Travel Trade Europe, 10 February 2016, Issue 31

10 FEBRUARY 2016 ISSUE 31

02 EUROPEAN HOTELS THRIVE IN NOVEMBER 2015

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SHORT BREAK

ATHENS 03 Hotel

Performance

04 Cruising SPAIN: ON TOP OF THE WORLD

19 Rendezvous 23 Photo Album

MARKET UPDATE

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TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

EUROPEAN HOTELS THRIVE IN NOVEMBER 2015

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic

Malta

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu 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 WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

The continent’s hotel sector recorded a 0.8 percentage point rise in occupancy to 68.1 percent and a 4.1 percent increase in average daily rate (ADR) to EUR107.74 in November 2015.

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s STR Global revealed, this led to a 4.9 percent year-on-year improvement in RevPAR to EUR73.40.

Overall, ADR drove performance for the month, especially in Southern Europe, where RevPAR jumped 13.2 percent to EUR64.13, with Malta, Spain and Italy being the top performers.

While Paris and Brussels experienced a challenging month, Irish, Dutch and Russian accommodation establishments benefitted from strong demand, resulting in positive developments in all three key performance metrics.

PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprinters Ltd P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: +357 25 720035, Fax: +357 25 720123 Email: info@cyprinters.com

LUFTHANSA GROUP REACHES NEW HEIGHTS

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

EXCHANGE RATES

as of

9.2.2016

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.12

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.77

Switzerland (CHF) Franc

1.09

Japan (JPY)

129.31

2

Yen

Lufthansa Group’s airlines collectively transported 107.7 million passengers in 2015, marking a 1.6 percent year-on-year rise.

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he company carried out more than one million flights and achieved the highest-ever seat load factor at 80.4 percent. This corresponds to an increase of 0.3 percentage points in capacity utilisation compared to 2014.

The group invested heavily in the development of its offers throughout the past few years. As part of this, 17 new aircraft were put into service in 2015, and its fleet will be amended by a further 251 jets over the next 10 years. Additionally, the firm sanctioned cabin refurbishment, improvements in onboard services and the availability of broadband Internet connection.

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NEWS HOTEL PERFORMANCE

According to HotStats data, in October 2015, the hospitality market in Europe presented a mixed picture with hotels in the Russian capital still feeling the effect of the financial crisis and properties in Istanbul trying to make profit despite falls in RevPAR, occupancy and average room rates.

Meanwhile, Amsterdam faced payroll increases which subdued the top line growth.

Hotels in Istanbul Fight Hard

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ccommodation establishments in the Turkish city suffered a 14.3 percent year-on-year decrease in RevPAR as a result of declines in both occupancy, which fell 4.3 percentage points, and achieved average room rate (ARR) that dropped 8.5 percent, but were struggling to maintain profit.

In addition to the significant increase in supply in 2015, which included the 284-room Hyatt Regency Istanbul, the 217-unit Hilton Garden Inn Istanbul and the 204-key Mercure Istanbul Topkapi, hoteliers are also contending with the destination being a primary focus of the ongoing geopolitical crisis.

The biggest challenge for properties in Istanbul in 2015 was to maintain the strong growth recorded in achieved ARR in 2014, which had surged 10.1 percent.

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Moscow Hoteliers See Signs of Recovery

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ore than one year on from the start of Russia’s financial crisis, properties in the capital are starting to get a grip on declining RevPAR levels with an uplift in volume driving a 4.1 percent increase in RevPAR. Growth in RevPAR continued the strong performance recorded by hotels in the city from the start of the recovery in the third quarter of 2015, in which they achieved a 7.2 percent boost in this measure led by an 8.6 percentage point rise in occupancy.

Despite the surge in RevPAR for the month, as a result of escalating operating costs, gross operating profit per available room (GOPPAR) fell 1.4 percent year-on-year for the month of October 2015.

Bottom Line Declines in Amsterdam

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oteliers in Amsterdam recorded a 0.7 percent year-on-year increase in total hotel labour cost and a 5.3 percent rise in total overhead costs per available room, thus, cancelling out the 3.9 percent boost in RevPAR. As a result of the changes in revenue and cost, the Dutch capital recorded a 0.5 percentage point decrease in GOPPAR. Dutch businesses were caught out by strong surges in labour costs in the rooms (5.2 percent), food and beverage (8.6 percent) and sales and marketing (11.7 percent) departments.

However, the year-on-year cost swells had little impact on the year-to-date performance, with Amsterdam remaining in line for a strong 2015, recording a GOPPAR improvement of 16.2 percent for the 10 months to October 2015, to EUR82.17.

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NEWS CRUISING

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MSC Cruises Launches Global Brand Positioning MSC Cruises unveiled its new worldwide brand campaign which builds on its core brand heritage and supports its growth strategy.

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he cruise line is currently in the midst of a EUR5.1 billion investment plan that will double capacity for the fleet and bring seven next-generation vessels into service between 2017 and 2022.

Previously, the company focussed on projecting the Mediterranean way of life, which told of the family-owned company’s warmth, humanity and accessibility, and a recent research found that customers already perceive the MSC Cruises experience as being distinctly more reliable than other cruise companies.

The new positioning showcases where the elegant side of the Mediterranean meets professionalism, and is supported by the new communications campaign, Not just any cruise.

Robots Join AIDA and Costa Cruises

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elebrating an industry first, Costa Cruises will introduce Pepper robots to its AIDA Cruises and Costa Cruises fleet.

Hailed as the first robot that reads key human emotions, Pepper, which can communicate in German, Italian and English, is expected to improve guest experience and assist in entertaining passengers aboard the two brands’ fleet.

“With an emotional robot onboard our cruise ships, we are once again continuing our tradition of innovation,” said Michael Thamm, CEO, Costa Group, stressing that this is an important step towards a digital future for the group’s brands.

