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Seychelles trade partners up-to-date with new European regulations

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Mr. Julian Grupp, CEO of Seyvillas, facilitated the workshop, which aim at keeping the tourism professional abreast of the new practices on the European markets and was held on Tuesday June 11, 2019 at Eden Bleu Hotel.

The workshop-a premier on the Island- has been organised by the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) and saw the presence of the Principal Secretary for Tourism- Mrs. Anne Lafortune and Mrs. Sherin Francis, STB Chief Executive.


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The event offer received a very positive response with 125 participants registering for participation from the tourism trade industry including professionals from hotel establishments and Destination Management Companies.

Other participants comprised of representatives of the Seychelles Hospitality & Tourism Association (SHTA), Ministry of Tourism and STB personnel from the Destination Development Department alongside their colleagues from the Trade and Visitors Services department. 

During this workshop, participants were guided on how to improve the Seychelles products in line with the new trends. They were also provided insights on the European law and regulations regarding bookings, cancellations and data privacy.

In her address to the participants, Sherin Francis mentioned her satisfaction to see the event taking place, she stressed on the importance of quality service for the destination.

The STB Chief Executive Mrs. Francis further stated STB’s commitment to increase the market value of the destination by encouraging all partners to keep themselves informed of new trends and regulations at all times.

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“Our constant investment in our destination by facilitating such trainings to our partners is because we believe in the potential of Seychelles to keep growing. We have focused on digital marketing in the past events and we felt that the training regarding European legislations is an important part of making our trade collaborators conversant on the matter as these are the details that make us easily marketable as a destination. We are happy with the interest from the partners on Mahé and Praslin,” said Mrs. Francis.

This STB initiative aims at helping local partners to improve the quality of services they provide to all clients, specially the European travellers topping the visitor’s arrival list.

Subsequently, a session has been organised for the trade partners on Praslin and La Digue with a number of 50 confirmed registered participants. The training will take place at the Pension Fund Building on Thursday June 13, 2019.

MEDIA CONTACT: STB News Bureau, Tel: +248 4 671 354 / +248 4 671 313, stbnews@seychelles.travel  www.seychelles.travel

Malta ranked No.1 European LGBTQ+ travel destination

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ILGA-Europe has announced that Malta has been ranked the number one travel destination on the Europe Rainbow Index 2019 for the fourth year running.

Out of a total of 49 European countries, Malta has been awarded an outstanding 90% in recognition of the laws, policies and lifestyles of the LGBTQ community on the Mediterranean island.

First launched in 2009, the European Rainbow Index monitors both the positive and negative impacts on the LGBTQ community and considers a wide range of factors including legal gender recognition, family and marital issues and rights to asylum. Each European country holds a position on the scale; 100% being the most accurate of respect for human rights and full equality in society, and 0% showing gross violation and discrimination.

2017 saw same sex marriage legalised in Malta, as well as the introduction of gender-neutral passports in 2018. The latter followed Parliament’s approval of the Gender Identity Act in 2015 and ensures people are able to have the gender they identify with officially recognised by the State.

Malta is proud of this recognition and has firmly positioned itself as a vibrant and welcoming destination for all. LGBTQ travel is always a strong focus for the country, and Malta has hosted LGBTQ festivals as well as sponsored and supported Pride both on the island and overseas.

Peter Vella, director UK & Ireland Malta Tourism Authority, said: “Malta has once again been showcased as the number one destination for LGBTQ travellers in Europe. The Maltese have a reputation for kindness and excellent hospitality, and this is absolutely reflected in how they welcome all travellers to the island, including the LGBTQ market. Malta holds a unique combination of traditional and historical culture with a contemporary and welcoming mindset towards LGBTQ travellers and our people continue to set an impressive example for other European countries to follow.”

Media Contact: Georgia Gogarty, Assistant Account Executive, The Brighter Group, Finn Partners, T: +44 (0)20 3917 5224

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

Mediterranean Resort & Hotel Real Estate Forum returns to Greece

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Now in its fifth year, the Mediterranean Resort & Hotel Real Estate Forum (MR&H) will return to Greece for the second year in succession this October. The event, hosted by Questex, is dedicated to the investment, development and operation of resorts and hotels within the Mediterranean region. This niche, but highly specialized area, comprises various elements; hotel, residential, marinas, health clubs, children’s activities, retail, sports facilities, F&B, all of which need to be carefully woven together with seamless operation to create a successful resort.

The conference will be held at the Hilton Athens on the 29-31st October 2019. A fitting venue for Hilton’s celebration of 100 years in hospitality and the continuation of the premise that the group was founded on; “travel can make the world a better place”.

