Breaking Travel News Special Edition - ITB Berlin 2019

ITB BERLIN

2019

WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS HEADED TO ABU DHABI FOR MIDDLE EAST GALA CEREMONY

World Travel Awards has revealed that its Middle East Gala Ceremony 2019 is set to take place on April 25th at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi

The park is the latest addition to Yas Island’s theme parks, joining Ferrari World Abu Dhabi and Yas Waterworld.

Attending the gala reception at Abu Dhabi’s newest tourist attraction are leading figureheads and decision-makers of the Arabian travel industry.

The red-carpet evening will form the second leg of the World Travel Awards Grand Tour 2019 – a global search for the finest travel and tourism brands in the world.

Following its opening last summer, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi became the world’s first-ever Warner Bros branded indoor theme park, and represents another milestone in Abu Dhabi’s remarkable journey to establish itself as one of the world’s leading tourist destinations.

Graham Cooke, founder, World Travel Awards, said: “We are deeply honoured to host our Middle East Gala Ceremony at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, an enthralling new addition to Abu Dhabi’s incredible roster of tourist offerings.

delighted and honoured to welcome the prestigious World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi for the first time this year. The choice of our Park as host for this coveted industry event is a testament to the growing appeal of theme parks within the leisure and entertainment sector in the region. We look forward to bringing together some of the world’s leading travel industry professionals and organizations for an evening full of many successes and celebrations.”

He added: “WTA has maintained its position as the industry leader for the past 26 years, consistently proving its value as the global benchmark for acknowledging excellence in travel and tourism. I greatly look forward to welcoming the most senior decision-makers of the Arabian travel industry for what promises to be a most memorable evening at this phenomenal new attraction.”

World Travel Awards was established in 1993 to acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.

Don Strickler, general manager, Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, said: “We are

Find out more on the official website at www.worldtravelawards.com.

BERKELEY SQUARE HOUSE, BERKELEY SQUARE, LONDON, W1J 6BD, UNITED KINGDOM Tel +44 (0) 20 7925 0000 www.breakingtravelnews.com To subscribe to the free daily newsletter subscribe@breakingtravelnews.com or sign up via the website EDITOR (editorial) Christopher O’Toole editor@breakingtravelnews.com FEATURES EDITOR Rebecca Cohen

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As the one million square metre, experience-packed, JA The Resort in Jebel Ali prepares to add a third hotel to the area, the original and much-loved JA Beach Hotel will also undergo an extensive makeover and refurbishment, ensuring all three properties in JA The Resort compete with a unique style and proposition.

An intrinsic landmark in the history of Dubai’s rapid development, the JA Beach Hotel, once known as the Jebel Ali Beach Hotel, was one of the first hotels built in the city. In the late 1970s, sheikh Rashid Bin Mohammed Al Maktoum had an ambitious vision for

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the UAE and wished to develop the Jebel Ali Area and Free Zone, which the Dutco Group of Companies immediately supported by building Jebel Ali Beach Hotel, which opened soon after in 1981.

The renovation plans for JA Beach Hotel include an enhanced facade with new, all-glass balconies for the rooms and suites which will further improve the panoramic sea views and effectively showcase the stunning 800 metre vista of private beach. The bedrooms will also be given a new look for 2019, with modern wood tile flooring, new beds and furniture in a fresh colour scheme of soft greys, neutrals and relaxing royal blue. All food and beverage outlets will be refurbished with new concepts to be announced in due course.

Perhaps most exciting for the many families who love to visit JA

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Beach Hotel is the fact that the CoolZone Kid’s Club will be relocated and doubled in size, offering a huge 450- metre squared area, divided into different zones for children aged four-12 years. Adjacent to the new kids’ club facility, there will also be a new wet recreation area with an interactive Splash Pad, providing children hours of fun. The four-month renovation process will take place from May to August and the hotel will re-open on September 1st.

days trips to the hotel.

We also have many loyal guests who have been coming to the hotel for 15 years or more. Though the property is still in a great condition, we have made a conscious decision to modernise it and maximize its appeal, in tandem with the opening of our third hotel JA Lake View Hotel and the many other leisure facilities we have at JA The Resort.”

JA Beach Hotel is recognised as the Middle East’s Leading Family Resort by the voters at the World Travel Awards.

William Harley-Fleming, cluster general manager of JA The Resort, commented: “JA Beach Hotel has been a landmark property for over 38-years and many people who have grown up in the UAE fondly remember

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T e best resort h I ’ve ever seen, the next one I want to see again MARK

THE HOLIDAY THAT WINS YOU There’s no place like this on earth, but rather in the hearts of who, every year, come to fall in love with Bravo Andilana Beach on the island of Nosy Be, Madagascar. A natural paradise amazingly managed with the best Italian hospitality and cooking, now the resort has a good more reason to receive so many prestigious awards and to rank among the best in the world: Bravo Special Academy, exclusive experiences that will make your holidays not only unforgettable but properly unique - even if you’ll come back to Andilana one hundred times, as you’ll surely want to do.

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LARGEST EVER FLEET RENEWAL UNDERWAY AT DELTA AIR LINES

Over the next three years the carrier will take delivery of 222 planes, with a further 108 slated to arrive in the following years – some 330 in total

As the first Airbus A220s enter service in the United States, Delta Air Lines has begun the next stage of its largest ever fleet renewal. Over the past decade the Atlanta-based carrier has recovered from near bankruptcy to become the industry leader in the United States. Having rebuilt its balance sheet, Delta is now building for the future.

Speaking to Breaking Travel News in London, Nadia Clinton, Delta country manager for the UK & Ireland, explained: “This is one of the biggest ever investments at Delta Air Lines and everything is designed to enhance the customer experience. This was always the plan, that Delta would

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renew its fleet at this stage, as well as retrofitting the existing aircraft we have.”

This year alone Delta will welcome 24 Airbus A220-100s - as the former Bombardier C Series project finally takes to the skies in the United States. The new aircraft will initially be used on routes from New York LaGuardia to Dallas and Boston.

“The launch of the Airbus A220 has been very exciting for us – the feedback has been great,” adds Clinton.

“The oversized bins on board are great for our passengers, as well as the larger windows, the ambient lighting and the configuration is a real bonus.

The plane only has one middle seat, in a two and three configuration – and I think that will be a big part of its success. Although it is a narrow body aircraft, it feels larger and roomier for passengers.”

Delta will also welcome 32 Airbus A321-200, four Airbus A330-900neo, two Airbus A350-900, 18 Boeing B-737-900ER and seven Bombardier CRJ-900 jets to its fleet this year. In total, 87 new planes will be welcomed, the largest number in the history of the carrier.

Delta Air Lines is considered North America’s Leading Airline Brand by voters at the World Travel Awards.

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ALL THE LATEST NEWS FROM BREAKING TRAVEL NEWS AT ITB BERLIN 2019

Coast reinforces the company’s interest and commitment to offering passengers a variety of options to the US.

Etihad Airways will increase its flights from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow, from three to (up to) four daily services, to meet peak demand during the month of April.

Commencing April 5th, the flights will be operated by a two-class Boeing 787-9, configured with 299 seats.

The increase in service coincides with Etihad Holidays launch of its best ever holiday offer from the UK to Abu Dhabi.

James Harrison, general manager for Etihad Airways in the United Kingdom & Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to announce more flights to London during April, in response to increased demand in

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the lead up to and post the Easter holidays. This is a busy travel time for families looking to enjoy the extended school holiday. This extra service will allow our guests more choice and flexibility with their travel plans.”

Wednesdays and Fridays) with the flight departing from Lisbon at 10:00 and arriving in San Francisco at 14:40. On the return, the flight will depart San Francisco at 16.10 and arrive in Lisbon at 11.25, the following day.

These services will operate in addition to Etihad Airways’ regularly scheduled three daily Abu Dhabi to London services, which will continue to operate with Airbus A380 aircraft.

San Francisco will be the TAP’s eighth destination in North America and the third new destination for TAP in the United States next year. Chicago and Washington are also available for sale, with operation starting on June 1st and 16th respectively.

