12 TRADE TALK ADVERTORIAL LOW CARBON TOURISM BHUTAN PROJECT Products and Packages Launched at ITBBerlin 2015 Bhutan is presenting its Low Carbon Tourism Project at ITB 2015, launching low carbon, environmentally friendly tourism products and packages. Low-carbon tourism means using renewable energy sources and energy efficient transportation with measures to reduce the carbon footprint for a wider range of products and services in the tourism supply chain. Programmes include 8-10 days Trekking on the Path of the Thunder Dragon - a great way to discover unique natural scenery as well as monasteries, stupas and fascinating ancient architecture, which cannot be found anywhere else than in the Land of Happiness. Visitors will fall in love with the fresh air and the beauty of the high Himalayas. Another featured (15-day) tour is entitled “West to East on Low Carbon Wheels”: Mountain biking through Bhutan’s mountainous terrain, through spectacular scenery - visiting fortresses, monasteries and temples, with accommodation on camp sites and local home stays. With the tour, “Weave your Path in Bhutan on a Textile Trip”, visitors get a close-up look at the production of traditional arts and crafts such as woodwork, stonework, clay crafts, bronze casting, stone carving, painting, papermaking, weaving and tailoring, visiting markets and farm-houses. Hall 5.2 A Stand 113 ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 5 th March 2015 airberlin, New Chief, New Spirit Stephan Pichler is back in Germany, this time as the CEO of the country’s second largest airline, airberlin. Pichler worked in the past for Lufthansa, Thomas Cook and Fiji Airways. Having just taken the seat of CEO, Mr. Pichler already unveiled at the airline’s press conference on Tuesday his strategy to reshape and strengthen the carrier. Indeed, while carrying 31.7 million passengers in 2014, and with Etihad Airways among its shareholders, airberlin nevertheless continued to lose money. Pichler’s turnaround plan for a return to profitability will go through a new market-leading fare concept and a key focus on customers. “Our company strategy is clear: we are a European multi-hub airline with major advantages such as lower unit costs than any other network carriers, a strong touristic sales organisation and an expandable position in strong catchment areas”, said the new CEO. The turnaround plan will be implemented in three phases until 2016: improvements are first expected in network planning, revenue management and sales, followed by improved market segmentation and capacity adjustments. Then, airberlin will expand again in Europe. Part of the success of the airline is a new pricing concept, comprising four fares: JustFly, FlyDeal, FlyClassic and FlyFlex+. The JustFly fare will start at 44€ one-way. “The new fares are ideally adapted to key target groups and as a result will attract new passengers for airberlin”, said Pichler. Hall 25 Stand 110 Phocuswright@ITB: Innovation meets the future At this year’s show, Phocuswright@ ITB looks at the future of the travel industry, examining ways business models are changing tourism. The consulting group unveiled some of the results of its latest studies on the prospects for future investment and consumer behaviour. The forum took place yesterday at the ITBBerlin Convention. Senior figures representing the travel, tourism and hospitality industry exchanged ideas and discussed innovative approaches to this year’s theme entitled “Disruption’s Curve”. Such as the arrival of new market players and how they are disrupting established business models. The focus was on China and its powerful economy, and the future of websites as the ’mobile-first’ approach takes increasing hold. Chetan Kapoor, Research Analyst, Asia Pacific at Phocuswright, explored how companies are investing their creative capital and investment action in the travel industry. Luke Bujarski, Director, Research at Phocuswright, revealed the results of a forwardlooking overview of the European online travel market. Marcello Gasdia, Senior Analyst, Consumer Research at Phocuswright, outlined the consumer behaviour of customers in the European travel market. At the four “Innovator Spotlights”, the focus was on companies aiming to revolutionise the travel industry with their new products and services with the participation of innovative companies such as HallSt Inc, bd4travel GmbH, PassportCard International and Options Away. www.itb-berlin-news.com
NEWS 13 Paradise Found: Aircalin Puts Oceania Within Reach Hall 5.2 Stand 102 Aircalin, the international airline of New Caledonia, has collaborated with Air Tahiti Nui to offer customers a new direct flight between Noumea-Papeete, in French Polynesia, and Los Angeles. We asked Arnaud Gervais, Vice President of Sales at Aircalin, how the airline intends to put more Pacific paradises within reach of global travellers. Aircalin is already operating 11 destinations in the Pacific and our agreement with Air Tahiti Nui allows us to further link our regional passengers to the East and West Pacific coasts. But our European customers can also benefit, as they now have the opportunity to take around the world trips via Noumea. Thanks to partnerships with Air France-KLM, Finnair and Alitalia, we offer passengers from many cities in Europe daily flights to New Caledonia via Japan - which is the shortest way to reach New Caledonia. As an alternative, our partnerships with Asian and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) carriers allow our passengers to travel via Australia. This is more convenient if you plan a stopover in Australia before enjoying New Caledonia and its worldwide largest lagoon - also listed by the UNESCO as a world natural heritage site. Last year we saw the introduction of new aircrafts and vibrant new livery. Please tell us more. Since we have integrated the A330s in our fleet, the cabins have been totally refurbished; while a new aircraft purchased in 2014 for the new Noumea- Melbourne route saw the introduction of fresh livery on our fleet. Reflecting our cabin designs, our new livery is an evocative tribute to New Caledonia’s natural and cultural wealth and diversity, and bears the colours of our country with pride. With 22 international flights per week to 11 destinations in Japan and the Pacific, our aircraft, sporting their exciting new livery, play a crucial role in promoting the image of New Caledonia in the international market place. This has been welcomed enthusiastically by our customers. Arnaud Gervais Vice President of Sales at Aircalin THANKS TO PARTNERSHIPS WITH AIR FRANCE-KLM, FINNAIR AND ALITALIA, WE OFFER PASSENGERS FROM MANY CITIES IN EUROPE DAILY FLIGHTS TO NEW CALEDONIA VIA JAPAN ITB BERLIN NEWS • Thursday 5 th March 2015
