Insight Data bank Focus on Global Travel: Disruption and ... Tourism Cities 201504.pdf · APRIL...

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A Tale of Two Cities: Visiting London, VisitingEdinburgh

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Europe cruise passenger figures2014: Key general messages

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Cracking the Innovation Code of Tel Aviv

Silver nomads on the march

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www.wTCf.TrAVEL AprIL 2015

Focus on Global Travel:Disruption and reinvention

Each year, a portion of the summit is devoted to "Tourism for Tomorrow" awards, which shine a spotlight on reinventions in this area through examples of conservation efforts, sustainable operations and ecotourism initiatives.

The occasion for the gathering is the annual World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit. And the speaker roster reflects the full range of the commercial and geographic diversity within what will soon be the largest industry in the world. The most disrupted character found in fact or fiction may well be Sisyphus. Every time he came close to his goal, he was sent back to the starting line.

It's a fact of this century that disruptive events are altering life and business at an accelerating rate. And like many industries, travel and tourism evolves along a continuum made jagged by disruption. But travel's timeline differs from Sisyphus' in a significant way: Travel's story is one of disruptions followed by reinvention and progress.

Travel actually appears to be particularly vulnerable to disruptive forces, from natural disasters to terrorism to political upheaval to economic downturns. But, perhaps as a result of its long list of vulnerabilities, it has also shown itself to be particularly resilient. Travel's proven ability to reinvent itself quickly and successfully resulted in growth last year that — once again — outpaced worldwide gross domestic product (GDP). On April 15, an extraordinary collection of global CEOs representing every sector of

the travel industry will convene in Madrid. They'll examine the current forces of disruption and share observations, research and best guesses about what challenges — and resulting opportunities — the industry is likely to see in the coming years.

The occasion for the gathering is the annual World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) Global Summit. And the speaker roster reflects the full range of the commercial and geographic diversity within what will soon be the largest industry in the world. Airline CEOs from Turkey, Abu Dhabi, Japan, Ireland and Hawaii will be on stage, as will the top executives from the largest online travel agency in the world (Expedia's Dara Khosrowshahi) and the fastest-growing in China (Qunar's Chenchao Zhuang).

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World Tourism Cities Federation

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Feature

"Each CEO knows there are going to be points of disruption. They can't predict disruption. But they can plan for disruption." — David Scowsill, WTTC.

The heads of destination marketing organizations, airport authorities, tour operations, car rental companies and hospitality groups from around the world will engage and debate.

Although the pointed focus will be on travel, the discussions will be informed by a wide range of outside expertise. Joining industry leaders at the podium will be bankers, researchers, analysts, journalists, politicians, philanthropists and a paleoanthropologist.

And keeping true to the theme of disruption and reinvention, attendees will hear from the full spectrum of forces shaping the industry. Not only is Hilton Worldwide CEO Christopher Nassetta a speaker, but so is an executive from the company most closely identified with the forces that currently roil the hospitality industry: Airbnb's Chip Conley.

Disruption and risk"If you look back over the last 20 years

of this industry, each sector suffered massive disruptions and was forced to reinvent itself," WTTC President and CEO David Scowsill observed. "It has been disrupted by terrorism, such as the 9/11 tragedy, which completely changed the travel agency model for both leisure and business. Within aviation, the advent of the low-cost carriers, from Southwest to EasyJet to Ryanair, forced network airlines to reinvent themselves. With the rise of the online travel agencies, distribution channels were completely reinvented. And now, disruption is coming from the sharing economy, with businesses like Airbnb challenging the status quo."

Disruption, Scowsill noted, moves at different speeds; some significant events develop slowly and allow time for advance preparations, others come without warning.

"Climate change is ongoing over decades," he said. "It's forcing the industry to look very carefully at itself in terms of sustainability, environmental impact and managing-down carbon emissions. Others, such as terror attacks, sudden economic shifts

or natural disasters, can force businesses to reinvent themselves within months."

And somewhere in between, perhaps, is technology, whose impact, whether it leaps or creeps, can have the most dramatic and long-term effects. A destination can repair itself after a hurricane or earthquake, or add levels of security after terrorism, but there's no returning from technology-driven transformation.

"Hoteliers have moved from looking at us with confusion and curiosity — and maybe a little anger — to figuring out how to collaborate with us."' — Chip Conley, Airbnb

An immediate consequence of disruption

is risk. Significant strategic and secular changes of direction must be made, and often made quickly.

"We wanted to start at the top and access the largest issues at the global level," Scowsill said. "Which is why we invited Richard Fenning to discuss how businesses manage universal risks such as terrorist or economic disruptions, and also Julie Meyer, who brings the perspective of how small and medium-size firms can better face risks inherent to their businesses."

Fenning is CEO of Control Risks, a consulting firm specializing in political, security and integrity challenges. It was originally founded to advise insurance companies to mitigate risk and has expanded its practices to corporations worldwide.

Meyer leads Ariadne Capital, an

investment and advisory firm focusing on corporations that seek to build new digital strategies and revenues.

The sharing economyArguably, the most significant disrupter

identified in travel today is the sharing economy. Anyone with an automobile can now compete with established black-car companies, homeowners with spare rooms can go head-to-head with hoteliers and local residents can offer their services as an alternative to guided tours.

A i rbnb, among the best-known companies that enable sharing, currently

lists as much room inventory as major hotel groups. Conley, the company's head of global hospitality and strategy, said that he didn't know yet exactly what he would tell summit attendees, but he said he looks at Airbnb as a "category creator" rather than a disrupter.

"Hospitality has always been full of innovation," Conley said. "Holiday Inn created the first global brand. Embassy Suites and Residence Inn built the extended-stay category. Airbnb is also growing a new kind of supply: home-sharing in urban markets, and some vacation rentals. We facilitate a collection of people who have chosen to operate very small businesses, with three, four or five rooms."

Conley pointed out that 76% of Airbnb listings are outside the main hotel districts in cities.

"They're in different locations, and there are different-use cases for why people book with us," he said. "A lot of our travelers might not have made the trip if they didn't have Airbnb as a choice. Perhaps they have a relative in a hospital outside the financial district undergoing long-term treatment, and family members want to visit. Our average length of stay is twice as long as a traditional

And somewhere in between, perhaps, is technology, whose impact, whether it leaps or creeps, can have the most dramatic and long-term effects. A destination can repair itself after a hurricane or earthquake, or add levels of security after terrorism, but there's no returning from technology-driven transformation.

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hotel."Offering further evidence that Airbnb

could be seen as a different category rather than a competitor for existing market share, Conley said, "In the markets where we are strongest — New York, San Francisco, Paris, London — these markets are seeing historically high occupancy rates at the same time we're doubling in size."

Convincing hoteliers that Airbnb's entry wasn't a zero-sum game went a long way toward creating an environment where a dialogue could be opened between his employer and established hospitality companies, he said.

A hotelier himself — Conley was founder of Joie de Vivre Hospitality and still has equity in 18 properties — he said he has seen a huge shift in the relationship between Airbnb and large hotel companies during the two years he has been associated with the company.

"They have moved from looking at us with confusion and curiosity — and maybe a little anger — to a genuine interest in learning from us and figuring out how to collaborate with us. In order to do that, we came halfway across the bridge and asked them to come halfway to meet us. The truth is, we have something to learn from each other."

Tourism for Tomorrow awards finalists

Each year, a panel of judges selects tourism companies that exemplify best practices in sustainability in travel and tourism to become finalists in the WTTC's Tourism for Tomorrow awards. Here are this year's finalists:Conley said Airbnb is in direct conversations with the six largest hotel groups and that executives from Hilton and Hyatt, as well as Marriott CEO Arne Sorenson, have visited their headquarters for "immersion" sessions. (Starwood executives were scheduled to visit the week after the interview with Conley took place.)

