Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008 - (Page 6)

n news news brief Voted ‘Number 1’ literary festival in the world in 2007 by Harpers Bazaar, the Galle Literary Festival in Sri Lanka is now established as a leading celebration of English Literature. This annual event draws the attention of the book-loving world to the coastal town of Galle, with thousands trekking many miles to be part of the activities. The literary event, which draws Sri Lankan authors and others from across the globe, it is a celebration of culture -writing, photography, music, ecology, architecture and food. Germaine Greer, Michelle de Kretser, Moses Isegawa, Pico Iyer and Romesh Gunesekera are some of the writers who have confirmed participation for the forthcoming event, which takes place 28 January to 1 February 2009. www. galleliteraryfestival.com Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has illuminated Beijing’s skyline with a brand new landmark, Park Hyatt Beijing. Directly opposite the China World Trade Centre, Park Hyatt Beijing occupies the uppermost floors in the main tower of the Beijing Yintai Centre - the tallest development on prestigious Chang’an Avenue, in the heart of the capital’s Central Business District. Park Hyatt caters to elite, discerning travellers seeking luxury in the world’s prime locations. The Beijing Yintai Centre was conceived as a city within itself; an ‘urban oasis’ where people can live, work, shop, dine and entertain in one location, minimising the stress and carbon footprint of daily commuting. Inaugural ITB Asia ATTENDANCE EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS The inaugural ITB Asia B2B travel show closed on the 24th of October in Singapore with 6,208 delegates joining the 3-day event. The attendance was 24.2% more than the 5,000 anticipated by event organiser, Messe Berlin. The 651 exhibiting companies, who took 10,600 square metres of space in the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre, were 30.2% more than the targeted 500. Buyers and trade visitors arrived from 70 countries. In total, there were representatives from 90 countries at the event. The ITB Asia Convention, the ‘Web in Travel’ event and the ‘Association of Corporate Travel Executives’ forum attracted a total of 1,375 delegates, many of them concerned about the global economic situation and how the travel industry should respond. “We are very impressed by the positive response from the travel industry,” said Dr Martin Buck, Director of Messe Berlin (Singapore). “This is proof we have met customer expectations by focusing exclusively on Asian source markets, following a B2B format, running a high quality hosted buyer programme, and putting our trust in the convenience and professionalism of Singapore as the host venue.” shown an 86% overall approval rating for the inaugural event. Over 95% said they would recommend their business partners to attend ITB Asia. More than 94% said they would visit ITB Asia 2009. “We are now in the process of negotiating expanded floor space for 2009,” said Dr Buck. “We will analyse the full survey results and make extra improvements to ensure an even better ITB Asia next year.” The next ITB Asia takes place 21-23 October, 2009. Initial survey results from delegates have ‘Seoul – Asia’s hidden treasure’ free Lonely Planet Booklet eoul City Government asked the experts at Lonely Planet for their views on the most rewarding corners of this 600-year-old city. The result is a concise booklet, which makes it easy for visitors to walk, hike, eat, drink, bathe and explore one of Asia’s hidden treasures. ‘Seoul – Asia’s hidden treasure’ is supplied with this November issue of Travel News Europe. Seoul is one of the world’s largest cities with gleaming skyscrapers, inspired temples and grand palaces. But that’s only part of the story. For starters, getting around the city is simple. Seoul’s efficient subway is a traveller’s dream with well-marked English signs at every station. And those whose idea of travel includes round-the-clock shopping and bargain hunting, will not be disappointed. Or visitors can try world-class museums, stunning galleries and the rich diversity of Korean cuisine. When it’s time to slow down, spending a day at the park, an afternoon at the horse races and an evening on a Hangang River cruise are ideal pastimes. Lonely Planet’s ‘Seoul – Asia’s hidden treasure’, dispels the popular misconceptions that Seoul is expensive, that language is a barrier and that it is just another Asian megacity, November 2008 S Singapore Airlines (SIA) won the prestigious Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Airline of the Year Award for 2008. Awarded to the airline that has had the greatest impact on the development of the airline industry in the region, SIA’s year was highlighted by the flawless introduction of the new A380 and strong earnings amid considerable adversity. Changi International Airport (Singapore) was named the CAPA International Airport of the Year. “Changi has had another outstanding year, handling new services and challenges with aplomb – from high turnaround LCC services to a growing fleet of SIA’s double-decker A380s. The new Terminal 3 is a world leader in terms of service standards, cost efficiency and revenue effectiveness,” said Peter Harbison, CAPA Executive Chairman. and highlights Seoul’s top 5 cultural experiences, museums & galleries, shopping experiences, walks and festivals. The booklet gives tips about exploring Seoul’s downtown heart, its historical legacies, the Hangang River, and Seoul’s arts and parks. The directions to and the locations of some of Seoul’s most scenic walks are provided, for when visitors fancy stepping outside the urban fanfare, and a number of must-experience excursions, including a day-long tour of the fascinating Korean Demilitarized Zone are suggested. Public baths are a Korean icon, so for the benefit of those who wish to fully immerse themselves in Korean culture, the booklet describes the etiquette and rituals of spending a day relaxing, socialising and cleansing there. For those interested in shopping, the booklet highlights the best markets, boutiques, malls and department stores. Typical and popular Korean foods and drinks are also described. A map of central Seoul and another of the city’s rail network is provided to help visitors navigate the city with ease. Visit Korea Tourism Organization at WTM stand AS3100. www.seoul.go.kr www.travelnewseurope.com TRAVEL NEWS EUROPE http://www.galleliteraryfestival.com http://www.galleliteraryfestival.com http://www.seoul.go.kr http://www.travelnewseurope.com

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

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

Travel News Europe - #88 - November 2008