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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:21 AM
Louis Cruises becomes 26th CLIA member cruise line7 April 2011, 11:00 pm Louis Cruises announced that is has become the newest member cruise line of Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), bringing the association’s 16,000 travel agents a unique opportunity to sell destination-focused cruises throughout the Eastern and Western Mediterranean onboard the fleet’s Louis Cristal, Louis Majesty, Coral, Orient Queen, and Calypso. The cruise line is raising the bar in Greek Island cruising with the introduction of Louis Majesty to the Eastern Mediterranean this season, offering upgraded quality and capacity for the line’s 3 and 4 night cruises, and further stimulating the growth of cruising in the region. "We are very pleased to welcome Louis Cruises to CLIA. Their joining us speaks to the increasing diversity of cruise experiences throughout the world and represents an important new opportunity for CLIA member travel agents to expand their cruise sales and attract new customers," said Christine Duffy, President of CLIA. "This affiliation constitutes a rewarding recognition for the 25-year-long successful history of Louis Cruises and the efforts of the more than 8,500 employees with hundreds of Greek officers and crew that are employed aboard the Louis Cruises fleet as well as to the thousands of dedicated members of staff that Louis Group employs in Greece and Cyprus. It is their continued commitment to excellence that made Louis Cruises a leading choice for vacations throughout the Mediterranean," said Costakis Loizou, Executive Chairman of Louis Group and CEO of Louis Cruises. Louis Cruises programs take travelers to explore and enjoy a "Sea of Memories" with meticulously planned cruise programs designed to provide travelers a complete destination experience. From the grandeur of Ancient Greece and the legendary Greek Isles to the most celebrated splendors of Italy… From the sophistication of France and the lively ambiance of Malta, to the intrigue of Turkey…From the treasures of Spain, to the intricate mysteries of Morocco - Louis Cruises showcases the destinations presented throughout its programs in an authentically rich way to create a lifetime of enriching memories for travelers. "We are thrilled to welcome CLIA travel agents and their clients on board our mid-sized cruise ships, where they will find a casual and friendly atmosphere, warm Greek hospitality and very attentive service," said Charis Papacharalambous SVP, Sales and Marketing of Louis Cruises. "At Louis Cruises, our fleet of destination-friendly cruise ships is also a statement of the company’s commitment to maintain a human scale in cruising and an excellence for each traveler’s experience. With an optimum size for the Mediterranean, Louis Cruises’ ships are able to enter the smaller island ports with the added flexibility that affords travelers even more time in each distinctive port of call to explore. Guests traveling with Louis Cruises can always expect timely arrivals, flexible and unique itineraries, smooth embarkation and disembarkation procedures and fascinating shore excursions.""Now is the perfect time to start planning an exciting vacation the Mediterranean," said Nicholas Filippidis, Director of Product Development in North America for Louis Cruises. "Our new 60-page brochure includes 16 exciting cruise programs and features even more opportunities for travelers to enjoy the line’s shorter duration cruises with the move of Louis Majesty to the Eastern Mediterranean where she will be operating three and four-night itineraries to the Greek islands and Turkey from April 1st through the November 4th, 2011. We invite CLIA agents and cruise travelers to discover the treasures of some of the world’s most exotic ports of call sailing with Louis Cruises." Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:20 AM
VISET Malta rebrands as Valletta Cruise Port7 April 2011, 11:00 pm As it approaches the celebration of its tenth year anniversary, VISET Malta plc has rebranded its corporate identity to offer a contemporary look that reflects the company’s unique positioning within the international market. The operator of the Valletta cruise terminal and Malta’s leader in the cruise and ferry business sector is now rebranded as Valletta Cruise Port plc.The new identity underlines the unique value of the Port of Valletta as a destination for cruise passengers and will contribute in the overall marketing efforts undertaken by the company to attract cruise lines to Malta. Apart from being an anniversary year, 2011 is an important year for Valletta Cruise Port as it marks the first home porting operation for TUI Cruises in May. This year will also mark the start of the 5 year agreement with MSC Cruises, signed in November 2010, a first for Valletta Cruise Port and the cruise sector in Malta. Since being awarded the licence for the operation of the cruise and ferry terminal in 2001, the company invested around EUR35 million in developing one of the few dedicated cruise and ferry terminals in the Mediterranean. The company also restored the historic buildings in the area now branded as the Valletta Waterfront which has matured into one of the Island’s most sought after business and entertainment destinations. Throughout these years, Valletta Cruise Port nurtured close links with all cruise line companies. This relationship built on the company’s solid reputation of service delivery and has resulted in an annual average increase of 11% in cruise passenger movements since 2001. Total passenger movements since 2001 have exceeded 4 million passengers. Furthermore, it is estimated that between 2006 and 2009, direct cruise expenditure in Malta stood at around
