JULY 2014
ISSUE 17
CTQ Label Scheme Launched Cyprus Tourism Organisation has rolled out the national Cyprus Tourism Quality (CTQ) label scheme.
Cyprus and Luxembourg have been ranked highest in the European Union for their water quality with all their bathing sites, coastal and inland sites, deemed excellent.
08 Cyprus Airways Partners with Qatar Airways Cyprus Airways’ engineering and maintenance department has assumed the line maintenance support of Qatar Airways’ Airbus A320 aircraft.
12 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE
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NICOSIA NEWS
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GENERAL NEWS
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TOURISM BOARDS
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TRAVEL AGENTS
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AIR
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RENDEZVOUS
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ACCOMMODATION
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
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GREECE NEWS
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NEWS & EVENTS
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Cyprus Crowned Top European Coastal Site
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MARKET UPDATE
TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba
Soaring Demand for AEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air AEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air transported 751,347 passengers in April, marking a 26 percent year-on-year increase and leading to solid year-to-date figures.
JOURNALIST Maria Kazeli PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian
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DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou 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.traveltradecyprus.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel
uring the month under review, the two carriers operated 7,933 flights, while load factor rose nine percentage points to 76 percent. International traffic was strong from all Greek bases, showing a 29 percent improvement with 340,000 travellers. For the four-month period between January and April, total passenger volumes climbed to 2,379,000, 300,000 more than the sum of travellers for both com-
easyJet Trims Half Year Loss
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panies over the same period in 2013. According to Dimitris Gerogiannis, managing director, AEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air, the network enhancement, as well as the new pricing policy in conjunction with the quality of the services, were key factors in the positive results. “We are optimistic about the summer period. [...] The start seems positive and reinforces the soundness of our strategy,” added Gerogiannis.
easyjet
easyJet delivered improved half year results driven by a concerted focus on capacity allocation, a range of revenue initiatives and a stronger than expected cost performance. During the 12-month period ending March 31, the low-cost carrier served 12 million business passengers, boosting average load factor by 0.4 percentage points to 89 percent despite a 3.6 percent capacity surge to 31.1 million seats. As a result, the company’s total revenue rose 6.3 percent to GBP1.7 billion (EUR2.08 billion), and loss before tax improved 13.6 percent from GBP61 million (EUR74.7 million) to GBP53 million (EUR64.9 million). “The results reflect our ongoing progress against our strategic priorities, and demonstrate the structural advantage easyJet has against both legacy and low-cost competition in the European short-haul market,” commented Carolyn McCall, CEO, easyJet.
Ryanair: 7.8 Million Passengers in April
PICTURE OF THE MONTH
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yanair has carried over 7.8 million travellers in April, up five percent or 400,000 customers compared to the corresponding period in 2013. As a result of the increased demand, load factor rose three percent to 84 percent, while yearto-date traffic soared to 82 million passengers, a yearon-year improvement of three percent.
Commenting on the positive figures, Robin Kiely, head of communications, Ryanair, said, “Ryanair’s traffic grew by 400,000 to 7.8 million customers in April due to the presence of Easter in the month but not in April 2013, the continuing success of our lower fares and our improved customer experience, including our great new website, allocated seating, a free second small carry-on bag and portable electric device use on all flights.” JULY 2014
Nicosia
Free Guided Tours at Cyprus Museum
MONTHLY NEWS
Transfer Station at Solomos Square
Cyprus Museum
Nicosia Municipality announced that works are already underway for the transfer station at Solomos Square. The project, which will be realised at the western side of the square, includes the opening of a tunnel, construction of new public washrooms, the installation of a lift and the improvement of open spaces to feature new lighting and equipment. Building work started in May and is expected to last until March 2015. During this time certain public areas will remain closed.
Nicosia Tourim Board has started offering free guided tours at the Cyprus Museum in a bid to promote the country’s cultural treasures and upgrade the capital’s tourism product. The authority provides tours free of charge in English at the facility to individual visitors, every Tuesday and Friday between 10:00 – 11:15 and 11:45 – 13:00 meaning that tourists will only have to pay the EUR4.50 entrance fee. Launched on May 16, the initiative runs throughout July, and then it will return from September to November. The programme is being attempted on a pilot basis in collaboration with the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, the Department of Antiquities and the Cyprus Tourist Guides Association.
New Project to Highlight Cyprus’ Treasures The Nicosia Municipal Arts Centre – Associated with the Pierides Foundation, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and Culture announced an open call inviting artists of all disciplines, as well as academics, writers and other cultural agents, to take part in a new exhibition project, entitled Treasure Island. The initiative, which will run between September 19 – November 8, will feature visual works and activities such as critical discussions and interventions. The organisers aim to offer possibilities and opportunities for the reflection and re-evaluation of the country’s past and present, highlighting the diversity and openness of contemporary art practices in the local context.
JULY 2014
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Solomos Square
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MONTHLY NEWS Increased Arrivals in April
Larnaka International Airport is now adorned by the famous artwork, Birth and Rebirth, that graced Nicosia International Airport until 1974. The historic mosaic, which depicts the history of Cyprus from ancient times until independence, was once a true landmark of the capital’s airport and is now part of Larnaca’s hub. Speaking at the ceremony for the installation and unveiling of the piece, Valentinos Charalambous, who created the mosaic in 1967, expressed his delight at seeing his work at the island’s main airport. In his address, Iacovos Iacovou, chairman, Hermes Airports, noted that the rescue and hosting of this artwork in Larnaca was a top cultural priority for the company. For Hermes Airport, he continued, it is a great honour to host a work of art that symbolises the progress of the Cypriot nation through the ages.
