WTTC Regional Summit to take place in Korea due to Asia’s growing status as a global powerhouse in Travel & Tourism

2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is holding its regional Asia Summit in Korea in September, in recognition of the recent acceleration of Travel & Tourism in the region and the industry’s positive impact on global GDP and employment. The WTTC Asia Summit will take place in Seoul from 10th-11th September…. Read the full news article

Leaders of the Complete Visitor Economy to Convene at PATA Annual Summit in Bangkok

Bangkok, 2013-03-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Leaders of the Complete Visitor Economy will gather for the 2013 PATA Annual Summit (2013PAS) in Bangkok, April 25-28, 2013. The PATA Youth Forum will commence on Thursday, April 25, followed by the one-day summit on Friday April 26, and the PATA Board meetings and AGM on April 27-28 respectively. Under… Read the full news article

Arkansas: Race to Hot Springs for the 39th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Have you waited until the last minute to register for the 39th Annual Governor’s Conference on Tourism? This IS the last minute! Early Bird registration for the event ends today. Don’t miss your chance to save your spot for $30 off the price at the door. Why should you go? There are… Read the full news article

HLABEKISA COMMUNITY FINDS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE IN NEW SECONDARY SCHOOL

2013-03-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Hlabekisa community in Mpumalanga (a rural community 20km or 12 miles from the world renowned Kruger National Park) is celebrating the opening of the Anton Bilton High School, thanks to the Africa Foundation,&Beyond’s social development partner, and through the generous donation of &Beyond guests Lisa and Anton Bilton.  Government representatives, Africa Foundation staff,… Read the full news article

Travel Disruptions Will Stall Business Growth

Alexandria, VA, 2013-02-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — The following statement can be attributed to Michael W. McCormick, GBTA executive director and COO, on the impact of the upcoming sequester deadline on business travel and the nation’s economy. “The country is fast approaching the March 1 deadline for across-the-board cuts in every program, project, and agency in the Federal… Read the full news article

Global Travel & Tourism industry defies economic uncertainty by outperforming the global economy in 2012 – and predicted to do it again in 2013

2013-02-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Travel & Tourism industry has outperformed the global economy in 2012 – growing faster than manufacturing, retail, financial services and communications. The industry has grown its total contribution to GDP by 3% and increased the number of jobs by five million to 260 million. It means that, for the first time,… Read the full news article

Consolid Designates Travelport Primary Technology Partner

Atlanta, 2013-02-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a long-term agreement with Consolid, a leading multiple points of sale consolidator in Latin America. The new agreement establishes Travelport as Consolid’s travel technology partner, providing access to travel content including air, hotel, car rental and cruise lines via its… Read the full news article

Travelport launches new operation in Vladivostok

Third Russian base to satisfy continued strong demand Moscow, Russia, 2013-02-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces the opening of a new operation in Vladivostok, situated at the head of the Golden Horn Bay in the Primorsky Krai region, near Russia’s border with North Eastern China. This new… Read the full news article

U.S. Travel Applauds TSA PreCheck Reaching Milestone of 40 Airports

Washington, D.C., 2013-02-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Statement by Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, regarding today’s announcement by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) that PreCheck, a trusted traveler program, has expanded to Austin-Bergstrom International, Cleveland Hopkins International, Memphis International, Nashville International and Raleigh-Durham International airports: “We are thrilled to see PreCheck expand… Read the full news article

PATA Annual Summit to Define and Advance the ‘Complete Visitor Economy’

Bangkok, 2013-02-22 — /travelprnews.com/ — Leaders of the Complete Visitor Economy will gather for the 2013 PATA Annual Summit (2013PAS) in Bangkok April 25-28, 2013. Confirmed speakers include Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, UNWTO; Gloria Guevara, Former Secretary of Tourism, Mexico; Lothar Pehl, Senior VP Operations and Global Initiatives, Starwood Hotels and Resorts; Abid Butt, CEO, Banyan… Read the full news article

U.S. Travel Association Launches 2013 “Travel Blitz”

Grassroots initiative will coordinate travel supporters to engage Members of Congress and reveal travel’s deep economic impact in communities nationwide Washington, D.C., 2013-02-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Elected officials across the country will hear of travel’s broad and significant economic contributions thanks to a new program the U.S. Travel Association is launching called Travel Blitz. “Those of… Read the full news article

Call for PATA Face of the Future Submissions

Bangkok, 2013-02-20 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) Face of the Future award is open for submission until February 28, 2013. The winner will receive exposure global media exposure via PATA Communications channels, a round-trip economy flight to Frankfurt with accommodation to visit the IMEX, May 21- 23, 2013, and an opportunity to attend the PATA… Read the full news article

Travelport renews contract with UAE travel agency SNTTA

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2013-02-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport – the global business services provider to the travel industry – and SNTTA, one of the most reputed travel management companies in the UAE, have jointly announced the renewal of their partnership, which will see SNTTA’s clients continue to benefit from Travelport’s expertise and cutting edge products for… Read the full news article

Travelindex Becomes PATA Preferred Partner

Bangkok, 2013-02-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) is delighted to welcome Travelindex as the Preferred Partner. Travelindex is an online platform and data repository for the travel industry. It had over 18 million visitors in 2012. Travelindex is fast becoming a leader in B2B and B2C travel relations. The partnership will add value… Read the full news article

Travel Agents “Grow With Marriott”

Travel Agents “Grow With Marriott”

Agents who complete expanded Hotel Excellence! training can win BIG 2013-02-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marriott International, the first hotel company to introduce a comprehensive travel agent education program, announces the launch of updated content to its award-winning Hotel Excellence! (HE!) training program.  Now in its 14th year, HE! has been updated to include Marriott’s newest brands,… Read the full news article

