25 OCTOBER 2017 ISSUE 64
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25 OCTOBER 2017 ISSUE 64
04 03 AGENTS
MALTA SAW DOUBLE-DIGIT VISITOR GROWTH IN JULY
15 INFLUX OF TOURISTS TO CROATIA
THOMAS COOK, NECKERMANN AND BRUSSELS AIRLINES JOIN FORCES 05 Transportation 12 Airports 22 Who’s Moved
MARKET UPDATE
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airBaltic Witnesses Positive Results
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
airBaltic has reportedly carried more than 1.57 million passengers between Riga and its five destinations in Germany, including Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Dusseldorf and Frankfurt, over the last five years.
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rom Riga, airBaltic serves over 60 destinations, offering convenient connections to the Baltics, Scandinavia and the CIS. Commenting on the positive figures, Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice president, network management, airBaltic, said, “Germany has been a stable and important market for airBaltic since the establishment of the company. It shows that more passengers choose airBaltic for its price, service, punctuality and number of convenient connections available.�
Impressive Figures for Munich Airport
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
Munich
EXCHANGE RATES
as of
23.10.2017
COUNTRY
CURRENCY
EUR1=
US (USD)
Dollar
1.17
UK (GBP)
Pound
0.90
Switzerland (CHF) Franc
1.16
Japan (JPY)
133.60
2
Yen
Third quarter traffic figures at Munich Airport include several new all-time highs with approximately 4.4 million passengers, with September being the busiest month in the history of the airport.
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oreover, the 164,000 travellers counted on September 29, represent a new all-time achievement for a single day. Overall passenger traffic in the first three quarters of the year was up six percent year-on-year, and increased of around two million passengers. The growth in passenger traffic was maintained especially by strong gains in international traffic. On European routes alone, 21.1 million travellers took advantage of the extensive range of destinations available in Munich, representing a 6.8 percent increase over 2016.
25 OCTOBER 2017
NEWS AGENTS
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Thomas Cook, Neckermann and Brussels Airlines Join Forces
Aiming to offer Belgian holidaymakers more flexibility and certainty, Thomas Cook, Neckermann and Brussel Airlines have recently announced a partnership, providing customers the opportunity to choose from more than 6,500 holiday flights to 51 sunny destinations.
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ommenting on the partnership, Bernard Gustin, CEO, Brussels Airlines, highlighted, “[…] This is the largest expansion in the 15-year history of our airline. It allows us to offer our guests a large array of sun destinations, ranging from Cabo Verde to the Canary Islands, to Portugal, Spain, Tunisia and Egypt. Next summer, we continue to expand that network even more. Our more than 3,500 colleagues look forward to welcoming the customers of Neckermann, Thomas Cook and Pegase on board.”
Expedia to Support Thomas Cook’s Growth
Hotelbeds Group Teams up with GTA
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n order to enhance its bookings, Thomas Cook has teamed up with Expedia in order to provide customers with over 60,000 more hotels in global city and European domestic locations than currently on offer. The agreement will enable Thomas Cook to significantly reduce the cost and complexity of its city breaks and hotelonly business. The global travel company also has the option to offer its core sun and beach package holidays on Expedia sites globally, broadening its distribution reach. Aman Bhutani, brand president, Expedia, commented, “[…] We believe that our coming together will enhance our abilities to help more people to get out and see the world, while enhancing each of our competitive positions in the European market.”
25 OCTOBER 2017
ollowing the closure of the customary regulatory and legal procedures, GTA has joined Hotelbeds Group, with a strategic integration plan underway to integrate GTA and Tourico Holidays into the group. All three companies will have access to an integrated range of services, products and technology solutions, from a combination of all three companies in the future. Hotelbeds Group can now focus on reaching its ambition of becoming the very best travel trade partner by providing access to the best teams, products and data analysis in the industry, according to Joan Vilà, executive chairman, Hotelbeds Group.
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NEWS
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Malta Saw Double-Digit Visitor Growth in July
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ubstantial growth was registered in non-package holidaymakers and in the number of first time visitors, up 20.6 percent and 15.1 percent, respectively. Commenting o n the positive figures, Paul Bugeja, CEO, Malta Tourism Authority, explained, “This is the result of intensive work with all stakeholders. We are happy to note positive trends in all indicators, including the increase in the per bed night spend from EUR119.04 to EUR121.56 per night.�
Malta
According to figures recently released by Malta’s National Statistics Office, the number of inbound tourists reached 256,509 in July, an increase of 11.7 percent compared to the same month in 2016.
