Travel Trade Europe, 25 March 2016, Issue 34

25 MARCH 2016 ISSUE 34

03 WORLD’S LARGEST WATER PARK TO BE BUILT IN HUNGARY

10 SHORT BREAK

PARIS

16 LUFTHANSA TAKES OFF TO PANAMA CITY

09 Technology 13 Airports 21 Travel Channels

MARKET UPDATE

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MELIÁ: STRONGER POSITION THAN EVER

MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi mary@traveltradeweekly.travel ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba JOURNALIST Pauline Shahabian CONTRIBUTOR Ana Mladenovic PRESS Maria Demetriadou Inna Armeanu DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Savvas Kammitsis

Meliá Hotels International (MHI) further strengthened its financial profile with earnings before tax soaring to EUR101.6 million in 2015, up 79 percent.

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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29 percent improvement in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation to EUR293 million and a 15.1 percent rise in global RevPAR contributed to sound results and a EUR40.5 million net profit.

As Gabriel Escarrer Jaume, CEO, MHI, noted, the company celebrates its 60th anniversary from a stronger position than ever before, both in terms of the business as well as its financial performance.

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

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Yen

Some three million passengers opted for Aeroflot Group’s services in January, marking a 11.6 percent year-on-year increase.

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eroflot alone carried two million customers, up 10.7 percent, leading to a 9.4 percent improvement in revenue per kilometre for the airline.

On international routes, group traffic rose 2.7 percent, while for Aeroflot, the figure surged 4.6 percent, supported by a continued decline in competition in the Russian airspace.

25 MARCH 2016

NEWS

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World’s Largest Water Park to Be Built in Hungary

AQUA Regnum Hungary rendering

The Hungarian tourism industry is set to get a major boost with the development of a 110ha indoor water park, hailed as the largest of its kind in the world.

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he nonstop leisure and entertainment centre, to be built on the shores of Lake Balaton, promises a one-of-a-kind experience with a range of sports, family and wellness offerings in a Mediterranean inspired atmosphere. Besides a water and adventure park, other highlights of the EUR5 billion AQUA Regnum Hungary will include an underwater luxury hotel, cave bath, waterfalls, surfing, kayaking and scuba diving facilities, a mega aquarium, various swimming pools and thermal baths.

European Cities: As Strong as Ever

Paris

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estinations across the continent maintained their strong growth trend with total bed nights rising 4.2 percent year-on-year in 2015, according to the Benchmarking Report of European Cities Marketing.

Guest nights by international tourists grew 4.4 percent, while demand from domestic visitors spiked four percent.

London and Paris recorded about 100 million nights between them, and continued to lead Europe’s city tourism industry. Berlin managed to retain the third place among the top five performing destinations, followed by Rome and Madrid.

Germany, the US and the UK once again topped the list of source markets for the segment, representing 28 percent of bed nights in the locations surveyed, while China remained the strongest growth market, showing a 32 percent improvement.

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NEWS

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Tourism Drives UK Employment

Scottish Landmarks Prove Popular

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S Edinburgh Castle

obs in the UK’s tourism sector have grown more than twice as much as other sectors of the economy in the five years to 2014.

According to VisitBritain, between 2009 – 2014, tourismrelated employment surged almost 12 percent, well above the five percent rate recorded by other industries.

The highest increase was witnessed in accommodation and food and beverage serving activities, both having risen 15 percent.

“Tourism is a rapidly growing industry and we are working hard to encourage visitors to explore all of Britain’s nations and regions to ensure that the economic growth from tourism and the jobs that the industry is continuing to deliver are spread right across Britain,” said Patricia Yates, director of strategy and communications, VisitBritain.

The Convention Centre Dublin

Medical Field Dominates New Business for The CCD

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he Convention Centre Dublin (The CCD) is gearing up to host three significant medical and scientific conferences over the coming years, to generate an estimated revenue of EUR6.5 million, Nick Waight, CEO, The CCD, revealed.

The 28th International Nursing Research Congress is expected to welcome over 900 delegates over five days in 2017, while the 10th World Congress of Pain is set to attract 2,500 pain management specialists for its three-day event in May 2018.

In addition, Festival of Neuroscience (BNA2019), the flagship meeting of the British Neuroscience Association (BNA), which will be held in April 2019, will see some 1,500 associated professionals from around the world heading to the Irish capital.

cotland’s leading visitor attractions saw a 5.48 percent increase in visitations in 2015, well above the UK average of 3.2 percent and the 1.6 percent growth reported from London.

Having welcomed close to 1.57 million tourists, up 5.9 percent year-on-year, Edinburgh Castle came first ahead of the National Museum of Scotland, which ranked as the most popular free site of the country and the most visited museum in the UK outside of London.

As Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland, explained, these attractions play a vital role in the destination’s economy, with accommodation providers, restaurants, cafés and numerous other businesses also reaping the benefits of this continued growth.

Brits Choose Beaches and Cities

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each holidays and city breaks proved to be the most popular options among British travellers in momondo’s new international poll.

Surveying 1,013 British individuals, the travel site found that fewer people opt for camping, rent holiday homes, take road trips, ski or book spa breaks.

Lasse Skole Hansen, public relations manager, Denmark, UK and US, momondo, commented, “Brits will always love holidaying by the sea, though other nations will take even more beach breaks this year, for example almost 70 percent of Italians. […] Traditionally, Danes love to seek out adventure, which is why 40 percent is planning a city break.”

25 MARCH 2016

NEWS

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Switzerland Popular among North Americans

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Switzerland

rrivals to Switzerland continued to soar from both the US and Canada in 2015.

