Wednesday proved this original restaurant’s distinctive quality once again, opening its doors for energy-drink Club-Mate and its launch on the island with the first Taste Party of its island landing. Directly from Germany, the energy-drink brought along some of the finest Berlin techno for another incredible mix of taste, music, and cultures at SushiPoint Ibiza.

 
Words -Elle LoFaro

Steven is the first ever feature film about one of the most iconic UK recording artists, Morrissey, with principal photography to commence in April. Jack Lowden, of War and Peach fame, has been cast as the lead. The film is co-written with Oscar and BAFTA-nominated writer/director, Mark Gill.

William Thacker says: “We’re really pleased with the script and we’re confident the story will connect with many people, not just Smiths fans. In Jack we have an actor whose charm and depth can bring something really exciting to the role. It’s going to be an exciting couple of months, with the filming of Steven in April followed by the release of my novel Lingua Franca in May.”

Will’s debut novel, Charm Offensive (March, 2014) introduced him as an exciting and promising new author, prompting Matt Haig to describe Will as ‘A name you will hear a lot more often.’ Lingua Franca (May, 2016) is a story of language and love when Lingua Franca, a naming rights agency, is committed to renaming every UK town after a corporate sponsor.

Communities across the whole of the United Kingdom have come together in support of one of the biggest TV shows in the world, GAME OF THRONES, to create a unique piece of art. Marking the release of GAME OF THRONES: The Complete Fifth Season on Blu-ray and DVD, the 6m x 4m embroidery depicts one of the most intense battle scenes in TV history – the massacre of Hardhome.

The large scale embroidery will be displayed in Central Saint Martins’ Crossing Gallery in London’s King’s Cross for one weekend only, where fans are able to visit the intricate artwork in all its impressive glory.

In partnership with the Embroiderer’s Guild, the Royal School of Needlework, Fine Cell Work long-term prisoners and Hand & Lock Embroidery design room, the magnificent work of art has taken over 30,000 hours to complete, with over 50 people within the UK’s textile community taking part from Scotland to York, to Kingston and Kent to Ipswich.

Anthea Godfrey, Artistic Director of the Embroiderers’ Guild and Project Manager, comments: “This has been an amazing project that truly has brought the embroidery community together across the whole of the UK. There’s also a huge variety of textile skills involved in the making of the piece, including digital print, surface stitchery, machine embroidery, metal thread work beading, appliqué and quilting. As many of the communities taking part are huge fans of Game of Thrones, we really are all proud to have been involved.”

The ‘Hardhome’ embroidery will be on display in Central Saint Martins’ the Crossing Gallery from 10am Friday 18th March – midnight on Saturday 19th March. Follow updates and images of the artwork by following @HBO_UK on Facebook and Twitter, @HBOUK on Instagram and @kingscrossnc1 on Twitter.

Game of Thrones: The Complete Fifth Season is available from Monday 14th March on Blu-ray and DVD and is also available to buy digitally now.

A reliable indicator of the state of the industry, an indispensable networking platform and invaluable for providing an impetus for one of the world’s more important industries: as it marked its 50th anniversary ITB Berlin again underlined its importance as the leading trade show for the global travel industry. Summing up the five day trade show on the Berlin Exhibition Grounds: the international travel industry has shown its resilience in the face of the refugee crisis and geopolitical risks, demonstrating that it remains in a robust state as a vigorously expanding industry despite difficult global conditions. In Germany, one of the most important source markets for international tourism, the uncertainty of the first weeks of the year is clearly being replaced by a growing confidence. After a somewhat restrained start to the 2016 travel season, the desire among the German public for vacation trips is currently being accompanied by an ongoing positive mood among consumers and a stable job market. Moreover, a reduction in the cost of living and above all the sharp fall in energy prices have given consumers in the Eurozone additional financial scope for the most enjoyable weeks of the year.

As it takes place for the 50th time ITB Berlin is stronger than ever: from 9 to 13 March some 10,000 exhibiting companies from 187 countries and regions met with 120,000 trade visitors in the 26 exhibition halls, which had been booked up months in advance. These were the estimated figures given by Messe Berlin on Sunday, at the close of ITB Berlin 2016. They reveal that the world’s leading trade show for the international travel industry attracted the largest number of trade visitors since it was launched in 1966. On the purchasing side there was also a further increase in the number of decision-makers: two thirds of the trade visitors stated that they held direct authority for all purchasing decisions. Business conducted during the trade show rose from last year’s figure of 6.7 billion euros to around seven billion this year.

