The European Tour Operators Association

August 12, 2013

In February 2014, ETOA will bring the Hoteliers European Marketplace workshop (HEM) to Paris for the first time in eighteen years. HEM is ETOA’s only B2B workshop focussed on a specific sector within the industry, bringing accommodation buyers (from wholesalers to tour operators and online intermediaries) directly to the table with hoteliers from across Europe.

HEM provides an opportunity for professional buyers to meet with global brands and independent hotels alike. Previous HEM workshops have been attended by representatives on the accommodation side from major chains such as Accor, Best Western, Carlson Rezidor, Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, Marriott, Starwood and Wyndham. Buyers have included Cox and Kings, Globus, Hostelbookers.com, Kuoni, Miki Travel and Shearings Holidays.

HEM 2014 will follow the highly productive B2B appointment format common to all ETOA workshops. Each delegate is guaranteed a minimum of fifteen appointments and up thirty-two in one day. HEM 2013 attained an 85% satisfaction score from both buyers and hoteliers, Kate Sawbridge from Alfa Travel said the workshop was ‘a fantastic contracting opportunity – a day could not have been better spent in terms of productivity’.

The workshop itself will take place on Monday 17th February at Disneyland’s Hotel New York®. Buyers attending the workshop will be hosted and invited to enjoy a programme of fam trips and social events during the preceding weekend, organised by the Paris Ile-de-France Tourist Board, both at Disneyland Paris® and in the centre of the city. Hoteliers will benefit from preferential accommodation rates.

François Navarro, Director of Communications at the Paris Ile-de-France Tourist Board said: ‘The Paris Region Tourist Board is proud to welcome a new edition of the Hoteliers European Marketplace in 2014. It is a huge opportunity for our destination and for all of our tourism professionals. Paris is the perfect setting for an important tourism industry event where European hoteliers to meet with leading tour operators.’

Eloi Courcoux, Director of Business Solutions at Disneyland Paris said: “As a leading European player in the business group industry, Business Solutions – Disneyland Paris is delighted to welcome Hoteliers European Marketplace to France next year and more specifically to Ile-de-France with the co-operation of the Paris Ile-de-France Tourist Board. Our teams are proud to showcase the diversity of their expertise to tourism and hospitality professionals’.

Tom Jenkins, Executive Director of ETOA said: ‘We are thrilled to be taking HEM to Paris Ile-de-France. Paris is one of the most compelling tourist destinations in Europe, and it is ensuring professional buyers experience some of its best attractions at a crucial moment in the contracting season. It also gives ETOA a wonderful opportunity to stage a workshop in the impressive conference facilities of Disneyland Paris.’

The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA) and Mintel, the market research firm, today announced a strategic partnership that will facilitate the provision of market intelligence to the European Travel & Tourism sector. Under the terms of the agreement, the main findings of four series of Mintel reports will be provided to ETOA members and the detailed data will be made available at a special discounted price. The series includeInternational Travel Series, Country Reports, Travel and Tourism Analyst and Mintel's Travel Industry Monitor.

The report summaries will be made available from newly-launched Weighhouse Intelligence, the statistics and research arm of ETOA.

Mintel will also undertake a special study that will be presented at ETOA's annual conference on Thursday 2nd November. The study will discuss trends and forecasts from the major origin markets, with a special focus on Russia as an emerging market. It will also examine hotel performance trends in Europe. A copy will be available exclusively for delegates attending the conference.

Rachel Tym, Director of Strategy, ETOA said: "As a long-standing, global provider of market intelligence, Mintel is a great partner for ETOA. This deal is good for our members as it will enable them to be better informed about the marketplace in which they operate and so make better decisions."

Richard Cope, Senior Travel Analyst, Mintel said: "Travel & Tourism is one of the world's largest and fastest growing economic sectors and virtually all of the leading inbound tour operators are members of ETOA. This partnership will help Mintel to further raise its profile with the industry and to build stronger relationships with many of the key players."

For further information, including photographs, please contact Rachel Tym on: +44 (0)20 7499 4412 or David Tarsh, Tarsh Consulting, on +44 (0)20 7602 5262.

About ETOA Since its foundation in 1989, ETOA has grown exponentially to include over 400 member organisations, of which over 100 are Tour Operators. Collectively, ETOA represents over ¤6 billion spending on accommodation and travel services annually. ETOA provides representation at the European government level for companies that bring tourists to Europe. The Association promotes greater awareness of the benefits provided by the group travel industry in Europe -

particularly increased income and employment. ETOA also influences European tourism policy and legislation.

Working with other travel & tourism associations to raise the industry's profile

Mintel is a global supplier of consumer, media and market research. Mintel produces some 600 reports into European, UK-specific and US consumer markets every year.