Travel Trade Europe, 10 August 2016, Issue 43

10 AUGUST 2016 ISSUE 43

08 SHORT BREAK

02

ROME

BERLIN MAINTAINS POPULARITY

12 EUR160 MILLION AIRPORT PROJECT IN BUDAPEST

04 Crusing 13 Air 18 Travel Talk

MARKET UPDATE

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BERLIN MAINTAINS POPULARITY

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Rita Kasziba JOURNALISTS Memnon Arestis Ellen Petty

Berlin

CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670

Visitation statistics for Berlin have been positive for the current year with an overall increase of 3.3 percent recorded in arrivals between January and May with the figure reaching 4.84 million.

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ccording to Visit Berlin, the volume of European travellers rose 4.4 percent, while the number of tourists from foreign countries jumped 4.3 percent.

The vast majority of Europeans that headed to the German capital were UK-based, with the figure standing at 228,988, a 12.8 percent rise over 2015. In terms of the largest escalation among countries on the continent, Malta had a boost of 108.1 percent, whereas Russia showed a drop of 25.9 percent.

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INCREASED PASSENGERS NUMBERS FOR AUSTRIAN

WORLDWIDE REPRESENTATIVES Representative for North, South & Central America, and the Caribbean: Neil Strickland GlobeTM Tel: +19542969515 neil@globetm.com Representative for Indian subcontinent: Faredoon Kuka RMA Media Tel: +912229253735 kuka@rmamedia.com Representative for UK & Ireland and Scandinavia: David Simpson Simpson Media Tel: +447900885456 david@simpson-media.com

EXCHANGE RATES

as of

9.8.2016

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.11

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.85

Switzerland (CHF) Franc

1.09

Japan (JPY)

113.49

2

Yen

Some 5.1 million travellers flew with Austrian Airlines in the first half of the year, indicating a 2.2 percent rise over 2015.

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n improvement of 3.7 percent to more than 11.4 billion was prevalent in available seat kilometers, showcasing the impact of the expansion of the bilateral flight traffic between Austria and Germany. More than 8.3 billion revenue passenger kilometers (RPK) have been sold, highlighting a 1.2 percent surge over 2015. However, a decrease of 1.9 percentage points appeared in passenger load factor.

RPK for June 2016 stood at 1.7 billion, while passenger load factor averaged at 76.1 percent.

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NEWS

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Ireland Welcomes More Travellers According to Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, the country witnessed a 13.7 percent rise in overseas visitors between January and May.

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Dublin

mong the key growth markets were North America, Britain and Mainland Europe, with over 18 percent, almost 16 percent and 11.5 percent year-on-year increases, respectively.

“Tourism Ireland is liaising with our key stakeholders and monitoring developments. We are determined to get the message out that it is business as usual. Britain remains an extremely important market for Irish tourism and Tourism Ireland is undertaking an extensive programme of promotions in Britain, and elsewhere around the world, to ensure this strong performance continues,” commented Gibbons.

British Tourism: Best-ever First Quarter

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atest figures released by VisitBritain show strong growth from markets including the US, Germany and the UAE in the first quarter of the year, underpinning the best-ever first quarter for total inbound visits.

Between January and March visits from the US, the UK’s most valuable visitor market, surged nine percent compared to the same period in 2015, to 542,000. Robust improvement was also seen from European Union member countries with the figure reaching 5.4 million, a 10 percent jump over the first quarter of 2015.

Arrivals from the UAE rose 15 percent to 77,000, with tourist spend also up nine percent to GBP105 million (EUR125 million).

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Hospitality Line Embarks on Meal Booking Venture

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K supplier in travel, leisure and hospitality products Hospitality Line, has unveiled hlmeals4groups.com, an online group booking portal.

Designed to meet the needs and requirements of the travel trade industry, the new platform provides agents with access to a large collection of group dining options in the UK. An innovative search function allows users to uncover the perfect venue by specifying location, cuisine and budget preferences at the touch of a button. The entire booking process only takes a minute thanks to the ability to easily select menu options, dietary requirements and group numbers.

EU Continues to Support Jordan

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he European Union (EU) and Jordan have reaffirmed their substantial alliance at the EU-Jordan Association Committee that took place in Amman this July, further empowering their political, security and trade relationships and cooperation matters.

