News

Pangaea Network member in Madrid The Blueroom Project, has as part of their role as the representative of Thailand Tourism in Spain, driven the development of a new air route. After many months of intensive work, and with a strategic vision to bring the jewel of Southeast Asia closer to Spain, Ávoris Corporación Empresarial, with the institutional support of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), has inaugurated an exclusive new direct air route connecting Madrid and Bangkok operated by Iberojet.

Starting on 30 May 2024, the airline will operate a direct flight between Madrid and Bangkok from May and December, using an Airbus A350-900 with a 432-passenger capacity. This new route coincides with revised visa conditions which extends the stay for Spanish passport holders from 30 to 60 days in Thailand.

The Blueroom Project has acted as the representative of Tourism Thailand in Spain for more than 25 years providing a full range of services including PR, marketing and trade relations. The main objective is to increase awareness of Thailand as a holiday destination among Spaniards, increase visitor numbers to the Kingdom from Spain, and position Thailand as a multi-faceted destination featuring a wide range of experiences.

Pangaea Network member in the Nordics, United Spirit Nordic organised a fam trip for 6 leading tour operators to Vietnam for their client Destination Asia and in partnership with Emirates Denmark. The fam trip showcased the DMC’s products and enabled the agents to experience services and products first-hand.

The journey began with a comfortable flight courtesy of Emirates and once in Hanoi the agents experienced the vibrant energy of the Old Quarter, where streets are alive with history, culture, and delicious street food. The agents transferred to spectacular Halong Bay where they cruised among the famous limestone karsts and emerald waters. A scenic cycle tour around Cat Ba Island showcased the lush landscapes and serene ambience of Halong Bay’s largest island, while also providing a striking contrast to the bustling city of Hanoi and ensuring the agents enjoyed a well-rounded taste of Vietnam’s diverse offerings.

United Nordic Spirit is the leading Nordic public relations, sales, and marketing agency specialising in travel and tourism. From headquarters in Copenhagen they help global brands in hospitality, aviation, tourism, and lifestyle enhance their reputation and effectively grow their business.

Hotel stays flat and short-term rentals up 41% YOY finds Phocuswright who published its latest consumer analysis Spain Consumer Travel Report 2024. According to the report, for Spanish travellers, hotels remain the overall lodging of choice, with short-term rentals (STR) a distant second despite STR usage increasing considerably over the prior year, closing the gap somewhat.

Both hotels and STRs are chosen primarily for price, location and value, but hotels also see a unique benefit from their star-ratings systems. STRs are more often selected for things like privacy, home-like feel and positive reviews.

Booking wise, OTAs are the dominant hotel booking channel among Spanish travellers. Overall, the largest drivers of any hotel channel, whether direct or indirect, are price and convenience, with those booking direct more likely to cite supplier brand preference or redeeming loyalty points, and those choosing to book indirect influenced more by convenience and easier comparisons between hotels.

The report, based on a survey of Spanish leisure travellers, provides a comprehensive range of data and analysis on the trip lifecycle for consumers in Spain.

The report answers key questions including:

What does the average Spain traveller look like? How many trips do they take per year, where do they go, with whom, for how long, and how much do they spend?
What resources – online and offline – do Spanish travellers use to research, plan and book their trips?
How do preferences differ across age groups?
How do travellers make decisions about various elements (e.g., air, hotel and activities) of their trips?
What role does social media play in Spanish consumers’ travel planning activities?
What is the sentiment towards future travel? What changes, if any, do Spain travellers intend to make regarding their future travel?

To find out more visit: www.phocuswright.com

Photo by Henrique Ferreira

To support the launch of a new bi-weekly flight between Nice and Alicante operated by easyJet, Pangaea Network member in France Travel-Insight organised a B2B workshop event in Nice. The objective was to reach local travel agencies and media, promote the beauty, diversity and vibrancy of Alicante and highlight the city’s hotel partners.

Travel-Insight secured a suitable venue at a restaurant in central Nice and organised the event which was supported throughout by the Travel-Insight team. Quality French travel agents were recruited via Travel-Insight’s database, a press release was written and distributed to trade media and invitations extended for local media to attend the event. A typical ‘Alicante’ menu completed the day with produce imported from Alicante to ensure the Mediterranean flavours and lifetstyle of the city were conveyed.

After the event thorough follow-up took place with all attendees and press, and a report presented to the client. The event was a resounding success with 35 attending including tour operators, travel agents, government officials and partners from Alicante.

Pangaea Network member for Spain, The Blueroom Project, continues to collaborate with Pangaea’s partner in China to strengthen the position of the stunning city of Valencia in Spain, on social networks in China

In a market as complex and demanding as China, this successful international collaboration has enabled Valencia to be featured on the most important and influential social networks in China including Weibo and WeChat, an example of The Blueroom Project’s expertise in tourism marketing and communication services globally.

Over the last three decades Arabian Travel Market has become a leading global event enabling growth for the travel and tourism industry. In a world where travel transcends boundaries and business opportunities await, there is a place where global travel and tourism visionaries unite. A platform where leisure blends seamlessly with business, MICE & luxury travel and global leaders come to feel the future.

Pangaea Network will be attending ATM 6-9 May 2024, Dubai – if you would like to meet, please get in touch via the “Contact Us” link below to arrange a meeting.

Image: Copyright THE-COOL-BOX Studio

New reports from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) and Microsoft highlights the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its role in shaping the future of Travel & Tourism.

The final two reports of a series on Artificial Intelligence from WTTC entitled “Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI): Overview of AI Risks, Safety & Governance” and “Artificial Intelligence (AI): Global Strategies, Policies & Regulations,” underscore a commitment to a digital future that prioritises safety, ethical considerations, and responsible AI adoption. Launched during the global tourism body’s participation at the UN General Assembly in New York, these reports mark significant milestones in WTTC’s mission to promote innovation and excellence in customer experiences through the safe and trustworthy integration of AI.