Pepper

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Harmony of the Seas’ New Slide Unveiled

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oyal Caribbean International revealed the first look of The Ultimate Abyss, hailed as the tallest slide on the high seas, to be launched in May aboard Harmony of the Seas.

Consisting of two side-by-side slides, the attraction features a 30.5m serpentine-like drop and a glass platform at its very beginning. Audio effects add to this multi-sensory attraction.

Harmony of the Seas, known as the world’s largest cruise ship, will span 16 guest decks, carry 5,497 passengers at double occupancy and feature 2,747 staterooms.

The Ultimate Abyss

Greek Islands in Focus

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lena Kountoura, economy, infrastructure, maritime affairs and tourism alternate minister, Greece, met with Giannis Giannelis, secretary general for the Aegean and island policy, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Islands and Fisheries, Greece, to discuss the development of tourism and cruises on the Greek islands.

The two parties set the priorities and examined the role played by local authorities towards this goal.

Elena Kountoura (left) and Giannis Giannelis

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Travel Trade Luxury is a worldwide luxury travel trade publication.

Travel Trade Luxury is brought out monthly. It is published both in digital and printed format.

Its digital readership is based on the 150,000 readers which the Travel Trade Publications platform enjoys. Readers include agents specialising in individual luxury travel, group luxury travel, travel counsellors and advisors, luxury travel DMCs and all other luxury products and services.

Travel Trade Luxury is also distributed to the major travel trade exhibitions and specialised luxury shows and events.

Travel Trade Luxury contains informative current news on luxury destinations and products.

It also includes specialised luxury destination reports with in-depth analyses of issues related to the luxury segment.

NEWS

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British Travellers to Vacation More According to Thomson and First Choice predictions, Britons will break away from traditional holidaying habits and go away more often this year, as evidenced by the continuing popularity of three- or four-night breaks to destinations such as Madeira, the Balearics and Iceland.

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Iceland

he travel companies forecast the tendency to fly further afield to continue, as more Britons make the most of their extended long-haul programme, with Costa Rica and Sri Lanka set to top wish lists.

The top five travel trends predicted are further growth of emerging destinations, more long-haul travel, rise of action-packed holidays, flexibility on vacation dates, and technology proving streamlined holiday experiences.

Security Concerns Impact London

The Royal Yacht Britannia Wows Visitors

ABTA: 22 New Members

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London

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ondon experienced lower demand and occupancy in November 2015 according to STR Global, with these performance metrics dropping 1.9 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively.

During the month under study, occupancy stood at 81.6 percent.

At the same time, the city witnessed a rise in room supply of 1.7 percent, as well as a 2.2 percent increase in average daily rate (ADR) to GBP149.98 (EUR149.98). RevPAR, on the other hand, shrunk 1.4 percent to GBP122.38 (EUR166.72).

he Royal Yacht Britannia was officially recognised as Scotland’s best visitor attraction for each of the last 10 years, as rated by VisitScotland.

For 2015, the destination achieved a record score of 96 percent, the highest mark ever awarded to a visitor attraction in the country, beating its own record, set in 2014.

With 308,906 visitors in 2015, The Royal Yacht Britannia recorded its best year since its opening in 1999. All in all, a total of almost five million people from around the world have visited the queen’s former floating palace in the past years.

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he Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) welcomed 22 new companies into the organisation in the last three months of 2015.

Of the new affiliates, 14 will be trading as principals, five as dual members and three as retail members. Additionally, four new partners were also registered.

ABTA’s 2015 Holiday Habits report indicated an increase in the volume of those looking to take a sporting holiday this year, and this trend has also been reflected in the new companies joining, with six adventure and sports holiday entities becoming part of the union.

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NEWS

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Spain: On Top of the World

Madrid

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pain is the world's third-most visited destination, behind France and the US, according to a Phocuswright report, Spanish Online Travel Overview Eleventh Edition.

Consecutive years of record-breaking inbound tourism is breathing new life into the European country’s vacation hotspots and travel companies’ strategic positioning.

The study, which explores the destination’s travel market dynamics and contains detailed information on all segments in the region, unearthed that Spain has emerged as a strong contender among European economies after years of fiscal turmoil, with the national GDP jumping to 3.5 percent year-over-year in 2015.

While the country's travel market has been buoyed by strong inbound visitation, ongoing austerity measures and high unemployment keep travel out of reach for many Spaniards.

TUI Bundles Retail Services

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UI Group signed a five-year contract with gategroup through its Gate Retail Onboard subsidiary, to be its single source supplier for inflight retail for all five of its tour operator airlines.

The deal includes onboard sales of food and beverage, duty free articles as well as pre-order sales in the UK and the Nordics, enabling the group to create even more efficient processes. Sales across the airlines are expected to increase 25 percent at the end of the contract period.

Belarus Cheapest for Russian Tourists

Minsk

B 10 FEBRUARY 2016

elarus ranked as the most affordable tourist destination in the CIS region for Russian travellers in 2015, according to Travel.ru.

The online travel service provider posited that Russian guests spent on average RUB4,200 (EUR55.16) per night on hotel accommodation – a bargain compared to RUB4,500 (EUR59.1) in Ukraine and RUB7,100 (EUR93.25) in Kazakhstan.

As for non-CIS countries, Morocco ranked the cheapest with a daily rate of RUB3,000 (EUR39.4), followed by Lithuania at RUB3,100 (EUR40.71) and Bulgaria at RUB3,300 (EUR43.34).

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NEWS

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ETC Offers Insight into US Segment

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uropean Travel Commission (ETC) produced a new video providing tourism professionals with key figures and travel patterns of the US tourism market to Europe.

