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    Cruise Demand Soars: 91% of Previous Cruisers Plan to Set Sail Again

    Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) has released results from a new consumer sentiment survey, showing the demand for cruise holidays continues to increase.The survey was carried out with 4,500 domestic and international travellers. It reveals that for UK passengers:
    91% of respondents who have cruised previously said they intend to take a holiday at sea again, a 14% increase from 2019Of those who have never cruised, 72% are open to cruising, a 1% increase from 2019Of these two groups, 58% say they will book a cruise in the next two years61% of respondents who have cruised previously said they later returned to a destination they had first visited via cruise ship. The Mediterranean and Caribbean are the most re-visited destinations.
    Andy Harmer, CLIA UK & Ireland managing director, said: “With the crucial Wave booking period now well under way, 2023 is shaping up to be a very positive year for the cruise industry, so we’re thrilled to see this level of interest and demand from holidaymakers. The incredible array of cruise ships, destinations and onboard experiences means there really is something for everyone who is considering a sea getaway.”
    The sentiment data is based on an independent, international survey of 4,500 holidaymakers in nine countries: the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the USA, Canada, Australia and Brazil.

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    Abu Dhabi Airports appoints seasoned aviation executive as new Chief Commercial Officer

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    Abu Dhabi Airports appoints seasoned aviation executive as new Chief Commercial Officer

    Abu Dhabi Airports announced the appointment of Maureen Bannerman as the company’s new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) effective from January 2, 2023.A highly accomplished leader and seasoned professional with over 20 years’ experience primarily within the aviation industry, Bannerman has joined Abu Dhabi Airports following a successful tenure as Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of APM Terminal at the Khalifa Bin Salman Port in Bahrain. In addition to her invaluable aviation experience, she also brings extensive expertise in the logistics and transport fields, having held positions at renowned organisations such as Serco and Network Rail in the UK.
    H.E. Eng. Jamal Salem Al Dhaheri, Managing Director & CEO of Abu Dhabi Airports, said: “We are delighted to welcome Maureen to Abu Dhabi Airports as part of our Executive Team. We are confident her exemplary track record will help realise our growth strategies and commercial plans as an enabler and a catalyst for tourism, trade, logistics and business in the emirate and the UAE.”
    In her new position, Maureen has assumed roles and responsibilities including developing and implementing commercial plans that align with Abu Dhabi Airports’ business strategy and financial objectives, as well as identifying and pursuing viable new commercial opportunities.As CCO, she will also play a pivotal role in the company’s long-term strategic growth plans in line with Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030. Her efforts here will be centered around innovating to deliver product and service excellence, within safe, secure and sustainable airport operations as per industry best practices and promoting tourism and trade via world-class connectivity.
    Bannerman holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration and Higher National Diploma in Business and Finance.

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    Iberia and Turespaña Unveil Groundbreaking Tourism Campaign

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    Iberia and Turespaña Unveil Groundbreaking Tourism Campaign

