D E S T I N A T I O N S M E E T I N G S & I N C E N T I V E S E X H I B I T I O N S S P A R E S O R T S V o l . 1 3 N o 6

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C O N T E N T S

X E N I O ST O U R I S M & B U S I N E S S

T R A V E LNo 6, Vol.13

February 2010

Executive Editor: Vassilis Bogris

Editors : Yulia Ivanovna,

Konstantina Papachristopoulos,

Thomas Paleologos (London-Athens),

Dimitris Loukas,

Julia Ushakova( Moscow-Athens)

Advertising Manager: Kostas Katsaros

Production Manager: Othonas BogrisPrinted in Athens GR & London UK

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MykonosTravel Industry Crowns

WTM The Best Event10

Where Frequent BusinessTravellers Enjoy Their Stay 12

Top 10 Cruise Destinations

Revealed16

Europe’s Sexiest Hotels 22

Showcasing London to theAssociations Conference

Forum

26

Travel Trade & MICEExhibitions 34

Destinations(Dodecanese,Cyclades, Halkidiki) 40

Site GREECE contributedagain to the success of the6th International Meetings &Incentives Conference (IMIC)which took place at Megaronin Athens on 10th & 11th ofFebruary 2010, with theme“Creating and ManagingSuccessful Products andPowerful Brands”The opening of the confer-ence on February 10th wasfollowed by the attributions ofthe traditional Site Greece-IMIC Awards of Excellence.The President of Site GREECEMr Tasso Papppas (CITE)

gave the international per-sonality Award of Excellenceto Mr. Ray Bloom, Chairmanof IMEX, in recognition of hislifetime and outstandinginternational contribution tothe development of theIncentives and MeetingsIndustry and his continuedsupport for the developmentof the Greek Business TravelMarket. Ray Bloom was alsothe key note speaker at theconference and spoke about“Buildingan exhibition brand” .The Greek personality Award

was given to Mr. VassiliosBrovas in recognition for hiscontributionto the foundation and devel-opment of ThessalonikiConvention Bureau Duringthe conference Mr TassoPappas (CITE)gave a lecture with the theme“Creative proposals and prod-ucts-Keys to success” andcoordinated the panel discus-sion with the theme “ DMC orPCO”, defining the differencebetween those professionalsDMC (DestinationManagement Company) andPCO (Professional CongressOrganizer) Site GREECE wasalso represented at the con-ference by the ChapterPresident Elect Mr Balakakiswho presented Site’s profileand important role in the localand international incentivemarket and by Mrs MariaPapadaki who participated atthe panel discussion PCO orDMC.

4 Xenios

OSCE conferenceseat- Hofburg at

the heart ofinternational

politicsThe Organization for Security

and Co-operation inEurope(OSCE) has had its per-manent conference seat at the

Hofburg Vienna for over 20years. 1,500 delegates from 56

participating states and 12 part-ners for co-operation meet here

annually for 3,000 meetings,transforming the Hofburg into a

global political hub.

In 2010 Kazakhstan took overthe chairmanship of the OSCEand has already hosted a num-

ber of high-level diplomaticsummits. The majority of dele-

gates stay in the Austrian capitalwith their families for a period of

around three years. There areabout 800 accredited diplomats

living in the city at any onetime. Such long-standing part-

nerships as well as the congressand events business enable the

Hofburg Vienna to generateadded value of about EUR 180-

200 million annually.

But the professionalism of theHofburg staff has also convinces

countless other high-profileorganisations to return for theirevents time and again. High-

level meetings and seminars bythe Organization of the

Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC) take place at the confer-

ence centre, and theInternational Atomic Energy

Agency (IAEA) hosts its annualball and a number of meetings

at the former imperial residence.ThePreparatory Commission forthe Comprehensive nuclear-test-ban treaty organization (CTBTO) is another organisation in the

Hofburg’s portfolio.

SITE GREECEIMIC AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE

New promotional film onAthens “BreathtakingAthens”

The gaze of the traveller in Athens, Greece iscaptivated by the image of the contemporarymetropolis. The new promotional film“Breathtaking Athens,” made by the City ofAthens Tourism and Economic DevelopmentCompany, showcases Athens as the ideal des-tination offering plenty of options.

The charm of Athens comes across scene byscene of the new film “Breathtaking Athens.”Projecting the city with a unique and modernway, it portrays Athens, Greece as a enchant-ing destination in a creative and artistic waywhile at the same time representing a con-

stantly changing city that inspires awe withmoments that take your breath way. The tran-sitions between the images take the viewerone step further from the typical touristclichés and present a different side of Athens,Greece.

The traveller, in one breath, literally followinga bubble, is taken on a tour of 25 locations inAthens, Greece. Parks, the historical centre,museums, beaches, nightlife, all record on cel-luloid a message aimed directly at the heart.The bewitching music, which was createdexclusively for the new film on Athens, alsofloats above the city to create a pleasurableexperience.

“Athens is the feeling, the experience, some-thing that we ultimately proved,” said AthensMayor Nikitas Kaklamanis.

The new promotional film onhttp://www.athensconventionbureau.gr/?q=en/content/breathtaking-athens-film receivesdozens of positive comments daily on foreignblogs and is a candidate for a Clio Award inNew York, a D&AD in Great Britain, the GoldenCity Gate Award and the international CannesLion award.

Travel Trends

Xenios 5

As part of City of Athens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanis’ strategy fordeveloping conference tourism in Athens and the implementa-tion of activities that promote the variety of tourism servicesand choices available to visitors to the city, the AthensConvention Bureau staged a workshop on the topic:

Destination Athens… revisitedPresenting more choices for things to do or see while in Athens.

The ACB workshop took place at the Megaron AthensInternational Conference Centre as part of the InternationalMeetings and Incentives Conference 2010 with the participationof distinguished speakers and a huge response from individualsin the tourism sector, representatives of the foreign media anddiplomatic missions, tourism enterprise executives and others.

During the workshop, unknown aspects of tourist Athens werepresented, along with a variety of alternative activities that vis-itors to the city could choose from, regardless of whether theyare in Athens for professional reasons – conferences, companymeetings, etc. – or taking part in an incentive travel pro-gramme.

The main conclusion drawn from the workshop was the fact thatAthens is a destination that uniquely combines the basic char-acteristics of a business travel destination (access, infrastruc-ture, quality hotels, security, etc.) with a multitude of options ofan ideal destination for city and pleasure tourism (culture,entertainment, tours-excursions, outdoor activities and watersports, etc.). As it was noted, the ACBuses these advantages inevery one of its promotion and marketing activities abroad,strengthening the image of Athens in the “pre/post congress”activities sector.

City of Athens Council Member and President of the AthensTourism and Economic Development Company, Dr KaterinaKatsabe, in opening the workshop, referred to the tourism poli-cy framework that is being implemented on the initiative ofMayor Kaklamanis and presented ATEDCo’s activities.

“The City of Athens and the Athens Tourism and EconomicDevelopment Company, in rising to the challenges and over-coming difficulties they have faced as a destination, invest inactivities that reinforce existing tourism infrastructure anddevelop new ones, communicate a unified and competitive iden-tity for Athens and promote the city beyond the country’s bor-ders with professionalism, creativity and expertise,” she said.

The workshop included presentations and interventions byGiorgos Angelis, Director of the ACB; Artemis Skoubourdi, tourguide and writer on Athens; Diana Kohyla, journalist-author andexpert on traditional cuisine and nutrition; Dimitris Efremoglou,CEO of the Foundation of the Hellenic World; ChristosAnagnostou, winemaker and President of the Association ofWine-producers of Ampelonas Attikis (ENOAA); Penny Doska,Senior Project Manager for Kipling Events; and Giorgos Pittas,hotelier and author.

Workshop by the Athens Convention Bureau

Xenios 7

Thomas Cook UK& IrelandFeatures

TripAdvisor’sUser-Generated

Content

LONDON, February 22, 2010/PRNewswire/ — A new partner-ship between Thomas Cook UK

& Ireland and TripAdvisor(R) willenable travellers on thomas-

cook.com to benefit from userreviews and ratings from the

world’s largest and most populartravel community.

Thomascook.com will featureTripAdvisor’s content, including

the five most recent hotelreviews, on its property pages,

allowing customers to makemore informed hotel decisions

based on fellow travellers’ feed-back.

Further content will be integrat-ed on thomascook.com’s desti-nation pages, including a “Bestof” overview of the city, the top

10 hotels, attractions andrestaurants and best travellerphotos. The most recent five

reviews of places to stay, dineand visit will also be available,providing travellers with com-

prehensive travel information toplan their perfect trip.

David Hilton, Deputy Director ofeCommerce at Thomas Cook UK

& Ireland, said: “We want tomake our visitors’ online jour-neys as easy as possible. By

introducing TripAdvisor reviewsand ratings on to

thomascook.com we’ve broad-ened the amount of relevant

information they have access to,which will assist them when it

comes to choosing the ideal hol-iday.”

“We are thrilled to be partneringwith Thomas Cook, so their cus-tomers can benefit from valu-able insight and feedback fromthe experiences of millions of

travellers,” said SeverinePhilardeau, Director of European

Partnerships, TripAdvisor.

More than 22,000 politicians, officials,reporters and NGO’s entered the doors atBella Center during the 13-day climatechange conference COP 15 in December. Thismakes COP15 the absolutely largest eventever held in Bella Center – and inCopenhagen.

The Climate Change Conference, COP 15, hasunconditionally been the biggest Bella Centerhas ever experienced. And the biggest theUN has experienced.

The UN accredited more than 45,000 dele-gates, NGOs and reporters. With the decisionto have, at the most, 15,000 people insideand the enormous interest from outside, thesystem broke down so the queues outsideBella Center became far too long.

On behalf of the UN Yvo de Boer, Head of theUNFCCC, has apologised for this and hastaken on the full responsibility. Watch hishonest and direct annoncement on the BBC

“Seen from the Danes’ and Bella Center’spoints of view, the long queues have alsobeen the only practical thing that did notfunction,” says a very satisfied Director ofBella Center, Arne Bang Mikkelsen.“Inside, the execution of the summit confer-ence has been a fantastic experience.Servicing 11,000 to 15,000 guests aroundthe clock has been an enormous task and Iam really proud that we and the DanishMinistry of Foreign Affairs have been able todeliver. It has created respect out in theworld,” says Arne Bang Mikkelsen.

Between 11,000 -15,000 guests have gonethrough 23 scanners every day. Added to this

were 500 -1,000 police officers, UN officersand security staff.Almost 300 tons food has been consumed –from fish and poultry to fruit, sandwiches andvegetables.107,889 meals have been eaten – includingvegetarian dishes. In addition, 20,057 sand-wiches and 8,127 open sandwiches.And everyone’s “sweet tooth” was also takencare of with 14,779 cakes and cookies.350,000 glasses of water – Danish tap water!– have been consumed and 250,000 cups ofcoffee.In the busiest days, there have been almost100 chefs at work.With 5,500 new computer workstations andup to 8,000 laptops, the Internet has beenunder pressure. The connection had beenexpanded to 6 gigabit. If you had a connec-tion like this at home, you would be able todownload a DVD film in about six seconds.400 mobile phones were hired out and 200mobile phones were sold. In addition, 1,750start packs with SIM cards and 2,300 prepaidphone cards were sold.Three days before the conclusion of the sum-mit Bella Center was asked to establish 38extra meeting rooms – for the USA andChina, among others. The meeting roomswhere build and furnish in record time.

More than 22,000 at the COP15

Xenios 9

Strong demand from US and international associations, hotelgroups and agencies to bring their top buyers to IMEX Americawhen it launches in October 2011 has led organisers, the IMEXGroup, to announce an increase in expected hosted buyer num-bers. The announcement comes just four months after the showwas launched.

[22 February 2010] IMEX Chairman, Ray Bloom, announcedthat 2000 qualified buyers will now be hosted to the new LasVegas trade show for the meetings, incentive travel and eventsindustry – an increase of just over 30 percent on the figureannounced at launch. 80% of these buyers will come from NorthAmerica, with the balance attending from around the world.

Says Bloom: “Our previous figures were confident but conser-vative. Recent discussions with our partners and other new busi-ness alliances make it clear that that there is pent-up demand.I’m confident we will see 2000 hosted buyers at IMEX America– an increase of more than 30 percent on our previousannouncement. As mentioned before, the IMEX hosted buyerprogram is set to be the largest of its kind for any such US tradeshow and unique in this regard.”

IMEX America is set to follow a completely different model toany other trade show of its kind in the US due to the scale ofthe hosted program. Qualification for places on the program willfollow the strict guidelines that have been used to build theauthority and credibility of IMEX in Frankfurt. The program willbring top quality association, corporate and agency buyers fromevery corner of the meetings and events industry onto the showfloor to do business with exhibitors. In addition, according to the‘IMEX model’ they will spend longer periods of time on the showfloor meeting exhibitors compared to non-hosted trade visitors.

As Bloom explains, “IMEX puts extremely high levels of effortand detail into making sure that only buyers who are active,serious and proven to place business attend as our hosted buyerguests. We already have some excellent partnerships with inter-mediaries who are similarly committed to these high standardsand to driving serious business at the show. Together we placethe strongest emphasis possible on getting this aspect of IMEXAmerica absolutely right from the start. This is what ourexhibitors expect and this is why IMEX has an unparalleled rep-utation. MPI, Site, PCMA and ASAE are just some of the mostimportant organizations we will work with in the US to drivebuyer attendance. They know and understand our unique modeland are highly committed to it. Other US and international part-nerships will be announced shortly.”

Bloom sums up: “Although the first IMEX America is over a yearaway, we have a very clear vision of what success will look likefor our exhibitors, hosted buyers and trade visitors and we havea clear plan for bringing that vision to life at the Sands Expo inLas Vegas October 2011.”

Future dates for IMEX America are also now confirmed as 9 – 11October 2012 and 15 – 17 October 2013.

Exhibitors and buyers can register their interest in IMEXAmerica at http://www.imex-america.com/users_prereg_inter-est.php.

IMEX America increases hosted buyer programme to 2000

World Travel Market’s visitor satisfaction levelshave increased dramatically cementing WTM’sposition as the premier global event for thetravel industry, independent research reveals.

Visitors to WTM 2009 rated the exhibition asbetter than other industry events, includingITB Berlin, in a range of categories with WTMbeing particularly strong for meeting and net-working and keeping up to date with the lat-est trends.

The independent research of 2,058 visitors toWTM 2009, by Fusion Communications, alsoreveals increased levels of satisfaction com-pared to WTM 2008. An impressive eight outof ten visitors in 2009 came away feeling com-pletely satisfied or very satisfied.

Overall, WTM 2009 met or exceeded theexpectations of 94% of visitors.

The research also reveals WTM remains anextremely important place to do business witha massive 91% stating the event is imperativefor their business and an impressive 97% ofvisitors likely to return in 2010.

Furthermore, 85% of visitors feel attendingWTM gives them a competitive advantageover their rivals.

International media, which increased by 12%to 2,839 for WTM 2009, are in agreement withvisitors with a massive 86% rating WTM as thebest event or among the best events in thetravel industry, including four out of ten stat-ing WTM is the best event.

World Travel Market Exhibition Director SimonPress said: “It’s great to see that visitors aredelighted with the experience of World TravelMarket 2009 and view the exhibition as thebest in the industry.

“WTM 2010 is expanding with a new floorplan,seminar content and networking functionsoffering greater opportunities.

“The findings from the independent researchfirmly cements World Travel Market’s positionas the premier global event for the travelindustry.”

10 Xenios

IAPCO NewsThe Meetings MasterclassA new educational initiative fromIAPCO is The MeetingsMasterclass, an advanced train-ing seminar held in collaborationwith IPCAA. Intended for thosewith more than 6-years decision-making experience in the indus-try, the Masterclass will takeplace at IAPCO's educationalhome of Wolfsberg, Switzerlandfrom 17-20 January 2011 andwill be run in parallel withIAPCO's Annual WolfsbergSeminar.

National Seminar in EstoniaThe first IAPCO National Seminarin northern europe will take placefrom 14-16 April and is expectedto attract participants fromFinland, Estonia and Russia. Theseminar will be held at the TallinkSpa and Conference Hotel inTallin, Estonia. Register now:http://www.ecb.ee/est/page/koolitusseminar

Macau Regional Seminar 15-17 March 2010The second IAPCO/MGTORegional Seminar will take placein Macau from 15-17 March2010. The first two days willcover basic organisation of aninternational event, covering allaspects of conference manage-ment, whilst the third day will bededicated to an in-depth seminaron Promoting a Destination andBidding to Win. Register nowhttp://eservice.macautourism.gov.mo/registration/registerIAPCO.php

Regional Seminar in India 6-8April 2010An IAPCO Regional Seminar willbe held in India at the LakeLavasa International ConventionCenter from April 06 - 08, 2010.Covering some of the mostimportant aspects of congressmanagement, the seminar isaimed at all sectors of the meet-ings industry. Register nowhttp://www.iapcoseminar.org/

France wins Presidency ofIAPCO for the first timeAt the recent General Assemblyheld in Athens, Greece, PhilippeFournier, of MCI, was unanimous-ly elected as IAPCO's President."My goal", says Philippe, "is toprepare the members to beready and get adapted to thechanges that are coming. Let'slead to change by leading thetrend".

Travel Industry

Crowns WTM The Best Event

Travel Trends

World Travel Market 2009, ExCeL London:120 Miss World's gather on the steps ofExCeL after visiting the World's biggesttradel trade show.

Xenios 11

All Leisure group backs Just Help

Haiti and urges others to follow

suitAll Leisure group has part-nered with Just a Drop’s‘Just Help Haiti’ campaignto appeal to the travel andtourism industry to raisefunds that will supplyclean safe water to Haitifollowing the recent disas-ter.This one off fund raisingexercise aims to raise £1million for the people ofHaiti, the amount requiredto ensure urgent water and sanitationneeds and implement a long term watersupply solution. This partnership initiativewas founded by Roger Allard, Chairman ofAll Leisure group, and Fiona Jeffery,Chairman of World Travel Market and Justa Drop.

