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African Tourism Board CEO flies home with South African terror victims on Egypt Air

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African Tourism Board CEO Doris Worfel from Pretoria experienced a first-hand account on today’s terror attack targeting a tour bus with South African visitors on their way to see the Pyramids. All victims survived after a bomb went off injuring many passengers on  the bus operated by Egyptian tour company  Dominant Travel 

Doris Woerfel, CEO of the African Tourism Board left Cairo for Johannesburg on Egypt Air flight MS 839 Sunday night and was able to get to know some of the victims of the attack.


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Doris told eTurboNews: “We departed about one hour late because some of the passengers were unable to get on the flight due to their injuries. Egypt Air had to unload their bags before the plane was allowed to take off.

I  was trying to calm down a lady who was constantly crying. She was very upset and her body was covered by small cuts. She was wearing a bandage on her arm.

She told me:  “I was on a tour bus and the bus was attacked by terrorists and a roadside bomb exploded. There was a sudden pressure and a loud bang when we were passing by a new museum close to the Pyramides. Within seconds,  there was broken glass flying around everywhere. It was like a shotgun hitting my face, my arms, and my husband’s legs. My husband was wearing shorts.

I was lucky enough to wear sunglasses. My glasses and my camera was damaged, but I didn’t have any injuries to my eyes. Many of the people on the bus not wearing glasses suffered serious eye injuries.

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We had about 25 passengers on the bus, and first responders arrived almost instantly and were quick to take us to hospitals. The doctors and nurses were absolutely fantastic. They are my heroes.  They really cared so much.

The Hon. Rania Al-Mashat, the minister of tourism for Egypt came to the hospital and was very sweet. She apologized for the incident and said she would do everything possible to help.

Some passengers only had minor injuries, and the minister arranged a private tour to see the Great Pyramid. The tour was accompanied by a special security team arranged by the minister.

African Tourism Board CEO Doris Woerfel added:” Its paradox.  I had a meeting with Mr. Ahmed Yousef, Chairman of the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board at the Ministry of Tourism. I wanted to discuss cooperation with African Tourism Board and bring up the subject of safety and security. The chairman had to cancel the meeting and agreed to postpone our discussion.

Egypt remains to be an excellent destination like no other. I hope the country can quickly recover from today’s incident.
When I discussed the beauty of Egypt during the flight, the lady agreed but started crying again.

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IMEX partners with Simpleview and SearchWide Global

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The IMEX Group has teamed up with two US-based organizations – Simpleview and SearchWide Global – collaborating with them as Industry Partners.

As part of its aim to ‘help everyone in the global meetings industry to make the connections that matter’, IMEX has created the Industry Partner accreditation to support companies who want to invest in the business events industry.

Both Simpleview and SearchWide Global have major plans to grow their companies and both want to expand further into Europe, having already opened sites in the UK.

Simpleview is a leading provider of DMS, CMS, website design, digital marketing, revenue generation and mobile technologies for the travel and tourism industry. It has recently opened an office in Liverpool alongside existing offices in Mexico City, Mexico; Oslo, Norway; and Vancouver, Canada plus its headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.

“Through our formalised partnership, IMEX enables us to provide global thought leadership in the industry. As a truly international organisation, we can bring together destinations from all over the world, giving them access to a wider range of experience and best practices within the tourism industry. The IMEX shows also provide a great opportunity for us to touch base with our clients and develop business through the relationships we have been building,” comments Richard Reasons, president at Simpleview.

SearchWide Global is a full service executive recruitment firm primarily for companies in the travel, tourism, hospitality, convention, trade association, venue management, experiential marketing, and sports and entertainment industries. As part of its European expansion, the company has plans to open an office in London to help its clients fulfil their global recruitment needs.

Mike Gamble, CEO of SearchWide Global, says: “Being at IMEX in Frankfurt for the first time this year will allow us to showcase our brand in Europe. It’s a valuable opportunity to meet new people and catch up with industry colleagues.”

