ITB Berlin News Page 35
Amanda Hills-Balfour, founder, Hills Balfour, and Craig Compagnone, executive vice president, MMGY
Hills Balfour has officially joined forces with MMGY Global, the world’s largest integrated marketing company specialising in travel and hospitality, with the deal announced at ITB Berlin. Here Breaking Travel News speaks to Amanda Hills-Balfour, founder, Hills Balfour, and Craig Compagnone, executive vice president of business strategy for MMGY Global, about the deal and what it means for their respective clients.
Angela Christodoulopoulou, director of sales and marketing, Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche
Having just been honoured with the title of Abu Dhabi’s Leading Business Hotel at the World Travel Awards for the fifth consecutive year, Angela Christodoulopoulou, director of sales and marketing at Sofitel Abu Dhabi Corniche, here sits down with Breaking Travel News to tell us about the property and what the titles mean to them.
Ankush Nijhawan, co-founder, and Patrik Birkhofer, commercial director, Europe, TBO Holidays
Breaking Travel News chats with Ankush Nijhawan, co-founder, and Patrik Birkhofer, commercial director, Europe, for TBO Holidays, about what the company brings to the global hospitality scene and the important role played by ITB Berlin in connecting the company to its clients.
ITB Berlin 2018: PATWA recognises Jamaica minister of tourism with prestigious honour
Edmund Bartlett, minister of tourism for the Caribbean island of Jamaica, has been awarded the title of Worldwide Tourism Minister of the Year by the Pacific Area Travel Writers Association. The award was presented during the ITB Berlin trade show in Germany.
Christoph Debus, chief executive, Thomas Cook Airlines
Thomas Cook Airlines chief executive, Christoph Debus, speaks to Breaking Travel News at ITB Berlin. He tells us about the company’s return to Tunisia after a lengthy break, improved services to the Caribbean, and the roll-out of a new Economy Plus cabin to savvy travellers.
Martin Cramer, general manager, Emirates Palace
Newly appointed to the role, Martin Cramer, general manager of Emirates Palace, talks to Breaking Travel News at ITB Berlin. Chatting to editor Chris O’Toole, he discusses his ambitions for the job, the role of the prestigious property in the Abu Dhabi tourism sector, and how its all-important source markets continue to evolve.
Michael Marshall, chief operating officer, Minor Hotels
Michael Marshall, chief operating officer with Minor Hotels, tells Breaking Travel News about the recent launch of the Avani+ brand, the acquisition of Corbin & King in London, and the opening of the first Anantara hotel in the Americas, Maraú Bahia Resort.
Omer Kaddouri, chief executive, Rotana Hotels
Omer Kaddouri, chief executive of Abu Dhabi-based Rotana Hotels, speaks to Breaking Travel News at ITB Berlin. Up for discussion are the company’s recent expansion in the United Arab Emirates, its growing portfolio of brands, and ambitions for the year ahead.
Rüdiger Hollweg, general manager, Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai
Breaking Travel News chats with Grand Kempinski Hotel Shanghai general manager, Rüdiger Hollweg, during ITB Berlin. On the agenda are the recent investments the hotel has made in its MICE facilities and the vibrant hospitality scene in Chinese commercial capital Shanghai.
ITB Berlin 2018: Ras Al Khaimah unveils latest zipline ambitions
Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority today announced that in response to visitor demand for the world’s longest zipline, they will open phase two to visitors in the third quarter of 2018.
ITB Berlin 2018: Europe is major driver for international tourism growth
Last year was an exceptionally strong year for international travel, with Europe being the main growth driver as both a source market as well as a destination region. Worldwide, the number of outbound trips has increased by 6.5 per cent, reaching nearly 1.2 billion international trips in 2017.
ITB Berlin 2018: UNWTO Silk Road meeting seeks to put route at heart of international tourism
The UNWTO Silk Road Ministers’ Meeting has been held during the ITB Berlin Travel Trade Show. The event focused on the long-term tourism vision for the historic Silk Road routes and how to establish the Silk Road as the most important transnational tourism route of the 21st century.