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  • WTTC 2013: Changing demographics buffer tourism industry

    The ageing population, an increasingly connected society and fluctuating economic conditions are only three of the key factors so they can set future trends within the global travel and tourism industry, in step with industry leaders who spoke at the first day of the realm Travel & Tourism Council Global Summit.

    Other factors include the expansion of the center class with its increased disposable income; in addition to the emergence of a brand new generation that prioritises travel and cares for its environment.

    “We live in new Renaissance, we are living in a period of unparalleled opportunity, which has changed in several ways we can’t start to imagine,” professor Ian Goldin, director, Oxford Martin School, University of Oxford, said during his address to the Summit.

    “The trends of the longer term would be demographic, economic and ecological, globalisation is essentially the mostsome of the most progressive, powerful force we’ve ever seen, but it surely has to be managed,” he concluded.

    Professor Goldin spoke through the first session of the Summit entitled ‘The Global Context’ on the two-day event held in Jumeirah by Etihad Towers.

    The opening keynote address was made by WTTC president David Scowsill, who said: “Travel is a lifestyle or even within the toughest times, it is still a concern for populations world wide.

    “Travel and tourism drives economies and creates jobs; or even in challenging economic times, it still has the possible to grow, as consumer appetite for travel beyond national borders remains insatiable.”

    According to Dr Stelter, senior partner and managing director, The Boston Consulting Group there’ll be some ‘mega-trends’ shaping the industry.

    “The Travel and tourism mega-trends a good way to impact the industry are changing customer needs on account of an ageing population; the shift to RDE; further globalisation; and more convenience and time compression,” he said to a packed auditorium.

    There could be hurdles thrown up by mobility, infrastructure challenges and effort scarcity; new technology and increased intermediation, he explained.

  • First Hyatt branded hotel set for Spain

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation has announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered right into a management agreement with Cap Vermell Hotel Proyectos y Promociones, a Spanish real estate development company, for a brand new Park Hyatt hotel in Mallorca.

    Park Hyatt Mallorca would be the first Hyatt-branded hotel in Mallorca.

    Scheduled to open in 2015, the 142-room luxury resort hotel may be in-built the fashion of a standard Mallorquin hilltop village with references to local art and culture.

    While pursuing a standard style, the hotel will employ cutting-edge technologies and facilities which are standard across Hyatt hotels.

    Hotel amenities will include two restaurants; a lounge bar serving coffee, sandwiches and lightweight snacks; a poolside bar offering seasonal snacks; a separate beach club; greater than 13,000 square feet of meeting and event space; and a 13,000 square foot spa and fitness centre.

    “Mallorca is one among Europe’s most pretty areas, and we believe that Park Hyatt Mallorca will deliver an unprecedented level of luxury and unrivalled hospitality experience to guests,” said Peter Norman, senior vice chairman, real estate and development for EAME, Hyatt Hotels & Resorts.

    “Spain remains one of the crucial popular tourist destinations on the earth, and Park Hyatt Mallorca will enable Hyatt to further enhance its visibility in Europe and additional pursue its option to increase its brand presence within the region and new markets.”

    The hotel will overlook the Canyamel valley with views of the ocean and the traditional town of Artá. Adjacent to a world standard 18-hole golf course, Park Hyatt Mallorca can be within walking distance to the historic Coves d’Artá.

    The hotel is found on the centre of a 61-acre master development, that’s owned and being developed by Grupo Cap Vermell, so they can include residential properties and quite a few high-end luxury villas.

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  • News: Starwood relocates global headquarters to Dubai

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. today announced the start of a month-long relocation of its global headquarters from Stamford, CT to Dubai.  From now until April 5th, Starwood President & CEO Frits van Paasschen and the company’s top executives will conduct day-to-day business from Dubai, an increasingly important global destination and travel hub.  Following the company’s successful relocation to China in June 2011, this second leadership move reflects Starwood’s innovative management method to cultivating a more global culture by understanding, appreciating and leveraging different societal perspectives and approaches to business and hospitality. 

    “With 80 percent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it truly is simply impossible to steer a really global business from a boardroom in Connecticut,” said van Paasschen.  “Rising wealth and ever greater global connectivity are making a once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity for our business – by fueling new demand, changing travel patterns, and fully new travel markets.  Dubai epitomizes this changing face of travel, and we think this relocation will deepen our relations with partners, associates and customers.  Just as with our one-month relocation to China in 2011, our time in-market will spark new ideas with the intention to fortify our position because the most global high-end hotel company.”