Based on the Swiss Federal Office of Statistics’ data, visitor numbers from Canada improved 0.6 percent to 104,444, reaching a new record and contributing to the 30 percent increase in this respect over the past 10 years.

Likewise, demand from the US also remained strong, delivering the best results for the European country since 2001. With arrivals up 6.8 percent to 802,503, 2015 proved to be the sixth consecutive year of rising numbers, rounding off a total growth of more than 20 percent since 2009.

Latvia

Latvia Guest Numbers Up

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Cologne

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ome 2.1 million guests were registered at Latvia’s accommodation establishments in 2015, equivalent to a 3.1 percent year-on-year increase.

Despite a 31.5 percent decline in demand from Russia, European Union countries, such as Lithuania, UK, Estonia, Sweden and Finland, delivered double-digit improvements.

Interestingly, of all foreign visitors, 79.1 percent stayed in Riga, meaning some 1.3 million guests, with the majority coming from Germany and Russia.

Cologne Tourism Breaks Records

DID YOU KNOW...

According to TripAdvisor, Cologne is one of the top 10 trend travel destinations in Europe this year?

etting a new high, overnight stays in Cologne reached 5.98 million in 2015, marking an increase of 4.3 percent over 2014.

The figure was boosted by a 6.6 percent hike in demand from international visitors, underscoring, as Elisabeth Thelen, chairwoman, Cologne Tourist Board, said, the great potential the industry holds for Cologne as a business location.

“The number of overnight stays has doubled since 2000,” pinpointed Thelen. Cologne Tourist Board estimates that tourism generates a gross turnover of EUR6.6 billion per year.

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NEWS

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Greece Enhances Ties with Egypt

Dubai Gets a Taste of Northern Ireland

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Belfast

Croatia: EUR670 Million Investment in Tourism

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roatia is allocating some EUR670 million for tourism-related developments, 35 percent more than in 2014. As Anton Kliman, tourism minister, Croatia, noted, investments are much needed in the hotel sector and raising the quality of camping grounds is also on the agenda.

“Converting camps into modern camping resorts of a higher quality aimed at attracting better paying guests is one of the key prospects of Croatian tourism growth and development,” stressed Zeljko Kukurin, CEO, Valamar Riviera, further noting the recent investments into upscale hotels along the country’s coastline.

Malta and Gozo Bask in Increased Stays

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ollowing an invitation from Hisham Zaazou, tourism minister, Egypt, Elena Kountoura, economy, infrastructure, maritime affairs and tourism alternate minister, Greece, visited the North African country to meet with prominent industry stakeholders.

Besides strengthening existing ties, the two parties also focussed on the launch of a new era in their collaboration by signing a memorandum of understanding, Kountoura also held meetings with Mohamed Hassan Kamal, civil aviation minister, Egypt, Samy Mahmoud, chairman, Egyptian Tourism Authority, as well as with Elhamy El Zayat, chairman, Egyptian Tourism Federation.

Merlin and Big Bus Join Forces

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ccording to Malta’s National Statistics Office, the country experienced a 4.7 percent year-on-year surge in the volume of visitors using hotels and similar establishments in December 2015.

Total room nights spent in collective accommodation during the month under study were estimated at 440,391, equivalent to a 2.7 percent rise over December 2014.

Gozo’s combined performance for the same period was stronger than that of Malta, having registered a growth of 10.3 percent in nights and a 7.7 percent hike in arrivals.

Egypt

ourism Ireland launched Northern Ireland’s Year of Food to travel professionals in Dubai.

At the event, Niall Gibbons, CEO, Tourism Ireland, showcased the European destination and the new campaign activities to some 50 industry experts.

“Tourism Ireland will take every opportunity to highlight the ever-growing list of things to see and do in Northern Ireland, [...] this year. We are inviting everyone to come and enjoy 366 days of celebration,” enthused Gibbons.

erlin Entertainments embarked on a strategic partnership and a USD34.4 million (EUR30.4 million) investment in Big Bus Tours, opening up opportunities for cross-selling, promotions and joint marketing activities.

Nick Varney, CEO, Merlin Entertainments, commented, “We see significant revenue synergies from this business with our own city centre attractions and there is already a clear overlap in eight cities.

This investment will facilitate a closer working relationship on the ground while enabling us to learn about a highly complementary business.”

25 MARCH 2016

NEWS TECHNOLOGY

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Sabre to Boost Air Serbia Expansion In a bid to introduce a new technology platform to support its growth strategy and enhance the traveller experience, Air Serbia selected Sabre’s full suite of solutions and consulting services.

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he agreement will see the carrier move to a single, connected platform for passenger reservations, check-in and boarding, and all other critical procedures, including flight operations and network management.

In addition, the airline will implement the technology provider’s airport software to enhance the offerings of Air Serbia Ground Services at Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport.

Travelport and Mobacar Join Forces

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ravelport signed a new deal with Irish ground transportation distribution platform, Mobacar which offers content from transport providers.

In terms of the agreement, travel agents connected to the technology provider will have access to additional car rental options and will also be able to search and book from smaller car companies.

Mike Webster, CEO, Mobacar, commented, “Combining Travelport’s cutting edge technology with Mobacar’s global supply footprint will help us with our continued global expansion. Additionally, this relationship with Travelport will enable us to reach new travel agency customers.”

Scottish Establishment Opts for Navarino

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ollowing The Chester Residence’s partnership with Navarino Services, the Edinburgh property is now available to book on the global distribution system (GDS).

Located in the West End district within a short distance to Princes street and Haymarket, The Chester Residence comprises 23 luxury townhouse apartments, and is currently undergoing a refurbishment.

