Travel Trade Europe, 10 July, Issue 17

10 JULY 2015

ISSUE 17

HUNGARY REMAINS ON UPWARD TRAJECTORY MORE THAN HALF (51.9 PERCENT) OF THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TOURISM NIGHTS SPENT BY EUROPEAN UNION RESIDENTS DURING THE WHOLE YEAR OCCUR DURING THE SUMMER SEASON BETWEEN JUNE AND SEPTEMBER.

03 GNTO AND AEGEAN PRESENT NEW TURKISH ROUTES

08 IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE

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AIRPORTS

04

AGENTS

06

TOURISM BOARDS

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ATTRACTIONS

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ACCOMMODATION

13

AIR

15

RENDEZVOUS

17

TRAVEL CHANNELS

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WHO’S MOVED

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PHOTO ALBUM

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NEWS & EVENTS

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SUMMER ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN HALF TOURISM NIGHTS

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MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou

Aeroflot Posts Favourable Results Aeroflot held its annual general meeting of shareholders where participants elected the new composition of the board of directors and adopted decisions on the other agenda items.

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he company achieved optimal financial results, given the crisis currently affecting the Russian economy, with revenue increasing 9.9 percent year-on-year to RUB319.8 billion (EUR5.23 billion).

Participants in the meeting were informed that the Russian group is working on strengthening the integration of its subsidiaries and on developing regional flights. Moreover, Aeroflot announced that it continues to work with the government to update the country’s commercial aviation legislation.

STR Global: Europe Does Well

PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian Inna Armeanu

According to data compiled by STR Global, the European hotel industry posted mixed results in year-on-year comparison for April.

DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis

Rome

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

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orthern Europe saw double-digit growth of 16 percent in average daily rate (ADR) and 16.8 percent in RevPAR when compared to April 2014. Southern Europe also experienced an improvement in RevPAR of 10.2 percent. Eastern Europe recorded the highest occupancy increase, up 6.6 percent to 60.1 percent.

Bulgaria reported the largest boost in occupancy with 62 percent, and Ireland, Poland, UK, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Croatia and Belgium experienced RevPAR surges of more than 15 percent.

EMAILS info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradeweekly.travel

Traffic Up at Brussels Charleroi EXCHANGE RATES

Accurate as of

10/7/2015 COUNTRY

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CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.11

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.71

Switzerland (CHF)

Franc

1.04

Japan (JPY)

Yen

135.84

Brussels South Charleroi Airport (BSCA) welcomed 647,720 passengers in May, registering a 12 percent year-on-year increase and pushing load factor up by six percentage points to 86 percent.

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he most popular country from the Belgian airport proved to be Italy, ahead of Spain, France, Morocco and Poland, while in the city ranking Warsaw claimed the top spot, followed by Milan, Budapest, Madrid and Rome.

Speaking about the higher-than-expected results, Jean-Jacques Cloquet, CEO, BSCA, attributed the sharp increases in figures to the bank holidays that fell before a weekend which meant that lots of people could get away for a city break at very reasonable prices.

Brussels South Charleroi Airport

10 JULY 2015

MARKET UPDATE

Tourism Arrivals on the Rise in Croatia

Boosted by strong domestic demand, Hungary recorded a 9.6 percent rise in visitor numbers and a 4.8 percent surge in guest nights in April, boosting tourism revenues by 5.7 percent to HUF15.5 billion (EUR49.7 million).

Croatia welcomed 2.7 million visitors in the first five months of the year, an improvement of 12 percent yearon-year. The number of nights also grew by 14 percent to reach 7.3 million.

Rijeka

Sopron

Hungary Remains on Upward Trajectory

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uring the month under review, 395,000 international and 380,000 domestic visitors enjoyed the Central European country’s hospitality, leading to a 2.7 percentage point improvement in occupancy ratios to 52.6 percent and encouraging movements in room rates and RevPAR. The drop in traffic from Russia was counteracted by increased arrivals from the US, up 21 percent, as well as from the UK, Czech Republic, France, Romania and Slovakia.

Brussels Airlines: Increased Passenger Numbers May proved to be a strong month for Brussels Airlines, with passenger figures, load factor and transported cargo volume growing.

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he surge in traveller numbers was witnessed across all markets. IntraEuropean flights experienced a 15.1 percent boost, those between Africa and Brussels recorded a 18.3 percent year-on-year rise and services to New York and Washington saw customer volumes climb 4.8 percent.

In total, 87,379 additional passengers chose to travel with Brussels Airlines in May. 10 JULY 2015

oreign tourists accounted for 1.9 million arrivals and 6.2 million nights, a surge of 15 percent on 2014 figures. Domestic arrivals increased seven percent.

“It is important to continuously work on creating new motives for arrivals, as only like that we can be competitive on the international tourism market. I believe that this is just the beginning of realising our goals of transforming Croatia into a year-round destination,” said Darko Lorencin, tourism minister, Croatia.

Malta: Record-breaking Figures in 2014 The Maltese islands welcomed an all-time high 1.69 million travellers in 2014, the Tourism in Malta Statistical Report – Edition 2015, published by Malta Tourism Authority, revealed.

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s the publication depicts, the country’s tourism performance was amongst the highest when compared to other European and Mediterranean destinations. The 6.8 percent rise in arrivals pushed guest nights up by 4.9 percent to over 13.5 million and tourism expenditure up by 6.1 percent to EUR1.5 billion, while average length of stay also remained high at eight nights.

The main source market remained the UK, followed by Italy and Germany.

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NEWS AIRPORTS

Moscow and Paris Fall Behind

Electric Buses at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

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total of 35 electric buses started operating at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to transport travellers between aircraft and gate. Each vehicle has its own charging point, making the airport the biggest charging station for such buses in Europe.

Jos Nijhuis, president, Schiphol Group, said, “Schiphol aims to be one of the most sustainable airports in the world. In everything we do we try to be cleaner, smarter, more economical and more social.”