TAP AIR PORTUGAL

TAP Air Portugal will launch a new route between Lisbon and San Francisco from June 10th.

The route will operate five days a week (except for

The new San Francisco route and TAP’s first entry point into the US West

“TAP is following its expansion plan in the United States. We know that there is still a long way to go, but we are even closer to making this market one of the most relevant to TAP, along with Brazil,” commented Antonoaldo Neves, chief executive of TAP. The San Francisco route will be operated with the new Airbus A330neo and TAP will be the first airline in the world to fly this new aircraft. In the North American market, TAP had three destinations in 2015, and now has nine routes, increasing its weekly frequencies from 16 to 56. TAP has also reinforced the number of weekly flights from Porto to Newark (from two to six weekly flights).

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SANDALS MONTEGO BAY COMPLETES OVERHAUL IN CARIBBEAN

Sandals Resorts International has concluded a transformation of its flagship resort and the completely redesigned Sandals Montego Bay. “Sandals Resorts was built on the simple principle of exceeding guests’ expectations, and this especially rings true today with the complete transformation of our hallmark resort, Sandals Montego Bay,” said Gordon ‘Butch’ Stewart, chairman of Sandals Resorts. “I am very proud of how far Sandals has come since 1981, and I am very proud of where we’re going.”

Sandals Montego Bay expanded its mouth-watering culinary offerings with the openings of two new restaurants and a new bar. Butch’s Steak & Seafood provides an incredible culinary experience and takes the name of Sandals Resorts International’s founder, while Soy serves unmatched Asian cuisine in an authentic décor setting.

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The all-new Palms Bar services both restaurants and is a spot to grab an after-dinner drink. The Jerk Shack opened at Sandals Montego Bay in autumn 2018 and is known for its irresistible Jamaican cuisine – including jerk chicken, pork or sausage, roasted fish in foil, festival, roast breadfruit and roast sweet potato.

To complement its unmatched dining options, Sandals has opened its second Latitudes Overwater Bar at Sandals Montego Bay. The resort’s newest bar boasts 360° ocean views from its prime location just off the coast of the resort’s pristine whitesand beach. Guests can lounge on a hammock suspended above turquoise waters by day and enjoy sunset cocktails gathered around the intimate fire pits by night.

Serenity Wedding Chapel, elevating the resort’s wedding experience to unprecedented heights and bringing guests closer than ever to the water.

Brides and grooms looking to tie the knot can choose this unique and stunning venue featuring breath-taking panoramic water views and a signature glass floor aisle. The chapel can host up to 40 lucky guests.

More Information Sandals Montego Bay recently hosted the World Travel Awards Caribbean & North America Gala Ceremony 2019. During the prestigious event the resort was honoured with the title of Jamaica’s Leading Resort.

Another recent unveiling at Sandals Montego Bay is the Over-the-Water

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Lopesan Costa Bávaro RESORT, SPA & CASINO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

COMING SOON

It's not just a Hotel. It’s LOPESAN. lopesan.com

06-10 MARCH 2019

HALL 2.1 STAND 208

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JAMAICA TOURIST BOARD SIGNS BEAUTIFUL DESTINATIONS PARTNERSHIP

Jamaica Tourist Board has named New York-based Beautiful Destinations as its new creative advertising agency of record.

The selection follows a highly competitive agency search conducted in 2018.

The agency will be responsible for spearheading the destination’s inspired and aggressive campaign efforts, showcasing Jamaica’s distinct offerings and further driving the consistent and impressive tourism growth the island has experienced in the last decade.

As a fast growing, award-winning media company with over 15 mil-

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lion social media followers in 180 countries, Beautiful Destinations is best equipped to build upon the success of Jamaica as a top destination. Working closely with the destination’s existing partners and global agencies, the agency’s committed and talented team will drive exposure and continued growth for Jamaica across global audiences through the development of creative content, integrated initiatives and digital engagement.

“We are excited to work with Beautiful Destinations in developing and executing strategies to

further showcase Jamaica as a top Caribbean destination across diverse audiences and travellers,” said Donovan White Jamaica Tourist Board director. “Beautiful Destinations brings vast experience and an inspiring and unique perspective that makes them a perfect match to continue driving the high-demand of Jamaica and help us promote the destination in an ever-evolving landscape of travellers.”

Beautiful Destinations will begin working with the Jamaica Tourist Board immediately.

“We at Beautiful Destinations are excited to partner with the Jamaica Tourist Board to showcase Jamaica as a top Caribbean destination for travellers,” said Jeremy Jauncey, Beautiful Destinations founder. “As global storytellers, Beautiful Destinations is excited to explore, celebrate, and share the colourful narratives of Jamaica’s history, people, and culture with the world. We are honoured to be a part of the country’s story and are eager to learn more about and experience the authentic Jamaican vibe.”

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Breaking the mould

2018 World's Leading Travel Management Company

Find out why we have been named World’s Best Travel Management Company

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EUROPCAR MOBILITY GROUP TO DEMONSTRATE ITS TRANSFORMATION INTO A MULTI-BRAND GLOBAL MOBILITY PROVIDER DURING ITB BERLIN

Europcar Mobility Group has dramatically transformed over the past few years, growing faster at an international level and addressing new car rental use cases, but also by diversifying its activities beyond the historical car rental business

From a car rental specialist, the group has become a global provider of mobility solutions, offering a wide range of services: vehicles rental, chauffeur services, car-sharing and peer-to-peer car-sharing.

ITB 2019 is the occasion to showcase this unique and diversified value proposition, with a multi-brand

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booth displaying the specific customer journey of Europcar, Goldcar, InterRent, Buchbinder, Global Rent a Car and Ubeeqo - all of which are now part of the group’s portfolio.

One of the focuses of the ITB 2019 will be Future Mobility, impacted by four mega trends. Firstly,

digitisation pushes people’s desire for seamless mobility. Secondly, the line between business and leisure is blurring leading to “bleisure”. Thirdly, the phrase “sharing instead of owning” expresses a new lifestyle and focuses on the intelligent vehicle usage by people and companies. The fourth trend is

a familiar friend: customers want affordable prices, and companies try to save travel and fleet costs.

Europcar Mobility Group anticipated these trends a few years ago and is now addressing all customer mobility needs and use cases, with a wide range of services and solutions:

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network - powered by digital – has become a strong platform on a daily basis, serving 7.7 million unique customers with a coverage in more than 130 countries. This will allow Europcar Mobility Group to grow further, serving more customers and more mobility usages and needs, everywhere the group operates, leveraging its strong physical and digital platform capabilities,” added Parot. be it for one hour, one day, one week or longer, for leisure and business, whatever the budget, for short- or long-distance travel, with or without driver.

“Our customers’ expectations and needs have changed and are still rapidly evolving, and we all know now that the traditional model of owning a car isn’t fit-for-all anymore.

In this context, there is a clear need for global mobility providers, making people’s lives easier. We want to become the preferred mobility service company by offering attractive alternative solutions to vehicle ownership,” Caroline Parot, Europcar Mobility Group chief executive said.

The group’s growth strategy has been specifically addressed with a number of solutions, including Ubeeqo, European leader in round trip car-sharing, and Brunel, worldwide pro-

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vider of chauffeur services.

More recently, the group also added the solution provided by Scooty in scooter-sharing.

In addition to these urban mobility solutions, the group continues to strengthen its original vehicle rental expertise, aiming at better answering all customers’ needs whatever the budget and the usage. In 2018, this commitment was underlined by the integration of Goldcar, the low-cost car rental leader in Europe, and Buchbinder, one of the major vehicle rental leaders in Germany, strongly positioned in the light commercial vehicle rental.

its Connected Cars program, building a platform that is gathering fleet data, allowing real time fleet and vehicle management, as well as augmented customer journey, through innovative services. Currently, Europcar Mobility Group has already 35,000 connected vehicles in its fleet.

MORE INFORMATION Europcar Mobility Group is considered the World’s Leading Green Transport Solution Company by World Travel Awards.

Find out more at www. europcar.com or head over to Hall 9/123 here at ITB Berlin 2019.