The three-minute footage displays relevant insights on the continent’s largest overseas source market and features information, such as the number of arrivals to Europe, growth rate, shares and prospects. It also outlines the average US traveller’s profile.

Eduardo Santander, CEO, ETC, commented that as an international body responsible for the promotion of Europe as a tourist destination, the organisation aims to provide members and tourism professionals with swift information based on the wealth of market intelligence collected in studies and reports.

Air Freight Decline Bottoms Out

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New York

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ir cargo volumes decreased 1.2 percent year-on-year in November 2015, according to data released by International Air Transport Association.

Total cargo capacity, however, expanded over October 2015, and was higher than the low point in August 2015, indicating that the decline in cargo demand may be bottoming out.

The negative year-on-year comparisons occurred across all regions with the exception of the Middle East which posited a 5.4 percent growth. Of the major markets that together comprise more than 80 percent of total trade, Europe was down two percent, North America 3.2 percent, Asia Pacific 1.5 percent, Latin America 6.4 percent and African markets fell by six percent.

New York Welcomed 12.3 Million Global Visitors

DID YOU KNOW...

The city’s four largest international markets are the UK, Canada, Brazil and China?

YC & Company revealed that 2015 was the sixth consecutive year for record-breaking tourism for New York, with an estimated 58.3 million visitors, 12.3 million of which were international travellers.

Moreover, even with the nearly 6,000 new rooms added to the city’s hotel inventory in 2015, demand resulted in a four percent year-on-year growth, with a record 33.7 million guest nights.

“The city continues to evolve, always offering fresh reasons to visit again and again, with more new developments on the horizon. However, with the continuing pressure on the global economy and the strengthening Dollar, we will all need to work even harder [this year] to sustain our competitive edge,” said Fred Dixon, president, NYC & Company.

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NEWS MEPRAs Recognises Ireland and Britain

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Battle of Hastings

n the occasion of the 950th anniversary of the Battle of Hastings and the Norman Conquest, a survey by English Heritage revealed that those under 35 years of age know more about fictional characters from Game of Thrones than those fighting to secure the real English throne in 1066.

“1066 is arguably the most important year in England’s history,” stressed Jeremy Ashbee, senior properties curator, English Heritage, reminding that the death of King Edward the Confessor unleashed a battle for the crown of England.

“English Heritage will be bringing the story of 1066 to life throughout the year at our castles, abbeys and the battlefield where history was made,” he confirmed.

Tourism Ireland and VisitBritain representatives accepting the award

English Heritage Celebrates Year 1066

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ourism Ireland and VisitBritain's initiatives were rewarded by Middle East Public Relations Awards (MEPRAs), in Dubai.

Both tourism organisations ranked top in the best integrated campaign category for their joint One Break, Two Cities campaign, which highlighted the visa waiver scheme in the Middle East during 2014’s Eid holidays.

“We have been working hard to raise the profile of the island of Ireland in the Gulf countries and are constantly looking at new and innovative ways of reaching potential holidaymakers for Ireland,” noted Amanda Burns, manager, Middle East and Asia, Tourism Ireland.

Travelport Extends STUDENT AGENCY Partnership

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ravelport entered into a multiyear agreement between its local distributor, CEE Travel Systems and STUDENT AGENCY, a full service travel agency and online travel service provider in the Czech Republic.

The deal will see the two companies work together in the European country as well as in Slovakia, serving both domestic and international travellers.

As part of the partnership, the Czech agency will continue to process its bookings through the technology provider’s platform and provide users with real-time search, pricing, payment and integrated itinerary creation. It will also benefit from Travelport’s travel content, including branded fares and ancillaries from worldwide airlines.

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SHORT BREAK ATHENS

BE AN

Athenian THE CITY OF MYTHOLOGY AND HISTORIC SITES, ATHENS ATTRACTS MILLIONS OF VISITORS EVERY YEAR, AND AFTER A PERIOD OF DIFFICULTIES, THE GREEK CAPITAL IS DETERMINED TO GIVE ITSELF A DISTINCT IMAGE THAT WILL PROPEL IT INTO A NEW ERA.

ATHENS IN BRIEF Country: Greece Currency: Euro (EUR) Language: Greek Population: 664,000 Calling Code: +30 Time Zone: GMT +2:00

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RITA KASZIBA WRITES

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ith passenger traffic at Athens International Airport (AIA) exceeding 18.08 million, up 19 percent year-on-year, 2015 broke all previous records at the airfield.

This comes as a positive sign of rebound after years of declines between 2008 and 2013, when figures at the airport descended from 16.53 million in 2007 to just 12.54 million in 2013, to then skyrocket a whopping 21.2 percent to 15.2 million in 2014.

Yet, industry professionals acknowledge that much needs to be done to further stimulate demand and increase the sector’s contribution to the capital’s socio-economic development.

“Athens’ tourism faced a challenging year in 2015,” admitted Kalliopi Andriopoulou, director of public relations, Athens Development and Destination Management Agency, adding that a closer and more efficient collaboration between public and private stakeholders helped the city make an impressive comeback to the international scene.

“Against the grim frame of instability, […] Athens experienced an average 23 percent increase in the number of foreign visitors in 2015,” underscored Andriopoulou, attributing the development to precise planning, targeted actions and resourceful initiatives. The positive trend, as she said, renews the city’s hope and further strengthens its commitment to pursue the goals of growth, healthy prosperity and social cohesion.

“Even during the recent crisis, the tourist industry in Athens and generally in Greece has been one of the mainstays of economic growth and employment,” emphasised Minas Kourtis, director of online marketing and sales, Best Western Museum Hotel, Best Western Pythagorian Hotel, Best Western MyAthens Hotel and Best Western Rodian Gallery Apartments.

Maria Letsou, sales department, Best Western Candia Hotel, reported a 15 percent year-on-year improvement in results for 2015, noting that the capital’s tourism sector responded to the challenges exceptionally well.

