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Category: News

  • News: Eurostar reports an encouraging begin to 2013

    Eurostar, the high speed rail service between the united kingdom and mainland Europe today reported an encouraging begin to the year with growth in sales revenues through the first three months of the year.  When compared with an identical period in 2012, sales revenues grew by 1% to £213 million (£211 million Q1 2012), while passenger numbers remained stable year-on-year at 2.23 million (2.24 million Q1 2012).

    Solid performance in challenging environment

    The ongoing economic uncertainty throughout Europe continues to steer business travel patterns chiefly as many organisations maintain an in depth eye on corporate travel budgets.  However, regardless of a protracted period of unseasonably cold and iciness the ongoing resilience of Eurostar’s leisure travel market has helped deliver the cast performance in Q1 reported today.

    Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said:

    “This is an encouraging begin to the year regardless of the challenges posed by both the economy and the elements.  Our sales revenues have grown during 1 / 4 which saw heavy snowfalls and a few of the coldest temperatures on record within the South of britain and northerly France.  This quarter’s performance is testament to our enduring popularity with regular and primary time travellers alike.”

    Continuing boom in international traffic

    Supporting the delivery of an exceptional performance over the primary three months of the year, a lot of marketing initiatives both domestically and internationally have helped underpin the expansion in sales revenues.

    In January, Eurostar ran its most successful consumer promotion ever with 150,000 seats available from only £59 return for travel between London and Paris, Brussels or Lille.  Over the process the promotion sales exceeded even those made in the course of the ash cloud disruption in 2010, previously Eurostar’s strongest ever booking period.

    Similarly, an ongoing discuss international marketing campaigns has delivered impressive growth in both passenger numbers and sales revenues for travel originating outside the european.  Inside the first three months of the year non-EU originated sales revenues grew 10% while passenger numbers increased by 8% in comparison with the identical period in 2012.

    Reflecting the increasing strategic importance of Eurostar’s website as a right away sales channel for passengers originating outside the ecu, total sales revenues generated via online bookings in Eurostar’s largest international market, america, have shown particularly strong growth within the first three months of the year, up 20%.

    Ongoing investment to support growth

    Further demonstrating its ongoing commitment to investment around the business, Eurostar recently took the wraps off its cutting-edge consumer facing website.  It is a central component of Eurostar’s ambitious growth plans and has transformed the client experience when booking online.

    The new website simplifies and accelerates the booking process and because launch has reduced the common period of time taken to book a ticket by greater than 40% from eight minutes to four and a half minutes.

    The launch marks the primary stage of an important investment by Eurostar in digital technology that may see a raft of latest features added to the positioning over the arriving months.

    Nicolas Petrovic continued:

    “The transformation of eurostar.com is a part of a much broader investment in our business designed to make sure we continue to present our customers the absolute best end-to-end travel experience.  As well as this investment in our ‘virtual shop-window’, our £700m programme of investment in our fleet of trains which encompasses the refurbishment of the present Eurostar fleet and the acquisition of 10 new trains is progressing well.”

  • News: New Zealand marine industry goes social

    New Zealand’s marine sector goes global and social with a networking initiative linking expat-Kiwis and their pool of connections, expertise and reputation to lift the local industry.

    Launched by the brand new Zealand Marine Industry (NZMI), the hot social network may be open to Kiwis working within the marine sector worldwide who would like to support their home industry.

    The selection of expat-Kiwis engaged on superyachts and within the supporting marine industry abroad is estimated at thousands, and their combined connections and good reputation are seen as a valuable resource in driving new business home.

    The new initiative ‘Friends of NZ Marine’ is geared toward harnessing those Kiwi connections through social media networks to assist boost future business. The recent Zealand marine industry currently has NZ$1.7 billion turnover which incorporates NZ$650m in exports – from a workforce of 8000 employees including 450 apprentices.

    The aim is to double exports inside the next seven years.

    Emirates Team New Zealand
    NZ Marine Industry executive director Peter Busfield said Friends of NZ Marine was launched on the Auckland Emirates Team New Zealand base, because they’re among the New Zealand industry’s most dynamic ambassadors.

    “Emirates Team New Zealand is the most effective example of what Friends of NZ Marine is all about. It truly is high profile, has a name for the very best quality and is made of a collection of people that have many, many connections worldwide.”

    At the time of the announcement the ETNZ base was being dismantled and loaded into containers, at the side of the large AC72 catamaran to be shipped to San Francisco for the forthcoming 34th America’s Cup.

    New Zealand may have a sturdy presence both off and on the water in San Francisco, and Busfield believes Friends of NZ Marine can be well positioned to take maximum good thing about Emirates Team New Zealand’s high profile. The initiative may also be aimed toward international boat shows, conferences and the networks of NZMI’s 450 member companies.

  • News: Adelman Travel announces partnership with TravelText

    Adelman Travel and TravelText kicked off the Concur Fusion 2013 conference by announcing a brand new partnership on the way to provide corporate customers of Adelman Travel having the ability to complete expense reports in Concur Expense in a question of seconds via texting technology.

    “This technology will provide our Concur Expense customers with an absolutely integrated solution that permits them to quickly and simply complete an expense report while at the road,” said Ivan Imana , Chief Information Officer of Adelman Travel. “For example, immediately after dinner a traveler can begin a Concur expense report via a text message.  Then, with a couple of strokes on their phone, they’ll submit the expenses for dinner with attendees along with a picture of the receipt, in a question of seconds.”

    The TravelText texting service is currently available only within the U.S. for purchasers and users of Concur Expense Systems, but will expand to Asia Pacific and other English-speaking countries inside the near future.  Adelman Travel is the 1st travel management company to partner with TravelText and sell their expense report texting solution, that’s immediately available for purchase by Adelman’s customers.

