25 SEPTEMBER 2016 ISSUE 46
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08 SHORT BREAK
BUCHAREST
HOTEL INDIGO LAUNCHES IN POLAND
14 BRUSSELS AIRLINES TO FLY TO INDIA
07 Cruising 12 Airports 17 Who's Moved
MARKET UPDATE
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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS
AEROFLOT GROUP SERVES 24.1 MILLION PASSENGERS
MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Ellen Petty CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu 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
Some 24.1 million travellers flew with Aeroflot Group during the first seven months of the year, marking a 9.4 percent year-on-year increase.
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f the total, Aeroflot accounted for 16.2 million customers, up 10.9 percent over the corresponding period in 2015. The group’s available seat kilometres rose eight percent while the same figure for the airline surged 8.8 percent. Driven by increased demand, load factor for both remained above 80 percent. Underscoring the positive developments, the group registered a 12.2 percent rise in revenue passenger kilometres and the carrier also posted a 11.3 percent improvement in the same metric. During the seven-month period, the group’s fleet reached 267 aircraft, while the figure for the airline stood at 172.
WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com
BRITISH SUMMER BOOKINGS UP FIVE PERCENT
Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com
Barcelona
Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com
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Demand for both domestic as well as overseas trips was five percent higher among British travellers this summer.
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hile some countries of North Africa as well as Turkey experienced lower volumes, other destinations, such as Spain, Cyprus and Portugal welcomed increased numbers of British sun-seekers, and long-haul markets, including the Caribbean and Mexico also benefitted from tourists’ appetite to explore new locations, as market research analysts, GfK, revealed. As Mark Tanzer, CEO, Association of British Travel Agents, noted, despite the popularity of staycation, British holiday-makers still enjoy travelling abroad, especially to tried and trusted Mediterranean and long-haul destinations.
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MARKET UPDATE
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DOUBLE-DIGIT IMPROVEMENT IN LITHUANIA
Vilnius
Loughcrew Cairns, Ireland
IRELAND: HOLIDAY VISITORS UP 12 PERCENT
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he popularity of Ireland remains on the rise with the volume of vacationers for the first half of the year showing a 12 percent improvement over the same timeframe in 2015. As Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, revealed, the growth in demand led to a nine percent surge in revenue generated by holiday-makers. Describing the Irish tourism sector’s first-half performance as excellent, Gibbons reiterated the organisation’s commitment to further growing the industry. To this end, Tourism Ireland has recently launched an autumn campaign aimed at boosting late-season travel from around the globe.
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ccommodation providers in Lithuania have welcomed 11 percent more guests in the first half of this year (H1) than in the corresponding period in 2015. All in all, approximately 1.2 million visitors stayed in the country during the six-month period, with locals accounting for 46 percent of the total. Arrivals from Belarus stood at 76,500, from Germany at 72,000, and from Poland at 70,000. The volume of non European Union (EU) residents travelling to the destination reached 269,000, a seven percent boost over H1 2015, meaning that EU citizens made up 58.7 percent of the overall figure.
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lovenia’s travel sector continues to grow from strength to strength with a year-on-year surge of eight percent recorded in arrivals for the period between January and July. Consequently, overnight stays rose six percent, driven by particularly strong increases in demand from Israel and Hungary. Following 2015’s 10 million tourist overnight stays and EUR2.2 billion tourism revenues, the latest figures provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia revealed 10 and eight percent improvements in foreign visitor volumes and their guests nights during the seven-month period. Travellers from Austria, Germany and Italy, who traditionally represent the largest portion of arrivals to the country, also generated more trips and overnight stays than in the corresponding period in 2015.
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Bled, Slovenia
TOURISM IN SLOVENIA ON THE RISE
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NEWS
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Millennials Head to France, Germany and Italy European Travel Commission (ETC) has released a report exploring the long-haul travel intentions and motivations of millennials from five key markets, including Brazil, China, Japan, Russia and the US.
