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  • Tourism Australia welcomes Australia Week in China

    Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said Tourism Australia was very excited on the prospect of playing a number one part in ‘Australia Week in China’ next year.

    “The concept has worked well for Australian tourism in America, with G’Day USA, and makes many of sense given that China is now our fastest growing and Most worthy inbound tourism market,” he said.

    “Off the back of the hugely successful launch of our global campaign in Shanghai last year, we have now the numerous benefit of pushing at a door that is already open, with the Chinese ranking Australia primary on their international holiday ‘wish list’.

    “We look ahead to working with the govt., industry and our state and territory partners to develop a program for the week so that you can drive tourism from China and support our China 2020 Tourism Plan,” Mr McEvoy said.

    Australia Week in China may be held within the second 1/2 2014 to coincide with Tourism Australia’s Greater China Travel Mission, that is expected to draw greater than 120 Australian tourism operators.

  • News: WTM Latin America signs big names for inaugural show

    WTM Latin America has created a dedicated area at the exhibition floor to showcase organisations with global representation.

    The ‘Global Village’ will host international hotel chains, technology companies and wholesalers who’re heading to São Paulo this April for the inaugural World Travel Market Latin America, with many exhibiting at a Brazilian travel trade event for the primary time.

    World Travel Market Latin America, the leading global event for the Latin American travel industry, also confirms that Accor is the official Hotel Partner for the show.

    Accor recently strengthened its leadership in Latin America with the $265m purchase of Mexican hotel chain Grupo Posadas.

    It has greater than 200 hotels in Latin America and the Caribbean.

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation is heavily specializing in Brazil, following its strategic decision to expand outside its core North American market.

    It has nine hotels open in Latin America, with another thirteen Hyatt-branded properties within the confirmed pipeline.

    Accor and Hyatt are joined within the Global Village by Worldhotels, Marriott, Starwood, Hilton Worldwide, Grupo Melia, Vila Gale and Trump Hotels.

    Trump Hotels can also be making its first appearance at a travel event in Brazil.

    The volume of worldwide hotel giants in attendance, lots of whom are listed on their home country’s stock exchange, confirms that non-public sector businesses see World Travel Market Latin America as a valuable and worthwhile business opportunity.

    Other hotel sector specialists exhibiting include the Caribbean giant, resort operators Sandals & Beaches, Austria-Trend Hotels and the east African experts The Zanzibar Collection.

    WTM London regulars from the hotel technology sector, including Pegasus and TripAdvisor, also are in attendance.

    Finally, quite a few B2B wholesalers supplying groups, tours, hotels and activities are exhibiting on the inaugural event, reflecting the significance of Brazil as both an inbound and outbound destination.

    London-based JAC, Miki Travel, Go Global from Israel and HotelsPro from america are some of the wholesalers seeking to check with suppliers.

    Reed Travel Exhibitions director WTM Latin America Lawrence Reinisch said: “Interest within the first World Travel Market Latin America from the personal sector have been outstanding.

    “I am especially pleased to bring quite a few exhibitors to Brazil for the 1st time, including one of the most world’s major hotel chains.

    “This demonstrates the worldwide appeal of the arena Travel Market brand and in addition the strong interest the personal sector has in conducting business in Brazil and Latin America.

    “I am delighted that World Travel Market Latin America is the primary exhibition that’s ready to facilitate such business opportunities for both Brazil and the region.”

  • Futureshift joins International Coalition of Tourism Partners

    The International Coalition of Tourism Partners announced today that Futureshift, a brand new York-based marketing consulting firm, has joined the coalition as a brand new member.

    Futureshift specialises in market intelligence, strategic planning, and building digital communities. Its focus is on product and destination branding with emphasis on sustainability and green initiatives. Futureshift’s experience includes development and management of the strategic marketing plan for the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway, the Chilean Image Campaign, and lots of food, wine, and tourism campaigns for countries all over the world. Lots of its clients include wine, food, and tourism together, and its current client roster includes the wine region of Rioja, Spain, Wines of Greece, and the Maine Lobster industry.

    “We see ICTP as an organisation which could both bring focus to sustainability issues for destinations and be an advocate of best practices for the travel and tourism industries. We glance forward to being part of the organisation’s growth and a participant in its programs. As a sign of our interest, we wish to provide ICTP member firms a 20% discount off of all our consulting and database services for all projects initiated before June 31, 2013.”

    Futureshift has developed its own proprietary software, DirectLink™, which enables it to invite open-ended questions of huge databases, provide real-time analysis tools, instant segmentation and direct email access to those who fall in specific segments. This allows its clients to focus on market their customers according to their expressed needs and perceptions. It’s a device that doesn’t exist elsewhere due to complexities of contextual search and analysis. Clients who use DirectLink™ become smarter, faster, and build better relationships with their customers.

    “That Futureshift comes on board as a brand new member and immediately offers all ICTP members a coupon off their services is a brilliant value. Futureshift is a pacesetter in product and destination branding, and the truth that they work with an emphasis on sustainability and green initiatives, fits right in with the efforts of ICTP,” said Juergen T. Steinmetz, Chairman of the International Coalition of Tourism Partners.

    The firm’s founder, Jon Stamell, has 25+ years of expertise in market research, strategic planning and marketing, including international consulting, expansion and acquisitions, brand management, image enhancement, ecommerce and multi-media. He formerly was CEO of the most important marketing communications firm in Northern New England and Chairman of Communitas Online, a market research company. He has spoken on destination branding at conferences world wide and was profiled by CNN-TV and CNBC-TV. Jon is author of “Celebrate Your Mistakes (Irwin Publ., 1998) and FutureShift 2010, a study of U.S. consumer behavior for the Chilean Foreign Ministry. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan, did graduate work at Harvard University, and received an M.B.A. from the University of Maine. At the side, Mr. Stamell is a broadcast cartoonist and his cartoons, taking a satirical study business and technology, are located on the net and in various publications.