“Responsible Artificial Intelligence (AI)” delves into the potential risks associated with AI deployment and offers strategies for establishing frameworks that promote transparency, accountability, and fairness. From addressing bias and discrimination to ensuring human oversight of AI systems, this report empowers organisations to harness the power of AI responsibly. In the fourth and final instalment, “Artificial Intelligence (AI): Global Strategies, Policies & Regulations,” WTTC provides a detailed overview of the AI ecosystem across key countries and international organisations. It shows how policymakers are navigating the AI landscape and shaping regulations and strategies to foster AI innovation, while ensuring its ethical and responsible use.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “In a rapidly evolving landscape, AI emerges as a catalyst for positive change. The insights provided in these reports demonstrate that AI is not just a technological advancement; it is a strategic tool that can personalise customer experiences, drive sustainable improvements, and shape the future of Travel & Tourism.

“AI is already being used across our sector with incredible results. Several major hotel groups including Iberostar are using AI to monitor and reduce food waste, which recently resulted not only in a 27% cost saving but prevented thousands of kilos of unwanted food going to landfill. “

Julie Shainock, Managing Director, Travel, Transport, & Logistics Industry for Microsoft said: “We are seeing AI being embraced across the entire travel eco-system enhancing the customer experience, the employee experience and also driving more efficiency in operations, but we know we are only at the beginning of the journey.

“We are excited to see what the future holds as AI becomes more widely adopted to automate the more mundane tasks of travel and harness the true spirit of travel, to elevate the human experience.”

According to WTTC, AI has the power to revolutionise how businesses in the Travel & Tourism sector operate, offering immense opportunities for growth and innovation. Both reports underscore the urgent need for Travel & Tourism businesses to embrace AI as a strategic priority, investing in talent and fostering collaboration between humans and AI. But despite the sector’s increasing recognition of AI’s potential, challenges such as AI-skilled workforce shortages in the Travel & Tourism sector persist, highlighting the importance of proactive measures to overcome barriers to adoption.

For more information, please visit researchhub.wttc.org

Image: Growtika

Savoy Signature the hotel collection from the island of Madeira, has consolidated its presence in Spain through the the appointment of Pangaea Network member in Madrid, The Blueroom Project as its communications agency. Savoy Signature offers a growing portfolio of unique hotels and resorts, each with its own distinctive value propositions, concepts and audiences.

With the grand opening of Savoy Signature’s latest ultra-luxury resort, The Reserve, The Blueroom Project undertook a high-value communications plan achieving coverage in leading general media El Mundo, domestic financial and business magazine Expansión and leading travel publication CN Traveler. Additional coverage included hotel sector outlets such as Gran Hotel and prominent travel trade publications Hosteltur and Meet In.

The Blueroom Project has also carried out a range of successful networking and public relations actions in Spain targeting the luxury travel segment to position this unique collection of hotels in the Iberian market.

UN Tourism has released its latest Tourism Visa Openness report on global visa policies, revealing continuous shifts in international travel regulations.

The report sheds light on the evolving landscape of travel facilitation. It includes the Tourism Visa Openness Index that measures the degree to which destinations facilitate tourism and how open a country is in terms of visa facilitation for tourism purposes. Also, mobility scores are included to indicate to the extent to which citizens around the world are subject to visa policies, as well as an in-depth analysis of the reciprocity of visa policies.

Key findings include:

Return to Pre-pandemic openness: Destinations’ openness to international travel has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels following the lifting of COVID-19 related travel restrictions. As a consequence of the pandemic, new forms of travel facilitation, such as “nomadic visas”,also appeared.

Decline in traditional visa requirements: Fewer people worldwide now require a traditional visa to travel falling from 77% in 2008 to 59% in 2018, and then to 47% in 2023.

Visa-exempt travel: 21% of the world population do not need any form of visa, an increase from 17% in 2008 and 20% in 2018.

Visa on arrival: 14% of the world population can apply for visa on arrival, an increase from 6% in 2008. and 15% in 2018.

eVisas: 18% of the world population can apply for eVisas, an increase from 3% in 2013 and 7% in 2018.

For more information, see www.unwto.org

Photo by Porapak Apichodilok

The world’s biggest travel event ITB will take place in Berlin 5th-9th March and Pangaea Network will be attending.

As the world’s biggest travel event where the future of travel is shaped we will be connecting with industry professionals to exchange ideas and formulate strategic communication plans. We are the Original Independent Tourism Agency Network made up of international tourism experts across multiple markets and offer more than 17 years experience in public relations, marketing and destination representation.

Our agencies provide global reach with local implementation for tourism clients looking to grow and lead their sectors. If you would like to meet, please get in touch via the “Contact Us” link below to arrange a meeting.

Martinengo Communication Pangaea’s member in Italy organised a fam trip for agents and tour operators to Saudi Arabia’s exclusive cycling hub AlUla. A trip dedicated to biking was the perfect way to experience the destination and five luxury agencies and tour operators specialising in bike tours were invited to enjoy a range of bike tours for all abilities from beginner to seasoned cyclist.

One of the best things about exploring a destination by bike is the ability to take your time, get off the beaten path and discover hidden gems not accessible by car or bus. Plus, it’s a great way to stay active and healthy while you travel. Contributing to the development of AlUla as Saudi Arabia’s exclusive cycling hub, the city recently inaugurated the first 45 km of cycling track in the southern part of AlUla, extending from AlUla Airport to the Mughayraa Heritage Sports Village, forming a total loop of 90 km. Plans for the next 48 km are in advanced stages.

In addition to biking tours, a wide range of luxury experiences can be enjoyed in AlUla whether visitors choose to indulge in a spa day, savour a gourmet meal, sample the local culture, or try adrenaline fuelled activities. To further spread the word of these incredible opportunities Martinengo organised a webinar for tour operators, travel agents and media to complement the cycling experiences enjoyed on the trip.

