Baltic Stand By

15/11/2011

TALLINN 2011 presents: Animated Dreams and Animacampus at Black
Nights Film Festival

Animated Dreams Animation Film Festival will begin on 16 November with an opening screening which will include three brand new Nukufilm films, the legendary Estonian studio which specialises in puppet animation.

15/11/2011

Myanmar, Georgia and Sudan are the next sites of Hahn Air Ticket Offices

Three new Hahn Air Ticket Offices were established in Myanmar, Georgia and Sudan.

Hahn Air is now one step closer towards true global coverage with its presence in more than 190 markets worldwide.

15/11/2011

The number of TEZ TOUR serviced tourists has increased by 13.4% during the summer season

The International tour operator TEZ TOUR has serviced 13.4%, more tourists compared with last year, in this year's summer charter season; it shows the aggregate statistical results indicated by TEZ TOUR.

10/11/2011

Domestic tourism on the upward move in Estonia

In September, 61,000 domestic tourists stayed in accommodation establishments, which was 8% more than in the same month of the previous year.

47% of accommodated domestic tourists were on holiday and 39% on a business trip. Harju, Tartu and Pärnu counties were the most favoured destinations for domestic tourists, but they also liked to stay in accommodation establishments of Ida-Viru county.

10/11/2011

BalticMiles teams up with Grand City Hotels

The multi-partner loyalty programme BalticMiles has teamed up with Grand City Hotels – a leading hotel group in Europe with properties ranging from beautiful beachside resorts to modern city hotels.

Gabi Kool, CEO of BalticMiles: „The members of BalticMiles today have almost 10 000 places all over the world where they earn points for every purchase. We are delighted to welcome Grand City Hotels – one of the leading hotel management companies in Europe – as it creates a wonderful opportunity to earn BalticMiles points in more than 100 additional places in Europe.”

10/11/2011

TALLINN 2011 presents: Animated Dreams and Animacampus at Black Nights Film Festival

Animated Dreams Animation Film Festival will begin on 16 November with an opening screening which will include three brand new Nukufilm films, the legendary Estonian studio which specialises in puppet animation.

08/11/2011

Hahn Air

Hahn Air College enhances its training sections

Hahn Air has added another module to the Hahn Air College on www.hahnair.com focusing on the topic of the free insolvency insurance for Hahn Air and all of its 250 partner airlines.

Travel agents can visit the “Insolvency Insurance” section of Hahn Air College to learn more about the benefits of this Hahn Air service, which guarantees that every passenger using an HR-169 e-ticket gets a full refund for the unused part of the ticket, including taxes, in the event of the bankruptcy of the operating airline.

To the industry, Hahn Air is known as the specialist of passenger airline ticketing and airline distribution worldwide. Present in virtually all markets around the globe Hahn Air enables travel agents to issue e-tickets for the vast majority of airlines in all GDSes. ...

08/11/2011

London set to suffer 95% leisure tourism slump during Olympic Games

In a survey conducted amongst its members, the European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) has discovered that a major slump in leisure tourism bookings is underway.

At the end of October 2011, ETOA canvassed 38 Operators who move more than two million people annually to London. They revealed that they were expecting a significant downturn throughout 2012. This looks like being extremely severe in July and August, where operators are currently seeing a 60% shortfall in bookings, becoming acute during the period of the Olympic Games where bookings are running at 95% below where they would normally be. Bookings for the rest of the year are running at 20% below this time last year.

08/11/2011

Major airlines may pick on frequent fliers

Though several new rule changes have taken effect to protect air travelers, officials at AlphaFlightGuru.com said one group continues to get picked on by some airlines: frequent fliers.

According to results from the new ezRez Reward Seat Availability Survey, major players like U.S. Airways and Delta Air Lines were the two stingiest carriers when it came to redeeming points.

08/11/2011

Tallinn Card recommends in November

Autumn months are best to visit indoor events and sights on Tallinn Card’s package:

Kumu Art Museum
Ene-Liis Semper, local artist, known for spatial tension in installations, stage designs and performances, creates an environment that combines a large-scale spatial installation and new video works. The exhibition is open until the end of the year. Entrance with Tallinn Card is free of charge.

Estonian Museum of Applied Art and Design
Exhibition of rings – timeless everyday meaningful items are on display. Entrance with Tallinn Card free of charge.

01/11/2011

Italy "Favorite European Country" at the Telegraph Travel Awards 2011

The award ceremony for the Daily & Sunday Telegraph Travel Awards 2011 took place in the elegant surroundings of the Hansom Hall at the St Pancras Renaissance Hotel in London on 25 October 2011.

Italy was again nominated "Favourite European Country" by 23.000 polled Telegraph readers.

