The recent Connections Switzerland event brought together Swiss luxury suppliers and international buyers with an interest in increasing business into Switzerland. Created by Connections on behalf of Switzerland Tourism, the event in Gstaad was part of the Connections Bespoke series.


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CONNECTIONS LUXURY: VIEWS FROM SWITZERLAND


onsumer spending in the Swiss travel market last year grew at a greater rate than in western Europe as a whole, according to experts. Speaking at Connections Switzerland, Fflur Roberts, head of luxury goods at global business intelligence agency Euromonitor International, said: “The Swiss travel market grew by 4% last year to reach $16 billion. This outpaced


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the rest of the western European region.” Roberts attributed the growth to Switzerland’s popularity with luxury shoppers and its perception as a “safe, honest” destination.


She added: “Luxury hotels are expected to outpace all other categories [of luxury spend in Switzerland] in the next five years, ahead of apparel, beauty, leather and eyewear.”


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URS EBERHARD SWITZERLAND TOURISM “Thanks to Connections, we’ve brought all these buyers to Switzerland to learn from our suppliers about all that this magic place has to offer.”


SANDY CUTRONE VISTA TRAVEL CONSULTANTS INC/ EUROPEAN CONNECTION “This was my third Connections. I always find something extremely interesting among the experiences, as well as meeting new suppliers.”


ALEJANDRO FELGUERES FELGUERES TRAVEL GROUP “I’m a very big fan of Connections, this was my third event. I firmly believe this is how business should be done in the luxury travel sector.”


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IRINA OTTER HOTEL METROPOLE “This was the first time for us at a Connections event. The organisation was just excellent and I can highly recommend it.”


1 Margarita Sammer, Engadin St Moritz; and Eveline Coretti, Ermitage Wellness & Spa Hotel


2 Marlis Leo, A for O; Noreen Thompson, Delion Global Events; and Michala Chatal, Ultima Gstaad


3 Tomas Pedroni, Le Grand Bellevue; Guy Stern, World Travel Center; Maggie Auld, Garcia Fernandez Turismo; and Marie Klein, Giardino Hotel Group


EVENT SUPPORTERS


29 November 2018travelweekly.co.uk61


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