    A few days before the start of FITUR, the airline and the Spanish Tourism Institute present a campaign to promote Spain among the nearly seven million travellers who fly with Iberia between America and Europe each year.In an event led by the actors Gorka Otxoa and María Castro, which will be attended by the Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, Reyes Maroto (TBC), this afternoon, at the Madrid Matadero cultural centre, Iberia and Turespaña will unveil a very special tourism marketing campaign to bring the best of Spain to the world.
    At FITUR´s door, Iberia and Turespaña will present a project on which they have been working during 2022 to promote Spain among the nearly seven million customers who fly with Iberia each year between Europe and America.
    One of the key parts of this project is the new on-board safety video that will be shown on the 36 aircraft in Iberia’s long-haul fleet, which operate the American´s airline routes: 26 destinations in 17 countries, including the United States, Argentina, Colombia, and Mexico, where Turespaña is focusing on attracting high-income visitors to our country.50% of Iberia´s long-haul travellers are connecting passengers via Madrid coming from any of the more than 50 destinations in Europe offered by the airline, thereby maximising the impact on potential international visitors to Spain.
    “This collaboration with Iberia allows us to directly reach its millions of customers who arrive on its long-haul flights and show them that in Spain they can enjoy not only our beaches and good weather, but also rich cultural and gastronomic experiences, and exceptional leisure choices. The video reflects the diversity and richness of our nation, its natural landscapes, its vibrant cities, the north and the south, its islands, the coast, and mainland Spain, still undiscovered by many travellers. Places, all of them, where you can enjoy memorable experiences”, says Miguel Sanz, General Director at Turespaña.
    In addition to the on-board safety video, which will be shown at the start of Iberia´s flights as part of the security protocol, Iberia and Turespaña launched a tourism promotion campaign in the media -showing outdoor locations in the abovementioned cities- and on social networks.ADVERTISEMENTSingular Enclaves
    The on-board safety video that Iberia will offer in collaboration with Turespaña showcases Spanish talent in all disciplines and explores privileged enclaves of our geography.
    The video takes off with the actress Itziar Ituño walking through the streets of Madrid to arrive at the Teatro Real, where Iberia’s cabin crew welcomes her.
    The music and images show us a panoramic view of Toledo, where the singer Rozalén receives instructions on the use of electronic devices on board.
    The singer keeps her mobile phone in a backpack that becomes the hand luggage of the judoka Niko Shera, accompanied by Iberia’s cabin crew, as he wanders through the Plaza del Obradoiro, in Santiago de Compostela.
    The images take us to a cliff in Finisterre where the judoka follows the instructions on placing his hand luggage, leaving the plane’s aisles and evacuation routes free.
    We then jump to Lanzarote; on a volcanic beach, the gymnast Ray Zapata simulates the position of the backrest for take-off and landing, how to raise the window blind, and how to fold up the footrest and table.
    Ray’s last pirouette takes us to Barcelona, to the workshop of the designer Teresa Helbig, where we learn how to fasten the seat belt, while the dressmaker fits the Iberia crew with the uniform that she designed, and that the airline debuted last year.
    The cabin crews walk, as if they were moving down the aisle of the plane and arrive at the Alhambra in Granada. The columns of the Court of the Lions simulate the exit doors, four on each side of the plane. This time it is the painter Pedro Paricio who listens to the instructions.
    From a magical door in the Alhambra, the cabin crews jump onto a rescue boat wearing life jackets and, by their side, the sailor Silvia Más, listens, surprised, to their instructions as she sails along the coast of Mallorca.
    The video jumps back to Dabiz Muñoz’s kitchen to explain the use of the safety mask in case of an emergency on board.The movements of the Madrid chef lead us to another visual artist, Susso33, who also puts on a mask to paint, on the City of Arts and Sciences in Valencia, a large no smoking on board sign.
    And back to the Teatro Real in Madrid: Itziar Ituño is already preparing to take off while checking the safety instructions. The curtain closes with the message “happy flying”.
    Support for Spanish talent
    All the participants in the safety video are part of the Talent on Board project that Iberia launched in 2019, with the aim of supporting Spanish and Spanish-speaking talent, and as one of the pillars of its brand mission: to connect people and cultures, generate prosperity, all with a Spanish accent.
    As part of its on-board talent project, Iberia has already supported more than 100 sports, culture and R+D+i initiatives. “After more than three years marked by the pandemic, we want to give new impetus to our Talent on Board project, because it is undoubtedly one more way of addressing Iberia’s mission while being consistent and inclusive and valuing the best of our culture and language, which we share with Latin America”, says Gemma Juncá, Director of Marketing and Brand at Iberia.
    The latest talent to join the project is Julieta Venegas who will close the event with a musical performance.

