In this issue:
TOP OF THE NEWS: Chicago Scales Back International Marketing
In an effort to realign its marketing priorities for 2015, Choose Chicago has ended contracts with sales agents in source countries that were not producing desired results in 2013—Frankfurt, Germany; Sao Paulo; London; and Tokyo (read more)
UK: APD for Children Eliminated in Time for 2015 Summer Holidays
Effective May 15, 2015, the UK will drop the Air Passenger Duty (APD) for children under 12 years old traveling in economy class, beginning May 1, 2016. And from May 1, 2016, the exemption will be extended to children under 16… (read more)
UK: TUI, Thomas Cook Want to Increase Web Penetration
Midst the Q4 financial reports issued by the country’s two largest travel entities, TUI Travel and Thomas Cook, lay a common pursuit… (read more)
Germany: Business Year Ends on Flat Note
According to the latest monthly survey of travel agents by the marketing research firm GfK, the overall 2013/14 tourism year (read more)
Former Employee Sues Brand USA
Mary Ellen Curto, once the vice president of operations of Brand USA, has sued the agency for wrongful dismissal… (read more)
RTO Summit Report, Orlando, Nov. 17-18, Part Two: Tourico and Hotelbeds Presentations
Those delegates attending the RTO Summit received a introduction to the latest in group booking quote technology developed by Tourico Holidays (read more)
International Student Market is Nearly 890,000 Strong
The just released Open Doors® report from the Institute of International Education tells us that, were the number of students from China compressed into a single market, it would be the number 23 overseas source market for inbound tourism (read more)
Australia’s Travelers to Spend More on Holidays in 2015
Along with increased lift capacity to the country, optimism about the near-term future seems to justify the positive projections about increased arrivals to the USA (read more)
Japan Named Top Country Brand
Despite its economic woes of late, Japan is received well abroad; for the first time in the ranking’s history (read more)
HODGE PODGE: Who and What are Moving Where
The Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (L.A. Tourism) has named veteran international tourism professional Sheena Yu to the position of director, China Services. (read more)
