ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Τρίτη 31 Μαΐου 2016

Passenger Demand Growth Slows - Brussels Attacks Disrupt European Traffic


Dublin - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic data for April showing that demand (measured in total revenue passenger kilometers or RPKs) rose by 4.6%--the slowest pace since January 2015. April capacity (available seat kilometers or ASKs) increased by 4.9%, and load factor slipped 0.3 percentage points to 79.1%.

The disruptive impact of the Brussels Airport attack weighed on the April figures. IATA estimates that, absent the impact of the attacks, demand growth would have been around 5%
.

“The disruptive impacts of the Brussels terror attacks will likely be short-lived. There are some longer-term clouds over the pace of demand growth. The stimulus from lower oil prices appears to be tapering off. And the global economic situation is subdued. Demand is still growing, but we may be shifting down a gear,” said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. 
April 2016
(% year-on-year)
World share¹
RPK
ASK
PLF
(%-pt)²         
PLF
(level)³  
Total Market
100.0%
4.6%
4.9%
-0.3%      
79.1%
Africa
2.2%
8.6%
9.5%
-0.5%
67.7%
Asia Pacific
31.5%
7.3%
7.0%
0.2%
78.4%
Europe
26.7%
1.9%
1.8%
0.1%
79.8%
Latin America
5.4%
-1.2%
-0.7%
-0.4%
78.3%
Middle East
9.4%
12.2%
14.7%
-1.7%
75.7%
North America
24.7%
1.9%
2.4%
 -0.4%
82.3%
   ¹% of industry RPKs in 2015   ²Year-on-year change in load factor   ³Load factor level   

International Passenger Markets 
April international passenger demand rose 4.8% compared to April 2015, the slowest pace in two years. Airlines in all regions recorded growth, led by the Middle East region. Total capacity climbed 5.6%, causing load factor to slip 0.6 percentage points to 77.8%.
  • Asia-Pacific airlines’ April traffic increased 6.4% compared to the year-ago period. Slower economic growth in many of the region’s economies has been at least partly offset by an increase in direct airport connections that has helped to stimulate demand. Capacity rose 6.8% and load factor dipped 0.3 percentage points to 77.3%.
       
  • European carriers saw demand rise just 1.8% in April, which was well down on the 6.0% growth recorded in March. This reflects the impact of the Brussels terror attacks, which closed the airport for nearly two weeks. Capacity climbed 2.4% and load factor slipped 0.5% percentage points to 80.2%, which still was the highest among the regions.
  • Middle Eastern carriers posted a 12.7% traffic increase in April, the only region to see a double-digit percentage increase in demand. Capacity growth of 14.8% outstripped this rise, however, which caused load factor to fall 1.4 percentage points to 75.6%.
       
  • North American airlines’ traffic rose 1.1% compared to April a year ago, the smallest increase among regions. Capacity climbed 0.9%, causing a 0.1 percentage point rise in load factor to 78.3%. While the recent downward slide in international traffic growth paused in April, traffic levels remain below July 2015 on a seasonally-adjusted basis.
       
  • Latin American airlines experienced a 3.1% rise in April demand compared to the same month last year. Capacity increased by 2.9% and load factor edged up 0.1 percentage points to 77.7%. The upward trend in international traffic growth that characterized 2015 has paused even as the downward trend in domestic traffic for the region’s carriers has accelerated.
       
  • African airlines’ traffic climbed 9.9% in April. Capacity rose 11.1%, with the result that load factor slipped 0.7 percentage points to 66.3%, lowest among regions. The continued turnaround of the carriers coincides with expansion of long-haul networks by the region’s airlines.
Domestic Passenger Markets Demand for domestic travel climbed 4.1% in April compared to April 2015, while capacity increased 3.8%, causing load factor to rise 0.3 percentage points to 81.4%. All markets reported demand increases with the exception of Brazil, which showed a 12.1% decline, reflecting the country’s ongoing economic recession and political turmoil.   
April 2016
(% year-on-year)
World share¹
RPK
ASK
PLF
(%-pt)²         
PLF
(level)³  
Domestic
36.4%     
4.1%
3.8%    
0.3%      
81.4%
Australia
1.1%
2.4%
-1.1%
2.8%
78.9%
Brazil 
1.4%
-12.1%
-10.4%
-1.5%
79.6%
China P.R             
8.4%
9.5%
9.4%       
0.1%
81.8%
Indian             
1.2%
21.8%
21.3%
0.4%
84.3%
Japan             
1.2%
0.7%
-2.4%
2.1%
65.8%
Russia Fed.             
1.3%
1.9%
-9.6%
8.6%
75.9%
US
15.4%
2.4%
3.3%
 -0.7%
84.5%
¹% of industry RPKs in 2015   ²Year-on-year change in load factor   ³Load factor level  *Note: the seven domestic passenger markets for which broken-down data are available account for 30% of global total RPKs and approximately 82% of total domestic RPKs
  • China’s airlines recorded 9.5% domestic traffic growth, a strong rebound from the 3.3% increase recorded in March. Fears about slowing economic growth in the country have eased somewhat and increased growth in frequencies is helping stimulate demand.
  • India’s domestic traffic soared 21.8%, marking the 20th month of double-digit traffic growth and the 13th consecutive month it has led the domestic markets. Growth is being propelled by the comparatively strong economic backdrop as well as by substantial increases in service frequencies.

