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World Travel Awards Grand Tours 2011-2014 5 Continents, 15 Countries, 18 Cities...
World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony 2 011 Armani Hotel, Dubai, UAE 2 May 2011
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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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Oberoi unveils new destination Hot on the heels of its victory at the World Travel Awards where it was voted “Asia’s Leading Hotel Brand”, India’s Oberoi Hotels and Resorts has unveiled a new destination that will open in January 2011. The Oberoi, Gurgaon, in Delhi’s National Capital Region, is an urban sanctuary set over nine lush acres of landscaped greens and soothing water bodies. The resort also promises to offer the Oberoi’s trademark service and the best of modern amenities that led the group to do so well at the World Travel Awards 2010 Asia & Australasia Ceremony in Delhi on 14 October. The unique experience begins the moment you enter the property, up the winding driveway lined with trees, giving you a sense of a quaint hill retreat in the middle of the city. The lobby or the main reception area is set in a magnificent glass edifice, called the ‘jewel box’, which overlooks the vast reflecting pool in the centre of the hotel. To the East lies the linear residential block, deliberately designed so that each of the 202 rooms and suites enjoys panoramic views of the landscaped greens, swimming pool and reflecting pool, enhancing the visual experience. The West is flanked by the 50,000 square foot retail arcade – a haven for shopaholics. The rooms at the Oberoi Gurgaon start at an
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expansive 620 square feet, offering amongst the largest accommodation in a city hotel. Each room features a walk-in closet, a fully-equipped workstation and separate seating areas. Handpicked Indian paintings and traditional Indian silver threadwork (Zardosi) add to the contemporary elegance. But the big surprise lies in the bathrooms. Each has a large picture window offering views of the gardens or the water bodies, while letting in natural light. True to the Oberoi philosophy of luxury, the elements of space, height and light are key to the design and interiors of the rooms. The Oberoi Gurgaon boasts three suites with 22metre cantilevered private outdoor heated pools with decks. A round-the-clock butler service delivered by professionals trained under Robert Watson from The Guild of Professional English Butlers, ensures a personalized experience. The hotel has one of the largest world cuisine restaurants in the country, more like a culinary theatre, with live show kitchens offering Italian, Japanese, Chinese and Indian cuisine.
The hotel also has an exclusive indoor Cigar Lounge, the first in the country. The extensive meeting and banqueting facilities can accommodate up to 1,000 guests while the business centre is an ideal place for smaller board meetings. And if the meetings and work leave you exhausted, the Olympic size outdoor heated pool or the 24-hour spa will rejuvenate you in no time. However, if retail therapy is your thing, there are 13 international boutiques in the vast retail arcade to indulge in. Providing a magnificent setting, unrivalled facilities and gourmet dining combined with the distinctive Oberoi personalised service, The Oberoi, Gurgaon is the perfect address for business and leisure travellers who are only content with the best.
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Asia’s leader in luxury Imagine an out-of-this-world retreat, right in the middle of one of the world’s busiest cities. Just voted “Asia’s Leading Luxury Hotel” and “Asia’s Leading Hotel” for the second successive year by the World Travel Awards, Trident Gurgaon is located in the business district of Delhi’s National Capital Region, within easy distance of the new international airport. Trident Gurgaon offers all the facilities you’d expect in a business hotel, plus many you wouldn’t. Seven lush acres of gardens, domes, reflecting water bodies, courtyards and walkways lend a resort-like, serene aura. But one look at the regular guest list will throw up names like Dell’s Founder, Michael Dell, American Express Chairman, Ken Chenault and Pepsi Head honcho, Indra Nooyi. The hotel has also hosted international global boards like Fidelity and Deutsche Bank. The surprises of Trident start from the moment you enter its grand porch. The warm greeting of the waiting staff makes you wonder if they have been standing there just for you. As you are escorted under the first grand dome, a vast reflecting pool reveals itself. And if you come in the night, the serene pool turns into a dramatic theatre with water and large fire torches shooting from within. The interplay of water and fire continues inside and is a key element in the design.
The well-appointed 136 rooms and suites of the hotel are set at the rear, away from the public areas, ensuring more privacy and quiet for the guests. Each room has large picture windows that look out to the reflecting pools or the gardens and let in natural light. The rooms are all equipped with the latest amenities and elegantly furnished, keeping in mind the highest standards of comfort and convenience for the guests.
