NEW YORK, Sept. 17, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FCm Travel Solutions is celebrating a triple win at the World Travel Awards after being named the Leading Travel Management Company for North, South and Central America.

The impressive feat was announced at a red carpet awards event at the Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa 14 September.

FCm currently holds the mantle of 'World's Leading Travel Management Company' and earlier this year was also confirmed by the World Travel Awards as the Middle East's Leading Travel Management Company.

Global leader for FCm, Gregory Lording, said the company was delighted to accept the triple honor.

"This is the first time in our company's history that we have taken out all three awards for the Americas region including Mexico and Central America in conjunction with the titles for North and South America," Gregory said.

"We're thrilled to see our winning streak in the World Travel Awards continue after having a stellar year in the awards program in 2011. These awards are testament to the ongoing operational, sales and brand success our business has experienced throughout the region during the past 12 months and we're excited to add these accolades to our list of achievements."

FCm USA President Billy McDonough said congratulations were in order for FCm's travel and account management teams as well as the business's sales teams, which had been working hard to further penetrate the US corporate market.

"FCm USA has performed strongly over the past year, which is a direct result of the hard work and commitment of our teams to providing their customers with the most competitive offering.

"Finding new ways to provide added value to our clients at every stage of the travel booking and buying process, and delivering proactive account management that drives long term savings and cost containment have been key to our success in client retention and acquisition.

"Winning all three titles reiterates that no matter where our clients are based across the Americas or which travel team they're working with, they'll receive the same high quality business travel service throughout our global network."

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FCm Named Top TMC in North, South and Central America

KINGSTON, Jamaica - Jamaica copped numerous awards at the World Travel Awards Americas Gala held at the Beaches Turks and Caicos on September 14.

The awards won by Jamaica and its travel partners includes the Caribbeans Leading Cruise Destination, Caribbeans Leading Cruise Port (Ocho Rios), Caribbeans Leading Airport (Sangster International Airport), Caribbean Leading Activity Operator (Chukka Caribbean Adventures) and the Caribbean Leading Attraction Company (Island Routes).

The award for Caribbean Leading Adventure Excursion Operator went to Dolphin Cove.

Caribbean Leading All-Suite Hotel went to Sandals Royal Plantation.

The Montego Bay Convention Centre won the award for Caribbeans Leading Meetings & Conference Centre while the Caribbeans Leading Meetings & Conference Hotel award went to Half Moon.

Sandals Resorts International was voted Caribbeans Leading Hotel Brand.

The award for Caribbean Leading Boutique Resort went to Goldeneye while Spanish Court in Kingston was adjudged Jamaicas Leading Business Hotel.

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Jamaica dominates World Travel Awards Americas Gala

Photo 1

Sandals Resorts International chief executive officer Adam Stewart (right) receives the World Travel Award (WTA) for Caribbean's Rising Star from Graham Cooke, founder and president of the WTA, as Anastagia Pierre, co-host of the WTA, shares in the moment.

Photo 2

Sandals Resorts International (SRI) CEO Adam Stewart (centre) poses alongside Sandals executives and Graham Cooke (fifth left), president of the World Travel Awards, following the awards ceremony which was hosted at Beaches Turks and Caicos Resort Villages and Spa last Friday.

SRI snagged 15 awards the most among nominees at the glitzy ceremony, billed the 'Oscars of the travel industry' which recognises the finest in the industry in the Caribbean and The Americas.

Sandals, which won the illustrious award as the Caribbean's Leading Hotel Brand, also took top honours as the Caribbean's Leading All-Suite Resort for Sandals Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios, Jamaica; the Caribbean's Leading Honeymoon Resort for Sandals Grande Antigua Resort and Spa; and the Caribbean's Leading Luxury All-Inclusive Resort for Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas.

Fifty awards were handed out at the awards ceremony, which was hosted by former Miss Bahamas Universe Anastagia Pierre and soap opera actor Walt Willey of All My Children fame.

(Photos: Joseph Wellington)

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Sandals wins big at World Travel Awards

14 September 2012

The Travel & Tourism industry in China is substantially bigger than automotive manufacturing and supports almost as many jobs as the mining sector.

This is according to new research from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) sponsored by American Express, released today during a speech by WTTC's President & CEO, David Scowsill, at the 'International Tourism Industry Expo' in Guangdong, China.

