wtm-blog

August 2, 2018August 18, 2020

Beyond the content: Investing in your blogging business

Blog, Blogging, marketing

When working with bloggers on campaigns and projects (for Traverse) I often find myself hopping from blog to blog just to find contact details, Instagram or Twitter accounts. In the ... Read more

August 1, 2018August 10, 2018

Would you go on holiday in a minefield?

Carbon & Water, Responsible Tourism

So this is how it begins. I was three years old in the UK’s last long hot summer. Too young to remember it directly, instead the parched earth photographs define ... Read more

July 25, 2018August 20, 2018

Dundee’s designs on grandeur

Summer 2018 Magazine

It took until 2018 for Dundee to even think about promoting itself, with VisitDundee being set up in preparation for the opening of the V&A in the city and the ... Read more

July 24, 2018July 25, 2018

Leaders in Responsible Tourism

Development

A couple of weeks ago I wrote about the progress TUI is making in implementing their 2015-2020 Better Holidays, Better World strategy. They have understood that, to make real progress ... Read more

July 20, 2018August 20, 2018

Swiss are in it for the long-haul

Summer 2018 Magazine

Last year the Swiss tourism industry experienced a record-breaking year in many markets, after a challenging period dominated by a strong Swiss franc and over-reliance on travellers from Europe. Total ... Read more

July 20, 2018July 20, 2018

Getting the Message

Technology

The news that Etihad passengers will be able to communicate with the airline via WhatsApp got me thinking about my own messaging apps. I use quite a few. On my ... Read more

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018

Solo Travel is the New Luxury: What This Means for Travel Brands

Luxury

“The man who goes alone can start today, but he who travels with another must wait till that other is ready.” – Henry David Thoreau Combining adventure with luxury travel ... Read more

July 19, 2018July 19, 2018

The rise of social businesses in travel – Vicky Smith‘s Earth Changers

Women in Travel

For my latest blog, I am delighted to interview the passionate founder of Earth Changers, Vicky Smith. Like me, Vicky is passionate about empowering women through sustainable tourism and giving ... Read more

July 4, 2018July 5, 2018

In the future, tourism should look more like this Climate Positive Swedish burger

Carbon & Water, Food Tourism, Responsible Tourism

A couple of weeks ago the Swedish burger chain MAX Burgers announced that all its burgers are now climate positive. From June 14, 2018, any meal eaten at any one ... Read more

June 29, 2018August 18, 2020

Are we getting tired of social media?

Blog, marketing, Social Media

The scandal around the use of data harvested on Facebook has caused many people to reassess their use of the social networking site and saw the rise of the #DeleteFacebook ... Read more

June 27, 2018August 20, 2018

USA takes to the silver screen

Summer 2018 Magazine

Brand USA is thinking big in its marketing approach – big screen that is. Peter Ellegard speaks to chief marketing officer Tom Garzilli America has taken to the screens in ... Read more

June 26, 2018

The Good and the Bad of employment in the tourism & hospitality industry

Blog, Disability, Human Rights

Tourism and the hospitality industry are often criticised for creating local quality service employment. There are three major reasons for this. People tend to waiters and room attendants as the ... Read more

June 25, 2018June 25, 2018

How the Travel Industry Provides the Luxury of Sleep

Luxury

The past decade has taught us that luxury is subjective. Luxury no longer has defined and exact standards like chandeliers and butlers. But we can all agree that a simple ... Read more

June 22, 2018July 3, 2018

Is airline loyalty living in the dark ages?

Aviation, Technology

After writing my blog last month about customer relationship management moving on, I have to ask the question: “Are airline loyalty schemes still living in the dark ages?” Loyalty schemes ... Read more

June 20, 2018August 20, 2018

Egyptian tourism turns the tide

Summer 2018 Magazine

Egypt is working hard to recoup visitor numbers lost due to the continued ban on flights to Sharm el Sheikh airport, reports Katherine Lawrey The Egyptian State Tourist Authority is ... Read more

June 19, 2018June 19, 2018

Help your favourite hotel or tour company win a World Responsible Tourism Award

Blog, Responsible Tourism, RT Marketing

Have you been on holiday recently and been amazed at what your hotel was doing for the local community, or perhaps taken a tour that really impressed you for the ... Read more

June 19, 2018

The Airline Industry is never boring!

