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ITB 2012: Berlin continues its uptrend
Capital region as a magnet for visitors / Award for the visitBerlin Berlin Convention Office
Berlin, 13 March 2012, Success for Berlin: Around 175,000 travel experts and visitors from all over the world came to the International Tourism Exchange Berlin (ITB) during the five trade fair dates as guests to the German capital. Of the more than 113,000 professional visitors – and hence 2,200 more than last year – around 40% came from abroad. Some 7,000 journalists from 94 countries covered ITB Berlin.
Hall 12 of the Trade Fairgrounds was in particular demand amongst visitors: here visitBerlin and TMB Tourismus-Marketing Brandenburg GmbH presented together, for the second time, the tourism offerings of the capital region Berlin-Brandenburg. “The interest from all over the world in the capital region is overwhelming – the popularity of our metropolis continues to increase,” visitBerlin CEO Burkhard Kieker sums up. On the 1,600 square metre large exhibition stand 74 co-exhibitors from Berlin and Brandenburg were represented.
Awards: double gold for Berlin
Berlin was not only an excellent host at ITB – the metropolis on the River Spree was also elected best city in Europe: on Friday the popular destination was presented with the Zoover City Award in Gold. 85,000 visitors on the hotel rating portal Zoover had voted in favour of the city. The decisive elements were in particular the diverse cultural offering, the special ambience of the city and the excellent quality of its hotels.
Second award: The Berlin Convention Office of visitBerlin was presented with the “Golden City Gate” award which recognises creative concepts in the tourism industry. In the category “Best Roadshow in Germany” Berlin convinced with the Germany road show “Berlin – a neighbourhood residential community”. With a moving box installation Berlin presented itself in 2011 as a six room apartment with the 12 districts in a creative and typical manner.
Large demand from future-proof markets
ITB was used by visitBerlin and the Berlin providers intensely for professional talks with the international travel industry. The opening of the new airport Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt (BER) was a focal theme. This will result in an increase in long haul flights, and the German capital will become even more attractive for international event planners.
Future-proof markets such as Russia, China and Brazil showed an increasing interest in the German capital as a travel destination.
Cologne Tourist Board presented its tourism services at ITB 2012
Business Destination, China Year and Health Tourism
COLOGNE – From 7th until 11th March, the Cologne Tourist Board once again took part in ITB, the world’s leading travel trade show, which was held in Berlin. In cooperation with Cologne’s neighbouring cities along the Rhine, Bonn and Düsseldorf, the Cologne Tourist Board presented its services to international trade visitors and members of the public at Stand 103 in Hall 8.2.
At the Medientalk held by the Rhineland cities of Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf on 9th March 2012, Cologne Mayor Jürgen Roters talked with Düsseldorf Mayor Dirk Elbers and District Administrator Fritjof Kühn (Rhine-Sieg District / Bonn) about the topic “Strong Business Locations — Important Business Travel Destinations”. “Cologne is an outstanding business location that’s not only easy to reach, but also a great place to meet,” said Mayor Roters. “Boasting the world’s fifth-largest exhibition centre, Koelnmesse is a major attraction for guests from all over the world. In addition, the city offers ideal conditions for conferences and congresses, thanks to its more than 150 event venues and 43,000 events. The slogan in 2012 is therefore ‘Business Destination Cologne’. As the key communications tool for this campaign, the Cologne BizzBox and its six magazines refreshingly illustrates the various aspects of Cologne as a business location. The cooperation with our partner cities along the Rhine River also has high priority for us. Our joint museum ticket is a great example of our successful collaboration.”
The head of Cologne’s municipal business office, Ute Berg, underscored the importance of visitors and business travellers to the city. “We want our branding process to make Cologne even more widely known among investors, scientists, and tourists in Germany and abroad so that we can get more of them to come to our city,” she said.
Tourism to Cologne continued to increase steadily in 2011. Last year a total of 2.84 million hotel guests came to the city and spent altogether 4.97 million overnight stays in Cologne. Compared to the previous year, this represents an increase of 9.7 per cent in terms of guest arrivals and 8.6 per cent in terms of overnight stays – the best result in the history of the city’s tourism. By comparison, Germany measured a 4 per cent overall national increase in overnight stays, and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia had an increase of 5 per cent. International guests accounted for 874,443 visits and a marked rise of 11 per cent; they continue to represent an overall share of 34 per cent of the visitors to the city. The trend of vacationing in one’s home country remains strong: with 1.97 million visitors (a rise of 9.1 per cent), Germany is still the most important source of visitors to Cologne.
For 2012 the Cologne Tourist Board has chosen the motto “Business Destination Cologne” for its marketing activities. Inspired by the German National Tourist Board’s motto for this year, “Business Travel Destination Germany”, the Cologne Tourist Board, taking its lead from the Cologne Convention Bureau, aims to highlight the city’s activities in the business sector. These activities will be underlined by the Cologne BizzBox, a portfolio containing six magazines that highlight various facets of the city as a business destination. The BizzBox will be introduced at the ITB for the first time. Extensive special pages will also be showcased on the website www.conventioncologne.de. In addition, shared activities are being planned with the German Convention Bureau, including a joint event for the Austrian meeting industry.
The Cologne Convention Bureau (CCB) will continue to focus on marketing the city as a congress and trade fair destination at key international fairs and via hosted buyer events and fam trips. Especially promising potential for future development can be found in the numerous academic institutes, universities and research institutions of Cologne, which use events as a basic instrument for sharing and exchanging knowledge. Together with KölnKongress, CCB aims to attract more academic conferences to the city. One of these is the World Congress of Pathology, which was acquired last year and will come to Cologne for the first time in 2016. In order to compete internationally, CCB cooperates closely with the DÜSSELDORF convention bureau. Both cities along the Rhine placed successfully in the 2011 state-wide competition Erlebnis.NRW. Their project “Meetropolis KÖLNDÜSSELDORF,” which gained support as a result of the competition, will kick off in time for IMEX 2012, Germany’s most important trade fair for meetings and incentive trips, with a new marketing campaign that will focus especially on international markets.
“China is an enormously promising market for Cologne; the number of visitors from that country rose by 27.5 percent last year. The city of Cologne has declared 2012 to be ‘China Year’, thus creating another excellent opportunity to build on this positive trend and intensify contacts with China”, declares Ute Berg, head of Cologne’s municipal business office. The Cologne Tourist Board is highlighting the 2012 China Year in all of its marketing activities and has also supported the city of Cologne in developing the promotional website www.chinajahr-koeln.de. A special highlight will be the “NRW-China Celebrations” from 14th to 16th September 2012, which are being organized by the state government of North Rhine-Westphalia and the city of Cologne.
2012 promises to be another strong year for trade fairs in Cologne. After a successful International Furniture Fair (imm) in January, Germany’s most important art fair, ART COLOGNE, will take place from 18th to 22nd April. This summer, Europe’s biggest trade fair for computer and video games, gamescom, will run from 15th until 19th August. A particular highlight of the year will be photokina, the world’s leading imaging fair, which will run from 18th until 23rd September. Cologne’s calendar of events promises lots of exciting cultural events in addition to regular favourites such as the “Kölner Lichter” fireworks display, the ColognePride parade and the Cologne Christmas markets. The Rautenstrauch-Joest Museum will feature the exhibition “Rama and Sita – India’s Most Beautiful Love Story” from 21st April to 21st October 2012. The Wallraf-Richartz Museum will present an exhibition titled “1912 – Mission Modernity” from 31st August until 30th December 2012, which promises to be a spectacular retrospective of the 1912 exhibition of the Sonderbund school of artists in Cologne. What’s more, the classic musical CATS will be performed in a specially constructed theatre tent from 22nd September until 28th October 2012. Cologne also has a lot of exciting sporting events on offer this year. On 12th May the DFB Cup Women’s final will take place in the Rheinenergie Stadium. And the VELUX EHF FINAL 4 will host the four best handball teams of Europe from 26th until 27th May in the Lanxess Arena.
New flight connections to the Cologne/Bonn airport will further improve the city’s accessibility. The Cologne Tourist Board will support the Cologne/Bonn airport in its efforts to acquire new connections, for instance at the ROUTES conference CIS in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg in July 2012. New connections include Ural Airlines flights between Moscow and Cologne/Bonn three times a week starting in April, and a new connection from London-Heathrow with Germanwings.
The Cologne Tourist Board’s successful cooperation with the German railway company Deutsche Bahn will continue to expand in 2012. The partnership got off to a promising start with a multiple-page Cologne special in the customer magazine “DB mobil”, featuring a competition entered by over 20,000 travellers. In addition, the Cologne Tourist Board supports the project “Bicycle Region Rhineland”, which it helped to establish. The website www.radregionrheinland.de features extensive information about bikes, services related to bicycling, plus a wide selection of suggested bike routes.
Health tourism is also becoming increasingly important for Cologne. That’s why the popular brochure “Health Cologne” will once again be published in Russian, Arabic and English this year and distributed at all leading trade fairs and road shows in the relevant source markets.
In addition to the travel packages for families and groups, the Cologne Tourist Board will once again offer the popular Media Travel Package in 2012, featuring visits to the live TV recordings of the show “Deutschland sucht den Superstar” (“Pop Idol”). Another feature that will be continued is the VideoBus Tour, which combines sightseeing with historical images, films and audio documents. The well-established Cologne WelcomeCard was reissued in 2011 and will for the first time offer visitors more than 100 discounts throughout the city. The card will now also be available at vending machines on train platforms and at the sales points of the public transportation system KVB. To offer visitors a better overview of guided city tours, the Cologne Tourist Board has published new flyers featuring an annual list of the most popular group tours and a biannual list of public tours. What’s more, the cities of Cologne, Bonn and Düsseldorf have teamed up for new joint museum passes that will give visitors access to major art museums such as the Wallraf Richartz Museum in Cologne, the Kunstmuseum in Bonn and the Museum Kunstpalast in Düsseldorf, or alternatively to all three municipal museums. Buying a museum pass will allow visitors free entrance to all three art museums or all three municipal museums within a period of four weeks.
The online shop “der-koelnshop.de” was relaunched at the end of 2011 and now boasts a brand-new design, expanded features and an even wider selection of products. In order to make our website www.cologne-tourism.com even more user-friendly, it will be relaunched with new and improved graphics, content and technical functions. Within the area of mobile internet activities, the “Köln-Guide” app will soon be released in a bilingual version. And since 2010 the Cologne Tourist Information Office has been active on Web 2.0 platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Further targeted social media campaigns are in the pipeline for 2012.
The three cities once again organized the 11th “RheinNacht” on 8th March 2012 at the Wasserwerk in the Charlottenburg/Wilmersdorf district of Berlin. At this traditional get-together, tour operators, travel journalists and other partners from the tourism sector had the opportunity to make new contacts and forge business links in a casual setting.
Presentation of the ITB World Music Prize 2012 awarded to Natacha Atlas and Amr Diab
The first ITB World Music Prize 2012 is dedicated to the official partner country Egypt and honours two musicians who “in their own particular way, have succeeded in delighting an international audience with a combination of Egyptian/Arabic sounds with western rhythms”.
– The singer and composer Amr. Diab, born in Port Said, is a superstar in the Arab world, and especially in Egypt, but regrettably less well-known in German-speaking countries. He is regarded as the father of the Mediterranen Sound – an electrifying combination of western and Egyptian music elements.
Amr Diab achieved his greatest success in 1996 with the song “Nour El Ain”, whose refrain “Ya Habibi“ became a mega-hit not only throughout the Middle East but also in India, Spain and South America. It is still the most successful recording ever made by an Arab singer and is the opening track on his “Greatest Hits” release (EMI Arabia), for which Amr Diab has received this award. For travellers to Egypt it is an emotive reminder of this modern and musical land on the Nile.
With her sensually extrovert and versatile musicality and her wonderful, multifaceted vocal talents the singer Natacha Atlas conjurs up the magic of the Orient and of North Africa, and has accordingly also been awarded the World Music Prize of the ITB Berlin. Born in Brussels and resident in the USA, but with Egyptian roots, this vocalist incorporates the classics, hypnotic dance and electrobeats, accomplished vocalisation and jazz elements on her latest CD entitled “Mounqaliba. In A State Of Reversal” (World Village).
Juror Jürgen Deeg: “Arranger Samy Bishai and producer Paul Castle are the men behind ‘Mounqaliba’ which is an intelligent and multilayered production and creates the perfect frame for the voice of Natacha Atlas. The ambient club track ‘Batkallim’ is the highlight of a CD, which takes us to a musical survey of the Middle Eastern music culture.
And the rhythmic effect of the stand-out dance tracks on this record, “Lahazat Nashwa” and “Taalet” in particular, are simply irresistable. Apart from her solo career Natacha Atlas is also the vocalist with the group Transglobal Underground as well as working with Jean Michel Jarre, Peter Maffay, Nigel Kennedy and Sarah Brightman.
Lufthansa showing the flag at ITB Berlin 2012
Redesigned trade fair presence in Hall 25 – Stand located close to tourism industry
After an interval of three years, Lufthansa will once again be represented with its own stand at the ITB international tourism fair in Berlin. At its newly designed stand in Hall 25, the airline will present its current business and leisure travel offerings as well as its new ground and inflight products to trade visitors and the general public. Lufthansa’s latest seat versions will also be on display, including the new Business Class seat, which will be unveiled to the public for the first time at the ITB.
“Our participation in the world’s largest tourism fair not only reflects our strong commitment to Berlin but also enables us to present a whole range of new products and service innovations for leisure and business travellers, as well as for our tourism partners,“ said Jens Bischof, member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board. “Next June, when Berlin Brandenburg Willy Brandt Airport opens, we will increase dramatically the number of destinations we serve non-stop from the German capital to other countries in Europe and the Middle East – from ten to 38. We are coupling this with a new pricing concept. From Berlin we will fly our customers to dozens of European destinations for as little as 49 euros one-way.”
UNWTO activities at ITB 2012
UNWTO events at this year’s ITB Travel Trade Show include a high-level session on tourism trends in the Mediterranean, the Silk Road Ministers’ meeting, a session on consumer protection and a meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection, among others (Berlin, Germany, 7-11 March, 2012).
Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting (7 March, 11.00 – 12.30, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)
Ministers of the Silk Road will meet to discuss how they can work together to capitalize on the revival of the Silk Road. This year’s meeting will include a special session on the importance of route development in strengthening the Silk Road product offer and attracting investment. The Ministers’ Meeting will be followed by the VIP Walk ‘Flavours of the Silk Road’ where UNWTO Secretary-General and ITB management will visit 10 countries showcasing the Silk Road’s most celebrated cuisine.
Tour Operators will convene at the Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road – Creating a stronger business environment for growth (8 March, 11.00 – 13.00, Palais West), to discuss how to overcome the challenges and create opportunities for doing business on the Silk Road.
For more information, please click here or contact silkroad@UNWTO.org
High-Level Session on Tourism Trends and Outlook in the Mediterranean (7 March, 14.00 – 15.00, Hall 7.1b, Auditorium London)
Destinations around the Mediterranean, the world’s most visited region, face a number of challenges; economic, political and environmental. This session, moderated by UNWTO media partner CNN, with Ministers of Tourism from the region and private sector representatives, will address questions such as: What trends are affecting the region? What challenges and opportunities face these destinations in the long-term and how can they adapt to changing market conditions? In view of the UNWTO forecast Tourism Towards 2030, what is the outlook for the region over the next two decades?
For more information, please click here or contact comm@unwto.org
First Meeting of the Global National Tourism Organizations (NTO) Think Tank – Creating value through collaboration (7 March, 16.00 – 18.00, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)
A joint initiative of UNWTO and the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Global NTO Think Tank will provide an opportunity for NTOs from around the world to collaborate on common issues and strategic priorities.
By invitation only. For more information, please contact eterzibasoglu@unwto.org
UNWTO Press Conference – International tourism results and World Tourism Day 2012 (8 March, 12.00 – 14.00, ICC, Hall 4/5)
The UNWTO Secretary-General will present the tourism trends and figures for 2011 and outlook for 2012.
UNWTO will also launch the World Tourism Day 2012 official celebrations with the presence of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borrego Cortés, under the theme: Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President & CEO, David Scowsill, will also be present to highlight the joint efforts of WTTC and UNWTO in advancing a common agenda on visa facilitation as a driver of economic growth and job creation.
For more information, please contact comm@UNWTO.org
Meeting on Crisis Management – Information needs in times of crises for the travel and tourism sector (9 March, 09.30 – 11.00, ICC, Salon 21)
UNWTO and members of the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) will meet to discuss their information needs in times of crises to help minimize the negative perception on consumer’s behaviour, while at the same time ensuring safety and well-being and allowing for a fast recovery.
For more information, please click here or contact rcm@UNWTO.org
UNWTO Session on Consumer Protection – Accommodation related issues (9 March, 11.00 – 13.00, ICC, Hall 7)
In the absence of international regulations governing the rights and responsibilities of tourists/consumers and tour operators, UNWTO set up a working group to draft a legal instrument for their protection. At ITB 2012, UNWTO will host a special session on accommodation related issues, the conclusions of which will feed into the next meeting of the working group.
For more information, please click here or contact cpt@UNWTO.org
27th Meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection (9 March, 14.30 – 17.30, ICC, Hall 7)
The 2012 meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection will focus on “Young Workers in the Tourism Sector: Risks and Opportunities”. The event is jointly organized by UNWTO and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO–IPEC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The meeting will also feature a reporting session, affording representatives of national tourism administrations, the tourism sector, NGOs and specialized media outlets an opportunity to report on new projects concerning child protection in tourism.
For more information, please click here or contact ethics@UNWTO.org
CSR in tourism: a long-term topic at ITB Berlin
Forward-looking projects and new ideas on corporate social responsibility in tourism – ITB CSR Day with hot topics – human rights in tourism and sustainability certificates – new: practical information from Responsible Tourism Clinics
Berlin, 28 February 2012 – CSR in tourism is becoming an increasingly important issue. Nowhere is this more accurately reflected than at ITB Berlin. All areas of corporate and social responsibility are hot topics at the world’s leading travel trade show. More issues are now being covered than ever before. They include accessible tourism, human rights, seals of approval, geoparks, rainforests and over-exploitation of resources.Corporate social responsibility has been top of the agenda at the ITB Berlin Convention for many years. The Destination Days (7 to 9 March 2012), MICE Day (7 March 2012) and Mobility Day (9 March 2012) will all be addressing aspects of climate change and sustainable tourism. In a noteworthy keynote speech Felix Finkbeiner will talk about the future of transport, for example. In front of an audience the 14 year-old initiator of the “Plant for the Planet Children Initiative“ will set out the next generation’s expectations. For many years the ITB CSR Day has been driving discussion forward. On 8 March 2012 there will be lectures and panel discussions attended by tour operators, technical colleges, the hotel industry and non-profit organisations who will be debating sustainability certificates and accessible tourism. Among the main events will be a panel discussion entitled “Human rights in Tourism“ with members of the German Tourism Association (DRV), Tourism Watch and Studiosus.
