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ECB Newsletter March 2011 |
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Estonia's Euro Changeover Goes Smoothly |
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On January 1, Estonia became the 17th member of the Eurozone, the first ex-Soviet state to adopt the EU's common currency.
The changeover process went off without a hitch, with cash available from ATM machines just after midnight on New Year's Day. Banks, shops and post offices coped well with the two-week transition period during which both kroons and euros were used in parallel.
Commercial banks will continue to swap kroons for euros until the end of 2011, while the nation's central bank will do so indefinitely.
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'Hotel Viru and the KGB' Museum Opens its Doors |
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Estonia's very first hotel museum, Hotel Viru and the KGB, officially opened at the Sokos Hotel Viru on January 13 as part of this year’s Tallinn - the European Capital of Culture 2011 programme.
“The idea of opening a museum has been pondered over for more than ten years because of our visitors’ extreme curiosity about the activities of the KGB in the hotel and the room on the 23rd floor that the organisation left behind,” said Anu Soosaar, the hotel's managing director.
Noting that the hotel has been a major landmark of the city for nearly 40 years, she added: “We believe that now that Tallinn has become a European Capital of Culture it's the perfect time to tell the story of the Hotel Viru and the KGB’s part in this story, and speak about the entire era in general as it can give guests who have travelled great distances to visit us the chance to get a sense of our past."
The museum can hold up to 25 visitors at a time, with entrance via a queue in the hotel lobby. It can be visited only with a local guide. Tickets cost 7 euros for the general public, 5 euros for guests of the hotel.
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WFTGA Convention 2011 Held in Tallinn |
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Some of the most active and influential professional guides representatives from around the globe gathered in Tallinn from January 29 to February 4 for the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) conference. Held in the Sokos Hotel Viru, the event attracted around 165 delegates.
Organisers provided participants with the latest information and best experiences of the industry, as well as the chance to get to know everything Estonia has to offer as a tourist destination.
The theme of the conference was ‘Culture as an all-encompassing guide,’ with presentations and workshops focused on cultural phenomena that might distinguish one country and its people from another, while also bringing them together.
The theme was also related to Tallinn’s status as European Capital of Culture in 2011.
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Carlson Wagonlit Acquires Kaleva Travel |
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The business travel management giant Carlson Wagonlit Travel has acquired Kaleva Travel, the Finland-based travel management company that it has partnered with since 1995.
The privately-owned Kaleva Travel is Finland’s largest agency specializing in business travel. It has 450 employees and an annual sales volume of more than €315 million.
Through the years the two companies have developed partner operations in Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, and Romania. The acquisition gives CWT a wholly-owned presence in each of these markets.
Integration of the two companies will continue through the first months of the year. CWT has pledged to make every effort to ensure a seamless transition for clients.
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Estonian Air Launches Tallinn-Tartu Flights |
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On February 27 Estonian Air began operating its first-ever flights on the Tallinn-Tartu route, providing conference delegates better international access to the country's second largest city.
The 45-minute flights are operated using a 33-seater SAAB 340 and are available six days a week.
Tartu-Tallinn flights depart early mornings, while Tallinn-Tartu flights depart late at night. These are timed to give travellers the smoothest possible connections to and from other European destinations.
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Estonia Sets New Record for Accommodated Visitors |
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In 2010 Estonian accommodation establishments hosted 2.4 million visitors, a 12% increase from the previous year.
According to Statistics Estonia, the majority of them – 82% – came from European Union countries, two thirds from neighbouring Finland. Overall, two thirds of the visitors were foreign-based.
In addition, the total number of overnight stays in December broke a ten-year record.
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European Capital of Culture 2011 Highlights |
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With Tallinn's European Capital of Culture programme in full swing, visitors can expect an incredible number of events happening throughout the year. Here are some of the upcoming highlights:
Tallinn Music Week – March 24 - 26. Estonian music, from jazz and folk to punk and metal, will be introduced to the world in this three-day event. It's designed to act as both a large-scale party for music fans and an opportunity for talented Estonian musicians to get noticed beyond the country’s borders. Close to a hundred representatives of the European music industry – festival directors, organisers, managers, agents, record companies, publishers and journalists – will be on hand to see what the locals have to offer. The event also involves an international conference, which will take place at Nordic Hotel Forum.
Jazzkaar – April 20 - 30. By far Estonia's largest annual jazz event, this festival aims to present music on as grand a scale as possible, starting with avant-garde and ending with mainstream jazz, including the more interesting styles of world music and blues. Numerous jazz music events will be taking place throughout the city.
Museum Night – May 14. Once a year, on a Saturday evening in May, museums and other institutions mark pan-European Museum Night by staying open late and offering free admission. The theme of Museum Night in this Capital of Culture year is ‘Treasure in the Night’.
Kumu Night – May 20. For one night a year, the Kumu Art Museum is transformed into a club, concert hall and cinema – a gathering place for music and fun. This unique cultural event will integrate innovative music with the unforgettable architectural environment of the Kumu, giving audiences the chance to experience the latest bands from Estonia and abroad.
Find out more about these and other events by checking out the Tallinn 2011 calendar:
http://www.tallinn2011.ee/calendar_of_tallinn_2011
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Estonia/Finland/Iceland Workshop in London – March 29. The ECB will be on hand in London as the national tourist boards of these three countries host a joint workshop that promises to be entertaining as well as informative. The event will be an excellent opportunity to get to know the organisations and their UK and overseas representatives, as well as network with their tourism partners.
Meet Estonia 2011 FAM Trip – April 13 - 15. Organised jointly by the ECB and the Estonian Tourist Board, this FAM trip allows event planners to experience the country as a meeting destination, get a feel for what it has to offer and meet key suppliers. The programme includes site inspections, networking events and workshops.
IMEX Fair in Frankfurt – May 24 - 26. The essential worldwide exhibition for meetings and incentive travel, IMEX brings together representatives of national and regional tourist offices, major hotel groups, airlines, destination management companies, service providers, trade associations and more. Last year's event involved 3,500 exhibitors from around the globe, 3,800 hosted buyers from 60 markets, and a total of nearly 9,000 visitors over its three days.
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For additional information, please contact the Estonian Convention Bureau at
+ 372 6 450 086, info@ecb.ee, or visit us at www.ecb.ee.
The Estonian Convention Bureau is a non-profit organisation established jointly by public and private sector bodies in order to attract international conventions to Estonia. The ECB's 24 members include the cities of Tallinn and Tartu, the national carrier Estonian Air, and a number of DMCs, PCOs, conference hotels and conference venues.
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