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	New Chinese language website is WeChat enabled and contains content for retail travel agents to increase sales
	Bedsonline has registered 98% growth in China in the year to date[1]
	Since entering China in 2013 it has become the tenth biggest market for Bedsonline globally


Shanghai, 9th May 2018 – Bedsonline, the leading global provider of accommodation and complementary products exclusively for travel agencies, has announced today – ahead of ITB Shanghai on 16-18 May –&nbsp; the launch of an enhanced Chinese language website as part of the company’s strategy to continue outperforming in this key market.

This new Chinese language website forms the cornerstone of Bedsonline’s new client acquisition program and contains relevant and attractive content for travel agencies such as articles focused on tips and tools for travel agents and eBooks. The new website is fully integrated with WeChat through an automated client acquisition program created especially for this key market; and a new home page has been designed following expert advice from local China- digital marketing consultants.

China is already a key strategic market for Bedsonline despite entering the market in only 2013, growing to become the 10th biggest source market for Bedsonline globally and growing sales by 98% in the current year to date.

Currently Bedsonline has an extended sales force team of 15 sales managers who cover the whole Greater China region, including Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao.

Following the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA – both with strong presence in Asia-Pacific – into the same group to which Bedsonline forms a part of, there is now a portfolio of over 170,000 hotels available to travel intermediaries globally via Bedsonline’s proprietary B2B technology platform.

Stuart Dale, Regional Director Retail Travel Agents Asia commented: “Firstly I would like to congratulate the whole marketing team who have worked really hard to launch a new Chinese language website for Bedsonline in a relatively short time. This ambitious project has come about after months of hard work, hand in hand with our local sales team.

“China is a strategic market for Bedsonline and we would like to take advantage of the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA into the group which Bedsonline belongs, to provide a wider, more competitive range of products to the Chinese travel retailers – now totalling over 170,000 hotels. The time is now. With this unbeatable offering it’s the moment to commit to the market and leverage our collective global practice with local knowledge and a complete professional sales force which will continue to serve this fast-growing travel market.”

Vincent Zha, Regional Manager Greater China added: “We are excited about our new website launch and the important role it will play in our future go-to-market strategy. By offering our travel agency subscribers attractive content such as eBooks, we can help them to increase sales.

“Bedsonline has big plans for the Chinese market, where in 2017 there were 127 million Chinese outbound travellers and already China is the largest outbound travel market in the world.&nbsp; Outbound tourism in China is booming as a result of the growing middle class. Whilst the major urban centres of Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen account for most of the outbound travel demand among Chinese nationals, there’s also a gradual increase in international travellers from smaller cities and towns – and we’re targeting travel agents in that niche too.

“According to the China National Tourism Administration, almost 5 billion domestic trips were made in China in 2017. Therefore, we are also working hard to expand our local accommodation portfolio to respond to the demands of travellers.”




[1] All figures and data quoted in this press release refer to Total Transaction Value (TTV) from the current fiscal year (starting 1 October, 2017) made via the Bedsonline platform.

&nbsp;

About Bedsonline

Bedsonline is the leading global provider of accommodation and travel ancillary products that exclusively caters to travel agencies. It distributes through its online platform accommodation, excursions, tickets and transfers to more than 32,000 travel agencies in 30 countries.

The company stands out for its extensive portfolio - over 170,000 hotels in 185 destinations, 22,000 transfer routes in 140 countries, and 16,000 activities in 185 countries -&nbsp; to offer a personalized local service through an intuitive and easy-to-use online booking tool. In this way Bedsonline guarantees high availability and competitive prices to the great satisfaction of its clients.

The business-to-business online provider has focused its strategy in recent years on the expansion of new markets in Europe, America and Asia, such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Mexico, the United States, Colombia, China, Japan and the Philippines. This strategic vision has led the company to occupy a position of advantage in the industry.

Bedsonline is part of Hotelbeds Group, the business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry globally. The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and has 8,300 employees working across 210 offices globally.

&nbsp;

Follow us on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/company/bedsonline

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contacts

&nbsp;

Arenalia Comunicación&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cristina Vilà · cvila@arenalia.com

Elisenda Barreda · ebarreda@arenalia.com

Tel. +34 660 201 020&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contact

PR, Media and Corporate Affairs

Antonia Aguiló · a.aguilo@hotelbeds.com

Tel.&nbsp; +34 638 874 038



&nbsp;



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Bedsonline continues Chinese expansion with enhanced website launch


	Chris Branagan appointed Director of Technology and Executive Committee member
	Senior leadership team for technology department also confirmed
	Technology platform for all the Group’s brands will be fully integrated by end of year
	News forms part of the ongoing integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA into Group


&nbsp;

Palma, 3 May 2018. Hotelbeds Group, the world’s leading bedbank, has today provided an update on its technology strategy following the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA into the Group last year.

Further to the announcements made in January confirming the line-up of the company’s top leadership team and new departmental structure, Chris Branagan, previously the Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of GTA, has now been appointed as Director of Technology for the whole Group. Chris will become a member of the company’s Executive Committee and will be responsible for the development and implementation of technology across the Group´s platforms, systems, and tools to further enhance the bedbank’s technology offering.

