Travel News – Page 8 – Easytraveller.gr

New iPhone application from Athens International Airport

12/01/2011 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

A new electronic service called ATH Airport is available from the Athens International Airport for iPhone.

ATH Airport is the official free iPhone app of Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”. Find your flight details, browse through our shops, get up-to-date information about the airport and much more through your iPhone. Everything you want to know about Athens International Airport whether you are travelling, visiting or accompanying friends or family.
Features in this version:
Real-Time Flight Information
Get real-time information and updates on your flight, the minute you want it. Simply enter your flight number or airline or destination in the search box. This service requires an Internet connection.
Timetable
Search all the flights to and from Athens International airport. This service requires an Internet connection
Access
Get information on how to access Athens International Airport, be it by car, taxi, bus or metro.
Parking
Get information on our various parking options, and check your parking cost by using our parking calculator.
Airport Information
Get information on our airport e.g. our airlines, our shops and many more.

Find it on iTunes !

Louis Cruises passenger line of 2010

15/12/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

2010 Passenger Line of the year, is awarded Louis Cruises by Lloyds list.
The Greek Shipping Minister, government officials as well as a number of leading personalities from the political, business and shipping community of Greece honored the prestigious ceremony with their presence.
Louis Loizou, Executive Director of Louis Group on behalf of his father Costakis Loizou, expressed great pleasure for this honoring recognition and said that the award coincides with the 75th anniversary of the Group’s founding back in 1935 and 55 years since Louis Group started its successful operations in Greece.
Louis Loizou emphasized the great future of Greek tourism and especially cruising has and urged everyone to believe in this potential and work hard in reestablishing Greece to its leading position on the world cruising map. He noted: “Unfortunately, so far, we have not altogether examined this issue in depth so as to take the necessary steps and develop cruising by capitalizing on Greece’s competitive advantages”.
This award constitutes a rewarding recognition for the 25year-long successful history of Louis Cruises.
In his closing remarks Mr. Loizou expressed his sincere thanks to the more than 700 Greek officers and crew that are employed aboard the Louis fleet as well as to the 2,500 dedicated members of staff the Group employs in Greece whose efforts have led to this important award.

For details on Mediterranean Cruises by Louis Cruises please click here

ping site

Qatar Airways celebrates 5 years of presence in Greece

09/12/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

5 years of successful operations in Greece celebrated Qatar Airways in a gala dinner. The event was honored by the presence of the President of GNTO Mr Nikolaos Kanellopoulos, H.E. the Ambassador of Qatar Mr Mohamed AL Misnad, the Counselor of Qatar Mr Mohamed Al Hajri, the President of Arab Hellenic Chamber of Commerce Mr Christos Folias and the General Secretary Mr Mohamed ET El Khazmi, as well as representatives from our major Airport, GSA partners and marine/corporate/leisure travel agencies with whom Qatar Airways collaborated since June 2005, date of Athens route launch.
Mr Alexandros Michalopoulos Sales Manager Qatar Airways Greece & Cyprus opened the event with a speech on Qatar Airways worldwide phenomenal expansion and impressive growth in the Greek Market highlighting the fact that in 5 years time we grew from 4 flights to 14 flights per week. Since March 2010 Qatar Airways offers double daily flights ex Athens maximizing connectivity to most of the 92 destinations worldwide and helping passengers to reach favorite destinations as Dubai, Seychelles, Maldives, Beijing, Shanghai, Phuket, Bali, Osaka, Tokyo and many others. Finally Mr Michalopoulos briefed the guests on the international recognition Qatar Airlines has gained over the past years commemorating the impressive accolade of awards received by Skytrax. Qatar Airways has been ranked as a 5 star services airline, one of the top 5 airlines in the world, “Best Business Cabin Class” in the world, “Best Catering” for Business Cabin Class worldwide, “Best Airline in the Middle East”, “Best Services in the Middle East” this new category replaces “Best Cabin Crew in Middle East” comprising customer services provided along the entire customer services chain from reservations and ticketing to airport check-in and in-flight services.
The Easytraveller Team

Holiday recovery from Brazilians and Indians in 2011

30/11/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

People in India and Brazil are especially eager to travel in 2011 as a result of the economic recovery in progress. 49% of Brazilians intend to travel in 2011, with some possibly taking more trips than in previous years and 21% want a holiday similar to the one they took in 2010.
43% of the respondents from India are planning one or more trips, 33% are planning holiday trips similar to those they undertook in 2010.
16% of the Americans said they were unlikely to travel in 2011. 32% are planning to travel less next year, compared with 2010
Dr. Martin Buck, Director Competence Center Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin: “As always, people’s travel plans for next year reflect the economic situation in their respective countries. India and Brazil are looking very promising. People there are beginning to travel and make plans. We can only hope that now that the world’s economies are recovering people in the United States will once again be planning holiday trips.“
According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, which is compiled by IPK International and assesses the trends in the major source markets. 22% of people in France said they will take more trips next year compared to 2010. By contrast, German travel behaviour remains very stable. Overall, 49% in Germany said they would travel as often as they did in 2010. Only 16% said they would travel more.
The Swiss are among the nations most eager to travel. 47% of respondents in Switzerland plan to take as many trips in 2011 as they did this year. 32% even believe it is possible they will travel more in 2011.

