rda english newsletter march 2017

RDA English Newsletter

March 2017

1

Dear RDA Members, Dear Readers, Welcome to the March 2017 issue of our monthly RDA English Newsletter!

Some 350 exhibitors have already signed up for the RDA Group Travel Expo exhibition on 20th and 21st April 2017 in Friedrichshafen. This early date offers coach and group tourism buyers throughout the UK, Ireland and mainland Europe an excellent opportunity to secure much sought-after contingents in popular destinations early on and to explore new coach tourism developments and group travel trends.

RDA Members are kindly invited to attend this year’s RDA Annual General Meeting which will take place from 3.30 pm on Wednesday, 19th April 2017 in Messe Friedrichshafen. Important decisions will be taken at this meeting and significant foundations laid for the future of our federation, so it is imperative that as many RDA Members as possible attend and participate.

We also look forward to meeting you in person at the RDA Group Travel Expo in Friedrichshafen (20th and 21st April 2017), at the RDA Group Travel Expo in Cologne (4th to 5th July 2017) or at one of the many RDA regional get-togethers and valuable RDA Academy seminars being organised for your benefit.

Wishing you an informative and enjoyable read! Richard Eberhardt Dieter Gauf President CEO Editor Contact: Dr. Patrick Patridge E-mail: [email protected] Web: http://www.patrick-patridge.com Phone: +49-69-9784 0206 Twitter: @DrPatridge Hashtag: #RDAGTE17


March 2017

2

CONTENTS

Select RDA Dates in 2017 and 2018

66th RDA Annual General Meeting 19th April 2017 (from 3.30 pm) in Friedrichshafen, Germany

RDA Group Travel Expo 20th and 21st April 2017 in Friedrichshafen, Germany 4th – 5th July 2017 in Cologne, Germany

36th Day of Coach Tourism 8th January 2018 in Saarbrücken, with informal B2B networking get-together on the evening of Sunday, 7th January 2018. Hashtag: #tagderbustouristik

RDA-Academy Seminars RDA English-language Seminar, Partner Seminars I and II and RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 Preparation Seminars 28th to 31st March 2017 in Cologne

Federation News

66th RDA AGM on 19th April 2017 in Friedrichshafen

German Federal Council: Winter tyre obligation for tour coaches is off the table for the time being - RDA points out that current Road Traffic Act regulations are quite sufficient

RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 Expert opinion on RDA Group Travel Expo from Karin Urban, Managing Director, Hotels & More Ltd. (UK)

Industry News Coach Tourism Association (UK) CTA National Coach Tourism Survey published PAFOS – European Capital of Culture 2017 New RDA Members


March 2017

3

RDA-Academy Seminars 2017

RDA English-language Seminar, Partner Seminars I and II and RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 Preparation Seminars 28th to 31st March 2017 in Cologne

Are you a tourism supplier or destination marketing organisation and would like to work more closely with coach and group tourism companies to optimize your business from this important sector? If so, then the following RDA-Academy seminars will be of particular interest to you:

The RDA-Academy will run an “English-language Seminar” on 28th April 2017 at the RDA Head Office in Cologne that aims at optimizing the co-operation between coach operators and their business partners. Interpretations of market research data and know-how about market structure, trade customs, marketing, joint ventures, sales promotions and best practices will be presented and discussed. Seminar facilitator is RDA CEO, Dieter Gauf.

The "RDA Partner Seminars" on 29th to 30th March 2017 at RDA Head Office in Cologne will provide you with comprehensive answers to the following and many other questions:

• When do coach holiday companies purchase services? • What are coach holiday company needs and requirements? • How do I correctly approach coach holiday companies? • When is the coach tourism season and how is the market structured? • What is the best time for advertising measures? • What do I have to bear in mind when designing an optimal brochure for coach

holiday operators? • What are the legal considerations? • How do I best structure my terms & conditions? • How do I put together market and advertisement offers that sell?

The seminars will be presented in German by RDA CEO, Dieter Gauf, and by RDA legal consultant, Prof. Dr. Harald Bartl.

A special "RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 Preparations Seminar" to prepare exhibitors – new exhibitors in particular - will also be held on 31st March 2017 in Cologne. The seminar will be presented (in German language) by Michael Fleischhauer. Participation is for RDA exhibitors only and is free-of-charge.


March 2017

4

RDA-Academy Seminar Programme 2016/2017

http://www.rda.de/fileadmin/content/rda/Dateiordner/akademie/RDA_Akademie_Seminarkalender_2016_17.pdf

Full details, participation costs and registration: Ms. Claudia Schnackerz Phone: +49-221-91 27 72 16 E-mail: [email protected]

Federation News 66th RDA AGM on 19th April 2017 in Friedrichshafen

RDA Members are kindly invited to attend this year’s RDA Annual General Meeting which will take place from 3.30 pm on Wednesday, 19th April 2017 in Trade fair Friedrichshafen – on the afternoon prior to the RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 in Friedrichshafen. Important decisions will be taken at this meeting and significant foundations laid for the future of our federation, so it is imperative that as many RDA Members as possible attend and participate.