Roger Allard, Chairman of All Leisure groupplc comments:“This tragic disaster has left Haiti withenormous challenges to overcome and longafter the headlines have gone the peopleof Haiti will still need our support. By rais-ing £1 million we hope to aid the urgentwater shortage problems and, just asimportantly, help with the vital ongoingsupport to ensure that the recoveryprocess is sustained. We implore the indus-try to rally behind this campaign to helpraise our first target of £250,000.”

So far, confirmed partners include AllLeisure group, Kuoni, P&OFerries,Shearings, Thomas Cook and TuiTravel – each of whom will donate£25,000. All Leisure group is urging thosewithin the industry to lend their support inany way they can. Allard is also encourag-ing operators to donate product in the formof free holidays/vouchers etc, which will besold through participating agents and themoney donated to the Just Help Haiti cam-paign.

Thomas Cook CEO, Manny Fontenla-Nova,comments:“The plight of Haiti has touched the world,with massive relief efforts underway to aidthe people and bring back some stability tothe country. We can all make a differenceon a personal level, but Thomas CookGroup plc has recognised the importance ofmaking a significant practical and financialcontribution to the aid effort. We havealready been involved in transporting aid,as well as involving many of our customersand our people in the Dominican Republic.We are equally concerned to help the peo-ple of this devastated country recover fromthe impacts of the earthquake. We aretherefore very pleased to support the Justa Drop “Just Help Haiti” initiative. ”

Peter Long, ChiefExecutive TUI TravelPLC comments:“The earthquakes inHaiti have had a dev-astating effect on theHaitian people andTUI Travel is keen tocontribute to thisappeal to raisemoney to help re-establish water and

sanitation in the affected areas. Many ofour colleagues in the Dominican Republicwith relatives in Haiti have been affectedby the disaster and this is an issue that isclose to our hearts. We want to help thelong term redevelopment programme inHaiti and TUI Travel fully supports the workbeing done by Just a Drop to help dis-placed communities safely return to theirhomes.”

Fiona Jeffery, Chairman and founder of Justa Drop comments:“It is great that the travel and tourismindustry are collectively getting behind JustHelp Haiti so whole heartedly and I’mextremely grateful for all the donationsthat have already been made through thispartnership initiative. Where Just a Dropmakes a real difference is in the work postthe emergency relief effort as its fieldoperatives will look to create sustainablewater and sanitation solutions for commu-nities encouraging them back to theirhomes, villages and schools so they arenot locked in temporary refugee camps fortoo long.”

A £1 donation can deliver safe water to aperson for nearly 10 years so visitwww.justadrop.org to make your donationtoday. Alternatively send a cheque madepayable to Just a Drop, to the attention ofAna Sustelo – Just a Drop Co-OrdinatorGateway House, 28 The Quadrant,Richmond TW9 1DN. Alternatively to makea BACS transfer, please contact Nikki Davis. Industry accountants and specialistsWhite Hart Associates LLP will be monitor-ing the finances of this particular cam-paign.

Tate Modernbegins workon £215mextension

Work has got underway on TateModern’s £215m re-development thismonth.The Mayor of London, Boris Johnson,launched the start of preparatorybuilding works in the oil tanks of theformer power station at Bankside on06 January. The extension will add afurther 5,000m² of gallery space tothe iconic London venue, doubling thesize of the existing building andboosting its available event space.

“The new Tate Modern developmentwill be an iconic, world-class additionto London’s skyline,” said TateDirector Nicholas Serota. “We aredelighted that the Mayor of Londonhas taken with us the first stepstowards its realisation. We look for-ward to creating one of the mostexciting cultural buildings in Europe,which will bring direct benefits toSouthwark and London as a whole.”

The £215m project is expected to becompleted in time for the London2012 Olympic Games and ParalympicGames. Five million people a year cur-rently visit Tate Modern. The venue’srestaurant, East Room and MembersRoom are all popular spaces with cor-porate event organisers.

LONDON, February, 2010 /PRNewswire/ — The business trav-eller is an important and much sought after guest for hotels –but in which hotels does the business traveller prefer to stay?Do these business clients remain true to the hotel chains or dosmaller, privately owned, hotels have a chance?

hotel.info, the international hotel reservation service with over210,000 hotels worldwide, which offers its service free ofcharge, has recently undertaken a detailed survey of the book-ing patterns of its corporate customers all over the world during2009. Based on the important premise of the price and serviceprovided to the business traveller and the resultant preferenceof these travellers for hotels in the middle and up-market seg-ments, the study has concentrated on 2, 3 and 4-star hotels.The ranking of the 10 most frequently booked hotels is based on

the evaluations given by guests who have stayed in them.

Here is the list of the 2 to 4-star hotels in Great Britain most fre-quently booked by business travellers:

Hotel name Evaluation Town/City CategoryHilton London Canary Wharf 8.9 London 4.0Novotel London Paddington 8.5 London 4.0Hilton London Tower Bridge 8.2 London 4.0Radisson Blu Hotel London Stansted Airport 8.2 London Stansted Airport 4.0Apartmenthotel 196Bishopsgate 8.2 London 4.0Ashburn Hotel 8.2 London 4.0Crowne Plaza HotelLondon-Shoreditch 8.1 London 4.0Express by Holiday InnLiverpool John LennonAirport 8.1 Liverpool 2.0Holiday Inn Kenilworth 8.0 Kenilworth 3.0Mercure Holland HouseHotel & Spa Bristol 8.0 Bristol 4.0* the ranking of the ten most frequently booked hotels is basedon the evaluations awarded by guests who have stayed in them(best possible mark = 10.0).

http://www.hotel.info/homepage.aspx?lng=EN

12 Xenios

PGA Europeantour visits Czech

Republic

The Prosper golf club in the Czech Republicis to be the venue for the PGA EuropeanTour’s Euros 2000,000 Czech Open from 19-20 August 2010. The return of the tour toThe Czech Republic after many yearsabsence is wonderful news and further evi-dence that the Czech Republic with it longhistory of past tour events is a great golftourism destination.

The Prosper Golf club along with theProsper Horse Ranch and a four star hotelis located in Celodna in the beautiful moun-tainous countryside of northern Moraviaclose to the borders of Poland and Slovakia.This is an extremely picturesque region inthe Beskydy Mountains with rivers andforests adding to the attractiveness of thevenue. The Golf course was designed byMiguel Angel Jimenez and can be guaran-teed to be a challenging contest and withglobal TV coverage a great promotion forgolf tourism across the whole region.

The Top 10 British Business Hotels - WhereFrequent Business Travellers Enjoy Their Stay

Now in its 7th year the KPMG Golf busi-ness forum is gearing up for this year’sevent in Belek Turkey with a list of out-standing speakers and dignitaries fromthe world of golf. This conference is agreat opportunity to learn from theexperts and to meet key people fromwithin the golf industry.

The programme is extensive with a fullsocial schedule for networking, plus visitsto local golf and leisure facilities. Thisyear’s event will also include debate

about the value and opportunities fordeveloping ladies golf and golf tourism.The theme for this year’s conference isrethink, redesign and reposition the glob-al golf industry more www.golfbusiness-forum.com

KPMG Golf Business Forum May 12-14

Travel Trends

Xenios 13

Under the title “Guests in Paradise” TUI AG has published itsEnvironment and Sustainability Report 2009/2010. The reportdocuments the activities, progress, targets and performanceindicators in sustainable development and meets the guidelinesof the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), the internationally rec-ognized standard for sustainability reporting. “We firmly believethat sustainability and responsibility are key factors in a com-pany’s economic success, in particular in difficult times. Thereport now presented lists numerous examples illustrating howwe implement our responsibility to customers, employees, busi-ness associates, shareholders and society”, says Dr PeterEngelen, TUI AG Executive Board member whose responsibili-ties include Sustainable Development. He continues: “With thereport we set out to make our social ‘investment’ visible.”

The key topics of the report include a comprehensive presenta-tion of the Group’s biodiversity and climate strategy and theCode of Conduct binding on all employees. Apart from docu-menting measures to reduce energy consumption and emis-sions, the report provides an overview of the climate targets ofthe individual business sectors. Examples include energy con-sumption, which the Group reduced by around 4 per cent in2009 versus the comparative period in 2008. The report alsodocuments, for instance, numerous species preservation proj-ects. In cooperation with the Federal Agency for NatureProtection, TUI’s Sustainability Management unit has, inter alia,prepared a brochure on species preservation to be distributed toholidaymakers worldwide. The report also presents additionalpractical measures along the value chain, such as initiatives bythe TUI Group’s hotels and incoming agencies.

With the publication of the Sustainability Report, theEnvironmental Management and Sustainable Developmentdepartment also celebrates its anniversary: As early as in 1990,TUI was the first large tour operator to establish its own envi-ronmental unit, which has continually engaged in activities bothin Germany and abroad since then.

20 years of enviromental and sustainability management

1990 TUI is the first mainstream tour operator to set up anenvironmental management unit1990 TUI launches destination monitoring to observe the state

of the local environment1991 TUI awards its first International Environment Award1992 TUI’s first Environment Forum at the ITB fair in Berlin1995 Active contribution to the Charter for Sustainable Tourismin Lanzarote1995 The Annual Report starts to include environmental report-ing1995 TUI Sponsorship adopts its first charitable project inHanover1996 TUI selects the first Environment Champions2000 TUI co-founds the Tour Operators‘ Initiative forSustainable Tourism Development2000 The Preussag Foundation (now: TUI Foundation) is estab-lished2001 TUI AG co-founds econsense2003 Contribution to UNWTO’s Djerba Declaration on Tourismand ClimateChange2003 TUI Deutschland receives its ISO 14001 certificate2004 TUI AG is listed on FTSE4Good2004 TUI AG publishes the first Group Environment Report2005 TUI AG receives its ISO 14001 certificate2006 First involvement in the Carbon Disclosure Project(CDP)2006 TUI AG joins the Dow Jones Sustainability Index2006 First EcoResort award for a Group hotel brand2007 TUI AG publishes the first Group Sustainability Report2007 TUI AG wins first place in the Good Company Rankingenvironment category2007/08 Group-wide Year of the Dolphin campaign with theUNEP Bonn Convention2007 Contribution to the UNWTO’s Davos Declaration onTourism and Climate Change2008 TUI AG signs the Diversity Charter2008 TUI AG joins the Business & Biodiversity Initiative setup by the German Environ-ment Ministry2009 TUI AG co-founds the sustainability initiative Futourise. V.

TUI publishes sustainability

On a tour of discovery with the MS Hanseatic: a zodiacexcursion for watching wildlife right up close in theArctic

Xenios 15

February, 2010 – Reed TravelExhibitions (RTE) and the MPIFoundation announced a majorAIBTM research alliance at MPI’sMeetDifferent in Cancun.

In an initiative which further focusesboth parties’ long standing relation-ship, the MPI Foundation will pro-duce a comprehensive initiative onmeeting and business event per-formance to be presented at AIBTMin Baltimore in June 2011 as part ofan America Meetings Week. This ini-tiative is a culmination of a broadscope of initiatives that will focus onstudying and understanding theappreciable business value of meet-ings.

“Through this alliance, meeting and eventprofessionals will gain access to criticaldata and resources to more effectivelydesign, implement and measure the busi-ness value of their meetings. We see ourrelationship with RTE as a prime driver inhighlighting our commitment to content

and thought leadership around theworld,” said Bruce MacMillan, MPIPresident and CEO.

Vanessa Cotton, CMM Chair Reed TravelExhibitions Meetings and IncentivesEvents, comments: “One of the areasthat will set us apart from other eventsfor the meetings industry in NorthAmerica is our reputation in providingbest professional education. Whetherfrom the corporate, association or agencysector, this major piece of research isdesigned to provide the industry withinformation on key trends and develop-ments that will have a significant impacton their business.

“Our global partnership with MPI, whichadditionally includes the development ofeducation programs at all our IBTMevents in Barcelona, Abu Dhabi, Beijingand now Baltimore, is an indication of theimportance both parties place on the pro-viding the industry at all levels withsources of relevant and validated knowl-edge.”

AIBTM will provide meeting and eventprofessionals in all sectors – association,corporate, government and third party –

with quality interaction with over 300North American and internationalexhibitors. It is set to attract 500 HostedBuyers, of which 100 will come from out-side America and around 2,500 trade vis-itors made up of largely North Americanbased meeting planners with domestic,interstate business.

America Meetings Week will raise the pro-file of the meetings and events industryto the wider business market and politicalcommunity across North America, focus-ing on the economic contribution whichmeetings and events make to the econo-my, the number of jobs supported andthe positive benefits which effectivemeetings and events bring to businessdevelopment and communication.

Research to Focus on the Performance Drivers

and Value of MeetingsAIBTM Research Alliance Consolidates MPI,

RTE Global Relationship

Top 10 cruise destinations

1 Alaska: "Watching black bears in their natu-ral habitat, catching salmon as they madetheir way up river, is a moment I'm unlikely tocapture again." William Gibbons

2 The Galapagos: "These sequestered islandsare unlike any other cruise destination any-where on earth and you leave knowing you'vevisited a very special corner of our planet."Gary Buchanan

3 Arctic: "Before the cruise, circumnavigatingSpitsbergen, all I wanted was to see a Polarbear. We saw the first on day one. At 15 I gaveup counting. It's desolate, dangerous, but atrue once-in a lifetime experience." JaneArcher

4 Antarctic Peninsula: "There's somethingawe-inspiring as icebergs the size of Belgiumgo by. And then there's the noise of whole reg-iments of penguins and seals, and the specta-cle of nature at its most unpredictable."Douglas Ward

5 The Black Sea: "The Black Sea has seencivilisations come and go over the millenniaand today the intriguing mix of Turkish,Ukrainian and Russian cultures make for anendlessly fascinating travel experience."Andrew Cochrane

6 St Petersburg: "The magnificent HermitageMuseum and stunning art galleries must beseen to be believed. Peterhof with the amaz-ing gravity-fed cascading fountains, andCatherine's palaces are simply breathtaking."Lol Nichols

7 Venice: "The Venetian Festa del Redentore,dating back to 1577, is a stunning time tostay. On July 17, hundreds of decorated boatsline up to view fireworks light up the domesand bell towers of the city, all set against the

beautiful backdrop of Saint Mark's Basin."Stephen Park

8 The Mediterranean: "The best cruise desti-nation is right on our doorstep. You're set todo a whole holiday brochure in one go as youtour the greatest cities in the world such asBarcelona, Venice, Rome and Nice." SteveRead

9 The Corinth Canal: "At first sight it is hard tosee the narrow entrance to the canal, then -guided by a tug - Minerva enters the narrow,steep-sided canal, with just a metre clearanceon each side of the ship." Colin Stone

10 Middle East: Offering a blend of countriesof varying customs, cruising in the Middle Eastis a terrific and relatively hassle-free way tovisit cities as disparate as Dubai, Muscat andAqaba. The fact that the sun nearly alwaysshines is another plus! Carolyn Spencer Brown

The panel comprised: Wendy AtkinSmith(Managing Director Viking River CruisesUK); Jane Archer (Telegraph Travel cruise cor-respondent); Gary Buchanan (travel writer);Andrew Cochrane (Managing Director, NobleCaledonia); William Gibbons (Director,Passenger Shipping Association); AndyHarmer (The Cruise Portfolio); Lol Nichols(General Sales Manager, Fred. Olsen CruiseLines); Stephen Park (General manager, NCLUK); Jo Rzymowska (Associate Vice Presidentand General Manager Royal Caribbean CruiseLine UK and Ireland); Steve Read (Sky Travelcruise correspondent); Carolyn SpencerBrown (Editor in Chief, Cruise Critic); ColinStone (Managing Director, Swan Hellenic);Douglas Ward (author, Berlitz Guide toCruising).

16 Xenios

LONDON, March, 2010/PRNewswire/ -- Alaska hasbeen selected as the world'sgreatest cruise destination by

a jury of the UK's leadingcruise writers and industry

experts.

Alaska's incredible bays, daz-zling glaciers and exotic

wildlife make it the ultimatecruise destination, just aheadof other nature lovers' para-dises The Galapagos Islands,

The Arctic and AntarcticPeninsula.

All four were selected by apanel of 13 experts whenasked to nominate their

favourite cruise destinationsby The CRUISE Show, the

UK's only exhibition dedicatedto cruise travel.

Russia was hotly tipped, withThe Black Sea taking fifthplace on the list and St

Petersburg sixth.

Venice, a more traditionalcruise destination, was highlyrated by the panel, featuringat number seven, just aheadof the Mediterranean general-

ly. The Middle East, an up-and-coming cruise destination,

completed the top 10.

Cruise expert Jane Archersaid: "One of the best thingsabout cruising is the diversityof places you can visit on acruise ship. There are all the

iconic cities in theMediterranean and Baltic,

which attract huge numbers ofcruisers, but then you can alsoget way off the beaten track,discovering remote and exoticplaces and seeing sights thatnon-cruisers can only dream

about."

"The cruise lines that visit allthese places and many more

will be at The Cruise Show, sovisiting the show is a very

easy way to hear more fromthe experts about the fabulousplaces you could be going on

your next holiday at sea."

The CRUISE Show takes placeat London Olympia on 27 and

28 March.

Top 10 Cruise Destinations Revealed

Travel Trends

18 Xenios

Travel Trends

Stefania Agostini: Rimini is ready to welcome BTC

“We will make all our know-how and the bestresources of the region available”, says the directorof the Riviera di Rimini Convention Bureau, whichoperates the new Palacongressi conference andexhibition centre.

Stefania Agostini is determined to offer Rimini’sbest resources to ensure Italy’s trade show for themeetings industry is a success: “For the Riviera diRimini Convention Bureau, BTC has always beenthe sector’s most important national event, and wehave now fully embraced the call Be there todemonstrate; we will not therefore just be in atten-dance, but will take part in an active and proactivemanner, which will allow us to show the Italian andinternational meetings industry gathering for BTCwhat Rimini has done and can do in this business”.