IATA AGM: In just a few days, commercial aviation’s center of gravity will shift to Dublin, Ireland, for IATA’s 72nd Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit (1-3 June, 2016). The threat of terrorism, cyber security and climate change are high on the agenda. The event is open to accredited journalists.

Cunard Introduces Finest Wine Cellar at Sea


In honor of National Wine Day, on 26 May 2016, Cunard announced that they’re introducing the ‘World’s Finest Wine Cellar at Sea’ aboard their newly refreshed flagship, Queen Mary 2.  Guests aboard the ship will not be able to indulge in a collection of over 450 wines, including the $4,500 bottle California Screaming Eagle, which is to be served by the glass for the first time.

A unique collection of vintage port wines has also been assembled to join the enhanced wine cellar.  The 46 different ports will form part of a special display in the new Carinthia Lounge, which is being created as part of the ship’s refit this June.

Guests aboard Queen Mary 2 can now experience The Cunard Wine Academy, a sensory experience of food and wine pairings, tastings, and producer master classes.  In addition, Cunard has introduced the new Coravin wine pouring system onboard, which uses a needle to extract the exact desired quantity of wine from a bottle.

“With thoughtful planning and a keen attention to detail, our new fine wines as well as our unique port collection, inspired by Cunard’s history, are evocative of our craftsmanship,” said Richard Meadows, President of Cunard North America. “With the addition of The Cunard Wine Academy, we proudly offer guests yet another exclusive and enriching experience in an unforgettable journey.”

MCI Nordics and ICS – Dernmark is creating a new powerhouse



COPENHAGEN - The MCI Group, a key driver of innovation in global meetings, events, association and congress industries, announced a new partnership with ICS- International Conference Services – Denmark, one of the leading congress organizers and destination management companies in Scandinavia. ICS brings more than 25 years of highly reputed expertise and experience in delivering national and international congresses in Denmark and abroad.

“ICS and MCI complement each other perfectly, and together the ambition is to continue striving, developing the company and driving innovation for all our clients”, says Thomas Wüthrich, Managing Director of MCI Nordics.

In 2015, MCI Group worked with 85 of the Fortune 500 companies and many of the world’s leading associations, delivering 5,100 projects worldwide. This new partnership will focus on growing the Nordic region’s meetings, incentives, congress and exhibition (MICE) market, with MCI leveraging global best-practices and growth strategies while ICS provides local knowledge, connections and operational excellence.

“Accessing the enormous pool of knowledge and experience available within MCI, will allow me to better serve our clients to help them reach their business goals”, says ICS owner and CEO, Per Ankaer who will now lead MCI Nordics institutional divisions as Director of Sales.

With their first office established in 1971 in Stockholm, MCI Nordics has since then opened local offices in Gothenburg and Copenhagen. This new partnership provides a trusted local presence, expanding MCI service offerings to clients interested in engaging audiences and hosting congresses and events in the Nordic market.

Delta adds Munich – Detroit service

delta munich detroit
Delta Air Lines which already flies daily from Munich to its home base in Atlanta, now announces a new service. Starting today there is a new connection between Munich and Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in Detroit.
A 245-seat Boeing 767-400ER will depart daily at 10:15 am for Michigan's largest city, where passengers can choose from among 113 connections to major cities in the USA.
Munich Airport's CEO Dr. Michael Kerkloh (9th from right) attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the maiden flight in person to wish the Delta crew many happy landings. Kerkloh's supporting cast at the ceremony included Captain Michael Fueyo, flight attendant Marsha Devaney and Roland Wolf, Delta's station manager at Munich Airport (10th, 8th and 6th from right, respectively).

