Travel Trade Europe, 25 July 2016, Issue 42

25 JULY 2016 ISSUE 42

10 SHORT BREAK

03

AMSTERDAM

BREXIT TO TRANSFORM UK TRAVEL SCHEME

05 AIRLINES FOR EUROPE URGE ACTION

07 Attractions 08 Cruising 12 MICE

MARKET UPDATE

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BRUSSELS AIRLINES REGISTERS MAY GROWTH

TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTORS Ana Mladenovic Dominique Christou SALES & SALES SUPPORT Maria Demetriadou Magda Christou Raluca Apostolescu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: +357 22 021607, Fax: +357 22 103670 WEBSITE www.traveltradeeurope.travel

Brussels Airlines handled 697,941 passengers in May, indicating a 4.2 percent year-on-year increase.

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he European network generated a traffic surge of 3.4 percent. On the carrier’s flights to and from Africa, 3.8 percent more travellers were transported. The number of customers that chose a transatlantic flight rose 25.4 percent, thanks to the airline’s newlyintroduced service to Toronto.

Meanwhile, freight load factor stood at 63 percent in May, signalling a 12 percentage point decrease compared to the same month in 2015, which can be explained by the higher freight capacity due to the opening of the new Canadian route.

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

AMERICANS FLOCK TO EUROPE

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

EXCHANGE RATES

as of

22.7.2016

COUNTRY

CURRENCY

1EUR=

US (USD)

Dollar

1.10

UK (GBP)

Pound

0.83

Switzerland (CHF) Franc

1.09

Japan (JPY)

116.69

2

Yen

Europe continues to gain popularity among citizens of the US, with demand for travel destinations on the continent now being even higher than at the beginning of the year.

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ccording to the Long-Haul Travel Barometer by the European Travel Commission, the European Tourism Association and Eurail Group, positive sentiment in the US is a reassuring indicator paving the way for more than 27 million expected arrivals from the other side of the Atlantic Ocean by year-end, accounting for approximately five percent of all inbound travel.

Likewise, Japanese respondents are more inclined to travel to Europe, and albeit at a slower pace, China also continues to be an important segment, with arrivals from the Asian country set to reach 12 million this year.

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NEWS

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Brexit to Transform UK Travel Scheme The UK’s separation from the European Union (EU) is expected to result in various changes for both inbound as well as outbound travellers.

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s Ross Veitch, CEO, Wego, pinpointed, following the historic voting, the value of the British Pound has immediately dropped, meaning that a holiday to the country could be cheaper for most international tourists than it has been for about two decades.

“In-destination trip costs such as accommodation, dining, entertainment and shopping will allow significantly better value for the foreign traveller after exchanging their local currency,” explained Veitch.

While as an EU member state, citizens of EU countries previously enjoyed visa free entry into the UK, the referendum’s result could lead to busier lines at customs as European travellers will also queue up with other visitors from around the globe.

“The UK’s airline network may also have to review regulations, which as a part of the EU secured single aviation area treaties across Europe, which may increase airfare costs for the UK’s national carriers,” continued Veitch, saying that on the other hand, accommodation costs could drop, as UK hoteliers will have to reshape their strategies to retain the large volume of inbound guests from Europe

who will no longer be able to travel freely to the country.

“As a long-serving entry hub to Europe, London may now be increasingly challenged by other key EU hub airports such as Paris, Frankfurt and Amsterdam which will offer inbound travellers easier onward movement around EU member countries,” disclosed Veitch, suggesting that though it might take time, the UK government will likely try to negotiate similar agreements to replicate those in place as a member of the EU. High-spending Arab travellers from the Gulf region may also consider opting for other destinations to take advantage of shopping and holiday opportunities. As Veitch highlighted, Rome is also a popular alternative, while in Spain and France, sporting events and football games are propelling traffic.

“As the dust settles, there is no doubt that we will see visible changes in the UK’s travel industry, and the government will have the unenviable task of implementing independent regulations to maintain the country’s position as a global tourism hub and gateway to Europe,” concluded Veitch.

All-time-high Domestic Demand in England

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rits are increasingly inclined to spend their free time in their home country with VisitEngland’s figures for the first quarter of the year showing record-breaking overnight stays.

Visits during the first three months of

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the year reached 7.3 million, up 10 percent year-on-year, boosting holiday spend by 23 percent to GBP1.8 billion (EUR2.18 billion).

As Patricia Yates, director, VisitEngland, noted, the results are in line with the organisation’s Home of Amazing Moments cam-

paign, that encourages people to explore more of their regions.

The best-ever quarterly figures come on the back of a strong 2015 for domestic holidays in England with trip volumes and spending both up by seven percent.

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NEWS

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European Cities Prove Resilient

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espite the challenging economic environment, tourism in cities across Europe remains strong, having delivered a 5.7 growth in total bednights and a 6.3 percent surge in international overnight stays in 2015, according to the European Cities Marketing (ECM) Benchmarking Report 2016.

Overall, the study states that between 2011-2015, bednights in the reviewed cities had been increasing at a more accelerated rate than in the 28 European Union nations, confirming that city tourism is growing faster than the national level across the continent.

The top performing city in terms of total bednights in 2015 proved to be London, followed

by Paris, Berlin and Rome.

Continent Cities Welcomes the Sharing Economy

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he sharing economy is not only testing the well-established business models of city tourism, but also presents great challenges and opportunities to city planners, manager and marketers.