As part of the completion of the appointment of the top 350 managers in its newly revised structure announced in late March, the technology department has now additionally confirmed its senior leadership positions and departmental structure, combining the best talent from Tourico Holidays, GTA and Hotelbeds.

Following the decision announced late last year of the selection of the IT platform and architecture for the enlarged organisation, additionally today the Group can confirm that all of its bedbank brands – Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays, and GTA – will all be transitioned onto the same technology platform by the close of this year.

Carlos Muñoz, Bedbank Managing Director at Hotelbeds Group states, “Firstly I would like to congratulate Chris for taking on this role and look forward to working closely with him on the company’s Executive Committee; additionally I would like to congratulate his technology leadership team for the new roles they’ll also be taking on and thank them in advance for their hard work and innovation.

“This best-of-the-best team is already hard at work innovating the hotel and ancillaries distribution chain. I´m certain that our best-in-class B2B technology platform will help our commercial partners everywhere increase revenues and reduce costs, connecting over 170,000 hotels worldwide to over 60,000 travel intermediaries around the globe.”

Chris Branagan, Director of Technology, said “It gives me great pleasure to be chosen to lead the technology function at such an important stage in the integration of GTA and Tourico Holidays into the Group; I would also like to congratulate all of those who will be part of my technology leadership team.

“Following a significant amount of analysis, preparation and strategic planning behind the scenes, I now feel&nbsp;confident to announce that the integration will be completed at a technology level before the end of the year, with all of our bedbank brands using the same technology platform. We will be updating our partners in due course to explain how they will benefit from these changes. ”

The news follows significant growth in the size of Hotelbeds Group’s business in 2017 through the acquisitions of Tourico Holidays and GTA, two leading bedbanks with a strong presence in North America and Asia-Pacific respectively. Following their integration there is now a portfolio of over 170,000 hotels selling to over 60,000 travel intermediaries globally via the Group´s proprietary B2B technology platform.

In late March two important announcement were made in relation to the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA into the Group. Firstly, that following an objective and comprehensive process to select the very best profiles from a strong talent pool, around 350 positions drawn from all three businesses, at both senior management and management levels, had been confirmed in all areas with the exception of the IT department. Based on organisational design principals created with the support of expert external consultants, the appointments were designed to respond to the new reality of Hotelbeds Group’s expanded operations following the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA.

Secondly, the sale of the Group’s Destination Management division to TUI, the world´s leading tourism group, as a continuation of Hotelbeds Group’s strategic focus on its bedbank core. TUI will acquire for an enterprise value of €110 million all of the assets of Hotelbeds Group´s Destination Management division, which represents the Group’s incoming services offering and is made up of three main global brands: Destination Services, Intercruises Shoreside &amp; Port Services, and Pacific World. The transaction is subject to customary regulatory and anti-trust approvals.

About Hotelbeds Group

Hotelbeds Group is a business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry globally and the leading bedbank worldwide.

The Group’s proprietary technology helps providers of travel services distribute their offering to travel sellers globally via an easy-to-use, advanced technology platform that increases reach, revenue and yield for both the provider and the seller.

Operating mainly under the Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays and GTA brands, the company connects over 60,000 travel intermediaries across more than 185 source markets globally with travel providers in over 200 countries representing more than 170,000 hotels, 22,000 transfer routes and 16,000 activities.

In September 2016 the company became independent under the ownership of Cinven and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). In June 2017 Tourico Holidays became part of Hotelbeds Group, followed by GTA also joining the Group in October; both companies remain independent brands whilst they are being integrated into the Group.

The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelbeds-group

And Twitter: @hotelbedsgroup

Follow APItude on Twitter: @Hotelbeds_API

Follow us on Facebook: @HotelbedsGroup

&nbsp;

Media Relations &amp; Corporate Affairs

Roman Townsend

rtownsend@hotelbeds.com

Tel.&nbsp; +34 619 988 580

&nbsp;

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Hotelbeds Group provides update on technology strategy

Dubai is the largest city in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and is located on the country’s northern coastline. Now that we have located the most populous city in the UAE, you would probably like to know more about Dubai? If so, read on as there is lots to know.

For instance, did you know that Dubai holds the world record for being the city with the most world records? From the world’s biggest mall to the world’s most sustainable city, the list is impressive. It also holds the world’s most luxurious hotel and the tallest building as well.&nbsp; This is just a small sample of the most interesting world records Dubai holds. Perhaps we could rename it as the city of records?

Dubai has retained its crown as the most visited city in the Middle East and landed sixth in the world in the latest global ranking of tourist destinations, according to the Euromonitor International Top City Destination Ranking for 2017. The city is benefitting from years of extensive investment in state-of-the-art and world-leading infrastructure, luxury shopping, hotels and entertainment. Dubai has developed a unique culture in which global traditions, attitudes, customers, religions and lifestyles have merged harmoniously, while still priding itself on its Arabian roots.

