NEWS RELEASE

18 December 2014

For immediate release:

Blands Travel is the first Gibraltar company to join the ETOA

Blands Travel, a member of Bland Group International (BGI), has become the first Gibraltar Company to achieve membership of The European Tour Operators Association (ETOA).

BGI Chief Operating Officer, John Perez, is delighted that the company has been accepted into membership of the prestigious association. He said: "Blands Travel is thrilled to become a member of this leading trade association and is looking forward to maximising its business networking opportunities. As Gibraltar's key Destination Management Company, one of our principal objectives is to encourage inbound tourism to Gibraltar and continue to provide tourism destination services to local and international clients."

The Bland Group has over 200 years experience in travel, leisure and hospitality and offers a wealth of expertise to organisations and individuals in all aspects of tourism, from holidays to conference organisation and corporate travel.

Nuria Saccone, Head of Destination Services at Blands Travel added: "Our membership of ETOA is a reassurance to our customers that they will get the very best service when they use Blands Travel. We are committed to continued enhancement of our product and to providing the highest level of service to all our customers. Tourism and travel is in our blood and this move is good for Blands and good for Gibraltar."

The ETOA, which is directed by the European Tourism Association, enjoys 700 members contributing to more than €12bn of business within Europe. In its 25^thanniversary year, ETOA provides an active networking platform for tourism professionals and is represented in the key tourism trade shows across Europe

Ends

For further informationcontact:

Nuria Saccone

Head of Destination Services Blands Travel

E.nuria.saccone@blandstravel.comT. 200 50932

Notes for editors:

The evolution of the Bland group over 200 years is both unique and remarkable. It currently consists of 15 diversified companies incorporating extensive property interests, land and sea transport, specialist engineering, manufacturing, defence, marketing, travel and an innovative internet business. Although the Group's heritage and deepest roots are in Gibraltar companies also operate from Morocco, Spain and the UK. Customers span the world and hovercrafts built by the Group operate on every continent including Antarctica and the Artic.

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