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  • News: ILTM Japan 2013: first country specific ILTM event proves cultural importance for luxury travel

    Taking place with the support of the town of Kyoto and the Japan Tourism Agency, the launch edition of International Luxury Travel Market (ILTM) Japan – the primary country specific event inside the ILTM global portfolio – facilitated over 2,500 business meetings when it occurred over the past three days in Kyoto.

    ILTM Japan 2013 welcomed over 100 buyers and exhibitors in an agenda of 1-to-one appointments – pre‐selected by both exhibitor and buyer to maximise business – in this dedicated Japan event. Following the standard ILTM format, both buyers and exhibitors were required to follow a strict accreditation process so that it will participate.

    Alison Gilmore, Exhibition Director, ILTM Portfolio commented: “ILTM Japan is the primary of our market specific events and was launched with two clear objectives: to introduce the international luxury travel agent to the trendy Japan of today – still considered an untapped luxury tourism destination – and to nurture an understanding of the culture of Japanese high-end travelers.”

    According to a up to date study by the advance Bank of Japan, the choice of tourists visiting Japan from other Asian countries by 2017 is forecast to be 41 percent higher than last year’s total. The Japanese government is targeting an annual total of 25 millions foreign visitors by 2020.

    “ILTM Japan has given us a beautiful opportunity to grow our network: we’ve got met with a major variety of decision makers representing our audience – high-end VIP visitors to Japan,” commented Hideharu Ohta, President of the Daishichi Sake Brewery in Japan.

    Head of latest Product Development of the China International Travel Service at American Express, Benny Wang commented: “Being in Japan is an important experience and being here with ILTM is an additional bonus. I hadn’t realized the fervour Japanese suppliers have for his or her product – it’s a superb opportunity to be here.” 


    Roger Kershaw of Custom Travel Design, Canada added: “No matter how much i assumed I knew the rustic, it’s only at this primary edition of ILTM Japan that i’ve truly understood learn how to sell Japan to my clients. i’ve got learnt concerning the culture, the finesse, and the nuance of the culture, and that i will keep coming to the development in years to come as everybody I meet has something different to share.”

    Veronica Rodriguez, Director of promoting at Turisme Barcelona, observed: “Japan is a gentle and significant market in Barcelona’s luxury sector. ILTM is a really committed and dependable partner in promoting Barcelona as a luxury destination and we were very keen for the exclusive opportunity to be a part of the primary edition of ILTM Japan. Now we have had a very good event, choked with quality meetings with active and attractive buyers.”

    And Japanese buyer Tatsuya Masubuchi of Roots & Partners concluded: “ILTM Japan is astounding for both buyers and exhibitors because it matches us in step with our needs – it fits my business and our high-end clients who’re traveling globally. It’s great to have an ILTM event exclusively desirous about Japan.”

  • News: Silversea Cruises announce partnership with Royal Geographical Society

    The renowned Royal Geographical Society (with The Institute of British Geographers), founded nearly 200 years ago to advance geographical science, is to enrich Silversea voyages even further by providing detailed scientific and historical information to guests embarking on one of the crucial greatest journeys worldwide.

    The Society, whose patron is The Queen, is partnering with leading luxury expedition cruise operator Silversea to share a number of the world’s most necessary geographical research and archive material with guests travelling on Silversea Expedition ships, including Silver Explorer and Silver Galapagos.

    There are greater than two million items inside the Society’s historic collection, including over 1,000,000 maps, 500,000 photographs, 250,000 books and journals, manuscripts and iconic artefacts which date back so far as 1472.

    The Society has always been a notable supporter and communicator of the work of geographical explorers and scientists, including that of Charles Darwin, Dr. David Livingstone, Robert Falcon Scott, Sir Ernest Shackleton and Sir Edmund Hillary. Its support for geographical research to know our changing world—its environments, peoples and places—continues actively today, informing issues that range from sea level change to migration.

    Silversea guests will get pleasure from quite a lot of specialist visual and written content from the Society, enabling them to be informed much more about their expeditions to destinations including Antarctica, the Arctic, the Galapagos, South America, Africa and Europe.

    Founded in 1830, the Royal Geographical Society is a respected professional body for geography and geographers and is without doubt one of the largest and most innovative geographical societies on earth, in addition to the largest in Europe. Its objective is to advance geographical science. To take action, it champions and supports field research and scientific expeditions, enhances geographical and environmental education, and raises public understanding of the sector.

    “This is a partnership that will bring incredible historic and current geographical information to our guests, in addition to unite two experts of their respective fields,” said Enzo Visone, CEO of Silversea Cruises. “Silversea Expeditions are known for being the appropriate exploration voyages worldwide—they will retain their world-class position with this valuable partnership with the Royal Geographical Society.”
    “We are delighted to go into into partnership with Silversea, extending the Society’s work to embrace and enthuse Silversea guests with our understanding of the excellent and changing world wherein all of us live and they will experience, enjoy and discover through their travel experiences,” added Dr. Rita Gardner, director of the Royal Geographical Society (with IBG).

    Silversea recently announced the introduction of voyages to Galápagos. Its year-round schedule of seven-day expedition voyages aboard the 100-guest, all-suite Silver Galapagos will begin operating in late September 2013 and have the subsequent options:
    *  Western Itinerary: Sailing Saturday to Saturday roundtrip from Baltra Island, Silver Galapagos will trace a path around the western, southern and eastern islands, including Santiago, Bartolomé, Isabela, Fernandina, Floreana, San Cristóbal, and Santa Cruz.
    *  North Central Itinerary: Sailing Saturday to Saturday roundtrip from Baltra Island, this itinerary encompasses the northeast, central and southeast islands of Santa Cruz, Genovesa, Seymour Norte, San Cristóbal, Española, and Plazas Sur.