The research, undertaken by Oxford Economics, shows that the sector's direct contribution to China's GDP is CNY1.2 trillion which is 13% more than the contribution to the GDP of automotive manufacturing and larger than communications services and the education sector.

Travel & Tourism's total contribution to GDP in China was around 9% of total GDP. This compares to 8% for automotive manufacturing, 7% for education and 5% for communications services.

With 62 million direct, indirect and induced jobs in China, Travel & Tourism supports more jobs than the financial service sector's 48.5 million.

The new research also showed that Travel & Tourism's contribution to GDP is growing faster than most other sectors in China. It will grow by more than 9% over the next ten years, a faster growth rate than the total economy (7.6%).

It highlights that Travel & Tourism is a significant source of exports for revenue for China. In 2011, visitor exports totalled over CNY 300 billion, which was 27% of all service exports and 2% of all exports (including goods and services).

The study also compared the effect of Travel & Tourism spending on GDP and the wider economy.

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Tourism in China contributes more to GDP than automotive manufacturing

TIBURON, Calif., Sept. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Triton Distribution Systems, Inc. (TTDZ) announced today that its subsidiary company, Privileged World Travel Club, Inc. ("Privileged"), filed on September 6, 2012, a resale registration statement on Form S-1 with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC").

Upon being declared effective by the SEC, the resale registration statement will allow the resale of 910,056 shares of the Company's common stock held by certain Selling Stockholders named in the registration statement. The Selling Stockholders are 38 individuals or entities who hold shares of Privilege's Common Stock, including 10 stockholders who received shares in exchange for services rendered to Privileged, and 28 stockholders who received shares in exchange for debts owed by Triton.

The Selling Stockholders are under no obligation to sell the securities. Privileged will not receive any proceeds from the resale of the securities. Additionally, Privileged will take no part in the resale of the securities, and nothing in this press release is intended to convey or communicate an offer to sell the securities by or on behalf of Privileged or Triton.

Privilege's outstanding Common Stock before and after the offering is 18,201,125 shares. No shares of Common Stock are offered by Privileged under the registration statement for sale.

Once the registration statement of which the Prospectus is part has been declared effective by the SEC, and once a public market develops, the Selling Stockholders may sell the Shares indicated above in public transactions or otherwise, on the OTC Bulletin Board (or such other public market as may develop) or in privately negotiated transactions. Those resales may be at the then-prevailing market price or at any other price that a particular Selling Stockholder may negotiate. The Selling Stockholders act independently of one another in making a determination to sell the Shares owned by them and they do not act as or form a group for purposes of their ownership or disposition of the Shares offered hereunder.

The resale registration statement was filed with the SEC but has not yet become effective. The shares of Privilege's common stock that may be resold by the Selling Stockholders under the resale registration statement may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be accepted, before the time the resale registration statement becomes effective. As noted, this press release shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to any registration or qualification under the securities laws of such jurisdiction. Any offer of securities covered by the resale registration statement may be made solely by means of the prospectus included in the registration statement containing specific information about the terms of any such offering.

The prospectus, and the registration statement of which it is a part, are available online at http://www.sec.gov or by request to Privileged at: 1 Blackfield Drive, Tiburon, CA 94920.

Triton Distribution Systems, Inc. owns 8,125,000 shares or 44.64% of Privileged, valued at $8,125,000. The value of the Privileged shares held by Triton is based solely on the exchange price to the former Triton note holders who are Selling Stockholders in the registration statement. No outside valuation has been obtained.)The transactions whereby the shares were issued in exchange for outstanding debt of Triton served to reduce Triton's liabilities by $5,595,500.

Subsequent to this filing, Privileged intends to file an application with FINRA for the public trading of Privilege's Common Stock on the over-the-counter markets (the OTC Bulletin Board and/or the OTC Markets Group, Inc. quotation services). A market maker must file an application on behalf of Privileged in order to make a market for the common stock. Privileged is engaged in preliminary discussions with a FINRA Market Maker to file the application on Form 211 with FINRA, but has not reached a final agreement yet.

ABOUT TRITON DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS, INC. http://www.tritonds.com

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Triton's Subsidiary Company "Privileged World Travel Club, Inc." Files Form S-1 Registration Statement with the SEC

For the first time ever, world travelers spent more than $1 trillion on international tourism activities last year.

