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Gavel slams: Airbnb not eligible for privileged tax treatment

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A report released on behalf of the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) calls on state and local government leaders to reject Airbnb’s future pursuit of voluntary collection agreements (VCAs) and look to the Wayfair decision as a pathway to cancel current VCA agreements and bring Airbnb up to code with current industry tax standards and regulations.

AHLA released a new report on National Tax Day, conducted by former Director of the Montana Revenue Department Dan Bucks, which clearly demonstrates why the Supreme Court’s Wayfair vs. South Dakota decision last year eliminates the need for state and localities to enter into “voluntary collection agreements” (VCAs) with Airbnb and provides the legal framework and incentive to tax Airbnb like every other U.S. online business now.

“Airbnb no longer qualifies—if it ever did—for privileged treatment by tax agencies as a ‘voluntary collector,’” states Bucks in the report. “This treatment gives Airbnb an unfair advantage in the marketplace by creating a tax and regulatory haven for Airbnb lodging operators. Post-Wayfair, Airbnb’s “voluntary agreements” are now a relic of a past legal premise that no longer exists.”

Bucks urges government leaders to begin the process of terminating existing “voluntary” tax agreements with Airbnb in coordination with state adoption of “general marketplace provider” legislation. Bucks went on to say that disparities between the tax treatment of Airbnb and other online businesses pose a legal risk to states and localities.

“Airbnb has been making back-room deals and strong-arming state and local jurisdictions into ‘voluntary’ tax deals with no transparency, oversight or auditing capability for years,” stated Chip Rogers, President and CEO at AHLA. “Airbnb, and other short term rental platforms need to abide by the same rules as all other law-abiding, tax-paying businesses in the industry.”

AHLA urges state and local government leaders to terminate Airbnb’s voluntary tax deals and instead institute a tax policy that will collect taxes from Airbnb and its operators to ensure an even playing field and transparency for taxpayers. In San Francisco, home of Airbnb’s corporate headquarters, the company agreed to pay back taxes and collect city taxes from its hosts.  AHLA urges other states and localities to follow suit.

“Airbnb’s secret tax agreements are hurting communities across America by shortchanging their schools, infrastructure, and other public services” stated Rogers. “Airbnb’s special treatment needs to end.”

The American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA) is the singular voice representing every segment of the hotel industry including major chains, independent hotels, management companies, REIT’s, bed and breakfasts, industry partners and more.

Travel News | eTurboNews

8 simple ways to save money

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Now and again the hardest thing about setting aside extra cash is simply beginning. This well ordered guide on the most proficient method to set aside some cash can enable you to build up a straightforward and reasonable arrangement to put something aside for objectives, huge or little.

Record your costs

The initial step to setting aside some cash is to make sense of the amount you spend. Monitor every one of your costs—that implies each espresso, family unit thing and money tip. When you have your information, sort out the numbers by classes, for example, gas, perishables and home loan, and all out each sum. Consider utilizing your Mastercard or bank proclamations to assist you with this. Bank of America customers can utilize the Spending and Budgeting instrument, which naturally classifies your exchanges for simpler planning in the versatile application or on the web.

Make a financial plan

When you have a thought of what you go through in a month, you can start to compose your recorded costs into a useful spending plan. Your financial plan should layout how your costs measure up to your salary—so you can design your spending and breaking point overspending. Notwithstanding your month to month costs, make sure to factor in costs that happen consistently yet only one out of every odd month, for example, vehicle upkeep. You can contrast your financial plan with those of individuals like you with the Deals Knob Spending Analysis Tool.

Plan on setting aside extra cash

Since you’ve influenced a financial plan, to make a reserve funds class inside it. Attempt to spare 10 to 15 percent of your salary. On the off chance that your costs are high to the point that you can’t spare that much, it may be an ideal opportunity to reduce. To do as such, recognize unnecessary items that you can spend less on, for example, diversion and eating out, and discover approaches to save money on your fixed month to month costs.

