The REMA’s CEO bags ‘Forest Hero’ Award from UN

Posted on April 15, 2013 by gorillas

Director General of the Rwanda Environmental Management Authority, Dr. Rose Mukankomeje, was over the weekend honoured by the United Nations Forum on Forests, which was held in the Turkish commercial capital of Istanbul. Dr. Rose captured the key ‘Forest Heroes’ Award for Africa, in recognition for the work of REMA vis a vis forest protection and implementation of the country’s visionary forestry policy, which foresees, and is actually on course to accomplish it, to restore 30 percent forest cover across the Land of a Thousand Hills by 2020.

Almost all UN member countries were represented at the forum in Turkey, which dealt with global issues such as forest degradation, loss of forests and policies to restore them, no doubt taking one or more leaves from how Rwanda is doing things here in Eastern Africa. Rwanda was selected from among the 68 countries which has submitted documentation vis a vis the awards.

A statement published by the UN about the award reads in part: ‘Rose Mukankomeje has devoted her life to the protection and restoration of Rwandan forests. As her nation emerged from crisis, and in the face of great personal adversity, Rose took the initiative to bring Rwandans together to protect their natural resources from over exploitation and environmental degradation’.

Rwanda had in 2011 won global recognition for her groundbreaking forestry policies when the World Future Council selected the country and made the award at the UN Headquarters in New York. This was followed last year by a global award from UNEP, which recognized the contributions the forest conservation in Rwanda makes towards the protection of the crucially important ozone layer.

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GVB to host China Outbound Travel Market Symposium

Posted on April 15, 2013 by gorillas

GVB – Guam visitors Bureau invites local businesses to prepare for the anticipated increase of Chinese visitors to Guam by attending its symposium to learn the latest market trends and how it can benefit business. With the support of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), GVB will host a China Outbound Travel Market Symposium on May 22.

In Calendar Year (CY) 2012, Chinese outbound departures achieved 83.18 million in total, representing a year-on-year growth of 18.41%. The number of outbound departures is expected to keep increasing at an average growth rate of over 10% in next 10 years. By 2015, about 100,000 million outbound departures is forecasted, according to Mr. Shao QiWei, Chairman of the China National Tourism Association (CNTA). Arrivals from China to Guam rose from 7,068 to 8,939 – a significant increase of 26.5% compared to CY2011. While China arrival numbers are expected to continue to rise, a visa waiver for China would increase visitor arrivals dramatically. This is important because Chinese outbound travelers, who have high incomes and are well educated, have steadily increased over the past several years, and Guam’s economy can benefit by obtaining market share from this lucrative target segment.

“There is extensive work being done in Guam and Washington DC to facilitate a visa waiver for China,” said GVB General Manager Karl A. Pangelinan. “Based on information Governor Calvo brought back from meetings on his recent trip to the nation’s capitol, we expect a decision to be made later this year.”

GVB hosted the first symposium in October 2010, which focused on understanding the profile of Chinese outbound travelers and how to generate relationships with Chinese agencies to build Guam’s awareness in China.

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Vietnam introduces Luxury Travel tours in Latin America

Posted on April 15, 2013 by gorillas

New holiday destination in Vietnam for Latin America holidaymakers. Now, Asia’s most innovative luxury travel and tour company brings Vietnam high-end tourism products closer to travel agents in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

World Travel Market Latin America, the leading global event for the Latin American travel industry, is a 3-day, must-attend business-to-business (B2B) event which brings the world to Latin America and promotes Latin America to the world.To be staged annually in the economic powerhouse of Sao Paulo, World Travel Market Latin America is the event where Latin American travel companies will negotiate and conclude major deals, highlighting the area’s importance in the global travel and tourism industry.

Vietnam has launched a new campaign to attract tourists from all over the world under the slogan of “Timeless charm.” Tourists wish to experience Vietnam’s defining characteristics: thrills, nature, heritage, festivals, pristine beauty, enjoyment, scenery, and essence.

Vietnam now has world-class hotels and resorts, beaches, and cuisine, in addition to its natural beauty, rich history, and traditional culture. Travelers from Latin America traveling to Vietnam are looking for a more authentic experience and seek to have a deeper understanding of the country’s culture, food, history, and everyday life. The country receives 6.8 million international arrivals in 2012, and the number of travelers from Latin American has increased annually over the last 3 years.While India and Thailand are geared more toward mass market tourism, Vietnam is a destination that is attractive to a more selective class of travelers. Vietnam is becoming more and more recognized as a safe and favored destination for high-end tourists from long-haul destinations.