Attracting More Visitors to Belgium
Belgium
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he Hi Belgium Pass, a joint initiative by Brussels Airlines, Brussels Airport, the Belgian railways, and several tourism offices to make more Europeans discover Belgium, is expanding. After a successful start in April, the pass will now include six additional Belgian cities, bringing the total number to 13. With a Hi Belgium Pass, visitors from 18 European countries and from Russia can get a return flight to Belgium with Brussels Airlines, unlimited train rides throughout Belgium during their entire stay, and free access to a number of tourist attractions in two Belgian cities of their choosing. The six additional cities include, Leper, Charleroi, Eupen, Mons, Louvain-La-Neuve and Tournai.
25 OCTOBER 2017
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NEWS TRANSPORTATION
Tight Partnership Between SilverRail and Rail Europe
Le Boat partners with The Great Waterway
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usiness-to-business travel technology company, SilverRail has teamed up with Rail Europe to offer transaction and connectivity to Rail Europe’s train operator fares and seat inventory. This will be achievable through the company’s technology platform, Silvercore. Fabrice Morel, CEO, Rail Europe, commented that this partnership will enable the company’s own resources to leverage SilverRail’s unmatched market expertise and focus solely on designing the best experience for selling rail, both for travellers and travel intermediaries around the world.
25 OCTOBER 2017
ntroducing a unique experience to worldwide visitors, Le Boat is joining forces with The Great Waterway thus gaining access to the historic Rideau Canal in Canada. Effective from 2018, Le Boat will travel throughout The Great Waterway region which begins in Cornwall on the St. Lawrence River to Lake Ontario’s Kingston and on to Belleville on the Bay of Quinte. “We are excited by the support we are receiving from The Great Waterway. They encompass everyone involved in tourism along this magnificent, historic waterway, said Cheryl Brown, managing director, Le Boat. “We are already marketing the Rideau Canal to customers from around the world. This partnership will benefit everyone involved in tourism in this part of Ontario, she added”
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Autograph Collection Announced Munich Hotel Marriott International’s, Autograph Collection Hotels, has announced the opening of its fourth hotel in Germany, Roomers Munich, located in the city’s burgeoning Westend.
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Roomers Munich
reated by the visionary Gekko Group, with an avant-garde approach to the hotel’s interiors led by Amsterdam design company, Concrete, Roomers Munich boasts an individuality through its furnishings and flair that reflect an urban zeitgeist. “With its unparalleled location, immersive design and bespoke dining experiences , Roomers Munich perfectly embodies the exactly like nothing else ethos of the brand,” said Brian Povinelli, senior vice president, Autograph Collection Hotels. He added, “We are thrilled to welcome it to our growing global portfolio of 125 distinctive hotels around the world.”
Travelodge Now Operating Liverpool Hotel
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ollowing a re-brand, Holiday Inn Express hotel at Liverpool John Lennon Airport is now operated by Travelodge, after taking a lease from Peel Land and Property Group. Now known Travelodge Liverpool John Lennon Airport, the 100-room hotel, located just a short distance from the hub, will be renovated to reflect Travelodge’s new contemporary brand style. Offering a bar-café and three meeting rooms, the property is ideal for business or leisure travellers wanting to be in close proximity to the airport. “The local economy is growing at pace and with increasing visitor numbers to the area, there is a big shortage of good quality accommodation at a great value price,” said Tony O’Brien, property director, Travelodge.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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he first standalone Four Seasons Private Residences is set to open in 2018 in London, as a result of a partnership between Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and Finchatton, a design and development firm. Setting a new standard in London's hospitality scence, Twenty Grosvenor Square will offer 37 luxurious residences in the heart of Mayfair. Serviced by Four Seasons employees and offering access to the many amenities of a Four Seasons hotel, the residences will bring together the best of hotel services and private ownership, offering a luxury residential experience said to be unlike any other in London. J. Allen Smith, CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, commented, “Partnering with Finchatton is an incredible opportunity for us to bring our vision for free-standing residential to life […].”
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ark Inn by Radisson has welcomed the opening of the first Park Inn by Radisson Troyitska in Kyiv, Carlson Rezidor’s fourth hotel in Ukraine and third in Kyiv city. The property boasts 196 rooms, a bar with a spacious terrace, food and beverage facilities, and a fitness centre. Moreover, business guests can take advantage of six meeting rooms. Juris Zudovs, general manager, Park Inn by Radisson Troyitska, said, “We are excited to open the Park Inn by Radisson hotel in the city. Park Inn by Radisson Troyitska brings a truly innovative experience to the market, composed of stunning design, a meeting concept, and a delightful food and drinks offer. ‘Adding Color to Life’ is the ultimate brand promise, and we are looking forward to showcasing our modern take on genuine hospitality.”
