Plaisirs actifs Ă Koksijde – Oostduinkerke
Koksijde,  mai 2013. GrĂące Ă son offre touristique variĂ©e, la station balnĂ©aire de Koksijde-Oostduinkerke sĂ©duit tous les touristes. Les beautĂ©s de la nature, que lâon peut dĂ©couvrir de maniĂšre active, constituent un des atouts majeurs. Cyclistes, promeneurs et mĂȘme golfeurs voient leurs rĂȘves de vacances se rĂ©aliser Ă Koksijde-Oostduinkerke.
Les zones rĂ©crĂ©atives de Koksijde-Oostduinkerke font presque toutes parties dâune rĂ©serve naturelle protĂ©gĂ©e. Le visiteur ne peut donc laisser son empreinte partout. QuâĂ cela ne tienne, dans cette rĂ©gion naturelle dâune superficie de 700 ha, les vacanciers actifs trouveront de quoi⊠prendre leur pied : panneaux informatifs, centres didactiques, rĂ©seau de sentiers et de pistes cyclables, points de repos et dâobservation, guides expĂ©rimentĂ©s et ci et lĂ un bistro pour souffler un moment.
Le vélo est roi
Tant pour les cyclistes amateurs que pour ceux qui ne craignent pas les dĂ©fis â un parcours vallonnĂ© dans les dunes ou une expĂ©dition plus longue dans les polders â, Koksijde-Oostduinkerke propose un vaste Ă©ventail de possibilitĂ©s. GrĂące au rĂ©seau vĂ©lo et ses nombreux « points-nĆuds », il est aisĂ© de dĂ©couvrir la station et sa rĂ©gion.
Les points-nĆuds 65 et 66 du rĂ©seau vĂ©lo sont situĂ©s respectivement Ă Koksijde et Ă Oostduinkerke. Ils constituent dâexcellents points de dĂ©part pour des itinĂ©raires Ă concocter vous-mĂȘme, le long de la mer ou dans lâarriĂšre-pays. Il y a par exemple le beau circuit en direction de Wulpen, le long ducanal Nieuwpoort-Veurne jusquâau centre de Veurne (Furnes). Un autre itinĂ©raire vĂ©lo, au dĂ©part du point-nĆud 66, traverse la zone naturelle de Doornpanne, longe les Hoge Blekker, passe par le MusĂ©e Paul Delvaux et se poursuit jusquâĂ De Panne. Ces deux itinĂ©raires de maximum 15 km sont Ă la portĂ©e des enfants. De nombreux autres endroits de la cĂŽte ou plus Ă lâintĂ©rieur des terres sont aisĂ©ment accessibles en vĂ©lo grĂące Ă lâingĂ©nieux systĂšme de points-nĆuds.
Festin de balades
Les promeneurs jouissent Ă Koksijde-Oostduinkerke de possibilitĂ©s illimitĂ©es. Câest en se promenant quâon dĂ©couvrira le mieux les beautĂ©s de Yde Duinen et De Doornpanne. Tout comme pour les cyclistes, il existe pour les marcheurs de nombreuses promenades thĂ©matiques.
La balade des « kruwers », de 8 km de long, dĂ©marre et finit Ă lâEstaminet De Peerdevisscher Ă Oostduinkerke. Un « kruwer » est un pĂȘcheur de crevettes Ă pied dont la mĂ©thode de pĂȘche est similaire Ă celle du pĂȘcheur de crevettes Ă cheval. En chemin, vous ferez connaissance avec la variĂ©tĂ© de beautĂ©s naturelles dans les Oostvoorduinen, le Hannecartbos et ses richesses botaniques, et la zone naturelle Ter Yde, un des plus grands complexes de dunes de la cĂŽte. Cette promenade trĂšs variĂ©e offre la possibilitĂ© de visiter le Navigo, musĂ©e national de la pĂȘche, avant de faire une pause au Peerdevisscher pour y dĂ©guster une biĂšre rĂ©gionale et une portion de crevettes fraĂźches.
Golf en bord de mer
Les amateurs de golf peuvent eux aussi sâen donner Ă cĆur joie Ă Koksijde-Oostduinkerke. Le tout nouveau terrain de golf de Koksijde Golf Ter HillepossĂšde un terrain dâexercice dotĂ© de 25 aires de dĂ©part et un parcours court (9 trous, par 31). Le terrain de golf est gĂ©rĂ© de maniĂšre Ă©cologique et les alentours sont ouverts aussi aux cyclistes, aux promeneurs et aux pĂȘcheurs. Le parcours 18 trous ouvrira Ă PĂąques 2014 (www.koksijdegolfterhille.be).