Tip: Consider the cash you put into reserve funds a customary cost, like basic needs, to strengthen great investment funds propensities.

Pick something to put something aside for

A standout amongst the most ideal approaches to set aside extra cash is to set an objective. Begin by considering what you should need to put something aside for—maybe you’re getting hitched, arranging a get-away or putting something aside for retirement. At that point make sense of how a lot of cash you’ll need and to what extent it may take you to spare it. On the off chance that you have a Bank of America account, you can utilize the Picture My Goals apparatus to set up and keep tabs on your development toward your objectives in the portable application.

Settle on your needs

After your costs and salary, your objectives are probably going to have the greatest effect on how you assign your investment funds. Make sure to recall long haul objectives—it’s imperative that anticipating retirement doesn’t take a rearward sitting arrangement to shorter-term needs. Figure out how to organize your reserve funds objectives so you have a reasonable thought of where to begin sparing. For instance, on the off chance that you realize you’re going to need to supplant your vehicle sooner rather than later, you could begin putting cash away for one at this point.

Pick the correct instruments

In case you’re putting something aside for momentary objectives, consider utilizing these FDIC-safeguarded store accounts:

Investment account

Declaration of store (CD), which secures your cash for a fixed timeframe at a rate that is normally higher than bank accounts

For long haul objectives consider:

FDIC-guaranteed singular retirement accounts (IRAs), which are charge effective bank accounts

Securities, for example, stocks or common assets. These venture items are accessible through speculation accounts with an intermediary seller. Keep in mind that securities are not safeguarded by the FDIC, are not stores or different commitments of a bank and are not ensured by a bank. They are liable to speculation dangers, including the conceivable loss of your important.

Tip: You don’t need to pick only one record. Take a gander at all of your alternatives and consider things like parity essentials, charges and loan fees so you can pick the blend that will enable you to best put something aside for your objectives.

Make sparing programmed

Practically all banks offer mechanized exchanges between your checking and investment accounts. You can pick when, how much and where to exchange cash or even split your immediate store so a bit of each check goes straightforwardly into your investment account. Part your immediate store and setting up robotized exchanges are straightforward approaches to set aside extra cash since you don’t need to consider it, and it for the most part lessens the compulsion to spend the cash.

Watch your investment funds develop

Audit your financial plan and check your advancement consistently. Not exclusively will this assistance you adhere to your own reserve funds plan, yet it likewise causes you recognize and fix issues rapidly. These basic approaches to spare may even rouse you to spare more cash each day and hit your objectives quicker.click here

5 Tips for Saving Money When You Have Low Income

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A large portion of us need to set aside extra cash so we can manufacture riches and plan for what’s to come. We have objectives we need to achieve (like voyaging) or things we need to purchase (like a fantasy home). In any case, this can appear to be unimaginable when you’re making due on low salary.

As indicated by CNN, 25 million American family units are living check to check. At the point when cash is tight, sparing any sum can be the keep going need on your rundown. You’re simply attempting to get by.

So how would you spare more cash when you’re making the lowest pay permitted by law? How might you achieve your money related objectives on a low pay?

With regards to funds, it’s imperative to consider the now well as what’s to come. Regardless of whether you’re winning a lowest pay permitted by law, you can in any case spare gradually.

  1. Handle High-Interest Debt First

So as to begin sparing more, you need to handle your obligation head-on. Explicitly high-financing cost from individual advances, or Mastercards, on the grounds that they compel you to pay silly expenses and intrigue charges.

While satisfying obligation, you need a feasible, yet moving arrangement to pay it off. Begin by organizing your obligation so you’re satisfying the ones with most noteworthy intrigue first.

At that point, as you go ahead, abstain from collecting any increasingly high intrigue obligation, particularly Mastercards.

  1. Chop down Your Biggest Expenses

Attempting to set aside extra cash when you have low salary can be troublesome. Some of the time it feels difficult to chop down even a dollar or two consistently.

Beside the standard cash sparing thoughts, such as preparing suppers at home and dropping your link bill, what more you can do? Rather than endeavoring to reduce your little costs, center around the bigger ones so you can make to a greater extent a huge effect.