"There are lots of conversations about how to be collaborative and how we can work together to promote travel and tourism globally," he said.

Some governments, too, appear to be willing to meet Airbnb halfway.

In March, Britain's House of Commons "voted to formally legalize home-sharing," Conley said. "Last year, France did the same. San Francisco, San Jose, Portland, Grand Rapids, Nashville, Hamburg, Amsterdam — there's a long list of new laws around home-sharing. We started paying occupancy taxes even before some legislation occurred — for

instance in Washington, D.C., and Chicago."But Conley also acknowledged resistance

to home-sharing. "Some, like New York, won't even accept our occupancy-tax checks," he said.

Although he doesn't know exactly what he'll say when he stands before politicians, tourism promoters, hoteliers and others in the industry in Madrid, Conley said he would be wearing two hats, representing his own traditional hospitality interests and the sharing economy.

However it's structured, his presentation will no doubt focus on collaboration between disrupters and the disrupted as a potential force in reinvention.

Disruptive demographicsDemographic trends can offer clues to

future disruptive patterns, and the WTTC has enlisted Euromonitor International, a market research and business intelligence firm, to focus on how changes in cities will impact travel and tourism in coming decades.

Caroline Bremner, head of travel research, spoke with Travel Weekly about what Euromonitor CEO Tim Kitchin will focus on during his presentation in Madrid.

"There is an irreversible shift to urban living," Bremner said. "It reached a tipping point after 2008. In that year, 50% of people lived in cities. Last year, it was 53%, and in 2050, it will be 67%. This is a fundamental shift and has significant implications for businesses and how economies will work."

Cities are already powering the global economy, she said, with New York's economy being larger than the entire country of Spain.

By 2050, Bremner said, more than 9

billion people will live in cities. "That's an increase of 2.5 billion new

urban consumers," she said. "That's an extra China and India combined being added to the world's population, but all in urban metropolitan areas."

In 1950, there was only one "megacity," defined as having a population of more than 10 million. Just 15 years from now, there will be 30. What will then be the three newest — Santiago, Chile; Bogota, Colombia; and Bangalore, India — are in emerging markets.

By 2030, Jakarta, Indonesia, wil l overtake Tokyo in population, but population demographics, she said, were only part of the story. Looking at GDP, Tokyo will still have a larger spending pool.For the travel industry, it could be an enhanced way of looking at source markets. "For the cities that are growing most — and most of those are in China — it's important to know what is the salary level people need to reach to have a propensity to travel abroad," she said. "The answer is: $35,000 per household. Any city that crosses that threshold [in large enough numbers] becomes a target market.

"Then, let's shift up a gear. What is the framework for a successful city to facilitate travel and tourism flows in and out? There is a framework for success, and it includes economic and environmental planning, levels of innovation, social elements and the actual travel aspect. These will dictate success or failure for a city."

All of this will cost money. Bremner said McKinsey & Co. estimated that $57 trillion will have to be spent from 2013 to 2030 to ensure that people can travel and grow the global economy.

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"That's a huge amount of money," she said. "Looking at travel-related expenditures alone, that number includes $2 trillion for airports and $4.5 trillion for rail, with the majority being spent in the Asia-Pacific region."

The next question, she said, is to try to understand how new and old business models can work together. She feels many new models will emerge within the sharing economy, from ride shares to private room rentals.

"Things will need to work seamlessly," she said. Connectivity will be the most important underlying factor to making urban areas viable to live or visit, and underpinning all must be "the enabler of change, technology.

Cities will be so much more connected," she said."Smartphones," she said.Inherently good disruption?The WTTC has long highlighted examples of how travel and tourism can be "a force for good."

The organization has also, within the context of the Summit, invited self- and outside-examination of industry efforts toward being "a force for good."Notable among speakers at this year's conference will be paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey, who along with his parents and others in his immediate family has been credited with several important East Africa discoveries related to human origins.

He has also been a driving force in anti-poaching efforts in Kenya and will be the subject of a film, scheduled to be released next year, by Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt.

A lifelong conservationist and a part-time politician, Leakey seems to thrive on controversy, and he has a long history of interaction with the travel industry. He has seen its contributions, its shortcomings and how tourists' perception of a country can have tremendous impact on the health of its economy.

Authenticity, a key word for drawing tourism to developing countries, has been eroded in Kenya, Leakey believes.

"We, as Kenyans, haven't insisted on certain standards," he said. "On one hand, some of the Masai [tribal] attractions suffer from over-commercialization. And on the other hand, we're sensitive about people coming

here to practice voyeurism. I think there's a happy middle ground, something that will stand up to state scrutiny" yet provide an authentic experience, he said. "Dialogue is important."

Overall, Leakey believes that tourism has created enormous opportunities for the economy.

"It's one of our big industries," he said. "But I worry about people who try to get the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time, which means pricing can put tourism out of reach for some, and could ultimately put us out of business."

"Tourists are very fickle, and we're at the mercy of perceptions that are partly driven

by events, partly by media portrayal." — Richard Leakey, Kenya paleoanthropologist Of immediate concern to Leakey is the belief that Kenya is unsafe to visit. "Unfortunately, tourists are very fickle, and we're at the mercy of perceptions that are partly driven by events, partly by media portrayal."

He wants to emphasize that there is "no threat of terror groups whatsoever" in the national parks. "I think we need to understand that Kenya as a whole is larger than Texas. What might happen on the Gulf Coast doesn't really impact Amarillo. No one is going to take you into areas of high risk, and that needs saying. "The conflict between wildlife management and the admittance of local domestic animals into parks also troubles Leakey.

"We have some local communities that until recently believed that wildlife was being maintained only for the benefit of foreigners and don't feel that it benefits the country," he said. "I don't think the benefits to communities are realized at their level, and the government has been singularly inept at putting forward the case."Kenya is not alone in failing to deal with the issue adequately, Leakey believes.

"I don't see any country in this part of the world that has figured it out yet," he said. "Kenya must set its priorities; if everyone can have goats, there's not room for wildlife. You then have to make policies and stick to them, even if that's uncomfortable and unpopular in certain communities."

Leakey hopes next year's Jolie-Pitt film about his work will inspire both an anti-poaching sentiment and tourism.

World leaders, thought leadersIn addition to the speakers mentioned

above, during the day-and-a-half summit delegates will also hear from Jose Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission from 2004 to 2014, as well as several prominent citizens of the host country, including Simon Pedro Barcelo, president of the Barcelo Group of hotels; AnaBotin, executive chairwoman of Banco de Santander; Luis Gallego, Iberia CEO; Luis Maroto, Amadeus CEO; Federico Gonzalez Tejera, NH Hotel Group CEO; and Emilio Butragueno, institutional relations director of the Real Madrid soccer team.

Less well known in the U.S., but no less influential, are these global industry speakers: Masaru Onishi, chairman of Japan Airlines, and Hiromi Tagawa, chairman of Japan Travel Bureau; Kuoni Group CEO Peter Meier; former TUI executive chairman and chairman of WTTC Michael Frenzel, as well as TUI Group Deputy CEO Johan Lundgren; Shi Boli, CEO of Beijing Capital International Airport; and Chen Feng, chairman of HNA Group.

And the WTTC has nurtured relationships with other global industry organizations. United Nations World Tourism Organization Secretary General Taleb Rifai, Pacific Area Travel Association CEO Mario Hardy and IATA CEO Tony Tyler will also be speaking.