The new Palacongressi which will host BTC is already a tangibledemonstration of the city’s commitment to strengthening andexploiting to the full its vocation for hosting events that beganforty years ago. “It is a flexible venue, which allows a dynamicuse of space, fulfilling BTC’s need to bring innovation to the tra-ditional trade fair format,” continues Agostini. “Of course, we arealso highly suitable for traditional exhibitions, but our experi-ence lies in events, and we therefore offer our spaces in a waythat enables people to meet in the freest and least convention-al way possible. BTC will be able to capitalise fully on this oppor-tunity”.

As an event destination, Rimini is highly coordinated and cohe-sive: the city’s conference hotels have formed the AIA Palas con-sortium ? a shareholder of Palacongressi ? through which they

manage the accommodation for events hosted at the conferencecentre in order to provide guests with the best possible service.“We are also working very closely with Aeradria, which managesRimini airport, with a view to improving links with the hubs ofMilan and Rome and optimising those with Munich”, saysAgostini.

Rimini is therefore preparing to give a united demonstration ofits event-hosting capabilities. “We want to take BTC into the city,creating meeting places that supplement the networking activi-ties that will occur within Palacongressi”, Agostini adds. “We arestill working on it, but one such opportunity is the Notte Rosa(the Pink Night) on 2 July, a festival of music, dance, entertain-ment and performances throughout the city, which can beexploited for BTC buyers and exhibitors wishing to attend, cre-ating an organisational synergy that adds value to the show”.

Another way in which BTC is being integrated with the city isensuring that Palacongressi can be reached on foot or by bicy-cle, with routes and services that will offer BTC guests a trulyalternative experience of the destination. “We really believe inthis event, we are proactive, and are making available to BTC allour know-how, our supplier network and partnerships with localinstitutions. We hope that in Rimini, BTC will be able to trulyinnovate, grow and thrive” concludes Agostini.

International Tourism Trade FairsAssociation

For information into the world’s toptravel trade shows…

www.ittfa.org Affiliate Member ofWorld Travel Organization

SUPPORTED BY ITTFA

The "Convention 2020" programme hasalready been received with great interest bythe world conference community and byimportant organisations, such as Visit London,the BestCities Global Alliance network (whichincludes Copenhagen, Cape Town, Dubai,Edinburgh, Melbourne, Singapore, Vancouverand others), the Seoul Tourism Organisationand the Qatar National Convention Centre.

The Athens Convention Bureau, as one of themain supporters of the initiative, will activelyparticipate in all phases of the study, and willcontribute to the enrichment and analysis ofthe findings and the formulation of conclu-sions.

In addition, the ACB will gain particularly spe-cialised expertise from which its members willbenefit first and foremost, as part of its sup-port calls for staging a workshop in Athenswith Talwar, as well as the participation of ACBstaff in similar events abroad.

The goals of the programme, which will beconducted in two research phases, each onelasting several months, include:

The documentation and analysis of the maintrends emerging in the world conference andmeeting market.The monitoring of the main changes and theirreduction into prognostic and forecast models

so as to highlight the main characteristics andthe general direction of the market over thenext decade.

The examination and development of possiblescenarios for the progress of the conferencemarket and the identification of possibleimpacts with regard to the activities and oper-ation of destinations and conference infra-structure (for example, the ConferenceCentre) and the activities of related sectorsand businesses (such as technology andequipment, conference organisers, suppliers,support services etc.), as well as the "partici-pation experience," in other words, the con-ference participants themselves.

The formulation of options, suggestions andideas for adapting to new conditions and pre-dictions, as well as the collection of detailedconclusions regarding the course and potentialof the market.The first phase of the study is expected to becompleted in May and will be presented aspart of IMEX 2010 in Frankfurt.

20 Xenios

As part of City of Athens

Mayor Nikita Kaklamanis'

strategy to establish Athens

as one of the major confer-

ence destinations in the

world and the dynamic pres-

ence of the city at interna-

tional proceedings, the

Athens Convention Bureau-

ACB has signed a strategic

agreement of cooperation

and support for the pioneer-

ing study "Convention 2020."

The "Convention 2020- The

Future of Meetings, Venues

and Meeting Destinations"

programme is the initiative

of leading organisations in

the conference and meetings

market, such as the

International Congress &

Convention Association

(ICCA) and IMEX (the largest

international trade show in

the conference market), and

is being coordinated by the

Fast Future Research compa-

ny. Rohit Talwar, considered

an authority in the field of

scientific prognostic models,

particularly in economic and

entrepreneurial activity sec-

tors, is heading the pro-

gramme.

ACB is official sponsor of international study

"Convention 2020"

Travel Trends

Xenios 21

NeweasyJet

routes toGreece

EasyJet announced it wouldlaunch new routes to Greece in

the coming year, taking the totalnumber of routes to be launched

across its European to Greecenetwork to 35.

Flights to Crete (Chania), Kosand Zakynthos will be added tothe company’s schedule begin-

ning in May 2010.

The new routes are as follows:Chania - London Gatwick, Kos-London Gatwick, Zakynthos -London Gatwick, Heraklion -Geneva, Heraklion - Bristol,

Corfu - Berlin, Mykonos - ParisOrly, Thessaloniki- Milan

Malpensa, Santorini - MilanMalpensa, Corfu - Milan

Malpensa, Rhodes - Liverpool,Heraklion - Rome Fiumicino,

Thessaloniki - Basel, Mykonos- Rome Fiumicino.

The flights will take place withthe new Airbus 320 that will bearriving at London Gatwick this

spring.

Since 1972, the ICCA Research Departmenthas assembled information on internationalassociation meetings. The structure of theAssociation Database is designed to perfectlysuit the marketing information needs of sup-pliers in the international meeting business.ICCA members use this database for theirresearch, marketing and sales activities toidentify prospective association clients and tobid for important international congresses.

3,000 “incomplete” profiles added

Up to now a considerable number of incom-plete- (meeting series without a clear contactreference) or outdated (historical overview notup-to-date) profiles were automatically “hid-den” in the online database. As ICCA membersindicated that they would like to see this datanonetheless because they would be happy tofurther research these profiles for their mar-keting purposes, these profiles are now addedto the online database.

ICCA expects to generate a lot of useful infor-mation amongst its members, who can use anonline “Report on Update” form to update andadd missing information.

The Association Database Online currentlycontains over 13,000 profiles of rotating and

regularly occurring meeting and profiles ofmore than 130,000 individual events since1873.

“Having recently upgraded and simplified the“report an update” functionality on our data-base, it was a logical step to add the incom-plete records to the congresses that are visi-ble to our members – we’re anticipating amassive increase in feedback of commerciallyrelevant information. And with internationalassociations continuing to be the most reces-sion-proof sector in the global meetings mar-ket this will open up even more congress bid-ding opportunities for our members.”, saysMartin Sirk, ICCA CEO.

Link to UIA data

Last month ICCA already linked the profiles of4,500 regularly occurring meetings withinICCA’s extensive database of internationalassociation events to supplementary UIA data.The new data provides valuable backgroundinformation that will enable more relevant andtargeted proposals to be created.

ICCA further expands Association Database

February 2010 /PRNewswire/ — TripAdvisor(R), the world’slargest and most popular travel community, announced the top10 sexiest hotels in Europe, based on TripAdvisor editors andtravellers. From seductive city suites, to beach-side personalbutlers, these properties offer serious va-va-voom for thoseseeking a sultry sanctuary à deux.

TripAdvisor site data also reveals that Paris, London andAmsterdam boast the most sizzling hotels in Europe, based onthe “sexy index”, calculating the number of times that trav-ellers use the term “sexy” in their candid TripAdvisor reviews.

1. Black Tulip, Amsterdam

Centrally located in a stylish 16th century canal-side buildingthis hotel features specially designed ‘lust’ rooms. All roomsboast black-out curtains and guests can take advantage of the“fun equipment” installed in certain suites. As one TripAdvisortraveller explains, “The rooms are seriously sexy, completewith all the bondage gear you could wish for.”

2. Propeller Island City Lodge, Berlin

For couples looking to add some spice to their getaway thequirky art installations within this hotel will not disappoint.Each room is uniquely sexy – the ‘Flying Bed’ room includes amattress as an iconic temple at the top of an inclined ramp.The ‘Galerie’ room features a round bed with a pedal-operatedmechanism that allows it to spin on a pivot. “We stayed in theroom completely lined with mirrors. It was very tiny, but thatwas all part of the fun,” writes one TripAdvisor traveller.

3. The Witchery, Edinburgh

The hotel’s magnificent Guardroom suite offers sheer aristo-cratic decadence. If you tire of the delights of its romanticfour-poster bed, the suite has breath-taking views over PrincesStreet to Fife. From the brocade and velvet bedroom furnish-ings to the antique double bath with its enormous mirror TheWitchery provides guests with sexiness from a bygone age.Even X-Factor star Danni Minogue describes the hotel as “theperfect lust-den.”

4. Buddha Bar Hotel, Prague

Couples seeking treats galore should add this hotel their wan-ton wish list. This urban hotel offers stylish surroundings, notto mention a special couples getaway package which includesa one-hour massage each, private use of the jacuzzi, freshflowers and a mood music CD. As one TripAdvisor travellerwrites, “A chilled bottle of champagne and a bowl of strawber-ries waited for us along with a gift of massage oils, honey dustand feathers, setting the pace for the most romantic honey-moon anyone could have.”

5. Amour, Paris

The brainchild of a graffiti artist and nightclub entrepreneurthe Amour has everything you need for a sultry weekend.Bedrooms lead off black-painted corridors lit by naked bulbsand each room offers something different. Some have beendecorated by named artists; others display risqué photo-graphs. Amour is summed up by one TripAdvisor traveller as“an ideal place to drink, eat, sleep, find an intelligent conver-sation or be seduced.”

6. The Hempel, London

Anouska Hempel’s temple to minimalist Zen is hidden behindits discreet, west-London, townhouse façade, giving it aninstantly illicit feel. For couples looking for something specialthe Lioness Den suite should be explored. The bed is suspend-ed from the ceiling by bars resulting in a cage-like experience.As one TripAdvisor traveller writes, “The mattress, the pillowsand the blankets are all extremely lovable…excellent for cou-ples.”

7. Hotel Arts Barcelona, Barcelona

With its double showers and black-out blinds Hotel Arts oozessex appeal. The hotel’s infamous art isn’t the only thing thatwill appeal to amorous guests – even the technology adds anair of passion. as one TripAdvisor travellers explains, “We couldlie in our fabulous, sumptuous bed, and using a remote con-trol, bring down electronic shutters to all the windows, theyeven had their own CD called Barcelona Nights to help get youin the mood!”

8. Adam and Eve Hotel, Turkey Antalya Coast

With its sexy minimalist decor this hotel has been createdspecifically with couples in mind. Not only does it provideaphrodisiac incense to spice up your stay but guests can evenselect a ‘fantasy box’ for the room. Summed up by oneTripAdvisor traveller, “I recommend this hotel to all couples,but come without children – it is really is a fantasy hotel…”

9. Suite Sistina, Rome

The four suites of this luxury residence bring together antiquemosaics, modern furniture and avant-garde technology to offercouples an extraordinarily discreet and unique experience.With beds embraced by soft silk, state-of-the-art stereo sys-tems and romantic lighting your stay is sure to be a passion-ately memorable one. As one TripAdvisor traveller notes,“Really large round bed, twin tub in the bedroom. All electricsare centrally controlled and the mood lighting certainly addedto our stay.”

10. Grand-Hotel du Cap-Ferrat, Cote D-Azur

Located in the millionaire paradise on the peninsula of St. JeanCap Ferrat, this hotel is a once-in-a-lifetime luxury escape.Exclusive suites offer everything from private swimming poolsto personal butler service – the sheer scale of excess is guar-anteed to get pulses racing. One TripAdvisor traveller isimpressed with the hotel staff, “He arranged a very romantictable setting complete with candles and even snuck me a roseto give to my wife.”

22 Xenios

Tripadvisor Reveals Europe’s Sexiest Hotels –

Amsterdam’s Black Tulip Hotel Tops List of

Provocative Properties

Travel Trends

Xenios 25

Following the introduction two years ago at Gulf Incentive,Business Travel & Meetings Exhibition (GIBTM) of theTechnology & Event Services Village, the event has attractednew exhibitors recognising the business opportunities of inter-acting directly with Gulf buyers and planners.

Visitors to the 2010 event will come face-to-face with a dedi-cated area featuring the latest technology and support servicesand products for the meetings and incentives industry.

New timers at the show, taking place from 29 – 31 March 2010at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), includeUSA based Cvent Inc (Stand F125) and Dubai based MatrixParty & Audio Visual Services LLC (F140). Returning to GIBTM,on the back of a successful 2009 include Ungerboeck SystemsInternational (G140) and London Speaker Bureau (F141).

Commenting on their first time attendance at GIBTM, RajeshPereira, Chief Entertainment Officer, Matrix Party and AudioVisual Services LLC commented: “We look forward to exhibitingat GIBTM for the first time. Having held a strong presence forthe last 12 years in Dubai, UAE, the international market is veryimportant for us to reach for events and conferences. We arenow exhibiting to be able to meet the international HostedBuyers as well as focus on the UAE market especially the city ofAbu Dhabi.”

Cvent Inc have committed to GIBTM after a successful EIBTM inBarcelona, commenting: “This is our first time exhibiting atGIBTM at the Technology & Events Village. However, because wework with 35,000 meeting planners from around the world andEIBTM worked so well for us, we are confident GIBTM will pro-vide the same level of industry contacts and meetings for us,particularly from the local Middle East market.” ReggieAggarwal, Founder and CEO Cvent, Inc.<http://www.cvent.com> USA.

Returning to GIBTM, Thorston Kolbinger, Managing DirectorEMEA Ungerboeck Systems International GmbH said “TheTechnology Village @ GIBTM was a great location for us and wehad a very successful time with some good sales leads and newcontacts. We look forward to exhibiting at GIBTM in 2010!”

Graeme Barnett, GIBTM Event Director said: “Technology andevent services are key to buyers as they are crucial elements ofa successful meeting, incentive, conference and/or large event.There is no better place than GIBTM to keep up-to-date with thelatest technology advances as well as seeing the newest prod-ucts and services on offer.”

Complementing the Technology & Event Services Village @GIBTM will be a dedicated Professional Education Programme,divided into three distinct themes – Event Planning Day onMonday 29 March; Industry Research Day on Tuesday 30 Marchand Industry Trends Day on Wednesday 31 March. All three dayswill feature discussions on future technological developmentsand how to use technology cost-effectively.

Further information on the Technology & Event Services Village@ GIBTM can be found at www.gibtm.com/techevents<http://www.gibtm.com/techevents> .

For those interested in booking a stand please contact SandieMcCoubrey at sandiemc@otenet.gr<mailto:sandiemc@otenet.gr>.

Free registration to attend GIBTM is still open. Log ontowww.gibtm.com <http://www.gibtm.com>

GIBTM ATTRACTS FIRST TIMERS TO TECHNOLOGY& EVENT SERVICES VILLAGE

26 Xenios

Client:

AssociationsConference Forum

(AC Forum)Event

Annual meeting of theAC Forum, 14-16

January 2010

RequirementsThe AC Forum meets inJanuary every year in adifferent European city.The requirements were

to stage an intensetwo-day meeting in a

city that can accommo-date association con-

ferences and largemeetings. Europe's

leading medical associ-ations were also keento gain an insight intoLondon's credentials

for hosting majorevents. With the

London 2012 OlympicGames and ParalympicGames coming up, theUK capital fitted the

bill perfectly.

Event solutionFrom 14-16 January,

some 23 member com-panies, including theEuropean Association

for the Study ofDiabetes, the European

Society for MedicalOncology, the

European Society forCardiology and the

World DentalFederation, were treat-

ed to an access allareas tour of London's

key venue develop-ments as part of anitinerary hosted by

Visit London.

The programme, implemented with the help ofDestination Management Company BrookGreen UK, included the body's GeneralAssembly meetings staged at the QueenElizabeth II Conference Centre (QEIICC), aswell as several opportunities for peer network-ing against iconic London backdrops.

First day – 14 January

AC Forum delegates resided at Park PlazaCounty Hall during their stay – just a seven

minute stroll from the QEIICC. On the firstevening, after an afternoon sharing best prac-tice and discussing congress strategies, dele-gates were escorted by Brook Green UK to theHouses of Parliament for a dinner hosted byJohn Greenway MP and an after-dinner speechfrom Jonathan Edwards CBE.

Second day – 15 January

On the second evening, following an all-dayplenary meeting at the QEIICC, delegates

Showcasing London to the

Associations

Conference Forum

Travel Trends

Xenios 27

were transported by coach to a dinner, hostedby Visit London in the White Tower at the Towerof London. Guests were greeted by a YeomanWarder (popularly known as 'Beefeater') andgiven a short tour of the attraction, whichincluded the Henry VIII exhibition.

Over dinner, the Mayor of London's MarketingDirector Dan Ritterband outlined the capital'sintent and strategy to attract a greater numberof congresses. Ritterband's speech was fol-lowed and reiterated by Visit London BusinessTourism Director Tracy Halliwell. She said: "Wehave the product, the desire and talented peo-ple in place to well serve the interests of glob-al congress planners. We are currently carryingout three key pieces of research, which will notonly determine what more we can do on behalfof clients wishing to come to London, but willalso provide buyers with quarterly survey datato assist with planning documents and providea stronger picture of London's meetings andevents offer both for the present day and for the future. In get-ting across this message, we are being taken seriously as amajor congress destination."

The finale of the dinner came when guests were 'commanded'to attend the Ceremony of the Keys – a spectacular ritual toclose the gates of the Tower, which has taken place everyevening for more than 750 years. Many delegates expressedwhat a unique experience it was and how there was time toreflect while the Last Post was sounded on a bugle.

Last day – 16 January

In contrast, the next day, delegates were taken on a tour ofcontemporary modern London. First stop was access to thesoon-to-open Park Plaza Westminster Bridge four-star hotel.From there, delegates were taken by bus to the Olympic Parkand given a bespoke Blue Badge guided tour. The London

Organising Committee of the Olympic Gamesand Paralympic Garmes had prepared a videoon how the park was progressing before guestswere guided around the site and shown thevenues currently under development.Delegates then returned to the coach to betaken onto ExCeL London to be updated on thephase two extension, which will result in thevenue becoming London's first InternationalConvention Centre, due to open in May 2010.