New exhibitors and a big programme of events in Hall 4.1
CSR is the main theme of the ECO & Adventure Hall (4.1), where lectures and events on sustainable and socially responsible tourism await participants on each of the three days of the show reserved for trade visitors. At an event moderated by Mary Amiri, a well known travel journalist and TV personality, international tourism experts will be holding discussions at the seventh pow-wow for trade visitors. The main topic on day one will be rainforests, accompanied by an outstanding photo exhibition. The images are from the eponymous documentary called “Pearls of the Rainforest – a Peace Park in the Centre of America “, which was filmed on Lake Nicaragua in Rio San Juan, in the Indio Maiz Biological Reserve on the Caribbean coast. Day two will feature workshops and lectures on geotourism, geoparks, geo-travellers and geo-destinations, and on day three experts will highlight the benefits, challenges and trends involved in responsible tourism.
Following their successful launch at ITB Asia the Responsible Tourism Clinics are due to take place at ITB Berlin for the first time. In Hall 4.1, at the stand of The Blue Yonder, a partner of ITB, experts will be offering practical tips and responding to questions on how to put sustainable tourism measures into practice. Visitors can find out about the development of innovative products from India and South Africa.
ITB Berlin stands for CSR
This year ITB Berlin is again supporting reconstruction in Haiti, the charity fund Aidshilfe Berlin and the Child Protection Code. Last year ITB Berlin was the world’s first trade fair to sign the code of conduct pledging to protect children against sexual exploitation in tourism. What is more, ITB Berlin offers all visitors to the show and exhibitors an opportunity to improve their carbon footprint through compensation payments. Together with Deutsche Bahn ITB Berlin recommends climate-friendly travel packages to the show, available at www.itb-berlin.de/en/
By compensating all business flights through Atmosfair ITB Berlin supports a project in the Indian province of Karnataka, an emergent tourism region: small biogas plants run on local cow dung are replacing firewood and paraffin. This significantly helps improve women’s and children’s health and reduces the currently high volume of logging.
ITB also lets exhibitors and visitors support this project. At the Atmosfair counter at the south entrance they can calculate and compensate their carbon footprint.
All events to do with CSR at ITB Berlin 2012 are presented in a programme which is available at every information counter on the exhibition grounds. A flyer can also be downloaded at http://www.itb-berlin.de/en/
Partner country Egypt at ITB Berlin
Grand opening ceremony on 6 March 2012 – numerous cultural events with typical national attractions at the world’s largest travel trade show – interactive communication via Facebook and Twitter
Berlin, 24 February 2012 – In March 2012 Egypt, the partner country of ITB Berlin, will have a wide-ranging programme of events to offer the international trade visitors and the general public attending the world’s largest travel trade show. During the show, which takes place from 7 to 11 March 2012, visitors to Hall 23a will be able to find out more about Egypt’s culture and history as well as tourism to this country. Among those performing at the opening ceremony on Tuesday, 6 March 2012 in the International Congress Center ICC Berlin will be members of the Cairo Opera House. At the ITB Berlin Convention, the international travel industry’s leading think tank, discussion will focus on the Arab Spring and its impact on tourism.
Hisham Zaazou, Senior Assistant Minister of Tourism: “As the partner country of ITB Berlin 2012 Egypt is highly enthusiastic and committed. This is a milestone for our tourism industry and signals continuity for our strongest branch of industry in these times of political change.“
The question as to what the future holds for the tourism industry in the Arab countries will be debated at the ITB Berlin Convention. On 7 March 2012 from 4.15 to 5.30 p.m. the topic for discussion will be “The Arab rebellion: an Arab Spring or tourism ice age?“. Experts on the Arab region including Prof. Dr. Volker Perthes, Humboldt-Universität Berlin and Freie Universität Berlin, director of Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik and Dietmar Gunz, CEO FTI Group, will put forward scenarios and provide orientation.
Egypt has been at ITB Berlin ever since the show’s launch in 1966. In 2012 it will occupy close to 2,000 square metres of floor space in Hall 23, making it one of the largest exhibitors at the show. Visitors to the hall can experience the diversity of Egypt’s holiday regions, including the Nile Delta, Red Sea, desert landscapes, oases and the Mediterranean coast. At a bazaar they can also purchase the country’s handicrafts, sample regional specialities, or enjoy a musical foretaste of Egypt with atmospheric live music and folk presentations. Badawy, one of the country’s best known chefs, will be cooking dishes at the Brandenburg Restaurant in Hall 24.
A colourful Egyptian carnival procession will be taking place in the various halls on every day of the fair. An impressive performance of traditional Tanoura dancing, which involves an artistic display of dancers’ skirts, awaits visitors to Hall 4.1. Samaa, a group of Islamic and Coptic singers, blends different religious beliefs with its sounds, expressing peace among faiths and Egypt’s uniformity as a nation. On 9 March, at 3.30 p.m., book lovers can draw inspiration from the ITB Book Awards which will take place in the hall hosting Egypt’s displays. Travel calendars, travel guides and travelogues covering the country’s entire range of attractions will whet the public’s enthusiasm for Egypt. On 11 March 2012 at the closing ceremony of ITB Berlin, Egypt will put on an artistic performance with The Festival of the Delphic Games.
The ankh project is yet another of the numerous trade fair and marketing measures which this year’s partner country has launched. This ancient symbol signifying eternal life forms part of the “We are Egypt“ logo and represents Egypt’s visual signature as the partner country of ITB Berlin 2012. Visitors to Berlin will be able to see twenty different ankh sculptures by Egyptian artists throughout the city. From 7 February to 4 March 2012 various promotional activities involving this year’s partner country await customers visiting the store of the outdoor equipment supplier Globetrotter in Berlin-Steglitz. Competitions with prizes, videos, music and information on Egypt as well as a lecture by the travel agency DIAMIR Erlebnisreisen will bring Egypt’s magic to the German capital.
Social networking sites offer numerous opportunities for those interested in finding out more about Egypt at the show or at home. Here, they can contact Egyptian internet users, chat live with people in Egypt, or exchange views via Facebook or Twitter, for example. Additional information on Egypt is available from www.egypt.travel or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AegyptenFans.
Opening ceremony of ITB Berlin with leading figures from politics and tourism
A celebrity line-up will be present at the world’s leading travel trade show: on 6 March 2012, on the eve of the fair, Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Dr. Philipp Rösler will open this year’s ITB Berlin. ITB Berlin and Egypt, this year’s partner country, will extend an invitation to attend the opening ceremony at 6 p.m. in Room 1 of the ICC Berlin.
Raimund Hosch, CEO Messe Berlin GmbH, will welcome around 4,500 international industry representatives before handing over to other celebrity guests at the opening event. Among those due to speak are Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and Klaus Laepple, President of the German Tourism Industry (BTW). H.E. Mounir Fahkri Abdel Nour, the Egyptian Minister for Tourism, will speak on behalf of Egypt, the partner country of ITB.
At the opening ceremony in the ICC Berlin the partner country of ITB will be highlighting Egypt’s past with historic exhibits ranging from ancient times to the present day. Afterwards, traditional and contemporary dancing will offer a foretaste of the evening’s celebrations. Taking as its slogan “The Colours of Egypt“ this 15-minute opening performance will display a variety of folk dancing styles. A ballet piece by the Cairo Opera House entitled “Malgré Tout“ tells the story of Egypt’s rebirth after the trials of revolution. At the end of the event the guests will all be invited to dance with the artists on stage before Egypt invites them to savour its regional specialities and culinary delights.
The complete guide to ITB Berlin on your mobile
Berlin, 23 February 2012 – With the free ITB Mobile Guide app visitors to ITB Berlin are always well informed. This year’s trade fair guide has numerous new features, including “What’s on“, an overview of current events, plus an A to Z of ITB, which lists everything visitors need to know about the world’s largest travel trade show (7 to 11 March 2012). Besides a map of the grounds, information includes the programme of the ITB Berlin Convention, a list of events along with press conferences, presentations, receptions, and a function for looking up exhibitors. For the first time the Android and iPhone versions showing the grounds are linked to a comprehensive map of the halls.As always there is a list of all the exhibitors with links to the Virtual Market Place and a wealth of information for visitors to Berlin. After the fair closes the ITB Mobile Guide provides users with information on the quickest way to the city centre and tips on Berlin nightlife. Also included are restaurants, bars and information on tourist attractions.
The ITB Mobile Guide – provided by GIATA & TOURIAS – is available for downloading free of charge from the App Store and Android Market. This clever pocket-sized trade fair companion can be easily downloaded fromwww.itb-berlin.de/mobil, can be run using a mobile or smartphone browser from itb-berlin.mobi, or can be requested via SMS by sending the keyword “ITB” to +49-177-1781424 (individual SMS/download charges apply).
The ITB Mobile Guide was developed by leading tourism content providers TOURIAS & GIATA. Both companies offer comprehensive solutions for mobiles and smartphones for hotels, tour operators and travel portals. With the GIATA TOURIAS Travel Guide travel agencies and tour operators are able to offer their customers a free smartphone travel guide to over a hundred of the most popular travel destinations. “Apps have become indispensable to the tourism industry “, says Christoph Schotter, managing director of Tourias Mobile GmbH. “They create entirely new prospects for marketing and winning over new customers.“
UNWTO activities at ITB 2012
UNWTO events at this year’s ITB Travel Trade Show include a high-level session on tourism trends in the Mediterranean, the Silk Road Ministers’ meeting, a session on consumer protection and a meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection, among others (Berlin, Germany, 7-11 March, 2012).
Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting (7 March, 11.00 – 12.30, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)
Ministers of the Silk Road will meet to discuss how they can work together to capitalize on the revival of the Silk Road. This year’s meeting will include a special session on the importance of route development in strengthening the Silk Road product offer and attracting investment. The Ministers’ Meeting will be followed by the VIP Walk ‘Flavours of the Silk Road’ where UNWTO Secretary-General and ITB management will visit 10 countries showcasing the Silk Road’s most celebrated cuisine.
Tour Operators will convene at the Tour Operators’ Forum on the Silk Road – Creating a stronger business environment for growth (8 March, 11.00 – 13.00, Palais West), to discuss how to overcome the challenges and create opportunities for doing business on the Silk Road.
For more information, please click here or contact silkroad@UNWTO.org
High-Level Session on Tourism Trends and Outlook in the Mediterranean (7 March, 14.00 – 15.00, Hall 7.1b, Auditorium London)
Destinations around the Mediterranean, the world’s most visited region, face a number of challenges; economic, political and environmental. This session, moderated by UNWTO media partner CNN, with Ministers of Tourism from the region and private sector representatives, will address questions such as: What trends are affecting the region? What challenges and opportunities face these destinations in the long-term and how can they adapt to changing market conditions? In view of the UNWTO forecast Tourism Towards 2030, what is the outlook for the region over the next two decades?
For more information, please click here or contact comm@unwto.org
First Meeting of the Global National Tourism Organizations (NTO) Think Tank – Creating value through collaboration (7 March, 16.00 – 18.00, Hall 7.3, Berlin Room)
A joint initiative of UNWTO and the European Travel Commission (ETC), the Global NTO Think Tank will provide an opportunity for NTOs from around the world to collaborate on common issues and strategic priorities.
By invitation only. For more information, please contact eterzibasoglu@unwto.org
UNWTO Press Conference – International tourism results and World Tourism Day 2012 (8 March, 12.00 – 14.00, ICC, Hall 4/5)
The UNWTO Secretary-General will present the tourism trends and figures for 2011 and outlook for 2012.
UNWTO will also launch the World Tourism Day 2012 official celebrations with the presence of the Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Borego Cortés, under the theme: Tourism and Sustainable Energy: Powering Sustainable Development. World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) President & CEO, David Scowsill, will also be present to highlight the joint efforts of WTTC and UNWTO in advancing a common agenda on visa facilitation as a driver of economic growth and job creation.
For more information, please contact comm@UNWTO.org
Meeting on Crisis Management – Information needs in times of crises for the travel and tourism sector (9 March, 09.30 – 11.00, ICC, Salon 21)
UNWTO and members of the Tourism Emergency Response Network (TERN) will meet to discuss their information needs in times of crises to help minimize the negative perception on consumer’s behaviour, while at the same time ensuring safety and well-being and allowing for a fast recovery.
For more information, please click here or contact rcm@UNWTO.org
UNWTO Session on Consumer Protection – Accommodation related issues (9 March, 11.00 – 13.00, ICC, Hall 7)
In the absence of international regulations governing the rights and responsibilities of tourists/consumers and tour operators, UNWTO set up a working group to draft a legal instrument for their protection. At ITB 2012, UNWTO will host a special session on accommodation related issues, the conclusions of which will feed into the next meeting of the working group.
For more information, please click here or contact cpt@UNWTO.org
27th Meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection (9 March, 14.30 – 17.30, ICC, Hall 7)
The 2012 meeting of the World Tourism Network on Child Protection will focus on “Young Workers in the Tourism Sector: Risks and Opportunities”. The event is jointly organized by UNWTO and the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (ILO–IPEC) of the International Labour Organization (ILO). The meeting will also feature a reporting session, affording representatives of national tourism administrations, the tourism sector, NGOs and specialized media outlets an opportunity to report on new projects concerning child protection in tourism.
For more information, please click here or contact ethics@UNWTO.org
ITB Berlin Convention: Younger generation on the platform
14-year old Felix Finkbeiner to give keynote speech on the future of mobility – Well-known German PUMA manager Jochen Zeitz presents future sustainability scenarios – ITB Berlin Convention from 7 to 9 March 2012 free for trade visitors
Berlin, 22 February 2012 – Children’s power: this year’s ITB Berlin Convention welcomes a special speaker to the platform in the person of 14-year old Felix Finkbeiner. He was responsible for launching the children’s initiative Plant for the Planet and from 10.50 to 11.15 p.m. on 9 March 2012 he will be delivering the keynote speech in Hall 7.1a on the subject of “The Future of Mobility”. From 7 to 9 March 2012 the leading tourism convention will address the main issues confronting global tourism and will be presenting some solutions and examples of best practice to meet current and future challenges. Two prominent speakers, Felix Finkbeiner and Jochen Zeitz, have been invited to discuss the subject of sustainability at this year’s ITB Berlin Convention.
In a paper to be given on the ITB Mobility Day Felix Finkbeiner will examine how the teenage generation assesses the present mobility system and current efforts to achieve sustainability. The 14-year old has been attracting worldwide attention since 2007 with the initiative Plant for the Planet. At that time, as a nine-year old, he learned during the course of his homework about the Kenyan environmentalist and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, Wangari Maathai, who has planted some 30 million trees over a 30-year period. The Plant for the Planet initiative, which is now active in 193 countries, was inspired by this idea. Children obtain information about sustainability from other children, and learn how every individual can contribute to climate protection by planting trees.
The sort of future sustainability scenarios that are conceivable will be explained by Jochen Zeitz, Executive Chairman PUMA and Chief Sustainability Officer PPR, who was responsible for setting up the Zeitz Foundation. One of the best-known entrepreneurs in Germany, Jochen Zeitz is devoting his efforts to the sustainable management of the eco-system. In his paper, to be delivered on the ITB CSR Day, he investigates the question of how to balance social, ecological and economic sustainability for the benefit of all stakeholders. In his perspective, to be presented from 5 to 5.30 p.m. on 8 March 2012 in Hall 7.1.a, he will offer some visionary insights and useful suggestions for business strategies and sustainability concepts. The “4Cs” – conservation, community, culture, commerce – is a new kind of concept being presented by the Zeitz Foundation as a basic approach that can also be applied by the tourism industry as a means of achieving sustainable growth.
Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is included in the price of the ITB Berlin trade visitor ticket.
ITB Berlin expands its floor area for over 230 travel technology exhibitors from 15 countries
More technology than ever
Berlin, 7 February 2012 – Nowadays travel technology is omnipresent in the global travel industry: this includes the back office, electronically-supported personalised sales and location-sensitive mobile travel services. At ITB Berlin 2012 this rapid development has led to an unprecedented rush of exhibitors: over 230 travel technology companies from 15 countries are expected from 7 to 11 March in Berlin. The event features back office technology (Hall 6.1), hotel software and reservation machines (Hall 8.1 and 10.1) as well as social media, travel portal and mobile travel solutions (eTravel World, Hall 7.1.c).
The traditional travel technology display areas have been fully booked since December 2011. For this reason, some exhibitors from this sector are in Hall 25 for the first time. Here visitors can find online travel agencies as well as providers of event and airline software. With a joint stand for the Thai Software Industry Promotion Agency (SIPA) as well as new technology providers from Greece, India, Romania and the United Kingdom, ITB Berlin once again highlights its major international importance in this segment.
“We are particularly pleased that we have been able to inspire many new innovative companies and the regular, high performing participants as well as previous exhibitors to come to ITB Berlin”, says David Ruetz, Director of ITB Berlin. This can be attributed not just to the general travel technology boom but also to the wide range of attractions at the world’s leading travel trade show: “In the last few years we have continually increased the number of forums and discussion platforms at ITB Berlin. This year the papers will be interpreted on the stage of the eTravel World. As part of the ITB Berlin Convention we examine industry trends, which are more than ever driven by further developments in the field of travel technology”.
Travel Technology Trends 2012
The travel technology trends for 2012 continue to include the development of mobile travel applications (apps), which have grown rapidly over the last two years and are continuing to expand. The 2012 issue of the “Mobile Travel App Guide”, which is published by m.volution with the support of ITB Berlin, has more than 100 pages.
In the field of analysis new evaluation tools are now available for review portals: the discipline is referred to as Social Review Management. At ITB Berlin, solutions for hotel review portals and suitability of the user-generated content available there for promoting sales are highlights of the programme.
Through the use of innovative search technology companies are also endeavouring to make it easier for customers to access an ever increasing amount of data. Two search technologies which could, in the future, help to consolidate accurate and genuinely relevant information and filter out cheap offers are semantic or free text searches (natural language search, automatic evaluation of search queries based on language expressions) and gesture based searches (whereby facial expressions and gestures are interpreted in order to incorporate the searcher’s emotions in a presentation of the findings).
Internet driven product innovations with a promising potential includesocial trip planning, also in combination with group buying portals: Travellers with the same destination who meet on social networks or travel discount portals can combine their purchase power online in order to obtain particularly favourable conditions when booking city tours, journeys to attend specific events or cultural trips .
Last but not least, there remains the issue of how the enormous costs of IT and networking can be optimised in the long-term. In an industry that has been dominated by proprietary solutions for so long, open sourcing or cloud computing are newly emerging concepts in innovative infrastructure, architecture and software development, and no-one need renounce any part of what are in any case narrow profit margins.
Visitors can find out more about this topic from the exhibitors, either at the ITB Berlin Convention or the eTravel World.
Travel Technology in the convention programme
Travel technology topics are represented several times in the programme of the ITB Berlin Convention: PhoCusWright@ITB (7 March, Hall 7.3, Europa Hall) is the forum for travel technology experts and CXOs, who will be discussing market developments under the slogan “Travel Unleashed: Any. Every. Always.” Visitors can find out interesting information about the state and development of social media at the Marketing and Distribution Day (9 March, Hall 7.1b, London Hall). The programme on the stage at eTravel World (Hall 7.1c) also provides insight into trends such as Social-Mobile-Local (SoMoLo), couponing, mobile payment and review management. An all-day travel app marathon (10 March, eTravel World Hall 7.1c) informs visitors about the most exciting smartphone applications when on the move.