But this week ATM Dubai, the leading travel and tourism event in the region, has become the center of attention because it has gathered the crème de la crème of the travel industry. This is because this year’s ATM is the first where all three of the Hotelbeds Group wholesale brands –including Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays and GTA –- participated together on one stand.

During the 5-day show, we announced Dubai as one of the world’s most visited cities and top destination in the region by a considerable margin, accounting for 65% of the Group´s total room nights in the Middle East. Abu Dhabi and Doha follow in the second and third position respectively. According to our booking data, Indian travellers visit Dubai the most, followed by United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents, Saudi Arabians and then Spanish nationals;&nbsp; the source markets that have registered the strongest year-on-year growth in bookings are, in ascending order, Spain, China, Germany and the USA.

This city of high-rises and shopping malls has transformed itself from a desert outpost to a destination du-jour, where tourists flock for sales bargains, sunshine, and family fun. Our Hotelbeds Group bedbank platforms offer a wide range of options to many travelers when choosing the capital of the Emirates. Dubai is famous for sightseeing attractions such as 4x4 Evening Desert Safari, Burj Khalifa (which, at 829.8 meters, is the tallest building in the world) and the cruise along Dubai Creek (Dhow Cruise).

Having mentioned all those amazing achievements, what are the future plans for the city?

Dubai is the only Middle Eastern city in the top ten most visited globally and is expected to attract more than 26 million visitors by only 2025, overtaking London, which is currently in third place. The city’s rise to popularity is thanks to the integrated approach by all the travel industry players. The city also has plenty of plans to drive domestic tourism and the important family holiday segment further. The expansion of mid-market lodging options, together with the upcoming Dubai Expo 2020, will encourage tourism growth further still.

For many record breaking is addictive and Dubai doesn´t seem set to quit anytime soon. Could we see an Olympics or World Cup in Dubai? For now it certainly seems the sky is the limit in the golden city of records.

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How Dubai went from the golden city to the city of records 


	Robert Smart appointed as Sales Manager for Bedsonline in Ireland.
	Experience gained from 20-year proven track record will help with further consolidation of Bedsonline in the country.
	Smart joins Bedsonline at an exciting moment following the integration of GTA and Tourico Holidays into the bedbank’s parent businesses.


Palma, 26th April 2018 – Bedsonline, the leading global provider of accommodation and complementary products exclusively for travel agencies, has announced today the appointment of Robert Smart as the new Sales Manager who will assume the leadership of the bedbank in the Irish market.

In a career spanning more than 20 years of achievement, Smart has gained a proven track record in the travel industry, performing various management positions within the area of sales.&nbsp; For the last 12 years he has been working in the Irish travel market, most recently with Cassidy Travel Group – one of the leading Irish independent travel agencies – and before that with leading travel technology and travel distribution company Travelport.

Smart joins the Bedsonline team at a strategic moment for the company with a bright future ahead following the integration of GTA and Tourico Holidays businesses into the parent company of Bedsonline last year. His expertise and experience of the local market will play a key role in consolidating the Bedsonline position in Ireland; his objective is to expand not only the number of travel agencies working with the platform but also to increase the depth and breadth of exclusive product available to the travel agency subscribers of Bedsonline –&nbsp; which has already increased from 120,000 to 170,000 the number of hotels available following&nbsp; the integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA into the wider group last&nbsp; year.

Tom Bell, Regional Manager of Bedsonline UK &amp; Ireland commented “Robert’s appointment comes at a strategic moment. Robert’s knowledge of the local travel industry will play a key role in the growth plans that Bedsonline has in Ireland after the integration of the three other bedbank businesses to which our company belongs, particularly in terms of product portfolio to help serve both the domestic and inbound client segments.”

&nbsp;

About Bedsonline

Bedsonline is the leading global provider of accommodation and travel ancillary products that exclusively caters to travel agencies. It distributes through its online platform accommodation, excursions, tickets and transfers to more than 32,000 travel agencies in 30 countries.

The company stands out for its extensive portfolio - over 170,000 hotels in 200 destinations, 22,000 transfer routes in 140 countries, and 16,000 activities in 185 countries -&nbsp; to offer a personalized local service through an intuitive and easy-to-use online booking tool. In this way Bedsonline guarantees high availability and competitive prices to the great satisfaction of its clients.

The business-to-business online provider has focused its strategy in recent years on the expansion of new markets in Europe, America and Asia, such as Germany, the Czech Republic, Mexico, the United States, Colombia, China, Japan and the Philippines. This strategic vision has led the company to occupy a position of advantage in the industry.

Bedsonline is part of Hotelbeds Group, the business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry globally. The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain, and has 8,300 employees working across 210 offices globally.