Following a tour of the London Boat Show,which was taking place at ExCeL, delegatesboarded the London Eye boat Silver Bonito andwere transported back to Waterloo by river,where their London experience tour came to anend.

ResultsVisit London Associations Sales Manager BeckyGraveney hailed the three-day event a suc-cess: "We are receiving many more enquiries

to stage larger events in London and we wereable to get across our message that London not only welcomesthese congresses but is also working on initiatives to enhanceour abilities to stage these types of events. To have the oppor-tunity to welcome such an influential group of congress organ-isers at such a time of relevance for new hotel and venue open-ings was perfect."

Commenting on the choice to come to London, AC Forum out-going President Luc Hendrickx says: "As one of the positiveeffects of London hosting the 2012 Olympic Games andParalympic Games, AC Forum members learnt how the congressand events industry can benefit from the Games. They will cre-ate an event momentum and we saw one of the tangible effectsof this during our visit to see the extension of ExCeL London."

For the first timein the ten year history

of the annual forummeetings across

Europe, we have beenable to engage with arepresentative of thepolitical world whodemonstrated he

understands the busi-ness of staging events

and congresses.

- Luc Hendrickx,President of the AC

Forum

28 Xenios

THE EMPOWERMENT OF GEN Y - KEY TO ATTRACTING AND

RETAINING THE FUTURE OF THE MEETINGS INDUSTRY

Travel Trends

EIBTM’s annual CEO Summit puts youthand social networking top of agenda

EIBTM’s annual CEO Summit, which tookplace last month in Barcelona, broughttogether more than 60 members of theglobal meetings industry to facilitatedebate about two pressing issues affect-ing the future of the industry as it entersa new decade – managing generation Yand the use of social media in meetingsand events.

Created as a strategic business network,and launched under the banner of EIBTMfive years ago, the ‘C’ level executivesincluded representatives from both plan-ners and suppliers from multi national tonational hotels, CVB’s, PCO’s and fullservice agencies.

In wide ranging discussions and debates,moderated by Peter Rand, Director ofIndustry Relations Zibrant, the consensusof opinion recognised the need toempower younger recruits to the indus-try, giving them responsibility and spaceby stepping back and enabling them todevelop their own confidence and style.

There was an admission that sometimesthe industry had a feeling of an old boysclub and there was a need to recognisethat the future development of the indus-

try and indeed the future of EIBTM’s CEOsummit lay with Generation Y.

The Summit also acknowledged thatGeneration Y is looking for a life/workbalance, transparency within organisa-tions, ability to be creative and to involvethemselves in social communities andcorporate social responsible projects.

A further topic of discussion turned to theuse of social media in meetings andevents. It was agreed that social mediahad created a revolution in how theindustry communicated with each other.There was a need to embrace a new lan-guage and style of writing to communi-cate effectively with the younger genera-tion who demand information quickly andconcisely. It was felt that organisationsneed to ensure that social media becamean integral part of a company’s businessmodel.

CEO Summit Moderator Peter Rand com-mented: “Bringing together such a highprofile group of C’ executives represent-ing all sectors of the meetings industry isinvaluable in acting as a catalyst for initialdiscussion before turning talk into action.It recognises that the industry has tocontinually evolve if it is to attract andretain the highest calibre of talent. Therehave been a number of take-away pointswhich will be actioned to ensure this

international group of industry leadersmaterially influence the response of theMeetings Industry to a fast changingworld.”

The 2009 CEO Summit was attended bythe following companies: Abbit Meeting Support, AEG OgedenConvention & Exhibition Centres, Asia &Pacific, Agenda Pty Ltd, Avant GuideInstitute, Barcelona Convention Bureau,Congrex, Creative Travel India, DanielTschudy Consultancy, Deeper Blue,Drewe Associates, European Event ROIInstitute, Event Genuity, Expology Oy,Extraordinary Events, First IncentiveTravel, Friis Consulting, Harry FineAssociates, HelmsBriscoe, HelmsBriscoeInternational, MCI Group Holding SA,Melbourne Convention and VisitorsBureau, Moulden Marketing, MVKAProductions, Net Group, Ovation GlobalDMC, Pacific World, PRA DestinationaManagement New York, Rfb Group, SeoulTourism Organisation, Star ProfessionalPrograms, Swantegy, Teknocongress, TheRight Solution Limited, tmf - TravelMarketing Factor and Trinity Conferences.

Xenios 29

Conference «SPA in Ukraine»

If you are a company that wantsto develop its business success-fully, to implement the newesttechnologies, to increase theloyalty of customers or youwant that your services to be indemand, Ukrainian SPAAssociation offers to your atten-tion and invites you to attendthe conference “SPA in Ukraine”.

The audience: directors and spamanagers, wellness establish-ments, spa-hotels, resorts andrecreational facilities.

An interesting educational program, lec-tures from experts of the SPA market,the possibility of free attending of theexhibition “Hotels & Restaurant Expo2010”, useful contacts and, of course,gifts from sponsors of the event.

Advantages of the conference:

Practicality. The program of the con-ference includes the most requestedtopics. It will be covered by leading

experts of the SPA market who havemany years’ practical experience in realbusiness.

Relevance. The questions of conferenceare selected in accordance with the mar-ket requirements, in accordance with theproblems and needs of the leaders ofthe SPA market. They contribute to theachievement of high results due to therelevance of the material.

Complexity. Such mix of topics isselected in conference’s program whichdeals with various aspects of activities ofthe SPA market and allows you in fullmeasure to meet the challenges of yourbusiness.

Guaranteed results. Participation inthe conference will give you new knowl-edge about the latest SPA-industry inno-vations, the possibility to deal with prob-lems effectively, to promote your busi-ness successfully and to make profitsfrom invested funds.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM *

Market Overview spa hotels of Ukraine(marketing research);Current solutions in the offseason. Hownot season make in velvet;Nutrition at the hotel, as the card;Innovative solutions for phyto bars;

Motivation of staff. Teambuilding;High service — as a guarantee of suc-cess;SPA on the territory of hotels. New ideasand spa programs;Swimming pool as an additional sourceof income;Innovation in equipping the hotel,restaurant and spa center;Round table.* in conference’s program can be somechanges.

The cost of participation in the confer-ence: If you pay before February 20 it will cost350 UAH. If you pay from February 21 till March23 it will cost 450 UAH. For Members of the Association — dis-count 10%.

If you are going to participate in confer-ence “SPA in Ukraine”, please, contact :Tel/Fax: +38 (044) 253-74-79 E-mail: info@spaua.org or spa-ukraine@ukr.net

Organizer — Ukrainian Spa Associationand Premier Expo

Xenios 31

Time andresearch haveshown that exhi-bitions areundoubtedly animportant part ofthe sales andmarketing mix,however they doinvolve a consid-erable invest-

ment and it is therefore imperative for exhibitors to make theright choices. This decision has never been more important aswe struggle through a period of recession and money has to bespent wisely. With so many exhibitions to choose from, eventorganisers have to work hard to ensure that they are among thechosen ones.Selling the space should only be the beginning of the story andnot the end. So how do organisers retain those importantexhibitors, attract new ones and add value to the cost of exhibit-ing?Exhibitors need to know that the visitor quality and mix isappropriate for their product or service. Visitor numbers are notnecessarily an indication of success, far better to have one vis-itor who is the decision maker and key to your business ratherthan 3 who are not. So drawing in the top buyers and decisionmakers is a must for successful trade events.

A good organiser will find out all about his exhibitors business,how they function, understand their product and customer base,what their future goals are. They will build a relationship witheach client and prove that they are targeting visitors on theirbehalf.

ITTFA member, TTG ITALIA which runs two major travel showsin Italy, TTG Incontri and BTC, achieves this in several waysincluding running educational and training programmes and viatargeted and crossed communication on selected groups ofpotential visitors and exhibitors. Antonio Dell’Aquilano,Exhibition & Event Manager TTG Italia explains further.

“In 2009 we organized over 100 one hour training courses dur-ing the three days of the fair, dedicated to all segments of trav-el professionals. We want to repeat the same successful experi-ence in 2010. We believe that if companies have to invest theirmoney and personnel time in participating at exhibitions, as wellas the business opportunities made by the meetings at the fair,they have to come out with added professional value for theirpersonnel too. For the same reasons, we invest money in bring-ing very high caliber Italian and foreign speakers for seminars.

We also select segments of exhibiting companies and communi-cate their presence to a particular segment of potential visitors– for example we have hundreds of tour operators dealing with,among other products, golfing holidays; we target golf clubs,which are not normally associated with travel exhibitions, butthey contribute by creating travel demand organizing golf holi-days for their associates. We do the same with many differentsegments. On the other hand, we attract more exhibitors, tellingthem what we are doing, in terms of targeted communication,to bring specific visitors to the fair.”

TUR, leading Scandinavian travel trade fair held in Gothenburgeach year also looks to going that extra mile and getting closerto its exhibitors. Johan F Lundberg, Exhibition Manager of TURgives us an insight into why TUR is so successful.

“We have an on-going project at the Swedish Fair in Gothenburgwhere we analyze the future for fairs in general and then try tobreak down the conclusions as to how this will affect our fair.There is no doubt that every participant (exhibitor and visitor)are looking a lot more at what they get for their money. We haveto give them a tool so they can measure their ROI. We have tohave an even more direct and open discussion with the businessitself so we are aware of what is real for them.

Therefore we have tried to be more involved in the on going dis-cussion of businesses and also provide different platforms wherethey can meet. In our business plan for TUR we have highlight-ed that it is vital for us to get even more involved with all theplayers in the business. The main thing is to be a platform forthe business to meet, to be the natural meeting place and out-side the fair, provide conditions where the business can meet inreal life and in the digital world. We want to be on show all yearin a variety of places.

In order to achieve this we have tried to build up our webpage(tur.se) to provide news and topics for the business rather thanonly provide information about the event thus extending the lifeof the fair. For 2010 we will look at articles on our webpage andgive our whole customer base an opportunity to comment oncertain topics on our new Facebook group. We have also start-ed “BookTUR”, a webpage where all the exhibitors can promotetheir best offers during the fair. You can´t buy anythingon”BookTUR” you have to come to the fair to buy it. We use theBookTUR in all our public advertising which means that theexhibitors get free marketing for their products through ourmarket. They sell more products and the public loves the goodprices. It is a clear win-win!

We work harder to collaborate with all the different organiza-tions in the business and together we carry out seminars, galas,dinners etc. Thus providing more opportunities to market theshow and build our network.

All this will hopefully lead to the conclusion that TUR is the nat-ural meeting forum for the business – not for our sake – but forthemselves. To participate in a fair is a cost-efficient way to keepup the most important thing in all business, the personal meet-ing itself. There is no substitute for that. From such meetingsyou can build faith with your partners for successful long termrelationships.

TUR and TTG Italia are setting high standards and like otherITTFA members go the extra mile to prove their commitment.This is what helps exhibitors choose one show over another andin these challenging times it is important to build a close rela-tionship for both parties to maximise results.

ITTFA is dedicated to the continual development of the traveltrade show industry, increasing participation and setting highstandards worldwide. For details on all members visit us at www.ittfa.org

For further information please contact: Wendy Walker / SaraArmitage Evans, International Tourism Trade Fairs Association(ITTFA), Email. info@ittfa.org

Adding Value Makes the DifferenceIndustry Comment from ITTFA

Firmly established asthe leading traveltrade event forRussia and the CIS,MITT annually wel-comes some 3000companies from over100 countries andregions world-wide.MITT is also a mem-ber of the WTO and

has an UFI accreditation. For further information, please con-tact the organisers.

Participants

Apartments, Camping, Hotels, Resorts, Villas, Activity &Adventure Travel, Airline, Airport, Business & Incentive Travel,Car Rental, Children’s Travel, Coach Travel, Conventions &Visitors Bureau, Cruise Lines & Ferries, Eco-Tourism,Educational Travel, Conference/Meeting Venue & Organiser,Fishing & Hunting, Golfing Holidays, Health Resorts & Spas,Luxury Service, General & Travel Trade Publications, MedicalTourism, National/Regional Tourist Board, Pilgrimage, Safari,Senior Citizen Travel, Shopping Tour, Skiing Holidays, SpecialNeeds Holidays, Technology, Ticketing Service, Tour Operator,Tourist Attraction, Trains, Travel Trade Association, TravelAgency, Yachting.

Parallel Activites

Seminars, presentations, workshops, press conferencesRussian Travel Awards ceremony (in association with TTGRussia)

Opening Hours

Price Per Square Metre

€ 399 per sqm space only€ 499 per sqm equipped space

2009 Figures

Total space exhibition area 55,000 sqm

Total net space 40,000 sqmExhibitors 3000Trade Visitors 88,741Mass Media 410Represented countries 157Public 30,000

Entrance Fee

USD $5 for general public

Management

Ms Zeljka Tomljenovic, Senior Event & Sales Manager, ITEGroup Plc- UKMs Maria Badakh, Event & Sales Director, ITE Group Plc – UKMr Sergei Gorski, Event Director, ITE LLC Moscow

Member Of

ITTFA – International Tourism Trade Fairs Association,WTO - World Tourism Organization,PATA - Pacific Asia Travel Association,CECTA – Central European Countries Travel Association,ICCA – International Congress & Convention Association,UFI – Union de Foires Internationales

Organised By

ITE Travel Exhibitions ITE Group PLC 105 Salusbury RoadLondon NW6 6RG UK

TUR in Gothenburg is Scandinavia's largest and leadingtrade exhibition gathering some 2000 exhibitors from some100 countries- the place where the world meets theScandinavian tour operators to do business.

ParticipantsNational andInternational Touristorganizations, TourOperators/travelagencies, Carriers,hotels/conferencevenues, SPA, rentalcompanies, datacommunications,reservations systems,

literature (guides, maps) camping

Parallel Activites

Seminars and conferences, appointments forum

Opening Hours

March 25 09.00 – 18.00 trade only

March 26 09.00 – 18.00 trade only

March 27 09.00 – 18.00 trade visitors and general publicMarch 28 10.00 – 17.00 trade visitors and general publicPrice Per Square MetreSEK 1,640 for areas of 12-100 sqm, SEK 1,500 over andabove 101sqm, for entire area.SEK 2,995 for space and rent + shell stand All in one “Basic”.Application fee SEK 5,000.

34 Xenios

Travel Trade & MICE Exhibitions

MITT-MOSCOW

Date 17 - 20 March 2010Venue Moscow, RussiaEdition 17thTelephone +44 (0) 207 5965043/5083Fax +44 (0) 207 596 5102E-mail travel@ite-exhbitions.comwww.mitt.ru

TUR-GOTEBORG

Date 25 - 28 March 2010Venue Goteborg, SwedenEdition 27thTelephone (46) 31 708 80 00Fax (46) 31 160 330E-mail tur@svenskamassan.sewww.tur.se

2009 Figures

Total Space Exhibition Area: 37000 sqm. Total Net Space:15,000sqm

Exhibitors: 952 exhibitors repr. 1 900 companies

Trade Visitors: 23 000 incl entrance with exhibitor badges

Mass Media: 510. Public: 30,800

Represented Countries: 102

Entrance Fee

Thur – Fri SEK 400 / Sat – Sun SEK 120 incl. VAT

ManagementMr. Johan F Lundberg - Exhibition Manager, Mr Per Magnusson

- Deputy Exhibition Manager, Mrs Jane Ringenson - SalesManager, Mrs Lise Backby-Moberg - Marketing Manager, MrsEva Bursell - Sales, Ms Jessica Santesson - Administration

Member OfITTFA – International Tourism Trade Fairs AssociationPATA – Pacific Asia Travel AssociationRTS – Swedish Travel & Tourist Industry FederationBTC – Baltic Sea Tourism Commission

Organised ByTHE SWEDISH EXHIBITION CENTRE backed by:

RTS (Swedish Travel & Tourist Industry Federation); ANTOR(Association of National Tourist Offices Representatives inSweden); The association for Swedish Tourism; PATA (PacificAsia Travel Association); VisitSweden

Represented Countries: 102

Kazakhstan – big tourist opportunities

STARTING FROM 1993 KAZAKHSTAN IS A FULL MEMBER OFUNWTO. The Governments of foreign states considerKazakhstan a promising partner with a great potential fortourism, and the number of international agreements on co-operation in the sphere of tourism is increasing year by year!Kazakhstan’s participation in the “Silk Road” transcontinentaltourism route carried out under the aegis of UNWTO in co-operation with UNESCO opens great opportunities for thedevelopment of outbound and inbound tourism in the Republicof Kazakhstan.

IN THE STRATEGYOF DEVELOPMENTOF KAZAKHSTAN -2030 Tourismindustry has beenrecognised as a pri-ority sector of theEconomy.

In 2008 according to the statistics the main figures of tourismindustry development saw an impressive increase compared tothe previous year. The Kazakhstani tourists continue to travelto other countries: outbound tourism grew by 15,3 %, lastyear, domestic travel increased by 8.2 % and reached 4.2 mil-lion people, the total number of tourism organisationsincreased by 16%.

TODAY KAZAKHSTAN has air communication with all countriesin the World. International flights are performed by the leadinginternational air carriers along with local air companies. Up tonow 1000 tourism agencies are operating in Kazakhstan. Theoverwhelming majority of Kazakhstan’s travel companies pro-vide human services to welcoming foreign citizens from CISand non-CIS countries to Kazakhstan and outbound servicesfor Kazakhstan’s citizens.

ALMATY CITY is going to host the 2011 Winter Asian Games,and the main goal is to adequately represent the Republic ofKazakhstan to the international community.

Xenios 35

KITF-ALMATYITE Group Plc105 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RG, UKPh.: +44 (0) 207 596 5043 / 5083Fax: +44 (0) 207 596 5102web-site:http://www.travel-exhibitions.com/

Ukraine's largestand most well-known travel andtourism event! 761exhibitors from 71destinations,attracting 15,000visitors.