ITB Media Day: the meeting place for journalists and bloggers
Open press conference of ITB Berlin on 6 March 2012 – followed by further press conferences with exhibitors – a major networking event for bloggers
Berlin, 6 February 2012 – This year the media world is already gathering in Berlin from 6 March 2012. On the eve of ITB Berlin, for the first time, the world’s leading travel trade show will be devoting this day entirely to the media. Events will feature the opening press conference of ITB Berlin and further press conferences with individual exhibitors.An event welcoming bloggers from Germany and abroad, who this year will find a large number of events and discussion rounds on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds, will round off the ITB Media Day.
On 6 March at 10 a.m. the opening press conference of ITB Berlin will kick off events at the Palais am Funkturm on Hammarskjöldplatz,where the organisers of ITB Berlin will provide information on bookings and exhibitor numbers as well as trends and the challenges facing the world’s travel industry. This will be followed by a press conference with the Hungarian Tourist Board at Empore Ost which starts at 11.30 a.m.Afterwards, the Japanese Tourist Board will report on all the latest news for travellers to Japan at an event in the central area of the ground floor, starting at 1 p.m. At 2.30 p.m. ruf, a tour operator which organises accompanied travel for children, young people and young adults, will talk about developments in the market for young travellers as well as the company’s thirtieth anniversary.
Towards the end of the afternoon the focus will be on bloggers. From 5 p.m., Travel Massive @ITB Berlin will welcome bloggers from around the world at the Palais am Funkturm. At ITB Berlin the global networking initiative Travel Massive is organised by pocketvillage.deand sponsored by visitBerlin. Bloggers will be able to exchange views with the management of ITB Berlin and representatives of startups and tour operators in a relaxed atmosphere.
A variety of events for bloggers and anyone interested in blogging are also scheduled to take place during ITB Berlin. The New Media Summit at the eTravel World in Hall 7.1c, a special event for bloggers, will take place on Thursday, 8 March at 10.30 a.m. On Friday, 9 March at 11.30 a.m., taking as their slogan ”New kids on the blog – how destinations can succeed in the blogosphere“, tourist boards and bloggers will be discussing in what way and to what degree travel bloggers can successfully market destinations. Taking part in the discussion will be Reine Gammoh of Visit Jordan and blogger Keith Jenkins, who have jointly realised the iAmbassador project for Jordan. Michael Buller, chairman of Verband Internet-Reisevertrieb e.V. (VIR), will moderate the debate. During the afternoon the third ITB Media Summit will address the following issues: ”How are travel bloggers, corporate bloggers and travel technology bloggers changing the traditional media landscape?“. Dirk Rogl, deputy editor-in-chief of the business magazine fvw, will moderate the event. Among those taking part will be Angelika Schwaff, press spokeswoman of germanwings, a travel blogger and former travel journalist, and Sebastian Heinzel, CEO and corporate blogger, tripwolf.com, who will be discussing the transition from an electronic diary to a professional internet medium (Hall 7.1b, London Room, 2.45 to 4 p.m.).
This year ITB Berlin has created a special button that reads “for bloggers“, to make finding one’s way around the show as easy as possible. An overview of all the main events are listed at www.itb-berlin.com/Blogger.
Dr. Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics, is delighted that bloggers have expressed such keen interest in the travel show: ”In recent years bloggers’ interest in ITB Berlin has risen sharply. We note the industry is also very keen to strike up partnerships with bloggers and eager to make contact. ITB Berlin, the leading platform of the international travel industry, is the ideal venue for this.“
ITB Berlin Convention: power shifts in the hotel industry
The power of brands, safety in hotels and future workforce issues – leading international hotel experts and CEOs to debate the latest trends and challenges at the ITB Hospitality Day on 8 March 2012
Berlin, 2 February 2012 – Safety at hotels, the shortfall in staff in the hotel industry and the consolidation trend among hotel portals: these are items on the agenda at this year’s ITB Hospitality Day at the ITB Berlin Convention. On Thursday, 8 March 2012 experts and CEOs representing the hotel and tourism industries will be discussing the latest topics. Now in its seventh year, the forum has developed into one of the industry’s leading events. Maria Pütz-Willems, editor-in-chief of hospitalityInside.com, is responsible for its content.
Cassidy Morgan, CEO Central and Eastern Europe, Interbrand, will kick off the event with his keynote entitled “Unlimited brand power “.The first discussion round will take up this subject, asking: ”Brands everywhere: how many brands make sense?“. Bernold Schroeder, CEO, Jin Jiang International Hotels, China, and Osama Hirzalla, vice president, Brand Marketing and eCommerce Europe of Marriott International – the chain with more brands than anyone worldwide – will discuss whether many different brands offer travellers a better service or whether they are simply clever marketing strategies.
The wave of consolidation among hotel booking portals and new economic dependencies in the hotel distribution will be the main topics of the discussion round entitled ”Distribution: less providers with more power?“. Arne Erichsen, director of Markt-Management Deutschland, Expedia Partner Services Group; Monique Jaspers-Wijn, vice president, Business Development, EMEA beiSabre Hospitality Solutions; Tobias Ragge, managing director of HRS, and Ognjen Zeric, founder and managing director of the startup Justbook Mobile will debate the most recent shifts in the market and their impact.
Two discussion rounds at the ITB Hospitality Day will highlight issues concerning staff and senior executives. Taking as its slogan “the next generation“, the CEO panel will feature two well known CEOs and their sons. Chanin Donavanik, managing director and CEO of the luxury hotel group Dusit Hotels & Resorts, Thailand; Siradej Donavanik, manager, Investment and Development, Dusit Hotels; Daniel Müller, director, Operations, of the budget design chain Motel One Hotels & Resorts, and Dieter Müller, chairman of the board of One Hotels & Resorts, will talk to Maria Pütz-Willems about how the two generations view the hotel industry today and what challenges exist in business dealings between fathers and sons. The discussion round entitled ”The War for Talent: the mass exodus from the hotel industry“ will also address the topic of this sector’s future workforce. Manuel Konen, chairman of Konen & Lorenzen Recruitment Consultants; Katrin Melle, director, Human Resources, Hyatt International, and Robert F. Wetterauer, president of EUROCHRIE/European Council on Hotel, Restaurant & Institutional Education, will debate what the hotel industry must undertake to keep its trainees and future workforce and what incentives the industry needs to offer young graduates.
Rounding off the ITB Hospitality Day, the travel journalist and author Peter Hinze and his fellow panel members will discuss how hotels can protect their guests in the event of unexpected political unrest, crises and bombings. Mayar Abdel Aziz, tourism and marketing expert from El Gouna; Ed Fuller, the long-standing and experienced president and managing director of Marriott International, and Michael-W. Hartmann, senior vice president and head of Market Development Board Hospitality, Siemens AG will be debating the topic of “Safety: when a holiday turns into chaos“.
The 7th ITB Hospitality Day will take place on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds in Hall 7.1b, the London Room, on Thursday, 08 March 2012 from 10.30 a.m. to 5.30 p.m. The online trade magazine hospitalityInside.com is the media partner of the event. A trade visitor pass is valid for admission to the ITB Berlin Convention.
PhoCusWright@ITB Berlin: Preeminent Travel Technology Conference to Host Key European Travel Leaders
7 March 2012 event includes interviews with the CEOs of Booking.com and ODIGEO
Berlin, 1st February 2012 - Travel industry research authority PhoCusWright has unveiled a pioneering program forPhoCusWright@ITB, taking place Wednesday, 7 March 2012 in conjunction with ITB Berlin, The World’s Leading Travel Trade Show. Now in its seventh year, this conference-in-a-conference is meticulously designed by PhoCusWright’s expert analysts to help executives capitalize on key trends impacting the travel, tourism and hospitality marketplace.
This year’s event features interviews with the CEOs of two of Europe’s leading online travel agencies, Booking.com (Darren Huston) and the recently formed ODIGEO (Javier Perez-Tenessa). In addition, PhoCusWright analysts will share insights on key European consumer trends and deliver findings from a recent landmark study of the European vacation rental landscape. Dynamic roundtable sessions will focus on the emerging Russia travel market, mobile strategy and other hot topics.
PhoCusWright@ITB empowers an audience of travel professionals, innovators and thought leaders to interact in a unique community setting. A flexible format enables attendees to immerse themselves in the entire daylong event or focus on select sessions. The compact program is included at no additional charge with ITB Berlin tickets valid for entry on 7 March 2012, however advance registration is required.
This year’s theme, Travel Unleashed: Any, Every, Always heralds the exceptional forces liberating the travel marketplace. Amidst rapid advances in technology, constant change is the norm, and empowered, hyper-connected consumers are engaging with information and organizations in entirely new ways.PhoCusWright@ITB challenges travel companies to leverage these powerful new catalysts to attract and retain customers like never before.
PhoCusWright@ITB is followed on 8 March 2012 by The PhoCusWright New Media Summit, where travel bloggers, tweeters and social media enthusiasts from around the world will convene to share insights and strategies on new media in the travel industry.
ITB Berlin 2012: driving force for new trends and established industry meeting place
High growth in exhibitors from the Asian-Pacific region – socially responsible tourism and gay & lesbian travel are booming –Travel Technology Hall booked up since December – Deutsche Lufthansa back at ITB Berlin
Berlin, 31 January 2012 – The countdown to the 46th ITB Berlin, which takes place from 7 to 11 March 2012, has begun. Many of the halls at the world’s leading travel trade show are already booked up. Overall, Messe Berlin expects around 11,000 exhibiting companies and organisations from more than 180 countries to be present in the 26 halls on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin: “Bookings are level with last year’s figures, once again confirming ITB Berlin’s role as the travel industry’s leading international platform. Furthermore, ITB Berlin 2012 is living up to its reputation as the travel industry’s driving force. The ITB Berlin Convention’s agenda features up-to-the-minute and forward-looking themes and leading experts will be taking part in the debate. Among the topics will be cruises and tourism market developments in the Arab states.”
The focus is on the partner country Egypt which will be organising the opening ceremony on the eve of ITB Berlin. During the fair all of Egypt’s local regions will be presenting their wide range of products and services to trade visitors and the general public in Hall 23a.
Newcomers and returning exhibitors mirror the changing travel market
More exhibitors from the Far East and Southeast Asia will be at ITB Berlin than ever before. Indonesia, a booming tourism region, is making its way onto the market and Vietnam will also be strongly represented. Exhibitor numbers from China and Mongolia have grown significantly too, with nearly two dozen newcomers taking part. This trend is reflected by the fact that Hall 26 is now completely booked up, as is Hall 5.2a, which will mainly feature exhibitors from Southeast Asia and Australia. India (Hall 5.2b) will be occupying additional display areas in Hall 5.2a. New hotels from Rajasthan and Kerala will be exhibiting their products and services. The number of individual exhibitors from Bhutan has risen considerably too. Exhibitor numbers from Central Asia (Hall 7.2b) are also very high, due to the return of Bangladesh, absent from ITB Berlin since 2007, and to a rise in individual exhibitors from Uzbekistan.
Halls 20 and 21, where Africa is exhibiting, will also witness newcomers and the return of several countries. For example, the Republic of Côte d´Ivoire is back at ITB Berlin, as is Chad, which will be exhibiting in Hall 21, the first time since 1999. The Democratic Republic of Congo is also back at ITB Berlin. Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco and Libya will all be occupying larger stands. Réunion’s is expanding by 50 per cent.
Hall 25 will see numerous new arrivals. After several years’ absence Deutsche Lufthansa will be back at the show. Among those exhibiting for first time will be cruise tour operators such as Passat Kreuzfahrten, TUI-Flussgenuss, Hapag-Loyd and Plantours. Software providers will be debuting in this section, including Tripadvisor, Unister, Mystifly, Air Fast Tickets, Expedia, Travel Guru (India), Booking Markets and z-direct.
The USA will be occupying a larger stand in Hall 2.1, as will several countries from Central America: Panama, Nicaragua and Honduras (Hall 3.1). Short-haul destinations are becoming more popular, with growth in the European halls reflecting a significant tourism trend. Among other newcomers are exhibitors representing Portugal, Greece, Italy, Spain and the Turkish Riviera.
The wellness boom continues. Hall 16 is fully booked up and on the open days for the general public a big programme of stage events hosted by Beauty 24 will be taking place here. Tour operators More Travel from Latvia and Chic Outlet Shopping, who are also newcomers to the show, will be displaying their products in Hall 18. Under the Holland Classics brand name, Keukenhof, Floriade World Expo Holland 2012 and numerous other partners will be exhibiting Dutch specialities on its stand.
The Gay & Lesbian Travel section no longer represents a niche market, a trend mirrored by the growth in products on display in Hall 2.1. For the first time Brazil will be hosting its own stand and exhibitors from Greece, Mexico and Portugal will also be debuting at the show. Inside the trade visitor area the Pink Pavilion boasts its own genuine Viennese coffee house. For the first time in its history Dertour has released a gay and lesbian travel catalogue, a reflection of the expanding market. Adventure travel and socially responsible tourism are also growth markets. Together with many newcomers from South America, as well as Geoparcs and organisations such as the Rainforest Alliance, Atmosfair, Myclimate, Ecpat, Tourism Watch, TourCert and the International Eco Tourism Society, Greenland will be promoting itself as a new destination in Hall 4.1. One of the high points at ITB Berlin 2012 will be the celebration of the thirtieth anniversary of RUF Jugendreisen.
Travel technology plays an increasingly important role
The number of exhibitors back at the show representing mobile travel and social media mirrors the continuing success of the eTravel World platform in Hall 7.1c. This section has been booked up since December, an indication of the market’s growing significance and the dynamic developments taking place here. Companies representing social review management services such as Reevoo and Review Pro will be setting new trends. Thursday and Friday will mark the high points of the programme of stage events. On Thursday and Friday international panel discussions debating travel blogs will be taking place at ITB Berlin. This is the first time simultaneous interpreting into English and German will be available at these events. On the Saturday of the show in Hall 7.1c an app marathon will be taking place that offers the general public an overview of the world of travel apps. ITB Berlin supports the Travel App Guide (published by mvolution, Alabasta Verlag) which will be re-released to coincide with ITB Berlin 2012.
Trade visitors will be able to obtain in-depth knowledge about social media not only at the eTravel World but also at the PhoCusWright@ITB Travel Technology Convention on Wednesday, 7 March and at the Marketing and Distribution Day on Friday, 9 March at the ITB Berlin Convention.
The details, products and services of all the exhibitors at the ITB Berlin can be found at the Virtual Market Place at www.virtualmarket.itb-berlin.com. The Virtual Market Place also functions as an online catalogue. Information is updated on a regular basis.
Business travel success factors in 2012
ITB Berlin Business Travel Days address hot topics
Berlin, 23 January 2012 – Rarely have changes affecting the overall situation in politics, society and the economy had such a dynamic impact on the business travel world as in present times. How are they influencing travel management decisions? From 7 to 9 March, at a panel discussion at the ITB Berlin Business Travel Forum, this is what experts from various countries will be discussing. Ron DiLeo, Executive Director of the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), will moderate a panel with high-ranking participants. Among its members are Herman Mensink, Vice President EMEA of the PRISM Group Inc., Lutz Stammnitz, CEO, Global Mobility Services, Siemens, and Vadim Zelenski, Chairman of the Russian Association of Business Travel.
Corporate size has long ceased to guarantee marketplace success, as evidenced by the example of numerous medium-sized companies catering to the business travel market who have found their market niche and enjoy a high reputation among their customers. Attended by leading figures from a variety of sectors, among them Otto Lindner jun., Chairman of Lindner Hotels & Resorts, the panel discussion entitled “Small is beautiful“ will debate success factors and talk about individual challenges.
A presentation by the Business Travel Committee of the German Travel Association (DRV) at the Business Travel Forum entitled ”Business Travel – a management issue“ will also be eagerly awaited. Travel management companies want to firmly focus senior executives’ attention on the topic of business travel. At the same time an exclusive report is due to arrive directly from the Federal Chancellery.
The topic of travel safety is also becoming more and more important. In the case of international companies this forms part of their risk management. Hans Jürgen Stephan, Managing Director of Control Risks Deutschland, will talk about existing strategies and instruments. Another panel discussion will debate whether the new Optional Payment Charge (OPC) really presents companies with an alternative.
A trade visitor pass to ITB Berlin grants admission to all the lectures at the Business Travel Forum. Costing 46 euros, it is available from the online shop at www.itb-berlin.com/VisitorCentre/TicketsAndEntrances. The ITB Business Travel Lounge by HSMA in Hall 8.1 and the new ITB Berlin Business Travel Café by VDR in Hall 7.1 each offer visitors excellent opportunities for networking in a relaxed atmosphere. More details are available at www.itb-convention.com/businesstravel.
Attractive travel arrangements for the ITB Business Travel Days 2012
Special travel packages and other services are available to business travel and MICE industry buyers attending the ITB Business Travel Days. A travel package including single overnight accommodation costs 89 euros, or 139 euros for two nights from 7 to 9 March. Prices cover a single room and breakfast at Hotel Estrel Berlin, a bus shuttle to and from the exhibition grounds, a trade visitor pass for admission to ITB Berlin and to seminars at the ITB Business Travel Days 2012.
Reservations can also be made for a Deutsche Bahn first-class return fare from any railway station in Germany, valid from 05 to 13 March 2012, as well as for various seminars and conferences offering fascinating lectures. More details and information on available bookings can be found at www.itb-convention.com/businesstravel.
In 2012 hotel.de will once again be the ITB Business Travel Days’ official partner for hotel reservations and over the five days of the show will be displaying its products to business travellers, business travel managers and event planners in Hall 8.1. Business travel executives will also be able to find out how, by using the hotel.de application for companies, they can save time and costs when making hotel reservations.
MICE Day at ITB Berlin provides tips for event planners
Berlin, 17 January 2012 – Event managers can do anything, but one thing they should not be is boring. Customers and guests’ demands are growing day by day, and so there is a constant need for new ideas. This is exactly what event planners will be getting at MICE Day at ITB Berlin on 7 March 2012. The keynote will set the tone for a fascinating event when Stephan Meyer, well-known for his unorthodox approach, will be merrily issuing instructions to throw conventions overboard.
Anyone looking to meet the industry’s opinion-formers, leading event planners and service providers and intent on cultivating relations with colleagues will find no other meeting offering more under one roof. As part of the ITB Business Travel Days this one-day session offers MICE organisers a packed range of advanced training options with concrete solutions, a “manual for a successful event“. Discussion will focus on why communication objectives must be clearly formulated ahead of events, how emotive story telling works, and what the legal pitfalls are. Among the speakers will be leading experts such as Matthias Kindler, managing director of The Companies, Friederike von der Marwitz, head of Marwitz Akademie, and Mandy Risch-Kerst, a lawyer who specialises in legal matters concerning events.
Dr. Simon C. Woodward of Leeds Metropolitan University will present the findings of a survey entitled “Corporate Social Responsibility in the Meetings and Hospitality Industry”. The organisers of the convention taking place in the capital from 18 to 20 June 2012 will provide a fascinating insight into event industry trends of the future.
Holders of a trade visitor pass for ITB Berlin can attend lectures at MICE Day at no extra cost. Once again Vereinigung Deutscher Veranstaltungsorganisatoren, the partners of the event, will be guaranteeing highest standards. A new exhibition area next to the lecture hall will provide decision-makers and executives with an opportunity to meet and talk. The ITB Berlin Business Travel Lounge awaits its guests in Hall 8.1.
More details are available at www.itb-convention.com/businesstravel.
