Reed Travel Exhibitions has announced that it has undergone a re-brand of the IBTM portfolio which will now become “ibtm events – connections mean everything”. At the same time 6 of the current 8 events will also have a new brand image and logo identifying them by region (excluding AIME and ICOMEX). Notably, EIBTM is to become “ibtm world” in line with its status as a global industry event.

“Best Hotelier”: Brian Gleeson, GM of Radisson Blu Paradise Resort & Spa Sochi, wins at MKG Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2014. He has been named “Best Hotelier” at the MKG Worldwide Hospitality Awards 2014 – he received the prestigious award at a glamourous gala night in Paris. Brian opened the 5-star Radisson Blu Paradise Resort & Spa at the Black Sea coast in December 2013 – perfectly in time for the Winter Olympics that were held in Sochi in February 2014. During the Games, the 508 room resort performed at highest level and was home to government delegations from Russia, the United States and many more countries, to leading media such as NBC, and to celebrities from the world of sports, film and music.

An online public survey held on low cost carriers (LCC) found among its 1,787 respondents in the past twelve months, 39.48% “have not” flied LCC, 34.42% “once” and 26.1% (a) “twice or more”; and 87.74% interested in offers by LCC in the next ITE & MICE, Hong Kong’s annual international travel fair. They survey only invited those public visitors of ITE & MICE who flied at least once in past year, and found among all respondents 43.19% flied “two to three times” and 33.13% “four times or more”, or 76.32% (b) flied “twice or more”.

GBTA INTRODUCES BERLIN CHARTER. The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – today announced plans to introduce the Berlin Charter, a charter for the business travel industry, designed to further the relationships between airlines and buyers in light of continually evolving pricing and distribution strategies such as IATA’s NDC. This new initiative was announced today by Paul Tilstone, GBTA senior vice president of global development, to 850 delegates at the GBTA Europe Conference being held in Berlin.

Construction of a second Convention Hall with 108,000 sq ft, Completion scheduled for autumn 2015
The Estrel Berlin, Europe’s largest convention, entertainment and hotel complex, is expanding its function space with an additional convention hall of 108,000 square feet in size to create a total capacity of 270,000 square feet. The construction right next to the current convention hall is already in full swing. Completion of the new building is expected on 1 September 2015. Altogether, the Estrel Congress & Messe Center will offer space for 12,000 attendees of conventions, meetings, trade fairs and other events.

Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI),Bangkok, held its Board of Directors Meeting on 12 November 2014, chaired by Mr. Areepong Bhoocha-oom, THAI’s Acting Chairman. Mr.Charamporn Jotikasthira is the new Thai Airways President.proposed by the Selection Committee. The Director´s discussed the new Future Financial Plan and the plans for a reform of the airline.