Author Gary Vaynerchuk will lead a session focusing on the industry's use of social media, and model Petra Nemcova will discuss how she has partnered with industry companies to the raise money for her nonprofit, Happy Hearts. David Munoz, chef/owner of DiverXO and StreetXO and Desiree Bollier, CEO of Value Retail, will also speak.

Moderating various sessions will be journalists including CBS News Travel Editor Peter Greenberg, BBC presenter Stephen Sackur, summit anchor Nick Ross and the author of this article, Travel Weekly Editor in Chief Arnie Weissmann.

Why now ?WTTC CEO Scowsill says the timing is right

for the theme "disruption and reinvention.""Everyone in the industry is looking

forward to two or three years of growth and job creation, but equally each CEO knows there are going to be points of disruption," he said. "They can't predict disruption. But they can plan for disruption."

The industry is self-interested in preserving the attractions that form the foundation for so much leisure travel, and additionally it feels outside pressure toward corporate social responsibility practices. Criticism from without and proactive efforts within combine to frame yet another form of disruption and reinvention for travel and tourism.

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WTCF News

Northstar Travel Media Joins WTCF to Promote Tourism

WTCF seeks membership drive at ITB Berlin

Northstar Travel Media submitted an official application in Beijing to join World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) on Mar 12.

Yan Han, deputy secretary-general of WTCF, accepted the application and said that WTCF welcomes Northstar Travel Media and hoped that future cooperation can bring about win-win results.In response to Yan’s comments,

Robert G Sullivan, president of Northstar Travel Media, said that Northstar Travel Media recognizes that WTCF sees cities as its main body and upholds the concept of “Better City Life through Tourism”.

He also added that after joining WTCF, Northstar Travel Media will be in charge of the production and distribution of WTCF’s weekly

A World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF) delegation attended the Internationale Tourismus Boerse Berlin (ITB Berlin) from March 3-8.The WTCF set up a 20-square-meter exhibition booth to display materials about its 32 city members and four non-city members, aiming to let visitors know more about WTCF members when they entered the booth.

Under the assistance of Mr. Ralf Ostendorf, Deputy Secretary General of the WTCF, the delegation held a working conference at the ITB Berlin on Mar 5, with attendees from 12 cities including Copenhagen, Milan, Washington, Athens, Berlin, Prague and Quito. Topics discussed included how to develop a better WTCF and what agenda and activities should be set for upcoming summits.

At the WTCF's booth, Mr. Fotis Provatas, chairman of the Athens Municipal Council, gave his strong support for the promotion of the WTCF in the capacity of his other role as the Deputy Secretary General of the WTCF.

The delegation was able to have positive dialogues with delegates from different tourism bureaus across the globe and explain

to them the WTCF's history, current situation, and future plan for development. The government tourism bureaus included the Turkish Culture and Tourism Office, Mongolian National Tourism Center, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Tanzania Tourist Board, Namibia Tourism Board, South Africa

Tourism Board, Oman Ministry of Tourism and Brazil Tourism Board. WTCF welcomed more tourism cities to join them.

ITB Berlin is the world's largest tourism trade fair and has attracted more than 200 thousand professionals in tourism and media industries to take part this year.

and monthly publications. Over 7,000 readers all over the world, including the governors of tourism cities, top managers of tourism firms, professionals and scholars will regularly receive and read the publications. WTCF is a non-profit, non-governmental international organization initiated by Beijing and voluntarily formed by Berlin, Los Angeles, Barcelona and many other world famous tourism cities and tourism-related institutions. It is the world’s first international tourism organization with cities as its main body.

With “Better City Life through Tourism” as its core concept, WTCF is committed to promoting exchanges and cooperation between members.

Northstar Travel Media is headquartered in New Jersey in the United States and is a leading business information and marketing solutions provider, serving the travel and conference industries. It owns various brands, such as Travel Weekly and Business Travel News.Witnessing the strategic cooperation between WTCF and Northstar Travel Media were representatives from overseas tourism cities in China, and delegates from the airline, hotel and tourism industries.

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WTCF News

WTCF prepares for its tourism summit 2015

This will be the first time for the summit to be held in other member cities rather than the WTCF’s headquarter, serving as a milestone in the federation’s development.

In addition, Morocco has held numerous international conferences such as the Fourth United Cities and Local Governments(UCLG) Conference,an international conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the World Water Council Global Conference. It has rich experience in hosting international conferences.Morocco is a world famous tourist resort. Famous attractions such as the Udaya Castle and the Rabat Palace are located in Rabat, its capital city. Fez, where used to be the first capital of Morocco, is known to the world for its Islamic architecture art. The 2015 summit will be composed of an opening ceremony, forums, expo, marketplace of cities (international tourism products exhibitions), travel presentations and a closing ceremony.

Themed “Diversity and Sustainability”, the expo and marketplace are expected to

attract over 200 renowned buyers and sellers from the tourism industry and over 400 visitors.

The preparation work of the summit has made great progress with efforts over half a year. To promote inbound tourism of Morocco, WTCF has conceived a campaign featured “A thousand people visiting Morocco” and has been negotiating with a number of

estab l i shed t rave l agencies in launching some tourism routes and products.

In addition, the federation has come up with a comprehensive publicity agenda to promote Morocco with a focus on its abundant tourism resources.Morocco also attaches great significance to the coming summit.

Moroccan National Tourism Office, the city of Rabat and Fez have all established efficient and effective exchange mechanism with the WTCF secretariat.

Khalid FATHI, chief representative and event coordinator of the Moroccan National Tourism Office to China, exchanges with WTCF staff on a weekly basis to make sure all the issues discussed have been carried out.

WTCF Delegation Attended 2015 IT&CM China in Shanghai

Incentive Travel & Conventions, Meetings China (IT&CM China) was held in Shanghai from April 14, 2015 to April 16, 2015. The WTCF delegation attended this exhibition at the invitation of CITS (China International Travel Service), a deputy secretary general unit of WTCF.

WTCF deputy secretary-general Yan Han was invited to address the welcome banquet at the opening ceremony. He introduced the current situation, the purposes and the future of WTCF, and pointed out that “WTCF would make great efforts to serve its members and

provide more opportunities for cooperation and exchanges between world tourism cities and more resources for contact between organizations.” He hoped that more members of WTCF could thrive and create business opportunities together with WTCF. At the same time, he invited more than 100 traveling salesmen present at the banquet to attend WTCF Rabat & Fez Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2015 for the promotion of tourism industry in Morocco.

WTCF set a booth at the exhibition and presented itself to the representatives present

at the exhibition by means of publicity, face-to-face negotiations and promotion events. The WTCF delegation met and had separate talks with the delegates of destination’s tourism administration from Australia, Taiwan, Berlin, Xiamen, etc., and introduced to them the current situation and future plan of WTCF, and the preparations for WTCF Rabat & Fez Fragrant Hills Tourism Summit 2015.

IT&CM China, a large-scale exhibition co-organized by CITS, TTG Asia Media and MP International (Shanghai) has been held for 8 consecutive years. This year, it attracted the world-renowned travel companies and travel destinations, and brought together 300 MICE professionals including buyers, sellers and the players in the MICE industry.

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Insight

Silver nomads on the march“When I get older, losing my hair, many years from now Will you

still be sending me a valentine, birthday greetings, bottle of wine? If I’d been out ‘til quarter to three, would you lock the door? Will you still need me, will you still feed me when I’m sixty-four?”

—— Paul McCartney and The Beatles

Call them what you like: Geriatric Gypsies, Silverbacks, Grey Nomads, Silver Scooters or - as they do in China - the more respectful Achievers.

They each have one thing in common.

They’re a group of mature travellers who have the cash to splash and whose outlook on life is taking them to far away places.