Pangaea Network member for the Nordics, United Spirit Nordic is delighted to represent Cashel Travel, a family-owned powerhouse offering dream vacations across England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. United Spirit’s dedicated team is fluent in the nuances of the Nordic market and their partnership with Cashel Travel will unlock a world of seamless travel experiences, crafted specifically for Scandinavian explorers.

Cashel Travel deliver comprehensive solutions across England, Scotland, Wales, and Ireland for all types of travel from intimate FIT adventures to luxurious getaways, exhilarating group tours and corporate gatherings with an impressive track record having flawlessly executed events of all sizes, from corporate meetings to grand conferences exceeding 2,000 attendees.

United Nordic Spirit will provide boundless business opportunities for Cashel Travel bringing their expertise, commitment and in-depth market knowledge to the partnership to increase sales for Cashel Travel from the vibrant Nordic travel market.

Le Forum des Pionniers is a unique annual business event offering participants the chance to deepen their knowledge of a destination, foster opportunities and stay informed about current and future industry trends. Following on from the success of the 2023 forum, Pangaea member in the French market Travel-Insight will once again be co-organising 2024’s forum in May with ESCAET, owner of the event.

Travel-Insight will provide all event logistics and partnerships to provide a rich and diverse programme across 4 days with over 130 decision makers including destinations, distributors, services and producers. The event offers conferences centered on the main theme of the forum, a workshop bringing partners, guests and local actors together, as well as excursions to highlight the territorial attractiveness of the host country.

The forum serves as a platform to strengthen and develop economic ties between tourism professionals, distributors, tour operators, transporters, incoming agencies, institutions and technological partners. To date there have been 20 forums in 20 different destinations with the location of the 2024 forum to be unveiled shortly.

In September, the adventurer and television presenter Jesús Calleja travelled to Madeira to promote the beautiful Atlantic island through the thrilling sport of Enduro biking where riders descend rough, challenging trails at great speeds.

Pangaea Network member The Blueroom Project in Madrid, Madeira Tourism’s communications agency in Spain, organised the trip to make it known to the general Spanish public in a direct way through the tourism board’s more than 2 million followers, the attraction of the island for this sport which is booming in Europe. Enduro biking is one of the most vigorous activities within the so-called “green tourism” or “ecological tourism” category.

Accompanied by his bicycle club and an local expert guide E-Bike, Jesús Calleja experienced some of the main attractions of the island including Madeiran nature, culture and gastronomy on exciting Enduro itineraries created by the Madeira Tourist Board.

The Original Independent Tourism Agency Network celebrates 17 years delivering boutique services, successful results and efficient management to the travel industry worldwide.

Since 2007 Pangaea has evolved into a strong, dynamic global network of experienced, dedicated members and partners adapting to the challenges of the tourism industry. Together, our agencies provide global reach with local implementation for tourism clients looking to grow and lead their specific sectors and niches. As we start our milestone eighteenth year we would like to thank everyone who has helped make Pangaea the leading network of communication experts it is today.

International travel is on track to recover almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels by the end of 2023. According to the latest data from the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), an estimated 975 million tourists travelled internationally between January and September 2023, an increase of 38% on the same months of 2022.

The newest UNWTO Barometer also shows:

• World destinations welcomed 22% more international tourists in the third quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, reflecting a strong Northern Hemisphere summer season.
• International tourist arrivals hit 91% of pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter, reaching 92% in July, the best month so far since the start of the pandemic.
• Overall, tourism recovered 87% if pre-pandemic levels in January-September 2023. That puts the sector on course to recover almost 90% by the end of the year.
• International tourism receipts cold reach USD 1.4 trillion in 2023, about 93% of the USD 1.5 million earned by destinations in 2019.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili said “The latest UNWTO data shows that international tourism has almost completely recovered from the unprecedented crisis of COVID-19 with many destinations reaching or even exceeding pre-pandemic arrivals and receipts. This is critical for destinations, businesses and communities where the sector is a lifeline.”

The Middle East continues to lead the recovery by regions in relative terms, with arrivals 20% above pre-pandemic levels in the nine months through September 2023. The Middle East remains the only world region to surpass 2019 levels this period. Visa facilitation measures, the development of new destinations, investments in new tourism-related projects and the hosting of large events, help underpin this remarkable performance.

Europe, the world’s largest destination welcomed 550 million international tourists over the period, 56% of the global total. That represents 94% of pre-pandemic levels. The rebound was supported by robust intra-regional demand as well as strong demand from the United States.

Africa recovered 92% of pre-pandemic visitors this nine-month period, and arrivals in the Americas 88% of 2019 numbers this period as the region benefitted from strong US demand, in particular to Caribbean destinations.

Asia and the Pacific reached 62% of per-pandemic levels in this period due to slower re-opening to international travel. However, performance among sub-regions is mixed with South Asia recovering 95% of pre-pandemic levels but North-East Asia only about 50%.

The World Tourism Barometer includes more focused data on regions, as well as subregions and individual destinations. To find out more: www.unwto.org/

Image credit: UNWTO

RESTART-MED! a project dedicated to the REvitalization of Sustainable Tourism Across Regions in The MEDiterranean is working with Pangaea member Martinengo Communication in Milan to promote and improve sustainability in the tourism sector in the post-COVID era.

Martinengo Communication was selected to assist RESTART-MED! and using their experience and innovation have successfully conducted research across five target markets (Spain, Tunisia, Lebanon, Jordan and Italy) on sustainable tourism products, developed an eye-catching website and created a brochure and engaging video to inspire public and private entities to increase their degree of sustainability, and motivate travellers to take a sustainable holiday in the Mediterranean.