Graham Wood, owner, The Chester Residence, said, “Joining the GDS will help us increase our corporate presence and build new relationships with travel agents by making us more accessible.”

25 MARCH 2016

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SHORT BREAK PARIS

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KEEP ON

Shining

LIVING UP TO ITS NAME AS THE CITY OF LIGHTS, PARIS HAS REMAINED DEFIANT AMID EVEN THE MOST CHALLENGING TIMES, KEEPING A BEACON OF HOPE SHINING BRIGHT AS THE FACE OF THE CITY FOR THE FUTURE GRADUALLY TAKES SHAPE.

RITA KASZIBA WRITES

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rance has been the world’s most visited country since the 1980s and rate of 40 percent after November 2015, occupancy levels at the property are little has changed over the past three decades with Paris maintaining a now averaging around 70 percent. firm position as a top global destination.

The positive signs are immensely welcome following what Shahé Kalaidjian, In 2014, the Western European state welcomed some 83.7 million owner, Hotel Sezz Paris, described as a difficult period. Although, as Kalaidjian visitors, thus, industry stakeholders had set their sights on exceeding the 85 admitted, business levels are indeed yet to return to desired levels, he also exmillion mark in 2015, however, as the world pressed hopes to see gradual improvements from the sumwatched the poignant happenings unfolding mer onwards. on the capitals’ streets towards the end of the According to Sabrina Blanc Miele, sales and public relaPARIS IN BRIEF year, the industry suffered a major blow. tions manager, Hôtel San Régis, part of Small Luxury Hotels “[The events] had impacted our perforof the World, events, such as the 6th Annual Sustainable Innomance in 2015 and the first months of the curvation Forum, held in December 2015, helped stimulate the Country: France rent year, but […] business is now picking up recovery of the sector to ultimately deliver results similar to Currency: Euro (EUR) and should be back to previous years’ perforthose of 2014. Depending on current happenings and events Language: French mance from the second quarter,” explained Zoë around the city, such as the recent Paris Fashion Week, dePopulation: 2.2 million Tedesco, director, Hôtel de Vendôme. mand is still fluctuating, be it business or leisure travel, with Calling Code: +33 Demand is in fact steadily returning. While a notable volume of last-minute reservations being observed Time Zone: GMT +1:00 Mathieu Foureau, chief operating officer, Hôtel

by Blanc Miele. The next months, however, as she indicated, Thoumieux, reported a booking cancellation shall incite a positive upward trend for the industry.

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25 MARCH 2016

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SIMPLY AMAZING With tourism accounting for more than seven percent of the national GDP and supporting over two million direct and indirect jobs, the sector remains a key engine in the country’s development, hence, the endeavours to attract new markets, while also encouraging visitors to return and, nevertheless, spend more in France.

To this end, the city is being promoted by the tourism body as Simply Amazing with a comprehensive campaign highlighting the multifaceted aspects of the capital from postcard attractions to trendy dining venues, cultural hotspots and high-end offerings to suit any budget and taste, and as Véronique Potelet Anty, manager, media and public relations, Paris Convention and Visitors Bureau, revealed, so far, the response has been highly encouraging with an increased volume of leads and enquiries.

According to Kalaidjian, the recovery is mostly driven

by European markets, along with the domestic clientele, on the other hand, guest volumes from the US dropped sharply.

Nevertheless, hoteliers still remain bullish about the long-term potential of the US market with many of them expressing a keen interest in capturing a larger share of this all-important segment.

According to Blanc Miele, China is yet another up and coming feeder market, with the Asian country having now taken a position in the top five. Tedesco drew the attention to Australia which has shown a similarly impressive tendency, claiming a spot in the hotel’s three main sources.

To lure visitors back and reach out to new audiences, the tourism bureau is adapting all its activities to the specific markets.

“If we propose general views of the capital to newcomers, such as China, India or Mexico for instance, Eu-

25 MARCH 2016

SHORT BREAK PARIS

Paris in Figures

2 airports

6 international train stations

14 free museums

110,000+ hotel rooms

60,000m2 of exhibition space

465 parks and gardens 14.3 million visitors to Notre-Dame

ropean travellers and American tourists would like to experience more authentic products and services,” elaborated Potelet Anty, adding that the organisation is working hand in hand with neighbourhoods to highlight different features of the capital, enlarging the offering beyond ever-popular attractions such as Disneyland Paris or Versailles.

“There is the Paris people know about and there is also a behind-the-scene face of the city – both are well worth a visit,” she said.

BRIGHTER AND BETTER Besides these promotional activities, the French capital can also count on a number of upcoming openings and events, the most highly anticipated of which is this summer’s UEFA European Championship which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands of football fans to the country.

“This is a great year for Paris as we will receive in June the Euro 2016,” supported Potelet Anty.

Industry stakeholders are looking forward to increased enquiries and bookings, which are expected to help tackle other, modern-age challenges, such as the recent rise of alternative accommodation options through platforms like AirBnB. Foureau called for the supervision of competition, including the aforementioned lodging website, in support of the city’s hotel sector.

As Kalaidjian further suggested, ending strikes on the streets is also paramount in order to ensure the best possible services and experiences for visitors.

Despite Paris being hailed as one of the world’s top destinations, industry stakeholders maintain a view that improvements can and should still take place with Blanc Miele urging the upgrade of facilities, including airports, railway stations as well as the overall infrastructure of the city.

To sum up the general view, Potelet Anty concluded, “We encourage visitors and companies to be faithful to our destination.” 

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NEWS AIRPORTS

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European Airports Off to a Good Start Passenger traffic across Europe’s airport network showed an average year-on-year increase of 6.3 percent in January, revealed Airports Council International (ACI) Europe.

