ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Πέμπτη 31 Αυγούστου 2017

Australia will see the cruise boom from September as the season starts



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Australia will see the cruise boom from September as the season starts

September will be the cruising month for most of the tourists on Australian waters.

September 1 marks the beginning of the seven month or so southern hemisphere cruising season in and around the waters of Australia.

A collective of the new luxury vessels, which is including a one-year-old Seabourn Encore, Crystal Serenity and Symphony, Cunard’s Queen Mary 2, Silversea’s Silver Shadow and Silver Whisper, and Celebrity Solstice will begin to arrive over the next few months.

Cruise Lines International Association of Australia reports there are about 26 new ocean, river and specialty ships which will have debuted by the end of this year. The cruise have a total investment of more than $US6.8 billion in new vessels.

The expenditure of the cruise industry is generated about $US17 billion worldwide in the year 2015. It is by supporting about 956,597 full-time equivalent jobs.

This summer the tourists will see a stunning armada of cruise ships from the seven fleets sailing to ports around Australia’s coastline.

There are more than 600 international cruise industry delegates descended on Sydney on August 25 for the annual Cruise 360 conference, discussing about the future and the initiatives to promote the cruise tourism and how to allure more tourists in the peak season.

The “guestcentricity” is to be sustained demand for luxury expedition cruising, river cruising and cruises to private islands with the celebrity chefs behind the pans, how the cruise operators can have a better leverage their social media accounts.


Franck Seguin Appointed as General Manager of Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort



BEL OMBRE, MAURITIUS – Outrigger Enterprises Group has appointed Franck Seguin general manager of the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort, effective Sept. 1, 2017.

He will report to Outrigger president and CEO Scott Dalecio.

Seguin brings to Outrigger more than 20 years of experience in hospitality, including senior resort management roles in the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean and North Africa.

Most recently, he was general manager of the Banyan Tree Takamaka in the Seychelles. Seguin also knows Mauritius well, having been general manager of the Angsana Balaclava, a five-star suites and villas property, and the Intercontinental Balaclava, a 210-room hotel – both in Mauritius.

Apart from his native French, Seguin speaks English and conversational Spanish. He has a bachelor’s degree in hotel and tourism management from the Vatel Business School in Lyon, France.

“It’s my pleasure to welcome Franck to Outrigger,” said Dalecio. “With his in-depth Indian Ocean knowledge and international hotel experience, Franck will help us grow the already acclaimed reputation of the Outrigger Mauritius Beach Resort.”

ANA to Launch a New English Version of the Corporate Web Booking Portal ANA @ desk


Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για ANA to Launch a New English Version of the Corporate Web Booking Portal ANA @ desk


ANA, Japan’s only 5-Star airline, will launch a new English version of the corporate booking portal, ANA@desk, on September 10, 2017. ANA@desk is an exclusively corporate portal that offers business discounts on ANA Japan domestic flights, enabling convenient purchase of business travel tickets with high flexibility. The Japanese portal, launched in 2002, is used by more than 4 million business travelers per year.
The new English version of the portal will be launched with the aim to meet the diverse needs of international corporations located in Japan. The ANA@desk’s new screen structure, which is synchronized with the ANA official website ANA SKY WEB, and the optimal functions for smartphone users, will greatly facilitate the online Japan domestic ticket purchase.
ANA will continue developing more attractive and user friendly tools to provide an even further enhanced customer convenience.
In addition to the launch of the new English version of the portal, a renewed Japanese ANA@desk will be introduced.
Outline of the renewal:
  • ① Renewal of the existing Japanese portal
    • ・ The top page and the seat availability display will be renewed to be synchronized with the ANA official website. The new layout will also allow an optimized screen display on smartphones.
  • ② Enhancement of the booking and ticketing function
    • ・ A new round-trip search will be added to the availability search function, reducing the necessary steps for a search.
    • ・ A new one step direct booking and ticketing function will be introduced, allowing the traveler to directly select the desired flight and fare.
    • ・ Ticketing approval function will be available on smartphones.
      ※ The issuance of tickets with all open date sectors will no longer be available.

