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European Cities Marketing (ECM) has just published the seventh edition of its European Cities Marketing Benchmarking Report. For 2010 the total number of bednights in European cities experienced year-on growth of 6.5%. International bednights increased by an even more striking 8.9%, indicating full recovery from the downturn in volume recorded in 2009 as a consequence of global economic recession.

Vilnius is the most popular international association meetings city destination in the Baltic States. This is documented by the results of the statistics 2010 of the International Congress & Convention Association (ICCA). Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania climbed by four places to 26th position in ICCA European cities ranking for association meetings. With 35 international congresses held in 2010 Vilnius became the most important city destination in Baltics.

The Union of International Associations (UIA) has just published its international rankings of congress cities for the year 2010. For the second consecutive year Brussels maintains its top place in Europe and second worldwide, just after Singapore.

World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, has opened registration for WTM 2011, which will focus on the emerging sector of Sports Tourism and particularly the Olympics with it being the final WTM before the 2012 London Olympics.

Last week, Copenhagen hosted the annual Alliance Management Review for BestCities Global Alliance. At the same time, Copenhagen hosted a workshop for 9 executives from international associations who were in town to learn more about the partners from BestCities Global Alliance.

E. Coli and volcanic eruptions are both natural phenomena, yet the difference in the way in which each impacts a particular industry and is handled by European legislators, is striking, and perhaps indicative of a mind-set that has now become entrenched in European policy, claims the European Regions Airline Association (ERA).

Celebrate Independence Day with your family and join your neighbors and friends at the Stars & Stripes Freedom Festival, to be held in Central Park in Fernandina Beach, Florida on Monday, July 4, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., followed by a patriotic Parade on Centre Street at 7 pm, a Concert of Americana music at 8:15 pm in front of the Depot, and capped by Fireworks at the Fernandina Harbor Marina at approximately 9:30 p.m.

World Travel Market, the leading global event for the travel industry, is helping search for the most inspiring and innovative examples of responsible tourism throughout the world. The hunt is part of the nominations process for the Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Awards 2011, founded by responsibletravel.com and sponsoring partner World Travel Market. Deadline for nominations is Friday 17 June.

TravelPromoter is a new free Facebook application uniquely designed to allow travel companies to publish their brochures in a search and browse format within Facebook, the world’s most prolific social network.

In MKG Hospitality’s annual worldwide ranking, in terms of pure room count, IHG came in first place once again despite the 31,000 rooms that left the network due to the new brand guidelines of its largest brand, Holiday Inn. However this loss is noticeable in its 0.5% growth rate which gave the British group the second lowest growth rate amongst the top ten hospitality giants.