World Travel Awards - Travel weekly 2010 - Day 3

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YOUR GATEWAY TO A $600 BILLION INDUSTRY

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An unmissable opportunity to take part in the first and only global exhibition devoted to Sport Tourism – the fastest growing sector in the travel industry.”

Proud Hosts

VISIT US AT WTM – SOUTH GALLERY ROOM 33 OR THAILAND STAND AS500 CONTACT: info@worldsportdestinationexpo.com www.worldsportdestinationexpo.com • THE GLOBAL MARKET PLACE FOR SPORT TOURISM

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World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2011 Caribbean & Central America Gala Ceremony Montego Bay, Jamaica • 15 January 2011 Middle East Gala Ceremony Armani Hotel Dubai, UAE • 2 May 2011 North America Gala Ceremony San Francisco, USA • 21 May 2011 Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt • 23 June 2011 Europe Gala Ceremony Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa Antalya, Turkey • 2 September 2011 Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony Bangkok, Thailand • 29 September 2011 South America Gala Ceremony Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • 20 October 2011 Grand Final Gala Ceremony London, United Kingdom • 6 November 2011

worldtravelawards.com email: awards@worldtravelawards.com

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Winners The Future of Travel

worldtravelawards.com

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

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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 Dubai Durban Riviera Maya Obidos London

2010 Dubai Johannesburg Antalya Delhi Jamaica London

2006 Turks and Caicos

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“ 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

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EDMUND BARTLETT

Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism The Hon. Edmund Bartlett is Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism, and one of the pioneers of “New Tourism”.

In May, he was made a Commander of Number of the Order of Civil Merit by Spain for his pivotal role in facilitating several multi-billion dollar investments in Jamaica’s tourism sector.

Last year was a particularly good one for you.

You were voted Man of the Year by the Jamaica Observer, and Jamaica picked up 16 awards at the World Travel Awards. How is 2010 shaping up?

Yes, we were delighted with the results at the World Travel Awards, where Jamaica was named top Caribbean destination and Jamaica Tourist Board was named top Caribbean tourist board, as well as many other accolades.

2009 visitor numbers were particularly strong.

Jamaica welcomed more than 1.83 million stopover visitors – a rise of 3.6 percent on the previous year. This was a bigger rise than any other Caribbean island and is an even more significant achievement given the global economy and the fact that there was a fall in outbound travel.

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visitors up 9.2 percent for the first quarter. We then suffered from the volcanic ash crisis, as most destinations did – particularly since many of Jamaica’s European visitors fly via the UK. We’re content with arrivals at present, although I’m sure everyone in the travel industry will agree that there are many challenges still to overcome in terms of the economy and consumer confidence.

That is why we are committed to remaining competitive and proactive in marketing the destination to travellers.

Jamaica’s tourism figures have rebounded swiftly following the civil unrest in May. What factors have led to such a sharp recovery?

It’s quite a common perception that Jamaica’s tourism suffered cancellations in May, but in fact for tour operators and airlines it was business as usual.

Everyone recognised that the unrest was localised

to a small part of Kingston – several hours away from the main tourist areas – so holidaymakers were largely unaffected.

Since then, the tourist board has continued to drive bookings by promoting Jamaica’s value for money and diversity of holiday experiences.

Ultimately, we’re fortunate that, in Jamaica, we have an island with incredible natural beauty, convenient air access, superior hotel product, and a huge range of fantastic attractions that holidaymakers want to continue to enjoy.

What is your view on the role of marketing in assisting in recovery after a crisis?

Strategic marketing is essential to assist recovery after any crisis, whether it be due to human action or a natural disaster. It is important to keep the lines of communication open with both the trade and

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consumers to illustrate a return to – or a continuation of – normality.

as well as our upgraded and expanded tourism product.

airports as well as smaller airports which can receive smaller aircraft.

It is also important to show support to all industry partners who may have also been affected by that crisis which is why Jamaica Tourist Board undertakes a lot of co-operative marketing.

Next year is the 30th anniversary of Bob Marley’s death, so expect to see various activities themed around that. And of course, in the longer term, we are also planning for the 50th anniversary of Jamaica’s Independence in 2012, which will take place in the run-up to the London Olympics.