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Copenhagen Welcomes Nobis Hotel
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he 77-room Nobis Hotel Copenhagen is officially open, marking Nobis Group’s first property outside of Sweden. The hotel is housed in a historic landmark building from 1903, once home to the Royal Danish Conservatory of Music, and boasts Neils restaurant and meeting space. Moreover, the property has a fitness centre open 24/7, in addition to a Hamam and sauna for guests to unwind. Located just nine kilometres from Copenhagen Airport, the hotel is situated between the city centre and Vesterbro, offering guests easy access to all that Copenhagen has to offer.
Harvest Begins at Mercure Paris Boulogne
Park Inn by Radisson Troyitska
Kyiv Welcomes Park Inn by Radisson
Four Seasons Private Residences rendering
Mayfair to Welcome Four Seasons Residence
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he Mercure Paris Boulogne Hotel has begun harvest as AccorHotels’ first aeroponic farm, a vertical urban farm spanning more than 350m2 on its rooftop. The harvest from this first trial season has provided the hotel with supplies, and has made it possible to distribute baskets of fruit and vegetables to locals in the neighbourhood. Grown on the top storey of the hotel, vegetables, red berries, salad leaves and herbs are picked every morning for lunch and dinner, thus ensuring the maximum freshness of the produce sourced from a completely local food network. On average, a quarter of what is produced is used by the restaurant with the rest being sold in baskets.
25 OCTOBER 2017
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION IHG Continues Expansion in Germany
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Cologne, Germany
nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced its continued expansion in Germany with the opening of its sixth hotel and signing of its 13th hotel this year. The company now has a total of nearly 120 hotels in the development pipeline in the country. The recently opened 323-key Holiday Inn Express Cologne – City Centre, is said to be the largest Holiday Inn Express in Europe, and brings the company’s number of hotels across Germany to 72, with over 14,600 rooms. Holiday Inn Express Goettingen, is IHG’s 13th signing in the market this year, with the development pipeline now at 46 hotels. Robert Shepherd, chief development officer, IHG Europe, said, “Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express are known and loved worldwide, welcoming millions of guests each year. At double the size of its nearest competitor globally, the Holiday Inn Brand Family is a powerful growth engine for IHG.”
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he Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm, originally launched in 1912 for the Olympics, is undergoing a significant refurbishment, aiming to be transformed it into Stockholm’s leading lifestyle hotel. The renovation will be completed in spring 2018, and will include the renewal of all 170 guest rooms and suites, meeting spaces, lobby, restaurant and bars. Most of the changes are already completed and the hotel is going under a substantial transformation with only final guest rooms left to finish. Eva Kalling-Hansson, general manager, Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm, said, “We are delighted to welcome guests to the newly refreshed stylish interiors of Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm, where our personalised guest services and excellent local knowledge awaits, allowing guests to experience a true taste of Stockholm as seen only by locals, and creating memorable moments for all."
25 OCTOBER 2017
Radisson Blu Strand Hotel, Stockholm
Radisson Blu Strand Hotel Stockholm to be Redesigned
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NEWS AIRPORTS
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The Dunstane Unveiled its New Look
Nobu Hotels Expands in Barcelona
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Barcelona
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obu Hotels has unveiled plans to launch Nobu Hotel Barcelona, a 250-key address set to open at the end of 2018. Marking the group's third location in Spain, the property will continue to be a member of the Selenta Group collection, and part of a multi-million Euro refurbishment of Hotel Torre Catalunya. Capturing the unique essence of the famous European city whilst reflecting the brand’s core aspirational lifestyle offering, the new address will be an integrated mix of a hotel and restaurant. “In announcing this new hotel, we are continuing our solid worldwide growth with Nobu Hotel Barcelona and establishing our 13th Nobu Hotel within our special collection,” emphasised, Trevor Horwell, chief executive, Nobu Hotels.
he Dunstane Houses has unveiled the upgraded The Dunstane, a 16key Victorian town house situated in Edinburgh’s West End. Following a six-month renovation project, the re-branded property now features luxury accommodation with an inviting allday restaurant and stylish cocktail bar. Highlighting the building’s Victorian history, interior designer Hannah Lohan created a contemporary urban sanctuary with an authentic Scottish soul by combining the neoclassical design of old-town Edinburgh with a modern approach to luxury, creating the feel of a country house hotel. The address’ relaunch is part of a wider journey for the family-run brand, set to conclude at the end of this year when its twin property, Hampton House, unveils a further eight renovated bedrooms and lounge.
25 OCTOBER 2017
NEWS AIRPORTS
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Vienna Airport Opens New Visitors Attraction A multimedia experience space conveying the world of flying from spectacular perspective was introduced by Vienna Airport.