During the meeting a new scheme was adopted, which simplifies the rules of origins that Jordanian exporters apply in their commercial actions with the EU. This alteration is expected to boost local investment and lead to employment opportunities for both Jordanians as well as Syrian refugees in the country.

On the whole, these actions are reflected as the EU’s response to support Jordan in response to the impact of the Syrian refugee crisis and contribute in securing stability in the region.

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NEWS CRUISING

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Viking Line Wins over Passengers The continuing fleet upgrades and improvements in terms of travel comfort have paid dividends for Viking Line with the cruise line having recently received the highest general rating of all shipping companies operating in the Baltic Sea region.

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M/S Mariella

he positive feedback followed the extensive renovation of M/S Mariella and the facelift of the other vessel sailing the Helsinki – Stockholm route, namely M/S Gabriella.

“We have recently added the all-new M/S Viking Grace to out Baltic Sea fleet, and invested generously in the renovation of our existing ships,” explained Kaj Takolander, head of sales and marketing, Viking Line. “Today’s travellers value comfort and quality and the implemented upgrades are clearly reflected in our improved customer satisfaction ratings.”

AmaWaterways Christens New Additions

Norwegian Cruise Line Expands Repertoire

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maWaterways has christened its two newest ships, AmaViola and AmaStella.

The inauguration of both vessels was marked with special festivities in Vilshofen, Germany, attended by onboard guests as well as local dignitaries.

Both ships carry 158 passengers and feature the company’s innovative new connecting staterooms and triple accommodations, which were specifically designed to target the multi-generational group and family travel markets. The latest additions also boast salon and spa services, fitness rooms and heated sun deck swimming pools with swim-up bars, among more.

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ummer 2017 will be greeted with additional itineraries by Norwegian Cruise Line with new Mediterranean destinations and extended routes to Northern Europe.

Norwegian Spirit will rellocate to its new homeport in Civitavecchia, Rome, and will venture to Sardinia, Palma de Mallorca, Koper and Malta, offering a selection of 10- and 11-night cruises, including Holy Land destinations.

Similarly, Norwegian Jade will accommodate journeys from Hamburg to various Norwegian Fjord destinations hosting two 12-night North Cape Sailings, and one 14-night cruise to Norway, Iceland and the UK. Departing from Southampton, the same ship will circle the British Isles, Norway, Iceland and UK.

New Electronic Service for Costa Cruisers

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new online tool has been introduced by Costa Cruises, allowing booked guests to customise their trips according to their needs up to four days prior to their departure.

MyCosta enables passengers to add services and amenities to their journeys, such as excursions, beverage packages, participation in various sessions and the chance to purchase from a selection of Costabrand products.

The service, which can be accessed via a desktop computer, tablet or smartphone, is available in six languages, including English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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AccorHotels Acquires Three Major Brands

Following approval at the general shareholders meeting in mid-July, AccorHotels announced the acquisition of FRHI Hotels & Resorts and its three luxury hotel brands; Fairmont, Raffles and Swissôtel.

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he addition instantly positions the French hotelier as a leading player in the global luxury market, increases longterm growth potential and profitability, and significantly expands the company’s footprint in North America.

Commenting on the acquisition, Sébastien Bazin, CEO, AccorHotels said. “It will open up amazing growth prospects, lift our international presence to unprecedented heights, and build value over the long-term.”

Tschuggen Grand Hotel Returns

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Tschuggen Grand Hotel

uxury five-star resort Tschuggen Grand Hotel in Arosa, Switzerland has reopened just in time for the summer peak season.

The property has re-emerged boasting an array of offerings allowing guests to enjoy the mild mountain summer and the picturesque autumn in the Grisons alps for various activities, including hiking, horse-riding and golfing at the scenic Golf-Club Aarosa situated 1,800m above sea level.

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Aeroflot and Jumeirah Bonus Scheme Partnership

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embers of the Aeroflot loyalty programme are now able to earn one mile for every US dollar spent at Jumierah Group’s hotels and resorts around the world.

Loyal customers – with their number currently standing at five million – who stay a minimum of 15 nights a year at any of UAEbased hotelier’s 22 properties, will also receive 5,000 miles from the Russian carrier.

Alison Broadhead, chief commercial officer, Jumeirah Group, noted “Jumeirah’s hotels and resorts in Dubai and other countries such as London, the Maldives and Mallorca, have always been popular with Russian visitors and this partnership provides significant potential for Jumeirah Group to reach affluent Russian travellers; the country is one of our top source markets.”

