Latest news with #Euro2012
Hospitality Net
2 days ago
- Business
- Hospitality Net
Can Los Angeles "Digest" the Olympics?
In 2028, Los Angeles will become the center of global attention as it hosts the XXXIV Summer Olympic Games. Although the event is still several years away, in the tourism and hospitality industry, time moves differently. Preparing for such a large-scale event isn't a matter of 'later' - it's a strategic priority for today. Reflecting on countries that have hosted major sporting events - ones I had the chance to participate in as an organizer or volunteer (e.g., Sochi 2014, Euro 2012 in Ukraine and Poland, or the 2018 FIFA World Cup) - one thing is clear: hospitality businesses that started preparing 3–4 years in advance became the main beneficiaries. Those who delayed didn't earn the expected profits and often suffered reputational damage. Lessons from the past: what happens when you're not ready? After more than 13 years in the tourism industry, I saw many hotels during Sochi 2014, Euro 2012, and the 2018 World Cup face predictable challenges: Overbookings due to the lack of centralized sales channel management Manual booking processing and lack of automated guest communication No online booking on official hotel websites, no online payments, no payment system integrations Staff unprepared to serve international guests These issues not only damaged hotel reputations but led to direct financial losses — right during peak season. Why Los Angeles can't afford the same mistakes Los Angeles is a globally renowned city with developed infrastructure and high standards. Precisely because of this, guests will have high expectations. Any delay, check-in issue, or booking error can instantly go viral through social media and review platforms. Additionally, the surge in tourist traffic will demand not just readiness but agility, speed, and full digitalization of operations. What hotels can (and should) do right now 1. Invest in technological infrastructure If your hotel still doesn't use a Channel Manager or Property Management System (PMS), now's the time. These tools allow you to manage pricing, bookings, and room availability across dozens of online booking platforms simultaneously — preventing data delays and pricing errors. Integrating your PMS with a CRM will help you automate guest communications, send booking confirmations, promote room upgrades and services, and pre-fill check-in forms — saving time at the front desk. 2. Strengthen online presence and reputation Being visible on major international booking platforms is a must. High-quality content (photos, room/service descriptions, guest reviews, and hotel responses) is essential. Before booking, guests read reviews across multiple platforms. That's why your online presence and reputation are critical for securing bookings. 3. Drive direct bookings via your website Your hotel's official website must have an online booking module with credit card payment. Besides rooms, you can sell add-on services like spa programs, equipment rentals (e.g., bicycles), and dining packages. During major events in Russia, conference services also sold well through hotel websites. These are all additional revenue streams that can be automated through your site. 4. Train your staff Technology is just one part of the equation. Hospitality is still about people. Start training your front office and other key staff now to handle large guest volumes, foreign travelers, and unexpected situations. The Olympics are not a challenge — they're an opportunity Tourism is built on trust, and the Olympics are a moment when the whole world is watching. Hotels that act now will not only manage the influx — they'll capture new markets, expand their client base, elevate service levels, and emerge stronger than ever before. Iana Petrova Business development leader and hospitality technology expert
Irish Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Sport
- Irish Daily Mirror
Hallgrimsson aiming to avoid unwanted record ahead of World Cup campaign
As if there wasn't enough pressure on Heimir Hallgrímsson and his players ahead of the World Cup qualifiers later this year. Failure to make the 2026 tournament - co-hosted by the USA, Canada and Mexico - would represent the longest gap between appearances on either the European or World stage since the country's breakthrough at Euro '88. By 2026, 10 years will have passed since the last successful campaign - and that would equal the distance between Ireland's 2002 World Cup heroics and the disastrous Euro 2012 showing. Progress to the European Championships four years later and progress to the last-16 in France gave rise to optimism that regular qualifications were back on the cards. Then came the play-off collapse against Denmark for the 2018 World Cup, and a poor showing in the Euro 2020 qualifiers and play-off penalty shootout heartache against Slovakia. Stephen Kenny's men were out of contention early in the 2022 World