Airplane Cockpit View
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n contribution with Thomas Brezina, international author and TV star, visitors can experience the landing approach from a cockpit perspective, undergo the process of baggage logistics on a conveyor belt and enjoy the view from the airport tower. Visitors will be able to experience all aspects involved in aviation in four stations, from unusual angles, and find out everything about airport operations, air traffic control, job descriptions and much more. The airport tours and the Visitors Terrace also offer exciting insights and views on what is happening at the airport.
Record Performance for Brussels Airport
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n August, Brussels Airport welcomed nearly 2.5 million passengers, a rise of 7.6 percent compared to the same month in 2016, marking a new record for the airport. More specifically, the number of departing travellers jumped 10.2 percent, while arrivals climbed 3.2 percent over August 2016. The positive figures are largely attributed to the surge in holiday flights, European traffic and the good performance of new long-haul flights. While cargo traffic grew 1.8 percent year-on-year during the month under review, the full-cargo segment saw a decline of 18 percent due to stricter noise standards which resulted in the departure of several companies.
Liverpool’s Hub Launched Promotional Campaign
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iming to highlight the convenience of flying from Liverpool particularly for local holidaymakers, Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) has recently launched We sell Liverpool Airport 1st campaign. A number of local travel agents have already signed up, committing to promote departures from Liverpool to their customers ahead of flights from alternative airports. Commenting on the initiative, Ashley Morgan, account manager, LJLA, explained, “[...] This latest campaign is aimed at reminding others of the range of benefits for their customers when they book flights and holidays for them from LJLA. We firmly believe that by demonstrating this loyalty and supporting their local airport, more airlines and tour operators will choose to increase the number of departures from Liverpool in the months and years ahead.”
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Athens Hub Received IATA’s Fast Travel Gold Award
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thens International Airport has recently received International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Fast Travel Gold Status. The accomplishment crystallises the hub’s efforts to be at the forefront of the industry by providing world-class services to its passengers in the areas of self-check-in, document check, and bag recovery. Commenting on the achievement, Alexandros Aravanis, chief operations officer, Athens International Airport, emphasised, “The Fast Travel Gold status acknowledges our commitment to constantly improve airport experience through innovation and prompt adjustment to passengers’ requirements in close cooperation with our airline partners. Athens International Airport pledges to keep working on innovative projects that will continue to enhance travellers’ experience in the future.”
Increasing IT Security at Munich Airport
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ue to the increasing number of IT system attacks on airports, a new centre of competence is being set up at the Bavarian hub. It will bring together IT experts from the airport operating company (FMG) and specialists from highprofile tech companies to test defensive strategies and look for new solutions in the fight against cyber-criminals. Opening on January 31, 2018, the Information Security Hub will be located in the former airmail coordination office at the airport as FMG secured the support of three renowned IT security companies, to heighten IT security. The new facility will offer public-sector organisations and other institutions opportunities for training and education while working together to put nextgeneration IT security technologies and processes on track.
25 OCTOBER 2017
NEWS DESTINATIONS
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Malta and China Strengthen Ties
Malta
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alta Tourism Authority (MTA) and Guizhou Provincial Tourism Development Committee have signed a memorandum of cooperation, through which a mutually beneficial partnership has been established. Set to be in effect until December 31, 2019, the agreement aims to explore opportunities for both countries to expand tourist exchange In addition, it focusses on facilitating the understanding and communication among the various tourism departments, enterprises and institutions. Attendances to related and specialised fairs in both countries are also considered as part of the agreement. Paul Bugeja, CEO, MTA, said that the tourism authority is committed to increasing awareness of Malta as a tourism destination for Chinese travellers and that the partnership will be beneficial in this regard.
French Tourists Increased in Croatia
Vitebsk and Gomel talking to Join UNESCO
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earning City for Creative Economy conference took place at the School of Business and Management of Technology of Belarusian State University in Minsk on October 05 - 06. The event was a segment of the German Weeks 2017 programme, and the Sustainable Development Week, organised by the German Federal Government’s Support Program for Belarus featuring governmental, non-governmental, and international organisations. Overall, the event is meant to plan and put into practice regional sustainable development strategies for 2016-2025, through cooperation and promotion of the creative economy and the Learning City, however the conference also discussed the concept of Vitebsk's and Gomel’s entering the UNESCO Global Network of Learning Cities.
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Croatia
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roatia is a popular destination among the French as announced by the Croatian Tourist Board’s French Office. A 9.5 percent rise in arrivals and a five percent rise in nights have been recorded in this year, based on the interest among business partners in France. Danijela Mihalic Djurica, head, France office, Croatian Tourist Board, said, “The meetings of Croatian representatives and French partners focused on the introduction of new flights and participation in strategic promotional campaigns.” Djurica also noted that in the first nine months of this year, over 500,000 French tourists visited Croatia’s continental regions in the off season, after Croatia's recent participation at the IFTM TOP RESA fair in Paris.