Dr. Christian Göke, Chief Executive Officer of Messe Berlin: “Never before in its 50 years has ITB Berlin welcomed so many trade visitors to the exhibition halls. After this five day event trade visitors and exhibitors are leaving Berlin with a clear message: even in times dominated by a “sense of uncertainty“ people are not willing to do without their holiday trips. Conversely, over the past few days the travel industry has made it clear that it can provide suitable answers to the major challenges that it currently faces.“ ITB Berlin has again provided evidence that this trade show, a global market place and a platform for personal encounters, provides a “firm foundation for the industry during turbulent times“, and in the digital age too it has lost none of its importance for the travel industry all over the world.

Dr. Christian Göke: “Currently ITB Berlin is not only one of the most important trade shows taking place in Berlin but, over the past five decades it has been a significant economic factor for our city. This international show for the global travel industry has also been a remarkable success story for the trade fair sector in Germany, and this is something of which our company and the Berliners too can be very proud. In terms of its exhibitors and its trade visitors, no other show anywhere in the world has an international structure that can compare in any way with it. ITB Berlin is “more than just a trade show“ – today, all over the world, it represents Germany, symbolizing hospitality and serving as a practical example of international understanding.” The travel trade show that was held for the first time in Berlin 50 years ago has now evolved into a real international success: ITB Asia has been held annually in Singapore since 2008. Furthermore, as Messe Berlin has recently announced, from May 2017, ITB China will be taking place annually in the populous city of Shanghai in cooperation with that country’s major tour operators and travel agents.

The world’s largest convention for the global travel industry attracted a record attendance. The 200 events at the ITB Convention were attended by over 26,000 visitors. It was taking place for the 13th time and occupied eight halls on the Exhibition Grounds. The main themes at the ITB Convention, which is regarded as the “think tank“ for the international industry, were “Travel 4.0“ and the complete digitalization of all the various business processes of travel companies. Due to the evident willingness of many travelers to spend, the subject of luxury travel also attracted a great deal of interest. Discussions also took place about the opportunities and risks facing tourism as a consequence of the influx of refugees to Europe. With the first appearance in Europe by a humanoid robot from Japan – clad as an elegant trade show hostess – visitors to ITB Berlin were able to see for themselves how engineers and scientists view the future of a service-based industry. The importance of ITB Berlin as an economic and social platform was underlined by the presence of many prominent speakers. Among those providing information and inspiration for the participants in the Convention were Günther H. Oettinger, EU Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society, Dr. Gerd Müller, Federal Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development, and Professor Dr. Hans-Werner Sinn, President of the ifo Institute – Leibniz-Institute for Economic Research.

On the Saturday and Sunday the halls were thronged with visitors. According to a provisional estimate by the organizers, some 60,000 members of the public took advantage of the wide range of information available from tour operators, including those representing niche markets. As in previous years, during the weekend visitors were able to make travel bookings at ITB Berlin. Between 9 and 13 March ITB Berlin attracted some 180,000 visitors.

Taleb Rifai, Secretary General, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO):

“On the occasion of its 50th anniversary ITB continues to reflect the vision and leadership of the tourism sector. We at UNWTO are very pround to have ITB as a strong partner and thank the whole team at ITB for their contribution to making the tourism sector more competitive but also more responsible and sustainable.”

Dr. Michael Frenzel, President of the Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW):

“On this significant anniversary ITB again showed how important face-to-face meetings remain in an increasingly digitalized world. The general mood and the many discussions that took place at this trade show confirmed our basically optimistic outlook for 2016. The tourism industry, both in Germany and around the world, is in an ideal situation, there is a wider choice than ever before, the mood among consumers is positive, and Germans prefer to spend their money on travel, as was confirmed this week by the consumer research organization GfK. Provided that we as an industry stick together, and politics does its part to get a grip on the very real challenges presented by the influx of refugees, 2016 will be another good year for travel.“

Norbert Fiebig, President of the German Travel Association (DRV):