Tourists at Kolossi Castle
The Heart of Nicosia International Airport Now Beats in Larnaca
Incoming tourists to Cyprus reached 180,998 in April as compared to 162,439 recorded during the same period in 2013. A surge of 18.9 percent was registered in arrivals from the UK, with numbers going from 61,888 in April 2013 to 73,556 for the month this year. Another traditional market, Germany exhibited a slight improvement of 1.7 percent. The Russian segment also showed positive signs with a 13.7 percent growth with visitors amounting to 32,430. The biggest increase of 22.7 percent was witnessed from neighbouring Greece which sent 10,374 travellers in the month under review. A decline of 35.1 percent in tourist volumes was recorded from Sweden. For the period between January – April arrivals of tourists totalled 344,435 compared to 339,672 in the corresponding time frame of 2013, recording an increase of 1.4 percent.
Cyprus Teams up with Greece and Israel for the Mediterranean Sea
The ministers in charge of environmental issues of Cyprus, Greece and Israel, reached a tripartite cooperation agreement on the protection of the environment, focusing on coastal research and the extraction of hydrocarbons and oil pollution. The three authority figures agreed to promote cooperation in the fields of readiness and response of serious marine pollution of the Mediterranean Sea from hydrocarbons extraction, the implementation of measures in all sectors for the protection of the environment and of sustainable development, the promotion of Green and Blue Economy and Sustainable Consumption and Production, the combating of desertification and climate change and biodiversity and nature conservation. At the meeting, Cyprus was represented by Nicos Kouyialis, minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment.
JULY 2014
MONTHLY NEWS Paphos Recommended by UK Post Office Paphos has been named one of the best valuefor-money holiday hotspots for this summer season in the latest Holiday Costs Barometer by Post Office Travel Money in the UK. The report reveals year-on-year price falls in various popular holiday destinations and calls Europe
Kings Avenue Mall Welcomes New Stores
Kings Avenue Mall
A number of new shops have opened at Paphos’ Kings Avenue Mall bringing the total number of outlets to 105. The recently launched stores will enhance consumer options for the retail of clothing, accessories, shoes, services as well as dining. During the first four months of the year, over one million shoppers visited the mall and with the summer season now well underway, thousands of tourists are expected to enjoy shopping and entertainment at the centre. “We are pleased to see so many locals from Limassol and Nicosia visiting and shopping on weekends, who have significantly added to the traffic of the mall and we are now looking forward to welcoming the tourists,” commented Pauline Klimentos Gabriel, marketing manager, Kings Avenue Mall.
JULY 2014
a bargain-hunter’s playground. While among the 20 surveyed resorts, Bulgaria’s Sunny Beach proved to be the cheapest, the biggest price fall of 21 percent was recorded in Paphos, positioning the Cypriot city as the sixth best value-for-money destination. The total price of the 10 tourist staples investi-
gated came to GBP62 (EUR75) in Paphos, putting the destination ahead of other popular hotspots, such as Crete, Istria, Orlando, Corfu or Tuscany, while the top five included the Sunny Beach of Bulgaria, Marmaris, Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca and Algarve.
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MONTHLY NEWS
Nissi Beach, Ayia Napa
Cyprus Crowned Top European Coastal Site
Cyprus Hosts Renewable Energy Event
The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has held a two-day event in Paphos to discuss strategies aimed at accelerating the deployment of renewable energy in the tourism sector. The programme, that took place at InterContinental Hotel, Aphrodite Hills, offered a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and best practices and present renewable energy solutions, specifically developed for island tourism, including solar water heating systems, innovative air conditioning solutions and solar photovoltaic systems, among others. The event formed part of a series of three regional programmes, designed to foster the development and usage of renewable energy in island tourism and came in line with the endeavours of IRENA’s Global Renewable Energy Islands Network, which was established as a platform for pooling knowledge, sharing best practices and seeking innovative solutions. Since 2005 Cyprus increased its renewable energy share from 3.8 percent to almost nine percent in 2013.
Cyprus and Luxembourg have been ranked highest in the European Union (EU) for their water quality with all their bathing sites, coastal and inland sites, deemed excellent. The annual bathing water quality report from the European Environment Agency (EEA) examined 22,000 bathing sites across the EU, Switzerland and Albania, and listed Cyprus and Luxembourg on top of the list, closely followed by Malta, Croatia and Greece. According to EEA, the water quality at Europe’s beaches, rivers and lakes was generally high in 2013, with more than 95 percent of all these sites meeting minimum requirements, coastal sites however performed slightly better than inland bathing waters. As Hans Bruyninckx, executive director, EEA, noted, Europe’s bathing water has improved over the last two decades, and today’s challenge comes from shortterm pollution loads during heavy rain and flooding.
Optimism for the Current Year Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, minister of energy, commerce, industry and tourism, Cyprus, announced that the government’s priority for this year is to maintain arrivals from mature markets such as the UK, and focus on increases from emerging segments like Russia and Ukraine. “It seems that we are achieving this. So far and despite the crisis that emerged in Ukraine, we did not have cancellation of flights, so we are cautiously optimistic for a healthy increase in arrivals of about five to eight percent,” Lakkotrypis commented. Regarding the British market, he said that following the recent agreement signed with the largest tour operator in the UK, it is expected that for the first time this year Cyprus will be able to retain arrivals from the market. As for the German segment, the ministry foresees a downward trend for the current period which is thought will recover in 2015. “We are on a very good way to finally solve the problem of seasonality,” Lakkotrypis concluded.