    During the process the relocation, greater than 200 Starwood executives and GMs from the U.S., Europe, Asia and Latin America will travel to Dubai because the company runs day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and a nine-hour time zone clear of its usual HQ outside Ny city.  The team will meet with associates, customers, owners and prospective developers within the UAE and likewise make the most Dubai’s location for business travel to destinations including Mumbai, Addis Ababa, Jeddah, Dushanbe and Kuwait.

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  • Rising incomes and internet boost booming Chinese travel market

    The collection of outbound trips made by Chinese travellers is seeing double-digit growth, due to rising disposable incomes and web bookings, reveals exclusive research unveiled today (8 April) on the WTM Vision Conference – Beijing.

    Forecasts by Euromonitor International reveal that outbound trips from China are expected to record a ‘sharp’ 15% rise in CAGR (compound annual growth rate) from 2012-2017.

    Hong Kong and Macau are the preferred destinations but non-Asian countries are rising in importance, delegates have heard today.

    Meanwhile, inbound tourism flows to China are forecast to grow at a 2.3% CAGR over a similar period, reveals the Forecast Revisit for the worldwide Travel and Tourism Industry report.

    Hong Kong is the most important source of arrivals, accounting for 27m, but Western European and US markets are expected to grow, Ray Li Senior Research Analyst at Euromonitor International states.

    He will even reveal how rising disposable incomes are resulting in a ‘sharp’ rise in sales of discretionary goods and services, with travel – along side cars and fashion – especially favoured.

    Also, the changing role of ladies is driving demand for clothing, cosmetics and travel, in line with Euromonitor international.

    Another significant factor within the Chinese travel market is the intensifying competition between China’s online travel agencies, including Ctrip, Qunar and eLong.

    China is the sector leader for choice of internet users and smartphones sold, and web giants akin to Tencent and Baidu are making inroads within the online travel market, delegates on the WTM Vision Conference – Beijing heard.

    Chinese hotels are performing strongly, and although China’s hotel industry is dominated by budget properties, the luxurious segment is anticipated to realize strongest growth between 2012 and 2017.

    Reed Travel Exhibition Director World Travel Market Simon Press, who opened the conference today, said: “WTM is delighted to be returning to China for its second Vision conference inside the country, following the success of last year’s inaugural event which occurred in Shangai.

    “China’s influence at the global travel and tourism continues to grow. WTM has first-hand experience of this with increasingly exhibitors and visitors attending the development from China, alongside increasingly buyers targeting Chinese exhibitors.”

    The conference is in association with China Business Network was held in Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall.

    As well because the report from Euromonitor International, the development will feature high-calibre speakers sharing expert analysis, statistical assessment and interpretations with the industry’s senior leaders.

    Delegates will receive the Euromonitor International report via email at no cost after the conference.

  • News: ITB Berlin 2013: Provides significant impetus for growth

    ITB Berlin 2013 was by far the world’s largest meeting place of international tourism policy decision-makers and business leaders. The German chancellor Angela Merkel, the Indonesian president Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, representatives of the sector Tourism Organization (UNWTO), the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) and the area Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), in addition to greater than 100 ministers of tourism and state secretaries, met in Berlin to assist shape the long run for growth within the tourism industry.

    Dr. Christian Göke, COO Messe Berlin: “Once again, ITB Berlin has kicked off the travel season worldwide. No other place on the earth gathers such a lot of leading representatives from the non-public and public sector. It is where the tone is determined for the way forward for travel for 1000000000 people. The rise in international buyers is proof that ITB Berlin remains an important market for the worldwide travel industry.“

    From 6 to ten March 2013, 10,086 exhibitors from 188 countries presented their services in display halls that were fully booked up. Overall, some 110,000 trade visitors came to Berlin, of whom 43 per cent were from abroad. This year there has been a slight increase in buyers from the united states and the center East. Exhibitors reported holding quality talks and sealing more business deals.

    The ITB Berlin Convention registered record levels of attendance. a complete of 21,000 took part within the 200 lectures, discussions and workshops, 25 percent greater than in 2012. Social Media and Mobile Travel Services proved to be major visitor attractions. The matchmaking event for bloggers involving exhibitors met with an incredibly positive response.

    Visitors thronged the halls at the Saturday of the show. Greater than 60,000 members of the public came to determine concerning the wide-ranging information on offer from exhibitors and providers of niche market products. For the primary time, visitors on the weekend were ready to book their tours directly at ITB Berlin. A poll among visitors revealed that one in three intended to book a visit.