  • The Taj Group launches its 100th hotel in India

    The Taj Group, India’s largest hospitality group, today announced the launch of its 100th hotel in India with Vivanta by Taj within the Millennium City of Gurgaon. The crowd now has 117 hotels globally, with 26 within the Vivanta by Taj – Hotels & Resorts portfolio.
     
    An homage to Gurgaon’s ‘bustling’ lifestyle, the hot Taj is a metropolitan marvel of avante garde design. Iconic features include the Thai Pavilion offering the appropriate of Siam cuisine, the expansive Latitude and the Tease bar. The hotel also offers stylized accommodations with business amenities, a piece and play ‘Rhythm’ lounge, banquet spaces, a Jiva Spa and unique Vivanta motifs. 19 miles south of latest Delhi, Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, is on the brink of the business district and visitor hotspots – Kingdom of Dreams, DLF Golf Course and Gurgaon’s ubiquitous malls.
     
    “With the launch of Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, NCR, not just have we expanded the footprint of the logo into the business district, but in addition accomplished a vital milestone within the group’s journey, by becoming the 100th hotel in India in our portfolio,” said Mr. Raymond N Bickson, managing director and chief executive officer at Indian Hotels Company Limited, on the launch. “It further reinforces our commitment to expand our service offerings to newer destinations within the country. It also supports the company’s objective of accomplishing growth through domestic dominance. Vivanta by Taj is a testament to the dynamism and innovation that the Taj is renowned for.”
     
    Ms Deepa Misra Harris, senior vp, sales & marketing at Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces also mentioned, “The occasion marks a special celebration for the crowd and inspires us to gain even greater milestones. Reaching our 100th hotel milestone in India and a complete of 117 globally reinforces our faith in our guests across geographies, who’ve amplified their preference for our brands across all locations we’re found in. Designed to deliver vibrant experiences to its guests, Vivanta by Taj Hotels & Resorts is a brand with a recent, energetic and vivacious twist.”
     
    Singapore-based architecture firm Warner Wong Design | WOW Architects is answerable for the design and architecture of the hotel. a mixture of glass and stone creates the impression of a pointy, yet beautifully robust structure that’s avant-garde by design. The innovative concept and fine detailing extends in the course of the 189 guest rooms with city and pool views, 18 suites in addition to a presidential suite with an executive lounge at the 10th floor. Every room comes equipped with innovative technology like video conferencing facilities, continuous, undisturbed internet access and over 10,000 square feet of meeting spaces.
     
    “The Vivanta brand is growing at a rapid pace. With its strategic location and the Vivanta brand features, Gurgaon is better poised to service the traveler in the hunt for a novel and contemporary experience,” said Mr. Veer Vijay Singh, chief operating officer, Vivanta by Taj Hotels & Resorts.
     
    Latitude, the all-day diner at Vivanta by Taj – Gurgaon, offers a global food theater, showcasing the dramatic play of spices and flavors from six different cuisines. The enduring Thai Pavilion – the country’s first signature Thai cuisine restaurant opens its door for the food connoisseurs visiting Gurgaon. Jam-packed with high-octane energy, Tease, the bar is designed to raise the spirits and opens onto a huge alfresco dining space that keeps the vibe alive. For the globetrotting, party hard traveler, Taj provides its signature Jiva Spa.

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  • News: Britain climbs Word Economic Forum tourism ladder

    Britain has moved up two places in a survey of tourism competitiveness performed by the Word Economic Forum.

    The result means VisitBritain has achieved the ambitious target set by government within the latest tourism policy.

    With very fine margins separating the head five places, competition on the top of the table is fierce (0.01 difference between second and fifth position occupied by Britain).

    The biennial study, published under the title, Reducing Barriers to Economic Growth and Job Creation, sees positive movement for Britain within the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Index’s top 10 countries.

    Britain’s close European competitors witnessed considerable movement with France falling four places from third in 2011 to seventh, while Spain climbed to fourth from eighth.

    But through VisitBritain’s extensive global GREAT marketing and a global profile never before seen on this country, Britain’s perceived ability to compete on an international scale shifted two places to fifth from seventh.

    Britain is inside the top ten for a couple of other measures, including:

    • Cultural resources: Britain ranks third for cultural resources. It’s in accordance with Britain’s World Heritage cultural sites, large selection of international fairs and powerful creative industries, which all rank inside the top ten (largely caused by the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee).
    • Air transport infrastructure: Britain ranks 5th
    • Environmental sustainability: Britain ranks 7th.
    • Policy rules and regulation: Britain ranks 8th (includes transparency of policy making and visa requirements but extends to more business-related indicators comparable to prevalence of foreign ownership, property rights, business start-up costs etc).
    • Internet use for business to consumer transactions: Britain ranks 1st.

    Britain’s global marketing and effectiveness to draw tourists via marketing campaigns has moved up a gargantuan 22 places from 43 in 2011 to 21 in 2013.

    Chairman of VisitBritain, Christopher Rodrigues said: “Tourism is an industry during which Britain is world class and competes internationally.

    “These results clearly display what the industry and government can achieve once we interact, but more need to be done.

    “Last year was Britain’s year to be showcased all over, and we now have used that to drive tourism growth with record spend last year.

    “Our ambition is to construct in this to continue to deliver growth and jobs for Britain with an ambitious target of 40 million visits a year by the top of 2020 with the intention to support 200,000 additional jobs.”