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Rail Europe and European Travel Commission forge future-oriented alliance
Paris, 23 May 2024 – Rail Europe, the global reference brand for European train booking, proudly announces its new status as an associate member of the European Travel Commission (ETC), bringing together national tourism boards of Europe with the most convenient and sustainable way of mobility. This strategic partnership underscores Rail Europe's commitment to promoting the future of rail transport globally for destinations across Europe.
Early figures for 2024 reveal a positive outlook for European tourism, with consumer travel spending set to rise significantly. The collaboration between Rail Europe and ETC reflects a shared vision for a greener, more sustainable future. By becoming an associate member of ETC, Rail Europe aims to leverage its extensive worldwide B2B network with tour operators, (online) travel agencies, and travel management companies to make rail travel a central topic. This partnership is about reshaping the future of travel, driving sustainable economic growth, and fostering regional development through promotion, market intelligence, and best practice sharing.
"We are very proud to become an official associate member of ETC today. Our partnership with ETC will bring tourism and mobility even closer together, and it will allow us to advocate for greener travel solutions, ensuring rail becomes the backbone of European tourism," Björn Bender, CEO of Rail Europe, stated.
"We are delighted to welcome Rail Europe as an associate member. Their expertise spanning over 90 years in rail travel aligns perfectly with our mission to promote sustainable tourism across Europe. Together, we will work towards fostering closer cooperation between the rail and tourism sectors in Europe, benefiting both travellers and the environment," commented Eduardo Santander, CEO of the European Travel Commission.
Under this Associate Membership Agreement, Rail Europe and ETC will embark on selected collaborative projects aimed at promoting sustainable travel initiatives and improving the overall travel experience for both local and international visitors.
About European Travel Commission
The European Travel Commission (ETC) represents the national tourism organisations of Europe. Established in 1948, ETC's mission is to strengthen the sustainable development of Europe as a tourist destination and to promote Europe in third markets. Its 36-member tourism boards work together to build the value of tourism for all the diverse European destinations through cooperation in sharing best practices, market intelligence and promotion. For more information, visit www.etc-corporate.org and follow @ETC_Corporate.
Press contact
Giada Lasio
etc@pentagroup.co
About Rail Europe
Rail Europe is the global reference brand for European train booking. We have been the trusted partner of the travel industry and train operators for 90 years. Our rail expert teams provide technology solutions and customer care services to +20,000 partners in more than 70 countries. International travellers who want to travel by train easily throughout Europe can also book their travel directly through our state-of-the-art train booking website and app. Our catalogue of products focuses on 200 rail providers such as SNCF, SBB, Eurostar, Trenitalia, Italo, DB, Renfe, ÖBB, SNCB, NS, OUIGO Spain and National Rail, and rail passes including the Swiss Travel Pass and Eurail Passes. We sell around 5 million European train tickets every year. Our offices are around the globe and we are headquartered in Paris.
Press contacts
Justine Rohée
Judith Wollner
Trisha Aswani