    “We’re really inquisitive about the partnership with Adelman. Their innovative solution to the market and speed during which they adapt their business to it was a nice surprise,” said Jarl-Gunnar Lier, CEO of TravelText.

  • Hotel Indigo announced for downtown Chicago

    Hotel Indigo®, IHG’s (InterContinental Hotels Group) upscale boutique brand, is constant its expansion in major U.S. cities with plans for its third hotel inside the Chicago market. The hotel, with the intention to be located within the historic downtown area’s Atlantic Bank Building, is predicted to open in spring 2014.

    The Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel, located at 168 N. Michigan Ave., will undergo an estimated $20 million renovation by the ownership and could occupy a 101-year-old building that first opened in 1912 because the Federal Life Building. The 156-room hotel will feature design elements that reflect its local neighborhood just north of Millennium Park within Chicago’s central business district.

    As a part of the extensive renovations, the hotel will add four floors to the building—bringing the entire to 16 stories – housing a rooftop bar, and a cafe managed by celebrity chef David Burke. The hotel will maintain lots of its historic features, including the unique white enamel terra cotta exterior, while including the advantages and amenities guests expect from staying with a brand from one of many world’s largest global hotel companies.

    “The Hotel Indigo brand is uniquely designed to mirror the culture, character and history of the neighborhoods where our hotels can be found,” said Mary Winslow, director, Brand Management, Hotel Indigo, the Americas, IHG. “This hotel will occupy a native landmark on famed Michigan Avenue, probably the most storied neighborhoods in Chicago. The expansion of the Hotel Indigo brand in top-tier markets like Chicago, Long island and New Orleans proves that guests value the boutique, local neighborhood experience that our hotels provide.”

    Set inside the heart of Chicago’s vibrant business district, and within walking distance to a lot of Chicago’s best restaurants, shopping and theater districts, the Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel can be conveniently located just steps from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Millennium Park. The hotel can also be in close proximity to the Magnificent Mile, Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and various corporate offices. Within a mile of Interstates 90, 94 and 290, in addition U.S. Highway 41, the Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel could be served by several bus and train stops and may be near the Chicago Cultural Center, among the city’s finest sites for fundraisers, concerts and other special events.

    “We are excited to be involved with bringing the Hotel Indigo brand to downtown Chicago,” said Musa P. Tadros, president, Crown Series 168 North Michigan Avenue LLC, a Frankfort, Ill. based company. “Chicago is a thriving business and travel destination that gives unique local flavors not found anywhere else within the U.S. We glance forward to welcoming both business and leisure guests and sharing our neighborhood story with them.”

    The Hotel Indigo brand, the world’s first global branded boutique hotel brand, has grown rapidly since launching in 2004. The Hotel Indigo brand is still a powerful growth vehicle for IHG with its strategy curious about growing in top-tier priority markets and gateway cities. With a high quality global pipeline of nearly 50 hotels, the Hotel Indigo estate is anticipated to double in size to 100 properties inside the next three to 5 years.

    The Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel is among the Hotel Indigo properties expected to open in key cities within the U.S. inside the following couple of years, including Ny city, Philadelphia, Newark, N.J., Savannah, Ga. and Pittsburgh. The emblem has recently seen growth in top U.S. markets with the 2012 openings of the Hotel Indigo Brooklyn and Hotel Indigo New Orleans Garden District hotels. The Hotel Indigo brand has also seen strong international growth, with the hot opening of the Hotel Indigo Barcelona – Plaza Catalunya hotel, and the approaching opening of the Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island hotel, anticipated to open by mid-year.

    The Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel, owned by Crown Series 168 North Michigan LLC and managed by First Hospitality Group, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

  • News: Kenya to host World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony

    Kenya’s profile as a popular tourist destination has received a lift with the Kenya Tourism Board winning the bid to host this year’s World Travel Awards Africa Gala Ceremony.

    The event will occur on October 16th.

    The WTA nominations will recognise excellence within the travel, tourism and hospitality industry, thus encouraging nominees to uphold constant improvement in products and delivery of service.

    The decision to host the development in Kenya comes hot at the heels of KTB’s award as Africa’s Leading Tourism Board by WTA in December last year.

    “World Travel Awards is coming to Kenya on the right time after a successful and peaceful general election under a brand new constitution.

    “This has further raised the country’s profile as a secure destination,” said KTB managing director Muriithi Ndegwa.

    “That WTA has chosen Kenya for the African region ceremony as portion of the arena grand tour, is an endorsement of the rustic as a popular tourism destination on the earth.”

    Kenya is found in East Africa and boasts white sandy beaches bathed by the Indian Ocean in addition to the majestic snow-capped Mount Kenya.

    It is increasingly emerging as an Adventure destination offering activities from hot air ballooning, to authentic cultural interactions with the local ethnic communities, in addition to visits to the area renowned Masai Mara, with breath taking safaris and wildebeest migrations, supported by a miscellany of unique superior class accommodation.

    WTA president Graham Cooke added:  “The number of our hosts is key to the success of our awards programme, and Kenya as a nation has your entire ingredients to rise to the challenge of hosting our Africa Ceremony – a warm, vibrant and progressive nation, brimming with enthusiasm and creativity.

    “Tourism is important to Kenya’s economy, contributing 12 per cent to its GDP and sustaining one in ten jobs.

    “The future is bright for Kenya, given the nation’s overwhelming natural resources, its unrivalled wildlife experiences and pristine beaches.”

    For further details, including entry forms and shutting deadlines for nominations, visit the official website.

    The ceremonies are widely considered as possibly the most effective networking opportunities inside the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries, and international print and broadcast media.

    The 2012 WTA Grand Tour ceremonies were attended by greater than 3,000 guests from 92 countries, in addition to media from 194 TV channels and publications.