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n terms of countries, travellers aged between 18 – 35 considered France, Germany and Italy the most attractive, with 41 percent, 28 percent and 27 percent of respondents respectively expressing an interest in visiting these destinations. Around 15.3 percent of young people’s image of Europe is dominated by its natural landscapes, closely followed by iconic touristic sites which 14.8 percent of millennial tourists associate with the continent. The findings concluded that this particular group’s destination choice is driven by cultural affiliation, geographical proximity and unexplored opportunities.
Holiday Service Center in Lanzorate
Jet2holidays Launches Canary Holiday Centres
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et2holidays opened two more holiday service centres in Tenerife and Lanzorate, in the Canaries. The service points are located in central areas and are available seven days a week. Customers can either go and ask for information in person or consult the 24-hour helpline. As it has been said, the aim of the company is to serve clients as effectively as possible. The introduction of the new branches follow the successful launch of similar offices in Mallorca, Algarve and Benidorm.
Latvia Welcomes New Golf Course
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new nine-hole golf course, meeting all international standards, has been built in the Latvian recreation complex, Avoti, in Valmiera. The destination features a training area with 10 tees, where golfers can practice and master golf both individually as well as with the assistance of an instructor and trainer. The recreation complex’s golf course gives fans the opportunity to not only play the sport, but also to enjoy the surroundings of Valmiera. The area is successfully growing and developing, ensuring excellent leisure and entertainment facilities to residents and visitors alike.
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NEWS CRUISING
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Costa Luminosa Circumnavigates the Globe Over 1,600 passengers from more than 30 countries have embarked on a 98-day round-the-world journey onboard Costa Luminosa.
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Costa Luminosa
uests travelling on the Costa Cruises ship will visit five continents, sail across three oceans to explore 34 destinations, including Mexico, the US, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, India and the UAE. For those wanting to follow the voyage, live webcams have been installed on the vessel which can be viewed on the Italian cruise line’s website. After returning to its Savona base on December 09, Costa Luminosa will begin yet another extensive 106day itinerary in January, reflecting the increasing popularity of world tours.
Margaritaville and Norwegian Team Up
New Entertainment Concept on Viking Line
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iking Line’s M/S Gabriella and M/S Mariella, which operate from Helsinki to Stockholm, introduced a revamped entertainment programme to meet customers’ preferences. “On our ships, it is easy and convenient for people to see their favourite artists perform and at no additional cost,” said Lauri Orpana, route manager, Viking Line. The main guideline for the initiative was to focus more on home-grown artists, added Orpana. For the same reason, during the autumn school-holidays, the company will bring on board performers that attract the youth.
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orwegian Cruise Line announced the expansion of its exclusive partnership with Margaritaville. As a part of The Norwegian Edge, a USD400 million investment programme aimed at delivering an exceptional onboard experience, the company introduced new Margaritaville at Sea restaurants onboard two ships. Margaritaville at Sea has been already unveiled aboard Norwegian Getaway in the former Flamingo Grill in mid-September, while Norwegian Breakaway will welcome the new addition on October 09 in the former Uptown Grill. “Norwegian shares our philosophy that combines fun with exceptional service and we look forward to continuing to take this partnership to new sea levels,” said John Cohlan, CEO, Margaritaville.
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NEWS CRUISING Carnival to Introduce Eco-Friendly Mega Ships
Onboard Training for Travel Agents
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red. Olsen Cruise Lines is encouraging travel agents to join one of the company’s free onboard trainings which will run until the end of October. The initiative enables industry partners to experience the cruise line’s product first-hand and gives them a real understanding of the Fred. Olsen Difference. Agents will get to learn more about the company’s competitive advantages and discover how it gets closer to destinations with its smaller, more intimate ships. One-to-one product trainings and sales tips from senior members will also form part of the schedule as well as tours and various presentations.
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y 2020 and 2022, Carnival Cruise Line will take delivery of two 180,000 tonnes vessels, which will be the largest in the company’s fleet so far. The cruise line agreed with Finnish shipbuilder Meyer Turku, for the construction of the ships, which will carry 5,200 passengers and will be powered by liquefied natural gas, marking the first time for such vessels to be based in North America. By using the world’s cleanest burning fossil fuel, the new additions are being designed for maximum energy efficiency and environmental friendliness, said Christine Duffy, president, Carnival Cruise Line.
