British Airways Announce High Rolling Route from Gatwick to Vegas

British Airways is launching another new high rolling route from Gatwick with the start of flights to Las Vegas from October 29 2012.

The three-times-a-week service will be operated by a three-class Boeing 777 offering a premium Club World cabin with fully flat beds.

The new Gatwick route offers more choice and frequency from London airports. Together with the Heathrow service British Airways will operate 10 flights a week to Las Vegas.

Colm Lacy, British Airways’ head of commercial Gatwick, said: “Las Vegas has proved to be an incredibly popular year-round destination from Heathrow so we are delighted to now be able to offer the route from Gatwick as well.

“This is the kind of destination our leisure customers at Gatwick are looking for and it will complement our existing USA and longhaul leisure network.”

Customers can book holidays in Las Vegas for less by booking their flights, hotels and experiences together. Home to sumptuous spas, luxury hotels and many excellent attractions, Las Vegas is the perfect place to enjoy luxury holidays.

British Airways has a wide range of top hotels in Las Vegas on the strip available, from the three-star Riviera Hotel and Casino which has just completed a multi million dollar renovation to the famous and luxurious Bellagio. The five-star hotel treats guests to sweeping views of the magnificent lake and classical gardens while five-star The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino recreates the glory of Venice and has suites nearly twice the size as a typical Las Vegas hotel room. The five-star Aria Resort and Casino, located in the heart of the City Centre, combines architecture with sustainable design and five-star The Wynn Resort Las Vegas provides gastronomic options for every taste.

Las Vegas is a hotspot of activity out in the Nevada desert. Customers looking for things to do in Las Vegas as an alternative to the casinos and shows will not be disappointed by amazing helicopter rides over the Las Vegas Strip or the Grand Canyon or visiting the impressive Hoover Dam, built during the Great Depression.

Bookings for flights from London Gatwick to Las Vegas can be made now at ba.com.

The World’s Most Expensive Club Sandwiches!

The Hotels.com® Club Sandwich Index (CSI) examines the cost of a club sandwich in the 10 most popular U.S. cities

DALLAS –  2012 – Paris, often thought of as the world’s most romantic city, has just been deemed the most expensive city in the world to order a club sandwich by Hotels.com®. But if $33 seems like too much to shell out for lunch, stick to the 10 most popular United States destinations – according to the 2011 Hotels.com Hotel Price Index™ (HPI®) – where the most expensive club sandwich can be found in New York City, for an average price of nearly $17.

Why choose the club sandwich? The classic chicken, bacon, egg, lettuce and mayo sandwich, a standard lunch available in hotels worldwide, was used as a universal measure of affordability in the Hotels.com Club Sandwich Index (CSI). The CSI average price has been calculated by taking the real prices paid by guests for a club sandwich within 1,000 five, four and three-star hotels located in popular travel destinations across 26 countries, with 10 U.S. cities measured.

This standard lunch fare is known for its popularity among hotel restaurants worldwide where it has been a staple since the 1800s. Although the exact origin of the club sandwich has not been proven, popular myths point it to an exclusive – wait for it – gambling club – in Saratoga Springs, New York, where it became popular before spreading to the rest of the world.

To help hotel guests and hotels.com users learn how to prepare the perfect club sandwich on their own, John Torode, chef, restaurateur and TV presenter reveals in this video how kitchen skills can result in lunch that tastes just right.

“The CSI is a quirky way for travelers to estimate the cost of living in the destinations they are visiting for their vacations,” said Taylor L. Cole, director public relations and social media, North America at Hotels.com. “Hotels.com customers already know how to snag great hotel deals. The CSI is a fun metric which provides an average cost travelers can use to estimate lunch budgets for daily expenses away from home.”

Within the U.S., it is no surprise that New York City is home to the most expensive club sandwich prices due to the city’s reputation for an expensive cost of living. Although affordable lunch can be found in San Diego, visitors can assume while traveling in the U.S. lunch will set them back around an average of $12 – $14. An interesting regional difference travelers should note is that many restaurants in New Orleans do not serve club sandwiches, but rather the Big Easy favorite, Po’ Boy, which can consist of a variety of seafood or meats and condiments served on French bread.

In London, the top overseas destination for Americans according to the HPI, a club costs an average of $19, making the city ninth on the CSI. The least expensive cities for a club sandwich from all 30 global cities surveyed are New Delhi, India and Mexico City, Mexico, with the average price coming in at just $10.

NEW ‘CITIES’ RESEARCH RELEASED REVEALS UK WIDE INTEREST FOR INTERNATIONAL TOURISTS

While London and Edinburgh continue to maintain their traditional supremacy as the two most popular urban destinations in the UK, Manchester, Birmingham, Liverpool and now Bristol are emerging as rival attractions. The rise of the cities is highlighted in the most recent analysis of overnight stays by overseas visitors in UK cities in 2011 by VisitBritain, the national tourism agency.

When researchers looked at all types of visits, London retains its top spot with 15.2 million overseas visitors staying in the city in 2011, followed in second place by Edinburgh with 1.3 million.

But Manchester, with its two competing  global football teams, its ultra-modern new landmark buildings such as the Lowry Centre, a new state of the art BBC media centre (open to tourists) and world-class shopping is firmly in third place with 936,000 visits (up 15 per cent on 2010). Birmingham sits neatly into fourth spot with 732,000 visitors attracted by its outstanding arts, exhibitions and one of the largest shopping centres in the UK, the Bullring, host to the best designer labels as well as accommodating for 25 restaurants to cater for all tastes.

Liverpool, who have also seen a 15 per cent rise in foreign visitors, overtake Glasgow moving into fifth place. Liverpool, the World Capital of Pop, is famous for its musical heritage, culture and architecture and attracted a substantial 545,000 foreigners.Oxford, in seventh place, welcomed a record amount of visitors in 2011, seeing 12 per cent more foreigners enjoy the delights of the old colleges (462,000).  As any resident will advise the best way to discover Oxford is on foot, and the official guided walking tour of the city and university help visitors understand the story behind Oxford’s great history.

Outside the top 10, cities such as Leeds, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Windsor, Carlisle, Stratford-upon-Avon, Newquay, Harrogate and Cheltenham saw international visits higher than in 2010.

Patricia Yates, Strategy and Communications Director for VisitBritain said: “These results confirm international visitors who might come here because of the global appeal of London are starting to appreciate our vibrant cities outside the capital, and the very different offerings of Edinburgh Birmingham, Liverpool and Manchester.

“In such a key year to showcase Britain, and all that our visitors can experience here, VisitBritain’s GREAT image and tactical campaigns in key inbound markets ensures that tourism growth, economic benefits and jobs are delivered right across Britain.”

ECM Summer School – the pearl of the meetings industry!

Nothing better describes the ECM Summer School than the image of its host city this year: Dubrovnik, the so called pearl of the Adriatic! The 26^th Summer School runs from August 25-29, 2012, and will provide at least 50 fortunate students with the foundation and knowledge to progress a rewarding career in the meetings industry.

As is the case every year, the number one goal of the ECM Summer School is to provide a solid basic education for those just starting out in the Meetings Industry. Uniquely, it brings students face to face with leading industry practitioners, through a seminar that reflects the latest trends; new technologies and practices.

Pier Paolo Mariotti, Meeting Manager of EURAC Convention Center in Bolzano, Italy, hosted the 23rd Summer School in 2009. Since 2010, he is the new Course Director of the ECM Summer School.

“The Summer School has now been in existence for 25 years, and we 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.  There is no such training in the meetings industry! Try it out!”, says Pier Paolo Mariotti.

ECM will organise a press conference introducing the 26^th Summer School among other new topics on May 23^rd at 10.00 at IMEX in Frankfurt.

Prague 5th among European destinations – beats Vienna, Berlin and Amsterdam!

Based on a sample of 57 European cities, European Cities Marketing (ECM) reports an average year-on growth rate of 6.2 % in respect to domestic and international bednights spent in commercial accommodation forms. International bednights increased by some 7.0%. Prague is number 5!

London, Paris, and Rome remain the three most popular European cities for tourists staying overnight, recording annual bednight levels in excess of 15 million for the 2011 year. Barcelona and Madrid, on the other hand, achieved the highest year-on growth rates, running out an impressive 15% and 11% respectively – in Prague the increase is 9,4%. At a country level, the US continues to be the single most important source market, followed by Germany, Italy, and the UK.  Russia and China showed the highest year-on growth rates of 33% and 22% respectively.

Source: European Cities Marketing

The President of European Cities Marketing, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, said: “Overall performance in 2011 lends weight to the view that city tourism is the dominant and most dynamic aspect of European tourism. With respect to the key bednights indicator, we can see that last year many cities recorded all-time highs and impressive growth rates. BRIC countries, especially Russia and China, are emerging as important source markets with lots of potential for the future”.

Main Source Markets in City Tourism in Europe Bednights (in million)

Magical Prague, UNESCO list & Prague Card

Hidden streets with cosy cafés, an abundance of gardens and parks, great restaurants, dozens of galleries and museums, music clubs with live jazz, classical music concerts, theatres and trips on the Vltava… these are just some of the attractions which you can find in Prague all year round!

The historic heart of this city is an exceptional urban area, stuffed with monuments. That’s why part of Prague was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992. So what makes the historical centre of Prague so special? Start with its layout: narrow zigzagging streets open onto little squares dominated by religious buildings, the oldest of which date to the Romanesque period. The Old Town, however, is largely Gothic. Its majestic Gothic churches and magnificent townhouses have led to the city’s nickname, “Stone Prague”.

Elsewhere in the city, you’ll find Renaissance palaces and Baroque, Neo-Classical, Art Nouveau and functionalist Cubist styles, sensitively melded into a whole that you can enjoy and admire for days, always finding something new to appreciate.

The River Vltava and its bridges also play a fundamental role in the life of the city. The oldest and best-known bridge is the Charles Bridge, which was built by Emperor Charles IV, who played a major role in determining Prague’s current layout.

Prague Castle, rising above the whole city, dominates. Since time immemorial, this has been where Czech rulers governed, as they do today. Hradčany, the largest castle in the world, is where the President of the Czech Republic resides.

Wherever you venture to roam in Prague, and especially in the 866 hectares of the Historic Centre of Prague, you will find museums, galleries and monuments that you can visit with your Prague Card.

The Prague Card, a 2, 3, or 4-day tourist card, is the all-inclusive pass to Prague’s top attractions. It offers completely FREE ENTRY to 40 attractions, discounts to 20 more and exclusive deals (with discounts of up to 50%) on tours, cruises and cultural shows. The Prague Card costs €36 for 2 days and can be purchased in all main Prague Tourist Information Offices. You can also buy the Prague Card online at www.praguecitycard.com

Garry White starting with ECM in St. Petersburg

 Garry White has been appointed as the new CEO of European Cities Marketing. He will take up office in March 2012 when Dr John Heeley will step down as the incumbent interim and part-time CEO. The ECM Spring Meeting in St. Petersburg (28th – 31st March 2012) will therefore be the first one that Garry will attend as the new and full-time CEO of the Association.

Garry studied hotel and catering management at the University of Strathclyde, and pursued a career in hotel management before joining Visit Britain in 1989. There he has carried out the full gamut of destination marketing activities, including senior management roles in Europe, America and the Asia /Pacific/ Middle East /Africa regions. He is a successful and experienced destination marketer and – as we discovered at Bilbao – an accomplished speaker. He has served as a visiting professor to the tourism department of Strathclyde University, Glasgow.

Garry White says: “I am really thrilled to be given this opportunity to be a part of the ECM family. ECM impressed me immediately because of the underlying business model, the sense of collaboration, and the professionalism and commitment of the members and the ECM team based at Dijon. This is a really serious organisation with people striving for excellence.

After so many years actually living in European cities, notably London, Glasgow, Frankfurt, Berlin, Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm, I have had the opportunity to visit just about every one of the ECM member cities. So I know first-hand that I will be working with a truly excellent product and I know that I can represent and market this with energy, conviction and passion. There is immense opportunity for city tourist offices and convention bureaux – not only in Europe but also BRIC markets and North America. For the past five years, I have been based in Asia working with 12 markets in APMEA and I know that European cities are on the wish list of both consumers and buyers. I believe we will be pushing on open doors…..”

Get the FREE City Cards App

Now available for Android and iPhone!

The City Cards smartphone app allows users to explore the visitor attractions available in 35 European Cities! It is now available for Android and iPhone!

All of the attractions listed in the application are mapped, so the users can easily find their way from their current location to the attraction that they wish to visit.

The City Cards App is a great way to see the sights when on vacation and at the same time, find out how you can save money with your city card. City Cards give the bearer discounted admission to a range of top visitor attractions, and in many cases offer a range of money saving special offers on food, drink and shopping.

European Cities Marketing are delighted to offer the European City Cards iPhone & Android App to all users for FREE!

Click here to find out more and to download it for FREE!

6 European Capitals of Culture

A celebration of European spiritual heritage, creativity and art! That’s what it’s all about. Each year the EU chooses European Capital of Culture on a city, or two (or nine in 2000!). We check out 2012’s cities – Maribor in Slovenia and Guimarães in Portugal, look back at last year’s Capitals, and look forward to 2013’s.