No longer are the 60-somethings rocking back in an armchair with their slippers

warming in the sun. Now they’re pulling on walking boots, strapping on a rucksack and striding out to far-flung parts.

Today many 64-year-olds – at least in developed economies – are considered neither old nor poor. They are living on average a decade longer than in the 1960s when Paul McCartney sang those lyrics about getting old and losing your hair.

Andrew Strong, chief executive of Saga Travel, which specialises in holidays for older travellers, says, “Today’s over-50s, who are healthier and wealthier than previous generations, have shown a passion for travel which has led to exceptional growth across overseas holidays and cruises.

“The challenge will be how travel companies recognise and respond to the diverse nature of this demanding and discerning demographic.”

Chang Theng Hwee, founder and managing director of Country Holidays in Singapore, says, “The age group between 50 and 60 is Country Holidays’ biggest sector of clientele and above 60 is also very important to us. “Most are still at the prime of their health and also at the peak of their financial situation. They are best placed to explore the world. ” “They hike the Himalayas, go on safari in Africa, take expedition cruises to Antarctica, indulge in fine dining and wine in France and Italy, and in arts and history in Russia and Turkey. The world is their oyster.”

Out of this world might soon be their oyster, too. Country Holidays is the exclusive agent in Singapore of Bloon, the new space product targeted for launch in 2016. A nearspace ship will be pulled by a balloon to an altitude of 36 km.

And while some will choose to travel in the five-star luxury of a river cruiser down the Rhine, or be pampered in a Patagonian spa retreat, others are making new friends and discovering the joys of staying in budget or backpacker accommodation.

According to World Travel Monitor, the generation known as baby boomers – those born between 1945 and 1964 – spend $120 billion a year on travel and leisure.

The baby boomer generation, now entering retirement, is living longer, having more active lives – and crucially – have more to spend than their parents did. Holiday providers will increasingly need to tailor and market their services to meet the needs and preferences of this age group.

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Insight

“Baby-boomers consider ageing well as a lifestyle. That is different from the past when people regarded ageing as a fate,” says Sophie Schmitt, co-founder of Seniosphère, a Paris-based consultancy specialising in the senior market.

People aged over 50 control 70% of America’s total disposable income, while those aged 55 and over own 56% of the eurozone’s net wealth, according to Lombard Odier, an investment manager that runs a fund specifically investing in companies targeting this segment.

One-third of the UK population is now over 50 and by 2030 there will be 20 million people in Britain over 60. Many of them will have a strong inclination to travel overseas in their post-retirement years.

Rock festivals provide a good example of where travel trends are heading. When the famous Glastonbury festival began in 1970 the UK’s median age was 34. It is now nearly 40. And instead of heading to a retirement home, old rockers are still rockin’.

So much so that the latest venture of Harvey Goldsmith, one of the UK’s leading concert promoters, is a weekend event in London which includes, alongside star pop performers, cookery demonstrations from Michelin-starred chefs, a farmer’s market and craft beers.

“There’s a more discerning audience. You have to give value plus,” Goldsmith told the Financial Times, whose writer observed, “Here was one rock festival where you were more likely to score wild mushrooms rather than the magic variety.”

Another example? LoveHoney, the online adult toy shop and Ann Summers’ rival, brought out a range of, ahem, ‘intimate pleasure products’ aimed at older consumers.

Called Swoon, the collection is stocked by Boots high street stores in the UK.

Aeon, the Japanese department store, was remodeled with wider aisles and larger lettering on signboards for older customers, and restocked with food and clothing more suitable for the ‘grand generation’ as it is

called. In Australia, the Intergenerational Report (IGR) forecasts that over the next 40 years, the proportion of the population over 65 years will almost double to around 25%.

“This is a permanent change. Barring an unprecedented change in fertility rates, the age structure of the population is likely to stabilise with a far higher proportion of older Australians,” the IGR report said.

James Thornton, managing director of the Intrepid Travel group, says that the company’s Peregrine Adventures, whose clients are predominantly in the 50-plus age group, is responding to demand for “more far-flung destinations”.

“Interest in countries that may have previously been perceived as dangerous, but are shaking off their bad reputations, has also increased. For example, our small group tours in Colombia, Central America and Iran have been selling consistently well throughout the year. “In 2014, we added a trip covering Azerbaijan, Georgia and Armenia, which may be considered quite difficult to reach but we had to add on more departures as the year progressed because they kept selling out.”

Next year, Peregrine is launching trips in Bangladesh, Turkmenistan, Mongolia and Albania and Macedonia. ‘These destinations may take a little more effort to reach and a leap of faith but those who take on the challenge are rewarded with smaller crowds, some of the friendliest locals and authentic

experiences,” says Thornton. Across the world the number of people over the age of 60 is expected to move from 841 million in 2013 to two billion by 2050, according to the UN.

The spending power of consumers aged 60 years or older is expected to reach US$15 trillion globally, says Euromonitor.

“We believe that the global dynamics of ageing mean that the longevity theme offers numerous growth opportunities for those [firms] with exposure,” says Bank of America-Merrill Lynch (BoA) head of thematic investing, Sarbjit Nahal.

“In addition to having unprecedented spending power, they are also extremely open to marketing and media, making them an attractive consumer demographic,” Nahal adds. Cruise companies have also spotted a trend, markedly so in Asia, where grandma and grandpa are coming onboard with their sons and daughters and their children.

Dr Zinan Liu, VP of Royal Caribbean for China and North Asia, and chairman of the newly formed CLIA North Asia, said the Chinese see cruising as aspirational, and the growing middle class will form its future. He projected that depending on the growth of the cruise industry in the rest of the world, China’s growth could reach as little as four million or as much as 6.6 million by 2020. Dr Liu said Royal Caribbean targets seniors, as retirees can be relatively young and wealthy and if they aren’t their children might pay for their cruise.

He also said targeting oldies is one way to tackle the seasonality created by Chinese holidaying patterns – by filling in off-peak with seniors. Anthony Lau, executive director of the Hong Kong Tourism Board, said that in China the oldies have reservations about cruising, worrying about seasickness, something new they don’t have any knowledge about, and their instinctive reaction is that it is expensive and unaffordable.”

Said Dr Liu, “We are all very bullish today, but the challenge is ahead of us.”

Across the world the number of people over the age of 60 is expected to move from 841 million in 2013 to two billion by 2050, according to the UN.

The spending power of consumers aged 60 years or older is expected to reach US$15 trillion globally, says Euromonitor.

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Databank

Europe cruise passenger figures 2014: Key general messages

While the year-on-year growth rate has considerably slowed down compared to previous years, it is remarkable that more Europeans than ever chose a cruise holidays in 2014 in spite of the continuing challenging economic conditions.

Cruise Lines International Association - CLIA published Europe's cruise passenger figures for 2014.

1. The number of Europeans taking a cruise holiday has reached an all-time high

In 2014, a record 6.39 million Europeans took a cruise, 30,000 more than in 2013. This marks a 0.5% growth of Europe’s source market compared to the previous year. The factors behind the reduction in the industry’s growth rate include a decrease in capacity in the Med and the continuing economic difficulties throughout much of the EU. While the year-on-year growth rate has considerably slowed down compared to previous years, it is remarkable that more Europeans than ever chose a cruise holidays in 2014 in spite of the continuing challenging economic conditions.

The average annual growth in the last five years has been positive at 4.9%. This confirms that cruising remains an excellent holiday choice for millions of passengers in Europe and beyond, providing great value for money. We remain confident that Europe’s source market figures will continue to increase in years to come, not least because penetration rates still remain relatively low.