JULY 2014
Tourism Boards
MONTHLY NEWS
47th Sporting European Championship in Limassol Limassol Tourism Board welcomed the 47th Sporting European Championship organised by the Cyprus Shooting Federation, under the auspices of the international shooting union, FITASC. “Besides the unquestionable value of the sporting event, for us as a board this has a special tourism value since for the games Limassol received 600 athletes, coaches and escorts from all over
Rome - Paphos Back on Track Pafos Regional Board of Tourism welcomed Ryanair’s decision to restore its Rome route as of October, as well as other important destinations, from Pafos International Airport. Flights from Belgium, Lithuania, Italy and UK are fully compatible with the authority’s effort to promote Paphos to the specific markets and develop its priority segments even further. Pafos Regional Board of Tourism as well as other regional players have started various initiatives in a bid to provide additional visibility to the air network and expand the tourist season in the district.
Fontana di Trevi, Rome
JULY 2014
Europe. So our city is benefitting with approximately 5,000 nights,” commented Tony Antoniou, chairman, Limassol Tourism Board. He added that in addition to strengthening the arrivals’ figures, visitors who come to Cyprus for the games are of high-income and by sharing their experiences they will contribute to attracting of quality tourists in Limassol.
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MONTHLY NEWS
Tourism Boards
Cyprus Tourism Quality Label Scheme Launched Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) has rolled out the national Cyprus Tourism Quality (CTQ) label scheme. The new initiative is aimed towards rewarding the provision of quality by tourism related enterprises that adopt a series of set criteria and offer added value services beyond any legal obligations. Awarded parties will be permitted to
quote and display their CTQ label logo and utilise it in their marketing, promotional and wider business activities. The label scheme, which will initially apply to classified three-, four- and fivestar hotels, and deluxe or A-class hotel apartments and tourist villages, will be awarded in one of two levels, silver or gold. In establishing the CTQ label scheme,
CTO has evaluated similar tourism quality schemes applied by other European national tourism bodies and related associations. The initiative has been developed by CTO, in cooperation with the island’s hotel industry stakeholder associations and with the contribution of the Cyprus Organisation for Standardisation.
Utilising Social Media to Benefit Tourism Paphos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) held a seminar on best practices for the use of social media in the tourism sector. The event took place in the educational room of the chamber and was presented by Stavros Kontaktsis, expert on digital marketing and social media. Makis Tsiatsios, public relations officer, PCCI, commented that the use of social media to promote products and services is now an essential ingredient of effective marketing, communication, advertising and business networking. “The use of Internet and smart-phones offers a package of intelligent communication and transfer of information, service and product, prompting customers to search for the provider and the opposite,” he added. Through the workshop, participants had the opportunity to learn the tools of information and communication technologies, to create a multifaceted use of social media, with emphasis on the importance and role of mobile access to the Internet.
Larnaca Promoted to the Qatari Market Following the launch of operations between Doha and Larnaca by Qatar Airways, the Cypriot city welcomed and hosted a group of journalists and travel agents that were onboard the inaugural flight to the island. The guests were greeted by Andreas Louroutziatis, mayor, Larnaca, and Dinos Lefkaritis, chairman, Larnaka Tourism Board, who accompanied them on a mini cruise along the city’s coast. The initiative aimed to showcase the unique beaches in Larnaca and the variety of watersports on offer, as well as promote the Zenobia ship wreck and diving tourism in general. The group also had the chance to tour the Hala Sultan Tekke, which is hailed as the most important Islamic monument in the whole of Cyprus.
Hosted Group
JULY 2014
MONTHLY NEWS
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Cyprus Beaches Receive Blue Flag Nicos Kouyialis, minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment, Cyprus, recently awarded at a national ceremony the Cypriot beaches which secured the Blue Flag honour. He stressed that this is a successful step
First Meeting of Eurovelo 8 Partners A Cyprus Tourism Organisation delegation participated at the first meeting of the partners of the European project Eurovelo 8 - The Mediterranean Route, which took place in Nice, France in May, after the initiative was approved for financing by the European Commission following an invitation for proposals for cross-border thematic tourism products.
Cyprus Tourism Organisation Presentation
The European Cycling Federation provides technocratic support to the project which aims to enhance transnational cooperation on cycling tourism with emphasis on organising and promoting biking activities among contracting partners in seven different countries. The project activities will focus on packetisation of existing products and related services in collaboration with tour operators and accommodation properties thus facilitating possible cooperation of the private and public sector.
JULY 2014
in tackling a major challenge, which aims to maintain a balance between ensuring satisfaction of tourists as well as environmental protection. “Good quality of bathing waters attracts foreign visitors and contributes to the efforts of the ministry for economic recovery through
the development and particularly through the promotion of a blue economy,� Kouyialis added. Notably, for the last bathing season, which spanned from May 1 to October 31, 2013, 112 bathing sites throughout the coastal zone of free Cyprus were monitored on monthly basis.
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MONTHLY NEWS
Travel Agents
Thomas Cook Promotes Cyprus Weddings
Thomas Cook has begun taking wedding bookings to Cyprus for 2015 and 2016. The UK-based travel company aims to offer couples some of the most romantic wedding and honeymoon destinations, ranging from the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, yet, according to the group, for true romantics there is no better place to exchange their vows and start their married life together than the birthplace of Aphrodite. With a goal of making the special day truly memorable, Thomas Cook provides a wide range of packages on the island, including Anglican church and civil yacht weddings, town hall ceremonies, as well as celebrations at some of the country’s most prestigious hotels.
Top Kinisis Hellas: Deal with Cyprus Airways A strategic cooperation agreement was signed between Cyprus Airways and Top Kinisis Hellas, a subsidiary of Top Kinisis Travel. The deal provides the general representation of sales of Cyprus Airways in Greece by Top Kinisis Hellas, with the company’s main targets outlined as saving resources and increasing the carrier’s sales in the Mediterranean country. The choice of Top Kinisis Hellas was made after a competition between travel companies in both Cyprus and Greece. Tony Antoniou, chairman, Cyprus Airways, said that the new strategic agreement with the operator is part of the company’s plans to maintain its important position in the Greek market, but with reduced operating costs. Akis Kelepeshis, executive chairman, Top Kinisis Travel, reported that the deal comes at a very critical time, mainly due to the competition that exists after the launch of Ryanair’s Athens route but the agency is in position to maintain the carrier’s reputation and sales targets.
