Olympic Movement Playing for a Greener Future in Doha

The 9th World Conference on Sport and the Environment opened today in Doha, Qatar with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) presenting six organisations with the IOC Sport and Environment Award for their outstanding contributions in the field of sustainable sport and the environment.

The Conference, taking place from 30 April to 2 May under the motto “Playing for a Greener Future,” is jointly organised by the IOC and the National Olympic Committee (NOC) of Qatar, in close partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Representatives from the world of sport, industry, sponsors, the United Nations and NGOs will address issues related to environmental responsibility and sport in plenary and breakout sessions.

The IOC Sport and Environment Award is presented every two years to members of the Olympic Movement (individuals, groups or organisations) who are nominated by NOCs, International Federations or Continental Associations. This year, 43 candidatures were submitted, with one winner selected for each of the five continents:

Africa: 2010 FIFA World Cup Host City Cape Town
Americas: IX South American Games 2010 Host City Medellin
Asia: Japan Swimming Federation (JASF)
Europe: National Olympic Committee and Sports Confederation of Denmark
Oceania: National Olympic Committee of the Marshall Islands

A special award was given to the NOC of Qatar for its commitment to the environment and sustainable technology, including its goal of delivering zero-carbon, solar technology to cool its 2022 FIFA World Cup stadiums and training sites. Click here to learn more about the winners and their projects.

IOC President Jacques Rogge, who gave an opening speech at the Conference, applauded the winners for their dedication to the environment while wishing the assembled delegation a successful three-day event. “Sport is a powerful tool for positive change,” President Rogge said. “Our task is to ensure we use that tool for the benefit of the planet we share. We owe that to ourselves and to the future generations who will inherit this earth. The winners here tonight have embraced this concept and are worthy recipients of the IOC Sport and Environment Award.”

Over the next two days, participants will discuss a range of environment-related topics, including how sport can contribute to the 2012 Rio +20 Earth Summit; ways to locally and globally implement the Olympic Movement’s Agenda 21; how to make sports events more sustainable; how sport can help achieve Goal 7 (environmental sustainability) of the United Nations Development Programme’s Millennium Development Goals; and the role of Olympians in promoting respect for the environment.

“It is a huge honour and a proud moment for the Qatar Olympic Committee to be co-hosting the 9th World Sport and Environment Conference,” said Qatar Olympic Committee General Secretary Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani. “The IOC and UNEP have developed an influential Conference over recent years that has stimulated real discussion and provided thought-leadership to the global sports sector. I have no doubt that this will be the case at this year’s Conference.”

ADNEC purchases online ticket portal boxofficeme.com

Abu Dhabi: In a move which strengthens its position as one of the capital’s leading drivers of the live events industry, ADNEC (Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company) has purchased the website boxofficeme.com from Arab Media Group effective immediately.

Boxofficeme sold more than 100,000 tickets for 162 events in 2010 and since commencement of operations in 2004, has handled ticket sales for some of the world’s biggest music and dance acts such as Robbie Williams, Shakira, Elton John, 50 Cent, Destiny Child, Nancy Ajram and Creamfields Abu Dhabi. Boxofficeme has also ticketed Broadway productions such as Mamma Mia, Chicago and Stomp and regional sports events such as Dubai Rugby 7s, Capitala Tennis and the Bahrain Formula One Grand Prix.

“Our purchase of www.boxofficeme.com provides ADNEC with an established regional brand in the online ticketing business as well as access to what is widely believed to be the largest event-related consumer database in the UAE”, said Humaid Al Dhaheri, ADNEC Chief Sales & Marketing Officer. “As such, this is a step forward in ADNEC’s strategy to set up a world class ticketing operation in support of Abu Dhabi’s ambitious plans for the live events sector”.

In addition to re-branding www.boxofficeme.com, ADNEC has invested in a fully integrated, web-based, ticketing system which allows customers to reserve individual seats online and provides the facility for tickets to be printed at home.

“Besides supporting public events at ADNEC venues, Boxofficeme will continue to ticket concerts, sports, theatre and cultural events at venues around the Gulf region, offering a compelling alternative to the traditional manual ticket operations of the region” added Al Dhaheri.

ADNEC is also developing on-site, fully serviced box-office outlets at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre and Al Ain Convention Centre, to support its online ticketing operation.

The H1898 becomes a member of the Great Hotels of the World Collection (GHO)

Placed in the heart of Barcelona, the hotel offers 169 rooms, several meetings facilities, two restaurants, a spa, and a spectacular terrace with a pool with 360º views over the city

Barcelona, 28 April 2011.- The H1898 Hotel is delighted to announce that it has recently been accepted as a member of Great Hotels of the World – Premium Collection. Chosen for its exceptional Meetings and Incentives facilities, Hotel 1898 will be featured in the next issue of the Great Hotels of the World Meetings, Incentive & Corporate Travel Collection Directory.

Headquartered in the UK, Great Hotels of the World provides global hotel reservation, sales and marketing services for
an exclusive portfolio of primarily independent hotels and resorts worldwide in specific niche market sectors.
Membership of Great Hotels of the World is by invitation only and is limited to exceptional hotels within recognised niche
lifestyle markets. Glossy, coffee table style directories are published for each year. Beautifully illustrated with colour
photography, each hotel entry features detailed information on the facilities and activities available.
A trip to colonial times
Set on Barcelona’s symbolic La Rambla, the H1898 blends its strong historical character and architectural heritage as a former 20th-century Philippine Tobacco Company with the modernity of the 21st-century. Beautiful decor, a perfectly finished colonial-style interior and a unique warmth make the H1898 an ideal for guests interested in art and who appreciate the details and feelings that evoke history.
The H1898 hotel offers a total of 169 guestrooms of 6 different types to choose from, including 1 junior suite and 3 colonial suites with private terrace and pool. Colonial décor and fine chestnut parquet floors will transport you to a magical 19th century setting in the warm villas of the Philippines. Egyptian cotton sheets, designed exclusively for Hotel 1898, add the final touch to an absolutely unique and luxurious stay.
The hotel also offers seven period ballrooms, five meeting rooms, a café/bar, restaurant and terrace chill-out zone, library, Business Center, and free high-speed wireless internet access. Guests also have access to a fully equipped fitness center, outdoor pool with solarium, and high-end Spa facility.

The ECM Summer School will celebrate its ‘silver anniversary’ in Cracow

European Cities Marketing will be staging its renowned ECM Summer School between August 27-31 2011. This is the 25th edition and, as such, it will be a very special ‘quarter of a century’ anniversary. Cracow, Poland, will be the host, and the participants will have an excellent opportunity to see the city and experience its unique heritage and culture.

The ECM Summer School meets the training and personal development needs of those pursuing careers in the global meetings industry. It is especially relevant for ‘up and coming’ professionals and those researching the economic potential of business tourism as a tool of urban economic development. Uniquely, it brings students face to face with leading industry practitioners and commentators, with the scope and content of the programme reflecting latest trends and new technologies and practices.

Pier Paolo Mariotti, Meeting Manager of EURAC Convention Center in Bolzano, Italy, hosted the 23rd Summer School in 2009. In 2010, he became the new Course Director of the ECM Summer School.
“Being the Course Director in the same year that the event celebrates its 25^th anniversary is a great privilege and is exciting! To mark this anniversary, we asked former students of the Summer School to become our ambassadors – living testimonials to the uniqueness and quality of the event. This exercise alerted us to how illustrious and diversified were the current profiles of our Summer School graduates. For instance, Meeli Jaaksoo is now the Convention Manager of the Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau, Roland Pinnel is CEO of the Luxembourg City Tourist Office, Hilda Farago is Secretary General of the National Tourism Board of Hungary, Zlatan Mufticis Product Manager of the Zagreb Tourist Board, and Krzysztof Celuch is CEO the of Poland National Tourist Office- the list is almost endless.

The Summer School has now been in existence for 25 years, and this bears testimony to the enduring need it is fulfilling. We will all do our utmost to ensure it continues well into the future by maintaining the highest standard of course content, retaining and recruiting the very best of speakers, and giving up-to-date examples showcasing latest trends in the meeting industry ”, says Pier Paolo Mariotti.

ECM will organise a press conference focusing on the 25^th Summer School on May 25^th 2h30 pm at IMEX in Frankfurt.

Drive Market Offers Business Opportunities for Travel Agents, Study Finds

Alexandria, Va., April 2011- With almost three-quarters of Americans saying they prefer to drive to their vacation destination, the market opportunities for travel agents are wide open according to the Drive Market study, a recent report by Project 85 and in which ASTA participated. Carried out in January 2011, the study examined the habits and attitudes of more than 1,500 Americans toward “drive” vacations and trips, a market which, according to the U.S. Travel Association, represents more than three quarters of the $495 billion in travel spending.

“This study really provides great insight into how Americans plan trips, their motivations for choosing to drive and their use of travel agents. For travel agents looking to break into new markets, the drive market is an often overlooked segment but one that holds distinct opportunities,” said ASTA President and Chair Chris Russo. “For example, as cruise lines look to use more diverse ports, an increasing percentage of Americans can now drive rather than fly to their cruise departure port, presenting an opportunity for agents to design a customized itinerary to complement the cruise.

“The results of this study provide vital information for travel agencies looking to explore new markets and can help hone their marketing and sales campaigns. And, once they have tapped the market, this information can be used to secure a loyal customer base as a better understanding of consumers’ motivations and needs goes a long way to optimizing customer service,” added Russo.

Among the results, the study found that “being comfortable” is the primary reason why 74 percent of Americans prefer to drive to their destination, compared to the 21 percent who choose air travel. Comfort is a driving factor, especially among those over 50, with 81 percent reporting that they like the flexibility to determine their own schedules, and 71 percent saying they prefer to drive because it allows them to “bring more stuff.” The study also shows that among drive market travelers, nearly four in 10 Americans (38 percent) plan trips within a week of departure, and 49 percent plan within two weeks or less.

The study is a part of a larger effort known as Project 85. The Project 85 Think Tank is a collection of U.S. travel and tourism organizations that have united to collaborate on the development of marketing approaches and solutions for the U.S. travelers who drive rather than fly to their destinations. Project 85 is named after the 85 percent of travel that takes place in the United States by car, motorcycle, RV or other vehicle.

Project 85 is managed by Solutionz, which along with Mandala Research conducted the study. In addition to ASTA, other project sponsors include AARP, Avis Budget Group, AOL Travel, Mapquest, Panasonic, the Destination & Travel Foundation, Experian’s Hitwise, Travel Guard, WCities and Wyndham Hotels.

ASTA members will receive a discount on the full report and an overview of the results. Please contact Melissa Teates (mteates@asta.org), director of research, for more details.

The budget hotels will be built in Moscow

According to the Department of Coordination of Construction of the Hotels, it’s planning to build about 40 new budget hotels up to 2013. The hotels won’t be started from point zero, some city hostels will be just re-equipped.

