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  • News: ILTM Africa 2013: ministers and travel experts to discuss Africa’s luxury travel industry

    The launch of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Africa, Cape Town [ www.iltm.net/africa ] will even include the primary ILTM Africa Forum – a live debate led by a number of Africa’s leading industry figures who will discuss the increase of luxury travel, the failings that this has dropped at the continent, and the way safari tourism has moved upmarket. There’ll even be a key one-on-one interview to be announced within the coming weeks.

    The Forum, facilitated by international African Travel Writer, Graham Boynton, will occur before the show opens on Monday, April 8, on the Mount Nelson Hotel, an identical venue because the ILTM Africa showcase. It will become in two parts and starts with Minister Alan Winde, Ministry of Finance, Economic Development, and Tourism for the Western Cape government, who will give an insight into the infrastructure and tourism assets of his region and beyond. Winde will then be followed by South African author, Clem Sunter, concentrating on Africa’s economic and political health.

    Boynton will then facilitate a full of life debate on “The Issues Facing the luxurious Travel Market” taking a look at perception vs. reality – how the exterior world sees Africa – and the impact of modern changes that experience taken place out there, plus how the posh African product has evolved and the main issue of intra-country air connections. Participating should be Tony Romer Lee, CEO, The gathering by Liz McGrath; Adrian Gardiner, Founder&CEO, Mantis Group; and Beks Ndlovu, CEO, African Bush Camps.

    ILTM’s Exhibition Director, Alison Gilmore, commented: “The point of the ILTM forum concept is to kick off an event with some content and debate that provides all our participants – exhibitors and hosted buyers – real insights into trends, issues, and successes of the host country in addition some thought provoking take-aways to start their two days of commercial. We’re delighted to welcome Minister Alan Winde and, needless to say, such an influential line-up of speakers for what’s sure to be a full of life and enlightening debate with a view to also give the audience the chance to invite their very own questions from people who are directly serious about the industry luxury tourism.”

    In its first year, ILTM Africa 2013 often is the first invitation-only event in Africa to showcase 70 exclusively African travel experiences who will meet with 70 international Hosted Buyers, devoted to creating and planning luxury travel inbound to Africa.

    Business appointments are pre-scheduled, matching mutual requests from buyers and exhibitors alike to fulfill on a strict one-to-one ratio. Following the normal ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors must follow a strict accreditation process so as to participate.

  • Game of Thrones fans flock to hotels in fantastical filming locations

    As the sport of Thrones third season gather pace, LateRooms.com today reveals that hotels inside the show’s filming locations have seen an enormous spike in bookings because the launch of the show’s third season last Monday, some as much as 100%.

    HBO’s hugely popular series returned to TV screens on Easter Monday, and hotels in Morocco and Iceland have seen a surge in bookings as fans flock to go to the places where the epic medieval city scenes and stunning glacier exteriors are shot.

    Hotels on LateRooms.com within the desert town of Ouarzazate in Morocco have reported a staggering 100% increase as fans descend upon it as probably the most main filming locations from the expected third series. Iceland continues to even be a well-liked location from the show, and was helped by another 13% of bookings from LateRooms.com customers. Previously, hotels in Dubrovnik reported an identical trend as filming of the second one series came about within the Croatian city, and LateRooms.com hotels there saw a healthy 28% increase in bookings in 2012.

    “We are so pleased to work out that the success of Game of Thrones is making a knock on effect for our hotels in Morocco and Iceland”, commented Lynda Matthews, Offline Marketing Manager for LateRooms.com. “We have some great hotels near where the breathtaking action and scenery is filmed, and with such a lot of Game of Thrones fans watching the recent season, there’s a short break with a suitably dramatic backdrop for all of them!”

  • News: Norwegian to add first Grammy experience at sea

    Norwegian Cruise Line announced today that it has partnered with The Recording Academy® to add the primary GRAMMY® Experience at sea onboard its newest ship, Norwegian Getaway, set to launch in February 2014.  As portion of the partnership, Norwegian Cruise Line was named “Official Cruise Line Partner of the GRAMMY Awards®.”  Moreover, the businesses will partner at the first GRAMMY-themed cruise it is scheduled to set sail within the fall of 2014.

    The GRAMMY Experience could be located on Deck 8 on Norwegian Getaway and can feature artifacts chosen and curated by the GRAMMY Museum® at L.A. LIVE in downtown La.  Within the evenings, the venue will feature live performances by past GRAMMY winners and nominees, among others.

    “Partnering with The Recording Academy and its prestigious GRAMMY Awards to bring the primary GRAMMY-branded experience at sea on board Norwegian Getaway is a big coup for us as we continue to innovate with entertainment,” said Kevin Sheehan, Norwegian Cruise Line’s Chief Executive Officer.  “This GRAMMY venue with nightly performance by top-notch musicians elevates the offerings on Norwegian Getaway to an entire new level.”

    “The Recording Academy is often searching for unique how to elevate the GRAMMY brand and extend the GRAMMY experience all year long,” said Neil Portnow, President/CEO of The Recording Academy. “This new partnership with Norwegian Cruise Line allows us to continue expanding our brand’s reach globally and convey new varieties of GRAMMY-themed entertainment to music fans everywhere. We couldn’t be more ok with this new alliance between some of the leading cruise lines and one of the vital credible and recognized brands in music.”