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SHORT BREAK BUCHAREST
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THE EVER-EVOLVING
City
NICKNAMED THE PARIS OF THE EAST AND HOME TO THE SECOND-LARGEST ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDING IN THE WORLD, BUCHAREST HAS A THRIVING BUSINESS SECTOR. NOW, THE ROMANIAN CAPITAL IS REPOSITIONING ITSELF AS A TOP LEISURE DESTINATION.
ELLEN PETTY WRITES
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ccording to European Travel Commission, Romania has witnessed a [have been] organised here, facilities were developed, sightseeing tours were year-on-year rise of 16 percent in arrivals in the first half of this year, a introduced [and] museums were renovated.” notable feat when considering that in 2015, the country was ranked The capital is now also more accessible and is considered a great valueas the second fastest growing destination in Europe. for-money city break destination, with improved flight connectivity and freAndreea Severa, head of domestic marketing service, National Authority quencies, partially thanks to low-cost carriers, explained Meda Vasiliu, director for Tourism Romania, attributed the leap in visiof sales and marketing, JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel. tors to the lowering of VAT on tourism packages Vasiliu added, “Charter flights, from Israel for example, to nine percent and the investment in attracin 2015 and this year are bringing a huge volume of leisure BUCHAREST IN BRIEF tions such as malls, aqua parks and spas. tourists to all hotels in the city.” Citing the city’s safety and range of arena options, Severa elaborated, “Bucharest is beBUSINESS OR PLEASURE Country: Romania coming a hub for concerts.” Currency: Romanian Leu (RON) This sentiment was echoed by Raluca MiDespite National Authority for Tourism Romania’s efforts to Language: Romanian haescu, director of sales and marketing, ibis position Romania as a top leisure destination, recognised Population: 1.91 million Hotels Romania, who explained, “The city is befor its heritage, natural and cultural offerings, corporate Calling Code: +40 21 coming more and more attractive as a leisure visitors continue to dominate the industry. Time Zone: GMT +3 travel destination. Bucharest started hosting Mihaescu divulged, “For both our ibis hotels in Bucharest, many concerts and events, a number of festivals two-thirds of the revenue [comes] from business guests.”
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SHORT BREAK BUCHAREST
Speaking in agreement, Vasiliu highlighted, “The number of business travellers has exceeded the leisure stay-overs. Approximately 30 percent of our customers are [holiday-makers].” Having said that, Mihaescu enthused, “The growth rate in the leisure segment is indeed higher than that of the business segment, but we have to take into account that there is much more space for growth in the leisure segment.” In terms of room nights, Mihaescu reported a six percent year-on-year growth in business visitors compared to a 25 percent leap in tourists; most visible during weekends. She added, “We noticed a clear switch in market trends, albeit a modest one.” JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel also experienced higher demand from holiday-makers, leading to a five – seven percent increase in the volume of leisure guests in the first half of this year. A DIVERSE FUTURE AHEAD It is clear that Romania aspires to be recognised as much more than just a business destination, and as noted by Severa, the country aims to reach its full potential by exploiting niche segments to offer most forms of tourism. She added, “Our main priority is the consolidation of Romania’s position by the year 2020 as a must-see tourist destination.” The key objective of National Authority for Tourism Romania include promoting the country as a quality leisure option to target audiences, which in addition to 2015’s biggest source markets, will include emerging locations with huge potential for outbound tourism such as Russia, India and China. However, urging cooperation among all stakeholders, Mihaescu emphasised, “Tourism is still to be further developed in Romania with the support and help of authorities, including strategic investments and infrastructure developments, as well as by ensuring a competitive
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economic environment [for the] further growth of the industry.” To become a leading city break destination and compete with the likes of Prague and Budapest, Mihaescu called for effective marketing campaigns and a well-rounded brand for Bucharest. Vasiliu expanded this point noting that there needs to be a focus on promoting the destination at international fairs. She went on to stress the importance of continuing the expansion of air links to European and Middle Eastern destinations, as well as better and more affordable connections within Romania to entice more visitors. Whilst the capital is drawing in more leisure travellers than ever before, to become a top choice, as Mihaescu put it, Bucharest’s leisure sector has a lot of catching up to do.