“As a leading player in mobility solutions, our

Digital transformation is at the core of the group’s strategy, as digital is a key enabler for customer centricity. After the launch of the Click & Go program to fully digitalise the customer journey of the Europcar brand, Europcar Mobility Group is now investing in

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DISTRIBUTION, DATA AND DUTY OF CARE TO TOP 2019 BUSINESS TRAVEL AGENDA The biggest factor influencing business travel in 2019 will be distribution as the industry moves towards new distribution capability and hotel suppliers continue to drive direct booking channels, according to FCM Travel Solutions. Here Breaking Travel News finds out more Duty of care will also remain high on corporates’ agendas due to the ongoing risk of terrorism, natural disasters and geo-political volatility.

However, travel data will be even more critical and travel management companies will need to evolve

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as aggregators of MI from multiple booking sources to support clients effectively with traveller safety, FCM warns.

“It will no longer be sufficient for travel management companies to say that they can only track

travellers if all bookings have been made via their reservations systems. We need to be able to pull in data and bookings from other channels, even if the client has booked externally, so that we can truly support corporates with their duty of care obliga-

tions and traveller safety,” explained Jo Greenfield, UK general manager, FCM Travel Solutions. “Customers will also expect greater visibility around reporting and analytics as other data management solutions come into the market, which will

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potential reduce the role of a travel management companies as MI providers. As a travel management companies, we need to adapt and continue to evolve to address this challenge and ensure we are proactively aggregating comprehensive business intelligence.”

Greenfield added: “This is also the year when we will see a major focus on distribution as new distribution capability becomes more of a reality and travel content is more fragmented. That is why FCM is investing heavily in its travel content and new distribution capability strategy in 2019 and we will be announcing significant developments in the first quarter. Our clients need to turn to us as the experts on new distribu-

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tion capability, to guide and advise them, and ensure that new distribution capability has a positive impact on their business travel programme.”

In the UK, FCM forecasts that corporates will continue to focus on cost and return on investment on their travel programme in 2019 but not necessarily because of uncertainty around Brexit.

“There is definitely a focus on cost and clients cutting spend on internal travel, but it is hard to know if that is Brexit related. On the whole we saw clients up-trading in 2018 – in fact 17 of our top 20 UK clients up-traded by anything from five to 1,319 per cent - and we expect that trend to continue as corporates are focussing

on travel that will grow their business,” explains Greenfield. “We also foresee an increase in travel to and within Europe as companies look to outsource business functions and set up shared services in markets like Poland for example.”

FCM Travel Solutions is the flagship global travel management brand of the Flight Centre Travel Group which has expanded to become one of the world’s largest travel companies.

“Last year was a hugely successful year for FCM as our global turnover grew by 20 per cent and FCM won almost A$1 billion in new business worldwide,” added Greenfield. “Around a quarter of new multinational business was driven out

of the UK and we particularly saw growth in the fast-moving consumer goods sector. Plus, we have had a record number of major UK clients extend contracts or reappoint us following a retender process with a total spend £54.5 million.”

FCM TRAVEL SOLUTIONS

FCM is the business travel partner of choice for large national, multinational and global corporations. The company’s global network spans more than 90 countries, employing over 6,000 people.

FCM is considered the World’s Leading Travel Management Company by World Travel Awards.

Find out more on www. fcm.travel.

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DFDS STAYED STRONG IN A BUSY 2018, WITH GROWTH SET TO CONTINUE IN 2019 DFDS reported its best ever results to the stock exchange in February, despite a less stable economic and political environment. Here Breaking Travel News finds out more

Revenues at the ferry operator increased by ten per cent to €2,113 million for financial 2018. Operating profit (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) increased by 11 per cent to €402 million. At the same time, operating profit is expected to grow to €510537 million in 2019 - with the full-year benefit of BU Mediterranean included.

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At the beginning of the year, the Dutch special transport company Alphatrans became part of DFDS. In April last year the company also took a big leap forward and entered the Mediterranean Sea in quite a forceful way with the acquisition of the wellrun Turkish freight ferry company UN Ro-Ro. These two companies are the new diamonds in DFDS’ crown.

This alone would have been enough for a busy year. However, shipbuilding activities in China also reached a peak in 2018, with nine ships on order. This represents, in tonnage terms, probably the largest shipbuilding volume ever at DFDS. Last month saw the company welcoming the first of their six mega-freight ferries to the fleet. She is now underway to the

Mediterranean following the successful sea trial.

The Channel is a big and important market for DFDS: here five million passengers, one million cars and 1.2 million trucks travel between Dover-Calais and Dover-Dunkerque every year on their ferries.

A new ship, specially designed and due to enter service from 2021, will be able to carry 3,100 lane

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metres of cargo and 1,000 passengers, making it the largest of the channel ships.

“We reached a new all-time high result in 2018 and growth is set to continue in 2019 on the back of the recent expansion in the Mediterranean. Timely investments in new freight ferry capacity will support our customers’ growth, and we are also well prepared to help them through any Brexit

outcome,” said Niels Smedegaard, chief executive of DFDS. “Preparing DFDS for the future, the key drivers for growth in revenue and earnings in 2019 will be growth from Mediterranean expansion, being well-prepared for Brexit, a route network strengthened by new freight ferries, digital business projects going live and continued improvement and efficiency projects.”

MORE INFORMATION: DFDS is Northern Europe’s largest integrated shipping and logistics company, with a network of around 30 routes and 50 freight and passenger ships, generating annual revenues in excess of DKK15.7 billion. The company delivers high performance and superior reliability to more than 8,000 freight customers through shipping and port terminal services and transport and logistics solutions. In addition, it provides overnight and short sea ferry services to six million passengers per year.

Some 7,000 employees are located on ships and in offices in 20 countries.

DFDS was founded in 1866 and is headquartered in Copenhagen and listed on the Nasdaq Copenhagen stock exchange. DFDS operates a comprehensive

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passenger route network, including four routes from the UK to Europe via Dover-Dunkirk, Dover-Calais, Newhaven-Dieppe and Newcastle-Amsterdam.

It also offers routes in Scandinavia and across the Baltic Sea, including a cruise ferry service from Copenhagen to Oslo and services from Germany to Lithuania, Sweden to Lithuania and Sweden to Estonia.

DFDS has been named the World’s Leading Ferry Operator for the past eight years (2011-2018) at the World Travel Awards, while also claiming the title of Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator from 2012 onwards.

Head over to www.dfds. com to find out more or visit David Finnegan and his team at Hall 18/119 here at ITB Berlin.

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Your route to a great getaway DFDS is one of northern Europe’s largest ferry operators with 9 passenger ferry routes.

We are proud to hold the award of World’s Leading Ferry Operator 2018 and Europe’s Leading Ferry Operator 2018.

2018 World's Leading Ferry Operator

dfds.co.uk

Discover The Enchanting Ambiance of Meliá Braco Village Experience our unique village lifestyle in true Jamaican hospitality.

Set on a private white sand beach overlooking the Caribbean sea, this all-inclusive resort is only 22 km from the Historic Town of Falmouth and 52 km from the Montego Bay International Airport.

Featuring our rich historic Georgian-style architecture and surrounded by lush tropical gardens, this elegant and intimate boutique resort offers impeccable services, exquisite fine dining options and nightly live entertainment.

· Extensive private beach · Two pools and Jacuzzis · · · · · ·

Six restaurants and four bars 24 hrs in-room dining Daily activities and nightly entertainment Water sports Disco Spa and fitness center

· Adventure Park · Romance by Meliá

OMAN AIR SETS AVIATION PACE IN MIDDLE EAST Having taken the title of World’s Leading Airline - Economy Class at the World Travel Awards, we here take a look at what Oman Air has been up to as it stays ahead of the chasing pack

The UK based team of Oman Air has welcomed the appointment of a new corporate account manager and role expansion of its leisure account manager. Both moves are designed to aid plans to further develop the UK corporate market for the national carrier of the Sultanate of Oman.

Darren McCormick has been appointed as corporate account manager.