There is certainly the demand for increased regional services within the Caribbean and hopefully this is an area that can develop and grow again in the near future.

What are you hoping to achieve at this year’s WTM? Jamaica Tourist Board is looking to develop relationships with new trade partners as well as cement those with existing stakeholders such as hoteliers, tour operators and airlines.

We are being joined by a number of stand partners from a variety of tourism businesses and collectively, we are there to promote Jamaica’s positive attributes and drive business.

Ultimately, we are at World Travel Market to show that Jamaica is a small island with a big future. We are a major player in long-haul tourism.

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

At present, Jamaica Tourist Board is undertaking a sales blitz across the UK and Europe with a number of key partners.

In January, Jamaica will host Caribbean Marketplace – the Caribbean’s largest tourism marketing event. This will be the first major event held at the new Montego Bay Convention Centre, so it is an excellent opportunity to show Jamaica’s capacity for hosting international conferences,

Airlift to Jamaica has improved considerably this year. How is this reshaping Jamaica’s tourism economy and how you operate?

Direct airlift is absolutely vital to Jamaica’s tourism economy. It can be said that it is the single biggest contributor to our recent success in visitor numbers.

We are continually working with the major airlines to maintain this air access and encourage positive growth in that area.

Changes to the UK’s Air Passenger Duty remain a key concern to us and I recently joined a delegation of Caribbean tourism ministers which visited Britain to discuss this with the new government. We would like reassurance that we will be included in the consultative process as changes to APD are considered, as this issue threatens to have a severe impact on travel to the region.

How has the market in Jamaica changed over the past 12 months?

The growing commoditization of tourism has created a global competitiveness which challenges our historic understanding of the industry. Jamaica, which previously had an enclave industry perspective, suddenly found it has to compete in a global marketplace on price point and value.

Thus we were challenged to create a more inclusive strategy, characterized by tactical alliances between the government, the private sector and the communities. Such a partnership I believe will provide a greater voice for local entrepreneurs, small and medium enterprises as well as international investors.

In Jamaica, we have been using this new architecture to help the destination keep its competitive edge in the global marketplace as well as maintain its leadership position in the industry.

Do you see air lift improvements leading to a growth in multi-destination trips to the Caribbean, with Jamaica serving as the hub?

Yes, of course. Jamaica is in an ideal situation to serve as a Caribbean hub, with two international

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You’ve said you would like Jamaica to evolve as a recession-proof destination. What initiatives and strategies are you deploying to help shape that?

Our product is put against all other products in the world, in the same way that our bananas had to compete with all the other bananas in the world. We have had to reconfigure our business model to deal with these new realities. Mexico and Dubai for example, have already begun to retrofit their tourism economies, because they have found that their customers want the same quality for less. The challenge we face is how to make the adjustment.

This is especially significant in our situation, as we need to find ways of doing more with less. This calls for a reconfiguration of the business model, more efficient operations, better utilization of energy, better use of human capital and investments in green technologies. It calls for moving into nontraditional markets and driving legacy markets more strategically. It calls for utilizing information technology and social marketing. It calls for a new look at community tourism and SMEs. In addition, there is a growing inter-dependence in the industry. Distributors like travel agents, and suppliers like airlines, are all linked. It has become necessary for destinations to participate in multidestination marketing efforts. For example, we are currently working on a relationship between ourselves and Cuba and we are collaborating with travel agencies and tour operators to bring more

visitors to Jamaica. We have structured an arrangement with TUI and other global travel power houses to deliver visitors over the next three years.

The demands of today’s traveller, the cut backs on discretionary spending, and increased competition, force us to be more innovative and to work smarter, ensuring we get our piece of the tourism pie.

What is your definition of “New Tourism”?

New Tourism is our response to the fact that the markets have changed and that we need a new strategy for moving forward. It is about contending with: new markets, new technologies, new investments, new partnerships and new communication processes.

Jamaica hosted the World Travel Awards The Americas Ceremony in October. What was the importance of hosting such a prestigious event and how will it help the island’s tourism?

Jamaica’s motto is ‘Once you go, you know’, so any opportunity we have to bring visitors – particularly first timers – to the island is fantastic. The World Travel Awards allows Jamaica to showcase its tourism product to the full and we hope other travel industry professionals will return to their own markets inspired by what they’ve seen.