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he European Union (EU) performed above average, having witnessed a 6.9 percent surge in movements with airfields in 16 member states achieving double-digit growth. Meanwhile, non-EU hubs reported more moderate improvements at 4.3 percent.

Freight volumes across the continent’s airports grew 3.5 percent, above January 2015’s 2.2 percent average.

ACI Europe has also weighed in on the debate pertaining to the Schengen Zone’s mounting challenges and called for the integrity and continuity of Schengen to be ensured, supporting the swift implementation to reinforce the system’s external borders to safeguard its internal area of free movement.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol

Dutch Airport Maintains Performance

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chiphol Group’s revenue fell one percent year-onyear to EUR1.42 billion in 2015.

The results were affected by a 6.8 percent decrease in airport charges that took effect on April 01, 2015 which was fully compensated by the 6.1 percent rise in traffic and a three percent surge in transport movements.

The net result stood at EUR374 million and included three positive items: EUR67 million from the revaluation of real estate and a result of EUR50 million on the sale of an interest in Schiphol Airport Retail; approximately EUR55 million to be settled in the airport charges per April 01, 2017; and an investment of EUR439 million in fixed assets.

Furthermore, average CO2 emissions per passenger were 1.65kg compared to 1.72kg in 2014.

Glasgow among Europe’s Fastest Growing Airports

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lasgow Airport proved to be one of the continent’s fastest developing hubs in 2015.

Airports Council International (ACI) Europe classified the Scottish entry point in group three, which includes airfields that serve between five and 10 million passengers per year. With a 13 percent year-on-year growth rate in 2015 and in excess of 8.7 million travellers on record, Glasgow ranked fifth behind Milan, Gothenburg, Berlin and Porto.

During the year under review, 30 new routes were introduced from the Scottish capital.

Amanda McMillan, managing director, Glasgow Airport, said, “We worked extremely hard throughout 2015 to strengthen our route network and this was reflected in our passenger growth.”

25 MARCH 2016

NEWS AIRPORTS

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Sardinia to Be Linked to Manchester

Vienna Airport Routes Show Mixed Results

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Sardinia

s of July 09, Sardatur Holidays will commence flights from Manchester Airport to Sardinia’s Cagliari and Olbia.

“We are confident that [Sardatur Holidays’] fantastic packages to Sardinia will prove hugely popular with the 22 million people in our catchment area,” said Patrick Alexander, head of marketing, Manchester Airport.

On behalf of the tour operator that specialises in Italian vacations, Gianni Bonuglia, managing director, Sardatur Holidays, added, “We offer fantastic service and have teamed up with some of the best hotels in Sardinia to offer an incredible array of package holidays as well as tailor-made holidays for people to make the most of the island.”

ienna Airport handled 1,339,646 passengers in January, 1.2 percent more than in the same month in 2015.

The number of locals travelling rose 3.3 percent, while the volume of those transferring declined 3.8 percent.

Flight movements dropped 3.3 percent, air cargo on the other hand surged six percent.

Traffic to Western Europe, the Far East and North America grew 4.6, 1.5 and 10.9 percent, respectively, while Eastern European, Middle Eastern and African routes decreased 10.7, 1.6 and 9.8 percent.

Star Alliance Offers Benefits on Heathrow Trains

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Online Shopping Available at Frankfurt Airport

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ufthansa and Fraport launched Lounge Shopping, enabling travellers at selected Lufthansa lounges at Frankfurt Airport to shop from in-airport outlets via special iPads.

The purchased items are delivered directly to the lounge within half an hour.

In addition, passengers on long-haul flights to Frankfurt are able to purchase goods in-flight and have them ready at their gate upon arrival.

Finally, the new gourmet service, Taste & Travel will see iPads introduced in the check-in area and near the security checkpoint allowing customers to select any cuisine which they can then enjoy at their gate.

25 MARCH 2016

DID YOU KNOW...

Star Alliance has 28 member airlines?

tar Alliance and Heathrow Express teamed up to present Star Alliance Gold Card holders with a free upgrade when travelling on the company’s trains.

Customers who purchase a standard class single or return ticket on any route between Heathrow Airport and London Paddington Station, can then claim a seat in business first class upon showing both their train ticket and Star Alliance Gold Card to attendants.

Following the upgrade, passengers can enjoy a range of perks, such as complimentary newspapers and magazines, more leg room, wider seats, a personal table, a power socket at each seat and onboard TV.

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NEWS ACCOMMODATION

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Starwood Accelerates European Growth Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide’s European expansion gained momentum in 2015 with a record 18 organic openings and over 30 properties already under development and expected to launch in the next five years.

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W Amsterdam

he company is also debuting the Tribute Portfolio brand in France, diversifying its footprint in Italy and expanding its midmarket segment in the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and Turkey.

Among this year’s upcoming openings are W Amsterdam’s 172-room second building, Le Metropolitan and Le Dokhan in France, The Westin Hamburg, The Westin La Quinta Golf & Spa Resort in Spain, Le Méridien Visconti Rome, Sheraton Donnafugata in Sicily and Element Amsterdam.

Over 400 New Members for Hotusa Hotels

W Madrid to Be Unveiled in 2018

London Welcomes New IHG Project

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otusa Hotels added 403 new establishments to its portfolio in 2015. Of these, 130 are located in Spain and 273 are spread across 29 countries in Europe, the Americas, Asia and Africa.

With the new deals, the consortium aims to consolidate its position as a global benchmark in offering distribution, commercialisation and marketing services for hotels, with more than 2,700 members around the world.

Italy and France posted the largest growth in the portfolio, with 73 and 68 units, respectively.