ECTAA and Trenitalia working together

2013-02-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Recognising the increasing importance of rail transport in Europe, ECTAA has agreed to work closer with Trenitalia on the distribution of rail products through travel agents and tour operators. Trenitalia and ECTAA are implementing their strategic partnership agreement to help promote and distribute Trenitalia’s products through travel agents and tour operators in… Read the full news article

GBTA Australia & New Zealand Sells Out in Advance of Inaugural Symposium

Canberra, Australia, 2013-02-04 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA)—the voice of the global business travel industry – today announced that the inaugural Government Travel Symposium has sold out for delegate attendees. The Symposium will open on Tuesday March 5th with the Fundamentals of Business Travel Management Education and Buyer-Sponsor networking and follows by five dedicated … Read the full news article

Travelport starts 2013 with a win in Poland

INT Travel, a leading IATA accredited agency in southern Poland, switches to Travelport Warsaw, Poland, 2013-02-01 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has today announced a new multi-year agreement with INT Travel, one of the largest independent IATA accredited travel agencies in the southern part of Poland. As part of the… Read the full news article

GBTA Announces New RFP Guide To Strategic Meetings Management

Alexandria, VA, 2013-01-31 — /travelprnews.com/ — The GBTA Foundation, the research and education arm of the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) today announced the creation of  a new RFP Guide to Strategic Meetings Management (SMM). This guide will represent a standard set of topics for an organization to ask vendors to address when soliciting vendor bids for an SMM… Read the full news article

Global Business Travel Association Announces Creation of GBTA Russia

GBTA Operates Across All Four BRIC Countries MOSCOW, 2013-01-29 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) — the voice of the global business travel industry — today announced the formation of a GBTA Russia chapter. The development of GBTA Russia means that the association now has activity and membership in all BRIC regions for the first… Read the full news article

Package travel rights: The European Commission examines options

Brussels, 2013-01-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — The European Commission will this week meet with consumer groups and business leaders in the travel industry to discuss the review of the current EU legislation on package holidays. The 1990 Package Travel Directive protects European consumers booking pre-arranged package holidays. For example, the rules ensure that holidaymakers will always get… Read the full news article

The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators commits to UNWTO Code of Ethics

The Dutch Association of Travel Agents and Tour Operators (ANVR), representing 200 tour operators and 1,400 travel agencies in the Netherlands, has pledged to observe the principles of the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism (Utrecht, the Netherlands, 9 January 2013). 2013-01-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The ANVR joins the growing number of tourism companies and… Read the full news article

Travel agency owners are beaming

2013-01-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Kerstin Müller from Berlin, Karl-Heinz Skrotzki from Gelsenkirchen and Silke and Michael Pollmann from Straelen on the Lower Rhine are overjoyed. The travel agency owners participated in a special raffle for travel agencies – hosted over the past three months by Germany’s second largest airline airberlin – and won the grand prize,… Read the full news article

Travel Guard® – 2012 In Review & 2013 Travel Predictions

2012-12-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Welcome to the December edition of TRAVEL GUARD UPDATE, a monthly review designed to provide you with up-to-date information on the latest travel trends. This month, we polled travel agents to learn about trends that shaped travel in 2012, and their predictions moving into 2013. We’ll also touch upon New Year’s resolutions and… Read the full news article

Travelport Agent of the Future Announced

Sydney, Australia, 2012-12-18 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, has announced the 2012 Agent of the Future. Rajina Almeida from Bankstown TAFE in New South Wales has been recognised as Australasia’s most outstanding travel and tourism student from more than 60 tertiary colleges in Australia and New Zealand that offer… Read the full news article

Macau Day held at annual congress of Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies

Portuguese and Macau officials watch Dragon Dance exhibition at the Macau Day

2012-12-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 38th National Congress of the Portuguese Association of Travel Agencies (APAVT) was held December 6 to 9, at the Portuguese historical city of Coimbra, with a Day dedicated to Macau, under the partnership with APAVT as Favorite Destination for 2012. Among the promotions activities organized by Macau Government Tourist Office to… Read the full news article

Travelport launches new merchandising capability

‘Extra Bags’ feature introduced in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland and United Kingdom Auckland, New Zealand, 2012-12-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces a substantial merchandising milestone with the introduction of the new Prepaid Extra Bags feature. The new agreement enables Travelport-connected travel agents in New Zealand, Australia, Ireland… Read the full news article

Swedish Rail Operator SJ joins the Amadeus Rail GDS

2012-12-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Swedish Rail Operator SJ joins the Amadeus Rail GDS • SJ to extend its distribution strategy through the offline and online travel agency solutions benefiting from the multi-channel capabilities of the Amadeus’ Global Rail Sales Platform • Contract signing follows several recent landmark partnership deals agreed between Amadeus Rail and other leading… Read the full news article

Travelport appoints Head of Commercial Strategy for MEA

Dubai, 2012-12-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the travel industry, has appointed Stuart Laird-Smith as Head of Commercial Strategy for the Middle East and Africa. Before joining Travelport, Laird-Smith spent four years with South African Airways (SAA) as Head of Commercial and Operations Finance. While at SAA, he spent time working with several… Read the full news article

ABTA Issues Guidance on Medhotels Case

Ruling reinforces the need for agents to understand their business practices 2012-12-05 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA has today updated guidance for Members in response to yesterday’s Court of Appeal ruling on an important test case relating to the tax liabilities of UK travel businesses. The decision of the Court of Appeal in the case between HMRC… Read the full news article