The Ukraine International Travel & Tourism exhibition (UITT) isthe largest and most important travel industry event inUkraine. It attracts key international travel industry playerslooking to promote their services and increase their presencein the Ukrainian market.

Outbound tourism in Ukraine has been boosted by recentgrowth in the economy. As a result, more and more Ukrainiantravellers are discovering new destinations. In 2009, morethan 15 million Ukrainians travelled abroad. Click here fornews about Ukraine's tourism industry.

Representatives from all over the world come to the UITTtravel exhibition to develop new international channels toincrease the volume of tourism and investment in theirrespective countries. Many established exhibitors are steppingup their marketing activities in Ukraine. Furthermore, UITT isattracting increased attention from long haul destinations,which reflects the growing number of Ukrainians keen toexplore exotic locations.

Click here for the latest exhibitor list.The Ukraine InternationalTravel & Tourism Show (UITT) is universally recognised as theleading travel industry event in Ukraine. With over 70 destina-tions and a substantial audience, UITT is an effective way tobuild your business in Ukraine.

Size (2009 event): 12,500 m²Total number of exhibitors (2009 event): 761 Number of countries & regions represented (2009 event): 71Overall number of visitors (2009 event): 15,000 (national andinternational)UITT is supported by:

Ministry of Culture and Tourism of UkraineKyiv City State AdministrationUNWTOUFI — the Global Association of the Exhibition Industry

TOURSIB’2010XX InternationalSpecializedExhibition forTourism, Leisureand Sport. Airlines.

APRIL 15-17,2010 NOVOSI-BIRSK, RUSSIANFEDERATION

ITE SIBERIAN FAIR is pleased to invite you to participate in

TOURSIB-2009 international specialized exhibition for tourism.TourSib is the main exhibition for the tourism industry inSiberia. It offers forward-looking companies the opportunity tomake their mark on the region’s tourism industry and ensuretheir destination attracts the attention of Siberia’s travelingpopulation. Exhibitors from other countries and regions willfind this event to be a perfect doorway to the burgeoningtourism market of Siberian region!

OFFICIAL SUPPORT:Russian Federal Agency for TourismRussian Union of Travel IndustryAdministration of Novosibirsk regionCommittee on International Cooperation and Foreign economicrelations, Novosibirsk Major’s OfficeCO-ORGANIZERS:Novosibirsk Association of Tourist Organizations (NATO)Committee for International Relations and Tourism,Administration of Novosibirsk regionMAJOR EXHIBITS CATEGORIESTourist BoardsTourist organizations and associationsTravel agenciesTour operatorsAirlinesHealth resortsHotels, hotel chainsInsurance companiesTransportation companiesChildren campsEcological tourismCar rental companiesTravel multimediaTravel clubsProfessional publishersCargo and customs companiesSPA-TOURISMSPA - tourismSPA - centersSPA – resortsSPA hotelsTour companies providing SPA restSpecialized magazines of tour companiesTOURSIB – 2009 FACTS & FIGURESNumber of Exhibitors: 240Represented countries: 15Number of visitors: 3700

Destinations: Russian Federation, Greece, Egypt, Vietnam,Italy, Mongolia, Tunisia, Thailand, Turkey, Kazakhstan, China,Kirghizia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Switzerland.

TOURISM IN NOVOSIBIRSK REGIONNovosibirsk is the administrative centre of the Siberian regionand the capital of Western Siberia. The region serves as amajor transport hub and the biggest industrial, cultural andscientific centre in Eastern Russia.

The international airport Tolmachevo links Novosibirsk withmany countries of the world. Regular flights connect Siberiawith Europe (Frankfurt, Munich) and Asia (Dubai, Tel-Aviv,

36 Xenios

Travel Trade & MICE Exhibitions

UITT-KIEVITE Group Plc105 Salusbury Rd, London NW6 6RG, UKPh.: +44 (0) 207 596 5043 / 5083Fax: +44 (0) 207 596 5102web-site:http://www.travel-exhibitions.com/

TOURSIB-NOVOSIBIRSK220/10, Krasny Prospekt, Novosibirsk,630049, Russia. telephones: +7-383-2106290, 2106298,2255151. fax: +7-383-2209747. e-mail: strutz@sibfair.ru http://www.sibfair.ru/http://www.travel-exhibitions.com/

There is no doubt that exhibitions are an extremely

powerful sales and marketing tool for the travel

industry, whether they are exhibitions aimed at the

international travel trade itself or those targeted at

members of the travel-buying public. Relationships

are built, contracts are signed and business gets

done.

Seoul, Beijing, Urumqi). There are charter flights to Thailand,Hainan, Czech Republic, and up to 12 flights a day fromNovosibirsk to Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Over the last few years, with the help of the local authorities,the tourism industry in Siberia has developed considerably andbecome an attractive prospect for investors. The region boastsover 1,000 travel companies, with 260 based in Novosibirsk.Most offer outbound tourism services, 20% deal with inboundtourism and approximately 80% promote regional tourism.

Tourism business in Siberia is one of the industries, which areprospering in Russia, and “TOURSIB – 2009” offers a greatopportunity for Siberian market development.

In 25 years in thebusiness, BTC hashelped promotemeetings betweenservice contractorsand customers,inviting and hostingconference organiz-

ers and promoters from Italy, Europe and the rest of theworld.In BTC the Meeting and Events Industry can find a qualifiedand well-organized showcase where promoters and profession-al event and conference organizers can meet new and inter-esting suppliers.The BTC fair is a 'must' for anyone planning their business andkeeping up to date with the latest developments in theMeetings and Events market.

BTC is the place where you can give selected customers thechance to live this experience.There are many benefits for exhibitors at BTC:• a complete and expert overview of the Meeting and Eventsindustry in Italy• many meetings with experienced buyers in a short space oftime.The format of the fair, based on 2 working days, allowsyou to develop your business without having to be away fromthe office for too long, so optimising time and costs• effective meetings, because the Online Agenda allows meet-ings aimed at satisfying mutual requirements to be set up byexhibitors and buyers, prior to the fair• networking is the order of the day, because relationshipsare the key to success: with customers, suppliers, colleaguesand competitors• top quality training and updating, through a programme ofseminars dedicated to the various types of profession• the experience of people who, for 26 years, have beenbringing together customers and suppliers of the Meeting andEvents Industry in Italy• assistance: our exhibitor office is available to update andassist customers at every stage.BTC is organised by Exmedia, a company of TTG Italia, part ofthe Rimini Fiera Group a leading group in the Italian touristmarket.

Meet the experts

Continuous updating and in-depth knowledge of the marketare indispensable requisites for everyone and are a guaranteeof quality. In particular for people, such as meeting industryprofessionals, who operate in a global context.BTC's aim is to consolidate its support role to operators in thesector by offering training opportunities designed to meet theirvarious needs.The programme being prepared will include events devoted toyoung professionals and to the more experienced, as well asto buyers and sellers and will provide opportunities for net-working.The seminars will be devoted to in-depth analysis of basictechniques, meetings with the best experts and information onmarket trends.The prospectus with details of the seminars and round tableswill soon be on line.

Xenios 37

BTC-RIMINIExmedia Srl Foro Buonaparte, 74 20121 Milano Tel. Fax: +39 02 86998479http://www.btc.it

In this dynamic and ever challenging environment,

travel trade fairs provide the backbone to the indus-

try and a place in which we can all meet and

exchange knowledge and aspirations that will help

our industry grow stronger and become even more

valuable.

A total of 50 exhibitors have alreadyincreased their stand space compared to2009. From Europe, Switzerland,Luxembourg, the Czech Tourism Authority,Romania, Serbia, Iceland, Meet Sicily andFigur Tourism will all have a larger presenceat the show. Continued strength amongAsian exhibitors is also demonstrated byincreased space for Seoul, Korea, Malaysia,Macau, Indonesia and Japan. From theMiddle East, Qatar and Discovery Jordanwill be taking bigger stands, whilst furthergrowth in the Latin American market hasprompted Argentina and Uruguay toincrease their stand space. Other largerexhibitors include St Petersburg Express,China, DMC South Africa and the CanadianTourism Commission. Among the hotelgroups, Rezidor, Ritz Carlton, Steigenberger,Möevenpick, Fairmont/Swissotel Raffles,Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Rixos Hotelshave also increased the size of their stands.

Hotels also account for a number of brandnew exhibitors to IMEX 2010. These includeScandic Hotels, Albert Management andWarwick Hotel International who are mak-ing a welcome return. Visitors will also seeColumbia, Meeting Point International,Showcare, DMC4EU, Business on Cruise andGreen Globe Tourism exhibiting for the firsttime. Abercrombie & Kent return to IMEXwith their biggest stand ever.

Spain has once again increased its presenceat IMEX. This now makes it second only tothe GCB Germany stand in terms of size.Spanish exhibitors now account for 800square metres, which includes separatestands for Valencia and Madrid for the firsttime this year.

In addition three suppliers brand new to themeetings industry will each be celebratingwinning a free place on the Wild CardPavilion. This year’s winners are: Uganda;Morzine in France and the Hof ConferenceCenter in Iceland.The US Pavilion will once again be anextremely diverse and business-centredsection of the show. Anchorage, Arizona,Chicago, Texas, the Eastern Seaboard andNew York City will all be present. Las Vegasalso plans to bring up to 16 partnerexhibitors to Frankfurt.

Also new this year will be the offer of spe-cially discounted airfares from Qantas. Theairline operates 28 flights a week fromLondon Heathrow via the Far East intoseven gateway cities across Australia andwill be making the fare discounts availableto all IMEX participants.

Association Day – results revealedThis year’s IMEX Association Day will beheld at the Messe Frankfurt CongressCenter. This important annual event allowsassociation buyers and planners to partici-pate in a tailor-made education and net-working programme. Concurrent andthemed sessions for 2010 include: StrategicGlobal Planning for Associations; How toDecide where to Hold InternationalCongresses and Leveraging ConferenceContent Online. The day’s educational pro-gramme will also include ‘Convention 2020Research - A Snapshot of The Future ofAssociation Meetings.’ Following the educa-tional element, suppliers from recognisedassociation partners of IMEX will be invitedto network with Association Day guests.This evening drinks reception frequentlydraws up to 700 people and has becomethe unofficial start of the show, taking placeas it does the night before opening.

Politicians Forum and Future LeadersForum 2010Industry leaders and politicians attendingthis year’s IMEX Politicians Forum will hearthe views of panellists including Mr HeinVerbruggen, President of SportAccord andHonorary Member of the InternationalOlympic Committee and the Honorary BruceBaird, MP, Australia. Both have extensiveexperience of the impact a major sportingevent can have on a destination and itslong-term legacy and will share theirinsights with delegates. As Ray Bloom, IMEX Group Chairmanexplains, “With each passing year theimportance and influence of this Forumbecomes more obvious and more direct. Wenow have a host of examples of destina-tions acquiring more funding for new infra-structure and marketing efforts in particularas a direct result of their political represen-tatives attending the Forum, meeting like-minded politicians and understanding thewider benefits of hosting large-scale meet-ings and conventions in their home regions.

38 Xenios

- Year on year rise in numberof international hosted buy-

ers - Strong turn out from hotel

groups- Personal and professional

development expands- New hourly drop-in work-shops meet continuing ‘need

for green’

The eighth IMEX will open onMay 25th at Messe Frankfurtwith its largest ever hostedbuyer programme in placeand buyer, exhibitor and

trade visitor targets all oncourse for year-on-year

growth.

“We have spent the last 12months concentrating on

developing new partnershipswith intermediaries who can

deliver more high qualitybuyers from the most impor-tant and resilient long-haul

markets,” explains IMEXGroup Chairman, Ray Bloom.

“What is more, we havemade sure that a large pro-portion of these buyers will

be staying for three full daysand also spending longer onthe show floor meeting and

doing business withexhibitors.”

45 new hosted buyer groupshave been confirmed forIMEX 2010; with many ofthese new buyers comingthrough key global hotel

groups who have expandedthe regions from which theyare delivering clients. These

include MarriottInternational, Mandarin

Oriental, Kempinski, Hilton,Starwood, the Ritz, RoccoForte, Concorde, Sol Meliaand Leading Hotels of the

World.

IMEX 2010 signals global growthand strong business outlook

This is extremely gratifying and preciselywhy we continue to pour a great deal ofeffort into this Forum. I am delighted toannounce the Politicians Forum is alreadyexpanding into other countries through avariety of new IMEX alliances and I willannounce further details after the show.”

2010 will also see a total of 13 separateIMEX-MPI Future Leaders Forums takingplace at various events and in diverse desti-nations around the world including Serbia,Iceland, South America, the Middle East,Italy, Thailand, Poland and Shanghai togeth-er with Frankfurt and the US. The Forum’smission is to help inform and unite the nextgeneration of industry leaders to give themvaluable insight into the industry and posi-tion them to lead it in the future. The globalprogramme now includes internships, anInternational University Challenge competi-tion and a global mentoring network.

Topical German language seminarsIMEX 2010 will present a choice of 17German language seminars. The sessions willeach address an important issue currentlyfacing the industry in Germany. Topics willinclude ‘Change management in associations’and ‘Association Sponsorships’. Detailed dis-cussions about the growing role of corporatesocial responsibility will be covered in ‘CSRmeets live communication’ and ‘Green meet-ings – change or necessity?’ Marketing andmedia issues will be addressed in two semi-nars – ‘Trends in the German media’ and‘The challenges of online direct marketing’.Other seminars will look at current technolo-gy, logistical and liability issues. The pro-gramme has been devised by the GermanConvention Bureau.

Simple new green measuresIMEX has also taken the market’s appetitefor environmental education and green sup-pliers into account by developing a newgreen education and awareness programme.New drop-in workshops will take place everyhour on the Corporate Responsibility Stand(powered by the Green Meeting IndustryCouncil). These will offer live case studiesfrom previous IMEX Green Award winnersplus insight into the many green meetingindustry standards that now exist, includingthe GRI Report Initiative, Green GlobeCertification, ISO and APEX. Other topics willalso be addressed.Exhibitors will also be able to apply for a newGreen Ribbon scheme this year. If their exhi-

bition stands meet a number of criteria relat-ing to reduced waste output, energy usageand the use of sustainable materials, all staffwill be able to wear an IMEX 2010 ‘GreenTeam’ ribbon.

Explains Dale Hudson, Head of ProjectDevelopment, IMEX Group, “We hope thatthe new green ribbons will give thoseexhibitors who’ve made special environmen-tal efforts for 2010 more visibility and makethem easier for buyers to spot. They areintended to be a good talking point and weknow that buyers want quick and simpleways to see that those companies they aredoing business with are environmentallyaware.”

First phase of global research resultsmade publicEarlier this year IMEX joined forces withICCA and Fast Future to fund and support animportant new piece of global research. The‘Convention 2020’ Strategic Foresight Studywill look in detail at the conventions industryin 10 years’ time. The study is being con-ducted by a large team from research andtrends company, Fast Future. Its CEO, RohitTalwar, will present six different seminars,each detailing the study’s first phase find-ings. His presentations will include ‘Meetingthe technology timeline’, ‘The MeetingExperience’ plus an interactive workshoplooking at the potential long-term impact ofthe study’s results on the design of venuesand their services.

Also new this year is a partnership with i-Meet, the industry’s largest online social net-work. This will enable IMEX hosted buyers tonetwork with each other and share ideas in aprivate online environment both before andafter the exhibition. IMEX will create a “com-munity within the community” at i-Meet, andoffer various ways for attendees to join.Summing up the benefits of IMEX 2010,IMEX Group Chairman, Ray Bloom, says:“IMEX continues to advance, invest and inno-vate. This year will be no exception. In fact,with industry sentiment both realistic androbust, we must continue to deliver on allfronts. That means high quality buyers; highnumbers of genuine business appointments;satisfied exhibitors; targeted, relevant andinteresting professional education and, notleast, the chance to meet old colleagues andpeers face to face as well as developing newcontacts. Never has IMEX been more com-prehensive, or more necessary for business.”

Xenios 39

Giving education anew edge

Other seminars and presenta-tions at IMEX will include

Women’s Forum sessions on’How to develop your person-

al branding’ plus a Cross-Cultural seminar on ‘Getting a

competitive edge from cul-ture’ by Richard Lewis

Communications. A teamfrom the COP15 taskforce will

also look at ‘How to imple-ment extremely sustainable

events that transform a desti-nation’ and share the lessons

learned from the UnitedNations Climate Change

Conference in Copenhagen inDecember 2009. Teachings

from New York TimesBestselling book ‘Influencer’

will also be presented. Anumber of industry associa-tions will also be deliveringseminars including CIC’s ‘Inalphabet soup’ and DMAI’s

‘How to establish and build aCVB.’

The Professional Developmentand Innovation Pavilion is

again expected to beextremely popular. Sponsoredby CIC (Convention Industry

Council) it will also hostIMEX’s new Meetings Under

the Microscope education pro-gramme. Launched last year,

this scheme aims to helpmeeting planners keep up todate with the latest ideas and

advice on how to improvemeeting content delivery andinformation retention. One ofthis year’s speakers will beGraphic Facilitator, Andrew

Parks of Cognitive Media whowill demonstrate the powerand purpose of live illustra-tion as an ‘edutainment’ tool

for meetings.

Origin of Hippocrates, Kos is the 3rd largest islandof the Dodecanese and a particularly popular des-tination of leisure travelers in Greece. TheHippocratic Birthplace is naturally a most interest-ing conference location for the Medical andPharmaceutical sciences. Medical associations andthe pharmaceutical industry give their convention-eers and members the opportunity to visit theplace where Hippocrates, the father of medicine,was born and bread (460-377 BC).

Descendant of a whole family of renowned doc-tors, Hippocrates traveled around the worldresearching and collecting medicinal informationonly to return to the island of Kos where he found-ed and taught at his Medical School. His scientificwritings, still studied today, are known as the''Hippocratic Collection. Since 1996 Kos has beenincorporated in the European Federation ofConference Towns (EFCT).