Madrid

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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) celebrated the opening of the 453key InterContinental London – The O2 on the city’s Greenwich Peninsula.

Its facilities include a restaurant and rooftop sky bar, spa and a collection of 59 suites. For event organisers there is a 3,100m2 pillar-free ballroom – hailed as one of the largest in Europe, 19 meeting rooms, an office and 1,600m2 of prefunction space.

Angela Brav, CEO, Europe, IHG, enthused, “This iconic hotel is set to become a destination in its own right, next to one of the UK’s most popular entertainment venues.”

InterContinental London – The O2

Eurostars Madrid Tower Hotels

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tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is to expand its presence in Europe with the opening of W Madrid in 2018.

Located on Plaza de Canalejas, the 141-room property will make Spain the only country on the continent to boast two W Hotels.

“The opening of the second W Hotel in Spain demonstrates the huge demand for this innovative lifestyle brand in such an important travel market,” said Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide.

25 MARCH 2016

NEWS ACCOMMODATION Milestone Signing for Starwood in Rome

Hotusa Hotels Expands in Latin America

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otusa Hotels is further developing its Latin American footprint with new properties in Mexico City and Bogota.

The Mexican capital’s NY.T Roma hotel will be transformed into the four-star Exe Cities Reforma with 51 rooms while the 53-key fivestar Exe Santafé Boutique Hotel will mark the Spanish company’s second establishment in Bogota. In addition, Eurostars Bacatá is also expected to open by mid-year.

As Amancio López Seijas, president, Hotusa Hotels, suggested, the company is keen on further strengthening its footprint in the region with feasible projects.

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y the end of this year, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide will open Le Méridien Visconti Rome, marking the brand’s re-entry into Italy.

The property is located in the Prati district near the Vatican and premier shopping streets.

Following an extensive renovation and conversion from the independent Visconti Palace Hotel, each of the 240 rooms and suites will offer mid-century modern design with spacious work spaces and subtle technology, whereas culinary offerings will include a rooftop terrace, all-day dining restaurant, breakfast room and a bar.

Exe Santafé Boutique Hotel

Visconti Palace Hotel

First InterContinental to Open in Bulgaria

25 MARCH 2016

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ollowing an extensive four-month refurbishment, Marriott International welcomed The Hague Marriott Hotel to its portfolio.

Situated in the heart of the Netherlands’ diplomatic capital, the property now boasts an array of new facilities and design features, including 306 rooms and suites inspired by the city’s coastline.

Moreover, guests can enjoy the company’s signature Greatroom lobby, the exclusive Garden Terrace event space, the Executive Lounge on the ninth floor, as well as a variety of dining options.

The Hague Marriott Hotel

Sheraton Arrives in Cascais

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Sofia

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nterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a deal in Sofia to refurbish an existing hotel to then reopen it under the InterContinental flag in 2017.

The 182-key InterContinental Sofia, the first for the brand in Bulgaria, will feature seven meeting venues and five boardrooms, a lobby bar, spa and fitness centre and a rooftop restaurant overlooking the main square.

Speaking of the upcoming property, Robert Shephard, chief development officer, Europe, IHG, noted that the project underscores the momentum of the brand in key international locations.

The Hague Marriott Revamped

tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has further expanded the footprint of its Sheraton brand in Portugal with a new property in Cascais.

Sheraton Cascais Resort, formerly known as Vivamarinha Hotel & Suites, boasts 138 rooms and suites, a restaurant, two bars, fitness centre, an outdoor swimming pool and a spa. Ideal for golfers, the new address is less than a half-hour drive from seven of the country’s top courses.

As Michael Wale, president, Europe, Africa and Middle East, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, noted, 150 new Sheraton properties are expected to be added across the globe by 2020.

Cascais

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NEWS AIR

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Lufthansa Takes Off to Panama City

Lufthansa commenced nonstop services between Frankfurt and Panama City, operating fives times per week on the route, which is available all year round.

Panama City

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he German airline’s new bilateral codeshare agreement with Panama City-based Copa Airlines offers a wide range of onward travel options. Under the deal, Lufthansa travellers can fly on with the Panamanian carrier from the capital city to 73 further destinations. In return, Copa Airlines customers gain access to the global network of Lufthansa Group, which currently extends to 261 locations in 101 countries.

Icelandair Boosts Chicago Seat Capacity

Johannesburg

Iberia Returns to South Africa

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hortly before its inaugural flight to Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Icelandair expanded capacity on the route by replacing the originally designated Boeing 757 with a Boeing 767 aircraft, thus, adding 9,000 seats per year.

“This increased capacity will provide passengers travelling through O’Hare even more options to Europe and we look forward to welcoming them aboard,” said Birkir Holm Gudnason, CEO, Icelandair.

According to Ginger Evans, commissioner, Chicago Department of Aviation, the carrier’s decision to boost capacity on this route is a testament to the destination’s steady growth in business and tourism.

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s of August 01, Iberia will resume flights to Johannesburg, its 11th destination in Africa.

The reinstalled route will be served three times per week by new 278-seat Airbus A330300 aircraft, and will be ideally timed for connecting flights across the Spanish carrier’s network.

Apart from the local markets, the itinerary is also set to appeal to travellers from Portugal, Cuba, the US, the UK, Italy, Germany and Switzerland.

25 MARCH 2016

NEWS AIR

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Wizz Air Links Cluj and Munich

easyJet Continues Scottish Expansion

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izz Air has commenced twice-weekly operations between its base at Cluj-Napoca and Munich Memmingen in Germany’s Bavaria region.