“The program of the reconstruction of some hostels with the purpose to re-equip them into the hotels will be developed in Moscow in the nearest future. The guests of Moscow will be able to have a comfortable accommodation for a reasonable price. It will help to recommence the domestic tourism”, underlined Vladimir Ermolaev, the Head of the Department of Hotels Construction of Moscow. It’s planning to open 17 hotels in 2011 and more than 20 hotels in 2012 in the framework of this program.

According to the experts, there is a great necessity of budget accommodation in Moscow. The businessmen prefer to build 5 star hotels instead of budget 3 star ones. It can be explained by the low profitability. The hotel of the average category can be repaid only in 10-15 years. www.atorus.ru

The Crimea will offer All Inclusive

The majority of the hotels and resorts of the Crimea will offer All Inclusive for the tourists.

According to Aleksandr Liev, The Deputy Minister of the Resorts and Tourism of the Crimea, for the moment 52 means of accommodation offer All Inclusive for the guests.

Special master-classes will be organized in 360 hotels and health resorts of the Crimea. All the hotels which offer All Inclusive will have a large-scale informational support.

However, the local authorities are ready to support business not only by the information, but also by the renovation of the rooms of the hotels. Approximately 81.6 million USD were invested into the reconstruction of the Crimean means of the accommodation. www.atorus.ru

Spanish Holidays Dominate On the Beach’s Summer Sales Rankings

MANCHESTER, England, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Leading online travel agent On the Beach has released its ten most popular destinations for British tourists this coming summer. The list is dominated by Spain as seven of the featured destinations are located in the European country. The travel agent has attributed this trend to the availability of cheap flights to the country’s many excellent resorts.

The list ranks the top ten destinations based upon total projected departures during July and August. Resorts placed in the following order: Majorca, Ibiza, Dalaman, the Algarve, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Bodrum, Costa Blanca and Fuerteventura. Bodrum, the Algarve and Dalaman are the only entries on the list which are not in Spain.

Costa Blanca and Fuerteventura are appearing on this list for the first time this year. According to On the Beach this is a significant development as it shows the growing dominance of Spanish holidays.

Alistair Daly, Marketing Director of On the Beach, comments: “This list clearly demonstrates that Spain is as popular as ever, in with millions of British holidaymakers heading to resorts on the mainland and its excellent island resorts. This shift in popularity can primarily be attributed to the creation of new low cost routes to airports in Spain – these flights allow our customers to embark on holidays to Majorca, the Canary Islands and the mainland without spending a great deal on airfare. This summer people are very focused on getting abroad without overspending – Spain is clearly the place to do so.”

Thomas Cook Research Shows UK Holidaymakers Determined to go Abroad in 2011

PETERBOROUGH, England, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — New research by Thomas Cook, the travel company that offersholidays worldwide, has revealed that 30 per cent of UK people are still looking to book their 2011 summer holiday – and are looking for a great deal.

With 10 per cent of people having not yet booked, but definitely intending to, and 20 per cent waiting to see, Thomas Cook has today launched its Late Booking Holiday Offers for this summer.  As expected in these current times, price is the most important factor with 33 per cent of those left to book keen to spend less than last year, with 44 per cent looking to spend the same.

A spokesperson for Thomas Cook UK & Ireland said, “With concerns about finances, rising fuel costs, government cuts and job security top of people’s minds, you’d be forgiven for thinking the annual summer holiday abroad had been forgotten – especially with the UK weather being so good.

“Far from it – our research has told us that many people are waiting to see and holding out for a late deal, and it’s great news that with the summer just around the corner, now is the time to take advantage of the best deals of 2011.  We’re offering guaranteed savings across our brands with deals on all our holidays. ”

Traditional destinations for flexible holidays

This summer Turkey holidays will continue to be a firm favourite as it promises the widest choice of accommodation, fantastic resorts and hard to beat value for money.

However, as Thomas Cook said earlier this year, the traditional package holiday destinations of Spain and Greece are set to win back the Brits this year, with the added bonus of the pound strengthening against the euro it also means better value for money for holidaymakers once in resorts on everyday items such as meals and drinks out.

Thomas Cook’s Late Booking Holiday Offers are available from its holiday experts in its Thomas Cook and Going Places stores, online at http://www.thomascook.com, or by calling 08444-12-59-59.

Research carried out in March 2011 by YouGov on behalf of Thomas Cook UK & Ireland, as part of YouGov’s online Omnibus survey of over 2000 GB adults.

JetSuite Now Offers Private Jet Flights From as Low as $499 Via New “SuiteDeal of the Day” Promotion

LONG BEACH, Calif., April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — JetSuite Air, the nation’s fastest-growing private jet service offering coverage throughout the West, today announces the launch of its “SuiteDeal of the Day” social media initiative.
Through the company’s Facebook platform, JetSuite will promote last minute daily deals which will enable its fans to purchase private jet flights for as low as $499. The deals are for one-way trips on its fleet of brand new, four-passenger Phenom 100 aircraft – and the fare is for the entire plane.

Already widely recognized for its innovative, affordable pricing from metro SuiteSpots located in California, Nevada, Arizona and Texas, JetSuite aims to further incentivize both current and potential clients. “Our unbeatable rates make sense for people who value their money as much as their time,” says Alex Wilcox, JetSuite’s founder and CEO.

“Through the power of social media, we hope to increase consumer awareness, and reward our Facebook fans with exclusive deals.”
To view SuiteDeals, receive SuiteDeal announcements, and find instructions on how to request a SuiteDeal, customers should become a fan of JetSuite’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/jetsuiteair).

The SuiteDeals will be released at the end of the business day Pacific Time, typically for flights departing some time the next day. Availability will be extremely limited, and bookings will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis only.

Marriott International Webcasts Its Annual Meeting on

To view an interactive version of Marriott’s 2010 Annual Report, including a video message from the company’s executives, visitwww.Marriott.com/investor and click “Annual Report.”

Royal Caribbean Reports First Quarter Results and Updates 2011 Guidance

Key Highlights

• For the First Quarter 2011:
  • Net income was $91.6 million, or $0.42 per share versus, $87.4 million, or $0.40 per share in 2010. Included in the 2010 results was a one-time gain of $85.6 million, or $0.39 per share related to a legal settlement;
  • Net Yields increased 4.0% (2.8% on a Constant-Currency basis);
  • Net Cruise Costs per APCD (“NCC”) were up 0.2% (down 0.1% on a Constant-Currency basis);
  • Included in Other Income/(Expense) was an $0.11 per share marked-to-market gain on the company’s fuel option portfolio.
• 2011 Guidance:
  • The company has been able to largely offset higher fuel prices through its hedging strategies as well as the impact of currency exchange rates.  The effects of recent geopolitical events in Northern Africa and Japan have also been partially offset by improvements in the company’s other itineraries.  As a result, full year EPS guidance has been reduced by $0.15 per share to a range of $3.10 to $3.30.

“The year started off with a roar — strong bookings, low costs and solid profits — and in the first quarter every one of our brands exceeded its forecast,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman and chief executive officer.  Fain added, “Unfortunately, the events inNorthern Africa and Japan have turned what was shaping up as a spectacular year into merely a very good one.  Nonetheless, other than adjustments for fuel pricing, our earnings guidance for the year is essentially intact despite these dramatic geopolitical events.  The demand for the majority of our products has remained quite strong and even the impacted itineraries have begun to improve.”

First Quarter 2011 Results

Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. today announced net income for the first quarter 2011 of $91.6 million, or $0.42 per share.  This compares to net income of $87.4 million, or $0.40 per share, in the first quarter of 2010, which included a gain on a legal settlement of $85.6 million, or $0.39 per share.  An $0.11 per share marked-to-market gain on the company’s fuel option portfolio is included in first quarter 2011 results.

Revenues improved to $1.7 billion in the first quarter of 2011 compared to $1.5 billion in the first quarter of 2010 as a result of capacity increases and yield improvements.  Net Yields for the first quarter of 2011 increased 4.0% (2.8% on a Constant-Currency basis).  The company saw improvement in both ticket and onboard revenue yields and across all major product groups.

Costs in the first quarter of 2011 were well controlled with most expense categories performing better than expected.  While a less significant factor, some timing shifts to later in 2011 occurred.  NCC were up 0.2%, and NCC excluding fuel increased 0.8%.  Excluding currency impacts, the comparable figures show decreases of 0.1% and increases of 0.6%, respectively.

At-the-pump fuel pricing (including the benefit of the company’s hedging program) was very similar to earlier calculations at$511 per metric ton.  As previously disclosed, in addition to its fuel hedging activities the company has purchased various fuel options as further protection against rising fuel prices.  Unlike its fuel swaps which largely receive hedge accounting treatment, fuel options are marked-to-market to the income statement at the end of each reporting period.  During the first quarter of 2011 the value of the company’s fuel option portfolio increased by $24.2 million, or $0.11 per share, and the associated gain was booked to Other Income/(Expense).

2011 Outlook

The company provided the following updates to its forward guidance:

Revenue:

For the full year, the company expects Net Yields to improve 5% to 7% on an as-reported basis and 3% to 5% on a Constant-Currency basis.  For the second quarter, the company expects Net Yields to improve approximately 5% on an as-reported basis and between 1% and 2% on a Constant-Currency basis.

As compared to prior guidance, three significant factors have influenced the company’s outlook on yields: geopolitical events, the weakening of the U.S. Dollar and increased tour activities.

• Geopolitical: Bookings at the beginning of the year in the Mediterranean and in Asia were quite strong.  However, events in Northern Africa led to itinerary modifications of 63 sailings and the tragic series of calamities in Japan led to itinerary modifications of 21 sailings. The combination of these events is expected to have a direct negative impact on the company’s yields of approximately 1% for the full year.

• Weakening of the U.S. Dollar: The company’s revenues are favorably influenced when the U.S. Dollar weakens versus other currencies.  Assuming current currency exchange rates, the company expects Net Yields for the full year on an as-reported basis to improve between 1% and 2% from its previous guidance as a result of currency.

• Increased tour activity: The company’s Spanish brand, Pullmantur, operates a tour company that includes revenue from land tours, air charter and travel distribution.  Recently, Pullmantur has improved its aircraft utilization, and expanded its tour operations and cruise distribution activities in Spain.  This combination is expected to improve Net Yields for the full year by approximately 1%.

The yield accretion associated with currency exchange rates and increased tour activities will provide more benefit to the company in the third and fourth quarters.  Conversely, the most significant geopolitical yield pressures are expected to occur in the second quarter.

The company also noted that it observed a broad slowdown in bookings for Mediterranean sailings following the unrest inNorthern Africa.  These booking volumes have now returned to normal levels as a result of reduced pricing.  The effect of this booking disruption has been largely offset by the company’s other product groups, including Caribbean and Alaskan itineraries, which continue to show better than expected year-over-year improvement.