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This is a new role for Oman Air which will see McCormick developing and promoting the airline to the corporate and small and medium enterprise market. He will be based in Manchester, working alongside Oman Air’s Manchester district sales manager Feysal Nagi.

McCormick will be responsible for expanding Oman Air’s presence in the north, where the service has been in operation since

2017 providing business travellers seamless connections via Oman Air’s hub, in Muscat, to a wide range of destinations across the globe.

With MICE travel emerging as an important sub-sector of tourism for Oman, Poonam Gill-Khosa’s role as leisure account manager is being extended to incorporate MICE travel as part of her responsibilities within specialist sales.

Gill-Khosa is based in the London Oman Air office.

Poonam boasts 12 years of aviation experience having worked at Etihad Airways as group sales coordinator, reservation and ticketing agent, and sales support executive, before joining Oman Air. MALDIVES Oman Air has extended its Maldives winter programme and will now offer flights until April.

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departing Muscat International Airport to Moscow Domodedovo Airport earlier.

With a flight time of five hours and 35 minutes, WY 182 departs Moscow Domodedovo Airport at 00:20, arriving into the award-winning new passenger terminal at Muscat International Airport at 06:55.

With Oman Air operating six times a week to the destination on the new B737–MAX 8 aircraft from Muscat, passengers travelling on the double daily from London Heathrow and daily from Manchester on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner can take advantage of the quick and easy onward connections.

The extension to Oman Air’s winter timetable follows high demand after a very successful threemonth introductory period.

Kel Patel, Oman Air, county manager for the UK, said: “It is great news that Oman Air will be extending its Maldives flight to April.

The Maldives is a key destination for Oman Air

and we are delighted to be offering our travellers, particularly UK holidaymakers, the opportunity to stop over in Muscat before venturing further afield to the Maldives.”

RUSSIA Oman Air has commenced its new daily direct service between Russia and Oman, with its first flight

This new route will be serviced by Boeing 737 MAX 8 aircraft, designed to offer exceptional performance, flexibility and efficiency.

MORE INFORMATION Find out more about Oman Air at www.omanair. com or head over to Hall 2.2/204 at ITB Berlin 2019.

Malé is just three and a half hours from Oman, making it a perfect opportunity to explore the metropolitan capital of Muscat before escaping to the picturesque shores of the Maldives for some sunshine.

Well known for its beaches, blue lagoons and extensive reefs, the Maldives is an incredibly popular tourist destination with an increasing number of international visitors arriving year on year. Since reintroducing the Maldives service in October Oman Air has seen a growing trend of UK visitors travelling via the hub in Muscat on to the destination.

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PORT AUTHORITY OF JAMAICA WELCOMES SEAWALK TO PORT ROYAL DEVELOPMENT The Port Authority of Jamaica has taken a major step forward in the planned development of a cruise terminal in Port Royal after securing a floating pier for the historic site

The floating articulating pier, known as a SeaWalk, arrived in Kingston in February as preparations for the new Jamaican attraction continue. The structure received anchorage at the Port of King-

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ston and was off-loaded and secured ahead of the planned opening of the new facility next January.

The SeaWalk is a floating articulating pier that is motorised and under electronic control. It unfolds

to meet a ship which is anchored in a stationary position off the shore.

The ecological and historical environment in Port Royal (which include a sunken city, buried

artefacts and archaeological assets) is highly sensitive and protected.

As such, the Port Authority of Jamaica hope the new SeaWalk will allow the berthing of vessels in Port Royal without the dredg-

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ing and extensive infrastructural works typically required to construct a conventional system. The body noted this advantage led to the decision to use the technology in Sweden and Norway due to similar environmental sensitivities.

The use of the SeaWalk technology in Port Royal enables it to both adhere to its environmentally conscious operational practices as well as fulfil the objective of establishing Kingston as a permanent cruise port destination.

Gordon Shirley, Port Authority of Jamaica president, noted: “The acquisition of the SeaWalk is a significant investment and cost approximately US$8.5 million, a fraction

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of the estimated US$40 million that the entire Port Royal Cruise Port development will cost, inclusive of marine and land side works.”

He added: “Port Royal’s appeal and allure is due largely to its rich history and heritage which are major attractions and advantages of the town.

It has always been the Port Authority of Jamaica’s focus to ensure the preservation of the sunken city while undertaking the development of the

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cruise port and the use of the SeaWalk allows us to achieve these goals.”

Following the delivery of the SeaWalk, it is anticipated that phase one of marine works, including the construction of a new structure at the Old Cold Wharf in Port Royal, the site earmarked for the construction of the new cruise port, will be completed in April. After the completion of marine works, the installation and connection of the SeaWalk will begin and is expected to be completed by May. Land side works, which include the construction of a terminal building, ground transportation areas and other amenities, as well as subsequent phases

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of the development, are anticipated to begin in July and be completed by January next year, the Port Authority said.

To find out more about the destination head over to Hall 22A/102 here at ITB Berlin 2019 or visit www. visitjamaica.com.

William Tatham, vice president, cruise shipping and marina operations at the Port Authority, indicated that there is already keen interest in Jamaica’s newest cruise destination. “Discovery 2 of Marella Cruise Lines is already scheduled to call on January 20th next year and confirmation of other calls are imminent,” he explained.

MORE INFORMATION Jamaica was recognised as the Caribbean’s Leading Cruise Destination by the prestigious World Travel Awards earlier this year.

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Vinpearl Da Nang Resort & Villas Situated in the prime location of Non Nuoc beach, on one of the six most beautiful beaches on the planet (as voted by Forbes magazine), lays Vinpearl Da Nang Resort & Villas. Overlooking the ocean, with its back resting on the majestic Marble Mountain range, this resort is the ideal holiday destination for you.

Vietnam's Holiday Paradise www.vinpearl.com

AEROFLOT RECOGNISED AS WORLD’S LEADING AIRLINE BRAND

BY WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS Breaking Travel News here looks at what separates Aeroflot from its peers in international aviation

Always an overachiever, Aeroflot became one of the largest airlines in the world in 2017. The Russian flag-carrier officially joined the global elite, becoming one of the top 20 largest players in international aviation. But the airline is not done there. Under its newly developed Strategy 2023, Aeroflot seeks to carry 100 million passen-

gers annually by the end of the period. Instrumental to this target is the anticipated rise in international transit traffic, up from five million guests in 2017 to an anticipated ten-15 million annually over the next four years.

Linking the established markets of Europe with the growing cities of Asia

will be key to the success of this strategy. Sheremetyevo Airport in Moscow is ideally placed for transit travellers heading in either direction, giving great access to both continents and cutting down on unnecessary flying time.

And, what is good for flight times and convenience, is also good for the environment. Aeroflot also has one of the youngest fleets globally, with its planes on average just 4.1 years old – again boosting its environment credentials.

Vitaly Saveliev, chief executive of Aeroflot, said: “Today Aeroflot ranks as a leading global carrier and we continue to expand our international route network. This winter we will open new routes as well as increasing flight frequencies to popular destinations.”

He added: “We are pleased to offer travellers new in-

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ternational destinations as well as additional flights to popular tourist destinations, thus expanding travel options with Aeroflot for both business and leisure travellers.”

But it is that transfer that is the key to success.

Aeroflot has worked hard, listening to customer feedback to improve the experience at Sheremetyevo.

The facility is now Russia’s largest and most modern airport, with international standard services and amenities for all categories of passengers. Quick transfer times, speedy boarding procedures and an ever-growing capacity make the airport a great home for Aeroflot. Indeed, the carrier has now moved to the new Terminal B, with transfer passengers using an underground inter-terminal passage and automated trains running every four minutes between the north (Terminal B) and

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south (Terminals D, E, F) complexes.

CHINA In the strategic Chinese market, Aeroflot flies to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and last year signed a partnership with Alipay,

China’s most popular payment system. Aeroflot’s official website also has a Chinese-language version. Passengers receive menus in Chinese, and the in-flight entertainment system is available in Chinese. On-board announcements are made

in Chinese and the menu offers Asian specialities.

FLEET Aeroflot’s 253-strong fleet guarantees the latest cabin designs, state-of-the-art on-board equipment and immaculate cleanliness as well as superior environmental credentials.