The hotel’s spa by Angsana, with trained Indonesian therapists, offers a menu that is bound to rejuvenate your senses and well being. It’s not just the design and décor, but the attention to detail in the service by the well-trained staff that makes the experience truly unique. The magical surroundings may leave you mesmerized but it’s the gracious and caring service that makes so many guests return to the Trident.
The gourmet experience at the hotel offers an allday dining restaurant called ‘Cilantro’, which has been described by leading food writers as serving the best pizzas in town. ‘Saffron’, the Indian restaurant, offers a large repertoire of culinary wonders from several regions of the country. The Japanese restaurant, Konomi makes an ideal setting for power lunches with sushi, sashimis and custom-made bento boxes, while the Bar is great for leisurely after dinner drinks.
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JAMES BERRESFORD
Visit England Launched in April 2009, VisitEngland is responsible for steering the nation’s tourism strategy. Chief Executive, James Berresford explains his strategies to raise market share.
You launched in April 2009 – how has your first year and a half in operation been? I’m delighted to say we’ve made great strides in our first year and a half. In March we launched the first Strategic Framework for Tourism in England in ten years. This was created from an intense period of collaboration with the industry and was launched with their endorsement. The key objectives of the framework are: to increase England’s share of global markets; offer visitors compelling destinations of distinction, improve visitor connectivity and spread best practise. We are currently working on action plans to address seaside resorts, rural tourism, sustainability, business tourism as well as a new national marketing strategy and an Olympics strategy. How do you work in partnership with VisitBritain to shape national tourism strategy? VisitEngland promotes England to the domestic market and to mature international markets such as Western Europe and North America. The organisation represents the various compelling destinations of England and works hand in hand with the industry to maximize the industry’s best prospects for sustained growth. We work closely with VisitBritain to maximise marketing opportunities internationally especially in the emerging markets such as the BRIC countries. We will also be working with VisitBritain to maximise the many potential benefits that the London 2012
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Olympic & Paralympic Games offer the country. How will the closure of regional development agencies change the way you operate? We are working with the Tourism Minister to provide solutions that will ensure tourism is supported throughout the country once the regional development agencies close. London has just played host to the World Travel Awards Grand Final for the second year in a row. What is the significance of hosting such a prestigious travel industry event in the capital? London has long been recognised as a fantastic host to internationally-acclaimed events. The fact that the travel industry has been celebrated in London on the eve of World Travel Market has been both timely and significant in demonstrating the global importance of this industry. London was voted “World’s Leading Destination” at the World Travel Awards 2010 Grand Final for the second year running. What do you think the city has done to win such praise from both the travel trade and the travel consumer? London is without a doubt one of the world’s most vibrant, exciting and beautiful cities, adored by both visitors and Londoners alike. Not only is the capital a captivating destination in its own right, but it acts a vital gateway to the rest of England
allowing visitors to travel out of the city centre and experience our villages, coastline, countryside and local traditions and events. It is fitting that the city to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games should be praised in this way and justly deserves the award. Sport tourism is proving a big cash cow for England. Do you have any specific policy for developing this sector? Sports tourism offers England a great opportunity. We obviously have the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games coming up but in addition to that we have a whole decade of sport ahead. England’s ability to host world-class sporting events such as the Rugby Union and Rugby League World Cups, key tennis, athletics and equestrian events and, fingers crossed, the FIFA World Cup in 2018 help to attract those visitors who will travel the world for their sport. In addition we have recently launched specific quality assessment schemes for the Premier League football stadia and racecourses around England which are tourist attractions in their own right, as well as sporting venues and provide visitors with a great day out. Which source markets offer you the greatest potential? From an international perspective, the BRIC countries offer exciting potential for us which VisitBritain focuses on on our behalf. However, last year we had our best year in terms of leisure
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tourism from the domestic market. I still believe the domestic market offers huge potential for us. Last year certainly helped to showcase England as a holiday destination to many people who wouldn’t have usually taken a break at home, and this has provided us with an excellent foundation from which to forge further growth. How do you think David Cameron’s new stance on tourism will help England? And whi ch areas of policy need improvement? It was very encouraging to see the Prime Minister give a speech on tourism within his first hundred days in office. Tourism in this country will benefit from the support of government at this level. A crucial development is that both the Prime Minister and the Tourism Minister, John Penrose, clearly understand that tourism crosses over many government departments from transport to business. The Minister is working on his tourism strategy which amongst other things will tackle issues affecting tourism across Whitehall and will be launched at the end of the year. How do you see England as a destination evolving over the next decade? I really believe that tourism in England has made great strides in terms of quality and value for
money over the past decade. We’ve seen a renaissance in domestic tourism and a renewed appreciation by Brits especially of England as a holiday destination. Tourism is a hugely important economic driver and is one of but a few sectors that if properly supported can offer real growth potential. England in particular is a remarkable destination and a real powerhouse in UK tourism. It alone represents 84 per cent of the total UK tourism value, is worth £97 billion, and supports in excess of 2 million jobs. VisitEngland launched the first Strategic Framework for Tourism in England in ten years in March. This strategy will support the industry in meeting its potential to grow 5 percent annually, over ten years, creating an additional 225,000 jobs and increasing tourism spend by £50 billion.
