Travel Weekly 2010 Edition - Day 1

TW DAY1 Coverwrap_Layout 1 28/10/2010 11:00 Page 3

TW DAY1 Coverwrap_Layout 1 28/10/2010 11:00 Page 4

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:43 Page 1

Winners The Future of Travel

worldtravelawards.com

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:43 Page 2

69

Fares and schedules correct at time of going to press (25 October 2010), and subject to availability and change without notice.

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:43 Page 3

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 4

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 5

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 6

History World Travel Awards Honouring excellence in travel & tourism worldwide since 1994

1994 Hollywood

1995 New York

1996 Las Vegas

1997 New York

1998 Bahamas

1999 London

2000 Jamaica

2001 Malaysia

2002 St Lucia

2003 New York

2007

2008

Abu Dhabi New York Newcastle Bangalore Turks & Caicos

Durban Sydney Shanghai Orlando Poprad Rio de Janeiro Dubai Turks & Caicos

2004 Barbados

2005 London

2009

2010 Dubai Johannesburg Antalya Delhi Jamaica London

Dubai Durban Riviera Maya Obidos London

Page 6

2006 Turks and Caicos

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 7

“ The Oscars of the Travel Industry”

About Us World Travel Awards

Wall Street Journal

The World Travel Awards acknowledges and celebrates those organisations that have made the greatest contribution to the global tourism and travel industry. It also recognises those brands that are driving the industry to greater heights and innovation in travel.

Celebrating its 17th anniversary this year, the awards has grown into a truly global search for the very best travel and tourism brands, with the winners from the five regional ceremonies progressing to the World Travel Awards Grand Final in London on 7 November.

Last year, 183,000 travel professionals registered to vote and participate in the prestigious World Travel Awards programme – a phenomenal 10% rise in registrations compared to the year before.

This record number is conclusive evidence that World Travel Awards has become the “Oscars” of the global travel industry.

Graham E. Cooke, Founder and President, World Travel Awards, said: “World Travel Awards is a unique benchmark for industry quality and business excellence in every region and sector.”

“The increase in registered voters, despite a global recession, demonstrates the vital role of performance delivery in a challenging and highly competitive marketplace,” he added.

This level of accountability makes the World Travel Awards one of the highest accolades in the travel business and is why the award ceremony is broadcast by BBC World News and other networks to over 254 million households worldwide and attended by the industry’s global decision makers.

evolved, expanding the number of awards as the industry has grown. There are now over 1,000 different categories – an understandable number seeing how the industry has diversified and given the fact that there were over 3,600 different nominees last year.

And as confidence returns to the global economy, the World Travel Awards will be there to reward those travel and tourism players that spearhead the recovery.

For the tourism trade, winning a World Travel Award is more than an award – it is an endorsement from the thousands of professionals from around the globe, as well as a gold seal to the consumer of travel excellence guaranteed.

The World Travel Awards has continuously

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 • worldtravelawards.com Page 7

TW2010_DAY2_V1_Layout 1 26/10/2010 09:40 Page 8

TW2010_DAY2_V1_Layout 1 26/10/2010 09:40 Page 9

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 10

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 11

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:44 Page 12

Soccer City

LINDIWE KWELE

Tourism’s rising superstar Lindiwe Kwele is one of the rapidly rising stars of travel and tourism. As the Chief Executive of Johannesburg Tourism Company, she provided the key link between sport and tourism for the principal host city during the FIFA 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

She has also undertaken a series of groundbreaking initiatives that include hosting Africa Fashion Week and Miss World, as well as using tourism as a catalyst for social betterment through projects in Joburg’s most deprived townships. So what does she have planned to ensure the goodwill generated by the World Cup leaves a lasting legacy, and what was her favourite moment of the tournament?

What does it mean to you as a South African to have hosted Africa’s first World Cup? An honour and a privilege indeed! Moreover, I’m so proud that we were able to show the world what South Africans are capable of.

Page 12

What would you rate as the biggest success story of the tournament, and why?

The national unity and sense of patriotism across racial lines is priceless. Shortly before the tournament, there was such racial tension in the country due to the slaying of the right wing leader Eugène Terreblanche – the world thought we were on the brink of a civil war. Again we proved our detractors wrong – South Africans are just special people.