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Hotel Indigo Launches in Poland
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hile the building preserves its old characteristics, reflecting the vibrant neighbourhood’s culture and history, no modern comforts have been spared in the 56 guest rooms. Hotel Indigo Krakow – Old Town also features a restaurant as well as a health and fitness centre. Speaking of the brand’s entry into the Polish city, Tom Rowntree, vice president, brand management, Hotel Indigo, IHG, noted, “Boutique is the fastest growing segment in our industry, and with tourism to Eastern Europe continuing to rise, it is an exciting time to be opening our first Hotel Indigo in Poland.
Hotel Indigo, Krakow – Old Town
The boutique brand of InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), Hotel Indigo has debuted in Krakow.
Aloft Introduces Voice-activated Units
Hotel Xenia Joins Autograph Collection
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arriott International’s Autograph Collection Hotels has added a third London address, Hotel Xenia, to its exclusive portfolio. The Victorian property boasts 99 rooms and suites, including the Xenia suite which features a private balcony overlooking West London and an onyx stone Turkish bath. The property’s boutique charm is evident in its interior design, a blend of traditional comforts and contemporary touches. Guests can dine in the hotel’s Michelin-star Italian restaurant, Evoluzione, enjoy cocktails at the Living Wall bar or wind down with the sounds of a grand piano in Xenia Lounge. The establishment is also home to Living Lounge, a cosy space with a 3D television and games.
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loft Hotels has introduced its Hey Siri voice-activated rooms. The innovative technology is the end result of the company’s Project: Jetson experiment, launched in collaboration with DigiValet. Currently available at Aloft Boston Seaport and Aloft Santa Clara, the units are equipped with an iPad running a custom Aloft application which can be used to control temperature, lighting options or to select music tunes. “At Aloft, we are constantly pushing the envelope, our imaginations and the adaptation of technology to reinvent the hotel stay of today and tomorrow,” commented Sarah Downing, vice president, global guest initiatives and innovation, Aloft Hotels.
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NEWS ACCOMMODATION
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Airbnb: Third-Largest Online Property Seller
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hocuswright estimates that Airbnb, currently valued at USD30 billion, is the thirdlargest online seller of accommodation worldwide, the second most valuable online company of its kind in the industry, and in terms of gross bookings, is on its way to become the fourth largest online travel agency. If its rapid growth is maintained and Europe continues to account for half of Airbnb’s bookings, the Internet-based marketplace is likely to overtake Expedia in the region in 2017. With a third of US travellers staying in private accommodation in 2015, compared to a tenth in 2011, renting a home is now a regularly considered option.
The Peninsula Paris: A New Level of Luxury
Cheval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France Awarded
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he Peninsula Paris has been accredited by ATOUT France with the Palace distinction. The prestigious title rewards excellence and is bestowed to properties that deliver above five-star services and show exceptional characteristics. The tourism organisation’s accolade, which was earned by The Peninsula Paris just two years after its launch, also aims to promote the French way of life on the international stage. A joint venture with Qatarbased Katara Hospitality, the hotel boasts 200 luxurious rooms, some of the largest units in the capital. Guests can also choose from 34 suites, five of which offer private roof-top gardens. Other facilities include three restaurants, bars and a 1,800m2 spa.
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heval Blanc St-Barth Isle de France has become the first establishment outside of mainland France to be awarded the prestigious Palace distinction. Set on Flamands Bay, widely regarded as the island’s finest, the establishment offers a extravagant residential experience with 40 rooms, suites and villas, each with an interior design inspired by the charm of the Caribbean and reflecting the subtle heritage of the island. The brand’s iconic Art de Recevoir presents a highly personalised service, offering a unique experience for each guest punctuated with made-to-measure surprises.
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EC Approves Berlin Airport Project
Berlin Brandeburg Airport Willy Brandt
The completion of Berlin Brandeburg Airport Willy Brandt will not receive state aid after European Commission (EC) has cleared a public investment package.