The vehicles were designed especially for and in collaboration with the airport and have smaller batteries tailored for the required action radius at the airfield, allowing for spacious seating and additional baggage space.

Electric bus at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

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Aerozone Stansted Officially Launched

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Positive Figures for Manchester Airport

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erozone Stansted, the UK airport’s new education centre designed to inspire young people, opened its doors and is set to attract over 5,000 youngsters by 2016.

Manchester Airports Group (MAG)’s flagship community project aims to boost skills in science, technology, engineering and maths, to tell the story of the airport’s rich history and show visitors a range of exciting careers that are available in aviation.

Almost 20 separate businesses and organisations, including Boeing UK and Essex County Council, have joined forces with the airfield in supporting the project, offering sponsorship and materials to equip the centre.

he number of people using Manchester Airport increased by 2.8 percent in May, with a total of 2.09 million people having travelled through the airfield, up from 2.03 million in the same period in 2014.

This brings the rolling annual total to 22.4 million passengers, a surge of 6.21 percent year-on-year and the largest ever for Manchester Airport, with current forecasts indicating that the facility will break the 23 million mark by 2016.

The amount of air freight handled also showed further strong growth, increasing for the fourth consecutive month, up 9.24 percent from 7,996 tonnes in May 2014 to 8,735 tonnes this year.

Aerozone Stansted

Manchester Airport 10 JULY 2015

AIRPORTS NEWS Slovenia Lures More Foreignwith Tourists FMG Deepens Cooperation Thai Partner

New Facilities at Bristol Airport

Suvarnabhumi Airport

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unich Airport’s operating company, FMG agreed with Airports of Thailand (AoT) to collaborate more closely and enhance their partnership, which dates back to the preliminary stages of the successful launch of Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport.

FMG and AoT already regularly exchange information and cooperate in international processes, marketing, training and innovation management.

The new deal provides for the continuation of the partnership, as well as future cooperation plans that include consulting and infrastructure projects in the entire Asian market.

ristol Airport’s eastern terminal extension will see a variety of new additions this summer.

The GBP8.6 million (EUR12 million) project has opened and is a major component of development plans to enhance facilities to handle 10 million passengers per annum.

As well as creating space for hundreds of additional seats in the departure lounge, the extension provides more than 1,000m2 for retail and catering units.

New to Bristol Airport are a number of leading stores, new food and beverage outlets, including a rooftop garden and the Aspire executive lounge.

Kate Ridgers, head of commercial development, Bristol Airport, enthused, “There are now even more reasons to arrive early at the airport this summer.”

Helsinki Airport

Helsinki Airport Reduces Noise

10 JULY 2015

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s part of its Silent Airport project, Helsinki Airport discontinued flight information and passenger announcements made through the terminal.

Information at the departure gate and its surrounding areas, in addition to public emergency announcements, will remain unchanged.

The project is implemented by the airport and its carriers with the aim of improving comfort of the waiting areas and reducing travel-related stress by minimising background noise.

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NEWS AGENTS

ABTA Assists Adventure Travellers

dnata Solidifies Presence in Gatwick

Thomas Cook Launches Carbon Monoxide Scheme

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he Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA) has worked with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the British Standards Institution, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills and the Department for Education to put together guidance for those planning an adventurous holiday or gapyear experience.

The organisation compiled a new checklist as a guide to safer adventure travel which is downloadable through its website and deals with issues such as what does the insurance cover, what are the potential safety issues or what happens in case of an emergency.

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aving invested over EUR27.6 million in the UK aviation sector, dnata marked another milestone in the country by commencing passenger and ramp handling at London’s Gatwick Airport.

It now offers a full range of airport operations services at the hub and also provides ground and cargo handling at Heathrow and Manchester airports. At Birmingham, Glasgow, Nottingham East Midland and Newcastle airports it handles cargo operations and facilitates movement through 17 regional airfields with its intra-airport trucking operation.

“The UK is a global aviation hub and our goal is to support the industry’s growth throughout the region,” said Gary Morgan, CEO, UK operations, dnata.

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homas Cook is setting up a new carbon monoxide initiative to raise awareness through research, campaigns and the promotion of legislation of the risks associated with the dangerous gas.

The company has committed to raise an initial GBP1 million (EUR888,000) to launch the project which will also involve charity partners, research houses and leisure travel organisations. Thomas Cook will work closely together with its partners to facilitate a positive change and help prevent potential accidents caused by carbon monoxide.

10 JULY 2015

TOURISM BOARDS NEWS VisitScotland Attracts New Board Members

Berlin’s Popularity Grows in April

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ourist arrivals to Berlin amounted to 1,034,083 in April, marking a 4.5 percent increase compared to April 2014.

The foreign segment reached 415,035 travellers and 313,500 of those were Europeans.

The UK was the city’s best-performing feeder market as it sent 43,766 visitors, while in terms of overnight stays the highest figure was also recorded from the British market exceeding 120,000 nights.

For the first four months of the year, the German capital received 3.55 million tourists, signalling a year-on-year surge of 6.3 percent.

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n event aimed at encouraging a more diverse range of people, particularly women, to apply for board positions in the public sector was recently held in Edinburgh.

VisitScotland ran the initiative, in partnership with Changing the Chemistry (CtC), an independent charitable organisation which promotes diversity on boards in order to achieve improved performance.

The national tourism organisation aims to recruit enthusiastic people keen to extend their networks and enhance their leadership skills.

Mike Cantlay, chairman, VisitScotland, said, “Scottish tourism has taken great steps forward in the last few years and we would like to continue with the strongest board team possible and, by capitalising on quality through diversity, we will succeed in this.”

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Malta’s Accommodation Units Flourish

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ccording to collective accommodation statistics published by the National Statistics Office, arrivals to Malta are on the rise this year, with March alone having witnessed a 3.4 percent increase in tourist influx, and a 0.2 percent surge in guest nights.

Average length of stay stood at 5.1 nights and overall net occupancy rate at 52.5 percent, two percent higher than during the same month in 2014.