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Global Travel Champion

SOURCE: Sara International Travel

Pilgrims From All Over the World Travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj and Umrah -- and Tourism Organizations Are Following Close Behind; Sara International Travel Explains How This Tourism Is Boosting the Saudi Economy

OZONE PARK, NY--(Marketwire - Sep 5, 2012) - GulfNews.com reports that tourism organizations, from booking agents to hotel management companies, are increasing operations in Saudi Arabia in reaction to the surge in pilgrims making their way to the country for Hajj and Umrah. Sara International Travel explains that this boost in tourism is, ultimately, improving the Saudi economy and enhancing the travel options from which visitors can choose.

According to the article, a great deal of demand for improved travel accommodations has been sparked by increased wealth within Islamic countries. The individuals who are making the pilgrimages are able to afford luxury accommodations -- and travel companies are creating supply to meet the demand. According to the article: "The pilgrimage starts with a private jet to an exclusive airport in Saudi Arabia, where passengers are treated to a buffet while travel-company employees process their immigration documents. The visitors are then taken in luxury cars and buses to the InterContinental Hotel overlooking the Grand Mosque in Makkah."

The article asserts that 3 million pilgrims are preparing for the Hajj in October. This increased tourism has created a spike in hotel investment. One of the companies that has invested in property in this region, Blackstone Group's Hilton Worldwide, is looking to more than double its hotel operations in Saudi Arabia. InterContinental will also enhance its presence by increasing its available rooms by an approximate 50 percent. Within the next five years, Hyatt hopes to grow its presence from one hotel to nine.

Ultimately, the article states, "the number of branded hotel beds available [will increase] by 58 per cent in the next few years." For travel booking companies, like Sara International Travel, this will open up new hotels and other accommodations.

"The increase in tourism has proven beneficial for many reasons," asserts Sara International Travel in a recent press statement. "First and foremost, the increased competition allows us to offer better rates to our clients, which they certainly appreciate. Second, it has sparked growth in the Saudi economy. A growing economic landscape will be better able to continue to keep up with not only the needs of pilgrims, but the luxuries that they would like to experience while making their journey."

Sara International Travel is looking forward to this year's Hajj and encourages individuals who are interested in traveling to Saudi Arabia for the event to secure accommodations as soon as possible.

ABOUT:

Sara International Travel offers transportation and accommodation solutions to individuals who are looking to make the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, among other trips. A booking agency, Sara International Travel was founded in 1994 and has provided convenient travel options, superior customer service, and well-developed, comprehensive travel packages to clients in the United Sates, Canada, South America, and the Caribbean. The professionals at Sara International Travel are dedicated to constantly integrating the latest technological resources into their operational procedures, streamlining the booking process and boosting the convenience experienced by clients.

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Sara International Travel: Tourism Associated With Hajj and Umrah Expanding Saudi Travel Resources

4 September 2012

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) is inviting tourism businesses, organisations, and destinations worldwide to apply for its prestigious Tourism for Tomorrow Awards.

Each year, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards recognise global leadership in sustainable tourism best practices. Due to its rigorous three-step judging process involving 22 independent expert judges from all around the world, and including an on-site evaluation of all award finalists, the Awards have become one of the highest accolades in the global Travel & Tourism industry.

Applicants should demonstrate how they are actively engaged in a successful programme of sustainable tourism practices and management, including maximising social and economic benefits for local people, reducing negative impacts to the environment, and supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage in destinations where they operate.

Award applicants may enter in one of four Award categories: Global Tourism Business, Conservation, Community Benefit, and Destination Stewardship and can submit their entries online at http://www.wttc.org/tourismfortomorrow until 26 November 2012.

David Scowsill, President & CEO of WTTC said: "The Travel & Tourism industry has immense influencing power and has the potential to raise awareness and initiate action on the sustainability agenda among consumers, employees, and governments.

With its ninth year under WTTC stewardship, the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards are rewarding top sustainable tourism practices globally. These are outstanding examples, reaching new heights in the world's sustainable tourism advancement."

Finalists and winners receive complimentary flights and accommodation and will be recognised during a gala Awards ceremony which takes place alongside WTTC's Global Summit in Abu Dhabi, UAE on 9 April 2013, attended by Travel & Tourism industry leaders, government representatives and members of the international media.