The New Tourism, has people at its core, and offers each and every citizen an opportunity to benefit from this industry. As tourism is one of the most important drivers of our economies, the growth and success of this industry are critical to shaping the quality of life now and the stability of our future.

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

One of the most important initiatives that I have undertaken is the establishment of the Tourism Task Force to look at Tourism Linkages with the other sectors of the economy. Measuring the economic contribution of tourism, measuring the linkages between tourism and these sectors, is essential for planning the sustainable development of the sector and enhancing its role and impact within the wider Jamaican economy.

As such we have undertaken to implement a number of strategies to improve our competitive edge. These initiatives recognise that tourism is an important driver of our economy and that it is time to treat tourism as a national priority. Every Jamaican has a role to play if we are to improve the product, modernize and diversify the sector, sustain investment and maximize earnings.

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Back in business Business travel has suffered a couple of torrid years, but 2010 is shaping up well, led by resurgent air and car rental sectors, as Adam Coulter explains.

If 2009 was all about staying afloat – whether you were an airline, a travel management company, hotel or car rental company – this year has been all about recovery, albeit slow and steady.

BA also announced a number of new routes including a five times per week business service to Tokyo’s Haneda Airport which will start next February.

All segments of the UK’s business travel sector showed signs of positive growth for the first half of the year, according to the Guild of Travel Management Companies (GTMC) quarterly transaction survey.

And in October, BA formalised its trilateral tie-up with American Airlines and Iberia, announcing four new routes as a result of the agreement.

The survey showed that air travel, hotel bookings, rail travel, and car rental were all ahead of the equivalent period in 2009.

Overall, business travel transactions in all sectors had a combined increase of 12 percent over 2009, although sales performance has yet to reach 2008 levels.

These are: New York JFK-Budapest and ChicagoHelsinki (operated by American), London Heathrow-San Diego (operated by British Airways) and Madrid-Los Angeles (operated by Iberia).

United Airlines and Continental announced their merger earlier this year, creating the world’s largest airline. Joint flyer benefits will be announced later this year.

Car Rental Air Air travel was the star performer after a bleak 2009, up 13 percent compared to the same period last year. Which was a real surprise considering the enormous disruption at the start of the year from the ash crisis and the British Airways’ strikes.

In fact, the recovery has been largely led by BA, whose gamble in launching an all-business service from London City Airport to New York and investing in upgrading its business class appears to have paid off.

BA’s traffic and capacity statistics for September show that passenger load factors were up 0.9 points compared to September 2009, to 82.4 per cent.

Traffic comprised a 4.3 percent increase in premium traffic and a 0.7 percent increase in non-premium traffic to 3.05m.

A statement from the carrier said: “Market conditions remain as previously anticipated, with strong yield performance in both premium and non-premium cabins.”

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The ash crisis had a positive effect on the car rental market – a poor performer in recent years – with an 11 percent increase in transactions compared to the same period in 2009.

However, the increase in the number of transactions has been tempered by the fact that renters are choosing to hire compact and economy vehicles rather than premium cars.

A survey by Avis showed that 72 percent of Avis’ UK corporate customers hired compact and economy vehicles during the first half of 2010.

The results of the Avis Business Travel Index show that despite emerging signs of recovery in the economy, businesses are still spending cautiously when it comes to travel.

Furthermore, 59 percent of business customers rented on a daily basis, with 8 percent opting for a long-term rental.

These latest findings indicate that despite emerging signs of recovery in the economy, businesses are still spending cautiously when it comes to travel.

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The index also revealed that 51 percent of rentals are from ‘downtown’ or non-airport locations.

Anthony Ainsworth, UK sales director, said: “The recession has had a huge influence in the way our corporate customers are operating.

“A prime example is the increase in downtown pickups and daily car rental, which tells us businesses, particularly in the SME market, are recognising the value of face-to-face business with their customers.”

The Avis report also shows that companies are continuing to focus on their home markets with domestic rentals up 3 percent year-on year.

Rail Rail travel meanwhile continued to perform well for the first half of 2010 with an increase in bookings

by GTMC members by 11 percent.

