June 2011 - Posts
So I erred - a public apology to colleagues for pursuing the wrong strategy of collaboration.
In
one of a kind personal blog post as editor, I wanted to share however
with my colleagues my learnings and recognition that I was in complete
error to think that (i) we had any type of relationship strongly
established to make collaboration happen (ii) we would be able to work
collaboratively in marketing to positively engage advocates and
stakeholders for the benefit of Cyprus Tourism and (iii) that the
digital training and subsequent digital marketing support would have
served our cause in any short term.
It is not unusual at times to come to terms with a sustained course of action only to realize even publicly, that for collaborations to happen successfully, there needs to be more than good intentions, legal frameworks and promised compensation.
For that and for no other reasons I apologize for having wasted their valuable time and investments due to this wrong thinking.
Nevertheless, in a world where it seems protecting oneself comes first, I
can share you this message that we will not be gloating with signs of
any defeat, despite hardships of unrealized objectives. This is perhaps
because our beliefs remain intact and that our cause may be more valid
today that it was three years ago. Thank you for the collaboration and
tonight, all I really can do, is really pay you back with love. Deep
felt regards to Petros, Maria and all our families, they know who they
are.
Video Credit: Short version of Jessie J -Price Tag - expressing adequately as to why sometimes we do the tings we do despite contrary logic.
Today' press conference highlighted the successful development and operation
of Larnaka and Pafos International Airports
Hermes Airports this year celebrates five successful years of developing and operating Larnaκa and Pafos International Airports, thus making a significant contribution to the modernization and upgrading of Cyprus’ aviation sector.
In collaboration with the government, and with a strong sense of commitment, Hermes Airports has succeeded in building the country’s two new international airports to the highest standards of comfort and safety, and making the Cypriot public feel justifiably proud of the country’s airports.
In the context of this five year celebration, on 21 June 2011 Hermes Airports held a press conference at the Hilton Cyprus in Nicosia during which there was an audiovisual presentation of the company’s progress to date, as well as the key milestones from the date the concession agreement for the operation of Cyprus’ international airports was signed until today.
In his speech, the CEO of Hermes Airports, Mr. Alfred van der Meer, paid tribute to the contribution that the two airports have made to the country and emphasized the joint effort made by all stakeholders to attract new airlines to Cyprus by providing commercial incentives.
The Chairman of the Board of Hermes Airports, Mr. Nicolas K. Shacolas, in his speech expressed his sincere thanks to the government and to the companies participating in the consortium, and stressed that the smooth and faultless operation of the two Cyprus airports has been achieved through their close co-operation.
The conference was also addressed by the Minister of Communications and Works, Mrs Erato Kozakou Markoullis.
Larnaka and Pafos International Airports are a testament to the successful cooperation between the public and private sectors in accomplishing an ambitious project of the utmost importance to our country.
The two Cyprus International Airports are ranked amongst the most sophisticated, technologically-advanced and safest airports in the world, whilst also providing comfortable and functional spaces and a wide range of shops and cafés. Proof of this is the distinction achieved by the airports through winning international awards.
The operation of the two airports makes a significant contribution to the development of tourism in Cyprus and to the strengthening of the Cyprus economy, whilst also offering employment opportunities to eight and a half thousand people. Pafos International Airport has the ability to serve over 2.7 million passengers annually, while Larnaka International Airport can serve over 7.5 million passengers a year.
The hugely successful creation of the new Larnaka and Pafos International Airports has been a landmark for the beginning of a new era in Cyprus aviation.
To mark the celebrations for Hermes Airports’ five-year anniversary, will also celebrate an official dinner to which distinguished guests from the country’s political and business communities were invited, as well as employees of the Company. During the course of the dinner, the Chairman of the Board of Hermes Airports, Mr Nicolas K. Shacolas sent across a heart felt message about his overall role in the creation and development of the new Cyprus airports. The new Chairmanship of the Company will be taken over by Mr. Iacovos Iacovou. By decision of the Board, Mr Shacolas will remain Honorary Company Chairman for life with the right to participate in Board Meetings.
As Cyprus Tourism Organisation signs collaboration agreement bowing to the effectiveness of the stakeholder's network
As if it were a peace treaty after long lasting hostilities and mutual indifference. The Cyprus Tourism Association (CTO) and Hermes Airports publicly sealed a joint collaboration agreement, on the 15th of June in Larnaca, to enhance the current conditions of collaboration between the two entities and enrich promotion of tourism to Cyprus.
