Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008 - (Page 13)

n WTM news Ignore at our Peril! Marriott Chief Warns WTM Delegates op hotelier, Ed Fuller, President and Managing Director of Marriott International Lodging, will make a stark warning at this year’s WTM World Responsible Tourism Day. Fuller is in the ‘Hot Seat’ with Stephen Sackur, BBC World’s leading news presenter of award-winning global TV programme ‘Hard Talk’. The interview - one of the hard hitting highlights of WTM’s World Responsible Tourism Day on Wednesday Stephen Sackur 12 November (at 12 noon, Platinum Suite 4, Level 3) - is encouraging companies and destinations to undertake responsible tourism. In association with the UNWTO and backed by leading industry associations worldwide, the day is the most ambitious global initiative of its kind. Fuller has promised not to soften his words. “I believe we are standing at a crossroads”, he said. “While the science behind climate change may still be debated, temperatures are rising globally and this change will potentially have a devastating effect on destinations and populations. As an industry, it is too risky to sit back and watch. We need to take an active part in understanding the change and doing our part to mitigate this trend.” He said that Marriott is being proactive. The company is working with Conservation International to fully understand and accurately measure its global carbon footprint. “We have project teams focused on ways to integrate better environmental approaches throughout our business including procurement, architecture and construction, engineering. Our industry is the biggest in the world and promises to grow exponentially over the next 50 years. We cannot ignore the realities. We have a role to play now in reducing our industry’s impact on the air we breathe, the water we drink, and the destinations where we do business.” Fuller said that being a hotelier is not as simple as it was when he started 35 years ago. In addition to revenue, profit and growth, he said there was also a need to focus on destination stewardship. “We are not just selling hotels, but the destination as well. When travelers make their buying decision, they generally do not select a destination because they want to stay in one of our hotels — especially when making leisure travel choices. They pick a destination because they want to experience its cultural or culinary attractions, environmental areas or places of historical significance. I consider it a privilege to operate hotels on pristine beaches, near nature and wildlife reserves and in historic cultural cities – I consider it our duty to protect and preserve these destinations. While we focus on our short-term goals and annual profits, let us not lose sight of the long-term responsibility we have to the places where we call home. I challenge our industry to take ownership for finding viable and creative responses to the causes of climate change and be better stewards of the environment. We can make a difference… we must make a difference.” Visit: www.wtmwrtd.co.uk T Passport to the World he Travel Weekly and World Travel Market Passport Competition is back again this year with another celebrity guest host, Shaun Williamson, of EastEnders and Extras fame, and even more prizes to give away. Produced by Travel Channel, the prize presentation takes place in the central boulevard on the WTM Entertainment Zone stage at 2pm on Thursday 13 November. Participating travel agents must pick-up a personal copy of Travel Weekly’s Passport at the Travel Weekly booth located in the Central Boulevard upon arrival on the Thursday and visit all of the 24 participating stands to learn about their products, gather information and get a stamp to qualify to win. Agents must be present at the prize presentation to win. This year’s competition prizes are sponsored by Air Namibia, Almond resorts, Austin Convention Bureau, Australia Tourism, California Tourism, Driftwood Hospitality & Management, Elite Island Resorts Caribbean, Four Seasons, Greater Fort Lauderdale, Holiday Brokers, Iberostar, Jaz Hotels, New Frontiers, NYC & Co, Occidental Ho- Sonesta Nile cruise can be booked online Sonesta Collection’s online cruise booking engine for consumers and travel agents interested in the Sonesta Nile Cruise fleet is now available at www.Sonesta.com. Via the website, customers can review sailing dates, check availability and book the cruise and ship of their choosing. The corporate reservation office and Nile Cruise sales office are both available for technical assistance with the new system or to provide customer support. With Sonesta’s 12 properties in the region, Sonesta. com enables guests to book their entire Egypt experience from the convenience of their desktop. The renowned 5-star ‘Sonesta Nile Cruises’ provide passengers with memorable, relaxing voyages on the fascinating Nile River, one of the most popular and interesting routes for any traveller, between Luxor and Aswan aboard its five luxurious cruise ships, for 3, 4 or 6 nights. Spacious, fully equipped, luxurious guest cabins and suites with panoramic views are enveloped in a 5-star world of comfort and lavishness, providing guests with a unique contrast between Egypt as witnessed during guided excursions – preserved as 5000 years ago – and the most modern and deluxe facilities offered on-board.On-board activities are endless with several outlets to choose from and daily entertainment including a captain’s cocktail reception, oriental “Galabeya” party and themed nights. Passengers can also unwind at the pool on the sun-deck, treat themselves to a massage, provided by a professional Masseuse aboard, or work out at the fitness suite. WTM Stand ME4000 for Travel Agents T tels and Resorts, Paradise Park Hotels & Resorts, Park Plaza Hotels, Philadelphia CVB & Pennsylvania, Resort Marketing, South African Tourism, Tenerife, Tourism Flanders-Brussels, Trinidad & Tobago, and Uniquely Singapore. The prizes include return airline tickets, 3 - 7 nights accommodation at various hotel providers, 7 nights all-inclusive holiday breaks, a DIY fam trip, a guaranteed place on an exciting super fam, a case of champagne, a selection of Belgian beer and chocolate delivered to your door and a Top Shop voucher. This year’s WTM Travel Agents Day is set to deliver a comprehensive series of educational programmes, fun entertainment, and fabulous prize giveaways. Agents can meet with over 200 representative countries and regions and network with an excellent selection of leading destinations and educational organisations. The day is open to call centre operators, home workers and agency managers - there is something for everyone. Visit: www.wtmlondon.com/agends. www.travelnewseurope.com November 2008 TRAVEL NEWS EUROPE http://www.wtmwrtd.co.uk http://www.Sonesta.com http://www.wtmlondon.com/agends http://www.travelnewseurope.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008

Cover&Contents
NEWS
WTM News Pages
DESTINATIONS - Tanzania
DESTINATIONS - India
BUSINESS - Winter Holidays
BUSINESS - Exhibitions

Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008

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