Martinengo Communication working in partnership with RESTART-MED! aim to strengthen, encourage and scale up sustainable tourism practices as well as build a community of tourism opportunities across borders, to enable to the revitalization and growth of sustainable tourism in the Med.

American Airlines and Martinengo Communication celebrated the 10th anniversary since the beginning of their collaboration. In the second half of 2013, American Airlines – one of the most important US airlines – chose the integrated marketing and communication agency Martinengo Communication as its reference for Public Relations and Press Office in Italy. The collaboration began at a crucial stage in American’s history, namely the merger with US Airways that gave birth to one of the world’s largest airlines.

Since 2013, Martinengo Communication has been the airline’s trusted point of reference for media relations in Italy. Based in the heart of Milan, the integrated communication agency has extensive experience in tourism, aviation, destinations, lifestyle, luxury products, hotels & resorts, institutions and industries.

“The quality of the team, the strategic approach, the proactivity and the ability to fully represent the values ​​and spirit of the company are some of the main aspects that led us to choose to work with Martinengo Communication” declared Will Roach, EMEA Communications Manager of American Airlines . “After 10 years of collaboration, we can say that Martinengo Communication is in all respects an extension of our business in Italy which has achieved and exceeded every objective”.

“Ten years have passed since the first contact with American Airlines and we are proud to have given our contribution to making American an essential point of reference for the Italian media in the aviation industry. Working for such a prestigious and pioneering airline is a great honor for all of us and at the same time represents a constant opportunity for growth,” says Lorenzo Martinengo, Press Office Manager of American Airlines in Italy .

Pangaea member Martinengo Communication in Italy organised the participation of AlUla in the “Saudi Village” at Casina Valadier, in Villa Borghese Park, Rome from 25th – 29th September, in cooperation with The Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. The event celebrated 90 years of Saudi-Italian diplomatic relations.

AlUla’s participation included three main activities to highlight the cultural aspects of the archaeological region of AlUla, an open-air museum:

An immersive booth in the main square of the Saudi Village with images and videos of the archaeological site of Hegra, the heart of AlUla oasis and Saudi Arabia’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site

A photo exhibition: “AlUla: sites and faces along the Incense Road” incorporating images by Giacomo Bretzel and in cooperation with Condé Nast Traveller

A themed talk: “AlUla and Italy, two crossroads of civilizations connected – from the Incense Road to present and future opportunities of cultural partnerships” in cooperation with Condé Nast Traveller

The event also succeeded in presented AlUla to the public and a high number of travel trade and media representatives alongside the Saudi Tourism Authority.

Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 25 September 2023 – The stage is set for World Tourism Day 2023, with the global sector to come together around the theme of Tourism and Green Investments. In what is set to be the biggest celebration to date, the official celebrations will be held on 27 September in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. UNWTO’s Member States will mark the occasion in every region through a range of special events and programmes. The date marks the day the Statutes of the Organization that became UNWTO were signed.

UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili says: “Tourism has never been more important for our economies or for our societies. Its potential is enormous. And so on this World Tourism Day, we celebrate tourism’s ability to drive growth while also highlighting the vital need for investments to ensure such growth is inclusive and sustainable.”

On World Tourism Day 2023, UNWTO will place emphasis on Tourism and Green Investments. The day will focus on the importance of:

Investment for People (by investing in education and skills),

For Planet (by investing in sustainable infrastructure and accelerating green transformation)

For Prosperity (by investing in innovation, technology and entrepreneurship).

UNWTO will present its Global Tourism Investment Framework and hold a series of high-level panels focusing on the challenges and opportunities surrounding investment in tourism. The official World Tourism Day celebrations will also see the winners of the inaugural UNWTO Women in Tech Startup Competition for the Middle East announced.

UNWTO will welcome representatives from more than 100 of its Member States, including more than 50 Ministers of Tourism. Joining them will be high-level representatives from tourism’s private sector, both from the Middle East region and globally.

To find out more: www.unwto.org/world-tourism-day-2023

Image credit: Saudi Tourism Authority

Pangaea member Travel Insight in Paris, will organise the Influencer Village at IFTM Top Résa, the largest French tourism fair. During the 3 day event a total of 30 influencers will be brought together consisting of 10 new influencers each day from the categories: Lifestyle, Travel, Family, Business, Adventure, Sport, History and Culture. Influencers from international communities will also be present.

The Influencer Village is the first reverse workshop in the tourism sector, an exclusive format in France. Brands will be able to meet their favourite influencers and use the opportunity to discuss future collaborations. All influencers and bloggers are hand-selected according to various criteria including their social media statistics (size of the community, commitment, etc.) and their professionalism (content creation, referent brands, projects, etc.).

Starting on 3rd October, Travel-Insight is committed to providing influencers of the highest quality and experience to enable destinations, tour operators, large distributors and travel agencies to carry out truly impactful operations.

To find out more and meet the influencers, visit: www.travel-insight.fr/le-village-des-influenceurs/

The second edition of the ‘Consumer Travel Spend Priorities’ research, by Outpayce, a wholly owned Amadeus company, reveals in the coming 12 months, consumers will spend 28 percent more on travel than had been expected a year ago. Outpayce’s travel data analysis also noted that international travel and holidays take the highest priority among consumers.

“International travel” was ranked highest by consumers out of six options; the others were domestic travel, subscription to, for example, Netflix, restaurant visits, buying new clothes and, for example, buying concert tickets. All spend categories edged up compared to last year’s study pointing to a tentative jump in overall consumer confidence. However, the number of people ranking travel as a ‘high priority’ for the coming twelve months increased by the largest margin, rising to 47%, up 12% year-over-year. Travellers expect to spend significantly more on international travel during the coming year with average expected spend of $3,422, an increase of $753 per consumer, or 28%, compared to last year.

About the research: 4,500 travelers were surveyed from the US, UK, France, Germany and Singapore during the second quarter of 2023 using an online methodology by international market research firm Opinium on behalf of Outpayce from Amadeus.

