The new dates of AIME 2010, 18th Asia-Pacific Incentives & Meetings Expo, will be 2-3 March not 27-28 April as previously advised.

The change of date is a result of industry requests for AIME to be held as close as possible to February, new availability at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, and the declaration of Monday 26 April as a substitute public holiday for ANZAC Day in the State of Victoria.

Management and corporate works council agreed on reduction of working hours by ten percent in four months’ time / executive employees waive five percent of their wages

In the course of only one week, the management and the corporate works council at TUI Deutschland GmbH agreed on a model involving the introduction of reduced working hours, and an according works council agreement was recently signed. Between May 2009 and January 2010, 1,600 employees of TUI Deutschland, as well as 200 employees working for the company on behalf of its temporary employment firm TUI aqtiv will be working more than 10 percent less throughout four months of their choice.

by editorial office, chd

Recent survey by CHD Expert – three in four no longer anticipate a reduction of value-added tax this year

The fight for VAT rate cuts continues. In the gastronomy and hotel industry, however, people are losing hope for a timely reduction of VAT rates to seven percent, as was rendered possible by a decision of the EU Ministers of Finance. Three in four executives in the hospitality industry no longer expect rate cuts this year.

Halong Bay, Viet Nam – The most talked-about event on Halong Bay sets sail from Bai Chay May 30 when the Emeraude embarks on its 5th Annual Wine & Dine Cruise Classic.

The black-tie event has become a staple of the Vietnam expatriate scene, with ambassadors and business people filling the roster annually. And why not? The experience is an otherworldly spectacle. “It’s a cinematic experience,” said Kurt Walter, general manager of the Press Club. “To see people in black tie promenading the decks, with the karsts looming all around and the immaculate white eminence of the Emeraude as a backdrop, is stunning. No other word for it.”

Successful transfer of „Mein Schiff“ („My Ship“) in Puerto Rico. Arrival in Bremerhaven on March 27.

Perfect transfer: With the acquisition of the MS Galaxy, formerly sailing for the American sea carrier Celebrity Cruises, in Puerto Rico, TUI Cruises is now officially proprietor of their first ship. The MS Galaxy, which was still sailing the Caribbean for Celebrity Cruises a few days ago, left the port of San Juan under the new flag on Wednesday, and remodeling will be begun even on the passage to Bremerhaven. After the arrival of the MS Galaxy on March 27, the remodeling into „Mein Schiff“ will be completed within only 38 days. Both parties agreed to keep the buying price confidential.

by editorial office, mas

After favorable visitor figures for the previous year, the holiday destination of the Bahamas again reports enormous growth rates from the German-speaking market for 2008. A total of 10,526 vacationers from Germany visited the popular archipelago in the last year, resulting in a plus of more than a 45 percent. With 1,657 guests, visitor figures from Austria showed an increase of roughly 41 percent in 2008, while the number of visitors to the Bahamas from Switzerland rose by 4,169, or 16 percent.