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    Budapest Airport Receives EU Grant for 83 Charging Stations and 102 Charging Points

    E-mobility is a key pillar of Budapest Airport’s sustainability strategy, which is why the airport operator has for years placed special emphasis on expanding its electric vehicle fleet and building an e-charger network, both inside and outside the airport fence.
    In 2022, Budapest Airport applied for the European Union’s CEF 2 Transport – Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Facility funding program with its Net Zero Airport project, and a grant contract for the installation of 83 charging stations and 102 charging points was recently signed. The chargers will be installed inside the airport fence, and will be available for use by partner companies operating at the airport, in addition to vehicles belonging to the airport operator’s fleet.
    Budapest Airport is fully committed to reducing emissions from its operations, and in 2021 set the primary goal of achieving net zero emissions 15 years earlier than previously committed, by 2035 at the latest, along its so-called zero carbon roadmap. The development of e-mobility at the airport is one of the ways in which this will be achieved.
    At the end of 2021, the Hungarian government included the airport operator on the list of projects to be implemented from the European Network Financial Instrument, to significantly improve the electric charging infrastructure, with a total budget of 1.3 billion HUF (nearly 3.2 million EUR) to install new e-charging points for ground service equipment, airport service vehicles and the vehicles of airport partners. The development, which will be implemented in three phases by 31 August 2025, will involve the installation of 102 new e-charging points at the airport, half of which will be financed by Budapest Airport from its own budget and half from EU funds. The EU support contributes to the construction of the 83 charging stations with nearly 650 million HUF (1 594 250 EUR, to be precise), which accounts for the 50% of the budget. The other 50% will be financed by Budapest Airport from own sources.
    The infrastructure constructed as part of the project will support several points in the aircraft handling process: catering vehicles, water trucks and lavatory service vehicles, baggage dollies and other air cargo vehicles, ramp passenger buses, passenger boarding stairs and tow vehicles.ADVERTISEMENTBudapest Airport has been continuously developing its electric vehicle charging infrastructure for years, and has also been encouraging its partner companies to develop e-mobility. A total of 134 ground handling vehicles and 24 fleet and management vehicles have been replaced recently, from conventional to electric or hybrid models, saving 412 000 liters of fuel and 1080 tons of carbon dioxide emission per year. Budapest Airport has installed 66 electric vehicle charging points so far, 35 of which are located on the airside and 31 on the landside of the airport. Budapest Airport has assisted in the installation of a further 35 electric charging points at the airport for its partners involved in ground passenger transportation. Főtaxi, Budapest Airport’s contracted taxi partner, also prioritizes the promotion of e-mobility, and has already replaced 30% of its fleet with electric or hybrid vehicles. There are already six ultra-fast electric charging points in the airport buffer car park of Főtaxi, which is expected to increase by 26 charging points by the end of 2025.
    The most effective way for Budapest Airport to reduce the environmental impact of the airport is to work with its airport partners, which is why it launched the Greenairport program in 2015. The aim of the more than 40 partners involved in the initiative is for the airport and the organizations operating there to work together and help each other reduce their own carbon footprint and the overall environmental impact of their operations. The program has led to continuous improvements in energy efficiency, the switch to electric vehicles and equipment, increased waste recycling rates, responsible water consumption, the potential for green energy use and a growing number of joint digitalization projects. In 2022, the company produced its first Sustainability Report for the year 2021, recounting, among other things, its consumption and emissions results.