MATTER OF PRIDE Tourism in Athens is in fact more than just an engine for economic prosperity, as it is also a matter of national pride.

“It goes without saying that tourism is vital to the city’s economy,” professed Andriopoulou. “It brings growth, creates jobs, pumps and spreads income to a larger spectrum of businesses and professions. In this sense, tourism helps in dealing with several other issues.”

As Andriopoulou explained, besides its contribution to the economy and job creation, tourism also plays an integral role in strengthening relations between people and culture.

According to Tina Toribaba, communications manager, Hilton Athens, there is no particular secret to hide or promote, what is important is to recognise the unique blend of antiquity and modernity.

Yet, despite its characteristics, due to the economic crisis, the media has remained heavily focussed on the negativity surrounding the destination.

Toribaba called on relevant authorities and all those involved in tourism to give high priority to this issue, suggesting that high-

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SHORT BREAK ATHENS

profile events could help sparkle demand.

“Apart from the marathon, what would significantly help is to organise some more truly big events of European and worldwide interest, such as a Formula 1 race, a film festival or a sailing competition, all of which could bring international exposure,” elaborated Toribaba.

All these endeavours come in line with the city’s push towards quality experiences.

“Athens’ tourism industry is currently undergoing a major strategic improvement initiative, focussing on attracting the higher-value tourist segment, [meaning] high-net-worth, affluent travellers, increasing average daily spending and opening new markets,” explained Panos Papamikropoulos, reservations and sales manager, Best Western Museum Hotel, Best Western Pythagorian Hotel, Best Western MyAthens Hotel and Best Western Rodian Gallery Apartments.

“Over the next years, Athens is poised to make significant investments in the tourism industry, focussed on transforming the traditional sun and beach tourist product into a number of higher-value and more focussed products, centred on nautical, city break, cultural, religious and medical tourism [aspects],” added Papamikropoulos.

THE REAL ATHENS In a bid to offer an authentic experience that can be cherished by visitors over a lifetime, industry stakeholders lay great emphasis on showcasing the distinct face of the capital that distinguish it from other popular destinations in the Mediterranean.

To that end, AIA and Marketing Greece joined forces to launch the Speak Athenian. Be an Athenian campaign which promotes the capital as a top city break destination where history seamlessly blends with a modern atmosphere.

The interactive digital project aims to express the way Athenians live and experience all that the destination has to offer in their everyday life, showing the many facets of the capital to both repeat visitors as well as new audiences.

Over the coming months, the campaign is set to further evolve with a series of live activities to be held at the airport and various other locations.

As Ioanna Papadopoulou, director of communications and marketing, AIA, explained, following two initiatives of similar concepts, the latest campaign allows visitors to create a new language, to express their Athenian identity through their experiences in the city’s unique blend of history and evolution, which, as she said, forms the Greek capital’s very own DNA. 

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NEWS AIRPORTS

European Air Traffic Remains Strong

Athens International Airport

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Passenger movements across Europe rose 4.6 percent year-on-year in November 2015, according to Airports Council International (ACI) Europe.

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t European Union (EU) airfields, the average traffic growth reached 5.1 percent, while the figure at non-EU airports surged 2.9 percent.

Moreover, freight traffic across the continent was down 0.6 percent while aircraft movements increased 1.7 percent.

Olivier Jankovec, director general, ACI Europe, analysed, “The combination of [various] events resulted in Istanbul Atatürk Airport ranking the second busiest European airport behind London’s Heathrow Airport for the first time on a monthly basis – as passenger traffic decreased by 11.3 percent at Frankfurt Airport and 1.3 percent at Paris-Charles de Gaulle.”

New Records for BSCA

LJLA Traffic Grows in 2015

L Brussels South Charleroi Airport

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iverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) served more than 4.3 million passengers in 2015, registering an eight percent rise over 2014.

December 2015 alone saw a 15 percent increase in footfall with 310,000 travellers on record.

The number of airlines flying to the airport more than doubled to nine, while routes served grew by 13 – nine of which were launched to new destinations.

The airport also welcomed a host of new and improved passenger facilities.

Liverpool John Lennon Airport

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russels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) welcomed some 6.96 million passengers in 2015, representing an eight percent year-on-year rise, and surpassing the airfield’s 2013 peak.

The year ended with a number of countries attracting more travellers with Italy leading the way, followed by Spain and France. Prague, Athens and Bucharest were the top three growth destinations.

In addition, OAG’s Punctuality League 2015 report also found that BSCA was the number one airport in terms of punctuality for the geographical area covering Europe, the Middle East and Africa in the fewer than 10 million passengers per year category.

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NEWS AIRPORTS TAG Farnborough Opens New Facilities

Belfast to Become Ryanair’s Newest Base

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n an effort to meet growing demand, TAG Farnborough Airport, the UK’s dedicated business aviation hub, invested an additional GBP1 million (EUR1.3 million) to create more space for passengers and crew at its terminal building.

The airport now boasts a new lounge on the first floor which caters to up to 80 travellers.

“With an emerging demand for higher-volume business aviation flights, the new passenger lounge enables us to accommodate larger groups of passengers and corporate events, whilst continuing to offer privacy and comfort to individuals or small groups,” commented Sophie Lesnoff, head of customer services and terminal operations, TAG Farnborough Airport.

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yanair will add Belfast as its base in March with one based aircraft and a four times daily service to London’s Gatwick Airport.

“Our four times daily Belfast – Gatwick service will be ideal for both business and leisure customers and we look forward to growing routes, traffic, jobs and tourism in Belfast in the coming months and years,” said David O’Brien, chief commercial officer, Ryanair.

As of October, the number of airplanes at the base will grow to three, with five routes on offer.

