Routes Europe 2012 Wins Conference of the Year

AsiaNet 51933

MANCHESTER, England, Jan. 24/ PRN=KYODO JBN/--

     Erik Sakkov and the team from Tallinn Airport collect prestigious award

from the Estonian Convention Bureau

    At a ceremony which took place on Wednesday 16th January, Erik Sakkov,

Member of the Board of Tallinn Airport was handed the award by the Estonian

Convention Bureau for hosting the international event which is the only network

planning forum for the entire European region. The event, which took place in

May of last year, was the largest Routes Europe to date with almost 900 key

industry decision makers descending on Tallinn to meet, do business and shape

the future of Europe's air services.

    (Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130124/589396 )

    Holding Routes Europe in Estonia is, according to Sakkov, a great success.

It took two years of bidding and one and a half years of preparation, but the

event has paid off hugely; in fact, Tallinn Airport were able to announce

during the event that they had secured a new air route with Turkish Airlines

who confirmed they would be commencing a three-times-weekly service to the

Estonian capital.

    "However unique we might consider our Old Town or singing tradition, the

reality is that looking from Europe, we are still seen like a post-soviet

country somewhere in Siberia," commented Sakkov. "No flyer or advertisement can

disprove this prejudice, the only thing that helps is to get all the decision

makers here and show them how great a place Estonia is for a tourist and that

it's also one of the most favourable places in Europe for doing business."

    Andrew Rowe, VP Operations for Routes, organisers of the event said the

delegates were impressed with the hospitality and seamless organisation by

Tallinn Airport: "Routes Europe 2012 in Tallinn was a great success. It was a

fantastic show and the attending airlines and airports enjoyed the city and

Estonian hospitality. They left with a very favourable impression of Tallinn

and Estonia." Rowe continued: "To quote from one delegate's feedback, 'this was

one of the best organised events I have ever attended, a big thank you to

Tallinn Airport'."

    "Altogether, there were 11 nominees for the award of Conference of the Year

2012," said Kadri Karu, CEO of the Estonian Convention Bureau continuing:

"Routes Europe 2012 definitely caught the attention and acknowledgement of

Estonia as well as abroad." This January, the Estonian Convention Bureau (ECB)

celebrates its fifth year. ECB serves as an association of convention

businesses and municipalities, which aims to promote Estonia as a destination

for convention tourism and Karu promises that the Estonian Convention Bureau

will do everything to promote Estonia as a host for events of this magnitude.

    Notes to Editors

    About Routes

    - Routes organises world-renowned airline and airport networking events

through its regional and global Route Development Forums. Each year, there is

one global event and one regional event in Asia, Africa, Europe, the Americas

and CIS respectively. http://www.routesonline.com     

    - All destinations and Hosts of Routes Europe Events are listed below:  

    Warsaw, Poland, 21-23 May 2006, hosted by PPL

    Sofia, Bulgaria, 13-15 May 2007, hosted by Sofia International Airport

    Porto, Portugal, 11 - 13 May 2008, hosted by ANA - Aeroportos de Portugal

    Prague, Czech Republic 17-19 May 2009, hosted by Prague Airport

    Toulouse, France, 13 -15 May 2010, hosted by Toulouse Airport

    Cagliari, Sardinia 8-10 May 2011 hosted by Cagliari Airport

    Tallinn, Estonia 20-22 May 2012 hosted by Tallinn Airport

    Budapest, Hungary 12-14 May 2013 hosted by Budapest Airport

    - Routes was founded in 1995 as part of the Manchester UK-based ASM Ltd.,

a consultancy specialising in the field of route development for airports.

http://www.asm-global.com

    - Routes and ASM were acquired by UBM Aviation Worldwide Ltd in August

2010. From 1st August 2012 Routes, ASM and the Airport Cities Conference and

Exhibition become part of the UBM Live division of UBM plc.

    - UBM Live connects people and creates opportunities for companies across

five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products,

promote their brands and expand their markets. Through premiere brands such as

MD&M, CPhI, IFSEC, TFM&A, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, the Routes

portfolio of events, Airport Cities and many others, UBM Live exhibitions,

conferences, awards programs, publications, websites and training and

certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies

across more than 20 industry sectors. http://www.ubmlive.com

    Follow us on Twitter: @Routesonline, @TheHUBRoutes, @VictoriaRoutes,

@RouteExchange, @airlineroute

    Source: UBM Aviation Routes Ltd