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    QANTAS TAKES FREQUENT FLYERS ON TOUR WITH PREMIUM HOLIDAY PACKAGES

    Qantas is launching private and small-group tour packages for travellers looking for premium, ready-made holidays around the world. A new addition to the Qantas Holidays product range, Qantas Tours will allow travellers to book travel experiences designed to showcase the best of each destination with planning and logistics managed by expert tour operatorsQantas Tour packages include Qantas or partner flights, premium accommodation and detailed itineraries led by a local guide. The range includes a luxury island getaway in the Maldives and Sri Lanka, a southern Italy sojourn, a Balkan river cruise, Egyptian getaway, a tour of the highlights of Japan and more.
    Qantas Frequent Flyers can choose to earn three Qantas Points for every dollar spent on their Qantas Tour booking or use their Qantas Points to book and receive 45 per cent more value, following an investment in the Qantas Holidays program last year.
    Qantas Loyalty CEO Olivia Wirth said the launch of package tours was designed for members who were looking for a ready-made premium travel experience.
    “Qantas Tours will offer our members unforgettable experiences in destinations they may not have visited before without having to plan or manage the logistics of travel,” said Ms Wirth.
    “Our research has shown that two-thirds of our members are interested in tour packages, and the launch of our premium itinerary holidays will help meet and grow this demand.ADVERTISEMENT“With this latest expansion of the Qantas Holidays portfolio, we’re giving frequent flyers more opportunity to make great holidays possible with their Qantas Points and growing the ways they can boost their points balance.”
    The selection of tours will be curated by Qantas with the packages organised and operated by Australian travel business TripADeal, based out of Byron Bay, of which Qantas purchased the majority share in May 2022.
    Qantas Tours is launching with 10 packages and will progressively expand its tour offering over coming months.
    Qantas Holidays has significantly grown since it launched in October 2019, and now offers a full suite of holiday products with the launch of Qantas Tours and recent expansion into luxury holiday packages.
    Qantas Luxury Holidays gives members access to limited-time hotel deals that are exclusive to Qantas. The offers include premium accommodation with special extras ranging from massages to champagne on arrival and room upgrades. Qantas Luxury Holidays can be booked as a hotel stay or combined with a Qantas flight to receive special airfare pricing.
    Through Qantas Hotels, Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn and use Qantas Points at more than 460,000 destinations globally.
    In 2022, Qantas Frequent Flyers used more than 16 billion points towards hotels and holidays bookings around the world.

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    A legend comes to sea with the revelation of the largest sailing ship in the world

    140 years after the launch of its first luxury trains, the Orient Express legend continues with the launch of the largest sailing ship in the world, Orient Express Silenseas. A revolution in maritime history, and a fabulous project that pushes the limits of the possible.
    Born of a unique tricolor association between Accor, the world leader in hospitality, and Chantiers de l’Atlantique, the undisputed leader in the construction of cruise ships, this sailboat of the future, out of the ordinary and with spectacular interiors, will set sail in 2026.
    “With Orient Express Silenseas, we are opening a new chapter in our history: the experience and excellence of luxury travel transposed to the most beautiful seas in the world. This exceptional sailboat, with roots anchored in the history of Orient Express, will offer unparalleled service and spaces with refined designs, reminiscent of the golden age of legendary cruises. Innovation is at the heart of this ultra-modern sailboat which will revolutionize the maritime world with new technologies to meet sustainable challenges. A sailboat designed to leave room for dreams, and a setting welcoming the best of French know-how. » Sébastien Bazin, Chairman and CEO, Accor.
    “With the signing of this letter of intent to order two sailboats, Chantiers de l’Atlantique is proud to open a new era in the shipbuilding industry with Silenseas. This concept born in our design offices in 2018 is the quintessence of our know-how in the fields of naval architecture, the fitting out of sophisticated hulls, as well as the layout of luxurious premises. In addition, the installation of three SolidSail rigs, a revolutionary 1500m2 unit sail propulsion system of which we have developed and tested a first prototype, will make a very significant contribution to the propulsion of the ship. Combined with hybrid propulsion running on liquefied natural gas (LNG), Silenseas will thus be the benchmark ship in environmental terms. »Laurent Castaing, Managing Director, Chantiers de l’Atlantique.
    1867, Georges Nagelmackers, discovers the United States by boarding transatlantic ships joining Europe to America. The founder of the Orient Express trains discovered the atmosphere of the luxurious suites of travelers, with sumptuous decor, the social life of the restaurants and the unique atmosphere of the lounges, libraries and places of entertainment. An experience of sea travel that would inspire him later, in 1883, with the launch of his legendary train: the Orient Express.ADVERTISEMENTInspired by the golden age of the French Riviera, Orient Express Silenseas will recall the time when writers, artists, painters, sovereigns and movie stars discovered between Monte-Carlo, Saint-Tropez, Cap d’Antibes, Cannes and its Croisette, a refinement tinged with carelessness and joie de vivre, calling for escape.
    Treasure of the seas 220 meters long (for a tonnage of 22,300 UMS), it will celebrate all the Art of Travel according to Orient Express through its 54 Suites with an average area of ​​70 square meters, including its monumental Presidential Suite of 1415 meters square meters (including 530 square meters of private terrace). Its 2 swimming pools including a swimming lane, its two restaurants and its speakeasy bar will add to the quintessence of luxury, absolute comfort and dreams.
    A tribute to artists and culture, Orient Express Silenseas will invite you into the world of entertainment in its Amphitheatre-Cabaret and a private recording studio. A unique travel experience punctuated by the winds, where Spa treatments, meditation sessions and stopovers to discover cultural treasures will help you disconnect from time.