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, concludes: “Our wider remit is to support companies who want to invest in and expand in the business events industry and our new Industry Partner category allows us to do just that, giving companies a platform to showcase their services to planners outside of exhibiting at the show. We work closely with our partners to create an environment at the show for businesses to learn from other industry organisations and provide an opportunity for them to work together off the show floor.”

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Ward, emma.ward@imexexhibitions.com ; Chris Lewis, chris.lewis@imexexhibitions.com

ATTES: Changing the Face of Africa together with the African Tourism Board

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The African Tourism Board is planning to partner with Africa’s Trade, Transport and Energy Summit  (ATTES) to make sure travel and tourism are not overlooked by the largest summit ever held in Africa.

Africa, the world’s second-largest continent in size and population, has a wealth of biodiversity and natural resources, which has flown under the radar when it comes to global investments. That stands to change with Africa’s Trade, Transport and Energy Summit (ATTES), to be hosted in Accra, Ghana from 13–15 November 2019. ATTES is being organized by ALPHA Ports Limited, the Irish-registered trading name of African Logistics Port Hub Association (ALPHA).

Set in Accra’s International Conference Center, ATTES will be three days of investment workshops, trade exhibitions, and conferences. This milestone event will serve as a melting pot for high-profile investors, venture capitalists and local entrepreneurs to connect and exchange ideas. Attendance of top-tier talent and leadership from government and private sectors – representing high-demand fields such as renewable energy, agribusiness, telecommunications, transport, blockchain and much more – will provide unique opportunities for networking and forging connections.

The summit will kick off with a meet-and-greet, followed by a ribbon cutting and welcome address from Ghana’s Honourable Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah. Following will be an intensive itinerary of workshops in blockchain, energy, mining, fintech and agritech. Attendees will have the opportunity to synergize with distinguished investors and get exclusive insights from influential policymakers, with a focus on exchanging business initiatives and exploring joint ventures.

Keynote panels will provide a podium for experts to share insights into Africa’s investment opportunities. Meanwhile, a large exhibition space will be available, where attendees can network and collaborate. The event will culminate in an awards ceremony for noteworthy guests and speakers.

CEO and Managing Director of ALPHA Ports, Kingsley Ekweariri, communicates his excitement about the Summit:

“We believe in Africa. We believe in its vast opportunities that have yet to be optimally exploited to their full potential to transform the lives of people. There is so much that Africa has, and we are optimistic that, with investors coming to the Summit to interface with high-level government officials, deals shall be concluded and investment will consequently follow thereby. Africa is the opportunity continent, and no one investor should miss it in their growth trajectory strategy room.”

With growing interest in Africa’s investment potential, ATTES positions itself as a watershed event, poised to revolutionize how the world views Africa, as the “opportunity continent” of dynamic energy, economic power, and untapped resources. ATTES will demonstrate Africa’s determination to show the world a new face, turning its potential to actuality.

Moving forward, ATTES will dedicate itself to inviting and catalyzing investment in Africa long-term and will hold summits in Singapore, South America, India, and Europe in the coming years.

Why Ghana?

Ghana in West Africa exemplifies all these qualities that ATTES intends to showcase: plentiful natural resources, diverse terrain and thriving industries ranging from trade to manufacturing to cybernetics. Ghana’s powerhouse economy and leadership in infrastructure development – including Africa’s second nuclear power plant and multiple hydroelectric dams – make it a shining example of the potential waiting to be unlocked in similar African countries.

Ghana’s Deputy Minister for Trade and Industry, Carlos Ahenkorah, expresses optimism for the role ATTES will play, and where it will lead:

“Having such a distinguished group of people in our capital is a very welcome development, coming at a time when a spotlight is being shone on Africa’s new status as a continent to be reckoned with in terms of what it offers investors and potential partners from all over the world. The ATTES summit is just the sort of bold initiative our country and our continent needs as Africa reaches a new phase in its commercial and industrial development, with new markets opening up and heightened demands… This hugely important event will see an unprecedented meeting of minds and a pooling of ideas that will have a vital influence on our future well-being.”