Millennium Hotels and Resorts signs two iconic hotels in Makkah



 Millennium Hotels and Resorts


Millennium Hotels and Resorts is continuing with its successful expansion strategy across Saudi Arabia by announcing the takeover of two landmark hotels in the Holy City of Makkah. Following the signing of a management agreement with Makkah Construction & Development Company, the Group will operate Makkah Millennium Hotel and Makkah Millennium Towers, under the global flagship of Millennium Hotels and Resorts, Middle East and Africa with the agreement coming into effect by 1st September 2017. The move solidifies the Group’s position as one of the fastest growing operators in the Kingdom, ensuring it comfortably meets its target to open over 20 hotels in Saudi Arabia within the next four years.
As the nearest hotels to Al Masjid Al Haram, with direct access to The Holy Kaaba, the properties occupy a premium location in Makkah, providing an ideal base for pilgrim travellers. The 614 key Makkah Millennium Hotel is scheduled to go under extensive renovation with the plan to convert the hotel into a unique luxury property part of The Biltmore Collection set to provide the highest level of guest experience to pilgrim travellers. Meanwhile, the 802 key Makkah Millennium Towers adjacent to Makkah Millennium Hotel will deliver the high service standards expected from Millennium Collection. With iconic architecture and traditionally-inspired Arabian decor combined, both hotels create a contemporary celebration of Arabic hospitality, and will offer world-class amenities, including a range of restaurants, meeting spaces, prayer halls and fitness facilities, and will address the rapidly growing demand in the Holy City.
Mr. Ali Hamad Lakhraim Alzaabi, President and CEO, Millennium Hotels and Resorts MEA stated; “We are honoured to enter into an agreement with Makkah Construction & Development Company, one of the Kingdom’s most renowned real estate developers to operate these landmark hotels. Religious tourism is expected to rise even further in the Holy City, and with significant government investment into infrastructure there are plenty of opportunities to support this development by offering an array of excellent accommodation options for visitors.
Our Group possesses the resources and knowledge to operate these prestigious properties, ensuring we consistently deliver the highest standards thanks to our global expertise combined with a deep understanding of the region. We look forward to beginning this long term and fruitful relationship with Makkah Construction & Development Company.”
H.E. Sheikh Abdul Rahman A. Fakieh, Chairman of Makkah Construction and Development Company noted; “We are delighted to enter into this partnership and look forward to working closely with global hospitality leader Millennium Hotels & Resorts. We are confident that they will deliver exceptional operational and service standards and their considerable expertise will enable these unique properties to achieve their full potential, ensuring a mutually beneficial collaboration for many years to come.”
Millennium Hotels & Resorts currently operates five properties in the Kingdom, with an additional 21 upcoming properties in the pipeline. The Group’s next openings for the country include Millennium Madina Airport, Millennium Makkah Al Naseem and Copthorne Makkah Al Naseem.

CIA’s new Culinary course: Food and Design: Hudson River



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για CIA’s new Culinary course: Food and Design: Hudson River



Two New York colleges are teaming up to put the "art" in culinary arts. Future food industry leaders from The Culinary Institute of America and future professional designers from Pratt Institute are taking a class together this fall that calls upon the special talents of these students.
FoodAndDesign HudsonRiver
The collaboration—Food and Design: Hudson River—is a semester-long, three-credit class with 12 students each from the CIA and Pratt. The Hudson River was selected as the theme for this exploration of food and design as it has been vital to the region's food, art, and commerce for centuries and is familiar to students from both colleges. During the semester, students will visit art museums and food producers as well as agricultural, artistic, and historic sites.
"We are delighted to collaborate with Pratt Institute to create an experiential learning experience inspired by the history, culture, geography, ecology, and beauty of the Hudson River," says Dr. Denise Bauer, dean of the CIA's School of Liberal Arts and Food Studies. "Coming from specialized colleges, CIA and Pratt students share the same kind of focus and passion for their chosen fields; bringing them together to create a collaborative food design project promises a unique outcome."
During the semester, students will visit each other's college twice in addition to meeting weekly on their own campus and connecting via video conference. The course will wrap up with a culminating event in which teams of students from both colleges work together to create a project for public exhibit inspired by the culture of the Hudson River.
At the CIA, the course is a bachelor's-level elective open to juniors and seniors majoring in Applied Food Studies or Food Business Management. It is being co-taught by CIA Associate Professor Antonella Piemontese and Pratt Assistant Professor Dr. Karol Murlak.

The CIA and Pratt worked together in the past, on an exchange program that saw baking and pastry arts majors from the CIA and design students from Pratt visit each other's campus to share and compare their differing approaches to the creative process. For example, design projects at Pratt could take weeks or months to develop, while artistic desserts at the CIA must be prepared, plated, and served within a matter of hours or even minutes. The exchange brought new perspectives to all students involved.

Results of the 2017 GSTC Board of Directors election





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Results of the 2017 GSTC Board of Directors election



The Global Sustainable Tourism Council Board of Directors plays an integral role in the leadership of the organization. Most seats on the board are filled via annual elections of and by current members of the Council. The GSTC Election Committee has validated the votes and has released the results.
Three current board members were re-elected to 3-year terms: Jane Ashton (TUI Group), Beatriz Barreal Danel (Sustainable Riviera Maya), and Jorge Moller (ONG Regenera). The election brings to the board for 3-year terms also Ingunn Sornes (Innovation Norway), as well Dr. Anna Spenceley (Spenceley Tourism & Development) who has already served on the board from 2010 to 2012.Melinda Watt (EarthCheck) was also re-elected to a special board seat designated for a Certification Body.
Commenting on the election, Board Chair Luigi Cabrini stated “Once again the GSTC Board will benefit of the experience of leaders in sustainable tourism from a variety of countries and continents. A warm welcome to the newly elected Directors and thank you to those who will continue to serve for a new term.”
“I look forward to take part in the very experienced and competent Board,” says Ingunn Sornes. “I do hope I am able to pass on some of the development work we have undertaken in Norway, especially in integrating sustainable tourism into the local development planning.”
“I’m thrilled to be back as part of the GSTC Board,” says Dr. Spenceley. “I’m looking forward to working with distinguished Board members, working groups, and members, to promote the positive impact that the GSTC has on sustainable tourism globally.”
“One of my first tasks is a Seychelles conference on ‘Sustainable Tourism in Small Island Developing States’ in November. This is being organised in partnership with the Seychelles Sustainable Tourism Foundation (SSTF), the University of Seychelles (Department of Tourism and Cultural Heritage), the IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas Tourism and Protected Areas Specialist Group (TAPAS Group), and the GSTC is a core partner” adds Dr. Spenceley.
The new terms commence on September 1st.

