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Aniyami DMC Brazil joins WATA
A warm welcome to Adria Lacorte and his team at Aniyami DMC who just joined WATA !
"Aniyami DMC provides specialised incoming services in Brazil for international agents and operators only. We focus on travel product and services for FIT and small groups interested in Soft Adventure, Luxury, Incentive and Special Interest tours all around the country.
Our philosophy is to provide a creative, quality and responsible travel product and service to travellers and travel agent clients. We serve our agent clients all throughout the process, from travel design, through sales to trip operations. In order to ensure quality, we travel intensively around the country every year and conduct Tour comments which are uploaded in each travel agent's account in the private section of our web site only for travel agents (www.aniyami.com). Please register and you will have access to our full product details and other destination material such as photos, transfer times and climate info.
Get your travellers to discover a different Brazil with Aniyami, the Brazil Travel Experience.
Nueva Vista and Anna awarded by the Prime Minister of Armenia
WATA is proud to announce that Nueva Vista and Anna Khachaturova, Founder and Director of the company were awarded by the Prime Minister of Armenia as the best employer (headed by a woman) of Armenia. This is one of the most prestigious awardS of the country and the winner is selected through a very competitive exercise by the special commission established by the Prime Minister of Armenia and Ministry of Economy of Armenia.
Anna and Nueva Vista were declared the winner by the commission among more than 175 applicants considering the following factors: a) Gross revenue growth of the company in last 3 years; b) number of employees and the growth in last 3 years and the portion of women in total number of employees, c) average salary of employees and its growth in last 3 years, d) reward schemes used by our company, e) non-monetary rewards and promotions, f) creativeness in management and team work.
Anna declared "I mentioned that Nueva Vista is a member of WATA and WOI and that our company and its staff are benefitting from these memberships. Perhaps it also helped to win this award."
They were only two companies receiving the Prime Minister’s award under this category of “best woman employer of the year” – Nueva Vista from Yerevan and another company registered in one of the regions of Armenia (this is the nature of competition that two companies should be awarded: one from the capital and one from the regions). The award diploma was given to Anna last Friday directly by the Prime Minister of Armenia during the special reception.
WATA in MATKA 2013
A successful participation of WATA in MATKA featuring members from :
- Cape Verde (Barracuda Tours)
- Poland (Furnel Travel)
- Estonia (Baltic Express Tours)
- Russia (Fremad Russia)
WATA reinforces its position on the German market through cooperation with asr Allianz
On August 22, WATA signed a partnership agreement with asr Allianz selbständiger Reiseunternehmen – Bundesverband e.V. to develop business opportunities, exchange expertise, and join forces on common actions. In signing with WATA, the asr members will find new partners dealing in the inbound tailor-made travel strictly selected according to high criteria of quality, and offering in a large panel of destinations. asr members will benefit from special conditions with more than 50 inbound members in 35 destinations.
The structure and philosophy of both associations are very similar. They share the same vision in representing the interests of small and medium-sized travel enterprisesWATA, non-profit organization created in 1949 in Switzerland and is the only association representing the leisure segment for Fits and Groups. The members of WATA are mainly private companies, middle-size, with a long establishment in their destination. The asr represents the interests in politics and at significant industry conflicts and contempt. The alliance`s mission is to raise awareness for the importance and value of medium-sized structures in the tourism industry.
WATA has now opened a new chapter dedicated to enterprises purely dedicated to outbound. They are identified as Preferred Partners and are strictly selected.
In September 2011, same cooperation agreement was signed with TPA (Travel Professional Association) Switzerland and after one year the cooperation on different levels proves to be absolutely positive for both parties.
National associations of travel agencies are welcome to join this new category of Complimentary Membership in WATA.
Ittatours Egypt received Academy Award at IMEX 2012 !
Mr Adel Zaki, chairman of ITTATOURS, Cairo won the 2012 IMEX Academy Award for Africa & the Middle East at the exhibition.
By 1980 Adel Zaki was working with Ittatours, where he remains today as President and Chairman of the Board. He currently sits on the Egyptian Association of Travel Agencies Board and is Head of the Incoming Tourism Committee for 2011 – 2014.
The WATA association is very proud as the quality and excellence of personalities reflects on the image of our full association and Ittatours has been a faithful members over the last decades. Mr Adel Zaki was twice elected President of WATA.
WATA and TPA Meeting
Saturday April 28, 9 members of WATA were in Basle (Switzerland) upon invitation of our partners from TPA who where organizing their 10th General Assembly in this city.
After a short presentation of WATA to the TPA members, a very successful workshop took place in Hotel Ramada where the TPA members had the opportunity for the first time to get into face-to-face personal meetings with the WATA partners.
Let me give you here after the very positive comments gathered among the 9 WATA members having participated.
. Marina Parra (Weichlein Tours & Incentives, Munich) :
"The organization of the event was excellent. The number of participants from TPA was over my expectations and they really represent a good potential clientele for the future. It is really important to keep the connection with them"
. Capt Swadesh Kumar (Shikhar Travel, New Delhi) :
"My wife attended the workshop and considers that this is a good opportunity for us. The TPA members do not have easy contacts with inbound in India and they are glad now to know us personally. Our attendance was very positive."