Cup campaign, while Euro 2024 was practically out of the question after the draw landed Ireland in a group with France and the Netherlands. So here we are, a few months out from a rapid-fire three-month series of World Cup qualifiers against Portugal, Hungary and Armenia. Manager Hallgrímsson has just one player in his current squad - Lille hero Robbie Brady - that featured at Euro 2016. While he remains hopeful that Seamus Coleman will be available come September, it's a real knowledge deficit when it comes to successfully navigating a qualification campaign. Giovanni Trapattoni had four veterans of the 2002 World Cup - Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Damien Duff and Robbie Keane - when he bridged a 10-year gap to progress to Euro 2012. That experience, says Hallgrímsson, can be key. So expect Brady, and hopefully Coleman, to have big roles on and off the pitch by September's big kick-off. 'I can only say from my experience, once you have smelled it, you know how big it is and you would want to go again and again and again,' said the former Iceland manager. 'They know that and we need them to spread that around the young players, just how massive it is and how fun it is. 'These are the moments you remember when you stop playing. To share that experience is so important. 'I have spoken about Robbie, how good he has been since I came in, in the absence of Seamus, him and Doc (Matt Doherty) have needed to step up in the leadership role.' It's not just that experience that is invaluable. Qualification offers an international manager something that they cannot buy at any other time of their tenure. 'It's not only to qualify, it's the two months of being together that will continue to grow the team,' he said. 'That's not spoken of, but it's one of the reasons why it's always the same teams qualifying. They spend that valuable time together that other teams don't get. 'We only have five camps, and have had the shortest FIFA window, three camps I think were only a week. 'Seven days, seven days, seven days, and if you are developing teams three weeks is not much. 'Most of the training sessions are recovery because they play on the Sunday with the clubs. We cannot do anything Monday. Tuesday is limited load. 'That is the valuable time for national teams, to be in camps in finals, it's something we really need at this moment.' There is something else that Hallgrímsson could do with - a strong pool of players getting regular game-time in Europe's top five leagues. Recently, FAI academy chief Will Clarke made the point during a presentation that a country needed 35 players playing an average of 1,400 minutes of league football a season in a top five league to be successful. During 2024/25, 20 Irish players featured for less than 1,000 minutes each on average. However, Hallgrímsson insisted: 'I think we have the material to qualify, sure. I think I have, again, from experience. 'I have qualified with less talent than we have here. So that's my take on this question. 'I know what you're getting at. Obviously, we would like more players to play at a higher level. 'And I think more players will play at a higher level. They're still not peaking in age and all of that. So I'm pretty confident that we will have more players playing more minutes in the top leagues.'
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Video: Pepe Reina announces retirement decision at 42 years old
Como goalkeeper Pepe Reina, formerly of Napoli, Milan, Lazio, Liverpool and Barcelona, has announced that he will be retiring from professional football at the age of 42 this summer in order to explore new opportunities as a coach: 'The time has come'. Reina, who has made 12 appearances across all competitions for newly-promoted Como in 2024-25, 11 in Serie A, will be calling it a day at the end of the current campaign. Advertisement The veteran stopper will turn 43 at the end of August, but felt that he still had 'more to offer' in the 2024-25 campaign. He admitted that there was a nervous moment last summer after leaving Villarreal as a free agent, as he 'couldn't find a project' that 'excited' him, but in the end, he joined Como in Serie A, coached by his former international colleague Cesc Fabregas. COMO, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 14: Pepe Reina of Como 1907 ahead of the Serie A match between Como and Bologna at Stadio G. Sinigaglia on September 14, 2024 in Como, Italy. (Photo by) Both Fabregas and Reina were part of the Spain national team squads that won Euro 2008, the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012 in back-to-back-to-back major international competitions. Reina has also turned out for a selection of high-profile clubs across Europe throughout his career, beginning in the youth ranks at Barcelona, before joining Villarreal, Liverpool, Napoli, Bayern Munich, Milan, Aston Villa and most recently Como. Advertisement The Spaniard has made 953 competitive appearances across all competitions at club level, plus 35 caps for the Spain national team. His final game in club football will be in a potential Serie A title decider between Como and second-placed Inter on Friday night. Video: Reina announces retirement plans 'Se acaba una carrera muy bonita'.