INFO
- www.koksijde.be
- Infokantoor Koksijde, Zeelaan 303, 8670 Koksijde, T 058 51 29 10, pour des dizaines de brochures décrivant les itinéraires cyclistes et pédestres thématiques, balisés, le réseau vélo, pour les promenades et les randonnées vélo guidées.
Brand New Flower Event on Brussels’ Grand Place
Something beautiful is burgeoning in Brussels. This summer, the EU capital city will be getting a brand new event.
The City of Brussels, the NGO Brussels Flower Carpet and the Floralies of Ghent are joining forces for âFloraliĂ«ntime, Brussels flowered by the Floralies of Ghentâ, a major international plant and flower arrangement event in Brussels City Hall and at Brusselsâ Grand Place.
The first edition will take place from 15-18 August 2013.
Brussels City Hall will be transformed into a heavenly walking garden full of colours and scents.
Internationally renowned landscape architects and floral artists will decorate the entrance, boardrooms and reception rooms of the majestic building with the newest creations and arrangement trends, new flower varieties and plants supplied by the Floralies of Ghent.
A relaxation garden will be set up at the Grand Place, where visitors can take a breather.
Ghent Festivities
The Ghent Festivities treat visitors to 10 days of continuous free feasts on several squares in the historic centre of the city. Each year about 1.5 million visitors attend one of the greatest cultural and popular festivals in Europe.
Loads of free music awaits attendees! Enjoy pop music, folk-rock, rock ‘n’ roll, hip-hop, jazz, R’n'B and lots more. And all events are free indeed! At the Ghent Festivities the fun never ends! Theatre, comedy, sightseeing, exhibitions, and boat trips on the river Lys are all part of the ten days celebration. And donât forget to enjoy a delicious meal or a drink at the numerous restaurants and bars in town.
Ghent awaits you visit! For more information check out the website of the festival.
| Where | Bij Sint Jacobs 18 9000 Ghent (Ghent) |
|---|---|
| When | From Saturday, July 20, 2013 to Monday, July 29, 2013 |
| Price | Free |
| Remarks | Ghent, inner city |
Pullman Phuket Arcadia redefines upscale resorts in Phuket
Accor, the leading international hotel operator in Asia-Pacific and Thailand, announces the opening of Pullman Phuket Arcadia, the first Pullman resort on the island. Located on idyllic Naithon Beach, one of the most stunning stretches of Phuket’s western coastline, Pullman Phuket Arcadia overlooks the Andaman Sea and is surrounded by tropical hills, all less than 15 minutes from the airport.
“Pullman is Accor’s upscale brand specifically catering to the needs of today’s modern traveller. Pullman Phuket Arcadia is a newly-built resort that will showcase the brand’s new ‘lifestyle’ identity, with world-class facilities that will set the benchmark for the rest of the Pullman hotels and resorts to come,” says Patrick Basset, Senior Vice President of Accor Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and the Philippines.
“The Pullman brand is at the core of Accor’s upscale expansion plans and we are very proud to finally introduce this brand to Phuket. Pullman has been very successful in Asia, especially in Thailand where this resort will be the fifth Pullman property in the country. I strongly believe that Pullman Phuket Arcadia will become a major player in Phuket’s upscale market,” Mr. Basset added.
The 277-room resort features a sophisticated design that blends the highest international standards with local beauty. The resort’s architecture and landscaping will leave guests with a lasting impression, with cascading waterfalls and uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea from all angles. The resort features ‘Art in Motion’, the guest transport around the resort designed by local Thai artist, Supachai Ketkaroonkul.
Brett Wilson, General Manager of Pullman Phuket Arcadia says, “The designers of this resort have taken advantage of all the unique selling points the resort has to offer, like the stunning uninterrupted views of the Andaman Sea, which is one of the main reasons people are attracted to Phuket. To add to this, Naithon Beach, which is probably Phuket’s best kept secret, is often referred to as the best beach in Phuket.