For a great many people, lodging costs will in general be greatest piece of their costs. In case you’re leasing, think about scaling back to a littler home or living with flat mates.

On the off chance that you claim your home, take at take a gander at whether renegotiating your home loan for a lower rate would be gainful. You can likewise lease a room or parking space for extra salary.

David’s Note: Make beyond any doubt to comprehend the terms of a renegotiate however. What for the most part happens is that alongside a diminished regularly scheduled installment, a renegotiate likewise broadens the advance term. Be OK with the way that it will take you longer to pay the credit off if this is the alternative you pick. Additionally make sure to search for the best arrangement, in light of the fact that there are a huge amount of individuals willing to enable you to get a renegotiate and some will charge short of what others for their administrations.

What’s more, I know Connie just said to deal with the huge stuff, however I contend that you have to remove the little stuff as well, particularly if the expenses are repeating like a satellite TV bill. Do you completely need to pay for it? There are numerous approaches to diminish the TV membership expenses, and it just requires negligible exertion for a sizable advantage.

  1. Exploit Free Money

Exploit “free cash” when you can. As a family with low salary, you may meet all requirements for the earned pay charge credit (EITC). As indicated by the IRS site, the EITC, can be a vast discount on your charges, helping you keep a greater amount of what you earned. Once in a while even as much as a couple of thousand dollars.

You ought to likewise investigate a 401K at work and check whether your organization coordinates to a specific level of your commitment.

On the off chance that they do, you should exploit it and begin sparing however much as could be expected. The organization coordinate is essentially free cash that will enable you to spare towards retirement.

  1. Keep Your Budget Lean

To spare more, you need to assume responsibility for the amount you spend. Pick the classes you need to enjoy, and keep the remainder of your financial plan as lean as could be allowed. You’ll need to make forfeits yet it’s certainly feasible.

Simply figure out how to spend with some restraint. For example; cut back on how regularly you eat out. You can even now appreciate a decent supper at an eatery, just not on different occasions seven days.

  1. Begin a Side Hustle

On the off chance that you can’t cut expenses any longer than you as of now have, consider expanding your pay by beginning a side hustle to procure additional cash. Beside your all day work, you can find a new line of work as an afterthought to give another pay source.

Many side hustles should be possible ideal from your very own home in your extra time. Consider what you’re great at doing, what sort of interests can gain cash, or what you as of now appreciate that can be transformed into a side employment.

Prominent side hustles incorporate independent composition, information passage, and visual communication.

Setting aside some cash when you make the lowest pay permitted by law is absolutely hard yet should be possible. It’s imperative to comprehend what your needs are, and make a qualities based spending and sparing arrangement.

When you do, you’ll be more brilliant and savvier with how you burn through cash and eventually, have the capacity to spare more.

What’s another method to spare more cash while procuring the lowest pay permitted by law? What are a few strategies you’ve attempted in the past when your pay was low?

Need more tips? Begin a financial plan.

Spending plans, cash following, and cautious contemplated your spending are most vital when you have next to no cash. Supposing you’re unreasonably poor for a financial plan is a method for maintaining a strategic distance from intense choices. Be that as it may, settling on those troublesome decisions will really enable you to feel more in charge and more joyful about your accounts.

In case you’re living on the monetary edge, attempt these planning techniques to ensure that you control your cash, as opposed to the other way around:

  1. Make companions with your schedule. It doesn’t make a difference whether you utilize the cat themed divider logbook you got for Christmas, an electronic timetable, or the date-book on your telephone—however you should start to arrange your cash as indicated by time. Record when you get your check, when bills are expected and when programmed installments are made. This can assist you with finding the dainty spots in your accounts amid the month.

From that point, you can frequently demand changes to due dates so as to verify that you have the cash when you need it. For instance, in the event that you realize that having “additional” money in your financial records will be a lot of an allurement, move your bill due dates to concur with your checks, so any cash remaining after bills are paid isn’t required for the following round of costs.