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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ith the addition of TUI Blue Jardin Tropical in Tenerife in November, TUI Blue’s portfolio will be further enhanced in Europe.

The former Puravida Resort Jardin Tropical, located on the largest Canary Island, will be converted into a new 390-room property, featuring a tropical concept, panoramic views of the sea, four swimming pools and free Wi-Fi. “I am delighted that our efforts for global growth are bearing fruit and we are able to offer our customers the first TUI Blue hotel in the western Mediterranean with our TUI Blue Jardin Tropical,” commented Artur Gerber, managing director, TUI Blue.

TUI Blue Jardin Tropical in Tenerife

TUI Blue Enters the Western Mediterranean

Wyndham Grand Athens to Open in 2017

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Athens

thens is set to welcome Wyndham Grand Athens, the first Wyndham Hotel Group (WHG) project in Greece, in early 2017.

Set to open in the place of Hotel Athens Imperial, the property will boast 273 rooms, 2,500m2 of conference and event space, a restaurant, a bar, a spa and a 450m2 roof garden with a pool.

“This is only our first stop in Greece, as we see opportunities for many of our brands across the country, from city centres such as Athens and Thessaloniki to resort destinations in the Greek islands and mainland,” said Dan Ruff, president, WHG.

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SHORT BREAK ROME

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A Game-changing

Bid

ANA MLADENOVIC WRITES

WHILE ROME AWAITS THE DECISION ON ITS BID TO HOST THE 2024 SUMMER OLYMPICS – TO BE ANNOUNCED IN SEPTEMBER 2017 – LOCAL INDUSTRY EXPERTS CONTEMPLATE THE EFFECT SUCH A MASSIVE EVENT WOULD HAVE ON THE CITY’S TOURISM.

ROME IN BRIEF Country: Italy Language: Italian Currency: Euro (EUR) Population: 2.9 million Calling Code: +396 Time Zone: UTC +1:00

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lthough it is still a long time away, if Rome wins the candidacy, it would certainly be an important event and a unique opportunity,” assured Lorenzo Vivalda, general manager, Hotel Bernini Bristol, reminding that in 1960 – the year of the last Olympic Games in the Italian capital – the city obtained advanced infrastructure.

“It would offer a relevant benefit to [local] tourism,” he said.

Vivalda’s expectations were more openly voiced by Alessandro Gallo, general manager, Villanocetta Roma, according to whom Rome is one of the most beautiful cities in the world, but it still needs to increase investments.

“Tourists are ready to accept lower [level of ] service when it comes to some items, but we need to improve [our offerings].

[Winning the 2024 Summer Olympics bid] will certainly mean that the government will put some money in Rome,” suggested Gallo.

Without doubt, the capital will need to evaluate and enhance its existing infrastructure in order to effectively host the massive influx of visitors. This important challenge was touched upon

by Francesca Autore, director of sales, Rome area, Roberto Naldi Collection, who believes that if the destination wins the right to stage the sporting event, it will pose a challenge to organise everything well in order to host lots of people from abroad, all at the same time.

“We will need to improve and upgrade the public transportation and in general a lots of services for tourists,” stressed Autore, adding that the triumph would also offer a huge opportunity, thus, as she assured, many are rooting for success.

The fact that the sporting event is indeed a big chance was reaffirmed by Sofia Peluso, director of sales, Italy, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, who highlighted the positive impact projects of this scale can have on the city’s perception and infrastructure, in addition to the anticipated boost in tourism performance.

“Investments and major events are always good for a destination. They re-launch its image globally, improve transportation, road conditions and its leisure offer. This probably leads to an increase in tourist flows, especially in individual visits,” elaborated Peluso.

UNIQUE VALUE PROPOSITION While there would be much work to be done to prepare it for such a prestigious role, the Italian hotspot without doubt already has a strong image as an alluring and multi-faceted destination with a diverse product.

“Rome is recognised as a cultural city par excellence and an open-air museum. It offers plenty to visitors with its churches, archaeological sites and much more,” enthused Roberto Morgi, sales and product manager, commercial office, TiBiWorld Tour

10 AUGUST 2016

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Operator, reminding that the capital is also host to various concerts by famous artists as well as exhibitions of contemporary painters and photographers, fashion parades and various film-related events.