Latin America is in a strong financial position at the moment and Pham Ha, founder and CEO of Luxury Travel Ltd., stressed the importance of diversifying markets by participating in the Spanish and Portuguese speaking markets, which provide an ideal platform for the latest contemporary trends and the ability to communicate and establish business partnerships with experts and tourism companies.

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The Starwood Hotels concludes month-long immersion in Dubai

Posted on April 9, 2013 by gorillas

The conclusion of Starwood’s month-long relocation to Dubai, company president Frits van Paasschen has shared highlights and insights from the company’s immersion in the Middle East.

Throughout the month of March, van Paasschen and members of Starwood’s Senior Leadership Team met with 3,000 associates, conducted nearly 50 owner meetings and visited all 14 Starwood hotels in Dubai, which is the company’s second largest hotel market behind only New York City.The team also took advantage of Dubai’s strategic location to travel to 19 cities across 12 countries, meeting with government officials and potential development partners in fast-growing markets, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and India.

Over the course of the month, more than 200 of Starwood’s senior leaders and General Managers travelled to Dubai as the company ran day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and an eight-hour time zone difference away from the company’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.During the relocation, Starwood executives also met with more than 150 corporate and leisure customers who drive business to hotels globally.

The Middle East is an increasingly important outbound travel market, and regional membership in Starwood Preferred Guest, the company’s loyalty program, has increased 140 per cent over the last five years.“It is hard to overstate the potential for our business in this region of the world. By bringing our executives here and spending time with our partners and local teams, we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity,” said van Paasschen.

“I have no doubt that our time spent here will drive future hotel contracts in the region, accelerate Starwood’s position as the most global high-end hotel company and further define our culture.”

Last month Starwood announced that it will increase its Middle East and Africa portfolio by more than 60 percent with nearly 50 new hotels set to open over the next five years, adding more than 14,000 guest rooms to the region and creating thousands of local employment opportunities.With 82 operating hotels and over 20 hotels expected to open by the end of 2015, Starwood is on track to reach a milestone 100 hotels across MEA.“With 80 percent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it’s important for us to remain at the forefront of new travel demands and changing travel patterns,” said Simon Turner, president, global development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts.

“The Middle East is experiencing rapid economic growth, a growing middle class and ever greater global connectivity, and the Dubai relocation will help us expand all of our brands across this important region.”

The company also announced a comprehensive renovation strategy for its Le Méridien brand, for which Starwood and its ownership groups will invest more than $200 million in the renovations of 13 hotels and resorts in the MEA region over the next three years.

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Emirates Airways will soon to launch first transatlantic flight

Posted on April 9, 2013 by gorillas

Emirates will start connecting Italy directly with America, the new route is to provide an important link between Continental Europe and the US, allowing Emirates to capitalise on the significant traffic flow between these cities and giving both leisure and business travellers more choice and added convenience.

In addition to the existing passenger market between Milan and New York, Emirates has timed its flight schedule to ensure maximum connectivity for other key feeder markets.Customers across Europe looking to fly on the airline’s product will be able to maximise the airline’s frequent flyer partnership with easyJet, seamlessly connecting through Milan to New York.

On arrival in the US, customers can then take advantage of Emirates’ partnership with JetBlue enabling connections across the US, including the West Coast.“Operating a trans-Atlantic route has been on our agenda for some time.“Having carefully monitored traffic flows we have identified strong demand for both a direct connection and, importantly, for the Emirates product.

“The route is currently underserved, particularly with a strong premium product offering this is where we see a clear opening for Emirates.“We intend to capitalise on this opportunity, stimulating further demand and encouraging additional traffic flow in both directions,” said Tim Clark, president, Emirates.

Operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, the flight will be an extension of one of Emirates’ existing three daily, Dubai to Milan flights.The service will originate in Dubai with passengers then able to enjoy a stopover in Milan en-route to New York.

On the return flight, passengers will have the option of stopping in Milan before continuing on to Dubai. This one-stop service has proved popular on other Emirates’ routes, giving passengers the opportunity to experience a new destination or to break their journey on longer trips.

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Hotels Starwood group concludes month-long immersion in Dubai

Posted on April 8, 2013 by gorillas

Poolside overlooking the lagoon Bora Bora Nui (Starwood Hotels and Resorts)

Starting the conclusion of Starwood’s month-long relocation to Dubai, Frits van Paasschen, President & CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide has shared highlights and insights from the company’s immersion in the Middle East.