“This year the world’s largest travel trade show was the focus of general interest to a greater degree than ever, because security and travel were among the dominant topics at this leading international trade show. ITB is not only a market place for destinations, but also a vital yardstick for assessing the level of bookings for the coming travel season. Where are Germans travelling to, what are their summer holiday destinations? During ITB answers to these questions can always be accurately deduced on the basis of reports about the latest trends. I am pleased to say that most destinations continue to expand their business. Whereas at the start of the year people were uncertain, leading to hesitancy in making bookings for certain countries, many of the participants in this trade show expressed their confidence that, over the next few months, many customers would make decisions at short notice in favour of those destinations where there has so far been some hesitancy. Despite all the challenges that it faces, I am convinced that this travel year offers a great deal of potential and will achieve very positive overall results. “

Haris Mohammed, Acting Managing Director, Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation:

“On behalf of the Maldives and our entire tourism industry, I would like to thank you and congratulate you for a wonderful ITB Berlin 2016. We are very pleased that we were the partner country of ITB Berlin 2016 that marked the 50th anniversary of ITB Berlin as well as the Visit Maldives Year 2016, in which we celebrate the tourism industry in our beautiful country.

We look back at a very successful trade show through which we were able to present the Maldives as the world’s leading island destination. We invite the world to experience our wonderful tropical beaches, our culture and the warmth of our people as well as our unique hospitality in some of the best resorts around the globe.

We very much look forward to building our continued success story in Germany as well as in our other important source markets to showcase everything that make our country one of the leading travel destinations in the world.”

Keen interest shown by the media and politics

More than 5,000 accredited journalists from 80 countries, as well as around 380 bloggers from 30 countries, reported from ITB Berlin. This trade show was a meeting place for politicians from Germany and many other countries, as well as for many diplomats. In addition to 124 delegations, it was attended by the members of four royal houses, 48 ministers and 87 ambassadors from all over the world.

The next ITB Berlin will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 8 to 12 March 2017. The Official Partner Country will be Botswana.

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2016 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 9 to 13 March. From Wednesday to Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 9 to Saturday, 12 March 2016. More details are available at http://www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the global travel industry’s leading trade show. In 2015 a total of 10,096 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to 175,000 visitors, who included 115,000 trade visitors.

Join the ITB Press Network at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Official-ITB-Newsroom-2521886/about.

Become a fan of ITB Berlin at https://de-de.facebook.com/ITBBerlin.

Follow ITB Berlin on https://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin.

Get the latest updates from the Social Media Newsroom at http://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en.

You can find press releases on the internet at http://www.itb-berlin.com under the section heading Press / Press Releases. Make use of our information service and subscribe to our RSS feeds.

 

Press contacts:
Messe Berlin
Emanuel Höger
Press Spokesman and
Press and Public Relations Director
Corporate Communication
Messe Berlin Group
https://twitter.com/pr_messeberlin

ITB Berlin / ITB Asia:
Astrid Zand
Press Officer
Messedamm 22
14055 Berlin
phone.: + 49 30 3038-2275
fax: + 49 30 3038-912275
zand@messe-berlin.de
www.messe-berlin.com

Additional information:
www.itb-berlin.com
www.itb-convention.com
Management board:
Dr. Christian Göke (CEO), Dirk Hoffmann (CFO)
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Peter Zühlsdorff
Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Charlottenburg (District Court) HRB 5484 B (Commercial Code)