Moreover, the Italian destination is also actively restoring and upgrading its major tourist attractions with some, such as the world-famous Collosseum, Trevi Fountain and Carcer Tullianum, now fully renewed, while others, including the acclaimed Spanish Steps, being currently renovated.

“New openings, international exhibitions, palaces and restored archaeological sites for sure increase the [city’s] visibility and tourist demand,” said Peluso.

In addition to luring in more visitors, such initiatives also positively affect room rates and overall revenue.

Vivalda explained, “Surely, [these developments] make us very positive and optimistic for the future, [given] the increase in tourist flow and the rise in average sales prices thanks to the better image and perception of Rome on an international level.”

UPPING THE ANTE As the city’s attractions flaunt their new looks, hotels are keeping up with the pace with their own projects.

“We have just renovated our royal suite, a 300m2 unit with an amazing view of Villa Borghese Gardens and St. Peters’ Basilica,” announced Autore.

Similarly, Hotel Bernini Bristol has recently unveiled its reimagined bar and restaurant, and is continuously refreshing its common areas, rooms, suites and bathrooms, according to Vivalda.

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SHORT BREAK ROME

Finally, the much-talked about project in the city, The St. Regis Rome – which is now owned by Katara Hospitality and Constellation Management alongside The Westin Excelsior Rome – is also undergoing renovation and restyling works which include public spaces, the bar as well as the main hall.

“In autumn, we will proceed with the rooms and suites, to be finished in May 2017,” said Peluso.

Over the past months, Rome Fiumicino – Leonardo da Vinci International Airport has also welcomed a number of improvements, including a new baggage sorting system and a relaunched 240m link gallery for transits between the Schengen and non-Schengen areas.

“We are very confident that the ongoing acceleration in the investments for the new terminal and the new commercial area, which we will [be] complete by the end of the year, and the obsessive work to improve the experience of passengers in our airport can contribute in a determining way to Rome‘s and Italy’s competitiveness,” commented Giovanni Castellucci, managing director, Atlantia, parent company of Aeroporti di Roma.

If Rome does win the Summer Olympics bid, these developments are expected to be accompanied by many other projects. 

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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Steigenberger to Enter India

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BD Group and Steigenberger Hotels are gearing up to bring the hotelier’s signature experience to India.

The joint venture aims to open at least 20 addresses across the subcontinent over the next 15 years.

The flagship hotel under the partnership will be MBD Zephyr Bangalore – an MBD Steigenberger Hotel in the heart of Whitefield Bangalore, the silicon city of India, offering 184 rooms and 118 serviced apartments, interpreting luxury in the true sense of the word.

As Sonica Malhotra, joint managing director, MBD Group, explained, the companies will be focussing on key cities in the country, including Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Kolkata, Pune, Indore, and other destination which have high potential for luxury tourism.

Meliá Uses Green Energy in Italy

MCI Nordics Joins Forces with Scandic

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Scandic Palace Hotel in Copenhagen

Meliá Genova

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eliá Hotels International has received a certification in renewable energy after partnering with A2A, hailed as Italy’s second-largest producer in the field.

The agreement with A2A ensures the secure use of environmentally-friendly energy in all of the hotelier’s properties until the end of the year.

As part of Meliá Hotels International’s commitment to environmental preservation, the group has integrated sustainability into its corporate social responsibility strategy and moved towards responsible resource management. The company’s hotels and corporate headquarters in Spain also use 100 percent renewable energy since signing an agreement in 2015 with Endesa, a collaboration that continues throughout the year.

vent and meeting management company MCI Nordics partnered with Scandic Hotels in a bid to offer customers the best experiences when it comes to food and beverages, as well as accommodation and meeting spaces.

“We chose Scandic because of its excellent geographic network and vast experience in arranging events,” said Thomas Wüthrich, regional managing director, MCI Nordics.

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NEWS AIRPORTS

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Passenger Numbers Up at BSCA

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une ended with improved results at Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) with 610,398 passengers on record, up two percent year-on-year.

The month also brought the first half of the year to an end, with the six-month period witnessing nearly 3.49 million travellers, marking an eight percent surge over June 2015.

The most popular countries in June follow the trend that has continued since January, with these including Spain Italy, France, Morocco and Poland.

Athens Hub on Street View

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assengers now have the opportunity to virtually tour Athens International Airport (AIA) on Google Street View and explore the airfield’s indoor maps.