Shark season starts in U.S. with first bite at a Florida Beach


shark
2015 was a record year that no one wants to break since it is the year with the most shark attacks in a single year. According to the International Shark Attack File housed at the University of Florida, there were 98 shark attacks, including six fatalities last year.
As the summer beach season opens in the United States, the shark season starts. A boy was seriously injured when he was attacked by a shark as he swam in chest-deep Florida waters. In what officials said was the first shark attack of the season at Neptune Beach, the 13-year-old boy and his stepfather were swimming when the child was bitten about 3 p.m. Sunday.
Shark Attack Infographic2015“The U.S. led the world in attacks last year with 59, driven by an abundance of coastline with an ever-growing number of swimmers, surfers and divers in the water,” said George Burgess, curator of the world’s clearinghouse of shark-attack data housed at the Florida Museum of Natural History on the UF campus. As usual, Australia and South Africa rounded out the top three, with 18 and 8 attacks, respectively.
Within the U.S., Florida had the most attacks with 30, followed by North and South Carolina with eight each. Hawaii saw seven attacks and the country’s only fatality, with the remaining incidents occurring in California, Texas, Mississippi and New York.
The New York attack brings to light another factor in the increase in attacks: warming ocean waters. Ocean temperatures that spike earlier in the season and warm a larger range of coastline draw both sharks and humans to the same waters, Burgess said.
“We can and should expect the number of attacks to be higher each year,” he said. “When we visit the sea, we’re on their turf.

Inaugural Cruise For Harmony of the Seas Not Exactly Smooth Sailing


If there’s a downside to being the first people to sail on a new ship, it’s that there’s a pretty good chance that the kinks haven’t all been worked out. Reports from the inaugural voyage of Royal Caribbean’s new Harmony of the Seas would definitely indicate that was the case with the latest ship to (at least temporarily) hold the title of “World’s Biggest Cruise Ship.”

“DisHarmony Of The Seas”
According to the London Telegraph, upset passengers are threatening legal action following the completion of what’s now being billed as a “pre-inaugural” trip that found them dealing with numerous problems ranging from a lack of hot water to construction going on until all hours of the night. Though unconfirmed, the paper cited a TripAdvisor reviewer’s claim that the ship’s captain told passengers that he had “informed the company’s bosses at its headquarters in Miami that [the ship] was not ready… and should not have set sail.” (The Telegraph noted that they had been unable to verify the claim, and that Royal Caribbean had declined to comment on the captain’s alleged criticisms.)


A casual perusal of the hashtag #HarmonyOfTheSeas on Twitter turns up numerous complaints, such as @dianekh000 posting pictures along with the caption “a few more examples of incompleteness, including exposed electric from today.” Royal Caribbean’s Twitter account later responded, “Hi Diane. We’re very sorry about this. We’re working as fast as we can to prepare for Harmony’s official maiden voyage.” But as @MinxyTrixie pointed out, “At no point did Royal Caribbean ever tell us as paying passengers that Harmony Of The Seas would be unfinished.” @Sarah_plater seemed to speak for many when she posted several pics from areas of the ship which were still under construction, saying, “Harmony Of The Seas will be a stunning ship… when they’re finished building it. #NotReady #DisharmonyOfTheSeas.”
The Other Side Of The Story
The new standard #HarmonyoftheSeas pic.twitter.com/ddWaftXUZv
— Royal Caribbean (@RoyalCaribbean) May 27, 2016
Not everyone, however, was disappointed. Plenty of people shared tales of the great time they had, with various aspects of the ship receiving rave reviews, including the live production of Grease and the food at the eclectic dining venue Wonderland. A spokesperson for the line told The Telegraph that the trip was never billed as a mainden voyage, but rather a preview cruise, adding that passengers were offered discounted tickets “to allow for any finishing touches that were being made on the ship before the official maiden voyage.”
The spokesperson went on to add that Royal Caribbean wanted “to strongly reiterate that Harmony of the Seas is safe and being regularly checked by [our] experienced team of safety officers to ensure it is safe for our guests. Royal Caribbean can assure its passengers that the incidents reported have been isolated incidents, most occurring more than four days ago and they were immediately dealt with.”
Do you think the passengers had a right to complain, and to even consider legal action? Or were the problems encountered to be expected when one books an inaugural or preview cruise?


