News & Stories

 

Binz/Ruegen. Bird flu has reached Germany. The first region to be affected by the virus is the holiday island of Ruegen. Pictures of dead birds, cordoned off beaches and the disinfection of cars bring drama to the tiny island. The hoteliers, on the other hand, remain calm. There is certainly a sense of crisis but still not one of panic. There have been cancellations but no seasonal disaster. None of the hoteliers are already thinking about crisis plans.

Zurich. In connection with the Swiss holiday club debacle, the tour operator Kuoni has put aside 98 million Swiss Francs. In the worst case scenario the company will have to show losses of 50 million SFR for 2005. The reason lies in Kuoni's last international hotel venture.

Vienna. Austria's national tourist board Österreich Werbung wants to extend their incoming fair "Austrian Travel Business" to offers from Eastern Europe. In this way they hope to increase their revenue from the fair. But now this idea is meeting criticism: Many want Austria to continue to be marketed as an entity.

Augsburg. The demand for luxury and design hotels is increasing just as the demand for suites. That was reported by the tour operator airtours this week. The customer simply seeks the "individual accommodation experience".

Frankfurt/M. On average company hotel expenses make up between 30 and 40 percent of their entire travel budget, but these could be considerably reduced. Up to half of all companies still don't use a structured hotel programme in order to make savings.

Vienna. Twelve new cabin ships ensure that the Danube maintains its global top position in international river traffic. The only drop of bitterness: the joint advertising arrangement for marketing the Danube is facing difficulties.

Berlin. Surveys of global markets show: a year of "normal tourism" no longer exists. The rise in natural disasters and politically motivated attacks is no obstacle to tourism - impacts very brief and locally confined.

Taunton. A UK survey by has revealed that businesses are failing to tightly control their hotel spend, suggesting that UK businesses waste up to 50% of their hotel expenditure budget.

Berlin/Montreal. Together with the American Society of Travel Agents, the Messe Berlin started a new fair for the travel industry in North America. Both partners signed a declaration of intent about mutually organising and marketing "The Trade Show". "Trade" stands for "Travel Retailing and Destination Expo". For the first time in its 40-year history of the ITB Berlin, the Messe Berlin is exporting the concept of the world's biggest tourism fair.