Attractive travel arrangements for the ITB Business Travel Days 2012
Special travel packages and other services are available to business travel and MICE industry buyers attending the ITB Business Travel Days. A travel package including single overnight accommodation costs 89 euros, or 139 euros for two nights from 7 to 9 March. Prices cover a single room and breakfast at Hotel Estrel Berlin, a bus shuttle to and from the exhibition grounds, a trade visitor pass for admission to ITB Berlin and to seminars at the ITB Business Travel Days 2012.
Reservations can also be made for a Deutsche Bahn first-class return fare from any railway station in Germany, valid from 05 to 13 March 2012, as well as for various seminars and conferences offering fascinating lectures. More details and information on available bookings can be found at www.itb-convention.com/businesstravel.
Cruise industry increases its efforts to protect the environment
Integrated approach all the way from ship construction to operation and the involvement of passengers – ITB World Travel Trends Report presents the latest trends and developments – Distinguished Cruise Executive Panel at ITB Berlin Convention 2012
Berlin, 22 December 2011 – With the dynamic expansion of the worldwide cruise industry attention is focusing increasingly on the subject of sustainability. International shipping lines have been introducing a whole range of ecological and social measures. Environmentalists and cruise experts are also calling for greater corporate social responsibility in the cruise sector. That is why Dr. Alexis Papathanassis, Professor for Cruise Management at the Hochschule (Institute of Higher Education) Bremerhaven, spoke out in favour of a more pro-active approach to sustainability at the recent World Travel Trends Forum in Pisa: “The industry should see sustainability as an opportunity and not as a threat.”
Between 2005 and 2010 the international cruise industry expanded by some 35 per cent. According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, with a total of 6.5 million trips annually, cruise passengers in Europe already account for two per cent of all vacation travel. One consequence of this development is the need for increased responsibility in all matters of sustainability, and this has led, for example, to the introduction of sustainability reports, documenting the ecological and social measures being undertaken. Dr. Alexis Papathanassis wants to see a more integrated approach, covering the entire cycle from the construction of a ship to its deployment and also incorporating aspects such as socio-cultural sustainability: “More supervision is required instead of a patchwork of rules and regulations.” At present the cruise industry is applying a “Triple E” approach, comprising Engineering (the deployment of more eco-friendly ships), Education (activities and reports) and Enforcement (legal checks).
However, Papathanassis believes that new technical solutions and more innovative mechanical engineering are needed if the ecological impact of cruises is to be reduced. Furthermore environmental protection should be made part of the cruising experience, for example in the form of on-board activities or excursions on land, so that passengers can support local communities.
The cruise industry has, until now, shown a lack of sustainable responsibility, uniting all the various aspects and all those involved in this market, in order to create a combined approach. This requires a whole catalogue of measures such as legally based monitoring, technological innovations, initiatives aimed a clarifying various aspects, and a more highly developed awareness of sustainability issues. “The industry should see sustainability as an opportunity and not as a threat”, concluded Dr. Alexis Papathanassis.
An acknowledged expert on the cruise market, he will be chairing an Executive Cruise Panel on the subject of “The worldwide cruise industry today and tomorrow” at the ITB Berlin Convention on Wednesday, 7 March 2012. The speakers taking part in this panel discussion will be: Larry Pimentel, President & CEO Azamara Club Cruises; Peter Shanks, President & Managing Director Cunard Line; Pier Luigi Foschi, Chairman Costa Cruise Lines; Michael Bayley, Executive Vice President International Operations Royal Caribbean International; Enzo Visone, CEO, Silversea Cruises.
Young Chinese citizens say goodbye to group tours
New kinds of Chinese tourists are keen to experience individual travel – the economic boom and fascination with technology are driving their desire to travel – the ITB World Travel Trends Report presents the aspects that make up China’s latest generation of tourists
Berlin, 19 December 2011 – In the near future, the sight of groups of Chinese tourists following their tour guides around to the most beautiful tourist attractions could well become a thing of the past.Young and wealthy Chinese citizens fascinated by technology and with a desire to experience individual forms of travel are no longer taking the kind of trips once popular with many Chinese people.According to the latest ITB World Travel Trends Report, Chinese citizens’ travel habits are undergoing huge change.In order to keep up with the ever-increasing number of Chinese tourists the international travel industry must tailor its services to meet the demands of China’s new generation of tourists. Chinese speaking staff, typical Chinese dishes, and communicating via China’s popular social media channels could well be the recipes for success.
The economic boom is the driving force behind Chinese citizens’ desire to travel.Well-educated young professionals in particular are benefiting from the economic boom and can afford to take international trips which focus on experiencing something new.The demand is for high-quality service rather than low-cost group tours. China’s tourists want to experience individual travel. While visiting as many attractions as possible remains an important part of a tour, factors such as relaxation and entertainment have now moved further up the wish list.For many Chinese people shopping is still one of their favourite activities when travelling abroad. One indicator of this is the average amount of money they spend per visit, which has now reached double-digit figures.
In order for the travel industry to be acknowledged by Chinese tourists it must meet their specific requests and demands and respect their local culture and customs. Chinese speaking staff and audio guides in museums ensure that tourists feel welcome.For many travellers, additional comforts such as a kettle in one’s room for preparing snacks in between meals or Chinese dishes on the hotel restaurant menu are seen as respecting their culture.
Baidu instead of Facebook
Tour operators should also take the needs and habits of Chinese people into account on their websites.Individual information pertaining to the market as well as links to Chinese search engines such as Baidu are what is required, instead of simply translating one’s own content. Websites should be hosted in China to enable a quick response to any censorship activities.Furthermore, they should not contain any links to websites which are banned in China, such as Facebook or YouTube.Chinese citizens go on different social networking sites, and this must be taken into account.For Chinese people, taking their specific cultural aspects into account is equivalent to affording someone respect, whereas for many Chinese tourists a website that ignores their needs is tantamount to a bad travel experience.
Dr. Martin Buck, the director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: “In China, social networking takes place through channels different to those in the West.Tourism managers need to be aware of typical national aspects, including in the digital sphere, in order to achieve success on the market.”
Digital natives – including with travel planning
For China’s young generation of digital natives especially, social media, online bookings and mobile technologies are indispensable tools for planning and booking trips.In particular those who wish to travel abroad make use of online media to prepare in detail and to obtain information on their travel destination, and after a trip they share their experiences with other community members on the web. 92 per cent of China’s internet users go on social networking sites, around twice as many as in Europe or the US.However, according to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, despite the rapid rise of online bookings for flights, tours and accommodation, they have not yet left conventional travel agencies behind.
Chinese tourists remain eager to travel, and Chinese citizens are well on the way to soon becoming one of the world’s main source markets for tourism. According to estimates by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), 66 million Chinese citizens travelled abroad this year,15 per cent more than in 2010.Even if the majority of these day trips and those including overnight stays are to former colonies, i.e. Hong Kong and Macau, the number of trips taken by Chinese citizens to other countries in Asia and beyond is increasing rapidly.IPK’s Asian Travel Monitor expects that by the end of the year Chinese citizens will have undertaken around 18 million trips with overnight stays to destinations abroad. The most popular countries in Europe for Chinese holidaymakers are Germany and France.
A boost for South America – USA stagnates
South America benefits from stable growth – recession dampens US citizens’ desire for travel abroad – ITB World Travel Trends Report examines travel trends and opportunities in the Americas
Berlin, 13 December 2011 – It is a tale of two Americas where travel trends are concerned. In 2011 the South American market remained buoyant, whereas international arrivals in North America rose only slightly and US travel abroad was weak. These are the findings of the latest ITB World Travel Trends Report. Boosted by the strong economic performance of countries such as Brazil and Argentina, South America’s domestic and international travel markets registered high double-digit growth. In America, economic uncertainty dampened many US citizens’ desire for travel. Trips to North America increased slightly over the last eight months, whereas international travel remained at last year’s levels. For next year UNWTO forecasts a four to five per cent increase in international tourists from the Americas, compared with 6.4 per cent in 2010.
South America – a success story
By contrast, many countries in South America can reap satisfaction from a travel market that continues to boom. Even if growth rates have now slowed when compared with previous years, during the past eight months trips abroad by South Americans increased by 15 per cent. Brazilians were particularly keen to travel. With the help of a robust domestic economy and strong currency they spent 45 per cent more on trips abroad than in 2010. Relatively young, well educated and wealthy travellers are characteristic of South America’s three burgeoning markets, those of Brazil, Argentina and Mexico. The arrival of more and more low-cost airlines in South America will further increase the number of long-haul trips. Many holidaymakers who travel abroad have also put South America at the top of their wish list. International arrivals increased by 13 per cent, while trips to the Caribbean and Central America rose by a lowly four per cent each.
US citizens spend their holidays at home
The difficult economic times currently experienced by many Americans is also reflected in how they take holidays. The focus is increasingly on price awareness and travel bargains. ’Staycationers’ either remain at home altogether or go on holiday locally. Only 23 per cent of US citizens intend to take more trips abroad next year, 28 per cent aim to take less, while 23 per cent have no plans at all to travel abroad next year. The US inbound market registered only slight growth. During the last eight months the number of international arrivals rose by only three per cent, compared with seven per cent in 2010.
Now online: a concise overview of travel industry trends
Details of global travel trends can be found in the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2011 which went online today and can be downloaded at www.itb-berlin.com. The findings are based on the assessments of 50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International trend analysis undertaken in leading source markets, and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitor®, recognised as the largest ongoing survey of global travel trends in some 60 source countries. The findings reflect trends which emerged during the first eight months of 2011. At the ITB Berlin Convention Rolf Freitag, CEO of IPK International, will present the findings for the entire year, as well as the latest forecasts for 2012.
Asia’s travel market is booming
Growing prosperity boosts Asian-Pacific travel industry – ITB World Travel Trends Report presents opportunities and risks
Berlin, 2 December 2011 – Rising earnings are fanning people’s desire to travel in the Asian-Pacific region. A year-on-year comparison shows that in the first eight months of 2011 the number of Asians who travelled abroad rose by six per cent. According to the findings of the latest ITB World Travel Trends Report, next year’s figure is forecast to rise by a further five per cent.China’s continuing economic boom means that its residents are particularly keen to travel their own country, a development which will also benefit the travel industry in both Europe and the Americas.
Increasing prosperity among the middle classes, particularly in China, India and Southeast Asia, is driving the tourism boom in the Asian-Pacific region.The report is compiled by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin. Its figures are based on extracts from the Asian Travel Monitor and on assessments by more than 50 tourism experts and scientists from around the world.
The prospects for Asia remain good. When asked about their travel intentions next year, 32 per cent of the respondents said they aimed to travel more than in 2011, 37 per cent wanted to travel as often, and only 19 per cent said they would travel less. These are the results of the IPK International trend analysis.
New products and low-cost airlines boost growth
This trend is also responsible for an increasingly diverse range of travel products. Upmarket urban life in Asia has generated a demand for specialised products, such as history and culture, ’edutainment’ parks, adventure holidays, luxury travel and sports tourism.Next year, Japan’s travel industry will be boosted by the country becoming part of the Asian low-cost carrier network. In recent years the emergence of low-cost airlines has resulted in rising numbers from other Asian countries travelling within Asia.According to the World Travel Trends Report, more and more Arab airlines flying to Asia will also generate an increasing number of trips.
Dr. Martin Buck, the director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: “Asia remains one of the world’s fastest-growing travel markets and also has great potential for the European travel industry.Many tourism companies have already realised this. Simply describing one’s products in Mandarin is not enough. Marketing efforts must also take typical local aspects into account. In China, for instance, firewalls block international networking sites such as Facebook. The best way to reach Chinese people is via a local equivalent called RenRen.”
Successes and flops in Asia in 2011
Travelling in the Asian-Pacific region continues to fascinate people.In particular, countries in Southern and Southeast Asia reported significant growth. The countries ranked highest are Thailand, with close to 16 million visitors per year, and Vietnam with five million tourists from abroad.Other increasingly popular countries include destinations such as Burma, Laos and Cambodia, all of which reported two-digit growth this year.
By contrast, countries in Northeast Asia experienced a decline, in particular due to a severe fall in numbers of trips to Japan. To date, inbound tourism to Japan has failed to recover since the earthquake disaster in March 2011. During the first nine months of this year the country’s travel industry suffered a 30 per cent drop in tourism. However, unlike after previous crises, a rapid recovery is taking place. As far as their desire to travel is concerned the Japanese have barely suffered, with trips abroad falling by only six per cent. In the months after the disaster it was destinations in Asia which above all benefited from Japanese tourists. According to the Japan Travel Bureau Foundation the stress experienced after the disaster motivated people to travel instead of keeping them at home.What is more, people in Japan began to rethink their priorities, shying away from mass consumption and instead preferring energy saving and greater involvement in social and voluntary work. This also benefits tourism,as people are often now more willing to spend money on an adventure-style experience such as a vacation rather than on retail goods.
Travel industry trends in brief
Details of global travel trends will be presented by the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2011, due to be published in early December at www.itb-berlin.com. The report is based on the assessments of 50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International trend analysis undertaken in leading source markets, and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitor®, recognised as the largest continuous survey of global travel trends in some 60 source countries. The findings reflect trends which emerged during the first eight months of 2011.At the ITB Berlin Convention Rolf Freitag, CEO of IPK International, will present the findings for the entire year, as well as the latest forecasts for 2012.
European tourism defies the euro crisis
Robust growth in European and international travel – city breaks and short trips preferred – only three per cent use smartphones to book trips
Berlin, 21 November 2011 – Good news for European tourism: despite continuing economic turbulence European tourism industry figures are up. These are the findings of the ITB World Travel Trends Report, compiled by IPK International and commissioned by ITB Berlin. The figures are based on extracts from the European Travel Monitor and World Travel Monitor as well as on assessments by more than 50 tourism experts and scientists from around the world.
According to the findings, a year-on-year comparison shows that trips out of Europe have increased by four per cent. Economic uncertainty in many European countries has not affected travel spending, which has risen by two per cent.
According to UNTWO, from January to August 2011 international trips to Europe rose to 671 million, an increase of 4.5 per cent. The forecast for next year is positive too. In September 2011 travellers from 13 European countries were asked whether and how often they intended to travel next year. 43 per cent said they would be travelling as often in 2012 as this year. 27 per cent aimed to travel more. By contrast, 20 per cent said they would be travelling less than in 2011. Overall, IPK’s ‘European Travel Confidence Index’ lies at 103 points for 2012, indicating 2-3% growth next year. This would represent solid growth and would mean a new all-time high number of trips, ahead of the previous record year of 2008.
Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: “Despite the difficulties experienced by various eurozone countries Europe’s travel industry has to date made it safely through 2011. In particular, stable prices and easy online booking procedures have ensured that Europe continues to attract international travellers and also remains the world’s leading source market.“
The Swiss are keen travellers – popular destinations
The Swiss were noted as particularly keen travellers. The number of trips they took grew by nine per cent. They were followed by Sweden (seven per cent) and Belgium (six per cent) respectively. Germans were more restrained. In 2011 the number of trips they took rose by only one per cent.
According to the European Travel Monitor, compared with 2010 short-haul trips grew by four per cent and made up 90 per cent of trips overall. An extra three per cent decided to travel long distance. The number of short trips with one to three overnights rose by ten per cent, while figures for longer stays stagnated.
As far as shorter journeys were concerned, respondents among the 13 European nations polled preferred trips to northern, central and southwestern European regions. Due to the political revolutions in countries such as Tunisia and Egypt many tourists avoided North Africa, which suffered losses of 15 per cent. Travel to the Asia-Pacific region stagnated too, due to a drop in trips to Japan following the Fukushima disaster. The winners were North and South America, which together registered a six per cent increase in tourism.
Among European travellers major cities were popular again this year. City breaks were among the most popular form of travel, rising by ten per cent, followed by round trips (eight per cent) and beach holidays (six per cent). By contrast, trips to rural regions and ski holidays fell by seven and five per cent respectively. European travellers clearly like to save money getting to their destination: low-cost flights rose by ten per cent, while traditional air travel suffered a four per cent drop.
Bookings by smartphones have made no significant impact to date. Only three per cent of European travellers said they used mobile devices to make their travel reservations. 97 per cent of internet users booked their trips via a PC or laptop. As far as booking accommodation is concerned, online reservations (63 per cent) have now already overtaken bookings by telephone or in person (37 per cent).
Details of European travel trends will be presented by the ITB World Travel Trends Report, which will be published in early December at www.itb-berlin.com. The report is based on the assessments of 50 tourism experts from 30 countries, on a special IPK International trend analysis undertaken in leading source markets, and on core data supplied by the World Travel Monitor®, recognised as the largest continuous survey of global travel trends in some 60 source countries. The findings reflect trends which emerged during the first eight months of 2011. At the ITB Berlin Convention Rolf Freitag, CEO of IPK International, will present the findings for the entire year, as well as the latest forecasts for 2012.
Carpe Diem – Carpe ITB-Cinema
Tourism film competition from 7th to 11th March 2012 at the ITB-Cinema in Berlin
Das goldene Stadttor means an innovative show of best ideas of tourism. This is where new ideas are be shown to attract tourists. Here will be shown the state of the art in film design to stay in memory forever. Innovatively ideas full of information and emotions to create curios recipients who instantly wants to know more about the places.
New films of the entire tourism industry will be shown by the international film competition Das goldene Stadttor - The Golden City Gate at the ITB-cinema during the ITB-Berlin from 7 till 11 of march 2012 again. In the jury there are judges from politics, economy, sciences, art and touristics as well as the hotel and event management evaluating the actual contributions. Also representatives from the international tourism industry, advertising agencies and event agencies can apply for the jury.
DM-SAT will report about the awards show, as already did BBC, CNN, Deutsche Welle TV. Please have a seat at the ITB-Cinema TV studio corner announcing your statements at www.itb-tv.de .Take advantage of many of good values of brandnew contacts throughout the ITB-Cinema. Of course we can give your our stage of the ITB-Cinema to introduce your presentation. Also press conferences in the ITB Cinema with 60 to 100 seats are possible.
ITB Berlin Convention 2012: The compass of the international travel industry
Podium discussions on the shortfall in workers and managers – ITB Mobility Day the new ”theme day” – ITB Health Tourism Battle, with visitBerlin as an innovative format for companies and destinations
Berlin, 17 November 2011 – Ground-breaking topics will be on the agenda of tourism’s leading think tank. Next year, from 7 to 9 March, the ITB Berlin Convention will once again be taking a look at the most important trends in the international travel industry. At numerous podium discussions and lectures with leading experts and practitioners from the tourism industry and related sectors visitors to ITB Berlin will receive useful information and valuable suggestions on future action. For visitors to ITB Berlin a regular ticket for admission to the trade fair will also be valid for the convention.
Dr. Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics: “Over the past eight years the ITB Berlin Convention has earned itself a reputation as an important compass of the global tourism industry. Every year the convention combines innovative topics and exclusive surveys with outstanding speakers of international standing. It not only gives visitors a distinct advantage in terms of knowledge, but also represents an ideal networking platform.”
The growing shortfall in specialists, plus competition for highly qualified young employees also presents the tourism industry with enormous challenges. For this reason the “war for talent” will be a new key topic at the ITB Future Day. Personnel and tourism experts will discuss how companies are gearing up to compete for specialists and how the travel industry can learn from the experiences of other industries. Among other topics on the agenda will be ensuring high-quality services in a service-driven sector such as the tourism industry. Following Thursday’s Hospitality Day, on Friday, 9 March 2012 in Hall 5.1, a concise overview of college training and advanced training courses awaits future hotel industry specialists and managers.
