With World Travel Market 2017 underway at London’s ExCeL Centre, stay tuned to travelweekly.co.uk for all the latest from the event
Special Reports: WTM stand and WTM seminar guides,
Laura French and Katie McGonagle pick out highlights of this year’s event
Costa Rica reports 8% increase in UK visitors
Destination set for further boost with addition of third weekly direct flight
Cape Verde to eliminate visas for EU citizens
New rules expected to come into force in May or June 2018
Antigua tourism ‘essential’ to sister island’s recovery
Barbuda was ripped apart by hurricane Irma, with almost 90% of structures damaged or destroyed
Balearic Islands sustainable projects get underway
Tourism Tax introduced in July 2016 will help fund around 100 initiatives
Ditched state of emergency in Paris ‘frightened’ tourists
French capital enjoying tourist resurgence after 15-month slump
UK agents urged to book Seattle cruise-and-stays
Trend already being seen among domestic cruise passengers, says tourism authority.
US ‘well-placed’ to ride out challenges in UK market
Brand USA believes that trade engagement and increased air services demonstrate strength
Global travellers show ‘resilience’ in wake of New York terror attack
Recent terror attack had ‘no discernible effect on bookings’
Colorado gears up for new flights and IPW conference
New routes from UK will promote state to a raft of potential visitors
Visit Pittsburgh targets UK after 10-year WTM absence
City looks to promote itself as ‘real America’
Tahiti Tourisme to promote agents who pass training modules
Contact details will be added to consumer facing website
TAP portal to help agents capitalise on stopovers
Airline initiative to encourage more passengers to spend time in Lisbon
Growth on track, says independent hotel loyalty scheme Wanup [Travolution]
Programme on track to sign up 7,000 properties in first year of launch
Peakwork tech powering a new dynamic package holiday market [Travolution]
Tech firm says market on cusp of an explosion in competitiveness
British Airways boss ‘digital is everything’ [Travolution]
Industry must adapt to trends or be ‘overrun by retailers’ says Alex Cruz
Industry alarmed by plans for London tourism tax
The London Assembly is asking for devolved powers to levy a tax on visitors
Hotelbeds offering hits 170,000 properties
Range particularly expanded in North American and Asia-Pacific markets
Magaluf regeneration plan on track, says tourism bosses
Five-year transformation plan ‘starting to reap rewards after two years’
Tuesday November 7
Inbound tourism boom follows Brexit vote
Weaker pound has made UK much more affordable, says Euromonitor
Setouchi Tourism Authority to target UK trade
DMO seeking UK tour operators to collaborate with
Visit Florida to boost UK marketing spend by 45% in 2018
Body to launch $2m campaign from January 2018
Sri Lanka aims to double UK visitor numbers by 2020
Number of five-star rooms to increase by 3,000 over next three years
Ras Al Khaimah announces fam trip programme
Emirate also unveils first agent training programme
Sharing economy and package market can coexist, says Tui boss
Two models can live side by side, Nick Longman tells WTM session
South African Tourism promotes centenary of Nelson Mandela’s birth
Agents urged to capitalise on events and activities planned for 2018
Texas to ‘pull strong’ after tragedy
Response to recent incidents ‘showcases state’s community spirit’, say tourism chiefs
Abu Dhabi credits trade for driving visitor growth
UK arrivals up 5% year-on-year in first nine months of 2017
Massachusetts tourism boss hails low-cost and regional flights
Marketing chief concedes Boston lacks affordable hotel product
Greek hotelier blasts government over tourist tax
‘The person who proposed this is clearly misguided’, says MD of Aldemar Resorts
Japanese hotel brand aims to capitalise on 2019 Rugby World Cup
Prince Hotels targets 15% of bookings from European markets
Caribbean-wide campaign to drive message region is open for business
Governments and private sector asked to raise $1m for social media push
Greece bills itself as year-round destination
Country has extended summer season from March to November
Mauritius challenges UK trade to overtake France as top source market
Tourist board to host events in 2018 to celebrate 50 years of independence
Caribbean laments ‘ignorance’ for drop in post-hurricane arrivals
Recovery message of business as usual to cost ‘million and millions of dollars’
Monday November 6
Voluntourism project to help hurricane recovery on Anguilla
Website created to provide status of accommodation, restaurants and attractions
BA boss commits to trade as he announces £4.5bn investment
Alex Cruz commits praises importance of travel agents to airline
Tui boss says ‘hard’ Brexit will lead to tighter holiday budgets
Consumers could trade down or reduce breaks, says Nick Longman
Brexit ‘weakens’ Europe’s position in world
UK departure is ‘failure’ of the EU, says Guy Verhofstadt MEP
Kenya outlines tourism strategy
Country to develop infrastructure and and add niche product
Serbia reports UK visitor numbers at 20-year high
Growth attributed to new touring product and improved infrastructure
Tunisia aims to broaden it’s appeal beyond a beach destination
Country targets more than doubling of UK visitors in 2018
Palladium Connect agent programme unveiled
Platform brings together agent training, incentives and news
Las Vegas thanks trade for ‘positive’ response following mass shooting
Destination has not seen noticeable dip in bookings following October 1 incident
Barbados announces shift to ‘more-focused’ fam trips
Island to move away from mega-fams in favour of small-groups
Rwanda hopes luxury lodge openings will boost stay durations
Average visit is four days, the usual length of time for gorilla trekking
UK ‘lagging behind’ says Egyptian ambassador
Sharm el-Sheikh is safer than some British airports, says Nasser Kamel
Universal Orlando to add two new ‘value-driven’ hotels
Properties’ 2,800 rooms to cost no more than $100 per night
‘New’ Daytona Beach urges UK trade to help increase demand
Destination aims to re-open international terminal at its airport
Dubai Parks and Resorts announces The Hunger Games attraction
Plans complete Lionsgate Zone at Motiongate Dubai
Brits fear post Brexit hike in holiday prices
More than half respondents polled concerned about exchange rates
Terrorism concerns among Brits on the rise, survey finds
Third more travellers worried about attack than a year ago
Travel firms raise fears over post-Brexit overseas recruitment
Over 40% anticipate staffing will be affected when UK leaves EU
‘Seen on TV’ destinations turn into holiday hotspots
Poll finds 10% have chosen break based on a favourite TV show
New bed bank to be launched by dnata
Emirates-owned travel firm will unveil Yalago at show