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 IN CONVERSATION

‘Education of travel trade is the primary goal in India’ By Tadashi Kubo, Senior Travel Industry Marketing Manager, Disney Destinations Intl-Japan
Tadashi Kubo, Senior Travel Industry Marketing Manager, Disney Destinations International-Japan Office talks to TravelBiz Monitor about focus areas in India and new initiatives of Disney Parks
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 IN FOCUS

Rendez-vous en France 2010: Strengthening the French bond
The fifth edition of Rendez-vous en France, held on March 30-31, 2010 at Riviera Cote d’Azur, Nice witnessed a new cycle of regional editions by bringing together French and international professionals, invited by Atout France. TravelBiz Monitor presents highlights of the event
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 GUEST COLUMN

UNIGLOBE Enables Agencies to Deliver the Best of Both Worlds: Online and Offline - Ritika Modi, Regional President, UNIGLOBE Travel South Asia
The rapid market capitalisation of OTAs has put traditional travel agency businesses into a dilemma wherein they are being forced to rethink their business strategy. Should they do away with their people centric business model delivering highly personalised service in favour of a highly sophisticated, technology driven, online travel business model? Is online the only space in which the battle for client acquisition and retention will be fought? Or, will clients move back to traditional travel management? The answers lie in-between - wherein clients will demand best of both worlds.
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This Week's Top Headlines
South African Tourism Board to organise 'Learn South Africa' programme for Indian travel agents in July this year
  According to an IANS report, with an aim to spread more awareness about the region, the South African Tourism Board will organise a programme- Learn South Africa for the Indian travel agents in July this year. ...read more>>
Singapore Tourism Board to appoint Marketing Representatives in Chennai and Bengaluru
  In a strategic move to expand its footprint in India, Singapore Tourism Board (STB) will appoint Marketing Representatives in Chennai and Bengaluru. The Marketing Representatives will assist the Singapore Tourism ...read more>>
Dubai selects India as the first country for M-Visa services
  In a bid to simplify Visa procedures and attract more visitors, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department (DNRD), is ready to implement M-Visa (Mobile Visa). India has been selected as the first country ...read more>>
Goa to open second international airport at Mopa by 2014
  After being mired in controversy for more than four years, Goa government is finally at the end of completing the land acquisition for the second international airport at Mopa in North Goa. According to Swapnil Naik, ...read more>>
Switzerland-based Victoria-Jungfrau Collection keen on strengthening its presence in India
  Switzerland-based Victoria-Jungfrau Collection, a hotel group consisting of five-star hotels in Switzerland, is now aiming at establishing its brand in the Indian market. In order to attract Indian travellers during this holiday ...read more>>
IMEX 2010 to witness significant number of new exhibitors
  IMEX 2010, which will be held on May 25-27, 2010 in Messe Frankfurt, Germany, will witness significant number of new exhibitors at the trade show, as well as increase in the existing exhibitors. ...read more>>
EIHL aims to set up network of sales offices in key international cities in next nine months
  East India Hotels Limited (EIHL), the Indian hotel chain which manages hotels under the brands Oberoi and Trident will focus on restructuring its sales and marketing network globally in the current financial year. ...read more>>
Haryana Cabinet decides to reduce Entertainment Tax
  The Haryana Cabinet has decided to reduce Entertainment Tax (ET) levied on hotels, resorts, clubs and fun and theme parks. Considering the persistent request from hospitality and other related industry associations, ...read more>>
Amadeus IT Holding S.A. sets a price of 11.00 Euro per share for its IPO
  Amadeus IT Holding, S.A. has priced the Initial Public Offering (IPO) of 119,684,662 of its shares at 11.00 Euro per share implying a value of 100 per cent of the company’s equity of 4.93 billion Euro. ...read more>>
RateTiger launches Partner Programme for online travel websites
  RateTiger, by eRevMax International, has launched a Partner Programme that will provide online travel websites the opportunity to become a more integral part of a hotel’s channel management decision process. ...read more>>
Italian designer Giorgio Armani opens first Armani Hotel in Dubai
  According to a PTI report, Italy-based designer Giorgio Armani has formally opened the first Armani Hotel in the world’s tallest tower, Burj Khalifa. The hotel has 160 rooms and 144 private residences. ...read more>>
Singapore witnesses 9.7 million visitor arrivals in 2009: STB
  According to Singapore Tourism Board’s (STB’s) cumulative tourism receipts for January to December 2009 were estimated to reach SGD12.4 billion, a decline of 19 per cent compared to the same period in 2008. ...read more>>
Tourism spending increases to HKD 162.89 billion in 2009: HKTB
  The figures released recently by Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) show that the total expenditure associated to inbound tourism increased by 3.2 per cent year-on-year to HKD 162.89 billion in 2009, ...read more>>
International tourist arrivals up by seven per cent in first two months of 2010: UNWTO
  International tourism is steadily gaining momentum following a challenging 2009. International tourist arrivals grew by seven per cent ...read more>>
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