Through Street View’s 360-degree imagery of high resolution and aesthetic images, travellers can navigate through various facilities, while the indoor maps allow them to locate places of interest, such as check-in counters, departure gates, airport shops or other outlets.

“One significant particularity the airport has, is the very limited time available for passengers in relation to the variety of offered services and products,” commented George Demetriades, director, IT and technology business unit, AIA, adding that this special element dictates the communication and promotion of services and products in new ways.

Athens International Airpor

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NEWS AIRPORTS

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EUR160 Million Airport Project in Budapest

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Development plans in Budapest

udapest Airport is planning to invest HUF50 billion (EUR16 million) in the Hungarian capital’s hub over the next five year.

The programme called bud:2020 will include the new pier B, an airport hotel, as well as a series of logistics and security enhancements.

As Jost Lammers, CEO, Budapest Airports, noted, over the past two-three years, Budapest Ferenc Liszt International Airport has experienced tremendous growth in passenger traffic, with the first five months of the year showing a 12.5 percent rise in figures, thus, the urgent need for capacity expansion.

Works on the new passenger pier are set to commence at the end of the year and will last for about one and a half years, while the hotel is expected to welcome its first guests 15 – 17 months after the start of construction. All in all, the project is anticipated to bring the Hungarian hub’s capacity to 15 – 18 million passengers per annum by 2020.

A significant part of the investment will be allocated for security improvements and Lammers also revealed plans to further enhance railway connection between the airfield and the city, which is gearing up to host a range of prestigious events, including the UAFA European Championship in 2020 and is also a candidate for the 2024 Olympic Games.

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fter the construction of the state-funded runway was finished at the beginning of 2015, the new terminal was completed in the first few months of this year, just in time for the summer peak season.

With approval from the Ministry of Infrastructure, Transport and Networks, AEGEAN Airlines and Olympic Air financed the first phase of the terminal and infrastructure.

In line with Olympic Air’s commitment to the development of regional areas in Greece, the new airfield increases accessibility and tourism to the area by allowing the operation of larger aircraft.

To further boost traffic, the carrier commenced services between Paros and Thessaloniki earlier this month.

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Paros Airport runway

Paros Airport Inaugurated

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NEWS AIR

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easyJet Rolls Out New Routes

easyJet recently celebrated the start of its new route from Bristol Airport to Dubrovnik.

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Dubrovnik

hroughout the summer months, the low-cost carrier offers two-weekly services to the Croatian destination on Wednesdays and Sundays. All in all, more than 11,000 people are expected to travel on the itinerary this summer alone.

Additionally, as of September 28, through autumn and winter, passengers from across the South West and Wales will be able to take advantage of Gran Canaria’s year-round sun by flying to Las Palmas once a week.

Ryanair Adds Venice Marco Polo Route

AZUL Commences First Flights to Europe

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10 AUGUST 2016

Lisbon

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s of September, Ryanair‘s service from Bristol to Italy’s TrevisoSant'Angelo Airport will move to Venice Marco Polo Airport.

Operated three times a week, the itinerary complements the low-cost carrier’s new offerings to Bucharest and its two new winter services to Krakow and Milan from Bristol, which combined are expected to deliver over 1.7 million customers per annum and support 1,300 jobs at the British hub.

isbon Humberto Delgado Airport received the first direct flight operated by Brazilian low-cost carrier, AZUL to Europe.

The new connection between São Paulo and the Portuguese capital is being offered three times a week onboard an Airbus A330 aircraft, with frequencies set to rise to five weekly services this month.

In 2015, the South American airline carried more than 22 million passengers to over 100 destinations.

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NEWS AIR Air France Lands in Oran

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Nordica Connects Groningen and Copenhagen

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urther expanding its footprint in North Africa, Air France launched regular services between ParisCharles de Gaulle and Oran.

Operated by an Airbus A320, the new itinerary will connect the European capital and the Algerian city three times a week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

In addition, Air France customers will benefit from optimised onward connections to the airline’s entire mediumand long-haul network from its hub in Paris.

Groningen Airport Eelde

Oran

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ordica is to introduce a new route from the Dutch city of Groningen to Copenhagen Airport.

Operated 11 times a week, the service is set to facilitate business as well as leisure travel from the northern part of the Netherlands.