To address these issues, European Cities Marketing (ECM) set out to explore the impact of the connected economy at its recent annual meeting in Madeira, Spain. “The big question for our city management organisations is not whether to be pro or con the sharing economy. It is how destinations can actively interact with, simply because this phenomenon is here to stay,â€? said Ignasi de DelĂ s, president, ECM. The sharing economy is the fastest growing segment in tourism, estimated to represent 50 percent of all travellers by 2025, equalling traditional rental economy's revenue growth. In addition, 65 percent of business travellers would also use it for business purposes, according to a recent IMEX survey.

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MINI REPORT

Airlines for Europe Urge Action The CEOs of the continent’s largest airlines, European Union (EU) policy-makers, tourism boards, consumer groups and research centres joined forces to issue a call for action in order to reduce the impact of air traffic controllers’ (ATC) strikes on the European economy.

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ince 2010, the continent’s skies have been disrupted 213 days due to the boycott of work of ATCs, forcing Airlines for Europe (A4E) member carriers to cancel some 30,000 flights, meaning that more than two million passengers had to reschedule their trips, while others experienced delays of over six million minutes, seriously affecting cross border trade, tourism, business as well as investment. According to PwC, as a result, the EU has missed out on EUR9.5 million in GDP. As Carolyn McCall, CEO, easyJet, explained, due to the strikes, airlines often have to fly around affected territory, meaning the highways in the sky which are more congested.

“This is why we care about protecting overflights, flights overflying strike-affected territory, while ensuring this does not come at the expense of flights to and from the country affected. Disruption adds cost, which ultimately means higher fares for passengers,” divulged McCall.

As Thomas Reynaert, managing director, A4E, highlighted, air travel is a crucial enabler of economic activity in Europe, directly affecting the wider tourism

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industry, businesses across most sectors of the economy as well as job creation.

“Even a small increase in air travel can bring substantial socio-economic benefits, especially in areas of Europe affected by high youth unemployment.

To ensure an efficient European network providing a crucial conduit for trade, tourism and economic growth, our call for action outlines nine principles to promote free movement by air, reliable airspace and prosperity,” explained Reynaert.

Some of the suggestions put forward by the airlines in their call for action include for air traffic controllers and their unions to voluntarily commit to participation in arbitrary or conciliatory procedures before taking industrial action, protecting flights overflying the country affected, providing a 21-day advance notification of strike action and implementing cooperation mechanisms to explore means to minimise the impact of ATC service disruption.

“It is about time we work together to reduce the impact of these strike actions. Although we fully respect the right to industrial action, the demands of increasingly mobile European citizens and businesses cannot be taken hostage by localised industrial actions,” concluded Reynaert.

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NEWS

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Vilnius Unveils Fresh Tourism Body

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Vilnius

n the midst of the preparations for CONVENE 2017, the Lithuanian capital has launched its new city development agency, GO Vilnius.

The newly-established entity will serve as the umbrella organisation focussing on all initiatives related to attracting tourism and business to the city.

Exhibitor and special supplier registration for the impending expo – which is due to take place between February 08 – 09, 2017 – has already opened, as the capital anticipates a strong turnout for the show.

dnata Invites Medical Travellers to Lausanne

Quality Management Key to Competitiveness

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Lausanne

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nata, in cooperation with industry stakeholders in Lausanne, designed exclusive hotel packages catering to GCC vacationers and to those travelling for medical reasons.

Apart from quality hotels, travellers can explore the offerings of the city’s many clinics, including the acclaimed Hirslanden Clinique Bois-Cerf for sports orthopaedics, medicine, oncology-radiation oncology, ophthalmology and otorhinolaryngology, or Hirslanden Clinique Cecil for cardiac and thoracic vascular surgery, general-visceral surgery, gynaecology and obstetrics and urology. Montchoisi is a popular choice for ophthalmology, orthopaedics surgery, medical check-ups and plastic surgery, while Clinique La Source is recommended for orthopaedics surgery, neurosurgery, oncology and radiation oncology and robotics surgery.

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ith the competition for visitors becoming more and more fierce, quality management indicators and processes are crucial to enhance the attractiveness of tourism destinations, as it was highlighted at the World Tourism Organization’s recent conference in Bucharest.

In that regard, participants called for an integrated approach to ensure the successful future of destination management organisations at national and subnational levels by improving the image of the locations, enhancing the legislative framework and minimising operational challenges.

“The dynamic changes in the global tourism market require qualitative transformation of nearly every tourism segment within a destination,” said Costin Grigore Borc, deputy prime minister, Romania, emphasising that for tourism destinations to survive, trends need to be intensely tracked.

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NEWS ATTRACTIONS

Massive Theme Park Signed for Belek

The Land of Legends

Rixos Hotels has penned a deal with internationally renowned creative company Dragone to create Rixos World Parks & Entertainment and develop The Land of Legends theme park in the city of Belek.

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he new destination will boast multisensory attractions with original concepts, themes, design and characters, as well as a five-star hotel and a water park with over 70 rides and slides. Visitors will also have the chance to get familiar with dolphins, penguins and other animals and experience an underwater restaurant and a beach area.

For those with a penchant for fine things, a massive shopping avenue, a luxury plaza and a gallery will be available, while kids will be entertained in a mystery castle and a dedicated village park.

Two Decades of Eurostar Disney Service

Disneyland Paris Renews Trust in Hertz

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urostar has marked the 20th anniversary of its direct routes from London to Disneyland Paris.

Since the inaugural voyage, the rail company has carried over seven million passengers from the UK to the magical kingdom.