With the privilege of having bred the father of sci-ence, on that same year the island organized andheld the 1st International Medicinal Olympiad thattook place jointly with the 35th Conference of theHistory of Medicine at the International HippocraticInstitute of Kos.

The Institute is located near the Asclepeion and isequipped with a conference center, the HippocraticLibrary and a Medical Museum. Kos Marina cameunder the management of KOS Ependitiki SA (acompany owned by the Municipality of KOS town)in 1999. Since then 8 million Euros was invested,applying the ambitious program of building the

best Marina in Greece! Three years later KosMarina is ready to offer an extensive range ofservices to yachts from 7 to 50 meters.

Kos MarinaKOS Marina is located one mile SE from Kos oldharbor (Entrance: 36o 53' N 27o 18' E) and offerstoday: 250 berths with Mooring lines, water sup-ply, Electricity supply 220 & 380 V from 16 to 125Amps, Telephone connection, Satellite TV. Security/Safety Kos Marina premises are patrolled 24 hours byguards. Cameras cover the whole area of KosMarina. Fire Precaution. All piers are equipped withfire stations with fire extinguishers; alarm system;fire hoses with both fresh and seawater circuit. Allpiers are equipped with emergency stations comp-rising lifebuoys, lifelines, emergency tele-phones andrescue ladders.

Facilities & Services: Pilot speedboat, WC-showers, Trolleys, Parking Lot,Bilge pump out, Sewerage pump out, Waste oildisposal, Refuse containers, Fuel station.Administration Building with Reception, Authorities,Info center, Meeting room, Clinic & Guests' Suites.Weather report, Internet, telephone and facsimileservices are offered in the Marina's Info Center,where meetings and events can be organized.Bank ATM, Baggage storage and Postal servicesare available. Shopping center with Cafeteria-bistro, Mini Market, Laundry, Yachts ChandlersShops, Souvenirs shops, Boutique, Rent a car,Yacht Brokers, Yachting & Travel Agencies.

40 Xenios

Origin of Hippocrates, Kos isthe 3rd largest island of the

Dodecanese and a particular-ly popular destination of

leisure travelers in Greece.The Hippocratic Birthplace isnaturally a most interestingconference location for theMedical and Pharmaceutical

sciences. Medical associationsand the pharmaceutical

industry give their conven-tioneers and members the

opportunity to visit the placewhere Hippocrates, the father

of medicine, was born andbread (460-377 BC).

Descendant of a whole familyof renowned doctors,

Hippocrates traveled aroundthe world researching and

collecting medicinal informa-tion only to return to the

island of Kos where he found-ed and taught at his MedicalSchool. His scientific writings,still studied today, are knownas the ''Hippocratic Collection.

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Meetings and Incentives in Kos IslandThe island of Hippocrates, the founder of medicine

Boat Yard Dry storage area adequate for 150 yachts:available in October 2001, 100 Tone Travelift Technical Services An extensive range of technical services (yachtpaint & antifouling, mechanical-Electrical-Electronic repairs, yacht cleaning services, sailmaker, etc.) is available upon request. Onlyapproved technical service contractors areallowed to operate in KOS Marina. HOTSPOT - WIRELESS INTERNET ACCESS Fast wireless INTERNET access in Kos Marina:your communication needs onboard and onlinewithout cords or additional installationsKOS PORT MANDRAKISince June 2004 KOS EP SA operates the KosMandraki Port, part of Kos historical harbouralong the castle, with 40 berths, straight in theheart of the town.

Events in Kos

European Beach Volley under 20Championship in KosFor the first time in Kos Island tookplace, the "European ChampionshipBeach Volley U20" with athletes of 24countries under 20 years old. The gameswere held in Kos Marina in a speciallydesigned area in accordance with therequirements of the European VolleyballFederation .

National Jet Ski Championship inKosHosted by the Municipal Sports organiza-tion of Kos Island in cooperation withTritons and the Hellenic Speed Club bythe categories: Racing, Stock, Novic ,Pro Ski and Free Style.

Xenios 41

Contact: Kos MunicipalityAkti Koundourioti 7, 85300 Kos Greece

Tel.: +30 22420 24460E-mail: kosinfo@kos.gr

www.kos.gr

The medieval city of Rhodes, a place char-acterized by UNESCO as a monument forthe worlds cultural heritage, is the largestmedieval city in Europe inhabited today.Other places to visit is the Grand Master'sPalace, the Archeological Museum, theDecorative Museum, the National Gallery,the Acropolis of Rhodes. The island ofRhodes has an ideal winter climate andholds the European sunshine record, withan average of 330 sunny days per year.The island's International airport 'Diagoras'is located 15 km from the city centre.

Meetings & Incentives in RhodesThe same attributes that made Rhodes aparticularly popular cosmopolitan touristdestination for over 30 year are still todaythose that make the island very attractiveto the organizers of conferences and incen-tives seeking for novice qualitative ideas. Itcomes as no surprise when an organizerreturns with a group that has been on theisland for an unforgettable holiday trip for aconference or an incentive this time andvice versa. Rhodes enchants each yearmore and more holidaymakers from thethousands of conventioneers it receiveseach year. The island provides to a meeting planner allthe necessary contemporary facilities of acomplete destination complemented withan identity rich in heritage and culture andan array of picturesque locations.

Rodos features include:

-Excellent conference and incentive facili-ties, Rodos has more than 16,000 confer-ence seats-Many large, modem hotels of world-classstandards. Only in Ixia, within 5 minutesdistance, more than 10,000 luxury bedscan be found.

-Rhodes has a developed tourism infra-structure. Many incoming, Rodos-basedtravel agents operating conference andincentive brands.-Easy air and sea access to the surroundingislands, Athens, Turkey and elsewhere-Rhodes sporting infrastructure includes a18-hole golf court, horse riding, tennis,mini-golf, water-parks, scubadiving andsailing.

-The Sound and Light performance takesplace at the Palace of the Grand Masters.

-Exquisite endertainment possibilitiesinclude the new Casino in Rhodes town anda numerous restaurants, bars and night

clubs with local and international origin.

Conference Venues inRhodes

Rodos PalaceFew venues can lay claim to having forgedthe image of a privileged conference andholiday destination. With more than 2500 conferences, incen-tives and exhibitions held in its premises,the Rodos Palace has braced an interna-tional reputation as a top meeting venue,that lends its legacy of success to grant youthe assurance that the hotel you select iscapable of handling every aspect of yourmeeting with the confidence borne of 30years of experience. -9000 sq.m. meetings, pre-function & exhi-bition space -4800 delegates total seating capacity -2500 conferences, events, incentives &exhibitions

Lindian VillageIn Lindian Village, a modern equipped

42 Xenios

Rhodes is the third in

size island of Greece

and one of the most

developed

Mediterranean islands.

Rhodes was one of the

first Greek areas which

develop infrastructure

for the tourism and

meetings industry.

Rhodes: A Cultural & Congress DestinationG

reec

e-D

odec

anes

e

Conference Hall for special meeting or sum-mits accommodating up to 350 personsequipped with individually controlled airconditioning and state-of-the-art technolog-ical equipment.Lindian Village is the latest arrival in theMediterranean hospitality business, ownedand managed by Sviriades S.A., a succesfulpresence in the Greek Hoteling since theearly 60's. Located on the idyllic beachon the South-eastern tip of the island ofRodos, compining the Aegean island stylearchitecture with modern cutting edge aes-thetics, this deluxe resort offers high levelfacilities and impeccable personalized serv-ice, satisfying the needs of today's discern-ing traveler.

Rodos Park Suites HotelLooking across the soft green swathes andthe medieval city, Rodos Park Suites & Spais one of the most desirable places to stay.Luxurious and stylish, yet cosy and invit-ing, all 59 renovated rooms and suitesreflect a distinctive design with exclusivematerials. Whether for 10 or 320 people, adedicated team ensures that even the lastdetail of your event will be just perfect,combining perfection and imagination toensure that every function is well remarkedand happily remembered.

Xenios 43

Symi island"Symi has the most beautiful harbourin Greece. On either side of a steep-sided fjord rise tier upon tier of hous-es, some white, some pastel yellow,but virtually all with Neo-Classical ped-iments - a reminder that 100 yearsago this was one of Greece's mostprosperous islands. There has beenvirtually no modern concrete construc-tion here and now these fine old hous-es are being resurrected for visitors.The spirit of the island remains intact."

ABOUT SYMI Symi is located in the SouthernDodecanese, north of Rhodes and closeto the coast of south-west Turkey.Symi is just over 13 km north/southand about 8 km east/west with anarea of some 68 square km.

SYMI FESTIVAL

Symi Festival is organised every SymiFestival is organised every summer forthe last thirteen years. The idea isbased in the disenterested participationof artists and organisers. There is nei-ther ticket in the cultural events norpayment for the artists. The Town Hallcovers the expenses of going and stayof the participants. Symis Festival hasto do with several cultural activitieslike classical and modern music con-

certs, dance, thetre, cinema, literatureevenings, conferences. All these mani-festations take place in buildings withtraditional architecture of 17th, 18th,19th century like the famous manorhouse of Chatziagapitos, the courtyardof Saint John and the monastery ofPanormitis.

Symis Festival popularity has attractedfamous artists to participate like NANAMOUSCHOURI, LEONIDAS KAVAKOS,LAVREDIS MACHAIRITSAS, STAVROSXARHAKOS, THANOS MIKROUTSIKOS,DIMITRA GALANI, MARIA FARADOURI,STEFANOS KORKOLIS, ORCHESTRE OFMOSCOW

Symi has also put up with importantconferences such as EMIGRANT HEL-LENISM, NEOCLASSICAL ARCHITEC-TURE, LITTERATURE OF EMIGRANTHELLENISM, HEALTH NURSING INSMALL ISLANDS OF SOUTH AEGEAN www.symi.gr

Reflecting the ultimate essence of resort life inluxury, privacy and style, Rodos Palace intro-duces the new Imperial Garden VIP Suite withPrivate Pool and Spa to its discerning guestsand distinguished clientele.Located within the fragrant landscaped gar-dens, the Imperial Garden VIP Suite repre-sents an opulent residence type Suite withnumerous exclusive facilities and features.

The Suite welcomes its guests with an impres-sive entrance foyer, while an ample loungeincludes a sitting area for 6 persons, as wellas, a distinct dining area accessible by theseparate, fully equipped kitchen and a visitor'sWC.

The vast Master Bedroom with a king-size,exclusive quality bed, will pamper guests withevery luxury amenity, including an opulent en-suite marble bathroom with extra steamJacuzzi wellness system with remote controland a TV-Set for in-bathroom entertainment.

Its High Technology features include three (3)TFT Plasma TV sets (42”-50”), a SonyPlaystation unit, a Sony quality Home TheatreStereo Device, an IBM Thinkpad Notebookwith online High Speed Internet connection, aTivoli Hi-Fi system, remote-controlled curtainsand dimmed lightings and many more, tocomplement your high-tech holidays.

A distinct “boudoir” dressing area, with walk-inclosets is set next door, while the second bed-

room features its own en-suite bathroom. TheExclusive Spa of the Imperial Suite, includinga biometric gymnasium, sauna and a privatemassage area will be devoted to PersonalFitness.

The Imperial Suite offers its own private out-door heated Pool situated within a large pri-vate terrace with solid wooden deck ideal forlounging away sunny days in beauty and style.

The Imperial Garden VIP Suite can be inter-connected with an adjacent Maisonette LoftSuite (180m2-320 m2).

The new Imperial Garden VIP Suite along withthe Royal and the five Presidential ones creat-ed for the Heads of State of Europe adds up to the unique Top Collection of RodosPalace Suites

44 Xenios

Prestigious Rodos

Palace , Greece’s

leading convention

resort celebrated in a

spectacular way its

35th year of success-

ful operation with a

series of innovative

and pioneering man-

agement actions, such

as the full completion

of an extensive reno-

vation & transforma-

tion program both in

the resort and in the

conference areas of

the establishment, as

well as, the lavish

investment to the

addition of outstand-

ing amenities & serv-

ices offering superb

value-for-money to its

distinguished leisure

guests and

conference delegates.

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The New Imperial Garden VIP Suite with Private Pool and Spa

17-20 MAY 2010, Athens, Greece

The Mass Media & CommunicationResearch Unit of the Athens Institute forEducation and Research (AT.IN.E.R.)organizes its 8th annual international con-ference on Communication and MassMedia, 17-20 May 2010. The registrationfee is €250 (euro), covering access to allsessions, two lunches, coffee breaks andconference material.

Special arrangements will be made withlocal hotels for a limited number of roomsat a special conference rate. In addition, anumber of special events will be organ-ized: A Greek night of entertainment, aspecial one-day cruise in the Greek islandsand a half-day archaeological tour in thewider area of Attica (Athens) tour.

The aim of the conference is to bringtogether scholars and students ofCommunications, Mass Media andother related disciplines. You may par-ticipate as panel organizer, presenterof a paper, chair of a session orobserver. Past conferences drew par-ticipants from five continents andmore than 50 countries, presentingpapers on diverse topics such as polit-ical communication, EU enlargement,Website design, cross-media owner-ship, war correspondence, culturalstudies, film, public relations,telecommunication policy, advertising,agenda setting, juvenile audiencepreferences, and cross-national com-munication, among others.

Papers (in English) from all areas ofmass media and communication arewelcome. Selected papers will be pub-lished in a Special Volume of theConference Proceedings or in EditedBooks as part of ATINER's mass mediaand communication book series. ForBooks and Proceedings of previousconferences you may visit

http://www.atiner.gr/docs/MEDIA_PUBLI-CATIONS.htm where you can downloadtables of contents and order forms.

The Athens Institute for Education andResearch (ATINER) was established in1995 as an independent academic organi-zation with the mission to become aforum, where academics and researchersfrom all over the world could meet inAthens and exchange ideas on theirresearch and discuss the future develop-ments of their discipline. Since 1995,more than 100 international conferenceswere organized and more than 80 bookshave been published. The Institute isorganized into four research divisions and19 research units. Each research unitorganizes at least an annual conferenceand undertakes various small- and large-

scale research projects.

46 Xenios

6th Hellenic Conferenceon Artificial

Intelligence (SETN2010)

5 May - 7 May, Eugenides Foundation

The 6th Hellenic Conference on ArtificialIntelligence (SETN 2010) will be held inAthens, Greece on May 4-7, 2010 and isorganised by the Institute of Informaticsand Telecommunications of NCSRDemokritos, in collaboration with theHellenic Artificial Intelligence Society(EETN).

The conference aims:

to bring together researchers who workactively on the field of ArtificialIntelligence, to support the exchange ofopinions and the formation of newresearch groups and collaborations,to disseminate original and highly-qual-itative results of the Greek AI communi-ty and Greek research labs, fosteringinternational collaborations,to inform undergraduate and postgradu-ate students about the current state ofaffairs of AI research as conducted byscientists in Greece and worldwide,to promote research results to compa-nies and facilitate the development ofinnovative products.

Gre

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Ath

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8th Annual International Conference on Communication and Mass Media

At the recent General Assembly heldin Athens, Greece, Philippe Fournier, ofMCI, was unanimously elected as IAPCO’s

President. Philippe took over the officeimmediately and was delighted to receivethe vote of confidence. “It is a tremendous honour to become

president of our prestigious institution andto serve our profession. I would like tothank all of you for your confidence andcount on you and the new council mem-bers to continue improving the profession-alism of our industry. In these challenging times where themeetings sector requires the attention ofall stakeholders, IAPCO has an importantrole to play as a Quality driven associa-tion. With the implementation of ourQuality programme, we can now go a step

further and continue with education, com-mitment to produce events and meetingsthat are environmentally and sociallyresponsible, branding and other involve-ment for the development of our mem-bers. My goal, says Philippe, is to preparethe members to be ready and get adaptedto the changes. Let’s lead to change byleading the trend!” he said.

Patrizia Semprebene Buongiorno stepsdown as President to take up the post ofChairman of the Committee of Ethics, yeta further endorsement of IAPCO’s QualityProgramme.

Philippe is a member of the managementboard of MCI and created the Paris officein 2003. He is Managing Director for MCIin France and manages now a growingcompany with 5 offices in Paris, Lyon,Montpellier, French Riviera and Marseillesand with 85 staff.

Philippe has been in the industry foralmost 25 years providing full conceptevent, congress and exhibition manage-ment, marketing and communication serv-ices to worldwide based scientific societies,associations, corporations and federations.

Xenios 47

Memorandum ofCooperation

signedA Memorandum of Cooperation wassigned Tuesday between the City ofAthens and the Athens 2011 SpecialOlympics World Summer GamesOrganising Committee during anintensely emotional ceremony atKotzia Square in Athens, Greece. As ofthat moment, the Special Olympicsflag is waving next to that of the Cityof Athens in front of Athens City Hall.

In a special ceremony that took placein the "Dimokratia" Hall, City ofAthens Mayor Nikitas Kaklamanisnoted: "The idea of the SpecialOlympics gives meaning and contentto universal human values, more orless forgotten, such as social solidari-ty, contribution to society and love forour fellow humans. For this reason,our meeting here today and the sign-ing of the Memorandum ofCooperation, in addition to its practicalaspect, also serves a symbolic func-tion. It gives us the opportunity toremember that volunteerism is thesurest route to a more human andcommunal society. It brings out sensi-tivities and reminds us that communalaction and contribution to society con-cern us all."

The Memorandum of Cooperationincludes, among other things, the con-cession of the City of Athens' campsitein Agios Andreas as accommodationfor athletes and their escorts; the pro-vision of all services available at thecampsite; cooperation in the planningof communication programmes for theevent; the contribution of the City ofAthens in promoting and ensuring thesuccess of the Volunteer Programme;the joint hosting of events; the con-cession of city personnel to serve theneeds of the "Athens 2011" WorldGames; and the City's cooperation inimplementing the "Polis-Amphitrion"(Host Town) Programme.

IAPCO General Assembly France wins presidency of IAPCO for the first time!

