Stefan Molnar is responsible for all sales and marketing initiatives for the Lufthansa Group Airlines, namely Austrian Airlines, Eurowings, Lufthansa German Airlines and Swiss International Air Lines, in Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos since mid-May this year. He succeeds Dirk Grossmannwho was in this position for the last 6 years and he is now the General Manager Sales in Moscow, Russia. "I am very pleased to announce Stefan Molnar as the new General Manager for this dynamic market. At the same time, I would like to express my appreciation for all the great work Dirk Grossmann had accomplished," said Heiko Brix, Senior Director Sales Southeast Asia and Pacific for Lufthansa Group Airlines. He continued, "With the new management and recently integrated teams in Thailand, Vietnam and the Mekong region, I am confident that the team will continue to deliver the Lufthansa Group success story in this region."Bringing with him 18 years of industry and 10 years of international … [Read more...]

SHANGHAI - Norwegian Cruise Line (Norwegian), a leading cruise brand of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, together with Alipay, the world's largest online and mobile payment platform operated by Ant Financial Services Group, announced the debut of the Alipay payment solution on board Norwegian's most recent addition to its fleet and its first in the China market, Norwegian Joy. This is a pioneering move where a major cruise operator has debuted a cruise ship with Alipay as part of its payment platform from the very beginning of operations. It also demonstrates Norwegian's commitment to providing guests in China with offerings geared to their specific needs and tastes. With more than 450 million users, Alipay is China, and the world's, leading online and mobile payment platform, one that significantly enhances the payment platform lineup on Norwegian Joy. Norwegian began accepting transactions on the Alipay platform on a trial basis beginning on a special preview cruise for members and … [Read more...]

GainingEdge, as the professional management company of BestCities Global Alliance, is pleased to announce an additional member to its team supporting the alliance of 12 convention bureaus. From 1 July 2017, Lesley Williams, who was Head of Business Tourism for Marketing Edinburgh, the past seven years, will be joining GainingEdge. Lesley will take on a new role as Director, Market Development for BestCities, where her focus will be to help drive the alliance's strategic goal of discovering new markets on behalf of its partners. The BestCities team from GainingEdge currently comprise Paul Vallee (Managing Director), Jane Cunningham (Director, International Associations), Nigel Brown (Manager, Marketing and Partnerships) and Caryn Wong (Associate, Alliance Operations). Gary Grimmer, CEO of GainingEdge explained that Lesley will work closely with the BestCities management team and partners to generate results from new markets, evaluating and advancing the alliance's conferences strategy … [Read more...]

Shenzhen, China – Marriott International, INC expands its footprint in Greater China with the opening of Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Golden Bay. The southern city of Shenzhen is an economic powerhouse that's home to China's burgeoning IT scene, and known as "China's Silicon Valley". Located within easy access of Hong Kong and close to the Dapeng peninsula (the origins of Shenzhen city), Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Golden Bay enjoys a prime location on the beachfront of Golden Bay – one of the top eight domestic bays in China. Owned by Kaisa Group, Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Golden Bay marks the first resort-like Marriott Hotel in Shenzhen, underscoring the demand for Marriott International's flagship brand. "With 30 hotels in Greater China and more than 50 in the pipeline, Marriott Hotels is paced for rapid expansion," said Mike Fulkerson, Vice President of Brand Marketing, Asia Pacific, Marriott International. "Shenzhen Marriott Hotel Golden Bay offers guests the opportunity to … [Read more...]

GUANGZHOU, China - The Belt and Road Initiative has effectively stimulated the boom of China's outbound and inbound tourism market, bringing brand new development opportunities for the hotel industry. According to statistics, Plateno Grouphas opened over 1,300 hotels in the Belt and Road region, with high occupancy rates and strong momentum. Plateno Group has over 1,000 hotels operating or under construction in the Belt and Road region. As it is widely known, the Belt and Road Initiative is the abbreviation for the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road Initiative, covering a total of 18 provinces, autonomous regions and direct-controlled municipalities in China. Meanwhile, China has concluded a variety of visa-free agreements with 46 countries and regions along the Belt and Road. The National Tourism Administration calculated more than 25 million people participated in the tourism exchange between China and the countries along "the Silk Road" and it is expected … [Read more...]