Costas Christ, Chairman of Judges, stated: "A tremendous amount of work goes into the Tourism for Tomorrow Awards each year. These Awards are truly global in nature, with a team of nearly two dozen judges from all around the world, ranging from indigenous tourism leaders to international sustainable tourism experts, and hailing from Africa, Asia, the Americas and Europe.

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WTTC Launches 2013 Tourism for Tomorrow Awards

Anda Berada di Sini : Dunia Berita

03 September, 2012 16:53 PM

Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo In October

HARARE, Zimbabwe, Sept 3 (Bernama) - More than 60 foreign buyers will take part in Zimbabwe's premier tourism expo, Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel and Tourism Africa Fair this year.

The 4-day annual fair is held from Oct 18 to 21 and showcases a wide variety of Africa's tourism products.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) spokesperson Sugar Chagonda told Zimbabwe's news agency New Ziana that more overseas buyers and exhibitors are expected to register their participation for the expo to be held at the Harare International Conference Centre.

"We have buyers from the UK, Singapore, Italy and US, among others. We are very happy with the response we are getting after our country won the bid to co-host the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) General Assembly in Victoria Falls next year," he said.

The fair will kick off with a street carnival on Oct 17 in the city.

-- BERNAMA

Kami menyediakan langganan berita melalui perkhidmatan Newswire.

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Sanganai/Hlanganani World Travel Expo In October

The McNeill & Thriftway Travel Group is one of the largest independent travel operators based in Northern Ireland and as a subsidiary of Ireland's World Travel Centre, a private company, it is one of the biggest travel businesses in the whole of Ireland.

McNeill & Thriftway has been formed through the merger of three companies - Thriftway, McNeill Rigby Travel and Selective Travel. Thriftway was the family business of Mukesh Sharma, the enlarged group's managing director.

Thriftway was started in 1982 and is Ireland's largest long-haul specialist 'ticket consolidation' business - acting as a wholesaler to re-sell discounted tickets to travel agents. In 2009, Thriftway merged with McNeill Rigby Travel, a provider of corporate travel services with many large corporate clients. Last year, the group acquired Selective Travel, a provider of travel services in both the corporate and retail markets.

Selective is a significant operator in the niche business of providing travel arrangements for universities. It is the sole corporate travel services provider to Queen's University and recently won a contract worth about 35m for the provision of travel services to the Southern Universities' Purchasing Consortium in England. Winning further travel arrangement contracts with English universities is a priority for the Selective division.

While all three businesses are strong and growing impressively, Mukesh Sharma admits that they fail to optimise their marketing opportunities because of the various names used.

"I am currently involved in rebranding the Northern Ireland operation - it is just too messy, with too many names," says Mukesh. The aim is to launch a clearer branding with a single name and a new logo in September. This is likely to also involve some refinement of the product range.

"Our next step now is to amalgamate all these into one premises," continues Mukesh. "We now have almost 40 employees and we are moving into Murray's Exchange [behind Belfast's Europa Hotel]."

Existing services are not restricted to air and other travel tickets, but also include worldwide accommodation and car hire booking. These are arranged through the use of the latest and most sophisticated online booking systems and internal IT systems, including an online booking facility tailored to the needs of individual corporate clients.''

Investment in IT and staff training is central to the business's approach, says Mukesh. "We invest heavily in IT - we always have done so," he says. "We have four in-house IT developers. This is one of the reasons we are so successful with corporate clients."

A valued service to corporates is the Management Information System, MIS, which provides detailed data on business travel expenditure, enabling clients to improve cost control.

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Three into one equals a sunny outlook for travel company

World Travel Holdings Awarded for Leadership and Innovation in Employee EngagementWilmington, Mass. (PRWEB) August 27, 2012 For the second year in a row, World Travel Holdings, the world's leading cruise agency including CruiseOne, Cruises Inc, CruisesOnly, Cruises.com and other leading brands, today announces its recognition as one of the Achievers 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in the United ...

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2nd Year in a Row - World Travel Holdings Named One of the Achievers - 50 Most Engaged Workplaces™ in the United States

With regard to Jan ., 2006 Adidas got Reebok World travel, Ltd., the present day one of a kind homogeneous and then dresses carrier on your Country specific NBA Connections. A quality achat, Adidas started to actually hint an 11am year arrangement in the NBA, overpowering the position of the special cheap authentic jerseysclothes also garment provider. About the second 3 years that step may wind up being advantageous for a lot of events attached. Along with the NBA's tries to bolster their very own world impression, especially with the increase most typically associated with worldwide NBA clubs within a large number of america's appearing getting speedily, that NBA finds an incredible giant within world-wide discovered Adidas subject to accomplish this goal.