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rovided by commercial banks, the airport’s public shareholders have been granted a EUR1.1 billion shareholder loan and guarantee covering an additional debt financing of EUR1.1 billion for developer and upcoming operator, Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg (FBB). After thoroughly assessing FBB’s business plans and market forecasts, EC found that finishing the airfield is the most profitable option and the financing is strong enough to overcome a variety of risks, with profit expected even in the worst case scenario. The funding will fix technical issues, enhance noise protection and increase capacity, as traffic growth is predicted to exceed original calculations.
Paros Passenger Traffic Up 204 Percent
Positive Results for Latvian Airport
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lympic Air carried 18,725 passengers to Paros National Airport in August, a year-on-year surge of 204 percent. The soaring figures are a result of the new airfield’s capabilities of accommodating larger aircraft and the airline’s implementation of more frequent flights as well as the launch of its direct schedule from Thessaloniki. “In the first month of operation of the new Paros airport, we have already tripled traffic and we are only seeing the early indications of the potential for this destination,” commented Dimitris Gerogiannis, managing director, AEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air. “With sufficient time for pre-sales and the connectivity with AEGEAN’s international network from Athens, the results in 2017 will be much more impressive.”
Paros
iga International Airport served over 2.52 million passengers in the first half of the year, 6.3 percent more than in the corresponding period in 2015. The number of flights operated to and from the airfield increased 2.1 percent with more than 33,000 services on record. The Latvian hub also posted a sharp 18.4 percent surge in the volume of transfer passengers, thanks to the success of national airline, airBaltic, in attracting stronger traffic. In fact, between January and June, transit and transfer travellers accounted for 26.6 percent of the total figure.
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NEWS AIRPORTS Heathrow Embarks on New Projects
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ondon’s Heathrow Airport has begun the installation of 50 new noise monitors in local areas and at the same time, the existing monitoring network will also see upgrades. The latest ventures are the direct results of the hub’s engagement with resident groups through the Heathrow Community Noise Forum. In a bid to encourage quieter operations, from January 2017 onwards, the British airport will introduce lower landing charges to incentivise airlines to prioritise their quietest types of aircraft on routes operated to and from London. The move will make Heathrow Airport the first airfield in the world to differentiate charges for airplanes. Moreover, the entry point’s ambition to deliver excellent passenger service is being taken one step further as the hub continues to make strides to become the first dementia friendly airport worldwide. The management has joined forces with Alzheimer’s Society to change the travelling public’s attitude towards dementia within the framework of the charity organisation’s Dementia Friendly Communities programme. In this regard, the airport has pledged to raise awareness of the symptoms and risks associated with the condition among its workforce of over 76,000. The main goal is to understand the challenges faced by passengers fighting the disease and ensure a welcoming environment for them.
Virtual Tour of Munich Airport
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special tour of Munich Airport can now be viewed online, thanks to a state-of-the-art 360-degree imaging technology. A crew with a high-tech mobile camera spent months covering every area of the airfield, both before and after security, recording digitised images of approximately 300,000m2 in the Munich Airport Center, the two terminals and the new Terminal 2 satellite facility. More than 1,000 points of interest are embedded in the maps, from shops, bars and restaurants to services and departure gates. To embark on the digital tour, users only need to click on the location they wish to visit on the map.
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Brussels Airlines to Fly to India India is the next country destination to be added to Brussels Airlines’ network.
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Turkish Airlines to Fly to Mahé
Mumbai
tarting March 06, 2017, the carrier will link the Belgian capital with Mumbai, marking the airline’s debut in the country. The itinerary will be operated five times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays. The new route to Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport will also enable convenient connections to Brussels Airlines’ European, African and North American networks.
