Best Holiday Lettings

Author: admin

  • International tourism receipts grew by 4% in 2012

    Receipts from international tourism in destinations around the globe grew by 4% in 2012 reaching US$ 1075 billion. This growth is the same as the 4% increase in international tourist arrivals which reached 1035 million in 2012. An extra US$ 219 billion was recorded in receipts from international passenger transport, bringing total exports generated by international tourism in 2012 to US$ 1.3 trillion.

    According to the most recent UNWTO World Tourism Barometer, international tourism receipts hit a brand new record in 2012, reaching an estimated US$ 1075 billion (euro 837 billion) worldwide, up 4% in real terms, from US$ 1042 billion (euro 749 billion) in 2011.

    “It is encouraging to look that the expansion in international tourist arrivals was equalled by a comparable increase in spending regardless of continued economic challenges” said UNWTO Secretary-General, Taleb Rifai. “Considering that tourism is a key export for lots of economies around the globe, this result’s excellent news because it provides foreign reserves to destinations, and contributes to job creation in tourism in addition to in related economic sectors” he added.

    By regions, the Americas (+7%) recorded the most important increase in receipts, followed by Asia and the Pacific (+6%), Africa (+5%) and Europe (2%). Receipts inside the Middle East were still down (-2%); yet report a gentle improvement when compared with the decline recorded in 2011.

    In absolute values, Europe saw US$ 457 billion in tourism earnings (euro 356 bn) comparable to 43% of the world’s total tourism receipts, the biggest share by region. Destinations in Asia and the Pacific (US$ 323 billion or euro 251 bn) account for 30% of international tourism receipts and the Americas (US$ 215 billion or euro 167 bn) for 20%. Within the Middle East (4% share) total tourism receipts reached US$ 47 billion (euro 36 bn) and in Africa (3% share) US$ 34 billion (euro 26 bn).

    Except for international tourism receipts (the travel item within the Balance of Payments), tourism also generates export earnings through international passenger transport. The latter amounted to an estimated US$ 219 billion in 2012, bringing total receipts generated by international tourism to US$ 1.3 trillion, or US$ 3.5 billion an afternoon on average.

    International tourism (travel and passenger transport) accounts for 30% of the world’s exports of services and six% of overall exports of products and services. As a world export category, tourism ranks fifth after fuels, chemicals, food and automotive products, while ranking first in lots of developing countries.

    Healthy growth in both advanced and emerging economy destinations

    The top 10 ranking of destinations by receipts remained virtually unchanged in 2012, with america, Spain, France, China and Italy leading, followed by Macau (China), Germany, Uk, Hong Kong (China) and Australia.

    A choice of the more mature destinations a number of the world’s top 10 earners showed remarkable results: the us (+11%), France (+7%), Germany (+6%), the uk (+5%) and Hong Kong (China) (+14%). Other advanced economy destinations with growth rates of 10% or above include Sweden (+17%), Japan (+33%), the Republic of Korea (+14%) and Finland (+16%).

    Among the emerging economy destinations highest receipts growth was reported by Thailand (+25%), India (+22%), Poland (+13%), South Africa (+18%), Egypt (+14%), Vietnam (+18%) and Ukraine (+13%).

  • News: Change of leadership for Air France-KLM

    Jean-Cyril Spinetta has confirmed he’ll be stepping down as chairman and chief executive of the Air France-KLM airline group.

    He would be joined by vice president and deputy chief executive and Leo van Wijk, with both leaving their posts on July 1st.

    The decision was confirmed at an Air France-KLM board meeting held in Paris earlier.

    “When we were asked by the board to imagine our current executive positions in October 2011, we had a twofold objective,” the pair declared in a joint statement.

    “This was to place Air France-KLM back at the road to recovery by cutting costs and reducing debt, in addition to to establish a brand new, more integrated organization of each of the group’s strategic functions. 

    “The Transform 2015 recovery plan, simultaneously launched last year at Air France and KLM, is now bearing fruit due to the agreements which were signed by both airlines with the representative trade unions and works councils.

    “The group net debt decreased in 2012.

    “The new governance of the Air France-KLM Group would be up and running as of July this year.”

    “Under these circumstances, we believe the timing is good for the recent management team to take over with a view to make sure the continuity of the group’s economic and fiscal recovery and the implementation of its new governance. 

