Helsinki and Lyon Awarded Titles of 2019 European Capitals of Smart Tourism

HELSINKI and Lyon the winners of the first edition of the European Capital of Smart Tourism competition were awarded their titles yesterday, November 7 at a ceremony in Brussels, on the occasion of the European Tourism Day.Cities of more than 100.000 inhabitants were eligible in the first edition of this competition, 38 cities from 19 EU Member States applied.In addition, four cities received 2019 European Smart Tourism Awards for their outstanding achievements in the four categories of the competition: Málaga (Accessibility), Ljubljana (Sustainability), Copenhagen (Digitalisation) and Linz (Cultural Heritage & Creativity).

The European Capital of Smart Tourism is a new EU initiative, based on a proposal from the European Parliament, which secured its funding for 2018 - 2019 through a Preparatory Action. The initiative seeks to strengthen tourism-generated innovative development in EU cities and their surroundings, increase their attractiveness as well as strengthen economic growth and job creation.

To celebrate their success, Helsinki and Lyon have planned an exciting schedule of activities for 2019. For example, Helsinki will be launching a smart city guidance pilot scheme, making use of collaborative work with businesses and digital tools to create a smarter way to guide people in the city. Lyon's representatives will be travelling the globe for shows, press meetings and special events to inform new audiences about the city's smart opportunities.

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European Capital of Smart Tourism nominees

A new EU initiative aims to promote smart tourism in the EU, foster innovative, sustainable and inclusive tourism development, as well as spread and facilitate the exchange of best practices. The European Capital of Smart Tourism initiative recognises outstanding achievements in four categories: sustainability, accessibility, digitalisation as well as cultural heritage and creativity, by European cities as tourism destinations.

The following cities have been shortlisted as finalists in the competition for the European Capital of Smart Tourism 2019 are:

Brussels (Belgium), Helsinki (Finland), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Lyon (France), Málaga (Spain), Nantes (France), Palma (Spain), Poznań (Poland), Tallinn (Estonia), and Valencia (Spain).


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Head to the Alps with Jet2

NO better time for snow bunnies to book a flight to the slopes from London Stansted, as Jet2 have slashed the price of ski carriage on ski routes from its newest base. The offer means skiers and boarders can take 22kg of ski carriage for just £1 return on featured flights.

With flights to some of the very best skiing destinations in Europe from London Stansted to four ski destinations this winter with the French and Austrian Alps well and truly covered. Flights operate to the following destinations, and the offer applies to these routes only:

Geneva (five weekly flights)
Grenoble (one service every week)
Salzburg (three weekly services)
Lyon (two weekly services)

Must book between Friday 1st September until Saturday 30th September 2017, and travel between Thursday 30th November 2017 and Monday 30th April 2018.

www.jet2.com/ski

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Up in the air . . .

FLYBE is starting its new year-round daily service to Lyon, France, from Manchester Airport. The airline has also confirmed it will be adding Chambery as a new destination to its Manchester 2016-17 winter schedule.

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Travel Matters . . .

#EUROSTAR has announced three new routes which from March 25 will run direct from London to Lyon, Avignon, and Marseille.

The thrice-weekly service will be available on Mondays, Fridays, and Saturdays between March 25 and July 5. It will increase to five times a week between July 6 and August 31 (Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays) after which it will revert to thrice weekly.

Approximate times from London are: 

• Lyon: 4hr 41mins 
• Avignon: 5hr 49mins 
• Marseille: 6hrs 27mins 

Single fares start from £40.

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Up in the air . . .

Manchester Airport unveils £1 billion expansion plan 

Manchester Airport has made a video showing how the airport will look in ten years following a £1 billion investment. Subject to getting planning permission, it will see a state-of-the-art terminal building created through the expansion of the airport’s existing Terminal Two building.


Flybe announces new routes – Manchester to Lyon, Southampton to Munich

Flybe has announced a year-round service between Manchester and Lyon, France, with daily flights starting in August. It has also confirmed plans for year-round daily flights between Southampton and Munich, Germany.

Flybe was recently named Best Short-Haul Airline at the 2016 Business Travel Awards.

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Up in the air …

American carriers line up to offer Cuba services 

United Airlines has submitted its formal application to the US department of Transportation for authority to provide service from four of its largest US gateway cities – Newark/New York, Houston, Washington, D.C., and Chicago – to Havana.