Next year the ITB Berlin Convention will have a broad range to offer at the ITB Mobility Day. This year, as host of the ITB Eco-Mobility Day and a discussion on sustainable transport, the ITB Berlin Convention once again lived up to its reputation as a leading innovator. In 2012 the ITB Mobility Day will for the first time cover all forms of transport, and present examples of the latest best practices and new findings on climate-friendly transport.
Next year, in addition to ecological and economic issues, the ITB CSR Day will also examine aspects of social sustainability. For the first time the programme will include the topic of accessibility. A further session will discuss the fast-growing number of sustainability certificates and how trustworthy they are for both the industry and consumers. At the ITB CSR Day the tour operator Studiosus will be talking about human rights in the tourism industry..
The ITB Berlin Convention has put together a new format dealing with the topic of health tourism. In collaboration with visitBerlin nine companies and destinations will introduce their concepts during four-minute slots at the ”ITB Health Tourism Battle“. By pressing a button the audience can decide on which concept is best, and will reward its creators with a city tour of Berlin.
Indonesia – the official partner country of ITB Berlin 2013
Indonesia and world’s leading travel trade show sign partnership agreement
Berlin, 13 October 2011 – In 2013 Indonesia will be the official partner country of ITB Berlin. Dr. Sapta Nirwandar, Director General of Tourism Marketing of the Ministry for Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Indonesia and Dr. Martin Buck, Vice President of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics, signed a preliminary agreement on behalf of the world’s leading travel trade show and the future partner country of ITB Berlin.
“In recent years Indonesia has experienced huge economic growth. As one of the heavyweights in Southeast Asia Indonesia also offers great potential for Germany, its foremost trading partner in the European Union“, said Dr. Sapta Nirwandar. “Our participation in ITB Berlin 2013 will give a long-term boost to our popularity on the German and international market, and with our wide range of tourism products we will be sending out a positive signal to both trade visitors and the general public.
Indonesia is the biggest archipelago country in the world. It is rich with long history, cultures and heritage. Indonesia will warmly welcome all its guests and serve them with all the luxury tourism they ever wish for. In this country, guests will easily find any kind of luxurious services during their journey, from prestigious hotel, golf, spa, yacht to wedding and honeymoon packages. Journey and holiday to Indonesia will definitely be wonderful ones.”
Dr. Martin Buck: “This year Indonesia was represented at ITB Berlin for the 42nd time. We are delighted that the largest island nation in the world is expanding its presence at the show, and that in its role as official partner country it will be the focus of the international travel industry. Travellers representing the general public as well as MICE executives are fascinated by the diversity that Indonesia has to offer. Its innumerable islands and its centuries-old wealth of cultural and natural attractions are a magnet for travellers around the world. With so many animal and plant species, fascinating geological formations and outstanding opportunities for underwater diving, as a tourism destination Indonesia has stepped out of the shadow of Thailand and Malaysia. ITB Berlin is the ideal platform to present this country to the international media and to visitors, as well as to underline its importance as one of the leading and safest holiday destinations in Southeast Asia.“
At ITB Berlin 2011 Indonesia was represented with a two-tier stand covering 400 square metres and provided trade visitors and the general public with information on nature and its culture, the two mainstays of the Indonesian tourism industry. The campaign promoting “Wonderful Indonesia“ reflects the wide range of tourism products on offer, which in 2010 attracted seven million visitors to the country.
Sporting holidays are gaining ground in Europe
Sporting holidays are gaining ground in Europe
Higher growth than cruises – German tourists keenest on sports – Austria the most popular destination for sporting holidaymakers
Berlin, 18 August 2011 – Sporting holidays are destined to become a winning trend. According to the latest survey of the World Travel Monitor®, commissioned by ITB Berlin, over the last five years there has been a double-digit increase in sporting holidays among European tourists, which has even overtaken cruises, which five years ago ranked ahead of sporting holidays. Germans in particular are keenest on sports, and account for 42 per cent of the nine million sporting holidays taken by Europeans abroad. At 14 per cent the Dutch rank second. In other European markets sporting holidays make up only six per cent or less.
Among sporting holidaymakers the most popular destination is Austria, which among Europeans attracts 24 per cent of the market, followed by Italy and Germany, which each account for 11 per cent. During the last five years Germans also preferred Austria for testing their sporting limits. At 42 per cent Austria ranks ahead of Italy (18 per cent) and Switzerland (14 per cent).
The most popular activities among European sporting holidaymakers are hiking (38 per cent) and cycling tours (23 per cent). They are followed in third by motor sports (car, motorcycle and motorboat racing) at 14 per cent. At ten per cent golf ranks fourth in the sporting popularity stakes. Among German sporting holidaymakers hiking (34 per cent) and cycling (25 per cent) are the leaders among the top ten most popular sporting activities. Nine per cent of German sporting holidaymakers prefer golf.
Dr. Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: “Sporting holidays are a niche segment with a serious potential for tourism in the future. A growing awareness of one’s body and mind means that people are increasingly keen to improve their health when on vacation.”
What is striking is that sporting holidaymakers belong to the wealthier parts of society and as such are a much targeted segment of the market. European sporting holidaymakers average 43 years of age, and most of them live in households without children. More men than women are attracted to sports when they are on holiday. At 45 years of age, German sporting holidaymakers may be a little older than the European average, but in all other respects they are no different than other European citizens.
Socially responsible and sustainable: Studienkreis again announces the international TO DO! Contest
Berlin, 15 June 2011 – The TO DO! – Contest Socially Responsible Tourism is announced worldwide for the 17th time by Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V. (Institute for Tourism and Development). Enterprises and public or private institutions that take into account the interests and needs of the local population in their touristic activities are welcome to apply.
That socially responsible and sustainable projects and measures can be economically successful at the same time has been proven impressively by the latest TO DO! award winners. Prize winners range from grassroot projects to luxury resorts.
More information about former award winners, criteria, conditions of participation and application forms in German and English are available now:
www.to-do-contest.org (also for download).
Deadline of application for TO DO! 2011 is August 31st 2011.
Entries by email are also welcome.
Organiser of the TO DO! Contest (carried out since 1995) is
Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung e.V., Bahnhofstraße 8,
D-82229 Seefeld, Tel: +49-(0)8152-999010, Fax: +49-(0)8152-99901-66,
Email: info@studienkreis.org Website: www.studienkreis.org – www.to-do-contest.org
Sponsors of TO DO!:
German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, Europäische Reiseversicherung AG, Church Development Service (EED), ITB Berlin, Swiss Foundation for Solidarity in Tourism, Studiosus Reisen München GmbH, TUI Deutschland GmbH.
Prize monies TO DO!:
The Swiss Foundation for Solidarity in Tourism (SST) will donate 5,000 Swiss Francs prize money for each winner. The Europäische Reiseversicherung AG adds another 2,100 Euros for the award winners.
UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit: Commitment and cooperation to establish a powerful brand
The first UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit, held at ITB 2011, has concluded with commitment to enhanced cooperation to achieve the objectives of the Silk Road Action Plan, a collaborative framework for advancing tourism development across 25 countries (Berlin, Germany, 9-13 March 2011).
“This is an exciting period in the development of Silk Road tourism,” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai, welcoming Tourism Ministers and Ambassadors from over 25 Silk Road countries. “The Silk Road is a powerful brand for leveraging continued tourism growth in Asia and the Middle East, while utilizing online technologies and social media. Nevertheless, there are still many barriers to be overcome as we work towards our objectives, including improved travel facilitation for tourists.”
At the Summit (9 March), UNWTO highlighted the importance of promoting a consistent and cohesive Silk Road brand identity across destinations. The results of preliminary online market research were revealed showing the Silk Road as the world’s most searched and sought after international travel route. UNWTO also introduced a web initiative which it has been developing with TripAdvisor, designed to promote all of the Silk Road destinations on one unique, informative and interactive online platform.
Ministers, Vice Ministers and Ambassadors from over 25 countries participated in the Summit, sharing their views and experiences on how they could benefit from cooperating with other destinations to drive development through the Silk Road brand. Tour operators urged the destinations to consider the importance of increasing accessibility, tourism infrastructure and the development of a reliable product.
UNWTO outlined the Silk Road Action Plan activities implemented so far and presented key objectives for the coming years. Priorities include comprehensive brand research and the establishment of a Silk Road brand toolkit. Travel facilitation is also high on the agenda.
Following the Summit, Mr. Rifai joined President and CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH, Mr. Raimund Hosch, on a VIP Walk on the Silk Road, meeting the Ministers on their stands and visiting the new Silk Road pavilions.
Other Silk Road events at ITB included the Silk Road Tour Operators’ Networking Event where outbound and incoming tour operators met to explore new business opportunities along the Silk Road and the Silk Road Hour, a collection of short films featuring the destinations of the Silk Road, screened daily at the ITB Cinema.
Exhibitors’ views about ITB Berlin 2011
Sengee Oyundelger, Director of the Mongolian presentation at ITB Berlin: “The cultural partnership with the ITB Berlin Convention enabled us to stage the largest display every by Mongolia at ITB Berlin. The entire package was excellent, with an outstanding combination of online presentation and promotion. Occupying three separate halls enabled us to present three different products. In addition to our main stand we also had stands devoted to environmental and cultural tourism.”
Mehdi Houas, Tunisian Minister of Tourism: “This is my first ITB Berlin. I am touched and overwhelmed by so much sympathy and so many discussions. My country has found many new friends. It was a significant moment for me to attend ITB 2011, an ITB at which Tunisia was quite rightly honoured. The contacts, the press conferences and the meetings with ministers from other countries enabled me to obtain a clearer picture of the international tourism market. Despite the many difficulties confronting us, nevertheless some very real opportunities exist for those who are prepared to take them. The information obtained through the UNWTO is of a very high quality and will be extremely useful for us. We are very grateful for such a professional and pleasant standard of organisation.“
Alberto Aldaba Lima, Tourism Minister of the Philippines: “For some months now tourism has enjoyed a new and higher standing. And ITB Berlin is a very good forum for new contacts and business. I have a very confident feeling.”
Petra Hedorfer, CEO of the German National Tourist Board (DZT): ”For Germany as a travel destination ITB Berlin 2011 was a thoroughgoing success and strengthens our efforts to continue to develop our position as one of the most popular destinations in Europe. However, the delight at the great popularity and the appeal of our country that was particularly evident this year at the world’s largest travel trade show was overshadowed by the news currently reaching us from Japan and which has come as a great shock to us. Our thoughts are now with our DZT staff in Japan, with their families and with our Japanese friends, colleagues and business associates.
Manuel Butler, Director, Spanish Tourism Board: “We are satisfied. We are expecting German tour operators to achieve good increases in 2011. The slightly negative trend in the number of visitors to Spain has been halted. Our mood is terrific.”
Özgür Özaslan, Deputy State Secretary at the Turkish Ministry of Tourism: “ITB Berlin is a good trade show among friends. We still have very good memories of ITB Berlin 2010, when we were the partner country. That brought us additional recognition.”
Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline: “Once again ITB Berlin has proved its importance for the worldwide travel industry. Our presence at the trade show in Berlin was again highly successful and it is ITB Berlin in particular where we meet with industry experts, business partners and customers from our key markets. For many years the largest trade show participation by Emirates outside its home market has been in Germany. The new Airbus A380 display area with the on-board lounge and spa shower on our stand has met with a very positive response among our customers, visitors to the show and the media.“
Joachim Hunold, CEO, airberlin: “I am more than satisfied with the airberlin presentation at this year’s ITB. Apart from the many good discussions, the airberlin stand in Hall 9 was again a magnet for media representatives from all over the world, and for decision-makers from the tourism sector. Improved standards of comfort throughout the airberlin fleet and the expansion of our network through our partnerships with airlines such as Finnair, American Airlines and S7 all met with a good response and are evidence of our efforts to continue to expand this business sector. We have also announced our intention of making our flights even more eco-friendly in 2011 and to reduce fuel consumption to a record low of 3.5 litres/100 passenger kilometres.”
Gisela Thomas, Tourism Department of the Argentine Embassy in Berlin: “This was a wonderful trade show! We at the embassy staged three outstanding events with the Argentine delegation and all of them were very well attended. The mood in the Latin America pavilion is always fantastic.”
Valentin Kavakure, Chief Promotion Officer, Burundi Tourism Office: “For the first time in decades Burundi was once again represented with its own stand at ITB Berlin. I am delighted with the degree of professionalism with which this trade show is organised. I am very satisfied with our progress at this event and would be even more satisfied if we can succeed in retaining our new contacts with our partners in Germany. Our plan is to return each year to ITB Berlin in the future.
Ronald Sanabria, Vice President Sustainable Tourism, Costa Rica: ”In December 2010 we had the idea of using ITB Berlin in order to celebrate the tenth anniversary of the founding of our organisation and at the same time to seek new partnerships. In fact we have been able to sign agreements for three large joint ventures: with the German working group ARGE Latin America, with OPTUR from Ecuador and with INGUAT from Guatemala. They will ensure close ties between economic aspects and sustainability in accordance with out slogan – ‘follow the green path’. This is something for which a very strong awareness exists in Germany. For anyone with an interest in this field we can definitely recommend ITB Berlin as a way of meeting their requirements.”
Luz Elena Coloma, CEO, Quito Turismo, Ecuador: “I was attending this trade fair for the first time, because this is also the first time that Quito, the capital of Ecuador, has been promoted here independently. This is a massive trade show and a unique opportunity to make contact with the industry and the trade, with interested parties in Europe, and also with people from our own country who one does not meet as often as one would like.“
Dr. Alexander Trommen, CEO, APPSfactory: The trade show has been a very good one for us and provided a good opportunity to improve our profile in the fields of e-travel and mobile applications for the travel industry. Our initial contacts were very good and of a high standard, and I am confident that we have been able to acquire a number of projects.
Tobias Hallermann, CEO, komoot GmbH
“We have been very pleasantly surprised by the attention we have attracted and with the discussions. We received a great deal of media attention and had already made many appointments in advance, as well as spontaneous visits to the stand.“
Stefan Möhler, Proprietor, Netzvitamine
“We were very satisfied with this trade show. We met with the response that we had hoped for, the discussions were good as were the contacts. I was particularly pleased with the atmosphere at the eTravel World, where there was a sense of a new beginning and a culture of innovation. The participants showed a great deal of interest and held many discussions with one another.”
ITB Berlin 2011: Increased numbers of international buyers boost world’s leading market place for the travel industry
Berlin, 13 March 2011 – The 45th ITB Berlin came to a close after attracting a significantly larger number of buyers from abroad and the best exhibitor figures ever. Despite the rail strike the leading international trade show for the travel industry reported that trade visitor numbers remained stable at last year’s level. The good volume of business at the trade show provided an additional boost to the current upturn in the tourism sector.
Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin, was able to look back on a successful event: “Each year ITB Berlin attracts growing numbers of international decision-makers. Nowadays over 40 per cent of buyers come from abroad. As a result ITB Berlin can not only claim the most balanced and international range of exhibitors but it is also the industry’s most international event in terms of its trade visitors. These are the ideal prerequisites for business success, and we believe that exhibitors achieved a significantly larger volume of business than they did last year, with a value of over six billion euros.”
The two high level meetings of ministers ensured that international politics and diplomacy were strongly represented at this year’s ITB Berlin. The “UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit” played a decisive part in efforts to promote the long term tourism development of the Silk Road region. This year’s ITB Berlin also hosted the first “Ministers’ Summit on Climate Change in Asia-Pacific”.
The countries of North Africa used this industry meeting place to re-stimulate the vital tourism sector. Egypt introduced a new advertising campaign that focuses on the peaceful democratisation process taking place in the country. The Japanese earthquake and tsunami cast a shadow over the otherwise extremely positive mood in the 26 exhibition halls. From midday Saturday onwards the Japan stand was closed.
11,163 exhibiting companies and organisations from 188 countries (2010: 11,127 from 187 countries) again presented the entire spectrum of the international travel industry from 9 to 13 March. The presentations and seminars at the “eTravel World”, a new feature this year, attracted several thousand interested participants and proved to be a complete success.
At 110,791 the number of trade visitors remained stable, while new records were set at the ITB Berlin Convention, with a 15 per cent increase to a total of 14,000 participants. The ITB Future Day and ITB Hospitality Day were major attractions for the general public. As the Convention & Culture Partner of the Convention and with three additional stands at various locations around the exhibition, Mongolia was able to provide many visitors with details about all the facets of a fascinating country. This land-locked country between Russia and China achieved considerable success with its efforts to establish a higher profile in the fields of cultural travel and sustainable tourism. Discussions by prominent experts of the subjects of climate-friendly mobility and, in particular, the “Solar Mobility Innovator Panel” again demonstrated the innovative strengths of the world’s largest travel trade convention.
Despite the fact that the weekend provided a first taste of spring, with bright sunshine, large numbers of people from Berlin and Brandenburg flocked to the exhibition halls. Initial projections revealed that some 60,000 members of the general public (2010: 68,398) took this opportunity to learn first hand about destinations in 188 countries.
Major success for partner country Poland
Poland proved to be a highly attractive partner country at ITB Berlin 2011 and, in the run-up to the EURO 2012 football championships, it was able to demonstrate its outstanding tourism capabilities to the world. With spectacular opening ceremonies involving 3-D films and an avant garde dance show that skilfully combined virtual and real dancers, Germany’s eastern neighbour gave its traditional image a complete make-over. All of Poland’s regions were represented on the 1,600 square metre display area. Jan Wawrzyniak, Director of the Polish Tourism Office in Germany, summarised his impressions as follows: “It is a wonderful feeling to be the partner country. We should have signed a partnership agreement for two years. There is now even greater interest in Poland. We held successful discussions, and ITB Berlin has given us an additional boost.”
Taleb Rifai, Secretary General of the UNWTO: “ITB Berlin had a special relevance this year, coming on the tail of the recent developments in Egypt and Tunisia, two important tourism destinations. As we welcomed the new Egypt and Tunisia at ITB 2011 I was struck by the remarkable demonstrations of solidarity shown by the international tourism community to these two destinations. ITB Berlin has also confirmed the rising confident among the tourism sector, with 2011 set to consolidate the impressive tourism growth of 2010. Against this background ITB has again proven the ideal stage for UNWTO to launch new initiatives, including the first ever Silk Road Ministers’ Summit.
Klaus Laepple, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) “All the signs point to a continued upturn, in the tourism industry as a whole and specifically at ITB Berlin. This is borne out by the outstanding number of exhibitors and visitor attendance figures at the world’s largest travel trade show. Positive news and forecasts were a prominent feature this year of the travel industry’s pre-eminent meeting place, although of course attention also focused on the political developments in North Africa, which were also the subject of many discussions. There was a very emotional reaction, great consternation and sympathy in reaction to the news of the terrible consequences of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
This trade show in Berlin again provided a unique platform for communication, for renewing contacts and establishing new links, as well as finalising many business deals. Exhibitors and visitors alike were very satisfied. The commercial contracts signed at ITB Berlin 2011 are likely to far exceed the figure of six billion euros that was achieved last year. For the general public too this year’s ITB Berlin provided a wealth of colourful experiences, and was an inviting opportunity to gather information and make a decision about the next vacation trip. The good results and positive atmosphere that were such a feature of ITB Berlin this year give us every confidence that our forecasts will be proved correct and that the German tourism industry can look forward to a highly successful year in 2011.”
