The company’s EBITDA climbed to €73.3 million, 46% up on the same period of 2010 – Business units of Latin America, Benelux and Central Europe account for 75% of EBITDA – The company’s Chairman announces a “2015 Initiatives Plan”, with the aim of helping to boost the growth in EBITDA forecast for the coming five years – NH Hoteles is committed to electronic distribution channels as a means of driving Group sales. Mariano Pérez Claver, Chairman of NH Hoteles, marking his first appearance at the company’s General Shareholders’ Meeting, announced that after two years of sharp drops in occupancy rates and prices, 2010 turned out to be a milestone on the path to sector-wide recovery, which is expected to continue over the years to come.

by Reinhard Hohler

The Sukhothai Bangkok’s General Manager, Gregory Meadows, has announced the new appointment of Pattama Yoshimura as Hotel Manager with immediate effect. Pattama graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree of Arts in Travel Industry Management from Mahidol University International College and started her career at Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok. In 2001, she joined Sheraton Grande Sukhumvit as Assistant Manager and was promoted to Front Office Manager.

China National Tourism Administration and Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development driving the development of Beijing into International Meeting, Incentives Conference and Exhibition hub

The China Incentive Business Travel and Meetings Exhibition (CIBTM), Asia’s largest business travel and meetings industry trade show, announced today the official support and co-hosting by the China National Tourism Administration and the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development.

China National Tourism Administration and the State Forestry Administration are jointly drafting a “National Tourism Development Plan” to encourage and guide social capital to enter the forest tourism industry. Jia Zhibang, the director of the State Forestry Administration, said some programs and realms in forest tourism development will be open to social capital within the limits of the law and relevant regulations. Shao Qiwei, the director of CNTA, said that forest tourism accounts for 10% of the whole tourism industry, and it is anticipated that there will be more room for development in the future.

The China National Tourism Administration has conferred AAAAA National Tourist Attraction plates on eight scenic areas around the nation.

The eight scenic areas are Anqing Tianzhu Mountain Scenic Area and Huangshan Wannan Ancient Village-Xidi Hongcun in Anhui province; Pingdingshan Yaoshan-Zhongyuan Buddha in Henan province; Shiyan Wudang Mountain Scenic Area, Yichang Three-Gorges Tribe Scenic Spot, and Enshi Shennongxi Boat Tracker Cultural Tourism Area in Hubei province; the Royal mausoleum of the Ming dynasty in Beijing; and Shenzhen Guanlan Lake Tourist Area in Guangdong province.

from Reuters by Niluksi Koswanage and Razak Ahmad

Malaysian police fired repeated rounds of tear gas and detained over 1,600 people in the capital on Saturday as thousands of activists evaded roadblocks and barbed wire to hold a street protest against Prime Minister Najib Razak’s government. At least a dozen people were hurt in the demonstration for electoral reform in downtown Kuala Lumpur. There were no reports of serious injuries but some analysts said the police action was excessive and would dent Najib’s image.