1. Maribor, Slovenia (2012)

Maribor is Slovenia’s second city, an industrial centre that is undergoing a cultural and creative renaissance. Time your visit for the massive Lent Festival, 24 June – 9 July, featuring everything from chess tournaments to metal gigs, or the classical music festival, with concerts in castles and courtyards around town.

If you need a break from all that culture, relax in Mestni Park, watch the world go by from a café on Main Square, or bag a bargain at Evropark, one of the largest shopping centres in central Europe. Joining in the fun are five Capital of Culture ‘partner towns’, like Novo Mesto, which hosts a jazz festival, and Velenje, with its rather bizarre annual Pippi Longstocking festival. Find flights to Slovenia

2. Guimares, Portugal (2012)

Guimares in northern Portugal is also a Capital of Culture in 2012. Portugal’s oldest city, its historical centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, while today almost 50% of its inhabitants are under 30, giving it one of the youngest populations in Europe.

There are events going on all year, from video games workshops to an open-air production of Macbeth in the city’s atmospheric Garden of the Centro Cultural Vila Flor. Foodies really should try the city’s speciality – ‘meat cake’ – a kind of pizza with such toppings as sardines and pig, best eaten al fresco on a sultry summer’s night. Wash it down with a good glass of port – what else? Find flights to Portugal

3. Turku, Finland (2011)

Turku is situated on Finland’s Baltic Sea coast in the south-west of the country. A Capital of Culture in 2011, it’s a buzzing place with happening nightlife thanks to its large student population. Before you hit the bars, pay homage to arguably Scandinavia’s finest composer, Sibelius, at a museum dedicated to him, admire some Finnish art at The Art Museum, or embrace Finnish culture of a slightly lower brow variety with a trip to Moominworld. What, you didn’t love these cute-as creatures when you were a child? It’s rated as one of the world’s top 10 theme parks, so it’s got to be worth a visit. Find flights to Finland

4. Tallinn, Estonia (2011)

The Estonian capital Tallinn looks like something out of a fairy tale. A Capital of Culture in 2011, it is well worth a visit any year. The city is a heady blend of the medieval and modern, with narrow cobbled streets, dreamy spires and an Old Town designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amid the carved stone walls sit cosy cafes, hip bars, tempting patisseries and alluring restaurants while Tallinn’s historic gems shine like rays of lights through the city’s Soviet era. If you have time, the surrounding countryside is particularly pretty, and you can even hit a choice of beaches just outside the city such as Pirita and Harku. Find flights to Tallinn

5. Marseille, France (2013)

Marseille, capital of Provence, is a thriving, exciting city ideal for a weekend break. As it smartens itself up in the run-up to being a European Capital of Culture for 2013 it may well shed its reputation for being a bit rough around the edges. Big projects are due for completion in time for 2013, like the ‘Museum of the Civilisations of Europe and the Mediterranean’ and the renovation of the Musée de l’Histoire. But there’s still time to experience the unpolished feel of some of the cooler districts. So go local, prop up the bar with a pastis at 10am and get yourself down to La Boîte à Sardine for super seafood fresh off the boats. Find flights to Marseille

6. Košice, Slovakia (2013)

Sharing the Capital of Culture honour with Marseille next year is Košice, Slovakia’s second-largest city after capital Bratislava. Situated on the edge of the brooding Slovak Ore mountains near the border with Hungary, the city is full of history, evident in interesting architecture like the wondrous Gothic St. Elisabeth Cathedral. If you are after faster-paced thrills than gazing at buildings, go to a game of ice hockey at the Steel Aréna, home of local favourites HC Košice and a venue for the 2011 Ice Hockey World Cup. After all that excitement, you’ll need a beer, or at least coffee and cake and with many atmospheric cafes and bars in Košice, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Find flights to Slovakia

Tallinn Card’s New Design for 2012!

Tallinn is an inviting blend of medieval and modern. The city’s pride and joy is its historic Old Town, an enchanting neighbourhood of centuries-old streets, houses, towers and squares that looks like it was torn right from the pages of a storybook. Meanwhile, threaded through that same Old Town and its environs you’ll find the cutting-edge restaurants, cafes and clubs that give Tallinn its energy and buzz.

In January, the Tallinn Card was given an exciting new design. The updated cards feature a panoramic city view. Fun children’s cards are available too!

The all-in-one Tallinn Card makes it easy for you to enjoy all the city has to offer. Available in 6-, 24-, 48- and 72-hour versions and accepted in nearly 100 locations, the card presents a convenient, cost-effective way to explore Tallinn on your own, choosing the sights that interest you most. How better to make your stay in Tallinn personal, economical and unforgettable?

The Tallinn Card gives you:

• Free admission to 40 museums and sights, including all top city attractions.
• One free city sightseeing tour by foot, by bus, by bicycle or with an audio guide.
• Unlimited use of public transport.
• Free entertainment including outdoor ice skating, train ride, billiards, bowling, nightclub, boat and bicycle rental.
• Discounts on sightseeing tours in Tallinn and beyond (Prangli Island, Naissaar, Lahemaa and Matsalu National Parks).
• Discounts in restaurants, pubs and cafes.
• Discounts in handicraft-, art- and design shops.
• Discounted activities: spa, car rental, go-karting, National Opera and concerts.
• An all-inclusive Tallinn Card guidebook with city and transportation maps

Discover Tallinn with the Tallinn Card!

Teddy Bears Stay Free at Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest

Ice skating, tobogganing, moonwalking, Segways and swimming in the snow are just a few of the concierge’s recommended family activities.

At Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest, the staff does its best to keep guests and their little ones on their feet and entertained while visiting. With so many places to see, and so much to do, the Concierge has put together a list of family activities, allowing the guests to see the best of the city in experiences sure to create lots of unforgettable memories.

Outdoor Ice Skating

Regardless of age or gender, an activity that is always popular during winter in Budapest is outdoor ice skating. During the winter season the grand lake in the City Park freezes and transforms into Europe’s largest skating rink. Outstanding castle views during the day and breathtaking starlit skies at night complement the activity.

Hillside Tobogganning

Young guests can venture out into the spectacular Buda Hills and enjoy the fun of tobogganing in Norfama park. There are several snowy slopes available ranging from gentle to steep, all depending on how courageous one wants to be.

Fun Learning at the Palace of Miracles

Bring out the Albert Einstein in your child! Museums can be depicted as a little boring especially when there are not any activities to stimulate young minds. However, the science museum Palace of Miracles at the Millenáris allows children to have a hands-on experience and interaction with different scientific principles. The most popular attractions are the low-gravity “moonwalk” and the “miracle bike.” Having so much to do here all day, parents could be hard pressed getting the little ones to leave.

Outdoor Swimming in the Snow

Budapest is a city well known for its bath and thermal springs. Szechenyi and Gellert baths are definite historical sites to visit and enjoy. The outdoor pools supplied by hot spring water rich with minerals are open regardless of the weather.

Bike and Segway Touring

If the weather permits, the Hotel’s concierge highly recommends a family excursion on bike or Segway and explore the city on wheels.

Families at Four Seasons

To make younger guests feel like home away from home, it’s aFour Seasons policy that teddy-bear companions always stay free of charge. And if the little ones are sometimes afraid of the dark,Four Seasons offers complimentary monster checks under the bed too. Complimentary amenities include kids´ toiletries, bathrobes, games, books, kids menus and more await a family getaway in Budapest.

Secret to Happy Marriage is Two Holidays a Year, 11 Cuddles a Fortnight and One Bust-up a Week

Taking two holidays a year, having a meaningful conversation twice a week and cuddling 11 times in a fortnight are key to a happy marriage; it has been revealed.

A study of 2,000 happily married couples by Headwater Holidays has identified the main ingredients for a successful future together.

It shows husband and wife benefit from taking a short break away together twice a year, and eating out in restaurants at least three times a month.

And it pays to be affectionate, as wedded folk tend to share a lingering kiss six times a week, have sex twice a week and say “I love you” up to nine times a fortnight.

But it doesn’t need to be sweetness and light the whole time as the average happy couple has at least one healthy argument a week.

Catherine Crone, spokeswoman for walking holiday specialist, Headwater, said: “The research indicates that marriage is all about give and take, and making time for one another.

“It is clear that, while couples expect a great deal of love and affection from each other, they also understand that a real partnership includes having both deep and meaningful conversations as well as healthy arguments, to ensure they resolve anything which is bothering them.

“Taking time out from the daily routine is also fundamental to long term happiness while regular holidays or short breaks, coupled with nights out for dinner or trips to the pub all contribute to a healthy relationship.”

For those people who go on two holidays a year, 58 per cent say they like to go because on each occasion they are reminded why they love each other so much.

And 55 per cent claim they are more likely to make time for each other on holiday than at any other time of the year.

The survey also indicates that while couples like to have drinks at the pub together three times a month, there will also be a couple of girls’ and boys’ nights as well, where people can enjoy a night out with friends instead of their other half.

Happily married couples tend to make time for at least five movie nights at home, in contrast to their usual evenings spent fighting over the remote control or disagreeing about what to watch.

And most men and women will make little romantic gestures – such as cooking a nice meal, or taking their spouse a cup of tea in bed – three times a month.

The Headwater spokeswoman added: “Sometimes stepping back from the daily routine can do couples the world of good.

“Holidays are a great chance for couples to be reminded how to have fun together and spending time together away from the usual distractions of home can reignite the spark that made them fall in love in the first place.

“Knowing these results, perhaps now more than ever it’s important for couples to change their perception and see these shared moments as a fun way to invest in their relationship and weather-proof their marriage.”

Interestingly, falling in love with a partner on first sight is NOT indicative that a relationship is meant to be, as only 42 per cent of happy couples say this was the case.

Friendship was important as 47 per cent of those people polled say they were friends with a partner before they became an item, and then eventually married.

Other contributors to a successful marriage include making quality time for each other (50 per cent), supporting each other (49 per cent) and being kind (39 per cent).

A fifth of couples make a point of never going to bed on an argument, and 21 per cent say the key to a happy marriage is to try to turn a blind eye to irritating habits.

Knowing when to say sorry is a big step in the right direction for 33 per cent of people, while 35 per cent claim to be happy because they share the household chores out equally.

Compromising on the television schedule, being honest, retaining a degree of secrecy and accepting each other’s faults all play a part in a happy marriage.

    BREAKDOWN OF RESULTS

    Holidays                                   -    2 a year
    Short breaks                               -    2 a year
    Say "I love you"                           -    9 times a fortnight
    Kiss                                       -    6 times a week
    Cuddle                                     -    11 times a fortnight
    Have sex                                   -    2 times a week
    Deep and meaningful conversation           -    2 times a week
    Dinner out                                 -    3 times a month
    Drinks out                                 -    3 times a month
    Healthy argument                           -    1 a week
    Lads / Lasses night out without partner    -    2 times a month
    Surprise romantic gesture                  -    3 times a month
    Movie night at home                        -    5 times a month

Eurostar Offers Winter Breaks for Less: 2-for-1 entry into paying exhibitions at selected top museums and galleries

Eurostar, the high-speed rail service between the UK and mainland Europe, is offering special, limited prices for Standard and Standard Premier travel to Paris, Brussels or Lille until March 29th.

With plenty of the special return Standard class fares available for midweek travel, this is the perfect time for Eurostar customers to book a reviving day trip or a relaxing long weekend. Travellers can also treat themselves to a more luxurious journey for less as Eurostar is also offering special Standard Premier return fares for travel during the same period.

When passengers arrive in their chosen destination their Eurostar ticket gives them much more than travel alone, with a range of enticing ‘Eurostar Plus’ offers and discounts.

‘Eurostar Plus Culture’ offers travellers 2-for-1 entry into paying exhibitions at selected top museums and galleries in Paris, Brussels and Lille, simply by showing their Eurostar ticket. So, whether they’re visiting the Grand Palais, Galeries Nationales in Paris or the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, there’s plenty to keep them entertained over the coming months.

‘Eurostar Plus Gourmet’ offers also give passengers up to 50% discounts on meals at popular restaurants in Paris, Brussels and Lille, by booking their table via http://www.eurostarplus.co.uk/gourmet and presenting their Eurostar ticket at the restaurant on arrival.

Nick Mercer, Commercial Director for Eurostar said: “Many of our travellers like to travel midweek as our destinations and their tourist attractions tend to be less busy. These discounted fares give everyone the perfect excuse to treat themselves to a getaway for less. After all, with special fares to Paris, Brussels or Lille and exclusive offers for museums, restaurants and shopping when you’re there, this is an offer not to be missed.”

Tourism results demonstrate upward momentum for London

The latest provisional figures from the International Passenger Survey (IPS) reveal that London welcomed 4.4 million visitors in quarter three (Q3) of 2011 (July – September), representing a year on year gain of 1.9%.

The biggest contribution to Q3′s performance came from long haul destinations, with North America up by 7.8% and the other countries including most of the developing and emerging economies such as Brazil, China, Russia and India – all significantly increased.

