WORLD HERITAGE SITES TO BOOST CYPRUS TOURISM IN THIS ISSUE LIMNI BAY GOES AHEAD

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1 ISSUE 18 LIMNI BAY GOES AHEAD CYPRUS TOURISM ORGANISATION (CTO) HOSTED A WORK- SHOP WITHIN THE FRAMEWORK OF EUROPEAN PROJECT EUHERITAGE TOUR IN WHICH CYPRUS IS A PARTNER. PAPHOS NEXT IN LINE FOR ARTIFICIAL REEFS IN THIS ISSUE MARKET UPDATE NICOSIA CTO AIRPORTS TRAVEL AGENTS TOURISM BOARDS NAUTICAL SPORTS ACCOMMODATION TRAVEL CHANNELS INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL TALK RENDEZVOUS NEWS & EVENTS WORLD HERITAGE SITES TO BOOST CYPRUS TOURISM 4

2 MARKET UPDATE TRAVEL TRADE PUBLICATIONS MANAGING EDITOR Mary Kammitsi ASSISTANT EDITOR Maria Kazeli SENIOR JOURNALIST Rita Kasziba PRESS Maria Demetriadou Pauline Shahabian DESIGN & LAYOUT Elena Stylianou WEB DEVELOPER / IT Soteris Constantinou DIRECTORS Andreas Constantinides Mary Kammitsi HEADQUARTERS T.T.W. Travel Trade Weekly LTD P.O. Box 25255, Nicosia 1308 Cyprus Tel: , Fax: WEBSITE S info@traveltradeweekly.travel sales@traveltradeweekly.travel editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel PRINTED IN CYPRUS Cyprint Plc P.O. Box 58300, CY-3732, Limassol, Cyprus Tel: , Fax: info@cyprint.com.cy EXCHANGE RATES Salamis Tours (Holdings) Reports Q1 Results Salamis Tours (Holdings) turnover for the first quarter (Q1) of the year fell three percent as shipping and transportation showed a 3.5 percent drop and the tourism segment plummeting three percent. Salamis Filoxenia Louis Maintains Results As a result, the company s gross profit for the period fell two percent due to lower sales. The decline in the sale and administrative expenses and the depreciations in relation to the corresponding period of 2013 offset the reduction in gross profit and, therefore the results show improvement. With reference to the prospects for the current year, taking into account the progress of the group s activities in the past months, year-end results are expected to show improvement compared to Despite the challenging environment, Louis more or less maintained its financial performance during the first quarter (Q1) of the year. Based on the company s consolidated profit and loss account, examining the three-month period ending March 31, the group s income totalled EUR19.72 million, versus EUR19.83 in the corresponding period in As a result, the company s loss for the period shrank to EUR22 million from EUR22.29 million in Q Accurate as of 28/07/2014 COUNTRY CURRENCY 1EUR= US (USD) UK (GBP) Switzerland (CHF) Japan (JPY) Louis Nausicaa Beach Protaras PICTURE OF THE MONTH A. Tsokkos Hotels Reveals Q1 Results A. Tsokkos Hotels reported negative financial results for the first quarter (Q1) of the year as loss after taxation amounted to EUR2.63 million as compared to EUR1.1 million in Meanwhile, the company s turnover shrank from EUR507,648 in Q to EUR285,509, mainly due to the fact that Ascos Coral Beach Hotel remained closed during the first three months whilst it had continued to operate during the same period in Based on the group s interim consolidated income statement the results were affected by the seasonality of the Cypriot tourism industry and as such the figures of the first quarter have traditionally the lowest performance from all four quarters. The company essentially acquired most of its income in the remaining nine months of the year. 2

3 NICOSIA MONTHLY NEWS Solar Car Challenge in Nicosia Nicosia Municipality, in collaboration with The Cyprus Institute, organised the Solar Car Challenge, a summer event which was born in 2010 and has been held annually in Paphos for the past few years. On June 22, the event came back to the capital where it launched at Stasikratous Street and finished at the town hall for the award ceremony. The high-tech race saw the teams build their cars, design their own engineering systems and race those same machines through the open roads of Nicosia. Participants comprised of six local teams from high schools and technical schools, as well as of two international solar groups from Philadelphia University Jordan and National University of Sciences and Technology, Pakistan. Racing in Nicosia s Streets New Cultural Centre in Strovolos The Mall of Cyprus: Expansion and Additions New Cultural Centre in Strovolos ITTL Trade Tourist & Leisure Park, owning company of Shacolas Emporium Park which hosts The Mall of Cyprus and IKEA, announced that commercial activity for 2013 progressed satisfactorily since visitation figures reached more than 6.5 millions, while the turnover of shops in The Mall of Cyprus was kept at the same level as The shopping centre will soon welcome 10 new stores, while by Christmas 2015 the mall s much-anticipated expansion will be completed and operational. The company already filed the planning application for the enlargement of The Mall of Cyprus which is to grow by 8,000m 2 hosting new retail spaces, coffee shops and kids playgrounds. For 2013 the entity had operating profits of EUR7.5 million compared to EUR9.7 million in 2012, a decrease of 23 percent. A new facility was recently inaugurated in Strovolos, at the presence of Nicos Anastasiades, president, Cyprus. The Strovolos Cultural Centre was created following a decision of the city council which considered the need for a modern educational hub. Lazaros Savvides, mayor, Strovolos, referred to the building s long history which dates from 1915 and was donated by Nicolas Mounti, while its ultimate form was finalised in Moreover, according to Savvides, between 1970 and 1986, when the community of Strovolos was declared a municipality, the edifice used to house Strovolos improvement board. The inauguration ceremony included a traditional ribbon cutting, a tour of the centre, and melodies from the Strovolos symphonic band and the European University Cyprus. 3