2. Europe’s cruise industry continues to bypass the economic downturn

The number of Europeans choosing a cruise holiday has increased by 44% since 2008, when the economic downturn began. The industry has enjoyed growth year-on-year. This is particularly remarkable if we consider that Europe’s economy has still not recovered to pre-economic downturn levels, having declined by 1.3% during the same period. For the Eurozone, the economy has shrunk by 2.9% in the same period. GDP growth in the EU remains sluggish. The pace of the recovery remains slow as Europe continues to struggle to leave the legacies of the crisis behind it. Growth last year was 1.3% (just 0.8% in Eurozone). In comparison industrial production in Europe has fallen by more than 10% since 2008.

3. The growth of Europe’s source market has slowed down, but not stalled

This year’s 0.5% growth rate may look disappointing compared to last year’s (4%). However, this is not due to a loss of interests in cruising in Europe, but rather explained by

cruise lines’ individual commercial strategies, and a backdrop of continuing economic difficulties for much of the EU. In 2014 there was an 11.4% decrease in capacity deployment in the Med, as some cruise lines took existing ships to other waters, notably the Caribbean. This year-on-year fluctuation in deployment is usual to the extent that cruise lines’ deployment strategies are dynamic. With some ships that are currently under construction to be launched this year, we expect a 9.3% increase in capacity deployment in the Med in 2015. This will result on further growth in Europe’s source market.

4. It is the trend that counts, and the trends remains positive

We should not focus on year-on-year figures alone. It is the trend that counts and the trend since the economic crisis is strongly up in the vast majority of markets. The average annual passenger growth across Europe since the crisis began is 7.4%. The average annual passenger growth trend since the crisis began in Germany is 15.9%, France 15.2%, Italy 3.9% and UK 3.3%. Spain fell by an annual average of 1.4%, but economic conditions there have been particularly harsh. Other markets such as Scandinavia and Finland (24.7%), Austria

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Databank

(17.8%), Switzerland (20%) and Benelux (17%) enjoyed strong growth trends.

5. Support from policy-makers and regulators is becoming increasingly critical to ensure the industry’s further growth in Europe

We remain optimistic about the cruise industry’s outlook in Europe for years to come. However, other regions are increasingly challenging Europe’s position as the world’s number one tourist destination. Europe is gradually losing market share in world tourism. National and European policy-makers can help ensure the further growth of Europe’s tourism sector by fostering a favourable business environment.

6. Headlines per country/regionThis year Germany has become Europe’s

first source market with 1.77 million passengers, increasing by 5%, mostly due to capacity increases from German cruise lines AIDA Cruises and TUI Cruises GmbH. Capacity was moved away from UK ports which, while leading to an increase in fly cruises to the Caribbean, resulted in an overall 4.8% decrease in the number of British passengers taking a cruise in 2014.Italy remains the third largest source market, despite a 3.1% decrease that is explained by the decrease of capacity deployment in the Med. France has achieved impressive growth (13.7%), consolidating itself as Europe’s fourth largest source market. Spain has continued to decline (–4.5%), due to the decrease in capacity in the Med and the closed operations of Iberocruceros. Scandinavia’s source market has increased by 5.6% this year.

7. GermanyGermany has become Europe’s first

source market with 1.77 million passengers, increasing by 5%, mostly due to capacity increases from German cruise lines AIDA Cruises and TUI Cruises GmbH. In 2014 Germany accounted for 28% of the European market, up from 27% in 2013. New builds scheduled for 2015 (Mein Schiff 4, AIDAprima) could consolidate Germany’s ocean cruise leadership in Europe. Germany is also the market leader for river cruises. European destinations dominate the German cruise market, with the Med and Atlantic Islands accounting for 43% of the market visited by Germany-sourced passengers sourced (Northern European destinations account for 22%). The average annual passenger growth trend since the crisis began in Germany is 15.9%.

8. UK & IrelandFollowing a few years of slow growth,

the number of UK and Ireland ocean cruise passengers has declined by 4.8% to 1.64 million passengers. This was mostly due to lower ship capacity for the traditional UK port market and the significant shift in deployment of Mediterranean cruises to the Caribbean. This year-on-year decline should be seen in the context of a market that has grown ten times in less than 25 years. 2014 saw a 12% dip in UK port cruises and a 3% growth in fly cruises, which may be corrected with the launch of P&O Cruises’ Britannia and RCI’s Anthem of the Seas, to be based in Southampton between May and October. Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess is also returning to Southampton for spring and summer 2015. The average annual passenger growth trend since the crisis began in the UK is 3.3%.

9. ItalyItaly remains Europe’s third largest source

market, despite a 3.1% decrease, with 842,000 passengers. This year-on-year decrease of the source market is best explained by the shift in capacity and deployment from the Med to the Caribbean. Despite the decline in the Mediterranean cruises, the Italian market is dominated by the Mediterranean as a destination with 79% of passengers in 2014. The market is also concentrated in terms of market share, with the top three operators controlling 96% of the market. The average annual passenger growth trend since the crisis began in Italy is 3.9%.

10. FranceIn 2014 France consolidated its position

as Europe’s fourth European market with an impressive 13.7% increase, reaching 593,000 passengers. This was mostly due to an increase in departures from French ports. There was also an increase in capacity dedicated to the French market. Despite the Mediterranean being the most popular destination for French cruisers, with 63% of the market, the growth rate for Mediterranean cruises was much lower than the growth rates of the Caribbean and Northern Europe in 2014. The average annual passenger growth trend since the crisis began in France is 15.2%.

11. SpainThe on-going decline in capacity in Spain

continued in 2014, with ships moving away from the Med, resulting in a 4.5% decline in the country’s source market to 454,000 passengers. During 2014 the cruise lines operating in Spain focused on improving the quality of the product rather than on increasing sales volumes, which

decreased following years of strong growth. This year’s decrease was much softer than in 2013 (17%) and 2012 (18%). We are starting to witness a reverse in the trend, considering the planned capacity for 2015, and we expect market growth in 2015.

12. NetherlandsThe Netherlands’ source market decreased

by 4.4% in 2014 to 109,000 passengers, mostly due to the shift in deployment from the Med to the Caribbean.This resulted in a decline in Dutch passengers to the Med and an increase in Caribbean passengers, with Northern Europe remaining steady. The average annual passenger growth trend since 2009 is 8.4%.

13. BelgiumThe Belgian cruise market continued its

strong growth of 2013 into 2014 with a 6% increase to reach 73,000 passengers. The shift in deployment from the Med was reflected in a 9% contraction for passengers on Mediterranean itineraries. However, the Med still accounts for over 50% of Belgian cruise passengers. The average annual passenger growth trend since 2009 is 12.4%.

14. Scandinavia and FinlandDenmark• The Danish market decreased by 1% to 37,000 passengers.• With less reliance on the Med, the Danish market was less affected by the shift of deployment.Finland• The number of passenger halved from 24,423 passengers to 12,001 passengers.Norway• After a year of strong negative growth, the Norwegian cruise market bounced back in 2014 with a 25% increase in passengers to 176,000.Sweden• The Swedish market decreased by 7% in 2014 to 78,000 passengers.

15. GreeceWith an impressive 10% increase, there

was a recovery in Greek cruise market in 2014 after two years of sharp decline due to the country’s on-going economic difficulties, reaching 18,441 passengers. The cruise product remains unknown to many Greeks, who are more used to taking ferries in order to reach island destinations where they spend their holidays. The Greek cruise market is highly concentrated in terms of destination with approximately 90% of the market historically accounted for by Mediterranean / Black Sea cruises .

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City

If you are planning a trip to the UK or a domestic city break, London is usually first on your list of places to visit. The capital of England is a vibrant city filled with plenty of things to do, but while you are in this beautiful part of the world, hotels in Edinburgh can offer you a chance to catch a little more culture with a trip north of the border to Scotland.

