8 HRS AGO - Global travel management and events agency ATPI Group, has announced the acquisition of German travel agency Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur GmbH from Danish shipping conglomerate A.P. Moller – Maersk. The takeover marks expansion of ATPI’s footprint in the European corporate travel market and strengthens its position as a specialist travel management company for the global marine industry. Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur – member of the Lufthansa City Center network – was founded in 1963 and is one of the largest independent travel agencies in Hamburg in the field of business travel management, cruises, cargo ship trips and events. Following the acquisition, the team and management of Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur will transfer to ATPI, who say they are committed to retaining the employees. ATPI says it aims to grow the business in Germany and offer its marine and corporate travel technology platforms to the existing Hamburg Süd Reiseagentur client base. Adam Knights (pictured), regional Collapse

1 DAY AGO - It has been announced that the World Congress on Railway Research (WCRR) will take place at the ICC, Birmingham, UK, following a competitive global bid process. On behalf of the UK rail industry, the RSSB and the University of Birmingham will jointly run the international congress at the ICC from 6-10 June 2022. Bringing together industry leaders and researchers, WCRR is a forum for the global railway research community to share the latest research, innovations and solutions across different topics. Held every three years in a different host nation, the congress aims to promote the value and benefits of railway research, excellence in research and technology development, and worldwide collaboration and sharing of technical knowledge. The ICC offers an ideal platform for WCRR to stage a successful event. The venue has a previously hosted globally renowned events and is currently preparing for the reignition of the events industry post-pandemic. Birmingham is also a key hub in the Collapse

1 DAY AGO - Malaysian based PCO Anderes Fourdy Events has established a Singapore branch following an agreement with The Travellers DMC (TTDMC) in Singapore. “We’ve always been looking at Singapore. It has always been one of the top 10 BE destinations in the world. Our partner, The Travellers DMC was eager to pivot and we are eager to duplicate our success in Malaysia,” said Anderes Fourdy (pictured) co-founder, Mr Fu Kei Cheong, CMP (KC) said. “The Covid-19 pandemic was a catalyst. It jolted us sufficiently to relook at our plans and hasten our resolve,” said Yvonne Low, executive director of TTDMC. “We have known KC since we colleagues some years back. He has since become a BE key opinion leader and the most-respected PCO in Malaysia within a few short years. AFE is well-known in the Asia-Pacific medical and life-sciences field as most of the congress they organise are within these sectors. Their client profile is exceptional and they manage a number of regional and national associations as Collapse

1 DAY AGO - The Estonian Convention Bureau has bolstered its digital communication offering by launching a much-upgraded version of its www.ecb.ee website that now delivers better tools and new features for event planners. The new site includes the addition of a ‘My Digital Planner’ feature which allows users to choose specific destinations, venues, hotels, activities and suppliers for their events, save their results as ‘favourites’, convert them into PDF files for sending the information on via email. The website has an improved Conference Calendar listing all the main international events taking place in the country. There is an upgraded search function, and virtual conferences are now included as well as major city-wide events, such as festivals and sports competitions, that may interest delegates or impact room availability. The Group Activities section has similarly been upgraded and offers planners authentic, Instagrammable experiences that can be searched for by region, duration and Collapse

1 DAY AGO - The UK-based Business Travel Association (BTA) has outlined its trends and guidance for the future of business travel in 2021 via a White Paper, produced in partnership with global travel technology company Amadeus. Taking global data from Amadeus alongside interviews with eight of the BTA’s Board members, the new White Paper provides an in-depth look at how travel can recover from the effects of coronavirus. Setting out the genesis of recovery alongside areas for concern, the guidance covers: Stimulating the return to travel through international standards The rise of duty of care policies Demand for contactless technology Emergence of the talent gap Predicted surge in mindful travel According to Amadeus data, 80% of business travel executives indicate that health and safety will be pivotal in driving a return to travel, with most willing to pay more for the highest quality regimes. The BTA’s CEO Clive Wratten, says: “The travel industry has endured numerous setbacks in the fight Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - In this episode of Berlin’s Awakening Beauties, our host Mark Felstead talks to one of Germany’s Breakfast TV celebrities. Kay-Sölve Richter (pictured) is a woman Mark confesses he often shares his morning coffee with – via TV of course, as she is the News Anchor for ZDF Breakfast TV. Kay is an absolute bundle of energy and floods the podcast waves with her passion and energy as she explains making the transition from TV to being a top presenter at live events. She also describes her work as a super coach for people presenting on stage or in front of the camera. And she shares with us her top three tips for presenting to a large audience. Of course, Kay has been in demand for Gala Dinners pre-Covid (remember those?) and now, too, for hybrid and virtual events. Kay advises treating the pandemic as an opportunity, although agrees “nothing can replace face to face”. Get ready, then, for a high-octane ride on the Richter scale, together with Kay and Mark, who, for once, is briefly lost Collapse

2 DAYS AGO - The IMEX Group has partnered with UK-based creative agency Smyle to produce a series of digital activations leading up to IMEX America show in Las Vegas in November. The full programme, which will run between May and September, will be announced next month. The new concept, the IMEX team says, is designed to give tangible business value to IMEX’s buyer and supplier audiences who have now missed a year of face-to-face tradeshows. It also aims to unlock fresh business opportunities and attract a new online audience. Carina Bauer, CEO of the IMEX Group, says: “Where 2020 was all about massive disruption and creativity in the face of chaos, in 2021 we’re focused on delivering digital experiences that generate business momentum and connections as we look towards IMEX America in November. “Together with Smyle, and having learned huge lessons from PlanetIMEX, we’re planning a four-month activation with two clear advantages for the industry. First, it will be a time and a place for buyers Collapse

3 DAYS AGO - Convention and exhibition venue RAI Amsterdam has stepped in to help catering school students gain practical experience during these difficult times, with the industry at a standstill and classrooms too small to keep adequate distance during training. Catering college students from the ROC college of Amsterdam were invited in to the RAI kitchens, which certainly do not suffer from lack of space. The kitchens have been used to preparing thousands of meals a day and now, for three days a week, 16 students of various levels come to the RAI to gain experience. They are taught in a professional environment by their own instructors and are also supervised by two RAI chefs. Rientz Mulder, executive chef of RAI Amsterdam, said: “The ROC was looking for space and practical experience and we now have that available, so the connection was made quickly. We are now examining whether we can expand this learning experience to more days per week or for other fields of study. In this way, the kitchen Collapse

6 DAYS AGO - The Tourism Industry Association of Canada (TIAC) has announced the appointment of Beth Potter as its new president and CEO. She starts in the role March 15, 2021. Most recently Potter served as the president and CEO of the Tourism Industry Association of Ontario. She is a recognised leader with more than 30 years of experience in the not-for-profit and tourism industries and has worked with a variety of boards and committees, including her recent contributions to the World Travel & Tourism Council’s tourism recovery efforts. “Prior to Covid-19, Canada’s tourism sector was a CAD$105bn industry, accounting for 2% of the country’s GDP and supporting over 1.9m jobs. Covid-19 is the worst crisis the sector has ever faced. Beth joins TIAC at a critical time and will lead the visitor economy’s path to recovery,” said TIAC’s Board chair, David McKenna. He added: “Her experience will be vital to support the TIAC team and our industry through this pivotal time. With effective advocacy, Collapse