The Acropolis SlopesThe first gallery of the Museum houses finds from the slopes of the Acropolis. The gallery’sglass floor affords views to the excavation, while its upward slope alludes t? the ascent to theAcropolis. In antiquity, the slopes of the Sacred Rock constituted the transition zone betweenthe city and its most famous sanctuary. This was the area where official and popular cults, as

well as large and small sanctuaries existed alongside private houses.

The Hekatompedon (the earliest Parthenon).

Two lionesses tear up Taurus (Exhibit Number 3). The Triton (Exhibit Number 36)and the Triple-Bodied Monster (Exhibit Number 35) are depicted on the left andright corners of the pediment respectively. 570 BC

The earliest building known on the Acropolis was the Hekatompedon or Hekatompedos neos –meaning 100 feet long, and comes from an inscription referring to the layout of the sanctu-

ary. It is thought thatthe building was builton the site, later occu-pied by the ClassicalParthenon. The frag-ments of poros architec-tural members andsculptures uncovered tothe south and east ofthe Parthenon, revealthat the Hekatompedonwas a Doric peripteraltemple.

The lioness pediment isdistinguished by itshigh-relief carving andits striking size. Itdepicts a lioness with

an unusually bushy mane, rearing on its hind legs and tearing apart a calf. It is believed tohave adorned the east pediment of the temple. Two compositions belong to the west pedi-ment. The one to the left depicts Herakles on his right knee, wrestling with the Triton, a crea-ture with a body of a man ending in the scaly tail of a sea monster. The group to the right isthe Triple-Bodied Monster, a composite creature consisting of three male figures conjoined atthe waist. Each figure holds an object in its left hand: the first has water, the second fire, andthe third a bird (symbolizing air).

48 Xenios

ATHENSTHE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

The Acropolis Museum is anarchaeological museum focusedon the findings of the archaeo-logical site of the Acropolis ofAthens. The museum was built

to house every artifact found onthe rock and on its feet, from

the Greek Bronze Age to Romanand Byzantine Greece. It also

lies on the archaeological site ofMakrygianni and the ruins of a

part of Roman and earlyByzantine Athens.

The museum was founded in2003 while the Organisation ofthe Museum was established in2008. It opened to the public on

June 21, 2009. Nearly 4,000objects are exhibited over an

area of 14,000 squaremetres.The Organisation for theConstruction of the new muse-

um is chaired by AristotleUniversity of Thessaloniki

Professor Emeritus ofArchaeology, Dimitrios

Pandermalis.

The entrance fee to the museumwill be €1 for the first year and

€5 thereafter.The excavation below groundlevel continues. The site and

process are visible through theground level glass flooring. Thesite will be available for visita-

tion once the excavation is com-plete.

The Acropolis Museum recentlywas selected as the motif for acommemorative Euro coin edi-tion: the €10 Greek AcropolisMuseum commemorative coin,minted in 2008 to mark the

relocation of the museum. Onthe obverse is a panoramic view

of the Acropolis and the newmuseum lies at the base.

In the first two months since themuseum opened, it was visitedby 523,540 people (an average

of 9,200 a day). Of these, 60 percent were for-eign visitors. During the same

two-month period, 409,000 hitsby unique visitors from 180

countries were recorded by themuseum’s website.

Photo By Nikos Daniilidis

Photo By Nikos Daniilidis

Xenios 49

The metopes

South Metope 30. Scene fromthe Centauromachy. The real

metope is today located inthe British Museum.

The 92 metopes were the first ofthe sculptural decoration to bemade for the Temple. They werecarved on the ground by differentteams of sculptors and stone-cutters, who undertook the workin separate teams. Among themwere also metics, (residentaliens), who had come to Athensmainly from the Aegean islands.This explains the slight differ-ences of style in the metopes.

On the metopes of the Parthenonthere are four main themes,known from the sculptures ofmany other Greek temples, aswell as from various other worksof art. The themes are connectedwith The Contest, the strugglebetween two adversaries, who-ever they may be.

This expression of The Contest isunsurpassed and stands as asymbol of the eternal fightbetween the opposing and coun-terpoised forces in nature, inhuman society and in the humansoul.

The pediment of the Gigantomachy.

The Gigantomachypediment belongs tothe decoration of theOld Temple ofAthena. It has beenargued that theTemple had an earlierbuilding phase (570BC), involving theporos sculptures thatare now assigned tothe Hekatompedon,while the marblesculptures were asso-ciated with a renova-tion by the sons ofPeisistratos. It is pos-sible, however, thatthe Temple was builtand given its marble

sculpted decoration in the last quarter of the 6th century BC. The compositions of the pedi-ments consist of larger than life-size statues, carved in Parian marble, which are attributed tothe workshop of an important Athenian sculptor, either Antenor or Endoios.

The Parthenon Gallery

Architects Iktinos and Kallikrates designed the Parthenon, while for the carving of the sculp-tures, Pheidias collaborated with his pupils Agorakritos, Alkamenes and other great sculptors.Pheidias himself created the gold and ivory statue of the armed Goddess that adorned thecella interior.

The Parthenon architectural sculptures, namely the metopes, frieze and pediments, weremade of Pentelic marble and were embellished with the addition of metal attachments andpaint.

Photo By Nikos Daniilidis

In contrast to the mythological subjects of the metopes and pediments, on the Parthenon frieze, Pheidias chose to depict theGreat Panathenaia, the greatest festival of the city in honor of the Goddess Athena.

The frieze consisted of 115 blocks. It had a total length of 160 meters and was 1.02 meters high. Some 378 human figures anddeities and more than 200 animals, mainly horses, are presented in the process. Groups of horses and chariots occupy most ofthe space on the frieze. The sacrificial procession follows next, with animals and groups of men and women carrying ceremonialvessels and offerings. The procession concludes with the giving of the peplos, the gift of the Athenian people to the cult statueof the goddess, a xoanon (ancient wooden statue). Left and right of the peplos scene sit the twelve gods of Mount Olympos.

From the entire frieze that survives today, 50 meters are in the Acropolis Museum, 80 meters in the British Museum, one blockin the Louvre, and several fragments are scattered in the museums of Palermo, the Vatican, Würzburg, Vienna and Munich.

50 Xenios

ATHENSTHE ACROPOLIS MUSEUM

Frieze of the Parthenon

Photo By Nikos Daniilidis

Photo By Nikos Daniilidis

Xenios 51

OtherCollections

Head of a young barbaricleader. Found inside theTheatre of Dionysus. ca. 2ndc. AD

Throughout the Roman period,the Acropolis retained theappearance it had in its heyday.It also preserved most of its ded-ications, unlike other Greek citiesand sanctuaries, whose artistictreasures were plundered andtransferred to Italy, mostly inorder to adorn public buildings.At the same time, a series of newdedications were added to theearlier ones. These were portraitsof emperors, generals and otherofficials, portraits of philoso-phers, orators and priests, aswell as images of individuals whobenefited the city or distin-guished themselves in athleticand other contests.

The Propylaia

In the Propylaia stood works of art made bygreat sculptors, like the statue of the HermesPropylaios by Alkamenes.

The building consisted of a central sectionflanked by two wings. The main building fea-tured five openings.

The central opening was the widest to accom-modate the passing of the Panathenaic proces-sion and sacrificial animals.

The north wing had an anteroom and a spa-cious hall known as the Pinakotheke.

This was probably a recreation area with paint-ings on the walls and couches with tables,where visitors could rest. The south wing had tobe reduced due to the Temple of Athena Nike.

The Caryatids from the South Porch of the Erechtheion.

The area around the Erechtheion was considered the most sacred of the Acropolis. TheErechtheion was a complex marble building in the Ionic order, an exceptional artwork. The east-

ern part of the Temple was dedicated to Athena, whilst the western part was dedicated to localhero Boutes, Hephaistos and other gods and heroes. Thus, the Erechtheion was a temple withmultiple functions, housing older and newer cults, and the site of the ‘Sacred Tokens’, the marksmade by Poseidon’s trident and the olive tree of Athena.

A building inscription of the Erechtheion refers to the Caryatids simply as Korai (maidens), whilethe name Caryatids was assigned at a later time. The second Korai from the western sectionwas removed by Lord Elgin in 1801 and is today located in the British Museum.www.theacropolismuseum.gr

Other Monuments of the Classical Acropolis

Photo By Nikos Daniilidis

Naxos: In the heart of Cyclades, in theheart of Aegean, Naxos has, always, fol-lowed the destiny of adventure of resi-dents of Aegean. This destiny is interwov-en with travel, exchanges, new techniquesand pioneering ideas, but also with warsand conflicts over the hegemony of sea.

Everything is big - imposing -, comparedwith the rest of Cyclades islands. Theextent of the island is 435 sq. km and thelength of coasts 91 km. The form is an ellipsoid and with a moun-tainous volume from North to Southacross the island.In the backbone of this ridge dominate ZaMountain (1004 m.) and Fanari (908 m.)the highest in Cyclades.

The landscape of the island has manyrotations. Plains succeed barren areas,marble mountains lead in deep shadowedglens, areas with vegetation host all whitevillages and sandy beaches meet the sea. The coastline of the island is almoststraight and not forming large natural har-bours, which affected the occupations ofresidents from the ancient years. In theisland from end to end beautiful and cleancoasts are situated next to small solitarycoves. The ground of island is blessed andprovides self-sufficiency to life of thisplace.

The rich aquifer of Naxos offers drinkingwater to wells and streams of the island.The fertile land produces citrus fruits,olives, fruits, vegetables, potatoes Naxosspecials and amazing wine. Livestock-farming and the apiculture areparticularly developed and offer exception-al quality meats, milk, cheeses and thymehoney.

From geological aspect the subsoil pres-ents great interest because of the pres-ence of emery, of marble and granite thatare exploitable products. The rocks consti-tute solidly foundations of Naxos andmake the island stable against earth-quake.

In this imposing and big island ofCyclades, where mountainous volumesdominate, with the highest altitudes in theAegean, - with the highest peak ofCyclades, the top of Za (1004 m.) - imme-diately gives a sense of security and "sta-ble", in this turbulent marine state ofCyclades.

Naxos itself is a whole universe.

52 Xenios

Naxos: “Big Sweet has this

island, virtuous are the faces

of people, piles are shaped

by melons, peaches, figs

and the sea is calm. I looked

at the people - never this

people have been frightened

by earthquakes or by Turks,

and their eyes did not burn

out.

Here freedom had extin-

guished the need for free-

dom, and life spread out as

happy sleeping water. And if

sometimes was discom-

posed, never rose tempest.

Safety was the first gift of

island that I felt as walking

around Naxos." (N.

Kazantzaki - "A Report to

El.Greko").

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lade

sNaxos Island

Traditional architecture and urbanplanningLooking at the buildings of Naxos, we cansee that history has left its marks on thearchitecture of the island.Rich variety of architectural monuments,which had been left over by different peo-ples and cultures, make up the image overthe years.The period, which shaped decisivelyNaxos, is the Franks sovereignty with themedieval castle of Chora and the dispersedimposing stone Venetian towers, through-out the island.

The villages are still traditional, becausethe building was based on the climate, thetopography, the needs and all these incharge of the local artisan and with mate-rials from the nearby mountain and river.The Naxos picture is not different from theCycladic architecture. All-white buildings,white-washed that have at the most twofloors and no surface is perfectly flat ,theone next to the other, with their court-yards united with paved alleys and stair-ways.

SportsNaxos offers chances for activities to thefriends of sports. There are centres forwindsurfing and kitesurfing for the loversof water sports in Mikri Vigla, AgiosGeorgios and Plaka, fully organized withfull equipment. The endless sandy beachesin conjunction with the north winds offer…

really unique emotions, while for the visi-tors who are not funs of extreme sports,there are jet ski, canoe, sea bicycles… forquiet roaming on the waves.

Also, there are courts for beach volley,next to the sea, in Agios Georgios, AgiaAnna and almost in every beach.

In an island, with a coastline of 90km, it iseasy to practice diving…

The rocky clusters, the reefs, the under-water caves and the small islands aroundNaxos, create conditions for an enjoyabledive in the all blue and crystal clear watersof the Aegean. In Agio Prokopio operatesdiving school which provides courses andthe necessary equipment to the nes whowant to explorer rich sea bottom of Naxos.

Naxos, also, offers chances for sport astrekking & mountain bike in beautifulroutes. The route Chora –Agia Anna-Orkos-Alikos and the access to MountainNaxos for the most demanding cyclists, isunique options that combine exercise withthe acquaintance of the beautiful land-scapes of the interior of the island.

Basketball, volleyball, mini soccer and ten-nis courts are scattered on the island.

Xenios 53

Taste of Naxos

Each island has its own sense of tasteand its own cooking.The cuisine of Naxos is famous for itssimplicity, variety but above all, for agreat strong taste that is a result of theabundance of fresh material. Herbs,exceptional olive oil and high qualitymeat are produced on the island.

Naxos is famous for products such aspotatoes, dairy products, citrus, wine,thyme honey and many other showingthat Naxos has a tradition of qualityGreek cuisine and pastry making.

The housewives of Naxos have learnedto keep the taste balance, to respectthe clock of nature and create withpassion and imagination dishes thatlook like works of art, leaving the visi-tors of the island astonished and put-ting Naxos at the forefront of Cycladiccooking. Correct Diet was and is animportant part of our lives because, asmy friend and Frenchman gastronomeB. Savarin said «Nothing is more pre-cious in the universe than life andeverything, that live, needs of food».

Naxos Villas(up to 6 people):8 Villas withprivate swimming poolEach villa is two-storied and consists of two bedrooms:individually designed oak furniture andiron bed on the master room. There is aspacious living room with fireplace and afully equipped kitchen: inox refrigeratorand ceramic cooker, espresso coffeemachine, kettle and complimentary brand-ed tea and coffee. Both bathrooms (oneon each floor) have a shower and on theupper floor there is a bathtub Jacuzziwhere someone can indulge their bodyand mind by relaxing. It is an ideal choicefor a honeymoon trip. Your pleasantaccommodation will make you fall in loveonce again! Each villa also offers satelliteTV (flat) in each room, DVD/CD playerwith a vast variety of films to choose. Inorder to make the accommodation easyand pleasant for you each villa has a hair-dryer, air-conditioning, telephone, safebox, free Wi-Fi and cable internet accessand laptop PC on request . The large exte-rior verandas with the spectacular view ofthe sea and the Aegean landscapes willamaze you.

Naxos Suites (up to 4 people):2 Suiteswith shared swimming poolGrant suite (2to 4 people): The Grant Suite will offeryou the privacy and elegance that youneed. It should accommodate 2-4 people.It consists of a double room with individu-ally designed oak furniture and an iron

bed. There is a large living room with fire-place and a fully equipped kitchen that willcertainly make you feel satisfied: inoxrefrigerator, ceramic cooker, espresso cof-fee machine and complimentary brandedtea and coffee. The grant Suite also con-tains a bathroom with shower, a satelliteTV (flat) in each room, DVD/CD playerwith a large variety of films to choosewhen you want to enjoy the relaxingatmosphere of your suite. The hair dryer,the air-conditioning the direct dial tele-phone, the safe box, the free Wi- Fi andcable internet access and a laptop PC onrequest will only make your staying morecomfortable. The share swimming poolwith another suite and the exterior veran-das with the amazing view of the NaxosTown and the Aegean Sea will rejuvenateyou for sure.

Junior suite (2 people): This suite willmake you relax and enjoy the romanticatmosphere that offers. Designed for twopeople to share special moments duringholidays. The "junior suite" consists of onedouble bedroom, a bathroom with bathtubJacuzzi and a share swimming pool withanother suite. Also, the suite offers you asatellite TV(flat), DVD/CD player with avariety of films to choose. The air-condi-tion, the direct dial phone, the safe box,the hairdryer are just a few of our servic-es. Amongst the above, this suite alsocontains a mini refrigerator, an espresso

54 Xenios

Naxian Collection (Naxos

Villas) is a brand new hotel

complex (opening in the

summer of 2009) which pro-

vides high standard accom-

modation. It consists of 8

luxury villas with a size of

85 - 100 m² and two suites

sized 30 - 45 m², each hav-

ing their own private swim-

ming pool and panoramic

view to the sea . The com-

plex is located ten minutes

away from Naxos Town and

five minutes from St.

Prokopios Beach, and it is

perfectly situated on the

wonderful area of Stelida,

from where you can enjoy

the magnificent view (from

one side of the complex you

can see from Naxos Town

until the island of Mykonos

and from the other side St.

prokopios Beach until the

island of Ios. It is built with

respect to the environment

and Cycladic architectural

standards.

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sNaxian Collection

coffee machine, kettle and complimentary branded tea andcoffee, a laptop PC on request, a cable and Wi-Fi internetaccess. Finally, the large exterior space of the suite with thepanoramic view of the sea will please and relax your senses.

Facilities & ServicesPrivate swimming poolsPanoramic sea viewWine barTV loungeDailymaidCar / Bike rental serviceInternet facilitiesPost serviceParking placeSafeFree transfer to/from airport/port

Laundry & dry cleaning servicesLaptop (on request)Baby sitting (on request)Hairdresser (on request)Massage sessions (on request)Chef (on request)Doctor on callComplimentary wine and fruit basket upon arrivalAll major credit cards are acceptedDistance From: Beach: 500 metersSt. Prokopios Beach: 700 metersAqua Fun Park: 200 metersAirport: 1,5 kmNaxos Town: 2,5km

Xenios 55

Astir of NaxosHotel Astir of Naxos is one of the newest and most luxurioushotels in Cyclades at Naxos Island. Close to the beach (just 2minutes from St. George beach), to Naxos centre (just 10 min-utes on foot) and to the Naxos airport (5 minutes by car), Astirof Naxos offers accommodation for single or family travellers.

It boasts a variety of rooms that can satisfy every need andevery budget. Your accommodation will be in a quiet surround-ing, ideal for relaxation

This is maybe one of the most beautiful hotels in Cyclades atsuch reasonable prices. Our hotel, Astir of Naxos is a good rea-

son to make Cyclades – Naxos your next destination

Its excellent location attracts both business and vacation travel-ers. It is one of the most modern hotels in Naxos Island buildaccording to the traditional Naxian architecture, combined withmodern and luxurious facilities and services.