If you are coming from abroad to visit both cities, finding a package may be a little difficult. Furthermore, multi-stay trips are often slightly more expensive due to the arrangements and extra paperwork handled by the travel company. It may be much cheaper to book your flights and accommodation separately and UK hotels by HotelClub may be a good place to start. Chain

hotels will often give you the best price but for a more authentic stay in the UK you may want to try some of the local independent hotels.

Travelling between the two cities is fairly easy, but they are not particularly close together. Flights between Edinburgh and London are cheap when booked in advance. Budget airlines offer prices as low as £12.50 one-way, but watch out for hidden costs for add-ons such as luggage, booking fees and early check-in.

The cheapest way to travel is on a coach; some companies offer prices as low as £5 when booked in advance, and there are no extra fees for luggage. The drive can last up to 12 hours, though, and may not be the most comfortable way to head up north. Although

it may not be the cheapest, the easiest option when heading to Scotland is rail.

High speed train services can have you in the Scottish capital in a matter of hours and without the delay of check-in or baggage handling. If you book early, you can get a ticket for as cheap as £12.50 one-way. When choosing your accommodation in London or Edinburgh, there is plenty to select from. It is important that you remember a few important tips before you go ahead and book. Whether you are looking at London 5 star hotels or a more basic 2 star accommodation, try to make sure you are near public transport routes.

In both cities there are plenty of bus routes and in London, being close to the tube is exceptionally useful for travelling to tourist

A Tale of Two Cities: Visiting London, VisitingEdinburgh

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destinations. However, this can affect the cost of the hotel you are staying at, so if you don't mind a walk then you could save some money.

Furthermore, use online map services to target the areas of each city you would like to stay. Both cities are large and you won't want to have to travel for hours each day just to get to the attractions. Target the destinations you would like to see the most and use UK post codes online to find the best areas to stay.

London has a huge number of attractions to choose from. Buckingham Palace is a tourist favourite and runs seasonal tours each year. Other attractions include the beautiful Kew Gardens and the iconic London Eye, an observation wheel so large that you can see over the entire city.

Most people in the civilised world will

have heard of attractions such as Big Ben or the Tower of London, but there are also some more low key places of interest that you should definitely visit.

Covent Garden is a wonderful place to take a break from a long day sight-seeing to grab a drink or a bite to eat. Much in the same way, taking a trip to the bohemian village of Camden will bring you delight with its wonderful markets and boutiques. Should you be around at the right time of year, make sure you check out Notting Hill Carnival for an unforgettable experience.

North of the border, Edinburgh has plenty to offer, too. Edinburgh Castle is perhaps one of the most notable landmarks and tours operate all year. The historic castle offers a remarkable insight into the history of this beautiful country.

After a brisk walk through history, why not check out Edinburgh's famous whisky factories? The Scottish are world renowned for their single malt whiskies and for a taster session, there isn't anywhere better. Visitors can usually turn up on the day and enjoy this wonderful experience, with most choosing to exit through the gift shop.

Edinburgh also has a wide selection of museums and galleries, most of which are free to visit. Also, if you are a fan of the arts, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival held each year, is filled with musical, dance and comedy acts for a number of weeks.

So, why not make the most of your trip around the UK and visit both these wonderful cities? General pricing will not exceed much over the cost of visiting just one and you are sure to get the most out of your trip.

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Leaders in trade

Cracking the Innovation Code of Tel Aviv: The Digital Revolution Blurs the Lines between Resident and Visitor

We live in an urban era. Today, for the first time in history, the majority of mankind lives in cities. The city is no longer its mere buildings and streets – it is also a major factor that affects the nature of the life of those who visit it, live in it and do business in it. A city is a space filled with culture, business, politics and constant human interaction.

O n e o f t h e m o s t significant (and fascinating) processes happening in the urban world in recent years is the return of communities. The human need to interact on a regular basis, holding shared values, interests or identity, replaces the sense of alienation that characterized life in a city in the past. Those visiting a city also get swept up in this new phenomenon, experiencing the city from the inside, just like the locals.

Contrary to common belief, the digital revolution, which is increasingly central to our daily lives, nurtures new connections in a city and largely prevents alienation. Parents who scold their children for 'sitting in front of a computer all day long' do not realize that their child is actually exploring digital arenas of interaction. Facebook, Twitter, instant messaging and Instagram – these are all platforms that create communities. These communities do not only exist online, but also in our day-to-day lives. Ask a single woman from Tel Aviv where she met her date tonight. Do not be surprised if she answers Tinder. Yes, people know each other through applications, they hold their political arguments on Facebook and share the first image of their newborn child on Instagram. They live a digital life and the city they live in is an amalgamation of digital and reality: an 'online city' and an 'offline city'.

And it is here, where an'online city' meets that the 'offline city', officials and City Makers face their biggest challenges. This is where the challenge is, because this is where the opportunity is greatest - the opportunity to make citizens and visitors alike not only orchestrators of socio-cultural change, but

also central to business and economic development.

Economics is no longer just an equation of supply and demand, but also of trust, efficiency, productivity and sustainability. Those in an urban community no longer have the same need for ownership – we can share. We share transportation, a public square, even an apartment. Living in a

city allows me to be the owner of something, but only for the time when I really use it. I rent a bike, and that bike is mine as long as I ride it; when I get to my destination, that bicycle will soon belong to someone else. It's more sustainable, it's more economic, it's more community orientated and it's just better.

Tel Aviv was recently recognized as the "World's Smartest City", an international award won for the City's 'smart' approach to

its residents and a Sharing Economy through platforms such as the DigiTel residents card, digital community platforms and the promotion of business.

Visitors to Tel Aviv can make use of this Sharing Economy and the City's rapidly evolving digital travel industry and startup ecosystem. They touch down at Israel's international airport in Tel Aviv, use the application GetTaxi for transportation, sleep in an apartment from Airbnb and be in time for dinner made by a local in their apartment organized through EatWith.

It is now widely understood that one must look at the economy through the eyes of the new resident, a resident that simultaneously produces and consumes and who is ready to share and cooperate. The new tourist is just the same, a city must use the opportunity presented by digital revolution to allow a visitor to become a local, even if only for a short while.

Tel Aviv was recently recognized as the "World's Smartest City", an international award won for the City's 'smart' approach to its residents and a Sharing Economy through platforms such as the DigiTel residents card, digital community platforms and the promotion of business.

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Milan Expo will attract Chinese tourists: the hotels do not raise prices while shopping discount will be offered

According to European Times, in order to prepare for the forthcoming 2015 Milan Expo, the General Manager of the Milan World Expo Bureau of Tourism, Mr. Alessandro Mancini, took a special trip to Shanghai to express his confidence of welcoming Chinese tourists. He said, "Milan hotels will not raise prices."

The 2015 Milan Expo is opening soon, and the Milan World Expo Bureau and China Corporate Pavilion cooperatively introduced many preferential methods to attract Chinese tourists. While enjoying the hotels which do not raise prices during the Expo period, Chinese tourists can also rent mobile phone for free, which will provide Chinese language services and free Internet browsing minutes. Shopping outlets in Italy and Milan Montenapoleone shopping street will also offer 10% discount to tourists.

Mancini says, "Milan Expo Organizing Committee attaches great importance to visitors from China.” Milan is ready. The hotels are preparing Chinese websites and signage, kettles in the rooms, and Chinese porridge at breakfast. Meanwhile, the Italian Government has promised to facilitate the visa application process for Chinese tourists.

