European City Tourism Climbs
MARCH 23, 2007. European city tourism is growing faster than any other area of the European economy, according to European Cities Marketing ('ECM'), the association that represents more than one hundred European cities, tourist boards and convention bureaus.
The city break boom started in 2000, three years after a number of low-cost airlines opened new routes across Europe, causing the city break market to grow at unprecedented levels, and with a rise in the average length of stay for a city break. The key European destinations - Berlin, Barcelona and Prague - have collectively seen an annualised increase of 550,000 room nights per annum. Ease of access and heavy hitting marketing campaigns have helped these cities to establish their leading position in Europe's city break market.
Apart from the more traditional cities and towns, the city break boom has benefited other destinations on the Baltic and Adriatic Seas along with less prolific destinations in central Europe. Emerging destinations that saw a dramatic increase in overnight stays (2000-2005) include Dubrovnik (Croatia) +130%, Tallinn (Estonia) +92%, Ljubljana (Slovenia) +71%, Zagreb (Croatia) +64%, Valencia (Spain) +60%, Turin (Italy) +50%, Bratislava (Slovakia) +46%. (Source: ECM/European Cities Tourism Report 2006/7)
Given the huge growth in the city break market sector, Reed Travel Exhibitions is, for the second consecutive year, organising the City Break exhibition. This unique business forum allows city and regional tourist boards and suppliers of city breaks to meet specialist operators in a commercial environment during three days of pre-scheduled appointments.
Mark Walsh, Exhibition Director of City Break, said: "We have had a fantastic response from suppliers with a number of key city tourist boards already signed up to exhibit, including London, Brussels, Vienna and Dublin, as well as a huge variety of private sector companies including city hotels, attractions and Destination Management Companies from over 80 European cities.
We are aiming to recruit 180 pre-qualified hosted buyers and already have buyers registered from countries such as China, France, Germany, Italy, USA, Russia and Singapore".
City Break 2007 is sponsored by ECM and will be held prior to their annual summer conference which takes place from 14th-15th June in Athens, Greece.
Marriott International, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global leading lodging company based in Bethesda,Maryland, USA, with more than 4,200 properties in 80 countries and territories. Marriott International reported revenues of nearly $14 billion in fiscal year 2014. The company operates and franchises hotels and licenses vacation ownership resorts under 19 brands, including: The Ritz-Carlton®, BVlgari®, EDITION®, JW Marriott®, Autograph Collection® Hotels, Renaissance® Hotels, Marriott Hotels®, Delta Hotels and Resorts®, Marriott Executive Apartments®, Marriott Vacation Club®, Gaylord Hotels®, AC Hotels by Marriott®, Courtyard®, Residence Inn®, SpringHill Suites®, Fairfield Inn & Suites®, TownePlace Suites®, Protea Hotels® and MoxyHotels®. Marriott has been consistently recognized as a top employer and for its superior business ethics. The company also manages the award-winning guest loyalty program, Marriott Rewards® and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® program, which together surpass 50 million members. For more information or reservations, please visit our website at 