4 MONTHLY NEWS CTO WORLD HERITAGE SITES TO BOOST CYPRUS TOURISM Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) hosted a workshop within the framework of European project EUHeritage Tour in which Cyprus, through CTO, is a partner, alongside Italy, Austria, Portugal and Belgium. The principal means of achieving the project s objectives are creating synergies between the public and private sector, utilising the opportunities opened up by European programmes and focussing on comparative advantages Cyprus offers as a tourist destination, stressed Annita Demetriadou, director of tourism, strategy and research, CTO. Special emphasis was given to how accessible are UNESCO s world heritage sites to individuals with disabilities, as well as to domestic and foreign tourists in terms of public or private transport. CTO s main focus was the 10 painted churches in the Troodos region, whose rural architectural style is in sharp contrast to their highly refined decoration, in order to boost the Cypriot tourism product concentrating on the cultural, religious and rural segment. Klelia Vasiliou, director, Troodos Development Company, suggested that the region itself offers a wealth of additional activities and feeder markets that Cyprus can reach out to, as long as the product is refined and promoted effectively. Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis Participants at the Workshop Agios Nikolaos tis Stegis, Murals CTO Celebrates World Environment Day CTO: New Strategic Focus On the occasion of World Environment Day CTO reminded all its partners in the tourism industry of the importance of protecting, conserving and enhancing the natural and man-made environment, which determines the sustainability of Cyprus tourism sector. CTO is closely monitoring the initiatives and priorities of the European Commission for blue growth, while recently the island s coasts have been recognised as the cleanest in Europe and were awarded the Blue Flag, the voluntary eco-label. Angelos Loizou, chairman, CTO, announced that the board s revised strategy is focused on more targeted actions, such as collaborations with major tour operators and airlines from the UK and Germany. Moreover, in a bid to extend the tourist season, CTO has also given priority to conference, wellness and sports tourism, which are to be promoted in the framework of cultural and religious actions. New technologies and in particular e-marketing created new data on tourism. Harnessing those is a challenge for Cyprus tourism. The government and CTO have set as a top priority the use of electronic media and are working to achieve tangible results, Loizou concluded. 4

5 AIRPORTS MONTHLY NEWS Hermes Airports: Protecting the Environment through Art In a bid to convey the message of environmental and natural protection to the travelling public, Larnaka International Airport has been hosting the artwork, Zenon of Kition, designed by Frenaros gymnasium. The artwork, which was created using recyclable bits of wood, was unveiled by Philippos Drousiotis, chairman, Cyprus Sustainable Tourism Initiative, and Wes Porter, CEO, Hermes Airports. Praising the student s work, Porter noted that the display depicts the great Cypriot philosopher Zenon of Kition, who was a pioneer in the struggle to protect the environment. Zenon believed that people can live in peace and in complete harmony with nature. Hermes Airports Ramps up Presence on Social Media #CyprusAeropolis Hermes Airports has launched the #CyprusAeropolis project, a new initiative that creates a dynamic and integrated presence on major social media networks, including YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. #CyprusAeropolis has been created as a digital community of the island s airports where Hermes Airports can share with the public its latest news, extensive audio-visual coverage of its events, promotional campaigns, airline offers, various contests and much more. Through its increased presence on the online portals, the airport operator aims to establish an authentic, friendly and interactive relationship with passengers from all over the globe. The name, #CyprusAeropolis, reinforces the idea of an airports community that connects people, services and companies. 5

6 MONTHLY NEWS Limni Bay Goes Ahead Limni Pier Cyprus Limni Resorts & GolfCourses, owner of Limni Bay, has acquired the necessary planning permission for the project s golf courses. According to Nicos Shacolas, executive chairman, Shacolas Group, the company is now undertaking actions for the detailed design of all components of the development and the implementation of major infrastructure. Cyprus Limni Resorts & GolfCourses aims to build a high-quality resort, which will consist of two 18- hole signature golf courses each featuring a clubhouse, international chain luxury hotel, wellness centre, villas in autonomous land, other residential units, and sports facilities. Limni Bay is to be developed in two separate but joined pieces of land, stretching over a length of 5km which starts from the beach, faces the sea and extends to a natural altitude of 250m above the sea level, offering views of the Polis Chrysochous bay and the Akamas peninsula. 6 Arrival Increases across Major Markets According to the Statistical Service of Cyprus, arrivals of tourists reached 293,181 in May compared to 276,244 in the same month of 2013, recording a growth of 6.1 percent. The biggest share was claimed by the British market which sent 106,063 visitors and recorded a year-on-year surge of 2.4 percent. Russia, the second largest segment, showed a significant growth of 15.2 percent, with Cyprus welcoming 88,426 Russian travellers for the month under review. Lastly, Sweden emerged as the third best contributor to Cyprus tourist influx in May and registered a rise of 10.7 percent with 17,139 visitors arriving from the Scandinavian country. A traditional market for Cyprus is Greece, which however declined in May by 3.5 percentage points. Enterprise Rent-A-Car Launches Operations in Cyprus Did you know... Enterprise Holdings operates wholly-owned operations across Europe, the US and Canada with over 8,100 offices worldwide? Enterprise Rent-A-Car, part of US-based Enterprise Holdings, is now available to customers in Cyprus, as well as other four other European markets namely Belgium, Czech Republic, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Macedonia. This is the next step in the company s phased expansion programme and means that the Enterprise brand is currently operating in 19 European countries, with more in the pipeline. Our focus is to provide the same friendly service to our customers wherever they see the Enterprise sign. We are grateful to our franchise partners across Europe for enabling us to fulfil our promise consistently and to the highest standards, said Peter Smith, vice president, global franchising, Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