Russia’s largest airline offers an extensive route network, embracing 152 destinations in 55 countries on the current schedule. Aeroflot’s fleet is the youngest industry-wide and comprises modern Airbus, Boeing and Sukhoi Superjet 100 aircraft.

All the wide-body fleet is Wi-Fi enabled, with the program being extended

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to A320s and A321s currently in operation. At the same time, all wide-body cabins are equipped with seat-in widescreen monitors containing multichannel video/audio programs.

LUXURY IN THE SKIES Catering is the bread and butter of Aeroflot’s award-winning service.

Menus are developed by leading chefs on the ground and all dishes are cooked using fresh ingredients in line with health-consciousness considerations. Aeroflot offers 17 special menus, including vegetarian, diet and Russian menus.

Flying with Aeroflot gives travellers the chance to sample authentic Russian

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cuisine as well as international food, including classic Asian dishes.

Aeroflot’s premium-level long-haul product is based on Boeing 777 and Airbus 330 fleet featuring 62/60inch pitch full-flat seats.

Aeroflot Comfort Class offering comprises varied inflight entertainment, personalised service and splendid on-board catering with haute-cuisine dishes, exquisite wines and signature cocktails, a la carte menu, real china/ glassware, Salvatore Ferragamo amenity kit.

The Aeroflot business class catering conjures up restaurant visit experiences. And maintains true premium-class standards even on short- and medium-haul intra-European flights, featuring wide seats, spacious aisles and exclusive catering.

In premium economy the Comfort Class-branded option is offered on Boeing B777s equipped with enhanced comfort seats, USB-ports, sockets and Thales multimedia system integrated.

Aeroflot’s economy class offering features lucrative fares and value for money as certified by global rankings and passenger reviews. The economy class cabin is designed with ergonomic principles in mind, featuring reclining seats with an up to 32inch pitch (depending on aircraft type) and providing adequate legroom and reasonable privacy.

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TECHNOLOGY Aeroflot is one of the world’s leading airlines in the digital arena, leveraging the latest tech across both its frontline service and daily operations.

Heavy investment in tech allows Aeroflot to have

new in-seat widescreen monitors containing multichannel video/audio programs in wide-body fleet cabins, and the B737 business class cabins are similarly equipped, with economy class passengers on these aircraft able

to access information and entertainment content with their mobile devices connecting via inflight Wi-Fi. In addition, on many medium-haul flights, business class passengers are offered premier tablets.

Aeroflot’s modern fleet is Wi-Fi enabled with the Lufthansa BoardConnect streaming service and the program is being extended to include mid-haul aircraft.

press tickets. Aeroflot now offers clients both IOS and Android-based mobile apps with similar functionality to desktop. In the base airport passengers can use self-service kiosks to check-in.

MORE INFORMATION Aeroflot is the national carrier of Russia. Find out more at www.aeroflot.ru/ gb-en or head over to Hall 25/128 here at ITB Berlin 2019.

The nine-language corporate website has been the biggest online store in Russia since 2014. It allows passengers not only to book and pay tickets, but also reserve accommodation, rent a car, make an insurance and medical policy and buy Aeroex-

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Beyond rare vintages

Recreating the perfect year

18/20

18.5*/20

93/100

Aug. 2017

Sept. 2017

Nov. 2017

*

“20th edition of Grand Siècle in Magnum (vintages 1999-1997-1996)”

laurentperriergrandsiecle www.grandsiecle.com

E N J O Y C H A M P A G N E L A U R E N T- P E R R I E R R E S P O N S I B LY

COX & KINGS BOOST ACCESSIBILITY IN INDIA WITH ENABLE TRAVEL

Being India’s first accessible holiday specialist, Enable Travel is addressing the needs of the inbound and domestic wheelchair bound, vision and speech impaired and deaf traveller, something that has not been done before at such a scale. Here Breaking Travel News discovers more

Enable Travel is creating a segment for people with disabilities to promote independent living and participation in all aspects of life in an inclusive society. Curated by the disabled, for the disabled, what makes the itineraries unique is that it a consolidation of the knowledge, experiences, challenges and the determination of the disabled people

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who have developed this framework.

While travel has become a way of life for most Indians, the need to explore the travel interests and aspirations of those with disabilities has often been neglected. Various disabling barriers discourage disabled people from realising their travel dreams and leave them with very

few travel opportunities. In light of this, Enable Travel was conceived to enable people with disabilities across mobility (wheelchairs), hearing, speech and vision impairment, embrace both, their disabilities and abilities, and live with the same freedom, choice, and dignity as able-bodied people.

The core idea has been to create a seamless travel experience for people with disabilities, at the same time changing people’s perception towards the idea of disability.

To do so, Enable Travel introduced the concept of #CanDo to instil a positive attitude that everything in life is possible, if you only believe and tell yourself you can do. The CanDo spirit has been advocated strongly by industry experts, social media influencers, media and Enable Travel expert panel

to inspire and encourage people with disabilities to travel. To initiate conversations and connect with the target audience, Enable Travel used various online and offline mediums to motivate disabled people to break barriers and travel. #CanDo which is the core messaging of the product was conceived to bring about a positive impact among the target audience.

Apart from changing mind-sets, Enable Travel is working with various partners across different states in India to make the available infrastructure accessible. With an aim to make Goa a fully accessible destination and address different mobility issues of tourists, Enable Travel recently partnered with Ezy Mov, India’s first wheelchair taxi service, to provide accessible guided tours in the city.

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To encourage more disabled people to attend and celebrate one of the country’s biggest annual festivals, the four-day Goa Carnival has been made accessible to all for the first time this year. Enable Travel, along with Ezy Mov, and DRAG (Disability Rights Association of

Goa), have come together to improve the level of accessibility and inclusion in the festivities. For the first time, an accessible float, comprising of disabled people and mobility-restricted elderly dressed in innovative costumes and placards championing the cause of inclusivity will

be part of the festivities.

Enable Travel has specially crafted accessible packages for the festival to cater to the wheel chair bound.

Starting with 14 destinations in 2017, the brand is today present across 220 or more destinations across domestic and international locations.

MORE INFORMATION Cox & Kings, longest established travel company in the world, has seen a remarkable journey since its inception by Richard Cox, colonel of the First Foot Guards (Grenadier Guards), in May 1758, unfolding the unexplored treasures of the Indian subcontinent. From taking cautious steps in unknown terrain to becom-

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ing the subcontinent’s one-stop travel solutions provider, Cox & Kings has witnessed astonishing stories of enterprise and numerous creative associations. Driven by its undying spirit of adventure, the visionary genius of its ingenious people and the eagerness to be the trendsetter make Cox & Kings a unique and unrivalled travel enterprise as it celebrates 260 glorious years.

The company was last year recognised as Asia’s Leading Luxury Tour Operator by voters at the World Travel Awards.

Find out more at www.coxandkingsinbound.com or head over to Hall 5.2B/233 here at ITB Berlin 2019.

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INTERCONTINENTAL SAIGON TAKES TOP WORLD TRAVEL AWARDS TITLE

Taking the prestigious title of Vietnam’s Leading Hotel at the World Travel Awards, we here look at what separates this one-of-a-kind property from its peers

As the luxury landmark in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City’s buzzing Central Business District, InterContinental Saigon Hotel & Residences is the most iconic historical destination in the city – comparable to Notre Dame Cathedral. Saigon Opera House is just a few steps away. Here guests can celebrate Saigon’s multicultural roots, giving leisure

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and business travellers a look at the French colonial buildings set alongside sleek, modern skyscrapers, all interspersed with vibrant Vietnamese culture.

InterContinental Saigon Hotel & Residences has been proven to be the stylish choice for international business leaders and discerning travellers who value classic elegance

with a contemporary spirit.

A calm refuge in a buzzing and vibrant metropolis, InterContinental Saigon Hotel’s 305 beautifully furnished guest rooms have been designed to ensure a serene experience.