However indications are that the growth in transactions has not been matched by a growth in revenues with a general move out of first class.

And the first signs of the squeeze on the public sector are beginning to be felt, with a sharp reduction in government spend, which will likely be further squeezed following the spending review in October.

Hotels Hotel bookings also showed signs of recovery after a tough 2009, with a 7 percent year-on-year increase up until the end of June, compared to the same period last year.

And according to the latest figures from PKF Hotel Consultancy Services, this recovery continued in the summer.

Average room rate in London rose by 3.8 percent, to £103.49 in August from £99.74 in August 2009, while occupancy was up 0.2 percent at 81.9 percent from 81.6 percent.

As a result, revenue per avai lable room (revPAR) or rooms yield improved by 4 percent to £84.71.

Regional hotels also saw rates, occupancy and revPAR increase year-on-year.

Average regional room rate grew by 0.1 percent to £59.92 and occupancy by 2.6 percent to 73.5 percent from 71.5 percent, which helped lift revPAR by 2.7 percent to £44.01.

Robert Barnard, partner for hotel consultancy services at PKF, said: “The figures for August suggest demand continues to strengthen compared to 2009 and therefore the outlook is more positive as a result.

Anne Godfrey, chief executive, GTMC said: “The survey of transactions by GTMC members shows clearly that the recovery, no matter how fragile, is underway for UK PLC. “The results are particularly encouraging when you factor in the truly exceptional items of the ash crisis and industrial action.”

Godfrey added that the real test would be whether these results are sustainable.

The good news is that according to the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) they are.

Members – who met in Berlin at their annual Global Education Conference in October – are anticipating an increase in business travel spend next year.

ACTE’s 2011 Travel Spend Survey revealed 64 percent of respondents from Europe and 70 percent from the US expect spend to rise year-on-year.

Most think the growth will be driven by increased travel frequency and not just higher costs, with 66 percent of European ACTE members and 60 percent of those in the US expecting their company’s employees will travel more in 2011 than in the two previous years of the recession.

Over half of the European member companies questioned expected their travel spend to rise by 515 percent next year. This compares to 43 percent of those in the US, where 22 percent predicted an increase of 1-5 percent, and 5.4 percent a rise of 20 percent or more.

Chris Crowley, ACTE president, said: “Business travel has always been held up as a key performance indicator of any economy and the findings from the ACTE survey of members shows clearly that economic performance may well move ahead, across the globe, next year.”

Meetings Even the Meetings sector, which suffered deeply last year, is showing strong signs of recovery.

The results of a survey carried out by the International Congress & Convention Association and IMEX revealed that 31 percent of international association buyers expect higher attendance at their events, with 46 percent saying there had been no change.

Again, spend remained constant or down, with just 20 percent reporting higher income from sponsors and exhibitors, and the rest showing no change or falls (40 percent).

Age of austerity Yet despite the optimism, there is no doubt that the business travel landscape has changed profoundly and possibly permanently since the economic meltdown in late 2008.

A new survey by American Express Business Travel shows that 78 percent of staff in medium-sized companies are more conscious of their own business travel costs than before the recession.

The study, of more than 500 business executives, showed that 62 percent stated they are motivated to cut the ir own business travel expenses as a result of the travel habits of their peers.

Almost half (46 percent) of staff said their bosses have also taken to this new age of austerity, downgrading flights from business class, taking the train rather than flying, and even publishing their expenses to employees.

More than four out of ten firms have asked staff for their ideas on how they could save business travel costs and improve efficiencies.

And when asked how long this new austerity will last, a third of managing directors, financial decision-makers and procurement teams believe it will be for the next two years.

Nearly a quarter of respondents believe the measures now in place will continue to be the blueprint for future habits.

Just 12 percent of respondents believe the age of austerity business travel policies will come to an end in a year and 19 percent see it continuing for three years.

“Many UK employees and employers are clearly working together to achieve return on investment for their travel, and have developed a much more frugal mindset to help them through the downturn,” said Michael Rouse, vice president & general manager, head of client acquisitions, American Express Business Travel EMEA. The Amex results reflect those of the GTMC’s, with 54 percent of travellers still travelling the same amount as pre-2008, and 4 percent are now travelling more – but downgrading.