ACTA Presents New Logo On the occasion of celebrating 60 years of operation in the Cypriot tourism industry, the Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) has hosted a number of festivities and concluded a logo competition. The contest was publicised on the group’s website and in the local media, and entries were submitted by numerous participants. The evaluation process was conducted by the association’s board with the proposal with the most votes winning. As a result, ACTA’s brand new official logo was designed by Katia Georgiades of AdPetite Design Solutions. ACTA incorporates the majority of Cyprus’ travel agents and tour operators, who represent almost all foreign tourist organisations cooperating with the country.
Louis Teams up with Globus Airlines Louis announced that its subsidiary LGS Handling, one of two firms licensed to provide aircraft ground handling services at Cyprus’ airports, reached an agreement with Russian Globus Airlines, part of S7 Airlines, which launched scheduled services to and from Cyprus in April. Simultaneously, Louis Aviation was appointed as the airline’s cargo representative on the island. Globus Airlines operates daily flights from Moscow Domodedovo Airport to Larnaca, while three additional services are offered from Paphos. Commenting on these important agreements, Louis Loizou, executive director, Louis, said, “At a time when tourism is proving once again the main industry of the country and the tourist flow from Russia is the most rapidly increasing, these agreements are extremely important and with multiple and significant benefits for the economy of Cyprus. Undoubtedly, the launch of so many flights to and from Cyprus, lead to an increase in tourism and expansion of our aviation system.”
JULY 2014
Air
Cyprus Airways Partners with Tradewings Holidays Tradewings Holidays has become the latest member of Cyprus Airways’ SunMiles frequent flyer programme. Customers using Tradewings Holidays’ services can now earn SunMiles points and enjoy a wide range of benefits. For every Euro spent on car hire, hotel accommodation, transfers, activities and events, travellers receive one SunMiles point which can be redeemed. Passengers enrolled in the airline’s loyalty scheme can also take advantage of various privileges.
Blue Air Hosts Cocktail Party Romanian low-cost carrier Blue Air and Orthodoxou Aviation, its representative on the island, organised a cocktail reception in Nicosia to promote the airline’s latest offerings. The gathering’s main goal was to inform all partners about Blue Air’s new livery which applies to all aircraft in the fleet, including those flying to and from Cyprus. In addition, the event also offered an opportunity for travel professionals to exchange ideas and experiences in a more relaxed environment. “The year 2013 was a very important year for Blue Air,” noted Antonis Orthodoxou, managing director, Orthodoxou Aviation, adding that the change in the ownership of the airline triggered several changes and innovations in relation to its services and image.
JULY 2014
MONTHLY NEWS
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Ryanair: Eight Routes from Paphos Ryanair has launched its new schedule for the upcoming winter season from Paphos. During the winter months, the low-cost carrier will operate a total of eight routes from Pafos International Airport, connecting the coastal city with Brussels Charleroi, Belgium; London Stansted, UK and Rome, Italy, amongst others. The flights are expected to serve 550,000 passengers per annum and sustain over 550 onsite jobs in Paphos. “Consumers and visitors to Cyprus already choose Ryanair for the lowest fares, great route choice and our industry leading customer service,” said Maria Macken, sales and marketing manager, Ryanair.
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MONTHLY NEWS
Air
Cyprus Airways Partners with Qatar Airways
Seminar on Aerophobia
Qatar Airways’ Airbus A320
Cyprus Airways’ engineering and maintenance department has assumed the line maintenance support of Qatar Airways’ Airbus A320 aircraft. The agreement between the two companies follows the Qatari airline’s recently inaugurated four-weekly direct services between Doha and Larnaca. According to Aaron Karaoglanian, CEO, Cyprus Airways, the selection of the company by Qatar Airways, is a tangible proof of confidence in the high level of safety and service provided by the engineering and maintenance department. “This collaboration marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Qatar Airways,” added Karaoglanian. Cyprus Airways has similar agreements with a number of carriers operating regular services to the island.
Zagrosjet Links Larnaca and Erbil Zagrosjet has launched scheduled weekly services between Larnaca and the Iraqi city of Erbil. Krekar Gardi, commercial director, Zagrosjet, described Cyprus as a developing tourist destination for Iraqis, while he also praised the high level of services provided to airlines operating to Larnaka International Airport. Welcoming the carrier to Cyprus, Wes Porter, CEO, Hermes Airports, noted that the Iraqi airline reconnects the island with the Middle Eastern country, creating new prospects for cooperation in various fields, such as enterprise, tourism and crosscultural exchange. “I am confident that travellers in Erbil will quickly recognise that Cyprus, besides being an amazing tourist destination, is also a portal through which Iraqis can travel to the rest of the world such as Europe and North Africa,” concluded Porter.
Cyprus Airways and Hermes Airports teamed up with the Mediterranean Flight Safety Foundation to organise a specialised seminar for those who are afraid to travel by plane. Held at Sun Hall Hotel in Larnaca, the event featured presentations by psychologists, pilots and other personnel who have been trained by Virgin Airlines’ specialists, hailed as Europe’s most credible team in the field of aerophobia. To help participants deal with their fear, Cyprus Airways offered them a unique chance to take a half-hour flight on an Airbus aircraft. Based on statistics, more than 90 percent of attendees in such programmes manage to overcome their phobia.
Launch Event
JULY 2014
RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Akbar Al Baker Having recently launched its inaugural services to Cyprus, Qatar Airways is looking to strengthen ties with the island on all levels. Here, Akbar Al Baker, CEO, Qatar Airways, justifies how this is a first step to a multi-level collaboration with mutual benefits between the two countries.