Arrivals for this first quarter (Q1) jumped 4.5 percent to 273,965 and total guest nights went up by almost five percent to 1,438,989 nights.

Q1 also saw mainland Malta outperform Gozo, mainly due to a temporary closure of several hotels for refurbishment purposes during January and midFebruary.

Valletta

10 JULY 2015

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NEWS TOURISM BOARDS GNTO and AEGEAN Present New Turkish Routes

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Scotland: 2016 is Innovation and Design Year

Istanbul

he Greek National Tourism Organisation (GNTO) and AEGEAN Airlines joined forces to present the carrier’s new itineraries to Istanbul from Heraklion and Mykonos as well as to Izmir from Athens. The event was attended by around 50 travel agents, tour operators and media members.

The presentation was officiated by representatives of the airline and the organisation’s high-ranking management, as well as Evangelos Sekeris, consul general to Istanbul, Greece.

AEGEAN Airlines rewarded attendees with a draw which saw four lucky winners receiving business and economy class tickets.

Belarus Relaxes Visa Restrictions

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Strome Castle, Scotland

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Belovezhskaya Pushcha National Park

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ventScotland, part of VisitScotland’s events directorate, launched a brand new GBP200,000 (EUR276,600) events fund created to develop activity to celebrate Scotland’s achievements in innovation, architecture and design, for its 2016 themed year.

Applications officially opened for the sector across Scotland, supporting events up to a maximum award of GBP20,000 (EUR27,600). The funding will be used to create new activity or enhance existing programmes which reflect the themes and support the objectives of the coming year, essentially promoting Scotland.

From textiles to technology, architecture to fashion and design, the year-long initiative will shine the spotlight on the country’s greatest assets and icons, as well as its hidden gems.

isitors of Belovezhskaya Pushcha now enjoy visa-free travel to Belarus’ acclaimed territory for up to three days.

The eased access is available via the Belarusian border checkpoint Pererov-Belovezha and only a special pass is needed to visit the national park without a visa.

The changes come as the country aims to host one of the world’s biggest events.

“At the moment the host of the summer Olympic Games 2028 has not been chosen yet. Belarus’ application could be very competitive,” said Klaus Schormann, president, International Modern Pentathlon Union, stressing that the country boasts a corresponding infrastructure with roads, including towards the first-class sports facilities and high-level hotels.

10 JULY 2015

NEWS ATTRACTIONS

Romania Welcomes Dinosaur Park

Europa-Park

Dino Parc Rasnov

Europa-Park Turns 40 in Style

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ermany’s biggest theme park, Europa-Park celebrates its 40th anniversary this year with a refreshed collection of attractions, some of which have been renovated. Its theme zones had also been expanded and the characters in the grand parade dazzle now sport brand new costumes.

The anniversary celebrations will culminate with a big party on July 11, when the park will stay open until midnight.

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ino Parc Rasnov, a dinosaur-themed park is the newest addition to Romania’s tourist attractions.

Less than a 30-minute drive from the Transylvanian town of Brasov and in the vicinity of Rasnov Medieval Citadel, the Dino Parc Rasnov is one of the largest of its kind in Eastern Europe. It hosts 45 life-sized dinosaur mock-ups, scientifically developed and attested. Tree houses, zip-wires, a cinema and many other surprises are available alongside the route that follows the historical evolution of dinosaurs.

Housed in a forest in the Carpathian Mountains, the attraction is expected to increase the number of visitors to the already very popular region of Transylvania.

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he State Forest Management Centre of Estonia opened a new 192km section of the country’s longest nature trail, bringing the track’s total length to 820km.

The first 628km section from Aegviidu to Ähijärve in southern Estonia was launched two years ago and this addition takes hikers from Peraküla on the western coast to Aegviidu in the north.

The authority also plans to mark a third trail from northeastern Estonia to the west coast. This too will pass through Aegviidu and if all goes according to plan, it will be ready for use in 2018 when the country celebrates its 100th anniversary.

Eiffel Tower Welcomes Eco-terrace

Eiffel Tower’s summer terrace

Part of the 820km hiking trail

Longest Nature Trail in Estonia Is Now 820km

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p until August 30, visitors to the Eiffel Tower can enjoy the newly-renovated first floor summer terrace which is part of the attraction’s commitment to sustainable development, since all furnishings were made in France from recycled or recyclable materials.

The hotspot includes five lounge areas with armchairs, sofas and coffee tables, high bar tables and chairs, swinging communal tables created from about 15,000 plastic bottles, benches, poufs made from 30m2 of sails, and even deck chairs with pedals which allow visitors to recharge the battery of their mobile devices.

10 JULY 2015

NEWS

SUMMER ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN HALF TOURISM NIGHTS More than half (51.9 percent) of the total number of tourism nights spent by European Union (EU) residents during the whole year occur during the summer season between June and September.

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ccording to Eurostat, a little more than 60 percent of these nights are being spent domestically, with the remaining 40 percent translating into overseas trips.

Accounting for almost three quarters of all nights spent during the year, the summer season is particularly prominent for Italians, Greeks, Slovakians and Slovenians, while residents of Malta, Finland, Denmark, Romania, the UK, Germany and Estonia organise more than half of their trips before and after the hottest months.

Travelling within the country seems to be an extremely popular option among Greeks, Spaniards, Romanians, Bulgarians, as well as among French and Portuguese people.

Greece Enhances Links with South Korea

Focus on Digital for Germany

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he German Convention Bureau (GCB) is turning to digitisation and internationalisation as part of its new strategy, which is a result of an extensive research into megatrends that identified globalisation and technology as key factors set to impact the future of the meetings industry.

GCB’s new focus will also support Germany’s leading position internationally as a meeting and conference destination.

South Korea

European Canteen Introduced in Belgium

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n the context of the Mediterranean country’s participation in Κοrean World Travel Fair, Elena Kountoura, tourism, economy, infrastructure, and maritime affairs alternate minister, Greece, visited Seoul and had a series of meetings with industry professionals and stakeholders.