Which areas of improvement does the country need to make to improve market share? We have some areas around the country that offer an outstanding product however we cannot stand still. There are clearly areas that need to be improved. We’ve got to ensure that the welcome we offer is of the highest standard and consistent across the country. Which of your plans, developments and initiatives do you think have the most potential and why? The basis for our future lies within the Strategic Framework for Tourism in England. This is our blueprint for growing the industry. It has the buy-in and commitment from the industry, has been recently praised by the Tourism Minister and will ensure that the industry can meet its potential to grow 5 percent year-on-year over the next ten years.
As the tourist board for England we are committed to growing domestic and international tourism and to meeting the government’s goal to see the country rise up the league tables once again as one of the most desirable destinations in the world.
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RICHARD WHITFIELD
Jamaica’s paradise getaway Despite its status as one of the world’s legendary paradise getaways, Jamaica’s Half Moon remains determined to upgrade and develop its facilities, including constructing a new line of suites and a 68,000 square foot spa. Half Moon’s Managing Director, Richard Whitfield, shares his up-coming plans.
At ITB Berlin in April, you wanted to educate your travel partners about the continuing evolution of facilities at Half Moon. What are you hoping to achieve at WTM in November? Half Moon is a unique and dynamic product, both in its layout and amenities. As a result, our effort is always to educate and engage our partners so that they are better able to promote Half Moon to their clients. It will continue to be our mission at November’s WTM. We hope to meet with new partners and discuss with our existing partners those features and amenities we’ve added since we met them last year. How did the relaunch of your website progress? Our new website was launched in August to excellent reviews. Our new website features userfriendly interface with streaming specials and promotions to attract user attention. Real time update capability ensures that we are presenting
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the most current information on Half Moon. Our travel agents now have a simplified travel agent portal that allows them to access the latest training modules and travel agent-specific information. We also added a new booking engine with easy-to-view packages and room descriptions to streamline the booking process. Additionally, the website carries a smart phone optimised version with quick links to resort information and mobile booking capabilities.
Do you see air lift improvements leading to a growth in multi-destination trips to the Caribbean? The charter services that offer multi-destination stops in their itinerary can provide an opportunity for growth with this type of travel. However, the connections inter-island to Montego Bay are not as frequent for us to see growth from scheduled carriers in this type of multi-destination holiday.
Airlift to Jamaica has improved considerably this year. How is this reshaping your business and how you operate? Limited airlift has always been a barrier to growth for destinations such as Jamaica. With new scheduled and charter operations from the UK and Europe, the destination and resorts such as Half Moon are better poised to reap the benefits that such accessibility affords.
You have been planning a new landmark luxury villa development, The Colony at Half Moon. When do you envisage breaking ground on this? In light of the soft real estate market globally, the Colony project will resume when the market becomes buoyant and interests in investment/vacation properties regains strength.