The Romanian destination remains one of the most important bases for the carrier, stated Gabor Vasarhelyi, communications manager, Wizz Air, referring to the 16 percent year-on-year growth in traffic in the country in 2015. To meet demand, the airline will add a fifth aircraft to the destination in July ahead of the launch of the six-weekly Cluj-Napoca – Bucharest service on July 22.

Munich

Aer Lingus Doubles Frequency between Liverpool and Dublin

Vienna

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asyJet made a further addition to its Scottish network with flights from Edinburgh to Vienna and Venice, twice and four times a week, respectively.

The new year-round service to the Italian city is expected to carry up to 50,000 passengers in the first year of operation while the Austrian destination is aimed to cater to 21,000 travellers.

As Ali Gayward, head, Scotland, easyJet, revealed, the airline now serves over 50 locations from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness.

“We are pleased to further strengthen our network from Edinburgh with the addition of these services and are confident that Venice [and Vienna] will prove popular destinations for travellers.”

DID YOU KNOW...

In 2011 easyJet launched Scotland Flex which allows passengers to fly back early from any London to any Scottish airport?

Emirates Celebrates Larnaca – Athens Route

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25 MARCH 2016

Dublin

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s of May 02, Aer Lingus Regional will double services on its Liverpool – Dublin route with four daily departures.

The flights are timed to connect with Aer Lingus’ 10 transatlantic operations.

“Connectivity is a key factor in driving new trade links for US companies looking to do business in Liverpool but also for companies in the Liverpool region looking to do business in North America. Furthermore, our low fares make visiting friends and family more affordable and more convenient and this provides a welcome boost for tourism,” explained Keith Butler, chief commercial officer, Aer Lingus.

mirates invited industry partners and representatives of Cyprus’ travel and tourism industry to mark the inauguration of the airline’s direct services between Larnaca and Athens.

Held under the theme Hello Athens, the cocktail party brought together prominent figures from across the island to celebrate with Asma Al Rahma, country manager, Cyprus, Emirates.

The UAE carrier has long been operating flights between Cyprus and Dubai and it has recently extended the itinerary to the Greek capital, allowing travellers to book tickets between the two destinations.

Five weekly frequencies are currently offered on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays onboard a three-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

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NEWS AIR Air France’s A380 Lands in Mexico

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Flybe Connects The Hague with Manchester

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F The Hague

ir France officially inaugurated its Airbus A380 super jumbo aircraft on the Paris – Mexico route.

The aircraft, that can accommodate 516 passengers in four travel cabins, boasts six bars divided between the two decks, an area dedicated to art and culture, and three external cameras with the images being retransmitted live throughout the flight.

Frédéric Gagey, chairman, Air France, commented, “Operating our Airbus A380 to Mexico marks a significant step in Air France’s history in Mexico. A history spanning over 60 years and that we are pursuing today by enabling our customers to travel between Europe and this country onboard our fleet’s flagship.”

lybe has linked Rotterdam The Hague Airport with Manchester with double-daily frequencies on weekdays, a morning service on Saturdays and an afternoon flight on Sundays, all timed to suit the schedules of both business and leisure travellers.

Vincent Hodder, chief revenue officer, Flybe, enthused, “We are really pleased by the customer response to our conveniently timed flights that offer time-saving travel between these two key European cities. We are not only seeing bookings from those obviously travelling for business, but weekend travel is also proving extremely popular.”

S7 Joins Forces with Emirates

Punta Cana

airberlin Enhances High-demand Destinations

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ffective from May, airberlin will increase the number of flights to two Dominican Republic destinations and will also boost capacity between Düsseldorf and Mallorca.

With an additional weekly service, the airline will fly to Puerto Plata on Mondays and Wednesdays and will also operate a further itinerary to Punta Cana every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

airBaltic and Iberia Team Up

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7 Airlines enhanced its partnership with Emirates to improve connectivity and services by codesharing on Russian routes.

The two carriers have been in an interline agreement since 2003 which was further expanded in 2008. The new deal sees the Emirates code added to more than 30 itineraries operated by its partner across Russia as well as on the twice-weekly flight between Dubai and Novosibirsk. It also allows the Russian company to reciprocally put its code on Dubai – Moscow route operated by the UAE carrier.

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Madrid

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irBaltic penned a codeshare agreement with Spanish carrier, Iberia, to offer access to Southern Europe and the Baltic region to their respective customers.

As Neil Chernoff, senior vice president, network planning and alliances, Iberia, explained, through competitive connections in Brussels, Düsseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt and Amsterdam, the deal allows the airlines to further improve the product offering for their customers.

Press briefing in Moscow

25 MARCH 2016

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NEWS AIR

Germania to Fly to Lapland

Rovaniemi

Azerbaijan to Attract New Airlines

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Baku

irect flight connections to Lapland will be boosted once Germania commences twice-weekly services from Berlin to Rovaniemi and from Düsseldorf to Kittilä between January – March 2017.

According to Joni Sundelin, senior vice president, Finavia, the new service will make reaching the Finnish destination easier than ever.

“There has been brilliant travel product development in Lapland for a long time and all the while, Lapland has appealed to an increasing number of international travellers. […] This would not have been possible if it were not for the effective cooperation between the operators,” added Sundelin.

airBaltic and Tez Tour Fly to Rimini

Rimini

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irBaltic unveiled plans for a new summer charter flight for Tez Tour between Riga and Rimini, effective from June 05.

“We are delighted to serve Rimini, Italy for our excellent cooperation partner Tez Tour to boost summer travel,” enthused Martin Gauss, CEO, airBaltic, adding that the new route from the Latvian capital to the Italian location will offer excellent opportunities to visit one of the most famous seaside resorts.