  1. Track you’re going through for a month. Your following stage is ludicrously basic, but then it tends to be extremely hard to do. For a whole month, record each and every penny that you spend. Regardless of whether you run low-tech with pen and journal close by, or cutting edge by utilizing a free cash following project on the web or your cell phone, a month of following will give you a vastly improved thought of where your cash goes.

Another positive reaction of following your spending is that it gives you a minute to consider your buys before you make them. You may very well stroll on by the bistro when you understand you would prefer truly not to record the expense of $4 espresso on your following sheet.

  1. Cut reasonably. When you know for what reason there’s an excessive amount of month left toward the finish of your cash, you’ll comprehend what to remove of your month to month uses to return to living inside your methods. A few cuts will be simple. Eatery dinners and titbits can be removed for cooking at home. Protection expenses can be made progressively sensible by raising your deductibles. Administrations you don’t utilize—like that exercise center enrolment or the additional information plan on your telephone—ought to likewise be on the hacking square.

In any case, remember about cutting expenses in essential territories, too. You can regularly bring down your utility instalments by ensuring you turn off lights and unplugging power vampires, for instance.

  1. Begin making arrangements for sparing at this point. Having a backup stash is a basic piece of being monetarily sound, so begin to plot a way to put something aside for it regardless of whether you can’t extra the change at the present time. That way, you can begin adding to investment funds when you don’t come up short on check.
  2. Increment your salary. In the event that you have sliced your spending deep down are as yet experiencing difficulty bringing home the bacon, at that point it’s a great opportunity to think about different wellsprings of pay. That could mean requesting extra time at work, beginning a side hustle, auctioning off a portion of your assets, or searching for increasingly worthwhile work.

On the off chance that you need to live inside your methods, you should be aware of your salary and spending. Something else, it’s difficult to get off the cycle of living starting with one check then onto the next.

Labeled as: Better Yourself, Debt, Frugality, Investing, Make Money, Saving Money

Supervisor’s Note: I’ve started following my advantages through Personal Capital. I’m just utilizing the free administration up until now and I never again need to sign into all the distinctive records just to pull the numbers. What’s more, with a solitary screen demonstrating every one of my benefits, it’s a lot simpler to make sense of when I have to rebalance or where I remain on the way to money related autonomy.

They built up this truly clever 401K Fee Analyzer that will demonstrate to you whether you are paying a lot in charges, just as an Investment Checkup device to help decide if your advantage portion accommodates your hazard profile. The stage truly takes a couple of minutes to join and it’s allowed to use by following this connection here. For those endeavoring to fabricate riches, Personal Capital merits a look.

Proof-reader’s Note: Did you think about the administration called $5 dinner plans? For $5 per month, they send you formulas of flavorful, sound, yet shabby sustenance that costs just $5 a dinner.

A few of my companions joined and they can eat at home more on the grounds that the guidelines are anything but difficult to pursue, making everything helpful. The arrangement additionally accompanies shopping for food records, which spares them so much time. Look at it yourself by clicking here and you excessively might almost certainly spare more and become more advantageous in the meantime.click here

American Tourist Kidnapped in Uganda: African Tourism Board in action with expert Dr. Peter Tarlow

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Not only leopards were roaming Queen Elizabeth National Park today, but criminals who kidnapped an elderly American tourist in the park today, and put the well-organized travel and tourism industry in Uganda on edge.

The Uganda Ministry of ICT & National Guidance issued this statement:

Yesterday, Tuesday 2nd April 2019 four armed men not yet identified between 5,00pm and 7,00pm staged an ambush and kidnapped an American Tourist with his Ugandan driver near Katoke gate in the Queen Elizabeth National Park.

Four other four tourists who were left abandoned and unharmed later contacted the base (lodge) and were quickly moved to safety.

A joint operation by the Uganda Police, Uganda Peoples Defense Forces (UPDF) and Uganda Wildlife Authority Game Wardens is underway to locate and rescue them.