And what was your personal favourite memory?

Seeing Joburg – the brand I am tasked to manage – at the focal point of this historic moment was just too overwhelming.

What is your strategy to ensure the goodwill and publicity generated by the FIFA World Cup has a lasting impact?

Whilst always working to retain our traditional source markets, we’re now exploring new markets aggressively, and employing diverse media strategies to entrench the Joburg Brand. We’re embarking on a global campaign to reinforce the message that now the world knows about us and has witnessed our capabilities, everyone is encouraged to visit Joburg not just leisure tourists, but also as investors, conference delegates, golfers, shoppers – or to attend mega events like the World Cup.

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:47 Page 13

Young tour guides show Miss World finalists around Alexandra Township - a project spearheaded by the Johannesburg Tourism Company to ensure that South Africa hosting the 2010 World Cup leaves a legacy beyond football.

One of most rewarding initiatives to emerge from the World Cup was your project in Alexandra township, which involved giving students an opportunity to train and work as tour guides. Do you have any future plans to build on the success of this, and other similar projects?

JTC adheres to responsible tourism guidelines; for every initiative that we undertake we ensure that it also always benefits the ordinary citizens of Joburg. We will continue working with students, mentoring them, sensitizing them to the value of tourism and encouraging them to be ambassadors for their city. We will also continue supporting community-based initiatives, assisting with the development of tourism nodes and routes, the grading tour guides of and of B&Bs in the townships, while also supporting and promoting community-based projects which service the tourism market, like those who produce Joburg memorabilia and arts and crafts.

You climbed the Everest of sport tourism by hosting such a successful World Cup. What’s your next challenge?

Next on the agenda is the much anticipated hosting of the UN Summit on Climate Change (COP 17) – we’re still waiting for the announcement of the winning city on that one, and then of course, there’s always the Olympics!

Which areas of Joburg’s tourism product offer the most exciting opportunities for growth?

Our three state-of-the-art stadia which include FNB Stadium (also known as Soccer City for the duration of the World Cup), Orlando Stadium and Ellis Park, along with our vast array of diverse conference and events venues. Joburg has the four biggest in the country (capable of hosting more than 5,000 guests) – which position us ideally for mega-events. Then of course of plethora of golf courses (coupled with our gorgeous weather) and our spa facilities also open

up a possibilities for tourism packages structured around these products.

Joburg is forging a reputation as a global hub of sport tourism, and included you hosting World Sport Destination Expo in July. What were the benefits of hosting WSDE, and how does this fit in with your overall sport tourism ambitions?

For Johannesburg Tourism Company, it was a spectacular opportunity to interact with the more than 250 international sports journalists, using the participation of the Miss World ambassadors in a penalty shoot-out as an activation channel.

This generated huge publicity around the globe, gaining us recognition as forward-thinking leaders in our field.

What are your global marketing objectives post World Cup? Progressive marketing strategies which include e-marketing, social media and networking, as well as activations in key source markets, which include continental and international road shows and a continuous presence at strategic international trade shows.

“Joburg will be widely recognised as a leading destination in Africa that is a trendsetter in business tourism, a creative, vibrant city offering myriads of different lifestyle options”

How do you see tourism in Joburg evolving over the next 5-10 years?

Joburg will be widely recognised as a leading destination in Africa that is a trendsetter in business tourism, a creative, vibrant city offering myriads of different lifestyle options, Africa’s shopping mecca and premier host to upmarket sporting events Which territories/countries present the brightest future opportunities for inbound tourism?

Africa (SADC, Nigeria, Ghana, Angola, Kenya, DRC); China, India, US, UK, Germany, Australasia and South and Central America.

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 • worldtravelawards.com Page 13

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 26/10/2010 16:01 Page 14

29 September – 2 October www.worldsportdestinationexpo.com Host Partners

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 26/10/2010 16:01 Page 15

The Global Marketplace for Sport Tourism • • • •

An Unrivalled Gathering of Senior Buyers Exhibitors from 30 Countries The Key Influencers and Industry Leaders Focussed Meetings and Lucrative Contract Negotiations

• • • •

Cutting Edge Industry Debate Top Level Strategic Insights A host of Sporting Legends Social Networking and Ideas Exchange

For more information contact: info@worldsportdestinationexpo.com

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:58 Page 16

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:58 Page 17

Dubai International Airport

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:58 Page 18

Aviation takes off Whilst 2009 will go down as the worst year in aviation history, 2010 is shaping up to be the fastest recovery ever for the industry.