Guests can take their pick of various unique options tailor-made to give each and every one a travel experience mixing au-

thentic local flavour with refined luxury. Lavish yet understated, Club InterContinental Suites boast a living room, bedroom and expansive bathroom, all featuring a stunning view of lively Saigon. Besides the spacious rooms, complimentary evening cocktails and afternoon tea at Club InterContinental Lounge, as well as daily breakfasts, are included in

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the privileged Club InterContinental experience.

A world of culinary delights awaits the refined gourmand at InterContinental Saigon Hotel & Residences. Dining options include exquisite tastes of Cantonese and Peking cuisine at Yu Chu and the à la carte all-day dining experience of Market 39, which will delight all taste buds at all hours of the day.

Or, for business travellers, experience top-of-theclass conferences with InterContinental Saigon.

The central location in the heart of buzzing District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, and multiple meeting rooms and conference halls are ready to be moulded to unique specifications. Here you can set the stage for a memorable event. Greet guests in a large foyer flooded with natural light, and give presentations in the remarkable pillar-less ballroom, open for up to

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720 people. Alongside a dedicated team of event planners are multiple event venues and spaces for smaller functions, suitable for all business purposes.

Finally, explore recreation for every style and fitness level in the very centre of Saigon. To get your daily water time in, visit the outdoor pool on the third floor of InterContinental Saigon, perfect for athletic laps or leisurely dips. Just metres away, work up a

sweat at the gym, fully stocked with the best and most up-to-date exercise equipment for everything from a cardio blast to a muscle-building session.

SAIGON A city both alive with the spirit of the future yet established proudly in tradition, Ho Chi Minh City, fondly called Saigon, is a thriving metropolis of innovation. As visitors explore the busy streets and wind the city’s alleyways, an endless array of activ-

ities becomes available, from cultural and historical museums to international restaurants and entertainment hot spots.

Modern skyscrapers rest next to French colonial restored mansions, creating a singular backdrop for an optimistic society.

A true city on the rise, Saigon’s buzzing excitement and sleepless energy is ready to sweep away vacationers and business travellers alike.

MORE INFORMATION Find out more about InterContinental Saigon Hotel & Residences at www. icsaigon.com or visit the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism in Hall 26C/313 here at ITB Berlin 2019.

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LOPESAN COSTA BÁVARO PREPARES FOR DEBUT IN DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

Canary Islands-based Lopesan is preparing to expand into the Caribbean with the launch of its latest resort in the Dominican Republic. Here Breaking Travel News finds out more where guests can enjoy large areas of tropical vegetation, a warm climate, palm tree-lined white sand beaches and a view of the warm turquoise sea – this is a true spectacle for the senses.

Enjoy the best time in the main 2,900 m2 infinity pool, where the view stretches until it merges with the sea, or enjoy a refreshing moment in one of the seven fresh water pools. Fun is also guaranteed for the little ones, as there is pool adapted just for them.

Overlooking one of the most exclusive beaches in the Dominican Republic, Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino will open this month. The property invites guests to enjoy a holiday that they will never forget. Leisure,

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relaxation and fun all go hand-in-hand in the luxurious five-star resort where the Endless Luxury (all-inclusive) will allow for the enjoyment of a unique experience on the shores of the Caribbean.

With more than 110,000 m2 of space, Lopesan Costa Bávaro stands out as a five-star resort where the local culture comes together with the European influence to form an environment of pure relaxation. A unique spot

The resort is split into three different areas which will exceed the expectations of different types of guests. Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino will welcome most holidaymakers, while the Adults Only Club at Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort has everything needed to create the most exclusive, relaxing atmos-

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phere. From the rooms to the pool, with sun loungers, futons or Balinese beds and a swim-up bar, is strictly no kids allowed.

Finally, the Unique Club at Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort is for the most selective and distinguished guests. Here the hotel has services and areas that are exclusive to Unique by Lopesan guests. Select restaurant, swimming pool and lobby areas, as well as a beach club with restricted access and a gourmet gastronomical offering provide guests with everything necessary for a truly unique experience.

ACCOMMODATION With five floors connected by 14 lifts, Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino has 1,036 modern rooms that are perfectly adapted to guests’ preferences. As such, the 899 Junior Suites (some of which are adapted for guests with reduced mobility) are distributed in 296 queen rooms and 603 king rooms, as well as 12 Corner Junior Suites that have a terrace that wraps around the room. Likewise, the hotel has 104 spectacular swim-up rooms where the terraces provide direct access to the pool.

the most comfortable furniture and highest-quality amenities. This is an area for relaxation and comfort that is completed with the best finishes, such as the bathrooms with large, rain showers and bathtubs, air conditioning, 42” televisions, a minibar which is restocked daily with soft drinks, water and beer for no extra charge, direct telephone line, safety deposit box, large wardrobes and a daily cleaning service. These suites are designed to guarantee the greatest comfort and well-being.

DINING The gastronomic offerings at Lopesan Costa Bávaro Resort, Spa & Casino promises true culinary experience, even for the most selective pallets. On offer is an all-inclusive experience comprising a varied and wide offer of

six themed restaurants and two buffets, with a total capacity of 1,400 diners. Here guests can choose from a vast variety of international, national and regional cuisines.

Allow yourself to be surprised by the different restaurants that form the Endless Luxury offering, with oriental flavours in the Asian restaurant or cuisine that is recognised worldwide as Mediterranean, Italian and Mexican, the best meat in the Steak House and of course, the wonderful American cuisine. Within the varied offerings the are options that are adapted to special requirements, such as vegetarian diets and food allergies and intolerances.

drinks and the two Beach Clubs where holidaymakers can enjoy the most exquisite dishes in a relaxed environment just a few metres away from the sea.

Furthermore, the lobby bar, alongside the seven bars in the pool area, are the perfect place to enjoy a refreshing drink and a delicious snack - they are the perfect meeting point.

Likewise, in your room you can enjoy the minibar which is restocked for free each day with soft drinks, water and beer.

MORE INFORMATION To find out more about the Lopesan Hotel Group head over to Hall 2.1/208 here at ITB Berlin 2019 or visit www.lopesan.com.

The outstanding gastronomic offerings at the hotel also include top branded alcoholic and soft

Furthermore, the resort has 20 suites provided with their own independent space and facilities; these are large and have a privileged location. All the rooms have balconies or terraces equipped with

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The World’s

★★★

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Y E A R S I N A R O W AT T H E W O R L D T R AV E L AWA R D S

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5-STAR SERVICE Of all the luxuries at Sandals, it’s the 5-star service of our bartenders, waiters, and personal butlers, trained by the Guild of Professional English Butlers, who keep our guests coming back time and time again.

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MASTERS OF EXCELLENCE IN THE CULINARY ARTS

Savour the difference between dining and 5-Star Global GourmetTM dining where the ingredients are freshly prepared, the décor is as authentic as the cuisine, and a globally-inspired menu of culinary delights is created by internationally-trained chefs.

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THE MOST EXCLUSIVE SUITES IN THE CARIBBEAN Our 5-star accommodations are ranked among the finest and most romantic in the world — from Over-the-Water Villas to Millionaire Suites. We call them Love Nest Butler Suites®, you will call them amazing!

Only Sandals includes more quality land and water sports than any other resorts in the Caribbean—from championship golf* to motorized water sports like waterskiing and scuba diving*. It’s all inclusive.

LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED SANDALS.COM • 1-800-SANDALS or call your Travel Professional More Quality Inclusions Than Any Other Resorts On The Planet JAMAICA • ANTIGUA • SAINT LUCIA • BAHAMAS • GRENADA • BARBADOS

*Visit www.sandals.com/disclaimers/wtagala2019 or call 1-800-SANDALS for important terms and conditions.

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Thank you for your support in helping us win the title of North America’s Leading Travel Club 2019 at this year’s World Travel Awards™.

EXPERIENCE THE VERY BEST OF INDIA WITH CREATIVE TRAVEL

With over 42 years of excellence across six countries, 72 international and national awards and a network all over the Indian sub-continent, Creative Travel has grown to become one of the region’s most prominent, respected and independent destination management company. Here we discover more

Creative Travel was last year recognised with the titles of India’s Leading Destination Management Company and India’s Leading Luxury Travel Agency by voters at the

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World Travel Awards.