In total the overall increase represented nearly 80,000 additional visitors in the three month period compared to 2010.  As a result, figures for the nine months to September reveal a positive 5.9% increase in visits to the capital; indicating a steady rise in London’s visitor growth.  These were buoyed by robust business visits which have increased by 8.5% over this same period.

The upbeat business market also strengthened Q3 visits to the capital with an increase of over 5% year on year, representing nearly 700,000 visits in total. London’s number one business market, the USA, continued to drive the sector upwards in the quarter with a 6% increase in corporate visitors. Other major business markets including France and Germany also performed very strongly in the quarter.

Visitor expenditure growth was also more marked than Q2 with a year on year increase of 12.4%, generating an additional £300 million for London’s tourism economy.  As a result, the average trip expenditure increased by one-tenth, to £633 from £574 in 2010.

Both European and North American expenditure showed a steady increase up 8.4% and 10.6% respectively, bringing the total visitor expenditure in London to an impressive £2.77 billion.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: “London remains one of the most exciting and unique destinations in the world. Last year saw more visitors than ever coming to our great city and, standing on the cusp of what is set to be one of the most memorable years the capital has ever seen, there couldn’t be a better time to visit. From world class sport, to cultural extravaganzas, to the pomp and pageantry of the Diamond Jubilee there really is something for everyone to enjoy.”

Gordon Innes, CEO, London & Partners said: “The solid evidence of sustained recovery is evident in these latest results for the capital. We can also see an indication of the burgeoning BRIC sector and an increase in visitors from Asia and other countries.  Big draws for this quarter included Duchess of Cambridge’s wedding dress at the summer opening of Buckingham Palace, London Pride and the very successful World Badminton Championships at Wembley.”

Orbitz: London, Austin and Chicago to be Travel Hotspots in 2012

New index also uncovers most-booked destinations, busiest travel weeks and top travel routes for 2011

CHICAGO, Jan. 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ – An improving economy and a pent-up demand for travel resulted in a strong year in 2011 for the travel industry and a bright outlook for 2012 with London,Austin and Chicago projected to be among the top destinations this year. Orbitz (http://www.orbitz.com) today released its “Look Back, Look Ahead” Insider Index, examining 2011 travel and projecting top destinations and travel trends for the year ahead.

THE 2012 TRAVEL SCENE: A LOOK AHEAD

The Orbitz team of travel experts and editors have coupled their industry experience with consumer booking data and analysis of millions of consumer searches to unveil the best destinations, top hotel perks and travel trends to watch for 2012.

Hotspots for 2012

London: London will mark its place in history as the only city to host the modern Olympic Games three times when it welcomes the 2012 games this summer. “London is expected to attract more than 10,000 athletes and hundreds of thousands more spectators for the games July 27 – Aug. 12,” said Nic Bryant, London destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide. In late June, the city will also host one of its most beloved events, Wimbledon, where spectators can watch some of the best tennis champions compete on the court.

Austin: The trendiest part of Texas only seems to grow in popularity each year and 2012 will be no different, Orbitz experts predict. Regarded as a music lover’s mecca, tens of thousands of revelers flock to the self-proclaimed “Live Music Capital of the World” every spring for the annual South by Southwest Festival, which takes place March 9-18 this year. And the excitement doesn’t end on that note. “This year, Austin is expanding outside of the music scene and dipping its toes into something new by hosting the first U.S. Formula 1 Grand Prix starting Nov. 18,” said Jerrold Broussard, Austin destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Chicago: The city that attracts 40 million visitors a year is gearing up to welcome even more as it serves as the backdrop for two high-profile world events in 2012. The 12th World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates will make its North American debut inChicago in April followed by the G8 Summit in May. “The Nobel Peace Laureate and G8 are two of the biggest global annual events attracting hundreds of international high-profile leaders, dignitaries and organizations,” said Emmy Conway, Chicagodestination expert and senior market manager for Orbitz Worldwide.  For those who find their own version of peace on the back nine, Chicago will also host the Ryder Cup in September– a bi-annual international golf event eagerly followed by golf enthusiasts around the world.

Sure Bets for Great Deals in 2012

San Diego:  Whether a mountain adventurer or a coastal relaxer, there is something for everyone at a price that works in San Diego. And this year, there’s even more of a reason to visit this coastal city.  The convention business is growing, but has yet to reach the peak levels attained during 2007.  This, combined with an increase in supplier inventory, means great values throughout the city. “Hotels throughout the region will likely be looking to fill rooms and offer more competitive rates for leisure travelers,” said Lisa Kroll, San Diego destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Washington, D.C.: A bit of a hush falls over the nation’s capital during election years with the Washington insider crowd outside the Beltway campaigning.  ”As candidates hit the campaign trail in 2012, more hotel rooms and flights have space available and that can add up to great deals for travelers looking to explore Washington, D.C.,” said Donna Mulligan, Washington, D.C.destination expert and regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

Riviera Maya: Soft white sand and beautiful aqua water make Mexico’s own Riviera an oasis for travelers seeking relaxation. With its large hotel infrastructure—the biggest in Mexico—Riviera Maya has long been a shoo-in for travel deals. However, trending declines in visitors from foreign countries will make the area even more affordable in 2012. “With the combination of massive hotel availability and trending declines in European visitors to the region, travelers will be able to nab some great hotel deals,” said Antonia Pitta, Mexico destination expert and senior regional director for Orbitz Worldwide.

What Consumers Want Most in a Hotel in 2012

Orbitz prides itself on providing travelers with everything they need to know about hotels inside and out. Based on consumer search inquiries in 2011(1), Orbitz travel experts anticipate these popular perks will continue to drive consumers’ hotel booking decisions in 2012:

Convenient transportation: Whether driving or flying, travelers are looking for easy, no hassle ways to get to their destination. Free parking and airport shuttles are among the top-searched hotel amenities.

Pool: Swimming pools rank high on the list for both families traveling with kids and for those heading to spots like Las Vegasor Miami where it’s more about the scene (and being seen) than actually swimming. As one of the top-searched hotel amenities for the second year in a row, pools often determine whether a hotel option will sink or swim for a consumer.

The extras: Consumer searches show there is strong interest in hotel amenities that go beyond the basics.  Four-legged companions are often seen as an integral part of the modern family. As such, search behaviors show that lots of travelers are seeking lodging that will accommodate their pets.  There is also strong interest in hotels that provide spa services, fitness centers and wireless internet.

Orbitz Travel Trend Predictions for 2012

In-house travel experts at Orbitz also identified the top three travel booking trends for 2012.

Mobile: Mobile commerce is expected to nearly double in the U.S. next year(2) and many of those mobile consumers will be on-the-go travelers, Orbitz forecasts. “65% of hotel reservations made via our mobile channels are for same-day stays compared to 14% via traditional desktop browsers,” said Chris Brown, vice president of product development for Orbitz Worldwide. Orbitz also offers mobile bookers great deals with the recently launched “Mobile Steals,” exclusive, mobile-only discounts of up to 50% on hotels worldwide. Steals are available across all mobile channels including the mobile website (m.orbitz.com) and the latest versions of the Orbitz iPad, iPhone and Android apps.

Flash Sales: The number of flash sale sites rose more than 350% from July of 2009 to July 2011 and the popularity of such sites seems only to be growing.(3) “To meet consumers’ growing demand for limited-time deals, Orbitz recently launched ‘Insider Steals,’ weekly, members-only flash sales that offer 50% or more off handpicked hotels in top destinations around the world,” said Peggy Bianco, group vice president of global hotel services for Orbitz Worldwide.

Gift of Travel: Today, many consumers are finding more meaningful value in giving experiences and memories vs. products off store shelves. “We are seeing parents gifting travel for graduations and birthdays and more engaged couples are opting to register for activities for their honeymoons instead of a set of towels,” said Jeanenne Tornatore, senior travel editor for Orbitz.com. While most give the gift to help people explore somewhere new it can also be a subtle reminder, and the extra push some need, to visit loved ones who do not live nearby.

THE LOOK BACK ON 2011

The collection and in-depth analysis of U.S. consumer travel in 2011 provides a window into U.S. travel habits and preferences over the last 12 months.

Busiest Air Travel Weeks in 2011: For the third year in a row, Christmas week (Dec. 19 – Dec. 25) was the busiest travel week in 2011, followed by the week leading up to the Fourth of July and Thanksgiving week. Two summer weeks—the first week of August and the third week of June—rounded out the top five travel weeks as many consumers took advantage of the warm weather and kids being out of school.

Orbitz Insider Index: The Top Five Busiest Travel Weeks(4)

1. December, Christmas Week (Dec. 19–25)
2. Fourth of July Week (June 27–July 3)
3. November, Thanksgiving Week (Nov. 21–27)
4. August, First Week (Aug. 1-7)
5. June, Third Week (June 20-26)

Top 2011 U.S. Destinations: The usual suspects are back atop the list of the 10 most popular U.S. travel destinations. Las Vegas and New York claimed the top two spots for the fourth year in a row. One surprise showing, however, came from Orlando, which nudged ahead of Chicago, bumping the Windy City down to number four.

2011 could be dubbed the year of the urban escape as U.S. travelers often opted for cities over sand. In fact, the following beach destinations on the 2010 list were notably absent in 2011 rankings: San Diego (#5 last year), Honolulu (#7), and Miami(#10). Meanwhile, Boston and Los Angeles—two top destinations for 2009—reemerged in 2011 and Denver (#6) and Atlanta(#8) were welcomed as newcomers.

Top 2011 International Destinations: The top three international travel destinations for U.S. travelers – Cancun, San Juan and London—held steady in the same slots as 2010. However, there was a bit of shuffling from 2010 with Paris moving up two spots to number four and Toronto climbing one spot to six. Additionally, Mexico had an impressive showing, adding three of its cities to the list.

Warm climates and adventure activities enticed consumers to hop flights to foreign destinations last year. In addition to scenic beaches, travelers benefitted from lower rates in Mexico City, Guadalajara and San Jose del Cabo, while Cancun stayed relatively unchanged.

Top 10 U.S. Travel Routes: The Big Apple took up a big slice of the Top 10 U.S. Travel Routes in 2011. New York City was the origin city for five of the top 10 route pairings last year for the second year in a row. The most popular travel route was New York to Chicago, followed by New York to Ft. Lauderdale – bumping the transcontinental New York-to-Los Angeles route down a notch from 2010 to number three. New York was again the most popular destination for travelers departing from Los Angelesand Chicago, as well.

Meeting of 23 European directors of tourism in Vienna

The annual meeting of European directors of tourism, organized by European Cities Marketing and held in Vienna for the first time, attracted a record number of delegates. 23 destinations including 18 capital cities were represented.

For the fifth time – and after Dublin, Paris, Berlin and Copenhagen now for the first time in Vienna – on December 12 top tourism managers from 23 European metropolises convened at the Sofitel Vienna for the “Annual Meeting of the Chief Executives of Capital and Major Cities” to discuss the future perspectives of city tourism with their peers. The meeting organized by European Cities Marketing (ECM) was devoted to the theme of change management in city tourism organizations, and was opened by ECM President Dieter Hardt-Stremayr and Director of Vienna Tourism Norbert Kettner as representative of the host city.

Exchange of views in cities network

A presentation by Ray Bloom, Chairman of IMEX, the worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events, focused on the importance of good relations between local government and the travel industry. Keynote speaker Matthias Strolz, managing partner of the consulting firm promitto, gave an insight into the management of public organizations during the process of change. A wider perspective was guaranteed by case studies of Geneva, Brussels and Amsterdam presented by the directors of tourism of these cities: Philippe Vignon, Patrick Bontinck and Stefan Diender all gave an insight into the change management processes of their tourism organizations.

The ECM meeting is held in a different European metropolis each year. Only five years after it was established, the meeting has become an essential networking platform for decision-makers in the marketing of European city destinations. Next year’s meeting is scheduled to be held in Oslo on December 10, 2012.

London Calling: Capital is Brits’ Favourite European Destination This Autumn

Expedia.co.uk shares insider tips for autumn visits to the Big Smoke -

Thanks to the buzz from the Royal nuptials and Olympics fever already gripping the nation, London is the Brits’ favourite European destination to visit this autumn.

Insider top tips for visiting London

Most people have been to London and seen the classic tourist destinations, but what’s the city like through the eyes of a local? Here, the London Market Managers for Expedia offer their inside tips on making the most of London’s bustling city centre – from visiting the top tourist sites to discovering the city’s best kept secrets:

For an alternative way to explore the Thames, get muddy hunting for treasure while Mudlarking – the foreshore of the Thames is a whole new layer of London bursting with hidden gems that hold the secrets of the Capital’s past for you to discover!
Visit the Billingsgate Fish Market to take your pick from the largest selection of fresh fish in the country – plus, budding fishmongers can have a lesson on how to prepare their fish from the experts at the Billingsgate Seafood Training School
Londoners love great food so why not release your inner gourmand: enjoy the finest French fare at the Alain Ducasse, delectable Japanese bites at Nobu, Indian morsels at Amaya, and tasty Chinese delicacies at Kai, all in Mayfair. Sample the best of British at Rhodes Twenty Four in Smithfields or sumptuous Italian food at The River Café in Hammersmith.