Source: Cruise Radio

Eventmachine launches first turnkey configurator for automated meeting sales





HAMBURG, GERMANY - Hotels and other venues can now drastically improve their meeting sales with Eventmachine Meeting. Meeting configuration becomes as easy as booking a hotel room online. The configurator runs directly in a hotel's website for a branded, seamless experience. This innovative cloud-based meeting configuration solution has entered its beta-phase at eventmachine.xyz .

Eventmachine Meeting is the key to direct meeting bookings and new leads. Using an intuitive web interface, the user configures his custom conference in a few simple steps. The user is guided through the process of selecting meeting rooms, catering, accommodations and even activities. They receive all prices and details immediately - 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Eventmachine Meetingis the answer to users´ expectations to get results instantly and at any time. "Pressure in the MICE business is enormous. More and more quotes are being written, and sales conversions are decreasing," says CEO and co-founder Florian Zelfel. "Especially for smaller inquiries, the effort is often hugely disproportionate to the revenue generated. Hotels and venues that automate now secure a real competitive advantage."

"We know that users are much more likely to buy if they can immediately customize their products," adds CTO and co-founder Peter Warren (Oregon, USA). "We have designed a first-of-its-kind meeting configurator which guides the user through the whole sales process, including instant quoting! Eventmachine Meeting boosts efficiency and generates qualified leads."

Eventmachine Meeting offers the right pricing plan for any venue. "We don't charge commissions and our clients have total flexibility. Clients don't pay setup fees, and they don't have to invest in their IT infrastructure," Florian Zelfel explains. "And anybody can test Eventmachine Meeting for free."

All features are built in already, even smart yield management. Eventmachine Meeting is the turnkey solution for automated conference configuration and quoting on a supplier's own website. "This is the digital age. Why are sales teams still putting together meeting quotes by hand?" Peter Warren concludes.

Protravel International ranks the Top10 international destinations booked for summer 2016


NEW YORK - Protravel International – the travel industry's leading luxury corporate and leisure travel agency with an award-winning reputation – is announcing its top ten international destination rankings for summer travel based on its agents' actual bookings. Protravel is sending travelers to: (1) United Kingdom, (2) Italy, (3) France, (4) Germany, (5) China, (6) Switzerland, (7) Hong Kong, (8) Spain, (9) Japan, and (10) Australia. With locations across the United States, some of Protravel's leading agents are sharing their insider knowledge on hidden gems in each destination, along with their personal favorites or off the beaten path experiences.
United Kingdom
"This summer, see London in a different light: privately and behind the scenes. With my onsite team, you can visit Tower of London at night with a viewing of the crown jewels or obtain behind-the-scene access to the changing of the guards." – Sharon Ritter, Protravel - Woodmere, NY.
Italy
"Kicking off the season with the international opera festival in the ancient Roman arena under the stars, Verona offers culture, history, remarkable cuisine and relaxation. My tip: Enjoy classic Venetian cuisine and wine at the Trattoria Tre Marchetti. Also, take two days to visit Lake Garda surrounded by medieval villages each distinguished by charming castles, atmospheric shops and restaurants." – Suzanne Homme, Protravel - Palm Desert, CA.
France
"Just two hours east of Bordeaux – also known as the cradle of mankind – the Dordogne is pristine to this day and offers 15,000 year-old cave art, the medieval town of Sarlat, stunning troglodyte villages, medieval fairytale chateaux, history, magnificent views, sumptuous French gardens, and boutique hotels.  My favorite: The Dordogne is a gem of the French Renaissance and home to great wines, truffles and foie gras." – Howard Lewis, Protravel - Beverly Hills, CA.
Germany 
"This summer, experience Germany's Romantic Road – fly into Frankfurt, rent a car and drive all the way to Munich or vice versa. The Romantic Road combines hospitality, nature, art and culture, and delicious food with historical festivals and entertainment. My tip: Visit the vineyards of the Tauber valley, explore Augsburg, and see the iconic Neuschwanstein Castle." – Loretta Carson, Protravel - New York, NY.
China
"Shanghai is the place to be for authentic cuisine, luxury accommodations, and activities for any preference. My favorite: On weekend afternoons, go to the north side of the People's Park where young and old from all over China participate in the marriage market – the avenue walls are covered in hundreds of resumes and messages indicating age, height, schooling, job and salary." – Arlene Feen, Protravel - Miami, FL.
Switzerland
"In diverse and enchanting Switzerland, active travelers can take 'the 5 lakes hike,' stand up paddle on Lake Lucerne, or fly over a Swiss gorge on 'flying foxes.' My favorite: Bath in the spas of Bad Ragaz, taste wine in the Levaux Vinyard, and enjoy a fondue tasting in Emmental or a candlelight dinner on an Alpine mountain top. My tip: Celebrating its 150 anniversary, Bucher Travel's bellboy service is Switzerland's best kept secret!" – Dini Schild, Protravel - Palm Desert, CA.
Hong Kong
"Boarding from Central Pier or Kowloon Public Pier, charter a beautiful private junk to explore Hong Kong and its over 260 islands during the hot summer months. Sai Ying Pun in the Western District of Hong Kong is the best place for foodies seeking a unique and vibrant neighborhood offering a variety of restaurants and bars, art galleries and boutiques. Make sure to get a custom tailored suit in just 24 hours." – Patricia Chungsathaporn, Protravel - New York, NY.
Spain
"This summer, travel to Mallorca and San Sebastian. On Mallorca, stay at a private villa or luxury hotel, enjoy the white beaches and activities for young and old. My tip: Visit the fragrant citrus plantations in Fornalutx. San Sebastian is known for its beaches, bayfront promenade, upscale shops, and exquisite restaurants offering regional specialties." – Ann St. Hilaire, Protravel - New York, NY.
Japan
"Spend your summer vacation in Japan to experience one of the biggest UNESCO World Heritage sites: Mount Fuji. Easily accessible from Tokyo, you can reach the top of Japan's sacred iconic mountain in a two day climbing program. The summit is attainable with guided assistance for any reasonably fit individual during climbing season, July 1-August 31."  Roxana Lewis, Protravel - Beverly Hills, CA.
Australia
"Australia is known for its food, luxury accommodations, and most of all its unique wildlife. My favorite: Take the scenic countryside drive from Melbourne to Phillip Island to watch the 'penguin parade' of countless little fairy penguins marching up the shore to their habitats after a whole day of fishing out on the sea." – Honey Moss, Protravel - Miami, FL.
"My tip: Interact with platypuses at the Healesville Sanctuary." – Roseann Iovine, Protravel - San Diego, CA.