Alaska’s Newest Partner Singapore Airlines Gives Guests Truly Unique Flying Experience



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Alaska’s Newest Partner Singapore Airlines Gives Guests Truly Unique Flying Experience

Alaska Airlines announced today that Singapore Airlines will be its newest Global Partner. Members of Alaska Mileage Plan and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer loyalty programs will begin earning miles on each other’s flights beginning Sept. 27. Mileage Plan members will be able to redeem miles for travel awards on Singapore Airlines-operated flights at a later date.

In addition, the two carriers will enact a codeshare partnership, pending government approval, which will allow guests booking through Singapore Airlines to travel on both airlines and enjoy seamless reservations and ticketing, one-stop check-in, baggage checked to final destination and coordinated flight schedules.

“We’re very proud to add an airline of the caliber of Singapore Airlines to our portfolio of Global Partners,” said Andrew Harrison, chief commercial officer for Alaska Airlines. “Our guests will enjoy truly distinctive inflight service when traveling with Singapore Airlines, while also taking full advantage of their Alaska Mileage Plan benefits when traveling from the West Coast to Asia.”

Virgin America guests have enjoyed frequent flyer benefits with Singapore Airlines since 2013. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan will take over as the singular loyalty program for Virgin America flyers starting in 2018.

“Our new partnership with Alaska Airlines enables us to improve connectivity between Singapore and the important North American market, providing customers with more codeshare destinations and enhanced KrisFlyer benefits. It also reflects our commitment to continuously expand our network reach and offer our customers greater flexibility when planning their travel itineraries,” said Tan Kai Ping, Singapore Airlines senior vice president marketing planning.

Known for its premium inflight service as the world’s most awarded airline, Singapore Airlines flies from Alaska’s San Francisco hub to Singapore nonstop and via Hong Kong, and from Alaska’s Los Angeles hub to Singapore via Seoul or Tokyo (Narita), with connecting service from Seattle and Portland. In all, Changi Airport-based Singapore Airlines flies to over 60 destinations in more than 30 countries on five continents worldwide.

Carnival Corporation wins Partner of the Year Award for commitment to travel professionals



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Carnival Corporation wins Partner of the Year Award for commitment to travel professionals

SAN DIEGO - Carnival Corporation & plc was honored by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) with the 2017 ASTA Supplier Partner of the Year Award for its commitment and dedication to travel agents and lasting contributions to the global travel professional industry. ASTA's president and CEO, Zane Kerby, presented the company with the award at the ASTA Global Convention 2017 in San Diego following a keynote address by Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation, during which he highlighted the key role of travel agents in growing demand for cruise vacations.
The ASTA Supplier Partner of the Year Award was established to recognize the partner who has impressed the agency community most by offering the best service and by helping agencies with attractive agency compensation and creative pricing. ASTA selected Carnival Corporation as this year's recipient based on the company's outstanding support and commitment to ASTA and the agency community, supporting the trade organization's critical mission of industry advocacy and keeping the travel advisor channel vibrant.
"Travel agent professionals have been and continue to be extremely crucial to our success as an industry, and we are committed to ensuring our agent partners have the tools they need to be successful 'matchmakers' in pairing their clients with the best cruise line and ship for a vacation that exceeds all expectations," said Donald. "When our agent partners understand the psychographics of our brands and pair that with what they know about their clients, they can guide people to the right cruise experience and help create happy cruisers for life – and that is our common objective. We thank both ASTA and the entire agent community for teaming with our 10 leading global brands to help drive our collective growth."
Carnival Corporation and its brands have established several travel agent-focused programs – like Carnival Cruise Line's "Agentpalooza" – to help travel professional partners better understand and then convey each line's offerings, specialties and differentiators, and to equip them with the tools they need to be successful.
"We are thrilled to recognize Carnival Corporation and CEO Arnold Donald as the ASTA Supplier Partner of the Year," said Kerby. "Carnival Corporation and its brands understand that travel advisors are a critically important distribution channel who can help build lifelong advocates for the fast-growing cruise sector, and that a partnership approach with sharing of tools and resources is necessary to help agents be the most successful they can be. From sponsoring our consumer research each year, to launching bonus commission programs, the company's leadership continues to build on its track record of helping agents grow their business and better understand today's traveler."
Photo caption:Carnival Corporation was honored by the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) with the 2017 ASTA Supplier Partner of the Year Award for its commitment and dedication to travel agents and lasting contributions to the global travel professional industry. From left: Zane Kerby, president and CEO of ASTA; Peter Greenberg, award-winning investigative reporter and producer; Arnold Donald, president and CEO of Carnival Corporation.