With quick and convenient check-in and a seamless journey of just over two and half hours, the train is hailed as the ideal way for families to visit the destination. Parents can sit back and relax in spacious surroundings, whilst children have the freedom to roam.

Besides the direct train, guests can also easily connect via Paris or Lille.

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Disneyland Paris

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ertz Global Holdings will continue to serve as the official car rental partner for Disneyland Paris for a further five years.

The long-standing partnership, now in its 21st year, has now been expanded beyond France to a European level. As a result, some 14.8 million annual visitors to the top leisure destination will be able to benefit from special car rates in locations across Belgium, France, Germant, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Spain as well as the UK, from the end of the year.

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NEWS CRUISING

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Queen Mary 2 Remastered Cunard’s flagship liner Queen Mary 2 set sail on her first voyage from Southampton to New York, following one of the most significant refurbishments ever undertaken by the cruise line.

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Queen Mary 2

he luxury liner has been reimagined with new contemporary interior designs and guest experiences, many of which take inspiration from the original Queen Mary. Cunard’s investment, marking 80 years since the original liner launched, has ensured that every detail from the carpets to the curtains recalls the historic vessel.

To prepare the ship for its new transatlantic crossings, 30 new Britannia Club staterooms, 15 single staterooms and five inside units have been added. The key public spaces and restaurants have also been remastered after more than one million hours of hard work.

Norwegian Dawn Emerges as a New Ship

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orwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Dawn sailed into its seasonal homeport of Boston, US, as a new vessel, following a month-long dry dock which saw enhancements made to every detail of the onboard experience.

The overhaul included the addition to two brand-new restaurants and three bars and lounges, updated design and décor in all public spaces and the refurbishment of all staterooms.

The extensive renovation formed part of The Norwegian Edge programme, a USD400 million investment that sets a new standard of excellence for the brand.

The ship will sail from Boston to Bermuda each week through October, spending three nights in port, and from New Orleans to the Western Caribbean during the winter season from November onwards.

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Celebrity Cruises Sails to Galapagos Islands

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elebrity Cruises has revealed its freshly launched cruises onboard its newest ships at the Galapagos

Islands.

Discerning travellers now have even more options with the addition of two distinct vessels, Celebrity Xploration and Celebrity Xperience, which will begin sailing in March 2017, following a multimillion dollar overhaul which will include signature modern luxury enhancements.

Both vessels offer a wide range of all-inclusive indulgences and land excursions along the way. Guests can continue to sail onboard the company’s state-ofthe-art 100-passenger Celebrity Xpedition.

Together, the three ships will offer six unique itineraries, 15 islands, more than 30 ports of call, and multiple packages to choose from.

Elegant Journeys with Aston Martin

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uxury travel company Elegant Resorts and Aston Martin are set to collaborate on a bespoke collection of exclusive, self-drive tour escapes exploring England, Italy and Scotland through the Elegant Journeys series, between September – October.

Clients will be able to get behind the wheel of one of the world’s most stylish sports cars for a new breed of performance drive that blends scenic open roads, luxury hotels, world-class cuisine and unique experiences.

High level of service and hospitality awaits guests on all three of the specially commissioned journeys – each one limited to just six vehicles – as they discover dramatic hidden corners of European destinations.

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NEWS CRUISING

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TUI Discovery Rejoiced

TUI Discovery

Agent Training aboard Boudicca

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Liverpool

red. Olsen Cruise Lines welcomed local travel agents in Liverpool onboard Boudicca for a whole day of training.

The group were given a presentation on The Fred. Difference in the vessel’s Neptune Show Lounge and were taken on an extensive tour of the ship, followed by lunch in the Tintagel Restaurant.

Mathew Foxcroft, account manager, Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines, said, “With its stunning vistas and proud maritime heritage, there is something very special about cruising from Liverpool. It is a tremendous benefit to be able to offer our agents the chance to promote our cruises from the world-famous Pier Head, and to give holiday-makers in the North West the choice of a host of exciting and exotic destinations, from right on their doorstep.”

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homson Cruises launched its newest ship, TUI Discovery at a glistening ceremony in Palma de Mallorca.

The event commenced with keynote speeches from company officials and was followed by an action-packed production of performers from the destinations visited by the cruise liner’s fleet, including a large Spanish bull puppet, Caribbean carnival dancers in full costume as well as Middle Eastern whirling dervishes and belly dancers.

Helen Caron, managing director, Thomson Cruises, commented, “TUI Discovery is a real game-changer for us, and shows our commitment to delivering unforgettable holidays that are personalised for each of our customers.”

Costa Cruises Suite Guests Enjoy Perks

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assengers booking suite or grand suite accommodation at Costa Cruises now benefit from an extended range of amenities with these including complimentary meals, unlimited drinks, reserved front-row seat in the theater, a daypass for the spa and special access to private events and activities.

“Suites aboard Costa’s upscale contemporary ships are spacious and allow guests to travel in absolute luxury,” said Scott Knutson, vice president, sales and marketing, North America, Costa Cruises, noting that with the added perks, suite guests can enjoy a nearly all-inclusive experience.

Holiday-makers sailing from Barcelona or Savona can relax in a private VIP area prior to departure.

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SHORT BREAK AMSTERDAM

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UNLEASHED

Potential

ANA MLADENOVIC WRITES

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n the face of the shaky start of the year, business performance in the Netherland’s bustling capital remained largely unaffected. “[…] The atmosphere in Amsterdam is as it has always been – positive and relaxed,” assured Kees Hogetoorn, director of sales and marketing, Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam.