Jürgen Büchy, President of the German Travel Association (DRV): “Once again ITB Berlin has shown that it is the meeting place for the international tourism sector. Not only can trends be investigated here, innovations displayed, and visions of the future discussed, but ITB Berlin is also the central market place where trade visitors can prepare for business, sign agreements and enter into joint ventures. Moreover it is also the most important forum for everyone involved in tourism, where they can make contacts and hold discussions. It illustrates the importance of business travel in our industry. Despite the major role that new media play in day-to-day business, personal contacts and direct, confidential discussions are still indispensible. This is also evident from the many discussions about the current upheavals in North Africa, and especially in the two popular destinations, of Egypt and Tunisia, that have taken place at the trade show. The talks that were held in Berlin have helped to provide a clearer picture of the impact. The tourism industry’s trade association is convinced that neither of these countries has lost its appeal and that demand for them will soon return to previous levels.
ITB Berlin 2011 provides a positive signal for the travel year 2011: everything indicates growth, especially since Germans are displaying an even greater willingness to travel. The travel industry is gearing up for action. Germans have packed their bags and are keen to travel, as was clearly demonstrated by the reaction of the public at ITB Berlin. Everyone who is interested has been able to obtain a clear picture of the wide diversity of the travel market, along with details about the vacation attractions and offers from countries and tour operators. Keen anticipation of the coming summer vacation has been aroused.”
Some 7,000 accredited journalists from 94 countries reported from ITB Berlin. Once again this trade show provided a meeting place for international politicians and diplomats. In addition to the national delegations from 97 countries this event was also attended by Princess Ubolratana Mahidol of Thailand and the former President of the Republic of Poland, Lech Walesa. Meetings took place involving 70 ambassadors from all over the world, as well as 49 government ministers and numerous state secretaries from many countries. Rainer Brüderle, Germany’s Federal Minister of Economics and Technology, and Dirk Niebel, Federal Minister of Economic Cooperation and Development, as well as the Governing Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, also came to learn more about the strengths and capabilities of the travel sector.
The next ITB Berlin will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 7 to 11 March 2012. The partner country will be Egypt.
Egypt – the new partner country of ITB Berlin 2012 is optimistic about the future
Egypt is to be the partner country of ITB Berlin 2012. Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour, the Egyptian Minister of Tourism, and Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin, have signed an agreement to this effect at ITB Berlin.
The peaceful revolution has been the theme dominating the participation of this popular tourism destination in this year’s ITB Berlin. Having taken up his post two weeks ago, the new minister of tourism expressed his delight that ITB Berlin was the destination of his first trip abroad. ”This is extremely important for us”, said Mounir Fakhry Abdel Nour at ITB Berlin, adding, “we stand by our business partners and will be honouring all our agreements“. He noted that as the sector contributing most to the Egyptian economy tourism would continue to remain important. “The livelihood of one in seven Egyptians depends directly or indirectly upon tourism.” The tourism authorities have reacted quickly and adjusted their promotional campaigns to accommodate recent events. Taking as its slogan “Welcome to the country of the peaceful revolution“, a campaign has been launched focusing on a peaceful new beginning. The previous headline “Egypt – where everything began“ still holds true but, according to Amr El Ezaby of the Egyptian Tourism Board, in the present tense it takes on a new meaning. “Egypt – where everything begins” is the slogan now.
The demonstrations at the end of January caused a huge decline in tourism. However it is already beginning to recover. There were no visitors in February, but Abdel Nour hopes to secure their return in March. “Tourism will be back to previous levels sooner than expected.“ He is confident that the overall statistics in 2011 will be equal to those of 2010. Last year there were 14.2 million tourists, 1.33 million of whom were Germans, which surpassed the 2009 figure for German tourists by 10.5 per cent.
An image showing the signing of the agreement can be downloaded at www.itb-berlin.com / Media Centre / Photos / Supporting programme.
Images showing Egypt at ITB Berlin can be downloaded at www.itb-berlin.com / Media Centre / Photos / Countries / Africa.
Latest updated information on the ITB Berlin DAILIES
Bulletins covering all areas of ITB Berlin are available to journalists through the ITB Dailies, which are available on the internet at www.itb-berlin.com / Media Centre / Dailies. ITB Berlin Dailies are available every day, appearing from Wednesday, 9 March through to Saturday, 12 March 2011, and are being supervised by a specialist editorial department. These bulletins will have information on all the travel destinations represented at the world’s leading travel trade show, report on aviation, cruise and hotel industry news and trends, and will have updates on the ITB Berlin Convention, the think tank of the world’s travel industry.
Measures by ITB Berlin to minimize the effects of the strike by Deutsche Bahn
ITB Berlin is undertaking a number of measures to assist visitors arriving at the world’s leading travel trade show. Only S-Bahn services and regional trains are affected.
Berlin, 9 March 2011- No need to panic: following the announcement of a warning strike by Deutsche Bahn and Berlin’s S-Bahn, due to happen Thursday 10 March, from 4 to 10 a.m., ITB Berlin has already taken various measures to minimize the impact of the strike on visitors to the world’s leading travel trade show. In Berlin, U-Bahn, bus and tram services are not affected.
Regularly updated information giving alternative travel options can be found on the ITB Berlin website at www.itb-berlin.com.
Bus shuttles have been set up which will operate from the airports at Tegel and Schönefeld. Visitors arriving at Schönefeld Airport should take the bus marked “SXF” to Bahnhof Südkreuz (time: 20 mins.), where a free shuttle will be available to take them to the exhibition grounds. Capacities on the free ITB Berlin City Shuttle serving the exhibition grounds have also been increased (Line A via Unter den Linden26 / Friedrichstr. – Leipziger Platz and Line B via Wittenbergplatz – Kurfürstendamm). Bus services transferring visitors to the hotels participating in the shuttle service are also guaranteed.
A free bus shuttle has also been set up by ITB Berlin to and from the car park at the Olympic Stadium. Visitors to ITB Berlin can park here and get to the exhibition grounds without delay.
ITB Berlin also advises visitors arriving by train from Germany or abroad to use other forms of transport such as flights or rental cars. Important information for all visitors whose arrival at ITB Berlin may be delayed as a result of the warning strike: as an alternative, trade visitors can make use of the Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 March, for their discussions.
Kuoni’s first Global Holiday Report reveals how holidaymakers cut loose
French holidaymakers seek budget food, Italians have the most sex with strangers, the Spanish splash their cash, Indian women eat fast food, the Swiss loathe topless sunbathing and sustainability and eco-tourism are most important to Swedes. These are just some of the stark cross-cultural behavioural differences highlighted between 12 disparate markets when on holiday. They are explored in leading tour operator Kuoni’s Global Holiday Report on behaviour before, during and after a trip. Twelve markets, 21 questions, hundreds of answers from over 12 000 people have filled the company’s first ever Global Holiday Report.
The report unlocks sizzling facts about holidaymakers’ love lives while away from home, about the detailed preparation before a holiday, how eating habits change and dress sense relaxes, how some try out different personas and overall what the impact of a holiday is once home. It reinforces how a break from everyday life can broaden horizons and change behaviour.
‘Many respondents like to be someone different on holiday,” observes British psychotherapist and writer Christine Webber. ‘It’s as if getting away allows people to experiment with a different persona and to ‘try it on for size’.”
What holidaymakers eat on holiday points up other national differences. ‘The price for my culinary welfare during my holiday is of no importance to me,” says René Schudel, chef, restaurateur and host of the Swiss TV show, Funky Kitchen Club. While Norwegians and Swedes tend to agree with him, French and Italians watch their pennies when it comes to eating out, reveals Kuoni’s Global Holiday Report 2011.
Does good dress sense disappear out the hotel window when on holiday? Swiss and German economist, philosopher and writer Philipp Tingler believes so. ‘Wearing too few clothes, the wrong perception of casual and excessive assimilation are the three most common mistakes in choosing a holiday wardrobe,” he says. The report highlights that Indian holidaymakers dress more provocatively (25%), the French dress down (55%) and Brits wear less (15%) when ‘abroad” – and Italians are voted as top ‘fashionistas” (33%).
Holidaymakers aged 25-65 were asked about what they eat and drink, what they wear, how they prepare, what they enjoy and whom they make friends with. The results point up interesting differences between nationalities and surprising facts about what a holiday can do for individuals and couples, men and women or different age groups.
Having been in the business for over 100 years, Kuoni tries to get under the skin of the typical holidaymaker, and taps into these trends on an annual basis. Such surveys are part of the company’s philosophy of getting closer to its customers as well as understanding the psychology and behaviour of travellers before, during and after the holiday.
‘As one of the leading broad-based global travel service providers, Kuoni has always been at the forefront of introducing and shaping travel trends,” says Peter Rothwell, CEO of the Kuoni Group. ‘Kuoni’s Global Holiday Report 2011 showcases interesting insights about the behaviour of travellers across the globe. This underlines our initiatives to further extend our services and to develop our know-how to be the ‘Trusted Advisor’ and ‘Destination Insider’ by understanding customers’ deep seated wants and needs from a holiday. The report also provides an ideal way to help us fulfil those needs with passion on the spot and can assist us in developing new ways of travelling, too.”
Kuoni’s Global Holiday Report 2011 is also available online at: www.kuoni.com/holidayreport.
SURVEY CREDENTIALS
Some 12 117 holidaymakers were interviewed from Benelux, Denmark, Finland, France, Hong Kong, India, Italy, Norway, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK (in the Nordic countries, Kuoni is operating under the brand Apollo). The independent research was carried out by Opinion Matters between November and December 2010.
LAUNCH EVENT INFORMATION
Kuoni’s Global Holiday Report 2011 was launched on 9 March 2011 at the ITB in Berlin and discussed in-depth by a panel of international experts. They were: Christine Webber – writer, broadcaster and psychotherapist from London, Philipp Tingler – Swiss and German writer, journalist, economist and philosopher and René Schudel – chef, restaurateur, culinary explorer and TV host of the show ‘Funky Kitchen Club” in Switzerland.
ITB Berlin 2011 campaigns for the protection of children`s rights
ITB Berlin is campaigning to protect children against sexual exploitation in tourism – information on protection measures available to exhibitors and visitors – code of conduct to be signed on Friday, 11 March 2011 at the world’s leading travel trade show
Children represent our future. ITB Berlin is campaigning for their rights and will sign a code of conduct pledging to protect children against sexual exploitation in tourism (Child Protection Code). In 1998, the international organization for the protection of children, ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking of Children) co-authored the Child Protection Code in Sweden, together with Scandinavian tour operators and UNTWO. To date more than 947 tour operators, tourism organizations and their corresponding umbrella organizations, as well as hotel chains in 37 countries have signed this document. Queen Silvia of Sweden has also given her support to this code of conduct for the protection of children. Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics, Messe Berlin, will sign this document in the ICC, Saal 6, at 11 a.m. on Friday, 11 March.
Members of ITB Berlin have drawn up a joint action plan to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Child Protection Code, which contains short and long-term measures. The focus is on activities at ITB Berlin which will inform its exhibitors and visitors and which will call upon them to protect children’s rights.
“This is mainly about our responsibility towards society, which we are aware of and accept. We wish to communicate this message throughout the industry, for as the leading travel trade show we also consider ourselves to be a leading voice. We would like our efforts to contribute towards ending the exploitation of children“, said Dr. Martin Buck, explaining the need for the Child Protection Code.
The signatories of the Child Protection Code pledge to put the following measures into practice: to introduce a corporate philosophy opposed to the commercial sexual exploitation of children; to make workers sensitive to this issue and to instruct them accordingly; to incorporate provisions in agreements with service providers expressly rejecting the sexual exploitation of children; to provide customers with information on the sexual exploitation of children and on implemented measures; to cooperate with travel destinations and to deliver an annual report to ECPAT on the measures which have been put into practice.
TheCode, a registered organization, was co-founded by ECPAT, UNICEF and UNWTO and is based in New York. TheCode has introduced clear guidelines and reporting procedures to ensure compliance with the provisions of the Child Protection Code. National ECPAT organizations support and closely monitor implementation of the Child Protection Code by the tourism companies who have signed the agreement.
ECPAT (End Child Prostitution, Pornography and Trafficking) is part of an international network based in Bangkok in Thailand which has 84 affiliated national organizations. The aim of this international organization for the protection of children’s rights is to combat child pornography, child prostitution and child trafficking and to heighten public awareness of children’s rights everywhere in the world. ECPAT’s aim is to ensure children’s rights are respected and observed, as laid down in the UN Children’s Rights Convention and its additional protocols.
ECPAT Germany is a strong alliance that opposes the sexual exploitation of children.
In 2002, 29 organizations, aid schemes and information centres combined to form ECPAT Germany, which is making every effort to ensure that children can grow up free from the risk of sexual exploitation.
A working group which meets regularly and comprises DRV, BTW, Rewe Touristik, TUI, Studiosus, Thomas Cook, the Police Crime Prevention Group of the Federal States and of the German government, Tourism Watch, ECPAT, and ITB Berlin, monitors compliance with the provisions of the Child Protection Code.
Dr. Martin Buck: “ITB Berlin is very pleased to be undertaking concrete efforts to protect children’s rights as with immediate effect. The world’s largest tourism trade show sees it as an obligation and as part of its corporate social responsibility to take an active stand on this issue.“ Information on ITB Corporate Social Responsibility is available at http://www.itb-berlin.de/csr.
UNWTO Secretary-General looks ahead to the decade of travel and tourism
The next ten years look set to be “the decade of travel and tourism”, says UNWTO Secretary-General opening the ITB Travel Trade Show (Berlin, Germany, 9-13 March).
“The first decade of the twenty first century was a decade of extraordinary tourism growth, but also of severe shocks: a decade that began with September 11 and ended with global economic crisis,” said Mr. Rifai. “Now – with recovery underway and international tourist arrivals up by 7% in 2010 – is the time to look forward and ask what the next ten years hold for our sector”.
Meeting at ITB against a “background of a recovering economy and significant geopolitical shifts”, the world is faced with the diverse and complex challenges of unbalanced economic growth, high unemployment, rising oil prices and the environmental imperative. As world leaders face up to these challenges, tourism can lead “a new decade of fairer, stronger and more sustainable growth” said Mr. Rifai, “and be one of the most effective agents of development”.
“As traditional economic sectors lose dynamism, it is clear that a second wave of service sectors, including tourism, are emerging. These are the industries that have exhibited particularly strong growth over the past few years. And these will be some of the most dynamic and economically significant industries and development agents of this decade,” he added.
ITB Berlin Convention – where are young people bound?
RUF Jugendreisen and iconkids & youth to report on travel trends among young holidaymakers – being with others and having fun is a major consideration – the industry’s leading think tank to publicize its findings
Berlin, 8 March 2011 – Today’s young people are the grown-ups of tomorrow. Taking this as its heading, on 11 March 2011 at this year’s ITB Marketing and Distribution Day, RUF Jugendreisen and iconkids & youth will be reporting on some informative trends regarding the decisions and travel destinations of young holidaymakers. Entitled Junges Reisen – die Zukunft der Touristik (Youth Travel, the Future of Tourism), and in cooperation with the world’s largest travel trade show, both companies will be highlighting young people’s general consumer and communication behaviour as well as the destinations and types of holiday they prefer. Afterwards, the two speakers will talk about how this frequently underrated segment of the market will impact on other parts of society and what measures can be taken to address young people even more effectively in the future.
During the first half of the lecture Axel Dammler, Managing Director of the market research institute iconkids & youth, will speak about the basics of researching consumer behaviour among young people. This company specializes in researching newly founded focus groups and advises leading enterprises such as Coca Cola and McDonald’s. Next, Dirk Föste, a senior management executive with the tour operator RUF Jugendreisen, will analyse the findings of a survey carried out exclusively for ITB Berlin. Over a period of several months the institute polled close to 8,000 young people aged between 13 and 20 to ask how they obtained information, and to find out about their expectations, travel destinations and travel behaviour. As expected, the internet was the primary source of information, and by some margin.
As regards where they actually travel to, young people focus strongly on what goes on at their destination of choice – local attractions must coincide exactly with their needs. In some cases beaches and the evening entertainment options are even more important than their choice of destination. The findings also bear out clear trends as far as group behaviour is concerned, as young people often tend to travel with several friends. Other trends include quality travel, such as holiday language courses or longer trips for the culturally interested, or in order to prepare for a job.
Dirk Föste, a senior management executive with RUF Jugendreisen: “In recent years, how young consumers make their decisions has changed significantly – parents now rarely decide where they will go. The fact that young people use the internet so often and that social networking sites have expanded so rapidly means that they are very clear about knowing and getting what they want.“
Dr. Martin Buck, Director Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin, adds: “The aim of the ITB Berlin Convention is to take full stock of the trends taking place in the travel sector. The consumer behaviour of young people and how they make their decisions is a crucial part of this process. Teenagers are at the forefront of new developments, particularly where the internet und social networking sites are concerned. The consumer behaviour of young people today will significantly impact on how people make their decisions tomorrow. Thus the findings presented by this survey are of great importance to every company seriously interested in the trends and opportunities which the tourism industry has to offer.“
The discussion entitled Junges Reisen – die Zukunft der Touristik (Youth Travel, the Future of Tourism) will take place at the ITB Marketing and Distribution Day on Friday, 11 March 2011 from 3.45 to 4.30 p.m. Full details of the programme are available at www.itb-kongress.com/program. A normal trade visitor ticket is valid for admission to the ITB Berlin Convention.
ITB Berlin fully booked again – 11,163 exhibiting companies and organizations from 188 countries
World’s leading travel trade show with diverse display featuring every aspect of the entire value-added chain in 26 halls – the new eTravel World focuses on technology and innovative processes – partner country Poland with separate hall featuring high points of EURO 2012 – ITB Berlin reflects growth of market sectors and demand on thriving markets – ITB Berlin Convention highlights the travel industry’s main trends – discussion round examines latest upheavals in the Middle East – For the first time, PhoCusWright@ITB is fully integrated in the Convention, and free of charge
Berlin, 8 March 2011 – From 9 to 13 March 2011 a total of 11,163 exhibiting companies and organizations (2010: 11,127) from 188 countries (2010: 187) will be presenting their products and the latest travel trends at the 45th ITB Berlin. All available space has again been booked up at the world’s leading travel trade show, which is expecting some 100,000 trade visitors and 60,000 members of the general public to attend. They will be able to obtain details about the entire range of the value-added chain in tourism in 26 halls covering an area of 160,000 square metres. Egypt and Tunisia will also be present at ITB Berlin, to enable their own tourism industries to make their preparations following the recent political turmoil. The consequences for tourism of the political unrest in the Arab world will also be discussed at the ITB Berlin Convention. Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Operating Officer of Messe Berlin: “Once again the demand from exhibitors has exceeded the area available at ITB Berlin. All the leading market contributors are meeting on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. The international travel industry is expecting some record figures at 2011. The driving force comes from emerging markets in Asia, Central America and Eastern Europe, whose exhibitors will be using ITB Berlin to draw attention to themselves.”