&nbsp;

Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/bedsonline

and Facebook: facebook.com/BedsonlineEs/

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contact

Media Relations and Corporate Affairs

Anna Monreal · amonreal@hotelbeds.com

Tel.&nbsp; +34 971 624 687


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Bedsonline consolidates position in Ireland with appointment of new Sales Manager


	The certification comes after a thorough analysis of Hotelbeds Group’s carbon footprint by independent body, Carbon Footprint Ltd
	Group has created a self-funded project by adding a €2.60 surcharge for every business flight taken by employees
	All funds will be donated to Portel-Pará Deforestation, an offsetting project located within Brazil’s Amazon region


Palma, 25 April 2018. Hotelbeds Group, the world´s leading bedbank, has recently obtained the status of a Carbon Neutral Organisation from Carbon Footprint Ltd, an independent body that accredits carbon management measurements and best practices for businesses.&nbsp;

This prestigious accreditation reflects Hotelbeds Group’s commitment to reduce its environmental impact and ensure long-term sustainability by offsetting its carbon emissions during the year of 2017.

Carbon emission calculations, including energy and paper consumptions, waste management, business travel and water supply, were completed by Hotelbeds Group, using metrics devised by Carbon Footprint Ltd, the sustainability experts. Carbon Footprint Ltd has also successfully completed a verification of the carbon footprint assessment for Hotelbeds Group. This included spot-checking source data from across the group as well as reviewing the overall methodology.

Due to business travel being Hotelbeds Group’s biggest carbon emission factor, the company has created an internal self-funded programme whereby a €2.60 fee is charged per business flight taken by employees, with a desire to encourage a reduction in travel and increase company and employee awareness around the importance of carbon offsetting.

This year the Corporate Sustainability team has chosen to donate funds raised to the Portel-Pará Deforestation Project, which is located within Brazil’s Amazon, the largest remaining rainforest on our planet.

Commenting on the certification, Joan Vilà, Executive Chairman of Hotelbeds Group commented: “We are proud to have been certified a Carbon Neutral Organisation as it underscores our sustainable business outlook. By mixing our sustainability goals with our financial and operational goals, we are creating win-win conditions for the Group and all its stakeholders to thrive in the long term.”

“As leaders in the travel industry we wanted to be at the forefront of environmental consciousness, inspiring both other companies and even individual travellers.”

Dr Wendy Buckley, Client Director at Carbon Footprint said “Hotelbeds has taken an integrated and highly responsible approach to its carbon neutrality. As a trailblazer in the industry, they are balancing innovation alongside environmental sustainability.”

Corporate sustainability is a responsibility that Hotelbeds Group takes very seriously. The Group is focused on and committed to environmentally and socially sustainable business practices that recognize the short and long-term concerns of our stakeholders, whilst integrating sustainability and accountability into our business. Hotelbeds Group recognizes that social and environmental sustainability is fundamental to the achievement of sustainable development outcomes, and therefore must be fully integrated into all our programmes and projects globally.

&nbsp;

As part of Hotelbeds Group’s participation in the Carbon Neutral initiative, the Group has set the following goals:


	Giving back to local communities in the places where business is actually being done.
	Helping to reduce global CO2 emissions.
	Helping developing countries: economic, social &amp; community development.
	Fostering local community relations.
	Engaging staff and creating awareness of our environmental impact.
	Balancing out unavoidable emissions by becoming carbon neutral.


&nbsp;

About Hotelbeds Group

Hotelbeds Group is the world´s leading bedbank.

The Group’s proprietary technology helps providers of travel services distribute their offering to travel sellers globally via an easy-to-use, advanced technology platform that increases reach, revenue and yield for both the provider and the seller.

Operating mainly under the Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays and GTA brands, the company connects over 60,000 travel intermediaries across more than 185 source markets globally with travel providers in over 185 countries representing more than 170,000 hotels, 22,000 transfer routes and 16,000 activities.

In September 2016 the company became independent under the ownership of Cinven and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). In June 2017 Tourico Holidays became part of Hotelbeds Group, followed by GTA also joining the Group in October; both companies remain independent brands whilst they are being integrated into the Group.

The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

&nbsp;

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelbeds-group

And twitter: @HotelbedsGroup

Follow APItude on twitter: @Hotelbeds_API

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contacts

&nbsp;

Arenalia Comunicación&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cristina Vilà · cvila@arenalia.com

Elisenda Barreda · ebarreda@arenalia.com

Tel. +34 660 201 020&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contact

PR, Media Relations &amp; Corporate Affairs

Antonia Aguiló

a.aguilo@hotelbeds.com

Tel. +34 638 874 038

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

&nbsp;


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Hotelbeds Group certified carbon neutral

Dubai sixth most reserved destination globally on Hotelbeds Group platform

&nbsp;


	Dubai is the sixth most booked destination worldwide and first in the region for Hotelbeds Group[1]
	City represents 65% of the Middle East’s total room nights for Group
	Recent additional new office opening shows Group’s clear commitment to the region – with over 120 staff now in Dubai


&nbsp;

Dubai, 24 April 2018.- Hotelbeds Group, the world´s leading bedbank, has confirmed today at Arabian Travel Market the significance of Dubai as one of the world’s most visited cities.

&nbsp;

Dubai’s sixth place ranking in the top worldwide destinations booked via the Hotelbeds Group bedbank platform – which includes the brands Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays and GTA – compares with Orlando as the top city, followed by New York, Paris, Rome and London.