Vitebsk City
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Influx of Tourists to Croatia
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roatia recorded 15 million tourist arrivals and 85 million bed nights in the first eight months of the year. These numbers represent increases of 14 percent and 13 percent, respectively, compared with the same period in 2016. According to Gari Cappelli, tourism minister, Croatia, this year’s excellent results were due to good preparations for the season, private and public sector investments, and the efforts of all workers in tourism and related sectors. Cappelli noted that for the first time in Croatian history the number of bed nights could get close to 100 million by the end of the year.
Minsk
Belarus to Target Indian Travellers
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elarus is set to launch its India Friendly programme in January, 2018, in order to attract Indian tourists to the country. According to Filipp Guly, chairman of the board, National Union of Tourist Industry, Belarus, until recently Belarus – India cooperation in tourism had developed steadily but slowly. He added that now there is a chance to give it a boost and considerably increase mutual tourist flow. To help achieve this, there are plans to open information centres in New Delhi and Mumbai under the auspices of private Indian tour operators. Guly remarked that he would like to see Indian tourists coming to Belarus on a long vacation in outdoor spa centres in the future.
25 OCTOBER 2017
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NEWS AIR
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British Airways to Fly Nonstop to the Seychelles
The Seychelles
Aiming to expand its portfolio of desirable holiday destinations, British Airways has unveiled plans to launch direct flights between Heathrow Airport and Seychelles International Airport, effective from March 24, 2018.
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he itinerary will be operated on Wednesdays and Saturdays with a Boeing B787-9 Dreamliner until October. Commenting on the upcoming launch, Sean Doyle, director, network and alliances, British Airways, revealed, “Customers can now get into holiday mode even earlier with British Airways’ direct flights from London taking 10 hours, instead of over 13 hours with a connection in the Middle East.”
Milestone Summer for airBaltic
Lucky Air to Serve Helsinki
Impressive Results for TAP
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ccording to data provided by airBaltic, the Latvian carrier carried in August more than 380,000 passengers, marking 20 percent increase compared to the corresponding month in 2016. During the three summer months, the airline has transported a total of more than 1,150,000 passengers to its network spanning Europe, Scandinavia, Russia, CIS and the Middle East. Commenting on the positive figures, Martin Gauss, CEO, airBaltic, revealed, “[…] When we worked on the Horizon 2021 business plan a few years ago, we set rather high ambitions for the airline. Still, we never expected to see such rapid growth so early. We hope to finish this year with excellent results, as our winter sales look rather promising as well.”
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Helsinki
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n August, Portuguese airline TAP carried 1.42 million passengers, a new record for the number of travellers in a single month and a year-onyear increase of 18.7 percent. The airline recorded the highest absolute growth in terms of passengers on its European routes, up 20.6 percent over August 2016. In relative terms, however, connections to Madeira and the Azores, with 133,000 travellers, recorded the biggest increase, surging 29.5 percent in comparison to August 2016. Overall, between January – August, TAP carried 9,261,647 passengers, which is 1.8 million more than during the same period in 2016.
n a bid to further connect China and Finland, Chinese airline Lucky Air will begin offering flights from China to Helsinki in the winter of 2018. The move comes in line with Finavia’s aim to strengthen services between the two countries and further serve Chinese passengers. Joni Sundelin, senior vice president, Finavia, commented, “We wish the new airline a warmly welcome to Finland and Helsinki Airport.”
25 OCTOBER 2017
NEWS AIR
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Delta and Virgin Airlines Expand Partnership
TAP Strengthens Links to Brazil
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Recife
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TAG Aviation Geneva Expands Maintenance Capabilities
End of AVRO Planes for Brussels Airlines
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n October 28, Brussels Airlines will say farewell to her very last AVRO RJ plane, with the final scheduled flight to and from Geneva. Produced by the UK manufacturer British Aerospace, the AVRO has played an important role in the growth of Brussels Airlines. When the airline was founded 15 years ago its fleet consisted exclusively of 32 AVRO type aircraft and since then, 31.5 million passengers have flown on board a Brussels Airlines AVRO jet to a European destination.
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o meet the growing demand from TAG Aviation’s customers and to ensure the widest range of aircraft maintenance provisions, TAG Aviation Maintenance Services Centre in Geneva has recently expanded its on-site aircraft refurbishment proficiencies. TAG introduced an aircraft interior cabin wood re-varnished solution, a partial exterior paint restoration and a new 3D cabin refurbishment project design technology. “For customers wanting to upgrade their aircraft we will do everything possible to meet their requirements,” said, Philippe Rabier, vice president maintenance sales, TAG Aviation Europe.