New eTravel World forum
Technology and innovative processes are becoming increasingly important for the travel industry, which is why ITB Berlin has created a new forum. In Hall 7.1c the Mobile Travel Services section is being merged with a successful introduction from last year, the ITB Social Media Lounge, to create the eTravel World. The papers being given on the eTravel Stage will provide details about current developments in mobile computing, augmented reality and social media. At the eTravel Lab the opinion-formers and practitioners attending the workshops and seminars will invite participants to an in-depth discussion about the mobile solutions of tomorrow. The Forum is part of the Mobile Travel Services section of the exhibition, which will include many new exhibitors, among them a start-up, Komoot, the winner of the most recent VIR Innovation Prize, and such international companies as Vodafone, Voyavo from the USA and Leadcall from the UK. Other new exhibitors here will include TravelSIM from Estonia and A1Telekom Austria AG. This section was only introduced last year, but in 2011 it is already welcoming back a number of previous contributors, including Clanmo, mvolution, Pausanio, Tourias Mobile and TouristMobile.
Partner country Poland presents its modern face
A 1,600 square metre display will feature the diversity of all of Poland’s regions. The whole of Hall 15.1 will be used to present natural and cultural treasures as well as the venues for EURO 2012 and the new stadia. There are also lounges and conference rooms for trade visitors in Hall 14.2. Poland is aiming to entertain the public with thrilling dance shows from the world-famous choreographer Agustin Egurrola, with hit music and a presentation of the best of the country’s range of spas and wellness attractions. The programme will also include sports and music presentations, ethnic fashion shows and copper decoration as well as the baking of traditional, sweet croissants from Poznan, known as Saint Martin’s croissants.
Expanding sectors and emerging tourism countries
The Travel Technology sector continues to enjoy vigorous expansion. This part of ITB Berlin has definitely acquired a more international dimension and is welcoming ten new exhibitors, including Fact-Finder Travel, Multicom, Peakwork, Accovia, Vilauma, Lufthansa Systems, and Oléry from France.
There is a considerable demand for niche products too, such as the Gay and Lesbian Travel lsection, which was first introduced last year. It has undergone further successful development and is now located outside the USA stand for the first time. The International Gay & Lesbian Travel Association (IGLTA) has expanded and now includes contributions from Zurich, Antwerp, Vienna, Tel Aviv, Brazil and Argentina.
Youth Travel points the way forward for the whole industry, and valuable insights will be provided by the study that has been carried out by RUF Jugendreisen and will be presented exclusively at the ITB Berlin Convention. Dirk Föste, a member of the board of management of RUF Jugendreisen, and Axel Dammler, chief executive of iconkids & youth, will be providing details about the expectations of young travellers and the influence that they exert on the future of tourism.
The markets in Asia, Central America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East are undergoing a particularly dynamic expansion. All available space has already been booked in the India Hall (5.2b), while suppliers from the Far East and South East Asia are erecting numerous two-storey stands in Hall 26. In the hall occupied by the Pacific Region (5.2a), both Fiji and Papua New Guinea have increased their display areas. In Hall 3.1 the combined Central America stand is now 40 per cent larger, and Colombia has also reserved over one-third more floor space. Zagreb is exhibiting for the first time in the Eastern Europe Hall (1.2), and the Croatia Tourism Board has increased the size of its participation. Serbia, in Hall 2.1, is also staging a significantly larger display.
The countries of the Silk Road are presenting the diversity of their cultures and their landscapes in the “Silk Road Pavilion” in Hall 7.2a/b. Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are staging enlarged displays and, for the first time, Iran (Hall 7.2a) is represented immediately adjacent to the Silk Road countries.
Iraq has returned for the first time since 1966 (Hall 3.2), while Pakistan (Hall 7.2b) is a newcomer, with the Gilgit-Baltistan region. Syria and Yemen are now in Hall 21 (previously in Hall 23), together with Morocco and Algeria, which both have larger stand areas. Egypt occupies an entire hall (Hall 23) for the first time, enabling its floor area to be increased to three times its previous size, in preparation for its appearance as the partner country of ITB Berlin in 2012.
Other new exhibitors, stands and locations
Visitors to this year’s ITB Berlin will find the entire Spanish display under one roof in Hall 4.2. Wolfsburg, the centre of car-making, is represented for the first time with its own stand in Hall 6.2, next to the state of Lower Saxony. Hamburg has a new stand, befitting its role as “Europe’s Green Capital”. A new approach is being adopted by visitberlin and the federal State of Brandenburg with their new stand, which is making its debut in Hall 12.
The new exhibitors in the passageway leading to Hall 24 are McArthur Glen Outlets Europe, the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation and the AIDS charity Aidshilfe. A number of countries are returning to Halls 20 and 21, the Africa halls, and they include São Tomé & Príncipe, Sierra Leone and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, last seen on the Exhibition Grounds in 1993.
Visitors will find plenty of new exhibitors in Hall 25: TripAdvisor, Holland-America-Line, Spar Mit!, ETI, TSI Mondial Travel GmbH and EGT Tour are all represented at ITB Berlin for the first time. Among the returnees are AGA International, formerly Mondial Reiseversicherung.
ITB Berlin demonstrates its commitment to the industry
The world’s largest travel trade show places a considerable emphasis on training and advanced training in the travel industry and implements corporate social responsibility as an integrated concept for the sustainable development of companies in this industry. Once again the central meeting point for job seekers and those planning a career is the Career Center in Hall 5.1, which has undergone further expansion this year. Some well known tourism companies are represented at the ITB Employment Exchange, powered by YOURCAREERGROUP and, as in previous years, the MeerArbeit project that has been set up by the Federal Labour Agency will be acting as a coordinator for those seeking work in the cruise industry. In addition, on 10 March 2011, ITB Berlin will be collaborating with a Munich educational establishment, Hochschule München, to stage a day for newcomers to the hotel sector. During the ITB Berlin Convention, on 9 March, the German Tourism Industry Society DGT will point out career prospects in the tourism sector and, together with ITB Berlin, will be presenting awards for the best research work. On 10 March the Africa Forum will be discussing the importance of training for improving the competitiveness of African tourism destinations, and will also be presenting some of the educational policy strategies being pursued by African countries.
CSR is a key topic at ITB Berlin
ITB Berlin sets the pace for CSR in Tourism. In addition to a number of year-round activities by ITB Berlin, it also demonstrates its commitment in the form of partnerships and support for CSR projects. On 11 March ITB Berlin will sign the code of conduct for the protection of children against sexual exploitation in tourism (Child Protection Code). Corporate social responsibility is the overarching theme in all aspects of the ITB Berlin Convention, and the ITB CSR Day is being held for the third time during the convention. This year’s ITB Berlin is hosting the Ministerial Summit on Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region. With Hiran Cooray, Chairman of PATA in the chair, HE Minister Deepak Bohara of the Nepalese Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, the Hon. Luimed Gansukh, Minister for the Environment and Tourism of Mongolia, and the Hon. Dr. Mariyam Zulfa, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Republic of Maldives, will discuss how tourism destinations should address ecological challenges. All the events dealing with CSR at ITB Berlin 2011 have been compiled in a programme which is available in printed form from the information counters on the Exhibition Grounds, or as a download at Corporate Responsibility in Tourism (pdf, download, 2 MB).
The new ITB Eco-Mobility Day emphasizes the position of ITB Berlin as a leading innovator among international tourism conventions. Climate-friendly transport is an innovative trend which has an enormous potential in the tourism market. Transport experts will be discussing the eco-mobility status quo. The needs of car drivers have been defined in a highly topical study of the market by GfK. Examples of best practice from all over the world will be used to point the way towards sustainable transport solutions in tourism. Visions of the future will be provided by the experts André Borschberg, CEO of Solar Impulse, and Louis Palmer, the initiator, tour director and driver of the well-known solar taxi. ITB Berlin is sponsoring a solar cell on a wing of the aircraft in which Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg are planning to undertake the first round-the-world, solar-powered flight in 2012. The ITB Berlin solar cell bears the number 10498.
ITB Berlin Convention highlights the travel industry’s main trends
With an attendance of more than 12,500 in 2010 the ITB Berlin Convention is now firmly established as the leading think tank for the international travel industry. The pre-eminent role of the convention in promoting innovation is borne out when one considers the five major trends that will have a significant impact on the world economy of the future. The ITB Berlin Convention this year will address all the topics, with a particular relevance to the travel industry, that were initially presented by Paul Achleitner, Chief Financial Officer of Allianz, at the World Economic Summit in Davos. For example, decarbonization will be discussed at a total of 14 sessions during the ITB CSR Day and the ITB Eco-Mobility Day. Demographics form the subject of the paper to be given by Christian Böllhoff, Managing Partner, Prognos AG, entitled “Demographics and Social Change” at the ITB Future Day. Visitors to the ITB Berlin Convention will be able to attend six sessions dealing with digitalization, including the ITB Media Summit 2011 on the subject of “Travel Journalism in the Digital Media World”. The latest comprehensive data on source markets, income structures, travel behaviour and the destinations of the users of social media and mobile devices will be presented by David Perroud, Partner & CEO, M1nd-Set. Speaking at the World Economic Summit, Paul Achleitner defined a dynamic shift as one of the major trends, and the ITB Asia Panel will be addressing this subject during the ITB Berlin Convention. More details will be provided about the Asia travel market as a market of the future, and information about new changes in Asian travel behaviour will also be available. In addition the many different facets of Mongolia – the new Convention & Culture Partner of ITB Berlin – will be featured as a fashionable new destination. Penetration of the social spheres will be the subject dealt with by Christine Petersen, President of TripAdvisor for Business, in an interview with the television presenter Claudia Kleinert, to examine communication and booking behaviour in the age of social media. Technological changes and their impact will be covered by Dr. Bernd Fauser, Head of Global Travel Top Accounts, Google.
Admission to the ITB Berlin Convention is included in the price of trade visitor and exhibitor tickets. For the first time trade visitors and exhibitors can also attend PhoCusWright@ITB at no additional cost. This year PhoCusWright, the internationally recognized American market research organization and consultancy specializing in the travel sector, will be dealing with the subject of “Marketplace Chaos: Spotlight on Technology and Innovation”. A new addition to the programme will be the New Media Summit in Hall 7.1c on 10 March 2011. Bloggers from all over the world will be joining with PhoCusWright analysts to discuss current trends on the travel market.
ITB Berlin Convention – discovering Mongolia
Berlin, 4 March 2011 – Mongolia will be the focus of attention at this year’s ITB Berlin, with a colourful and diverse programme of events. In its role as the partner country of the ITB Berlin Convention, the international travel industry’s leading think tank, Mongolia will be presenting itself as an attractive travel destination for cultural tourists. As the host of high-level podium discussions on domestic economic development and on measures to combat the effects of climate change, Mongolia will be at the forefront of events throughout the entire show. With three stands at the world’s leading travel trade show, it will be focusing attention on cultural travel and sustainable tourism.
Mongolia’s main stand (310) is located in Hall 26c. Visitors interested in Mongolian culture can find out all they want to know at Stand 112 in Hall 10.2. On Stand 115 in Hall 4.1 the main theme will be sustainable tourism.
On Tuesday, 8 March 2011, high-ranking visitors will be at the opening ceremony of ITB Berlin, with Luimed Gansukh, the Mongolian Minister of the Environment and Tourism, due to attend. One day later he will conduct the ceremony opening the ITB Berlin Convention in Hall 7.1b. On Wednesday, 9 March 2011, the Mongolia Forum in Hall 7.1a will discuss ”landscapes and culture“ and “products and responsibility”. Items on the agenda include the prospects for developing tourism, with a talk by Batbold Dorjgurkhem, Director of the International Relations Division of the Mongolian Ministry of Nature, the Environment and Tourism. Damba Gantemur, Chairman of Mongolia’s Sustainable Tourism Development Centre, will highlight tourism as an instrument for preserving the cultural heritage and nomadic traditions.
Starting at 3 p.m., away from events at the trade show, the Mongolian Business Forum will discuss the prospects for the country’s economic future at IHK Berlin.
On Thursday, 10 March 2011, at the Ministerial Summit on Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region at the CSR Day in Hall 7.1a, the following will take part in a discussion on “protecting the environment between sea level and the highest mountain peaks“: Luimed Gansukh, the Mongolian Minister of the Environment and Tourism, Deepak Bohara, Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation, Nepal, and Dr. Mariyam Zulfa, Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Republic of Maldives. They will talk about how tourism destinations are dealing with the ecological challenges they face as a result of climate change. Hiran Cooray, Chairman of PATA will moderate this high-level podium discussion. The ITB CSR Day is sponsored by Planeterra, the Global Sustainable Tourism Council, the Competence Call Center, and Futouris.
One of the cultural high points of the show will be the presentation of the ITB Book Awards on Friday, 11 March 2011 in Hall 10.2. The jury will honour the film “Das weinende Kamel“, produced by Filmhochschule München, with an award for its sensitive treatment of Mongolia’s traditional lifestyle. Two travel guides will also receive prizes: the Mongolia Travel Guide, written by Peter Woeste and Michael Walther (published by DUMONT), and Mongolia, written by Marion Wisotzki, Erna Käppeli and Ernst von Waldenfels (published by Trescher). Awards will also be presented to the authors of literary travel books: to Galsan Tschinag for his latest novels about Mongolia, “Die Rückkehr“ (published by Suhrkamp) and “Das andere Dasein“ (published by Insel), as well as to the ethnologist Amélie Schenk for ”Das Meckern der Pferdekopfgeige“ (published by Waldgut).
On Saturday, 12 March 2011 at ITB, members of the general public visiting the trade show will have an opportunity to win a trip to Mongolia. As part of the big prize draw at ITB Berlin, Mongolia is giving away a trip to the Gobi desert and to Karakorum, once the capital of the Mongol Empire.
ΙTB Berlin 2011 – the mystical attraction of the Silk Road, past and present
High-ranking delegates and decision-makers to attend UNWTO summit on the future of the Silk Road – travel destinations join forces to promote the Silk Road tourism brand – daily films and networking events for tour operators at UNWTO and ITB Berlin 2011, the world’s leading travel trade show – events celebrating the Silk Road, past and present
Berlin, 2 March 2011 – Once the most important route connecting Asia and Europe, the Silk road has lost none of its flair. In the past it was a major trading route, and today it attracts tourists from around the world. At this year’s ITB Berlin (9 to 13 March 2011) the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) will be holding a series of events for trade visitors on the topic of the Silk Road. Inside the Silk Road Pavilions in Halls 7.2 a and b, visitors can also discover the mystical attraction of the Silk Road and find out why this historical route is turning into one of the world’s major destination networks. From 2 to 3 p.m. at the 2011 ITB Film Festival, daily screenings of a film entitled The Silk Road Hour will highlight the beauty of the Silk Road. Selected short films with imposing imagery will be shown at the ITB cinema in Hall 7.2. Audiences will be witness to the legacy of this historical trading route, which for many centuries joined East and West.
On Wednesday, 9 March 2011, high-ranking visitors from destinations along the Silk Road will attend ITB Berlin. Leading decision-makers will gather at the UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit to shape UNWTO’s global vision of tourism along the Silk Road. Last year UNWTO approved the Silk Road Action Plan, a joint agreement that aims to use the Silk Road brand to promote development of sustainable tourism in more than 25 countries. Speakers will present the action plan over the course of three sessions, debate marketing and social media strategies, and will discuss what measures can be taken to make travelling easier in order to boost tourism.
Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin, is enthusiastic about the partnership with UNWTO: “I look forward to welcoming delegates from destinations along the Silk Road at the first UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit. This event gives us a unique opportunity to exchange our ideas on how tourism along the Silk Road can thrive in a modern environment.“
Taleb Rifai, General Secretary of UNWTO: “The Silk Road is a fascinating tourism brand. Together we will show why investing in Silk Road tourism will help strengthen local economic structures and alleviate poverty. In addition we would like to contribute to conserving natural resources and to preserving the cultural heritage for future generations.“
On Thursday, 10 March 2011, from 10 to 11.30 a.m., at Großer Stern between Halls 10 and 11, the Silk Road B2B Tour Operators’ Networking Event will provide information on how tour operators can promote sales of tours along this historical route. Representatives of the tourism industry at the event will be able to discuss issues concerning the most popular travel routes, as well as the easiest way to organize visas for multiple trips.
ITB Berlin Convention – international pioneers of solar-powered travel on the podium
The groundbreaking solar projects of explorers and innovative scientists – a high-level discussion round with the pioneers of the emissions-free transport industry – free admission to the ITB Berlin Convention for trade visitors at the world’s leading travel trade show
Berlin, 2 March 2011 – The world’s leading pioneers of solar-powered travel will be at the ITB Berlin Convention. The new ITB Eco-Mobility Day will begin with a discussion round and a group of participants whose composition is unique. Gathered on the podium will be leading pioneers of projects exploring solar-powered transport by air, water and on the ground: André Borschberg, CEO of Solar Impulse, Louis Palmer, the project initiator, tour director and driver of the solar taxi, and Immo Ströher, investor in Planet Solar. On Friday, 11 March 2011, from 11.45 a.m. to 12.45 p.m. at the Solar Mobility Innovator Panel, they will talk about their spectacular projects and relate their experiences to date.
“Climate-friendly transport has a huge commercial potential in the tourism market“, said David Ruetz, Senior Manager of ITB Berlin. “By hosting the ITB Eco-Mobility Day the ITB Convention now occupies a special role. For the first time the leading minds behind projects exploring solar-powered transport by air, water and on the ground will be gathered on a stage to discuss this forward-looking topic at a tourism trade show.
Together with his associate, the Swiss scientist and explorer Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg, the CEO of Solar Impulse and keynote speaker at this discussion, is currently preparing the first round-the-world trip in Solar Impulse, a solar-powered plane. “During this round-the-world trip, which will neither consume fuel nor produce emissions, Solar Impulse will contribute to research and innovation in support of renewable resources, will highlight the importance of new technology for long-term developments, and will continue in the footsteps of scientific exploration guided by dreams and emotions“, said André Borschberg.
Louis Palmer, the project initiator, tour director and driver of the solar taxi, has already travelled around the world in a solar-powered car. He was the first person ever to visit 38 countries in 18 months with his solar taxi and in doing so highlighted existing, low-cost ways to protect the world’s climate. Taking “Zero Race“ as his slogan, and in a bid to break his own record, Louis Palmer is currently attempting to take a solar-powered vehicle around the world in 80 days.
Where transport by water is concerned, Immo Ströher is one of the solar-energy industry’s leading minds. As an investor in Planet Solar he was instrumental in building the first solar-powered boat. TÛRANOR* PlanetSolar is a pioneering feat in the field of sustainable energy technology. This solar-powered catamaran makes use of technology that is currently available on the market, and aims to prove that today’s engineering solutions already possess the necessary capabilities and could revolutionize maritime transport.
Louis Palmer and Immo Ströher will talk about their projects, each giving an introductory paper and presenting a short film. Afterwards, among other topics, all three speakers will discuss which solar-powered vehicle could be the first to reach mass production. Eberhard Krummheuer, an editor specializing in transport industry matters with the business magazine Handelsblatt, will moderate the discussion round. A normal trade visitor ticket is valid for admission to the convention.
Political figures and celebrities at the opening gala of ITB Berlin
On 8 March Berlin’s Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit, Federal Minister of Economics Rainer Brüderle, and Adam Giersz, Minister of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland, will open ITB Berlin – Lech Walesa will be the Polish guest of honour – an avant-garde programme of show events and a gala reception at the opening of the world’s largest travel trade show
Berlin, March 2010 – An ITB launch with leading figures from politics and tourism: this year, Governing Mayor of Berlin Klaus Wowereit and Federal Minister of Economics and Technology Rainer Brüderle will open ITB Berlin. The opening ceremony of ITB Berlin 2011 will take place on the eve of the first day of the fair, on 8 March, at 6 p.m. in Room 1 of the ICC Berlin.