ASTANA, Kazakhstan - A special road-show called "Travel along the Great Silk Road together with Astana EXPO 2017" took place in Hong Kong. During the event, more than 70 routes around Kazakhstan were presented to international travel agencies. Special tours include visits to picturesque national parks, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, ski and health resorts, etc. A special part of the road show program in Hong Kong was the presentation of the International Specialized exhibition Astana EXPO 2017. According to Deputy Director of the Promotion and Tourism Department of JSC NC Astana EXPO 2017, President of the Kazakhstani Tourist Association Roza Asanbaeva, the exhibition in Astana will become "a new point on the route of the Great Silk Road". "In 1889, the Eiffel Tower became the symbol of EXPO in Paris. Now this is a tourist attraction not only in France, but throughout Europe. The symbol of Astana EXPO 2017 is the largest spherical building "Nur-Alem". We invite tourists from all over … [Read more...]

Excitement is building for this year's World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017as the travel industry's leading awards programme makes its final preparations for the prestigious event, which is taking place on Saturday 8th July in the Maldives. The five star Sun Aqua Vilu Reef will welcome hospitality leaders from across the region, as they gather to see who among them has been voted the pinnacle of the travel industry. The event will kick off with a cocktail reception at 7pm while the gala ceremony and dinner commences at 8pm and will, this year, be compered by Maldivian Idol hosts Moosa Waseem and Aminath Lamha Latheef - two of the most familiar faces on Maldivian television. World Travel Awards Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 2017 will also allow attendees to get in touch with authentic Maldivian culture through traditional dances such as Bandiya and Maafathi. The main act for the evening will be performed by the legendary Maldvian singer Unoosha. Looking ahead to the Indian … [Read more...]

Amsterdam, NL - Online travel specialists, TravelBird, have released their annual Beach Price Index, featuring more than 300 seaside locations from 70 countries around the globe. On a year-to-year basis, the price of a beach holiday can change substantially when you take into account factors such as currency fluctuation and inflation. As a company which prides itself on inspiring travellers, TravelBird ranked the beaches in order to provide holidaymakers with the information they need to make a smart decision when booking. TravelBird first examined an extensive catalogue of the world's most popular beaches, before reducing this to a final shortlist of just over 300 locations, ranked on the cost of spending a day at each. To calculate their affordability, the price of five essentials were then researched for each destination: the cost of a bottle of sun cream (200 ml), a bottle of water (500 ml), a beer (33 cl bottle), lunch (including drink and dessert for one person), and an ice … [Read more...]

SHANGHAI - Over the past decade, outbound Chinese travellers have remade the world tourism market. Currently worth US$ 168 billion and still on the rise, the 120 million and growing band of Chinese consumers travelling the world in search of local culture, experiences, food and shopping in 2016 is proving to be a tantalizing demographic. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region has lagged in popularity, but is now witnessing a boom in Chinese visitors. Growth is driven by local travel incentives introduced into the region, including visas on arrival for Chinese nationals visiting the UAE, and the rising sophistication of Chinese travellers seeking new destinations off the beaten path. Additionally, China's 'One Belt One Road' initiative, which cuts through the region, has the potential to put MENA on the map for travel savvy Chinese. A recent report by The Luxury Conversation, a platform that provides insight into Asia's growing luxury consumer, takes a look at three … [Read more...]

SHANGHAI - Princess Cruises, the world's largest international premium cruise line announced that Yao Ming and his wife, Ye Li, will serve as Inaugural Cruise Ambassadors for Princess Cruises in China and officially name the new Majestic Princess during a ceremony and gala celebration. The inaugural festivities will take place aboard Majestic Princess in Shanghai on July 9, as the culmination of weeks of celebrations, upholding maritime traditions, as well as featuring traditional Chinese, contemporary Chinese, and western-inspired cultural performances that took place between Rome and Xiamen. "It is a great honor that Yao Ming and Ye Li have graciously accepted our invitation to officially name Majestic Princess and serve as the Inaugural Cruise Ambassadors at our celebration welcoming our newest ship to China," said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises president. "Yao Ming is globally recognized for his success in China and the United States, truly embodying the 'East meets West' spirit of … [Read more...]