&nbsp;

Among Middle Eastern city destinations, Abu Dhabi and Doha rank in second and third position, but with Dubai having quite a significant lead over both. This is reflected in the fact that Dubai accounts for 65% of the total room nights for the Group in the Middle East.

&nbsp;

According to the Group’s booking data, Indian travelers are the segment who travel the most to Dubai, followed by United Arab Emirates (UAE) residents, Saudi Arabians and then Spanish nationals. Source markets that have registered the strongest growth compared to the previous year are, in ascending order, Spain, China, Germany and the USA (where growth has been very significant).

&nbsp;

The peak tourist season in Dubai, according to Hotelbeds Group’s reports, is from October to April, with January the month with the most visitors.

&nbsp;

Sam Turner, Wholesale Sales &amp; Sourcing Director at Hotelbeds Group has commented: &nbsp;“Dubai has gained its tourism dominance due to its modern infrastructure and premium lodging landscape. According to the latest Euromonitor report, Dubai is the sixth most visited city on earth, surpassing even Paris, New York and Tokyo – truly remarkable for a city that few were visiting even only ten years ago.

&nbsp;

“It appears that growth in markets such as China and India is boosting Dubai’s visitor numbers, but the city also has plenty of plans to drive domestic tourism and the family holiday segment. The expansion of mid-market lodging options together with Dubai Expo 2020 will encourage tourism growth as well.

&nbsp;

“As part of our continued commitment to growth in the region, we have increased our local presence in Dubai. We have operated there since 1998 and last year we opened another office in the city. Altogether, we have over 120 employees in Dubai including sourcing, sales, finance and operations teams, all of them focused on both inbound and outbound business for the region.”

&nbsp;

As part of its strategy to grow business in the Middle East region, Hotelbeds Group is attending the four-day travel trade show in Dubai. Following the recent integration of Tourico Holidays and GTA into Hotelbeds Group, this year’s ATM is the first time that all three wholesale brands – including the Hotelbeds brand – will be participating together on one stand (TT1430).

&nbsp;

About Hotelbeds Group

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group is the world´s leading bedbank. The Group’s proprietary technology helps providers of travel services distribute their offering to travel sellers globally via an easy-to-use, advanced technology platform that increases reach, revenue and yield for both the provider and the seller.

&nbsp;

Operating mainly under the Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays and GTA brands, the company connects over 60,000 travel intermediaries across more than 185 source markets globally with travel providers in over 185 countries representing more than 170,000 hotels, 22,000 transfer routes and 16,000 activities.

&nbsp;

In September 2016 the company became independent under the ownership of Cinven and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). In June 2017 Tourico Holidays became part of Hotelbeds Group, followed by GTA also joining the Group in October; both companies remain independent brands whilst they are being integrated into the Group.

&nbsp;

The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelbeds-group

Follow us on Facebook: @HotelbedsGroup

And twitter: @HotelbedsGroup

&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contacts

&nbsp;

Arenalia Comunicación&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Cristina Vilà · cvila@arenalia.com

Elisenda Barreda · ebarreda@arenalia.com

Tel. +34 660 201 020&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Hotelbeds Group Media contact

PR, Media Relations &amp; Corporate Affairs

Antonia Aguiló

a.aguilo@hotelbeds.com

Tel. +34 638 874 038

&nbsp;

&nbsp;


[1] &nbsp;&nbsp;All figures and data quoted in this press release refer to bookings measured by room nights from the current fiscal year (starting 1 October, 2017) made via the Hotelbeds Group´s bedbank platform –, which includes the brands Hotelbeds, GTA, and Tourico Holidays.




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Dubai sixth most reserved destination globally on Hotelbeds Group platform


	Hotelbeds Group to launch corporate volunteer program globally
	Pre-launch event will take place in Orlando before global rollout
	Group chooses VolunteerMatch as technology platform


Orlando, Fla. - April 23, 2018 - Hotelbeds Group, the world’s leading bedbank and business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry globally, has today announced it plans to launch the Hotelbeds Group Corporate Volunteering Program.

As part of Hotelbeds Group’s Corporate Sustainability plan, the new volunteer program will encourage its global workforce, reaching over 5,000 employees, to actively participate in volunteering opportunities throughout the globe - making meaningful contributions to the communities where Hotelbeds Group employees work and live.

Before rolling out the program globally, Hotelbeds Group will be hosting two pre-launch events in Central Florida featuring presentations from company executives and participating charities, followed by a reception with food and drinks. &nbsp;The two events will be held on Monday, April 23rd, at the headquarters of Tourico Holidays in Altamonte Springs, and on Tuesday, April 24th, at the offices of Hotelbeds in Orlando.

“Giving back to the community has always been at the core of Hotelbeds and Tourico’s cultures and now that we’ve become one single company, we wanted to go one step further, and provide the whole Group with easy access to volunteer work – and a chance to make a difference,” said Irma Pinero, HR Manager in the Americas for Hotelbeds Group.&nbsp;

“We are delighted that Orlando will be piloting this initiative. We want to foster an environment where employees feel inspired and play an integral role in not only helping the company and its commercial partners, but also making a positive impact on the whole community around them,” said Wendy Friedberg, Chief Legal Officer for Tourico Holidays.