Net Cruise Costs (Excluding Fuel):

For the full year, the company expects NCC excluding fuel to increase 4% to 5% on an as-reported basis and 2% – 3% on a Constant-Currency basis.  For the second quarter, the company expects NCC excluding fuel to increase between 4% – 5% on an as-reported basis and approximately 2% on a Constant-Currency basis.

Two of the factors influencing the company’s yield outlook, currency exchange rates and increased tour activities, are also affecting NCC guidance.

• Weakening of the U.S. Dollar: While the weakening of the U.S. Dollar has a favorable impact on revenues, it has the opposite impact on costs. Assuming current currency exchange rates, the company expects 2011 NCC excluding fuel on an as-reported basis to increase approximately 1% for the full year from the previous guidance as a result of currency.

• Increased tour activity: The expansion of tour operations within the company’s Pullmantur brand is expected to increase the company’s NCC excluding fuel between 1% and 2% for the full year.  The expanded tour activities are not expected to have a material impact on 2011’s profitability.

The company is experiencing some inflationary cost pressures related to food and transportation but this pressure has been offset through savings initiatives in other areas.

These offsets have been obtained without reducing the strategic marketing, web and consumer engagement investments that the company announced at the beginning of the year.

Fuel Expense

The company does not forecast fuel prices and its cost calculations are based on current at-the-pump prices net of hedging impacts. Based on today’s fuel prices the company has included $189 million and $770 million of fuel expense in its second quarter 2011 and full year 2011 guidance, respectively.

Forecasted consumption is now 56% hedged for the remainder of 2011 at a WTI barrel equivalent rate of approximately $75bbl, 55% hedged in 2012 at a rate of $86 bbl, 40% hedged in 2013 at a rate of $91 bbl and 10% hedged in 2014 at a rate of$103 bbl.  Additionally, the company also utilizes fuel options to further protect against escalating fuel prices.  WTI Fuel options at strike prices ranging from $90 bbl to $150 bbl cover an additional 44%, 25%, and 11% of estimated consumption in 2011, 2012 and 2013, respectively.

The company has scheduled a conference call at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time today to discuss its earnings.  This call can be heard, either live or on a delayed basis, on the company’s investor relations web site at www.rclinvestor.com.

The Empire State Building to Celebrate 80th Anniversary on May 1, 2011

NEW YORK, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — The Empire State Building (ESB), the world’s most famous office building, will celebrate its 80th anniversary on Sunday, May 1, 2011. Soaring 1,454 feet above Midtown Manhattan, ESB has served as one of the most recognizable and beloved attractions. The building has accomplished many milestones over the last 80 years, and today it stands tall as a 21st Century icon.

Anthony E. Malkin, Empire State Building Company, stated, “On this significant anniversary, the Empire State Building celebrates 80 years of being an international symbol of innovation and ingenuity.” He added, “Through an award-winning renovations and modernization project, the world’s most famous office building offers unmatched experiences for both its tenants and the millions who visit the Observatories each year.”

The Empire State Building: Through the Years

• January 2011: ESB became New York City’s largest commercial purchaser of 100% renewable energy.
• December 2010: Launched a newly designed www.esbnyc.com to provide global, instant digital access, as well as new social media channels with the creation of ESB Facebook and Twitter pages.
• July 2010: An interactive, multi-media Sustainability Exhibit was unveiled at the 2nd floor Visitor’s Center to educate visitors about ESB’s energy-efficiency program.
• April 2009: Alongside President Bill Clinton and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, ESB announced details of a groundbreaking retrofit aimed at reducing the building’s carbon emissions by more than 38 percent while creating a replicable process for retrofitting existing commercial structures worldwide. It will save an estimated $4.4 million on energy costs per year. www.esbsustainability.com.
• 2009: Completed a more than $550 million ”Empire State ReBuilding” program to renovate, reinvent and modernize the iconic landmark by restoring its 1931 Art Deco grandeur and adding state-of-the-art enhancements to improve the tenant and visitor experiences.
• February 1994: The first Valentine’s Day wedding event was held. To date, over 230 couples have been officially married at ESB as part of this annual program.
• May 1981: The New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission declared ESB a landmark.
• February 1978: The first ESB Run-Up took place. At this annual event, hundreds of athletes from around the world race a total of 1,576 steps to the 86th Floor Observatory.
• 1966: The manually operated high-speed elevators on the first 80 floors of the building were replaced with automatic elevators.
• June 1951: WNBT became the first media outlet to begin regular broadcasts from the new transmitting tower atop ESB.
• May 1, 1931: President Herbert Hoover pressed a button in Washington, D.C. to officially open ESB.
• March 1930: Construction of the building began. Framework rose at a rate of 4 ½ stories per week and was completed in an astounding 410 days.

Building Facts

From the feat of its engineering, to the innumerable references in pop culture, beloved tower lights and countless celebrity visitors, the building has a multitude of interesting facts from 1931 onwards.

• ESB took only one year and 45 days to build or 7 million man-hours, a record to this day for a skyscraper of its height.
• ESB is the tallest building in New York at exactly 1,454 feet, 8 9/166 inches (443.2 meters) to the top of its lightening rod/antenna.
• The exterior of the Empire State Building is composed of 200,000 cubic feet of Indiana limestone and granite, 10,000,000 bricks and 730 tons of aluminum and stainless steel.
• The building is the center of New York City’s broadcasting operations; the skyscraper’s robust broadcasting technology supports all major television and FM radio stations in the New York metropolitan market.
• On the clearest of days, visibility from the Observatory is 80 miles, with five states in view: Connecticut, Massachusetts,New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
• ESB has been featured in some of the most famous movies, including “King Kong,” “An Affair to Remember,” “Sleepless in Seattle” and “Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief.”
• ESB is one of the most celebrity-visited landmarks in the world, attracting the likes of Mariah Carey, Kylie Minogue, Justin Bieber, Roger Federer, Lauren Bacall, Rihanna, the cast of “Glee,” Penelope Cruz, Celine Dion, Mario Batali and theVictoria’s Secret Angels, to name just a few.
• ESB is home to marquee, international tenants, including Skanska; Coty, Inc.; the FDIC; and Li & Fung.

To connect with the global ESB community, in 2010 the building launched a newly designed website, www.esbnyc.com, as well as Facebook (www.facebook.com/EmpireStateBuilding) and Twitter pages (@ESBObservatory).

The Empire State Building Observatories are open 365 days per year from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. For more information about the iconic landmark, please visit www.esbnyc.com.

Walmart China 2011 Year Beginning Meeting

Walmart China successfully hosted their two day celebration for the start of their new year of plans known as the ‘Year Beginning Meeting’ at China National Convention Center (CNCC) in Beijing right after the major Spring Festival holidays. There were some 4,000 delegates attending from the 329 Walmart stores across China .

Sarah Liang, Senior Marketing Manager of Walmart China said: “We chose this venue because of the professional services it provides; not only the software but also the hardware; and we are looking forward to co-operating with CNCC more and deeper in the future. “

To accommodate all the highly excited participants, many of whom had created their own “team” costumes, rooms were booked in 9 hotels in the surrounding area, including the on-site CNCC Grand Hotel, and an efficient bus transport operation was organized to bring everyone to the CNCC on time. Entertaining all the attendees during the two days were 79 of Walmart’s key suppliers in a 13,000m2 exhibition.

Walmart China’s home office is located in the south of China in Shenzhen. Its store outlets are now spreading right across China and approximately 3,300 people traveled to Beijing whilst 300 attended from the 8 Beijing stores. Sarah Liang also said: “I am very impressed with the work we have done last year and all the efforts we have put in together! The success of this event has fully proven our co-ordination and our working ability.”

With the theme of One Team, this year’s ‘Year Beginning Meeting’ is geared to share the New Year strategy of Walmart with all the associates in China as well as to celebrate the previous year outcomes and thank the associates for all the hard work they have put into these achievements. During the meeting there were many awards presented including 5 prestigious company awards for the most outstanding associates. The messages were delivered in motivating presentations instead of in a formal business style – there were also many visits to the Olympic Green site.

Commenting to CNCC on the choice of the venue Sarah referred to this prestigious location as being a key element in their decision making “After we inspected all the suggested venues in China, finally we decided to come to Beijing, because your venue is just right next to the Bird Nest and Water Cube, everyone is interested and wants to come to the capital to see it themselves“.

Great Conversations at Swissôtel: Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts Looks to Social Networks and Launches Viral Campaign

ZURICH, April 28, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — At the end of April, Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts is to launch “Great Conversations at Swissôtel”, a viral campaign consisting of a series of enticing short video clips, to be distributed purely via social networks and internet media. Known as virals, the clips will be posted every few weeks on networks such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube, as well as on the website of the international hotel chain. The clips were produced in collaboration with the renowned advertising agency Saatchi & Saatchi.

“The term “viral”, which is taken from the medical field, refers to the mechanism by which a message is passed on from one user to another much like a virus,” explains Debora Scott, Director Brand Marketing at Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts. “We are keen to communicate with our customers in any way that they feel comfortable with – by using this form of word-of-mouth propaganda we will be trying a different approach this time. Of course we can only plant the “virus” – the rest is out of our hands.”

The clips can be viewed at http://www.swissotelfilms.com .

London Hotel Revenue per Booking Jumps Nearly +400% for Royal Wedding Weekend

Rate and Length of Stay Increases Translate to Greater Revenue per Booking for London Hotels,

According to Data Released by Pegasus Solutions

SCOTTSDALE, DALLAS and LONDON (April 28, 2011) – London hotel revenue per booking will increase nearly +400% for the royal wedding weekend according to a special edition of The Pegasus View to be released by Pegasus Solutions on the eve of the nuptials. The report will address the impact of the royal wedding on London hotels’ average daily rate (ADR), length of stay (LOS) and revenue per booking, pulling information from bookings made through travel agents and by travelers themselves.

Forward-looking data shows net average revenue per booking over prior year rising as high as +383.7% on April 30, +215.1% on the preceding weekend, and +210.9% for the post-wedding weekend. Citing both the build-up to the royal wedding and the Easter Holiday, Pegasus is also reporting rate increases of +134% over 2010 for the weekend of the nuptials. Length of stay shows triple-digit percentage increases over prior year in the two days after the ceremony, with increases of +71.4% the weekend before and +90.2% the weekend after.

“We’re seeing a pre- and after-party effect for the wedding that has the makings of a windfall for London hotels,” said Mike Kistner, chief executive officer of Pegasus Solutions. “Domestic and international travelers either came early or are staying on through the days and week after the wedding to continue the experience. The resulting combination of higher rates and longer stays means total revenue for each stay will increase by triple-digit percentages over last year the weekends before, during and after the wedding takes place.”

Combined global distribution system (GDS) and alternative distribution system (ADS) bookings for each weekend in April demonstrated escalating double-digit percentage ADR increases. Additionally, bookings made through April 21 for future arrivals showed ADR increasing nearly +90% the day of the wedding, peaking on Saturday, April 30 with a jump of +134%.

Most inbound travel to London for the event is domestic, with travelers from the US comprising the second highest source of bookings. Pegasus is reporting France and Germany as the next highest sources of international travelers for the events in London.