Among others, she saw Kim Jongdeok, culture, sports and tourism minister, South Korea, higher management members of Korean Air and top tour operators and travel agents operating in the Asian country.

European canteen

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he European Quarter Area Management Association launched a new urban experience in the heart of Brussels. In a bid to invite tourists, Europeans and locals to share a table for a drink, a lunch or a talk, the project consists of 70 modular, innovative tables that will regularly move in different set-ups in seven parks and public spaces of the European quarter of Brussels, during summer.

The experiment, titled European canteen, will be then evaluated and the successful projects can be handed over to the competent authorities who can decide upon a long-term implementation.

10 JULY 2015

ACCOMMODATION NEWS

The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya Opens

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he St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya marks the brand’s debut in Russia.

“Located in the most highly sought-after address in the city, The St. Regis Moscow Nikolskaya delivers a new level of bespoke hospitality to locals and visitors alike through the brand’s signature St. Regis Butler Service,” said Jenni Benzaquen, vice president, luxury brands, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

Originally constructed in the 1870s as the residence of Count Orlov-Davydov, the property offers 210 guest rooms and suites with Belle Epoque interiors, as well as five food and beverage outlets, a 1,600m2 Iridium Spa, a private rooftop bar, four meeting rooms and a ballroom.

10 JULY 2015

Ulaanbaatar Celebrates New Luxury Hotel

Romantik Welcomes New Additions

Excelsior Hotel Gallia Unveiled in Milan

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aving opened its doors in early June, Shangri-La Hotel, Ulaanbaatar is the latest addition to the Mongolian capital’s luxury scene.

The hotel is connected to Shangri-La Centre, a mixed-use residential, retail and commercial development due to debut in 2016.

Its décor celebrates the nomadic culture of the country, and its 290 rooms and suites are graced with elegant furnishings and marble bathrooms. For VIP treatment, the property will unveil Horizon Club this month, offering express checkins and check-outs, complimentary breakfast and all day beverages.

Shangri-La Hotel, Ulaanbaatar

n time for its 40th anniversary in Austria, Romantik Hotels & Restaurants announced new members – one in the capital city and another one in Turracher Höhe, on the border of Styria and Carinthia.

Romantik Hotel Altstadt Vienna is ideally located enabling guests to explore the sights in the city centre on foot, with individually-designed rooms and a unique collection of art. Works by renowned artists can be found at the hotel, as well as changing exhibitions by upand-coming talents.

Romantik Seehotel Jägerwirt pays a particular attention to families, offering active recreation all year round, as well as extensive child-care services allowing parents to spend a relaxing time out.

s part of its multimillion Euro investment to restore its existing European hotels, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts has officially relaunched Excelsior Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Milan, following an immense project.

Owned by Katara Hospitality, the property emerged from a meticulous, all-encompassing renovation of the historic building, whilst also adding a new contemporary wing. Formerly identified as Palace Gallia, the hotel is strongly rooted in the Milanese history, located in the heart of the new Porta Nuova district.

Hoyt Harper, global brand leader, The Luxury Collection Hotels & Resorts, commented, “With The Luxury Collection set to reach 100 hotels by the end of the year, this is an exciting time to unveil Excelsior Hotel Gallia, right on the heels of the annual design fair Salone del Mobile.”

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION Radisson Blu in Leeds Undergoes Makeover

Lausanne Welcomes Three New Hotels

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Lausanne

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wiss city Lausanne boasts three new properties.

Firstly, the three-star Aquatis Hotel which will feature 143 rooms, a spa, restaurants and conference halls is to open in 2016.

This summer, another hotel to enter Switzerland is Royal Savoy the city, owned by Katara Hospitality. It comprises 196 luxurious rooms and suites, spacious business facilities with the largest hotel ball room in Lausanne, an exclusive terrace restaurant, a lobby lounge and a cigar lounge, a Sky Terrace, and a spa area.

Moreover, as of June the three-star Hotel Voyageur, located in a quiet street in the heart of Lausanne downtown, is available to guests with 35 rooms and suites.

he 147-room Radisson Blu Hotel, Leeds has unveiled a sophisticated new look after a GBP3.5 million (EUR4.8 million) investment.

Work to completely upgrade the city centre hotel began in January and since then 72 rooms and public areas have been transformed.

The property’s ground floor space has also been completely remodelled, creating the new Fire Lake Grill House and Cocktail Bar, a standalone venue within the hotel.

Bedrooms are now newly designed and have media hubs with the latest in-room technology.

The refurbishment’s second phase will begin in January 2016 to complete the hotel’s transformation with work on the remaining 75 guest rooms.

Courtyard by Marriott Showcases Fresh Design across Europe

Belvedere Hotel Launches Six Senses Spa

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ourtyard by Marriott has increased its European portfolio with the addition of properties in Amsterdam, the Netherlands and in Gdynia, Poland. Both hotels will operate under a franchise agreement with Scandinavian Hospitality Management and will showcase the brand’s new European design, which focusses on blending technology and style.

Guests at the new Courtyard Amsterdam Arena Atlas and Courtyard Gdynia Waterfront can enjoy appealing and convenient food and drink options 24 hours a day and the dynamic lobby spaces feature free Wi-Fi connection, flexible seating and smart, inspiring interior design which welcomes and invigorates guests.

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Courtyard Gdynia Waterfront

Six Senses Spa

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elvedere Hotel, Mykonos is the home to Greece’s second Six Senses Spa which offers a layered approach to wellness uniting a pioneering spirit with treatments that go beyond the ordinary.

The open-plan spa features three treatment rooms, steam showers, daybeds and a separate manicure and pedicure area.

As Anna Bjurstam, vice president, spas and wellness, Six Senses Hotels Resorts Spas, explained, the opening of the facility supports the company’s vision of reconnecting guests with themselves, others and some of the most beautiful locations.

“In all our treatments, […] guests will find an intuitive mix of science and human awareness, where our high-tech and high-touch approach defines a service that is always crafted around the individual,” added Bjurstam.