7 TRAVEL AGENTS MONTHLY NEWS ACTA is Moderately Optimistic The Association of Cyprus Travel Agents (ACTA) predicts two to five percent increase in tourism traffic for this year. According to Victor Mantovani, president, ACTA, May was disappointing in terms of arrivals while April was better than the respective month of 2013 due to the Easter break across Europe. He indicated that tour operators abroad have special offers to fill the vacant air seats they offer while hotels have grown their room inventory. The challenge is to achieve year-round increases. Cyprus Tourism Organisation created a three-year programme for winter tourism and we are already seeing the first results from the UK and Germany, Mantovani concluded. Top Kinisis Celebrates with Etihad Airways Top Kinisis Travel in cooperation with Etihad Airways held a spectacular event at the company s head office in Nicosia. The travel company invited its partners, colleagues and friends to enjoy a night of festive camaraderie, music and dances and better familiarise themselves with the UAE carrier s products and Abu Dhabi s main attractions. The event also served as an ideal platform to network and exchange ideas. Top Kinisis Travel currently operates package tours to the Far East in cooperation with Etihad Airways, the flag carrier of the UAE. Top Kinisis - Etihad Airways Event 7

8 MONTHLY NEWS TOURISM BOARDS Ayia Napa Leads in Blue Flags Lakkotrypis: Tourism and Renewable Energy are Crucial Seasonality in Focus Boasting the largest number of Blue Flags compared to all municipalities and communities of Cyprus participating in the European programme for the cleanest seas and beaches, as well as best organisation and security, Ayia Napa ranked first in this year s results. At a ceremony held at the outdoor theatre of St. Tychonas, Nicos Kouyialis, minister of agriculture, natural resources and environment, Cyprus, was present to award 14 Blue Flags to the municipality s beaches. The locations honoured with the environmental prize included Konnos Bay, Limnara, Ammos tou Kambouri, Gliki Nero, Pantachou, Loukkos tou Manti, Katsarka, Pernera, Nissi, Nissi Bay, Macronissos and Agia Thekla. Official Awarding Ceremony Tourism and renewable energy are two important and largely interlinked sectors, stressed Yiorgos Lakkotrypis, minister of energy, commerce, industry and tourism, Cyprus, addressing the attendees at the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) s recently-held two-day workshop on Renewable Energy Applications for Island Tourism in Paphos. As Lakkotrypis noted, small islands, like Cyprus, can be early beneficiaries of renewable energy systems. We are proud to note that Cyprus ranks first in the world in the use of solar energy for water heating. [ ] Currently, more than 93 percent of households and 52 percent of hotels are equipped with solar water heating systems, revealed Lakkotrypis, emphasising that renewable energy can also play a major role in upgrading the tourism industry, which according to the minister, is one of the most important economic sectors of island countries. Nissi Beach Ayia Napa Ayia Napa Municipality announced that it is to host a conference on seasonality in November, following a similar initiative on the all-inclusive tourism offering, which took place in January, in the coastal town. Yiannis Karousos, mayor, Ayia Napa, commented that the topic was chosen because seasonality is a problem that has been affecting the region s tourism industry for decades and should be finally discussed thoroughly in order to discover ways for its final resolution. At the conference, participants will include mayors of the towns and municipalities in the free area of Famagusta, representatives of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, tour operators, local tourist entities and organised groups. Paphos: Towards Regeneration of the Old City Paphos With the best interest of the destination in mind and aiming at the revitalisation of Paphos old city, the society Friends of Old Paphos met with local stakeholders in order to present the actions taken so far and for planning for the next months. The group discussed the need to immediately complete the creation of the website to use social media; to publish and distribute printed material for the old town; to inform various partners, hoteliers and others about the area; to enhance accessibility by public transportation to the city centre and to devise an area plan to demonstrate correct uses proposed for developing the quarter. 8

9 NAUTICAL MONTHLY NEWS Paphos Next in Line for Artificial Reefs In the context of the creation of artificial reef structures in the Cypriot seas, the Department of Fisheries and Marine Research (DFMR) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment supervised the submerging of the vessel Laboe near Moulia area in Geroskipou, Paphos in June. Laboe was built in Rendburg shipyard, Germany in 1940 and features a length of 21.5m and breadth of five metres. It was used as a cruise vessel, and it was brought to Cyprus in 2006 by a private company. The vessel was donated to DFMR by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, Pafos Regional Board of Tourism and the Cyprus Dive Centres Association. Limassol Marina Opens to the Public Limassol Marina, hailed as one of the island s most ambitious projects to date, has been unveiled to locals and visitors alike. The opening of the marina s dining area and 750-car parking heralds a new chapter for the coastal city, which, with the upcoming launch of the project s shopping, spa and fitness facilities, is expected to attract increased numbers of visitors over the coming months. Having welcomed its first residents and yachts in 2013, Limassol Marina Limassol Marina is now accessible to locals and visitors alike, as well as its boat and property residents, offering a taste of living on the sea for all. With dining options ranging from traditional taverns to Japanese and fast-food restaurants and various cafés, the marina has been developed to capture the essence of the Mediterranean. 9