As Konstantins Palgovs, general manager, the Baltics, Tez Tour, revealed, in recent months, Rimini ranked in the company’s top three most popular destinations.

25 MARCH 2016

n a bid to boost incoming tourism, representatives of the Azeri airports together with Azerbaijan Airlines (AZAL) have been working together to attract new budget flights to the country.

Negotiations are well underway with representatives of aviation authorities in Turkey, the UAE and several other countries to explore the possibilities for airlines like Pegasus Airlines and Air Arabia.

Russian carriers UTair Aviation and Ural Airlines have also conducted a number of audits at airports in Baku, Lankaran and Ganja, and several Russian airlines expressed an interest in operating from St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg and Novosibirsk to Azerbaijan’s six regional airports.

“We, for our part, are ready to consider providing [airlines interested in flying to Azerbaijan] with additional discounts on service at regional airports in the initial phase," said Arif Mammadov, vice president, AZAL.

Thomas Cook Airlines Enhances Winter Schedule

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homas Cook Airlines intends to base an extra aircraft at Glasgow Airport in order to support its next winter programme.

Customers will benefit from a fleet of three full-time Airbus A321s and another 25,000 seats to the Canary Islands.

Paul White, business development manager, Glasgow Airport, noted, “This is great news for Scottish travellers, particularly those looking to get away for some winter sun [this year]. […] We look forward to working in partnership with the airline to continue their growth at Glasgow Airport.”

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“The new theme [Holidays in the heart of nature in Germany, for the GCC region] focusses on a new aspect of the German tourism sector, and capitalises on the wealth of natural beauty and exclusive experiences the country can offer. We are confident that the offerings that we will focus on will attract yet more visitors from the Gulf region, especially those who love nature and exploration.”

JĀNIS VANAGS

The offerings […] will attract yet more visitors from the Gulf region

VICE PRESIDENT, CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS, AIRBALTIC

American travellers are in love with Switzerland

“American travellers are in love with Switzerland. The recent numbers [with arrivals in 2015 rising 6.8 percent to 802,503] support a positive trend that has been developing over the past five years.

Since 2010, Switzerland has been able to report a continuous increase in overnights from the US every year, from roughly 1,400,000 to almost 1,740,000.”

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

PRESIDENT, GLOBAL DEVELOPMENT, STARWOOD HOTELS & RESORTS WORLDWIDE

SIMON TURNER

DIRECTOR, AMERICAS, SWITZERLAND TOURISM

ALEX HERRMANN

DIRECTOR OF SALES AND MARKETING, GULF REGION, GERMAN NATIONAL TOURIST OFFICE

MARIA AMARAL

TRAVEL TALK

[Aviation] supports almost three percent of the GDP

“The aviation industry is vital for the economy – in Latvia alone, it supports almost three percent of the GDP and two percent of all active jobs.

At the same time, every eight out of 10 airBaltic customers purchase their tickets outside our main base in Latvia, and it is critical that we reach out to our European and Eastern markets effectively to communicate our outstanding and punctual service.”

Growth forecast for Europe is stronger than ever

“Our strong growth in Europe was instrumental in Starwood’s record-breaking growth in 2015 as we continue to focus on high-quality portfolio growth in desirable and strategic destinations.

Our growth forecast for Europe is stronger than ever with over 30 hotels set to open across our 10 distinct lifestyle brands by 2020.”

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 MARCH 2016

TRAVEL CHANNELS

Myanmar

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KUONI HIGHLIGHTS BRITISH TRAVEL TRENDS

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hilst the Maldives, Thailand and Sri Lanka top the best-selling destination list for the year, the rising stars in Kuoni Travel’s Worldwide Trends Report are Japan, Myanmar, Kenya and Namibia, having posted the highest year-onyear growth rate in bookings.

Interestingly, over the past two years, the travel company witnessed demand for holidays with an adventure, cultural or touring element rise twice at the pace of stay-put beach breaks.

British honeymooners are now spending an average of GBP5,902 (EUR7,670) in total on their trip, up from GBP5,743 (EUR7,464) in 2015, backing up a trend for more thrill, upgraded luxury and once-ina-lifetime experiences.

While bookings for Egypt, Morocco and Turkey, among more, have dropped, Kuoni Travel’s report shows a steady demand for global travel.

EUROSTAR UNVEILS REFRESHED WEBSITE

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urostar launched a new online site dedicated to UK travel agents.

The upgraded version of eurostar4agents.com is designed to provide information on the company’s latest products and services in order to better assist trade professionals and selling partners. From timetables to operational updates and details about the new fleet rollout, a wealth of content is available in a user-friendly format, enabling partners to provide quality and timely services to end customers.

ABTA TRAINS MEMBERS ON CRISIS MANAGEMENT

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BTA successfully held a one-day training session under the slogan An Introduction to Crisis Management.

Part of the Travel Essentials series, the event aimed to equip participants with the knowledge and skills required to cope with any exceptional operational or crisis situation that may happen.

Attendees heard from a number of senior industry speakers about legal implications and other relevant issues that they may face.

T FIJI AIRWAYS SUPPORTS DISASTER RELIEF FUND 25 MARCH 2016

he national carrier of Fiji donated FJD1 million (EUR424,160) to the prime minister’s National Disaster Relief and Rehabilitation Fund to assist those affected by Cyclone Winston.

The airline also announced free carriage of relief supplies, both domestically as well as inbound from other countries, in order to help, as Andre Viljoen, CEO, Fiji Airways, said, rebuild the nation.

“The donation will assist the National Disaster Management Office teams get much needed resources and personnel to areas of critical need,” added Viljoen.