To coordinate the activities, the Group has chosen VolunteerMatch, the web’s largest volunteer engagement network, as its technology platform. &nbsp;

“VolunteerMatch is in the business of making it easy for good people and good causes to connect – and Hotelbeds Group is full of great people,” said Kevin Johnson, Client Relations Manager for VolunteerMatch. &nbsp;

Tourico Holidays’ long-time philanthropic partner, Give Kids the World Village, a nonprofit resort in Central Florida that provides weeklong, cost-free vacations to children with life-threatening illnesses, will be presenting at both the events. &nbsp;Additionally, United Against Poverty, Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities, Second Harvest Food Bank, and other organizations will also speak in support of the Group’s volunteering initiatives in Florida. &nbsp;Hotelbeds Group employees will learn about available charity opportunities from the organizations presenting and be encouraged to sign up for upcoming activities.

Using the new platform, Hotelbeds Group employees will now be able to search, schedule, and collaborate on a range of meaningful volunteer opportunities – with the ability to identify events based on location, causes, time commitment, and skills necessary.

Event Details:

Who: Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays, VolunteerMatch, Give Kids the World Village, United Against Poverty, Ronald McDonald’s House of Charities, and Second Harvest Food Bank.

What: Hotelbeds Group corporate volunteer program pre-launch event.

When/Where: Monday, April 23rd at 3pm ET at the Tourico Holidays offices (220 East Central Parkway # 4000, Altamonte Springs, FL 32701) AND Tuesday, April 24th, at 3pm ET at the Hotelbeds Group offices (5422 Carrier Dr #201, Orlando, FL 32819).

Why: To deepen charitable roots and encourage Hotelbeds Group employees to engage in volunteerism and give back to their communities.

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch believes everyone should have the chance to make a difference. As the web's largest volunteer engagement network, serving over 113,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners and 13 million annual visitors, VolunteerMatch offers unique, award-winning solutions for individuals, nonprofits and companies to make this vision a reality. Since its launch in 1998, VolunteerMatch has helped the social sector attract more than $11.8 billion worth of volunteer services. Learn more about VolunteerMatch at VolunteerMatch.org, and follow @VolunteerMatch.

About Hotelbeds Group

Hotelbeds Group is a business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry globally and the leading bedbank worldwide.

The Group’s proprietary technology helps providers of travel services distribute their offering to travel sellers globally via an easy-to-use, advanced technology platform that increases reach, revenue and yield for both the provider and the seller.

Operating mainly under the Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays and GTA brands, the company connects over 60,000 travel intermediaries across more than 185 source markets globally with travel providers in over 200 countries representing more than 170,000 hotels, 22,000 transfer routes and 16,000 activities.

In September 2016 the company became independent under the ownership of Cinven and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). In June 2017 Tourico Holidays became part of Hotelbeds Group, followed by GTA also joining the Group in October; both companies remain independent brands whilst they are being integrated into the Group.

The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

Follow us on Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelbeds-group

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Facebook: @HotelbedsGroup

And Twitter: @hotelbedsgroup

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About Tourico Holidays

Tourico Holidays, a business unit within Hotelbeds Group, is a leading global travel distributor that contracts directly with travel providers, such as hotels, airlines, cruise lines, attractions, car rentals, vacation homes and more. Tourico works on a high-volume, wholesale model to broker this inventory to over 2,500 clients in 95 countries using proprietary technology. For more information, please visit: www.TouricoHolidays.com

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Hotelbeds Group media contact

Alicia Orta Stanford

Media Relations &amp; Corporate Affairs

alicia.ortastanford@hotelbeds.com

Pete Bahrenburg

pete@tailwindpr.com

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Hotelbeds Group to launch Corporate Volunteering program

Last week the travel industry’s elite were dancing to the tune of tango at the WTTC Global Summit in Buenos Aires; but this week the pace has increased a notch or two as the travelati attend Skift Forum Europe and descend on the home of techno, Berlin.&nbsp;

This quick change of tempo can also be noticed in the modern choice of venue and liberal dress code requirements, with guest speakers expressly told to leave their ties at home.

Noteworthy podium appearances will include Ryanair’s Kenny Jacobs, Thomas Cook’s Peter Fankhauser, and Accor’s Sébastien Bazin. Financial analysts Bernstein are sending in their very own Richard Clarke to speak about investing in future travel trends. Contentious but fascinating topics that will keep everyone on the edges of their seats will include Brexit and ‘digital fatigue’.

Our Executive Chairman, Joan Vilà, will be interviewed on stage by Skift’s European Correspondent, Patrick Whyte, to discuss ‘Business to business at scale’. Joan will be explaining more about the bedbank ecosystem and answering questions about our Group’s new strategy, following Tourico Holidays and GTA joining us last year.

Amongst the many highly quotable insights supposedly made by the wise sage of baseball, Yogi Berra, is the gem “I never make predictions, especially about the future”. But some people believe that the future is not something to predict, it’s something to be made. For our sector at least, this Thursday most of those people will be in Berlin. How long will it take for the future to catch-up with those who aren’t present? Whenever it is, it will almost certainly be too late.