. Adel Zaki (Ittatours, Cairo) :
"The workshop was excellent for both parties. It is obvious that those agents need us. Some had bad experiences with Egypt, specially for up-market services. They represent a good level of business for us and we should not disappoint them."
. Andra Nidetsky (Imperial Connection, Vienna) :
"I had less meetings at my table than others WATA members because obviously the Swiss travel agents know Austria which is a very similar destination and very near. However, those who came to me were really interested and I have got 2-3 good requests on which I have to work. So this is very positive on my side."
. Moris K. Kasar (Moris Tourism, Istanbul) :
"I already got few business from TPA since the agreement was initiated. This was our first face-to-face contact and it is very positive. Definitely those agents want to escape from the Swiss tour operators and they are very satisfied to work with us"
. Amine Nasser (Saad Tours, Beirut) :
"One of the best workshops I attended. It was a very fruitful gathering. The TPA members were really interested in going from one destination to the other. They represent medium size travel agencies and definitely WATA and TPA have to work closer together."
Marc Dans (BITS, Brussels) :
"This was a very good networking experience. I met more real potential clients than during a big trade show. Most of them are working with tour operators and we are the experts that they were looking for. I come back to Brussels with business in hands."
. Ognian Blagoev (MIEL, Ltd, Sofia):
"It was really good for us too. This association has the same philosophy as WATA. MIEL is organizing a fam-trip for the TPA agents and they will attend with a real interest".
François-Jérôme Arnoux (representing Nueva Vista, Yerevan) :
"The vision of WATA that those agents have is very good. We could consider creating some very special products that would only be sold through TPA agents.”
The wish of the WATA members is that we try to organize such workshop on the basis of min. 2 per year in different places of Switzerland to reach the entire TPA membership of 100+.Let me give you here after the very positive comments gathered among the 9 WATA members having participated.
Marina Parra (Weichlein Tours & Incentives, Munich) :
"The organization of the event was excellent. The number of participants from TPA was over my expectations and they really represent a good potential clientele for the future. It is really important to keep the connection with them"
Capt Swadesh Kumar (Shikhar Travel, New Delhi) :
"My wife attended the workshop and considers that this is a good opportunity for us. The TPA members do not have easy contacts with inbound in India and they are glad now to know us personally. Our attendance was very positive."
Adel Zaki (Ittatours, Cairo) :
"The workshop was excellent for both parties. It is obvious that those agents need us. Some had bad experiences with Egypt, specially for up-market services. They represent a good level of business for us and we should not disappoint them."
Andra Nidetsky (Imperial Connection, Vienna) :
"I had less meetings at my table than others WATA members because obviously the Swiss travel agents know Austria which is a very similar destination and very near. However, those who came to me were really interested and I have got 2-3 good requests on which I have to work. So this is very positive on my side."
Moris K. Kasar (Moris Tourism, Istanbul) :
"I already got few business from TPA since the agreement was initiated. This was our first face-to-face contact and it is very positive. Definitely those agents want to escape from the Swiss tour operators and they are very satisfied to work with us"
Amine Nasser (Saad Tours, Beirut) :
"One of the best workshops I attended. It was a very fruitful gathering. The TPA members were really interested in going from one destination to the other. They represent medium size travel agencies and definitely WATA and TPA have to work closer together."
Marc Dans (BITS, Brussels) :
"This was a very good networking experience. I met more real potential clients than during a big trade show. Most of them are working with tour operators and we are the experts that they were looking for. I come back to Brussels with business in hands."
Ognian Blagoev (MIEL, Ltd, Sofia):
"It was really good for us too. This association has the same philosophy as WATA. MIEL is organizing a fam-trip for the TPA agents and they will attend with a real interest".
François-Jérôme Arnoux (representing Nueva Vista, Yerevan) :
"The vision of WATA that those agents have is very good. We could consider creating some very special products that would only be sold through TPA agents.”
The wish of the WATA members is that we try to organize such workshop on the basis of min. 2 per year in different places of Switzerland to reach the entire TPA membership of 100+.
A special appreciation to our member Miel Bulgaria. Mr Ognian Blagoev organized a very nice drawing allowing one TPA member to win an air-fare : Zurich/Sofia/Zurich.
Baltic Blues Travel, new member in WATA
WATA is proud to announce the addition of BALTIC BLUES TRAVEL / Latvia - Lithuania to its unique portfolio of the world’s finest DMCs
Table Mountain , named as one of the 7 Wonders of Nature.
SOUTH AFRICA :
Celebrations erupted at the V&A Waterfront on Friday, November 11 as Table Mountain was named a New7 Wonder of Nature following a three-year battle in the race to choose the world’s seven most wonderful natural sites.
Table Mountain can now carry the title Official New7Wonder of Nature after hundreds of millions of votes were cast in this global competition.
It was a nail-biting finish for Table Mountain, following an announcement just five days before the end of the race that the site was not in the Top 10 list and would need to wrestle for a top 7 spot.