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Have you noticed any pick up in the market over the past 12 months? It is apparent that bookings windows remain shortened, even from long-haul destinations such as the UK/Europe. Nevertheless, all indicators point to improved performance for the coming year. What trends do you see emerging in Jamaica’s tourism sector? With the new Montego Bay Convention Centre slated to open in January 2011 attracting meetings and convention business to the destination will be of even greater importance. Supported by the wellestablished resorts in close proximity to the convention centre, Jamaica will be well positioned to attract a greater share of this business. You won World Travel Awards for “Caribbean’s Leading Conference Hotel”, “Jamaica’s Leading Resort” and “Jamaica’s Leading Golf Resort” in 2009. How has this helped on a both a consumer and trade level? To be singled out as the leading conference hotel in
the Caribbean as well as Jamaica’s Leading Resort and Golf Resort is an achievement we hold in high regard. It demonstrates our commitment to deliver nothing but the best service to all our guests and affirms that our partners in the industry recognise our efforts to remain the best. You were voted “Jamaica’s Leading Golf Resort” and “Jamaica’s Leading Spa Resort” at the World Travel Awards The Americas Ceremony in October. What have you done over the past year to merit these nominations? Our mission at Half Moon is to exceed our guests’ expectations. This means continuously working to improve our product and services. Winning an award one year is not an indicator for us that we have arrived at a destination. Rather, it signals to us that we have to work even harder to demonstrate why we have earned such a designation. This year, we added an exclusive teen-activity centre, an officially licensed Spinning studio and a new authentic English pub.
Which of your plans, developments and initiatives do you think have the most potential and why? Fern Tree, The Spa at Half Moon remains one of our hallmark developments. The concept, design and attributes of Fern Tree, being a truly authentic Jamaican spa created around the holistic healing traditions and remedies of generations of Jamaicans, make Fern Tree a singular spa experience. Spa continues to grow in importance when travellers are selecting a resort. The unique experience that Fern Tree provides will help to set Half Moon apart from the competition.
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Sandals Royal Plantation
Sandals Royal Plantation
Blossoming Jamaica returns to world stage Jamaica has been among the first Caribbean destinations to truly recover from the worldwide slowdown in the tourism sector. Visitor numbers are steadily increasing, with optimism returning to the market alongside the holidaymakers. With a number of high profile projects scheduled to open ahead of the 2011 holiday season, tourism minister Ed Bartlett is also in buoyant mood. “We are 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,” he said. But just what can visitors to Jamaica expect over the coming year? New Hotels in Jamaica Among the most exciting developments in recent months has been The Palmyra - A Solís Resort & Spa. Located in the exclusive Jamaican enclave of Rose Hall in Montego Bay, the property has announced the Sabal Palm Tower, the first of its hotel and residential towers, is open and in full operation for unit owners - as well as select hotel guests. “With the completion of this milestone, The Palmyra is looking forward to sharing the Solís experience with our first guests, weddings, events and corporate meetings,” said general manager Lester Scott. According to Scott, the second tower, Silver Palm,
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will be open and fully operational by the end of 2011, providing the resort with more than 200 ocean view rooms and guest suites. As planned, all accommodations have been designed with ultra high-end features and design touches – from marble countertops in the bathrooms, to flat screen televisions in the living areas, along with Bosch appliances in the suite kitchens. Further along the north coast of the island, The Jewel Dunn’s River Beach Resort & Spa opened its doors in September 2010 after complete renovation. New room designs, improved technology and enhanced pool furniture have all been included in the work, allowing the property to regain its status as one of the leading resorts on the tropical island. Minutes from Dunn’s River Falls, The Jewel is the perfect romantic getaway for couples, honeymooners and weddings. Overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the resort is all-inclusive, and features six restaurants, five bars, two swimming pools, tennis courts, a nine-hole executive golf course, an updated fitness centre and a stunning European spa. The 250 fully refurbished rooms also offer a variety of views from mountain, to garden, to pool and sea.