TAG Aviation Geneva
ontinuing to build on their successful joint venture, which in 2016 connected almost five million customers on over 23 routes across the US, Delta Air Lines and Virgin Atlantic have recently unveiled their new summer schedule which will be in effect from March, 2018. Among the highlights is the introduction of Airbus A330 aircraft on Delta Air Lines’ New York-London and Detroit-London routes, featuring flat-bed seats in the Delta One cabin, with individual aisle access. In addition, the two carriers will optimise their schedule between John F. Kennedy International Airport and Heathrow Airport by offering eight daily services. The airlines' joint summer 2018 schedule includes a total of 37 peak daily nonstop flights between the US and the UK.
iming to respond to the high demand from passengers for better connections between Portugal and Brazil, TAP Air Portugal has recently unveiled plans to increase services to and from Recife to eight flights weekly, effective from October 29. The increase in flights comes as a result of the gradual recovery of the Brazilian market, which has picked up again after going through a tumble. During January – August, the Portuguese carrier transported more than one million passengers on its routes to Brazil, registering 13.2 percent increase over the same period in 2016. Being the capital of Brazil’s north-eastern state of Pernambuco, Recife is distinguished by its many rivers, bridges, islets and peninsulas.
25 OCTOBER 2017
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NEWS AIR
S7 Airlines Launched Flight to Chelyabinsk
Partnership Between Air Transat and Thomas Cook
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he launch of new flights from Novosibirsk to Chelyabinsk was announced today by S7 Airlines. Direct flights from Tolmachevo Airport to Chelyabinsk will be carried out on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The flights will be operated on modern Embraer 170 aircraft, designed to carry 78 passengers in a spacious and comfortable economy class cabin. Igor Veretennikov, commerce director, S7 Group, said, “We continue to actively develop our interregional transportation services, in particular, by expanding the route network from Novosibirsk. The new flights will allow passengers from Chelyabinsk to travel between Russian and foreign cities of the S7 Airlines route network with a convenient connection at Tolmachevo airport.”
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n agreement has been signed between Transat and Thomas Cook Group Airlines for the exchange of aircraft on a seasonal basis, for seven years. Every winter, Air Transat will be given numerous narrow bosy Airbus A321s by Thomas Cook in exchange for at least one wide-body Airbus A330-200. Commenting on the agreement, Christoph Debus, chief airline officer, Thomas Cook Group, said, “The new partnership provides additional growth opportunities for our airline, […]. By taking advantage of the complementary seasonal demand in the US and Europe, we will be able to operate additional long-haul flights during winter and better balance the seasonal demand for our short and medium-haul aircraft, resulting in more cost efficiency and choice for our customers.”
Almeria, Spain
British Airways Adds New Flight to Almeria
25 SEPTEMBER 2017
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he Southern Spanish city, Almeria will be the new flight destination of British Airways from March 27, 2018. Flights will depart on Tuesdays and Saturdays from Heathrow Terminal 5, and operate until October 27, 2018, with hand baggage only. Sean Doyle, director, network and alliances, British Airways, said, “We are extremely happy to start flying to Almeria, situated on part of Spain’s most unspoilt shores. If you want to jump into crystal clear water, explore the volcanic cliffs of the wild west and drink sangria in the desert, then this stunning part of Andalucía is a dream holiday destination.”
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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Utilising Waste to Fuel British Airways Fleet
Costa Cruises to Reduce Food Waste
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iming to expand its deep commitment to sustainability, Costa Cruises has recently partnered with Winnow, a cutting-edge tech company committed to tackling avoidable food waste by providing the hospitality industry with creative ways to be more efficient. Costa Diadema, the company’s flagship vessel, is the primary lab for the project, which will soon be implemented on all Costa Cruises’ ships in Europe and Asia. Commenting on the partnership, Marc Zornes, CEO, Winnow, highlighted, “Tackling food waste is a huge opportunity for the sector and with the right tools can be transformative for the entire cruise line industry. We are inspired by Costa Cruises’ vision and are excited to support them in leading the industry on the issue of food waste.”
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ritish Airways has entered a partnership with Velocys, a renewable fuels company, to design a series of waste plants that convert household waste into renewable jet fuel to power its fleet. The first plant will take household destined for landfill or incineration, including nappies, plastic food containers and chocolate bar wrappers, and convert it into clean-burning, sustainable fuels. This will contribute to the airline’s commitment to reduce net emissions by 50 percent by 2050. As well as helping the airline industry reduce its carbon emissions this initiative will also significantly reduce the amount of waste going to landfill.