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:18 AM
Four Points by Sheraton goes green with new Florida Hotel7 April 2011, 11:00 pm A new Four Points by Sheraton in Tallahassee is expected to become the brand's first LEED-certified property, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced. Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown, which opens in the summer of 2011, is on track to receive certification from the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program in 2012. The hotel is also working toward earning certification from Florida's Green Lodging Association. Ideally located in the heart of Florida's capital city, Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown will occupy a 12-story round building that has been a city landmark since 1969. The former Holiday Inn will complete an extensive multi-million dollar renovation prior to opening as a Four Points by Sheraton. Owned by Union Hotel Company Tallahassee RLLLP, the hotel will feature 164 comfortable and stylish guest rooms and all the amenities guests need to travel the way they like - all for a great price. "Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown is a great example of a successful conversion property that is incorporating leading-edge green standards into its operations," said Paul Sacco, Senior Vice President of North American Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "The brand has become an increasingly popular choice for both new-builds and conversions, as we continue our aggressive expansion across North America."To spearhead the often complex and lengthy application process to attain LEED status, Union Hotel Company Tallahassee, RLLP has partnered with Boulder, Colorado-based UHG Consulting, a sustainability consulting firm specializing in LEED certification and green building. UHG is working with Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee to advance the hotel's sustainability initiatives, achieve total cost savings from energy efficiency, and create public awareness of its green practices. "We are delighted that Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown is in pursuit of LEED certification, as we continue to find ways to deliver our popular lifestyle brands with minimal environmental impact," said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President, Specialty Select Brands for Starwood. "The recently improved Four Points by Sheraton is a favorite among today's self-sufficient travelers, providing everything they want and need while traveling."Four Points opened its 150th hotel in 2010, solidifying its place as Starwood's third largest brand with the second-biggest global pipeline. Four Points is always an honest value, with great amenities like free bottled water in every room every day, free wi-fi in public spaces, and free Internet access in all guestrooms. The brand's "simple pleasures" philosophy has also made Four Points a massive hit with travelers everywhere by giving guests everything they need, plus the extras they love - with superior service and modern style. Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown's central location puts guests within walking distance of the Capital Building, Florida State University and Florida A&M University. The hotel is just minutes from the Tallahassee Regional Airport and convenient to the Federal Courthouse, Lemoyne Center for Visual Arts, Odyssey Science Center and the numerous shops and restaurants of downtown Tallahassee. "The renovation of this iconic hotel property has provided us with a unique opportunity to not only restore a city landmark, but also set a new standard for sustainable re-development within the city of Tallahassee,"said Peter Walstra, Director of Operations for Union Hotel Company Tallahassee RLLLP. "We are proud to fly the Four Points flag, and we look forward to reaching even more travelers through the award-winning Starwood Preferred Guest program."Four Points by Sheraton Tallahassee Downtown will offer all-day dining, more than 6,700 square feet of state-of-the-art indoor conference space and 2,000 square feet of outdoor space. Additional amenities will include an outdoor pool and regulation lap lanes, 24-hour gym and business center, and complimentary high speed internet. Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:17 AM
Tiger Airways celebrates 250,000 passengers through Avalon Airport7 April 2011, 11:00 pm Tiger Airways Australia is celebrating its 250,000th passenger through Avalon Airport with thousands of airfares on all Avalon routes on special sale. The significant milestone has been achieved in less than five months since launching flights from Tiger’s third Australian base on 10 November 2010. The announcement comes just days after the airline recently celebrated seven million passengers flown since commencing operations in Australia on 23 November 2007. Tiger’s 250,000th passenger flew on flight TT6242 to Adelaide departing from Avalon Airport. The lucky passenger, from Glen Waverley, Melbourne, met at Avalon Airport’s check in area and was presented with a $250 travel voucher to use on the Tiger network in the future, as well as a complimentary car park pass to use at Avalon Airport. The prize couldn’t come at a better time for the mother of six young children who intends to travel with Tiger on another family holiday in the near future. She says she flies Tiger regularly and chose to fly to Adelaide from Avalon Airport this time due to the combined affordability of both options. Tiger Airways Australia Managing Director Crawford Rix says the milestone is “further proof that Australians love our low airfares - they continue to vote with their feet. “Avalon’s low cost model is very much in synch with ours and allows us to continue to expand our paw print around Australia, at the same time providing consistently the lowest airfares for domestic travel. “Our newest base in Australia at Avalon Airport in Victoria complements our other services in Victoria operating from Melbourne’s Tullamarine Airport – essentially it means more tourism benefits for the State and more low fare travel options for our customers,” says Mr Rix. Avalon Airport CEO Justin Giddings congratulated Tiger Airways on achieving quarter of a million passengers in a relatively short period of time. “Avalon Airport provides a convenient alternative for travelers in Melbourne and Geelong” he says. “Tiger passengers love our low cost parking and convenient terminal facilities. Congratulations to Tiger Airways on their continued expansion and this milestone at Avalon Airport.” Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:16 AM
GBTA and the Wall Street Journal to honor annual business traveler innovations7 April 2011, 11:00 pm The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) and the Wall Street Journal have launched the second annual 2011 Business Traveler Innovation Awards aimed at honoring innovative ideas, products and services that make life on the road easier for business travelers. The awards will be presented at the annual 2011 GBTA Convention in Denver, Colorado, August 21-24, 2011. Craig Banikowski, CCTE, C.P.M, CMM, GBTA President & CEO, said, “GBTA is once again pleased to be working with The Wall Street Journal on this industry award. The search for the innovations that make life on the road easier, better, more practical and productive is now underway. I am excited to hear from my fellow travelers about what they believe is the most inventive product, service, or idea for 2011.”Business travelers can log on to gbta.org/innovation to submit innovations that have made the life of the road warrior easier. The deadline for submissions is May 1, 2011. Submissions will be posted on the GBTA website during the months of May and early June when travelers can cast their votes for their favorite entries. The innovation that garners the most votes will be named GBTA’s 2011 Business Traveler People’s Choice Innovation of the Year. Top submissions will be featured at the GBTA Convention on the exposition floor. A panel of industry judges will hear presentations from featured innovators. The judges will determine GBTA’s 2011 Judges’ Choice Innovation of the Year. Both awards will be featured at Tuesday’s, August 23rd, general session. The GBTA Convention, with more than 6,000 attendees, is the largest, most comprehensive annual gathering of business travel and meetings managers, meeting planners, procurement professionals and suppliers in the world. Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:14 AM
Cairns Colonian Club to join internationally renowned Accor Hotel Group7 April 2011, 11:00 pm Leading hotel management group Accor will boost its presence in Tropical North Queensland to welcome the Cairns Colonial Club Resort to its expanding network in early May 2011. The popular hotel will be marketed beneath Accor’s All Seasons brand, to become the All Seasons Cairns Colonial Club, and will be the largest All Seasons hotel for the brand worldwide. Distinct in their individual style and location, All Seasons hotels are renowned for their warm welcome and personal attention. With an extensive range of locations across Australia, New Zealand, Asia and Europe, this rapidly expanding network of ‘value for money’ hotels, resorts and apartments delivers true hospitality for both business and leisure travellers. All Seasons has been a prominent part of the Australian hotel sector for some 30 years, with a particularly strong presence in regional and remote Australia. The All Seasons brand is operated by Accor, the largest hotel operator in Australia and Queensland specifically. The All Seasons Cairns Colonial Club is the first new hotel addition in Far North Queensland since 2009 when it welcomed its original All Seasons branded hotel – the All Seasons Cairns. Other All Seasons hotels in the region include the All Seasons Magnetic Island and All Seasons Stradbroke Island in the states south. The signing comes at a time when tourism to Tropical North Queensland is in the spotlight, with local operators set to benefit from private sector investment, local and state Tourism Authority initiatives to drive business back to the region post Cyclone Yasi in Cairns. “We are extremely pleased to be associated with Accor,” said Peter Blackburn, General Manager of the All Seasons Cairns Colonial Club. “I’m sure that Accor, with its strong, well-known brands, will help us grow and prosper in the future.”Accor’s General Manager Franchise Hotels, Dino Mezzatesta, says the property is a great strategic addition to the national All Seasons network. Set within 11 acres (4.5 hectares) of award-winning, lush, tropical gardens, the All Seasons Cairns Colonial Club evokes the tranquility of the North Queensland rainforest and combines tropical resort features with the advantages of a mainstream hotel Accommodation includes 345 comfortable and spacious rooms and suites, offering guests an excellent range of holiday accommodation to choose from. The hotel also boasts a choice of three lagoon-style pools, two restaurants, and two bars. The All Seasons Cairns Colonial Club offers business events guests’ access to a fully equipped meetings facility called the Conference Centre, which can house conferences, banquets, weddings and functions for up to 650 people. A stand-alone heritage building in charming Queenslander-style, the Conference Centre features five meeting rooms and opens out to a peaceful garden and gazebo recreation area. Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:11 AM