Commencing on September 19, the itinerary will allow passengers to reach their final destination via Denmark’s capital instead of Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, thereby significantly reducing their travel time.

Besides the convenience provided to commuters, the route will also benefit both hubs.

“This is good news both for the business community and for tourism,” stated Marco van de Kreeke, CEO, Groningen Airport, while Peter Krogsgaard, chief commercial officer, Copenhagen Airport, is anticipating the notable boost for the airfield.

11 New Boeings for TUI Group

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iming to modernise and expand its fleet, TUI Group invested in 11 new Boeing aircraft with upgraded technology that supports carbon reduction, falling in place with the company’s sustainability strategy Better Holidays, Better World 2015 – 2020.

The project includes one 345-seat 787-9 aircraft, which will be based in the UK for long-haul flights, and 10 737 MAX 8s backing the company’s expanding short-haul operations across five airlines within the One Aviation programme.

David Burling, executive board member, airlines, hotel purchasing, northern region, TUI Group, commented, “With the 737 MAX 8s, we will be able to carry our short-haul customers further, in greater comfort, more efficiently and with an even lower environmental impact.”

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NEWS AIR Ryanair: 81 Percent On-time Performance

Qatar Airways Upgrades Warsaw Route

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yanair released its customer service statistics for June, a month which was affected by seven air traffic control strikes, resulting in the cancellation of over 400 flights.

Around 81 percent of the 60,000 flights operated by the carrier in June arrived on-time, a decrease from 91 percent in June 2015, mainly due to the disruptions.

Nevertheless, there were less than 1.5 complaints per 1,000 customers, and only one bag dissatisfaction per 1,000 passengers.

Warsaw

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n response to the growing demand, Qatar Airways has replaced the previously deployed Airbus A320 with a wide-body Airbus A330 on the Doha – Warsaw service.

The upgrade results in a 95 percent increase in daily seat capacity, offering passenger enhanced travel options between Europe and the Middle East.

According to Grisha Jenkov, country manager, Eastern Europe, Centre, Qatar Airways, apart from providing larger capacity, the new aircraft also redefines the in-flight experience of passengers.

Royal Jordanian Enhances European Presence

British Airways’ i360 Opens

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R British Airways i360 rendering

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ritish Airways i360, hailed as the world’s tallest moving observation tower, has been unveiled.

Visitors are able to glide up to 137m in a fully enclosed futuristic glass viewing pod to admire the unfolding views across Brighton and the south coast.

The experience is 20 minutes long during the day and 30 minutes after 18:00, when the pod transforms into the Nyetimber Sky Bar.

oyal Jordanian Airlines (RJ) has increased its operation between Amman and Berlin-Tegel.

With the introduction of an extra frequency, the carrier now flies five times a week to the German capital on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays as well as on Sundays.

The RJ hub, Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, offers connecting flights to various destinations in the Middle East and Asia. Passengers can continue their journey to Dubai, Bangkok, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur, amongst others.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

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Gavin Gulia

Pepper

A NEW GUEST ONBOARD COSTA CRUISES

MALTA AMONG COUNTRIES TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE

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he fourth Conference of the 5+5 Dialogue of Tourism Ministers took place in Casablanca, with its principal focus being Tourism and Climate Change, offering a platform for addressing environmental issues that relate to tourism.

Representatives from 10 Western Mediterranean countries signed the declaration on Tourism and Climate Change, requiring them to monitor and assess the impact of tourism on the environment, and collaborate towards diminishing this its effect.

Among them Gavin Gulia, chairman, Malta Tourism Authority, took pride in existing Maltese initiatives such as the eco-label scheme and pinpointed that the correlation between tourism and climate change works in both directions, drawing attention to the extent to which certain adverse environmental imbalances can present a boomerang-like effect upon the economy.

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osta Cruises' Costa Diadema has welcomed Pepper, hailed as the cruise industry’s first guest-relations robot programmed to proactively interact with cruisers.

Five robots will be operating on the ship’s seven-day cruises in the western Mediterranean to entertain guests.

Pepper, who speaks Italian, English and French, will answer questions, dance with passengers and involve them in various activities.

“Our goal is to amaze people who choose to spend their holidays with us and to go beyond their expectations and offer something unforgettable. I am convinced that being able to interact with Pepper will be an incredible experience for all our guests,” said Neil Palomba, president, Costa Cruises.