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From tango to techno, the travel industry ups its tempo this week in Berlin

Paris might be famous as the location of Marlon Brando’s last tango, but this week the fancy footwork of travel commerce will be taking place in Buenos Aires, the real home of tango.

That´s because the World Travel &amp; Tourism Council (WTTC) will be holding its 18th annual Global Summit in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. The WTTC is the global lobby group founded in 1991 to gain recognition for the job creation and economic contribution of our fast growing sector.

And where better to hold it than in the nation chairing the G20 this year and whose recent economic resurgence is helping its tourism economy?&nbsp; Over 600 tourism ministers, CEOs and senior executives of leading travel firms, academics and analysts focusing on the sector, and journalists from across the globe will all converge on the city.

Argentina’s President Mauricio Macri will be opening the event and this year’s theme of ‘Our People, Our World, Our Future’ will see tough questions asked about the future facing travel &amp; tourism today. &nbsp;

Key note speakers of interest will include Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary General of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO); the ex-Prime Minister of Spain, José María Aznar; the CEO of Thomas Cook Group, Peter Fankhauser; the CEO of TUI Group, Fritz Joussen; and the President &amp; CEO of Marriott International, Arne Sorenson. &nbsp;

Our very own Executive Chairman Joan Vilà will be taking part in a debate on stage titled ‘Leadership in a digital age’, where he´ll be discussing how digital disruption is impacting effective leadership in an uncertain climate, alongside fellow panelists from Airbnb, Dufry AG, and Value Retail.

At Hotelbeds Group we are proud to be members of the WTTC and participate actively in its regular events, debates and research. We´re particularly looking forward to the event as it will be the first chaired by the WTTC’s new President &amp; CEO, Gloria Guevara Manzo, whose previous roles included being the Tourism Minister for Mexico.

One of the famous songs by the legendary Argentine tango singer Carlos Gardel was called Silencio (in English, Silence), but hopefully the impact of this week’s WTTC Global Summit will be anything but silent. Whether you like tango, jazz or rock music, the fact that travel &amp; tourism is the world’s largest sector and produces 10% of the world’s GDP, is surely music to the ears of everyone in the travel industry? It certainly is to the one in ten people who are employed in travel &amp; tourism globally, and thankfully that figure is growing. It´s enough to make you want to dance. &nbsp;&nbsp;


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This week the spiritual home of tango will teach travel industry’s elite some new steps 

There is a saying in Brazil, inspired by the title of a book by writer Stefan Zweig, that "Brazil is the country of the future – and always will be", alluding to the eternally unfulfilled expectation of that great country's success.

But at a tourism level the development of the country in recent years has proved that this saying is out-of-touch with modern Brazil: the future seems to have finally arrived. &nbsp;

World Travel Market Latam once again last week opened its doors and it couldn’t be in a much better position. This year Brazil is the host country for the event, confirming the privileged position that the country is living when it comes to tourism industry leadership.

It is not a secret that Brazil has managed to be in the spotlight of the international travel trade industry during the last four years. First came the football World Cup in 2014 and then the Olympics in 2016, which both put the country in front of the eyes of the whole world. So what’s next – how do you top that?

With the momentum of both events Brazil has managed to take advantage of the international attention to attract a considerable mass of tourists.

Additionally however, Brazil is emerging as an important source market for global tourism. &nbsp;According to bookings made via Hotelbeds Group’s platform already it is the main Latin American source market –&nbsp; and has become our seventh globally (up two positions compared to the previous year); by the same measure domestic tourism in Brazil has also increased 32% in room nights compared to the previous&nbsp; year.

With these credentials, Hotelbeds Group didn’t miss a chance to be present at this year’s edition of the World Travel Market Latam in São Paulo, where we had a stand combining our three bedbank brands – Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays and GTA – under one roof.

Over 50 colleagues from the Wholesale Sales and Sourcing departments attended the event to represent our company. Showcasing our products to potential and existing partners, they held more than 200 meetings that could drive win-win growth opportunities for both our partners and our business.

Lauren Volcheff, Responsible for Sales Americas of Hotelbeds Group&nbsp;commented “The increase in the number of Brazilian tourists travelling domestically can be attributed to several measures to promote tourism in the country. On the one hand, the recent opening of new air routes has improved mobility inside the country; but this also acts as a benefit for those visiting Brazil from outside, as this year we are also registering an outstanding increase in the number of tourists coming from the United States – with 69% growth in room nights. On the other hand – as part of the government’s Tourism Plan – the boost of ecotourism and regional tourism are pushing the development of domestic tourism by making known internal destinations previously unknown to date by Brazilians.”









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World Travel Market Latam: has the future finally arrived for Brazil?

This year Easter fell on the last weekend of March, but an early Easter break is always tricky for sun-seekers. If a little vitamin D is not an option, where to go then?

