Year-to-date passenger segments for the first four months of 2012 increased slightly by 0.90 percent – at 117.5 million segments, compared to 116.4 million in 2011 – while reflecting a -1.78 percent decrease over the same period in 2010. Ticket transactions for January through April 2012 were flat, at .66 percent compared to the same period in 2011, while down by 1 percent over the same period in 2010.

About ARC:

As the financial backbone of the U.S. travel industry, ARC enables commerce among travel agencies, airlines, and travel suppliers, and offers them secure and accurate financial settlement services. About 16,000 travel agencies and 190 airlines make up the ARC network. In 2011, ARC settled more than $82 billion worth of transactions between travel sellers and airlines. ARC also supplies transactional data to organizations, facilitating better business decisions through fact-based market analyses.

Asia

The most important inter-regional growth patterns of last year are led by Asia.  Traffic between Asia and Europe, and between Asia and North America, grew by 9%. Traffic between Asia and the Middle East grew 6% reaching 38 million travelers in the year. Compared with the previous year, 2% fewer passengers traveled between Africa and Europe in 2011; this was the only region pair with a significant traffic flow decrease over the period.

Traffic between North America and Europe remains the busiest inter-regional flow with over 60 million passengers in 2011, followed by Asia and Europe with over 53 million, and Latin America and North America with 47 million passengers.

In terms of connecting traffic, over 50% of all passengers in the triangle between Asia, Europe, and North America change aircraft at least once. On the otherhand, only 7% of all passengers traveling within Asia travel with a connecting flight, compared to 10% in Europe, and 31% in North America. The largest airports in Asia have a lower percentage of connecting traffic than the North American and European hubs. The average connecting rate of the ten busiest airports in Asia is 19% compared with 32% for the top ten hubs in Europe and 45% in North America.

The 2011 country statistics reveal, unsurprisingly, that the strongest growth in absolute passengers is led by the BRIC countries. China registered an additional 19 million in 2011 than 2010, Brazil 12 million, India 8 million, and Russia 6 million. Indonesia was the 5th strongest growth market with an additional 5 million passengers in 2011.

Brazil (17%), India (13%), and Russia (15%) also featured in the top ten fastest-growing countries by percentage growth. Chile (21%), the Philippines (15%), and Indonesia (11%) are also among the fastest growing travel markets. Egypt and Japan are among the fastest-shrinking markets, likely due to the Arab Spring and the Tsunami respectively.

The new experiences are the latest in Universal Orlando’s “Year to be Here” – during which Universal is creating more new entertainment experiences across its entire destination than any other year in its history. The year began with a newly enhanced Blue Man Group Show at Universal CityWalk, continued with the high-tech re-launch of The Amazing Adventures of Spider-Man at Universal’s Islands of Adventure and will continue with the launch of the new Despicable Me Minion Mayhem attraction at Universal Studios Florida this summer.

Universal’s Superstar Parade brings an entirely new form of entertainment to Universal Studios that combines wildly creative floats with hundreds of performers to create whole new levels of fun and excitement. Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories is a nighttime show that unfolds across Universal Studios’ central lagoon, taking guests on a journey filled with powerful movie moments – stirring both emotion and imagination.

“We are creating special moments for the entire family,” said Jim Timon, Senior Vice President of Entertainment for Universal Orlando Resort. “You can laugh and dance with your children and their favorite characters and then be completely moved as you watch the most powerful tribute to film you could imagine – all in the same day.”

Universal’s Superstar Parade

The streets of Universal Studios will transform into a theme-park-wide performance stage as today’s most beloved stories and characters bring new adventure and excitement to guests everywhere. Universal’s Superstar Parade is one of the largest entertainment experiences the theme park has ever created and will make its way through the streets of Universal Studios every day. It will feature elaborately themed floats that tower above guests, hundreds of energetic street performers and spectacular music and dance performances. Unforgettable moments include Gru, his daughters and Vector from the blockbuster animated adventure Despicable Me dancing to “Boogie Fever,” Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants arriving in his pineapple home from under the sea with his friends from Bikini Bottom, E.B. from the hit comedy Hop playing the drums and acrobatic performances by characters from Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! Throughout the day, guests will be able to sing and dance with their favorite characters from the parade during special performances at select locations.

Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories

The new show is a tribute to Universal’s 100 years of film-making history, highlighting some of the most fun, dramatic, awe-inspiring moments from Universal Pictures’ most iconic films. These moments are shown in crystal-clear clarity on huge waterfall screens within the Universal Studios Lagoon, surrounded by colorful fountains and pyrotechnics, all against an incredible musical score and a powerful narration by Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. The show will take guests on a journey of epic cinematic moments filled with heroes, horror, laughter, good versus evil and triumph – all against a backdrop of light, sound and special effects.

Everyone can remember powerful film moments such as Elliott and E.T. riding across the moon in E.T: The Extra Terrestrial, the heroic struggle of the crew from Apollo 13 or the terror of watching the famed shower scene in Psycho. Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular captures these moments – and so many more. Other iconic films featured in the show include American Pie, The Bourne Ultimatum, Jurassic Park, Scent of a Woman, The Mummy, To Kill a Mockingbird and The Fast and the Furious.

Universal’s Cinematic Spectacular – 100 Years of Movie Memories and Universal’s Superstar Parade will run year-round except during annual and special events. For travel trade information or to book a trip, agents can visit www.universaltravelagents.com

About Universal Orlando Resort

There are many ways for your clients to enjoy their Orlando vacation, but there is only one place where vacation becomes adventure: Universal Orlando Resort. It is a unique destination featuring two theme parks, three magnificently themed on-site hotels and a nighttime entertainment complex. It’s the only Orlando destination where your clients are not just entertained – they become part of the most exhilarating entertainment ever created. They can soar above Hogwarts with Harry Potter, swing above the streets with Spider-Man, battle aliens alongside Agent J, and help Shrek save Princess Fiona in Shrek 4-D. Coming this summer: Despicable Me Minion Mayhem. Visit www.universaltravelagents.com for more information or to book a trip for your clients.

Universal Orlando Resort is an NBC Universal company one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies.

One feature of the new website is a description of available Tibet trips, divided into three categories: spiritual journeys, cultural odysseys, and trekking adventures. The website also features a photo gallery and a blog for coop members and travelers to stay connected and share their experiences. The site contains contact information for the US-based sales team, and the Lhasa-based tour office that handles the travel operations.

Tibet Travel Coop is a unique organization that seeks to address a pervasive problem in Tibet tourism, which is that most Tibetan small-business owners and operators don’t have access to or knowledge of internet marketing and promotions. This limits their ability to connect with potential western clients. In addition, much of the English-language information available on the internet regarding Tibet tours is incomplete, misleading, or confusing. The most prominent agencies listed on any Google search for Tibet tours are not owned or run by Tibetans; rather they are Chinese-run businesses that focus on pre-packaged, impersonal trips with mediocre customer service.

Tamdin Wangdu, the founder of Tibetan Travel Coop, was born and raised in Tibet, but earned a business degree from an American university. He designed the coop to be a place for tourists to find authentic Tibetan agencies and guides with local knowledge who are committed to Responsible Tourism and sustainable practice. This mutually beneficial arrangement means that business stays in the hands of the Tibetan people, and promotes the livelihood of Tibetan communities, and western travelers gain authentic knowledge of and experience with Tibetan culture and the plateau way-of-life.

Tibet Travel Coop is a collection of local Tibetan travel agencies and guides working together to promote authentic travel experiences while contributing to the sustainability of host communities and their culture.

The visitors, who spent three days in Sabah immediately before last week’s Asia Golf Tourism Convention (AGTC) in Kuala Lumpur, came away highly enthusiastic about the East Malaysian state’s golf and broad tourism attractions.