It switch also made it feasible for Adidas Service provider to achieve much stronger realization in north america by the NBA affiliation, and Reebok would certainly continue to keep develop and erect all the running shoes which make him or her mistakes regarded store, beneath Adidas acquisition.This process step means any NBA to relocate in advance with an try to offshore promoting of an NBA products and services, and also garment, while at the same occasion increasing the various stores prepared to a worldwide marketplace. Foreign exchange trading is comprised of during 250,000 retail shops for 80 counties, and also earth's only NBA Store found in Right away York Metropolis, in addition to NBAStore.world wide web. nba basketball jerseys Beside the following new pic, typically the NBA is certainly producing important actions with regard to area outreach packages with good cause deposits, which unfortunately continually boost their view across the world, along with getting this NBA far more as opposed to a great "American" past-time, but in addition a globally noticed group, along with substantive connects around the world regional community all in all.

It is only just lately in which the brand new, unusual photo is something that is referred to straight into subject thru New york city Senator, of recent York; the very first, community maker for ones NBA's public jerseys and thus pants for just a portion of the NBA. Stating complications like for example U s of a's great pride with systems produced inside the States, together with the inappropriateness from offering standard nhl jerseys, outside the U . s a great "American" game.During arduous commercial events, particularly at this stage One is and will also be one of the largest QBs inside of NFL track record of the year, often the matter for your reduced jobs which the may supply is a really important dilemma, and 1 of which Senator Schumer appear to be taking advantage of.

Advising that will American's have a nice primary by injection to this NBA in auspices that it is "an United states Sport activity,Half inch Senator Schumer has told you that may to try formulation somewhere else may very well be "an insult for that Western technician and activities NBA devotees everywhere typically."In a time when society has grown to be minor, and therefore conversation has created just about all competitive sports a global futures trading ( blank ) it's a really big method in reverse for this united states to set up saying possession for virtually any definitely one exact outdoor activity. Activities like the as soon as the Western appearance will be fix the problem bruised on account of unusual happenings over the past years, you need to know that all the goals and objectives of your respective NBA really are a very good tip versus re-establishing a number of essential really good can. Sporting events maintain almost always provided not really a experience of indigenous fulfillment, as well as the extracting as a group involving locations. This can be a indication of what come together us all, certainly not all of the competitions the so frequently dissect all of us a part seeing that america's.

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Your NBA finds a perfect goliath on the across the world accepted

'The Owners Cottage at the 5-star, award-winning Grande Provence Heritage Wine Estate, Franschhoek, part of Huka Retreats Huka Lodge in New Zealand and Dolphin Island in Fiji has been nominated once again in the category of South Africas Leading Villa within the 2012 World Travel Awards.

Comments General Manager, Karl Lambour: We are extremely proud to have been nominated for our unique accommodation, The Owners Cottage, which forms part of the exclusive Grande Provence experience - The Restaurant, The Jonkershuis, The Gallery, The Shop and The Tasting Room as well as our fine cuisine and award-winning signature wines.

This year marks the 19th World Travel Awards, which acknowledges excellence within the global travel and tourism industry and is voted by numerous travel agents worldwide.

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'The Owner’s Cottage' in line for World Travel Award

Loading up your mobile device with travel info is great, but how much of it depends on a steady Internet connection? World Travel Guide lets you download clear, informative guides in advance of your trip.

Smartphones and tablets make great travel tools, but many of their best features depend on reliable Internet service. World Travel Guide gives you a smart, lovely backup and may inspire a few side trips with its great overviews of over 200 nations and major cities. Here's how to use it:

World Travel Guide

World Travel Guide details.

That's it! World Travel Guide isn't the only way to find cool things to do, but it is great when you're on your own and off the grid.

Here are some more apps to help you in your travels:

Rob Lightner is a tech and gaming writer based in Seattle. He has reviewed games, gadgets, and technical manuals, written copy for space travel gear, and composed horoscopes for cats.

CNET On The Go. Download the native CNET app for the platform of your choice.

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Download great free travel guides to your mobile device

Kent Earnest, 65, of Washington Twp. is a veteran world traveler. He has visited all 50 states and seven continents.