The International Air Transport Association trebled its net profit estimates to $8.9 billion for this year, following an unexpectedly strong recovery of the 230 airlines that it represents globally.

reflected improving demand combined with “impressive” capacity constraint. Traffic is expected to grow by 11 percent this year, whilst capacity will only rise 7 percent.

This compares with a $2.5 billion prediction in the previous quarter and a projected $2.8 billion loss forecast in March.

However he predicted that the recovery could soon run out of steam, and in 2011 profits will slip to $5.3 billion as the effects of various government economic stimulus packages recede, set against a rise in capacity due to delivery of new aircraft.

Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General, said the sharp recovery from the global downturn

Page 18

He said: “It is a significant improvement, much stronger than forecast, but it’s no time for a big celebration, just a small party.”

“It is clear that there will be a slowdown in the fourth quarter,” he added.

“We are already seeing that in our traffic. 2010 will be as good as it gets. It will be the peak of this cycle. 2011 will be a tougher year.”

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 17:59 Page 19

Asia’s new roaring tigers

Etihad lifts Middle Eastern aviation

On a regional level, soaring demand in Asia-Pacific is powering the global aviation recovery. IATA predicts that airlines in the region are expected to make a net profit of $5.2 billion this year, compared to a forecast of $2.2 billion made in June. Cargo traffic is forecast to rise 33 percent for the year, with intra-Asia business travel up 23 percent.

According to the Asian Development Bank, GDP in south-east Asia’s emerging economies is expected to reach 7.9 percent this year. The region is also gearing up for the implementation of an “open skies” agreement in 2015, covering ten countries with a combined population of 600 million and a combined economy the size of India.

These two factors are collectively fuelling an unprecedented aviation boom to meet the expectation of rising traffic.

Among the multitude of expansion programmes across the region, Cebu Pacific, the largest carrier in the Philippines, is launching an initial public offering to raise an estimated $730 million for an international and domestic expansion.

Tiger Airways, the low-cost carrier part-owned by Singapore Airlines, is launching a subsidiary in Thailand in a joint venture with Thai Airways International. It has also announced plans to buy nine new Airbus A320 aircraft, increasing its fleet to 26.

Meanwhile Malaysia’s AirAsia X, the region’s largest low-cost carrier, is planning a joint venture in Vietnam to compliment its existing operations in Thailand and Indonesia.

The Middle Eastern airlines continue to benefit from strong regional economies and a growing share of long-haul markets. Unlike the previous two years, capacity in 2010 has been added at a slower pace than demand growth, thereby raising load factors and helping profitability.

Leading the surge is UAE national carrier Etihad Airways, which notched up its strongest first half performance in its seven-year history, with doubledigit increases in both passenger and cargo traffic.

Etihad also became the first Middle Eastern airline to operate a service to Tokyo, with the launch of a five weekly non-stop flights to the Japanese capital. It also launched non-stop services to Baghdad and Erbil, and unveiled plans to start flying to the South Korean capital Seoul in December.

Etihad also picked up “Middle East’s Leading Airline” at the World Travel Awards 2010 Middle East Ceremony in May, one of six awards on the night.

Neighbouring Dubai is getting firmly back on its feet, led by a surge in aviation traffic. Dubai International Airport overtook New York’s JFK Airport for the first time, with passenger traffic rising 14.7 percent year-on-year to 30.8 million during the first eight months of this year.

The surprise contributor was budget carrier flydubai, which only launched last April but is now the second-largest source of passenger traffic at Dubai International.

Elsewhere in Asia, IndiGo, India’s biggest low-cost carrier, has announced plans to acquire 150 new aircraft, and is also mulling Mumbai stock market listing to raise an additional $400m.

The airport was voted “Middle East’s Leading Airport” at the World Travel Awards 2010 Middle East Ceremony in May, and follows its victory last November when it picked up “World’s Leading Airport” at the Grand Final in London.