KlasJet Takes Delivery of New Jet
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Mahè
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urther expanding its global network that already includes over 240 destinations, Turkish Airlines will launch a new route to Mahé, in the Seychelles. Effective from October 31, the itinerary will be operated three times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with direct flights from Istanbul. The addition of the carrier’s third gateway in the Vanilla Islands group will bring the airline’s African network to 49 locations. By flying to 117 countries, Turkish Airlines is considered to have the largest routemap in the world in terms of country destinations.
usiness aviation service provider, KlasJet, has expanded its fleet with the addition of a third aircraft, a mid-sized Hawker 800XP which is already being deployed on European services. Built in 2000, the jet, which was refurbished in 2013 with leather seats and high-quality wood applications, has the capacity to carry up to eight passengers and three crew members. The aircraft can facilitate direct private flights of up to 4,700km. “With the growing number of customers, as well as thanks to the third business jet in our fleet, we expect to reach 700 flights by the end of the year,” noted Vitalij Kapitonov, CEO, KlasJet. The company’s aircraft have previously also served long-haul destinations, including Indonesia and Iceland.
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NEWS AIR
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BA Flights to Tehran Take Off
SWISS Launches Travel Portal
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ollowing the recent lifting of sanctions, British Airways (BA) has relaunched its London to Tehran route, which will be operated six times a week with a Boeing 777. In addition to providing enhanced flexibility between the UK and the Middle East, the itinerary promotes the growth of tourism, giving travellers more opportunities to experience the destination’s rich heritage and culture. As the second-largest economy in MENA, the latest offering will also support Iran’s diverse business market and potential to foster commercial links. The direct service between Heathrow Airport’s Terminal 5 and Imam Khomeini International is one of 20 new routes launched by the airline year to date.
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wiss International Air Lines (SWISS) has established a new travel portal, enabling customers to compile their own individual holiday packages, including transport and accommodation. The platform offers scheduled flights from Switzerland, operated by both SWISS and its partner carriers, as well as a selection of over 10,000 hotels and 140 vacation destinations, all of which can be freely combined. Each package will be designed using the lowest rates available for both the route and the room. By booking itineraries of this kind, travellers can also enjoy the services of the tour operator along with all the security that is offered by an inclusive-tour arrangement. In addition, with many destinations, the transfers and a tour guide are also included.
Tehran
Positive Results for Ryanair
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yanair witnessed a notable year-on-year increase in demand in August. During the month under review, passenger volumes grew 11 percent to 11.5 million customers, leading to a one percentage point improvement in load factor to 96 percent and a 16 percent surge in rolling annual traffic to 112 million travellers. Kenny Jacobs, chief marketing officer, Ryanair, said, “Lower fares post Brexit and the continuing success of our Always Getting Better customer experience programme continue to deliver even more great value for our rapidly growing customer base. As our recent guidance confirmed, Ryanair expects average fares to fall by between 10 – 12 percent in the six months to March 2017. There has never been a better time to book a low fare flight on Ryanair.”
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Cathay Pacific Serves London Directly
Enhanced Winter Options by UIA
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athay Pacific has commenced operations from Hong Kong to London’s Gatwick Airport, encouraging the growth of trading links between the UK and China and the wider Far East. The service is the airline’s first long-haul UK route to feature the brand-new Airbus 350-900, hailed as the quietest and most fuel-efficient aircraft of its kind. Guy Stephenson, chief commercial officer, Gatwick Airport, said, “The new flights mark an important milestone in the growth of the Gatwick long-haul network, which now more than ever provides the UK economy with vital routes into the world’s most important markets.”
Ankara
London
urther expanding the travel choices of passengers, Ukraine International Airlines is adding new services to its winter schedule. As of October 30, the carrier will link Kiev and Ankara with daily non-stop flights, and in response to a growth in demand, on the same day, the airline will also increase its operations between the Ukrainian capital and Ivano-Frankivsk to offer double-daily frequencies. As Evgeniya Satska, corporate press secretary, UIA, noted, the introduction of the Ankara itinerary is yet another step in the carrier’s medium-haul network development.
Ryanair: Two New Summer Routes from London
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yanair has announced its schedule for summer 2017 from London, which will include two new itineraries to Strasbourg and Faro, along with additional flights to Sofia and Nuremberg. The low-cost carrier expects to serve 23.6 million passengers per annum on the four routes, and support approximately 18,000 employment positions at London Stansted Airport, Gatwick Airport and London Luton Airport. From the first hub, the airline will operate 132 itineraries, meaning some 19.9 million customers per year. From Gatwick Airport, five services will be available, delivering an estimated 1.7 million travellers, while from London Luton Airport, a total of 18 routes will be offered to two million passengers annually.
