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  • Focus: Breaking Travel News interview: Jonathan Worsley, chairman, Bench Events

    Over the past decade Bench events has launched the ultimate in hotel investment events across Europe, Middle East and Africa.

    Events in Berlin, Moscow, Dubai, Istanbul and Nairobi are actually the definitive meeting places for the hotel investment community to be informed, network, and most significantly to do deals. Here Breaking Travel News sits down with Bench chairman Jonathan Worsley to talk about the impending Arabian Hotel Investment Conference.

    Breaking Travel News: Preparations are well underway prior to the yearly Arabian Hotel Investment Conference in Dubai. Are you able to let us know what’s new with the convention this year

    Jonathan Worsley: The format for AHIC 2013 has changed slightly; the conference is now over a two day period. We continually take heed to feedback from our delegates and we keep in mind that workloads are increasing and folks have less time to spare. We’re still providing an identical content, it’s now just condensed.

    The programme is asking more closely at demand than previous years with contributions from the WTTC and UNWTO in addition to the exclusive release of an international Travel Intentions survey undertaken by Visa. This year may also address the problem of country risk that is vital for investors and view the all-important profit contribution from hotel food and beverage and trends which can be shaping this area of the industry.

    A collection of confirmed speakers for AHIC 2013 includes: Amr Abdel Ghaffar, regional director, Middle East, UNWTO; Joe Sita, president, IFA Hotel Investments; Paul Griffiths, chief executive, Dubai Airports; Eric Danziger, president, Wyndham Hotel Group; Jennifer Fox, president, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts; Wolfgang Neumann, president, Rezidor Hotel Group; Mark Wynne-Smith, global chief executive, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels; and Gerald Lawless, president, Jumeirah Group.

    BTN: Bench Events was hosting a chain of Regional Briefings within the increase to the development. Are you able to let us know a bit in regards to the objectives behind these and the reception Bench was receiving

    JW: The theme for AHIC 2013 is ‘Connecting People and Creating Knowledge’ which have been our aim with the regional briefings.

    We have organised a sequence of invitation only events bringing together the local investment, development and finance community with our existing conference supporters.

    Through both the briefings and AHIC itself we’re aiming to attach people, provide a tutorial platform and help attendees to grow their business.

    Briefings have taken place in Riyadh and Muscat with an awesome response in each market.

    KSA was a concern marketplace for us as hotel development in Saudi is witnessing a sustained upswing with numerous large scale projects occurring as a result of the religious tourism.

    The tourism industry has consistently been a key contributor to the KSA economy and a pillar of the government’s economic diversification program. Our third briefing will happen in Doha on the end of March.

    BTN: Which markets inside the Middle East do you’re feeling offer most to hospitality investors as we move into 2013 Do you are feeling the shadow has finally lifted

    JW: The Gulf States are of accelerating interest to global investors, and the large story is the resurgence of Dubai with hotels reporting a few of the highest room rates on this planet leading to strong pipeline of recent builds entering the market.

    Alpin Capital in its GCC hospitality industry report confirms that hotels as an asset class have the prospective to offer a great opportunity for investors.

    The report estimates that the GCC hospitality market is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 8.1 per cent to US$28.3 billion through to 2016 when compared with US$19.2 billion in 2011.

    Saudi Arabia is another big growth market and we’ve got included a symposium on KSA at AHIC 2013.

    The symposium will provide a platform for hotel owners, developers and investors to profit how their business can enjoy the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s phenomenal growth and likewise address the challenges of operating during this market.

    BTN: AHIC is barely the top of the iceberg for Bench, with the Africa Hotel Investment Forum and the Russia & CIS Investment Conference also at the horizon.

    Can you let us know a bit about these events and what Bench Events hopes to reach with its growing portfolio

    JW: The Bench portfolio is constantly growing, after AHIC our next event would be the Turkey & Neighbours Hotel Investment Conference happening May 29th-30th 2013 on the Marmara Taksim, Istanbul.

    The Turkish market provides great potential for both investors and developers with greater than 8,500 rooms set to go into the market by 2015.

    We have recently announced that the Africa Hotel Investment Forum 2013 will return to Nairobi, going down September 24th-25th.

    AHIF have been a powerful success bringing together 750 key individuals to drive growth around the Africa continent inside the last two years.

    Bench Events is proud to be taken with such a thrilling continent and analysts predict that by 2050, Africa’s GDP will equal the combined GDPs of america and the european at current prices (African Business Magazine).

    Now in its ninth year, the Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference will occur October 21st-23rd 2013. RHIC has become the region’s premier gathering bringing together the foremost senior level professionals.

    Development for the 2013 programme is underway and should feature interviews with leading hoteliers, forecasts from top economists and panel discussions at the latest developments, trends and best practice within the hotel and investment industry.

    BTN: How useful do you’re feeling ITB Berlin is when looking to get your message out to industry executives and other stakeholders through the increase to a Bench organised event

    JW: ITB provides an important platform to succeed in all of our key stakeholders, it’s a perfect opportunity to conduct meetings with existing clients and meet new business partners. With ITB and the International Hotel Investment Forum occurring within the same week, Berlin is often a very exciting place to be – it’s every week filled with learning and networking and there’s always a genuine buzz within the air with all the latest market trends and developments.

    It’s really important for Bench to have a presence throughout the industry with a purpose to ensure we’re providing delegates with the main educational content at each event.

    More Information

    For additional information head over to the Bench Events website.