Throughout the month of March, van Paasschen and members of Starwood’s Senior Leadership Team met with 3,000 associates, conducted nearly 50 owner meetings and visited all 14 Starwood hotels in Dubai, which is the company’s second largest hotel market behind only New York City. The team also took advantage of Dubai’s strategic location to travel to 19 cities across 12 countries, meeting with government officials and potential development partners in fast-growing markets, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Mauritius, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and India. During the five-week relocation, the team travelled 61,000 kilometres (38,000 miles) – the equivalent of circling the globe one and half times.

Starwood Hotel, Jeddah.

Over the course of the month, more than 200 of Starwood’s senior leaders and General Managers travelled to Dubai as the company ran day-to-day operations almost 7,000 miles and an eight-hour time zone difference away from the company’s global headquarters in Stamford, Connecticut.During the relocation, Starwood executives also met with more than 150 corporate and leisure customers who drive business to hotels globally. The Middle East is an increasingly important outbound travel market, and regional membership in Starwood Preferred Guest, the company’s loyalty program, has increased 140% over the last five years.

“It is hard to overstate the potential for our business in this region of the world. By bringing our executives here and spending time with our partners and local teams, we are uniquely positioned to take advantage of this once-in-a-lifetime growth opportunity,” said van Paasschen. “I have no doubt that our time spent here will drive future hotel contracts in the region, accelerate Starwood’s position as the most global high-end hotel company and further define our culture.”

Last month Starwood announced that it will increase its Middle East and Africa (MEA) portfolio by more than 60 percent with nearly 50 new hotels set to open over the next five years, adding more than 14,000 guest rooms to the region and creating thousands of local employment opportunities. With 82 operating hotel and over 20 hotels expected to open by the end of 2015, Starwood is on track to reach a milestone 100 hotels across MEA.“With 80 percent of Starwood’s pipeline coming from rapidly growing markets, it’s important for us to remain at the forefront of new travel demands and changing travel patterns,” said Simon Turner, President of Global Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts. “The Middle East is experiencing rapid economic growth, a growing middle class and ever greater global connectivity, and the Dubai relocation will help us expand all of our brands across this important region.”The company also announced a comprehensive renovation strategy for its Le Méridien brand, for which Starwood and its ownership groups will invest more than $200 million in the renovations of 13 hotels and resorts in the MEA region over the next 3 years.

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Travelport Africa sets up shop directly in Nairobi

Posted on April 8, 2013 by gorillas

Africa Travelport has announced that they will commence direct operations in Kenya and have appointed Mr. Rajab Itambo as General Manager Kenya. He joins the company from Kenya Airways where he has been working on the Travelport assignment since 2008. The past partnership with Kenya Airways, which had represented Travelport’s interests in the country until now, has reportedly been amicably terminated under a mutually signed agreement permitting Travelport to set up shop on their own.

The move is seen in part at least as a reaction to Galileo’s main rival Amadeus making serious inroads in the Eastern African region vis a vis market share and services offered to travel agents and corporate clients’ in house travel offices, prompting Travelport – which owns the Galileo brand – to react and establish a direct presence in East Africa’s most important airline and travel market.

Kenya’s travel and aviation industry is set to be boosted by the peaceful transition after the country’s general election in early March, permitting the economy take centre stage again. Recent discoveries of significant quantities of oil in the country and a range of major infrastructure projects are bound to revive interest in Kenya – and the wider region where in particular in Tanzania huge gas deposits have been found – and give travel activities the proverbial shot in the arm.

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Travelling To Caribbean Set To Fall

Posted on April 8, 2013 by gorillas

Long Bay's Bay Long Bay's Dock Kayaking

The coalition Government has chosen to ignore the representations made by Britain’s black voters and Caribbean Governments over Air Passenger Duty (APD).

Instead, in his budget address last week, Chancellor George Osborne, chose not to speak about the tax at all, leaving confirmation of a 2013 increase, and the discovery of another price hike to follow in 2014, to those prepared to struggle through the fine print.Treasury documents accompanying the budget statement confirm that the tax in economy class flights to the Caribbean will increase from the present rate of £81 per person to £83 after April 1, 2013. From April 1, 2014, it will increase to £85.

In premium economy, or higher classes of travel, the tax goes up to £166 from April 1 this year to £170 after April 1, 2014.The increase contrasts with the tax in the lowest band for short haul travel which remains at its present level of £13 for 2013 and 2014, giving preferential treatment to those who travel to Europe.