About ALPHA Ports

African Logistics Port Hub Association (ALPHA) is a business trading hub for international logistics professionals that seeks to showcase Africa’s enormous potential for trade and enterprise. Leveraging its position as the heart of a thriving network of 85 African ports, 163 companies and 70 countries, ALPHA’s primary goal is to bring people together under one portal, so that connecting and doing business with African enterprises becomes easy and efficient.

With their headquarters based in Dublin, Ireland, ALPHA has the ideal location to act as a conduit between Africa and the rest of the world, utilizing their first-hand knowledge of African air and seaports to navigate trade routes. They prioritize trustworthiness, transparency, and competence as they work to grow infrastructure and enterprises in Africa.

In addition to building their base of corporate partnerships – which include the Port of Houston and Dublin Chambers – ALPHA Ports offers investment workshops, as well as their magazine African Port Hub, to showcase Africa’s tremendous business and infrastructural potential.

More information  www.alphaports.com/attes/

Founded in 2018, the African Tourism Board is an association that is internationally acclaimed for acting as a catalyst for the responsible development of travel and tourism to, from, and within the African region. For more information and how to join, visit africantourismboard.com.

Morocco wins Best Stand Design at Arabian Travel Market 2019

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It’s hard to stand out from the crowd when you’re one of 2,800 exhibitors – but the Moroccan National Provincial Tourist Office has been adjudged the Best Stand Design for its authentic representation of a typical Moroccan house at Arabian Travel Market 2019.

Reproducing elements of both a ‘riad’ and a ‘dar’, the Moroccan stand featured a traditional townhouse with pink walls, a courtyard and a fountain, while EXPO 2020 was highly commended for its colorful and engaging stand.

The awards also covered Best Stand for Doing Business; Best Stand within the Travel Tech Show at ATM; Best Stand Feature and Best Stand Personnel.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Arabian Travel Market would not be the huge success it is, without the incredible amount of effort and investment that exhibitors put into creating and manning these exceptional stands at the show. Since its inception, the annual award program has not only recognized exhibitor’s efforts but has also encouraged exciting, fresh and creative designs.”

Competition in the Doing Business category was tougher than ever but the judges – Faye Bartle, Managing Editor, Hot Media Publishing; Leo Fewtrell, Managing Partner, Gulf Reps; Nicholas Hall, CEO and Founder of Digital Tourism Think Tank; and Matt Gibson, CEO, UpThink – were impressed by the Marriott International stand for its scale and impact.

“The layout of the stand was very inviting and efficient, encouraging both social networking as well as private business meetings. It was exceptionally busy throughout and there was a real buzz and sense of anticipation – it was a stimulating environment,” said Faye Bartle, Managing Editor, Hot Media Publishing.

Babylon Booking’s sleek all-black design and creative use of space meant the Iraqi company won Best Stand within the Travel Tech Show at ATM while Sharjah Tourism’s diverse use of attractions – from a powerboat and photo booths to LED floors and tunnels – meant it was the clear winner in the Best Feature category.

Judges selected The Garden Hotel Company’s stand for Best Stand Personnel and picked out the Guangzhou property for its friendliness and staff knowledge.

Fewtrell, who has never missed an ATM over the past 25 years, said: “It never ceases to amaze me how exhibitors continually manage to raise the bar, improving the appearance and practicality of their stands, in both subtle and significant ways.”

The winners of this year’s awards were announced at a photo-call on the exhibition show floor on Tuesday 30th April.

Launched in 2015, the Best Stand Awards were created to recognize the design creativity and business-friendly appeal of exhibiting companies’ physical presence at ATM.