The priority at this point is to locate, rescue and bring them back safely.

eTN talked to Lilly Ajariva. She is a Ugandan conservationist and tourism expert. She is the Chief Executive Officer of the Uganda Tourism Board, the Ugandan government agency that is charged with promoting the country as a tourism destination. She was appointed to that position on 10 January 2019.

When asked why an American Tourist was picked by the kidnappers, Ms. Ajarova thinks the selection was based on the age and not the nationality.

eTN reached out to Dr. Peter Tarlow, head of safertourism.com 

Dr. Peter Tarlow

Dr. Peter Tarlow is also the security and safety expert for the newly-founded African Tourism Board and will be speaking at their launch event in Cape Town next week. Peter is scheduled to meet with UTB CEO Lilly Ajarova to discuss any assistance the Africa Tourism Board can give in this situation.

Dr. Tarlow told eTurboNews: “The tragic kidnapping that recently occurred in Uganda should not be seen as indicative of overall safety in Uganda.

“Very much to the contrary, Uganda has been known over the decades to be a safe and secure destination. Unfortunately, there are bad people in every part of the world and travel implies risk.

“However, Uganda cannot afford to rely on its recent past but must show the world what it is doing in the future.

“Despite the fact that the situation is very fluid and the facts, at midnight Uganda time is still unclear, there are a number of things that Uganda can do immediately and in the short and long term to mitigate the damage to its reputation.

“These suggestions come from my long-term work with Aruva after the Natalie Holloway case and with kidnapping issues both in Mexico and in Latin America.”

With limited data, the African Tourism Board security expert suggests the following, and as more data becomes apparent, additional information will be provided.

We urge Uganda Tourism Officials to:

1)  Tell the truth. Under no circumstance, minimize, become defensive or refuse to accept the severity of the situation. Do not lie to reporters.

2)  Have one person be the tourism spokesman or woman and funnel all information through that person.

3)  If the information is not yet known, state that facts and then state that there will be regularly-scheduled updates. Give specific times and locations.

4)  Have the military of a police officer standing next to the spokesperson to indicate that this is a serious matter.

5)  Make sure that it is clear that the government is working with all foreign embassies and updating them on a regular basis.

6)  Indicate that Uganda is working with the visitors’ families and will do everything that is needed to help the family.

7)  Announce that there is a special unit at work (assuming this unit exists) that deals with hostage rescue and recovery. If it does not exist, then contact friendly foreign governments that have experience in this matter.

We hope for the short term that Uganda:

1)  Announces that the country is doing an update on its risk management.

2)  Gets articles in the media that speak about Ugandan positives.

3)  Indicates that the perpetrators will be found and that they will suffer the full consequences of the law.

4)  Opens a foreign visitor hotline so that all visitors can get up-to-date information.

5)  Announces that the Ugandan tourism police will be opening (or strengthening) their tourism police unit and that they will receive additional training.

6)  Make it clear that Uganda tourism is working with international boards such as the African Tourism Board  (ATB) and that there will be exchanges of information between the African tourism bureaus through the ATB.

Juergen Steinmetz, the interim chair of the African Tourism Board, said: “We are standing by to assist Uganda and are in touch with UTB and our security expert Dr. Peter Tarlow. We will be meeting with Lilly next week in Capetown and hope this crime will be resolved at that time and that our fellow American tourist is returned safely. I am confident Dr. Tarlow can be of great assistance to Uganda Tourism and for the African continent when it comes to safety and security.”

More information on African Tourism Board: www.africantourismboard.com
More information on Safer Tourism: www.safertourism.com

Travel News | eTurboNews

Middle East visitors to Egypt to increase 50% by 2022, ATM report reveals

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Arrivals from the Middle East to Egypt are expected to increase 50% from 1.49 million in 2018 to 2.23 million in 2022 with visitors from Saudi Arabia driving this growth, according to data published ahead of Arabian Travel Market 2019, which takes place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 28 April – 1 May 2019.