The move is expected to deliver over a million new customers and support around 750 jobs.

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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AccorHotels Adds EUR22 Billion to GDP

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hrough its almost 1,500 hotels and 34,000 people working for AccorHotels brands in France, the group is creating or maintaining more than 130,000 jobs worldwide.

Moreover, every EUR1 in revenue that the hotelier generates in the country, it contributes EUR1.52 to the national GDP, hence, France alone represents over a quarter of the hotelier’s contribution to the worldwide figure.

AccorHotels' ibis budget concept

According to AccorHotels’ first socio-economic footprint study, the company sustains around 880,000 jobs internationally and contributes EUR22 billion to the global GDP, equivalent to the input of a country like Cyprus.

New Radisson Blu Opens in Istanbul

Travelodge Celebrates 19 New Hotels

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adisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Atakoy has launched, marking the brand’s seventh property in the city.

With 133 high fashion-inspired rooms, the property is located on the shores of the Marmara Sea putting guests within walking distance of the Atakoy Marina and conveniently close to the old city and Bakirkoy Ferry Station.

“Our latest addition in Atakoy is another beautiful Turkish delight, fuelling our strong ambitions to grow across the country. We plan to add another eight hotels, resorts and residences shortly,” commented Mark Willis, area vice president, Middle East and Turkey, The Rezidor Hotel Group.

Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Atakoy

London Euston Travelodge

ravelodge will invest GBP140 million (EUR184.1 million) in 19 new UK accommodation establishments this year, boosting its network to 542 properties.

Key new locations for business hotels span London, Glasgow and Bristol, while more leisure-oriented properties are planned for Poole, Weston-Super-Mare, Bicester and Thetford.

Apart from these, the company has identified 250 further locations for Travelodge developments in the UK. “The value hotel market continues to go from strength to strength, boosted by ever more cost-conscious businesses and the growth in independent leisure travel,” noted Peter Gowers, CEO, Travelodge.

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat to Re-emerge

Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Airport Announced

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n March 1, Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel will reopen for its first full season under the management of Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, launching a wealth of new activities and programmes focussing on health and wellbeing.

The team from Le Spa will guide guests through personal training sessions in the gym or in its 1,200m2 garden overlooking the sea, or on guided runs along the coastal pathway.

Similarly, the hotel’s Club Dauphin will offer tailor-made swimming programmes for all levels.

In rooms, guests will be delighted with herbal infusions and light local specialties.

Eurostars Hotels Enters Sicily

Eurostars Centrale Palace

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urostars Hotels continues its international growth with the addition of Eurostars Centrale Palace, in Palermo.

The chain, which belongs to Grupo Hotusa, leased the establishment, marking its debut in Sicily and its seventh hotel in Italy, a country in which the group runs three other hotels under its other brand, Exe Hotels.

The 104-room property is located in the heart of the old centre of Palermo and occupies the former Palazzo Tarallo, a historical aristocratic residence dating backs to the 18th century. It boasts six meeting rooms accommodating up to 120 people as well as numerous dining options and a bar on the terrace.

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Marriott to Open Second Hotel in Belarus

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arriott International is gearing up to unveil Minsk Marriott Hotel, hailed as the first five-star internationally branded hotel in Belarus.

The 217-unit establishment will boast various dining options, a summer terrace, café, rum bar as well as 940m2 of meeting space for both corporate and social events.

Furthermore, the sporting services of the hotel will be supplemented by the facilities of the multifunctional sports and entertainment complex, Falcon Club, a cooperation project between Qatar and Belarus, which comprises a state-of-the-art sports arena for up to 4,500 spectators, a modern gym, wellness centre, spa, tennis and squash academy and cinemas.

Minsk

Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel

Wolfgang Neumann

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n the first quarter of 2017, The Rezidor Hotel Group plans to open the 163-room Park Inn by Radisson Brussels Airport.

“We are delighted to add an airport hotel to our growing portfolio in Brussels where also our corporate support office is located,” said Wolfgang Neumann, president, The Rezidor Hotel Group. “Brussels Airport reports steady growth and serves 22 million passengers per year. It is surrounded by a dynamic corporate environment that offers additional business opportunities for the new Park Inn by Radisson.”

The property will be connected to the airport terminals via shuttle services, and will feature two food and beverage outlets, seven conference rooms, a business and crew lounge and gym.

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NEWS AIR

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Turkish Airlines Expands Horizon Turkish Airlines increased its network in Africa with the addition of new destinations.

The airline now serves Port Louis and Antananarivo, the capitals of Mauritius and Madagascar, respectively.

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he flights are offered three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays in both directions.

Effective from February 8, operations between the cities will increase to four weekly frequencies.

The carrier flies to 48 destinations in 31 countries Africa.

Air France Links Rennes with Amsterdam

Tokyo

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beria will launch three weekly nonstop flights to Tokyo, becoming the first carrier to connect Spain to Japan nonstop.

Starting October 18, the Spanish airline will offer a total of 90,000 seats per year on the route.

Moreover, during the winter season, samefrequency services are expected to start between Madrid and Shanghai, once Iberia finalises negotiations with Chinese authorities.

“We have always wanted to be a global airline.

With these routes to Tokyo and Shanghai, we take a step in that direction, while we bring closer our country to two economical and touristic powers such as Japan and China,” commented Luis Gallego, chairman, Iberia.

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Rennes

Iberia Takes Off to Tokyo and Shanghai

DID YOU KNOW...

Air France-KLM and its partners Delta Air Lines and Alitalia operate over 250 daily transatlantic flights?

n March 27, Air France will launch flights between Rennes and Amsterdam, to be operated by a 50-seat Embraer 145 aircraft.

The services are timed to enable quick and easy connections to the French airline’s long- and mediumhaul network, as well as to that of KLM. Rennes and the Brittany region of France are home to many companies, particularly from the technology, automobile and food industries.