Kalosor sate, Benvinguda, Bem vindo




CHICAGO,  /PRNewswire/ -- The 2016 summer travel season officially kicks off on May 25, 2016 , as United launches three new seasonal European flights from its East Coast hubs. Starting on May 25, 2016 , United will offer daily nonstop service between Washington/Dulles and Barcelona and between Washington/Dulles and Lisbon. Daily nonstop service between New York/Newark and Athens also begins today, making the route's much-anticipated return to United's summer schedule.

Offering more international service from New York/Newark and the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area than any other U.S. carrier, United's three new trans-Atlantic flights offer customers more choices when planning their summer European getaways.

"These routes are just the latest of the important and exciting routes we are adding around the world, including our new service between San Francisco and Singapore starting June 1," said Marcel Fuchs, United's vice president of Atlantic and Pacific Sales. "The addition of these new routes to our already impressive global route network gives our customers even more opportunities to plan their visits to some of Europe's most beautiful coastal cities."

Customers traveling in United BusinessFirst will enjoy a fine dining experience featuring menus designed by United's team of chefs using regional ingredients. In addition, United's flat-bed seating allows customers to arrive at their destination relaxed and refreshed. Customers in United Economy Plus seating will enjoy extra legroom for working and unwinding, and the entire United Economy cabin features a variety of dining options including complimentary multi-course meals designed in consultation with United's team of chefs, and United's Choice Menu items available for purchase.

This year, in addition to United's new seasonal routes, the airline is welcoming several new international business and leisure destinations to its global route network.


    --  Today, United announced it is increasing frequency between San Francisco
        and Tel Aviv to daily beginning this October. United started service to
        Tel Aviv in March and is the first U.S. airline to serve Israel from the
        West Coast.
    --  Earlier this month, United Airlines became the first airline to offer
        trans-Pacific service between San Francisco and Xi'an, China. United is
        also the first U.S. airline to serve Xi'an.
    --  Beginning June 1, United will start the world's longest scheduled 787
        flight between San Francisco and Singapore. This will be the only
        nonstop service to the U.S. from Singapore.
    --  On July 1, United will start three-times weekly service to Auckland, New
        Zealand and will expand to daily service in time for the peak-winter
        travel season.
    --  Marking another first in the industry, beginning July 13, United will
        launch first-ever nonstop service by a U.S. airline between Hangzhou,
        China and San Francisco.
New York/Newark to Athens

United's daily nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Athens (ATH) will operate using Boeing 767-300 aircraft. Flight times will be 9 hours 50 minutes eastbound and 11 hours westbound.