Travel Trade Cyprus: Qatar Airways first started operations to Cyprus this April. What made the airline include Cyprus in its global network and what makes the island an attractive destination for the carrier?
Akbar Al Baker: As a member of the oneworld alliance we offer a great frequent flyer scheme in collaboration with some of the biggest airlines in the world. Also, we are very excited about our move to Hamad International Airport [in Doha] which offers a unique experience, especially for transit travellers, with the best passenger amenities worldwide including a gallery of luxury retail outlets and diverse restaurants, children’s play and rest areas. Subject to increasing demand, we will of course review the premises.
Akbar Al Baker CEO, Qatar Airways
Akbar Al Baker: We are continually striving to provide customers with more and more unique destinations to visit, and we consider Larnaca, and Cyprus as a whole, a fantastic new destination for business or leisure travel. We believe it offers many advantages to travellers. For Qataris, Cyprus is the closest European country, plus everybody speaks English and it is safe, which makes it a very attractive destination for short visits all year round. Also, for business people there are many investment opportunities so one might say that through this route we facilitate prospective business deals. Travel Trade Cyprus: Which segments do you expect to cater for with the launch of the recent services? Akbar Al Baker: This new route provides Cypriots with a great choice of flights to the Middle East, as well as access to a whole new international gateway. At the same time, it provides greater access to Cyprus for both Qataris and international travellers, whether they are travelling for business or pleasure. As such, we expect to see a relatively even balance between the two.
Travel Trade Cyprus: Following a meeting between the two countries’ national aviation authorities, it was suggested that Cyprus Airways and Qatar Airways are to proceed with codeshare agreements. How is that expected to help extend the airline’s market reach within the country and beyond?
Travel Trade Cyprus: How satisfied is the airline with the demand for the Larnaca – Doha route in the first months of its operation? Akbar Al Baker: We are very pleased with the demand so far and we expect this route to become even more popular in the near future. Travel Trade Cyprus: What does the carrier have in stock for its devoted passengers taking off from and to Cyprus? Are you planning any upgrades for the Cypriot market?
Akbar Al Baker: We currently do not have a codeshare agreement in place with Cyprus Airways. [However] we are positive that this new route will help attract tourism to Cyprus all year round from the Middle East, Asia Pacific and beyond and it will put Larnaka International Airport on the map as a transit stop between Arab countries and Europe with the upcoming World Cup in Qatar in 2022 expected to be the high point of these transits. Furthermore, considering that business travelling will be facilitated through this route, we believe that this is the first step to a multi-level collaboration with mutual benefits between Cyprus and Qatar.
Hamad International Airport
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MONTHLY NEWS
Accommodation
The Classic hotel
The Classic Hotel Honoured for Excellence
The Classic hotel has been awarded with TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence for the third consecutive year. The honour is given to outstanding hospitality businesses that have received praise and recognition in reviews by TripAdvisor travellers. To qualify for the trophy, businesses must maintain an overall rating of four or higher, out of a possible five, while additional criteria include the volume of comments received within the last 12 months. Expressing gratitude for the positive reviews, the hotel’s management is now committed to setting higher goals and standards in order to achieve even better guest satisfaction.
Alion Beach Hotel Adds to Awards Collection Alion Beach Hotel, Ayia Napa has received the TUI Holly Award, which is presented to 100 leisure properties every year for providing excellent service and outstanding holiday experiences. The survey enables more than half million TUI Travel guests to voice their views based on their personal experiences. Congratulating Panicos Michael, general manager, Alion Beach Hotel, and the five-star property’s team, Oliver Dörschuck, chief operational officer, TUI Germany, said, “You and your staff are among the winners of the TUI Holly award for this year. This makes your hotel one of the best in the world. The management and colleagues at TUI Germany congratulate you very heartily and rejoice with you in your success. You have delivered unforgettable holidays to our joint guests. Excellent service and top comfort are decisive factors for the well-being of our guests.”
Alion Beach Hotel, Ayia Napa
Leptos Group Improves Staff’s Skills In line with its goals to continuously enhance its team’s skills and abilities, Leptos Group has organised a two-day seminar on business writing at Neopolis University Pafos. The event was coorganised with the human resource department of the company, and training and consulting centre, People Achieve, and attracted over 50 attendees. As Aleen Andreou, the instructor of the seminar explained, business writing is an important skill in today’s business environment and has a direct impact on the potential advancement of any organisation. Furthermore, business writting is a means of communication with the purpose of getting work done, convincing others to make a decision or to take a course of action. As highlighted during the programme, professionals must be ready and able to communicate effectively and efficiently. Following the success of the programme, Leptos Group held three more seminars on the steps to building a sales and marketing strategy, the correct use of computer programmes and high performance workplace.
JULY 2014
Accommodation
MONTHLY NEWS
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Leptos Calypso Hotels: Profits up 33 Percent
Coral Thalassa Boutique Hotel & Spa
Leptos Calypso Hotels, the management company behind some of the island’s luxury resorts and hotel apartments, reported an operating profit of EUR4.3 million for 2013, marking a yearon-year increase of 33 percent. The robust surge was fuelled by significant improvements in productivity by continuous upgrades, the training of the staff and increased guest volumes from new emerging markets. Pandora Investments also managed to grow its turnover by 24 percent to EUR33.5 million and its operating profit by 70 percent to EUR8 million. As Michael Leptos, chairman, Leptos Group, noted, the past years have taught us that repercussions of a disaster can be overturned by a collective effort, by demonstrating self-confidence and by having a clear vision for the future.