MELIÁ CELEBRATES WITH 600 AGENTS

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eliá PRO, Meliá Hotels International’s travel agent portal has reached its 60th year of existence in July.

The celebration, which was held under the theme 60 Years of Cinema at Meliá Barajas in Madrid, attracted more than 600 travel partners and included an overview of the new features of Meliá PRO that consist of new technologies and unique tools for travel agents.

Through the collaboration of Avis Rent A Car System and Air Europa, the night was dedicated to the company’s most significant associates, the travel agencies. A 36 percent sales increase was recorded for Meliá PRO in 2015, which now has 125,000 members.

F LUFTHANSA DECKS-OUT AIRBUS FOR FC BAYERN MUNICH

an favourite football club FC Bayern Munich, was transported from Munich Airport to the US on a specially designed Airbus A340.

To delight players and football enthusiasts, the long-haul aircraft was covered in a special FC Bayern Munich design.

Lufthansa has been the official carrier of the German club since 2004.

Aircraft with FC Bayern Munich design

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10 AUGUST 2016

WHO’S MOVED

SIMON LAMKIN has been selected as chief information officer at Brussels Airlines.

In his capacity, he will be in charge of technology and innovation, making sure that the airline stays at the forefront of modern technologies and digitalisation.

Lamkin, who has a vast experience in the aviation industry, joins the carrier after a successful career at easyJet, where he served as head of IT operations systems. During his time at the company, he was responsible for many innovations.

His expertise, track record and management capabilities are set to be of great value to Brussels Airlines as it continues to invest in new technologies.

KATIE FARRELL

SIMON LAMKIN

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10 AUGUST 2016

ELIN WESTIN has been appointed director of communications at Scandic Hotels.

With an extensive background in marketing and communications, Westin has held senior executive positions at Springtime, Lensway as well as Prime, which enabled her to cultivate skills in designing innovative public relations and communication campaigns in both business-to-business and business-to-consumer settings.

Arriving from her most recent position of senior vice president of Cohn & Wolfe, Westin’s responsibilities will include further developing Scandic Hotels’ commercial public relations, internal communications and the overall company profile.

Westin will assume her duties in mid-September.

JOSEPH GALEA

ELIN WESTIN

Lamkin will be in charge of technology

KATIE FARRELL has been promoted to director of sales at The Westbury, Dublin.

With a distinguished reputation stemming from a 10-year career of working at local and international hotels such as Millennium Hotel, New York and The Breakers Palm Beach, Florida, Farrell joined the team at The Westbury in 2014, consistently valuing her guests and helping to secure a place for the hotel in the Virtuoso collection in March this year.

In her new role, Farrell will be responsible for leading all sales initiatives and managing revenue, e-commerce and public relations activities, while also acting as the key account manager for Leading Hotels of The World as well as the American Express Fine Hotels & Resorts programme.

JOSEPH GALEA has taken over at Air Malta as acting CEO. Galea, who has over 30 years of experience in the travel industry, assumes the role after serving the airline as deputy chief commercial officer for the past two years. Prior to that, he supported Malta Tourism Authority as director of international marketing, based in Germany.

As present CEO’s, Philip Micallef’s two-year term comes to an end, he prepares to move on to the next challenge after a 35-year career in senior executive roles in Malta.

Gales takes the helm at Air Malta

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CUSTOMER AND MARKET ANALYST, VIKING LINE

We urge key players to do their utmost to play with local rules “Sharing economy is undoubtedly an added value for our cities and economies, it is also a great way for visitors to engage with the locals – to get the real and authentic city experience delivered by real people, living real lives. We urge key players to do their utmost to play with local rules in order to make the pie bigger […]. If managed properly, the sharing economy can be a tool that can prove highly cost effective, provide opportunities for deeper citizen engagement and offer considerable rewards on environmental impact too.”

GENERAL MANAGER, RADISSON BLU CENTRUM HOTEL, WARSAW

OLOF KARLSSON

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

”Today’s passengers expect better service on board. They value clean and beautiful premises, pleasant and comfortable cabins and, above all, genuine and friendly service attitude. These are the factors that guarantee a successful maritime experience, a break from the bustle of everyday life.”

Safety and comfort of our guests have always been the undisputable priorities for us

“Safety and comfort of our guests have always been the undisputable priorities for us. Our guests, many times, came back to us with comments confirming how safe they have felt in our hotel and how much they have enjoyed their stay with us. We always use our best efforts so that all of our guests spending time at our hotel feel safe at any time of day and night.”