Richard Eberhardt concludes his 15-year tenure as RDA-President. The RDA AGM in Friedrichshafen will elect a new RDA President and further members of the RDA Board. RDA Members will also take decisions about federation finances and future activities. RDA Members who are company owners or company managing directors are eligible to stand for election to the RDA Board. Candidates may register for the ballot paper up to the beginning of the respective Board Member election.

The RDA AGM 2017 agenda and back-up documentation will be sent to RDA Members within the statutory timeline (3 weeks prior to the AGM). For organisational and logistical purposes it is very much appreciated when RDA Members advise their attendance in advance of the AGM itself. An evening event will take place after the AGM.

Tourist-Information Friedrichshafen has room contingents reserved in various Friedrichshafen hotels for RDA AGM and RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 participants. You will find further information and all details on their online booking platform:

http://ibe.incomingsoft.de/publicsoft/ibe.jsp?manref=FRIEDHFN&profile=FNS&type=uk_s&detail=Messe&lang=de&search_tkid=645932


March 2017

5

Please book your accommodation in plenty of time beforehand the RDA room contingents will be discontinued four weeks prior to the event and may no longer be booked online.

Further information on room reservations:

Tel: +49 - 7541 – 3001 23

German Federal Council: Winter tyre obligation for tour coaches is off the table for the time being - RDA points out that current Road Traffic Act regulations are quite sufficient

The RDA is relieved that a submission to the German Federal Council on 9th February 2017 - which called for a winter tyre obligation for tour coaches - was withdrawn at short notice. The RDA considers such an obligation unnecessary. The German Federal Council Traffic, Legal and Internal Affairs Committees had recommended that winter tyres be made compulsory for both driving and steering axles - their arguments being based on studies of the freight transport sector and of lorries which have different weight distributions and higher overall weight compared to coaches.

The RDA drew attention to the current German Road Traffic Act which already regulates that road vehicles with appropriate tyres only may drive in wintry conditions. §2, paragraph 3 also states that vehicles of classes M2, M3, N2 and N3 in the sense of addendum XXIX of the German Road Traffic Licensing Regulations of 26th April 2012 may also be driven in wintry conditions when M+S tyres are mounted to the driving axle wheels only.

In this context, the RDA emphasises that a tour coach is neither a freight vehicle nor a lorry and that other physical prerequisites are in operation. There is absolutely no requirement for additional regulation of tour coach tyres in wintertime – a fact supported by road accident statistics. RDA member coach companies only employ vehicles in wintertime that fulfil road traffic regulations and safety requirements. New regulations are simply unnecessary when current legal guidelines are properly respected.


March 2017

6

RDA Group Travel Expo 2017

Expert opinion on RDA Group Travel Expo from Karin Urban, Managing Director, Hotels & More Ltd. (UK)

“I think it was a good decision to change the name of the exhibition to RDA Group Travel Expo. After all, the RDA is an international trade association and exhibitors come from a wide range of countries. Both RDA Group Travel Expos should therefore be promoted to international buyers as an ideal marketplace for sourcing their coach and group travel products.”

“Friedrichshafen - in the south of Germany close to Switzerland, Austria and not too far from France – is so very central in mainland Europe. The area is beautiful and offers international buyers an opportunity to explore the Lake Constance region in combination with doing business at the trade show.”

“Both RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 exhibitions complement each other. In April in Friedrichshafen, we meet the "early birds" who know that it makes sense to contract some destinations early. In July in Cologne, we speak to clients who would like to have a better knowledge of the current season before buying for next year. Both approaches make sense and that is why such a large number of coach tour operators attended both exhibitions last year in order to be ahead of the game.”

Photo: Karin Urban

Contact: Ms. Karin Urban Managing Director Hotels & More Ltd. E-Mail: [email protected] Web: www.hotels-more.com


March 2017

7

Further information about RDA Group Travel Expo 2017: PLEASE NOTE: Early-bird registration for RDA Group Travel Expo 2017 in Cologne is open until 27th March 2017. RDA-Workshop Touristik-Service GmbH

Tel. +49-221-12 04 48

E-Mail: [email protected]

Web: http://www.rda-workshop.de/en

Twitter Hashtag: RDAGTE17

Please also see ‘Looking ahead to RDA exhibitions in 2017’ published in the January 2017 edition of leading UK trade magazine Bus & Coach Tourism Professional

http://www.busandcoach.com/news/articles/2017/looking-ahead-to-rda-exhibitions-in-2017/

Information about Friedrichshafen: http://en.friedrichshafen.info/ and https://www.messe-friedrichshafen.de/mfn-en/

Information about Cologne: http://www.cologne.de/ and http://www.conventioncologne.de/en.html

Industry News

Coach Tourism Association (UK) CTA National Coach Tourism Survey published

The first ever Coach Tourism Association (UK) CTA National Coach Tourism Survey based on the views of more than 25,000 people, including 20 percent who were non-coach travellers has just been published. The following is a summary of its key findings:

Once you are a coach traveller you are hooked – 92 percent of existing coach travellers

say they will continue to book coach tours over the next five years. Even people who

have never been on a coach tour are keen to do so – from a poll of 5,870 – 43 percent

of all ages said they were likely to consider booking a coach holiday in the next 5 years.