The Jewel will also offer a pool concierge to pamper and surprise guests throughout the day with refreshing fruit skewers, eucalyptus-infused facial mist, and ice-cold face towels. The pool concierges will greet the guests on lounge chairs around the pools and even swim right up to guests on floats with the same refreshing service. In a slightly different sector, but no less exciting, is the Holiday Inn SunSpree Resort Montego Bay. The property is looking better than ever after an extensive refurbishment for 2010, with the décor and interiors having been refreshed and the inviting front entrance and lobby completely remodelled. The chic restaurants and bars offer tasty new treats in luxurious and idyllic surroundings just metres from the beach. The new children’s nursery is a great addition for parents who want to relax during the day, while the guest rooms have been upgraded and enhanced to feature brand new flat screen TVs. Sandals Resorts has also been making waves ahead of the winter season – dropping its Royal Plantation Collection in favour of a unified product offering. Re-launched as Sandals Resorts, the Royal Plantation properties will help the brand
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achieve its overall strategic plan to elevate the Sandals Resorts ‘Luxury Included’ experience. As founder Gordon “Butch” Stewart explained: “When we introduced the Royal Plantation brand in 2000, it allowed us to acquire properties, talent and practices that have now become part of the Sandals Resorts Luxury Included experience. “Our reasons for a second brand no longer exist. Sandals Resorts defines luxury within our company. We are confident in our product and feel now is the time to bring the family together,” he added. Sandals has also been celebrating recently, having been recognised by the World Travel Awards as a leading operator in Jamaica. Following a gala ceremony in October, the brand walked off with the title of Jamaica's Leading Resort – for Sandals Whitehouse European Village & Spa – and the prestigious prize for Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand.
Goldeneye Fleming Villa
Goldeneye
Around the Island But it is not just hotels which have been investing in Jamaica, with the cruise sector also witnessing a resurgence. At the forefront of developments is a new port terminal under construction on Jamaica’s North Coast in the historic port of Falmouth, which is due for completion at the end of 2010. The port – which has been designed to feel like an old style Caribbean town - is expecting to host the Royal Caribbean Navigator of the Seas early in 2011, while the 5,400-passenger Oasis of the Seas and Allure of the Seas will begin calling in March 2011. For the business traveller, the Montego Bay Convention Centre is set to open in January. First on the agenda is the Caribbean Marketplace, which will to attract industry experts and journalists from across the world. Hosted by the Caribbean Hotel & Tourism Association, the event will welcome top ranking
executives from a host of sectors – including hotels, attractions, destination management companies, restaurants and tourist boards – to do business in what is set to become a leading MICE destination in the Caribbean. Finally, back with hotels, Goldeneye - the exclusive resort where Ian Fleming penned 13 of his James Bond novels - is reopening after extensive refurbishment. Operated by Island Outpost, the property reopened on 10/10/10 with guests offered a new range of villas — including the threebedroom Fleming Villa. Also on offer are four other villas, specifically designed for indoor-outdoor living, and a selection of one and two-bedroom beach cottages. Dedicated fans of the destination might also like to know the villas at Goldeneye are also for sale..
The Palmyra - A Solis Resort & Spa
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FOCUS ON
Europe It’s a been a tough year for tourism across Europe, but with Germany, the economic powerhouse of the continent, firing on all cylinders again, the outlook for the likes of Spain and Greece is looking considerably rosier than 12 months ago. Whilst the burning question Europe’s tourism industry was asking last year was when we would see the green shoots of recovery, this year it has turned to which nations are emerging fastest. In the United Nation’s World Tourist Barometer, international tourist arrivals in Europe grew the slowest globally in the first half of 2010 – just 2 percent higher compared with 14 percent in Asia and the Pacific, 20 percent in the Middle East, 7 percent in Africa and 7 percent in the Americas. But within the European Union positive signs of a recovery are emerging, led by Germany, the region’s economic engine and its largest travel consumer. Germany spluttered badly during the slump in world trade. And when the Germans started reigning in their travel expenditure, popular outbound markets such as the Spanish costas and the Greek islands rapidly felt the squeeze. But the country is once again firing on all cylinders. GDP grew by 2.2 percent (an annualised rate of close to 9 percent) in the three months to the end of June, well above even the
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most optimistic of forecasts and representing its strongest since reunification almost two decades ago. The German revival is being felt across the continent. Spain, Germany’s largest outbound market, has finally turned a corner after being one of the tourism economy’s hardest hit by the global downturn. Overnight stays by international arrivals rose by 11 percent in July this year, compared to the same time in 2009, according to official figures from Spain’s National Statistics Institute. The Spanish revival was also helped by renewed confidence in the UK, its second largest source market. The country has also been seeking an unlikely ally in China. At a recent meeting between Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao, the two nations agreed to collaborate on a number of economic fronts, including tourism. Initiatives will include policies that make it easier for Chinese to obtain travel visas for travel to