    “We wish to take this chance to both congratulate and thank our people for his or her clear-sighted and responsible method to the group’s recovery plan which might not had been launched otherwise and in order to be vital to pursue.”

    Following the proposal of the appointments committee, Air France-KLM revealed Alexandre de Juniac will succeed Jean-Cyril Spinetta as chairman and chief executive.

    Peter Hartman will succeed Leo Van Wijk.

    In other news, the Air France board, which met at the same day, appointed Frédéric Gagey to take over from Alexandre de Juniac as chairman and chief executive of Air France as of July 1st 2013.

  • News: GIBTM: Event Camp Middle East 2013 goes live

    In a primary for the center East, GIBTM 2013 has given delegates a glimpse of ways technology will shape events sooner or later, becoming the 1st show within the region to provide the hybrid event initiative Event Camp Middle East 2013.

    This hybrid format included seminar sessions fascinated by technological advances impacting the meetings industry, broadcast from both the show floor and streamed online from destinations as far afield because the US and Australia.

    It extended GIBTM’s reach to a web-based global audience of 16,000 users across ten countries in precisely two hours.

    “By pioneering this hybrid format we’ve taken GIBTM out of the four walls of the show floor to a world audience,” said Lois Hall, exhibition manager, GIBTM.

    The event kicked off at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) yesterday and runs until tomorrow.

    “We recognise the significance of technology and social media in shaping content and how wherein meetings’ professionals are connecting now and the way they’ll accomplish that someday, that is why this year’s show has embraced these ground-breaking trends.”

    The session took on added relevance when it was reiterated that the center East was the fastest growing region for twitter users with 2.1 million recorded in June 2012, while in November 2012 the center East and North Africa (MENA) region had 45 million Facebook users, 50 per cent of whom accessed the media via mobile.

  • Celebrate Thai new year at ‘Toshi’ in Grand Millennium Dubai

    The Grand Millennium Dubai’s signature Asian restaurant, Toshi, might be celebrating the Thai New Year common on April 11, 2013. Toshi’s lovers can anticipate a tasty array of special cuisine incorporating the coolest of Thailand’s culinary traditions spread across three days between 7pm and 11.30pm each evening.

    Asian Chef Wittaya Tongsodsaeng from Toshi said, “Our guests can celebrate the Thai New Year at Toshi by savoring quite a lot of authentic Thai dishes, which include Tom Kha Kai, Crying Tiger Salmon Panang, Pad Kee Mao and lots of more.”

    A gastronomic delight, Thai cuisine has gained in popularity across the world for its variety and distinctive flavors.

    “There may be no better thanks to take pleasure in an occasion along with the Thai New Year, than savoring an authentic dining extravaganza,” Wittaya said.

    General Manager, Peter Mansourian said “Our guests can expect the evenings to be filled by the soothing strains of traditional Thai background music to compliment tasteful decorations to mark this special time of the year.” He added, “We also are delighted to announce that Chef Khunparamee Rodsktavan can be flown especially from Patong, Thailand to take part on this memorable event”.

    The price is AED 175 per person with soft drinks, AED 195 per person with one glass of bubbly or grape and AED 295 per person with unlimited selected beverages.

    Located just off the Sheikh Zayed Road, the Grand Millennium offers quick access to city’s prime leisure and business attractions including beach and golf relaxation. The 343-room hotel features nine consultation room spa, atmosphere controlled pool, a number of award-winning restaurants and bars, including Asian and Italian cuisines, and is simply 20 minutes’ from the international airport and adjacent to the Dubai Metro.

  • Abu Dhabi taps into MICE industry

    Abu Dhabi have been named many of the top 100 busiest global meetings destinations within the International Congress and Convention Association’s (ICCA) 2012 global city rankings for the primary time, jumping from 234th place with eight meetings in 2011, to hosting 22 association meetings last year.

    The UAE capital is now ranked alongside other major meetings cities including: Atlanta, Georgia; Brasilia and Perth, Australia; and better than established global hubs equivalent to Las Vegas within the US and Cologne in Germany.

    The rankings are an annual league evaluated and published by ICCA, which represents the primary specialists in organising, transporting and accommodating international meetings and events, with over 950 members in 88 countries.

    Abu Dhabi is considered one of only two Arabian Gulf cities to make it to the highest 100 rankings – the alternative is Dubai which made it to 60th place with 38 meetings.