    More details in regards to the GRAMMY Experience venue, performances and the GRAMMY theme cruise could be revealed inside the coming months.

    Currently under construction at MEYER WERFT in Germany, the 4,000 passenger Norwegian Getaway often is the largest ship to homeport year-round in Miami.  The ship represents a chance for the Norwegian guest to “get away” from the

    routine of labor, school, and daily stress, and discover a true respite at sea that reflects the energy and culture that Miami is legendary for worldwide.  Norwegian Getaway’s hull artwork was designed by popular Miami modern artist and muralist David “LEBO” Le Batard.

    To date, the corporate has revealed the ship’s groundbreaking design, including an open-air boardwalk, The Waterfront, and 678 Ocean Place; quite a lot of indoor and outdoor venues on three dynamic decks which will create an entire new complex at sea that boosts guests’ reference to the sea.  Celebrity Chef and Food Network star Geoffrey Zakarian may also create and oversee the hole of his seafood restaurant, Ocean Blue by Geoffrey Zakarian.

    The ship will feature a rich mixture of stateroom options, including The Haven by Norwegian, made from 42 Suites on the top of the ship in an exclusive, private key-card enclave and 22 additional Suites located in the course of the ship; the innovative Studios, designed and priced for solo travelers; quite a lot of Oceanview staterooms, Balcony and Mini-Suites; together with Spa Balcony, Mini-Suites and Suites in close proximity to the spa. Norwegian Getaway’s sister ship, Norwegian Breakaway, will begin sailing from her year-round home port of latest York City in May 2013.

  • Le Royal Meridien Resort & Spa Dubai to host World Travel Awards

    Le Royal Meridien Resort & Spa Dubai was confirmed because the host for the sector Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony on May 5th.

    The event opens the area Travel Awards 2013 Grand Tour, heralding the beginning of a lookup the perfect travel, tourism and hospitality organisations all over.

    World Travel Awards Middle East Gala Ceremony would be held in Dubai for the sixth year in succession, affirming the emirate’s impressive growing importance in travel, not only inside the region but during the world.

    WTA president Graham Cooke believes the choice of hosts is an essential component of the success of the world’s most influential travel awards programme.

    He explained: “I am delighted that we return to Dubai for what promises to be an exhilarating and competitive Middle East Ceremony.

    “The emirate continues to respire innovation and direction into the travel industry landscape, and our host exemplifies this.”

    Le Royal Meridien Resort & Spa is still a market leader despite fierce competition in Dubai.

    Set in acres of lush, landscaped gardens with a personal beach, Le Royal Meridien is a tri-building property designed for both leisure and business travellers.

    The resort provides 500 plush rooms and suites moreover 13 restaurants and bars.

    Inspired by the rituals of ancient Rome, Caracalla Spa offers a variety of beauty treatments with Hammam pools, a sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi and 3 temperature-controlled pools.

    “We are extremely proud to host this year’s prestigious WTA Middle East Gala Ceremony at Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort, one of many region’s premier resorts,” commented Pam Wilby, complex general manager of Grosvenor House Dubai and Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort.

    “Having won numerous accolades on the World Travel Awards for the past six years ourselves, we have now the honor and privilege to welcome one of the most leading players within the industry for what’s certain to be among the biggest nights of the year within the social calendar of Dubai.”

    WTA Middle East Gala Ceremony 2013 will attract greater than 600 of the major decision-makers within the region’s travel and tourism sector, in addition a number of international media.

    There is additional info here.

  • News: Travelport and American Airlines announce distribution agreement

    Travelport, a number one provider of critical transaction processing solutions and information to companies operating within the global travel industry, and American Airlines, a unconditionally owned subsidiary of AMR Corporation, today announce a brand new long-term, global distribution agreement. As well as enabling continued access to buy and book the total content of flights marketed by American Airlines, the recent agreement positions Travelport to become the primary global distribution system to supply access to American’s other services and products.

    Following a period of technical integration, Travelport and American plan to apply their industry-leading technology, including both Travelport’s Universal API technology and American’s XML-based direct connect interface, to deliver additional capabilities to all Travelport subscribers, including the power to sell American’s newly introduced Main Cabin Extra seating product.

    Main Cabin Extra makes travel more well-off by providing four to 6 inches of extra legroom and Group 1 boarding. And because Main Cabin Extra seating is on the brink of front of the plane, customers can get off and on the plane much faster. By making Main Cabin Extra available through global distribution systems for the 1st time, American is delivering on its commitment to make the travel experience more connected and comfy from begin to finish.

    “Travelport deserves praise for working with American to create an answer which can display all of our product options to travel agents in a clear, customer-friendly way that still clearly differentiates American’s products from other airlines,” said Derek DeCross, vp of world sales for American Airlines.

    Dan Westbrook, vice chairman and general manager of world Distribution Sales and repair, Travelport, said, “American is an industry leader, and the suitable partner with which to construct upon Travelport’s airline partnership strategy to merchandising, optional ancillary sales and product differentiation. All of our subscribers will continue to access American’s full content, while American can merchandise its full line of goods through Travelport, providing consumers and travelers a clear marketplace and the power to buy and book all services at their channel of choice.”

    American and Travelport also resolved all litigation between themselves. The terms of the settlement agreement require review and approval by the court presiding over AMR Corporation’s restructuring.