    Big success for the partner country Indonesia

    The participation of Indonesia, this year’s partner country, at ITB Berlin 2013 was spectacular and featured greater than 300 dancers, musicians and performing artists from Kalimantan, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Papua, Jakarta and Java. Besides showcasing its natural wonders, the world’s largest archipelago shined the spotlight on seven other aspects of the rustic: culture and traditions, nature and eco-tourism, leisure sports, cruises, gastronomy and shopping, spas, wellness and MICE events. International trade visitors and most people were capable of sample the country’s culinary delights and revel in its age-old tradition of spas at the stand of Indonesia on the show.

    Esthy Reko Astuty, Director General of selling, Ministry of Tourism and artistic Economy: “We are extremely satisfied with the way in which ITB Berlin 2013 went and are very proud to were the show’s partner country. We had excellent opportunities here to showcase the range of our country: the assorted cultures, the wonderful thing about our natural landscapes and the special those who live there. The joint appearance of the German chancellor Angela Merkel and our president, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, on the opening ceremonies was renewed confirmation of the great relations that exist between Germany and Indonesia. We felt very welcome and honoured by the visits of many official representatives on our stand in addition to by the big interest shown by the international press. We came to Berlin with near to 50 per cent more exhibitors than in 2012 and will say that we’re very satisfied.”

    Márcio Favilla, Executive Director for Competitiveness, External Relations and Partnerships, UNWTO: “I felt very inspired by the fantastic opening ceremonies and the German chancellor Angela Merkel. It was a big moment when Germany’s head of presidency made the relationship between tourism and creating jobs and growth. By contrast backdrop, UNWTO is worked up to be interested by this partnership between Indonesia and Germany. We are hoping to construct on our long-standing and positive relationship with Germany. In my opinion it was the only opening event I actually have ever seen at ITB Berlin. The whole guests were in a position to experience a small portion of the big progress that was made, witness the cultural wealth of Indonesia, and sense how close relations are.“

    Dr. Michael Frenzel, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW): “The past few days at ITB Berlin have renewed and boosted our confidence within the months ahead. i’m happy to mention that the mood among exhibitors and visitors at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds was very positive again. The result of numerous surveys and forecasts presented during ITB also gave us cause for optimism. People’s want to travel continues to stay high.

    Once again, ITB Berlin showed that modern strategy of communication can indeed make things easier in lots of ways and will thus benefit our industry. However, there isn’t any substitute for face-to-face meetings. It was precisely these personal meetings and this relation-building that ITB Berlin made possible, at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds and at numerous evening events after the show. Again, ITB Berlin provided the platform for the worldwide tourism industry to interchange information, conclude deals and cultivate business relations. Vast numbers of most people took the chance at the weekend to determine more in regards to the wide-ranging services and products that the worldwide tourism industry has to supply, including ideas for his or her next holidays. For 5 days the halls at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds were again the meeting place of the realm of international tourism.“

    Jürgen Büchy, President of the German Travel Association (DRV): “2013 began well for the travel industry. Proof of which might be present in the positive mood during the last few days and inside the travel bookings over the 1st months of this year. We predict this year’s ITB to again set the tone for a successful year in tourism by stimulating further growth on this sector. The signs are good, because German citizens remain keen to travel. Travel destinations which might be traditionally popular among Germans will benefit especially, among them Greece, which has good possibilities of celebrating a comeback. Yet again, ITB has confirmed its role as an indispensable international meeting place for tourism experts and enthusiasts. Even as it provides a fantastic opportunity to spotlight and debate trends and to set the tone for the long run.“

    High level of media attention and political interest

    Around 6,000 accredited journalists from 80 countries and a few 250 bloggers reported on events at ITB Berlin. 350 politicians and diplomats from Germany and abroad were present on the show. The president of the Republic of Indonesia and the chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany opened the world’s largest travel trade fair. Besides 98 foreign delegations, Thailand’s Princess Ubolratana Mahidol also attended the show. 77 ambassadors from world wide, 47 foreign ministers and diverse foreign state secretaries were also gathered. Federal Minister of Transport, Building and concrete Development Peter Ramsauer, Federal Minister of financial Cooperation and Development Dirk Niebel, State Minister for Economics, the Infrastructure, Transport and Technology Martin Zeil, in addition to Berlin’s Governing Mayor Klaus Wowereit, came to determine what the travel industry needed to offer.

    The UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Summit and the Africa Forum at the KAZA beacon project also attracted the notice of international politicians.

    The next ITB Berlin will happen from Wednesday, 5 to Sunday, 9 March 2014.

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