Italy is expecting to have more than one million inbound tourists from China to join the Expo. Latest news suggests that Chinese Enterprise Hall has sold more than 300,000 tickets.

Mr. Wei Jianhua, Deputy Director of the China Pavilion Executive Committee, says, “We will work with Suncorp Technology Co., Ltd. to provide the Chinese tourists with 100,000 free rental mobile phones. ” “The process of the mobile phone rental is very convenient, and it can also serve as a WIFI hotspot for other Internet equipments; at the same time, the phone will provide GPRS location, search for businesses, answer transportation inquiries & weather inquiry, and locate promotions and travel attractions, such as value-added services. “

Wei also revealed that the China Pavilion in the center of Milan will construct a "Italian City Hall," to explore and tap the unique creativity, fashion and internationalization feelings, and to promote economic and cultural exchanges between China and Italy.

According to reports, China Pavilion covers an area of 360 square meters, including the exhibition area, reception area, food tasting zones. Each participant and brand has the opportunity to display and sell the

products various events, which is free to the public."Chinese and Italian economies are highly complementary,

and we ultimately want to build a bridge between Chinese and European enterprises. We would like encourage Chinese enterprises to go overseas and meanwhile introduce European companies to China through the platform, thus to promote deeper cooperation and exchanges between China and the EU cities and enterprises, and ultimately drive the internationalization of Chinese enterprises.” expressed by Mr. Chen Anjie, Director of the China Pavilion Board

Milan Expo will open from May 1, 2015 to October 31. The theme is "Nourish the Earth with Life Energy". Chinese enterprises will make the first collective appearance by joining the Expo China Pavilion.

Air China will increase Beijing to Milan and Paris routes

Air China 2015 program will continue to increase the investment to the capacity of the routes to Central Europe. Starting from March 29, Air China Beijing - Milan route will be offering daily service. And starting from June 1, Beijing to Paris route will be increased to two flights a day. The additional flights are aiming to meet the growing needs of the travelers, providing more opportunities for passenger flights, and making the travel easier and more convenient.

Beijing to Milan route, class flight number CA949 / 50, takes off at 13:30 GMT, arriving Milan at 19:00 local time, and the return flight takes off at 21:00 local time in Milan and arrives in Beijing 13:30 GMT the next day.

Beijing to Paris route by class flight number CA875 / 6, takes off at 02:05 GMT and arrives at 07:25 local time in Paris; the return flight takes off in Paris at14:10 local time and arrives in Beijing at 06:30 GMT the next day.

The increased flights are executed by Airbus A330-200. Equipped with a 180-degree full-flat business class seats, ergonomic chairs rest to fully meet the needs of high-end business travelers. The whole cabin is equipped with personal entertainment systems and power supplies, either for stretching or entertainment, the aircraft prepares the full relaxation for the passengers.

In addition, Air China offers seasonal health meals and VIP shuttle bus service, to name a few. Warm and comfortable cabin environment and attentive services assure the visitors enjoying a wonderful joy of

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News

flight time.The increase of the European routes aims to better promote

economic and trade exchanges between China and Europe, and to strengthen cultural exchanges. Milan and Paris are the recognized fashion capitals of the world. The former is not only a barometer of the fashion world, but also will be the focused destination on the peninsula in 2015 thanks to the Milan World Expo. The historical treasure in Paris will always be synonymous with romance, innate elegance, and the pursuit of exquisite. Tourists will be able to stand under the Eiffel tower soaking up the sun, or to walk through the nineteenth century to experience the gratitude tender yet unforgettable moments.

As a member of the Star Alliance , the world's largest airline alliance, Air China has been actively expanding route networks in Europe. Currently, Europe has become Air China's largest overseas aviation market, with 19 routes between China and Europe offering 100 flights a week from Beijing, reaching out to 18 major European cities, including London, Frankfurt, Rome, Moscow, Madrid, etc. Relying on a strong route network of Star Alliance, Air China’s travelers can also smoothly reach 1,328 destinations in 195 countries.

Thailand hosts major Bangkok entertainment event

Thailand is staging the “Bangkok Entertainment Week” from 27 April to 3 May to promote the Thai capital as a hub of entertainment business in ASEAN.

The week-long event will see Bangkok hosting a variety of digital content from all over the world.

During this week, four events: Bangkok Comic Con 2015 x Anime Festival Asia Thailand 2015; Bangkok International Digital Content Festival 2015; Thailand Comic Con 2015; and Thailand Toy Expo 2015, will take place at venues along the BTS routes including Centara Grand Hotel at Central World, Central World Shopping Center, Siam Paragon, and Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Center (BITEC).

Bangkok Entertainment Week is a product of the coordination between the public and the private sectors to boost the entertainment and digital business of Thailand to secure its place on the international stage.

JW Marriott And The Ritz-Carlton Hotels open in Macao in May

Both the JW Marriott Hotel Macao and The Ritz-Carlton, Macao will open in May 27. Marriott International, Inc also announced the official launch of bookings on www.jwmarriottMacao.com and www.

ritzcarlton.com/Macao.Guests can choose to stay at Asia’s largest JW Marriott – JW

Marriott Hotel Macao, or stay at The Ritz-Carlton, Macao, the brand’s first All-Suite hotel. “The opening of these two new hotels at the Galaxy Macao integrated resort will redefine the standard of luxury in Macao,” said Rauf Malik, vice president of operations at JW Marriott Hotel Macao and The Ritz-Carlton, Macao.

JW Marriott Hotel Macao will serve as Asia’s flagship hotel, with 1,015 rooms and suites. The hotel provides ground floor access to a pillar-less grand ballroom and function rooms that include over 2,700sqm of flexible meeting space. The Ritz-Carlton, Macao, will feature over 250 suites on the top floors of the integrated resort.

Air China's official WeChat gets more features

Air China upgraded its official WeChat account recently, in an effort to further enhance user experience.

The latest version features an all-inclusive ticket order management system, the first of its kind in the country. The new version enables passengers to store their entire travel chain, from ticket printing and check-in to boarding. The Wechat account will also set reminders and give travel guidance. Users of the account can also have a real-time understanding of their travel status and share it with friends.

Other passenger-oriented features include travel alerts, check-in services, flight alerts, weather forecast of major cities in the world and real-time flight statuses. In addition, Phoenix Miles-China Air's membership card-has undergone massive improvements to make it easier for passengers to enjoy quality membership services.

In the future, Air China will continue to push forward the development of its official WeChat account. For its next move, Air China will put more emphasis on online and offline interaction. Aside from that, WeChat-based value-added products and services will be launched, as well as optimized features including rescheduling.

Meydan Hotel prepares for Dubai World Cup

The Dubai World Cup is widely considered one of the most anticipated events of the year in the glittering Emirate of UAE, as well as the richest day of thoroughbred racing in the world.

This year, the Meydan Racecourse is hosting the 20th anniversary of the Dubai World Cup, and guests can enjoy world-class racing action at The Meydan Hotel.

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A true destination hotel, The Meydan Hotel boasts unrivalled views of the racetrack from either the grandstand or from the comfort of the hotel’s elegant dining venues.

Each venue will be offering a range of tailored packages- varying from a private suite, to the rooftop or trackside restaurants and terraces to create a memorable evening.

Absorb the exhilarating atmosphere at the terrace of Millennium, Farriers or Shiba. The dining area of the restaurants are made up of round table setup for up to ten guests, who can begin the day with afternoon tea at 14:00, followed by an international dinner buffet and free-flowing premium beverages.

Patrons can also host private and corporate events in this luxurious setting with excellent hospitality during the Dubai World Cup.

Race enthusiasts will also get Apron View access, situated between the track and the Meydan Grandstand, allowing guests to move around at leisure throughout the day, as well as take part in the region’s popular fashion competition, The Jaguar Style Stakes.