The triumphs capped a remarkable run of success for the Asian powerhouse.

The company offers the finest cultural experiences, personal immersions

and natural wonders all over India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Tibet and the Maldives. Today, it is also as India’s largest family-owned destination management company.

With a long roster of awards under its belt, Creative Travel has earned a strong reputation for itself across the global travel industry. The company’s specialised incentives’

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team is also the region’s most-awarded – having take a host of top titles.

Creative Travel has taken its passion for exploring the region further with specialised offerings, that cater to different kinds of guests. Exclusively crafted to offer wildlife journeys across the Indian subcontinent, JungleSutra showcases the diverse wildlife of the region – from the most sought-after to the lesser known wonders. Moving beyond jeep safaris, the brand has curated journeys that go into some of remotest parks and jungles of the region, across varying landscapes, for a deeper look at the ecosystem of the subcontinent.

CRAFTED BY CREATIVE In a world of busy professionals, where every moment is valuable and

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time lost is money lost, Creative Travel launched what is today regarded as one of India’s finest conference management teams – Plan it! Meetings & Conferences – a dedicated team of experts for conference planning. The destination management company’s latest offering is a series of exclusive experiences Crafted by Creative – special-interest journeys, led by expert resources that offer unparalleled insights into the region.

as one of the few companies that offer immersive journeys across the region, which go beyond the usual itineraries.

“Many years ago, as we grew as a company, we came to a realisation that our love lay not in booking hotels or tours, but in showcasing engaging and unique experiences

across the countries we cover. We realised that our lands have many hidden corners, many one- ofa-kind moments, many mysteries and many tales,” explains a spokesman from Creative Travel.

Taking this proposition further, the destination management company launched its signature

Creative’s love for travel has led them to the furthest corners of the region to capture and curate unique travel experiences – from the intimate to the grand, from the colourful to the cultural, from the slow-paced to the adrenaline-pumping. With this core ethos, Creative Travel has built its reputation

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product line – Engaging Journeys, Crafted by Creative – tailored for the discerning travellers who seek journeys, customised to their interests and curiosities. Each of these exclusive journeys is crafted with precision and care, based on a distinct area of interest – from food history to art explorations, wellness retreats, regional festivals and much more.

Each journey is led by an expert who brings the guests face-to-face with different aspects of the culture, history and lifestyle of the destinations.

“We believe journeys are made up of the small moments – the haunting tunes of a local song, the enticing smells of a spice market, the sunset during

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a jungle safari or the brilliant light of a thousand diyas (oil lamps) at the bank of an ancient river,” added the Creative Travel spokesman.

CRAFTED WITH EXPERIENCE Crafted by Creative offers some of the most distinct experiences that one would seldom find anywhere else – ensuring the highest quality, exclusivity and intimacy. This comes from company’s strong legacy in the travel industry and unquestionable credibility built over four decades. Being one of the most influential destination management companies in the region, with strong industry links, allows them priority and access at hotels and

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venues as well as other providers across the region. And with exclusive agreements with various experts and hosts, guests get to travel with locals for a truly immersive experience.

an textiles, craftsmanship, art traditions, architecture, and the biggest fares of the region. There’s even a weeklong celebration of a big fat Indian wedding, with songs and dances included!

JOURNEYS At a glance, Crafted by Creative offers journeys that showcase the subcontinent through a unique lens. Guests can tailor-make their experience, based on the facets they want to explore more.

Bringing the best of ancient Indian healing to the forefront is a wellness escape through the intimate lanes and backwaters of Kerala. Authentic regional delicacies and their historic journeys are traced on a culinary journey where street food meets fine dining. A tea trail makes for the perfect discovery of India’s favourite drink and its regional nuances.

From glamping like the royals of Rajasthan to trekking amongst the most scenic routes of the Himalayas; from savouring Awadhi delicacies with Nawabs to the spicy street food of Delhi; from bustling city markets to countryside fares; from evening “aarti” ceremonies to grand cultural fiestas; from sunset safaris to waking up at heritage “havelis”; from ancient caves and temples to modern galleries and glitzy suburbs – this is India like you would have never seen before!

From Holi in India to Perahera in Sri Lanka, festivals are explored through cultural interactions and intermingling with locals. The spectacular artistic and cultural heritage of the region has been captured in journeys dedicated to Indi-

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MORE INFORMATION To find out more about these exclusive products, visit www.craftedbycreative.com or write to crafted@creative.travel.

Alternatively, head over to Hall 5.2B/219 here at ITB Berlin 2019.

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Grand Final Gala Ceremony

In beautiful Sultanate of Oman, Muscat

UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITES Bahla Fort was inscribed as World Heritage Site in 1987 and has since been beautifully restored. The fort reopened to the public in late 2012.

Gateways To beauty and opportunity

ABU DHABI FALCON HOSPITAL WOWS CROWDS IN MIDDLE EAST

Apart from being an internationally renowned tourism attraction, Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the leading centre for falcon medicine worldwide

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F E AT U R E

photographs of traditional falconry. Fun and excitement is guaranteed by the sheer number of falcons that can be seen during the tour. Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital tours give unforgettable memories to the visitors.

Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is the world’s largest falcon hospital with an influx of more than 11,500 falcon patients per year from all over UAE and the Gulf region. Since the location started its tourism program in 2007, the

number of tourists visiting its facility has increased every year by an average of 20 per cent, showing the tremendous interest of visitors from all over the world for the stunning experience of the Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital.

Nowadays Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is one of the leading tourist attractions in Abu Dhabi and has been recognised with the Middle East’s Responsible Tourism Award by the World Travel Awards for its high-quality tour program.

The unparalleled Falcon World Tours cover the fascinating history of falconry in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates, the cradle of modern falconry.

It then takes the visitors in the real life of modern falconry where they can interact with live falcons, take pictures with falcons on their arm and watch the feeding of a falcon.

Another tour highlight is the aviary where falcons are flying freely inside which gives an adrenalin boost to the guests. The tour ends in a beautiful museum with historic

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However, the tourism offerings of Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital are not only for leisure tourism, but also cover MICE tourism with its state-of-the-art conference facilities. The Shaheen Conference Centre is the ideal and unique corporate venue for innovative events, meetings, workshops and conferences. Apart from the modern conference room with advanced technologies, it houses a beautiful museum of the Emirati tradition of falconry as well which gives a special twist to conferences and events.

MORE INFORMATION Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital is open to visitors for guided tours from Sundays to Thursdays at 10:00 and 14:00 and on Saturdays at 10:00. In order to facilitate bookings, an advanced and easy-to-use online booking portal has been established so that tours can be booked and paid conveniently online.

For more information or bookings, please visit www.falconhospital.com.

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Breaking Travel News interview

ANTHONY ROSS, CHIEF EXECUTIVE, JA RESORTS & HOTELS Just over a year ago Dubai-based hospitality firm JA Resorts & Hotels announced the appointment of Anthony Ross as its new chief executive.

Here he tells Breaking Travel News about his ambitions for the role Breaking Travel News: You took over as chief executive at JA Resorts & Hotels last year. Can you tell us about your ambitions for the role and how you hope the company will develop under your leadership?

Anthony Ross: JA Resorts & Hotels is a hospitality company with a rich history and very well-respected shareholders.

The assets are unique, and the group has the potential to own the resort landscape in the Middle East and Indian Ocean from its flagship in Jebel Ali to more recent acquisitions in the Maldives and the Seychelles. The idea of growing a niche owner operated brand from the dynamic business hub of Dubai was very enticing.

BTN: There have been concerns of late of the Dubai hospitality market reaching saturation point, particularly and the luxury end. What has your experience been of your home markets in recent months?

AR: The market is certainly full of choice and I know many hotels are struggling with owner expectations versus market decline and some very significant rate drops. However, JA Resorts & Hotels is lucky to be in a great position as all of our properties are quite unique, even in this market. Take for example JA Ocean View Hotel - its directly on Jumeirah Beach with every single room offering a full sea view, without obstruction. JA Oasis Beach Tower, a favourite of GCC families, offers huge, luxury serviced apartments right in the heart of Jumeirah Beach.