According to Hotelbeds Group’s latest reports, it looks like travelers in Europe looked for a city break to enjoy their time-off this Easter. But amongst all the options, Paris rose as the winner. As Frank Sinatra’s song says, “I love Paris in spring time”.

Although Paris was the preferred destination among European travelers for the spring holiday, it is also ranked as the most expensive European city and the world’s second after Singapore, according to&nbsp;The Economist Intelligence Unit. So Paris demands a certain level of style – after all it’s the home of fashion, romance and fine cuisine.

But why has the City of Light been positioned at the very top in the go-to list for this four-day break?

This is proof that for those who choose their holidays price is not always a decision-making factor. Definitely Paris is, in many ways, the ultimate city break destination. Visitors can relax for the long weekend and patisseries fill their windows with chocolate-themed displays for the holiday. But apart from heady mixture of sophistication and relaxation, what does Paris really offer to those with well-lined pockets?

Our Hotelbeds Group bedbank platforms offer a wide range of options to many travelers when choosing the French capital. This is a city with something for everyone: solo travelers, couples, families, foodies or culture enthusiasts. Amongst them all, for many the jewel-in-the-crown activity is Disneyland Paris, which just happens to be Hotelbeds Group's top-selling attraction. After the theme-park, some other favorite activities include the Paris Hop-On Hop-Off tour, the Paris Magic sightseeing cruise, and obviously the Eiffel Tower visit, which is always a must.

With over 2,100 hotels, Paris is the city with the biggest accommodation offering available on our platform. But Paris hotels don’t have to cost the earth. There are options for all budgets, from 1 star up to 5.

If the idea is to look like Parisiennes, buy a fresh baguette and have a nice walk along the river Seine,&nbsp;très chic.

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Why travelers will always love Paris in spring time

São Paulo, 4 April 2018. Hotelbeds Group, the leading bedbank worldwide and provider of business-to-business services to the global travel industry, has confirmed today during World Travel Market Latam, which takes place from 3-5 April in São Paulo, that Brazil has increased its domestic tourism by 32% in room nights during the Group’s present financial year. [1]

This significant increase in the number of domestic nights booked by Brazilians through Hotelbeds Group’s bedbank platform – which include the Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays and GTA brands – is accompanied by impressive results for Brazil as a source market in the worldwide ranking of reservations through the Group’s platform, rising two rankings to become the seventh biggest globally, and remaining the biggest market in Latin America for the Group.

According to Hotelbeds Group data domestic tourism destinations for Brazilians by order of popularity are Natal, Maceio, São Paulo, Salvador da Bahia and Joao Pessoa; &nbsp;whilst international destinations this year for Brazilians are, in order of popularity, Orlando, Lisbon, Santiago de Chile, Buenos Aires and Cancun.

Lauren Volcheff, Responsible for Sales Americas of Hotelbeds Group commented “The increase in the number of Brazilian tourists travelling domestically can be attributed to several measures to promote tourism in the country. On the one hand, the recent opening of new air routes has improved mobility inside the country; but this also acts as a benefit for those visiting Brazil from outside, as this year we are also registering an outstanding increase in the number of tourists coming from the United States – with 69% growth in room nights. On the other hand – as part of the government’s Tourism Plan – the boost of ecotourism and regional tourism are pushing the development of domestic tourism by making known internal destinations unknown to date by the Brazilians.”

Hotelbeds Group is present this week at the World Travel Market Latam trade show from 3-5 April, with its three leading brands for the wholesale channel – Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays and GTA – all participating together on stand 059.
About Hotelbeds Group

Hotelbeds Group is a business-to-business provider of services to the travel industry globally and the world's leading bedbank.

The Group’s proprietary technology helps providers of travel services distribute their offering to travel sellers globally via an easy-to-use, advanced technology platform that increases reach, revenue and yield for both the provider and the seller.

Operating mainly under the Hotelbeds, Tourico Holidays and GTA brands, the company connects over 60,000 travel intermediaries across more than 185 source markets globally with travel providers in over 200 countries representing more than 170,000 hotels, 22,000 transfer routes and 16,000 activities.

Additionally the Group also operates a Destination Services division offering in-bound destination services, such as tours or transfers, in around 40 countries. The Group also owns several other B2B travel brands such as Pacific World (focusing on the MICE area), Intercruises (shore side cruise solutions) and more.

In September 2016 the company became independent under the ownership of Cinven and the Canadian Pension Plan Investment Board (CPPIB). In June 2017 Tourico Holidays became part of Hotelbeds Group, followed by GTA also joining the Group in October; both companies remain independent brands whilst they are being integrated into the Group.

The Group is headquartered in Palma de Mallorca, Spain.

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Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hotelbeds-group

And twitter: @HotelbedsGroup

Follow APItude on twitter: @Hotelbeds_API

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Hotelbeds Group Media contact

Media Relations and Corporate Affairs

Anna Monreal

amonreal@hotelbeds.com

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[1]
All figures and data quoted are year-to-date from the current fiscal year of Hotelbeds Group´s bedbank platform, which includes Hotelbeds, Bedsonline, Tourico Holidays and GTA, starting from October 1, 2017.

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