Also, the Hotel Villa D'Este in Cernobbio on Lake Como was nominated as "Favourite Hotel Worldwide". Venice was runner up as "Favourite City Worldwide" after New York.

01/11/2011

Latvian ports experience a mix in passenger traffic, while RIX meets expectations

The German market, RIX largest, proves to be a small stumbling block.

Between July thru September of 2011, there were 317.5 thousand passenger arrivals and departures at Riga Passenger Port, which is an increase of 8.7% when compared to July – September, 2010.

In the 3rd quarter of 2011, 1.6 million passengers arrived and departed from Riga International Airport, comprising an increase of 7% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2010.

In the 3rd quarter of 2011, the largest passenger turnover at Riga International Airport was with airports in Germany – 175 thousand passengers (a decrease of 7.7%), with airports in Great Britain – 168 thousand passengers (an increase of 5.1%) and with airports in Finland – 146 thousand passengers, which is an increase of 16.6% as compared to the 3rd quarter of 2010.

In the 3rd quarter of 2011, 1.6 million passengers arrived and departed from Riga International Airport, comprising an increase of 7% compared to the 3rd quarter of 2010.

01/11/2011

Flybe opened two new routes from Tallinn, and a Tartu-Helsinki route

Finland’s newest airline started operating its first ever Winter Schedule on Sunday 30th October.

By opening two new routes from Tallinn to Tampere and to Stockholm Bromma and the new Tartu - Helsinki route as part of extensive new regional schedule, Flybe offers new connections in Estonia and beyond.

31/10/2011

Ministers of Tourism of major world economies call on decision-makers to use tourism to stimulate the economy.

The Ministers of Tourism of the major economies meeting in Paris for the 3rd T20 Ministers’ Meeting focus their strategies to foster the economy and when facing mounting challenges, namely that of job creation (Paris, France, 25 October 2011).

31/10/2011

Two new destinations to be opened from Riga Airport in the winter season

To several other destinations – Kiev, Munich, Warsaw, Helsinki etc. – the number of flights will be increased and by the end of the year the airport expects its passenger traffic to reach five million.

31/10/2011

Tallinn Airport cancels flights, fuel quality the culprit

Airlines responded by either redirecting flights, or by transporting fuel from nearby facilities, which led to flight delays. Lufthansa for an example redirected a flight to Tallinn through Helsinki, only to have their passenger's take a ferry to Tallinn as the Pilots of the flight had worked their maximum work load. Estonia Air had fuel shipped in from nearby facilities, which resulted in many 2 hour delays. AirBaltic canceled two flights on Saturday between Tallinn and Riga.

28/10/2011

81% of people book their snowsports holiday through a Tour Operator

Despite an overall drop of 4% in the snowsports market, a 1% rise was seen in the number of bookings made through a tour operator, according to the Ski Club of Great Britain's annual Snowsports Analysis report.

The number of skiers and snowboarders travelling with tour operators has risen steadily by 5% since 2006/07, with more people seemingly attracted to the 'value for money', inclusive deals and financial security of booking with a bonded operator

28/10/2011

Tallinn Restaurant Week

From November 1st- till the 7th, Tallinn's Restaurant Week brings you closer to the culture of Tallinn.

During the week, 25 of Tallinn's best restaurants participate in a unique cultural event which highlights the quality of cuisine and hospitality available in Estonia.

Participating in Restaurant week include:
Balthasar, Bocca, Bollywood, Bonaparte, Bordeaux, Chedi, Dominic, Egoist, Gianni, Horizon, Karl Friedrich, La Bottega, MEKK, Monaco, Moon, Museum, Neh, Nero, Number 9, Platz Restaurant Ö, Ribe, sociocultural, Stenhus , Tchaikovsky. Balthasar, Bocca, Bollywood, Bonaparte, Bordeaux, Chedi, Dominic, Egoist, Gianni, Horizon, Karl Friedrich, La Bottega, MEKK, Monaco, Moon, Museum, Neh, Nero, Number 9, Platz Restaurant Ö, Ribe, sociocultural, Stenhus, Tchaikovsky.

28/10/2011

Avies has launched new routes in Sweden

Avies has opened two new routes between Tallinn and Jönköping and between Jönköping and Stockholm.

Flights from Jönköping to Tallinn take place on Sundays, flights from Tallinn to Jönköping – on Fridays. Return flights between Stockholm and Jönköping take place twice daily on the weekdays.

26/10/2011

Hahn Air launches "Hahn Air City and Airport Ticketing Centres"

Hahn Air has announced the start of the “Hahn Air City and Airport Ticketing Centres”. Travel agencies can now join this network to benefit from several Hahn Air services.

26/10/2011

Bulgaria is a bargain destination for skiers

Sterling's slump against the Swiss franc means that UK skiers will face higher prices in Switzerland this year - according to the fifth annual Ski Resort Report from Post Office Travel Money.