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OLIVER CHAVY has taken the helm at Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts as CEO. With a career spanning 28 years in hotel operations and brand management, Chavy has a solid operating experience which entails hotel openings on three continents. His previous roles include international head of global brand performance of luxury and lifestyle brands at Hilton Worldwide, and president of Winston Associates. Chavy received his Master’s degree in business administration from Cornell University, and a bachelor degree in hotel management from Saint-Quentinen-Yvelines Hotel Management School in France. Moving to Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, he is now looking forward to leading the next phase of the company’s growth.
CARLTON COURTNEY will continue as the general manager of InterCityHotel Gelsenkirchen in Germany. He is returning to Steigenberger Hotels’ InterCityHotel brand after three years to spearhead the operations of the property. Courtnery was previously the director of InterCityHotel Hamburg-Altona in 1999, while between 2005 and 2013, the experienced hotelier served in the same position at InterCityHotel Nürnberg. His most recent employment was at Steigenberger Hotel Bremen, where he held the position of general manager.
Courtney is returning to the brand after three years
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MARK WACHAL
WHO’S MOVED
MARK WACHAL has been appointed general manager of Steigenberger Hotel Bremen. With more than 25 years of experience, Wachal, who was originally trained as a cook, has held general manager positions across numerous hotel chains in Frankfurt and Stuttgart. Wackal will succeed Carlton Courtney to lead the property’s team.
Wachal brings 25 years of experience to the hotel
PETER MIKKELSEN
CARLTON COURTNEY
OLIVER CHAVY
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PETER MIKKELSEN will be serving as the new general manager of Steigenberger Hotel Cologne at Rudolfsplatz. Mikkelsen, who has been working in the industry for over 25 years, commenced his career as a trainee at Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin in Stuttgart, prior to moving on to receive his degree in hotel administration. Since then, he has gained extensive expertise and knowledge at companies such as Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Hilton Worldwide and Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. Prior to accepting the new challenge in Germany, Mikkelsen served as general manager at Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel Warsaw.
Mikkelsen has worked for leading hotel companies
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HOUSING BEES AT BRISTOL AIRPORT AIRBERLIN PROMOTES ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
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n an effort to educate students during so-called climate expeditions, airberlin group will donate EUR3 for every additional tonne of CO2 saved during its flight operations. The airline will collaborate with atmosfair to raise awareness of the consequences of children’s own daily environmental actions and build upon their capacities for developing climate neutral solutions to these problems, in an easily understandable manner. " We have [...] decided, together with atmosfair, to support a project that both allows us to assume social responsibility for our actions and is also in line with our corporate objectives for the reduction of emissions,” explained Oliver Iffert, chief operations office, airberlin group.
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s part of its endeavour to enhance biodiversity on and around the site, Bristol Airport has installed a bee bed and breakfast facility. Located in a meadow between the long-stay car park and nearby Downside Road, the specially designed habitat aims to encourage pollinators by providing the perfect nesting environment for solitary bees as well as a wildflower breakfast patch. Working in partnership with Balfour Beatty, Bee Bristol ran a number of workshops educating the children from West Leigh School, Backwell about the importance of bees.
STEIGENBERGER STEPS UP GREEN MEETINGS INITIATIVE
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teigenberger Hotels is expanding its Green Meetings project to cover the whole of Europe. So far, a total of 13 properties have been involved in the initiative, however, from now on, all of the company’s conference services will switch to the sustainable model. This will enable guests throughout the continent to stage functions which are carbon neutral and therefore particularly environmentally friendly. Organic snacks produced by regional farmers, sustainable fair trade beverages, specially prepared drinking water in multi-use bottles and conference documents made from recycled raw materials will all be on offer. The carbon footprint left by each conference participant is fully offset by supporting United Nations-certified climate protection projects.