While arrivals from Europe are expected to be the largest contributor on a regional basis, increasing from 6.2 million in 2018 to 9.1 million tourists in 2022, the latest research from Colliers International revealed arrivals from the Middle East will actually witness the highest Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) at 11%.

Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “Over the last 12 months, Egypt’s tourism industry has witnessed healthy and steady growth, with arrivals up 14.5% from 8.3 million in 2017 to 9.5 million in 2018. Growth has been fuelled by the cheaper Egyptian Pound and government incentives for charter airlines operating international flights.

“Adding to this, we are witnessing this growth first hand at ATM with the total number of attendees coming from Egypt increasing 16% YoY.”

Taking advantage of this resurgence in tourists are some of Egypt’s most prominent tourism companies including Dana Tours, Nicolas Tours and Standard Tours who will exhibit at ATM 2019 – and of course the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Board who will have a major presence too.

Egypt tourism capital investment is estimated to reach US$ 4.2billion (EGP 75bn) in 2019, up 25 per cent on 2018, as the country strives to keep pace with an ongoing leisure travel boom and GDP growth.

The data from Colliers revealed that Egypt’s total tourism revenue will increase at a CAGR of 16.5% between 2018 and 2022 – outperforming the business segment. During 2017 and 2018, the leisure spend was US$ 13.79billion (EGP 239bn) and US$ 16.67billion (EGP 289bn) respectively, while business totaled US$ 1.93billion (EGP 33.5bn) and US$ 2.36billion (EGP 41bn) over the same period.

“The overall revenue generated by the leisure segment in 2018 represented 87% of total tourism spend and we expect this growth to continue as a series of new government and private sector attractions and investments are unveiled – including the development of new airports and new luxury hotel resorts in Red Sea destinations Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada,” Curtis said.

Egypt has a diverse range of source markets – decreasing the risk of being over-reliant on one specific market. Germany, Russia, the UK and Italy are Egypt’s top four source markets, with the first and last in top gear – both growing 29% in 2018 – and showing the highest CAGR growth of 11%.

The UK, which recorded just a 4% increase in arrivals between 2017 and 2018, has traditionally been a long-standing major source market for the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh. However, an ongoing ban on direct flights between the two destinations has stifled visitor numbers.

Curtis added: “It is hoped the recent resumption of Serbian flights to Sharm El Sheikh after a six-year absence and the introduction of Turkish Airlines’ daily flight from Moscow to the Red Sea via Istanbul, will kick-start direct flights between the UK and Egypt, and of course Russia and Egypt.”

ATM, considered by industry professionals as a barometer for the Middle East and North Africa tourism sector, welcomed over 39,000 people to its 2018 event, showcasing the largest exhibition in the history of the show, with hotels comprising 20% of the floor area.

Brand new for this year’s show will be the launch of Arabian Travel Week, an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including ATM 2019, ILTM Arabia, CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa – a new route development forum and new consumer-led event ATM Holiday Shopper. Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from 27 April – 1 May 2019.

About Arabian Travel Market (ATM)

Arabian Travel Market is the leading, international travel and tourism event in the Middle East for inbound and outbound tourism professionals. ATM 2018 attracted almost 40,000 industry professionals, with representation from 141 countries over the four days. The 25th edition of ATM showcased over 2,500 exhibiting companies across 12 halls at Dubai World Trade Centre.  Arabian Travel Market 2019 will take place in Dubai from Sunday, 28th April to Wednesday, 1st May 2019. To find out more, please visit: www.arabiantravelmarket.wtm.com.