10 MONTHLY NEWS New Dynamics in Place in Hotel Industry Even though 2013 was a challenging year for Cyprus, tourist arrivals were down by only two percent, while tourism revenue increased eight percent exceeding, for the first time in several years, the EUR2 billion mark. This was stressed by Haris Loizides, chairman, Cyprus Hotel Association, who also said that the advent of major airlines from the Gulf countries created very significant potentials for exposure to the new, hitherto inaccessible, huge markets of Asia, giving a further impetus to the Cypriot tourism. Speaking of the seasonality issue, he said that the average annual occupancy in hotel units usually does not exceed 45 percent, but assured that, Our message is optimistic. [...] This year, we have objective evidence that can do even better if exogenous factors do not take their toll. New Event Management Solution in Cyprus Anastasiades: Tourism is Forging Ahead Speaking at Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) s annual general meeting, Nicos Anastasiades, president, Cyprus, stressed the importance of tourism for the country and indicated that special projects are in the pipeline to promote Cyprus even further. Among these is the integrated casino resort for which the legislative framework is a top priority. Anastasiades also underlined the significance of nautical tourism saying that after Limassol Marina s opening, the focus now is on the marina in Ayia Napa. Procedures are progressing for obtaining the necessary permits from the strategic investor. We have also completed the legislative outline for the promotion and encouragement of yacht mooring sites, which will provide an enhanced quality concept in our tourist product, he said. Finally, Anastasiades concluded that the government recognises the need to improve the competitiveness of the Cypriot tourism industry but also of the hotels and tourist accommodation. Anastasiades Speaking at CHA s Meeting EventApe s Team 10 EventApe has officially launched its operations in Nicosia, introducing an innovative event management approach to the Cypriot MICE sector. Hailed as a game-changing software, the new solution is expected to elevate the local event industry to worldclass standards by assisting event managers throughout the whole process from registration to budget management and billing, and allowing them to have all relevant information in a single programme. As George Yiasemides, director of business development, EventApe, explained, the developers main goal was to create a powerful, adaptable and cost-effective software solution that could be tailored precisely to the clients needs. Bashar Allhyani, senior software developer, EventApe, added, We hope to act as advisors for our clients, tailoring the system to their organisations need. Tourism to Contribute 10.5 Percent to the Cypriot GDP The next decade is expected to bring positive developments for the Cypriot tourism industry with the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) expecting the sector s direct contribution to the economy to reach EUR2.07 billion by 2024, representing 10.5 percent of the national GDP. According to WTTC s report, in 2013, travel and tourism generated EUR1.14 billion, equivalent to 6.8 percent of the GDP, and given the encouraging signs, this figure is set to grow by 5.2 percent per annum over the next 10 years. Likewise, the industry s total contribution is projected to rise 5.1 percent annually, from EUR3.44 billion in 2013 to EUR6.07 billion by 2024, making up 30.9 percent of the Cypriot GDP. Correspondingly, employment in the sector will increase by 2.2 percent; while in 2013 tourism directly supported 27,000 jobs, this number will reach 35,000 over the next decade.

11 SPORTS MONTHLY NEWS Minthis Hills Receives International Recognition Minthis Hills Clubhouse has been awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence. The accolade, which honours hospitality excellence, is given to establishments that consistently achieve outstanding customer reviews on TripAdvisor s website, and is extended to qualifying businesses worldwide. Establishments recognised with the certificate are all over the world and represent the upper echelon of businesses listed on the online platform. According to the management of Minthis Hills Clubhouse, winning the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence is a source of pride for the entire team and reinforces the staff s commitment to ensuring unforgettable experiences for every single guest. Sport Fuels Economy Growth Sport remains an important economic sector in the European Union (EU) in its own right, accounting for a share in the national economies which is comparable to agriculture, forestry and fisheries combined, the European Commission (EC) s recently released memo revealed. Based on EC s data, the sports sector currently represents two percent of the EU GDP, while the total employment generated by sports activities is 7.3 million. Yet, despite the figures, the economic impact of the sport-related industries is often underestimated. Following the first meeting of the European Sport Industries earlier this year, the significance of sport has been elaborated with three main objectives: maximising efficiency of investment in infrastructure, fostering the competitiveness of sports-related industries and enabling demand for sports, recreational activities and related goods and leveraging on the spill-over effects of sports on growth and employment. 11