    “This is a welcome endorsement of Abu Dhabi’s credentials as a recognised destination for the meeting, incentive, conferences and exhibitions industry,” said HE Jasem Al Darmaki, Deputy Director General, Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority (TCA Abu Dhabi).

    “Last year was something of a watershed in our business events ambitions on account that in February 2012 we hosted the arena Ophthalmology Congress at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, which was the biggest convention held thus far within the UAE capital with upwards of 10,000 delegates. Just seven months later ADNEC also hosted the 18th World Routes Development Congress. These headline events put Abu Dhabi firmly at the major conventions and congresses agenda and function case studies and proof positive of the city’s ability to come back together as one to make sure meetings success.”

    In 2012 the whole choice of events hosted at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) alone grew to 360 from 232 the former year, a 55% increase. Similarly, 17 conferences were held that attracted almost 25,000 participants and 111 special events and meetings.

    Two years ago Abu Dhabi initiated a ‘One Destination’ collaborative stakeholder solution to winning major meetings business – an approach ADNEC says is paying off.

    “The rise by 134 places inside the ICCA rankings is attributable to the exertions and commitment shown not only by our team here at ADNEC, but additionally Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and the emirate’s leadership. Abu Dhabi’s excellent infrastructure, great airlines and our advanced, award-winning event facility make the emirate an increasingly attractive place for global meetings and conventions. We stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority and are working together to fulfil Abu Dhabi’s target of accomplishing a top 50 ICCA ranking in the next five years,” said HE Ali Saeed Bin Harmel Al Dhaheri, Managing Director, ADNEC.

    Abu Dhabi is making major strides at the international business events scene. Earlier this year TCA Abu Dhabi launched the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau to drive forward the emirate’s business events ambitions. The bureau is a dedicated, one-stop entity which supports the expansion of exhibitions, conferences, meetings and incentives throughout the emirate by forging closer links with the industry and providing an entire range of support.

    Two months later the Abu Dhabi Convention Bureau overhauled its Advantage Abu Dhabi initiative geared toward the company meetings and incentive travel segments with the introduction of 13 structured offerings designed to improve the emirate’s appeal amongst sector-specific bookers.

    “These initiatives have already paid dividends with meetings having been sealed from corporates inside the UK and the center East and extra enquiries being assessed from in the region and america,” added Al Darmaki.

    “We also are actively supporting the Seatrade Middle East Cruise Forum, which we anticipate will bring upwards of 200 delegates to the December 9-11 convention this year on the five-star Rosewood Abu Dhabi.”

    Already this year Abu Dhabi has successfully hosted the sector Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit. In June it is going to host The Institute of Travel & Tourism’s annual conference – the blue ribbon event of the UK’s travel and tourism industry on the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr when around 450 of Britain’s travel and tourism decision-makers are expected to wait, the similar month sees the yearly Business Travel Sales Force Seminar of SELECTOUR AFAT – the most important travel agency network in France – held on the five-star Sofitel Abu Dhabi with around 200 French travel professionals. In November the International Conference on Neurology & Epidemiology, that is because of the be attended by 600-800 of probably the most eminent medical practitioners in these specialised fields, involves Jumeirah at Etihad Towers.

    “We recognise the opportunity of exhibitions, conferences and business events – the MICE sector – to contribute to Abu Dhabi’s wider tourism aspirations and generate significant economic impact for the destination through increasing visitor numbers, hotel occupancies, flights and other visitor and exhibitor spend,” added Al Darmaki.

    “We are targeting six major business wins this year, yet another eight next year and a complete of 10 wins during 2015. Our strategy is to focus on in-market opportunities that generate incremental business within the short term while building on international relationships for the longer term.

    “Our timing couldn’t be better. We’ve our best room rates ever – which are a deciding factor for major associations and business event organisers seeking to secure a number destination and our available hotel stock is now well-fitted to large events. Our distinctive advantages are competitive rates, intelligent pricing, added value and innovative product.

    “There also are compelling socio-economic benefits because of this sector including improved education quality across various sectors, knowledge and technology transfer, research collaborations, destination and opportunity awareness, the site of Abu Dhabi as a thought leader, the continuing development of human capital and the catalysing of inward investment.”

    Business tourism have been identified as a key economic diversification driver in Abu Dhabi. Research commissioned by TCA Abu Dhabi and ADNEC suggests the industrial impact from business events inside the emirate is anticipated to extend by approximately 7% once a year on average up until 2020 in line with historic performance.