Antarctica was my last continent, Earnest said. I spent six or seven days on the peninsula in February.

He has traveled about 37,000 miles in the last eight months. He recently returned from a 35-day drive to Alaska and also visited Hawaii last year.

Ive always enjoyed traveling, Earnest said. I started that when I was 18 or 19. I hitchhiked to the Holy Land in college and lived in Bethlehem a few weeks. I so enjoyed seeing different cultures and people that I wanted to add different places.

Earnest does not visit the same place twice, but said he would return to Costa Rica and British Columbia in a heartbeat.

Earnest has been married for nine years, and has five children and 11 grandchildren. He has traveled with his daughters to Africa, and is instilling a love of exploration in his grandchildren.

I made a promise to all of my grandkids that I would take them someplace in the world within reason that we could afford to go, he said.

Earnest is a self-described political junkie and will volunteer until the election. He is also a passionate supporter of University of Kansas basketball. He served in Vietnam as an Army Capt in field artillery in 1969.

The most amazing thing Ive seen is the Amazon River. It makes the Mississippi River look like a creek; it is voluminous and wide. Its just inspiring, Earnest said. Antarctica was a surprise. It was more pristine than I could imagine.

Earnest is planning his next trip to Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. He wants to visit all the Spanish-speaking countries.

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Washington Twp. man focuses on world travel

Cross-Country Skiing in the Alps, the Dolomites, and the Canadian Rockies Provides a Perfect Blend of Outdoor Activity and World Travel with VBT’s Tradition of ExcellenceBristol, VT (PRWEB) August 20, 2012 VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations has announced a new line of cross-country skiing vacations, a wonderful way to bring together an active traveler’s love for the beautiful winter landscape ...

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VBT Bicycling & Walking Vacations Announces New Line of Cross-Country Skiing Vacations

17 August 2012

New plans announced to boost UK tourism are unlikely to have the desired effect unless much more fundamental reforms are implemented, says the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC).

Reacting to plans from Jeremy Hunt, the UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, for an 8m extension of the "GREAT" marketing campaign, and a further 2 million to promote domestic tourism, David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC said:

"Jeremy Hunt should be congratulated for recognising the huge economic and social potential of Travel & Tourism in the UK. His plans to invest in a new domestic marketing campaign to draw on the legacy of the London 2012 Olympics and to specifically target the high-spending Chinese market are sensible options. Figures from VisitBritain show that the average spend per visit of Chinese visitors to UK is 1677, compared to the average spend per visit from all countries of 563.

But, the UK is beckoning tourists with one hand and pushing them away with the other. The UK has the highest air tax of any country in the world. Heathrow and Gatwick are effectively full and there is no discernible long-term aviation policy that will provide the routes to China on the scale being provided by other European countries. UK's visa policy which requires visitors from key growth markets, such as China and India, to go through an expensive, time-consuming and cumbersome process to obtain visas is also a clear deterrent.

Jeremy Hunt is right to want to "turbo-charge" UK tourism, but a much more fundamental reform of visa, taxation and aviation policy is required to make a real difference."

According to WTTC figures, the Travel & Tourism industry is expected to directly contribute 35.6 billion and almost 950,000 jobs to the British economy during 2012. When the wider economic impacts of the industry are taken into account, Travel & Tourism is forecast to contribute over 100 billion to the UK economy and generate 2.3 million jobs or 1 in 13 of all jobs in the UK.

The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global authority on the economic and social contribution of Travel & Tourism. It promotes sustainable growth for the industry, working with governments and international institutions to create jobs, to drive exports and to generate prosperity. In 2011 Travel & Tourism accounted for 255 million jobs globally. At US$6.3 trillion (9.1% of GDP) the sector is a key driver for investment and economic growth. For more than 20 years, the World Travel & Tourism Council has been the voice of this industry globally. Members are the Chairs, Presidents and Chief Executives of the world's leading, private sector Travel & Tourism businesses. These Members bring specialist knowledge to guide government policy and decision-making, raising awareness of the importance of the industry as an economic generator of prosperity.

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Marketing is not the only answer for UK tourism, says WTTC

The Newmarket Young Fashion Designer of the Year Award will be announced and this year's winner will well and truly get to experience all that the real fashion world has to offer.

The grand prize for the winning young designer thanks to Newmarket's Business World Travel will fly to the 2013 L'Oral Melbourne Fashion Festival where they'll be an integral part of the festival backstage team for the week, helping to produce the many shows, and working closely with some of Australia's top designers.