Option to indulge and relax
Guests looking for a unique dining experience will enjoy Elements, an all-day dining restaurant which serves fusion delicacies and the fine traditions of Thai and Western cuisine. The resort’s Italian restaurant,Vero, offers a unique culinary journey through various provinces of Italy and captures the Italian traditions of good wine, good food and good conversations. The Deli is a treasure trove for the senses – indulgent chocolate treats, fresh baked croissants, and delicious pastries.
The lobby lounge, C Bar, has stylish, chilled-out beats down to a fine art, allowing guests to relax in the designer sunken lounges nestled in the infinity pond. It is here that guests can discover a selection of fine wines from Pullman’s Vinoteca wine library, guaranteeing quality wine by the bottle or glass.
Azur Bar is the main pool bar overlooking Naithon Beach and the beauty surrounding this secluded area. Its sun deck provides the perfect backdrop for lazy mojitos by the pool. The Float Bar is the centre of family pleasure during the daytime, serving kids’ favorite snacks and beverages. This area has been created with families in mind.
Guests looking to exercise or relax with spa treatments will enjoy Pullman’s signature Fit Lounge and the resort’s Dhatri Spa. Named after the “God of well-being and tranquility”, the Dhatri Spa offers guests a choice of relaxing, balancing, revitalizing and purifying treatments that blend Asian spa traditions with ‘modern’ beauty therapies. The Dhatri spa has three single treatment rooms, a double spa suite, a beauty salon, and the option of in-room treatment services.
The spa products are made from natural and fresh ingredients blended by hand along with world-class beauty products provided by French-based skincare brand, Payot. The Spa retail shop also caters to guests interested in continuing their body and facial spa at home.
Phuket’s newest venue where business meets leisure
True to the Pullman brand’s Co-Meeting promise of Commitment, Connectivity, Comfort, and Cohesion, the meeting spaces and facilities at Pullman Phuket Arcadia are impeccable. The 389 square metre Arcadia Ballroom has an 8 metre-high ceiling that creates a sense of opulence and grandeur. The facilities have been designed to keep meetings, breaks, and accommodation rooms all centrally positioned in the heart of the resort. The five state-of-the-art meeting rooms and six outdoor function spaces with fantastic ocean views can accommodate small to large groups from 10 up to 600 guests.
As in every Pullman hotel around the world, guests visiting Pullman Phuket Arcadia will meet the Pullman Welcomers throughout the resort as they engage with guests, greeting and providing information or assistance to help guests maximize their enjoyment of the resort’s facilities. Welcomers at Pullman Phuket Arcadia can communicate in several languages to accommodate the needs of guests of different nationalities.
The resort also has a dedicated Events Manager who facilitates meetings and events, interfacing between the clients and all other hotel operational departments and services to ensure perfect event execution. The meetings support team is equipped with creativity, ready to make each event uniquely different, while the resort provides cutting-edge venues, outdoor spaces, innovative breaks, and a variety of team-building options. The resort also provides state-of-the-art technology, with an IT Solutions Manager, dedicated to in-house events, on standby 24 hours a day.
“The Pullman brand has a strong focus on the meetings market and we have introduced these special roles to assist with our goal of being one of the leading meetings and incentive resorts in Phuket,” said Mr. Wilson.
In addition to Pullman Phuket Arcadia, Accor’s portfolio in Thailand features four other Pullman hotels. There are now over 40 Pullman hotels and resorts in Asia-Pacific, with 40 more hotels committed to the pipeline.
Special opening promotion
Stay 3 consecutive nights, save up to 33.33% off from Best Unrestricted Rate with daily breakfast for 2 persons. Valid until October 31st, 2013. For more information about the hotel and the promotional package, please visit www.pullmanphuketarcadia.com.
Berlin – Tourist numbers rising despite low temperatures
March: 23 per cent increase in numbers of overnight stays by international guests / Growing numbers of visitors in the first quarter of 2013
Berlin, May 2013 A new tourism record in Berlin was set in March: about a million visitors (+6.4%) came to Berlin. The numbers of overnight stays rose by 17.1 per cent (2,194,700). International visitors in in particular are drawn to Berlin (+ 12.7%), spending nearly a million nights (+ 23.3%) in the city in total. Burkhard Kieker, managing director of visitBerlin: “There can be no talk of a hibernation: despite the long, cold winter, more visitors came to the capital than ever before.”
Looking at the first quarter of 2013, around 2.3 million visitors (+ 5.2% compared to the precious year) came to the German capital, staying a total of about 5.3 million nights (+ 12.3%). These figures reveal that tourism in Berlin has had its most successful first quarter ever.