2016/03/10 First partner country ever from Southern Africa – official announcement of partnership between Botswana and the World’s Leading Travel Trade Show® at ITB Berlin on 9 March 2016 In 2017 Botswana will be the official partner country of ITB Berlin. On 9 March 2016, at a press event at ITB Berlin, an agreement between the world’s leading travel trade show and Botswana was signed by Tourism Minister H.E. Tshekedi Khama II and Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin GmbH. According to Tourism Minister Tshekedi Khama of Botswana, “The Botswana Tourism Organisation has taken the opportunity to become the partner country of ITB Berlin 2017 in order to share Botswana’s nature conservation achievements with the rest of the world and to raise general awareness of this country. Botswana’s role as the partner country of the world’s largest travel trade show will ensure the long-term attention of the global tourism industry. It will not only place the spotlight on Botswana’s tourism successes but will also focus attention worldwide on our potential for economic development. In the past Botswana has achieved great success that has remained largely unnoticed around the world. Botswana will also benefit from this year’s fiftieth anniversary of ITB Berlin. Numerous activities and events will give us the opportunity to market and promote our country as a tourism destination and to improve our returns on investment.“ “Botswana is Africa’s best-kept secret“, says David Ruetz, head of ITB Berlin. “Two contrasting natural features characterise this country: the Kalahari Desert and the Okavango Basin with its many animal species, large forests, and innumerable streams that empty into small lakes. Particularly during the rainy season, visitors on trips and safaris can marvel at the unique fauna and flora. The diverse cultural heritage of the country, the warm hospitality shown by its people as well as sustainable tourism make Botswana an unrivalled holiday destination in southern Africa. The fact that almost 40 per cent of the country’s surface area has been declared a national park, wildlife or nature reserve is testimony to the exemplary efforts undertaken to actively preserve nature.“ In 2016 Botswana celebrated 50 years of independence. Often referred to as one of the last remaining gems of Africa, the country was quick to realise its potential as a tourism destination. The Republic of Botswana has been exhibiting at ITB Berlin every year since 1984, in an aim to make people around the world aware of its special attractions. Next to the diamond industry, the most important branch of the economy, the tourism sector currently already accounts for five per cent of GDP. At ITB Berlin 2017 Botswana, the partner country of the show, will be organising the opening event on 7 March 2017, and from 8 to 12 March 2017 will be entertaining visitors to ITB Berlin with a wide-ranging programme of events. About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention ITB Berlin 2016 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 9 to 13 March. From Wednesday to Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only. Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 9 to Saturday, 12 March 2016. More details are available at http://www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the global travel industry’s leading trade show. In 2015 a total of 10,096 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to 175,000 visitors, who included 115,000 trade visitors. Join the ITB Press Network at https://www.linkedin.com/groups/Official-ITB-Newsroom-2521886/about. Become a fan of ITB Berlin at https://de-de.facebook.com/ITBBerlin. Follow ITB Berlin on https://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin. Get the latest updates from the Social Media Newsroom athttp://newsroom.itb-berlin.de/en. You can find press releases on the internet at http://www.itb-berlin.com under the section heading Press / Press Releases. Make use of our information service and subscribe to our RSS feeds. If you no longer wish to receive ITB Berlin press releases, please send an email to presse-itb@messe-berlin.de.

]]> https://clubparakeet.com/itb-berlin-an-export-success-story/ Thu, 10 Mar 2016 09:38:24 +0000 https://clubparakeet.com/?p=6 Debut for ITB China in May 2017 in the mega-city of Shanghai – cooperation with TravelDaily China and leading travel agencies lays the foundation for a second Asian ITB

ITB Berlin 9 to 13 March 2016

PRESS RELEASE

Berlin, 10 March 2016 – ITB Berlin is an export success story. Messe Berlin is to launch an international offshoot of one of its most successful trade fairs in China. Starting in May 2017, ITB China will take place annually on the grounds of the Shanghai World Expo Exhibition and Conference Center in the partnership with TravelDaily China, China’s leading online news portal and event organizer for the travel industry. ITB Asia is the model for ITB China. Over the last eight years Messe Berlin has organised this highly successful show every October in Singapore. As the second show in Asia, ITB China will take place in one of the leading industrial cities in the People’s Republic of China, with a population of around 23 million one of the largest cities in the world and exclusively focus on the Chinese travel market. First launched 50 years ago, ITB Berlin is recognised as the most successful trade show for the global travel industry. Some 10,000 exhibitors from more than 180 countries are expected to attend this year’s event. Boasting 760 exhibitors from 73 countries, ITB Asia in Singapore has established itself as the leading travel trade show in Asia.

For its premiere, ITB China already counts the big names of China’s travel industry on its partner list. Ctrip, China’s leading online travel agency, has already committed to send its buyers to ITB China to make large purchases of new products. “Our company is constantly growing and we look forward to expanding our international trade relations at ITB China“, said John Zhong, head of International Hotel Business Ctrip. The company, which counts Baidu as one of its largest shareholders, recently drew attention by making investments in its Chinese competitors, Qunar and Elong.

Alitrip, the travel brand of the Chinese internet giant Alibaba, has also announced that it will be sending buyers from affiliated travel agencies to ITB China. “We are delighted to be able to advertise ITB China to our partners as a promising business platform“, said Shaohua Li , President of Alitrip. Last year the company organised local and international trips for 100 million Chinese customers.

