Best Holiday Lettings

Category: Holidays

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Starwood Hotels concludes month-long immersion in Dubai

    Marking the belief of Starwood’s month-long relocation to Dubai, company president Frits van Paasschen has shared highlights and insights from the company’s immersion within the Middle East.

    Throughout the month of March, van Paasschen and members of Starwood’s Senior Leadership Team met with 3,000 associates, conducted nearly 50 owner meetings and visited all 14 Starwood hotels in Dubai, that’s the company’s second largest hotel market behind only Ny city.

    The team also took benefit of Dubai’s strategic location to travel to 19 cities across 12 countries, meeting with government officials and potential development partners in fast-growing markets, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and India.

    During the five-week relocation, the team travelled 61,000 kilometres (38,000 miles) – the equivalent of circling the globe one and half times.

    Over the process the month, greater than 200 of Starwood’s senior leaders and General Managers travelled to Dubai because the company ran day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and an eight-hour time zone difference far from the company’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.

    During the relocation, Starwood executives also met with greater than 150 corporate and leisure customers who drive business to hotels globally.

    The Middle East is an increasingly important outbound travel market, and regional membership in Starwood Preferred Guest, the company’s loyalty program, has increased 140 per cent over the past five years.

    “It is tricky to overstate the opportunity of our business during this region of the arena. By bringing our executives here and spending time with our partners and native teams, we’re uniquely positioned to exploit this once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity,” said van Paasschen.

    “I haven’t any doubt that our time spent here will drive future hotel contracts within the region, accelerate Starwood’s position because the most global high-end hotel company and additional define our culture.”

    Last month Starwood announced that it’ll increase its Middle East and Africa portfolio by greater than 60 percent with nearly 50 new hotels set to open over the subsequent five years, adding greater than 14,000 guest rooms to the region and creating thousands of local employment opportunities.

    With 82 operating hotels and over 20 hotels expected to open by the top of 2015, Starwood is on course to succeed in a milestone 100 hotels across MEA.

    “With 80 percent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it’s important for us to stay on the forefront of recent travel demands and changing travel patterns,” said Simon Turner, president, global development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

    “The Middle East is experiencing rapid economic growth, a growing middle class and ever greater global connectivity, and the Dubai relocation might help us expand all of our brands across this crucial region.”

    The company also announced a comprehensive renovation strategy for its Le Méridien brand, for which Starwood and its ownership groups will invest greater than $200 million within the renovations of 13 hotels and resorts within the MEA region over the following three years.

    Following the company’s successful relocation to China in June 2011, this second leadership move reflects Starwood’s innovative management option to cultivating a more global culture by understanding, appreciating and leveraging different societal and associate perspectives and approaches to business and hospitality.

  • WTTC president Scowsill requires British Schengen entrance

    The UK should adopt the Schengen System to make sure it stops missing out on vital tourists, in accordance with World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill.

    The comments come as prime minister David Cameron promised to loosen visa bureaucracy for visitors from India.

    Scowsill explained: “It is sweet to listen to David Cameron is vowing to sit back visa rules to permit more Indians to travel to Britain for work and study.

    “Anything which permits people to travel more easily can only be a terrific thing, socially and economically, for the united kingdom.

    “But it really is only 1 small step.

    “The restrictive visa policies in place inside the UK are making the rustic uncompetitive and the united kingdom government now should loosen visa bureaucracy for other emerging markets like China.”

    Travel generates 2.3 million jobs and contributes over $100 billion to the united kingdom economy annually and reforms in visa facilitation have the aptitude to create many additional jobs within the UK, in accordance with the WTTC.

    “China’s economy is growing faster than some other,” continued Scowsill.

    “Yet, the united kingdom is currently losing out on thousands of Chinese tourists to our nearby neighbours because Chinese tourists face higher fees and feature to finish an extended application form than in the event that they wish to visit most other countries in Europe.

    “Chinese outbound travellers totalled 84 million last year and the united kingdom receives just a small fraction of them

    “It’s time for Britain to become component to the Schengen system that gives Chinese visitors the possibility to go to 26 countries in Europe on a single visa.”

    Research by the WTTC reveals visa facilitation has historically increased international tourist arrivals of affected markets by five to twenty-five per cent, following the implementation of policy changes.

    “Cameron’s promise to loosen visa bureaucracy in India is all well and good, but when he really desires to make a difference to Britain’s economy and create jobs, he must fundamentally reform visa policies for booming economies like China too,” concluded Scowsill.

  • WTTC calls on cruise industry to unite

    “The cruise industry must play its part in fighting visa bureaucracy and deterring more taxation,” in keeping with World Travel & Tourism Council president David Scowsill.

    Speaking on the Cruise Shipping Miami Conference, Scowsill complimented the cruise sector for creating a vital and rapidly growing contribution to the worldwide tourism industry but called on it to return in conjunction with other sectors of the industry to talk with “one voice”.

    He often known as at the industry to make sure visa processing and taxes, which support growth, remain high at the agenda when discussing policy with governments around the globe.

    Scowsill explained: “Visa processes are needed which might be transparent, economical and streamlined to enable travellers to head all over quickly, efficiently and with minimum hassle.

    “The cruise sector is calling to open up new markets including China, where a growing middle class is expressing a want to cruise and notice the arena.

    “Lengthy and intricate visa processes for potential Chinese, Russian and Indian passengers will hamper that growth.”

    WTTC recently undertook a joint study with United Nations World Tourism Organisation to ascertain the industrial value and job creation potential of improvements in visa procedures and policies.

    The research showed that improvements within G20 countries could generate as much as 112 million additional tourists, increase tourism receipts by as much as US$ 206 billion and add five million jobs over three years.

    The findings were tabled on the meeting of the G20 ministers of tourism on the WTTC meeting in Mexico last May and the declaration from that meeting was submitted to the G20 Leaders.

    It was the 1st time tourism were included within the G20 World Leaders’ Declaration.

    Scowsill added: “Leaders are starting to get the message but Governments ought to know how much revenue they’re missing out on by not having progressive visa policies.”

    He went directly to congratulate the cruise industry on being the fastest-growing sector of tourism.

    CLIA industry outlooks forecasts 20.9 million passengers will take a cruise in 2013 – a rise of three.3 per cent on passenger numbers in 2012.

    The worldwide cruise marketplace for 2013 is estimated to be worth US$36 billion – up 4.8 per cent on last year.

    Total worldwide cruise capacity in 2013 could be around 439,000 passengers – a rise of 3 per cent on 2012.