The Special Edition of The Pegasus View will be available in its entirety online and by free subscription at www.pegs.com on April 28. Data reported in The Pegasus View comes from billions of transactions processed monthly by Pegasus Solutions, the world’s single largest global processor of hotel transactions. It is the only industry report to reflect data drawn from both GDS and ADS transactions, representing the business and leisure markets respectively for approximately 90,000 hotels worldwide.

Norwegian Cruise Line Puts Partners First

Cruise line details company-wide commitment to its travel partners

Norwegian Cruise Line (“Norwegian”) announced “Partners First,” the company’s corporate philosophy of putting its travel partners first at Cruise3Sixty, the official travel agency conference of the cruise line industry. Andy Stuart, Norwegian’s executive vice president of global sales and passenger services, detailed how the company is putting partners first in three key areas: investment in long-term travel partner success; a complete focus on being easy to do business with; and a commitment to travel partners on direct business.
“Travel partners are an integral part of our business and putting them first is part of our DNA,” said Stuart. “We felt that we needed to do a better job of communicating this philosophy to our travel partners so that they could clearly understand our commitment to them.”
In terms of investment in agents’ long-term success, the company committed $16 million toward new customizable marketing tools, increased marketing support, improved communication and keeping NCL University as the most robust travel partner education site and online community in the industry. The company is also investing in its outside sales team and expanding its inside sales team by 45% to dramatically grow the line’s reach to ensure every single travel partner has a contact at Norwegian to help grow their business.
Norwegian is also focused on streamlining the booking process and is investing $7 million in new technology booking improvements for travel partners, along with guaranteeing all rate quotes, offering partners a competitive advantage with promotional groups and creating an email address ? askVivian@ncl.com ? where partner operational questions go direct to the company’s vice president of passenger services, Vivian Ewart.
Stuart also outlined Norwegian’s stance on direct business. “There’s been a lot of noise in the marketplace recently about direct sales. We want to assure our partners that we do not use customer data from travel agent bookings for direct business. We will not contact our partners’ clients to book directly with us,” said Stuart. “Also, our direct business has no price advantage.”
To ensure travel partners are aware of Norwegian’s commitment, the company has engaged a dedicated trade agency, R&R Partners, to handle all aspects of the company’s trade marketing and programs. R&R has handled aspects of Norwegian’s trade program since 2008.
An open letter from Andy Stuart to travel partners will appear in a number of trade publications the week of April 18, 2011 outlining the company’s commitment to travel partners. Travel partners are encouraged to visit www.partnersfirst.ncl.com to view a video of Stuart discussing “Partners First,” along with an area for partners to post their comments with regards to the company’s commitment. A new trade advertising campaign focused on “Partners First” will launch in May. The campaign will feature actual travel partners and will celebrate their knowledge and commitment to their clients.
“It’s important that our travel partners understand that Norwegian is a new cruise line today with the entire company focused on guest satisfaction and putting our partners first,” said Stuart.

TRAVEL UNLEASHED: ANY, EVERY, ALWAYS

PhoCusWright announces 2011 theme for The PhoCusWright Conference.

Sherman, CT USA, April 26, 2011—PhoCusWright, the travel industry authority on the dynamics that influence how travelers, suppliers and intermediaries connect, today revealed the theme for its signature event, The PhoCusWright Conference.

“Travel Unleashed: Any, Every, Always” heralds the exceptional forces liberating the travel, tourism and hospitality marketplace. As in previous years, the theme is a barometer of the unique pressures disrupting the world’s largest industry, and challenges companies to leverage powerful new catalysts.

At its core, “Travel Unleashed: Any, Every, Always” describes an industry in which constant change is the norm with unrelenting activity – all the time, everywhere, and from all quarters. Empowered, hyper-connected consumers are engaging with information and organizations in entirely new ways. Simultaneously, rapid advances in technology and renewed vigor in capital markets provide remarkable opportunities for travel companies to attract and retain customers like never before.

This year’s PhoCusWright Conference invites industry leaders to embrace the dynamics of Any, Every, Always, as exemplified by these six tenets:

1. The End of On/Off
   After a decade of being tethered to desktops and inhibited by rudimentary devices and content, today’s consumers connect all the time, wherever they are, to a staggering array of networks and information. Shrinking screens – smartphones, tablets, e-readers and GPS systems – have gone mainstream, and the ever-advancing technology that fuels them is now always with us, in our cars, backpacks and jacket pockets. Whether walking around the corner or flying across the globe, travelers today connect instantly, at will, in a multitude of ways. Daytime, nighttime, prime time, anytime; it’s the end of the on/off switch, and travel companies must power up.
2. Look Who’s Talking
   Empowered by extraordinary access, always-on travelers – corporate, leisure and meeting attendees alike – have leveled the playing field by raising their voices. Travel companies now operate in a world where everybody has something to say, and ample means to say it. Citizen journalists have the knowledge and know-how to sway public opinion and impact outcomes. The channels are unlocked, enabling a new breed of thought leaders to innovate, influence and match corporate bloggers post-for-post. Meanwhile, demanding consumers don’t hesitate to air grievances and share experiences, whether it’s tweeting about lost luggage, submitting a hotel review before checkout, or crowdsourcing a conference. With once-unassailable barriers broken, confident and connected travelers are speaking up right now… are you listening?
3. The Speed of Smart
   Just when you thought it was safe to bask in your website’s “mocial” strategy, the accelerated pace of innovation and technology is constantly raising the bar. Today’s intelligent technology means our everyday devices know where we are and what we like. Location-based tools and robust digital identities create opportunities for delivering relevant content, personalized deals and flash offers… making any travel marketer drool. The list of forces that empower travelers and enhance the customer experience grows daily: collaborative consumption, augmented reality, sentient devices, virtual conferencing, near field communications, QR codes, RFID and more. Keep up, speed up or step aside.
4. To Boldly Go
   Unprecedented access to information means travelers have more choices than ever. They tap their networks, screens and keyboards to research exotic destinations. Call it digital demystification. Undaunted by geographical and cultural chasms, people from everywhere are going everywhere, often to places they’ve never considered before. It’s a not-so-strange new world, and the industry must engage with more knowledgeable, culturally-aware customers on the go.
5. Capital Comeback
   With near-daily announcements of angel and venture capital funding rounds, private equity-fueled acquisitions and imminent IPOs, Internet connectivity isn’t the only thing that’s flowing freely these days. Despite continued economic uncertainty,every kind of capital is being raised, all around the world. Deal flow has strengthened, and public offerings are reminiscent of the bubble. All this money is driving change, especially in the intermediary space, where nimble newcomers (some from other verticals) battle the establishment for a piece of the action.
6. Travel’s New PNR (Point of No Return)
   Airlines and other suppliers have always sought greater control over their product, lower costs and fewer impediments between them and their customers. Now they are more confident than ever, and technically capable of implementing bold strategies. Direct connects, optional services and new merchandising models threaten the distribution dogma, and there’s no turning back.

The freshly unfettered travel marketplace has created a powerful new framework. Realities are realigned. Travel is Unleashed. Possibilities and opportunities abound: Any, Every, Always.

Visit the website

Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment presents its new products during ATM 2011

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment, an agency of the Department of Economic Development, will be very active during the four days of ATM 2011 (May 2 – 5), with an independent stand (2480) at hall 3 of the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

With several big initiatives that aim at attracting more visitors to Dubai, the agency will raise awareness on its new role and strategy to grow the retail and events sectors in Dubai, which will complement the tourism sector whilst fulfilling the government agency’s mandate to maximize the contribution of these two industry sectors to Dubai’s economy.

The Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment stand at ATM will also host, for the first time, some of Dubai’s biggest shopping malls. Dubai Mall, part of Emaar Malls Group; Deira City Centre, Mirdif City Centre and Mall of the Emirates, part of MAF Properties; Mercato, part of the Al Zarooni Group; Dubai Festival City, part of Al Futtaim Group; Dubai Outlet Mall, and the Dubai Shopping Malls Group will showcase a plethora of activities and promotions for the coming months. These entities are also some of the strategic partners of the Establishment.

Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment recently announced its new role and mandate to grow the retail and events sectors in Dubai. It will develop, promote and support retailers, festivals and the numerous events held in Dubai each year, ensuring year-round attractions and reasons to visit the Emirate, its festivals, malls, souks, and high streets. It will also be in charge of managing and facilitating a unified Dubai calendar of events which will be an informative official portal for all events taking place in the Emirate around the year.

Ms. Laila Suhail, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment explained that the agency’s participation in ATM 2011 couldn’t have come at a better time, stressing that the Arabian Travel Market is the ideal platform for the Establishment to communicate its new programmes and strategies to industry professionals from across the region. “Our participation aims at interacting and informing the travel and tourism industry stakeholders of what we can offer them to attract tourists to Dubai,” she said. “Our products have a direct and indirect impact on Dubai’s tourism sector, and we strongly believe that by enhancing the performance of the retail and events sectors, we will be adding more value to the overall experience that Dubai has to offer to its visitors.”

Dubai Events and Promotions Establishment will also be highlighting its upcoming Dubai events, including the highly popular Dubai Summer Surprises 2011 (DSS), and Modhesh World, one of the largest covered edutainment theme parks in the region, in addition to Ramadan festivities and ‘Eid in Dubai’ – Eid Al Fitr 2011.

“We are delighted to be participating in ATM 2011 with some of our strategic partners for the first time in a travel and tour exhibition. We see this cooperation as an extension of our mandate and efforts to combine the retail and the tourism attractions and present them to end consumers,” concluded Ms. Suhail.

Arabian Travel Market has grown to become the biggest show of its kind in the region and an acknowledged event in the global travel and tourism calendar. The 2010 edition hosted over 2,200 exhibitors, attracting more than 22,000 visitors.

TAT SHOWCASES THAI HOSPITALITY FOR MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA AT “PUBLISH ASIA 2011″

Bangkok, April 27, 2011 — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is making a major contribution to Thailand’s MICE sector as a Platinum sponsor for “Publish Asia 2011,” the most significant event in the Asia-Pacific media industry. The TAT will also be official host of the event’s welcome reception on April 27.
Publish Asia 2011, which is being held by the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA), takes place from April 27 to 29, 2011, at the Shangri La Hotel in Bangkok. More than 400 top management in the media sector in 34 countries including CEOs and COOs, as well as editors and reporters, are expected to attend the event.

“Our key role is to promote Thai tourism, and the TAT places as much importance on conferences and business meetings as we do leisure travel. Delegates to events such as Publish Asia 2011 enjoy being introduced to our local culture and attractions, and often come back to Thailand later for a holiday with their families,” said TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni.

The TAT will showcase Thai hospitality on the first day of Publish Asia 2011 by hosting a reception on the 36th Floor of Chatrium Suites, which offers a panoramic view of the Chao Phraya River that runs through the middle of Bangkok. Delegates will travel along the busy waterway from the Shangri-La Hotel to the reception venue by boat.