IATA’s Bisignani noted the tremendous potential for Indian aviation which currently stands at 42 million annual domestic and 34 million international passengers.

Europe fails to take off

“If Indians flew as much as Americans, it would be a market of over 4 billion passengers. With the spending power of Indians set to triple over the next two years, the potential for growth is incredible,” he commented.

IATA singled out the UK as the weakest performer on the continent. Brian Pearce, IATA’s chief economist, said: “We have not really seen much of a pick-up at all in passenger numbers, which is a reflection of the recession in Britain and perhaps higher travel costs because of air passenger duty.”

Last year, UK airports saw the biggest fall in passenger numbers since records began, as traffic fell 7.3 percent to 218 million. Pearce said he did not expect the UK market to grow “much at all” this year.

The malaise of the UK market is most evident at its flag carrier, British Airways, which has generated a pre-tax loss of nearly £1bn over the past two years and is locked in a dispute with cabin crew as it strives to trim costs.

One of the few legacy carriers to buck the European malaise has been Turkish Airlines. Riding on the back of Turkey’s growing popularity as a tourism destination, the national carrier has chalked up rising profits and market share.

Savvy cuts help America’s return to form The bounce-back in North America is being driven by higher average fares – due to carefully managed capacity reductions that have spread demand across fewer seats.

However the stand-out story of 2010 for the US industry has been the $3bn merger of Continental Airlines and United Airlines, in a move that has created the world’s largest airline. Rival American Airlines has received the green light a transatlantic tie-up with British Airways and its new merger partner, Spanish flag carrier Iberia.

Latin American carriers continue to benefit from very strong regional economic growth particularly in Brazil, boosting freight, travel and profits. The profit forecast has improved slightly from $900 million to $1 billion.

The picture in Europe is somewhat cloudier. IATA forecasts that European airlines will collectively lose $1.3bn this year. The main factor is the region’s sluggish economy – stagnant consumer and business confidence has led to lacklustre passenger numbers. The region is also seeing much slower recovery in high-margin premium traffic, particularly on short-haul routes.

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 • worldtravelawards.com Page 19

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:23 Page 20

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:23 Page 21

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:31 Page 22

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 23

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 24

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 25

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 26

Page 26

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 27

Page 27

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 28

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 29

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:32 Page 30

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:39 Page 31

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:39 Page 32

FOCUS ON

Antalya

Turkey comes of age Turkey’s mix of superb beaches, rich culture and non-Eurozone currency has made it one of the rare success stories of the downturn. It also hosted the World Travel Awards 2010 Europe Ceremony in October. We talked to the Director of the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office UK, Irfan Onal, about the destination that has it all.

Turkey has been one of the few success stories of European tourism since the downturn, especially the growth of the UK market. To what would you attribute that success?

In the last 10 years especially there has been a great deal of investment in marketing to the British market by Turkey, and with the public relations activity that has gone on alongside this Turkey has been able to maximise its exposure.

How do you see Turkey evolving as a destination over the next decade?

Turkey has reached the point now where it is working hard to develop the diversity of the type of tourism it has to offer. Already in seventh place in the world in terms of the number of tourists it attracts, Turkey still has further potential. Its resources are such that it can offer something for all tourism sectors.

Antalya hosted the World Travel Awards Europe Ceremony in October. What was the importance of holding such a prestigious event and how does it help Turkey’s tourism industry?

This type of event will help put Turkey on the agenda and is an excellent opportunity for many of

the professional participants to see the country for the first time.

What other up-and-coming events do you have planned?

We are also working alongside next year’s tour operators on more effective working methods and procedures, and are planning our press and public relations activities for next year.

Sport tourism is proving to be one of the fastest growing sectors of the industry. Do you have any specific policy for developing this sector?

We would like in particular to make use of the sports tourism potential of the Antalya and Izmir regions, and to this end we are hosting international tournaments there. The World Basketball Championship was held in Turkey last August and proved to be a very successful event. The 2011 Winter Universiad which will be held in Erzurum and will introduce this city’s winter tourism potential to the world. In addition various regions host a number of activity sports. Antalya is in particular an important destination for football teams’ training sessions.

