- Gondwana Desert Collection/ News



		News 2005 News 18.03.05

Gondwana promotes the South at the ITB - 18.03.05
At the Internationale Tourismus Börse (ITB) in Berlin the Gondwana Desert Collection introduced itself as a cohesive group for the first time. Starting on Friday (11 March) up until Tuesday (15 March), Managing Director Mannfred Goldbeck and Marketing Manager Miriam Spatz were kept more than busy dealing with the numerous enquiries by German tour operators. Questions focused on Kalahari Anib Lodge near Mariental and Namib Desert Lodge close to famous Sossusvlei, both of which became part of the Collection in December 2004. Accommodation facilities of the new partner, Klein-Aus Vista (Gondwana Sperrgebiet Rand Park) near Aus, and the well-known lodges in Gondwana Cañon Park at the Fish River Canyon had visitors to the fair equally enthralled. Goldbeck and Spatz also made the point of including the horseshoe-shaped Gondwana Desert Route in their conversations with visitors and thus promoted Namibia’s entire south as a charming travel destination which offers the opportunity to experience four desert systems. Additional information was provided by the latest issue of 'Gondwana News' which they had brought to Berlin hot off the press.

Considering the economic situation in Germany it was hardly surprising that rates were the number one topic at the ITB. Tour operators were delighted with the introductory rates of Namib Desert Lodge and Kalahari Anib Lodge and the affordable prices promised by Goldbeck and Spatz for the coming season.

An excellent atmosphere of co-operation and mutual support was in evidence at the Namibia stand, which is hosted by the Namibia Tourism Board (NTB) every year. Namibian tour operators had Gondwana’s illustrations and information material close at hand during negotiations with business partners; marketing of the Gondwana Desert Collection was therefore not restricted to Gondwana’s own table. Goldbeck and Spatz reciprocated by referring their clients to other Namibian operators.

Namibia stand at the ITB.
Photo: Andrea Schumacher, Kleber PR

Promotional efforts at the travel fair culminated in a well-attended press conference, arranged by German media agency Kleber PR on behalf of NTB. The one-hour programme included two presentations by Gondwana’s Managing Director, Mannfred Goldbeck, on the vision underlying the success of the Gondwana Desert Collection (nature conservation, employment and training financed through tourism) and on the Eco Awards Namibia for accommodation establishments which are managed on eco-friendly principles. The Gondwana Group was actively involved in introducing the Eco Awards in January 2004.


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