“We will also encourage the delegates to explore other parts of Thailand. The country has many other large cities and attractive locations where they can enjoy many aspects of Thai culture. With all it has to offer to both tourists and business travellers, we look forward to showcasing Thailand as the perfect meeting venue for international conferences in the future,” added Governor Suraphon.

Summer Hotel Deals in Florida

Get it while it’s hot and receive up to 25% off this summer at more than 30 JW Marriott, Renaissance and Marriott Hotels & Resorts in Florida

Renaissance Hotels To Add First Hotel in Tuscany to Its Global Portfolio

200-room Il Ciocco to be Branded a Renaissance Hotel Next Year

OAG FlightTimes Land on Smartphones

Mobile Apps Available for iPhone, BlackBerry and Android

Number Of Airline Seats In April Set To Exceed 317 Million Worldwide

Published Schedules Indicate Highest Ever April Figure, says OAG

A taste of Italy; 5 fantastic regional food specialties

Italy is a land celebrated for its culinary greatness. Its cuisine has long since travelled beyond Italian borders and nowadays can be found all around the world, from Iceland to India.

However, there is far more to great Italian eating than just pizza, pasta and panini! Our Italian friends at Bed-and-Breakfast.it give us the lowdown on Italy’s best local specialities, and where to find them.

Rome, Carciofi alla giudia

Carciofi alla giudía, literally “Jewish style artichokes”, is a dish of deep fried artichoke, which has a delicious nutty crunchiness. The special Romanesco artichoke variety, harvested between February and April in the coastal region between Ladispoli and Civitavecchia, (just north of Rome) is especially suited for this dish. To sample this tasty meal, head to the Jewish restaurants of the Roman Ghetto; here you’ll also be able to enjoy the hospitality in one of the many Bed and Breakfasts in Rome. Find Rome flights

Piedmont  – La Bagnacauda, Piemontest

Bagnacauda is a warm dip, eaten in a similar way to fondue but with raw or roasted vegetables rather than bread or meat.  Made with anchovies, olive oil and butter, it’s a food of humble origins, and was traditionally eaten during the autumn and winter months, whist the new season’s wine was tasted.

Today Bagnacauda has achieved the status of ‘regional specialty’ and can be found all over the Piedmont region, served as a main meal, or a side dish in individual pots traditionally made of terra cotta. FindTurin flights

Sardinia – Seadas

The Seadas, also known as Sebadas, are special fritters made with a pecorino cheese filling typical of Sardinia. Today, they are considered one of the most famous Sardinian traditional desserts, but, originally, they were eaten as a main course, especially by the shepherds at Easter and Christmas.

The key ingredients of this tasty dish are semolina flour, pecorino cheese, pork fat or butter, sugar or honey. Most restaurants on Sardinia serve this dish so don’t leave the island without sampling it! Find Cagliari flights

Naples – Baba

This small cake, saturated in rum has become a well-known party dessert. Although it’s associated with Neapolitan cuisine, its origins are somewhat un-Italian; the creation of Baba is attributed to Stanislas, an exiled king from Poland. Apparently, he spilt a bottle of rum over his daily ‘Kugelhopf’, a type of very dry cake, but loved the result so much, he demanded it always be served that way. The ‘Baba’ au Rhum’ was thus born and later brought to Naples by French cooks where it became a local specialty.  Find Naples flights

Sciliy -  Pasta con le sarde Palermitana

A traditional Sicilian specialty, Pasta con le Sarde is a seasonal recipe, most commonly eaten from March to September when its main ingredients are widely available.  Herrings, wild fennel, anchovy fillets, onions, pine nuts, powdered saffron and small raisins are the main ingredients.

There are many versions of Pasta con le Sarde, but the ‘Trappitara’ style – the recipe from Trappeto, a satellite town of Palermo – is most renowned. Arabs probably introduced the original recipe in Sicily during their colonization, but following colonizers added their own twists on the dish, with the use of wild fennel due to the Greeks and Romans. Find Palermo flights

Travellers heading to Italy for their next holiday may want to try a Bed & Breakfast, which can offer a cheaper form of accommodation with the bonus of added hospitality

UNWTO Supporting Tourism Recovery in Tunisia

UNWTO will support the Recovery Plan designed by the Ministry of Tourism of Tunisia to revive the tourism sector. The agreement was reached during the recent official visit of UNWTO Secretary-General to Tunisia (20-21 April 2011).

During his visit, UNWTO Secretary-General Taleb Rifai met Interim President Fouad Mebazaa, the Minister of Tourism, Mehdi Houas as well as representatives from the private sector to discuss the best ways to support tourism in Tunisia. Issues discussed include the new advertising campaign to be launched by the Ministry of Tourism in early May, travel advisories and public and private partnerships.

President Fouad Mebazaa underlined the importance of tourism to Tunisia as a “basic sector of the country’s economy”. Meeting President Mebazaa, UNWTO Secretary-General showed confidence in the rebound of tourism and in the future of the country. “Remarkable changes have occurred in Tunisia and the future is bright”, he said.

During a joint press conference with the Minister of Tourism, Mehdi Houas, UNWTO Secretary-General expressed his full support to the Tunisian tourism sector. “Tunisia is, and will continue to be, a leading tourism destination. Tourism is not in crisis in Tunisia, rather it is living the natural impact of the significant changes that have occurred in the country”, said Mr. Rifai. “It is now time to show the world the real situation of Tunisia and the world will see that Tunisia is ready to receive its visitors”.

Furthermore, UNWTO Secretary-General warned against the temptation of short term recovery measures based on lower prices and stressed that medium and long term prospects for the tourism sector in Tunisia are even more positive than before. “The new environment”, he said, “can create new open and transparent conditions for investment in tourism, namely foreign investment, and unlock significant local business potential”.

UNWTO support to Tunisia will include technical meetings of the Tourism Recovery Task Force created by the Ministry of Tourism with UNWTO experts on communication, the holding of a workshop in Tunes for public and private sector representatives on recovery techniques and the organization of a major tourism international conference in Tunisia in the last quarter of 2011.

Representing 6.5% of the country’s GDP and accounting for 450.000 jobs, tourism is a key driver of the economy in Tunisia and will play a critical role in its socio-economic stability and future development. In 2010, Tunisia received nearly 7 million international tourist arrivals, generating US$ 2.7 billion in export revenues. During the first three months of 2011, international tourist arrivals decreased by 44% and receipts by 43%.

Emirates’ Airbus A380 arrives in Shanghai

DUBAI, U.A.E., 27th April 2011: Shanghai welcomed its first scheduled Airbus A380 service on Wednesday afternoon, when Emirates flight EK302 from Dubai arrived at Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
Shanghai has became the third destination in China for Emirates’ A380, following on from the launch of services to Beijing and Hong Kong in 2010.

Richard Jewsbury – Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Far East & Australasia – presented Jia Ruijun – General Manager of Shanghai International Airport Co. Ltd – a model of the Emirates A380 to mark the occasion.

“This historic moment was made possible through the support and hard work of a number of dedicated organisations and individuals, particularly the Civil Aviation Administration of China and the Shanghai Airport Authority,” said Richard Jewsbury, Emirates’ Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Far East & Australasia.
“The number ‘8’ is considered the most fortuitous number in the Chinese culture. Now in our eighth year of passenger operations to Shanghai, we move to the next phase of our strong and valued partnership with the city of Shanghai and Greater China with today’s launch of the Airbus A380.”
“Trade and passenger traffic are symbiotic. A good demonstration of this is the China-Dubai relationship. In 2005, Emirates traffic to China was 159,000 passengers and there were 11 Chinese registered businesses in Dubai. In the years following, Emirates launched additional flights to Shanghai, Beijing and Guangzhou and grew passenger traffic to over 1.1 million. Today there are over 2,500 Chinese businesses registered in Dubai and UAE trade with China is projected grow from US$30billion in 2010, to US$100 billion by 2015,” continued Jewsbury.
“We are thrilled to witness the arrival of Emirates’ revolutionary A380 landing at Shanghai Pudong International Airport. This is an important milestone for us to further reinforce our position as a world class international hub. Emirates is an ideal partner to work with to achieve our aim of building up the airport into China’s best, the world’s first class and the most attractive core air hub in the Asia-Pacific region,” said Jia Ruijun, General Manager of Shanghai International Airport Co., Ltd.
Emirates’ A380 will operate three days a week (Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) as EK302 departing Dubai at 0310hrs (local time) and arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 1530hrs (local time).
The return flight EK303 departs Shanghai at 2330hrs (local time) and arrives in Dubai at 0430hrs (local time) the following day.
Currently Emirates operates double-daily services each to Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong, and daily services to Guangzhou. EK302 and EK303 will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER on Saturday, Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.

Carlson appoints general managers for Radisson Blu properties in India

Singapore | April 26, 2011

Rezidor announces the Park Inn Novosibirsk, Russia

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies worldwide and with almost 13,000 rooms in operation and under development the leading international hotel operator in Russia/CIS, announces the Park Inn Novosibirsk. The mid-market property is developed in co-operation with Regional Hotel Chain (RHC), one of Rezidor’s most important development partners in Russia. It will be featuring 150 rooms and is scheduled to welcome the first guests in Q1 2014.

On April 30th, Florence does not sleep, come back the “Notte Bianca”

Day of celebration for Florence on April 30th with La Notte Bianca 2011: a special evening, all devoted to contemporary art which will focus especially in the city center. Twelve hours of performance (from 18 to 6 am) and three major events with facilities that will remain in the city throughout the month of May. Piazza Annigoni will become a huge green space with trees, plants and chairs instead of cement, Carraia Bridge in a forest and installations in the form of “shell” camping in Piazza Santa Maria Novella.

Other events in Piazza del Cestello, for an evening that will be returned to the people without the usual parking lot. But there will be surprises in other areas of the city special events at the Pergola Theatre, Palazzo Strozzi, Odeon cinema, street artists in Santa Croce, street band along the river museums open late (Uffizi, civic museums, and other science museums) and shows for children at the Institute of the Innocenti, the Leopoldine and the Canottieri Comunali.

IMEX America Continues To Roll Out Leading Industry Partnerships – ACTE to Host PowerTalk and Networking Event on October 10, 2011 and Exhibit at Show in Las Vegas

IMEX America has added another important industry association to its list of show collaborators this week by sharing that ACTE (The Association of Corporate Travel Executives) will be a show partner. IMEX America is America’s new worldwide exhibition for the incentive travel, meetings and events industry debuting October 11-13 in Las Vegas at the Sands Expo and Venetian/Palazzo.  As an IMEX partner, ACTE will host a PowerTalk followed by a reception geared towards ACTE members, the day before IMEX America opens on October 10, 2011 – now branded as ‘Smart Monday’. The PowerTalk and Reception – an educational and networking event – will bring together ACTE members and leaders of the business travel industry to enhance understanding of the corporate travel market and to offer an opportunity to openly discuss the convergence of business travel and meetings management.