Professor Geoffrey Lipman, President of ICTP and Co-founder of SUNx writes from Manilla at the 6th UNWTO International Conference on Tourism Statistics: Measuring Sustainable Tourism. "It feels good to be back in Manilla for more fun in the Philippines. Not the usual description of a UN Statistics Conference. Even worse, I want to make two what I suspect are contrarian points about the proposed declaration. And then offer a suggestion to strengthen it. First. The past is prologue. As a sector, we are not going far enough fast enough. This declaration needs to be half as wordy: twice as much implementation: four times as fast. And some real multi-stakeholder checks on delivery. Why? Because the scale and speed of change and connectivity is accelerating and if we don't move at the same pace the decisions will be made outside our sector. By environmental and finance institutions; by business coalitions: by local authorities: by States and regions and by very smart cities.This is not … [Read more...]

BANGKOK - Based on the data from Q1 2017 booking window, with June to August 2017 travel period in mind, versus the same period last year, Expedia.co.th revealed that Asian cities are seeing the highest demand of travellers from the US and UK for this summer 2017. Popular Asian cities among US and UK travellers A closer look at city by city based on popularityThe ten most popular Asian city destinations for US travelers this Summer are Manis (Philippines), Tokyo (Japan), Bangkok (Thailand), Beijing (Mainland China), Seoul (South Korea), Shanghai (Mainland China), Hong Kong, Mumbai (India), Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) and Delhi (India). For UK travelers inbound to Asia this summer are Bangkok (Thailand), Hong Kong, Tokyo (Japan), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), Denpasar (Indonesia) and Manila (Philippines) The growth factorOf the ten Asian cities experiencing the most year-on-year growth from the U.S., five are in China while cities within Malaysia, Philippines, Vietnam and … [Read more...]

Preliminary estimates indicate the successful Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) 2017 in Singapore attracted more than 7,500 participants, including 5,100 qualified buyers and 375 exhibiting companies. The continued growth of the attractions industry within the Asia-Pacific region was evident at the Expo. More than 50 percent of buyers attended AAE for the first time. Participation in education sessions nearly doubled from 2016 and the event featured the second largest trade show floor in event history at 10,170 net square meters. Asian Attractions Expo, which is produced by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), took place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centerat Marina Bay Sands, 13 – 16 June 2017. The total number of owners, executives, managers, and leaders in attendance from theme parks, water parks, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, and resorts represents a 42 percent increase over AAE 2013 when the event … [Read more...]

Preliminary estimates indicate the successful Asian Attractions Expo (AAE) 2017 in Singapore attracted more than 7,500 participants, including 5,100 qualified buyers and 375 exhibiting companies. The continued growth of the attractions industry within the Asia-Pacific region was evident at the Expo. More than 50 percent of buyers attended AAE for the first time. Participation in education sessions nearly doubled from 2016 and the event featured the second largest trade show floor in event history at 10,170 net square meters. Asian Attractions Expo, which is produced by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions (IAAPA), took place at the Sands Expo and Convention Centerat Marina Bay Sands, 13 – 16 June 2017. The total number of owners, executives, managers, and leaders in attendance from theme parks, water parks, family entertainment centers, zoos, aquariums, museums, science centers, and resorts represents a 42 percent increase over AAE 2013 when the event … [Read more...]

Macao – Conrad Macao Cotai Central's signature Chinese restaurant, Dynasty 8, has been awarded 'Two Wine Glasses' for four consecutive years at China's Wine List of the Year Awards. Receiving Two Glasses indicates that the restaurant's wine list is recognised as 'Excellent'. The Wine List of the Year Awards were originally established by Tucker Seabrook in Australia in 1994 and are now the premier national awards for wine lists in that country. The awards have been invaluable in recognising and rewarding the country's finest wine lists whilst building rapport and brand loyalty between supporting producers, wineries, importers, and distributors and their on-trade market. The primary objective of the awards is to help raise the public's interest in fine wine generally, and to improve their appreciation of the participating establishments. The founders of the awards were so impressed with the quality of the wine lists that already existed in China they felt that they should be … [Read more...]

