge of marketing, advertising and sales measures. She spent a total of eight years working for FRHI Hotels & Resorts at a global sales level. In her most recent positions as global account manager and director of global accounts, she held responsibility in the field of business travel. The latter role involved worldwide representation of the hotels on the German, Austrian and Swiss markets and strategic development of global key accounts in the areas of corporate, consortia and retail industry.

25 OCTOBER 2015

NEWS & EVENTS Global Family Meeting in Dublin

he Irish capital has been selected to stage the next edition of the World Meeting of Families in 2018. Started by St. Pope John Paul II in 1994 with the aim of celebrating the church’s role in building a family, the gathering is being held every three years. As Eamon Martin, primate, Ireland, noted, three years ago the 50th International Eucharistic Congress proved to be a great celebration of faith for Ireland, and it attracted pilgrims from all around the world. “Despite many challenges, the family remains at the heart of faith,” concluded Martin.

Belgrade to Host Youth and Student Travel Conference

he Serbian capital city will organise the next edition of the World Youth Student and Educational (WYSE) Travel Confederation’s conference in September 2016. The World Youth and Student Travel Conference (WYSTC) is expected to attract over 600 delegates representing more than 450 organisations from 120 countries around the globe. According to David Chapman, director general, WYSE Travel Confederation, Belgrade’s location, accessibility, and growing popularity with youth and student travellers, make it an ideal location.

Finavia Welcomes CAPA Summit

ecision-makers in the commercial air traffic sector and tourism directors convened in Helsinki for the annual CAPA World Aviation Summit. The Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation’s two-day event, hosted by airport operator Finavia, gathered the industry’s most prominent figures who discussed the main trends in global air traffic and the tourism industry in general. As Peter Harbison, executive chairman, CAPA, revealed, the main focus was on the regulation and limitations affecting the business.

EVENTS RUSSIA & CIS HOTEL INVESTMENT CONFERENCE Moscow, Russia October 27 – 28 www.russia-cisconference.com A meeting for the region’s hotel and tourism investment community, which will analyse the impact of the economic and political situation on the sector.

WORLD TRAVEL MARKET London, UK November 02 – 05 www.wtmlondon.com Now in its 36th year, the event generates more than EUR3.38 billion of travel industry contracts.

TTR Bucharest, Romania November 12 – 15 www.romexpo.ro Held twice a year, the show hosts national tourism organisations, travel agencies, tour operators, airlines, insurance companies, hotels, cultural institutions, museums and congress organisers.

IBTM WORLD

Tourism for Tomorrow Awards Open for Applications

usinesses worldwide are invited to showcase their sustainability efforts through World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC)’s Tourism for Tomorrow Awards. “Tourism is a force for good,” commented Fiona Jeffery, chairman, Just a Drop, stressing that it is of great importance to focus on preserving the natural environment, look after cultural heritage and ensure equal opportunity to local communities.

Barcelona, Spain November 17 – 19 www.ibtmworld.com A leading global event for the meetings, incentives, conferences, events and business travel industry, which gathers over 15,500 professionals of the sector.

Etihad Backs Serbian Sports Event

tihad Airways sponsored Prince Paul’s Cup – Zobnatica 2015, a prestigious horse racing event in Serbia. The competition included gallop and trotter races with top horses and renowned Eastern European jockeys and etaps named after the Abu Dhabi-based carrier as well as the country’s own airline. According to Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways, the company’s first sports sponsorship in the region underscores its deep commitment to the Serbian market and reflects the already strong bilateral ties between the UAE and Serbia.

25 OCTOBER 2015