Watch Melissa Edwards, Director of Global Events, ACTE, speak about the convergence of meetings and travel

As a part of the partnership, ACTE will invite up to 50 of its members to join the PowerTalk and IMEX America trade show as hosted buyers. ACTE will also be an exhibitor on the IMEX America show floor and will work with the IMEX America organizers to enhance their marketing activities. The Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is a not-for-profit association established to provide executive-level global education and peer-to-peer networking opportunities. Membership spans all areas of the business travel sector, from corporate buyers to agencies and suppliers, and provides all sectors equal membership. ACTE serves more than 31,000 executives in over 100 countries.

According to Ron DiLeo, Executive Director, ACTE: “With many organizations converging meetings and travel management in an effort to efficiently manage cost, ACTE is delighted to host an educational PowerTalk on this subject in conjunction with IMEX America. With leading meeting, incentive and event management professionals in attendance, IMEX America provides the perfect venue to address this important topic.”

Ray Bloom, Chairman of IMEX Group further added: “ACTE is all about advancing the business travel industry across the world and within various regions and is very tuned in to the market trends and issues executives face today. Their strong voice and focus on facilitating networks and relationships will bring executives and hosted buyers attending IMEX America insights that can be used in their day-to-day business and their longer range strategies.”

As part of the IMEX-ACTE partnership, IMEX recently exhibited at the ACTE Global Education Conference April 10-12, 2011 in New York City.

By partnering with ACTE, IMEX America is now allied to organizations and associations with a total reach of more than 100,000 meetings industry professionals around the world. The show’s strategic partner and premier educational provider is Meeting Professionals International (MPI) with more than 23,000 global members. It also has key partnerships with all the leading meetings industry trade associations including the USTA (US Travel Association), CIC (The Convention Industry Council), IAEE (International Association of Exhibitions and Events), DMAI (Destination Marketing Association International), PCMA (Professional Convention Management Association), ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, ACTE (Association of Corporate Travel Executives) plus ADME (Association of Destination Management Executives), AIPC (International Association of Congress Centres), ECM (European Cities Marketing), JMIC (Joint Meetings Industry Council) and ICCA (International Congress & Convention Association).

View more information on IMEX America TV at http://imexamerica.com/tv.html.

Surgeons sign for ACC Liverpool until 2020

The Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) has committed to holding its annual International Surgical Congress at ACC Liverpool, home to BT Convention Centre and Echo Arena, on a 3-year rotating contract until 2020. Following ASGBI’s successful 90th anniversary Congress in 2010 at the venue, the Association has confirmed it will return to Liverpool in 2012, 2016 and 2020, the Association’s 100th anniversary.

The flexibility of ACC Liverpool inspired ASGBI to commit to a three-year deal and the venues capacity to host large delegate numbers was an important factor for ASGBI when shortlisting potential venues. With delegate numbers growing consistently each year, the venue had to be within a city that could also accommodate and entertain the Association’s membership.

The ASGBI International Congress currently attracts around 2000 delegates of which 25% attend from over seas, all keen to share best practice and engage in discussions of new developments within their field.

ACC Liverpool has worked closely with Liverpool Convention Bureau to bring the ASGBI Congress, which has an estimated £1.7m economic impact on the local economy, to Liverpool.

Professor Nicholas Gair, Chief Executive of ASGBI said, “ACC Liverpool was one of the few venues to be considered which could, from the outset, accommodate the projected increase of delegate numbers for each year up to 2020. I am confident that each of the Association’s International Surgical Congresses in Liverpool will be individually memorable due to the variety and flexibility both the venue and City can offer. The strong links the venue has with Liverpool Convention Bureau and the tourist board have made it easy to manage our events via one contact. We wanted to be in a venue that breathes with us and, with the recent news of the exhibition and events complex, it shows just how adaptable and accommodating ACC Liverpool will be by 2020.”

Bob Prattey, Chief Executive ACC Liverpool said, “The collective factors that have resulted in ASGBI’s decision to commit to three years at ACC Liverpool proves our partnership with the Bureau is a winning formula. ACC Liverpool has an exacting record of hosting medical conferences, with facilities suited for large conference groups, as well as destination support in terms of tailored social programmes, further confirming the city’s appeal to this sector.”

Voyages Jules Verne Launches New Short Breaks and Sojourns

LONDON, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Voyages Jules Verne, the specialist tour operator, has launched the latest edition of its popular Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure.

The brochure features a choice of 32 itineraries across Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and clients can choose from classic city breaks and cultural forays or simply book a relaxing resort stay with the option to add on some sightseeing trips once they get there.

The new brochure, which covers departures from April 2011 to April 2012, encompasses perennial Voyages Jules Verne favourites – such as Venice from the Water, Bargain in Marrakech and A Taste of South Africa, as well as more recent additions that include Tallinn Tales, and Arts & Delights in Vienna.

There are four new holidays which have been added to the Classic Resorts & Weekend brochure for 2011, including Bombay Mix, a five-night trip to India which features a full-day sightseeing tour of the city as well as time for independent exploration. Going Going Tirol allows clients to stay in the Tirolean village of Going for seven nights including a journey on Europe’s oldest steam-driven railway the Achenseebahn and a cruise on Lake Achensee.

The new additions also include An Icelandic Summer, where clients are based in Reykjavik and Heritage of Malta, which has a four night stay in one of Malta’s historic hotels.

Also new to the Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure this year are details about the walking content of itineraries. Shown alongside other useful tour information in the ‘Key VJV Features’ section on each page, each tour is graded from 1 (relaxed walking) to 4 (strenuous – for seasoned walkers), based on an overall assessment of the terrain and activities covered.

Solo travellers selecting their next trip from the new Classic Resorts & Weekends brochure need not fear financial penalty, with more than half of the itineraries available with no single supplement. Options range from Cyprus – The Southern Tour, A Slice of Madeira, Grand Hotels on Lake Como and an Italian itinerary that includes a journey on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, as well as the brand-new Heritage of Malta and Going Going Tirol tours. No Single Traveller ( http://www.vjv.com/themes/theme.html?dsid=29) supplement places apply on certain departure dates only and are subject to availability.

International experts in disasters met in Florence to discuss the Japan situation at IDER 2011

The FCB gathered in Florence more than 100 international experts and scholars of emergency situations, organizing one of the first global forum after the Japanese earthquake: the 11th IDER (International Disaster and Emergency Resilience) conference. The event was hosted at Leopoldine, Piazza Tasso, on Wednesday 13th and Thursday 14th April 2011 with the support of Firenze Convention Bureau, the University of Florence, Centre for Civil Protection and Risk Studies (CESPRO). The main theme for IDER 2011 is Community Resilience – the impact of climate change and natural and man-made disasters.
Covering both human and natural disasters, from fire and flood to terrorist attack, IDER has explored the role of the media during disasters, training for preparedness, planning initiatives, disaster responder/emergency services interoperability and international standards and certification. IDER uses case studies, such as on earthquakes, floods, fires and terrorist attacks, to identify the many lessons to be learnt and, very importantly, identify “best practice”.

Founded in 1997, IDER is a conference, with exhibits, where best practices and solutions to ensure readiness for, response to, recovery from and resilience for disasters and major emergencies, whether caused by nature, accident or terrorism are identified, implemented and shown. It has also become an international network of emergency responders.

Anantara Unveils Its First Property in Vietnam

Amidst a landscape of swaying coconut palms, in a paradise where the sea meets the sand dunes, Anantara is entering truly exotic new territory with the opening of its first Vietnamese property in the autumn of 2011 – Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa.

Creating a luxurious new gateway to the distinctive cultural charms of southeastern Vietnam, as well as a breathtaking first glimpse of refined coastal life in a much celebrated beach destination, Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa will welcome discerning travellers by harnessing the very spirit of this exciting locale. This will be combined with Anantara’s revered Asian hospitality and a range of signature spa, dining and discovery journeys.

Located 198 kilometres northeast of Ho Chi Minh City on the South East Coast of Vietnam, next to the town of Phan Thiet in the province of Binh Thuan, Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa is named after Mui Ne fishing village, in which it occupies an enviable central shoreline position and is surrounded by the village’s famously long and beautiful beaches, stunning mountains and desert-like sand dunes.

Mui Ne’s natural charms are enhanced by an ideal beach climate, being attractively warm and dry for the most part of the year with an average temperature of 29 degress Celsius and promising the lowest annual rainfall of the entire country. Accompanying winds coming in from the ocean transform the heat into a pleasant breeze and generate optimum conditions for kite surfing and windsurfing, as well as refreshing beach time.

Immersed in this alluring tropical scene, guests of Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa will take further inspiration from a fresh water lagoon and tropical gardens which will highlight an expansive swimming pool, while the resort’s traditional Vietnamese architecture will proudly embrace 89 rooms, suites and pool villas designed in contemporary harmony with local culture.

Guests will have a choice of a wide range of rooms and suites ranging from 42 square metres to the Presidential Suite of 178 square metres which offers different lagoon, pool and beach perspectives. In addition, 20 Pool Villas, ranging from 92 to 128 square metres, will boast a private lounge, open-air bathroom, private swimming pool, and spectacular outlook of the gardens, lagoon, pool or beachfront.

Food and beverage outlets marry the resort’s magnificent views and tropical setting with local delicacies and international flair.

Banqueting, event and meeting facilities include five conference rooms for up to 250 participants, as well as exceptional al fresco reception locations. Leisure time unfolds in a host of relaxing and rejuvenating pastimes, with amenities including a spa offering a wealth of health, beauty and wellness treatments, a stunning beach swimming pool, a fitness centre with modern gym equipment in a picturesque garden setting, a reading lounge providing books, magazines, CDs and DVDs.

Guests can look forward to experiencing an invigorating range of water sport activities or improving their swing at a nearby golf course, as well as delving into local culture and history with local points of interest including Mui Ne’s fishing village, port and sand dunes, Hon Rom Red Canyon, Lotus Lake, Dragon Fruit Farm, the Poshanu Cham Tower, Ta Ku Mountain, the Fairy Stream, and Water Tower, and Ke Ga Lighthouse.

Be one of the first to discover Vietnam as it has never been seen before at anantara.com/mui-ne

Contiki Holidays Announces Adventurer & Filmmaker Celine Cousteau as its Sustainability Partner

The Granddaughter of Jacques Cousteau, Legendary Oceanographer, Unites With the World’s Leading Youth Travel Company to Support Ocean Conservation Initiatives

LONDON, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — In celebration of Earth Month 2011, Contiki Holidays, ( http://www.contiki.co.uk) the world’s leading youth travel company, is excited to announce its partnership with environmentalist, adventurer and world explorer, Celine Cousteau. Celine is the granddaughter of world renowned Jacques Cousteau and the daughter of ocean explorer and filmmaker, Jean-Michel Cousteau.