More Middle East and European Airlines on African sky than their own




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για More Middle East and European Airlines on African sky than their own
Most of the African countries are lacking airline services oriented from the continent although they have a positive target to attract more tourists from the United States, Europe, and Asia to visit Africa.

Discussing at Africa Travel Association’s 41st Annual World Tourism Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, the airline and the tourism experts said that a few percentages of African carriers have the international routes. Most of the African countries, many of which have the best tourists attractions have given up their skies to the Middle East and European-registered air carriers to fly there with full domination of the continent’s airspace.

About 67% of the airline capacity are capture by the foreign airlines in Africa.

The latest reports from ForwardKeys suggest that bookings for flights to Africa are currently at 16.8 percent ahead of July 2016. Olivier Jager, CEO of ForwardKeys said that bookings for flights to Africa are currently at 16.8 percent ahead of July 2016.

The only three top airlines registered in Africa are South African Airways, Ethiopian Airways and Kenya Airways. These three carriers connect the continent to key tourism markets such as the United States, South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe.

CEIR publishes sixth report in series focusing on attendee floor engagement tactics



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για CEIR publishes sixth report in series focusing on attendee floor engagement tactics


DALLAS – The Center for Exhibition Industry Research (CEIR) announced the release of Part Six: Exhibition Floor Product Engagement Activities Outside Exhibit Booths, the sixth report in its newest series on attendee floor engagement.
CEIR’s earlier study, the Attendee Retention Insight Study, revealed that one of the major drivers of repeat attendance is the chance for people-to-product engagement on an exhibition floor. Exhibit booths are the primary location on an exhibition floor where such engagement occurs. Many exhibition organizers also offer additional product engagement opportunities for attendees in common areas on the show floor. This report pinpoints which product engagement activities are most popular and more importantly, which enjoy high attendee use, thus signaling effective attendee engagement.
Study results indicate that most B2B exhibition organizers, 87 percent, offer one or more product engagement opportunities in common areas on a show floor; while 48 percent of exhibitors take advantage of these attendee product engagement opportunities. Research results indicate that the majority of organizers and participating exhibitors say the top five product engagement opportunities enjoy high attendee use. New product demo areas where attendees can actually try out products is the setting that enjoys the highest attendee use.
CEIR CEO Cathy Breden, CMP, CAE stated, “There is no better way to bring products to life than by giving attendees the chance to interact with the products themselves. Exhibitors that do not take advantage of these opportunities are missing out on an additional way to deliver impactful brand experiences to their target audiences beyond their booths.”
This 14-page report inventories the availability and performance of nine product engagement activities organizers can make available on an exhibition floor in common areas. It identifies which activities are most popular, which enjoy the highest rate of exhibitor sponsorships and most importantly which enjoy the highest rate of attendee use, according to organizers and exhibitors that sponsor them.
In addition to total results, this report identifies unique differences by exhibitor by industry sector, the extent of exhibition activity and other key demographics. By exhibition organizer, differences are reported by an event’s size, regional scope of participation and type of exhibition organizer.

Qatar Airways launched Doha – Kiev flights





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Qatar Airways launched Doha – Kiev flights
The first Qatar Airways flight from Doha to Kiev, Ukraine touched down on 28 August at Boryspil International Airport. The new daily route by the World’s Best Airline will be served with an Airbus A320 aircraft.
qatar kiev launch
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said: “We are delighted to launch direct service to Kiev, a much-anticipated addition to our global network. This new route will connect businesses in Kiev and across Ukraine to new business partners from around the globe, while also appealing to leisure travelers, offering them the opportunity to experience this charming city. Kiev is just one of several new European destinations launched by Qatar Airways this summer, including Prague and Skopje, opening new gateways across Eastern Europe and linking these cities to our extensive global network of more than 150 destinations.”
Chief Executive Officer of Kiev Boryspil International Airport, Mr. Pavlo Riabikin, said: “We are pleased to welcome the Qatar Airways inaugural flight here to Boryspil. We hope that this will mark the beginning of a long-term mutually beneficial partnership. Developing cooperation with the best airline companies in the world is a matter of fundamental importance for us. Yesterday’s arrival heralds a further step in qualitative development of the main airport of Ukraine.”
Kiev, one of Eastern Europe’s undiscovered cultural jewels, is filled with striking architecture and many art galleries and museums. The city is both historic and modern at the same time, and is quickly becoming a popular must-visit destination for travelers from around the globe. Kiev is also one of the world's cheapest cities. Book your flight and hotel to explore this beautiful city.
Flight Schedules:
Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday
Doha (DOH) to Kyiv (KBP) QR297 departs 15:15 arrives 20:55
Kyiv (KBP) to Doha (DOH) QR298 departs 23:45 arrives 05:05 +1
Wednesday, Friday, Sunday
Doha (DOH) to Kyiv (KBP) QR295 departs 06:45 arrives 12:25
Kyiv (KBP) to Doha (DOH) QR296 departs 13:25 arrives 18:45

InterContinental Ljubljana opens in Slovenia




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για InterContinental Ljubljana opens in Slovenia


InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, one of the world’s leading luxury hotel brands, opens InterContinental® Ljubljana in Slovenia’s beguiling capital.
Located in a modern 20-floor building in the centre of Ljubljana, the luxury InterContinental® Ljubljana is just a short walk from the iconic Ljubljanica River, Park Tivoli and Ljubljana Castle. The hotel has 165 guest rooms including 15 suites, most with panoramic views, and features contemporary interior design with sophisticated details reflecting Slovenian authenticity.
With its blend of culinary, design and cultural influences from neighbouring Austria, Italy and Croatia, Ljubljana sits in the heart of one of Europe’s most diverse countries. The charming city centre is steeped in history, architecture and a hive of traditional and fusion cuisine, making it the ideal 48-hour city break for romantics and culture lovers alike.
InterContinental® Ljubljana is perfectly placed to explore the city’s hidden gems, from enjoying the local brda wine or exploring the newest food markets, or to explore the neighbouring regions, from wine-tasting in the Vipava Valley, boating on Lake Bled, or skiing in the Triglav national park.
Tom Rowntree, Vice President Brand Management, Luxury & Boutique Brands Europe at InterContinental Hotels Group commented: “InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts has been pioneering luxury travel in emerging destinations around the world for more than 70 years, and InterContinental® Ljubljana is a prime example of this. Slovenia is a country of rich diversity, fusing multiple European influences in its food, culture, design and landscape - InterContinental® Ljubljana brings this together in one very sophisticated and stylish offering.”
Named after the prized Carniolan honey bee native to Slovenia, InterContinental® Ljubljana’s B culinary concept, is overseen by Michelin-star Chef Alfredo Russo. Located on the 20th floor, B boasts an open kitchen and a large outdoor terrace with panoramic views of Ljubljana’s old town with the castle on one side and the Alps on the other.
Alfredo’s Mediterranean menu reflects the harmony between Italian and Slovenian cuisines. Incorporating fresh local ingredients, B’s dishes celebrate the vegetarian offerings from the nearby mountains along with the fish delicacies straight from the Adriatic Sea that wets both the Italian and Slovenian shore. The restaurant also boasts an extensive list of local wines and creative cocktails.
InterContinental® Ljubljana also features a bar, a patisserie, a spa with an indoor swimming pool, a fitness centre, a spacious Club InterContinental lounge with a fireplace, and extensive meeting and banqueting space with capacities for up to 300 guests. In addition, using its international know how and local insights, Club InterContinental offers an enhanced service with bespoke package experiences and rewards.

Ryanair calls on Bundeskartellamt & EU Commission to blck Lufthansa-airberlin take over




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Ryanair calls on Bundeskartellamt & EU Commission to black Lufthansa-airberlin take over

Ryanair urged the German Bundeskartellamt and the EU Commission to block the stitch-up between the German Government, Lufthansa and Air Berlin to carve up Air Berlin’s assets, while excluding major competitors and ignoring both competition and State Aid rules, and called for immediate action to block this anti-consumer take-over.
This insolvency is being timed to allow Lufthansa to take over a debt-free Air Berlin (its major German competitor) which will be in breach of all German and EU competition rules, and this Lufthansa monopoly has been supported by the German Government providing 150m euros of State Aid, so that Lufthansa can acquire Air Berlin, as Lufthansa moves from a 68% share to a 95% monopoly, which will result in German customers and visitors suffering higher air fares. Competitor airlines will struggle to get slots in major airports such as Berlin, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Munich, where Lufthansa will control over 80% of peak time slots.
Ryanair also urged all Berliners to vote “Yes” on 24th Sept to keep Tegel Airport open. The new Brandenburg Airport will have a capacity of only 27m passengers, which is less than Dublin (a city with one-third of Berlin’s population). With almost 33m passengers already travelling through Berlin’s 2 existing Schonefeld and Tegel airports last year, the planned closure of Tegel will leave Berlin with less airport capacity than its existing traffic.
In Berlin, Ryanair’s Michael O’Leary said: “The German Bundeskartellamt and the European Commission must block the anti-consumer stitch-up playing out between the German Government, Lufthansa and Air Berlin.  Given that the German Government is centrally involved in these manoeuvres (loaning €150m), the Bundeskartellamt will be afraid to impose competition rules. On this basis, it is vital that the European Commission takes immediate and decisive action to protect German consumers from a Lufthansa high fare monopoly.
Ryanair will continue to grow in Germany as more and more German customers choose our low fares and “Always Getting Better” customer service over Lufthansa’s high fare monopoly”.