Source: outpayce.com

Pangaea Network member for the Nordic markets, United Spirit Nordic organised a high-end event in Copenhagen at short notice for client South African Tourism. The event was designed to raise awareness amongst Danish trade and media on the new “Live Again” campaign.

United Spirit Nordic selected elegant venue Hotel D’Angleterre and liaised with South African Tourism and the South African Embassy in Denmark to organise the event. To secure a high level of attendance United Spirit Nordic utilised their extensive network of contacts securing 27 key trade and media attended.

The results achieved were beyond the clients’ expectations; the “Live Again” campaign was firmly established in the minds of all trade and media attending, 2 journalists were chosen for a press trip to South Africa, and travel trade representatives were invited to Indaba thanks to the successful event.

The “Amazing Thailand Fest 2023”, organised by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), attracted more than 3,500 people over a July weekend in Barcelona. The event showcased Thai culture with folk dancing, craft workshops, Muay Thai shows and a selection of international films and television series filmed in Thailand.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand is represented by Pangaea Network member The Blueroom Project in Spain and more than 75 journalists and tourism professionals along with many local visitors enjoyed the event. The festival highlighted Thai culture, traditions, travel opportunities and cuisine with guests invited to indulge in delicious traditional dishes.

The “Amazing Thailand Fest 2023” was a huge success offering an enriching and memorable experience for all who attended. The Blueroom Project would like to thank all participants, media and collaborators for their support organising the event.

United Spirit Nordic organised a famil to Saint Martin earlier this month for agents from leading tour operators in the Nordics. Agents from Ticket, Nordmannreiser/USAspecialisten, Berg Hansen, Caribia, Sunway group / Sea travel and Air France-KLM enjoyed a 5 day itinerary around “the friendly island” accompanied by Head of Trade at United Spirit Nordic, Paul Sikic.

The trip included site inspections of several hotels and villas, excursions on Quad/ATV bikes, guided island tours, dinners, workshops and meetings with tourism officials. With direct flights from Paris CDG to SXM Princess Juliana airport on the Dutch side of the island (Sint Maarten), the famil successfully showed the agents it is an easy trip to make from Nordic countries and boasts an incredible range of attractions for visitors.

On Sunday May 28th, in the elegant setting of the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, Rome, Martinengo & Partners Communication organised the first event to unveil AlUla as a new premium cycling destination in Arabia.

The event transported guests to the beauty of Saudi and presented AlUla as a wonderful destination for different biking experiences; road cycling, gravel cycling and mountain biking. Guests of honour, Team Jayco AlUla (official sponsor of GreenEDGE Cycling) attended the event and enjoyed beautiful views of the Villa Borghese Park while celebrating the end of the gruelling 3 week Giro d’Italia race. Also present was Moroj Adil, a young Saudi female cyclist who as part of Team Jayco AlUla, embraces AlUla’s commitment to promote and support Saudi women in cycling.

(May 12th) At the recent XXV Edition of the Golden Egg Awards 2023 held in Talinn, Estonia the project “Estonia by Duyos” presented by Visit Estonia and created and executed by The Blueroom Project in Spain won second place to rceive the Silver Egg in the influencer marketing category. The awards are considered the largest festival celebrating creativity in Estonia.

The successful project featured Spanish designer Juan Duyos who commemorated his career in the world of haute couture and celebrated his XXV anniversary with a collection inspired by the magic of Estonia, its vibrant nature and traditions, to present a fashion show on the catwalk during “Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Madrid” last September.

The creative alliance garnered enormous attention from Spanish media by uniting tourism, events, communication and social networks, with culture, dance and fashion andhas become a long-term project conveying the essence of Estonia to many Spanish travellers and tourism professionals.

The Association of Marketing Agencies recognised the innovation, design and impact of the campaign to award Visit Estonia the Silver Egg, the first time an overseas campaign for the tourist board has achieved such a prestigious award.

GDP contribution 5% off 2019 peak by the end of 2023 – Almost 22 million more Travel & Tourism jobs last year – International visitor spend up more than 80%

New York, U.S.: The World Travel & Tourism Council’s (WTTC) 2023 Economic Impact Research (EIR) today shows the Travel & Tourism sector is closing in on its 2019 peak, recovering by more than 95%. In 2023, the sector is forecast to reach $9.5TN, just 5% below 2019 pre-pandemic levels when travel was at its highest. 34 countries have already exceeded 2019 levels. According to the research conducted by WTTC in collaboration with Oxford Economics, the global tourism body also forecasts that the sector will recover to 95% of the 2019 job level.

A look back on last year
Last year, despite the economic and geopolitical difficulties, the Travel & Tourism sector’s recovery continued at pace, growing 22% year-on-year to reach $7.7TN. This recovery represented 7.6% of the global economy in 2022, the highest sector contribution since 2019, although its global GDP is still 22.9% behind its 2019 peak. In 2021 the global sector grew 24.7% year-on-year, and last year it grew a further 22% to reach a GDP contribution of $7.7TN.

The research shows that the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and prolonged travel restrictions imposed by a number of countries such as China had a significant impact on the global recovery. But the recent decision by the Chinese government to reopen its borders from January will propel the sector and see it recover to pre-pandemic levels next year.

From a pre-pandemic high of more than 334MN, the COVID-19 pandemic ravaged employment in the sector which saw losses of more than 70MN to bring the total number employed in 2020 to just 264MN. Following the recovery of 11MN jobs in 2021, the sector created 21.6MN new jobs in 2022 to reach more than 295MN globally – one in 11 jobs worldwide. Spending from overseas visitors grew by a record 82% to reach $1.1TN in 2022, showing that international travel is firmly back on track.

Julia Simpson, WTTC President & CEO, said: “The Travel & Tourism sector continues to recover at pace, demonstrating the resilience of the sector and the enduring desire to travel.