12 MONTHLY NEWS AIR Edelweiss Air to Serve Larnaca Also in Winter Cyprus Airways Sells another Timeslot Cyprus Airways announced that it has reached the final agreement with American Airlines to trade a slot it is holding at London Heathrow airport. Edelweiss Air Swiss carrier Edelweiss Air will add Cyprus in its winter season schedule serving the destination with two weekly flights, starting in November. Edelweiss has been operating the destination Larnaca for years. Not only in the summer, also in the winter season. We fly to Larnaca because there is a big customer demand. Our claim Der Sonne entgegen [meaning] Heading to the sunshine, expresses the airline s commitment to offer its passengers the best possible service in every respect. And we think the destination of Larnaca fits perfectly with our claim, said Andreas Meier, head, corporate communications, Edelweiss Air. In June the airline operated to Cyprus on an Airbus A320 five times per week and raised that number in July offering daily services. Did you know... Since 2008, Edelweiss Air is a member of Lufthansa Group and sister company to Swiss International Air Lines? Cyprus Airways As a result of the transaction, the airline secured a significant revenue of USD31 million (EUR22.8 million) which is expected to enhance the company s liquidity for According to the Cypriot national carrier s statement, the Larnaca London route needed to be updated by establishing operations from another airport in the UK capital taking the opportunity to increase or decrease frequencies and improve take off and landing times. In this context, Cyprus Airways will continue offering flights to London through the Stansted hub, with operations beginning on September 14. Until that day services to London Heathrow will continue running as scheduled. Etihad Airways Marks Five Years in Cyprus Attendees at the Celebrations 12 Celebrating its five-year anniversary of successful presence in Cyprus, Etihad Airways, in collaboration with Hermes Airports, flew its passengers to Abu Dhabi in June on one of the company s aircraft dedicated to Formula 1. With a short ceremony held at Larnaka International Airport to mark the occasion, high-ranking officials of Etihad Airways and staff members thanked passengers for their continued support and for choosing the national airline of the UAE for both business travel and leisure purposes. Etihad Airways had already increased frequencies on the Abu Dhabi - Larnaca route from three to five flights per week, while during the peak summer period until September 30, the carrier operates the Larnaca route as a daily service.

13 AIR MONTHLY NEWS Gulf Air Steps up Larnaca Services In response to the growing demand, Gulf Air has increased frequency on its Bahrain Larnaca route. As part of its summer schedule, up until September 28, the national carrier of Bahrain operates seven weekly services to the coastal city, significantly enhancing travel options between the Middle East and Cyprus. Ahmed Janahi, acting chief commercial officer, Gulf Air, described Larnaca as a destination of both year-long and seasonal popularity, with the route showing particularly strong two-way traffic. Reinforcing the airline s business strategy of strengthening our core network and enhancing products and services, we believe our summer schedule will improve our passengers travel experience, added Janahi. Gulf Air s flights between Bahrain International Airport and Larnaka International Airport are operated by an Airbus A320-ER aircraft in a two-class configuration. NIKI Strengthens Presence in Cyprus NIKI Austrian carrier, NIKI, after increasing frequency to Larnaca, will open up a new route between Vienna and Paphos. Management members of NIKI and its German parent company, airberlin, had a meeting with Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO) officials, where they announced a twice-weekly service from the Austrian capital to Pafos International Airport, expected to launch on March 15, Moreover, the already boosted flights to Larnaca are to continue running on a four-weekly basis until the end of November. The agreement with NIKI is deemed to be very important by CTO because through airberlin s extensive network, both Cypriot destinations are offered the opportunity to be connected with many European cities. Currently about 43 percent of NIKI s customers to Cyprus are transit passengers from those cities. Paphos Excited to Welcome NIKI Wizz Air Opens New Riga Base Pafos Regional Board of Tourism has hailed NIKI s decision to launch regular flights from Vienna to the coastal city, beginning March The Austrian carrier is part of the German group, airberlin, which handles a fleet of 140 aircraft. In 2013 the company transferred 31.5 million passengers across its 171-destination network. NIKI has a large sales and distribution network flying through Vienna which covers several German airports including Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Hanover, Munich, Berlin, and other key areas targeted by Pafos Regional Board of Tourism such as Zurich, Rome, Milan, and Helsinki. Both the tourism development authority and other stakeholders have already started their actions to promote the route and the destination itself in order to ensure the success of the airline s programme. Wizz Air has launched its 17th base in Riga, the capital city of Latvia. The low-cost carrier is initially deploying one Airbus A320 aircraft from the North European city, which is now connected with four new destinations, namely Barcelona, Doncaster Sheffield, Dortmund and Paris Beauvais. In addition, the airline has also increased its operations on the existing services to London Luton and Oslo Torp, offering passengers easy access to a total of eight routes in six countries. Abrán György, chief commercial officer, Wizz Air, described the inauguration of the new base as an important milestone which underscores the company s commitment to the Latvian market. Aldis Mūrnieks, chairman, Riga International Airport, added, Wizz Air is an important business partner [ ]. The opening of the base at the airport shows that we are an internationally significant air transport hub. 13

14 MONTHLY NEWS ACCOMMODATION King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort Revealed Tsokkos Hotels announced the opening of its new five-star hotel located on Chloraka s waterfront in Paphos, offering uninterrupted views of the sea. Hotel Entrance Hotel Lobby King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort features 24 swim-up rooms, nine family suites, five junior suites, five terrace suites, four king suites, one honeymoon suite, one presidential suite and three suites with a private pool, whereas the modern decor combined with plenty of natural light and unobstructed views of the sea, target the aesthetics, elegance and requirements of the modern visitor. Guests can also enjoy a variety of cuisines at the Italian trattoria Little Italy, the traditional Greek restaurant El Greco, the Mexican outlet Viva Mexico, and Thalassa Diners. The property also caters to health and wellness tourists with Royal Spa, a fully equipped fitness centre, hair salon, two tennis, one basketball and one volleyball court, while at the same time kids can enjoy Aqua Splash Waterpark. King Evelthon Beach Hotel & Resort Cleopatra Hotel Unveils New Entrance Le Méridien Limassol: 75 Percent to Emerald Cleopatra Hotel 14 Cleopatra Hotel, Nicosia has unveiled its new façade, displaying a more modern and urban look. The introduction of the new entrance comes in line with the management s efforts to continuously upgrade the hotel s facilities and services in order to ensure the highest level of guest satisfaction, and follows the complete renovation of the property s rooms and suites and the swimming pool. Moreover, the stylish new façade also complements the luxurious ambience of the hotel s Baroque Lounge bar, where visitors can enjoy light dishes, Mediterranean delicacies, afternoon coffees and exotic drinks. In a bid to make guests stay even more comfortable, the management has also added extra parking spaces and upgraded the hotel s appearance to ensure easy access to the property. C.C.C. Tourist Enterprises Public Company, owner of Le Méridien Limassol Spa & Resort has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Emerald Coast Properties, holder of the 50 percent of the hotel s shares. According to the new deal, the share capital of the Cypriot company will increase approximately by EUR52.5 million through the issue of new shares to Emerald Coast Properties and upon completion of the capital restructuring, the investing party should hold at least 75 percent share of the property. Growing needs for capital expenditure for Le Méridien Limassol Spa & Resort renovation will be financed by Emerald Coast Properties, since in order for the hotel to become one of the most prestigious and competitive in the Eastern Mediterranean, as envisioned, the budget for the renovation had to be significantly increased from that originally set by the agreement concluded in January.