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  • WTTC 2013: Changing demographics buffet tourism industry

    The ageing population, an increasingly connected society and fluctuating economic conditions are only three of the foremost factors with a view to set future trends inside the global travel and tourism industry, based on industry leaders who spoke at the first day of the arena 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 long run might be demographic, economic and ecological, globalisation is the foremost progressive, powerful force we’ve ever seen, nevertheless it must be managed,” he concluded.

    Professor Goldin spoke in the course of 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 inside the toughest times, it remains to be a concern for populations world wide.

    “Travel and tourism drives economies and creates jobs; or even in challenging economic times, it still has the aptitude 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 in order to impact the industry are changing customer needs simply by an ageing population; the shift to RDE; further globalisation; and more convenience and time compression,” he said to a packed auditorium.

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

  • News: Travelocity’s new brand campaign urges consumers to ‘go and smell the roses’

    Travelocity has launched a brand new brand campaign highlighted by five new tv ads featuring the Roaming Gnome and a brand new call to action for consumers: “Go & Smell the Roses.”

    “’Go & Smell the Roses’ is greater than a tagline in an advertising campaign, it’s a rally cry,” said Bradley Wilson, chief marketing officer, Travelocity North America. “With this new campaign we’re using our strongest asset, the long-lasting Roaming Gnome, to inspire and instigate people to get off the couch, to move and smell the roses.”

    The tv ads featuring “Go & Smell the Roses” will begin airing this week during primetime programing on each of the major television networks. Each will showcase a unique a part of the realm, delivering rich appearance. They’re as follows:

    Bulls: The Roaming Gnome is dropped right into a scene from the realm famous running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. He says, “Here’s a thought: You’ll never survive the running of the bulls unless you attend the running of the bulls.”
    Paint: The Roaming Gnome finds himself being handed off from one person to a better on the Holi Festival in India. He says, “Contrary to popular belief, watching paint dry can actually be fun – but you’ve got to be there to enjoy it.”
    Beach: The Roaming Gnome becomes one with a sand sculpture. He says, “Sparkly water and pure white sand might not get you off your couch but there’s not a creature in the world that could resist this.”
    Exotic Couch: The Roaming Gnome takes in an impressive alpine view on a ski lift: He says, “You is probably interested to grasp that other countries have couches exactly like ours.”
    Email: The Roaming Gnome encourages everyone to not be dragged down by the mundane tasks of daily life like checking email, cutting the grass and preparing spreadsheets. He says, “Less couch-y, more beach-y.”

    “’Go’ is the operative word,” Wilson said. “And we mean ‘go’ anywhere whether that could be a weekend road trip, a family event, or a once-in-a-lifetime adventure akin to those the Roaming Gnome is fortunate enough to take.”

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  • Sandals launches new group offers to trade

    Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts are have announced new booking promotions and incentives for group travel. 

    Each resort offers an array of impressive facilities which are ideal for group events or meetings and with these exciting offerings there’s much more reason to book groups into the Caribbean’s leading all-inclusive resorts.

    Through the exclusive Group Promotion, groups will receive one room gratis for each five rooms booked and paid for at Sandals and Beaches Resorts. 

    This offer is valid for all new bookings made between now and April 12th, for travel through to December 2015.

    Even better, this offer comes in any room category and is combinable with savings of as much as 35 per cent plus one free night and airfare credits.

    Plus groups will receive additional complimentary benefits including upgrades for VIPs, private cocktail receptions, gala dinners, as much as 6,000 square foot of conference space, boardrooms, and kit.

    To learn more a few Luxury Included holiday to Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts or Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts in your groups today visit the official website.

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  • Business travel spending gains momentum as economy improves

    An improving economic outlook with business and consumer confidence at the rise is anticipated to raise business travel in 2013, leading the worldwide Business Travel Association to upgrade its forecast for the year.  Stronger corporate profits, increasing job development and enhancements in key export markets are fueling business travel spending after a sluggish fourth quarter that was dampened by political uncertainty as a result of “fiscal cliff” debate.

    According to the GBTA BTI™ Outlook – U.s.a. 2013 Q1, a report from the worldwide Business Travel Association sponsored by Visa, Inc., U.S. business travel is now expected to rise 5.1% in 2013 to $268.5 billion, that’s an upgrade from the 4.6% growth to $266.7 billion that GBTA predicted last quarter and a considerable increase from 1.8% growth in 2012.

    GBTA’s forecast upgrade should be driven partly by stronger growth in group spending, that’s now expected to extend 6.0% to $115.9 billion – up from 5.2% growth forecast in Q4.

    GBTA’s outlook for trip volume remains essentially the identical from last quarter – a slight decline of -1.1% to 431.7 million person-trips.
    “Business confidence is up and the necessity to compete inside the global economy is driving companies to speculate in business travel,” said Michael W. McCormick , GBTA executive director and COO.  “Despite continued political uncertainty within the U.S. and around the globe, businesses are starting to get away in their holding pattern and seek growth more aggressively.  While there are still many factors that may hamper the economy again, from the impact of sequestration to rising energy prices, business travel spending is on target to date in 2013.”

    “As corporate and consumer spending confidence rises, the business travel forecast within the Usa is commencing to brighten,” said Tad Fordyce , head of worldwide commercial solutions at Visa Inc. “While the report shows the trip volume among business travelers will remain steady, we remain optimistic that stronger spending might actually help 2013 business travel exceed its pre-recession high.”