“The golf is great, but what is also appealing about Sabah is the nature,” said German tour operator, Manfred Rauno. “Sabah isn’t known in Europe, but when people learn about the wonderful plants, animals and natural attractions – as well as the golf – I am sure they will want to come.”

Australian tour operator, Fred Sparksman, whose Golf and Gourmet tours combine golf with gourmet dining and other eclectic experiences, said Sabah compared more than favourably with other Asian golf destinations. He said it was ideal for six-night stay-and-play packages.

“I was especially impressed with the Shangri-La Rasa Ria and Sutera Harbour Resort,” he said. “The Ocean Wing at the Shangri-La is wonderful and combined with the orang-utan sanctuary, beach and dining, there’s a lot to attract visiting golfers.”

He said the Dalit Bay golf course was challenging, but playable for average golfers.

“The courses and resort facilities at Sutera Harbour are also impressive, and being so close to Kota Kinabalu is a definite plus,” he added.

Both Manfred Rauno and Fred Sparksman said they saw Sabah as an add-on destination for golf tourists visiting Singapore, the Malay peninsular and other South East Asian markets, rather than as a purely stand-alone option.

“It’s a long way from Europe, but combined with major cities like Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, it’s a great fit,” Manfred Rauno said.

Liberty Travel and Tours’ general manager, Eu Shen Ng, who organised the tour operators’ visit to Sabah as a prelude to AGTC, said there was widespread agreement that Sabah’s golf facilities are at least as good as others on the Malay peninsula.

“There is a lot of potential to increase golf tourism to Sabah,” he said. “The tour operators really loved their time there. They were very excited, especially about the orang-utan sanctuary and Sabah’s other natural attractions.

“Both the Sabah Tourism Board and Tourism Malaysia have done a good job promoting Sabah. The product is excellent. Sabah just needs more word-of-mouth endorsement and more golf visitors will come.”

King Pacific Lodge

One is located in the heart of British Columbia’s Great Bear Rainforest, and the other in the bustling epicentre of Vancouver. As diverse as their locations might be, King Pacific Lodge, A Rosewood Resort and the Rosewood Hotel Georgia equally reflect the Rosewood philosophy of a Sense of Place®, offering guests one-of-a-kind experiences and sanctuaries of luxury. The Rosewood duo has teamed up once again, this time to take guests from city to rainforest, adding one night at the legendary property in downtown Vancouver to a trip to the floating wilderness lodge.

Those who book the City to Rainforest package will receive 15% off the regular price of a three-night trip to King Pacific Lodge, as well as one night at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia. Additional bonuses include a round-trip limousine transfer from the airport to the hotel, and a $100 CAD food credit to use at any of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia restaurants, including Hawksworth, Bel Café, 1927 Lobby Lounge, and Reflections Lounge.

King Pacific Lodge operates from June to September each year. Rates for the City to Rainforest package start at $5,229 CAD per person, based on double occupancy, and include private charter from Vancouver, all meals and beverages and guided activities at King Pacific Lodge.

To reserve the City to Rainforest package this season visit www.kingpacificlodge.com or call (604) 987-5452; toll-free (888) 592-5464.

About King Pacific Lodge

Voted by Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers Choice as Best Resort in Canada for five consecutive years, the award is an eloquent testimony to the lodge’s appeal. Moored in sheltered Barnard Harbour on BC’s north coast, the lodge invites guests to explore wildlife in the ancient Great Bear Rainforest, and to experience First Nations Culture, as rich as the land itself. While at the lodge, guests have all-inclusive access to fishing, hiking, and kayaking, can add on a helicopter ride to see the sights, or simply relax on the deck at sunset. Organic food and fine wines make every meal memorable, while the award-winning spa offers soothing treatments, rounding out a truly luxurious vacation.

Residents of Japan, Canada and the United Kingdom are getting a taste Tuesday of the United States’ first-ever marketing campaign aimed at boosting tourism.