Aviation

Halfway into 2018 and the list of things going on in the airline business just grows. All of which will make for some lively discussion at this year’s WTM London ... Read more

June 12, 2018

Nominate Responsible Tourism Leaders & consider applying

Blog, Responsible Tourism

The judges can only select from amongst those that apply – if you know good candidates nominate them, phone or email them, and encourage them to apply. Don’t forget the ... Read more

June 11, 2018August 20, 2018

Taking off with confidence

Aviation, Summer 2018 Magazine

Denmark’s Primera Air is spreading its wings with budget transatlantic flights, as chief commercial officer Anastasija Visnakova tells Gary Noakes Look – no pizza colours, no ads,” says Primera Air’s ... Read more

June 8, 2018August 20, 2018

Transparency leads to trust

Summer 2018 Magazine, Technology

The EU’s new data protection rules, known as GDPR, are now in place and could have a global impact on the travel industry, Rob Gill reports. During the early months ... Read more

June 7, 2018August 20, 2018

Putting world food on the travel menu

Food Tourism, Summer 2018 Magazine

Once an afterthought to a holiday, food is now central to the experience and tourist boards are realising this, Charlotte Cullinan finds. Food tourism is booming, and savvy operators and ... Read more

June 6, 2018August 14, 2020

Could enterprising with purpose be the answer to women’s empowerment in travel and tourism?

Blog, Diversity & Inclusion, Women in Travel

Women-Led Enterprises Are Growing Enterprising is a growing sector of the global economy. In some cases such as the USA, women’s enterprising is the fastest growing sector of the economy ... Read more

June 5, 2018June 6, 2018

How Hotels, Tours Companies, Events and Destinations are eliminating plastic

Blog, Development

Today is World Environment Day, and the theme is Beat Plastic Pollution. We’ve looked at this issue before, but so rapidly are the responses emerging, that it is worth revisiting ... Read more

June 1, 2018

Trends in Luxury Travel for 2018 and Beyond

Luxury

We’re mid-way into 2018 and we can see main luxury travel trends like authentic experiences and travellers going to colder destinations happening. Unique experiences can be quite a general and ... Read more

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018

World Responsible Tourism Awards 2018: Leaders in Responsible Tourism

Blog, RT Marketing

The World Responsible Tourism Awards to be presented at WTM London in November are now open for nominations and applications. They close on 6th August and are free to enter. ... Read more

May 24, 2018July 3, 2018

CRM is moving on

Technology

A week or so ago I saw a demonstration of one of the better CRM systems, specifically designed for travel companies. What impressed me is how sophisticated customer relationship management has ... Read more

May 22, 2018

With funding for app secured, Refill my bottle now ready for international expansion

Carbon & Water

Like most of the best ideas, the Refill my Bottle initiative is incredibly simple. So simple that you’ve probably guessed most of what it is about from the title. Started ... Read more

May 15, 2018May 17, 2018

Orphanages: Campaigning for Responsibility in Tourism

Blog, Human Rights

Responsible Tourism is about taking responsibility to address the issues that matter whether in a particular place or one that occurs in many areas. This year in WTM’s World Responsible ... Read more

May 14, 2018August 14, 2020

Women in Leadership and Gender Parity

Blog, Diversity & Inclusion, Professional Development, Women in Travel

This week it is my pleasure to interview Barbara (Bobby) Stewart, Executive Manager: Strategic Relations and Human Resources, V&A Waterfront. Bobby was a mentor at the recent Women in Travel meetup in ... Read more

May 11, 2018May 11, 2018

International Travel & Tourism Awards: Meet the Judges

Events, Professional Development, WTM Team

The International Travel and Tourism Awards team are busy pulling together a panel of independent credible industry experts, business leaders and senior advisors from around the world to sit on ... Read more

May 8, 2018May 9, 2018

Banish Bucket Lists. Go back to the place you love most

Blog, Overtourism

I come here at this time every year. I have been coming here now, every year, at the same time, for 10 years. And I intend to come here at ... Read more

May 4, 2018August 20, 2018

Meet the WTM Team: A week in the life of Ben Dunster

Spring 2018 Magazine

Sales manager for sponsorship and digital across all of WTM’s events I’ve worked at Reed Exhibitions for three years. It’s a brilliant job, working with people from all over ... Read more

May 2, 2018August 18, 2020

Blog rebranding, is it time for a drastic change?