March 2017

8

Further details were revealed at the recent CTA Coach Holiday Conference 2017 in Bournemouth by Peter Stratton, Managing Director, ICT. He said the 6 percent response rate was significantly higher than the usual return for surveys of this kind. Around 65 percent of recipients were aged 55 to 74, reflecting the core coach tourism market, while around 10 percent were aged 45 to 54.

Eighty percent of respondents had taken a coach holiday during the last five years, leaving 20 percent who had not. Of those who hadn’t, the perception was positive in several areas. They like coach tours for offering value for money, taking the hassle out of travel, being comfortable, sociable and safe. A significant minority even agrees that coaches are a luxury form of travel.

The survey also reveals what is termed as the Net Promoter Score that evaluates perceptions among coach passengers. This came out at 27 – the same as hotels and various High Street brands – but it could be higher, said Peter Stratton. Interestingly those aged 45-64 gave a higher score of 31. But while there are a lot of ‘Promoters’, there are also a high number of ‘Passives’ – especially a lot of people in the mature age bracket who just are not enthusiastic enough about the concept to recommend coach travel, yet they themselves love travelling by coach.

Summing up, Peter Stratton said it was important for coach tourism operators to look at what they do and identify ways to do it better. “We’re all familiar with the often negative view that coach holidays are for older people. What’s clear from the figures is that far from being a negative, it’s actually a positive. But what’s also clear is that with the growth in the number of older people, the market opportunities are there for the taking. The key benefits of coach holidays identified in this survey: good value; sociable; comfortable; safe; and less hassle than air travel, are likely to prove even more attractive. However, the new so-called ‘baby boomer’ generation have higher expectations. To capture this new business, the product needs to improve.”

Further information: http://coachtourismassociation.co.uk


March 2017

9

PAFOS – European Capital of Culture 2017

The Cyprus Tourism Organisation and their partners are regular exhibitors at the RDA Group Travel Expo in Cologne. This year, the historic port and UNESCO Cultural Heritage city of Pafos (33,000 inhabitants) is European Capital of Culture 2017. Centre stage is not just the warm sunny weather but Pafos’ ancient Greek ruins (Palaipafos and Neapafos), Roman villas, Mediterranean promenade, Kourion amphitheatre, Kolossi castle, Trodos Mountains and Petra tou Romiou or Aphrodite’s Rock.

The European Capital of Culture Pafos 2017 hopes to bring together people from all over the world with more than 150 projects and 300 activities. The 2017 “Open Air Factory“ theme is regarded as a stepping-stone that will lead Pafos on to new paths, innovative ways of thinking and novel experiences – and to additional group, study and cultural travel business. Pafos has issued an open invitation to artists, citizens and visitors to come together and actively co-create in different projects and networks (e.g. laying mosaics, glass-blowing, wall painting, woodcutting) - “Linking Continents-Bridging Cultures” as the 2017 motto suggests.

The Pafos programme deals with aspects of Cyprus’ cultural heritage and religions, Greek mythology, broader human concerns and Europe’s future. Co-operations with future and past host countries - primarily with twin European Capital of Culture 2017, Aarhus in Denmark – aim at reinforcing Pafos’ posotion on the European cultural map.

Further information:

http://www.pafos2017.eu/chairmans-address/?lang=en https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqUgeER7lNs&feature=youtu.be&a http://www.visitpafos.org.cy/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Paphos#ref58948 http://www.visitcyprus.com


March 2017

10

New RDA Members

A big and warm welcome to the following new RDA members:

Mayrhofner Bergbahnen Aktiengesellschaft A - 6290 Mayrhofen 0043 .5285 .62277 www.mayrhofner-bergbahnen.com [email protected] All4Groups Systems GmbH A - 8430 Leipnitz 0043 .3452 .769030 www.all4groups.com [email protected] Reisebüro Schmitt-Reisen D - 79232 March 0049 .7665 .2440 www.schmitt-reisen.de [email protected] Kings Travel - Zohar Spivack - D - 30629 Hannover 0049 .511 .10534778 www.kingstravel.de [email protected] Co & Co Reisen D - 53111 Bonn 0049 .228 .7669915 www.coco-reisen.de [email protected] Touristik Media GmbH & Co. KG D - 82194 Gröbenzell 0049 .8142 .2915470 www.touristik-media.com [email protected]