As Hogetoorn admitted, demand for the traditionally popular city-break vacations has slightly slowed down in recent months, however, on a positive note, average length of stay has improved.

“At the moment, we are trading as before,” confirmed Hogetoorn.

The fact that the Dutch tourism sector has continued on a healthy path is also evident in Amsterdam Airport Schiphol’s traffic results, which showed that during May, a total of 5,732,006 passengers travelled through the hub, 6.1 percent more than during the same month in 2015.

HAILED AS A CITY WITH A DIVERSE POPULATION, AMSTERDAM CONTINUES TO THRIVE. WITH SOARING ARRIVALS, NEW AIR ROUTES AND FRESH PROJECTS UNDERWAY, THE DUTCH CAPITAL REAFFIRMS ITS POSITION AS A SHINING STAR OF THE EUROPEAN TOURISM SCENE.

DIVERSIFYING MARKETS

AMSTERDAM IN BRIEF Country: Netherlands Population: 820,000 Language: Dutch Currency: Euro (EUR) Calling Code: +31 20 Time Zone: GMT +2:00

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“The US is the strongest performing market this year,” revealed Nina van het Spijker, marketing and communication executive, Conservatorium, explaining that the hotel is known on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean as the top five-star address with an excellent reputation.

Also, as she reminded, Amsterdam, as an international hub, receives a high volume of American guests from cruise ships, while others opt for the city as a stopover destination on their way to Africa, the Middle East or Asia.

The US was also highlighted as the strongest performing segment by Hogetoorn, who additionally pointed to increases in business from both Canada and Mexico as a result of enhanced air links and the strength of the US Dollar against the Euro.

“We also see a growth from places like Israel and Australia, but we believe this has also a lot to do with the renewed image of Amsterdam as a must-visit cultural destination,” added Hoogetoorn.

Yet, even though the city is enjoying increased interest from overseas markets, European countries still account for the largest share

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of arrivals, as figures released by Statistics Netherlands (CBS) for the North Holland province show.

Out of the 2.38 million guests on record in the first quarter of the year, 1.68 million came from abroad and 866,000 from other European Union member states, including the UK (358,000), Germany (224,000), France (108,000), Italy (88,000) and Belgium (88,000). During the period under review, guest numbers from the US stood at 172,000.

UPPING THE GAME PwC’s European Cities Hotel Forecast for 2016 and 2017 report estimates that around 4,000 hotel rooms will be added to the city’s 30,000-key market this year, which is expected to further grow to 41,000 units and ultimately reach the capacity forecast for 2020 already as early as 2017.

As a result, the publication highlights a new policy for hotel developments which requires new projects up until 2022 to offer a unique concept that adds value to the locality, favouring diversity and quality over quantity.

Thus, it is no surprise that the city’s development pipeline is dotted with distinct brands and prestigious developments, including the 79-room exclusive Soho House Amsterdam and the 211-key Hyatt Regency Amsterdam, both of which will be opening this year with the ultra-luxurious Rosewood Amsterdam to follow within the next three years.

Amsterdam had also been selected as the location for the first European property of Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, which will replace the current Crowne Plaza Amsterdam City Centre by 2017.

Nevertheless, according to the PwC’s study, the expanding supply will not affect occupancy, which is anticipated to slightly rise from 78.1 percent in 2015 to 78.4

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SHORT BREAK AMSTERDAM

this year. Meanwhile, average daily rate (ADR) is set to soar from EUR131.2 in 2015 to EUR133.9 this year, and as a result, RevPAR is likely to grow 2.5 percent to EUR105.

RAISING THE BAR In light of the stiffening competition, the city’s existing hotels are further elevating their offerings.

“We have recently refurbished the private garden, creating a more intimate and colourful oasis of tranquillity and experience,” revealed Hogeetoorn, adding that this compliments the new look of the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant, Bridges.

Similarly, enhancements are underway at Hotel Okura Amsterdam, as Saskia van de Sanden, assistant manager, marketing and communications, Hotel Okura Amsterdam, revealed.

“This summer, the two Michelin-starred restaurant Ciel Bleu […] will be completely redesigned,” disclosed van de Sanden.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has also recently unveiled a renovated departure lounge, divided into seven thematic areas. In addition to this, by 2023, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol will also welcome a new pier and terminal to serve 14 million passengers per year.

“This commitment […] represents a hefty investment that will simultaneously provide the foundation for our continued capacity growth,” said Jos Nijhuis, CEO, Schiphol Group, revealing further plans to invest in the hub. 

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NEWS MICE

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Safe and Seamless Travel in WTM Spotlight

Ensuring safe and seamless travel will be the main talking point of the UNWTO & WTM Ministers’ Summit at this year’s World Travel Market London on November 9.

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ritz Joussen, CEO, TUI Group – who has recently assumed the position – will deliver the opening address to an audience of about 100 tourism ministers and senior industry executives, outlining how the travel company is dealing with the challenges of security in its operations and open a key debate on how the public and private sectors can promote an enhanced travel experience.

Taleb Rifai, secretary general, World Tourism Organization, called on both the public and the private sectors to plan, work, communicate, and respond together to current issues.

ECM Summer School Sets New Milestone

ITB Berlin: First Co-branded India Show

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Zagreb

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he 30th European Cities Marketing (ECM) Summer School is set to take place in Zagreb, between August 27 – 31.