The Easytraveller Team

“Airport of year” awarded Athens International Airport at Doha Aviation Summit

22/11/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

As “Airport of year 2010” was rewarded among the leading air transportation companies Athens International Airport “Eleftherios Venizelos”, in recognition of quality of services to the passengers and his customers, but also for the powerful enterprising model and his competitiveness. This important rewarding was realized in Qatar, during the annual Doha Aviation Summit.
The airport of Athens was distinguished between important world airports, for the most excellent operation, the quality of his services, the innovation and the initiatives in the use of technology, but also for the business dexterity and his developmental strategy. The evaluation strengthened particularly the success of his enterprising model, with important contribution in the national and local economy, as well as his corporate responsibility to the passengers, the collaborators, and the workers. Moreover the airport distinguished for the pioneering programs of economic motives and the developmental of marketing practices that provides to the air companies, supporting consequently his collaborators in a particularly difficult period for the sector.
In the three day Congress of Air transportations of Doha, more than 200 representatives of airports, air companies and government owned institutions, examined the important challenges that faces the sector. For the airport of Athens, Middle East is the market that presents the best records last 3 years (January-September 2010: + 13.8% in the flights and + 10.9% in the passenger movement).
On behalf of Athens International Airport, the reward received by Mr Giorgos Kallimasias, Director of Corporate Planning, from the Chairman of Service of Civil Aviation of Qatar, HM Abdul Aziz Al Noaimi.

The Easytraveller Team

Mykonos is the best island in Europe for 2010

09/11/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

Mykonos Island was selected for one more year as the most popular island destination in Europe by the readers of American publication of Condé Nast Traveler. Mykonos exceeded once again the most competitive islands of Mediterranean and Southern Europe in the category “Best European Island”, between Ibiza, Kapri, Madeira and Majorca.
The results of research for the opinion of readers of magazine, for the period starting April 2010, are announced analytically in the November copy of magazine.
“We feel satisfaction but also compurgation that our island gained once again the preferences of American tourists. This means that the common effort of Municipality, professionals and all residents is in the right direction and has the recognition of thousands of readers of most recognized travelling magazine of world “, declared for the rewarding the Mayor of Mykonos, Mr. Athanassios Kousathanas – Megas.
High grades, however, in the preferences of American readers gained also Greek hotels resort, in the category of Best European Resort. Specifically in the category of best 20 were found Mykonos Grand Hotel Resort (in the beach of Saint Ioannis) and the Elounda Mare of Elounda SA, occupying the 15th and 17th place respectively.
The rewarding took place in a black tie Gala event at the IAC Building in New York, at the presence of personalities of World Tourism, important Americans tour operators and popular actors and television presenters. The ceremony of rewarding presented the actor Liev Schreiber and the model and actor Angie Harmon, while participated Matt Dillon, Marcia Gey Harden, Kate Rutherford, Kerry Washington, Penn Badgley and the composer Marvin Hamplisch.
The Easytraveller Team

70% of Germans are planning a holiday for 2011

25/10/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

According to the latest representative survey by ADAC, 71.2 % of the population are firmly intent on booking a lengthy holiday trip next year, nearly 6% more than in 2009. Together with an improving economy in Germany, the nation’s citizens are once more eager to go on trips for several weeks at a time. Dr. Martin Buck, Director of the Competence Centre Travel & Logistics of Messe Berlin: “Backed by a resurgent economy the tourism industry is picking up speed once again. The worst of the recession is now over and German citizens are again living up to their reputation as the world’s most travelled nation. In this context two categories are emerging: in the first category the principal focus is on the choice of destination, and in the other it is the travel budget that mainly decides where holidays will take place.“
Almost 60 % of the members polled are planning to take a trip even before the year is out. According to the survey, holiday decisions continue to be strongly influenced by individual economics. Nevertheless, holiday travel has become a priority again, regardless of social class. Thus, 41.1 of those polled who said their economic situation was “bad to very bad” are planning to go on a holiday trip before the end of the year.
More than 50 % of the members polled believe that package tours, hotels and cruises will become more expensive. In particular, the introduction of an air fare surcharge is expected to raise the cost of chartered flights (63.2 %) and scheduled flights (72 %). 79.1 % expect train fairs to rise in the future.
For Germans, their home country is by far the most popular holiday destination. More than 28 per cent of those polled are planning to take next year’s holidays somewhere between Flensburg and Garmisch-Partenkirchen. Italy as a destination ranks second (at marginally over 11 %), followed by Spain (at close to 10 %).

