Sitare Pekcan, District Sales Manager Western Canada, Lufthansa & Lydia Stiglich, Account Manager, Lufthansa
Anne Dollendorf, Marketing Director GNTO Canada
The German National Tourist Office together with Lufthansa recently made a big splash at the very upmarket Blue Water Café in Vancouver. It was a fitting setting for the messages that both the GNTO and Lufthansa wanted to get across. Guests salivated over fine food and a presentation that made you want to jump on the next plane to Germany. What a treat that the hosts used a venue that was top notch and had a presentation that was positive and very informative.
Anne Dollendorf, Director of Marketing for the GNTO in Canada stressed that Germany was unique in many ways. It has unique old and new sites, unique cultural experiences, unique history and of course it is uniquely inspiring and lest we forget, uniquely efficient!
This year has seen a 15% increase in Canadians visiting Germany and this momentum should increase next year. To whet the appetite 2011 is the 125th anniversary of the birthplace of the car and for car lovers there will be many exhibitions and events. The FIFA Women’s World Cup of soccer kicks off in Berlin with Germany playing host to Canada in the first game. The GNTO could not have planned this any better!
The most surprising revelation was that more than 50% of tourists to Germany go there for health and fitness activities. The German infrastructure of Spas and Bads is well known and today’s awareness of health issues and fitness has allowed them to capitalize on this trend. After our sumptuous meal at the Blue Water Café, where no calories were spared, I think the GNTO cleverly created another wave of potential tourists!
To round off the proceedings, Sitare Pekcan, District Sales Manager for Lufthansa, gave us a very comprehensive update of new developments. In spite of a tough 2010 Lufthansa is still on track to make an operating profit of 800 million Euros. They are using their financial strength to upgrade their fleet and onboard experience. First Class is being revamped with a major emphasis on an open concept and a vast improvement in air quality, which their research shows is a very important item with regular travellers. Of course, they will also have flat sleeper beds and improved access to shower facilities at their 65 lounges worldwide. Sitare reminded us that Lufthansa is doing their bit to stir the Canadian economy by being the launch customer of the Bombardier C Series Jets. As a bit of trivia they already have 84 Bombardiers in their fleet. Thank you Lufthansa!
Before concluding, Lufthansa stressed the importance of their Air Canada joint venture and pointed out that there are connections from all points in Canada to Germany and nobody makes it easier than they do.Together with all the unique things going on in Germany it is a compelling story and one that augurs well for the future of German tourism.