WTTC WELCOMES SUSTAINABILITY AWARD ENTRIES
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orld Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has invited travel and tourism organisations to demonstrate their sustainability by submitting their eco-friendly and responsible initiatives for the 28th Tourism for Tomorrow Awards 2017. Finalists in the five categories – community, destination, environment, innovation and people – will be announced in January 2017 and winners will be revealed during the WTTC Global Summit 2017 held on 26 – 27 April, 2017, in Bangkok. Commenting on the awards, Fiona Jeffery, chairman, Just a Drop, said, “[They] celebrate the achievements of ethical tourism businesses around the world that look to give back to local communities by enhancing livelihoods where they operate and protecting the environment and cultural traditions to ensure a sustainable world for the future.”
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PHOTO ALBUM
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Italian student Roberto Cassa undertook a 1,600km tour of Ireland via footbike
Tourism Ireland invited top Indian tour operators to the country
Take a Shot! Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.
easyJet supported Make-A-Wish UK to help seven-year-old boy with rare blood disorder become Electroman
Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...
British Airways transported Great Britain's top athletes home from the Olympic Games in Brazil
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German football star Philipp Lahm (left) visited 80 children at FTI Group’s summer camp
Norwegian Cruise Line was named Europe’s Leading Cruise Line for ninth consecutive year at the World Travel Awards
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
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Tbilisi Welcomes Belarus’ National Expo
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he largest exhibition event of Belarus abroad this year was hosted by Expo Georgia in the beginning of September. The event highlighted the trade and economic potential of the country, further strengthening its reputation as a manufacturer and exporter of high-quality good and services. The programme offered the country the chance to showcase its diverse offerings in the fields of tourism, transport, sports, machinery, industrial equipment, agriculture, consumer goods, foodstuffs, construction materials, petrochemicals, light industry, woodworking, health, logistics, science, educational services, information technology and telecommunications, among others.
INTERNATIONAL FAIR OF TOURISM Novi Sad, Serbia September 29 – October 01 www.sajam.net Serbian and international industry stakeholders will showcase their latest products and offerings.
Monaco Yacht Show Kicks Off Next Week
MOSCOW MED SHOW Moscow, Russia September 30 – October 01 www.medshow.ru A professional event with a highly targeted promotional campaign which brings clinics and medical tourism providers into direct contact with potential patients.
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his year will mark the 26th edition of the Monaco Yacht Show, which is expected to host more than 120 super-yachts. Hailed as the largest event in the luxury realm of yachts, with its average attendance reaching approximately 34,000 visitors, the programme will take place between September 18 – October 1. Considered as the leading yacht authority worldwide, Burgess will showcase a number of its superyachts, many of which are also available for charter.
INWETEX – CIS TRAVEL MARKET
Munich Airport Hosts Food & Style Festival
Kiev, Ukraine October 05 – 07 www.ukraine-itm.com.ua Tour operators and travel agencies, various seminars and conferences make the annual programme a must-attend event.
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round 50,000 visitors attended Munich Airport’s first Food & Style Festival. The three-day culinary event was hosted in collaboration with German organisers, eat&STYLE, and Charivari radio station. A total of 38 food trucks and market stalls offered a variety of regional and international gourmet dishes as well as local produce. The public enjoyed daily live cooking demonstrations by professional chefs and popular celebrities. Markus Preiss, team leader, marketing commercial activities, Munich Airport, enthused, “The feedback we got was so positive from all sides and has surpassed our expectations that we will continue this new event format.”
ABTA to Host Crisis Management Conference
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INWETEX – CIS TRAVEL MARKET
Manchester
St Petersburg, Russia October 13 – 15 www.travelexhibition.ru The 24th installment of the event will feature a congress and exhibition with a special focus on the northwestern region of Russia.
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ssociation of British Travel Agents (ABTA) will hold a crisis management seminar on September 29 in Manchester; the first event of its kind staged outside of London. The one-day programme will provide practical advice on how to prepare, manage and evaluate a crisis, delivered by industry leaders supplied with real life examples. Attendees will include directors, senior management, crisis mangers, incident response teams as well as individuals working in communications, legal and consumer affairs. Due to the increasing demand, ABTA has moved several of its events outside of London, including the recent complaints handling workshop which was staged in Leeds.
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