Times are indeed changing, and from the looks of it, 30 years is indeed a long time to recognise the vital role of a framework for developing airline connections. The events of the past months leading to the market entry of RyanAir and the new scheme of airline incentives, seem to have motivated the board of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation, in recognition of the effectiveness of the stakeholder's network, where Mr. Oroundiotis, chairman of the board reaffirmed that now the “CTO considers the accessibility of Cyprus by air as a vital ring in the value chain of tourism, on which the marketability of Cyprus is based”.
The Memorandum was signed by Mr. Alekos Oroundiotis, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the CTO, and by Mr. Alfred van der Meer, Chief Executive Officer of Hermes Airports.
For his part, Mr. Van der Meer noted in his speech that the relationship between the two organizations was entering a new phase creating the necessary conditions for a collective effort reaching our for common goals. In his opinion, the Cyprus Tourism industry will benefit from having a single strategy plan for developing marketing actions.
This extraordinary event may be interpreted as "common sense" restored. Symbolically it's showing, and not telling the sector, that the element of accessibility will become a critical criteria for future marketing actions. We see this as fundamental development in that it will tremedously reduce the business uncertainties, about the how and where future tourists coming from every year. Aside from establishing transparency in the process, this will set the proper priorities for marketing actions and facilitate service preparedness for the sector. We may go as far as to say that hopefully it will enable to enrich the current calender of the Cyprus Tourism Organisation and renovate it's market priorities. This is good news to renew for optimizing current CTO 5 year strategic plan presented 2 months ago.
Based on the Memorandum of Collaboration, Hermes Airports and the CTO will promote their joint participation in meetings, events, exhibitions, and professional forums aiming to promote Cyprus as a tourist destination. They will also promote the exchange of information and expertise on issues of common interest and co-operate on actions to promote the tourist product of Cyprus. In addition, the Memorandum provides for the establishment of a committee which will meet regularly to review goals and developments.
For more information: Hermes Airports News release
Lucrative, illegal and brutal: Millionen Singvögel werden jährlich auf qualvolle Weise getötet. Das Geschäft ist in vielen Ländern zwar illegal - aber es lohnt sich.
The result of complacency, is an unfolding spectacle that reaches your home in full HD color.
"In Zypern ist es besonders schlimm", sagt Alexander Heyd vom Komitee gegen den Vogelmord. Seit über 30 Jahren kämpfen die Mitglieder des spendenfinanzierten Vereins gegen den Vogelmord. Auf ihren Reisen - den so genannten Vogelschutzcamps - versuchen sie, möglichst viele gefangene Tiere zu befreien und Wilderer den Behörden zu melden.
Alexander Heyd from the Komitee against bird slaughter, speaking about organised trips by activists to the island to combat illegal poaching. Such was the spectacle unfolding this past Thursday on german national TV RTL, where up to 4 million German television viewers were able to witness footage of Cypriot bird trappers assaulting a group of conservationists and comes exactly a year after a brutal attack by poachers left several conservationists injured in hospital.
This may be news to some, but sadly it is one of those traditions that seem to perpetuate itself as a menacing spectacle well known to the authorities who apologetically explain that, due to unemployment and lucrative illegal market demand, countless of people get lured by the easy money. For years Birdlife Cyprus, with a group of dedicated wild life enthusiasts, have been reporting and accounting for the devastation. Yes, devastating. How else do you explain 2.5 million birds trapped across the whole of Cyprus in 2010.
Least, is the publicity that culinary Cyprus receives, as I am sure, that natural activist tourism to Cyprus is not going to be a growth sector either. Where is this relentless fury to exhaust populations of migratory birds taking us? Where diminishing of natural habitats already contribute to lower the populations, it seems to all in the interest of the market, the more scarce, the more lucrative and perhaps the more brutal will the spectacle become.
Let us thus summarize the legacy being crafted by the Cyprus Tourism Organisation: as a licensing organisation of restaurant businesses, it enables illegal practices to make it on the menu; as a lease holder of natural woodlands, it's keen to cut down trees to build parking lots on beach front property thereby destroying natural habitats; and as a promoting organisation, it plays a consistent role of neglecting the preservation of natural wildlife thereby inhibiting developments linked to eco-tourism initiatives. Are we missing anything?
More on the RTL TV: Verboten, aber Lukrativ