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TRAVEL CHANNELS

COPENHAGEN BOASTS HIGH-END GASTRONOMY

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ROYAL BALLET AND BOLSHOI DELIVER MAGIC

A production by The Royal Ballet

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hristopher Wheeldon’s new ballet, Strapless celebrated its world premiere in London as part of an all Wheeldon mixed programme.

The production of the show formed part of an ongoing collaboration between Royal Opera House’s The Royal Ballet and the Bolshoi Theatre of Russia with recent activities including the annual World Ballet Day, a live digital stream behind-the-scenes of the world’s leading ballet companies as well as The Royal Ballet’s tour to the Bolshoi Theatre.

Kevin O’Hare, director, The Royal Ballet, said, “It is very exciting to be combining forces and a rich opportunity for two historic organisations to meld […].”

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openhagen set a new record with 20 Michelin stars divided amongst 16 restaurants in and around the city.

The capital’s Restaurant Geranium, popular for being fully organic, is the first Danish dining outlet to receive the coveted three Michelin stars, and the world’s only 100 percent organic restaurant to receive the accolade.

Copenhagen’s development as a gastronomic city means that it offers a multi-faceted restaurant scene that includes numerous mid-priced yet high-end venues.

Aside from breaking its own record from 2015, the Danish capital holds the most Michelin stars in the Nordic region.

AIRPORT SECURITY HIGH ON AGENDAS

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he International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and Airports Council International (ACI) entered into a new memorandum of understanding to reinforce their cooperation on airport security.

The deal will see the aviation agency working more closely with ACI towards the objectives of the organisation’s Airport Excellence in Security programme. Delivering related reviews, technical assistance, programmes for airport personnel training and enhancement of regional partnerships will all form part of the planned endeavours.

“This new agreement establishes a framework for cooperation which will help to improve airport security worldwide,” explained Fang Liu, secretary general, ICAO.

B AIRPLANE BATHROOMS BECOME MORE SANITARY 22

oeing engineers and designers built a prototype lavatory that uses ultraviolet light to kill 99.99 percent of pathogens, therefore, sanitising all surfaces.

Combined with touch-less faucets, soap dispensers and more, the lavatory of the future could mean a more hygienic, less worrisome experience.

“The UV light destroys all known microbes by literally making them explode,” said Jamie Childress, engineer, Boeing Research & Technology. “It matches the resonant frequency of the molecular bonds on the outside of the microbes.”

25 MARCH 2016

PHOTO ALBUM

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Air France KLM and Ramco opened a maintenance, repair and operations IT centre in Singapore

British sports star David Beckham posed for a selfie with British Airways pilots and cabin crew

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

A group of top tour operators from the UAE visited Northern Ireland

easyJet launched services from London Southend Airport to Paris Charles de Gaulle

25 MARCH 2016

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

QHotels received two industry accolades at M&IT Awards

Jet2.com won GLA Airline of the Year

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NEWS & EVENTS EVENTS

CYPRUS WELCOMES SPA EXHIBITION

SITT Novosibirsk, Russia April 14 – 16 www.sitt-expo.ru A major happening in Siberia, SITT attracts more than 200 Russian and foreign tourist companies, tour operators, health resorts and hotels.

www.traveltradeeurope.travel

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llinav Group organised and sponsored the annual trade-only CY-SPA Expo in Cyprus, addressing industry professionals such as spa, sports and beauty therapists, hair salon staff, wellness centres, physiotherapists, podiatrists and masseurs.

The four-day event showcased a variety of new wellness products in Grecian Park Hotel in Ayia Napa, Hilton Cyprus in Nicosia, Elysium in Paphos and Londa Beach Hotel in Limassol.

“CY-SPA offers an entirely new range of products that provides every spa, hair and beauty salon, wellness centre, health, physio, sports and spiritual therapy workplace the option of uniqueness within a budget,” elaborated Tracy Roth-Rotsas, CEO, Allinav Group.

BRANDENBURG AIRPORT REFRESHES NIGHT RUN IMEX

Airport night run

Frankfurt, Germany April 19 – 21 www.imex-frankfurt.com A landmark exhibition for professionals working in the MICE industry where global decision- makers meet with 3,500 suppliers for three days of business.

ARABIAN TRAVEL MARKET Dubai, UAE April 25 – 28 www.arabiantravelmarket.com A major event where global destinations showcase a diverse range of accommodation options, tourist attractions, travel technology and key airline routes.

DIGITAL TRAVEL SUMMIT London, UK June 07 – 08 digitaltraveleu.wbresearch.com Attracting over 400 top hoteliers, airlines, cruise lines, car rentals and online travel agents, the event offers senior professionals the opportunity to address the most pressing digital challenges.

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n April 09, Berlin Brandenburg Airport will celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Airport Night Run with slight changes to the traditional format of the event.

The start and finish areas beneath the terminal roof will be relocated to the BER arrivals and drop-off area, and alongside the half-marathon and 10km run, there will also be a 16km relay in which teams will compete on 4x4km.

Upon completing the challenge, participants will receive a commemorative medal.

IPC SWIMMING WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS BOOSTS LOCAL ECONOMY

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he International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships 2015 in Glasgow generated more than GBP1.5 million (EUR1.93 million) for the Scottish economy, according to a new report commissioned by VisitScotland, UK Sport, British Swimming and Glasgow Life.

The event attracted over 120 members of international media to the Scottish city.

“The global coverage put Glasgow in the spotlight once again, following the enormous success of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, and showcased what a fantastic city it is, not only as a host of major sporting events but also to visit,” said Malcolm Roughead, CEO, VisitScotland.

25 MARCH 2016