I SPECIAL FEATURE I
I SPECIAL FEATURE I TRAVEL TECHNOLOGIES I DerbySoft expands product range with Social Media China, Business Travel Suite, and air travel marketplace PKFARE HBX Group launches its comprehensive Marketing Suite at ITB Asia 2024 The global B2B travel tech company HBX Group is unveiling its Marketing Suite at ITB Asia this year, which includes a complete collection of marketing services designed to inspire, convert, and drive growth. Serving as a point of reference for hotels, DMOs, airlines, and any business looking to engage with travellers and travel distributors, the HBX Group Marketing Suite is composed of Travel Media Solutions and a Digital Marketing Agency. The former offers advertising products in an extensive network of digital spaces with the potential to reach over 50,000 travel agencies as well as travellers from over 100 booking websites. The Digital Marketing Agency is focused on tailor-made marketing strategies and includes B2C digital campaign management, marketing advice and insights, creative services, and brand management STAND T 110 Unlock the Southeast Asian market with Traveloka's B2B platform DerbySoft has enlarged its portfolio this year with products designed to further meet the needs of the travel industry and its customers. DerbySoft's Social Media China integrates availability, rates, and inventory (ARI) into top platforms, enabling seamless engagement with Chinese customers, driving direct bookings and increasing visibility. The company's Business Travel Suite enhances operational efficiencies with smooth connectivity, reducing costs, and accelerating travel commerce by offering comprehensive rate options for business travellers. Further expanding its offering, this year DerbySoft acquired PKFARE, a leading travel trade marketplace focused on air travel STAND T 01 Traveloka, a leading travel platform for Southeast Asia, is showcasing its B2B platform, Traveloka Partners Network, at ITB Asia 2024. Providing a gateway to the region's vast travel market, Traveloka Partners Network offers access to a wide range of airlines, accommodations, and activities. With flexible APIs, advanced tools, and a robust search engine for seamless access to diverse travel services, Traveloka Partners Network is designed to support B2B partnerships, opening up the travel market potential of Southeast Asia through the platform's regional expertise STAND T 132 © Shutterstock for Traveloka Agoda announces winners of 2024 Customer Review Awards At ITB Asia 2024, the digital travel platform Agoda is revealing the winners of its annual Customer Review Awards, acknowledging over 40,000 properties across 147 markets that have demonstrated excellence by securing impressive customer ratings of 8.0 or above. Assessing properties on various criteria, including value for money, location, cleanliness, staff, and facilities, Agoda has also taken key considerations such as competitive pricing strategies and availability into account. Of the winners, 2,920 properties (7%) have obtained an award for five consecutive years, while 13,011 properties (32%) are new award recipients. Asian markets continue to shine with Thailand holding the top position with 5,640 winning properties STAND T 27 10 ITB ASIA NEWS • THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER 2024 itb-asia-news.com
I REGION I EUROPE I Europe maintains its position as top global tourist destination, driven by major events and near-prepandemic recovery Europe continues to be the number one destination in tourist arrivals, a ranking unlikely to change in the near future according to UN Tourism. No continent in the world attracts more tourists than Europe. With over 707 million international tourist arrivals in 2023, the continent generated 54% of all tourist movements in the world. According to data released by UN Tourism, Europe reached 96% of prepandemic levels in 2023, supported by robust intra-regional demand and travel from US citizens. UN tourism indicates that travel is continuing to expand in 2024. Data from January to July 2024 indicates an almost complete recovery: Europe was only 1% below its pre-pandemic performance. At the end of 2023, arrivals to the sub-region of Central/Eastern Europe were still 25.6% below their 2019 performance. During the first seven months of 2024, the market slightly recovered with total international arrivals 23.7% below pre-pandemic numbers. THE IMPACT OF UEFA EURO, AND THE OLYMPICS Germany, which recovered 93% of prepandemic arrivals through June, saw its overnight stays increase by 4.5% in July 2024 during the UEFA Euro 2024 football championship (according to data from the German National Tourist Board). France, which hosted the Olympic and Paralympic Games, estimates that total international tourist arrivals remained overall the same during the summer. The first statistics from Atout France point to almost the same number of overnight stays. Paris benefited the most from this golden opportunity, with the number of foreign tourists up by 13% over the Olympic period. European and long-haul overnight stays grew 16% during the 19-day period Asian markets increasingly important for Sarajevo The presence of Sarajevo at ITB Asia reflects the increasing importance of the Asian market for the capital of Bosnia Herzegovina. "We are here to show the best of our city and promote our culture, our traditions, our architectural heritage and above all, our unique lifestyle shaped by the blend of all religions," Faruk Caluk, Senior Advisor for the Development of Tourism and Creative Projects at the Tourism Association of Sarajevo Canton, told ITB Asia News. For the Asian market, the city is also promoting special interest such as winter holidays. "Snow activities are attractive as Sarajevo is only 20 minutes away from mountains. There is also the possibility to visit the installations of our Winter Olympic Games," added Mr Caluk. Another promotional highlight is the Sarajevo Summer Fest. Each August, the festival brings together musicians and dancers from all over to the Bosnian capital. Getting to Bosnia-Herzegovina is relatively easy for Asian travellers thanks to many flights connecting the capital city to international hubs. "The most convenient from Asia is certainly Istanbul as we have many daily flights with Turkish Airlines. But there are also good connections via Dubai with Flydubai, via Frankfurt, Vienna and Zurich with the Lufthansa Group as well as via Belgrade with Air Serbia," explained Mr Caluk. Travellers have a choice of luxury and middle-class hotels including properties from international chains. Sarajevo already has two Marriott properties, one Rotana and three Accor properties - Ibis Style hotel, M-Gallery and Mövenpick. "We expect to have two Hilton properties in 2026, including a Hampton by Hilton in Sarajevo city centre. Such a brand will further boost our reputation," Mr Caluk highlighted STAND L 15 Faruk Caluk Senior Advisor for the Development of Tourism and Creative Projects at the Tourism Association of Sarajevo Canton ITB ASIA NEWS • THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER 2024 11