Which source markets offer you the greatest potential and why?

The UK is very important as it’s a country with a population that participates in every type of tourism and who are open to world cultures. In my opinion the relationship between the UK and Turkey will continue to strengthen due to the variety of

tourism that Turkey has to offer and the physical proximity of the UK. Alongside this the fact that the two countries’ socio-economic and diplomatic relations are at such a good level is also one of the elements that is helping trigger tourism’s huge potential.

Which areas of improvement does the country need to make to grow market share?

The western Mediterranean and the Black Sea in particular have potential for a different sort of tourism and are the locations where investment will be intensified in the future. Western Anatolia is also a region with great potential for cultural tourism.

What have been the highlights of your time heading up the UK office?

Our aims at the UK office have been to promote Turkey’s diversity as a destination in the UK by making good use of the upward trend in interest and we will continue to this end.

Which of your plans, developments and initiatives do you think have the most potential and why?

I hope that the investment that has been made in health, cultural and activity tourism will reap great rewards.

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 • worldtravelawards.com Page 32

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:39 Page 33

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:39 Page 34

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:39 Page 35

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:39 Page 36

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:40 Page 37

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:40 Page 38

Sport Tourism Leads the Field in 2011

Adidas press call at WSDE 2010

Rugby World Cup 2011, New Zealand

2010 has been the year that Sport Tourism – for many years the “sleeping giant” of the travel – truly came of age. But you’d be mistaken for thinking the next 12 months will see a slow down. Get ready for an action-packed 2011 featuring the 2nd edition of WSDE – the Global Market Place for Sport Tourism – along with an exciting roster of mega sporting events. Mike Starling reports There is no doubt that 2010 has been a pivotal year for Sport Tourism.

Leading analysts predict that the travel industry’s fastest growing sector will post record profits and contribute an astonishing 14 percent of overall travel and tourism receipts by the end of 2010. At a time when some traditional tourism trends are in decline, Sport Tourism continues to flourish and is set to grow exponentially in the next decade.

There are many reasons for the sport tourism boom. The continued sportification of society is prompting a seismic shift in tourist patterns. The 21st Century is witnessing traditional sun and sea vacations – traditionally the main stay of the travel and tourism industry – being replaced by activity sport related vacations and a new breed of tourists keen to attend an ever increasing calendar of readily-accessible mega sporting events.

WSDE – the first global exhibition and business forum dedicated to showcasing the $600 billion a

Page 38

year sport tourism industry – was successfully launched in July this year alongside the final week of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The key buyers, influencers and media met face to face with the destinations leading the field in this dynamic sector and forging the future of sport tourism.

With Sport Tourism set to play a catalytic role in sparking tourism recovery in 2011, next years edition of WSDE is set to a pivotal role bolstered by an exiting roster of mega sporting events.

This proven track record has resulted in the announcement that the next edition of WSDE will take place in Bangkok, Thailand in October 2011 and will spearhead an important year for Asia.

Key 2011 regional highlights will include India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh jointly hosting the ICC Cricket World Cup in February; the FINA World Swimming Championships being held in Shanghai, China from July 16-31 and the South Korean city of Daegu welcoming the IAAF World Athletics Championships from August 27-September 4.

Power House Asia Asia is the continent best embracing the concepts of Sport Tourism and is geared up to once again lead the field in 2011. Since Beijing successfully hosted the Olympic Games in 2008, Asia has remained in the Sport Tourism spotlight and its unrivalled sporting infrastructure and integrated approach to leisure tourism has reaped considerable rewards.

The PTT Thailand Open, which was first held in 2003, has attracted some of the biggest names in tennis and can boast Roger Federer as a back-toback winner in 2004 and 2005.

The ATP tennis event has become one of Thailand's big Sport Tourism attractions, but there is no doubt about the other – golf.

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:40 Page 39

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) revealed earlier this year that golf will be one of the focus sectors for its 2011 marketing strategy. TAT will highlight the country’s world-class golf courses via its “Amazing Thailand Golf Paradise” campaign.

While Thailand will market its courses and playing facilities, one area of Sport Tourism where the country is particularly thriving is in the golf MICE sector.