According to the Berlin-Brandenburg Statistics Office, the number of visitors from abroad continues to increase at a good rate. From January to March, around 830,000 foreign visitors came to the German capital (+10.9% compared to the previous year), staying for about 2.2 million nights (+17.8%). For comparison, there were about 1.5 million visitors (+2.2%) from Germany, who stayed about three million nights (+8.5%) in Berlin.
Germany ranked as leading European conference destination: 2nd place worldwide
Germany has once again been confirmed as a top conference and meeting destination. For the ninth consecutive year, the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA) has ranked Germany as the leading European conference location for international associations. At the same time, Germany has also maintained its outstanding second place globally, behind only the USA.
The ICCAâs figures show that a total of 649 international association conferences were hosted in Germany, 72 more than in the previous year. This impressive total narrows the gap with the USA, which remains out in front with 833 conferences. Meanwhile, Germany has extended its substantial lead over Spain, which is still in third place with 550 conferences.
Berlin is just one of the reasons behind Germanyâs success, with the capital rising from fourth to third place in the worldwide city ICCA category this year hosting 172 international association conferences in 2012. This represents a year-on-year increase of 25 events and now puts Berlin ahead of Madrid (164 events) and Barcelona (154 events). Vienna and Paris are once again out in front, with the Austrian capital hosting a total of 195 conferences and the French âCity of Lightsâ welcoming 181 events.
Many other German cities were also ranked as desirable at the worldwide and European city levels – outpacing other countries in their number of noted cities – including Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Dresden, Cologne, Bonn, Leipzig, and many others.
Matthias Schultze, Managing Director of the GCB German Convention Bureau e.V., explained the reasons for Germanyâs sustained success as a conference and meeting destination:
âIt is thanks to a combination of several factors. Germany boasts outstanding infrastructure, an excellent transport network and a wide variety of event venues. We offer superb value for money and local expertise in key economic and scientific sectors. All of these qualities make Germanyâs cities and regions ideal settings for international conferences.â
The GCB, which promotes Germany internationally and domestically as a location for conferences, meetings, incentives and events, highlights Germanyâs economic and scientific expertise in its marketing. This strategy enhances the profile of the German suppliers and helps event organisers to identify the perfect destination for events in their specialist field.
One of the areas that is particularly important for the German meetings industry is the medical and healthcare sector. The âCongress of the European Society of Cardiology – ESCâ, with more than 27,300 delegates, was among the high-profile events hosted in 2012 in Munich. In addition, Berlin welcomed both the âAnnual Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes – EASDâ, which attracted over 18,100 attendees, and the âEULAR Annual European Congress of Rheumatologyâ, along with its 14,740 participants.
There were also prominent large-scale events in the energy and environment sector, such as POWER-GEN Europe & RENEWABLE ENERGY WORLD Europe conference in Cologne, attended by 13,000 people.
The GCBâs own research provides further insight into the most important foreign source markets for meetings and conferences in Germany. It recently looked at the countries of origin of associations that held their conferences in Germany during 2012. Great Britain came top of the list, followed by the USA, Belgium, France, Switzerland and the Netherlands.
The GCBâs data also reveals another interesting development, namely that the number of events in the sustainability sector almost doubled between 2011 and 2012.
âThis trend demonstrates that Germany has firmly established itself as a leading destination for sustainable events, capitalising on its expertise in this competitive global marketâ, commented the GCBâs Managing Director, Matthias Schultze.
About the ICCA Report
The ICCAâs annual âInternational Association Meetings Marketâ report provides a comprehensive evaluation of developments in the international meetings market. To be included in the ICCAâs data, association conferences must have at least 50 delegates, take place regularly and rotate around at least three countries. The international trade body of the events industry was founded in 1963 and has its headquarters in Amsterdam. It has been collecting information about events and associations worldwide since 1972.
GNTB theme for 2014 – UNESCO World Heritage in Germany â a major selling point for cultural tourism from abroad
Frankfurt am Main/Stuttgart, 6 May 2013 â Destination Germany is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe and is, according to IPK International 2013, the number one cultural travel destination for Europeans. It was ranked fifth out of 50 nations worldwide as a cultural destination in the Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index. Prominent among Germany’s many cultural treasures are the 37 natural and cultural heritage sites that have been recognised by UNESCO. In 2014 the German National Tourist Board (GNTB) will be putting Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites at the centre of its global marketing activities under the banner ‘UNESCO World Heritage â sustainable cultural and natural tourism’.