Raimund Hosch, CEO of Messe Berlin, will address the audience, welcoming around 4,500 international members of the industry. Leading figures in the tourism industry from around the world have agreed to attend the fair. Taleb Rifai, General Secretary of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), and Klaus Laepple, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW), will hold speeches at the opening event. Representing this year’s partner country, H. E. Adam Giersz, Minister of Sport and Tourism of the Republic of Poland, will also give a speech. Poland will attend the opening ceremony accompanied by a high-ranking delegation. Its most prominent member will be Lech Walesa, the former president of the Republic of Poland.
Taking as its slogan “Move your Imagination“, Poland will present a spectacular show wit interactive elements. The climax of the evening gala will be a multimedia show telling the story of Poland, in cutting-edge 3D on a 26-metre diameter screen. The story centres around a white cube which repeatedly appears throughout Poland’s promotional campaign. By moving the easy-to-operate cube around the guests at this opening evening can interact directly with the 3D world and influence events on the screen. In order to dispel traditional views about Poland each spot has been designed in a different way. The spectrum includes comics, a picturesque film about the country’s nature attractions, a film about football, which was inspired by commercials, as well as a big dance show which combines real and virtual worlds. A 3D formation of dancers provides the backdrop to a performance by a group called VOLT and to dancers from the ”You Can Dance“ programme, choreographed by Agustin Egurrola.
Afterwards the partner country of ITB will invite guests to sample typical regional specialities and culinary delights, freshly imported from Poland.
ITB Berlin – setting the pace for CSR in tourism
Focus on Corporate Social Responsibility in tourism at ITB Berlin – key discussions on sustainability at ITB CSR Day – new: Eco-Mobility Day highlights the future of transport
Berlin, 18 February 2011 – Sustainability will be one of the main topics on the agenda at ITB Berlin. The world’s leading travel trade show will make use of its key role to promote a dialogue among companies in their effort to provide economically, socially and ecologically responsible tourism products and services. The issue of Corporate Social Responsibility concerns every area of the ITB Berlin Convention.
The most important event setting the pace is the ITB CSR Day, which was launched successfully three years ago. On 10 March leading figures from politics and science will be discussing innovative concepts, best practices and the economic potential of sustainable tourism. Among the key topics will be Asia with its emerging markets, the question as to whether luxury is compatible with sustainability, and tourists’ preferences as regards CSR. In this context, an empirical survey by Hochschule Chur will take a new look at how tourists make their decisions.
At the Business Travel Days from 9 to 11 March the initial findings of a pilot project carried out by the TÜV Rheinland Akademie, entitled ”Sustainable Business Travel in Berlin”, will be released. Among other topics, the Hospitality Day on 10 March will highlight concepts and evaluations concerning the environment and CSR.
Climate-friendly transport is an innovative trend which has an enormous potential in the tourism market. Consequently, and for the first time, ITB Berlin will hold an Eco-Mobility Day on Friday, 11 March, where transport experts will discuss the eco-mobility status quo. An up-to-the-minute market survey by GfK will formulate motorists’ needs. André Borschberg, CEO of Solar Impulse, and Louis Palmer, the initiator, tour director and pilot of the well-known solar taxi will talk about best practices. ITB Berlin is sponsoring a photovoltaic cell on the wing of the aircraft with which Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg will attempt the first solar-powered circumnavigation of the world in 2012. The cell sponsored by ITB Berlin bears the number10498.
Lectures, events and networking opportunities in Hall 4.1
CSR is also the main theme of the ECO & Adventure Hall (4.1). Lectures and events on sustainable and socially responsible tourism await participants on each of the three days of the fair reserved for trade visitors. International tourism experts will talk about the world “between sea-level and the highest mountain peaks“ and discuss human rights and tourism. Sponsored by GIZ, a “Shark Day – for Marine Biodiversity and Tourism“ will be taking place for the first time on 11 March. The German actor Hannes Jänicke, who for years has been propagating wildlife conservation, will be present at this event. The international Responsible Tourism Networking Event will also be taking place on the Friday. Coorganized by ITB Berlin and The Blue Yonder, this event is regularly held at three locations around the world: at ITB Berlin, at SATTE, India’s largest tourism trade fair in New Delhi, and at ITB Asia in Singapore. The presentation of the VESTA – Vision – Destinet European Award for Sustainable Tourism will take place at the reception of the Networking Event. Another award presentation will also be taking place on the large stage in Hall 4.1. Presented by Studienkreis für Tourismus und Entwicklung, it will honour the winners of the bi-annual TOURA D’OR Film Competition for Forward-Looking Tourism.
In Hall 4.1 the focus of interest will again be on Haiti, which last year was rocked by an earthquake. ITB Berlin and the stand construction company Rhino Design are sponsoring Haiti’s participation at the fair. Discussion will centre on tourism initiatives and the prospects for organizing sustainable tourism. As in 2010, a charity fund is being set up to assist reconstruction on the island, with Poland occupying a prominent role. This year’s partner country at ITB Berlin has waived its privilege to collect money for a Polish welfare project in favour of donations to Haiti.
All events to do with CSR at ITB Berlin 2011 are presented in a programme which is available on the exhibition grounds. The flyer can also be downloaded from the internet at Corporate Responsibility in Tourism (pdf, download, 2 MB). Inside the Convention programme, all events on sustainability in tourism at the ITB Berlin Convention are marked with a CSR icon and are chronologically listed on the internet at CSR@ITB Kongress.
Furthermore, ITB Berlin offers all visitors to the fair and exhibitors an opportunity to improve their carbon footprint, through compensation payments, with ITB Berlin’s partner Atmosfair, either online on the ITB website or when arranging their trip and ordering ITB tickets, or directly in Hall 25, at Stand 128.
The complete guide to ITB Berlin on your mobile – for free
Berlin, 17 February 2011– This is the third year that ITB Berlin is offering its visitors a trade fair guide for mobiles and smartphones. This year, iPhone and Android apps will be featuring a full text search for the first time. The mobile website at www.itb-berlin.mobi has relaunched with a new improved version.
GIATA & TOURIAS Mobile’s successful ITB Mobile Guide lets visitors navigate their way easily around the Berlin Exhibition Grounds. Besides a map of the grounds, information includes the programme of the ITB Convention, a list of events along with press conferences, presentations, receptions, and a function for looking up exhibitors. After the fair closes the ITB Mobile Guide provides users with information on the quickest way to the city centre and tips on Berlin nightlife. Also included are restaurants, bars and information on tourist attractions.
This clever pocket-sized trade fair companion can be easily downloaded onto many standard mobiles and smartphones, for example, from www.itb-berlin.de/mobil via a landline internet connection, from www.itb-berlin.mobi via a mobile phone / smartphone browser, or by texting (only one-time, low-cost charges for a text message and/or download).
The ITB Mobile Guide was developed by leading tourism content providers TOURIAS Mobile and GIATA. Both companies offer hotels, tour operators and travel portals comprehensive solutions for mobiles and smartphones. With GIATA TOURIAS tds travel agencies and tour operators are able to offer their customers a free iPhone travel guide to over a hundred of the most popular travel destinations. “Apps are the latest trend in the tourism industry “, says Christoph Schotter, managing director of Tourias Mobile GmbH. “It creates entirely new opportunities for destinations, tour operators and hotels in the marketing arena and for winning over new customers.“
ITB CareerCenter – find the perfect job at ITB Berlin
Main gathering place for job seekers and career planners in Hall 5.1 – current job vacancies and expert advice from leading tourism companies at the ITB Job Exchange powered by YOURCAREERGROUP and the MeerArbeit project of the Federal Employment Agency – daily programme of informative stage events
Berlin, 16 February 2011 – Why not work in a place where others spend their holidays? Students and career starters interested in the tourism industry can find the perfect job or take a first step on the career ladder at the ITB CareerCenter in Hall 5.1, which this year has expanded yet again. At around a dozen counters qualified personnel managers from leading tourism companies will be inviting job seekers and career planners to meet with them for advice. For the entire duration of the fair job seekers can find out all the latest job information from internet terminals and a vacancy board. Rounding off events will be a free personal career advice service offered by personnel managers of the Steigenberger Hotel Group, who will have advice on how to give a good overall impression and to submit a complete and structured application.
Tourism industry career seekers welcome
At the ITB Job Exchange powered by YOURCAREERGROUP visitors can obtain important information about the tourism industry job market and its wide-ranging career opportunities. Both newcomers and those who already work in the hotel industry, restaurants, catering and the tourism sector can discuss their career prospects with personnel managers and expert advisers from Arabella Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Club Med, the tourism division of REWE Group, Enterprise Rent-A-Car, erlebe-fernreisen, Europcar, the European Hotel Academy, FTI Group, pentahotels, ROBINSON CLUB, Rotana, the Steigenberger Hotel Group, Unister (ab-in-den-urlaub.de) and vamos Eltern-Kind-Reisen.
Visitors in search of a career at sea can obtain first-hand information from the stand of MeerArbeit, the job exchange of the Federal Employment Agency. The Federal Employment Agency in Suhl is the only one in Germany to have signed an exclusive agreement cooperating with nearly every cruise tour operator. Experts from the tourism companies CSM (Columbia Ship Management, e.g. MS Europa), Cruise Services GmbH, seachefs, A-ROSA, Scylla AG and A. Müller Coaching & Consulting will be on hand. What is more, universities from Germany and abroad, technical colleges, job academies, scientific institutes and other service providers will have information on surveys and advanced training courses. EBC Hochschule will be represented with a new trade fair stand, for example, where on 11 March they will present the project results of HEDTOUR ITB Berlin 2011, an international workshop in which nearly 200 students from around Europe took part.
The main gathering place in Hall 5.1. will be the large stage. On all five days of the fair speakers from the tourism industry will be giving talks on how best to embark on a career, and on job and career opportunities. There will be information on Bachelor and Masters degree courses, and members of Arabella Starwood Hotels & Resorts and the tourism division of REWE Group will talk about career opportunities in their respective companies. One of the highlights on Wednesday, 11 March will be the presentation of the 17th ITB Science Award of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tourismuswissenschaft (DGT) to five young international scientists. The awards will be presented in five categories, including Best Paper on a Practical Topic, Best International Paper, and there will also be special awards, including Best Paper on Sustainability in Tourism. The jury is made up of 40 professors and scientists from Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
More details are available at www.itb-berlin.com/career
ITB Business Travel Days – business travel market faces change
Mobile technologies improve productivity on business travels – practical advanced training courses for travel managers from 9 to 13 March 2011 – papers, workshops and networking opportunities at the world’s leading travel trade show
Berlin, 15 February 2011- The use of mobile technologies is revolutionizing the business travel market. Business travel experts are forecasting significantly higher productivity during every phase of business travel, reason enough for travel managers to find out about the latest developments in the business travel sector. From 9 to 13 March 2011 the ITB Business Travel Days will be offering suggestions and tips. A practically-oriented advanced training programme, free of charge for trade visitors at ITB Berlin, will focus on the latest topics, including on mobile technologies, cross-border travel management and rising supplementary charges for air fares. Other programme items include cooperating with the works council and the data protection officer, return on investment in events, and organizing corporate travel risk management.
Smart phones and business travel behaviour
At the ITB Business Travel Days Heilbronn University will present the findings of a survey which was jointly compiled with the business travel association ACTE. It dwells on the impact of mobile technologies and how they can improve business travellers’ productivity. A panel discussion on Thursday, 10 March 2011 will discuss the findings and provide an insight into the changes brought about by the use of mobile applications, and will also highlight how travel behaviour is about to change. Among the issues discussed will be how travel managers deal with direct sales models and new ordering and booking procedures, and which end device and platform concepts to use in an increasingly diverse mobile product market.
On Wednesday, 9 March 2011, at this year’s ITB MICE Day, which is organized in cooperation with Vereinigung Deutscher Veranstaltungsorganisatoren, the focus will be on striking the right balance between quality and costs when planning events. Papers and panel discussions will highlight developments in the conference sector, useful social media tools and innovative MICE guidelines.
Networking opportunities and a travel special
Participants will be able to meet one other and discuss the suggestions and news in detail at the ITB Business Travel Lounge. In Hall 8.1, ITB Berlin and HSMA, the professional association representing the hospitality industry, have set up a modern and open lounge area which has established itself as a place where travel industry members meet at this fair.
Details of all the companies promoting business travel services at the ITB Business Travel Days are available on the web.
ITB Berlin has put together a comprehensive travel package at www.veranstaltungsplaner.de for event planners who wish to visit the ITB Business Travel Days. The MICE Day travel special costs EUR 179 and can be booked online at https://mi3.lambdalogic.de/itb11mice/registration.seam.
Hotel.de is the reservation portal officially cooperating with the ITB Business Travel Days, a free online service where accommodation can be booked at any one of 210,000 hotels worldwide.
The following are partners collaborating with the ITB Business Travel Days: the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE), Deutsch Bahn AG, DRV Deutscher ReiseVerband e.V., Estrel Berlin, FCm Travel Solutions, HSMA Deutschland e.V., MEET BERLIN, Schaefer Mobility Group GmbH, VDR – Der GeschäftsreiseVerband, Vereinigung Deutscher Veranstaltungsorganisatoren e.V.
The following are media partners collaborating with the ITB Business Travel Days: BIZTravel, DMM – Der Mobilitätsmanager, GO GLOBAL BIZ, tempra365, der Travel Manager, TW – The Global Magazine for Meeting, working@office.
ITB Berlin Convention – more knowledge, greater success
Industry members and leading organizations such as UNWTO to discuss the future of travel – pioneers of solar-powered travel invited as guests – latest edition of the ITB Media Summit – admission included in the price of a ticket to ITB Berlin
Berlin, 4 February 2011 – Controversial travel industry topics, forward-looking strategies and high-ranking speakers from science and practical fields: from 9 to 11 March 2011 the ITB Berlin Convention will present a wide-ranging programme. Mongolia is the Culture & Convention Partner at this year’s event and Syria is the co-host. Exhibitors and trade visitors to ITB Berlin will be able to benefit, as a regular ticket to the trade fair is valid for the convention.
ITB Eco-Mobility Day
By hosting the ITB Eco-Mobility Day ITB Berlin is the world’s first tourism trade fair to explore the topic of climate-friendly transport, a potentially innovative trend. In his keynote which he will deliver in front of an audience of invited guests on 11 March 2011, André Borschberg, CEO of Solar Impulse, will give a talk on the future of transportation. Afterwards, together with Louis Palmer, he will discuss spectacular, pioneering solar projects. Both are eminently qualified. Along with Bertrand Piccard, André Borschberg is planning the first circumnavigation of the world in a solar-powered aircraft. Louis Palmer is currently travelling around the world in 80 days in a renewable energy powered vehicle. Other topics will include international tourism projects reporting on their initial eco-mobility experiences, as well as Gfk Mobility’s latest customer needs survey which focuses on electric vehicles.
ITB Marketing and Distribution Day
The keynote at the ITB Marketing and Distribution Day on 11 March 2011will also focus on a vision of the future. Prof. Dr. Ian Yeoman, Visiting Professor of the European Tourism Futures Institute and Victoria University of Wellington, will take a look at tomorrow and talk about the impact on tour operators’ marketing strategies and on destinations. This is the second year that the ITB Media Summit is taking place at the ITB Marketing and Distribution Day. It will discuss “mobile apps and social networks, or glossy titles and quality journalism”. Stefan Keuchel, Spokesman for Google Germany and Claus Strunz, the editor-in-chief of Hamburger Abendblatt, will be among those debating “the advice the customer listens to“, the general public’s use of the media, and how it influences their buying decisions. In this context the exclusive survey by M1nd-Set entitled “Social media and mobile devices – a close look at the types of users“ will also be worth noting. David Perroud, partner and CEO of M1nd-Set, will have the latest and full information on source markets, income structures and travel destinations. “Young travel – the future of tourism“ is the title of another exclusive survey which provides an insight into a forward-looking, but still underrated segment of the market. Dirk Föste, a manager of RUF Jugendreisen and Axel Dammler, the managing director of iconkids & youth, will present the findings.
ITB CSR Day – Ministerial Summit on Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region
On 10 March 2011 the ITB CSR Day will discuss whether sustainable tourism represents a long-term trend in this sector or whether it is simply a fad. Among those taking part in a panel discussion entitled ”A paradigm shift or simply hype?” will be Erika Harms, Executive Director of the Tourism Sustainability Council (TSC) and Senior Advisor on Tourism at the United Nations Foundation, and Peter Liney, CEO of STA Travel. Jose Dominic, Managing Director of CGH Earth Hotels, Enrice Ducrot, Managing Director of Ecoluxury, and Farsin Walizadeh, Head of Operations & Development, Costa Navarino, TEMES S.A will discuss the following topic: “Luxury and ecological sustainability – friends or foes?“ . The panel discussion will be moderated by Shannon Stowell, President of the ATTA Adventure Travel Trade Association.
At the Ministerial Summit on Climate Change in the Asia-Pacific Region, H.E. Deepak Bohara, the Nepalese Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation and the Honourable Luimed Gansukh, the Mongolian Minister of the Environment and Tourism, will discuss the approach taken by politics to biospheres in this part of the world. At the last panel discussion of the day Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), will give an insight into the CSR practices of the world’s tourism industry.
ITB Destination Days – Poland Forum on 10 March
National stereotypes and ways to confront them is the issue speakers will be addressing at the Poland Forum on 10 March 2011. This year’s partner country of ITB Berlin is Poland, which in 2011 assumes the presidency of the EU Council and in 2012 will host the EURO 2012 European Football Championship. Together, these events will make it a focus of attention from the tourism industry. Among other topics due to be discussed at the ITB Destination Days are river tours. Delegates representing the countries on the Danube will debate the prospects this market offers, the infrastructure problems that need solving, and how this market will be affected by demographic change. Futurist Andreas Reiter of ZTB Zukunftsbüro will talk about “how a sustainable quality of life helps to successfully market cities“, and will explain how sustainable innovations can make urban living space more appealing to enterprises, visitors and local residents.
ITB Asia Panel
The ITB Asia Panel on 9 March 2011 takes a look at one of the world’s fastest-growing markets. At a panel discussion entitled “Focus on China: how China’s outbound travel market is changing“, representatives of leading research institutes and outbound travel agencies will debate the challenges and opportunities for those travel destinations most popular with the Chinese. Visitors attending the Social Media in Asia panel discussion will be taken on a virtual tour of the region’s social media landscape and will be able to find out about current trends in Asia.
ITB Hospitality Day
At the ITB Hospitality Day on 10 March 2011 futurist Rohit Talwar, CEO of Fast Future Research, will talk about the future of the hotel market in 2020. Among the high-ranking speakers discussing the prospects of the hotel industry in Eastern Europe will be Thomas Willms, Vice President & Regional Director, Eastern & Central Europe, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, as well as Kristian Sustar, Executive Director of HUP Zagreb and President of the Croatian Hotel Association. Mark Lankester, CEO of Tune Hotels, and Andrea Mahenna, Managing Director of hotelsclub.com, will examine the potential of low-budget hotels.