The Easytraveller Team

Protocol of Collaboration in tourism of Greece and China

20/10/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

Protocol of Collaboration was signed by the Greek Minister of Culture and Tourism Mr Pavlos Geroulanos and the Vice-president of National Tourism authority of China and head of Chinese delegation, Mr Jiang Du, concerning mutual actions in the tourist sector and exchange of know-how in the sector of tourist education and training.
Both sides agreed to encourage the direct air link of two countries and to strengthen the collaborations of tourist businessmen, cultural institutions, and journalistic missions.
Also contribute to the creation of tourist sustainable growth via the exchange of most optimal practices in the sector of Special and Alternative forms of tourism.
The Chinese delegation showed particular interest of attendance in the “Crossroad of Cultures 2013” in Thessalonica where the honored country will be China which committed to strengthen the institution with important presence.
Special attention was given to the efforts of Greek state to facilitate the Chinese visitors at the visa process.
The Easytraveller Team

2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon

13/09/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

12 October 2010 is the 2,500th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon at the end of which the runner soldier ran from Marathon to Athens to announce the victory of the Athenians at the Battle of Marathon and once he made it, died whispering “have won”.

The 28th Athens Classic Marathon which will take place on October 31, 2010 is set to commemorate the feat of this soldier and the legend that was the reason for the Marathon

Besides the Marathon and the other Road Races of the 28th Athens Classic Marathon, the participation is expected to surpass all expectations

The anniversary of 2,500 years since the Battle of Marathon is the reason for conducting in Athens of the 18th World Congress of Marathon Roads, which will be held on 28-30 October 2010, concurrently with the 4th Marathon Symposium AIMS-IAAF.

To commemorate the anniversary of the 2,500 th anniversary of the Battle of Marathon, the Athletics Federation is already planning a major event, open to the public two days before the race in 2010, which is a real journey through 2500 years in time and history, a tribute to past and a vision ahead to today and the future of Marathon Movement.

How expensive is finally, Greece for the tourists?

18/06/2010 Easytraveller Leave a comment Travel News

The British Posts published and this year the results of their research for the cost of vacations in various destinations of British tourist (the Post Office Holiday Cost Barometer). In this research is recorded the cost for various expenses: – in Bar/Cafe (coffee, beer Heineken, Coca-Cola), – in Super Market (bottled water, tuning oil, anti mosquitos custard, cigarettes Marlboro), – in local Restaurant (a dinner of 3 dishes with wine, for 2 individuals).

The research took place in 30 destinations, included also Greece, from Canada up to Indonesia and from Brazil up to Japan.

According to the analysis of data made by the GBR Consulting, Greece occupies the 18th place, in total of cost, in the list of the 30 destinations with total expense 63,4 Pounds. In the individual categories however, it occupies: – the No. 1 place in the category Bar/Cafe with total expense 11,83 Pounds – the No. 16 place in the category Super Market with total expense 13,73 Pounds, – the No. 23 place in the category Restaurant with total expense 37,86 Pounds.

In absolutely numbers for the total of mentioned before expenses, and concerning our direct competition, the research shows that Greece is considerably more expensive than Spain (44,84 Pounds in the total), roughly in the same levels with Egypt (60,76), Croatia (62,44), Portugal (64,21) and Malta (64,95) and considerably cheaper than Cyprus (72,42) and Turkey (75,21).

In the last year’s research between 18 destinations, Greece occupied the 8th more expensive place on the total, while in the individual categories: – the No. 1 place in the category Bar/Cafe – the No. 9 place in the category Restaurant – the No. 13 place in the category Super Market/Tourist Shop

That is to say, the number one more expensive for the tourists –with the repercussions for the total picture for the Greek tourist product – are Bar/Cafe while in the Restaurants and the Super Market Greece are straightly competitive.
Considering that this research was made with the exchange parities of 4 January 2010 and since then the Euro has weakened considerably (from 0,9 British Pounds in 0,84 and from 1,44 Dollars in 1,23) it is clear that destinations with Euro, as Greece, are now more attractive.

Posted by The Easytraveller Team