15 ACCOMMODATION MONTHLY NEWS The Classic Hotel Gets Conference Certification Following a thorough examination and inspection process, The Classic Hotel, Nicosia has been certified as a qualified training, seminar and conference facility. The 57-key property successfully completed all the requirements set by Cyprus Human Resource Development Authority to receive the official certification which enables the hotel to host events of various sizes and genres from company trainings to corporate seminars and conferences of up to 180 people. Located in the old city quarters of the capital city, The Classic Hotel offers various meeting rooms, all specially designed and equipped to meet today s business needs. CHA Points to Six Pillars At the Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) s annual general meeting held in June, it was pointed out that tourism is a sector that surprised everyone with its dynamic, wide perspective and sturdiness. At the same time, the tourism body is proposing six guidelines which are bound to benefit the sector. These include intensification of efforts to improve the competitiveness of the tourism product; gradual lengthening of the season and reevaluating policies for certain markets; broadening the policy of attracting new airlines with other agreements, similar to those already achieved with more than eight carriers; streamlining and improving the function and quality of the services on offer; marketing of all pending infrastructure projects; and promoting restructuring of bank loans for hospitality units. 15

16 TRAVEL CHANNELS 102 Airports Join ACI Carbon Programme Tourist Arrivals to Reach 4.47 Million by 2024 Over the past 12 months, a total of 102 airports from Europe, Africa and Asia Pacific have earned the Airport Carbon Accredited status, Airports Council International (ACI) revealed. Following an industry-wide commitment to reduce carbon emissions, made six years ago, and the subsequent launch of the carbon management standard, European airport trade body, ACI Europe reported significant progress in the aviation s sector s environmental stewardship. With the addition of the 102 airports, the total number of hubs certified by the programme represent now 23.6 percent of global air passenger traffic. As Oliver Jankovec, director general, ACI Europe, explained, over the past 12 months alone, the collective efforts of the 85 European airports involved the initiative yielded a net reduction of 353,842 tonnes of CO 2, enough to power 147,781 households for a year. Celebrations at ACI International visitor numbers to the island are expected to almost double over the next decade. While in 2013, Cyprus welcomed 2.4 million tourists, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) s forecast, this number is set to rise to 4.47 million by 2024, generating expenditure of EUR4.2 billion for the country s economy. As WTTC s report pinpoints, leisure travel spending, both inbound and domestic, continues to drive the industry, accounting for some 91.8 percent of the total, and the segment will remain dominant over the next decade. The report also shows that in 2013, domestic travel spending generates 11.2 percent of direct travel and tourism GDP compared with 88.8 percent for visitor exports. Department of Antiquities to Enhance Tourist Experience Paphos to Become Culinary Destination During a recent workshop on Cyprus UNESCO sites, Marina Solomidou-Ieronimidou, acting director, Department of Antiquities, Cyprus, revealed that the department, will make the necessary efforts to improve accessibility to all UNESCO sites in Cyprus, which include three locations in Paphos, the painted churches in the Troodos region and Choirokitia. She added that following the pilot project, Tours for visually impaired persons at the House of Dionysos Kato Paphos Archaeological Park, the initiative will expand to Kourion Archaelogical Site, while new leaflets are being prepared for the Tombs of the Kings, and the department is putting forward the replacement of the shelters at Choirokoitia Neolithic Settlement. Pafos Regional Board of Tourism has a host of ongoing activities in the pipeline for the promotion and certification of the quality of local cuisine, in a bid to strengthen its identity and establish Paphos as a gastronomic destination. A related website, a list of local recipes, upgrading of the region s wine routes, the creation of a culinary centre, and use of technology are some of the actions that will contribute to the desired target. More specifically, the board is finalising a survey which records local recipes, products and delicacies of Paphos in order to publish a brochure which will become available to restaurateurs and hoteliers. At the same time Pafos Regional Board of Tourism already started the process for marking the Cypriot Cuisine, a project expected to enter its pilot version this year. 16