10 JULY 2015

AIR NEWS Turkish Airlines’ New Routes to Austria and Germany

Vueling Now Serving Manchester

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ueling Airlines is now flying from Barcelona to Manchester Airport, with four weekly operations on Tuesdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Patrick Alexander, head of aviation marketing, Manchester Airport Group, said, “We are pleased to welcome Vueling Airlines to Manchester Airport. The airline will provide further choice for customers looking to visit Barcelona as well as giving the opportunity to connect to Vueling’s extensive route network.”

Manchester

airBaltic Connects Riga and Dubrovnik

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atvian national carrier, airBaltic launched weekly flights between Riga and Croatia’s major tourism hub, Dubrovnik.

Christophe Viatte, chief commercial officer, airBaltic, commented, “With its breathtaking old

ravellers from Istanbul can now fly to Graz and Baden– Baden with Turkish Airlines.

Flights to Graz will be operated four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Services to BadenBaden, which is the airline’s 14th destination in Germany, will also take off four times a week.

easyJet Remains Dedicated to Italy

town, imposing city walls and the shores of the Adriatic Sea, Dubrovnik is one of Europe’s top summer destinations. Adding it to our route map enables travellers from the Baltic region to conveniently reach this popular destination.”

Lufthansa Boasts New Kenyan Itinerary

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ctober 27 will see Lufthansa commence flights between Frankfurt and Nairobi. Services are to be operated four times a week during the winter season and one extra frequency will be added as of December 11.

The German carrier expects great interest and high demand especially among leisure travellers as on the African continent, Lufthansa passengers will be able to experience a lively metropolis and numerous attractions.

10 JULY 2015

Venice

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asyJet is strengthening its Italian ties through the expansion of its bases at Milan Malpensa and Naples and the opening of a new base in Venice in April 2016. The airline plans to support this development by redeploying aircraft and crew from Leonardo da Vinci-Fiumicino Airport, Rome.

Frances Ouseley, director, Italy, easyJet, said, “easyJet’s commitment to Italy is strengthened. With the opening of the new base in Venice and the investment increase in Milan and Naples we will be providing customers and companies with better choices to travel across our leading network, enabling the growth of local economies.”

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NEWS AIR S7 Airlines Celebrates Summer with New Routes

TAG Athens to Enhance Connectivity

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une saw S7 Airlines introduce twice-weekly domestic flights between Moscow and Salekhard, as well as Novosibirsk and Mirny.

Commenting on the launch of the Salekhard route, Igor Veretennikov, strategy director, S7 Airlines, said, “In case of purchasing a multipass on the S7 Airlines website or at a sales office, our passengers from Salekhard can fly with convenient connections at the Domodedovo Airport to other Russian and foreign cities in the S7 Airlines route network, and together with our partners in the oneworld alliance, to more than 1,000 cities in 150 countries in the world.”

n a bid to improve the connectivity of the capital and unlock its potential as a hub, Athens International Airport has launched TAG Athens, a joint initiative of the airfield and its airline partners.

The name of the project, that starts with a collaboration with AEGEAN Airlines and Singapore Airlines, serves as an invitation to passengers through a clear message: Athens connects you to the world, TAG Athens as an intermediate point on your route.

The main goal is to promote the connecting opportunities via the Greek capital to passengers travelling from the Balkans, Central and Eastern Europe to the Asia Pacific and Africa regions.

Brussels Airlines Adds Bremen to Its Network

Athens International Airport

Thomson Airways’ Dreamliner Debuts in Stansted

Bremen

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s of mid-September, Brussels Airlines will connect the Belgian capital to the German city of Bremen with five return services per week.

Jürgen Bula, CEO, Bremen Airport, commented, “Especially businessmen from the Lower Saxony and Bremen region will profit from this new direct connection between Bremen and Brussels, but this flight is also perfect for a city trip.”

The German destination boasts a 1,200-year-old trading history and is a strong economic hub known for its high technology.

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OT Polish Airlines and Air Serbia have further enhanced their relations by signing a codeshare agreement on flights between Warsaw and Belgrade.

The carriers will use a mutual code on all services between the two capitals and the Polish company will also place its sign on routes to Abu Dhabi, UAE, and Podgorica and Tivat in Montenegro. In turn, its Serbian peer’s code will appear on flights to Vilnius, Tallinn and Riga.

As Dane Kondić, CEO, Air Serbia, explained, “We are now able to boost our business and leisure travel offering between Serbia and the Baltic States and onwards to other endpoints throughout this strategically important European region.”

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Cancun, Mexico

LOT and Air Serbia Codeshare

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homson Airways marked the launch of its new Boeing 787 Dreamliner with touchdown at Stansted Airport and the announcement of long-haul routes from London to Mexico’s Caribbean coast and OrlandoSanford in Florida in summer 2016.

Mark Hall, director of product, Thomson and First Choice, said, “We are committed to taking customers on holiday from their local airport and we are excited to be able to introduce long-haul routes from Stansted for the first time.”

10 JULY 2015

RENDEZVOUS

Q & A with

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What are the main reasons behind the double-digit surge? What are the developments and initiatives that have helped the country regain the public’s confidence?

ANGELA VARELA: 2013 and 2014 were record years for the Greek tourism in terms of tourism arrivals and revenues and we expect this year to be another successful year. GNTO’s main goal is to promote Greece as a world of destinations. Through GNTO’s main platform, our website, we are continuously showcasing Greece’s different angles and appeal to different types of travellers. We present Greece as the authentic destination it is with its vast range of experiences on offer, its different landscapes and beautiful sceneries. We promote Greece via online and offline marketing campaigns and we are very active on social media. We illustrate the authentic beauties of Greece aiming to attract new loyal visitors.

Greece is a unique destination to visit; traditional, warm, welcoming and hospitable. And this is an unbeatable offer.

Angela Varela

DIRECTOR, MARKETING DEPARTMENT, GREEK NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: Please tell us about GNTO’s long-term aspirations. How many visitors are expected this year?