@PReina25 cuelga los guantes 👋🧤. — Fútbol en Movistar Plus+ (@MovistarFutbol) May 19, 2025 'A beautiful career is ending, a complete life,' Reina revealed in an interview with Movistar. 'I feel very lucky for what I've experienced, it's been a lot of years. I didn't expect it, but I think the time has come and I want to end it here. MILAN, ITALY – DECEMBER 23: Pepe Reina of Como 1907 looks on during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and Como 1907 at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on December 23, 2024 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by) 'There was a moment where I had a hard time last summer because I couldn't find a project that excited me. I had more to offer and this year has been the one that has made me see that I'm done now, in the sense that I no longer have much to offer from this position. Advertisement 'I am very lucky, it has been a privilege.' Reina has also recently disclosed that he plans to begin a career as a coach from next season onwards. He has not yet revealed which club he intends to join, but has hinted that he will be a youth-team coach initially, rather than in a first team, due to his current lack of coaching licenses.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
How to buy tickets to the Europa Conference League final
Europa Conference League final tickets are sure to be in demand in the coming weeks as we near the end of the club football season. Fans will surely be keen to snap up tickets as soon as possible as it's now just over a month away until this big game, which takes place on Wednesday 28th May at 21:00 CET, or 20:00 BST. Advertisement The Conference League is still a relatively new competition, with Roma, West Ham and Olympiacos lifting the trophy in its first three seasons. Chelsea will now surely be the favourites for this year's edition of the competition, with Enzo Maresca's side preparing to take on Djurgarden in the semi-finals. The other semi-final will be contested between Real Betis and Fiorentina, the latter of whom have notably lost two Conference League finals and will be desperately looking to right that wrong this season. Where is the Europa Conference League final taking place? We don't yet know which teams will be lining up for this season's final, but we do know that it will be taking place in Wroclaw, Poland. Advertisement The Wroclaw Stadium will be the venue for this big game, and it's not the first time that some big matches have taken place there. Poland co-hosted Euro 2012 and some games took place at the 42,771-capacity stadium, while it's also hosted a few games for the Polish national team and even some high-profile boxing matches. Wroclaw Stadium during the Euros (Photo by) How to buy tickets for the Europa Conference League final Fans will likely be keen to start planning for attending this exciting European final, and they can always try the usual place for such events, with the UEFA official website ticketing page found here. However, we can also highly recommend the increasingly popular and well-trusted for an easier alternative. Advertisement With an easy-to-use website and a 150% money back guarantee, this could well be your best bet of making sure you don't miss this big game. Otherwise, there are often fairly limited places with the UEFA website, as fans are required to apply for tickets and then await the results of a 'lottery' to decide who gets to go. What is there to do in Wroclaw? Fans travelling to this game might also want to take some time to soak up the culture in Wroclaw, which is Poland's third largest city. Even if the football will obviously be the main event, there could be a lot of waiting around if you don't make some other plans to keep yourself occupied! Advertisement Luckily, Wroclaw is an attractive city with cathedrals and museums, plus a zoo if you're visiting with young ones. Wroclaw is an ideal host for a major final like this, as Wikipedia notes that it's easy to get around and is 'often featured in lists of the most livable places in the world'. What do Europa Conference League winners get? Winning this trophy should be enough of a reward by itself, but of course plenty of fans will also have an eye on what other rewards their team can get for winning the Conference League. A win could be particularly important for Chelsea as they're currently slipping down the Premier League table, meaning this trophy could actually be their best bet of ensuring Europa League qualification for next season. There could also be repercussions for other Premier League clubs, as if Chelsea win the Conference League and finish 6th, there will be an extra Europa League place granted by UEFA.