Utour and Caissa, China’s leading offline tour operator, as well as Tuniu, China’s leading online leisure travel platform, have as well partnered with ITB China and announced their participation through a strong presence of their buyers on the show floor

As with ITB Asia in Singapore, ITB China will be for trade visitors only. In Shanghai, buyers and trade visitors from China will be able to meet international exhibitors and business partners. Visitors to ITB China can also take the opportunity to attend the ITB China Convention, which runs parallel and will be jointly organised with TravelDaily China. Travel Daily (www.traveldaily.cn) will co-organise ITB China, having made a name for itself with two events, the Travel Daily Conference and Hotel Marketing Conference. The organisers have been able to secure China Travel News (www.chinatravelnews), an English-speaking media platform with focus on China’s travel industry and powered by TravelDaily China, as the media partner.

Dr. Christian Göke, CEO, Messe Berlin: “Our involvement in China opens another chapter in the 50-year history of ITB Berlin. With ITB Asia we have already provided impressive proof that a new travel industry event for trade visitors can establish itself outside Europe. In Shanghai we will be using all the experience of the last eight years from Singapore to establish ITB in China as a model of the global marketplace for the travel industry. In the long term our involvement in China will benefit ITB Asia in Singapore, and ultimately ITB Berlin.“

According to Dr. Martin Buck, division head, Messe Berlin, ITB China has already secured the cooperation of the country’s biggest travel agencies.Accordingly, says Dr. Martin Buck, “we will be able to guarantee our international exhibitors around 500 buyers from leading companies representing the Chinese travel industry at the three-day show, which will debut from 10 to 12 May 2017.”

Mr Charlie Li, Founder and CEO of TravelDaily China, said “We are very thrilled to partner with ITB to bring the world’s leading travel trade show to China, the largest travel market in the world. By combining ITB’s global network and 50-year experience of running travel trade show in Europe and Asia with TravelDaily’s experience of operating online media and organizing high-quality executive conferences in China, we aim to build the bridge connecting international exhibitors and Chinese buyers, which ultimately will benefit the global travel industry.”

About ITB Berlin and the ITB Berlin Convention

ITB Berlin 2016 will take place from Wednesday to Sunday, 9 to 13 March. From Wednesday to Friday ITB Berlin is open to trade visitors only.  Parallel with the show the ITB Berlin Convention, the largest event of its kind, will be held from Wednesday, 9 to Saturday, 12 March 2016. More details are available at www.itb-convention.com. ITB Berlin is the global travel industry’s leading trade show. In 2015 a total of 10,096 companies and organisations from 186 countries exhibited their products and services to 175,000 visitors, who included 115,000 trade visitors.

Join the ITB Press Newsroom on LinkedIn.

Become a fan of ITB Berlin at www.facebook.de/ITBBerlin.

Follow ITB Berlin on https://twitter.com/ITB_Berlin.

Get the latest updates from the Social Media Newsroom athttp://newsroom.itb-berlin.de.

You can find press releases on the internet at www.itb-berlin.com under the section heading Press / Press Releases. Make use of our information service and subscribe to our RSS feeds.

If you no longer wish to receive ITB Berlin press releases, please send an email topresse-itb@messe-berlin.de.

Press contacts:

Messe Berlin GmbH

Emanuel Höger

Press Spokesman and

Press and Public Relations Director

Corporate Communication

Messe Berlin Group

Messedamm 22

14055 Berlin

Tel.: +49 30 3038-2270

Fax: +49 30 3038-2279

hoeger@messe-berlin.de

www.messe-berlin.de

Twitter: @pr_messeberlin

ITB Berlin / ITB Asia:

Astrid Zand

Press Officer

Messedamm 22

14055 Berlin

Tel.: + 4930 3038-2275

Fax: + 4930 3038-912275

zand@messe-berlin.de

Additional information:

www.itb-berlin.com

www.itb-convention.com

Management board:

Dr. Christian Göke (CEO),
Dirk Hoffmann (CFO)
Chairman of the Supervisory Board: Peter Zühlsdorff

Commercial Register: Amtsgericht Charlottenburg (District Court) HRB 5484 B

(Commercial Code)

No.51e