Tourism is a dynamic [...] economic sector

Passengers expect better service on board

TALEB RIFAI

PATRIK LEVLIN

PRESIDENT, EUROPEAN CITIES MARKETING

IGNASI DE DELÀS

TRAVEL TALK

SECRETARY GENERAL, WORLD TOURISM ORGANIZATION

“Results show a strong desire to travel and this continues to drive tourism growth. Destinations keep benefitting from solid demand across all world regions despite ongoing challenges, showing that tourism is a dynamic and resilient economic sector. Yet, despite these good results, the tragic events of recent months remind us that safety and security remain a major challenge for all. We must continue to work closely together to address this global threat and ensure tourism is an integral part of emergency planning and response at global, regional and national level.”

TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE – this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories.

We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

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PHOTO ALBUM

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

British Airways developed a new photo app for customers to take away a souvenir cockpit picture from their flight

Coindrum launched at Cyprus‘ Larnaka International Airport

Take a Shot!

Share with us the latest images of your activities and let your colleagues know what you have been up to.

British Airways produced a Brazil beach etiquette guide ahead of the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro

TUI Cruises celebrated the christening of Mein Schiff 5 in TravemĂźnde

10 AUGUST 2016

Send your photos to editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel Because a picture is worth a thousand words...

AEGEAN Air won the best regional airline in Europe award from Skytrax

Monarch showcased an in-flight trolley at the heart of London

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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Finland Celebrates Ice Age UNESCO World Heritage Site

C

elebrations took place throughout the summer to mark the 10th anniversary of Kyarken Archipelago’s inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage List.

The events included specially designed archipelago cruises, exclusive exhibitions as well as the Korsholm Music Festival, throwing the spotlight on some of the country’s highlights.

“Finland’s boundless nature and famous white summer nights offer visitors the perfect escape,” said Riitta Balza, senior advisor and marketing manager, Visit Finland.

Kvarken Archipelago, which consists of 5,600 islands, is joined by six cultural World Heritage Sites across Finland.

IFTM TOP RESA Paris, France September 20 – 23 www.iftm.fr Reed Expositions France puts together a happening that over the years has become a multitarget market event for all travel types.

Belarus to be Presented in Georgia

T Moscow, Russia September 30 – October 01 www.medshow.ru A professional event with a highly targeted promotional campaign which brings clinics and medical tourism providers into direct contact with potential patients.

UKRAINE INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MARKET (UITM) Kiev, Ukraine October 05 – 07 www.ukraine-itm.com.ua Tour operators and travel agencies, various seminars and conferences make the annual programme a must-attend event.

Belarus

MOSCOW MED SHOW

bilisi will play host to the national exhibition of Belarus in September.

Ahead of the event, a delegation from Georgia headed to Minsk to join the meeting of the Belarusian – Georgian ministerial working group on bilateral cooperation and discuss timely and relevant issues, such as the organisation of the next programme of the intergovernmental Belarusian – Georgian commission on economic cooperation.

The parties also exchanged views on interaction with international bodies and contacts with third countries.

EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK Grows

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ver 400 towns and cities from 26 countries have registered for the campaign, which aims to promote a continent-wide sustainable transport strategy.

Since the beginning of the year, Belarus, Ireland, Moldova, Montenegro, Austria, Estonia, Hungary, Poland and the Netherlands have appointed coordinators, while for the first time, Denmark has marked the programme as a national reference point. Ireland has already doubled 2015’s participation, the Netherlands has also surpassed its 2015 figures and over 100 communities in Spain have signed up.

Usually some 2,000 municipalities across 45 nations participate in the event which takes place in September.

Jumeirah Olive Oil Tour in Mallorca

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s part of Jumeirah Port Soller Hotel and Spa’s Unique Experiences programme, visitors will be able to learn all about olive oil.

Launched in collaboration with local producer Cooperativa de Sóller, the initiative allows guests to gain a better understanding of the whole production process of Olis Sólle. Participants will also be offered an exclusive body scrub manufactured from the olive stones as well as a special body wrap.

The partnership between the organisations further demonstrates the hotel’s commitment to using local suppliers to reduce its carbon footprint whilst creating authentic experiences for tourists.

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