          Flight     From     To                 Departure                        Arrival
          ------     ----     ---                ---------                        -------

    UA124        EWR      ATH     5:50 p.m. Daily          10:30 a.m. the next day
    -----        ---      ---     ---------------          -----------------------

    UA125        ATH      EWR     12:15 p.m. Daily         4:15 p.m. the same day
    -----        ---      ---     ----------------         ----------------------
Washington/Dulles to Barcelona

The nonstop flights between Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Barcelona (BCN) will operate daily with Boeing 767-400 aircraft. Flight times for the Barcelona service will be 8 hours 10 minutes eastbound and 9 hours 15 minutes westbound. United also serves Madrid from New York/Newark.



          Flight     From      To                Departure                        Arrival
          ------     ----     ---                ---------                        -------

    UA140        IAD      BCN     5:40 p.m. Daily          7:45 a.m. the next day
    -----        ---      ---     ---------------          ----------------------

    UA141        BCN      IAD     11:15 a.m. Daily         2:30 p.m. the same day
    -----        ---      ---     ----------------         ----------------------
Washington/Dulles to Lisbon

United will use Boeing 757-200 aircraft for flights between Washington/Dulles and Lisbon (LIS). Flight times will be 7 hours 25 minutes eastbound and 8 hours 20 minutes westbound. These flights are in addition to United's existing year-round service to Lisbon from New York/Newark. In 2016, United will mark 19 years of Lisbon service.



          Flight     From      To                Departure                        Arrival
          ------     ----     ---                ---------                        -------

    UA168        IAD      LIS     10:15 p.m. Daily         10:35 a.m. the next day
    -----        ---      ---     ----------------         -----------------------

    UA167        LIS      IAD     12:15 p.m. Daily         3:35 p.m. the same day
    -----        ---      ---     ----------------         ----------------------


United in New York/New Jersey

United and United Express offer nearly 500 daily departures from the New York/Newark area to more than 150 destinations - the most in North America, the most across the Atlantic, the most across the Pacific and the most to and from Latin America.

United also offers the most flat-bed seats and extra-legroom economy-class seating from the New York area.

United in Washington/Dulles

United, together with United Express, operates nearly 225 flights daily from its Washington/Dulles hub to destinations throughout the United States and to Europe, Asia, Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean.

About United

United Airlines and United Express operate an average of 5,000 flights a day to 336 airports across six continents. In 2015, United and United Express operated more than 1.5 million flights carrying more than 140 million customers. United is proud to have the world's most comprehensive route network, including U.S. mainland hubs in Chicago, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. United operates more than 715 mainline aircraft, and this year, the airline anticipates taking delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including 737 NGs, 787s and 777s. The airline is a founding member of Star Alliance, which provides service to 192 countries via 28 member airlines. Approximately 86,000 United employees reside in every U.S. state and in countries around the world. For more information, visit united.com, follow @United on Twitter or connect on Facebook. The common stock of United's parent, United Continental Holdings, Inc., is traded on the NYSE under the symbol UAL.




SOURCE  United Airline

Haliç Congress Center Congress on Thrombosis



halic congress center

Haliç Congress Center hosted 24th International Congress on Thrombosis 24th International Congress on Thrombosis took place with a great success at Haliç Congress Center in Istanbul, Turkey on May 4-7, 2016.
The scientific programme of the Congress covered topics ranging from various fields of clinical and laboratory issues on thrombosis and related scientific issues. The delegates had the opportunity to discover Turkish music, art and architecture, they enjoyed delicious Turkish and Ottoman cuisines and experienced world-renowned Turkish hospitality. Ahmet Muzaffer Demir, M.D., President of 24th International Congress on Thrombosis; Jawed Fareed from Loyola University Chicago - Molecular Pharmacology and Therapeutics Professor; Shaker Mousa (The Pharmaceutical Research Institute at Albany, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Rensselaer, New York, USA) - Ph.D., MBA, FACC, FACB; ; Gökçe Onay, Project Coordinator at Serenas Group - Local Professional Congress Organizer and Handan Boyce, General Manager of Haliç Congress Center – Congress Venue shared their experience and impressions regarding the congress organization and Istanbul as a congress destination through this interview.
“Mrs. Handan Boyce, General Manager of Haliç Congress Center said; We worked together with a closed cooperation with the organizing committee, we made sure that it’s going to be a successful and great event so that was the result. We’re also very happy that 24th International Congress on Thrombosis has taken place in Istanbul and it’s proved that Istanbul continues to be a leading congress destination.”