The dynamic growth of tourism in Greece continues to boost investment activity throughout the country and throughout the wider Mediterranean region. Speaking at MIPIM last month, Secretary General for Tourism Policy and Development George Tziallas said; “Half of all funding under Greece’s 2016 development law has been channeled into tourism ventures, while more than 400 investment plans have been submitted in the last three years to the tourism ministry for approval.”

This statement is supported by data recently released by Horwath HTL during the International Hotel Investment Forum (IHIF) which revealed Greece is a prime investment opportunity for international hotel chains as only 1.7% of total units currently operate under an international brand. Results from the joint investor sentiment survey from Tranio and IHIF showed Greece listed as one of the European countries that is most attractive for hotel real estate investment.

Stakeholders from leading operators including Thomas Cook, Club Med and Nobu attend the event alongside investors from KSL, Starwood Capital Group and Dolphin Capital all recognizing the value of coming together as a collective to debate, converse and discuss.

Registration for MR&H 2019 is now open and delegate tickets can be purchased at the best value Early Bird rate until the end of May.

Enterprise Greece have pledged their continued support for MR&H and Grigoris Stergioulis, Chairman & CEO at Enterprise Greece said in relation to the ongoing collaboration; “Building on the success of the event last year, the positive working relationship with Questex and the significant opportunities that exist for investors in the Greek hotel market, we’re thrilled to once again partner with MR&H and look forward to welcoming the event to Greece for the second year.”

Alexi Khajavi, Managing Director of EMEA Hospitality + Travel Group, Questex said; “The tourism and hospitality prosperity that Greece is enjoying is leading to significant activity from serious investors and developers. As a conference host, our role is to facilitate these meetings, connections and interactions in an environment that is educational and energizing. With the continued support from Enterprise Greece, Hilton providing the setting, and amongst very encouraging industry data, we’re confident that MR&H will prove to be an event not to be missed for those currently active or keen to do business within the Mediterranean resort and hotel space”.

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Russia to use Fan-IDs (again) as visas for 2020 UEFA Euro Cup visitors

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Upper house of the Russian parliament, the Federation Council, have passed on Monday a bill allowing foreign tourists with Fan-IDs to travel to Russia without entry visas for matches of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup.

Last week, the bill was passed in the third and final reading by lawmakers from the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, and following today’s approval by the senators, it must be signed into law by the Russian president.

“Within the period, which begins 14 days prior to the first match of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup in Saint Petersburg and ends on the day of the last match [in St. Petersburg], the entrance to Russia for foreign citizens and stateless persons, who come to Russia to watch 2020 UEFA Euro Cup matches, will not require issuance of visas based on identification documents,” according to the explanatory note.

Addressing a government’s session in mid-March, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said that the country planned “to employ the same mechanism we used in the past regarding the issuance and operational rules of Fan-IDs.”

Russia came up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup with an innovation, which was the so-called Fan-ID and was required for all ticketholders. This innovation was successfully tested during the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup in Russia and earned high marks from the world’s governing football body of FIFA.

The Fan-ID played an important security role during the major football tournament in Russia as it granted admittance to the stadiums and also served as visa for foreign visitors to enter the country.

A Fan-ID holder was allowed to enter the country without having a Russian visa and stay for the duration of the global football tournament. Fan-IDs were obligatory, in addition to purchased tickets, in order to attend matches of the 2018 World Cup tournament in Russia.

2020 UEFA Euro Cup

The matches of the 2020 Euro Cup will be held at stadiums in 12 different cities across Europe, namely in London (England), Munich (Germany), Rome (Italy), Baku (Azerbaijan), Saint Petersburg (Russia), Bucharest (Romania), Amsterdam (The Netherlands), Dublin (Ireland), Bilbao (Spain), Budapest (Hungary), Glasgow (Scotland) and Copenhagen (Denmark).

Russia’s second largest city of St. Petersburg was granted the right to host three group stage matches and one of the quarterfinals of the 2020 UEFA Euro Cup.

The decision to hold the 2020 Euro Cup, which will be celebrating its 60th anniversary that year, in various European countries instead of in one or two hosting countries was made at the UEFA Executive Committee’s meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland, on December 6, 2012.

A total of 24 national football teams will be playing in the final tournament of the 2020 Euro Cup. All 55 UEFA national member teams, including 12 teams from the hosting countries, will have to play in the qualifying matches to vie for the berth in the final 24-team lineup of the quadrennial European football championship.

It is possible that some of the national teams from the hosting countries of the 2020 Euro Cup will not be playing on home soil in case they fail to clear the qualifying stage.

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