Importance of the UNESCO world heritage sites for tourism in Germany
“The UNESCO status is not only of great importance to Germany, it’s also a key indicator of quality in international tourism,” says Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the GNTB. “In partnership with the German Commission for UNESCO and German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association, we will be pursuing intensive marketing activities in order to raise the international profile of Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites and to promote cultural tourism to Germany.” The German Commission for UNESCO and the GNTB have developed a joint logo that will provide a common thread running through all communications relating to the 2014 theme.
“The UNESCO brand brings additional visitors to Germany, but can also help to promote sustainable development and understanding between nations. This collaboration with the GNTB gives us the opportunity to make world cultural and natural heritage accessible to even more people and to raise awareness of the importance of world heritage and of UNESCO,â explains Dr Roland Bernecker, Secretary General of the German Commission for UNESCO.
Of the 962 listed UNESCO world heritage sites, just under half (44 per cent) are in Europe, and 37 of them are in Germany. Only three other European countries have more world heritage sites. Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage includes important churches, abbeys and palaces, parks, historic town centres, industrial and cultural monuments and entire natural landscapes. They are a key part of tourism in Germany and play a significant role in the country’s outstanding image as an attractive cultural destination. In the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum in 2013, Destination Germany scored 6.3 out of a possible seven points for its cultural resources in an international comparison of 140 countries. The current Quality Monitor survey of the German tourism industry shows that 50 per cent of visitors from abroad chose Germany for its sightseeing. The proportion of visitors on cultural trips is highest from the USA (22 per cent) and the UK (17 per cent) .The ‘UNESCO World Heritage site’ designation is a travel incentive for 34 per cent of cultural tourists, which means that having world heritage status is like having an international seal of quality.
Cooperation between the GNTB and the German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association The German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association has been a member of the GNTB since 2010, and through this close international cooperation aims to promote sustainable and low-impact tourism to Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The website, a joint publication and intensive media work are the core tools in the international sales and marketing activities promoting World Heritage sites. Multimedia content on the UNESCO World Heritage sites is available in twelve languages at www.germany.travel/unesco. 360-degree panoramas, photos and videos give visitors to the website a virtual experience of the different attractions. In preparation for the 2014 theme year, the GNTB Is also developing a new cultural travel magazine focusing on UNESCO. The GNTB also generates additional content via social media activities: in March 2013 it sent leading blogger Gary Arndt, author of the ‘Everything Everywhere’ blog (www.everything-everywhere.com), on a tour of UNESCO world heritage sites. The GNTB is thus already generating content for the 2014 theme of UNESCO World Heritage â
Of the 962 listed UNESCO world heritage sites, just under half (44 per cent) are in Europe, and 37 of them are in Germany. Only three other European countries have more world heritage sites. Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage includes important churches, abbeys and palaces, parks, historic town centres, industrial and cultural monuments and entire natural landscapes. They are a key part of tourism in Germany and play a significant role in the country’s outstanding image as an attractive cultural destination. In the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum in 2013, Destination Germany scored 6.3 out of a possible seven points for its cultural resources in an international comparison of 140 countries. The current Quality Monitor survey of the German tourism industry shows that 50 per cent of visitors from abroad chose Germany for its sightseeing. The proportion of visitors on cultural trips is highest from the USA (22 per cent) and the UK (17 per cent) .The ‘UNESCO World Heritage site’ designation is a travel incentive for 34 per cent of cultural tourists, which means that having world heritage status is like having an international seal of quality.