FOLLOWING YEARS OF STRUGGLE, 2014 PROVED TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR GREECE WITH ARRIVALS TO THE COUNTRY RISING 20.7 PERCENT TO 24.27 MILLION VISITORS. ANGELA VARELA, DIRECTOR, MARKETING DEPARTMENT, GREEK NATIONAL TOURISM ORGANISATION (GNTO) TALKS ABOUT THE COUNTRY’S REEMERGENCE.

ANGELA VARELA: It is not a question of numbers. The keyword is loyal. Our long-term aspiration is to have loyal visitors coming back to Greece year after year, essentially becoming the best possible ambassadors of Greek tourism across the world.

Greece has been a favourite for

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GREECE IS A UNIQUE DESTINATION TO VISIT; TRADITIONAL, WARM, WELCOMING AND HOSPITABLE

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What are Greece’ main source markets at the moment?

ANGELA VARELA: Mainly all European markets, such as Germany, UK, France and Italy, but we are seeing a constant increase from long-haul markets as well.

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: How important is the MENA region to the country’s tourism industry?

many travellers around the world over the decades and many visitors have special memories from their holidays in our country. But today’s holidaymaker wants more than just a beach holiday and Greece has so much more to offer in ways and areas lesser known, which is what here at the GNTO we aim to make more known to the public.

Greece

ANGELA VARELA: Our aim is to attract visitors from around the world and as such the MENA markets are really important to us. In 2014, we had more than 250,000 visitors from the area and we are now looking to increase these numbers through the online marketing campaigns we have launched with dedicated messages for specific audiences in MENA.

sions and boutique hotels offering sophisticated services, customised private tours showcasing the best luxury activities in Greece, unique experiences and spa treatments [that can] only be found in Greece’s Thalassotherapy resorts, and not to forget the superb Greek food and wines, as acclaimed Greek chefs have introduced traditional Greek recipes with a twist using mouth-watering locally-sourced ingredients.

TRAVEL TRADE EUROPE: What aspects of the country will be promoted in the coming months in order to unlock the industry’s full potential?

ANGELA VARELA: Showcasing the famous Greek hospitality in different angles of the luxury sector is our main goal for the MENA markets. That is luxury resorts and villas, renovated old man10 JULY 2015

Kos

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NEWS AIR Aeroflot Increases Flights to Tehran and Ulaanbaatar

New Levels of Comfort

by Air France

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eroflot has boosted frequency on its Tehran and Ulaanbaatar routes, offering further convenience to its passengers.

An additional flight to the Iranian capital is being operated on Wednesdays from Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport, bringing the total number of services to the city from four to five per week.

Additionally, this summer, Aeroflot will operate daily to the Mongolian city, as opposed to the previous four weekly itineraries.

Sofitel MyBed onboard La Premiere by Air France

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ofitel Luxury Hotels launched Sofitel MyBed, an exclusive sleep concept onboard La Première by Air France, the designer first class service.

Sofitel MyBed is a bedding concept which for this partnership has exclusively designed a quilt and a large pillow stuffed with the finest down for the comfort of passengers. When a passenger is ready to sleep, members of the cabin crew install a mattress on the seat and place the Sofitel MyBed pack, that is on par with a night’s sleep in one’s own bed.

Fréderic Gagey, CEO, Air France, commented, “La Première by Air France represents the pinnacle of our commitment to excellence in the French art of travel. With Sofitel MyBed, this designer suite offers comfort worthy of the best hotels.”

Iberia Adds Budapest Route

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beria commenced six-weekly services between Madrid and Budapest, which will run until October 22.

In Madrid, Iberia passengers form Hungary can connect to another 22 Spanish destinations; Lisbon and Porto in Portugal; the Angolan capital of Luanda and numerous Latin American cities, including Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Montevideo, São Paulo and Santiago.

Celia Muñoz, head of sales, Europe and Africa, Iberia, commented, “We are delighted to open the Budapest – Madrid route, which completes our network in Central Europe. The Hungarian capital is a very popular destination among Spanish tourists, thanks to its rich history, gastronomy and cultural life.”

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UIA to Serve Kutaisi tarting June 27, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is offering triple-weekly flights between Kiev and Kutaisi.

“The Ukraine – Georgia cultural, business and friendly ties have always been and are very strong,” said Evgeniya Satska, corporate press secretary, UIA. UIA plans to operate connections to Kutaisi throughout the year to offer passengers another convenient option when travelling to the resorts of Adjara in summer and ski centres of Gudauri, Bakuriani and Borjomi in winter.

Kutaisi

Alitalia Welcomes New Look

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litalia has introduced its new brand, aircraft livery and visual identity, in addition to product upgrades across all classes of service on its international wide-body fleet.

After 46 years, the green band will disappear from the fuselage and will be replaced with ivory. At the core of the new livery is a larger tricolour ‘A’ tailfin, which serves as a powerful representation of the Italian flag across the world. A more modern typeface and non-Italic style conveys the confidence and assertiveness of the new Alitalia.

The vibrant and contemporary new branding will also feature in the cabin decor of Alitalia’s modern fleet of Airbus, Boeing and Embraer aircraft, allowing for fresher, more stylish and uniquely Italian interiors.

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AIR NEWS airBaltic Improves Services to Poprad

Flybe Opens New Base in Wales

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lybe now has a new base at Cardiff Airport offering passengers an extended network that includes routes to Cork, Düsseldorf, Faro, Glasgow, Munich and Milan.

The 10-year agreement secured with the airfield creates an additional half million extra seats for sale each year, supporting 50 new jobs that include flight crew.

Commenting on the new base, Saad Hammad, CEO, Flybe, said, “It enhances and extends our already established presence here at the national airport for Wales. We look forward to all the 11 routes we are offering this summer being supported by many new customers, and we look forward to welcoming them onboard in the coming months.”

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tarting December 15, airBaltic will enhance connections between Riga and Poprad by doubling flight frequency.

The Latvian carrier will also launch a new direct route from Warsaw to the Slovak city, and both services will be offered onboard Boeing 737-300 aircraft.