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airBaltic Crew Goes Green
irBaltic has introduced iPads to replace paper manuals and forms used by the cabin crew as a modernisation investment, which will provide increased operational efficiency and will lead to considerable savings on paper consumption. In just three days, the project allowed the company to save about six million pages of paper equivalent to roughly 350 trees. Commenting on the environmentally friendly initiative, Ingūna Andže, vice president, cabin crew, airBaltic, said, “The Electronic Flight Bag project allows us not only to save on resources, but also improve operative information exchange with other departments, as well as make the reporting process more efficient and updating manuals – easier.”
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he Lufthansa Group ProTeam, will send 11 young trainees to Thailand for four weeks for the Human Help Network Foundation, to assist a range of different tasks for the organisation. The project looks after street children and has been supported by help alliance, Lufthansa Group’s aid organisation, since 1999. Susanne Berthold-Neumann, head, ProTeam, Lufthansa Group, said, “The experience with global social challenges promotes the personality development of the ProTeam members and their willingness to take on responsibility. Experiences beyond the professional surroundings in particular can be very helpful for working in a team.”
25 OCTOBER 2017
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
Australians Golfers in Ireland Scotland Strengthens Links to Amsterdam
Amsterdam
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Ireland
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orthern Ireland is a major target for Tourism Ireland in Australia, specifically for golfers. Looking forward to the Open Championship taking place at Royal Portrush in 2019, Northern Ireland is promoting its golfing facilities worldwide. Sofia Hansson, manager, Tourism Ireland, Australia, explained, “We were delighted to invite John Rolfe to visit Northern Ireland earlier this year, to experience our top courses for himself and to hear about the preparations for The Open Championship at Royal Portrush in 2019. Our message is that Northern Ireland offers overseas golfers the complete package – with some of the very best golf in the world, stunning scenery and the warmest of welcomes.”
n a bid to promote the country as a top-quality, year-round destination, VisitScotland launched its Business Development Mission to Amsterdam on September 27, during which Scottish tourism businesses had the chance to hold a series of face-to-face meetings with key Dutch operators. In 2016, Scotland welcomed 115,000 visitors from the Netherlands, who generated an additional GBP62 million (EUR83.19) for the economy. Speaking ahead of the gathering, Judy Mariens, senior market manager, Europe, VisitScotland, highlighted, “We want our Dutch tour operators to be inspired by suppliers they meet at the event and eventually create new products which will enable them to send even more visitors to Scotland […], grow their businesses and gain better knowledge and understanding of the Dutch market.”
Finavia Fire Chief Shined at World Police & Fire Games
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im Waenerberg, fire chief, Finavia, has recently achieved his sixth world championship in karate at World Police & Fire Games in Los Angeles. Waenerberg who has practiced karate for nearly four decades, has won the Finnish championships in five different decades. Between 1985 – 1995, he competed on the national level, winning around twenty Finnish championships, one Nordic championship, as well as a bronze medal at the European championships and at the world championships. The Olympic-style competition, which took place on August 07 – 16, hosted almost 10,000 athletes representing law enforcement, firefighters, and officers from corrections, probation, border protection, immigration and customs from more than 70 countries across the world.
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CAN GÖKTAŞ has been appointed as the new general manager at The Ritz-Carlton, Almaty in Kazakhstan. Bringing with him more than 20 years of expertise in the hospitality sector, Göktaş has previously served as the regional sales director of Kempinski Hotels across Turkey and South Europe. Prior to his appointment, he served as general manager of The Ritz-Carlton Istanbul, where he led the operations for more than two years. In his new role, Göktaş will oversee hotel operations and strategic marketing and brand developments for the hotel, maintaining the unparalleled services excellence that is synonymous to group’s brand.
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Julien Bonafous
CAN GÖKTAŞ
WHO’S MOVED
MONTSERRAT BARRIGA has been appointed as director general of European Regions Airline Association (ERA). Set to begin the role in November, Barriga brings with her a wealth of experience within the aviation industry, particularly in the regional sector. Prior to this, Barriga worked for ERA member airline Binter, where she served as director of international development and industry affairs. In her new role, Barriga will work closely with the trade and international press, providing an invaluable source of expert knowledge on the aviation market.