Cooperation between the GNTB and the German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association The German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association has been a member of the GNTB since 2010, and through this close international cooperation aims to promote sustainable and low-impact tourism to Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The website, a joint publication and intensive media work are the core tools in the international sales and marketing activities promoting World Heritage sites. Multimedia content on the UNESCO World Heritage sites is available in twelve languages at www.germany.travel/unesco. 360-degree panoramas, photos and videos give visitors to the website a virtual experience of the different attractions. In preparation for the 2014 theme year, the GNTB Is also developing a new cultural travel magazine focusing on UNESCO. The GNTB also generates additional content via social media activities: in March 2013 it sent leading blogger Gary Arndt, author of the ‘Everything Everywhere’ blog (www.everything-everywhere.com), on a tour of UNESCO world heritage sites. The GNTB is thus already generating content for the 2014 theme of UNESCO World Heritage â
Of the 962 listed UNESCO world heritage sites, just under half (44 per cent) are in Europe, and 37 of them are in Germany. Only three other European countries have more world heritage sites. Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage includes important churches, abbeys and palaces, parks, historic town centres, industrial and cultural monuments and entire natural landscapes. They are a key part of tourism in Germany and play a significant role in the country’s outstanding image as an attractive cultural destination. In the Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report published by the World Economic Forum in 2013, Destination Germany scored 6.3 out of a possible seven points for its cultural resources in an international comparison of 140 countries. The current Quality Monitor survey of the German tourism industry shows that 50 per cent of visitors from abroad chose Germany for its sightseeing. The proportion of visitors on cultural trips is highest from the USA (22 per cent) and the UK (17 per cent) .The ‘UNESCO World Heritage site’ designation is a travel incentive for 34 per cent of cultural tourists, which means that having world heritage status is like having an international seal of quality.
Cooperation between the GNTB and the German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association The German UNESCO World Heritage Sites Association has been a member of the GNTB since 2010, and through this close international cooperation aims to promote sustainable and low-impact tourism to Germany’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. The website, a joint publication and intensive media work are the core tools in the international sales and marketing activities promoting World Heritage sites. Multimedia content on the UNESCO World Heritage sites is available in twelve languages at www.germany.travel/unesco. 360-degree panoramas, photos and videos give visitors to the website a virtual experience of the different attractions. In preparation for the 2014 theme year, the GNTB Is also developing a new cultural travel magazine focusing on UNESCO. The GNTB also generates additional content via social media activities: in March 2013 it sent leading blogger Gary Arndt, author of the ‘Everything Everywhere’ blog (www.everything-everywhere.com), on a tour of UNESCO world heritage sites. The GNTB is thus already generating content for the 2014 theme of UNESCO World Heritage â sustainable cultural and natural tourismâ, which it will use to actively market the 37 world heritage sites in Destination Germany.
15,000 international visitors pick the top 100 places of interest in Germany
Frankfurt am Main/Stuttgart, 6 May 2013 â Foreign tourists have voted Neuschwanstein Castle the best place to visit in Germany. Number two on the list is Europa-Park, followed at number three by Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage site. The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) carried out the poll – the second of its kind – to find out which of Germany’s many sights and places of interest were the most popular among foreign tourists. Between 1 July 2012 and the end of March 2013, visitors were able to vote for their ‘top sights’ at www.germany.travel/top100. This produced a list of 700 tourist highlights, which were then ranked according to popularity. The survey, which was available in 26 languages, registered more than 46,000 clicks.
The new results are being incorporated into the update for the GNTB’s ‘Germany’s Top 100′ app which has been available since 2012 in English and German for Apple and Android devices. The app gives people planning to visit Germany access to a wealth of information before their trip, including ideas for possible excursions and places to visit. It provides a brief description of each attraction, along with photos and information on opening times, admission prices and travel directions.
Top 10 attractions at a glance
1. Neuschwanstein Castle, Schwangau/FĂŒssen, Bavaria
2. Europa-Park, Rust, Baden-WĂŒrttemberg
3. Cologne Cathedral (UNESCO World Heritage), North Rhine-Westphalia
4. Brandenburg Gate, Berlin
5. The Berlin Wall (East Side Gallery, Berlin Wall Park, Berlin Wall Trail, etc.)
6. Loreley rock in the Upper Middle Rhine Valley (UNESCO World Heritage), Rhineland- Palatinate
7. Nature reserves in the Black Forest, Baden-WĂŒrttemberg
8. Heidelberg Castle, Baden-WĂŒrttemberg,
9. Lake Constance with Mainau Island, Monastic Island of Reichenau (UNESCO World Heritage), Lindau, prehistoric pile dwellings, Meersburg Castle, Lake Constance, Baden- WĂŒrttemberg
10. Museum Island (UNESCO World Heritage), Berlin
The wide geographical spread of the 100 selected tourist highlights confirms that all of Germany’s federal states have attractive places to visit from the perspective of international travelers. The UNESCO World Heritage sites are particularly popular, with 19 of the country’s 37 sites featuring on the Top 100 list.