Martin Sedlacky, board member, airBaltic, commented that the airline aims to bring more tourists to Poprad and the Tatras region and offer convenient air links to the Baltics, the Nordics and Russia with two weekly flights.

“Travellers will also be able to enjoy convenient connections to worldwide destinations from Poprad via Warsaw,” he added.

ANA to Serve Belgium

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s of this autumn, All Nippon Airways (ANA) will be operating directly between Brussels and Tokyo. The move raises the total number of European cities served by the carrier to six, as it already flies to Frankfurt, Munich, Düsseldorf, London and Paris.

“We are thrilled to welcome ANA to the family of airlines flying to Brussels, one of Europe’s major hubs, which lacked a direct flight from Japan. The new route will provide improved convenience for both European and Japanese travellers,” said Arnaud Feist, CEO, Brussels Airport Company.

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ustrian Airlines is further expanding its UK network with scheduled services to Manchester due to commence on September 10.

In addition to the existing 28 weekly frequencies to London, the Austrian carrier will offer up to seven flights per week to the northwestern city onboard a Fokker aircraft, bringing the number of daily services operated from Vienna to British destinations to five.

As Stephen Turner, commercial director, Manchester Airport, noted, with over 22 million people living in the hub’s catchment, Manchester Airport continues to have and available capacity and demand to serve these travellers.

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Old Trafford, Manchester

Austrian Airlines Flies to Manchester

Poprad

Wizz Air Enhances Chisinau Offering

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s of September 30, Wizz Air will fly from Chisinau to Bologna, with the route set to initially operate on Wednesdays and Sundays. Additionally, the airline will also serve London Luton Airport from the Moldovan city as of October 27.

Daniel De Carvalho, corporate communications, Wizz Air, said, “We see a mixture of people taking advantage of our services between Moldova and Italy including tourists and business travellers and it is great for us to be a part of the rise of Moldova as a tourist destination. London has great potential as an origination city for business and leisure travellers flying to Moldova and as a destination. We see these new routes as a signal of strength for Chisinau.”

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TRAVEL TALK

OLIVIER JANKOVEC Director general, Airports Council International Europe

Traffic growth continues to be mainly driven by low-cost carriers

Tourism Ireland has an extensive programme […] under way in Australia

“Variations in growth between national markets are significant and traffic recovery from the 2008 peak is still incomplete for some of them – which means room for further growth ahead.

Traffic growth continues to be mainly driven by low-cost carriers and it also tends to focus on existing routes and established markets. Clearly, airlines have become much more riskadverse, in spite of much lower oil prices. This results in increasing connectivity challenges for smaller airports and their communities.”

“Travel agents and tour operators continue to be important in planning and booking holidays in Australia and New Zealand, so working with the travel trade is a key element of our promotional activity. We were delighted that these travel professionals [from Australia and New Zealand] have taken time out of their busy schedules to come and visit Ireland. […]

Our aim is that when these travel agents and tour operators return home, they will be even more enthusiastic about the destination, helping to secure a greater share of their business for Ireland.”

DIANA BUTLER Manager, Australia and New Zealand, Tourism Ireland

We also have rounded out our geographic coverage to include the tourist hotspots of Amsterdam, Paris and Vienna

We are very pleased [...] that tourism will continue to enjoy high priority

LARS THYKIER President, European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Associations (ECTAA)

“We are very pleased to hear that tourism will continue to enjoy high priority with commissioner Elżbieta Bieńkowska and ECTAA pledges its support to implementing a tourism strategy that will support the competitiveness and sustainability of this thriving industry.”

MARIA SOGARD CEO, e-forecasting.com

“We see varying trends for each key hotel market that influence profits, based mainly on drivers such as changes in demand from visitor-feeding countries as well as domestic costs such as labour and energy. We also have rounded out our geographic coverage to include the tourist hotspots of Amsterdam, Paris and Vienna, markets we feel can no longer be overlooked due to their significance and influence for business and tourism in Europe.”

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 JULY 2015

TRAVEL CHANNELS

EU Residents’ Happiness Hindered by Crisis The new Eurostat flagship publication Quality of life in Europe – facts and views presents different aspects of personal wellbeing by combining, for the first time, objective indicators with subjective evaluations of individuals’ situations in the European Union (EU) member states.

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he objective is to shed light on what could impact upon the quality of life, ranging from the educational level, the activity and health status to the family and financial situation,” said Walter Radermacher, director general, Eurostat.

With an overall average score of 7.8 on a scale from zero to 10, people in the EU aged 16 and over were globally most satisfied with their personal relationships. In contrast, the area of lowest satisfaction was their financial situation.

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10 JULY 2015

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fter 300 days, Thair Abud completed his historic walking pilgrimage from Austria to Mecca, Saudi Arabia; a journey that covered 12 countries and 12,000km in tribute to a pledge he made to help his sister’s fight against cancer.

Arriving in Jeddah, Abud continued towards the Holy City and checked in at Anjum Hotel Makkah. Upon his arrival, he was praised by Yousef Jameel, chairman, Abdul Latif Jameel Real Estate Investments, the property’ owning company, who lauded his efforts to fulfill his promise to his sister.

Jameel said, “We congratulate Thair on his arrival to the Holy City of Mecca and may this exceptional journey serve as an inspiration for all.”

Emirates Sponsors British Landmark

Phocuswright: Travel Sales to Rise ravel sales, which totalled USD1.3 trillion (EUR1.1 trillion) in 2014, are expected to increase by six percent according to Phocuswright’s Travel Innovation and Technology Trends report.

The publication also highlighted technology trends of the year, spanning customer experience management, artificial intelligence and cognitive computing, collaborative consumption, digital marketing and building the seamless travel experience through content and connections.

“For technology futurists, this is a great time. We are able to observe in real time how new technology affects and improves our lives, enables new business opportunities and allows new and different kinds of human-machine interaction,” said Bob Offutt, analyst, Phocuswright.

