When you see a development like Tripsay in the corner at the dance, you have to ask yourself; “Is everyone at this party stupod?” This Finnish travel development should have been either bought or adopted for any number of mainstream travel companies – but it wasn’t. Tripsay now intends to modularize their innovation so that mid sized players can compete with the likes of Expedia and TripAdvisor.
Macedonia’s Autumn Music Festival In Swing
Macedonia is in full musical swing this month with the Autumn Music Festival at the capital Skopje. This year’s cultural event promises to be the best ever, with performances from artists of the Balkans and beyond. For those who have never visited Macedonia, this may be the ideal time to acquaint themselves with this small but wonder laden treasure of the Balkans.
What Ryanair Knows About Lithuania
Ryanair apparently knows something other airlines do not. With traffic to and from destinations like Lithuania growing exponentially, Ryanair’s overall strategy to help grow tourism seems to be paying off. Lithuania as an emerging economy has pretty much the same strategy with perhaps the lowest corporate tax rate in Europe. For travelers all this news spells “deal” basically.
Eastern Europe Takes Home World Travel Gold
The World Travel Awards reveal the leaders in the travel industry. This year’s winners actually represent the leading companies that are taking the industry through one of the most difficult times economically in history. Travel looks to lead the world out of recession, and Eastern Europe is significant among this year’s award winners.
Hungary Convention Tourism Booming This Year
Hungary is emerging as something of a conference tourism hub for Easter Europe. So far this year, the country’s conference attendees are up 76 percent, and growth in the segment is actually better than before the recession. Hungary tourism appears about ready to take off as maybe the first boom tourism economy out of the economic chaos.
Andros Island – Athenian Getaway – Almost Forgotten Jewel
The Cyladese Islands are well known Aegean getaways, but usually only day or weekend excursions for most travelers. This is why places like Andros Island are sometimes overlooked as holiday destinations. Andros has some of the most wonderful cultural and sightseeing opportunities of all the Islands, and hidden seaside treasures to compete with any in the world.
Marriott International Adds Three New Renaissance Hotels for Europe
Marriott International announces three new Renaissance hotels in Europe. Two hotels in France, and one in Switzerland, bring Marriott’s projects total 27. Evidently the company’s promise to double their presence in Europe by 2015 is on track.
Prague Hotel Takes Hospitality To Next Level
A new type of hotel is emerging. Accomodations where renewable energy and cutting edge techology afford not only value for the guest, but people in general. Impact-Corti Company’s new Mosaic House in Prague is an example of taking Eco-friendly hospitality to the next level.
Cyprus Travel Organization Welcomes Conferences
The Cyprus Tourism Organization launches their Ambassadors in Tourism Program. The country’s already thriving tourism industry should get an additional boost when conference bookings increase. At least this is the goal of this new government supported travel industry initiative.
American Airlines Gut Punches Orbitz
Travelport and Orbitz sue American Airlines over intended breakup of ticket sale deal. American wants exclusivity and no competition, while online travel companies demand choice for their customers. In what appears to be a move in protest of Travelport’s Southwest deal, AA aims to leverage their position. Meanwhile, Orbitz stocks tumble when they can afford it least.
Why Slovakia Emerges As Investment Mecca
Slovakia, Europe’s most centrally located and one of the world’s fastest growing countries just may be the real estate investment Mecca of 2011. Vast governmental infrastructure projects, a revamping of many dated industries, and an already vibrant economy spell profit. Will Slovakia’s boom real estate market return along with other economic recovery? Why not?
Georgia’s President Saakashvili Garners Economic Support
The Republic of Georgia is a hot spot for International direct investment in Eastern Europe. Despite an economic contraction after the spat with Russia in 2008, the country is on course for substantial growth this year. President Mikheil Saakashvili is approaching investors in the Middle East this week about accelerating the country’s recovery.
Celebrate Christmas In Estonia for a Song
Not everyone knows, but Tallinn, Estonia is the home of the Christmas Tree. For a truly unique experience this season, many will travel to this ancient city to celebrate at perhaps Europe’s most famous Christmas market. At least one of the city’s luxury hotels wants you to experience the season in style. Argophilia Travel News spotlights Schloessle Hotel’s Christmas welcome package – 5 star accommodations and service for a song.
Montenegro – The Luxury of Beauty Reaches Out
Montenegro reaches out to foreign investors with aggressive new plans and economic potentialities. Prime Minister Dukanovic’s ambitious plans for infrastructure refinements and luxurious touristic developments will certainly attract the most forward thinking monied people. Will industrial and other markets thrive? Only time and making a good case will tell for Montenegro’s emerging economy.
Moldova Free Visa Rules – Coming Soon
EU Ambassasors and Moldova official begin hammering out free-visa rules. Meetings in Luxembourg today may signal a new era of travel to and from one of Eastern Europe’s most difficult countries to travel to. European Commission authoring of a new protocol will be needed, but it is expected Moldova’s new tourism goals match those of the Russian Federation.
Travelport to Integrate and Reorganize Channels
Travelport announces new integration features as the company gets a new lease on life from investors. Travelport’s leading edge GDS technology is in need of an update, as worldwide travel becomes far more competitive. Blackstone Group’s reservation portal forgoes $2.6 billion in mature loans for now. Will the company integrate and expand its global business?
Welcome to Russia Joins Forces With ASTA
Welcome to Russia joins the elite list of travel companies belonging to the ASTA. According to this latest news, Russia’s leading conduit for travel support joins the world’s largest travel agent association. Russia is set to engage travel and tourism on an unprecedented level.
TUI Travel Value Tumbles
TUI Travel accepts CFO resignation amid almost scandalous restating of financials. CEO Peter Long and CFO Paul Bowtell talk, after which Bowtell announces his resignation. A restated financial report reveals a fairly vast accounting error – stocks decline on the news.
To Russia With Love
Russia’s government now intent on breaking down barriers for the travel and tourism industry there. What has been one of the most difficult countries in the world to visit, should the plan succeed, will become one of the world’s most visited. Russia holds some of the world’s greatest tourism treasures, and now more people will be able to share them.
Hungary’s Most Famous Toy Inventor
Have you ever wondered where the Rubik’s cube was invented? If you thought Mattel created it in America, you were wrong. A Hungarian inventor and professor named Ernő Rubik has thus far been responsible for puzzling over 350 million kids, and their fiends too.