Accompanying survey about the GNTB website www.germany.travel As part of the Top 100 survey, the GNTB also asked visitors to rate its own website. Destination Germany scored top marks here, too: 90 per cent of those surveyed liked the website www.germany.travel and rated it positively, with 75 per cent of visitors saying it was ‘good’ or ‘very good’.
Germanyâs outstanding image as a travel destination
 Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB)
Frankfurt am Main/Berlin, 6 March 2013 â Destination Germany is becoming increasingly popular with international visitors. âIn the last three years tourism in Germany has grown at a faster rate than the global and European average, and the country has continued to strengthen its position as one of the most popular travel destinations,â says Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). This trend is confirmed by a whole series of studies including the latest international survey on the attractiveness of countries: the Anholt-GfK Roper Nation Brands Index, which measures and compares the reputation of 50 countries around the world, ranked Germany second, behind only the USA and ahead of the UK in third. In the survey, Germany was perceived as a reliable, trustworthy and modern country and it scored particularly highly in the field of business and innovation.
This positive perception is also reflected in the satisfaction of international visitors with their stay in Germany. In the latest Quality Monitor, a survey of the German tourism industry conducted by the GNTB and travel insurance company EuropÀische Reiseversicherung (ERV), guests from abroad gave their stay in Germany an average mark of 1.8 on a scale of 1 (excellent) to 6 (poor). Scores of 1.8 in terms of satisfaction were also recorded for the choice of arts and culture and the ambience.
The high international recognition for Germanyâs cultural resources is confirmed by another recent study. In the 2011 Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report, published by the World Economic Forum, Germany received very good ratings for its cultural resources in an international comparison of 139 countries: Destination Germanyâs cultural treasures were awarded 6.2 out of a possible seven points by visitors from other countries. The transport infrastructure also scored highly with 6.5 points, while Germany achieved its top rating of with 6.8 points in the health and hygiene category.
About the GNTB
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) has its headquarters in Frankfurt am Main, Germany. It works on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (BMWi) to represent Germany as a tourist destination and is funded by the Ministry in accordance with a decision taken by the German Bundestag. The GNTB develops and communicates strategies and products to promote Germany’s positive image abroad as a tourist destination and to encourage tourists to visit the country. It has 30 agencies around the world to support its activities.
GTM Stuttgart 2013: An Unqualified Success Announced by the GNTB
Frankfurt am Main, 13th May 2013 âThe 39th GTM Germany Travel MartTM the most important B2B-platform for travel destination Germany and this year held in Stuttgart, closed with excellent figures and highly satisfied delegates. More than 610 international buyers and journalists attended, from 42 countries, hosted by 350 German exhibitors.
The German National Tourist Board (GNTB) used social media to post news and reports live from the GTM as part of its multimedia activity. Pictures, videos and audio podcasts were available via www.germany.travel/gtmlive plus live texts which were posted on Storify. Twitter played a major role in communications once more: more than 300 tweets were posted via the hashtag #gtm13 before, during and after the GTM. This yearâs press conference on 6th May 2013 at the Porsche museum (Stuttgart), was online via live stream www.j.mp/gtm2013press. More than 920 users have accessed the live report on www.germany.travel/gtmlive, creating around 2000 page impressions.
Once again, members of the Reiseblogger Kollektiv @RB_Kollektiv are giving an introduction on travel blogging.
Professional organisation
This year the GTM 2013 was organised by the GNTB in cooperation with Stuttgart Marketing GmbH and Stuttgart Marketing and Tourismus GmbH. An integral element of this yearâs trade activity was the two-day workshop at the International Congress Center in Stuttgart, which was deemed an unqualified success; exhibitors particularly praised the GNTBâs professional organisation of this and the evening events, which provided the perfect environment for informal networking. The high quality of the international buyers was also noted.
Satisfied GTM-exhibitors; increase in numbers of successful appointments
According to a flash poll carried out directly after the GTM by the GNTB, almost 98 per cent of the participants were either satisfied or very satisfied and value the show as highly effective and important. 89 per cent of the interviewees stated that they had been to the GTM before. This year saw excellent results in the successful closure of meetings and contracts, plus the acquisition of valuable new contacts were also reported. As in previous years, the GNTB provided an exclusive online networking portal as an integral part of the organisation of the GTM. This is in use before and during the show and prior to the opening of the event, more than 12,000 meetings had been arranged via this medium, which also enabled exhibitors to communicate with the international delegates with ease.
Crowdsourcing was another important part of #HotSpotGER â mainly via posting pictures on Instagram.