Trekking to Mecca for a Cause

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mirates is the naming rights sponsor of one of Britain’s tallest landmarks outside London, Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth. The airline will be the first-ever supporter of the building which will be rebranded as Emirates Spinnaker Tower from this month.

The new five-year agreement, worth GBP3.5 million (USD5.3 million), will see Emirates’ eye-catching red branding running up the length and breadth of the attraction.

“Part of the reason that this sponsorship opportunity was so appealing to us is that it will enable the local city council to reinvest this partnership money into the local community, something that we are proud to be able to support,” said Tim Clark, president, Emirates.

Spinnaker Tower

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WHO’S MOVED

FRANÇOISRÉGIS SIMON

EMIEL DE VRIES

François-Régis Simon has been appointed general manager at Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel, in France.

Simon’s career with Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts began at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris in the role of assistant director of room service. Over the next years, he climbed the ranks to reach the position of director of food and beverage. He then continued at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong in the same position before joining the pre-opening team of Four Seasons Hotel Shenzhen as hotel manager.

Now, Simon’s journey is bringing him back to Europe and to a new home on the Mediterranean coast of Côte d’Azur, where he is taking the property’s reigns.

Emiel de Vries has been named captain of Holland America Line’s new vessel, ms Koningsdam, due to set sail in April 2016. He has been involved with the project since 2014 and participated in the functional design of the navigation bridge.

Having been with the company since 1997, de Vries rose through the ranks from fourth officer to captain and has already served as master of ms Amsterdam, ms Eurodam, ms Nieuw Amsterdam, ms Rotterdam and ms Zuiderdam.

He graduated from the Hogere Zeevaart School in Amsterdam, with degrees in navigation and engineering.

De Vries rose through the ranks from fourth officer to captain

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MATS ÅSTRAND

Mats Åstrand has been recruited as Scandic Hotels’ new vice president of food and beverage. Åstrand, who will assume the position on September 1, currently works as director of operations at Fazer Food Services which operates more than 200 restaurants in Sweden.

The new vice president has extensive experience in the service industry, having previously also served as president and CEO at Addici Group. Åstrand has a great passion for hotels and restaurants and his ambition is to continue to further develop both sectors so that guests can enjoy a positive total experience during their stay at Scandic Hotels.

Åstrand has a great passion for hotels

CAROLE BIENCOURT

Carole Biencourt has been promoted to pricing and demand director for Holland America Line’s European cruises.

She brings tremendous amount of knowledge, creativity and analytical skills to her role in which she will be responsible for planning, positioning, strategising how to price and sell itineraries.

Biencourt began her career with Holland America Line more than 30 years ago. Prior to her promotion, she worked as senior manager, revenue accounting, where she supervised a team of 10 employees. During her time with the company, she has risen through several analytical roles serving the marketing and finance departments.

Biencourt joined Holland America Line 30 years ago

10 JULY 2015

PHOTO ALBUM

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easyJet celebrated its 10 millionth passenger at Manchester Airport from where it now offers 40 routes

Air Serbia named its aircraft after Serbian football player Dejan Stankovic

Serafin, the doorman at Le Richemond, Geneva recently completed 30 years of service

10 JULY 2015

airBaltic inaugurated direct flights between Riga and Pisa

Finnair's Best Airline in Northern Europe award from Skytrax flying home

Etihad Airways' Edi and Alitalia's Alia welcoming visitors at EXPO Milano 2015

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NEWS & EVENTS Central Slovenia at EXPO Milano

EVENTS

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he region of Central Slovenia has held a series of events in the country’s pavilion at the ongoing EXPO Milano 2015.

Promoted under the slogan Green. Active. Healthy., the country showcased its central region, that also includes the capital city of Ljubljana, that was crowned the European Green Capital 2016, thus perfectly encapsulates the nation’s commitment to sustainability and environmental protection.

The booming culinary scene and the region’s diverse cultural palette and event calendar drew also significant attention as the tourism organisation presented themes such as oxygen, cyclicality, drinking water, sustainability and expression of enthusiasm

INDIA INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL MART Bangalore, India July 10 – 12 www.iitmindia.com One of the country’s premier travel and tourism exhibitions launches in Bangalore this year with other showings coming up in Chennai, Mumbai, Gurgaon, Pune, Hyderabad, Kochi and Kolkatta.

Brussels Leads as Europe’s Venue for International Meetings

B Brussels

russels ranks second in the world and first in Europe as a venue for international meetings, according to Union of International Associations research. With 787 meetings in 2014, the Belgian capital has shown a remarkable growth of 80 percent compared to 2013.

The Belgian city ranks just behind Singapore and well ahead of Vienna and Paris, its main European competitors.

IBTM CHINA

Baku Wins Bid for Major International Event

Beijing, China August 05 – 06 www.cibtm.com A place for MICE industry decision-makers to meet for global business adventures.

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aku will host the next conference of the International Association for Energy Economics (IAEE) thanks to the efforts of the Azerbaijan Convention Bureau (AzCB).

Ayan Zeynalova, sales and marketing manager, AzCB, presented the bid to stage the first IAEE Eurasian conference in the Azerbaijani capital to the IAEE council members in late May, at the IAEE Council Meeting in Antalya, Turkey.

AzCB was created in 2013 and aims to attract large-scale international events to Azerbaijan and strengthen its positioning on the global meetings map.

FUN & BIZ AFRICA

Baku

New Bazaar Delights Reykjavik Shoppers

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eykjavik’s ever-growing collection of summer outdoor markets welcomed a new addition, Bernhöfts Bazaar, located in the centre of the city.

The store will remain open on Saturdays from 13:00 to 18:00 until July 25.

Each week, the market will be enveloped in a theme to include music, plants, skateboards & bikes, toys and art.

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Johannesburg, South Africa August 13 – 15 www.fbafrica.net An expo aiming to promote the improvement of entertaining facilities in South Africa.

ICOMEX Mexico City, Mexico August 25 – 26 www.icomex-mexico.com Part of ibtm events, the show focusses on incentives, congresses and conventions in Latin America.

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