    Capitalizing on the experience of those involved in offshore racing, Orient Express Silenseas will sail using sails with a revolutionary ‘SolidSail’ technological design: three rigid sails with a surface area of ​​1,500 meters each will be hoisted on a balestron rig, with 3 tilting masts culminating at more than 100 meters high, able to provide up to 100% propulsion in suitable weather conditions. For a more environmentally friendly voyage at sea, a hybrid formula will combine wind power with a “State of the art” engine running on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and will allow the use of green hydrogen once technologies accepted for an ocean-going passenger ship.
    A new feat from Chantiers de l’Atlantique, this sailboat of the future, the first of which will be delivered in March 2026, brings together the best French talents. The architect Maxime d’Angeac thus designed the interior layout and the decorations, while the Nantes design agency Stirling Design International designed the exterior lines. Hetland Maritime also supported Accor in setting up the project and discussions with Chantiers de l’Atlantique. The entire project is 70-80% financed by commercial banks, the rest being provided by a consortium of shareholders in which Accor will participate on a minority basis.

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    Trip.com Group sees surge in mainland China travel bookings

    Trip.com Group, the leading global travel service provider, has seen mainland Chinese demand for travel continue to surge in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday season.This comes after the decision last month by mainland China to officially abolish all quarantine restrictions for inbound visitors from 8 January.
    Since the announcement on 26 December 2022, Trip.com Group has subsequently seen a huge increase in searches and the volume of travel bookings.Flight bookings and destination search trends
    On Trip.com Group’s leading Chinese language travel service platform Ctrip, between 26 December 2022 and 5 January 2023, search interest for outbound flights from mainland China increased by 83% compared to the two-week period prior, with outbound flight bookings increasing by 59% over the same period.
    Bookings show the most popular cross-border destinations include: Macau, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Singapore, the United States, Malaysia, the United Kingdom, and Indonesia.
    Lunar New Year TrendsADVERTISEMENTWith millions set to be on the move during the Lunar New Year holiday in China, also known as Spring Festival, which takes place from 21 – 27 January 2023 and the first major holiday following the liberalisation of border policies, outbound bookings for trips have grown significantly.
    Analysis of Ctrip data shows overseas travel for the seven-day Lunar New Year holiday surged by 540% compared to last year’s Spring Festival; and the average cost of bookings was revealed to have risen by 32% year-on-year.
    Ctrip data also shows airline bookings from mainland China to Hong Kong increased by 18 times compared with the previous year, following the announcement to ease restrictions. The number of airline bookings to Hong Kong has also increased by 36% month-on-month. Similarly, the search popularity of Hong Kong on the platform was more than double that and increased by 85% month-on-month.
    Taking a deeper look, the top ten most popular domestic destinations for the Spring festival are Shanghai, Beijing, Sanya, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Shenzhen, Kunming, Hangzhou, Chongqing and Haikou.
    Southeast Asia Shines as Top Outbound Destination
    As of January 12, 2023, in the run-up to the Lunar New Year holiday, overall travel bookings of mainland Chinese tourists to Southeast Asian countries increased by 1026% compared with the same period last year. The number of air ticket bookings from mainland China to Southeast Asia increased by 864% year-on-year, and the top 5 most popular destination countries for mainland Chinese tourists traveling to Southeast Asia during the Lunar New Year holiday are: Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia, and Indonesia.