10 FEBRUARY 2016

NEWS AIR

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Aeromexico Ready for Amsterdam

Monarch Adds Lisbon and Madrid Routes

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onarch will introduce new services from Manchester, London Gatwick and Birmingham to Lisbon, as well as from Birmingham to Madrid, as part of the airline’s new summer schedule.

In response to the growing demand, an extra Airbus A320 will be based at Birmingham Airport, bringing the total number of aircraft flying for the carrier to 35, with nine being based in Birmingham.

Following the successful introduction of flights from London Luton in December 2015, a new itinerary from Manchester to Tel Aviv will start in April.

According to Marjan Schoeke, head of network development, Monarch, over 2,100 flights have been incorporated to the network for the upcoming summer season.

Wizz: New Routes in March

Lisbon

ay will see Aeromexico launch thrice-weekly nonstop flights between Mexico City and Amsterdam, to be offered onboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner.

Anko van der Werff, chief revenue officer, Aeromexico, enthused, “The Netherlands is the fourth largest of Mexico’s trading partners in the European Union and nowadays, an average of 200,000 annual passengers travel between both capital cities.”

The new route will provide Dutch customers greater connectivity to other parts of the South American destination, including Guadalajara, Monterrey, Puerto Vallarta, among others.

DID YOU KNOW...

Monarch is also planning to launch a Manchester - Tel Aviv service?

airBaltic Flies to Verona and Salzburg

a

irBaltic, together with Tez Tour, recently delighted winter holidaymakers with two new routes, connecting Riga with Verona, in Italy, and Salzburg, in Austria.

“Our customer was our focus when Tez Tour and airBaltic teamed up for this winter season. We are delighted to offer Verona and Salzburg in cooperation with Tez Tour for our winter travellers,” noted Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice president, network management, airBaltic.

The new routes are served by Boeing 737 aircraft.

C

omplementing its Lithuanian offer of low-cost services, Wizz Air will add operations from Kaunas.

From March 29, the airline will start offerings a new itinerary to London’s Luton Airport with five weekly flights from its newest destination.

With an initial seat capacity of 93,000, the new route is expected to stimulate the aviation and hospitality sectors in Lithuania.

Moreover, beginning March 25, the carrier plans to launch twice-weekly services from Lublin to Eindhoven.

10 FEBRUARY 2016

Cakes to mark the launch of new routes

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NEWS AIR Austrian Airlines Traffic Slightly Drops

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easyJet Undeterred by European Security Threats

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ustrian Airlines carried more than 10.8 million passengers in 2015, corresponding to a three percent year-on-year decrease.

The decline reflects target capacity reductions in European flight traffic. In addition, operations to long-haul locations such as Dubai was terminated, and the popular winter destination of Malé was removed from the summer schedule.

Revenue passenger kilometres also fell 1.3 percent to 18.2 million, while passenger load factor stood at an average 78 percent, comprising a slight drop of 0.9 percentage points compared to 2014.

e

asyJet transported 4.8 million passengers in December 2015, marking a 4.6 percent increase, despite a predicted decline following happenings in Europe.

Around 23 percent of the carrier’s capacity was on French touching routes, and as a consequence, load factor slipped 1.8 percentage points to 86.6 percent.

Rolling traffic for the year was almost 70 million passengers, and a load factor stood at 91.6 percent.

AZAL and MIAT Join Forces

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he respective presidents of Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) and Mongolian Airlines (MIAT) met in Baku to discuss issues of civil aviation bilateral cooperation between the countries, as well as longterm plans in increasing passenger and freight traffic.

Also noted at the meeting was that the infrastructure created in the sector, as well as the advantageous geographical location of Azerbaijan, will create good opportunities to supply goods to European and Pacific Rim destinations.

Following the gathering, it was decided to establish a joint working group of representatives of both entities.

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airBaltic: Demand Surges in Estonia and Lithuania

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n the last quarter (Q4) of 2015, airBaltic saw an average increase of 33 percent in bookings in Estonia and Lithuania, compared to Q4 of 2014.

In Estonia, demand for tickets skyrocketed 42 percent, while in Lithuania figures surged 23 percent.

Wolfgang Reuss, senior vice president, network management, airBaltic, commented, “We offer the best connectivity into and out of Estonia and Lithuania, as airBaltic serves a combination of direct flights and convenient transfers via our main hub in Riga to Europe, Scandinavia, the Middle East and the CIS”.

10 FEBRUARY 2016

RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

CAROLINE MENNETRIER DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS, PALAZZO PARIGI HOTEL & GRAND SPA MILANO

PROVIDING GUESTS WITH INNOVATIVE PROGRAMMES SO THEY CAN CONCENTRATE ON QUALITY TIME IS WHAT TRUE LUXURY MEANS; AND THIS IS EXACTLY WHAT THIS ITALIAN PROPERTY OFFERS, AS CAROLINE MENNETRIER, DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS, PALAZZO PARIGI HOTEL & GRAND SPA MILANO, EXPLAINS. TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How does being located in the city hailed as the heart of fashion, affect the hotel’s clientele? Which are the hotel’s main source markets and how have these evolved over the past years?

CAROLINE MENNETRIER: When visiting the city, guests want to be able to experience the best of shopping, sightseeing and nightlife as Milan is a very vibrant and dynamic city. Our strategic location between the golden triangle 10 FEBRUARY 2016

and the historical part of the city offers them the possibility to not only enjoy incredible shopping, but also to be at the very heart of the action in Milan.

The narrow streets of Brera with its small cafés, great restaurants and designer shops are just around the corner, while the iconic Scala and Duomo are within a short walking distance. Within a day, our guests can enjoy the numerous facets of the city.