The educational programme will provide at least 50 new delegates with the basic know-how of the meetings industry, helping them to further their career in the flourishing sector.

The overall aim is to provide incisive insight into the structure and functioning of the segment, bringing participants face-to-face with top industry practitioners. The programme sets out the background and context of the industry, with a strong focus on up-to-date and cutting-edge examples of European best practices.

TB Berlin announced that its co-branded Bharat International Tourism Bazaar, the first pure outbound show for the Indian market, will be held in New Delhi between October 03 – 06.

With the country’s travel and tourism showing impressive gains – in 2015 for example, Indian outbound air travel exceeded 18 million movements – the event aims to highlight new streams of business, such as weddings, MICE, luxury, online and technology, and other niche segments.

Bharat International Tourism Bazaar promises to be a business-to-business show with a difference, and is expected to attract over 12,000 attendees, including industry and government representatives, from within India and around the world.

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

Marriott: One Step Closer to Starwood Acquisition Following an unconditional clearance receipt from the European Union (EU), Marriott International received green light to acquire Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide in a merger transaction.

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he closing of the proposed merger is subject to obtaining additional antitrust clearances, including in China, and satisfying other customary closing conditions that are in the agreement. The EU clearance represents satisfaction of a major closing condition to the proposed deal.

Until legal close, the companies will continue to operate as separate and independent entities.

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ontinuing its expansion in Turkey, The Rezidor Hotel Group has launched Park Inn by Radisson Ankara Cankaya, further strengthening the company’s presence in the country’s midmarket segment.

“The opening of our second Park Inn by Radisson brand in Turkey demonstrates the growth potential and attractiveness of our highly popular brand, that is designed to add colour to life,” commented Mark Willis, area vice president, Middle East and Turkey, The Rezidor Hotel Group.

Located in the Eymir Lake district, the hotel features 114 rooms and suites, a restaurant, spa and gym facilities, and six meeting rooms with a combined meeting space of over 1,360m2.

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Park Inn by Radisson Ankara Cankaya

Ankara Welcomes Park Inn

by Radisson

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

London to Welcome Hard Rock Hotel

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Hôtel Monsieur Presents Parisian Elegance

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ard Rock International, in collaboration with glh Hotels, has unveiled plans for Hard Rock Hotel London.

A conversion of the existing Cumberland Hotel, the upcoming 900-room property is scheduled for completion in summer 2018.

Situated directly at Marble Arch on Hyde Park, Hard Rock Hotel London will feature a lobby lounge, an on-site Hard Rock Café with a shop, a full-service spa, a signature restaurant and a sophisticated speakeasy.

“With Hard Rock’s proven track record of world-class service and hospitality, combined with glh Hotels’ extensive operating skills and expertise in the region as the largest hotel owneroperator in London, we are confident the future Hard Rock Hotel will be a success,” said Mike DeNoma, CEO, glh Hotels.

Hôtel Monsieur, Paris

Hard Rock Hotel London artist impression

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ith only 29 rooms and two suites Hôtel Monsieur, Paris offers an intimate, yet bold and spirited address to visitors to the French capital.

Gold and red overtones create an inspiring environment with each room type bringing to live a different atmosphere, displaying the spirit and eloquence of famous playwright Sasha Guitry.

The breakfast room serves a fine selection of pastries and gourmet dairy products, while the fully equipped fitness area offers a steam room, personalised massages and other services.

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oodies can now enjoy a wide array of Lebanese favours at Jumeirah Bodrum Palace’s recently reopened Al Nafoorah restaurant.

Boasting a relaxed ambience, the dining outlet offers a selection of traditional dishes with a modern twist, such as mezze, shawarmas, fresh seafood, grilled meats and delicious oriental desserts.

After dinner, a shisha lounge awaits guests to take in the views of the Aegean sunset.

The luxury property, that covers a total area of 110,000m2, also features an extensive Talise Spa with 12 treatment rooms.

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Al Nafoorah restaurant

Jumeirah Bodrum Palace Serves Lebanese Cuisine

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NEWS AIRPORTS

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European Aviation Leads CO2 Reduction Europe continues to set an example in cutting back CO2 emission in the aviation industry, with 107 airfields being now involved in the Airport Carbon Accreditation programme.

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s Olivier Jankovec, director general, Airports Council International Europe, explained, these hubs have achieved a reduction of 146,118 tonnes of CO2 – enough to power nearly 61,000 households for a year.

“We now have 22 airports that are carbon neutral and an additional 21 are certified for optimisation – the highest level possible without using offsets,” disclosed Jankovec, adding that the eighth year of the programme of set to bring further developments.

Copenhagen

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openhagen Airport handled more than 2.5 million passengers in May, marking a 10.8 percent surge over the same month in 2015.

The double-digit rise comes on the back of the 27.2 percent year-on-year growth in arrivals to Denmark via the hub in the first quarter of the year.

“Denmark is very well connected to Europe and the rest of the world. In the past year, accessibility has increased substantially, especially because new routes have been opened to Copenhagen Airport and, not least, due to the many more flights out of Copenhagen,” explained Thomas Woldbye, CEO, Copenhagen Airport.

The majority of visitors derived from European countries, with figures from across the continent up by 207,052 passengers compared with the same month in 2015.

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Terminal Traffic at Irish State Airport Charge Ahead

Dublin Airport

Denmark Gains Popularity

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ccording to figures released by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), total commercial terminal flight traffic at Ireland’s three state hubs rose 10.3 percent year-on-year to 22,485 flights in May. Cork Airport led the way with a 19.6 percent climb, followed by Dublin Airport with a 10 percent surge and Shannon Airport where numbers jumped 4.8 percent.