Barriga brings with her a wealth of experience within the aviation industry
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CHRISTOPHER NASSETTA
MONTSERRAT BARRIGA
Göktaş will oversee hotel operations and strategic marketing
JULIEN BONAFOUS has taken on the role of vice president of sales of Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts. Bringing with him 20 years of expertise in the hospitality sector, Bonafous has held several senior sales and marketing positions with key international brands including Starwood, Hilton and InterContinental Hotels Group. Prior to his new role, he served as director of global sales office for Middle East, Greece and Turkey of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. In his new role, Bonafous will be responsible for leading the group’s sales operations, which include 17 international and area sales offices worldwide, ensuring that sales activity is aligned to key marketing, revenue and development objectives.
CHRISTOPHER NASSETTA has been recently appointed as chairman of World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC). Bringing with him an extensive background in real estate and hospitality sector, Nassetta instilled a guest and employeefocused culture that is recognised today on multiple Great Place to Work lists. He joined Hilton in 2007, where he served as CEO and he transformed the company by adding 2,200 hotels to a network of more than 5,000 properties in 103 countries and territories. Nassetta has been a member of WTTC executive committee since 2011 and served as vice chairman for North America since 2014.
Nasseta instilled a guest-focused culture
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Carnival Corporation has pledged up to USD10 million in funding and in kind support of Florida and throughout the Caribbean following Hurricane Irma.
Bost Interior Design received an iconic award for the interior design of the Steigenberger Hotel Bad Homburg
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
BalletBoyz are back to Sadler's Wells Theatre with an exciting quartet of new works playing with the concept of balance and imbalance
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
Brussels Airport Company celebrated International Mobility Week by giving the opportunity to its staff to try out alternate means of transport
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More than seven million people from around the world participated in this year's October festival, in Munich.
Tourism and culture leaders from across Argyll and the Isles participated in the latest VisitScotland Chief Executive Listening Tour held at The Kilmartin Museum
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS PHILOXENIA (INT'L TOURISM EXHIBITION) Thessaloniki, Greece November 10 – 12 www. philoxenia.helexpo.gr The 33rd International Philoxenia fair is the ultimate destination for all tourism professionals.
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Millenials to Shape the Future
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lobal Shapers Community’s Annual Curators Meeting took place in Geneva on September 08 — 11, with workshops and interactive sessions on a wide variety of topics ranging from health and youth employment to education and the environment. First established in 2011 by World Economic Forum, this year’s meeting was held under the theme The Time is Now and has welcomed 350 leaders aged 20 – 30 from cities around the world to share experiences on projects they spearhead, aimed at improving their local communities. “With the largest youth population in history, there is an unprecedented opportunity for young people to take an active role in shaping the future,” highlighted Yemi Babington-Ashaye, head, Global Shapers Community, World Economic Forum.
Motorworld Classics Berlin Opens to Public
O PHOTO+ADVENTURE Vienna, Austria November 11 – 12 www.photoadventure.at Photo+Adventure is known as the biggest photo fair in Austria and the biggest photo fair in the German speaking market.
RESORTS AND TOURISM SEASON Sochi, Russia November 23 – 24 www. resortstourismexpo.com This event showcases products like Health resort, healthcentres, pensions, hotels, camps and guest houses vouchers
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.
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n October 05 – 08 Motorworld Classics Berlin opened its doors to the public, and bigger than ever, with 11 halls. The classic car trade fair offers true classic treasures, the new focus theme of classic motorcycles, a high-calibre international auction, celebrity guests from the world of motor sport, an abundance of lifestyle, the 1950's show programme, and much more. "This year we have once again expanded the exhibition area by an entire hall. We are fully booked up. In addition, there are 20,000 m2 of outdoor space with the private vehicle market in the summer garden highligted,” Marc Baumüller, CEO, MoWo Messe.
High Interest for IGTM
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egistrations for the International Golf Travel Market (IGTN), taking place at the Palais des Festivals et des Congrès, on December 11 – 14 are at an all-time high with a year-on-year growth of six percent. The 20th edition of the appointment-based event, has already attracted 396 buyer registrations to and according to Peter Grimster, exhibition manager, IGTM, the event continues to go from strength to strength. “IGTM 2017 is set to be the biggest yet,” added Grimster. Over four days of IGTM, it is expected that approximately 15,000 pre-scheduled meetings will take place between buyers and 550 golf travel suppliers and 100 specialised international media.
Registration for Lattelecom Riga Marathon Opens
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he announcement for the participant registration of Lattelecom Riga Marathon, is now open. The Marathon has been taking place since 1991 and is said to have become a hallmark of Riga and an integral part of spring in the capital. The event will take place on May 19 – 20, 2018, on Latvia’s 100th birthday celebrations. Runners will be offered the classic marathon distance of 42.1 km, semi-marathon distance, as well as 10 km and 6 km distances. The Family Run will be 3.6 km long, while the Rimi Kids’ Days distances will be waiting for the smallest runners.
Riga
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