The expo which took place in 2015 and the many events around the city have brought an additional angle to come and visit Milan which has helped increase leisure business while the traditional fashion weeks and furniture fairs ensure the city a constant business appeal.

We also opened our swimming pool, bathed with natural light and flanked with a spacious terrace offering the relaxing view on the private garden.

We also engaged in a collaboration with the famous French pastry house, Ladurée to offer our guests the ultimate afternoon tea experience at our lounge, Café Parigi.

Finally, we also hosted Michelinstarred guest chef Katia Maccari from Tuscany who offered a tasting menu at our gastronomic restaurant as well as a special Menu de Fêtes for the festive season.

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: The hotel recently joined forces with Palace Les Airelles to offer a unique package to guests. How successful has this been?

What other initiatives are prepared in order to boost the hotel’s image and increase your clientele base?

CAROLINE MENNETRIER: This initiative with Les Airelles was developed to offer discerning international travellers the ultimate city and ski experience. A lot of our guests come to Milan during winter to enjoy a few days of shopping before going skiing, so we thought to create a dedicated package where they can experience it all in style: from enjoying private shopping to flying private jet from Milan directly to Courchevel, and indulge into the ultimate food and spa experience.

This is what true luxury is, providing our guests with innovative and inspiring programmes where we take care of everything and they can concentrate on quality time only.

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Which were the achievements the management can be proud of at the property in the past months?

CAROLINE MENNETRIER: 2015 was an exciting year for Palazzo Parigi as we launched our presidential suite, a luxury private apartment designed as a home-away-from-home with unrivalled views of Milan’s iconic landmarks [...].

Palazzo Parigi Hotel & Grand Spa Milano

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What are the priorities for this year? Do you have any upcoming plans for upgrades or developments at the property?

CAROLINE MENNETRIER: Our next exciting news will be the launch of our grand spa early this year, boasting 1,400m2 bathed in natural light.

Designed by our owner and architect Paola Giambelli, in collaboration with French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, it will offer an unmatched wellness experience in the heart of Milan. Diverse spa offerings, paired with the delicate Moroccan-inspired décor and architectural elements will take hotel guests and locals alike, on a holistic journey, far away from the bustling city. The spa will provide an additional appeal to those looking for a relaxing break into one of Europe’s most vibrant cites.

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EYLEM FINDIK GENERAL MANAGER, RADISSON BLU HOTEL, ISTANBUL ATAKOY

“We have achieved remarkable results for airBaltic in the past few years, and, with the new [EUR 52 million investment by Ralf Dieter MontagGirmes] we can now focus on our expansion and consolidation in the Baltic region. The new equity will be used for investing into new aircraft rather then leasing them and, thus, giving airBaltic an advantage on the cost side, a vital element for our Horizon 2021 business plan.”

Events [...] act as a spiritual shop window

CHAIRMAN, VISITSCOTLAND

“I [was] delighted to attend Scots Day Out which is a wonderful community celebration of our traditional and contemporary culture. Bendigo has a fine reputation as a tourism leader in Australia and I look forward to discovering further links between the city and Scotland.

Events [...] act as a spiritual shop window for Scotland [...]. It presents us with a fantastic opportunity to engage the Scottish diaspora and encourage them to look back home to visit Scotland during the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design.”

We […] encourage more women to apply to fly

The whole team is ready to showcase our […]

Yes I Can! service

“We are thrilled and incredibly proud to open this glamorous hotel in Istanbul. Both by design and nature, [Radisson Blu Hotel, Istanbul Atakoy] embodies all that is truly iconic, stylish and sophisticated about Radisson Blu and the whole team is ready to showcase our equally beautiful and memorable Yes I Can! service to our Turkish and international guests.”

MIKE CANTLAY

CEO, AIRBALTIC

The new equity will be used for investing into new aircraft

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

DIRECTOR OF FLIGHT OPERATIONS, BRITISH AIRWAYS

STEPHEN RILEY

MARTIN GAUSS

TRAVEL TALK

“It is a great time to be a British Airways pilot. We have excellent opportunities for new pilots with the British Airways Future Pilot Programme entering its fifth successful year, as well as the very best experienced flight crew from other airlines and the military.

We are extremely proud that we have more female pilots than ever before, and we are continuing our recruitment campaign to encourage more women to apply to fly commercial aircraft.”

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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10 FEBRUARY 2016

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

TRAVEL CHANNELS

WTTC UNVEILS ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTING TOOL

Rijksmuseum

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE HOSTS MUSEUM

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n support of the agreement reached at the recently held Sustainable Innovation Forum COP21 in Paris, World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) launched an online feature that assists companies in any industry understand the laws and regulations by country and stock exchanges relating to the reporting of environmental, social and governmental issues.

“Reporting on the practices we are implementing to combat climate change is a starting point and a commitment towards a more sustainable future of not just our sector but any industry,” said David Scowsill, president, WTTC.

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olland America Line celebrates its Dutch heritage in a new deal with Rijksmuseum, one of the most-visited national museums in the Netherlands.

Through the collaboration, the Rijksmuseum at Sea initiative will be installed on ms Oosterdam during its scheduled dry dock in April and then move fleet-wide over the next years.

Reproductions of some of the venue’s most famous masterpieces will be showcased throughout the ship and a dedicated space onboard will invite guests to explore their own creativity through guided art workshops.

T US ENCOURAGES BIOFUEL USE 10 FEBRUARY 2016

he Port of Seattle, Alaska Airlines and Boeing joined to power all flights by all airlines at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport with sustainable aviation biofuel.

The deal envisages a USD250,000 (EUR228,060) Biofuel Infrastructure Feasibility Study to assess costs and infrastructure necessary to deliver a blend of aviation biofuel and conventional jet fuel to aircraft at the airport, which is the first in the US to lay out a longterm roadmap to incorporate aviation biofuel into its infrastructure in a cost-effective, efficient manner.