Blog, Blogging, marketing

You’re woken in the middle of the night with a cold gust of wind on your feet and a loud rhythmical chu-chug as the train runs over the rail joints. ... Read more

May 1, 2018

Taking responsibility for sustainability is now a business imperative

Development, RT Marketing

Recent research published by TUI clearly shows that consumers expect the industry to take responsibility for ensuring that their product is sustainable. Research by booking.com found that 87% of global ... Read more

April 25, 2018August 20, 2018

Visitors return to Turkish shores

Spring 2018 Magazine

Turkey’s had a rough ride in the past couple of years, but the omens are good for 2018. Gavin Haines tracks the return of key markets After a tumultuous few ... Read more

April 24, 2018April 30, 2018

How Tourism can rapidly eliminate single use plastics – Earth Day inspiration from around the world

Carbon & Water, Development, RT Marketing

For a somewhat obsessive follower of tourism industry news like me, the spike in press releases that mark the annual Earth Day celebrations provide a quick reference point to the ... Read more

April 20, 2018August 20, 2018

Big interview: Setting responsible travel standards

Overtourism, Responsible Tourism, Spring 2018 Magazine

G Adventures has helped push sustainable tourism to the top of the world travel agenda. Katherine Lawrey speaks to founder Bruce Poon Tip about how the company did it ... Read more

April 19, 2018

Middle East Carriers and Luxury: A Battle of Indulgence

Luxury

Let’s all do a little time-travelling and look back in the mid-90’s to early 2000’s. This was a time in commercial travel where in general, airlines’ business class seats were ... Read more

April 18, 2018August 20, 2018

Bahamas – doors open at Baha Mar

Destinations, Spring 2018 Magazine

After financial difficulties impeded the opening of Baha Mar in the Bahamas, the development is finally welcoming guests. Andrew Doherty reports Following more than two years of delays, the ... Read more

April 17, 2018April 30, 2018

Responsible Tourism moves centre stage

Responsible Tourism

TUI recently published survey results on UK consumer demand. 62% of UK holidaymakers agree it makes them feel better when they know their holiday was organised with respect for nature ... Read more

April 16, 2018August 20, 2018

A golden year for Mauritius

Destinations, Spring 2018 Magazine

Celebrations around the island, new aircraft for Air Mauritius and hotel refurbishments mark an anniversary year, finds Katherine Lawrey This year will be a special one for Mauritius as ... Read more

April 12, 2018May 10, 2018

Smart Tourism 2020

Technology

One of the seminar sessions I am running at this year’s Arabian Travel Market is called Smart Tourism 2020. I do work within both the tourism and travel industries and ... Read more

April 11, 2018May 10, 2018

Artificial intelligence: to infinity and beyond

Spring 2018 Magazine, Technology

Artificial intelligence has the potential to be as transformative as the introduction of computers – and the travel industry stands to benefit. Jenny Southan explains Over the past few years, ... Read more

April 10, 2018April 25, 2018

Is Day Zero becoming the new normal, and not just in Cape Town?

Carbon & Water, Destinations, Development

This month, Cape Town may or may not reach Day Zero, signifying the point at which the city runs out of water. According to an April 9th article on South ... Read more

April 9, 2018April 11, 2018

Responsible relaxation in Central America

Responsible Tourism, Spring 2018 Magazine, Wellness

Wellness and sustainable travel are top of the agenda for Central America tourism boards, writes Katherine Lawrey Costa Rica is promoting a new tourism strategy for 2018 titled Wellness Pura ... Read more

April 6, 2018

Prepare to be impressed by Dubai

Destinations, Spring 2018 Magazine

Dubai continues to break the mould with its attractions and hotels. Tom Jordan rounds up new headline acts in the emirate and elsewhere As Dubai Expo 2020 creeps ever nearer, ... Read more

March 23, 2018April 3, 2018

Q&A with the Oman Ministry of Tourism

Destinations, Spring 2018 Magazine

Maitha Al Mahrouqi, undersecretary for the Oman Ministry of Tourism, shares the country’s tourism strategy Oman’s goal by 2040 is to attract 11.7 million annual visitors. How do you aim ... Read more

March 20, 2018April 3, 2018

Cold is the new hot

Luxury, Spring 2018 Magazine

Virtuoso, a luxury consortium with a keen eye on global trends, gives the lowdown on the luxury market to Charlotte Cullinan Luxury travellers will be heading to colder climes in ... Read more

March 19, 2018

Why is there a luxury hotel boom in the Middle East?

Luxury

As travellers enjoy the benefits of shared economy business models in companies like Airbnb and Uber, I cannot help but think that the theory of negative correlation rings true across ... Read more

February 22, 2018March 2, 2018

How can travel brands appeal more to the Millennials of the Middle East?

Luxury

If there’s any consumer market that’s been studied the most the in last five years, it would be Generation Y, more popularly known as the Millennials. Millennials, classified as those ... Read more