In 2011 Thailand will host at least six golf industry conferences and exhibitions with the busy calendar crowned by WSDE 2011 taking place in Bangkok in October.

Following on from its first-ever F1 Grand Prix in October, South Korea will again be under the spotlight when Daegu hosts the IAAF World Athletics Championships. Organisers will also be hoping that Usain Bolt will again be in unbeatable form and attract a full house to Daegu Stadium, one of the host arenas of the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals.

In November 2011, Indonesia will be the host nation of the Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games), which will see the 11 countries of Southeast Asia going head-to-head in a multi-sport event. The major development will be the US$159m renovation of the Jakabaring Sports Complex in Palembang.

New facilities will include an athlete’s village and new golf course.

Nathan Wilson, MD of Thomson Sport meets with Paulo Senise, Executive Director of Rio C&VB and Tony Prince at WSDE 2010

investment in infrastructure and sporting stadiums.”

One of the major projects has been the redevelopment of Auckland’s iconic Eden Park stadium.

Destination New Zealand The sporting event expected to grab the headlines in 2011 will be the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand – the spiritual home of rugby union.

When New Zealand’s All Blacks kick-off against Tonga at Auckland’s Eden Park on September 9 the match will see six years of hard work become a reality for the tournament organisers.

It is well known across the globe that the Kiwis are mad for their rugby, so it is fitting that the 2011 Rugby World Cup will be the biggest event ever staged in New Zealand.

Tourism New Zealand, the country’s tourism board, is one of the organisations playing a huge role in the hosting of next year’s mega event.

Gregg Anderson, general manager Western long haul markets at Tourism New Zealand, told Breaking Travel News of the importance of the event.

He said: “The Rugby World Cup is absolutely crucial to New Zealand’s tourism industry. The legacy that the event will create is two-fold. The 2011 World Cup will bring a lot of visitors down to New Zealand and what we are aiming for is to provide not just a sporting experience, but also a spiritual experience for our visitors to enjoy and talk about when they leave. The second major legacy will be the

A three-year, NZ$240million (£114m) refurbishment includes a new six-level, 21,500-seat South Stand and a new three-tier East Stand. The capacity of Eden Park has been increased to 60,000 and the stadium will host the finals and the opening and closing ceremonies.

The AMI Stadium in Christchurch also has a new stand and the capacity has been increased to around 43,000. Another major development in Christchurch is a walkway from the centre of the city all the way to the stadium. This was trialled during the Bledisloe Cup match between the All Blacks and Australia in August.

The city of Dunedin is getting the only brand new stadium – The Forsyth Barr Stadium at University Plaza. Carisbrook, an arena that has been the graveyard of many a visiting team in the past, is being set aside and the city will become home to the country’s first fully-roofed stadium.

The new stadia will be vital as approximately 85,000 fans are expected for the tournament, with Anderson predicting huge numbers travelling from the UK.

“This will provide a huge injection for the visitor industry and we will get coverage and publicity that we have not seen on a global scale since the Lord of the Rings films and the last British and Irish Lions rugby tour (in 2005).”

New Zealand’s hosting of the 2005 Lions tour has provided the country with vital experience in arranging match schedules and the movement of fans across the north and south islands.

One major trend to emerge from the Lions tour in 2005 has been the use of cruise ships as an accommodation option.

“There will be a number of cruise ships based in New Zealand – and for the quarter-finals, semifinals and finals you will see cruise ships in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch,” Anderson said.

Another popular development is Auckland’s ‘party central’ area where both international visitors and locals will be able to watch games together.

So while there will be parties off the pitch, all it now takes is for the All Blacks to have a party on it and win the 2011 Rugby World Cup final on October 23 at Eden Park. I would not advise anyone to bet against them – but don’t say that to fans of the Wallabies, Springboks or European nations... www.worldsportdestinationexpo.com

“New Zealand will see 85,000 visitors come from across all markets,” he added. “We are expecting 32,000-33,000 from across Europe, with the vast majority from the UK.

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 • worldtravelawards.com Page 39

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 40

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 41

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 42

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 43

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 44

FOCUS ON

The Americas In an age when flat is the new black, the Caribbean is pulling off something of a tourism miracle.