Leisure activities on your trip



Las Vegas Airport slot machines


People all around the globe enjoys traveling, and it is always a pleasure visiting new and exciting places. Many of us know the feeling when you smell different scents from what you are used to the moment you step out of the airplane, and at the same time feel that tickling sensation in your stomach - it does feel good, doesn't it?
We travel to different places with different objectives and that is what makes traveling so fun! Gambling is, of course, big business in most parts of the world, but some countries, for instance Norway do not offer any landbased casinos to their citizens. Therefore a large number of Norwegians play in online casinos like InstaCasino. And as a result of this many Norwegians use some of their time on vacations and other travels to visit real landbased casinos so that they can experience the excitement and fun that these venues offer.
Visits like this are very rarely the sole purpose of their trips, but whenever you travel to a big European city you often have to the opportunity to drop by a landbased casino - and as I said: many of the Norwegians do!
The reason why they are doing these visits is quite simple: being in a real landbased casino is something completely different than playing online, and when you are entering a real casino you get an experience quite far from anything you have seen or done before.
First of all: if your planning on trying your luck at the tables you won't get in if your not wearing a suit/dress, and that alone adds quite a bit of exclusiveness to the whole experience. And second of all: the moment you set your foot inside the nicer part of the casino you'll be astonished by the level of luxury that meets you! Velvet draperies, perfectly dressed croupiers, chandeliers, bars and lots of other great stuff awaits, and it is really just for you to suck in the whole atmosphere, get your chips and start playing!
There are several amazing casinos all over Europe and if you for instance are traveling to cities like Vienna, Zürich, Madrid, London or Monaco, just to name a few, be sure to add a bit of excitement to your trip.
If your planning on a journey where you want to gamble like this we urge you to be careful with your money. You might get lucky and win some, but in the long run the casino always wins!

Jamaica boosts tourism by entering strategic partnership with Google


Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Jamaica boosts tourism by entering strategic partnership with Google

Edmund Bartlett, Tourism Minister recently announced the strategic partnership between Jamaica and the search engine giant Google to increase the number of visitors.

The tourism minister met and toured the leadership of Google at the company’s headquarters (Googleplex) in Silicon Valley, California.

He said that Jamaica’s tourism will gain with this agreement as Google is the most visited website in the world. There was a 10 per cent increase in queries from persons in United States for 2017 as compared to the same period last year.

Senior Advisor/ Strategist Delano Seiveright and Jamaica’s Honorary Consul to Los Angeles , Lorna Robinson joined the minister  said that technology driven companies represent the reality now and the future.

People should not be scared of the potential impact of technology on tourism.

Bartlett mentioned that greater audience with potential new visitors  should be addressed by the diversified partnership offered.

The scope of work with the government institutions worldwide, broad statistical overviews of search traffic about Jamaica and the Caribbean and select Latin American countries was presented by Google to the Jamaican delegation.

There was an exclusive data  presentation by Google on how the people in the United States and Canada can search for Jamaica before heading towards a destination mentioned Seiveright.


There was three million monthly queries on Google.com about Jamaica in the US and it ranked among the top searches for ‘luxury vacations’. People in the market of trips to the Caribbean belongs to the highest income households in the USA as compared to other digital users.

US residents with a household income more than US $75,000 showing interest in visiting to the Caribbean was a big deal.

Google as a marketing tool reinforced deeper analysis of external and public online tools while looking at the digital best practices from other tourism institutions on how digital knowhow can be maximized to attract more tourist.

Seychelles Tourism Board targets consumer-driven advertising to attract more visitors from the Middle East




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Seychelles Tourism Board

With the aim of capitalizing on growing interest in Seychelles among holidaymakers in the Middle East region, the Seychelles Tourism Board is aiming to create more brand awareness to further position the island nation as a destination of choice in that region.
seychelles middleeast ads
According to statistics, over 20, 000 visitors from the Middle East have travelled to the Seychelles Islands from January to July this year. This represents a growth of 30 percent.
The United Arab Emirates is one market that is doing remarkably well. Currently standing as the third main source market, the UAE has sent 18,574 visitors to Seychelles up to 20th August, representing a 24 percent increase.
Aiming to keep the tourism numbers growing, the STB’s regional office in Dubai is getting ready to launch a series of marketing initiatives ranging from outdoor advertising as well as taxi, SMS and YouTube advertising campaigns.
seychelles middleeast ads2
The campaigns will be launched in several regions of the Middle-East, namely in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia – mainly in Riyadh and Jeddah, Kuwait, Qatar & Bahrain.
STB’s regional manager for the Middle East Ahmed Fathallah said “for the past several years one of our main strategies was to educate the trade partners with Seychelles’ unique selling points, however the market needs has changed wherein it is now more consumer driven.”
“With this we are adapting on the trend and we are positive that this will meet our objectives and return on investment will be quantifiable on the later stage through the number of visitors to Seychelles,” he added.
The majority of the campaigns will run for a little over two months, mainly between September and October.
For the outdoor advertising campaign, 23 double sided MUPI advertising panels will be launched at 3 business communities in Dubai. This is a mass marketing campaign where several artworks depicting key scenes of the Seychelles will be portrayed featuring tags translated into Arabic.
Aimed at captivating the attention of as many on the go consumers in Dubai, the taxi campaign will see some 50 taxis being fully branded with artworks depicting the Seychelles sceneries and the STB logo.
Targeting online consumers in the 25 to 60 age group, a 20-seconds non-skippable clip of the Seychelles will be featured on YouTube. The advertising campaign will be focussed on encouraging bookings and will be targeting potential travellers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar & Bahrain.
The SMS campaign is one that will run for one year, where ‘Seychelles TB’ will be the sender ID used to try and take advantage of the peak travel seasons in Middle East including the EID holiday, to drive more travellers to Seychelles.
The chief executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Mrs. Sherin Francis said: "It is important that we constantly look for ways to reach out to the discerning travellers as part of our strategy, so that we remain top of mind. For our source markets this strategy is as important as our trade relationships."
"In the case of UAE and the Middle East region, they are source markets with good air connectivity, ideal for both short and long weekend breaks, given that we are visa-free. I believe that as a destination we should be able to appeal to the travellers from there," she added.
Aside of the UAE, other Middle Eastern countries are also performing well in spite of not sending impressive number of visitors to Seychelles.
Arrivals from Qatar have increased by 167 percent with 2,369 visitors having disembarked in Seychelles from January to July this year, compared to 886 during the same period in 2016.
As for Saudi Arabia and Bahrain the arrival numbers have increased by 12 percent and 22 percent respectively.
Saudi Arabia has sent 1,465 visitors to Seychelles from January to July compared to 1,313 during the same period in 2016, while visitor arrivals from Bahrain stands at 396 for the first seven months of the year, compared to only 324 during the same period in 2016.