Arab News
27-03-2025
- Sport
- Arab News
Surprise Bento dismissal raises questions about rest of UAE World Cup qualifying campaign
DUBAI: It takes something special to top the drama of a 98th-minute winner which kept UAE dreams of automatic World Cup 2026 qualification alive. But fewer than eight hours after a bandaged Sultan Adil — in just his second appearance for club or country in 2024-25 — produced a brave diving header in Riyadh to salvage a 2-1 triumph against bottom-placed North Korea, a tweet announced the shock news that Paulo Bento's tenure had ended abruptly. 'The UAE Football Association has decided to dismiss the head coach of the national team, Portuguese Paulo Bento, and his technical staff,' said @uaefa_ae. Those few words, with no emotion and a strictly businesslike tone, ended a reign that only began in July 2023. The hard-fought victory at Prince Faisal bin Fahd Stadium left the UAE third in the third round's Group A, four points away from a guaranteed return to football's grandest stage for the first time since 1990 with two fixtures left. Failure to overturn this deficit to second-placed Uzbekistan — their next opponents — in June's deciders means the team must successfully navigate up to three extra stages. The question posed by the UAE FA was: 'Is this enough?' Their answer — a definitive 'no.' Time will now tell whether this bold call, certainly not without merit, was a correct one. A clear decision has been made that the 55-year-old, who became South Korea's longest-serving manager and led Portugal to Euro 2012's semifinals, was not the man to achieve this goal. Instead, the ninth permanent appointment since Mahdi Ali's resignation in March 2017 will target this glory. Bento's tenure with the Whites featured 14 wins, six draws and six defeats. The nation has not been this close to its second World Cup appearance in several generations. He will be remembered for successive hammerings of perennial rivals Qatar and being at the helm for the naturalization revolution, where an array of long-serving ADNOC Pro League stars and UAE-born or raised foreign nationals were integrated into selection. Less-fond memories were created by a 2023 Asian Cup round-of-16 exit on penalties to tournament debutants Tajikistan, or this winter's winless group-stage exit at the 26th Arabian Gulf Cup. Performances that were often stodgy and staccato did not help, especially after the introduction of call-ups such as Sharjah forward Caio Lucas, club-mate Marcus Meloni, Fleetwood Town's Mackenzie Hunt and Al-Ain's AFC Champions League-winning center-back Kouame Autonne. This month exemplified the testy relationship forged between Bento and UAE football. The 2-0 defeat at Tehran's intimidating Azadi Stadium against heavyweights Iran was not terrible on paper; nor was a characterful late show to prevail against unknown and unfancied North Korea. Yet the loss to Iran contained a switch to a 5-4-1 formation unfamiliar to most players, in the wake of zero preparatory friendlies, with four-goal Qatar hero Fabio De Lima benched and little time on the training pitch due to a packed club fixture list. Only one effort on target was recorded during a contest elongated by floodlight troubles. A selection and tactical shake-up into the usual 4-2-3-1 against North Korea produced a frustrating display, in which 69 percent possession and an attempt count weighted 20-7 in the UAE's favor still bore many similarities to October's dreary 1-1 draw against the same opponent. These displays allied with the continued decision to neglect the national team's record scorer, Ali Mabkhout, and Al-Wasl 'Golden Boy' Ali Saleh. There is a void around what happens next, with pure conjecture defining this nascent state of play in which no outstanding successor has emerged. The vagaries of reviewing external candidates present a tricky but worthwhile task. New names could arise in the coming days and weeks. The move towards a supremo with domestic experience, reminiscent of the previous World Cup cycle when Rodolfo Arruabarrena replaced Bert van Marwijk, may produce several options. Can Cosmin Olaroiu, finally, be tempted? A campaign that could yet deliver AFC Champions League Two, President's Cup and ADNOC Pro League triumphs with Sharjah makes this pursuit complicated. Paulo Sousa gained brief international exposure with Poland and has been a revelation at a Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai Club, who will be loath to lose him. Milos Milojevic won the President's Cup and league double with Al-Wasl last term, ending a 17-year wait for local silverware. His second campaign, however, has been strained and at 42 years old he lacks international exposure, unlike Olaroiu at the 2015 Asian Cup with Saudi Arabia. Argentina great Hernan Crespo is unattached since November's dismissal from Asian conquerors Al-Ain. A trio of fellow former ADNOC Pro League tacticians seem otherwise engaged, in Kuwait's Juan Antonio Pizzi (Al-Wasl), Ukraine's Serhiy Rebrov (Al-Ain) and Greece's Ivan Jovanovic (Al-Nasr), whose UAE spell was scuppered by the pandemic. UAE FA leadership chose a dynamic course of action on Wednesday. There were no media leaks about their intentions at any stage; nor were any successors rumored. This blank slate must be filled in ample time prior to a June which could yet go down in history.