“By the end of the year, the sector’s contribution will be within touching distance of the 2019 peak. We expect 2024 to exceed 2019.

“The recovery will speed up this year as Chinese travellers re-enter the market and over the next 10 years, Travel & Tourism will continue to grow as a sector.”

What does the next decade look like?
The global tourism body is forecasting that the sector will grow its GDP contribution to $15.5TN by 2033 representing 11.6% of the global economy and will employ 430MN people around the world, with almost 12% of the working population employed in the sector.

The latest EIR also reveals that 34 of the 185 countries analysed in the EIR have now recovered to pre-pandemic levels in terms of GDP contribution. WTTC forecasts that by the end of 2023, nearly half of the 185 countries will have either fully recovered to pre-pandemic levels or be within 95% of full recovery. For more information, please visit wttc.org

Source: World Travel & Tourism Council. The research was carried out in partnership with Oxford Economics with information sourced from UNWTO, Oxford Economics and national sources. All values are in constant 2022 prices and exchange rates, as reported in March 2023.

Pangaea Network celebrates 16 years as the original international network of representation, communication and tourism marketing. Boutique and independent, the network is a pioneer in Europe, with a presence in more than 30 international markets.

The non-profit company, founded in 2007 and registered in England and Wales, launches a new website to coincide with the anniversary and global recovery of international tourism, applying a more intuitive and visual design. In addition, it expands its range of next-generation digital services and geographical reach in emerging markets such as China, India, Eastern Europe, North America and Latam.

London, 14 April 2023. Pangaea Network celebrates its XVI anniversary this year, as a communication and tourism marketing consultancy of reference in Europe. For this reason, and coinciding with its anniversary, it has launched a new website, to promote a new updated and visual brand image.

In addition, considering the unstoppable recovery of the global tourism sector, Pangaea Network presents new tourism consulting and marketing solutions in the emerging markets of China, India, Eastern Europe, North America and Latam to help destinations and tourism companies attract new quality customers and high per capita spending.

The company’s new website, in English, reflects in a very direct and easy-to-read way the specialist capabilities and services offered, as well as the international reach of the network in 35 markets, which has managed the promotion of more than 300 brands. Several of its clients have been working with the network for decades which reflects the level of reliability, professionalism and the loyalty of the brands.

The networks’ success is endorsed by its management team, its members, international partners and by the reputation of its diverse and prestigious portfolio of clients that, among others, include destinations such as: Thailand, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia, Ras Al Khaimah, Oman, Tunisia, Dominican Republic, South Africa, Gambia, Rwanda, Estonia, Madeira, Tenerife, Hong Kong, Singapore, Tokyo, Berlin, Toulouse, and renowned companies such as: American Airlines, Delta, Eva Air, Hurtigruten, Oceania Cruises, Star Clippers, Costa Cruises, Hyatt Regency, Bulgari Resort Dubai, Savoy Signature, Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Belvilla and Sea World.

In the words of the board of directors, Cinzia Martinengo, Christine Engen and Alejandro Pérez-Ferrant: “Strategic thinking, multidisciplinary analysis by more than 280 professionals within the network, enthusiasm, personalized service, creativity, innovation and experience accumulated over more than 30 years’ by the board members, has been the cocktail that has allowed us to grow sustainably with high profitability, both in the results for our clients and in business management which places us in a strong position for the new challenges the tourism sector poses at this time”.

Leading Spanish agency and Pangaea Network member The Blueroom Project, as the official representative of Visit Estonia in Spain, has formalised strategic alliances with leading partners in the tourism sector this spring/summer 2023. Prominent tourism organisations including Viajes Nautalia, Catai and Viajes EV (Eurovacances), among others, will be launching new itineraries and diverse programmes aimed at attracting a broad range of traveller.

In addition, communication B2C campaigns have just been launched in prestigious media such as El Periódico and Viajar magazine, to consolidate the image of this small but powerful country, where culture, medieval cities, beautiful landscapes, rich cuisine and fascinating Nordic history will be highlighted to showcase the country as one of the most interesting Baltic countries in Europe.

In the prestigious Rosewood Villamagna hotel in Madrid, Essential Costa Rica presented it’s tourism offering of “Well-being, Sport and Adventure in the Heart of Nature” to the Spanish press.

Organised by Pangaea Network member The Blueroom Project based in Madrid and in associated with The Sportsman’s Club, the event was hosted by Essential Costa Rica alongside celebrity soccer players and attended by prominent members of the Spanish press. Signing shirts and speaking in person were renowned soccer players Lucas Vázquez (Real Madrid) and Roberto Jiménez (Valladolid) as well as virtual contributions by Jesús Vallejo (Real Madrid) who was on vacation in Costa Rica and Keylor Navas (goalkeeper of the Costa Rica national team).

Costa Rica has become an increasingly accessible destination from Spain thanks to the improved Iberia and Iberojet air connections and to the increased representation work the destination has received as a client of The Blueroom Project.

The Saudi Tourism Authority (STA) has opened a commerical office in Denmark with the support of Pangaea Network member United Spirit Nordic. This office will serve the Nordic region as part of STA’s strategy to engage the tourism trade in key source markets and raise awareness of Saudi, the authentic home of Arabia as travelers around the world dream of exploring exotic destinations once more.

The Nordics office with the help of United Spirit Nordic will be responsible for trade and consumer marketing activities, expanding the reach and relevance of Saudi’s tourism offer and working with tour operators, travel agents and outher industry stakeholders to build awareness and drive conversion in line with SAT’s strategy and mission.

Since opening it’s borders in September 2019 to international tourism, Saudi has rapidly established itself as the fastest growing tourism destination in the world, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council.

Spanish agency The Blueroom Project, has been selected as the preferred partner by Madeira Tourism in the Spanish market. This unique Atlantic destination is keen to attract Spanish visitors and The Blueroom Project will be instrumental in implementing marketing activities with the travel trade.