Airbnb and Government of Quebec announce first tourist-tax agreement in Canada




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Quebec


MONTREAL - Airbnb and the Government of Quebec have finalized the first-ever tax remittance agreement in Canada, which will allow Airbnb to collect and remit the tax on lodging on behalf of the hosts on its home-sharing platform.
"As the first-of-its-kind tax agreement in this country, this is a landmark announcement and defining moment for Airbnb in Canada," said Alex Dagg, Public Policy Manager for Canada. "The agreement in Quebec is an example of how Airbnb and government officials can work together as partners."
Starting Oct. 1, 2017, Airbnb will automatically collect and remit the 3.5 per cent tax on lodging on bookings made in any of Quebec's 22 tourist regions making the process seamless and easy for both hosts and the province.
In the last year, Airbnb has supported almost one million guest arrivals in Quebec.
"The agreement announced today is a positive step toward the future and development of tourism in Quebec, since it will make it possible to adapt the taxation system to the new collaborative and digital economy," said Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region. "The agreement not only addresses the concerns of the tourism industry, but will also ensure healthy competition within the tourism accommodation sector. It is essential that we join and keep pace with the collaborative economy. In addition, this fall, our government intends to clarify certain elements that should forge a link between the collaborative economy and the commercial activities carried out in the tourism accommodation sector by proposing modifications to the current guidelines."
Background - Airbnb in the Province of Quebec:
  • Annual earnings for a typical Airbnb host: $2,600 CAD
  • Number of active hosts: 22,300
  • Nights hosted per year for a typical listing: 38
  • Tourist tax collection: total collected taxes for 2016 would have been $3.7 million CAD for the province of Quebec
  • Guest arrivals: In the last year, there have been nearly one million guest arrivals in Quebec on Airbnb

Story behind the creation of the world’s most famous bear: Winnie the Pooh




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Story behind the creation of the world’s most famous bear: Winnie the Pooh

The world’s most famous bear turned 100 last year, but did you know how he got his name and inspired the creation of Winnie the Pooh?
The story starts with the First World War and Canadian troops being posted to Europe. Lt Harry Colebourn, cavalry veterinarian with the Canadian Cavalry regiment from Fort Garry rescued the orphaned black bear cub, whilst enroute via train through central Canada before being deployed overseas. Named after the regiment’s home city of Winnipeg, the cub Winnie enjoyed the company of humans and became a mascot for the troops.
When Lt Colebourn was posted to the front in France he needed to find Winnie a safe home and this would be at London Zoo, where the black bear became loved by the British public and was a star attraction.
When Colebourn returned to London he decided Winnie should stay where she was happy rather than being shipped to the Assiniboine Park Zoo, Winnipeg, as was his original plan.
During the 1920’s a little boy named Christopher Robin was enthralled by Winnie and even renamed his teddy bear to Winnie. AA Milne, his father, saw the effect the bear had on his son and from that created a fantasy world involving his son and a toy bear named Winnie the Pooh on many adventures.
Today at Assiniboine Park in the Pavilion in the capital city of Winnipeg, visitors will find the Pooh Gallery, and learn more about the true story of the Winnipeg soldier going to war in Europe and how AA Milne was inspired to write about the bear.
The exhibition showcases photographs, artifacts and diaries giving insight to Harry Colebourn’s story as he writes about his experiences of war and the purchase of the bear he named Winnie. The main feature of the gallery is an original oil painting of Winnie the Pooh by E.H. Shepard, the illustrator who worked with author AA Milne to bring the fictional bear to life.
winnie the pooh artgallery
In the grounds of the park is a statue of Winnie with Harry Colebourn, one of the many works of art in this tranquil open space in the heart of Winnipeg.
The Assiniboine Park and Conservancy, with winding trails and wide open green spaces is open year round with seasonal events and activities encouraging visitors. Summer season has music events and movie nights whilst in winter it is toboggans and cross country skiing.
Beyond the flora and fauna there are public art galleries, live theatre, ballet in the park and breath-taking gardens, bike rentals and fitness trail.
Winnipeg’s Assiniboine Park has been going through phases of major renovations and developments including the Journey to Churchill Arctic species zoo exhibit that opened in 2014 and the upcoming Canada’s Diversity Gardens.