Top money and time saving tips when visiting London

-Keep away from the crowds on Oxford Street and visit one of London’s famous markets to bag a bargain. Think Borough Market for food, Portobello for antiques, Covent Garden for crafts, and Camden Market for the hottest fashions
-Planning in advance can help you jump lengthy queues at the gates when visiting the tourist favourites, such as the London Dungeon and Madame Tussaud’s. Book at Expedia.co.uk
-Get 50% off the total bill or 2 meals for the price of 1 at more than 4,000 London restaurants with the London Tastecard, available at http://www.expedia.co.uk

5 best winter city breaks

Some cities in Europe are infinitely better to visit in winter than summer. Without the crowds, the harassed locals, the hordes of school kids, and long queues for everything from entry to the Cathedral to the public lav, suddenly the experience becomes far richer and more relaxing; in fact, positively romantic.

Crisp cold days are decidedly better for walking ancient streets snuggled up to a loved one, as the brightly lit cafes and shops entice you in to meet the locals and get a real feel for the city you’re in.

In winter you’re a visitor, not just another damn tourist – always a better feeling.

1. Tallinn

Why winter?
Because it’s generally snowy at this time of year, and oh so romantic. Heat up in the atmospheric cafés, restaurants and galleries, and immerse yourself in the plethora of exhibitions and concerts going on from January to March.

The big attractions 
To get your bearings head to St. Olaf’s Church which sits high above the city and dates back to 1267 when it was the tallest church in Europe. From here you’ll see the ancient warren of cobbled streets and fortified walls that make up one of Europe’s most attractive city centres.

Once in the walled Old Town go to Toompea Hill- the residential area of the former aristocracy where the imposing Alexander Nevsky Cathedral stands. You can’t miss Town Hall Square, ringed – surprise, surprise – by the Town Hall, and beside it you find the ancient pharmacy, which is still operating on the site it has occupied since 1422.

Surprisingly few people manage to find The Museum of Occupation, but it’s well worth locating (at  Toompea 8) In the period from 1940 to 1991, Estonia was occupied briefly by Nazi Germany and then for four and a half decades by the USSR. The history of this difficult period comes to life in through high-tech audio-visual displays and art.

The Botanical Garden which covers 110 hectares and contains more than 8,000 plant species, is certainly worth a look – and yes, there are Hot Houses to warm up in.

The stunning Baroque Kadriorg Palace was the summer residence of Russian Tsar Peter 1, and today stands in the centre of its namesake’s seaside suburb, just outside Tallinn, housing the Estonian Art Museum’s foreign collection of thousands of European and Russian works from the 16th century on.

Finally, don’t miss the Health Museum (Tervishoiumuuseum) where Tallinn’s school kids learn all about the human body at this old-fashioned and somewhat disturbing museum. On one floor, interactive displays teach younger kids all the systems in the human body, while the upper floor has photos and models designed to scare older kids away from using drugs or from ever having children. Don’t visit before, during, or after lunch.

Retail therapy
Ceramics, glassware, jewellery and paintings are all good value and good quality here. Heavy woollens are excellent value, as are the Russian-inspired souvenirs.

Find flights to Tallinn

More info
www.tourism.tallinn.ee

2. Budapest 

Why winter?
Go in March for the Mohacs Carnival, which includes a legendary parade on the Sunday before Lent featuring scary masks, dancing and the burning of winter’s coffin on a bonfire. Copious amounts of goulash and Bull’s Blood vino on offer.

The big attractions
Budapest is two cities in one. Until 1873, the royal palaces of the posh part: Buda, on the hilly West bank of the Danube, literally looked down on the citizens of  ‘Pauvre Pest’ on the East bank, but then the two cities merged to create a capital packed with beautiful buildings, riverside walks and a bustling nightlife. Buda is still quieter, greener, and has more historic buildings than Pest. The Royal Palace and the Castle Hill district are only slightly upstaged by the magnificent Fishermen’s Bastion, with its panoramic views across the Danube to Pest. Pest is an altogether livelier place, with its pavement cafes, neo-Classical Parliament building, State Opera House, St Stephen’s Basilica and designer shops.

Retail therapy
Antiques, leather goods and crafts are all great in Budapest. The main shopping area is south of Vorosmarty Ter in  Pest, and the  streets around Vaci Utca are awash with designer shops. For antiques hit Falk Miksa Utca.

Find flights to Budapest

More info:    
www.gotohungary.com

3. Amsterdam 

Why winter?
The Brown Cafes look so inviting, the walks down the Canals are just sooo romantic, the Christmas Markets and the locals are just so damn cheery that it does your soul good to go there.

The big attractions
The Rijksmuseum has 400 masterpieces on display, including Rembrandt’s ‘Night Watch’ and Vermeer’s ‘Woman Reading a Letter’. In the Van Gogh Museum you’ll find more than 700 of the artist’s paintings and drawings, including the world-famous ‘Sunflowers’, ‘The Bedroom’ and ‘The Potato Eaters’.

Anne Frank Huis is a fabulous visit – incredibly moving, even to this day. If you didn’t already know Anne Frank and her family hid here for two years during World War II; a bookcase marks the entrance to the sober, unfurnished rooms in which she wrote her famous diary.

Retail therapy
Diamonds anyone? If money’s tight take home delicious cheese, chocolate, beer and cookies. Also clogs and a huge variety of flowering bulbs.

Find flights to Amsterdam

More information
http://www.holland.com

4. Salzburg 

Why winter?
It is the ultimate Christmas Market city and chocolate-box beautiful in the snow. There’s nothing like hearing ‘Silent Night’ in the city it was written in.

The big attractions
Hard to choose as the whole centre is a UNESCO World Heritage site, but if reduced to just three:

Hohensalzburg Fortress rewards you with a magnificent view over the city; built in 1077 it’s Salzburg’s landmark.

Mozart Square – not surprisingly, a statue of Ludwig dominates the square which was unveiled in 1842 in the presence of Mozart’s sons.

In a skyline punctuated by church spires, there is no mistaking the distinctive dome and towers of Salzburg’s early Baroque cathedral. Inside, among the stucco swirls and paintings, is the Gothic font where Mozart was baptised (and speaking of him, don’t miss his birth-place and house, also in the city).
Retail therapy
‘Mozartkugeln’ – Mozart chocolates are a must, and Austrian linen/embroidery is also worth a look. Dirndls and ledershosen are in many shops, and there lots of good outdoor sports gear on offer here too.

Find flights to Salzburg

More information
www.austria.info/uk

5. Berlin

Why winter?
In a word, Carnival. On February 6 Lenten madness takes over bringing with it great atmosphere with floats, costumes and parties aplenty. From 10 – 20 February a major International Film Festival hits town bringing in Hollywood’s best.

These events aside, Berlin is heaving with brilliant museums, galleries, bars and coffee houses, all of which are perfect when the light has gone and the temperatures dip. In summer you have to queue for ages to get into the Pergamonmuseum (housing 19th German plunder of the Ancient World); in winter, just stroll in and enjoy the space.

The big attractions
The Brandenburg Gate is to Berlin what the Eiffel Tower is to Paris, only with a lot more history and significance. Built in the late 18th century as the main entrance to the city, for decades it acted as a barrier between the East and West. And speaking of significant barriers, these days there isn’t much left to see of the Berlin Wall, but it’s got to be visited. Take the U-Bahn to Potsdamer Platz to see a brightly graffitied section of it, along with a watchtower which used to stand in this former no-man’s land.

The Berliner Dom is one of Germany’s most impressive churches. Built at the end of the 19th century, it’s lavishly decorated both inside and out and is the final resting place for the royal Hohenzollern family.

A reminder that it was not only allied countries which suffered during WWII is the Gedächtniskirche. This partially destroyed church was bombed and never rebuilt. It still manages to chill passers by.

There are over 50 museums in Berlin, but head for Museum Island and you’ll see the city’s best. Two not on the island but worth seeing are the Topographie des Terrors, a museum based in the former Gestapo headquarters that examines what went on under interrogation. And, of course, the Checkpoint Charlie Museum, built on one of the famous crossing between West and East. It presents a graphic history of the many heroic attempts at escape from the East.

Retail therapy
Wallow in kitsch at Falbala on Knaackstraße 43, where you’ll find a wonderful jumble of clothes from decades past to have a rake through. Another spot to shop for some flaky souvenirs is the flea market at Bahnhof Friedrichstraße, held Mondays, Wednesdays and Sundays. Berlin’s main department store is KaDeWe at Tauentizenstraße 21. This is Germany’s Harrods, with great clothes and a stunning food hall.

New success for visitBerlin

„BestCities Global Alliance“ welcomes the German capital as a partner

Berlin, October 13, 2011 As of now, Berlin is a member of the renowned service network “BestCities Global Alliance”. The news was announced today at IMEX America in Las Vegas. Berlin impresses with its ultramodern hotels and locations, excellent transport links and professional marketing as a convention destination.

“We have spent a year working towards becoming a part of this powerful network,” says visitBerlin CEO Burkhard Kieker. “Our membership will help us attract further international conventions to Berlin.”

Ten major convention destinations are part of “BestCities”, among them Dubai, Singapore, Vancouver, Melbourne and Houston. The cities’ convention bureaus regularly share information and plan joint marketing campaigns in distant markets. They also focus on the development of new markets.

Free things to do in world’s 10 most expensive cities

They may be the world’s most expensive cities according to the latest report from UBS but at Skyscanner they’re not put off by statistics!

So, they’ve put together a list of wonderful, quirky and best of all FREE things to do in the world’s most expensive cities.

1. Oslo, Norway

The Norwegian capital may be the priciest city in Scandinavia but one of the most unforgettable experiences of the region is yours to be had and it’s completely free; the Northern Lights. Top of the list for places to see the Aurora Borealis, in Oslo you can see them almost every night during the winter time on clear nights.

Whilst you could take a special Northern Lights Safari out of town – having a guide will cost. Alternatively, just gaze up at the night sky to see the spectacular bluey-green light-show absolutely free. Find cheap flights to Oslo

2. Zurich, Switzerland

This example really holds true to the saying ‘the best things in life are free’. Swiss chocolate is as famous as Heidi and cuckoo clocks and although Zurich may be a stretch on the wallet you can visit the Lindt Chocolate Factory for free! Chocoholics are in for an unforgettably sweet experience with a tour around the famous factory that’s been making exquisite chocolate here since 1845.

It includes a visit to the chocolate museum and, best of all, free chocolate samples at the end of the tour. Heaven. Find cheap flights to Zurich

3. Geneva, Switzerland

One of the loveliest places to visit in Geneva also happens to be free. Genevans themselves love to spend balmy summer and crisp winter days walking and swimming in and around beautiful Lake Geneva or Lac Leman as it is known locally.

There are stunning views to admire and a lush green park where the soft sound of trickling fountains fills the air. There is even free wi-fi in the area for those who want to surf the net, while free bike hire is available for those who want to cycle the lake’s perimeter. Find cheap flights to Geneva

4. Copenhagen, Denmark

Denmark’s beautiful capital city, Copenhagen, with its stunning architecture, picturesque streets, vibrant art and long, leafy canals with miles of cycle paths lends itself beautifully to exploring by bicycle. The City Bikes scheme in Copenhagen offers trendy, free urban bikes for all which are a popular and fun way to whizz around the city seeing the sights. You need to leave a coin deposit but you get this back when you return the bike. Find cheap flights to Copenhagen

5. Stockholm, Sweden

As the unmistakeable scent of cinnamon fills the air, you know it’s winter time in Stockholm. Christmas markets begin to pop up with their cotton wool lined rooftops, twinkling fairy lights and mouth-watering aromas of goodies being freshly baked.

One of the nicest ways to spend a day in Stockholm at this time of year is ice skating.  From mid-November until March, there is free ice skating at theKungstradgarden ice rink in the heart of the city, with live music and stands serving steaming hot drinks to keep you toasty warm. Find cheap flights to Stockholm

6. Tokyo, Japan

The neon lights of Tokyo are an urban dwellers paradise. Bustling streets, outdoor markets and frenzied traffic create the electric atmosphere that this city is so famous for. However, if you need an escape from the street hawkers take a trip to the Imperial Palace. Free to visit, this one of the most venerable sights in Tokyo.

Surrounded my ancient moats and thick stone walls, it has some of the most beautiful gardens in the city as well as Emperor Hirohito’s collection of kimono and magnificent Japanese paintings. People flock to the palace in early April to catch sight of the gorgeous pink cherry blossoms coming in to full bloom; a tranquil sight in such a cosmopolitan city. Find cheap flights to Tokyo

7. Sydney, Australia

Beautiful Sydney is one of the most ‘liveable’ cities in the world according to many people, with cafés, culture and art on every corner. Although it can be expensive, thanks to the almost endless summer sunshine and outdoor lifestyle that Australia is famous for, there are plenty of free outdoor activities to enjoy.