Macao – Conrad Macao Cotai Central's signature Chinese restaurant, Dynasty 8, has been awarded 'Two Wine Glasses' for four consecutive years at China's Wine List of the Year Awards. Receiving Two Glasses indicates that the restaurant's wine list is recognised as 'Excellent'. The Wine List of the Year Awards were originally established by Tucker Seabrook in Australia in 1994 and are now the premier national awards for wine lists in that country. The awards have been invaluable in recognising and rewarding the country's finest wine lists whilst building rapport and brand loyalty between supporting producers, wineries, importers, and distributors and their on-trade market. The primary objective of the awards is to help raise the public's interest in fine wine generally, and to improve their appreciation of the participating establishments. The founders of the awards were so impressed with the quality of the wine lists that already existed in China they felt that they should be … [Read more...]

Israel Ministry of Tourism(IMOT) plans to conduct multi-city roadshow in India this August to continue to enhance commercial ties with the Indian travel fraternity. The roadshow will be held in a networking workshop format and will commence in Mumbai on August 21 followed by Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and will conclude in Chennai on August 30. Mr. Hassan Madah, Director – IMOT said, "We have been witnessing historical growth from India this year. We have already recorded 33% increase in tourist arrivals in the period of January to May 2017 over the same period in 2016. Our aim is to receive 60,000 Indian tourists by end of 2017. This roadshow will help us in achieving our goal as it will strengthen business opportunities for the Indian travel trade who are looking to promote Israel as a tourist destination. We are confident that through the roadshow, Indian travel agents will be able to build new connections and increase their knowledge of the various tourism offerings … [Read more...]

Israel Ministry of Tourism(IMOT) plans to conduct multi-city roadshow in India this August to continue to enhance commercial ties with the Indian travel fraternity. The roadshow will be held in a networking workshop format and will commence in Mumbai on August 21 followed by Delhi, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bangalore and will conclude in Chennai on August 30. Mr. Hassan Madah, Director – IMOT said, "We have been witnessing historical growth from India this year. We have already recorded 33% increase in tourist arrivals in the period of January to May 2017 over the same period in 2016. Our aim is to receive 60,000 Indian tourists by end of 2017. This roadshow will help us in achieving our goal as it will strengthen business opportunities for the Indian travel trade who are looking to promote Israel as a tourist destination. We are confident that through the roadshow, Indian travel agents will be able to build new connections and increase their knowledge of the various tourism offerings … [Read more...]

Singapore - FIT Ruums, Webjet Limited's Asian B2B travel brand, has arrived in India and is rapidly ramping up its business in this dynamic market. The company, which first launched in November 2016, recently appointed Ashutosh Dogra to head up FIT Ruums India from New Delhi. Since the company's Indian debut a number of weeks ago, Ashutosh and his team have made significant inroads into the local market, securing a series of strong partners in the country and helping India's travel suppliers generate large volumes of trade bookings. Ashutosh DograA seasoned travel industry professional with almost 18 years of experience, Ashutosh Dogra has a proven track record of managing business operations and breaking into new markets. His previous position before joining FIT Ruums was as Head of the Vacation Vertical for Vacation Exotica, a unit of Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. He also spent several years with the Kuoni Group. As General Manager of FIT Ruums India, Ashutosh has already had success … [Read more...]

Singapore - FIT Ruums, Webjet Limited's Asian B2B travel brand, has arrived in India and is rapidly ramping up its business in this dynamic market. The company, which first launched in November 2016, recently appointed Ashutosh Dogra to head up FIT Ruums India from New Delhi. Since the company's Indian debut a number of weeks ago, Ashutosh and his team have made significant inroads into the local market, securing a series of strong partners in the country and helping India's travel suppliers generate large volumes of trade bookings. Ashutosh DograA seasoned travel industry professional with almost 18 years of experience, Ashutosh Dogra has a proven track record of managing business operations and breaking into new markets. His previous position before joining FIT Ruums was as Head of the Vacation Vertical for Vacation Exotica, a unit of Balmer Lawrie & Co. Ltd. He also spent several years with the Kuoni Group. As General Manager of FIT Ruums India, Ashutosh has already had success … [Read more...]