Hotel & Tourism
SMARTreport #29
2016 Spring Edition
5
Richard Barnes
Editor-in-chief
Tel: +33 (0) 4 42 77 46 00
FOREWORD
CONTENTS
2016: OUT WITH THE OLD… IN WITH THE NEW
More than a makeover, the SMARTreport is going the extra mile – and then some!
Welcome to the new look, new content Cleverdis Hotel and Tourism
SMARTreport. This year, as promised, we have completely changed
tack with our highly popular quarterly publication, due to strong
demand from travel and hospitality professionals from around the
globe.
While international tourism continues to grow at an annual rate of
between 4 and 5 percent, competitiveness is stronger than ever. So
where’s the best place to get ideas of how to be one step ahead of
the rest – or offer services and ideas that will set your place apart? The
ultra high-end, of course! Just like in other fields, such as automotive
or architecture, people look to the cream of the crop in order to gain
inspiration. We have therefore introduced, henceforth, an elite travel
trends section. In this edition, we take you on a tour of the ILTM trade
event in Cannes, in particular spotlighting the visionary participation
of Matthew D. Upchurch, Chairman and CEO of Virtuoso, and also
examining the latest groundswell trends in luxury.
In another new regular section – each time looking at a particular
region and its trends for this industry – in this edition, we spotlight
Europe, including facts and figures, trending destinations IN Europe
and trending destinations OUTSIDE Europe for Europeans. We
are particularly flattered to have the exclusive participation of the
European Travel Commission’s Edouardo Santander – outlining his
roadmap to growth.
So out with the old look & feel, and in with the new… but more
importantly, a great deal of new, vital information that will help you
in your work – with information and inspiration. We thank all those
who have made this first “new” edition what we believe is a great
one. We hope you feel the same. Please let us know!
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TOP EVENTS: ITB BERLIN
THE WHOLE WORLD - IN BERLIN
ITB Berlin confirms status as world’s leading travel
trade show
35
EUROPE OUTBOUND / TRENDING DESTINATIONS
THOMSON AND FIRST CHOICE
FORECAST 2016 TRAVEL TRENDS
37
EUROPE OUTBOUND / TRENDS
HOW TO MAKE EUROPEA
NS FEEL
AT HOME IN FOREIGN LANDS
Heiko Blatter, Area Manager Southwest Europe/
Middle East & North Africa