The print, web and video ads released Tuesday were created by Brand USA, a partnership of government agencies and private companies. The consortium was developed to act like the tourism ministries of countries such as Ireland, Italy or Israel.

It’s the first time that the U.S. has marketed itself as a tourist destination to people living in other countries.

While tourism has increased globally over the last decade, the U.S. slice of those travelers has fallen, due in large part to complicated visa procedures and heightened security that followed the Sept. 11 attacks. The U.S. had a 17 percent slice of the global tourism spending in 2000, but that has fallen to just over 11 percent today. About 6 percent of tourists globally last year came to the U.S. — that’s behind France.

The 10 years after the attacks are often referred to as the “lost decade” for U.S. tourism, because new procedures drove millions of international travelers to other countries. Many European countries have reaped the benefit of the U.S. tightened restrictions. More Chinese tourists, for example, now go to France each year than the U.S.

The average overseas visitor to the United States spends $4,000 per trip, according to the U.S. Travel Association.

Japan, Canada and the U.K. were chosen as the first round of targets because the top-spending tourists in the U.S. come from those countries, which also have relatively light U.S. travel restrictions. Canadians, the top international spenders within American borders, spent $24 billion last year.

A few weeks from now, the ads will spread to Brazil and South Korea. A handful of other markets will follow. Brand USA plans to spend about $12.3 million on advertising in the next three months.

“Dollars are tight today and we want to be very thoughtful about where and when we spend them,” said Stephen J. Cloobeck, the chairman of Brand USA and CEO of Diamond Resorts International. “But we’re doing we’re doing all this with a smile and a sign that says ‘Welcome to the United States.’”

The print ads feature shots of various U.S. spots including New Orleans’ French Quarter and the Redwood Preserve in California with the tag line “Discover this land like never before.” The video ads’ soundtrack features a song called “Land of Dreams,” with lyrics and music singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash, the daughter of country music icon Johnny Cash.

Brand USA is also working with government agencies to reduce wait times for visas and make other changes to encourage more international visitors. Last year, for example, the wait for a Chinese tourist to secure a visa for travel the United States was about 6 months; now it is less than a week.

The group is operating with funds set aside two years ago under the federal Travel Promotion Act.

“The Auberge Saint-Antoine is delighted to welcome Madonna and fans to our spectacular city. We have created this package to give guests an unforgettable experience during their stay with us, during this highly-anticipated event,” says Jean-Louis Souman, Hotel Director of the Saint-Antoine.

From $1,650* per person the “Madonna in Quebec City” package includes a two-night stay, exclusive tickets to Madonna’s show and luxury limousine transportation to the concert. The package also features a pre-event dinner and daily breakfast at Panache, the hotel’s award-winning restaurant. Panache, praised for its originality and elegance, was converted from a riverside warehouse in the 19th century.

Located in Quebec City’s Old Port, the Auberge Saint-Antoine is a historically significant property. One of city’s richest archeological sites, the museo-hotel integrates three buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries and features more than 5,000 artifacts found during an extensive renovation. The property offers guests a relaxed stay in its chic, unique and cozy environment and is just steps from the Museum of Civilization, the Quebec Citadel, art galleries high-end shopping and chic cafés.

For more information on the “Madonna in Quebec” package or to book, please visit www.saint-antoine.com/en/packages or call 1-888-692-2211.

*Madonna concert tickets will be offered on a first come first serve basis and are subject to availability.

About Auberge Saint-Antoine:

Built over one of Quebec City’s most significant architectural sites, Îlot Hunt, Auberge Saint-Antoine is located at the heart of the Old Port area, facing the majestic St. Lawrence River. It is a true boutique hotel offering 95 rooms and suites and is steps away from the fortifications, museums, and the lively Petit-Champlain Street. The property consists of four distinct structures dating from 1700 to present day that cleverly linked showcase its unique riches: solid 300-year old beams, stone walls, slate floors, glass and porcelain objects unearthed in the course of a restoration turned archeological dig. Panache, the hotel’s restaurant, is renowned for creative dishes of fine French Canadian Cuisine with a twist using local, seasonal produce. Auberge Saint-Antoine is a member of the respected Relais & Chateaux brand.