17 INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY NEWS Passenger Traffic Soars at European Airports Greece to Astonish WTA Attendees Passenger volumes continued to increase across Europe with the continent s airports recording an eight percent yearon-year growth in April. Based on data compiled by Airports Council International (ACI) Europe, European Union (EU) airports witnessed a 7.4 percent rise, while traffic at non-eu hubs improved by10 percent. As a result, aircraft movements for the whole of Europe surged two percent, while freight traffic showed a three percent growth. The positive figures are pointing to solid demand levels across Europe, noted Olivier Jankovec, director general, ACI Europe, highlighting that for the first time since the global financial crisis, the gap in passenger volume growth between EU and non-eu airports has significantly narrowed due to the demand for air transport bucking the trend in wider economic activity in the Eurozone and particularly in countries such as Cyprus, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain, and Italy. Olivier Jankovec Guests attending this year s World Travel Awards (WTA) gala in Greece held on August 2, are in for a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Offered in conjunction with hosts Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso, WTA s three-day itinerary will present a series of networking opportunities and an opportunity to explore some of the country s most amazing sights. Guests arriving ahead of the event will be treated to a traditional welcome with a host of Greek specialties on offer. The next day s programme will continue with an organised tour around the capital city and a private visit to Acropolis Museum, while on the third day attendees will be able to enjoy a cruise around the Saronic Gulf. Parthenon AIA Reinforces Environmental Commitment Athens International Airport (AIA) marked the World Environmental Day by highlighting its range of environmental protection actions and initiatives, all of which are aimed at improving the hub s environmental performance and minimising the impact from its operations. AIA s active participation in Airports Council International s Airport Carbon Accreditation programme earned the airport the Eco-Innovations Award in During the same year, Athens hub increased its recycling rate to 55 percent, bringing it closer to its target of 60 percent set for In addition, the airport was also successful in involving youth in its sustainability initiatives and managed to encourage students to recycle 6.4 tonnes of paper in 2013, and attract 2,300 pupils from 52 schools to the Vravrona Wetland to familiarise them with its unique ecological and cultural value. Did you know... Athens International Airport handled 4,299,589 passengers in 2013? 17

18 TRAVEL TALK We have achieved remarkable new agreements with various carriers After 14 years in operation the restaurant is well-established ANGELOS LOIZOU Chairman, Cyprus Tourism Organisation (CTO). The agreement reached [between CTO and] the largest UK tour operator, TUI, and smaller ones from Germany, markets which have a downward trend over the past 13 years, are showing positive signs. Additionally we have achieved remarkable new agreements with various carriers such as Vueling Airlines, Germanwings, easyjet, Ryanair, Wizzair and Edelweiss Air and we are strengthening partnerships with many others. CHRISTINA IACOVIDOU Assistant manager, Cleopatra Hotel, Nicosia. Loucoullos Greek Meze restaurant is now open by the outdoor swimming pool gardens at Cleopatra Hotel. After 14 years in operation the restaurant is wellestablished and well-known among locals for its rich dishes, traditional tastes and excellent service. This year new dishes are added to its menu. Dishes are created from traditional recipes from all over Greece and Cyprus. One can also enjoy a wide variety of Greek and Cypriot wines and Ouzo. Every Wednesday, Friday and Saturday there is live Greek music. I would like to invite the travelling public [to] join us in our online activities Our guests enjoy the unique experiences we offer at our hotel WES PORTER CEO, Hermes Airports. I would like to invite the travelling public, all the friends and employees of our airports and aviation fans to follow us and join us in our online activities. To become citizens of our digital community, [the newly launched #CyprusAeropolis], to become citizens of Cyprus airports. PANICOS MICHAEL General manager, Alion Beach Hotel, Ayia Napa. It is an honour to be acknowledged by TUI [with the TUI Holly Award] alongside so many top hotels and resorts from around the world, and to have been judged by real life guests who have stayed with us in recent times. It reinforces the fact that our guests enjoy the unique experiences we offer at our hotel. TRAVEL TALK IS YOUR SPACE this is a casual forum for travel industry professionals to discuss current issues and share stories. We want to hear from you, so send your comments, questions, frustrations and observations to editorial@traveltradecyprus.travel 18