"Air traffic continues to grow strongly at all three of the state airports. I am particularly encouraged by the growth for both Cork and Shannon airports,” said Eamonn Brennan, CEO, IAA. Overall, the volume of flights handled by the IAA was up 10.6 percent in May.

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NEWS AIRPORTS LJLA’s Measures Customer Feedback on Twitter

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Heathrow Improves Noise Record

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s part of its endeavours to put the voice of the customer at the very heart of its operations, Liverpool John Lennon Airport (LJLA) is among the first businesses in the UK to utilise a tool on its Twitter account that measures engagement.

Twitter recently introduced customer feedback, a new service that leverages direct messages to gather feedback in net promoter score format.

“I am a huge fan of Net Promoter, it is such a simple metric which provides a clear focus and direction. It enables very quick understanding of how customers feel about their experience and what needs to be done to improve,” said Sarah Barrett, marketing director, LJLA.

Heathrow Airport

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Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Brussels Airport Reopens Diamond Building

ccording to the latest Fly Quiet League, London’s Heathrow Airport is on track to eliminate old and noisy aircraft.

Virgin Atlantic’s replacement of the Boeing 747-400s with Boeing 787 Dreamliners have helped to advance the airline's noise record and Air Canada, Air India, British Airways as well as Qatar Airways have also all increased their use of Dreamliners in 2015, significantly contributing to an overall six percent improvement in the metric.

Matt Gorman, director of sustainability and environment, Heathrow Airport, noted, “Airlines continue to use their newest planes not only because of our fees and their responsibilities to our local neighbours, but also because our routes are so sought after and they want to offer passengers the best, and quietest aircraft experience available.”

Bristol Airport Extension Launched

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ristol Airport’s biggest-ever terminal extension has been unveiled, marking the completion of the first phase of a 12-month construction programme.

The initial section of the GBP24 million (EUR30.5 million) facility comprises a bigger and better security search area.

The 9,000m2 terminal extension features state-of-the-art technology in a significantly enlarged security zone which ensures faster and more efficient services to departing passengers. The first tranche of new security lanes opened in mid-July ahead of the school summer holidays, with the remaining new lanes becoming operational at the end of the month.

Bristol Airport

B Brussels Airport

ollowing reparation works in the area adjacent to Brussels Airport’s Diamond Building, the facility has been reopened for passengers.

The move allows for a larger and smoother passage between checkin desks, the security screening area and the lower levels which include the arrivals hall, the bus stop and the train station.

Despite the overhaul, the zone has retained some of its popular features like the Scimitar, a work

by Belgian artist Panamarenko that decorates its ceiling.

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NEWS AIR

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Wizz Air Gears Up for Summer Peak Season Wizz Air is set to commence new holiday routes to cater to travellers during the hottest time of the year.

F Air France and Atout France Expand Ties

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n a bid to enhance their cooperation and give a major boost to the French tourism sector, Air France and Atout France signed a one-year partnership agreement.

The deal, which builds on the airline and the tourism organisation’s collaboration which started in 2013, adds new joint actions, such as exchange of information on statistics and combined efforts to promote the country online.

As part of the initiatives, a dedicated website will be developed and the two entities will also increase their local action plans and feedback, specifically in the markets defined within the framework of France’s recovery plan announced in May.

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Norwegian Enhances Winter Services

Atlas Global Flies to Copenhagen

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n the coming winter season, Norwegian will commence direct flights from Helsinki to Nice, Dublin and Palma de Mallorca.

The airline will serve Dublin and Palma twice per week, offering travellers the convenience of exploring cultural attractions of each destination, with the ease of flying directly to their destination.

Additionally, the airline will continue to support Dubai by maintaining its daily direct flights to the popular Middle Eastern destination.

A Copenhagen

Bari

irstly, starting in August, the airline will connect Warsaw with Split in Croatia, and Katowice with Bari in Italy.

Additionally, the low-cost carrier will also offer flights between Budapest and Palma de Mallorca three times a week, as of August 02, and two weekly flights from the Hungarian capital to Varna, as of August 03.

The additional itineraries follow the recent inauguration of twice-weekly services between Budapest and Ibiza.

tlas Global launched a new route between Istanbul and Copenhagen, bringing the total number of nonstop flights between the two cities close to 200 in July alone.

The Turkish carrier deploys an Airbus A320 on the route with a seat capacity of 164 passengers, 156 in economy and eight in business class.

Peter Krogsgaard, chief commercial officer, Copenhagen Airport, commented, “We will get a huge increase in departures when Atlas Global opens its service to Copenhagen. We know from past experience that more flights and more capacity on a route brings more travellers.”

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NEWS AIR SAUDIA Serving Munich

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Mahan Air Reaches the French Capital

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ahan Air commenced flights to Paris, further expanding the Iranian carrier’s reach in Europe.

Passengers are offered three services per week from Tehran to the French capital on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturday.

With the addition of Paris to the route map, the Middle Eastern airline now flies to a total of 10 destinations in Europe.

Germania Expands Lapland Footprint

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flydubai Flies Daily to Prague

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lydubai began daily operations to Prague, bringing the airline’s frequencies from Dubai to 11 points in Central and Eastern Europe to 49 flights per week.