After last year’s annus horribilus, nations across the region have dusted themselves down and are reporting resurgent growth in 2010.

generated by the West Kingston uprising, which at one stage was feared would cost $300 million in lost foreign exchange revenue.

Improved air lift and a brighter global economic outlook have led to consumers spending on travel once again. According to the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, aggregate tourist arrivals in the first half of the year rose 4.5 percent. Average room rates were up over 7 percent in the first quarter of 2010, whilst REVpar (revenue per available room) rose by over 6 percent.

So in June, just as the dust began to settle, Jamaica’s Minister for Tourism Edmund Bartlett announced a US$10 million marketing campaign, targeting the key markets of United States, Canada and United Kingdom, as well as emerging destinations in South America and Europe. And early indications show that this is already bearing fruit. In July, tourist arrivals had recovered to 190,000 visitor arrivals recorded in July 2009.

Leading the charge are the British Virgin Islands, Martinique, Puerto Rico and Saint Lucia, which all registered double digit growth over the period.

Jamaica too is firmly on the rebound, despite a blip caused by the civil unrest in May. Tourism arrivals for the first half of 2010 are 7.3 percent higher year-on-year, which includes the island breaking the 200,000 barrier for the month of March.

The country has engineered a swiftly timed campaign to stamp out the negative publicity

Page 44

Airlift has also played a critical role in Jamaica’s resilience, particularly as the island is the most connected destination in the Caribbean, and the gateway to the region. West Jet has announced eight more flights to the island for winter, whilst JetBlue is planning a series of new services.

Jamaica’s northerly neighbour, Cuba, is raising its tourism product and many industry observers believe that when it fully opens up, it will blossom into the jewel in the crown of Caribbean tourism.

A large hotel construction programme is already underway, and will include a number of golf courses. According to Statistics National Office, Cuba received 2.5 million visitors in 2009, a 3.5 percent increase over 2008.

According to the WTTC, real GDP growth of Cuba’s travel and tourism economy is expected to be 2 percent in 2010, rising to an average 5 percent per annum over the coming 10 years.

On a sector level, cruise tourism is proving particularly resilient. Cruise visitor arrivals to the region increased 4.5 percent, led by the overwhelming popularity of Oasis of the Seas. In March, the 225,000-tonne vessel became the first to break the 6,000-passenger threshold, and in doing so broke the world record for the most passengers ever carried by a cruise ship. It broke the world record another two times within the next month.

Further cruise increases are to be expected with advance booking reported to be very promising as the cruise lines strive to satisfy their increased capacity.

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 45

North America In North America, the US is firmly back in the driving seat as the world’s largest tourism economy. As people tend to travel closer to home in times of austerity, domestic tourism has proven the country’s great stabilizer.

Inbound tourism to the States is also on the rise, but it’s not who you might think. The UK has traditionally been the country with the largest number of inbound passengers to the United States, outside of North America. It still is. But recent trends have highlighted some new source markets rising rapidly up the rankings.

Turkey accounted for the most significant change, rising from 28th to 14th on the list, in part due to a recent strengthening of the Turkish lira against the US dollar. Another country that has made notable gains was Russia: leaping from 12th to 7th place this month.

Most surprising was the dramatic drop-off in inbound travel from China, which slipped from 8th to 22nd. This decrease in popularity might be due to increased internal tourism in the Asian giant or to a growth in travel from the Far East to other regions in the world, boosted by the everincreasing airfare deals to Europe.

Within the States, New York City is on track to host a record number of visitors in 2010. City officials said preliminary tourism data show the Big Apple is on course to reach a record 47.5 million this year, a four percent increase over 2009, when tourism numbers slipped for the first time since 2001.

South of the border, Mexico is steadily shrugging off the devastation caused to its tourism industry by the swine flu panic. International arrivals in the first half of this year stand 7.3 percent higher than last, according to the federal tourism ministry.

Since the end of the pandemic, tourism authorities have launched a global campaign to re-engerise the sector. This included the hosting of the World Travel Awards North & Central America Ceremony last September in Yucatan, which attracted the leading lights from across the region.

South America The mood within South America’s tourism industry is remarkably buoyant, with only Africa weathering the economic storm better on a continental level.