Carnival Cruise Line Announces A New Restaurant



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Carnival Cruise Line Announces A New Restaurant

With anticipation building for the Spring 2018 arrival of Carnival Cruise Line’s newest ship, the Carnival Horizon, it was announced today that the ship will feature a Teppanyaki restaurant. Bonsai Teppanyaki will, as the name implies, be located within the ship’s stand-alone Bonsai Sushi venue.

What To Expect

Located on the Promenade Deck of Carnival Horizon, the restaurant will offer a menu spotlighting authentic delicacies from the Far East. But as anyone who has ever experienced a Teppanyaki restaurant knows, half the fun is the show put on by the amazingly talented chefs. It’s also the perfect setting for group fun, as the chef’s work at custom-built stations at the center of an eight-seat table. Bonsai Teppanyaki will feature to such set-ups, but with seating limited, it’s definitely a venue one should plan to make reservations for!
Each meal will begin with samplings of five different appetizers, including classic Miso Soup, Pork Belly Yakitori with Sesame Asparagus Fries and a dish we can’t wait to try called Spicy Tuna on the Rocks with Onion Sesame Sauce and Den Miso. From there, diners will choose from a variety of appetizers including Lobster Tail with Yuzu Cream and Citrus Kosho, Filet Mignon with Truffle Salt, Garlic Chips and Champagne Cognac Flambe, Black Cod with Soy Reduction and other tasty treats. Combination dinners will also be available, and each meal will end on a sweet note courtesy of a Chocolate Bento Box with Green Tea Ice Cream.
“Carnival is all about providing our guests with a wide array of choices,” said president Christine Duffy, “and that, of course, includes a seemingly endless array of delicious culinary options. The new Bonsai Teppanyaki promises to be a wonderful addition to the Carnival Horizon, offering delectable cuisince from the Far East enhanced byshow-stopping performances by our talented and engaging chefs.”
The restaurant will be open for lunch on sea days and for dinner every night of the week, with the price being set on a per-person basis which covers the entire meal.

What Else The Ship Will Feature

Horizon will feature dozens of dining and drinking options, including Cucina del Capitano (a family-style Italian restaurant), the always popular Farenheit 555 steakhouse, a BlueIguana Cantina, the Seafood Shack and — of course — Guy’s Burger Joint. It will also be the first ship in the Carnival fleet to feature a Dr. Seuss-themed water park.
Carnival Horizon is set to make her maiden voyage — a 13-day Mediterranean sailing out of Barcelona — on April 2, 2018. After four trips out of that port, she will do a 14-day trans-Atlantic repositioning cruise to New York City on May 9.

Millions of Americans have already booked holiday travel



Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Millions of Americans have already booked holiday travel


NEW YORK - Eight million U.S. adults have already made hotel reservations for the November/December holiday season and six million have purchased holiday airline tickets, according to a new Bankrate.com report.
Approximately 35 million American adults anticipate staying in a hotel during the holidays (or another type of overnight lodging that they have to pay for, such as Airbnb) and about 31 million plan to fly, according to the survey. As August comes to a close, 23% of those expected travelers have arranged paid lodging and 20% have their plane reservations.
Among those who haven't booked yet, the most common expected completion date is sometime in September. By the end of next month, 48% of holiday fliers say they will have bought their tickets and 44% think they will have secured a hotel or other paid overnight accommodations. Roughly 1 in 7 travelers – including twice as many women as men – won't be done until December.
According to Hopper, an airfare tracker, the early birds probably didn't get the best deals. They say the best time to buy Christmas tickets is in early October and Thanksgiving prices typically remain stable through Halloween.
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Another way to save money on holiday travel is to use rewards points/miles. Many consumers, especially those who travel infrequently, may not realize how many points/miles they have racked up through everyday spending on their credit cards. These programs often allow cardholders to redeem with a variety of hotels and airlines (or for cash back). And a healthy number of hotels and airlines have eliminated their dreaded holiday blackout periods.
A third money-saving strategy, which could be combined with one or both of those listed above, is to take advantage of a lucrative credit card sign-up bonus. "This is basically free money," said Bankrate.com analyst Robin Saks Frankel"The best current offers are worth up to $1,000 in free travel – just for signing up for the card. You can also get other perks like free checked bags, airport lounge access, Global Entry and TSA PreCheck. A good list of cards is available here."
In general, the most popular way to book a flight is through an airline's website (43%), followed by a travel comparison website such as Expedia (32%). The order is reversed for lodging, with 34% preferring a comparison site and 31% opting for the specific property's website.
Americans' favorite way to pay is with a credit card (49%), followed by a debit card (31%), cash (8%) and rewards points/miles (4%).
The survey was conducted by Princeton Survey Research Associates International. PSRAI obtained telephone interviews with a nationally representative sample of 1,002 adults living in the continental United States. Interviews were conducted by landline (501) and cell phone (501, including 303 without a landline phone) in English and Spanish by Princeton Data Source from August 3-6, 2017. Statistical results are weighted to correct known demographic discrepancies. The margin of sampling error for the complete set of weighted data is plus or minus 4.0 percentage points.