Thirty-one per cent of respondents said they increasingly took public transport, a quarter opted to fly in premium economy rather than business and 18 percent use high-speed rail.

Most predicted a more positive 2011, with a third of associations expecting to hold more meetings next year, and just 8 percent indicating they would hold fewer.

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Armani and Emaar redefine hospitality When the world’s first Armani Hotel opened in Dubai on 27 April 2010, it ushered in a new dawn for luxury hospitality, not just in the Middle East but worldwide.

Oozing Armani Casa’s trademark minimalist opulence, the exquisite property marked a distinct separation from the ostentatious excess of other über-luxurious rivals.

Its landmark location inside the iconic Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, provides the perfect compliment to this polished palace, and reflects the close relationship between Armani and the iconic developer, Emaar Properties.

The rooms and suites are breathtakingly beautiful, with every detail bearing the fashion maestro’s design genius. Practicality and elegance, the cornerstones of Armani’s signature style, combine with precious materials and sophisticated finishes to create highly personalised spaces.

On opening the hotel instantly became the most exclusive hospitality destination in the city and set a

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new benchmark for those pushing the boundaries of hospitality design.

Occupying floors concourse to 8 and levels 38 and 39 of Burj Khalifa, the hotel features 160 luxurious guest rooms and suites, eight innovative restaurants, exclusive retail outlets and a serene spa.

The sweeping views of Dubai’s futuristic cityscape complemented the harmonious and stylish lifestyle environment.

Every aspect of the hotel’s design and service offerings has been designed and planned by Giorgio Armani himself, from the bespoke furnishings to restaurant menus and in-room amenities.

Based on the philosophy that travel is as much an

emotional journey as a physical one, the Armani Hotel assigns each hotel guest a personal Lifestyle Manager who serves as a personal contact and host from the moment they make a reservation to the time they check out and even beyond.

At the opening, Giorgio Armani said: “It has long been my dream to have a hotel in which I myself would like to stay and entertain family and friends, where the Armani aesthetic is combined with Italian-style warmth and hospitality. I am thrilled to open the doors of the Armani Hotel Dubai and invite my guests in to experience my world.”

Emaar and Armani – a unique partnership Integral to the success of the Armani Hotel has been the close collaboration between Giorgio Armani S.p.A. and Emaar Properties PJSC.

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Established in 2005, the objective of the partnership has been to develop, own and operate an exclusive collection of hotels, resorts and residences in the world’s most important cities and holiday destinations.

Using the flagship Dubai property as a template, Armani Hotels & Resorts plans to open at least ten hotels and resorts within the next ten years.

Burj Khalifa.

bathing as well as private and social relaxation.

He added: “Downtown Dubai is our flagship project, and is regarded as one the most prestigious square kilometres on earth with incredible choices in entertainment, shopping, commercial and leisure outlets. The jewel at the centre of this neighbourhood is Burj Khalifa, and Armani Hotel Dubai is a sterling value addition to the world’s tallest building.”

The hotel also boasts three exclusive retail outlets: Armani/Galleria; a haute couture boutique offering fashion accessories previously available by invitation only – and the first and only place in Dubai where the Armani Prive collection is showcased; Armani/Dolci, a luxurious confectionary offering a sweet selection of biscuits, small savouries and more; and Armani/Fiori, a floral boutique offering exquisite fresh flower arrangements and exclusively-designed vases by Giorgio Armani that follow the fluid shapes of the flowers themselves.

The second hotel, located in Milan, is still on sch edule to open in mid-2011, whilst Paris is tipped to become home to the third.

A world of culinary choices

Other properties underway include the first Armani Resort, planned for Marrakech, and the first Armani Residences Villas in Marassi, Egypt. Further Armani hotels, resorts and residences will open in key markets such as New York, Tokyo, Shanghai and London.

The Armani Hotel in Burj Khalifa features eight restaurants offering a myriad of world cuisines ranging from Japanese and Indian to Mediterranean and, of course, authentic fine-dining Italian. The impressive culinary options reflect the cosmopolitan nature of the city.