Table Mountain Cableway’s Chief Executive Officer Sabine Lehmann, and Campaign Manager Fiona Furey, had the honour of announcing the Top 7 places, listed in alphabetical order, that was released by the New7Wonders Foundation in Zurich, Switzerland.
Table Mountain was named along with the Amazon, Halong Bay, Iguazu Falls, Jeju Island, Komodo and Puerto Princesca Underground River.
After three years of intense campaigning, an unprecedented number of votes and support from South Africans and visitors alike, Table Mountain will now take its place in the history books of the world for the true wonder that it is.
After hosting a successful Soccer World Cup last year, and Cape Town having recently won World Design Capital 2014, South Africans can be proud of yet another incredible achievement for our country.
WATA & TPA Switzerland signed a partnership agreement
On September 10, WATA has signed an exclusive Preferred partnership agreement with TPA - Travel Professionals Association, based in Switzerland.
TPA members represent approximately 100 independent travel agencies spread all over Switzerland who have the desire, through this agreement to establish long term cooperation with reliable and qualified inbound companies worldwide.
TPA was founded in 2002. One of the objectives of TPA is to have agencies working in full conformity with the Federal Law protecting the travelers travelling with packages. Furthermore, they offer a supplementary insurance to cover the individual services. The insurance Swiss protection passenger, called now TPA Travel guarantee guarantees the protection of clients.
Capt Swadesh Kumar awarded
Capt. Swadesh Kumar, Managing Director, Shikhar Travels, received Life Time Achievement Award from Adventure Tour Operators Association at their 9th Annual Convention held in Srinagar, India. He has been honoured for his outstanding contributions in the field of adventure tourism in the country. He received the award from Hon’ble Chief Minister of Jammu & Kashmir Jenab Omar Abdullah during the inauguration ceremony of the Convention on 12th September, 2011.
Capt. Kumar is the Founder President of ATOAI, which plays a significant role in promoting adventure tourism in India, and has been recognized by the Ministry of Tourism as the prime body of the Indian adventure tourism industry.
Capt. Kumar's interest in Trekking and Climbing Expeditions started in 1969 when he joined the Delhi Mountaineering Association (DMA) as a member. From the very beginning of his career(1974 - 79), he has promoted and pioneered many routes and trails. One striking example of his breaking new ground, is the fact that he was the first person to promote Camel Safaris for foreign tourists in the Thar deserts of Rajasthan.
Capt. Kumar founded Shikhar Travels, with the idea of promoting adventure tourism, especially mountaineering and trekking. Today, Shikhar Travels is a name to reckon with in the field of professional adventure tourism, and ranks among the very top and most respected Indian adventure tour companies for organizing climbing and trekking expeditions to the Indian Himalayas. Shikhar Travels has organized and guided over 250 climbing expeditions to the Indian Himalayas..
Though, Capt. Kumar’s achievements are laudatory, he now wants to do ‘more’ for himself, his family, his business, and for what’s closest to his heart – the Indian adventure tourism industry. He wants to ‘contribute’ further and render assistance where it really matters.For this, he started the Shikhar Eco Foundation for cleaning and preserving of the Himalayas.
WATA General Assembly 2010
WATA just closed its very successful yearly General Assembly in India from November 14 to 20, visiting three cities : New Delhi, Agra and Mumbai.
Business being always the most regarded issue when travelling abroad, we must acknowledge the unique organization of two top-quality sessions focusing on the understanding of the Outbound market from India.
In Delhi, 3 top-speakers gave our members a full presentation on this subject : Mr. Rajji Rai - President of Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI) - Mr. Subhash Verma -Vice President of Association of Domestic Tour Operators in India (ADTOI) - Mr. Navin Berry - Travel Journalist
In Mumbai, 2 top-speakers followed on the subject : Mr. Rajesh Rateria – Chairman, TAAI Western Region and Mr. Anand Katti – Journalist, TTG Asia.
The WATA members all mentioned the high value of these two round tables where they really learned a lot on the way to handle the Indian outbound market which is so booming and becoming a high class business for our worldwide destinations.
These presentations were followed by two very successful workshops where about 40 renowned Indian outbound travel agents came to meet the WATA members to learn about the destinations they represent.
All WATA members agreed that the Indian buyers they met on this unique opportunity have proven to be very conscious about the today business and aware of the new trends that are to concentrate on tailor-made offers, working on very special interest programs, to give the possibility to the clients to have great experiences, to feel better the destination they visit and to set apart from the mass tourism.
On the business point of view, the trip to India was a total success and we are confident that very good opportunities of business will materialized in the next months.
Of course, getting a glimpse of India was a must in this trip and our members left India with beautiful images in their eyes and mind.
The organization of this outstanding General Assembly and 60th Anniversary of WATA is due totally to the very efficient work of Capt Swadesh Kumar, owner of WATA-SHIKHAR TRAVELS, exclusive WATA member in India, and all his team who spared no effort to achieve a congress that will remain in all memories for a long, long time.
In the name of the President, Adel Zaki, and all WATA members, I wish to bring our thanks and sincerest appreciation to Capt Swadesh Kumar and to all the Indian authorities that made this trip possible and exceptional.