In a further example of how the coalition Government is prepared to modify the tax to suit its own political objectives, the tables indicate that Northern Ireland will remain an exception. From January 1, 2013 the rates for direct long-haul flights from Belfast were devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive, which then set its APD rate at nil. This means in theory, if passengers could fly directly to the Caribbean from Northern Ireland (there are no direct services), they would not incur any costs in respect of APD.

What seems to be happening is that the tax has become a huge moneymaking exercise for the Government irrespective of the economic consequences on regions like the Caribbean and those with ties to the region. Government papers reveal the duty is a tax first, with secondary benefits for the environment.

The Office for Budget Responsibility, the independent body that produces statistics on the UK’s economic growth, published alongside the budget a forecast that total APD revenues received by Government are expected to rise from £2.8 billion in 2012/13 to £3.8 billion in 2017/18.

Reaction from those in the travel industry in the UK to the year on year increases has been direct. In a joint statement, the chief executives of the parent company for British Airways, and of EasyJet, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic, said the planned rise in APD beggared belief. “We are very disappointed that the Government’s tax on flying, already the highest in the world, will increase yet again this year and next,” they said.Simon Buck, the chief executive of the British Air Transport Association which represent all UK airlines, said that despite “incontrovertible evidence” that the tax was damaging Britain, “the missed opportunity to help kick start the economy is a shocking own goal.”The President of the Caribbean Hotels and Tourism Association, Richard Doumeng, said visitor numbers to all Caribbean destinations from the UK are falling.

“That there has been yet another increase in APD rates damages the Caribbean economy at just the moment when it needs more visitors to enable economic recovery”. The tax, he said, was particularly harmful to the ability of Caribbean people living in Britain wishing to return home.

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American 21% adults spend as much as $197 billion on obligation travel

Posted on April 6, 2013 by gorillas

Kočovní Íri pobudnú pri Senci dva týždne. Onedlho k nim má pribudnúť 50 karavanov z Nemecka.

Washington DC-Many folks head to beach hot-spots like the Caribbean during spring, but that means other locations, like our nation’s capital, are dropping prices to attract travelers. In addition, with the government sequester reducing budgets and sizes of political meetings, hotels are discounting even more to fill rooms left unfilled by officials. Spring also happens to be one of the best times to visit DC as the city has ideal weather and plenty of events. Attending one of the many springtime wine festivals, taking a tour through Washington Cathedral’s spring garden or making a quick 45-minute drive to Sandy Point State Park are ways to make a richly diverse getaway.

Omni Houston Hotel Texas - Exterior

Chicago,IL- Beginning in April and running through summer, Chicago experiences one of its most bustling times of year. However, when visiting during the earlier months of spring, you can score some great deals and partake in some wonderful activities all while avoiding the summer crowds. And this summer is expected to be quite busy, so visiting over the next couple months should net you lots of savings. Travelers who visit Chicago this season can catch a Chicago Bulls game, check out a Picasso at the Art Institute of Chicago or head over to the Lincoln Park Conservatory to catch a glimpse of the annual Spring Flower Show. Those looking for an outdoor escape will find respite in the Indiana Dunes State Park, which is just a short drive away. The park consists of 2,182 acres of indulgent sun, sand and greenery.

Kočovní Íri pobudnú pri Senci dva týždne. Onedlho k nim má pribudnúť 50 karavanov z Nemecka.

SAN FRANCISCO - With wedding season fast approaching, Hotwire.com revealed more results from its second annual American Travel Behavior Survey, conducted online on its behalf by Harris Interactive in October 2012 among over 2,000 U.S. adults. According to the survey, during the last 12 months, 21 percent of American adults spent as much as $197 Billion on trips they felt obliged to take. Furthermore, 48 percent of Americans spent money on obligation trips to weddings of family and friends during the same time period and were anticipating they would do the same next season. With so much money allocated to obligatory travel, travelers may be thinking about putting off the fun trips they want to take because they believe they won’t be able to afford them. The good news is the travel experts at Hotwire have compiled a Where to Go Now & How Guide to the top five affordable and fun destinations for spring, so even if travelers have to attend a wedding or some other obligatory event this season, they should look to one of the following destinations for more fun-on-the-dollar.”We know Americans across the country are using large portions of their travel budgets so they can make it to all those ‘must see’ moments in life like weddings, reunions, birthdays and major holidays,” said Clem Bason, president of the Hotwire Group. “Fortunately, obligation trips don’t have to come at the cost of leisure travel if you have the right resource guiding you toward savings. We’re offering deep discounts to a variety of locations so that this year you can comfortably afford both the must-go and must-have trips.”