Graeme Lewsey, Chief Executive Officer of L'Oral Melbourne Fashion Festival, is delighted to be working with Newmarket Business Association in providing the 2012 Newmarket Young Fashion Designer Award winner with a once in a lifetime opportunity to experience the international fashion industry up close and personal.

"We're looking forward to giving the winner a unique and inspiring journey through the backstage of Australia's preeminent Fashion Festival, and a glimpse of what it takes to make it at the top of fashion in Australasia," says Lewsey.

Donna Corbel, Marketing Communications Manager of the Newmarket Business Association and Event Organiser says: "This amazing prize will give the winner a brilliant insight into the exciting world of fashion at the highest level."

"It's a wonderful opportunity to experience the logistics of producing a major event with multiple fashion shows, whilst developing a real hands-on experience in the fast paced, glamorous, fashion environment backstage," says Corbel.

"Our hope is that the success of these designers will see them one day choose to open their own gorgeous boutique in Newmarket, New Zealand's fashion capital."

Selecting from the huge pool of talented applicants, 20 amazing finalists will be selected to go through to the next stage, bringing their innovative and contemporary garments to life.

Finalist's garments will be judged by a leading panel of local Newmarket designers and experts in the fashion industry, at the showcase gala evening at Auckland Grammar's Centennial Theatre on Friday 12th October at 7pm.

The Newmarket Young Designer Award winner will also receive a two year scholarship with the prestigious Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, a two week internship with top New Zealand designer Vicki Taylor at the taylor design workroom plus $1,000 spending money to spend whilst in Melbourne for the Fashion Festival. Business World Travel will provide flights and one week's accommodation in central Melbourne for the winner, so that they can stay close to the action for the week.

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Australia'€™s fashion capital to award winner

As millions of travelers descend on London in time for the Olympic Games, many will wait for the hype to die down before visiting London. Just in time for the Olympics, Explore My World Travel have launched a book on where the locals hang out, eat and shop.(PRWEB) July 30, 2012 As millions of travelers descend on London in time for the Olympic Games, many will wait for the hype to die down ...

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Explore My World Travel Offers A Local Savvy Guide To London In Time For Olympics

30 July 2012

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has written to all 27 Finance Ministers in the European Union urging them to recognise the important role of the industry in stimulating economic growth and jobs, while avoiding unproductive knee-jerk tax hikes at a time of austerity.

The letter, written by Dr Michael Frenzel, Chairman of the Executive Board, TUI AG and Chairman, WTTC and David Scowsill, President & CEO, WTTC, reminds Finance Ministers that Travel & Tourism is a key generator of employment across the European Union directly generating 10 million jobs across Europe, substantially more than the automotive manufacturing (3.2 million), mining (3.6 million) and financial services sectors (8.5 million).

'Given the labour intensity of Travel & Tourism, and as the above data shows, Travel & Tourism is one of the few economic sectors which can generate economic growth with jobs,' the letter says. "Travel & Tourism is seen as a 'cash cow', an 'easy source' for generating quick money through new or expanded taxation. However, the evidence suggests that taxing tourism does not reap benefits:

Simple measures can be taken to stimulate Travel & Tourism, increase visitor revenue and therefore jobs. For example, a recent study by WTTC and the World Tourism Organisation showed how improvements in visa policies in G20 countries could increase Travel & Tourism employment by an additional 5 million jobs over three years and generate an additional US$206 billion in tourism exports. This research was presented to the G20 world leaders by President Caldern at the G20 meeting at Los Cabos in June.

The World Travel & Tourism Council is the global authority on the economic and social contribution of Travel & Tourism. It promotes sustainable growth for the industry, working with governments and international institutions to create jobs, to drive exports and to generate prosperity. In 2011 Travel & Tourism accounted for 255 million jobs globally. At US$6.3 trillion (9.1% of GDP) the sector is a key driver for investment and economic growth. For more than 20 years, the World Travel & Tourism Council has been the voice of this industry globally. Members are the Chairs, Presidents and Chief Executives of the world's leading, private sector Travel & Tourism businesses. These Members bring specialist knowledge to guide government policy and decision-making, raising awareness of the importance of the industry as an economic generator of prosperity.

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Don’t over tax tourism – WTTC tells EU Finance Ministers