Amathus (UK) Collaborates with Your Holiday Booking A subsidiary of Amathus Corporation, Amathus (UK) which is headquartered in the UK , announced a franchise agreement with the company, Your Holiday Booking for the use of the trade name Amathus Holidays in the design and promotion of travel packages to Cyprus and Greece . Under the agreement, Amathus Holidays will retain its corporate identity and will continue to sell through its distribution network, MidCounties Coop Travel and its own website. Your Holiday Booking, which is member of the corporation Vertical Group, is one of the largest tour operators and travel sites in the UK.
JUNE 2014
Leptos Group Welcomes Russian Journalists A team of seven Russian journalists from some of the country’s leading touristic publications visited Cyprus following Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO)’s invitation. During their stay, the media representatives had the opportunity to see various parts of the island and enjoy guided tours to museums, archaeological sites and monasteries, as well as visits to wineries and a number of luxurious hotels and resorts. Offering first-hand experience of the island’s tourist product, Leptos Group invited the journalists to the company’s properties in Paphos, including to Coral Beach Hotel & Resort and Coral Thalassa Boutique Hotel & Spa, where they had the chance to meet the group managers and experience the services, amenities and facilities available to guests. Leptos Group’s move was aimed at reinforcing the efforts of the government and CTO to attract more Russian visitors as well as buyers and investors to the island.
Russian Journalists
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TRAVEL CHANNELS
European Aviation Safety in the Focus The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA) signed an agreement on sharing safety information and joint analysis of safety trends.
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he collaboration is expected to provide a strong basis for better identifying important safety issues and also has the potential to further improve the auditing process. According to Patrick Ky, executive director, EASA, the agreement on data sharing marks a major stepping stone towards the common goal of promoting the highest possible level of safety in aviation. Tony Tyler, director general, IATA, added, ”Safety is aviation’s highest priority and the IATA Operational Safety Audit is the global benchmark for airline operational safety management. Working together through this information and trendsharing partnership will contribute to making aviation even safer, while offering the potential to optimise the audit processes.”
City Breaks Are the Future of Tourism As city breaks outstripped international tourism growth by 20 percent across Europe in 2013, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) brought together leading voices in tourism and urban studies at a conference, held in Liverpool on June 17, to explore the relationship between the new tourist profile and the city environment. Titled Tourists, Cities and the Future, the event focussed on cities which are to be the global hubs of economic and cultural activity; where people live and visit, and where the infrastructure is in place to cater to growing demand. Tom Jenkins, CEO, ETOA, said, “The role that visitors play in the urban economy is important, and is set to grow in importance. […] The 91 percent increase in holidaymakers to Liverpool in years immediately after it was designated the 2008 European Capital of Culture is testament to how cities can take control of their environment and capitalise on the interest of the modern tourist.”
A Different Kind of Museum The Nicosia Municipality in collaboration with Rota Children’s Museum organised a Different Walk in a Different Museum on Makarios Avenue on the occasion of the Children’s National Day. During the event, Nicosia’s central avenue was closed for motor vehicles and was converted into an open museum, while triangular constructions featuring
posters with exhibits of several museums of Nicosia were placed along the sidewalks to turn them into stations for creative activities. Participants at the initiative enjoyed a ride in space and time and had the opportunity to express t hemselves creatively under guidance and inspired by the various posters.
Liverpool
New Industry Committees in Europe
Catherine McGavock
The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) has launched four formal European committees for the industry across the aviation, hotel, meetings and technology sectors. The newly formed panels comprise experienced GBTA members who will share their knowledge to
improve levels of competence within the industry through the creation of toolkits, white papers, templates, webinars and educational content. “I am delighted that we will now be tapping into the extensive experience and knowledge of our members in Europe,” said Catherine McGavock,
regional director, Europe, Middle East, Africa, GBTA, adding that the committees are set to deliver value not only for European members but also globally. The association will also soon be announcing the launch of its risk committee for Europe.
JULY 2014
Greece
Peter Baumgartner, chief commercial officer, Etihad Airways (left) and Dimitris Gerogiannis
AEGEAN Airlines Connects Athens and Abu Dhabi
Signs of Recovery in Athens
Driven by increased demand, hotel performance indicators continue to improve in Athens. Based on data compiled by STR Global, in March, the Greek capital reported the largest occupancy increase in Europe, rising 27 percent to 58.8 percent. Likewise, Athens also led in RevPAR growth, posting a 32.2 percent surge to EUR50.77. All-in-all, the European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-on-year metrics with average occupancy jumping 2.8 percent to 59.5 percent and average daily rate improving 2.2 percent to EUR98.36, leading to a 5.1 percent growth in RevPAR to EUR58.56. While Germany, Spain and the UK registered positive changes in all three key metrics, Italy and Russia witnessed slight decreases in RevPAR.
JULY 2014
MONTHLY NEWS
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AEGEAN Airlines has launched four weekly direct services between Athens and Abu Dhabi. Codeshare partner, Etihad Airways will place its EY code on the new flights, which are being operated by a 168-seat Airbus A320 aircraft. “We have taken the strategic decision to enhance our presence in the wider Gulf area and through our partnership with Etihad Airways, we are now in the position to offer enhanced connection possibilities and premium services to our clients,” highlighted Dimitris Gerogiannis, managing director, AEGEAN Airlines, adding that the company strongly believes that through partnerships like this one, it will continue its active support for the Greek tourism industry. The launch of the service coincided with the fifth anniversary of Etihad Airways’ Abu Dhabi – Athens route, which, during the summer season, is being served by a widebody Airbus A330-200 aircraft.