Contiki Holidays has joined with Cousteau to help further educate its travellers and staff about environmental issues, particularly those affecting marine ecosystems. United through common goals of sustainable conservation and ocean advocacy, Contiki will work with Celine’s guidance to continue building upon the achievements of its current Conservation Foundation projects.

“I look forward to collaborating with Contiki Holidays, its team and travellers, who are part of the new generation of active citizens making a difference by understanding and protecting the Earth’s resources,” said Celine. “The health of our fragile oceans are key to the well-being of our planet as a whole and Contiki’s choice to help protect the marine environment is a cause which deeply resonates with me.”

As an ‘oceanaut’, Celine’s (http://www.celinecousteau.com) frequent global travels have seen her embarking on expeditions to the Peruvian Amazon, following the grey whale migration from Baja, California to Alaska, and researching shark species on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. She is a passionate spokesperson and expedition member for her father’s non-profit organization, Ocean Futures Society, whose mission is to educate responsible citizens and to raise awareness of ocean protection. Celine has hosted ocean documentaries for both PBS and The Discovery Channel.

Contiki Holidays is a founding member of the Travel Corporation Conservation Foundation (http://www.ttcconservationfoundation.com). The Conservation Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation and supports work that fosters sustainable tourism and protects culturally and ecologically sensitive areas around the world. In 2011, Contiki Holidays is actively supporting two projects involved in the critical task of marine protection: contributing to young environmentalists in their hands-on work protecting the world’s second largest barrier reef via the Mesoamerican Reef Leadership programme (http://www.marleaders.org), and funding Oceana’s (http://eu.oceana.org/en) valuable research work in the Mediterranean.

“We are looking forward to working with Celine in her role as Contiki’s Sustainability Partner, as she continues the meaningful work of the Cousteau legacy through environmental education,” said David Hosking, Managing Director of Contiki Holidays. “As a documentary filmmaker and gifted storyteller, Celine is an inspiring role model and has a fantastic ability to connect with people from diverse cultures. It’s through these stories that she educates and encourages individuals to become responsible global citizens, and to better understand their own natural environments.”

For the next three years, Cousteau will interact with Contiki’s young travellers and team, spreading her word through social media channels like Facebook and Twitter, as well as communicating via video updates on Contiki’s website and YouTube channel. Contiki is also proud to support Cousteau’s initiatives, including sponsoring her upcoming Ocean Inspiration: A tribute to Jacques Cousteau’s 100th anniversary gala fundraiser and public forum in New York City and Washington, DC.

See Cousteau’s message for Contiki travellers at http://www.contiki.co.uk/celinecousteau

Travelsoon.com: More British Couples Booking Group Holidays

ROMFORD, England, April 27, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — A recent travel survey has revealed that more British couples are opting to book group holidays with family and friends rather than traditional couples’ holidays, say Travelsoon.com.

A new travel study has found that the number of British couples choosing to go on holiday by themselves has fallen by 7% in the last year, while family and group holiday bookings have grown by 12%. The survey, which questioned 1,726 people in relationships in the UK has revealed the start of a new holiday trend for 2011, say Travelsoon.com (http://www.travelsoon.com/ ).

Luke Nathan of Travelsoon.com says: “This poll has found that more British couples are choosing to holiday with the people closest to them, such as family and friends, with 32% of respondents saying that they would be going on holiday with their family and their partner. A further 26% stated that they were going on holiday with friends and their other half, which compared to just 16% of respondents saying that they are going on holiday with ‘just my partner’ shows that more people are shunning traditional couples’ holidays and opting to make their trip more of a social affair.”

The survey also revealed that some couples are planning on having holidays away from their partner, with 14% saying that they were going on holiday with just friends, and 6% admitting that they were going on holiday with members of their family and not their partner. For those that were going on holiday with their spouse and a group of friends, money was one of the reasons for this decision, with 24% saying that they had paid a lot less booking a holiday as a group rather than as a couple, with all-inclusive holidays to Sharm el Sheikh ( http://www.travelsoon.com/egypt-holidays/sharm-el-sheikh.html) and other popular destinations being a major source of savings. This is compared to 11% who said that they were holidaying with their family because that’s what they preferred.

Nathan continues: “The results of this survey are very surprising, because a lot of people assume that going on holiday with your partner is a very popular thing to do these days. However this study shows that the reality is very different for some people, and factors such as cost, and their partner’s availability, show that some travellers either can’t or don’t want to go on holiday with their other half. There are so many holidays available for everyone, and Travelsoon’s holidays in Tenerife ( http://www.travelsoon.com/tenerife-holidays.html) are great for couples, families and friends.”

British Airways Doubles Capacity on its London City to Palma Route

CRAWLEY, England, April 26, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — British Airways has increased capacity on its popular London City to Palma service by 50 per cent to meet the demand for seats this summer.

With additional frequency and larger aircraft the airline will be providing over 25,000 seats to the Spanish holiday island direct from the Docklands making holidays to Palma de Mallorca ( http://www.britishairways.com/travel/holidays-in-palma/public/en_gb) more accessible than ever before.

Due to the high early season demand, the three-times-a-week flights will increase to six-days-a-week, excluding Saturdays, in July and August. The Friday and Sunday flights to Palma de Mallorca and Ibiza, on brand new Embraer 190 aircraft, will continue until October 31st, enabling a long weekend or longer breaks. The extension also means flights will operate until the end of the school half-term holidays.

For relaxing beach holidays in Palma de Mallorca ( http://www.britishairways.com/travel/beach-holidays-palma/public/en_gb) British Airways offers over 40 beach hotels including the 3* Manaus for the lighter pocket to the 5* Cap Rocat – a magnificent former military fortress with an infinity pool and private beach. City breaks in Palma ( http://www.britishairways.com/travel/city-breaks-palma/public/en_gb) are also a popular choice. British Airways has a range of city hotels including the 4* Catalonia Majorica just 10 minutes stroll from the Harbour, or the 5* Hospes Maricel – a historic stately mansion.

British Airways now operates 39 leisure flights from London City to top sun destinations this summer. The airline has also added more frequency to popular destinations of Nice and Ibiza.

Holidays in Ibiza ( http://www.britishairways.com/travel/ibiza/public/en_gb) are perfect for families with secluded coves and family resorts while Ibiza Town has several ancient sites and party venues.

British Airways has also launched new routes to Faro and Malaga in June, all from London City. The four times-a-week flights to Faro start on June 7 and the three times-a-week flights to Malaga start on June 8. Both routes will operate year round.

British Airways flies to 12 destinations from London City airport including Palma de Mallorca, Ibiza, Faro, Barcelona, Nice, Madrid and Malaga. Flights are operated by wholly owned British Airways’ subsidiary BA CityFlyer.

Jumeirah guests release a record number of 100 Hawksbill turtles back into the wild on World Earth Day

Dubai, April 2011: The Dubai Turtle Rehabilitation Project (DTRP) has successfully rehabilitated and returned 100 critically endangered Hawksbill Turtles back to their natural habitat in celebration of World Earth Day.

Following several months of rehabilitation at Burj Al Arab and Madinat Jumeirah, the turtles were released by 100 children; many of the children were selected through a competition run on the DTRP Facebook page in the week before the release.

Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management Signs Agreement with Beijing Hospitality Institute

Dubai April, 2011: The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, one of the world’s leading hospitality management schools and part of Jumeirah Group, recently signed a cooperation agreement with the Beijing Hospitality Institute.

The agreement establishes an academic exchange programme between The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management and Beijing Hospitality Institute – a specialist university certified by the Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne (EHL). The agreement provides study abroad programmes for students, faculty exchanges, academic cooperation and programmes for the development of young talent in the hospitality industry.

Commenting on the new partnership between the two universities, Ron Hilvert, Managing Director of the Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management, said: “We are delighted to celebrate this joint collaboration as it will give students the invaluable experience of both academic as well as professional life in two thriving destinations. And we look forward to receiving the first set of student from Beijing in the next academic year”

Gao Songtao, President of the Beijing Hospitality Institute added, “This agreement brings academic alignment between two organisations focused on delivering consistently high standards in the hospitality sector. It is a big win for our students, our teaching staff and ultimately hotel companies around the world.”

In March 2011 Jumeirah Group opened its first property in China, the five-star luxury Jumeirah Himalayas Hotel in the Pudong area of Shanghai. The company has a further five properties under development in Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Sanya, Macau and Qiandaohu.

Jumeirah embraces technology to facilitate both room and restaurant bookings through social media channels

Dubai April, 2011: Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hospitality company and a member of Dubai Holding, has launched a restaurant reservations booking tool onFacebook.

Following the successful launch of Jumeirah Group’s Facebook room reservations tool and recognising the channel shift in communications, the Group has taken their service offering to the next level by rolling out a similar booking tool for their restaurants.Guests and diners can now search for Jumeirah restaurants in Dubai, London and New York by location or cuisine, view all details of the restaurant and reserve a table, all from their own Facebook page.

Both the restaurant and the room reservations tabs are now live on all Jumeirah Facebook pages, from the individual hotels to the Group’s main page, and all are fully mobile phone compatible.

Jumeirah Group is fully committed to innovation and will continue to develop these tools in the coming months in order to provide guests with the very best customer service and journey.

Sheraton Invests More Than $100 Million to Upgrade Club Lounges

Global Powerhouse Announces Completion of Renovations to more than 120 Sheraton Club Lounges around the World
Club Lounges Brand-wide Now Open Seven Days a Week

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced its global powerhouse, Sheraton Hotels, and its owners have invested more than $100 million into upgrading 120 Club Lounges around the world, including flagship properties such as Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Denver, Sheraton Centre Toronto, Sheraton Hong Kong, Sheraton Buenos Aires and Sheraton Edinburgh. The enhancement to Sheraton Club Lounges – one of the most popular Sheraton signature amenities – is the final chapter of the brand’s recent $6 billion revitalization effort. In addition, Sheraton Club Lounges brand-wide are now open seven days a week in response to increased demand from premium corporate and leisure guests.

As business travelers return to the road en masse they will find the newest portfolio of Sheraton Club Lounges in the brand’s history. Sheraton Club Lounges are rated as one of the top two benefits of staying at a Sheraton by Starwood Preferred Guest members, who account for half of all Sheraton hotel bookings. Additionally, 50% of Sheraton loyalists like the option of purchasing an upgrade to the Sheraton Club experience, which is available for an average of $75 extra per night. Sheraton boasts a greater percentage of hotels with Club Lounges than its rivals, with the majority offering spectacular views, in addition to upgraded Club amenities: complimentary breakfast, afternoon hors d’oeuvres, beverage service, flat-screen television, Wi-Fi, a selection of daily newspapers and more.

“At a time when our competitors have scaled back their offerings, Sheraton has done the opposite. We decided to invest even further in our global portfolio with significant enhancements to our Club Lounges in order to deliver a higher level of productivity and luxury to our guests, not just on weekdays, but every day of the week,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. “And our timing couldn’t be better. Travel has returned to pre-crisis levels and travelers are once again focused on upgraded amenities and services as key elements of the guest experience.”