One of the most exciting is going for a stroll across the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge that joins the north and south parts of the harbour. It is one of the most recognised structures in the world and offers a view to die for out across Sydney and beyond. Find cheap flights to Sydney

8. Helsinki, Finland

Not one, not two but three festive Christmas markets grace the glorious streets of Helsinki come winter time. Surrounded by wild and remote coastal landscapes, Helsinki’s magnificent architecture, proud statues, wide boulevards and narrow cobbled streets are covered in lights and surrounded by the scents of baking and hot chocolate.

Selling arts, crafts, handmade decorations, cakes, sweets and much more, Helsinki’s Christmas markets are a delight. Wrap up warm as you crunch through the snow soaking up the truly festive atmosphere. Findcheap flights to Helsinki

9. Toronto, Canada

The funky, bustling city of Toronto is another of the world’s most expensive, famed for its fresh food, healthy living and wonderful outdoor lifestyle. While all these things can come with a hefty price tag, Toronto does have some little gems up its sleeve that don’t cost a thing. Riverdale Farm is slap bang in the centre of the city.

Unexpected, but a worthwhile visit, this little sanctuary offers the usual farm animals like pigs, cows, chickens and sheep and a wonderful farmers market selling local cheeses, pickles, meat and veg with a gorgeous green space to bring your own picnic and relax far away from city life. Find cheap flights to Toronto

10. Singapore

With its cloud piercing skyscrapers that reflect the urban landscape in their simmering glass fronts, Singapore is a super-efficient, super-clean and super-expensive city.

However, there is a bastion of elegance and colonial grandeur that must be seen: Raffles Hotel. This iconic hotel is one of the oldest in Singapore and still requires an elegance of dress just to enter the lobby, but its free to take a look.

The effort is well worth it though as you glimpse the bar where James Bond ordered his famous Martini, marvel at the interior of the toilets, drink a Singapore Sling (not free – but the nuts are!), sit in the courtyard surrounded by tropical plants, pretend you’re staying in one of the luxuriously appointed rooms and watch Singapore’s colourful past come to life. Find cheap flights to Singapore

6 flights for £60 or less

Autumn is the perfect time for a super city break; the weather is still warm (but it’s not too hot), and the crowds have gone so you’ll be able to see the true character of the city without the high prices and queues! Take a look at our six super flight bargains for £60 or less

Cologne, Germany – £40

The ‘Bauhaus’ (beer halls) of Cologne will keep you toasty warm on a chilly autumn day. If the sun’s shining, the Altstadt (Old Town) is beautiful to browse on foot. With over 3000 cafes, bars and restaurants you can stop anytime for a taste of traditional German cuisine. Medieval architecture, pastel painted houses, cobbled streets and elegant cathedrals give the city an enchanted air, while the museums, galleries, live music venues and theatres embrace the modern.

Cologne is wonderfully green too; enjoy the gold and auburn colours of autumn in the Rheinpark which can be reached on foot, by cable car or by ferry.  Walk around, or row a boat on, the beautiful Fühlinger Lake or visit the Claudius Therme thermal baths; the place to relax before enjoying Colognes nightlife. Find flights to Cologne.

Verona, Italy – £42

Looking for a romantic autumn break? What could be more so than the home of Romeo and Juliet and one of the most beautiful cities in Italy. Founded in the 1st century B.C, Verona has preserved a remarkable number of medieval and Renaissance buildings and monuments.

Explore the Arena, a vast Roman amphitheatre, Juliet’s house complete with balcony, Castle Scaligeri, Verona Cathedral and the Capuccin Church where Juliet’s tomb resides. Climb the Lamberti Tower for sweeping views, shop on Verona’s golden mile or take a wine tour of Valpolicella. Dine on perfect Italian pasta as day turns to night. Listen to live jazz in a friendly bar and look forward to the coffee and cotton-wool soft brioche you’ll have for breakfast. Find flights to Verona.

Prague, Czech – £44

Like something out of a fairy-tale, Prague, with its ruby-red rooftops and hill-top castles, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful cities in the world. Artistic, poetic and freedom loving, this is a city that coined the velvet revolution, where a poet and playwright became president and where art and culture are held in high regard. Wherever you look, historic monuments, elegant bridges, marble sculptures, dignified statues and ornate palaces gaze back. Dumplings, goulash and beer, a Kafka bookshop and  the tiny Golden Lane with its colourful buildings and the famous red trams all make Prague its unique and beautiful self. Find flights to Prague.

Bordeaux, France £47

Known as ‘Sleeping Beauty’, elegant and Neoclassical Bordeaux has awoken from its slumber. Given over to pedestrians, Bordeaux has stunning wide boulevards and fantastic public transport, nestled on the banks of the Garonne River. Visit Gambetta Square also known as ‘Little Paris’ or take a stroll under the Victory Arch. Immerse yourself in culture in the Musee D’Art Contemporain or the Musee D’Aquitaine, delve into local food markets or take the air in the beautiful Jardin Botanique.

A wine tour of St Emilion, Medoc, Graves or Sauternes is a must; after all Bordeaux is the second largest wine growing region in the world!  Shop for clothes and crafts or settle down to some gastronomic French cuisine and the exciting nightlife of La Victoire. Find flights to Bordeaux.

Valencia, Spain – £48

If you’re longing for autumn sunshine, Valencia is a beautiful, historical city, located on the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Full of traditions and festivals, Valencia is vibrant and lively. Boasting beautiful gardens and parks like the Turia, The Botanic and The Ayora Gardens, it’s known as the ‘City of Flowers’. Wide, cobbled plazas are the perfect place for coffee and sunshine, while museums and galleries peek out from between ancient buildings.

Should you feel like doing far less, Valencia has gorgeous beaches on which to soak up the autumn sunshine; Cabañal- Arenas has an amusement park for kids while El Saler beach has 6km of blissfully soft sand. Feast al-fresco on mouth-watering paella, giant prawns and tasty tapas before bar-hopping and partying into the Spanish night. Find flights to Valencia.

Amsterdam, Netherlands – £52

Amsterdam has its gently rippling canals to thank for the calming vibe they bring to an otherwise lively, vibrant and classy city. From coffee shops and sinful streets to glorious green parks and tree lined avenues showing off their stunning architecture, Amsterdam is a wonderful mixture of naughty and nice, culture and fun.

Explore the 37 museums and galleries before sipping a beer in a cool canal-side bar while tucking in to some delicious food. As autumn turns to winter, the outdoor ambiance turns into one of indoor cosiness as a dusting of snow heralds the return of the traditional outdoor market, turning the city into a winter wonderland. Find flights to Amsterdam

25th ECM Summer School: Double Proof of Success

51 delegates participated in the silver anniversary of ECM’s annual Summer School. The venue for this uniquely challenging and rewarding educational event was the Polish city of Cracow from 27^th to 31^st August 2011.

The very first Summer School was organised 25 years ago, hosted by the Austrian city of Gmunden and organised by the European Federation of Conference Towns (EFCT)*. Over the years the ECM Summer School has become highly regarded as a leading educational and training initiative, especially relevant for ‘up and coming’ professionals and those researching the economic potential of business tourism and the part it plays in urban regeneration. Uniquely, it brings students face to face with leading industry practitioners and commentators, with the scope and content of the program reflecting the latest trends and new technologies and practices.

Olivier Lépine, General Manager of Biarritz Tourisme, an ECM member and former vice-president of its Convention forum, remembers the creation of the first Summer School: “The first course director was Geoffrey Smith who gave so much of his time and passion to help make ECM Summer School the success story that it is today. The aim was to ‘transfer’ the know-how from the experienced professionals to the younger generation and I am happy to see that we have succeeded in keeping this key idea that will help another bunch of young people to feel motivated and comfortable working for their company.”

Although the key objective of ECM Summer School has remained the same over the past quarter of century, its educational content is constantly evolving in order to reflect changing environments and industry practice. Pier Paolo Mariotti, Course Director of ECM Summer School and Meeting Manager at EURAC Convention Center, says: “This 25^th year of ECM Summer School is a double proof of success. It has been organised for 25 years with the same objective, for the same target group, demonstrating that the core idea is an excellent one because there is a real need of such training in the meetings industry. …and the fact that this training has been provided for such a long time with an enduring quality and positive feedback shows that it is not a rigid static entity. Its content is constantly developing to keep in line with the industry and the changing expectations of participants.”

The next ECM Summer School will take place in Dubrovnik, Croatia, from 25^th to 29^th August 2012.

Prague, the city of everyday wonders!

How to describe a city with architecture and history dating back a thousand years; a city intimately linked to the most important people and events of European history; a city so beautiful that it has astonished visitors since the Middle Ages?

Prague is a magical, golden jewel of cobbled streets and a hundred spires and, most importantly, it is always amazing and original!
Welcome to Prague, the city of everyday wonders!

Visiting Prague warrants much more than the usual three-day visit, but worry not: The Prague Card will help you to choose wisely and save time and money while you enjoy your visit to its full potential. The Prague Card is the all-inclusive 2, 3 or 4-day pass to Prague’s top attractions. For one modest fee, the Prague Card offers unlimited sightseeing with FREE admission to more than 40 of the city’s finest attractions, as well as special offers and discounts of up to 50% on entry to another 30 attractions and an exclusive 150-page guidebook to our sights in 7 languages.

You’ll revel in your freedom to visit Prague’s attractions, and the flexibility the card offers: choose from a selection of historic sites, including Prague Castle with Old Royal Palace and Golden Lane and a huge number of museums, art galleries, our copy of the Eiffel Tower and Prague’s chateaux and castles.

www.praguecitycard.com

Tokyo Earns Strong Image, Despite Earthquake and Tsunami, in 2011 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index

Paris ranks highest in global image study 

NEW YORK, July 18, 2011 – In the aftermath of Japan’s earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear accident, the city of Tokyo has seen no significant erosion to its city image according to the 2011 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index study. The City Brands Index (CBI) measures the world’s perception of 50 cities from both developed and developing countries. Among the top ten cities, Paris ranks as the top overall city “brand”, followed by London, Sydney, New York and Los Angeles. Tokyo ranks 10th among 50 cities measured.

The 2011 Anholt-GfK Roper City Brands Index is based on a survey conducted in 10 major developed and developing countries around the globe. The index is developed by averaging city scores across six categories: Presence, Place, Pre-requisites, People, Pulse and Potential. Each category has two to three questions assessing a city’s performance such as contribution to the world, cleanliness, climate, buildings and parks, accommodations, public amenities, personal encounters, interesting events, lifestyles, job and educational opportunities, and business climate.

“The stability of Tokyo’s brand image comes as no surprise, since the city consistently ranks impressively on welcoming people, amenities, cultural richness, education and business climate,” says Simon Anholt, CBI founder and an independent advisor to more than forty national governments around the world. “The reputations of countries and cities are never affected by acts of god, only by acts of men.”

The top 10 cities from the 2011 global survey are:

“A city’s reputation can have a major impact on the city’s ability to attract business and tourism,” says Anholt.  ”While it is not a realistic goal for most cities in the world to rank in the top 10, it is vital that cities are able to provide a pleasant, prosperous, and sustainable life for their citizens, visitors, neighbors, and trading partners, and that this is widely recognized around the world.”

While cities from the developed world generally perform very well overall and on almost all individual dimensions, cities from emerging markets have garnered relatively high rankings in some important areas.

“Cities from emerging markets have some of the most dynamic economies in the world. Their global contribution and future momentum are starting to get recognition in the world of public opinion,” says Xiaoyan Zhao, Senior Vice President and Director of the CBI study at GfK. “But they still have long ways to go in building their overall offers, particularly in terms of clean environment, safe streets, and public amenities that keep pace with economic development.”

Following are the top three ranked cities in each of the six categories, as well as two additional cities with noteworthy positions on the list:

Presence Brand Ranking
1. London
2. Paris
3. New York
9. Beijing
15. Dubai

People Brand Ranking
1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. London
29. Singapore
46. Mexico City

Place Brand Ranking
1. Sydney
2. Paris
3. Rome
38. Chicago
50. Mumbai

Pulse Brand Ranking
1. Paris
2. New York
3. London
16. Rio de Janeiro
45. Warsaw

Pre-requisites Brand Ranking
1. Sydney
2. Melbourne
3. Toronto
4 (tie). London/Washington D.C.
26. Prague

Potential Brand Ranking
1. London
2. New York
3. Los Angeles
23. Hong Kong
32. Dublin

Among the top 30 list, Tokyo, Singapore, Hong Kong, Prague and Dubai are the only cities from outside of North America, Western Europe, and Australia.

“In terms of Tokyo’s image, the one noticeable weak spot is Tokyo’s cleanliness,” says Xiaoyan Zhao, “Tokyo ranks in the bottom half of all measured nations on this question, yet Tokyo is still the only Asian city to make the overall top 10 list, because, among other things, it is viewed as one of the best contributors of culture, science and governance, and a city that retains world-class public amenities.”

The strongest city brands – Paris, London, Sydney, New York, and Los Angeles – are highly regarded across regions, including in the developing world, although cultural and geographic proximities play a role as well. For example, Los Angeles (5th) garners higher rankings than New York from respondents in China and South Korea. And while Brussels (28th) only receives middling ratings in most countries, it is a top 11 city for German and French respondents.