MEDIA CONTACT: NATHALIE VISELE, Director, Shamal Communications, Arjaan Office Tower, Dubai Media City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Tel: +971 4 365 2711 | Mobile: +971 50 457 6525, E-mail: nathalie.visele@shamalcomms.com , Website: www.shamalcomms.com

Comprehensive learning program delivers ‘creative collisions’ at IMEX in Frankfurt

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‘Everyone has the potential to think creatively. Children are able to think of more than 60 new solutions per day in response to a problem. As we get older, this reduces to about six a day. Why not learn to think creatively again?’ Gebert Janssen, founder and CEO of the Party and Eventarchitect, and one of the speakers at IMEX in Frankfurt, summarises the challenge planners face in generating fresh content.

Many of the learning sessions at IMEX in Frankfurt, taking place 21 – 23 May (with EduMonday, May 20), focus on the topic of imagination, IMEX’s Talking Point for this year. The result is a wide range of learnings and insights delivered by experts from both within and outside the global business events industry.

Disruptive thinking

The team behind DUNDU, the giant puppet and previous playful addition to the show, will share their expertise on how to use art to boost playfulness in Puppet-thinking: where puppetry and design thinking collide. Sam McNeill, Song Division’s UK/Europe General Manager and one of the world’s most in-demand MC’s, will also explain the benefits of song writing as a route to problem-solving in Creating a culture of innovation.

True to their name, Marmalade on Toast will be taking an alternative approach to technology and innovation. Founder Simon Harmer thinks ‘the industry is ripe for disruption’ and will explain more in his session Using innovation to disrupt and engage. Meanwhile, the Editor-in-chief of Love Inc. Brittny Drye, will share her advice on creating authentic, inclusive content in Taking the next steps to becoming an equality-minded event business.

The topic of imagination will be expanded in a series of ‘Power chats’ delivered by some members of the IMEX Team. Based on first-hand experience, these interactive insights into the different facets of the show’s Imagination Talking Point will cover diversity and inclusion, imagination in action, and sustainability.

New for 2019 is PCMA’s #Iamremarkable workshop on EduMonday. Designed to tackle ‘gender-related modesty norms and glass ceilings’, this session will empower everyone taking part to speak openly about their accomplishments, in the workplace and beyond. It will be led by Katarzyna Seidl, Strategic Partner Manager in Global Partnerships Team at Google and Florian Ahle, global Brand Evangelist and Auto brand marketing expert who also teaches for the Google Digital Academy in London #iamremarkable is one of three specially-tailored PCMA workshops, with the next at PCMA’s EduCon in Los Angeles in June and the third at IMEX America in September.

Experiences alongside education

New experiences and activities introduced at this year’s show will fire up the imagination of planners and exhibitors alike. Many of these can be found at the show’s new Discovery Zone which is home to holograms, robots, illusionists, music and art along with a few surprises. EduMonday on May 20 at Kap Europa will showcase its own ‘Imagination Zone’ where attendees can tap into their artistic streak at a painting party or unleash some fancy moves at a silent disco.

‘Creative collisions’

Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, explains: “With over 250 educational events over four days, we have designed this year’s programme to supercharge the skills of planners and exhibitors alike. This year’s focus – imagination – takes learning to a new level with advice, stories and direction from boundary breaking experts from inside and outside of our industry.

“It’s been wonderful to see so many partners, one being MPI, leveraging our Talking Point and using it to rethink their engagement and education delivery at the show. They’re a great example of a partner who asked ‘what if….?’ and came up with some fresh new concepts as a result.

“With such a diverse combination of learning, experiences, connections and a huge dose of memorable surprises, we’re expecting some exciting, creative collisions and, of course, plenty of bumper business meetings between buyers and suppliers in a few weeks’ time!”

IMEX in Frankfurt takes place 21 – 23 May 2019. Registration for the show is free of charge and open to all who work in the meetings, events and incentive travel industry. EduMonday takes place the day before the show, on Monday 20 May, and is free to enter following registration for IMEX in Frankfurt.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Emma Ward, emma.ward@imexexhibitions.com ; Chris Lewis, chris.lewis@imexexhibitions.com