VisitingEuropa.com

For years, most new hotels in Prague have followed the path charted by the city’s flashy restaurants, aiming squarely for the high-end market, with prices to match. But a new generation of smaller hotels is starting to serve more budget-conscious travelers, often in locations that are better than expensive lodgings. In a building whose first written reference dates back to the early 14th century, Hotel Loreta (Loretanske namesti 8; 420-233-310-510) opened in June of 2006, with 10 double rooms right at Prague Castle, next to the Baroque facade of the Loreta pilgrimage church. In high season, doubles are 98 euros, or about $133 at $1.36 to the euro, including breakfast. Be sure to mention if you want the separable mattresses set up as one bed or two.Source:travel.nytimes.com

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A seminar about SPA and wellness tourism from the countries of the Central European Initiative will be held in Bulgaria, starting from today until April 28. Deputy chairman of the State Agency for Tourism Svetoslav Novakov has explained that the forum is held within the framework of the Bulgarian presidency of the Central European Initiative. 11 officials from Austria, Croatia, Poland, Romania, Slovenia, Serbia and Macedonia will arrive today.
Amr Abdel-Ghaffar, Regional Representative of the World Tourism Organization (WTO) for Eastern Europe and the Middle East as well as Joachim Lieber, secretary general of the European Spas Association will be among the participants.Source:focus-fen.net

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Almost 13 million Americans traveled to Europe last year, according to preliminary data from the Office of Travel & Tourism Industries at the US Commerce Department.
Despite the weak dollar against the pound and the euro, the European Travel Commission (ETC) expects this figure to rise by a further two to three percent in 2007, as airlines continue to make transatlantic travel more appealing and competitive.
With an Open Skies deal on the horizon, flights across “The Pond” are expected to become increasingly popular, but the ETC believes that one of the main reasons for the piqued interest in Europe is the fact that US fliers now need a passport wherever they fly.
Needing identification to reach nearby travel hotspots such as the Caribbean has urged many Americans to go the whole hog, according to Conrad van Tiggelen, Chairman of the ETC.
“Traditional destinations like Paris and London are really going through the roof for short breaks,” he said.
New connections with Europe this summer include Iberia Airlines‘ new flights to Madrid, the Spanish capital, from both Boston and Washington DC. Continental Airlines will fly between New York Newark and Athens, while US Airways is lining up a nonstop link to Brussels, the headquarters of the EU, from Philadelphia.
Northwest Airlines is also due to launch nonstop flights to the Belgian capital - from Detroit - in June. In addition, the Minnesota-based carrier will up frequencies on its Amsterdam routes, with additional seasonal flights from New York, Detroit, Los Angeles, and Boston.
Air France is due to connect Seattle and Paris from mid-June, and Italian flag carrier Alitalia will fly between Boston and Rome from June through October. Source:news.cheapflights.com

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Cheapflights.co.uk has revealed its latest poll results in response to the question “If money were no object, which sporting event would you fly to in 2007?”. The Monaco Grand Prix was the  biggest winner taking out 33% of the vote, proving even more popular than the Rugby World Cup in France, which received 21% of the votes.

Third favourite was the World Masters Surfing Championship in Puerto Rico with 19% of the vote – whether the punters were going for the surfing, the sun or the sand is something that is yet to be determined. Fourth and fifth place with 11 and 10% of the votes respectively were the Melbourne Cup in Australia, and the UEFA Champions League Final in Greece.

The America’s Cup in Spain was only favoured by 2% of voters, while the mysterious Sauna World Championships in Finland came last with a paltry 1%. For those unfamiliar with the latter sporting event the competition is based around contestants seeing who can last the longest in a steaming sauna with a temperature of 110° Celsius.

David Soskin, CEO of Cheapflights, commented “It seems the excitement of speed is the biggest draw card for jet setting sport fanatics. Interesting to see that European destinations, just a short flight away, top the list”.Source:traveldailynews.com

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APRIL

13 - 14, April
ATE 2007 - Advances in Tourism Econimics 2007
PORTUGAL, PORTUGAL

13 - 15, April
GTT 2007 - Gdansk (Gdansk Tourism Fair)
GDANSK, POLAND

17 - 19, April
IMEX - Frankfurt 2007
FRANKFURT, GERMANY

19 - 22, April
SITC - Barcelona 2007 (International Tourism and Leisure Show)
BARCELONA, SPAIN

19 - 22, April
Touristiko Panorama - Athens 2007
ANTHOUSSA, GREECE

26 - 29, April
IFT-Belgrade 2007
BELGRADE, YUGOSLAVIA
(ITTFA)

(ITTFA) = Member of ITTFA (International Tourism Trade Fairs Association)

(TMA) = Travel Media Applications (parent company of TravelDailyNews International) Hosted Buyers & Sales Representive.Source:traveldailynews.com

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Over 600 interviewed experts of the word-wide meetings and events industry identified a clear preference of the meetings and events business for (large) cities and industrial regions: Just under two-thirds (63.6 per cent)  world-wide considered large and historical cities the ideal meeting and event destinations in Germany, with over 20 per cent favouring industrial regions and only 16 per cent opting for rural areas. The Meeting & EventBarometer 2007, created by the European Institute for the Meetings Industry (EITW) on behalf of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB), the German Convention Bureau (GCB) and the European Association of Event Centres (EVVC), not only presents quantity and sales figures but also compares event regions in Germany. Source:traveldailynews.com

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Several folklore, wine and dance festivals take place in Yerevan in the summer:
“Parliament for the people”, a concert on the majestic grounds of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia.
“Kenats Festival”, a celebration of wine and cognac making, agricultural and musical heritage, held annually in the city centre.
Golden Apricot Film Festival: Classical/Pop/Jazz/Rock music concerts are organized all year round. 20 state and private galleries in Yerevan host various exhibitions all year round.
Theatre, film, music and other cultural festivals take place all over Armenia.
Colorful arts and crafts street markets in Yerevan every weekend (Sat and Sun).Source:traveldailynews.com

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Just three years after the Olympics, Athens has established itself as a key city break destination and is now gearing up for the world’s leading travel and tourism show dedicated to the city  break sector.

Reed Travel Exhibition’s, City Break 2007, will see Europe’s leading buyers and suppliers of city breaks descend on the former Olympic host city for an intensive three-day workshop.

According to IPK’s World Travel Monitor, city based tourism accounts for almost 40% of total European outbound trips. In light of this, Athens is making the most of its post Olympic tourism potential and is promoting the European capital as a year round city break destination. Hotels and airlines are teaming up to create enticing packages highlighting the capital’s iconic cultural offerings alongside more contemporary pursuits such as art festivals, casinos, fashionable restaurants, chic bars and glamorous shopping.Source:traveldailynews.com

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The list of awards won by Sir Paul McCartney down the years is already huge.
Last night he earned another one – for his Outstanding Contribution to Tourism.
He shared the award with his home city at the annual English tourism “Oscars” held in London.
The winning partnership was one of 16 Gold awards to celebrate excellence in English tourism.Source:icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk

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This interesting town is home to the Church of Sant Marti and the restored mill wheels and sawmills of Mas d’en Sole. Originally dating from the Romanesque period, the Church houses part of a pictorial wall cycle from the end of the 12th century as well as an iconography dedicated to Sant Marti, the bishop of Tours. There are also four Baroque altarpieces from the 17th and 18th centuries and some very interesting furniture including a console and two benches decorated with intricate motifs. The mill wheel of Mas d’en Sole is an interesting restored 17th century industrial installation found on the outskirts of La Cortinada. Source:alltravelandorra.com

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