Vancouver is easy to fly to from most major U.S. airports, and is only a few-hour drive from Seattle. The snow might be gone in the main part of the city, but the temperatures are usually not warm enough for it to dissipate in the mountainous areas just outside Vancouver. This means that travelers looking for one more ski trip to a world-class mountain can capitalize on very reasonable rates. And if the snow isn’t great on any given day, visitors can easily stay downtown instead and enjoy all the city has to offer. Once spring comes in April, there are plenty of other outdoor activities for folks to enjoy. Take in the scenery at the Stanley Park Rose Garden, which is in full bloom through the beginning of April, or hop on board a whale-watching tour to catch migrating gray whales on the move. Those looking to escape the city can head to Harrison Hot Springs at the edge of southwestern British Columbia’s largest lake, which is just under two hours away by car. The drive is well worth it for those who enjoy windsurfing, parasailing, kayaking or kicking-back in the mineral springs.

Barabdos Hotel

Dominican Republic-Travelers looking for a spring beach destination that won’t empty pockets or drop them into a crowd of countless spring breakers should head to the Dominican Republic. This tropical island is not necessarily top of mind to many spring break travelers, so hotels in the area are dropping rates in order to attract beachgoers. And another benefit of flying under the radar is that unlike other Caribbean destinations that attract the raucous crowds, the Dominican Republic keeps pretty quiet, providing tourists with rest and relaxation without the sky-high prices. Beach-bound visitors to the Dominican Republic will be treated to a bounty of sun-kissed hot spots, including Punta Cana, Boca Chica and Punta Rucia. While there, you can also take in the beauty of the island by going on a horse-drawn carriage ride through the city of Santiago, checking out the whales in Samana or visiting the national park on nearby Saona Island, which is just a short boat ride away.

Turkey-Over the past few years, Turkey has certainly grown a lot in popularity. However, with the recent European financial crisis playing out, many locals are holding off on regional travel plans, which have affected prices across the board in the area. Currently, some of the best deals can be found in this amazing European destination. Strong competition among hotels has been driving rates lower during one of the most pleasant times to visit Turkey. This means that many travelers can check one of their dream destinations off the list, all while scoring huge savings, beating the summer heat, and avoiding big crowds. When visiting Istanbul, travelers may want to check out the Basilica Cistern, the largest of a series of ancient underground water reservoirs. Those interested in shopping may want to stop by the Grand Bazaar, an ancient maze of more than 3,000 shops established more than 500 years ago.

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Global Business Travel Association forecasts improved business travel growth in Europe in 2013

Posted on April 6, 2013 by gorillas

london air Cómo llegar a Londres

UK, London -The Global Business Travel Association has released its latest GBTA BTI Outlook report on Western Europe as part of its semi-annual series.

Business travel spending will grow throughout 2013, across most of developed Europe, with overall business travel spending being fuelled by domestic business travel spending growth

  • Germany will record Europe’s highest business travel spending growth rate at 5% in 2013
  • The UK will also record business travel spending growth in 2013, of 1.9%
  • Positive recoveries in business travel spending levels in Spain and Italy will remain elusive, with both set to experience further declines in 2013 of -6.2% and -2.9% respectively
  • France’s exposure to the economies of Southern Europe will cause a fall in its business travel spending of -1.4% in 2013
  • In 2014, GBTA forecasts a return to a stable environment for business travel in Western Europe, with the five most critical business travel markets Germany, the UK, France, Italy and Spain returning to growth
  • Growth in 2014 will be underpinned by more international outbound travel as trade levels recover, unlike 2013 which is more domestically focused.

Catherine McGavock, Regional Director for Europe for GBTA, said: “In the context of the struggling European economy our expectations for business travel spending in Western Europe are relatively positive for 2013. There are signs of recovery in Germany and the UK, with both expected to experience growth in business travel spending this year. We believe that this is the beginning of a wider trend in the region and expect growth in business travel spending to accelerate in 2014 to the levels we saw before the Eurozone crisis.”

“The results show that businesses throughout Europe are forecast to spend more on travel in 2013, starting a recovery that is projected to continue into 2014,” said Tad Fordyce, head of Global Commercial Solutions, Visa Inc. “Travel is a key driver of economic growth. The World Travel and Tourism Council estimates that the travel industry contributed nine percent of global GDP and more than $6 trillion in 2012.

aerial photograph of london

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