Tokyo Correspondent Kieram Litchfield for Exploring Tokyo, weighs in:

“Since June 2011 it’s been a steady increase, with the exception of February 2012 which was down 19.3%. But let’s look at this in context, if take a look back to February 2009, tourism was down 41.3%, with only 408,628 visitors that month, which is significantly worse than it is right now. So things are not as bad as they seem, in fact quite the contrary. With Japan’s Cherry Blossom season in full swing we are seeing signs of a strong tourist season. Statistics won’t be ready until the month closes however.

Hordes of residents and tourists gathering together and celebrating Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing) in the parks is a common sight all over Japan right now and really, it looks just like any other year. The disaster has not stopped people from coming all over the world to enjoy this magnificent experience,” he continued.

But not everyone is flying in to see the sights, however; according to statistics from that same report from The World Travel and Tourism Council, Korean visitors were down 27% and have been in the -30 percentile for several months, Litchfield comments on this:

“Some people just aren’t ready psychologically, they are afraid of radiation from Fukushima or of another earthquake. But in time they will come around. Japan is a beautiful country and has so much to offer to travelers. With cities like Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe you could spend months taking it all in.”

Exploring Tokyo is dedicated to providing travelers and inquiring minds with all the information they need about visiting and living in Tokyo.

Marriott International

ExecuStay offers furnished apartments in more than 700 locations across the U.S. Typically accommodating stays of 30 days or longer, ExecuStay provides a full residential experience, taking care of everything from utilities to furnishings, with conveniences such as free Wi-Fi, a full kitchen and laundry facilities.

As part of the transaction Oakwood will maintain ExecuStay as a separate brand offering. The parties also signed an eight-year reciprocal preferred provider agreement under which Marriott International will become the preferred hotel provider for Oakwood corporate housing and serviced apartment customers who need a hotel stay, and Marriott will recognize Oakwood as the preferred provider of corporate housing and serviced apartments to Marriott customers. As part of the preferred provider agreement, ExecuStay customers will also continue to earn Marriott Rewards guest loyalty program points for stays at ExecuStay apartments.

David Grissen, president – The Americas for Marriott International, said, “We are delighted to reach this agreement with Oakwood, the world’s premier corporate housing and serviced apartments provider. We believe this agreement, which includes a significant continuing relationship, will substantially benefit each of our two companies as well as our respective customer bases, and is the best of both worlds for the ExecuStay brand and its franchise partners.”

Grissen continued, “We are proud of ExecuStay. Since we acquired the business in 1999, the brand has evolved into an industry leader offering a tremendous product to customers. Notwithstanding this progress, over time it became clear that ExecuStay’s business model of leasing residential premises to customers was meaningfully different from Marriott International’s long-term business strategy. ExecuStay’s association with Oakwood will provide it with new opportunities to prosper.”

“This is a great day for both Oakwood and ExecuStay,” said Howard Ruby, chairman and founder of Oakwood Worldwide. “We have been interested in ExecuStay for some time, and Marriott has developed a brand that is a leader in the corporate housing and serviced apartment space. In addition, our long-term preferred partnership with Marriott will benefit both companies and our respective clients.”

“This acquisition will expand our footprint and we’ll be even better-equipped to provide our customers with innovative solutions that best fit their changing needs,” said Ric Villarreal, president of Oakwood Worldwide. “We will leverage the same best practices that have made Oakwood and ExecuStay industry leaders as we move our organization forward.”

The financial terms of the sale were not disclosed, and are not material to Marriott International. Conclusion of the transaction, which is subject to normal and customary closing conditions, is expected by the end of April.

For future ExecuStay reservations please continue to contact ExecuStay at www.execustay.com , or via the ExecuStay customer service line: 888.340.2565.