Don’t miss the opportunity to relax and enjoy your vacation inAstir of Naxos hotel. The nicely and above standards equippedrooms with the view to Naxos Town, the sea and the mountainsin the background make your holidays in Naxos an experience.

Municipality of Mykonoswww.mykonos.gr

e-mail: info@mykonos.gr

The World Spinal Column Society (WScS) with great honor invites you to join us forthe World Spine V and the World Spine 2010 hands-on Course hosted by theNeurosurgery Clinic of Arta General Hospital and Medical School, University of Thessalia.This conference will take place May 7-14, 2010 in Santorini and Larissa (Greece).

This can’t miss Congress focuses to further advance the art and science of Spine care byproviding a pleasant academic setting where leading globally renowned spine Surgeonsfrom across the world will cover state-of-the-art concepts, recent advances, and emerg-ing trends in Spine surgery, as well as they will present and discuss Spine SurgicalTechniques, MIS indications, outcomes and pitfalls, pain management techniques andconservative treatment.

This eight day conference entails presentations, Masters’ panel discussions, oral papers,e-posters, seminars and hands-on workshops.

Meeting highlights include:3 full days of CME-accredited topic and plenary sessions, case discussions led by inter-nationally renowned spine surgeons5 days of CME-accredited Hands-on workshopsNetwork with colleagues and friends from around the worldExhibits from industry leading technology providers

SPAA '10 is sponsored by the ACM Special Interest Groups on Algorithms andComputation Theory (SIGACT) and Computer Architecture (SIGARCH) and organized incooperation with the European Association for Theoretical Computer Science. SPAA '10will feature regular papers, each with a 25-minute talk, and brief announcements, eachwith a 10-minute talk. The SPAA brief announcements are for brief communicationsincluding work in progress or demos.

58 Xenios

Santorini ArchitectureModel Against Global

Warming

When 20 Nobel Laureates sit together todiscuss ways to save Earth from theplight of global warming, the outcomewould definitely be special. Out of themany suggestions that would flow fromthe Nobel Laureate Symposium beingheld in London, the US Energy Secretary(Barack Obama's best man on "green),Steven Chu, came out with the mostinteresting: Paint the world white!

Professor Chu is advocating the use ofwhite roofs and roads which could offsetthe global warming process. In hisvision, doing so would be as if you'retaking all the cars out of the roads, for11 years.Architecture Model of Cyclades seems tohel solving modern environment prob-lems. GreenPacks reltive article includesa photo of a characteristic Santorini'sarchtecture sample with a caption:'Santorini Island, Greece - The MostBeautiful White Architecture in TheWorld?'

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s22nd ACM Symposium on Parallelism in Algorithms and

Architectures - SPAA 2010

Icons is a boutique hotel in Imerovigli, Santorini that givesguests and travelers seeking luxury, a heavenly slice ofCyclades island life.Providing stepping stones into luxury, the brilliance of the sungraciously becomes one with the never ending sky. Visions ofsublime loveliness where sunsets linger magnificently, comple-mented by a sense of elegance and refinement, that comealive in natural surroundings of heart rendering beauty.

Located in mesmerizing Imerovigli, withits eternally stunning Caldera view, theluxury private 5 star hotel in Santorini inthe Cyclades, offers guests an experi-ence enveloped in its sensuous style andambience.

A HOTEL FOR COUPLES IN SANTORINIThis luxurious hotel for couples inSantorini features black and white artcuttings from famous art masterpieces,the rights for which have been boughtby the hotel. It is so, that famous artpieces in black and white are scatteredon the walls of the hotel, creating sur-roundings that are elegant, contempo-rary and highly unique.

Impossibly romantic in stature, the hotel

for couples in Santorini mixes art and luxury with up-to-datetechnology and faithfully restored Imerovigli and Cyclades fea-tures.The design philosophy behind Icons, a most prestigious luxuryprivate 5 star hotel in Imerovigli, is one where artful imagesare reflected throughout and where an understanding of whatthe luxury traveller seeks in a private 5 star hotel in Santorinisets the example.

Perennially alluring, Katikies The Hotel inOia Santorini is a sublime conceptual land-mark. For this was the original Oia luxuryhotel that from the foundling moments ofits conception, set the benchmark for theGreek boutique hotel market that tumul-tuously followed in its wake.

Providing guests with an experience rich inelegant interpretation, the transcendentand breathtakingly beautiful Katikies TheHotel in Oia Santorini lures the beholderinto its fairytale complex of rooms andsuites.

Pure whitewashed cubist buildings haphaz-ardly form along the Caldera edge, only to

be interrupted by bursts of fuchsiabougainvillea making their presenceknown as they thrust and climb up chalkytextured walls.

Tantalizing Oia Santorini views mergeeffortlessly with breathtakingly luxuriousaccommodation, original and Cycladic inform, complemented by innovative newdesign, both everlasting and romantic instature.

Xenios 59

The guest experience in Oia’sluxury hotel

The luxurious delights of this idyllicretreat in Oia Santorini can be felt inthe opulent and extravagant accentsthroughout. Luxury pervades everytenet of our guests’ stay where staffboth magically and intuitively realizeguests’ needs and desires, where eter-nity pools merge effortlessly with theblue seas of the Aegean, where gour-met restaurant and bar facilities,refined and playful, lure guests furtherinto the magnificence of KatikiesHotel’s Caldera views.

Katikies - Oia Santorini

ICONS SANTORINI

60 Xenios

FIRST AMORGOS SHORT

FILM FESTIVAL

The First Short Film Festival of

Amorgos is being organized for

the period between 8th and

11th of April 2010, as part of

the 8th International

Convention for Culture and

Tourism “YPERIA 2010” which

will take place at Aegialis Hotel

& Spa in Aegiali.

Other related activities are:

International Meeting of Tour

Film Festival Organizers from

different countries.

Greek Film Academy.

The Festival aims : To promote

Short Films and to develop a

spirit of friendship and coop-

eration among producers from

around the World.

To create a New Meeting Place

for presentation and discussion

on maters of information, tech-

nology and techniques, for the

benefit of Amorgos and the

surrounding areas.

Films can participate, if the

production was concluded after

January 1, 2008, and the dura-

tion is no more than 25 min-

utes.

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sYperia 2010: an International Meeting

for culture and tourism

Yperia 2010:an International Meeting for culture and

tourism which has been successfullyorganized since 2003, by Aegialis Hotel &Spa in cooperation with the CulturalAssociation of Tholaria Women in Aegiali –Amorgos island.

Culture and Tourism are two meaningsclosely influenced by each other.For this reason, all the years of Yperiaorganization, the topics of the conventionsare related to the Cultural Heritage , theCivilization and the environment ofAmorgos, which are promoted througharticles and films of Greek andInternational Media by the invited journal-ists, photographers and film makers fromdifferent countries around the world..

“YPERIA” was one of the ancient names ofAmorgos.(Other names were Pagali,Karkisia, Melania)The inspiration for organizing the 1st YPE-RIA 2003, happened when the PresidentMrs. Irene Giannakopoulos and othermembers of the board of the TholariaWomen Cultural Association, realized dur-ing their visit to the Scandinavian TravelShows, that there was not enough infor-mation for the public, related to theupcoming Olympic Games of 2004, inAthens.

The ladies, under the Presidency of Mrs.Irene Giannakopoulos, thought that thisinformation could be easily spread aroundthe world, through the Media, so journal-ists were invited from different countries,and representatives from the OlympicCommittee, to give the journalists allinformation and details regarding OlympicGames 2004.

It was also decided, this InternationalMeeting, to be dedicated to the Frenchproducer Mr. Luck Besson, as an honorand recognition for his contribution tothe development of Amorgos islandthrough his successful movie “The BigBlue”, filmed on Amorgos, which madethe island famous around the world.

At YPERIA 2009, there was representationfrom 22 different countries.

The main topic of this year’s Conventionwill be “Alternative forms of Tourism”,including:

Eco tourism and environment.Health tourismHiking and herbs on AmorgosAmorgian - MediterraneanGastronomyReligious Tourism

A new entry to YPERIA 2010 will be :Amorgos Festival of Short TouristFilms Meeting of Tour Film FestivalOrganizers from different countries.Greek Film Academy

Distinguished people from Greece andcountries from around the world are invited for the occasion, mainly journalistsinterested in Tourism and Travelling, butalso local authorities, PoliticalRepresentatives, Scientists, people fromthe Theatre and Arts. There will be theopportunity to develop contacts to pro-mote the development of sustainabletourism.

Views will be exchanged and there will bean introduction to the History and Cultureof Amorgos. There will also be photo-graph & painting exhibitions, workshops inGreek language and dancing, cooking,wine tasting and evenings of Traditionallocal Food and Music.

Access to Amorgos island for theEvent: By Blue Star Ferries at 17.30, April7th, from Piraeus Port. Arrival to AegialiPort – Amorgos. Departure 6:00 on April12th- Arrival to Athens at 15.00 hour.For participation and more informationvisit our site www.yperia.gr or call +3022850 73393

Declared by it's guests as the "jewel ofAmorgos", Aegialis hotel is the best thatAmorgos has to show. Between the mainsandy beach of Aegiali & the sandy beachof Levroso, Aegialis hotel is a maximum 7-10 minutes walk away from the crystalclear waters of Aegiali bay.

Live island Experience

The summer is full of musical and culturalevents. Moonlit island nights featuringdiverse musical & dancing performances,all promising a good time.

The Magic of a Greek WeddingDoes the image of an endless, sandybeach, of sparkling aqua depths stretchingaway from the shore, of the hills rolling inflowers and greenery behind you, and ofthe glorious reds and golds as the sunsets, come to your mind when you think ofyour wedding plans? Or is it a small chapelin the midst of the wildflowers, the steadydrone of bees and the sun warming you asyou make your vows. Maybe you picture

meeting your bride on the streets of amountain village from the back of a don-key! Whatever your dream, your weddingday is something to cherish forever, and awedding on the Greek Island of Amorgosis a day you will never forget.

Amorgos is the Eastern-most of theCycladic Islands in the Aegean Sea ofGreece. It is off the regular path of mosttourists and package tours, which hasenabled it to maintain its unspoiled, tradi-tional atmosphere, making it a unique andunforgettable place to visit.

In the Northern region of the island, thetown of Aegiali welcomes you from theport. Tiers of fertile farmland and olivegroves rise up the mountain slopes behindthe perfect curve of the sandy bay.Opposite the town, the Aegialis Hotel isstrategically located to provide peace andserenity along with proximity to theexpansive beach and nearby villages. Foran undeniably romantic atmosphere, youcouldn't ask for a more ideal location.

Xenios 61

Amorgos is the most easterlyof the Cycladic islands, and

largest of the Small Cyclades,lying between Naxos and

Astypalea.

It is a mountainous island withmany rocky cliffs, but it isworldwide famous for itsunique beaches and the

colours of the sea.

Amorgos is a perfect destina-tion for those looking for theunspoiled Greek hospitality

and traditions. On this islandthe Cycladic way of living is

complemented by the dramaticbeauty of the landscape, whichoffers to our guests a memo-

rable experience.

Give yourself the opportunityto satisfy all of your five sens-es. Experience the aromas,

the tastes, the sounds ofnature, the views and the feel-

ing of touching the rocks.

There are also many summerfestivals that the guests can

attend and learn more for theisland's customs.

The Magic of a Greek Wedding by Aegialis Hotel on the island of Amorgos

Today's Halkidiki : a wide choice of hotels,offering luxury and comfort , a casino andblue flag awarded marinas , spas andshopping centres, fully equipped confer-ence halls, good food and wine, beachbars and clubs . International festivals,cultural events, popular celebrations, localfeasts and in addition to that countlessopportunities for exercise and entertain-ment . Modern facilities for touristsaccompanied by top quality services thatthe people of Halkidiki know how to pro-vide without sacrificing the region's specialcharacter.

BLUE FLAGGS With 34 awarded beaches and 2 marinaswith the BLUE FLAGG for the year 2005,Halkidiki reached the 2nd place in Greecefor its clear waters. The programm BLUEFLAGGS awards a certification to thebeaches, according the following criterias:clear water and beach, degree of theorganisation of the beach, safety of thevisitors and the active environmental pro-tection of the nature. More specifically forthe year 2004, the above BLUE FLAGGcertification was awarded to 32 beachesand 2 marinas in Halkidiki.

Kassandra A real heaven on earth, with incomparablenatural beauty, clean seas, perfect beach-es (most of which are awarded every yearwith a "Blue Flag" by the EC), beautifulforests, prehistoric, ancient and Byzantinemonuments, traditional villages and mod-ern tourist resorts - this is Kassandra, thefirst "prong" of the Halkidiki peninsula andthe closest to the city ofThessaloniki.Kassandra extends fromnorthwest to southeast.

The Canal of Potidea connects it to themainland . It is 50 km long and 15 kmwide at its widest point. The highest hill-top is 353 m from the sea level. Thecoastline is famous for the clean beaches,the picturesque capes, and the green hills,where the trees reach up to the seashore. The Gulf Toroneos or Kassandra washes itseast coastline and the Gulf Thermaikos thewest. At the south end of the peninsula isthe cape Kanastreo or Paliouri , fromwhere the Aegean Sea extends, and at thewest end the cape Possidi or Kassandra.

The climate is healthy Mediterranean . Thewhole of Kassandra offers the visitor,besides the endless variety of beaches,unequalled environmental diversity, wherethe scenery changes continuously betweenbeautiful beaches, hills and pinewoods,overwhelmed by the sweet smell of resinand thyme, incomparable beauties! The variety of its settlements is alsoadmirable. Small churches, old monasteryproperties, traditional settlements combineharmonically with modern holiday housesand big hotel complexes, with every imag-

62 Xenios

Boundless blue … endless sandy beach-es and beautiful shores in over 550 km

, awarded with 32 blue flags . Deepgreen … fragrant pine trees embracingthe waves , a smell of resin and saltsea air. A unique combination in the

Aegean ! Halkidiki , a fertile place, richin flora and animal life , colours and

scents , fertility and harmony . Silveryolive groves , golden fields of grain and

endless vineyards produce rich har-vests .

An unspoiled natural paradise that har-monizes tradition with modern

life.Aristocratic mansions , fine hand-made textiles , exceptional local cuisineand wine , ancient legends and popularsongs , festivities and feasts enrichedby 2.500 years of history . Olynthos,Akanthos, Afytos. Potidea : powerful

ancient cities whose walls were built bythe colonists from Eretria.Stagira : thebirthplace of Aristotle where he lived

and taught. Petralona: a cave of stun-ning natural beauty, sheltering therenowned “Archanthropos (ancient

man) of Petralona” who lived 250.000years ago. The cape of Poseidi : themost ancient sanctuary of Poseidon,with the dog face fairies. Kassandra :

the peninsula named after theMacedonian King Kassandros, brother-in-law of Alexander the Great. Sithonia: the peninsula named after the son ofPoseidon, the ancient Greek god of thesea . Ouranoupolis, Nea Focea, Sani,Toroni, Galatista: towers of rock and

stone, magnificent jewels of theByzantine era .

Nikiti: ancient Christian churches withtheir characteristic architecture .

Ierissos and Nea Potidea: where mar-tyrs suffered under the Turkish domina-

tion. Athos : monasteries which arereal fortresses built on the tempest-

lashed rocks of Mount Athos , rampartsstanding firm against the impious

intruder . Shady and tranquil gardens,refuges for contemplation and medita-

tion, silence that sharpens hearing,harmony. Unique holy images and

church treasures.

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kiHalkidiki, Greece’s secret paradise!

inable facility. Kassandra is full of life. Its44 villages and settlements house morethan 13.000 permanent residents andhundreds thousands of visitors in the sum-mer. It has wonderful hotels and other touristcentres, nightclubs and entertainmentfacilities to provide the visitors with everycomfort. It is a worldwide famous modernholiday resort. Most villages and settle-ments are on the coastline, built on beau-tiful beaches. Others, like Kassandria , arein the mainland of the prong of Kassandra.Fresh fish is one of the famous delicaciesof our region. The visitor can enjoy thisdelicate gastronomic delight at picturesquelittle taverns or modern restaurants.Furthermore, the oil, the olives, and thehoney are of the finest quality and thedemand for them from all over Greece ishigh. Our agricultural products, as well asthe local Kassandra wines, specially thewine from Mendi , are famous since theantique years.

Sithonia Sithonia is the middle peninsula - "secondprong" - of Halkidiki. It extends betweenthe Gulfs Toroneos and Siggitikos andends south at Cape Drepano . It is mostlya mountainous region with beautifulforests. The coastline is full of little gulfswith picturesque bays, capes, white, sandybeaches with wonderful turquoise, blueand green, shallow and warm waters, sur-rounded by thick pines and shiny greyrocky formations. It is less developed thanKassandra and offers the visitors quietervacation close to nature on some of themost exotic beaches in the whole AegeanSea area The region is famous for themagnificent honey it produces (Nikiti is thebiggest honey producing centre inGreece), but also for the oil, olives, fish,wine, grapes and cheese, which are delicious and of the highestquality.

Xenios 63

Athos

It is the third and most special penin-sula of Halkidiki , also known as AgioOros ( Mount Athos ). The part of thepeninsula, where all visitors areallowed, includes the Gulf Akanthios,from the border of Mount Athos andupwards, as well as the northerncoast, which is washed by the GulfStrymonikos.

Agio Oros

Far away from the rest of Macedoniaand the whole world as well, there is anatural and spiritual paradise with aspecial glory and magnificence, name-ly the eastern peninsula of Halkidiki ,Mount Athos (Agion Oros), the bay ofancient Greeks or as monks put it, the" land of Virgin Mary ".

Mount Athos consists of twentymonasteries, several skites (her-mitages) and places of absolute tran-quility. This is the religious communityof Mount Athos , with historicalmonasteries, cells in caves or betweenthe rocks, towers, domes, belfries,chants, etc. Mount Athos is a big tem-ple under the sky; it is the main carri-er of Orthodox Christianity.