10 City Soul Mates; what’s your type?

Romantic or rugged? Cool or crazy? Skyscanner reveals the personalites behind 10 of the world’s most attractive cities. Who’s your perfect match…?

1. Geek Chic – Tokyo, Japan

With its love for high-tech gadgetry, Japan has long been a top destination for global geeks, and Tokyo is the chicest geek around. Akihabara, Tokyo’s ‘Electric Town’ is the place to head if you want to immerse yourself in the very latest electronics; Harajuku is where the bizarrely dressed ‘cos play’ kids hang out, and go to Shibuya if you just want to experience the neon and crowds of this super-city. Strange yet shy, Tokyo is the coolest nerd in town. Find flights to Tokyo

2. The Outdoors Type –Vancouver, Canada

Surrounded by mountains and sea, with plenty of parks and beaches, Vancouver is the rough, rugged and ready type. Vancouverites love their great outdoors and can normally be found zipping down Grouse Mountain on bikes or skis, playing volleyball on Kitsilano beach or rollerblading around Stanley Park. Vancouver is all about the adrenaline and the activity; play hard or go home. Find flights to Vancouver

3. Stylish and Sophisticated – Milan, Italy

Fashion conscious Milan always dresses to impress, and represents the ‘new’ Italy’. In many ways it’s modern and business-like being one of the richest cities in Europe and Italy’s breadwinner. Yet is also boasts sophistication in the form of the Teatro Alla Scala, and is home to supermodels, fashion aficionados and some of the finest works of art in Europe. Find flights to Milan

4. Handsome and Refined – Edinburgh, UK

Edinburgh’s sandstone architecture is very easy on the eye and the Scottish capital’s long history lends a refined edge to city’s cobbled streets. Galleries, monuments and museums abound and there’s a park on every corner. Add to this Arthur’s Seat, a wild piece of Highland landscape rising from the city centre, and you’ve got one good looking location. Find flights to Edinburgh

5. Pretty and Petite –Ljubljana, Slovenia

Like the rest of Slovenia, little-visited Ljubljana is small, perfectly formed and has curves in all the right places. Its castle watches over the blue-green Ljubljanica River where the locals sup cappuccinos or beers on the banks. Old town lanes weave through baroque buildings, and the sharp peaks of the Julian Alps are only an hour away. Modest and easy to love, Ljubljana is unaware of its own beauty. Find flights to Ljubljana

6. The Romantic – Paris, France

A cliché perhaps, but Paris really is the romantic type. A city of big gestures, Paris is filled with beautiful parks and gardens where lovers can be found canoodling. For romantic views, dine on the Seine at the Bateaux Parisians, or head to the Jules Verne restaurant at the Eiffel Tower, before wandering hand in hand down the winding streets of the medieval Marais. Find flights to Paris

7. The Wild Child – Bangkok, Thailand

With ping pong balls flying out of all sorts of strange places, all-night techno clubs jumping till sun-up, and various other forbidden pleasures on offer, Bangkok is the wild child of the world. When you spend time in Bangkok, anything can happen, so hold tight, go with the flow, and enjoy the ride. Find flights to Bangkok

8. The Intellectual – Boston, USA

Boston is the capital of the state which is home to Harvard, and a regional centre of Ivy League institutions. Boasting a major Museum of Science and Natural History, as well as numerous theatrical productions, art exhibitions and the country’s first ever public library, Boston is a well-educated, sophisticated bookworm. Findflights to Boston

9. Cool and Cutting edge –Berlin, Germany

Europe’s capital of hip, Berlin is the cool kid on the bloc. Once divided, Berlin’s split city is now home to trendy urbanites who have been attracted by the energy of the east-west reunification. Cheap former factory apartments and loft art spaces give Berlin the edge of an artsy outlaw. Rebellious, non-conformist and alternative, Berlin does things its own way. Find flights to Berlin

10. Flash and Brash – Dubai, UAE

In a city that is bleeding money, Dubai is the flashy, ostentatious one of the bunch. Always showing off (I’ve got the tallest building in the world don’t you know?), Dubai drips with bling, gold and arrogance. ‘If you’ve got it, flaunt it’, is Dubai’s mantra, and when it comes to flashing its cash, Dubai ain’t shy. Findflights to Dubai

5 Most Romantic Cities in Italy

London Revealed as Europe’s Most Exciting City

LONDON, July 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ – Capital Impresses in Olympic Lead-up but Still Overpriced

TripAdvisor®, the world’s largest travel site*, today announces the results of its fourth annual European Cities survey, revealing London as the continent’s most exciting – yet most expensive – city according to over 3,500 European travellers*.

European travellers have voted London Europe’s most exciting city for the second consecutive year, beating Paris and Barcelona to the top spot. Unfortunately for many tourists, this excitement comes at a price as London has also been crowned the most overpriced city in Europe.

Good News for London Transport

With just over 12 months to go until London hosts the Olympic Games and millions of visitors descend upon the city there’s some good news for organisers:

• While it may come as a surprise to many of the city’s commuters, London was voted Europe’s easiest city to get around
• London was also named the European city with the second most friendly taxi drivers, beaten only by cabbies in Rome
• London cabbies are clearly not to everyone’s taste though – London taxi drivers were also voted the third rudest in Europe
• After being voted Europe’s dirtiest city in 2009, London has quite literally cleaned up its act and successfully disappeared from the shortlist for the second year running

“This research is based on traveller perception, so it’s encouraging for everyone involved in London’s tourism industry that, despite the concerns around cost, the city is regarded by European travellers as a vibrant and accessible destination. Undoubtedly the buzz around next year’s Olympics has contributed to London being crowned Europe’s most exciting city, and we fully expect this momentum to continue into 2012 and beyond.” commented Emma O’Boyle, TripAdvisor spokesperson.

Paris Overrated & Unfriendly

Those on this side of the Channel will pleased to hear London outranks Paris according to this year’s findings:

• Paris was voted as having the least-friendly locals in Europe – yet London has little to feel smug about coming in second in this category
• Paris was voted Europe’s most overrated city with London in second place
• Paris is also losing its long-held reputation for romance – it was pushed into second place by Venice in the most romantic city category

Underrated Scotland

It’s good news for Scotland – Edinburgh was voted Europe’s third most underrated city, tied with Bruges. Lisbon came first in the most underrated European city category, with Budapest runner-up.

Glasgow also fared well in the category – while it didn’t place in the top three according to all of the European respondents, British respondents ranked it as the most underrated city by a wide margin.

Boring Birmingham and not so mad Manchester

Despite world-class shopping and a regenerated cultural offering it seems Birmingham is still suffering from a perception problem. The UK’s second largest city was voted Europe’s most boring city for the second consecutive year, followed by Brussels.

Manchester came third in the most boring city category, which will come as a surprise to many who enjoy the city’s thriving music scene and lively nightlife. Manchester also came third in the least romantic city category.

TripAdvisor 2011 European Cities Survey: Results overview

    Category  First place  Second Place  Third Place

    Most boring               Birmingham   Brussels      Manchester
    Most exciting             London       Barcelona     Paris
    Most romantic             Venice       Paris         Rome
    Least romantic            Birmingham   Berlin        Manchester
    Dirtiest                  Athens       Rome          Istanbul
    Cleanest                  Zurich       Geneva        Stockholm
    Most underrated           Lisbon       Budapest      Edinburgh and Bruges
    Most overrated            Paris        London        Barcelona
    Friendliest locals        Barcelona    Rome          Madrid
    Least friendliest locals  Paris        London        Prague
    Safest                    Stockholm    Geneva        Berlin
    Most overpriced           London       Paris         Oslo
    Difficult to get around   Istanbul     Rome          Athens
    Easy to get around        London       Paris         Barcelona
    Friendliest cab drivers   Rome         London        Barcelona
    Rudest cab drivers        Paris        Rome          London

European Cities Marketing (ECM) and MKG Hospitality working together in a new partnership

ECM, the European network of city tourist offices and convention bureaux, has just signed a partnership contract with MKG Hospitality, a leading French research agency specialising in the hotel, tourism and restaurant sector .

Under the deal, MKG Hospitality will provide ECM member cities with accurate and timely data on key hotel performance indicators OR, ADR and RevPAR, based on a robust and representative sample of 291,000 rooms spread across the length and breadth of Europe. In welcoming the new partnership, the President of European Cities Marketing, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, says today:

“In the past few years, the need for data has intensified and ECM has progressively extended the range and quality of its market intelligence tools as evidenced in the annual ECM Benchmarking Report. Thanks to MKG Hospitality, we can now further improve our research and benchmarking activities, with regular ‘barometer’ type readings – both for individual cities and for city tourism in Europe as a whole.”

Vanguélis Panayotis, Director of Development MKG Group says: “We are very happy to bring forth our knowledge of the hotel market to the table, as well as our proven track record in providing customised guidance to the tourism sector. ECM members will now have access to our European hotel observatory in order to measure trends and respond accordingly in terms of policy and operations”

Nice: yours to discover with the French Riviera Pass

Perfectly integrated into its unique natural environment, Nice, capital of the French Riviera, with the authentic charm and conviviality of a typical Mediterranean city, offers more than most European cities. Here, the relaxed rhythm of life derives from the splendour of the multicultural city and the mild year-round climate.

Well anchored in today, the city of Nice is full of art and sensuality; throughout the town and in the twenty museums dedicated to famous local artists.

Discover the culture of Nice and its way of life to understand where the artists (such as Matisse, Chagall and Dufy) found their inspiration!

To help you explore Nice and the surrounding area, choose the French Riviera Pass. It’s much more than anyone would expect! The Pass will make your stay easier and enable your enjoyment of real benefits in museums and restaurants, and of discounts on shopping and leisure activities.

This year, the French Riviera Pass has welcomed highlights such as the Casino Ruhl, the Parc Alpha (a park dedicated to wolves, forming part of the Mercantour National Park), a panoramic flight above the Riviera, and the Segway. Thanks to the French Riviera Pass, you gain free access to about fifty places throughout the city and in greater Nice from Monaco to St Tropez, as well as Digne.

The French Riviera Pass is your passport to peace of mind throughout your stay. It can be used within two years of its date of purchase. The period of validity (24h, 48h or 72h) begins only when it is first used with one of our ‘free access’ partners.

Base prices: Citycard 24h/26€; 36h/38€; 72h /56€

LONDON CITY FAIR: CURIOSITY ON THE NEW FLORENCE CITY TAX FROM INTERNATIONAL BUYERS

International buyers of leisure tourism ask information about the new city tax for florentine hotels. This is the most frequent request communicated to FCB at London City Fair 2011, the ETOA workshops in partnership with European Cities Marketing and supported by Visit London, held on June 20th at the London Hilton Metropole Hotel. During the fair there were preoccupation about the new tax that the City of Florence has provided with a contribution rates from 1 to 5 euros per night, based on the characteristics of each hotel from July 1st, 2011. Many buyers express their fear for a relapse of the tourists flow of Florence due to the new disposition.
The event brought together more than 500 players in the MICE sector, including tour operators, hotels and Agencies for Tourism. FCB represented the tourism board of Florence.
ETOA is a trade association representing the interests of international inbound and intra-European tour operators and their suppliers. Since its foundation in 1989, ETOA has grown to include over 500 member organisations, of which more than 150 are Tour Operators. ETOA’s calendar of networking events includes GEM, HEM, BIM and now City Fair.
ECM provides a platform on a pan-European basis for cities to perform better in their convention and tourism activities through the exchange of knowledge and best practice within a city marketing framework.

Bednight figures in European cities reach for the sky

European Cities Marketing (ECM) has just published the seventh edition of its European Cities Marketing Benchmarking Report. For 2010 the total number of bednights in European cities experienced year-on growth of 6.5%. International bednights increased by an even more striking 8.9%, indicating full recovery from the downturn in volume recorded in 2009 as a consequence of global economic recession.

The study indicates that London, Paris, Berlin, Rome and Madrid are Europe’s leading “Big 5” urban tourism destinations in terms of the key bednights parameter. London is leader of the pack, recording a massive 49 million bednights, and between them the fifteen best performing cities can be seen to generate impressive 234 million bednights.

As for individual cites in 2010, six out of the fifteen top performing cities scored double-digit year-on increases: Amsterdam notched up the highest year on growth rate (13.6%), followed by Frankfurt, Munich, Madrid, Vienna and Berlin.

Source: www.europeancitiesmarketing.com

Based on a sample of 89 cities

In respect of international tourism flows, and taking Europe as a whole, the principal country source markets in 2010 were the United States and Germany, followed closely by the United Kingdom. Italy forms another highly significant generator of international overnight stay tourists. It is noteworthy that Russian and China – two of the so-called emergent ‘BRIC’ markets – now occupy 8^th and 9^th place in the table below. Even more striking is the year on-growth of 28.7% for Russia and 16.5% for China.

Source: www.europeancitiesmarketing.com

Based on a sample of 89 cities.