Athens Travelling to International Airports Athens International Airport (AIA) invited visitors from all over the world to feel like true citizens of the Greek capital, through the airport’s City Pair Initiative, which aims to promote and strengthen the attractiveness of Athens as a destination at 18 international airports which together see an annual traffic of 170 million passengers. Beginning in the German market, a joint AIA and Greek National Tourism Organisation delegation visited Munich, Düsseldorf and Hamburg hubs where all eyes were turned on Athens, with the airport areas, web pages, corporate editions and social media becoming the best platforms for promoting the dynamics of the Greek capital in the global map of top destinations. Besides the three German airports, the campaign promoted Athens at another 15 international air hubs, in the European Union, Russia, Canada, US and South America, while the respective destinations are also marketed by AIA on a reciprocal basis.
TRAVEL TALK
travel talk is your space
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MARIOS HANNIDES
WES PORTER
Director general, Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO).
CEO, Hermes Airports.
“Sustainable tourism development and the protection of the natural environment are key pillars of [CTO’s] strategic direction and ambition to make Cyprus an exemplary destination in this area. It is undeniable how great and beneficial is the contribution of tourism, which as the spearhead of our economy, contributes greatly to combat unemployment and bring economic recovery. We feel proud to support our island with such initiatives [like the mandatory sustainability standards for hotel establishments approved by CTO], because at the same time we enhance the quality and attractiveness of our tourist product.”
“The arrival of Qatar Airways to Larnaca is an important milestone not only for Hermes Airports but also for Cyprus. This new route will not only promote and support tourism development between Cyprus and Qatar, but will also improve the connectivity of Cyprus to the East. Likewise, it will be an excellent opportunity for Qatar Airways to develop its accessibility to Europe through Cyprus. […] We are confident that the new service to Cyprus will be welcomed by the travelling community.”
WHOS MOVED
ABDELRAHMAN ABDULLAH AL MADHLOUM AL SUWAIDI Abdelrahman Abdullah Al Madhloum Al Suwaidi has assumed the position of general manager for Cyprus at Etihad Airways. Al Suwaidi joined the Abu Dhabibased carrier as a sales manager in 2013, after gaining extensive experience in sales leadership positions with property and travel companies across the UAE. All-in-all, his career spans almost two decades and includes leadership roles in sales, marketing and
airlines operations. In Cyprus, Al Suwaidi will lead the further development of Etihad Airways commercial strategy, ensuring the continued success of the airline’s business in the eastern Mediterranean region.
Al Suwaidi will lead Etihad Airways’ future development in Cyprus
MUSTAFA AHMED AL JABRI Mustafa Ahmed Al Jabri has become Emirates’ new country manager for Cyprus. Al Jabri began his career with the Dubai-based carrier in 2005 as a management trainee and continued two years later as the commercial manager for India, based in Mumbai. He then returned to the Middle East as country manager in Oman, Iran, Syria, and most recently, Libya. During his deployment in various
countries, Al Jabri has successfully established processes and industry relationships that paved the way for the stations’ efficient operations. Having proven his capabilities and experience, he is driven and passionate about Emirates and the travel and tourism industry. As the new country manager in Cyprus, Al Jabri will be in charge of leading the team and delivering high quality services to customers and trade partners on the island.
JULY 2014
RENDEZVOUS
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Q & A with Aditya Sanghi Market dynamics have changed drastically in the past years and this has impacted the small and medium businesses (SMBs) in the hospitality industry. Aditya Sanghi, co-founder, Hotelogix, thus explains how cloud-based technology solutions can help these businesses respond to current trends.
Travel Trade Cyprus: Please give us an introduction to Hotelogix and the services it offers to hoteliers around the globe. Aditya Sanghi: Hotelogix is a cloud-based, end-toend hospitality technology solution built to seamlessly manage hotels, resorts, serviced apartments or multi-location hotel chains. The software provides a single window to manage all hotel operations and bookings - online and offline. Hotelogix also integrates with travel agent networks and external booking sites, providing a wider inventory distribution, along with real-time integration with partner sites, group booking websites, and other central reservation systems. Hotelogix is used by both new hotels, hotels previously unable to afford such 360-degree technology, and hotels looking to replace legacy systems with a web-based software-as- a-service solution, which gives greater functionality and a higher level of integration for distribution of inventory.
that can automate operations, in order to consistently deliver expected guest experience. Hence, the best current systems are cloud-based and can deliver results to cater to these requirements, within the resource constraints of this small & medium segment. These cloud-based systems are also technology ready to drive distribution systems and hence interoperate
Aditya Sanghi Co-founder, Hotelogix
JULY 2014
Travel Trade Cyprus: Hotelogix is holding various webinars illustrating the many benefits that the small and mid-sized hospitality industry can attain by switching to a cloud based solution. How successful tools have these been for the company? Aditya Sanghi: Hotelogix works on empowering the small and mid-sized hotels not just in terms of providing software solutions but also by exposing them to practices through which they can manage their hotels more effectively and responsibly. Through the webinars, we want to reach out to hoteliers and empower them with the right tools to accelerate their hospitality businesses. It is heartening for us to see the level of confidence hoteliers have in us that they take the initiative of participating in such webinars conducted by us. Our webinars are very popular in US, UK, Argentina, Brazil and Spain, to name a few countries.