Commenting the three additional services, Ghaith Al Ghaith, CEO, flydubai, said, “Prague remains a popular destination for our passengers in the GCC. We also look forward to providing those in Europe with more [...] opportunities to visit Dubai and beyond on our network. Our strategic base in Dubai allows passengers to benefit from flydubai's interline agreements with other carriers, providing opportunities for onward travel to more than 200 destinations.”

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Santa Clause Village in Rovaniemi

Munich

audi Arabian Airlines (SAUDIA) commenced operations on the Munich – Riyadh route, connecting the Middle Eastern city with the German destinations five times a week.

Due to the increasing demand for flights between the locations, it was also decided to replace the aircraft previously assigned for the itinerary with a wide-body Airbus A330, offering passengers more capacity and greater comfort.

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rom December up until March 2017, Germania will offer twice-weekly services between Zürich with Rovaniemi in Lapland.

The new itinerary will join the previously announced routes linking Berlin to Rovaniemi and Düsseldorf to Kittila.

The introduction of the additional routes follow a fruitful cooperation between Finavia, Visit Finland and regional travel operators, all of whom have been working hand in hand to promote Lapland as a popular tourist destination.

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NEWS AIR LOT Enhances the Passenger Experience

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ravellers flying with LOT can now enjoy higher levels of comfort and convenience following the complete D-type overhaul of three Boeing 737 aircraft.

The first modernised airliner had already taken to the skies in June, carrying passengers from Warsaw to London, and the enhancement will also soon be introduced on other popular itineraries, such as Tel Aviv and London.

The upgrades included the addition of new leather seats along with modern LED lighting with mood-lighting modes, as well as refreshed cabin interior elements.

“On our Boeing 737, we still offer 162 seats even though some other carriers are capable of squeezing as many as 180. To us, passenger comfort is foremost,” stressed Krzysztof Moczulski, director, product and customer experience, LOT.

Ireland Welcomes New Amsterdam Connection

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LM’s new, twice-daily flight between Amsterdam and Dublin is expected to not only boost visitor numbers from the Netherlands but to also enhance connectivity with other important tourism markets, including North America, Asia as well as the Middle East.

Commenting on the new service, which will commence this October, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, said, “As an island, the importance of convenient, direct, non-stop flights cannot be overstated – they are absolutely critical to achieving growth in inbound tourism.”

Amsterdam

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CAROLYN MCCALL

TRAVEL TALK

MANAGING DIRECTOR, VERDURA RESORT, SCIACCA

The economic value of air travel is about what we facilitate “[Airlines for Europe] will continue to focus on uniting European airlines to promote changes which increase competitiveness and result in lower fares and more choice for passengers. […] Aviation creates EUR1 trillion in economic value annually. What does that number really mean? It is not about how many people we employ, or how much they or our passengers spend individually. The economic value of air travel is about what we facilitate. Aviation allows connectivity and mobility, thereby increasing trade and investment. When economists actually looked into this they concluded that 75 percent of intra-European passenger journeys currently made by air would not be made if travellers had to use rail or road. And of course the number would be even higher for long haul air travel.”

We can offer our clients over 40 direct return flights between Prague and Italy

All of us […] are extremely proud of what Verdura Resort represents

“All of us at Rocco Forte Hotels are extremely proud of what Verdura Resort represents for every member of our team, the town of Sciacca and southwest Sicily. I want to thank the European Hotel Managers Association and Diversey Care for [giving us] this prestigious award [on corporate social responsibility], and the entire team at Verdura for the commitment and passion that they put in their daily work”.

JÁN TÓTH

IVAN ARTOLLI

CEO, EASYJET

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DIRECTOR OF COMMERCE, MARKETING AND ALLIANCES, CZECH AIRLINES

“It is my great honour to welcome Alitalia as our codeshare partner, the 23rd in a row […].

Thanks to the cooperation, we can together offer our clients over 40 direct return flights between Prague and Italy a week and a number of attractive connecting flights. I believe that our cooperation will help enhance the air connectivity of the two countries for both business and leisure travellers and also strengthen the position and increase the sales of the carriers on both Czech and Italian markets.”

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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25 JULY 2016

TRAVEL CHANNELS

Belarus

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Czech Republic

BELARUS TO BOOST RESTORATION OF ARCHITECTURAL MONUMENTS

CLOSE-UP OF CZECH MONUMENTS

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fter many years, the Czech Republic has lifted the ban on taking photographs in the interiors of certain listed buildings and monuments, including castles and chateaux.

Accordingly, Czech Tourism conducted an online poll to find out which attractions did people deem the most photogenic with Červená Lhota chateau, Hrádek u Nechanic, Bečov nad Teplou, Konopiště, and Bouzov coming out on top of the list.

Despite the easing of restrictions on using cameras, certain rules have to be followed, such as being courteous and considerate to other visitors. The ban on taking photographs using a tripod, selfie stick or flash continues to be in force.

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ccording to Igor Chernyavsky, head of historical and cultural heritage protection department, Cultural Ministry, Belarus, the country has all resources needed to increase the share of renovated historical and cultural heritage sites to 30 percent by 2020.

Chernyavsky further noted that some 15 percent of the attractions included in the Site List of Historical and Cultural Heritage have been renovated over the past five years.

The official also emphasised the importance of the current efforts to create a system for monitoring the artistic and technical status of cultural values. This is particularly relevant for the spaces marked for inclusion into the nomination file to be submitted to the tentative list of the UNESCO World Heritage.