    According to Ctrip’s data, from December 27 to January 11, Thailand stands out as a top destination for Chinese tourists during the Spring Festival holiday on the platform. During the same period, inbound travel bookings from Thailand to mainland China increased by 101% year-on-year.
    In addition to this, as of January 12, the number of mainland tourists traveling to Singapore for the Lunar New Year holiday increased by 499% year-on-year, Malaysia saw an increase of 584% year-on-year, with Cambodia and Indonesia each increasing by more than 10 times year-on-year.
    A Welcoming Return for Chinese Tourists
    With the adjustment of mainland China’s entry and exit policy, the cross-border travel market is also picking up with embassies and tourism boards across the world targeting Chinese tourists aiming to attract them back to visit their countries.
    One example is The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) who launched a campaign called ‘CHINA IS BACK’, to welcome the return of Chinese tourists. They expect more than 300,000 Chinese tourists to visit Thailand in the first three months of 2023 alone.
    Trip.com Group’s first livestream broadcast targeting the outbound mainland Chinese audience recorded sales of more than 20,000 room nights amounting to a Gross Merchandise Value of over RMB 40 million (THB 197 million). The livestream session was supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), which has been collaborating closely with Trip.com Group over the years. TAT Governor, Mr Yuthasak Supasorn, joined the broadcast and interacted with viewers.
    Hosted by Trip.com Group Vice President Sun Tianxu and presenter Xiao Yu, the livestream session featured almost 60 products, including attractions tickets and staycation packages at hotels across Thailand such as The Peninsula Bangkok, Capella Bangkok, InterContinental Pattaya Resort, and Banyan Tree Krabi.

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    Heathrow Airport Sees 90% Passenger Growth in December as Transatlantic Travel Fueled Reunions Over

    Heathrow Airport Sees 90% Passenger Growth in December as Transatlantic Travel Fueled Reunions Over the Holidays
    Christmas and New Year reunions fuelled passenger growth during December, with more than 5.9 million passengers travelling in the month – up 90% compared with the same time last yearTransatlantic travel was a key driver behind last month’s high passenger volumes, with JFK clinching the top spot as the airport’s busiest routeForward planning and close collaboration with airport partners ensured we provided a smooth and efficient service to travellers throughout the festive period.  92% of passengers passed through security in under 10 minutes during the Christmas peak, service for passengers with reduced mobility improved, and arriving travellers reported a friendly and efficient journey through immigration in spite of industrial actionIn total, Heathrow welcomed 61.6 million passengers (76% of 2019 levels) during 2022 – 42.2 million higher than in 2021. This is the highest passenger increase of any airport in EuropeProviding excellent service remains our key priority for 2023, as the aviation industry rebuilds capacity and resilience. We are concerned that the recovery of the aviation sector, which is critical to the economy, could be set back by the reintroduction of testing for travellers in the UK and elsewhere in response to increasing COVID levels in China, even though governments acknowledge there is no scientific basis for doing so
    Heathrow CEO John Holland-Kaye said:
    “2022 ended on a high with our busiest Christmas in three years and a smooth and efficient service for passengers, thanks to the hard work of our colleagues and close planning with airlines, their ground handlers and Border Force.”

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