The ECM Benchmarking Report focuses on the strategic and competitive position of European city destinations, and is based on statistical data compiled from ECM member cities. ‘It is an indispensable resource for every city tourism manager. Thanks to the number of cities participating in this project and the large timescale that the data covers, the ECM Benchmarking Report delivers the most reliable and trustworthy figures available in the field of European tourism,” explains Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, President of ECM.

The ECM Benchmarking Report, which includes more than 100 pages of tables and graphs, is available in PDF format and is distributed by ECM Head Office (regular price € 990.00 / special rate for ECM members’ partners and ETC members € 590.00 / free for ECM members).

SOLAR IMPULSE at the Paris Air Show!

Air Show premiere!

This will be the first air show appearance made by the revolutionary aeroplane, culmination of a genuine human and technological adventure, which made a historic 26-hour day and night flight without fuel, powered only by solar energy, in July 2010.

Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg and their team were delighted to accept the invitation offered for the event by the Paris Air Show, the world’s number 1 air show. Paris Air Show 2011, Paris France, Jun 20, 2011 – Jun 26, 2011

BOOK FOR THE BEST HOTEL PRICES:

City Fair Welcomes Europe to London

With less than four weeks to go until the first ever City Fair, over 80 destinations from 23 different European countries and 130 buyers are attending what promises to be a very busy and productive workshop. This may reflect recent research by European Cities Marketing (ECM), who are partners of the event, which shows that city tourism is growing, and fuelling a recovery in European tourism overall.

Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, President of ECM, stressed this point. “City Tourism didn´t only bounce back in 2010, in 2011 it is even stronger. The first signs in the current year are very promising and considerable growth seems to be on the way. If you want to be on the winning side again, you would bet on city tourism this year.”

The event at the Hilton Metropole, London on the 20th June will see a full day of pre-arranged appointments between city tourist boards and their suppliers, and contractors with direct purchasing responsibility.

City Fair will in fact begin on the Sunday evening with a reception at Kensington Palace. This is open to all delegates and special invitees, and is kindly sponsored by BBC World News.

“European cities come in many shapes and sizes and that is reflected in this workshop”, said Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA. “Not only are cities a bedrock of European tourism, they are also a gateway to the regions that lie beyond and it is everyone’s interest that this sector prospers.”

For more details visit www.cityfair.travel or contact Laura Baggio, ETOA.

NO MEN ALLOWED!

Anantara Bangkok Sathorn Offers the Ultimate Girls Weekend

Ladies what do you do to enjoy pre wedding celebrations in style, re-unite with old school mates or simply relax with a break from the world with your friends? Anantara has the answer a “No Men Allowed Weekend Break” just for the girls.
Indulge and experience Anantara in the city with the perfect balance of adventure and pampering and of course, shopping in Asia’s most exciting cities – Bangkok! Anantara Bangkok Sathorn has tailored a program that will seduce the senses and provide the escape that you and your girlfriends deserve.
Upon arrival your very own personal Guest Experience Manager will be on hand to tailor your girl’s weekend to suit your every need. After you check in to your suite you and your girlfriends will enjoy a relaxing foot massage or jet lag facial treatment that will help immerse you into the fun filled days and nights ahead. This is followed by cocktails and champagne enjoyed around the poolside.
The following day, wake up to buffet breakfast enjoyed in the Sala next to the pool followed by a Senses Silk Massage – perfect to make the body relax and supple for the adventure of a hard days shopping.  Arrive in style in our chauffer driven BMW limousine or have some fun in the Bangkok’s tuk tuk – take your pick! Spend the afternoon giving your credit card a work out. Make sure you get that perfect dress for the big night out.
Back at the hotel the “Champagne Dressing Room” awaits – An additional shared suite set up with mirrors and a vanity area for everyone. The fridge will be stocked with your favorite drinks and your limousine waits to drive you and your friends to the hottest night spots around town.
The morning after, enjoy a facial to detox and reinvigorate followed by a light brunch that sees you ready for the day ahead.  Cultural tours abound in Bangkok and whether it’s Temples, Markets or Tigers – they are all here to see. So girls do you feel like a break? A Party? A Shopping Bonanza or simply a spa retreat in the city?  Anantara Sathorn Bangkok offers you the best girls weekend – a “No Men Allowed Weekend Break.” Prices start from BHT 13,000 per person based on twin share.

Get the FREE City Cards App

Now available for Android and iPhone!

The City Cards smartphone app allows users to explore the visitor attractions available in 35 European Cities! It is now available for Android and iPhone!

All of the attractions listed in the application are mapped, so the users can easily find their way from their current location to the attraction that they wish to visit.

The City Cards App is a great way to see the sights when on vacation and at the same time, find out how you can save money with your city card. City Cards give the bearer discounted admission to a range of top visitor attractions, and in many cases offer a range of money saving special offers on food, drink and shopping.

European Cities Marketing are delighted to offer the European City Cards iPhone & Android App to all users for FREE!

Click here to find out more and to download it for FREE!

“One cannot manage change, we can only be ahead of it!”

This wise and thought-provoking sentence was part of a virtuoso performance by Eddie Friel OBE, a Visiting Professor at Niagara University and President and CEO of EFA Tourism and Marketing Consultancy who was keynote speaker for ECM Spring Meeting held in Sofia from 16^th to 18^th March. This three-day event attracted about 100 ECM members and the venue was the Bulgarian capital‘s award-winning National Palace of Culture.

Drawing on his vast experience, Friel pinpointed employment generation as the rationale for city tourist offices and convention bureaux, warning that those who failed to create new visitors “had no right to exist”. City tourism organisations were the “champions” of cities, marketing “competitive difference” and – around those differences – charged with developing powerful “narratives” with which to attract conventions and leisure tourism business.

Chaired by Philippe Vignon, Managing Director of Geneva Tourism and Convention, the theme of the seminar was “Financing Europe’s city tourist offices and convention bureaux – threats, opportunities and solutions”. He showed how he was leading a radical change agenda within his own organisation, aiming to enhance productivity and inculcate greater commercial awareness.

A survey of ECM members highlighted a pervasive trend away from public sector sources of funding and towards commercial income streams. This survey revealed that the “typical” city tourist organisation has less than 50 staff, survives on modest reserves, and deploys most of its budget on labour and other overhead.  The annual income varies widely : just 8% of the respondents reported budgets in excess of 20 million euro, but nearly 1 in 2 operated on budgets of between 300,000 euro and half a million euro.

Stefan Diender, Managing Director of Amsterdam Tourism and Convention Board presented on his organisation’s “hybrid” financial model, while Pere Duran, General Manager of Barcelona Tourism indicated how adept his organisation had become in terms of maximising earned income from bus, TIC and other sales, to the point where annual turnover had reached €35 million.

The seminar also addressed “Online booking systems – to have or not to have!“. Burkhard Kieker, CEO of Visit Berlin, and Markus Penz, Strategic Destination Development, Vienna Tourist Board explained how each had recently reviewed this hot topic and reached different conclusions. Berlin retained and revamped, while Vienna outsourced. Katrine Mosfjeld, Director of Digital Development at Visit Oslo, showed how her organization promoted and distributed on the basis of user-generated content, working to a commission-based financial model.

Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, President of European Cities Marketing says: “Eddie Friel OBE was right because we can’t find perfect financial solutions for everything, but we can anticipate and be ahead of the game. This seminar allowed us to share experience around a crucial and ever- topical theme. I am sure that a lot of attendees went back home with a lot of solutions to pressing financial challenges.”

The next ECM meeting – the ECM Annual Conference & General Assembly – will take place in Lyon from 8th to 11th June 2011 and the main seminar will deal with this topic: «To what extent can cuisine be a competitive advantage and successfully drive forward a city’s marketing?»

European city bednights rose by 7% last year

Data from European Cities Marketing indicates that, in 2010, the total number of bednights saw year-on-year growth of +7.0% with international bednights increasing almost as strongly at +6.8%.

The Dijon, France-based network of city tourist offices and convention bureaux, says its numbers are based on a sample of 59 European cities, including leading city destinations like London, Berlin and Prague.

Commenting on the growth, the President of European Cities Marketing, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, is positive and even has an upbeat take on the turmoil now taking place in North Africa. “Effectively, 2010 was a recovery year after the global economic reces­sion,” he said. “Recent political developments in the Middle East region may restrict visits there and encourage more tourists to take city breaks in Europe. Although accommodation prices are not expected to rise significantly this year, an increase in bed nights will raise revenues.”

In 2010, the top five European cities in respect of bednights generated by international tourists were London, Paris, Rome, Prague and Barcelona. However, among the top ten performing cities in Europe based on the highest year-on-year growth were Munich (+18.4%), Amsterdam (+15.5%), Berlin (+15.1%), Madrid (+14.9%) and Vienna (+8.8%).
ECM says that all the important source markets for European city tourism recovered from the economic crisis and increased in bed nights. The US market was the single most important source of international tourists, followed by Germany and Italy. Japan and the UK, which both saw strong declines in bednights in 2009, generated a slight increase in 2010. Russia and China showed the highest year-on-year growth rates, recording +31.6% and +24.8% respectively.

European City Tourism Is on The Up Again!

Berlin, March 9, 2011. European Cities Marketing, the leading network of city tourist offices and convention bureaux, is using the ITB to report on the recent development of tourism demand in their member destinations. Based on a sample of 59 European cities, including many leading city tourism destinations in Europe, the international network reports that in 2010 the total number of bednights experienced year-on growth of 7.0%. International bednights increased by 6.8%.

Commenting on this year-on growth, the President of European Cities Marketing, Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, says: “effectively, 2010 was for us a recovery from the global economic recession. In this respect, recent political developments in the Middle East region may restrict visits there and encourage more tourists to take city breaks in Europe. Although accommodation prices are not expected to rise significantly this year, an increase in bednights will also raise revenues in the European city tourism.”

In 2010, the top five European cities in respect of bednights generated by international tourists were London, Paris, Rome, Prague, and Barcelona. However, amongst the top 10 performing cities in Europe and recording the highest year-on growth rates were Munich (+18.4%), Amsterdam (+15.5%), Berlin (+15.1%), Madrid (+14.9%) and Vienna (+8.8%). Overall, European cities reported an average increase of +6.8%.

Source: European Cities Marketing

Notes:    Total refers to tourists staying in all types of accommodation establishments. Predictions based on the sample of cities reporting their statistics on www.tourmis.info (59 cities provided data for bednights for 2009 and 2010).

All of the important source markets for European city tourism recovered from the economic crisis and increased in bednights. The US market comprised the single most important source of international tourists, followed by Germany and Italy. Japan and the United Kingdom, two markets that had a strong decline in bednights in 2009, generated a slight increase in 2010. Russia and China showed the highest year-on growth rates, recording 31.6% and 24.8% respectively.

As of 2011, European city tourism is on the rise again, and the negative effects of the global financial crisis seem to be diminished for the tourism industry. “Tourism is sometimes an underestimated part of the economy” says UNWTO Secretary General, Taleb Rifai. “It here again shows that the resilience of visitor economy is higher than in many other sectors of the economy and should be perceived accordingly”. According to a survey among members of European Cities Marketing, more than 60% of the city tourism professionals within the network expect a bednight growth of between 1% and 5% in their city destination in the first quarter of 2011.

World’s strangest saunas

With the recent opening of the ‘Sauna Tram’ near Milan, Skyscanner reveals five places where fans of getting hot and steamy can strip off and sweat it out!

Submarine Sauna

Floating saunas are already a common sight on the lakes of Scandinavia but Swedish company Nordic Marine Living has created a sauna which allows guests to bathe in steam whist watching the fishes glide by. The ingenious invention has a floating platform with a hut on top, and a sauna capsule below. Power floodlights illuminate the depths allowing a most dreamlike sauna experience.

Sauna Tram

Once zipping along the streets of Milan, this tram now sits on its own pair of rails in a spa complex in Northern Italy. Decked out in wood panelled walls, ‘commuters’ can strip down and get sweaty in the luxurious surroundings. It’s an interesting concept making great use of a redundant carriage, but many might claim there’s no need to go to Italy for such a sweaty experience; just hop on board the London underground during summer.

Sauna Ski Lift

Go skiing at Finnish resort Ylläs and you don’t just get to enjoy an exhilarating ski ride down, but also a relaxing sauna ride up! A specially adapted sauna gondola ski lift has been created allowing punters to sweat their way up the slopes.  For those who prefer the steamy experience to the snowy one – don’t worry – there is more sauna fun at the top of the mountain where you’ll find the resort’s main sauna facilities.

Sauna Bus

Take one big red bus, input a wood burning stove, chimney and some firewood, and hey presto – you have the Sauna Bus! This Estonian invention drives wherever you want it to go, then sets up sauna shop for a private steam experience. Accommodating up to five people at once, the bus also has a comfy seating area, and for a little extra, a hot tub can also be hired.

Portable Sauna

Fans of perspiring don’t have to leave their living rooms for a sauna; instead they can bring the steam to them! The snappily named ‘Precision Therapy Portable Far Infrared Sauna with Ceramic Heater and Negative Ion’ is basically a large zip up bag which you get in to and sweat in. Taking just one minute to set up, the Finns are so enamoured with their saunas that even the Olympic team are reported to take these portable saunas with them when competing abroad.