Mohamed Alabbar, Chairman, Emaar Properties, said: “Armani Hotel Dubai is a true celebration of superior aesthetics and world-class project development competencies. The hotel will be a referral point for luxury hospitality projects in the future, and brings global attention to Dubai and to

The hotel’s vast leisure and entertainment options also include the first in-hotel Armani/SPA in the world. The spa embodies the Armani lifestyle and design philosophies where each unique space provides the context for personalized individual treatments, personal fitness, sequential thermal

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FOCUS ON

Asia & Australasia It is one of the truisms of tourism that in times of austerity people holiday closer to home. In Asia, the current surge in regional and domestic travel is spearheading the global tourism recovery.

According to the United Nation’s World Tourist Barometer, international tourist arrivals in Asia and the Pacific grew a phenomenal 14 percent in the first half of the year.

This compares with a modest 2 percent for Europe, whilst the Americas and Africa fared better at 7 percent each. The only region to eclipse Asia was the Middle East, which notched up a heady 20 percent increase.

Within Asia, virtually a ll nations enjoyed a resurgent first half of the year, including many not only recouping the sharp losses of 2009 but returning to 2008 levels. Star performers included Sri Lanka (49 percent), Japan (36 percent), Vietnam (35 percent), Hong Kong, Macao (23 percent), Singapore (23 percent), Fiji (22 percent) and the Maldives (21 percent).

What has been particularly encouraging is how Asia has once again proved its ability to bounce back from adversity. As with previous exogenous shocks, including the Asian financial and economic crisis (1997-1998), the SARS outbreak (2003) and the tsunami (2004), the region’s tourism sector has quickly dusted itself down from the global financial meltdown of 2008-2009 and is now

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leading the world’s travel and tourism sector out of recession.

terminals, hundreds of miles of subway line and a revamp of its historic waterfront, the Bund.

The Chinese tourism miracle stalled in 2008 and 2009, following over a decade of exponential growth, but in 2010 the engine appears to be getting back on track. Driving the expansion has been a strong domestic sector as the country’s middle class continues to unlock its expenditure potential. According to some estimates, this new economic powerhouse is expected to overtake the US and European middle class in numbers by as early as 2015, whilst even the most pessimistic analysts put the year at 2025.

China should be applauded for breathing new life into the Expo concept, which had lost much of its lustre in recent years. Using a mix of groundbreaking technology and artistic flair, exhibitions varied from Saudi Arabian palm trees to Rodin sculptures from France, and a Swiss pavilion in which visitors rode up to the roof on a chairlift.

This summer’s World Expo in Shanghai typified the emergence of China’s middle earners. An estimated 70 million domestic visitors travelled from across the country to visit what has become the biggest Expo to date. Braving queues of up to six hours, they crammed through the pavilions staged by more than 240 countries and organisations from around the world.

The people’s republic has spent $4.2bn hosting the event, plus a reported $45bn overhauling the city of Shanghai in preparation – more than Beijing spent for the Olympics – with new airport

Like China, India’s vibrant domestic tourism has helped prop up two years of weak international arrivals, as the insatiable travel appetite of its burgeoning middle class drives the industry.

The Indian experience mirrors that of Japan and the US – the two biggest tourist markets in the world – where the backbone of infrastructure was built for the domestic rather than the international market.

Accor is one of the many multinationals keen to tap into the country’s domestic market. In August, the French hospitality giant unveiled plans for a €1.4bn global expansion into high-growth emerging markets, with India earmarked as the market of greatest potential.

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The Paris-based group currently has only eight hotels in India but plans to make a $150m investment in partnership with local firms to realise its goal of becoming the number one international hospitality operator in the country by 2015, with 90 properties spanning every sector from low cost to luxury.

Interestingly, chief executive Gilles Pélisson ruled out blanket emerging market expansion, with both China and Russia considered in “danger of oversupply in hotel rooms”.

The domestic surge theory also applies to Japan, although as Asia’s most developed economy it is struggling to recover from its deepest postwar recession, and lost the title of world’s secondlargest economy to China during the last quarter.

But the strength of the yen is fuelling a rise in outbound travel. According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, Japan’s travel and tourism economy is expected to emerge flat this year but pick up in 2011 and average 2.5 percent annually over the coming 10 years.

Recent government deregulation of the country’s tightly-protected air networks is already leading to a scramble by foreign airlines for a slice of the Japanese pie.