American Airlines issued proposal to operate scheduled services, including ten daily frequencies to Havana from American’s Latin America gateway hub in Miami. American will also offer additional service to Havana from its hubs in Charlotte, Dallas/Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and Chicago.

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Flybe to launch Southampton-Lyon route

FLYBE has confirmed details of a new daily flight between Southampton and Lyon, #France, as part of its 2016 summer schedule. 

It is its second route to be operated under the UK government’s Regional Air Connectivity Fund. Tickets are available for booking now at www.flybe.com with one way fares from £29.99 including taxes and charges for travel between May 23 and October 29.

Aviation Minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘It is fantastic to see Flybe launch this service between Southampton and Lyon. Our smaller airports are vital engines for local economies, connecting the UK and overseas destinations and opening up opportunities. That is why the government is backing new regional air routes to drive investment and boost growth across the country.’

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40451021@N07/11210896385">Lyon</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/">(license)

There’s more to France than Paris – try Lyon

#LYON is top of the list for a city break by train this autumn, according toLoco2, a railway travel search and booking engine

The direct Eurostar train from London swerves around Paris to reach the southern French city in four hours/41 minutes, with trains departing three times a week in both directions, on Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays, October 31, and then once a week on Saturdays until Spring. Tickets cost from £89 return.

Passengers can head further south by staying on board to reach Avignon in five hours/49 minutes, and Marseille in six hours/27 minutes, with tickets from £99 return.

Other choices for a #citybreak by rail are Strasbourg, on France's eastern border with Germany and 5 hours/41 minutes from London. The journey, by Eurostar and double-decker TGV Duplex, requires a change of trains – and stations – in Paris. For Italy, Turin is 10 hours by Eurostar and TGV, from £125 return.

Booking for autumn rail travel is available up to December 12, when the winter railway timetable is due to come into force. Booking for travel beyond this date will open on October 15. 

https://loco2.com

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Eurostar launch ski season ticket sales

SKI enthusiasts looking to travel to the slopes by rail can celebrate as #Eurostar offers passengers more routes to the French Alps than ever before. It has opened sales for its direct ski service from London St Pancras and Ashford International. 

For the first #skiseason ever, Brits can board the train at London St Pancras or Ashford and be in Lyon – the gateway to the French Alps – in just over four-and-a-half hours.

For those wishing to ski in the Swiss Alps, Eurostar’s connecting service to Geneva via Lille is another way to reach the heart of Switzerland and then onto popular resorts. 

The 2015/2016 seasonal ski services will run weekly from December 19 until April 9.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33468357@N04/4308945458">Pistentraum in Bad Kleinkirchheim</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Up in the air . . .

AIR CANADA has expanded its global network with the announcement of non-stop services from Toronto and Montreal to London’s Gatwick airport and Lyon, France, next summer.

Tickets for both routes are available for purchase now.

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/41153475@N04/7551854874">C-GITP A319 Air Canada</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Jet2.com expands ski programme

THE addition of Lyon – a gateway to more than 170 resorts across France, Switzerland and northern Italy – will see Jet2.com operate a total of 20 ski routes from its seven UK bases in 2015/16.

#Flights are now available to all of the major #ski regions including Andorra (Barcelona), Chambery, Geneva, Grenoble, Salzburg, Turin, and Verona.

Steve Heapy, CEO of Jet2.com, said: ‘With the addition of Lyon, from Manchester, plus increased capacity on our popular routes, more than 150,000 seats will be available, a 12 percent up lift on last year.’

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/31157565@N08/6229638547">Channex 876</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">(license), http://www.flickr.com/photos/29745154@N07/2805121731">Thomas Théberge</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Eurostar brings south of France closer to UK travellers

EUROSTAR has launched a campaign to promote its year-round service direct to the South of France. 

Destinations such as Lyon, Avignon, and Marseille will all be within easier reach of London and Ashford thanks to the new Eurostar service starting on May 1.

The new Eurostar route offers a seamless journey from the heart of London or Ashford to the centre of Lyon, Avignon and Marseille.

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Picture Credit: "Eurostar à Chambéry (2014)" by Florian Pépellin - Own work via Wikimedia Commons .