JA Hatta Fort Hotel is a unique mountain escape with its

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INTERVIEW

breakingtravelnews.com

own micro climate, and we know Dubai residents think of it immediately when craving the outdoors.

the market, which our repeat guests coming to us year after year seem to really value.

Then we have JA The Resort - Dubai’s largest experience resort, with three unique hotels and over one million square metres of experiences, 22 restaurants and more than 40 activities from water sports to golf to tennis to shooting. A family can stay at JA The Resort and everyone from the grandparents down to the baby will have a great time. We’ve also maintained our strong position because of our 38-year history and experience in

BTN: How big a role do you expect Expo 2020 to play in the development of the tourism sector in Dubai in the next two years?

AR: Expo 2020 is a tourism milestone to strive towards, it will be a moment in time when Dubai will dominate the world stage and all eyes will be on us.

The theme of ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ is bound to create a huge buzz and we already know Uber

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has signed an agreement with the Dubai Roads & Transport Authority to test flying cars at the Expo for example. All of this will create a huge surge in interest in Dubai as the most forward-thinking city in the world and will bolster the tourism sector.

JA Ocean View Hotel is 15 minutes from the Expo site and JA Oasis Beach Tower and JA The Resort are just 20 minutes away, so we are excited to be a real part of the experience, especially since more than 80 per cent of the site is planned to be reused or repurposed in the legacy phase and is expected to be home to about one million residents and 500,000 jobs.

BTN: JA Resorts & Hotels has been traditionally strong in its home base in the United Arab Emirates, having only recently begun its global

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expansion. Will your experience, having managed independent hotels in Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia and Australia, while also spending several years with Swire Hotels, help the company go truly global?

arates us from the giant commoditised hotel brands.

AR: Well this remains to be seen, but I would like to think yes. We have recently signed a joint venture, with a company based in the US to develop three luxury lodges in an Indian Ocean location and are deep in discussions to manage a portfolio of three- and four-star hotels in Asia.

The future is certainly exciting, and it is not lost on the JA management team that many of the well-known hotel companies built on a small portfolio of owned assets to become globally successful. The secret is in understanding and refining our value proposition and developing a niche which we can own, a niche that sep-

BTN: JA Resorts & Hotels has recently joined the Global Hotel Alliance.

What benefits will that bring?

Our intent is creating resorts and hotels which thrill all generations and our Jebel Ali resort is the template.

AR: We recognise that these days loyalty and rewards matter more than ever to customers, particularly in the younger generations. Travellers of the future want instant gratification and expect to be rewarded for supporting a brand. The Global Hotel Alliance allows us to be part of a loyalty scheme with 33 hotel brands and 550 hotels in 77 countries. It allows us to offer rewards, while still retaining our much-loved individuality and legacy, without a ‘mass market’ approach.

INTERVIEW

BTN: Can you bring us up to date with the development pipeline at JA Resorts & Hotels. Where can we expect to see the brand next?

AR: You can expect to see significant growth for the JA brand. We will begin with the September 2019 opening of Lake View Hotel at JA The Resort in Jebel Ali. This will bring our room count to 791 keys, making it Dubai’s largest experience resort. We will also have announcements regarding new Indian Ocean properties and potentially other global locations coming soon. In addition, we have looked at refreshing the brand image and have just launched a new website

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that is much more modern and user friendly.

BTN: JA Resorts & Hotels was recognised with several top titles at the World Travel Awards during 2018.

How important are accolades such as these in the development of the brand?

AR: Yes, we were delighted to receive five awards for our Maldives, Seychelles and Dubai properties – including the title of Middle East’s Leading Family Resort for JA Beach Hotel.

These accolades are a much-appreciated acknowledgement of our success, however not a measure of it.

Our focus is guest satisfaction, and this is how we assess our performance from a reputation perspective.

That being said, we are thoroughly grateful to be recognised and have the opportunity to be exposed to new audiences globally. Going forward, we will be considering awards for our new exciting food and beverage concepts, in addition to recognition for some of our outstanding team members.

MORE INFORMATION Find out more about JA Resorts & Hotels on the official website at www. jaresortshotels.com or head over to Hall 2.2/100 here at ITB Berlin 2019.

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DUBAI PREPARES FOR GLOBAL SPOTLIGHT AS EXPO 2020 NEARS Some 190 countries have confirmed their participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, with the event also welcoming contributions from corporations and multinational organisations. Here Breaking Travel News finds out more Plans for an exceptional World Expo are advancing rapidly, with developments being seen daily across key areas relating to content and programming, country pavilion designs , commercial partnerships, construction and legacy impact. With just over a year and a half to go, the event is really starting to take shape. Organisers also recently announced 11 premier partners, five official partners and two official providers. These partnerships will play a vital role in delivering a successful Expo 2020 Dubai and supporting its legacy.

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The site itself is fast taking shape, with construction well advanced in the three thematic districts – ‘Opportunity’, ‘Mobility’ and ‘Sustainability’. More than 56 million work hours have been completed and construction is on track for all Expo-built structures to be complete a year before the gates open. Expo 2020 Dubai will host the world for 173 days, each one brimming with new experiences.

Organisers hope it will be a time to create, collaborate and innovate. We are talking eye-catching, mind-bending, taste bud-tickling, grin-inducing,

good-weird, did-that-reallyjust-happen fun.

Expo 2020 also continues to work towards its socio-economic impact.

Officials continue to provide business of all sizes with economic opportunities and have registered more than 25,000 suppliers from 149 countries to do business with Expo 2020. The theme of the event, ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’, is exemplified through the global innovation partnership programme Expo Live, which allocates funds to projects that offer creative solutions to pressing chal-

lenges faced globally.

The event is also committed to inspiring and empowering youth. The Expo School Programme is activating several initiatives to engage the younger generation through interactions with schools and educators across the United Arab Emirates.

TRADE From a trade perspective, Expo 2020 Dubai will be a valuable business opportunity for tour operators to offer a once-in-a-lifetime visitor experience.

During the six months of the event, Expo 2020

F E AT U R E

will be the destination to visit within Dubai and tour operators will be able to purchase and bundle Expo into packages.

As the emirate gets ready to welcome millions of visitors, organisers are constantly looking to work with travel agents and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) companies that can promote Expo 2020 by selling tickets with value-added travel and visitor services.

The brand-new Dubai Exhibition Centre is pivotal to this ambition. Located on the doorstep of the world’s largest meeting of minds, the DEC will provide guests with access to a truly global stage. This is not only a place to host events; it is also a venue

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for delegates to connect and network with Expo 2020’s 200 participants, including nations, multilateral organisations, businesses and educational institutions from around the world.

EXPO 2020 HIGHLIGHTS For six months, Expo 2020 will be the biggest live event on earth. With 60 events a day, for 173 consecutive days, there will be something for every taste, including live performances, street shows, digital theatre, workshops and cultural and special festivities. An extensive offering of 200 food and beverage outlets will share dishes and flavours from every corner of the world.

World-class architecture and design elements will be on show - include the

world’s biggest 360-degree projection surface on Al Wasl Plaza’s steel dome and the all-natural materials that are being used to construct the Opportunity Pavilion. A rotating observation tower will provide visitors with a bird’s eye view of the Expo site, while the Dubai Exhibition Centre will encompass a 17,000sqm conference complex featuring multipurpose exhibition halls, an auditorium and events spaces. The Expo site will also be home to largescale venue spaces and parks serving as meeting points and facilitating outdoor celebrations.

unique. The UAE Pavilion, designed in the shape of a falcon in flight, is expected to be a major attraction.

It will tell the history of the nation as a connected global hub, and the vision of its leaders to create a peaceful and progressive society with ambitions for the future.

MORE INFORMATION As preparations for Dubai 2020 reach the final straight, find out more on the official website at www.expo2020dubai. com or head over to Hall 2.2/100A here at ITB Berlin 2019.

Visitors will be able to venture through immersive country pavilions, enjoy cultural experiences and discover what makes each participating nation

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