Lufthansa flies non-stop between Frankfurt and Cape Town


capetown
Starting from 2 December 2016, travelers can fly non-stop from Frankfurt to Cape Town thanks to the relaunch of Lufthansa flights. Cape Town will be served by an Airbus A340-300, which boasts over 279 seats in Business Class, Premium Economy and Economy Class.
The German carrier will fly between two cities every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. The flight time is 11 hours 50 minutes.
The connection extends the Lufthansa Group’s hub-wide portfolio and optimally complements the formerly seasonal offer from Munich and Zurich with Edelweiss. After Johannesburg, Cape Town is one of the most important markets for Lufthansa in the southern part of Africa. With its Star Alliance partner South African Airways, the airline offers attractive combination options to other destinations in that region.
LH576 leaves Lufthansa's Frankfurt hub at 22:10 and reaches Cape Town the following morning at 11:00. The return journey starts in Cape Town in the early evening at 18:30 and ends the following morning after about 12 hours at 05:30 at Frankfurt Airport. The departure and arrival times enable ideal connections to the entire Lufthansa route network.
A return flight to Cape Town can be booked starting at 699 euros

UK Online Travel Trends 2016 by eRevMax



LONDON - eRevMax, a leading hotel technology provider, has released an infographic showcasing online travel trends in the United Kingdom. The infographic has projected a positive outlook for UK hoteliers, who can expect to see a lot of bookings coming their way not only from international travelers but from Britons too, as a good 64% of them will take at least one domestic holiday.
Hotels using eRevMax solutions generated an average of GBP 199 per booking with average length of stay being 1.4 across properties. As per eRevMax production statistics, just like rest of Europe, Booking.com has a clear dominance over online hotel bookings followed by Laterooms, Expedia, Agoda and hotelbeds.
Further, this infographic focuses on traveler buying behavior to give hoteliers a deeper insight. It is interesting to note that travellers visit around 17 OTAs during their travel planning phase and over 59% travelers are influenced by online reviews, especially for hotel bookings. Over 65% travellers use metasearch to compare prices thereby making it vital for hotels to manage online reviews effectively and engage actively with metasearch channels.
The two top trends that emerge from this data goldmine is the rise and rise of mobile and the disruption called Airbnb. Industry research shows that over 28% of all online hotel bookings are expected to come from mobile this year. As for Airbnb, the accommodation sharing giant’s estimated annual economic impact in London is over £1.3 billion. The growing popularity of Airbnb has encouraged over 52,000 hosts to share their accommodation in 2015.

Global Association Hubs Partnership to introduce three key developments to support associations


BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - Following the launch of the Global Association Hub Partnership (GAHP) in October 2015, the Partners – Destination DC, Dubai Association Centre, Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau and visit.brussels – are announcing three key developments to support their plans to help associations grow and expand internationally:
  • Appointment of Herve Bosquet as GAHP’s Senior Advisor; 
  • Introduction of a host of dialogue platforms with senior executives of associations; and 
  • Launch of a dedicated website to provide associations with information on GAHP and benefits provided by the partners
Appointment of Herve Bosquet, GAHP Senior Advisor
The partners are appointing Herve Bosquet as Senior Advisor to drive the GAHP project. As head of the Brussels Convention Bureau until the end of 2015, Herve has the qualifications and commitment to meet this challenge:  “I am delighted to see that the discussions we started five years ago have come to fruition. I am very proud to be given the opportunity to drive the GAHP forward,” said Herve Bosquet.
Speaking on behalf of the partners, Melissa Riley, VP Convention Sales & Services, Destination DC said, “The long-term issues guiding Herve and all partners are to help associations to build capacity, better support their overseas membership and grow their activities.” 
Open Dialogues with Associations’ Top Management
Stressing the collaborative nature of the GAHP, the partners also announce that roundtable discussions will be held with senior executives of representative associations – echoing the premise upon which the Partnership is based.
These discussions will be conducted throughout the rest of the year, at the following key platforms:
  • European Association Summit (EAS) 2016 in Brussels, 31 May-1 June
  • Global Engagement Summit (GES) in Washington DC, 8-9 June
  • American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) Annual Meeting in Salt Lake City, 13-16 August
  • IMEX America in Las Vegas, 18-20 October
“A key aspect of the GAHP is to establish and drive on-going dialogues with association decision-makers. These platforms provide opportunities for associations to exchange best practices while also allowing us to understand their market demands and leverage their experiences and advice. We can then facilitate suitable channels to meet their global expansion needs,” said Jeannie Lim, Executive Director, Conventions, Meetings & Incentive Travel, Singapore Exhibition & Convention Bureau.
Dedicated GAHP website
The GAHP website, which will also be launched today, aims to outline the GAHP’s objectives and the benefits that associations can expect from the Partnership.
“Senior association executives are short of time and want the facts, so we have designed this site to be clear, simple and to the point,” said Elisabeth Van Ingelgem, Director, Brussels Convention & Association Bureau. 
Through these new initiatives, the GAHP hopes to better support associations in partner cities, to help them grow and expand internationally. “Successful associations are good for all Partner cities. I believe that this Partnership is a game-changer in our industry. It will foster long-term relationships with international associations looking to expand and reinforce our cities’ status as global association hubs,” concluded Steen Jakobsen, Director, Dubai Business Events.