About Arabian Travel Week

Arabian Travel Week is an umbrella brand comprising four co-located shows including Arabian Travel Market and ILTM Arabia as well as CONNECT Middle East, India and Africa – a new route development forum launching this year and ATM’s first ever consumer event – ATM Holiday Shopper. Providing a renewed focus for the Middle East’s travel and tourism sector – under one roof over the course of one week – the inaugural Arabian Travel Week will take place at Dubai World Trade Centre from Saturday 27th April – Wednesday 1st May 2019. For more information visit: arabiantravelweek.com

About CONNECT

CONNECT Route Development Forum delivers a total networking experience, bringing together airports, airlines and aviation suppliers in a format that offers formal one-to-one pre-arranged meetings, engaging industry seminars together with social opportunities to cement relationships with existing clients and engage with new ones. Created and organised by The Airport Agency-France, CONNECT is now in its 16th year and set to attract over 650 participants in June 2019 at its flagship event taking place in Cagliari, Sardinia. For more information, visit: www.connect-aviation.com

The inaugural CONNECT Middle East, India & Africa event will be the first and only networking forum in the Middle East. Ideally located in Dubai to address the booming aviation market of the Middle East, it will bring together the aviation and the tourism industry which are the backbone and catalyst to economic development. For more information, visit: www.connect-aviation.com/2019-meia/

About ATM Holiday Shopper

ATM Holiday Shopper is the brand-new travel event for consumers offering the very best travel and tourism discounts and deals plus the chance to learn about a range of emerging and unexplored destinations and activities from destinations around the world.  The inaugural event will take place in Hall 1 of the Dubai World Trade Centre on Saturday, 27th April 2019 from 12:00 – 20:00. For more information, visit: www.atmholidayshopper.com

About ILTM Arabia

International Luxury Travel Market Arabia is an exclusive event for those looking to attract HNW travellers from the Middle East to their destination. Returning for its third year, ILTM will allow international luxury suppliers and key luxury buyers to connect via one-to-one pre-scheduled appointments and networking opportunities. ILTM will take place on Sunday 28th April and Monday 29th April 2019. For more information, visit: www.iltm.com/arabia/

Travel News | eTurboNews

Strongest year-by-year growth in a decade expected

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The number of business trips and the cost of those trips is set to rise in 2019, according to the 14th annual International Travel Management Study (22 October 2018). Almost half (45 percent) of the 777 corporate travel managers surveyed by AirPlus in 24 countries expect their company to travel more in the year ahead. That figure is up from 35 percent in 2018 and the highest since the global financial crisis of the late 2000s.

Only 10 percent of travel managers believe their company will travel less, while 44 percent expect no change. India is the country where the highest number of travel managers (83 percent) forecast more trips in 2019. In contrast, 33 percent of Russian travel managers, more than any other country, predict less travel.

Travel managers are economic optimists

Almost half (46 percent) of travel managers expect the global economy to affect business travel positively in 2019. That is well up on last year (27 percent) and the highest figure in the six years the study has asked this question. Only 16 percent of travel managers expect the economy to affect business travel negatively, down from 20 percent in 2018.

The optimism among travel managers may seem surprising given several risks threatening to slow the global economy in 2019, including Brexit, slower growth in the Chinese economy and international trade disputes. But at time of writing the International Monetary Fund’s 2019 forecast is for global GDP growth of 3.5 percent (slower than 2018 but still a relatively high figure), and business travel volume and GDP have long been shown to correlate.

Expect business travel to cost more in 2019

The almost inevitable consequence of more travel is more cost, and sure enough, 51 percent of travel managers expect their company to increase its travel spend in 2019 — up from 41 percent in 2018.

“Our travel managers’ prediction of increased corporate travel highlights the importance that business travel has gained over the years. Regardless of any possible positive or negative effects of the global economy, travel managers consider business travel to be necessary and essential in order to gain new business and meet corporate challenges”, says Yael Klein, a marketing director. “But more travel also means companies need to pay increased attention to controlling their rising spend. Luckily, there are many excellent tools and techniques to help track and manage travel spend. 2019 is definitely the year to put these good travel management practices in place, or review them if you already have a strong managed program.”

Action points recommended to control budgets include:

  • Make sure you have a good corporate payment solution providing the best possible travel spend data.
  • Review your policy to identify fresh potential savings.
  • Re-visit your supplier deals. If you have more spend, you also have more spending power.
  • Communicate. Tell your travelers that costs are increasing

Travel News | eTurboNews