“Sustainable aviation biofuel will play a critical role in reducing aviation’s carbon emissions over the long term,” assured Sheila Remes, vice president, strategy, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

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www.traveltradeeurope.travel

PHILIPPE ROUX-DESSARPS has been chosen as vice president of global brands at Hyatt.

He comes to the brand marketing role, in which he will oversee Park Hyatt, with more than 24 years of experience at the company.

For the past seven years, he led Park Hyatt Tokyo as general manager, coming back to the hotel from a previous role as front office manager nearly 20 years ago.

In addition to Park Hyatt Tokyo, he also worked at a number of luxury properties throughout the world, including Park Hyatt Paris Vendome, Grand Hyatt Bali and Hyatt Regency Osaka.

Morse served Marriott International for 36 years

Roux-Dessarps joined Hyatt 24 years ago

EMANUEL HÖGER is the new acting press spokesman of Messe Berlin.

Höger became director of the newly established public affairs department of the organisation in October 2014. Prior to that, he was a senior aide to Klaus Wowereit, governing mayor, Berlin.

Höger is taking over from Michael Hofer, who is leaving Messe Berlin after 25 years.

With such an extensive career, he is hailed as Germany’s longest-serving trade fair spokesperson.

CRISTIAN SAMOILOVICH has been named head of public affairs at Ryanair.

He joins the airline from Uber where he was in charge of European public policy.

Samoilovich, who is the first to hold this position at the company, has extensive experience and knowledge in government relations having previously worked for Boeing and Airbus.

In his capacity, he will lead Ryanair’s public affairs engagements with European Union institutions and governments from across the continent.

Höger has been with Messe Berlin since October 2014

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PHILIPPE ROUXDESSARPS

RICHARD MORSE continues as senior vice president of hotel operations at Carnival Cruise Lines.

In his capacity, he will be responsible for all guest-facing aspects of the company’s vacation experience, including entertainment, culinary and dining, beverage, housekeeping, as well as guest services and logistics.

Morse embarks on a new career path after gaining extensive knowledge in the hotel sector, particularly with Marriott International where he spent 36 years. Most recently, he served as general manager of Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in the US.

CRISTIAN SAMOILOVICH

EMANUEL HÖGER

RICHARD MORSE

WHO’S MOVED

Samoilovich worked for both Boeing and Airbus

10 FEBRUARY 2016

PHOTO ALBUM

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Air France inaugurated its new Glasgow service

easyJet celebrated its 20th birthday in Aberdeen

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

Manchester Giants basketball stars visited Thomas Cook Airlines’ hangar at Manchester Airport

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

Ryanair donated EUR5,000 to Anthony Nolan Event Charity

10 FEBRUARY 2016

bmi regional gave out Golden Tickets to Munich

25 scouts took part in a sponsored aircraft wash at the Jet2.com hangar at Leeds Bradford Airport

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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS BIT Milan, Italy February 11 – 13 www.bit.fieramilano.it International and continuously evolving, the event focusses on four areas; leisure, luxury, MICE and sport.

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

FITUR ATTRACTS GLOBAL ATTENTION

H.

M. Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, queen, Spain, inaugurated the 36th staging of the international tourism fair, FITUR, the trade show organised by IFEMA which gathered 9,500 companies, institutions and travel organisations from 165 countries and regions.

The event featured specialised forums for a wide range of industry-specific sectors, allocated spaces for scheduled business meetings and various workshops.

Technologies that have revolutionised both the management and marketing of tourism were given centre stage with the aim of providing the keys to successfully dealing with new challenges pertaining to innovation, technology and sustainability throughout the value chain of sector and tourism management.

ILTM JAPAN Tokyo, Japan February 29 – March 02 www.iltm.com/japan Reflecting on the 35 percent yearon-year boost Japan witnessed in 2015 in luxury visitors, the event opens for the first time in Tokyo, and promises to be bigger than ever.

LITHUANIA RECEIVES THE WORLD

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ity breaks was the theme of this year’s international tourism, travel and active leisure exhibition Adventur, which welcomed globe visitors to Lithuanian Exhibition and Congress Centre, Litexpo, in Vilnius.

As Jurgita Kazlauskienė, head, State Tourism Department, Lithuania, noted, the aim of this year’s edition was to encourage travellers to discover the European destination’s cities

and towns.

“City tourism has been gaining popularity in Europe. Opting for a weekend break in one's local towns instead of buying a ticket to Paris or Barcelona has become an interesting, smart and even fashionable trend,” she added.

BENDIGO WELCOMES VISITSCOTLAND CHAIRMAN BTL INTERNATIONAL TOURISM EXHIBITION Lisbon, Portugal March 02 – 06 www.btl.fil.pt A business and networking platform for all travel professionals and an open stage for debate and discussion on the Portuguese tourism sector.

ITB BERLIN Berlin, Germany March 09 – 13 www.itb-berlin.de Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the event aims to attract more than 115,000 trade visitors this year.

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M

ike Cantlay, chairman, VisitScotland, was the star guest at the fourth annual Scots Day Out; an event which attracted thousands of people with Scottish ancestry from across Australia to Bendigo, Victoria.

The honour coincided with the tourism organisation’s presence in the country to promote Scotland at trade meetings and events during The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo’s international tour of Australia and New Zealand.

Scots Day Out 2015

BELARUS TO HOST ILLUSIONIST FESTIVAL

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rodno is gearing up for the third installment of the international festival, Magic Show, which will run in the western Belarusian city between February 20 – 21.

The event is set to gather nearly 100 illusionists, both professionals as well as amateurs and will also feature various workshops and competitions.

The magic festival will be held in Belarus for the third time and is strongly supported by local authorities and organisations.

10 FEBRUARY 2016