Spain and other European countries. The heads noted that events such as Spain’s victory in the FIFA World Cup and the Shanghai World Expo 2010 – where the Spanish pavilion is one of the most visited – have piqued Chinese citizens’ interest in visiting. Madrid’s goal in the short term is to triple the number of 90,000 Chinese tourists who visit Spain each year. Zapatero said he was working on a new plan that promotes Spanish cultural and ecotourism destinations rather than the traditional model of sun, sea and sand. For now, Spain ranks behind France, Germany and Britain as a favoured destination for Chinese travellers heading to Europe, though the Iberian nation is the world’s number two tourist destination overall. Meanwhile, Spain’s great European tourism rival, France, has been attempting to woo the Arabian tourism dollar and encourage strengthening political, economic and cultural ties. This summer the French police deployed officers with foreignlanguage skills – including Arabic – to key tourist
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locations during busy holiday periods. But it remains to be seen what impact the French government’s ban on face-covering garments in public will have on the willingness of Muslims to visit the country. The UK too is pushing hard to lure the Arabian traveller. In May VisitBritain launched a businessto-business travel trade event, Destination Britain & Ireland, in Dubai, with more than 200 key companies and travel industry specialists attending. And its efforts seem to be working. Inbound tourists from Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates rose 9 percent year-on-year in 2009, and accounted for 1.7 percent of all visitors to the UK. VisitBritain said Gulf tourists were particularly attracted to the UK by the opportunity to shop for fashion and luxury goods not available at home, and to watch Premier League football. Britain’s reputation as a safe, well-organised country, with polite, approachable people and low levels of theft were also key pulling factors. Other positive factors included Britain’s temperate climate, in contrast with the average 45ºC summers in, say, Saudi Arabia. In Greece, tourism receipts have dropped by nearly a quarter in the past two years, with strikes and civil unrest denting a sector already hit by the
global crisis. The strength of the Euro has also proved counterproductive, with Greece losing share to non-Eurozone neighbouring destinations Turkey and Croatia. Greece relies on its sun-drenched beaches and historic monuments for nearly a fifth of its economy and a recovery in tourism is crucial as the country struggles to recover from a debt crisis and its worst recession in 36 years. Spending by international tourists fell to €2.8 billion in the six months to June, down 11.9 percent year-on-year and 23.3 percent over two years, according to Greek Central Bank. Revenues were hit particularly hard in June following the death of three bank employees during anti-government protests in May, at a time when almost daily strikes were leaving tourists stranded at airports and harbours.
As our travel patterns have shifted to more adventurous pastures, mid-haul has become the new short-haul. The likes of Istanbul offer an entirely different experience yet are only an hour or two further than traditional city break European destinations. The shift to mid-haul has also sparked a boom in tourism across the country. Take Antalya – a sleepy ancient city that has been transformed into the country’s main holiday resort, complete with palm-lined boulevards, glitzy marina and summer home to affluent Germans and British. This city also epitomises what Turkey does best – by combining a rich, welcoming local culture with superb hospitality facilities, sun-kissed beaches and value for money, it has created a winning formula that now attracts visitors from the world over, come boom or bust.
It has upped value-added tax to 23 percent this year as part of an austerity drive aimed at pulling the country out of its debt crisis. But Greece appears to have turned a corner over the summer. In July tourist arrivals narrowed to 1.3 percent from a 6 percent drop in May. August arrivals came in marginally higher than last year. Whilst Greece has been one of the highest profile victims of the downturn, its neighbour Turkey has emerged as one of the stars.
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Ensure that one of your million journeys includes Airways Luxury enhances every experience in our public and private spaces. Designed exclusively for the discerning business traveller, for a super-luxury stay.
Nestled into the mountainside in its own botanical gardens, stunning views from the crystal clear waters of Bootless Bay to the majestic mountains of the Owen Stanley Ranges.
Highly secure surroundings, efficient services, exciting dining and entertainment options, state-of-art spa and health club, in-room business aids, edgy art, chic and warm.
Airways Hotel P.O Box 1942 Boroko Jackson’s Parade Jackson’s International Airport Port Moresby Papua New Guinea Tel +675 3245200 Email reservations@airways.com.pg
www.airways.com.pg
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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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