Travel Trade Cyprus: What are the benefits of switching over to cloud based hospitality solutions for the business and for hoteliers themselves? Aditya Sanghi: For small- and mid-sized hotels, there are a few elements that become extremely critical to drive revenue and efficiency. Apart from the functional essentials, such as in-depth front desk management plus integrated food and beverage and housekeeping, it is extremely important for the property management system (PMS) to have simplified workflows for complex tasks, which enhances user experience and efficiency. The PMS should enable multi-tasking and be intelligent enough to prevent users from making operational errors. Changing market dynamics have also made it imperative for the PMS to drive distribution, especially for this segment, as room inventory is relatively less than larger hotels – so it needs to be marketed in the most efficient way. Since staff attrition rates are very high in the industry, the PMS should also be simple to use and easy to adapt so that any newcomer can quickly start using it. The changing dynamics of the hospitality industry have now made it possible for an independent hotelier to directly compete with higher starred properties on online marketplaces and service the same traveller. This change has made it imperative for such a hotelier to have enterprise grade systems
this segment absolutely needs to step up its IT enablement and automation. Hotelogix sees a serious void in the industry and there is a dearth of solution providers focussing on SMBs segment. Hotelogix is here to fill this gap by empowering those businesses.
with online marketplaces. Cloud-based PMSs have acted as a great leveller in the hotel industry. With a cloud-based PMS, hotels can do away with extensive investments in upfront software and hardware costs of legacy PMSs. Premium cloud based PMSs are designed or focussed towards end-to-end automation of a smaller hospitality business and are best suited to inter-operate with online marketplaces. Travel Trade Cyprus: Why does the company choose to focus on the small and mid-sized hospitality industry, rather than larger, starred hotels? Aditya Sanghi: The market dynamics have changed drastically over the past five to seven years and this has significantly impacted SMBs in the hospitality segment. The increase in the popularity of online travel booking has opened up the global market to the smaller businesses and has created business opportunities around the globe. To avail of this growing opportunity,
Travel Trade Cyprus: Hotelogix hosted a webinar for Greek and Cyprus hoteliers on June 17. How was demand for the event? How receptive are hoteliers in Cyprus in switching to cloud-based technology solutions? Aditya Sanghi: In Greece and Cyprus, most of the hotels still manage operations and distribution either manually or with legacy PMSs. Legacy PMSs are incapable of interoperating with online marketplaces, hence are a bad choice for tourism focussed markets like Cyprus and Greece. Hotelogix along with its Channel Partner hosted this webinar on June 17 to educate and empower small and mid-sized hotels with the right tools to compete in the global online marketplace. Hotelogix has good presence in Greece and will soon have a Greek interface to suit the local preference. Cyprus on the other hand, is also accepting the change in the hotel industry scenario. Hotels are moving to cloud PMS as it is easier and cost-effective to implement as compared to legacy PMS. It is also highly secure. This change is very slow but Hotelogix, with its efforts to educate the market and hoteliers, aims to bring drastic changes in these two markets.
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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS
Pafos at the Centre of Culture Paphos has been chosen as the European Capital of Culture for 2017 and for the next three years the spotlight is to be focussed on the Cypriot city. To this end the Pafos2017 committee announced an open call for proposals to participate in the institution’s artistic programme. Regional stakeholders and Pafos2017 aspire to turn Paphos into an outdoor ‘factory of culture,’ in a huge open hall with antique monuments hosting theatre performances, concerts in the streets, dancing in parks, exhibitions in squares, outdoor cinema nights and much more. Moreover, a key evaluation criterion for the proposals is their authenticity, originality and high artistic level, while another decisive factor is a European dimension, as defined by the objectives and purposes of the Cultural Capital of Europe.
Cyprus Ultra Marathon Mountains, Limassol, July 12, 2014 (www.cyprusultra.com) Hailed as one of the world’s toughest running races with extreme u p hills and down hills with temperatures soaring above 40 degrees. So far, only one athlete has ever finished the 217km race. Dragon Boat Race Charity Event Yermasoyia Dam, Limassol, July 20, 2014 (www.cyprusdba.org) The 200m race is open for all teams. The profits of the event will be donated to charity.
Pafos Aphrodite Festival 2013
TAXIDI 2014 Held Successfully Once again Cypriots showed a great interest in the TAXIDI 2014 travel exhibition held at Filoxenia Conference Centre. The exhibition was officiated by Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, minister of energy, commerce, industry and tourism, Cyprus, who commented on the event’s success over the years. “This year we had travel agencies, airlines, hotel chains from Cyprus and abroad, regional tourist organisations from Cyprus, Greece, India, Egypt and Israel, as well as other stakeholders in the field of travel and tourism, participating with their own stands,” Lakkotrypis said. He concluded that the initiatives of the private sector are crucial, while the ministry’s cooperation with Cyprus Tourism Organisation has seen results in simplifying visa procedure and increasing flight frequency to and from Cyprus.
International Museum Day Celebrated across the Island To mark the annual International Museum Day (IMD) and The European Night of Museums, the Department of Antiquities, in collaboration with the Ministry of Communications and Works, offered free entrance to all its museums. Since 1977, May 18 is celebrated every year as IMD; a special occasion to raise awareness on how important museums are in the development of society. This year’s programme, held under the theme Museum Collections make Connections, was joined by around 30,000 museums in 120 countries. The mark the occasion, between May 15 – 24, various events were held at the island’s museums, offering visitors the chance to enjoy intriguing programmes in Nicosia, Lefkara, as well as Paphos.
FIVB U21 Beach Volleyball World Championships Finikoudes Beach, Larnaca, July 23 – 27, 2014 (www.larnakabeachvolley.com) One of the top beach volleyball events in the world, organised by International Volleyball Federation. Fengaros Music Village Kato Drys, Larnaca, August 1 – 3, 2014 (www.louvana.com.cy) This year’s event moves to the village of Kato Drys, which will play host to more than 25 events with the participation of notable figures from Cyprus and abroad. CubaMiSala Cyprus Festival Mediterranean Beach Hotels, Limassol, August 1 – 3, 2014 The fifth edition of the festival will feature 30 hours of workshops and guarantees to bring unbeatable Cuban energy to the island. 16th Pafos Aphrodite Festival Medieval Castle, Paphos, September 5 – 7, 2014 (www.pafc.com.cy) This year the prestigious event presents the witty opera Cosi Fan Tutte by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart in co-production with the lyric organisation Opera Futura from Verona and the participation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra.
JULY 2014