With Jennifer Lopez as last year’s highlight for the opening ceremony, the 20th Dubai World Cup is sure to bring an equally spectacular live performance with fireworks for a thrilling night to remember.

Closing report: ITB Berlin sets new record

ITB Berlin, which came to an end on Sunday, was able to cement its position as the world’s largest travel trade show. From 4 to 8 March 2015 10,096 exhibitors from 186 countries, more than two-thirds of whom were from abroad, were represented in 26 display halls which were fully booked. Overall, some 115,000 trade visitors (2014: 114,000) travelled to Berlin.

The share of trade visitors from abroad increased to 43 per cent (2014: 40 per cent). These visitors also remained longer at ITB Berlin because they did good business, with the average duration of a stay rising to 2.4 days (2014: 2.1 days). According to estimates by Messe Berlin the volume of sales at the world’s leading travel trade show increased from around 6.5 billion euros in 2014 to 6.7 billion euros.

Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin: “More than ever ITB Berlin fulfils the function of the world’s leading think tank and a shop window for the travel industry. This is where the opportunities and risks are debated and the potential impact of the sharing economy on the international travel industry is analysed. Over the past few days ITB Berlin has provided further evidence of how important personal exchanges and meetings between people are for an industry that is

increasingly dominated by the digital transition.“Trends at ITB Berlin 2015 included the massive rise in the use of

mobile devices to book trips, a phenomenon that has now become the norm. Improved software means that travel websites are becoming more attractive and easier to use. Hotels are also witnessing the impact of digital trends. Smartphone functions are increasingly taking over from room keys. Travel apps are developing rapidly and becoming evermore widespread with the use of latest-generation smartphones. At the eTravel World numerous experts debated the latest developments in digital marketing, social media and mobile travel services. The 40 per cent increase in papers and discussions held on the eTravel Stage and at the eTravel Lab showed how important these topics have become for the travel industry.

Despite the internet having brought about lasting change to the travel world with new travel apps and meta search engines, tourists continue to entrust the task of booking the time of the year they enjoy most with their local travel agency. With their ability to offer personal assistance travel agencies are quite capable of positioning themselves as important sales channels in the face of online travel portals and social media and their relentless rise.

According to Messe Berlin all the main travel destinations will benefit from the prevailing positive mood: big European cities, Mediterranean countries and faraway destinations. A fact particularly worth noting is that Germany as a travel destination continues to break all records. The tourism market in Germany has grown for the fifth year in succession in every single federal State, and this positive trend is set to continue in 2015. For North Americans the cost of travelling to Germany has fallen to unprecedented low levels due to the strength of the dollar. Other popular destinations include Egypt and Greece. Whereas Egypt’s economic revival has been slow, Greece reported double-digit growth for the third year running and despite the controversy surrounding its national debt continues on the path to recovery.

Post-attack, security measures don’t diminish Paris’ allure

It’s hard to imagine anything that would keep tourists away from the iconic landmarks of Paris for long. But after gunmen stormed the offices of the city’s satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and killed 12

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News

people here in January, I wondered if such an act of terrorism might dent the allure of the City of Lights.

But judging by the crowds at the Eiffel Tower in late March, which is still considered to be the tail end of the low season here, travelers appeared not to have been deterred.

Which isn’t to say that the Hebdo incident is a thing of the past, either. All over Paris, armed security guards could be seen patrolling densely populated areas such as the Marais and Montparnasse neighborhoods, the Eiffel Tower and Centre Pompidou, usually in packs of three, dressed in camouflage gear and toting pretty serious-looking guns. Their presence is a new development since the Charlie Hebdo attacks.

And at shopping centers and museums throughout the city, patrons were asked to open their bags and purses for a quick glance inside by security personnel, also a recent development, all of which served as a constant reminder that Paris is a bit on watch these days.

The deadly attack was carried out by two brothers who identified with a branch of al-Qaida in Yemen, and it brought to light many of the tensions in France between its Muslim and non-Muslim populations. When I asked locals what the mood has been in Paris in the aftermath of the attacks, they explained that immediately following the shootings, the situation was fragile to be sure. There were concerns about copycat incidents or about an increase in tensions.

Some feel the attacks have given a small boost to the conservative movement in France. But generally speaking, any temporary unease that arose in the immediate wake of the attacks has subsided.

Of course, it wouldn’t be France without a large amount of debate over the incident, what spurred it and how to prevent future attacks. When during a city tour of Paris we passed by the offices where the shootings took place, our guide pointed out the location, noting the flowers that had been left there to honor the dead, and gave some quick insight into her thoughts on the current situation in Paris, concluding that relations between Muslim and non-Muslim communities in Paris will only get better in time, not worse.

But all told, Paris doesn’t feel very different and certainly doesn’t feel any less grand. Paris is and always will be an undeniably beautiful and impressive travel destination.

As an American in Paris, it also didn’t hurt that the euro was trading at about 1.06 to the dollar during my time there. When the dollar had traded less favorably in the past, I often had abstained from even entering stores when traveling in Europe. Why bother, I felt, if it was all going to cost me 30% or more than the listed price? Why even tempt myself?

But with the dollar’s current strength, I had no problem opening up my purse for security checks at the shopping centers and then ultimately opening it up for cashiers, as well. I can’t remember the last time I did a fair amount of shopping in Europe, other than a few trinkets to bring home as gifts.Toward the end of my journey, my luggage had

a few extra items. It had me wondering how many others were feeling like freshly empowered Americans in Paris, like myself, and whether retailers are feeling an American consumer bump in kind.

The Elite London 2015: the world's most desirable brands exhibit at London's exclusive jet set lifestyle event

London's most exclusive jet set lifestyle event The Elite London is set to return for its second year, taking place once again at the award winning FBO facility Rizon Jet, at London Biggin Hill Airport, during 8th-9th May 2015.

The Elite London 2015 event incorporates four shows: Jet-set Lifestyle, The Marine Elite, The Luxury Brand Show and Exclusively Super Car Showcase and welcomes over one hundred luxury brands including Porsche, Gulfstream, Sunseeker (whose VIP Lounge was ‘the place to be seen’ at last year’s event), The Beyond Travel Company, Ski in Luxury, Champneys and Sally Agarwal.

The Elite London is so much more than just an exhibition of the world’s most desirable brands; it is the chance to experience the craftsmanship and detailing close up, get behind the steering wheel, consult experts on ownership, be the first to view new fashion and jewellery collections and prestigious art – or even feel the exhilaration of flying in a two-seater Spitfire.

Not-to-be-missed previews will include Xupes showcasing their new handbag collection, objects d’art makers Intrepid Design unveiling a dining table created from a decommissioned 747, Chisel Pool’s unique pool table produced from a Classic Mini, Midual who will present their state of the art Type 1 motorbike - plus many more exclusive opportunities TBA.

Bigger and better than before, The Elite London will gather an invited audience of 2,000 – over 100 of whom will fly in privately to arrive in style. In addition to the unique opportunity to engage with luxury brands, visitors will be able to enjoy champagne, fine dining or Afternoon Tea as part of the available hospitality packages.

Organisers of The Elite London state “The Elite London offers a unique event concept for London that features brands from four different luxury lifestyle sectors. Starting with its core - private aviation - the event combines the consumer database resource from further industries within Yacht, Luxury Brands and Super Cars to deliver an all-round platform for all participating brands. For the visitor it is a chance to see up close the best of the best at one exclusive venue, Rizon Jet at London Biggin Hill Airport.”

Insight Data bank Focus on Global Travel: Disruption and ... Tourism Cities 201504.pdf · APRIL...

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