Most recently, Sheraton unveiled its re-designed Club Lounge at Sheraton Waikiki, a $1 million investment that topped off the hotel’s comprehensive renovation. Hawaii’s first Sheraton Club Lounge, Leahi, is perched 30 floors above Waikiki Beach and is accessible via Sheraton Waikiki’s signature glass elevator on the mountain side of the resort. In May, the Sheraton New York Hotel & Towers will debut a brand new Club Lounge experience offering amazing New York City views and a sophisticated, inviting and warm space for families and business travelers alike.

To learn more about the Sheraton Club Lounge experience visit sheraton.com/club.

Cologne and Dusseldorf at IMEX 2011

Rhine cities join forces to showcase their wide range of “MICE” sector services

COLOGNE. Building on last year’s successful cooperation, the convention bureau DÜSSELDORF (cbD) and the Cologne Convention Bureau (CCB) will highlight Rhineland convention destinations in tandem again this year at IMEX. Together with their partners, the two cities will present their offerings from May 24 – 26, 2011 in Hall 8 at the fairgrounds in Frankfurt am Main. The Cologne-Düsseldorf open-design booth (G020) is part of the German Convention Bureau (GCB) exhibit. This year, over 3,500 exhibitors from over 150 countries will present their offerings at the most important trade exhibition for meetings and incentive trips in Germany.

Cologne is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for conventions, conferences and incentives. “Cologne’s central location at the heart of Europe, its multitude of excellent locations, its status as a media, business and university metropolis, and the open, friendly atmosphere all play a key role, and make the city the perfect environment for successful events”, says Stephanie Franke, Head of the Cologne Convention Bureau. At this year’s IMEX, the CCB is showcasing its wide range of conference and convention possibilities in Cologne together with four local industry partners: BROICH CATERING & LOCATIONS, Cölner Hofbräu Früh KG, KölnKongress GmbH und Radisson Blu Hotel Cologne.

From cookery events to teambuilding exercises or outdoor activities ranging from golf to rap jumping and soapbox derby— the CCB and its partners offer a wide variety of other novel ideas for supporting programmes and incentives. Visitors can book for example an individual performance of game show classic ‘Family Fortunes’ with original host Werner Schulze-Erdel or enjoy an exclusive silent picture classic with live music.

The Cologne Convention Bureau website www.conventioncologne.de provides all there is to know about the convention city of Cologne. “The aim of our website is to offer event planners a platform where all information relating to Cologne as an event location is assembled in one place”, explains Stephanie Franke. A digital meeting planner provides tailored solutions in relation to locations, hotels, agencies, caterers, technology, etc. for the scheduled event in Cologne.

At this year’s IMEX, the Cologne Convention Bureau will also showcase the new “Meeting Point Cologne” and accompanying CD hot off the press. The new edition of the brochure provides detailed information and addresses for the numerous venues available for conventions in Cologne. This and more information can also be found online at www.conventioncologne.de.

In addition to providing industry-relevant information and marketing concepts, the Cologne Convention Bureau and the convention bureau DÜSSELDORF will also be offering visitors a special evening highlight at IMEX 2011. There will be a special happy hour on May 24 starting at 16:30 at TW TagungsWirtschaft magazine’s booth (G215), where a raffle with loads of attractive prizes associated with the Rhineland cities of Düsseldorf and Cologne is waiting for the visitors.

In connection with IMEX, Cologne – together with Bonn and Düsseldorf – will also be the destination for a post-convention tour for hosted buyers from the United States. Organized by the German Convention Bureau and supported by the CCB and Cologne industry partners, the three-day stay for American event planners will give them an insight into the three cities at the Rhine.

Broich Catering & Locations
Contemporary catering for individual meeting and incentive requirements

Broich Catering & Locations numbers among Germany’s leading event catering companies.It has 10 venues of its own together with many partner locations for individual meeting and incentive concepts. Our company slogan “We grant moments”, motivates the team led by Georg W. Broich to make each event a unique and unforgettable experience.From a business dinner with clients and partners through company events and catering concepts for exhibitions and conferences, Broich Catering offers a multifaceted range of culinary services. From first-class traditional regional cooking through to “Belle Cuisine” or more contemporary and lighter crossover cooking.

Cölner Hofbräu FRÜH KG
FRÜH is your one-stop partner opposite the Cologne Cathedral: Typical “kölsch” hospitality, a stylish hotel, a breathtaking event location above the rooftops of Cologne, conference facilities and catering – the FRÜH Team offers you competent assistance for your event. Discover our variety from traditional brewhouse specialties to fine dining and exclusive fingerfood.

KölnKongress GmbH
With its wide range of unique venues all situated in Cologne city centre,
Cologne’s largest provider of event venues, KölnKongress, is the reliable and professional partner for events on location. From doctor’s conventions to rock concerts, event organisers can choose from ten extraordinary locations with over 60 rooms, all of which are equipped with the latest technology and are suitable for as few as eight people or as many as 9600.

Radisson Blu Hotel Köln

IMEX — THE PLACE TO BE — The IMEX in Frankfurt also provides the perfect platform for the Radisson Blu Hotel Köln to showcase its expertise. Its prime location directly opposite the Cologne trade fair centre and its perfect links to the A1, A3 and A4 motorways makes the Cologne hotel incredibly accessible. The Köln-Bonn Airport is also close by and is just 15 minutes by car. The S-Bahn is another convenient option; with Köln-Deutz station situated just a short walk away from the hotel. The hotel boasts ten well-lit conference rooms spread over 1000 sqm and a potential outdoor event space of 1500 sqm, making it the ideal venue for the widest range of events. To round off the package, the hotel serves high-quality cuisine and has a friendly, professional service.

WTM Vision Conference – Dubai Completes Its industry-leading Green Panel Session Line Up

World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is delighted to announce two further industry-leading speakers for the inaugural WTM Vision Conference – Dubai on May 3 at Arabian Travel Market.

Oman resort Six Senses Zighy Bay, Social and Environmental Officer Mundher Al Amri and Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority Environmental Officer Dr. Shaharazed Roohi joined an impressive line up of speakers debating the question; Is Green the New Cutting Edge?

Other speakers in the panel session include;

the Government of Oman’s tourism development and investment .

Furthermore, respected Harold Goodwin, Professor of Responsible Tourism Management and Director of the International Centre for Responsible Tourism at Leeds University, will use his considerable knowledge and expertise to moderate the panel session.

The first session of WTM Vision Conference – Dubai sees Euromonitor International’s Travel and Tourism Industry Analyst Nadeja Popova reveals the research company’s latest report The Travel Industry Global Overview.

The report will be given FREE to all delegates.

World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: “I am delighted with the final line up of speakers for WTM Vision Conference – Dubai. The panel session will address one of the industry key areas, the current and future role of sustainable tourism – which is a debate the Middle East is starting to take part in.”

WTM Vision Conference – Dubai, organised in association with TTN Middle East, takes part at ATM on May 3 between 2pm – 4pm.

WTM Vision launched in London in 2009 offering high calibre speakers, content and research to give analysis, statistical assessment and interpretations to the industry’s senior leaders. This year the WTM Vision brand has been expanded to Milan on April 14 as well as Dubai.

WTM Vision Conference – London takes place on May 25.

For further information on attending this conference please visit http://www.wtmlondon.com/vision

Scientific expertise helps Liverpool secure the world’s largest conference of cancer surgeons in 2014

One of Liverpool’s ambassadors, consultant liver surgeon, Mr Graeme Poston from University Hospital Aintree, alongside Liverpool Convention Bureau and ACC Liverpool, has helped to secure the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) conference, to be held from 14th – 16th September 2014.

ESSO represents more than 2,000 cancer surgeons from across Europe and the Middle East and with the conference estimated to bring in between 600-800 delegates to the ACC Liverpool, it is also expected to generate around £1.4 million in economic benefit for the city. The ESSO conference is the largest gathering of cancer surgeons in the world. A special Lord Mayor’s reception will be held for delegates travelling to Liverpool.

Carol O’Reilly, Liverpool Convention Bureau Manager comments; “This win is a great coup for the city and a reward for our collaborative efforts in securing the event. We faced competition from capital cities including Athens, Geneva and Berlin, so quite rightly we are extremely proud to have secured such a high profile conference, which underlines our international reach and expert knowledge.”

Mr Poston, who has also been appointed as President-elect of the European Society of Surgical Oncology (ESSO) continues; “A lot of hard work goes into these bids. Clinicians work very closely with venue management teams and Liverpool Convention Bureau to present the best possible bids for bringing major conferences to the city. It is very competitive, but Liverpool’s worldwide recognition through music and football gives us an advantage. We are building on that by demonstrating that we can successfully host major events.”

Jacquie Rogers, General Manager of BT Convention Centre, part of ACC Liverpool added; “It is great to see the city being backed by members of the medical profession and with this kind of support and endorsement, ACC Liverpool is being recognised as a skilled and adaptable venue to host major association events of this nature. We look forward to welcoming ESSO in 2014.”

Securing the ESSO conference is the latest in a series of major clinical events to be secured by bids from clinicians across the city, with the support of the convention bureau and venues. These include the Association of Upper Gastrointestinal Surgeons Great Britain and Ireland (AUGIS) in 2008, the Association of Surgeons Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) and the British Society of Gastroenterology (BSG) in 2010, while 2012 will see the city play host to the UK Digestive Disorders Federation (DDF) which includes AUGIS and BSG.

Mr Poston, who recently won a lifetime achievement award for excellence in cancer surgery, added: “Success breeds success and the more times the city hosts clinical conferences, the more we can convince leading clinicians from across the world that they are coming to the right place to share best practise and help to improve the quality of care for all of our patients.”

50 Travel Professionals Take part in Meet Estonia 2011 Fam Trip

From April 13 to 16, Estonia successfully hosted the “Meet Estonia 2011 Fam Trip” attracting participants from 13 countries across Europe.

Organised jointly by the by the Enterprise Estonia, Estonian Tourist Board and Estonian Convention Bureau, the event gave 50 professional event planners and association representatives a taste of what Estonia has to offer as a meeting destination.

In addition to visiting the 1,800-seat Nokia Concert Hall, a number of modern conference hotels and unique historical venues, the visitors took part in an active programme that included a nighttime tour of Tallinn’s haunted houses and traditional Estonian-style party.

International meeting planners also had the chance to attend a workshop with local suppliers, and a large portion of them took part in post-tour visits to the university town of Tartu or the seaside resort town of Pärnu.

Participants found Estonia’s conference infrastructure to be fully up-to-date and good value for money, and were impressed by the both compactness of the destination cities and the availability of free Wi-Fi nearly everywhere.

“We received overwhelmingly positive feedback from all the guests. As Estonia is still relatively undiscovered destination, the short local distances, unique mix of medieval atmosphere and modern facilities as well as friendly, English-speaking Estonians were the facts that surprised participants the most” said Kadri Karu, Acting Managing Director of the Estonian Convention Bureau.