The CarTrawler worldwide estimate of ancillary revenue forecasts 17.2% increase above 2013,with $28.5 billion of the total composed of a la carte fee activity. IdeaWorksCompany, the foremost consultancy on airline ancillary revenues, and CarTrawler, the leading provider of online car rental distribution systems, project airline ancillary revenue will reach $49.9 billion worldwide in 2014. The CarTrawler Worldwide Estimate of Ancillary Revenue represents a massive increase of 121% from the 2010 figure of $22.6 billion.

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the most dynamic hotel companies worldwide and a member of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has appointed Joep Peeters as Senior Vice President Franchised Services, effective immediately. Peeters, a Dutch national, is based at Rezidor’s Head Office in Brussels, Belgium and reports to Olivier Harnisch, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer.

Applications to join the ITB Buyers Circle invited as of now: the platform for concluding successful business. Membership of a premium circle for senior buyers at the world’s largest travel trade show. online applications invited as of now. new: Buyer Seller Speed Networking session on 5 March 2015. Once again, ITB Berlin is offering the international travel industry’s senior buyers membership of an exclusive circle that has numerous benefits and reduces the workload of the tourism industry’s leading buyers. Applications are invited as of now.

Thai Airways International (THAI) management and staff this week welcomed HRH Princess Ubolratana Mahidol to THAI’s promotional stand at the World Travel Market (WTM) in London.In her capacity as tourism ambassador and representative of Thai people and of the Royal Thai Government, HRH Princess Ubolratana Mahidol visited the attractive and spacious THAI booth highlighting the airline’s exemplary service and innovations, as well as its recent move into Heathrow’s Terminal 2 and its expansive global route network.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is to unveil a series of new marketing plans and promotional activities at the World Travel Market 2014 (WTM), one of the world’s largest travel trade shows in London.This year marks Thailand’s 34th year of participation. A record total of 54 Thai tourism companies including 44 accommodation companies (hotels and resorts), 4 tour operators and other 6 related offices are attending. Thousands of trade visitors from around the world attend the WTM every year to network, negotiate contracts, source new products and services, and get an update on industry developments.

Structural and legal handicaps, insufficient promotional funds and increasing competition threaten Europe’s position as no. 1 tourist destination . A panel of tourism leaders from the public and private sector, meeting at the World Travel Market, discussed what Europe needs to do to stem its declining share of world tourism, as growth in emerging markets outpaces the ‘old continent’. Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission (ETC), reported that Europe reached a record 563.8 million international tourist arrivals in 2013, representing a market share of almost 52%, while tourism receipts totalled €368.5 billion, corresponding to a share of around 42% of global tourism expenditure.