Brazil in particular is riding the crest of a sport tourism wave in the build up to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics, and it has now climbed into the top ten of biggest tourism economies in the world.

Both sporting mega-events will boost the national profile of the country, with Brazil seeking to maximise the long-term benefit of hosting moving toward 2020.

Embratur President, Jeanine Pires, hopes to see a 113 per cent increase in the number of international visitors over the period, raising foreign currency earnings by 304 per cent.

The Brazilian magic is also rubbing off on the rest of the continent, with the likes of Bolivia and Guatemala using travel and tourism as a means of escaping poverty.

In Peru, the closure of Machu Picchu for two months due to flooding resulted in an estimated $185 million in loss of revenue, according to Peru’s Tourism Minister Martin Perez. But now the country is firing on cylinders once again following the reopening of its prized asset in April.

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 • worldtravelawards.com Page 45

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 46

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:41 Page 47

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 26/10/2010 11:33 Page 48

Why you must have a mobile strategy in place for 2011…

Staying connected with travellers on the move has become one of the industry’s key objectives as the mobile web goes mass market.

As mobile web becomes key to the marketing mix, Nick Salter from World Mobi outlines the key elements for developing a solid strategy.

Over the past 15 years most businesses have switched their marketing budgets from paper based brochures to desktop websites. The move to mobile is now set to become the biggest shift in the way information is accessed since the Internet revolution commenced.

The rapid growth in web-enabled mobile phone ownership means that mobile search will soon become the primary way in which we access information on the Internet. Desktop search will remain important, but the majority of searches will be performed by users-on-the-go via a mobile device.

There are nearly five times as many mobile devices as there are desktop and laptop PC’s and by 2011 around 85% of these will be able to access the mobile web.

So, you’ve recognised that sooner or later you are going to have to develop a mobile web strategy.

How then, should you go about it?

1 Start by taking a look at your own desktop website on a mobile phone. How long does it take to load? How easy is it to navigate? How quickly can you find the information you need?

What does the user experience say about your brand?

2 Don’t assume that because your website looks OK on one make of phone it’ll be fine on all types. Check the iPhone, iPad, Nokia, Android, Blackberry…and the latest Windows Phone. You need the site to look good and work smoothly across all types of mobile device.

3 Don’t spend all your money on flashy iPhone apps. You’ll look great to the small percentage of iPhone users but you’ll be excluding all the other handset users. Of course you could also build apps for all the other platforms…but that could get expensive and complex to maintain.

Find out how you can leverage the mobile web across every device.

4 A mobile web site is not just a smaller version of your desktop site. Too many pictures and your site will take forever to load. And touch screen mobiles are navigated in a very different way to mouse driven PC’s. Think of the user experience and what sort of information a useron-the-go might need to get quickly.

5 Remember the mobile is also a communications tool. Leverage its power by adding in functionality - such as click to call - so users can jump seamlessly from reading about you on your mobile site to talking to you on the phone.

6 Build your site with users-on-the–go in mind.

Ensure you have content on your mobile site that will attract visitors after they’ve arrived, not just at the trip planning stage. Sticky content that is useful to the traveller on the move means your brand stays front-of-mind for longer.

7 Ensure you have a strategy that works across both desktop and mobile channels. Do you want to update them separately or together?

Do you have a content management solution that you can adapt in house or do you need a partner that can do all the updating for you?

8 Don’t do nothing. Your future customers are already searching out your brand on their mobile phones whether you like it or not and they’re making judgements based on what they find. Don’t give them the opportunity to search out a more mobile-friendly option. Make sure they’re getting an experience that’ll keep them coming back.

World Mobi are the leaders in travel and tourism mobile strategy and mobile web development. For more information, email nick.salter@world.mobi.

Visit our VIP Lounge at WTM, South Gallery Level 2, Suite 33 Page 48

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:44 Page 49

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:48 Page 50

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:48 Page 51

TW2010_DAY1_V1_Layout 1 25/10/2010 18:48 Page 52

TW DAY1 Coverwrap_Layout 1 28/10/2010 11:00 Page 5

TW DAY1 Coverwrap_Layout 1 28/10/2010 11:00 Page 2