Save money by shopping abroad

January is traditionally a time to bag a bargain at the shops, but many consumers are feeling the pinch more than usual this year as many goods are now subject to the UK’s new 20% VAT rate.

Skyscanner has researched the prices of some popular products and can reveal the savings to be made by shopping abroad.

iPad – New York – save £127

Apple’s iPad is the must-have gadget for tech fans in 2011: six million of the tablet devices were sold in 2010 with experts predicting that twice that number will be shifted worldwide this year. Buy the iPad at Apple’s glass-walled flagship store on Fifth Avenue in downtown New York and save 29% on the cost here in the UK – enough to keep you in new apps for the rest of the year.

Flights to New York start from only £266 return so total cost of flights plus iPad = £579

iPad 16GB WiFi
Price in the UK: £439
Price in the US: £313 ($499)
SAVING: £127

Tiffany Jewellery – Florida – save £113

This year sees the 50th anniversary of Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and while the New York branch of Tiffany’s may be the famous flagship store, it is at the Bond St store in London where prices really rocket. However, savvy shoppers can head to the Orlando outlet where a saving of 23% can be made on the classic Heart pendant, the ideal Valentine’s Day gift.

Flights to Orlando start from only £299 return so total cost of flights plus pendant = £673

Elsa Peretti Open Heart Pendant
Price in the UK: £485
Price in the US: £374 ($595)
SAVING: £113

UGG Boots, Australia – save £92

Many thousands of pairs of UGG boots are shipped to the UK each year, but it is still far cheaper to buy the boots in their Australia. A whopping 46% can be saved when buying UGG boots in their native country, another reason to take a wander down under this year.

Flights to Australia start from only £579 return so total cost of flights plus UGG boots = £657

Classic Short UGG Boots
Price in Australia: £78 ($125)
Price in the UK: £170
SAVING: £92

Ping Golf Clubs, US – save £52

Not only does the West Coast of America offer miles of pure sunshine and golfing utopia, but the clubs are also cheaper. Golfers keen to get to grips with a new driver this summer can save nearly 30% on the price of the popular Ping Rapture driver, the brand of choice for world no.1 Lee Westwood.

Flights to Los Angeles start from only £314 return so total cost of flights plus golf club = £501

Ping Rapture V2 Driver
Price in US: £187 ($299)
Price in the UK: £239
SAVING: £52

*Prices taken from apple.com/uk, apple.com, tiffanys.co.uk, tiffanys.com, office.co.uk, uggaustralia.com/au, Roger Dunn Golf in LA and The Golf Shop UK and confirmed in-store prices on 21/1/11
*All comparisons based on exchange rate quoted on xe.com on 20 Jan.

*Goods purchased abroad may be subject to import VAT and customs duties

i-travel to Atlantis, The Palm

Just back from sizzling Dubai, Melanie Bartlett, Kuoni’s online marketing executive, reveals all about staying at Atlantis, The Palm.

I was apprehensive about going to Atlantis, The Palm, because it’s such a large resort, but you really have to go to understand what the whole Atlantis concept – it’s fantastic!

The first impression as you drive up The Palm is a view of the almighty towers at Atlantis. It’s an awe-inspiring sight in Dubai. It’s so big you feel daunted – am I going to get lost or will I be just another name and number – but this isn’t the case. They have so many attentive staff and, once you’re inside, it doesn’t feel like a big hotel or overcrowded.

When you walk into the grand lobby of this luxurious resort, you’ll see Dale Chihuly’s incredible glass art sculpture. We were lucky enough to stay in an executive suite, which was amazing. Just the lounge was the size of my friend’s flat! The suite also had a balcony with sunbeds, a bathroom featuring a huge tub in the centre of the room and a dressing room.

VIP service
We upgraded to the Imperial Club, so we were treated like VIPs. I would really recommend it. In the club room, you can have breakfast, help yourself to snacks throughout the day, enjoy afternoon tea and, in the evenings, it’s unlimited drinks and canapés between 6-8pm. We were drinking champagne – a great way to start the evening. It’s worth the money to upgrade to this option. There’s also a concierge desk so you can book your preferred restaurants and Aquaventure without queuing.

Everywhere you go the staff are so friendly. If you tell them your name during a conversation, they remember it all throughout your stay. It’s attention to detail the whole time at Atlantis, The Palm.

Aquaventure is an amazing waterpark and it’s free entry if you’re a hotel guest. My top tip is to go on a weekday, Dubai’s weekends run from Friday to Saturday. Also, if you go to the back of the park, it’s quieter than grabbing the first sunbeds you see at the front of Aquaventure. We spotted loads of quiet areas for sunbathing while we were on the river rapids. There’s an excellent kids’ section and lifeguards everywhere, so it’s very safe.

Leap of Faith
The Leap of Faith waterslide is almost vertical and amazing if you’re not scared of heights. There’s also waterslides that travel through the shark pools – you can look up and see them swimming overhead.

You can swim with dolphins at Dolphin Cay and the Lost Chambers is a fantastic aquarium. Visit the Lost Chambers both during the day and at night when it’s eerie for a very different experience.

The service on the beach is incredible, with a member of staff just to clean your sunglasses! It’s all about the personal touches, such as cool face towels. As you’re sitting on the beach, you have a view of the city in front of you, and you can see the Skytrain coming and going. The Skytrain station is next to the hotel so it’s really easy to go into the city and explore.

The price of drinks and the buffet were good value for a five-star resort and you can choose to dine at one of the resort’s celebrity restaurants, such as Nobu.

Top DJs at Atlantis
We chilled out in one of the pool bars at night, pulling up a beanbag to listen to live music while drinking cocktails. On certain dates, Atlantis, The Palm, has a huge beach party with top named DJs and a massive fireworks display at the end. Unmissable!

Atlantis, The Palm, is perfect for a long weekend chilling out in the guaranteed sunshine.

Find Atlantis, The Palm holidays
Find Dubai holidays

By Kuoni UK

ETOA & ECM launch City Fair workshop on June 20, 2011

The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and European Cities Marketing (ECM) are joining forces with the launch of City Fair on 20^th June 2011 in London.

Registration opened recently and already 50 city tourist boards and 70 operators have signed up for this new workshop. Putting tour operators and cities face to face, this event follows the tried and trusted formula in which cities take tables and meet operators in pre-arranged appointments.

City Fair is a one day event combining ETOA’s proven track record in running highly-targeted workshops and ECM’s expertise in city marketing. ETOA’s tour operator members possess a combined buying power of over €5 billion, while ECM has a membership of more than 100 leading tourist and convention cities.

This is a unique opportunity for European city tourist boards and their suppliers to meet, network and do business with tour operators and city product developers from all over the world.

“Cities are nowadays the single most geographical focus of tourism in Europe, so City Fair makes good business sense because it connects cities who want to grow their tourist traffic with tour operators who are keen to package and promote city destinations. Under one roof, the operators meet with city tourist offices, hotels and travel firms – we get to know about each other, learn about each other, and this generates ideas, collaborations and business to the mutual benefit of all parties”, said Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, ECM President.

Who attends City Fair?

City tourist boards, hotels, attractions and other suppliers…

…participate as exhibitors to gain competitive advantage for their destination, and to come face to face with operators whose business represents both high volume and niche sectors across the major European and long-haul markets.

Tour operators…

….come as buyers to consolidate and develop their existing programmes, to keep abreast of the latest developments in European cities and to source new product for their city tours.

For further information about the event and registrations visit http://www.cityfair.travel/

ETOA -www.etoa.org | ECM -www.europeancitiesmarketing.com

London Hotels: Guaranteed Low Rates

Free Android Application for 35 cities in Europe

It is estimated that 87% of mobile phones now being manufactured are smart phones, and by next year 85% of all handsets will access the mobile internet. To keep ahead of the game, European Cities Marketing is launching an Android application – a mobile tool enabling tourists to experience 35 European Cities spread over 20 European countries!

Three of Europe’s most fascinating cities for you this week – and all for under £80 return.

Krakow from £78

Poland’s biggest tourist attraction, the medieval city of Krakow was in fact the capital between 1038 to 1596 before Warsaw took over. Nowadays Krakow thrives on showcasing its historic past to visitors, with its huge town square being one of Europe’s largest and impressive and other vibrant neighbourhoods such as the former Jewish quarter Kazimierz also well worth investigating. Find cheap flights to Krakow

Cork from £47

Having undergone a major transformation over the past few years, Ireland’s second city offers visitors many traditional Irish charms plus some of the best food on the island. A visit to the mouth-watering delights of the English Market is a must for gastronomes, while the city is teeming with lively pubs and clubs catering for lovers of both folk and electronic music. Find cheap flights to Cork

Barcelona from £77

One of Europe’s finest cities, Barcelona is packed with restaurants, bars, cafes and clubs to suit every taste and palate. Aside from food and drink, Barcelona’s gothic architecture leaves dazzled visitors with crooked necks as they stare up at Gaudi’s magical spires and gargoyles. Expect a pleasant climate of somewhere around 21C this month. Find cheap flights to Barcelona

City Marketing: Finessing Art and Science

The city of Uppsala, Sweden, was last week host to ECM’s (European Cities Marketing) Autumn meeting. Eighty representatives of Europe’s leading city tourist offices and convention bureaux attended the three day event which addressed the hot topic of city marketing. This included a one day seminar entitled “City Marketing – refreshing the parts that City Tourist Offices & Convention Bureaux cannot reach”.

The seminar – chaired by the former City Marketing Director of Brussels International, André Vrydagh -  tapped a variety of expert perspectives – that of the academic and consultant, that of the city marketing agencies themselves, and last but not least that of ECM members as important end-users and beneficiaries of city marketing campaigns and brands.

After a pan-European introduction to the topic by  Dr. John Heeley (Director, Best Destination Marketing, CEO European Cities Marketing),  Elin Berglund, (PhD student, Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm) provided a countrywide case study of how Swedish cities are marketing themselves as places in which to live, work and invest and as business and leisure tourism destinations. A dazzling array of speakers then presented case studies of city marketing in practice: from the ‘be Berlin’, ‘Only Lyon’, and ‘cOPENhagen’ campaigns through to ‘Stockholm: capital of Scandanavia’ and the celebrated success story from the Dutch capital – ‘I Amsterdam’ André Vrydagh, City Branding and Marketing Consultant, former City Marketing Director of Brussels International and the chairman of the seminar in Uppsala, says: “This time, almost the entire seminar programme was composed of case studies. We have chosen this approach simply because in the field of city marketing and branding, there is no single best way of doing it well. It is often a matter of feelings and emotions and these differ from one city to another. It is futile to take the branding experience of one destination and apply it rigidly and unsympathetically to another place. You   must combine ideas with very clever marketing know-how, finessing theory and practice.”

Elsewhere at the meeting, potentially ground breaking best practice was also evident in an open forum for ECM members which highlighted how in Dublin tourists were able to use their smart phones as guides – a state of the art application utilising GPS and compass functionality. A project is also being developed to improve inter-city benchmarking in respect of MICE statistics while TravelSat presented on how city tourist offices could benchmark themselves in terms of tourist satisfaction.

Delegates left the meeting buzzing with ideas and takeaways to help them perfect their city marketing activities!

The next ECM Meeting will take place in Sofia, Bulgaria, from 16^th to 18^th March 2011. The one-day seminar will focus on financial strategies and funding.

First free iPhone application for 33 cities in Europe

On Friday 11^th June 2010, European Cities Marketing launched the first iPhone application to serve as a mobile tool for discovering 33 cities spread over 19 different European countries. The tool has been developed by the European City Card group in which 33 cities work together to develop city cards for visitors. After the launch of the website www.europeancitycards.com in 2008, the group came together once again to produce the innovative tool, the “City card app”.

“The City card application created by the ECM City Card project is a perfect example of how important it is for tourism to stay in line with the latest developments in modern technologies. City cards target active people who embrace technological innovations and if we wish to provide quality tourism services, we cannot only react to these influences but we must stay proactive,” says Dieter Hardt-Stremayr, ECM President and Managing Director of Graz Tourist Office.

Citycards

A city card is a card that offers free or reduced-price entrance to museums and attractions in a city in combination with public transport and other advantages for visitors. In recent years city cards have become more and more popular with visitors because of the value they bring to a city trip. Usually a city card comes with a map or a brochure that contains information on all the sights  of the city and on everything it has to offer. With the iPhone application the visitor has a mobile tool to explore the city. The application is available for free at the iPhone store http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/city-cards/id374488671?mt=8&uo=6

and at the website www.europeancitycards.com

33 Cities in One

The cities that the iPhone app allows you to discover and which offer a  city card are:-  Amsterdam, Barcelona, Bruges, Brussels, Copenhagen, Cordoba, Dijon, Dubrovnik, Dublin, Gijon, Goteborg, Innsbruck, Krakow, Lisbon, London, Lyon, Nice, Nurnberg, Olomouc, Oslo, Prague, Reykjavik, San Sebastian, Split, Stockholm, Tallinn, Tarragona, Turku, Turin, Valencia, Vicenza, Zagreb and Zaragoza.