Aviation Leaders Gathering in Dublin


Dublin – The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that leaders of the global air transport industry are gathering in Dublin, Ireland for the Association’s 72nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit. The AGM will open with keynote addresses by Shane Ross TD, Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, and Dr. Olumuyiwa Benard Aliu, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

"Dublin is set to be the capital of the global air transport industry as leaders gather for the 72nd IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit. The airline industry’s most senior leaders will discuss measures to ensure the economic and social benefits of safe, secure, efficient and sustainable global air transport," said Tony Tyler, IATA’s Director General and CEO. 

A highlight of the World Air Transport Summit will be a panel discussion on the industry’s top issues featuring Bernard Gustin, CEO, Brussels Airlines; Ed Bastian, CEO, Delta Air Lines; Sir Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline; Jayne Hrdlicka, CEO, Jetstar Group; and Charamporn Jotikasthira, President of Thai Airways. The discussion will be moderated by CNN’s Richard Quest.
Summit panel discussions will also focus on sustainability and cyber security, with Alan Joyce, CEO, Qantas, among panel participants.
The IATA AGM and World Air Transport Summit bring together CEOs and senior management of IATA’s 264 member airlines that together carry some 83% of global traffic. Stakeholders from across the value chain will participate in the event, including leaders from governments, international organizations, aircraft manufacturers and other industry partners. 

This will be the second IATA AGM to be held in Dublin, the first being in 1962. Nearly 1,000 delegates are expected to participate in the event being hosted by Aer Lingus at the Royal Dublin Society.
Full program details are available online.

Ireland, a growing air transport gateway to Europe 
"For a nation of just 4.6 million people, Ireland has always punched above its weight in the aviation world. Air connectivity is the backbone of a thriving tourist industry and serves as a cultural bridge for the 80 million people around the world who identify themselves with Irish heritage. Today Dublin’s growing hub is a vital transatlantic gateway to Europe," said Tyler.
Ireland has a rich aviation history. The first ever transatlantic flight, in 1919, touched down in Ireland. And Foynes, Ireland was the principal departure point for flying boat services to North America.

"In line with its historical legacy, Ireland today is home to successful and innovative airlines, a growing hub and a thriving wider aviation and aerospace sector. Successive Irish governments have led the way with a regulatory and fiscal regime which is helping to foster economic growth through strong air connectivity," said Tyler.

Aviation generates $10.5 billion in GDP and supports 220,000 jobs in Ireland. And according to IATA’s 20-year passenger forecast, Ireland’s average annual growth rate of 2.4% is higher than that predicted for its neighbor the UK (2.2%), and considerably faster than comparably-sized European nations like Greece (1.7%) and Portugal (0.9%). 

A special pre-AGM media briefing on 1 June at 4pm will focus on the prospects for Irish Aviation. The briefing will feature Stephen Kavanagh, CEO, Aer Lingus, Kevin Toland, CEO, Dublin Airport Authority, Eamonn Brennan, CEO Irish Aviation Authority, Conor McCarthy, Executive Chairman, Dublin Aerospace and Aengus Kelly, CEO & Executive Director, AerCap.