NORWEGIAN PASSENGERS BACK UNICEF ENDEAVOURS

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ver the past year, travellers flying with Norwegian have donated GBP500,000 (EUR680,000) to UNICEF’s work for children.

Supported by technology company Amadeus, the initiative enabled customers to support the organisation’s efforts after finalising their online booking by contributing EUR3, 5, 10 or 15, all of which are being used to provide mosquito net, vaccinate kids against polio, provide students with books and buy therapeutic food.

Through the partnership between the airline and UNICEF, signed in 2007, a number of fully loaded aircraft landed in the Central African Republic and Jordan to help Syrian refugees, with emergency aid and school supplies.

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ourism for All has been selected as the theme of this year’s World Tourism Day. Celebrated on September 27 all over the globe, the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)’s initiative throws the spotlight on the right of every individual to enjoy barrier free travel around the world.

The tagline highlights the importance of creating products and services that can be equally suitable for those with disabilities, tourists and locals, families with small children, seniors and everyone else.

UNWTO is preparing a range of programmes to mark the occasion and spread the word.

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JEAN-MARC JANAILLAC has been appointed director, chairman and CEO of Air FranceKLM. Janaillac joins the aviation company from Transdev, where he served as chairman and CEO since 2012. He previously held the same positions at RATP Dev as well as at Maeve tourism group.

A graduate from the HEC Business School and the Ecole Nationale d’Administration, Janaillac has also worked as director of Air France between 1989 – 1994.

Janaillac is a veteran in the positions of chairman and CEO

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GRAHAM DONOGHUE

RICHARD COOKE has been named general manager of The Balmoral, Rocco Forte Hotels’ property in the heart of Edinburgh.

Over the past 23 years, Cooke has gained a wealth of experience in hospitality management across a variety of five-star accommodation establishments in Canada, the US, southeast Asia and China.

He most recently served as general manager at ShangriLa-branded hotels across Toronto and Vancouver.

In his new role, he will be responsible for the day-today operation and strategic direction of the hotel which features 168 rooms and 20 suites, a restaurant, an allday dining venue, tea lounge, whisky bar, spa as well as meeting and conferencing venues.

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GRAHAM DONOGHUE is taking the helm at UK-based independent holiday cottage rental agency, Sykes Cottages as CEO. Donoghue, who most recently served as group chief product officer at Moneysupermarket Group, previously also worked as managing director and held board roles at the same company as well as TUI Group.

Now that he returns to the travel industry, the seasoned professional is looking forward to leveraging his passion for digital, technology and outstanding customer experience with his team being focussed on delivering excellent results.

Donoghue is taking over at Sykes Cottages

MARTIN LEUTKE

JEAN-MARC JANAILLAC

RICHARD COOKE

WHO’S MOVED

MARTIN LEUTKE is taking over of Lufthansa Group’s media relations strategies, effective from October 01.

As head of the department, he will be guiding and coordinating the media activities of the company worldwide.

Leutke joins the airline from ZDF, which he has been with since 1996. He first worked on one of the German TV channel’s news programme and later on spent several years as a foreign correspondent.

Leutke was appointed head of ZDF’s Hessen regional studio in 2009, and two years later he was named ZDF’s chief economics editor. In 2014, he also assumed the role of deputy editor-in-chief of the channel’s head office for economics, legal affairs, services, social affairs and environmental topics.

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PHOTO ALBUM

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Air Malta launched what is hailed as the world’s first-ever inflight experience for kids

Ryanair's Portuguese staff members celebrated the national team's win at UAFA Euro 2016

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

Sweet moments at The Ritz London

easyJet launched services from Manchester Airport to Gibraltar

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

Singer Jessie J performed live on British Airways' jet

Norwegian celebrated the second anniversary of low-cost long-haul flights to the US

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

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Luxembourg Gears Up for EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK

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kick-off event for EUROPEANMOBILITYWEEK in Luxembourg attracted 112 delegates from more than 40 municipalities who received information on and debated how to organise an effective campaign.

Presentations were held on international best practice examples that could be implemented by small and medium-sized municipalities, such as a street-painting campaign from Austria or rewarding cyclists with vouchers and small gifts from Norway. As well as municipalities, delegates from groups such as Luxembourg’s national cycling lobby and organisations working with and for people with disabilities also attended the event.

Icelandic Capital Host Color Run

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

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

Reykjavik

MOSCOW MED SHOW

he Color Run by Alvogen recently took place in Reykjavik, gathering some 12,000 people.

The untimed 5km race differs from other similar events as the idea is to embrace this unique experience and enjoy the run itself instead of finishing first.

At each kilometre, participants were splashed with different coloured powder, making the day even more unique.

Ljubljana: Capital of Green Destinations

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jubljana will play host to the two-day Global Green Destination Day conference on September 27 – 28.

Marking the World Tourism Day, the flagship event will bring together leading experts in sustainable development and green tourism, including opinion leaders, representatives, associations, hoteliers as well as tourist operators.

The programme will also include an exclusive awards ceremony for the top 100 sustainable destinations.

The Slovenian capital currently holds the title of European Green Capital.

Vienna to Embrace Design

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he Austrian capital is gearing up to host the 10th Vienna Design Week, between September 30 – October 09.

The upcoming festival will offer a diverse programme with more than 150 events, exhibitions, installations, tours and parties in various venues across the city, and will operate under the philosophy that design is a fundamental component of cultural production.

Vienna Design Week will bring together museums, producers and designers from all over the world, giving anyone with an interest in the topic a unique insight into the world of design.

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