The charms of Madeira will be easily accessible this summer from Spain, with direct flights available from Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Santiago, Bilbao and Santiago. A comprehensive marketing plan is already in place designed to boost awareness of Madeira’s attractions including nature, food and luxury, with the clear aim to increase arrivals from Spain.

Adaaran Resorts in the Maldives, part of the Aitken Spence conglomerate, turns attention to the Nordics by appointing United Spirit Nordic (USN) as its sales, marketing and PR agency in the Nordic region. USN have worked with many luxury resort clients over the years and they bring their creativity, professionalism and expertise to Adaaran Resorts Maldives, through a range of projects planned for the coming year. 

In the Maldives, the chain boasts six products spread across four islands. A tailormade experience is available for every need, from luxury, to a down-to-earth barefoot vacation, with an authentic feel and atmosphere. With improved air access from Nordic airports, the potential for increased visitor numbers from the region is certain. All Covid-19 protocols are followed carefully at all resorts.

For more information see: https://www.adaaran.com/

Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa has selected The Blueroom Project as their communication and public relations agency in Spain. The hotel, which has just opened its doors in Tangier, is the third Hilton hotel in Morocco.

The new complex, located in a protected national park with direct access to a  white sandy beach stretching five kilometres, has 304 luxurious rooms and suites, as well as a wide range of leisure facilities. In addition, Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa is an oasis for relaxation and rejuvenation due to its 850-square-meter spa.

The Hilton Tangier Al Houara Resort & Spa is also the perfect location for any meeting, event or wedding, and the hotel has 4,500 square meters of flexible event space with a capacity for 1,400 guests. The hotel offers 15 meeting rooms, as well as two ballrooms.

Pangaea are pleased to announce the addition of Martinengo & Partners Communications, to the network. Based in Milan, Martinengo is an integrated marketing communication agency offering public relations, event organisation, social media and digital PR, representation, marketing, sales promotion, advertising and crisis communication.

With many years experience and a proven track record of working with top brand around the world, Martinengo have developed a global point of view along with extensive knowledge of the local Italian market.

As a leading agency in Italy, the Martinengo team bring strategic thinking, innovation, extensive contacts and expertise to Pangaea.

USN are proud to announce 2 new accounts in the Maldives and Italy. They will be working with the luxurious one-island, one-resort Grand Park Kodhipparu Maldives, on their sales and marketing strategy in Nordic markets, and will also undertake ad-hoc PR activity for this breathtaking destination.

In addition, Tuscany Again have chosen USN for PR in Nordic markets. Tuscany Again is a non-profit organisation with Tuscany at its heart. They have a network of hotel partners and promote high quality, luxury products for year round travel in the region. Their mission is to take visitors on a journey of discovery by creating powerful, evocative itineraries supported by strong strategic partnerships.

A recent white paper by Hotels and Resorts Middle East, on The Future of Hotel Design in the Middle East, found that with over 154,000 hotel rooms under construction, the Middle East is currently one of the most dynamic and innovative regions in the world in terms of shaping the future of hotel design. Led by Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar, the next generation of Middle East hotels will deliver optimal experiences at a reduced environmental and financial cost.

This abundance of development does however face challenges where solutions must be found. These include improving the sustainability of hotels, delivering personalised guest experiences, appealing to Milllenials, achieving green design and operations, effective digital management systems and room technologies, and embracing emerging technologies.

Some outstanding development projects have already been achieved, surpassing challenges and displaying spectacular design. The Abraj Kudai in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, with an investment of US$3.5 million has achieved a fusion of contemporary and traditional design, non-intrusive security and surveillance systems, amenities suited to the 4/5 star guest, good transport links and access to the Grand Mosque. The Bulgari Resort and Residences in Dubai, is another example of exceptional design. Once opened, it will achieve new heights of luxury in a city already brimming with spectacular hospitality. Incorporating a man-made island in the shape of a sea-horse, and exteriors and interiors designed by a renowned Italian architect, it will demand the most expensive room rates in Dubai.

With increased demand expected for Expo 2020 and other mega events in the region, hotel brands must look beyond their existing models and create stand out designs to get ahead of the competition. As all eyes turn to the region, hoteliers are already rising to the challenge. To find out more on the future of hotel design and the effects on tourism, get in touch.

In the last six months, The Blueroom Project (TBP) has won four important accounts to consolidate their position as the leading boutique consultancy in Spain, specialising in communication and marketing for the tourism and lifestyle sector.

Early in the year TBP was selected to manage communications and PR for Qatar Airways in Spain and Portugal. The main aim is to increase awareness of this 5-Star airline along with its products and services on board. In April, TBP took over responsibility for communications and PR of the first Japan Tourism Office in Spain. In this role they will manage media relations and promote tourism, develop the honeymoon segment, and establish close links with tourism professionals. In May, TBP was selected by Transmediterranea, a leading shipping company in Spain, to strengthen their leadership and image, and establish them as a reference point for all transport of freight and passengers in Spain. The final prestigious account to be won was for South Africa Tourism (South Europe) where TBP will strengthen media relations, increase knowledge of this wonderful destination and create strong ties with the tourism sector. This prominent account is shared with fellow Pangaea Network members AIGO in Italy and Indigo in France.

A recent white paper by Trendwatching examined how precious a customer’s time is, and how best a brand can seize or save it. Despite a world of digital empowerment many feel time-starved. Customers value their time and attention, if it has been wasted you won’t be forgiven.

Saving attention during the customer journey is often invisible. Methods may be noticed the first time and then become routine. This attitude has been driven by on-demand expectations, virtual intelligence and the perception of a higher status the busier you are.

Tools to save attention include:

Outsource the thinking process – use hidden intelligence to make decisions for the customer such as a sensor and mobile app that tracks tire data.