Malaysian long-haul budget airline AirAsia X is entering the Japanese market in December by launching a service between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo.

AirAsia X will be the first foreign budget airline authorised to use Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, which is now handling an expanded array of international fights following the opening of a fourth runway and a new terminal in October.

British Airways is also launching a new route from London to Haneda, and has earmarked its objective to make Japan more accessible to the UK market.

International Academy. Located on the paradise island of Phuket, the ground-breaking facility is poised to become Asia’s pre-eminent competition, training and event complex.

In September, All Nippon Airways announced plans to launch the country’s first low-cost carrier in late 2011 as demand for travel in Asia surges. The yetto-be-named airline will operate independently from ANA, and offer both international and domestic short-haul routes from Osaka.

Combining a brilliant location with world-class facilities, it is already attracting interest from respected global sporting institutions and international corporations.

Legacy carrier Japan Airlines is also considering starting a budget airline as part of its restructuring plans after filing for bankruptcy protection in January.

Elsewhere in the region, Thailand has posted an impressive rise in tourist arrivals in the first half of 2010, despite the political unrest in May. Thailand’s tourism jewel of Phuket is leading the country’s dramatic turn around. Passenger traffic through Phuket International Airport surged 28 percent in the first half of this year compared to 2009, heralding a return to levels not experienced since the boom year of 2007.

One of the other key factors in the quick recovery can be attributed to the strength of the “Amazing Thailand” brand, which reinforces the concept of ‘Thainess’ and the perception of the Kingdom as the “land of smiles”.

Down under, Australia continues to struggle to return to its pre-recession peak. Tourism remains one of the economic pillars of the nation but 25,000 jobs have been lost since the global financial crisis as traditional source markets of the UK and US shun the lure of its glorious beaches for itineraries closer to home.

However Australia is poised for a massive boost from China over the next decade. Last year, 366,000 Chinese tourists visited and spent AU$2.8 billion, whilst this year China overtook Japan to become its fourth-largest source of tourists, behind New Zealand, Britain and the US. In preparation for further growth, China’s largest airline China Southern Airlines has made a fourfold increase in direct flights to Australia. The airline hopes to capitalise on the growing wealth of China’s middle class and confidence in the stability of Australia-China relations.

Sport tourism is also playing a crucial role in the Thai revival. Bangkok plays host to Asia’s largest tennis tournament, the PTT Thailand Open, which this year featured world number one, Raphael Nadal.

In November the country welcomes the latest member to its burgeoning sports and leisure industry – the highly-anticipated Phuket

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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.

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World Travel Awards Grand Tours 2012-2014 2012 Caribbean & Central America Gala Ceremony Nassau, Bahamas • 14 January 2012 Europe Gala Ceremony Berlin, Germany • 6 March 2012 North America Gala Ceremony Los Angeles, USA • 21 April 2012 Middle East Gala Ceremony Dubai, UAE • 30 April 2012 Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony Durban, South Africa • 8 May 2012 South America Gala Ceremony Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • 18 October 2012 Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony New Delhi, India • 28 October 2012 Grand Final Gala Ceremony London, United Kingdom • 4 November 2012

2013

(20th Anniversary Year)

Caribbean & Central America Gala Ceremony Montego Bay, Jamaica • 15 January 2013 Europe Gala Ceremony Berlin, Germany • March 2013 Middle East Gala Ceremony Dubai, UAE • May 2013 Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt • May 2013 North America Gala Ceremony Las Vegas, USA • 8 June 2013 Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony Shanghai, China • 13 June 2013 South America Gala Ceremony Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • 20 October 2013 Grand Final Gala Ceremony London, United Kingdom • November 2013

2014 Caribbean & Central America Gala Ceremony San Juan, Puerto Rico • January 2014 Europe Gala Ceremony Berlin, Germany • March 2014 Middle East Gala Ceremony Dubai, UAE • May 2014 North America Gala Ceremony Orlando, USA • May 2014 Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony Durban, South Africa • May 2014 Asia & Australasia Gala Ceremony Singapore • October 2014 South America Gala Ceremony Rio de Janeiro, Brazil • October 2014 Grand Final Gala Ceremony London, United Kingdom • November 2014

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