Blogger@GTM
BlogSpots and BlogDatings, used as part of the GTM workshop events were very well received by delegates: about 30 participants per workshop requested information about the trend and the challenges of travel blogging from GNTBâs social media executive and members of the German travel blogger collective. Finally, 99 per cent of all participants at this yearâs GTM have stated they plan to attend the next GTM from 11th to 13th May 2014 in Bremen.
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Hampton by Hilton Announces Dutch Debut with Double Opening
Award winning economy brand arrives at Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and Amsterdam/Arena Boulevard locations
AMSTERDAM - Hilton Worldwide today announced the opening of its first Hampton by Hilton in The Netherlands, with another to follow shortly.  Under franchise agreements with The Vincent Hotel Group, Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol has begun welcoming guests, with Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam/Arena Boulevard due to open in mid-May adjacent to Amsterdam ArenA.  Both hotels collectively bring approximately 45 jobs to the Amsterdam area.
Hampton by Hilton, Hilton Worldwide’s economy brand, first entered Europe in 2009 and now has more than 60 hotels trading and under development.  With over 1,900 properties worldwide, Hampton’s successful formula has seen it selected as the number-one franchise inEntrepreneur magazine’s Annual Franchise 500 for the third consecutive year in 2012, and is the only hotel brand to ever be named as the number-one franchise on this list.
Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice president, development, Europe and Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “The introduction of Hampton by Hilton sees us bringing a fifth brand to the Netherlands, a huge success for our multi brand proposition in the country. Â This is an economy hotel brand with a proven track record as a leader in its field and we’re confident these latest properties at the airport and arena will be hugely popular.”
Both hotels will offer the full range of Hampton by Hilton signature features, including complimentary internet access, hot breakfast included in the room rate, round the clock snacks as well as 24-hour business and fitness centres. Guest rooms will be equipped with the Clean and Fresh Hampton BedTM, contemporary bathrooms, 32-inch TVs and secure safes as standard. Every stay is underpinned by Hampton’s 100% Satisfaction Guarantee – whereby if a guest is not satisfied with their stay, they do not have to pay.
Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol opens as a 181 guest room hotel following the conversion of an existing office building, benefiting from its own car park and being only one train stop to the airport. Â Hampton by Hilton Amsterdam/Arena Boulevard is a 254 guest room hotel immediately adjacent to Amsterdam ArenA, with the Heineken Music Hall, Ziggo Dome indoor event/concert centre, a 14 screen cinema and large shopping centre also close by. Â The hotel is linked to the city centre by direct train to Centraal Station via the Bijlmer Arena station.
Mark Nogal, regional head, focussed service brand management, EMEA, said, “We’re delighted that Hampton by Hilton will be entering its fifth European country, following the recent opening of our first Hilton Garden Inn in the Netherlands in Leiden. Â Hampton by Hilton properties are designed to cater to the busy modern travellers’ every need, providing affordable prices as well as quality accommodation.”
Hampton by Hilton hotels participate in Hilton HHonors, a hotel rewards programme that offers points and miles for the same stay and no blackout dates to redeem rewards.  For more information about Hampton by Hilton hotels please visit http://news.hampton.com.
United Airlines Welcomes Back Boeing 787 Dreamliner
Unitedâs Dreamliner returns with Houston to Chicago flight Â
CHICAGO, May 21, 2013 â United Airlines welcomed back its Boeing 787 with the re-launch of commercial service from the airlineâs hub in Houston. Unitedâs Flight 1 departure from Houston Intercontinental at 11 a.m. to Chicago OâHare marked the return of regular service using the worldâs most advanced and efficient aircraft on domestic and international routes.
âThe 787 offers an unmatched travel experience for our customers and co-workers, and we are thrilled to be flying it again,â said Jeff Smisek, Unitedâs chairman, president and chief executive officer. âThis is an exciting time at United. Our investment in the Dreamliner is just one more example of our commitment to delivering the best product, route network and customer service in the industry.â
United will operate additional Dreamliner flights on routes from Houston to other domestic hubs this week, and the airline will launch international 787 service on the much-anticipated Denver-Tokyo route on June 10. This summer United also plans to inaugurate 787 service on existing routes including Houston-London, Los Angeles-Tokyo, Los Angeles-Shanghai and Houston-Lagos.
The airline expects to take delivery of two more Dreamliners from Boeing in the second half of 2013.Â