Shorten the customer journey – improve the experience at each step such as groceries delivered straight to your fridge.

Eradicate pain points which waste attention.

Seizing attention is getting harder. To get consumers to engage, brands have to break loose and pop up in surprising places and delight new customers.

Tools to seize attention include:

Shock and awe – surprise your customer, redefine expectations.

Self-improvement – hard to impress clientele seek colourful stories to share with peers.

Experience factor – brand driven venues for work, coffee or performance can bring people together and seize attention.

The fundamental question is, are you seizing or saving your customer’s attention? It won’t be possible to be a saver or seizer throughout the customer’s journey, methods may vary at each step and from one customer to another but it is vital that you ask yourself the question on how best you can achieve this.

To find out more about how your tourism brand can seize or save attention at every single encounter with travellers, get in touch.

United Spirit Nordic as Visit Jordan’s representative, was given the challenge to increase and retain visitor numbers from Scandinavia to Aqaba in Jordan, a popular holiday area with Scandinavian tourists. Jordan Tourism Board, with Royal Wings, decided to add three direct flights to Aqaba, from Helsinki, Stockholm and Copenhagen. United Spirit Nordic managed to allocate all seat allotments with tour operators, monitored seat allocations and followed up with coop marketing funds for all three markets, in only 4 months. Together with the flights, United Spirit Nordic designed an awareness campaign which included outdoor branding, online presence and social media advertising and presence. The campaign was designed to fill the direct flights and increase visitor numbers. The campaign achieved increases in visitor numbers of 18.1% from Sweden, 103.2% from Copenhagen and123.2% from Finland (as of Feb 2017).

According to Euromonitor International, Authenticity is one of the latest Top 10 Consumer Trends.
Authencity has been identified as the key word helping sell items on eBay in 2016, by researchers Andrew Kehoe and Matt Gee from Birmingham City University’s School of English, when looking at the most lucrative words used by sellers. Company efforts to ensure authenticity are part of this reach for the real.

Real-world holidaying
In a backlash against digital dependency and the difficulty of uninterrupted reflection,several tour operators, cruise lines and resorts are promoting their unplugged vacations to help consumers get away from “synthetic” digital life.

Another authentic-leaning travel trend is the social impact holiday.
Companies target professionals aged 29–36 working in areas like tech, the media and other creative fields who holiday to mentor underprivileged fellow citizens, sharing their business acumen. Cruise lines aim to respond to customer hunger for purpose inviting passengers  to on-board self-improvement seminars and impact activities on land such as making water filters.

The international scene of high-end travel is undergoing a radical transformation: digital and hyper-connectivity are permanently changing the market and at the same time consumers and their values have evolved which has changed the traditional meaning of “luxury”. We can talk about the new direction of luxury travel and the new travel experience associated with it and this has real value when it is personal and shared.

Organised by AIGO, a leading Italian tourism marketing agency, and presented by Conde Nast Traveller Editor in chief Arch. Ettore Mocchetti, the conference  “The New Way of Luxury” – was aimed to explore the trends and various aspects of luxury travel.  The panel was composed of Joakim Everstin (Head of Innovation and Tech Evangelist, Sabre), Antonella Bertossi (Marketing Manager, Global Blue), Maurizio Saccani (Global Director of Operations, Rocco Forte Hotels), Mimma Posca (CEO, Vranken Pommery).
During the event the research “Post-Luxury Travel: The Changing Expectations of Luxury Travelers”conducted by Wouter Geerts, Euromonitor Senior Travel Analyst, was also previewed.

To download the presentations pls visit this page

The medical tourism industry is valued at $439 billion in a new report by VISA and Oxford Economics, which also found that 11 million individuals travel abroad each year in search of medical services. It is expected that medical tourism will grow by 25% annually over the next 10 years as an estimated 3% – 4% of the world’s population travel abroad to receive medical services. This in turn could lead to an increase in value of $3 trillion per year by 2025.

Using VISA transaction dates, the report studied cross-border spending in more than 176 countries. It found the most common reasons people leave their home country for health care include a higher quality of care and service, reduced costs, obtaining treatment and medication not available in their home country and the desire to combine medical procedures with attractive destinations and traditional tourism activities like sightseeing.

The growth in medical tourism is believed to driven by an aging global population, rising health-care costs and a boom in international transportation infrastructure development, such as the estimated 340 new international airports opening worldwide over the next decade.

The VISA and Oxford Economics report also incorporates data from a new report by the Medical Tourism Index (MTI) that lists the top 41 destinations for medical tourism in terms of quality and value. That report found Canada to be the top overall destination in the world for medical services, followed by the U.K., Israel, Singapore and India. Canada was also the leading country in terms of country environment and medical tourism costs, while Costa Rica was the most attractive destination and Israel had the best facilities and services.

Asia drives global outbound growth while Spain takes the lead for inbound tourism
Asia remains the number one source market region for growth in international travel with an overall increase of 9 per cent compared to the previous year, followed by South America with 5 percent. Outbound trips from North America and Europe both grew by 3 per cent. In absolute terms however, Europe prevails as the number one source market with more than half of the outbound travel volume worldwide. Yet when it comes to inbound tourism, Spain outperformed the US as the number one travel destination in 2016. Germany remains in third place while Italy and France follow in fourth and fifth place.
Source: IPK International @ITB Berlin

Pangaea Network is pleased to share the findings of our latest research dedicated to Travel Distribution.

A panel of  167 tourism professionals from Italy, France, UK, Germany and Spain took the survey.

After the first edition in 2011, the survey was carried out a second time, in the last quarter of 2015, to understand how the professionals perceptions had changed over 4 years.

How much does mobile technology influence travel distribution today?
What key factor could overcome future market challenges?
What online tool performs best as a support to sales?
What role will intermediation play in tourism?

Below you can download both the synthesis and the full report.

Future of Travel Distribution 2016

Enjoy the reading!