19 RENDEZVOUS TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: What is the role and contribution of CYHMA to the tourism industry of Cyprus? POLYS KALLIS: CYHMA was established more than 30 years ago. Being the association of the professionals in tourism and hospitality, the main objective was to ensure quality in the development of tourism. As hotel owner associations aim to be mainly lobbying bodies, CYHMA was needed to complement them. Many owners association members are only interested in protecting their shortminded interests rather than seeing the big picture. Our role and contribution can be very beneficial for Cyprus tourism and economy in general for various reasons including that authorities and officials of tourism feel more comfortable dealing with owners and exercising shortterm policies and action plans. [...] Secondly, authorities and owners associations deal with urgent issues rather than with the important issues. They are just time tellers, where we need clock makers. That is why there are no quality criteria for hotels. That is why seasonality cannot be addressed effectively. Moreover, another issue that we can play a significant role in, is the working standards and conditions. The hotel employee s image is probably the worst in the Cypriot economy and nobody seems to care about it, neither trade unions, nor hotel owners associations. Without great staff, we cannot compete on quality, that is why Cyprus can only compete on price. The above are just three of the many reasons why our association must be allowed to be a part of policy- and decision-making processes. We want to be the opposite pole of narrow-minded attitudes. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: According to your opinion, what niche market is an emerging segment for Cyprus and one that is worth to be further tapped into? POLYS KALLIS: To our opinion, Cyprus must firstly clarify and qualify its core tourist market. Currently Cyprus tourism depends on seasonally weather-depended beach holidays. Of course this type of tourism is neither unique, nor differentiated. We even lack on basic Q & A with Polys Kallis CHAIRMAN, CYPRUS HOTEL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION CYPRUS COULD BE DOING WONDERS IN THE TOURISM FIELD BUT STILL IT FALLS BEHIND COMPARED TO ITS COMPETITORS. POLYS KALLIS, CHAIRMAN, CYPRUS HOTEL MANAGERS ASSOCIATION (CYHMA), ANALYSES THE REASONS AND GIVES HIS SUGGESTIONS ON HOW TO IMPROVE. infrastructure like beaches from Paphos harbour to Pegeia. Our main challenge and top priority must be to secure public structures, and then differentiate and add uniqueness to our tourism experience by developing our service culture in hotels and our hospitality culture in the economy chain. All kind of niche and special interest markets can only be an addendum to great core product. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: According to your opinion and feedback you get, does the Cypriot tourism industry cater sufficiently to all incoming travellers? Have you observed progress over the past years and what are your suggestions on what needs to be improved? POLYS KALLIS: Our tourism industry still has great potential for improvement. But first we need to address the crucial facts. The latest developments show a decrease from our traditional tourism markets. At the same time, there is a great increase from new East European markets, especially the Russians. The decrease of traditional markets has to do with our decreasing value for money and /or higher guest expectations. English, Germans, Scandinavians, Swiss and many others are demanding and experienced in travelling. They want more services, at lower cost. They want us to develop our product, both tanglible and intangible. On the other hand, the less experienced and less demanding Russian guests pay higher package rates and, on top, many tour operators are financing the renovations of many hotels. The truth lies in the middle. We however need to re-establish overall value for money and guest experience management to exceed the expectations of our traditional markets. We cannot afford to lose the balance of our incoming tourism. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Regarding infrastructure, facilities, and services available, what is Cyprus stand between its competitors? Do you think, there is adequately trained and educated staff locally to equip hotels with? POLYS KALLIS: That is another key issue. We are doing quite well in the tangible product. When it comes to guest experience what is urgently needed is better selection of staff. As the Americans say, Hire for attitude, train for skills and educate for culture. That is the most challenging duty of our hotel managers. Recruiting must become the key issue of the industry. Great hotels are made by great staff. TRAVEL TRADE CYPRUS: Please share us your feedback and view concerning the current image of Cyprus hospitality industry. POLYS KALLIS: The average property of Cyprus, when compared internationally, is below average. The main reason is that our classification system lacks on both content and implementation. We cannot claim to be the best, we cannot claim to be unique. We, however, have many quality properties, and good brands that deliver excellent guest experience. We need to build on that. 19

20 NEWS & EVENTS Sustainability in Hospitality EVENTS Aseminar with the theme Sustainable Corporate Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Corporate Social Responsibility in the Hotel Industry was held in Paphos. The initiative by Cyprus Hotel Association (CHA) s Paphos branch was led by Sotiris Milonas, civil engineer and consultant in environmental hotel management, sustainability and business development. Attendees included directors and senior executives of the district s hotel units, while the main goal of the seminar was to raise awareness on environmental management, corporate social responsibility and financial management of hotels. The issue of environmental management in relation to corporate social responsibility in the hotel business is very important. Beyond the issues of energy and water saving, waste management and upgrading of services, we believe that with proper sustainable management we will have impressive benefits, said Themis Philippides, chairman, Paphos district committee, CHA. 16th Pafos Aphrodite Festival Coming Up Pafos Aphrodite Festival will open its curtain for its 16th edition between September 5 7 to present the popular, witty opera Cosi Fan Tutte by the Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, at the city s medieval castle square. The event will take place in co-production with the lyric organisation Opera Futura from Verona, Italy and will also see the participation of the Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. Mozart s masterpiece represents the genre of the Italian opera buffa and consists of two acts, while the subject matter of this comic opera was considered rather bold for its time, since it told a story of exchanging lovers. LIMASSOL BEER FIESTA Enaerios parking, Limassol, August 1 3, 2014 More than 30 brands will be presented to the public who also have the opportunity to enjoy a variety of musical and dance performances. CUBAMISALA CYPRUS FESTIVAL Mediterranean Beach Hotels, Limassol, August 1 3, 2014 The fifth edition of the festival will feature workshops and guarantees to bring unbeatable Cuban energy to the island. 16TH PAFOS APHRODITE FESTIVAL Medieval Castle, Paphos, September 5 7, 2014 ( It presents Mozart s opera Cosi Fan Tutte in co-production with Opera Futura from Verona and Cyprus Symphony Orchestra. WINE FESTIVAL First European Week of Sport to be Held in 2015 Androulla Vassiliou, commissioner, education, culture, multilingualism and youth, European Commission (EC), announced plans for the first-ever European Week of Sport, which will take place in September The main goal of the event is to promote exercise and sport at all levels, since according to data published in the latest Eurobarometer survey on sport and physical activity, almost 60 percent of European Union citizens never or seldom work out or play sports. According to Vassiliou, the results of the report highlight the need for measures to persuade everybody to get off the couch and make sport and exercise part of their daily lives. This is crucial, not only in terms of health and wellbeing, but also because of the significant economic costs which result from physical inactivity, stressed Vassiliou. During the one-week programme, which is expected to be funded by Erasmus+, the new European initiative for education, training, youth and sport, EC will coordinate events and activities throughout Europe and will also encourage national awareness-raising activities. Limassol, August 28 September 7, 2014 ( One of the largest annual festivals on the island with music and dance, and of course, culinary specialties and wine. AKAMAS MOUNTAINBIKE CHALLENGE Akamas, Paphos, September 6 7, 2014 ( Open to sport and nature lovers, the challenge highlights Akamas natural beauty. 20