Produced in conjunction with ski operator Crystal Ski, the 2011 Post Office Ski Resort Report investigated costs in eight European and two North American destinations - finding Bulgaria to be cheapest for skiers whose main consideration is cost2.

26/10/2011

Ryanair's growth in Riga continues

A new route to Karlsruhe Baden-Baden starts in Match 2012.

Ryanair, announced a new route from Riga to Karlsruhe Baden-Baden. This new route will commence on the 27th of March 2012 and will operate three times per week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

24/10/2011

airBaltic Supervisory Board Chooses Martin Gauss as New CEO

The Supervisory Board of Latvian national airline airBaltic has chosen Martin Gauss as the new Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Executive Board as of November 1.

24/10/2011

Tallinn launched winter campaign in Russia

Tallinn City Tourist Office & Convention Bureau has launched its winter campaign to attract tourists from Moscow and St. Petersburg areas.

The campaign is set to run online, in social media and on the Moscow underground until mid-November.

24/10/2011

Sadama Market closes for a facelift

Tallinn market closes for renovations.

The Sadama market (Harbour Market) closed on October 17 for a at least a month or two for renovations. The market will hopefully be up and running just before Christmas time. The nearby Fish market is still open every Saturday. The closest food market will be for now the Central Market or Balti Jaam Market.

24/10/2011

Between adrenalin and chill out - news from Berlin & Brandenburg

German National Tourist Board is organizing a destination presentation in the three Baltic capital cities.

VisitBerlin, Tourism-Marketing Brandenburg, Steigenberger Hotel Group and AirBaltic will present the thrilling German capital city Berlin, the historical city Potsdam and unspoiled Brandenburg with endless possibilities for business, holiday and recreation.

19/10/2011

BalticMiles zone is launched in Arena Riga

On Friday, October 14th, multi-partner loyalty programme BalticMiles launched the BalticMiles zone in Arena Riga. This cooperation will provide extra privileges, service and exclusive offers for the members of BalticMiles.

19/10/2011

Tallink reached net profit of 38 million Euros

Leading passenger shipping company AS Tallink Grupp announced the unaudited financial results for 12 months of financial year 2010/2011, net profits reached of 38 million Euros (+76%) and revenue of 897 million Euros (+10%).

19/10/2011

Czech Airlines winter schedule: more flights to Russia, Ukraine and new code share destinations

During the upcoming winter season, Czech Airlines will operate up to 20 more return flights to Russia and Ukraine each week than last winter.

19/10/2011

St. Peter Line launches new cruise line

From October 30, St. Peter Line offers a new cruise line connecting Helsinki, Tallinn and St. Petersburg on the liner Princess Maria.

For EU citizens this is an opportunity to visit St. Petersburg visa free for 72 hours. The cruise ship leaves Tallinn on Tuesday evenings at 7pm and calls into St. Petersburg the following morning at 9.30am. Passengers can stay on board of Princess Maria and travel back to Tallinn via Helsinki or can stay in St. Petersburg visa free and return to Tallinn via Helsinki and Stockholm on the cruise ship Princess Anastasia.

17/10/2011

Number of airBaltic Passengers in September +5% in Riga base

Latvian national airline airBaltic carried 326,152 passengers in September 2011 (from Riga, Vilnius and Tallinn), representing 2% increase comparing with the same month in 2010, when airBaltic transported 318,807 passengers.

In September this year, the number of passengers at the base of airBaltic in North Hub Riga has increased by 5% compared to the same period last year.

17/10/2011

RYANAIR LAUNCHES EXTRA TALLINN FLIGHTS FOR FOOTBALL FANS AT FARES FROM €99 ONE WAY PLUS TAXES

Ryanair, confirmed that it had added a second extra flight from Dublin to Tallinn on Friday 11th November and returning early morning Saturday 12th November to cater for the phenomenal demand from Irish soccer fans for Ryanair’s low fare flights to Tallinn in Estonia.

17/10/2011

Three-quarters of cruisers suffer "cruise-blues"

New research from an online cruising travel agency has shown that British cruise passengers experience feelings of post-holiday sadness after returning to shore from a cruising holiday more so than when returning home from a ‘dry-land’ holiday.

A new study from a recently launched online cruising agency, which looked at the lifestyles of British cruisers, found that they missed their cruise experience more so than the last dry-land holiday resort they had visited.

14/10/2011

Worlds first low carbon fuel to be developed for Virgin Atlantic

Virgin Atlantic has announced the development of a world-first low carbon aviation fuel with just half the carbon footprint of the standard fossil fuel alternative.

14/10/2011

BalticBike Three Times More Popular Than Last Summer

This summer, the bicycles of the self-service bike rental BalticBike have already been used by customers on more than 14 000 occasions in the six months from April to September.