  • Boris Johnson declares Abu Dhabi ‘world beaters’

    London mayor Boris Johnson has declared himself “impressed and fascinated” by Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision after touring Saadiyat Island – where the Cultural District could be home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

    During the tour the mayor also met HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

    Johnson, who showed particular interest in a model of the Zayed National Museum designed by Lord Norman Foster, said he believed the architecture of the museums, combined with the museums’ collection and narrative and Saadiyat’s surroundings would present a compelling visitor proposition.

    “To my mind you’re making a cluster of true world beaters,” he told Sheikh Sultan.

    The mayor was on a fact-finding visit to Abu Dhabi to forge links between the region and London.

    He highlighted many areas of past, present and future collaboration. Opportunities for cultural projects in London include the realm in and across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

    Ambitious regeneration plans are in place to make the realm a global class sporting, entertainment and cultural centre as a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

    “London and Abu Dhabi share a rich history of cultural exchange.

    “This is something i would like to encourage. i’ve been hugely impressed by Abu Dhabi’s scale of ambition in relation to developing an international class cultural offer.

    “I am keen we explore ways for further future collaboration not least in London’s growth areas corresponding to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park within the east of the town which hosted last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.” he said.

    Mayor Johnson said the activation of East London into London’s tourism appeal would also benefit the Abu Dhabi-owned ExCel London – which last year hosted more Olympic events than another venue.

    “There is far we will learn from London and masses we will share,” said Sheikh Sultan.

    “The British capital did a superior job in hosting the 2012 Olympics and that i need to congratulate you on it.”

  • News: Brooker Travel Group re-signs with Travelport

    Travelport, the business services provider to the worldwide travel industry, has today announced that their long-standing partnership with prominent New Zealand travel agency, Brooker Travel Group, have been extended with the signing of a brand new multi-year agreement. The agreement, which sees Brooker Travel continue to exploit Travelport’s Galileo platform as its sole GDS provider, will give Brooker Travel consultants access to Travelport’s suite of industry-leading products.  Included on this portfolio are products aimed toward improving operational efficiencies via solutions along with the Travelport Smartpoint App™, Travelport ViewTrip™ Mobile and Travelport Rooms and More™.

    Andrew Carmody, Managing Director of Brooker Travel Group, says, “At Brooker Travel we believe that travel technology, coupled with unparalleled customer support, is the important thing to our success. We were some of the first travel agencies in New Zealand to implement a GDS reservations system and our long-standing relationship with Travelport have been very successful.  We’re pleased to continue partnering with them as their commitment to travel technology and innovation matches our own interest during this area.”

    Robert Clark, Travelport’s New Zealand Commercial Director says, “Travelport is pleased with its long-term relationship with Brooker Travel and congratulates them on their strong and stable growth within the New Zealand market. We glance forward to continuing to produce support on the high level that they’ve come to expect from us.”

  • Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel now officially open

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and Majid Al Futtaim Properties today celebrated the hole of Sheraton® Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel. With this opening, Starwood now operates 14 hotels in Dubai, representing the very best concentration of Starwood hotels in any one city outside of recent York.

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is directly connected to Dubai’s leading shopping destination, Mall of the Emirates, which features greater than 560 international retail brands and can be home to the long-lasting Ski Dubai snow dome.

    “Sheraton has an extended history within the Middle East, spanning over 50 years and it remains one of the sought-after hotel brands inside the region,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “With the hole of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel, our brand portfolio inside the region is stronger than ever and globally, we’re anticipating record-breaking growth with plans to open our 500th Sheraton hotel by 2015.”
    Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “Sheraton’s international standards and bold track record within the region make it an ideal fit for Mall of the Emirates, which houses a singular range of high-end retail, leisure and entertainment concepts. The hotel may be an excellent addition to our hospitality portfolio and should complement our offerings at Mall of the Emirates, which was ranked because the seventh most lucrative shopping center on this planet by the International Council of Shopping Centres.”

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel comprises of 481 guest rooms, including 94 suites, in addition to as regards to 9,000 square-feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space. The hotel offers four restaurants and lounges, including: Sanabel, a Mediterranean restaurant; Sodabox, an American retro 1950s café; Vantage, a modern urban lounge; and Sanctuary Pool Lounge, boasting panoramic views.

    As the most recent Sheraton hotel inside the region, Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel offers an unrivalled signature experience. This includes all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® Beds in all guest-rooms, the Sheraton Club Lounge, the administrative business centre – The Link@SheratonSM Experienced with Microsoft® and Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core® Performance, with state-of-the-art gym equipment and coaching. Guests may also pamper themselves inside the Sanctuary Spa with its wide selection of innovative spa treatments.

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is conveniently located half-hour from the Dubai International Airport and 20 minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre. This opening marks Starwood’s 16th Sheraton hotel inside the Middle East because the debut of the corporate within the region with the Sheraton Kuwait in 1966.

    “The addition of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel into the Sheraton and Starwood portfolios is a testament to the arrogance owners have in Starwood and our brands,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vp Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “The Sheraton portfolio and pipeline is the strongest it has ever been and we glance forward to both new-build and conversion opportunities for the logo within the Middle East.” Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel offers the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) programme, which provides guests a big gamble to earn Starpoints™ to avail more choices, flexibility and benefits including exclusive redemption options, free nights and access to award-winning properties. Starwood’s SPG® loyalty program recently offered members the chance to witness the Dralion™ by Cirque du Soleil®, for which Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel was the official hotel partner.