St. Regis Hotels & Resorts debuts first St. Regis hotel in Thailand7 April 2011, 11:00 pm Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announces the debut of the first St. Regis hotel in Thailand: The St. Regis Bangkok. The new hotel, developed by Rajadamri Lodging Limited, an affiliate of Minor International Public Company Limited, will set a new standard of refined service and timeless sophistication for the region.The St. Regis Bangkok is ideally situated on the prestigious Rajadamri Road in the heart of the city and, at 47 stories, it is destined to become one of the defining silhouettes on the city's dynamic skyline. Designed by world-renowned Brennan Beer Gorman Architects, The St. Regis Bangkok features 227 guestrooms including 51 suites, and 53 residences with luxury amenities, services and incomparable dining options that will undoubtedly set a new standard in hospitality in the region while becoming the best address for international travelers and influential local residents. The hotel will also be the first hotel in Bangkok to Elemis Spa and ZUMA restaurant in Thailand. "We are proud to debut the first St. Regis hotel in Thailand with the opening of The St. Regis Bangkok, offering our discerning guests access to the distinguished St. Regis legacy with the highest expression of personalization, refined elegance and uncompromised guest experiences," said Paul James, Global Brand Leader, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts and The Luxury Collection. "With its vibrant cosmopolitan energy and rich cultural heritage, Bangkok is one of the world's most coveted destinations for global travelers, and The St. Regis Bangkok is destined to become the social and commercial hub of Bangkok.""We are thrilled with the landmark entry of the St. Regis brand into Thailand," commented Andreas Oberoi, General Manager of The St. Regis Bangkok. "The St. Regis Bangkok will be ideally positioned to cater to both influential business travelers and discerning leisure travelers to Bangkok, arguably one of the world's best cities and the tourism capital of Asia." Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:07 AM
Availpro signs the first two-way connectivity agreement with Orbitz Worldwide7 April 2011, 11:00 pm Orbitz Worldwide has now joined the network of distributors managed via Availpro. The software developer is proud to be the first Channel Manager to sign a two-way connectivity agreement with Orbitz Worldwide. This new arrangement will guarantee hotels reliable, real-time representation of their availability and rates. Julien Touraine, connectivity director at Availpro, used this announcement as an opportunity to discuss the current Availpro distributor connectivity situation and explain the company's future ambitions in this area.The new connectivity agreement between Availpro and the Orbitz Worldwide group of websites (Orbitz, Cheaptickets, E-bookers, HotelClub, Trip.com, Lodging.com, Ratestogo, The Away Network and Orbitz for Business) will enable European hotel owners to increase their presence in the North American Leisure and Corporate markets. There were over 10 million American visitors alone to Europe in 2009. Prior to this arrangement, the sheer number of distributor sites undoubtedly dissuaded some hotel owners from managing their offers through each site individually, due to the amount of time this would have required. Henceforth, they will be able to manage all of these distribution channels through Availpro, as well as provide a single central inventory - something which no other CRS can offer - by using a scraper to manage all Orbitz Worldwide websites. Until now, Expedia was the only network able to offer hotels this level of exposure to the key North American market. Following the arrival of Julien Touraine (formerly of Orbitz Worldwide, Booking.com) two years ago, Availpro vastly increased the number of distributors connected to its Smart Channel Manager, with more than 100 active connections. Availpro now uses XML as its two-way connectivity standard, providing hotel owners with a guarantee of security (no overbooking), increased sales and reliability. "There were very few major distributors who were not already connected to the Availpro network. With the introduction of Orbitz Worldwide and lastminute.com this month, our customers are now able to manage almost all OTA production via two-way connectivity from a single interface, making Availpro Smart Channel Manager the very best tool on the market," explains Julien Touraine, connectivity director at Availpro. The next step for Availpro is to continue expanding its portfolio to include niche and local (country-specific) distributors. The company's French head office, which is responsible for connectivity development and certification, will continue to support its local sales offices (UK, Spain and Portugal). Source: Travel Daily News Feed
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on: April 08, 2011, 10:11:05 AM
American Airlines launches new international and domestic service7 April 2011, 11:00 pm American Airlines and its regional affiliate, American Eagle, today launched a significant network expansion with new international and domestic service as well as increased flights in existing markets at three of its cornerstone cities – Los Angeles, Miami and New York. These new schedule enhancements, along with new service by oneworld partners, British Airways and Iberia, will offer customers more travel choices and convenience worldwide. Today, American launches daily nonstop service between Los Angeles and Shanghai - becoming the first U.S. airline to serve Shanghai nonstop from Los Angeles. Flight AA183 leaves Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for Shanghai’s Pudong Airport (PVG) at 3:10 p.m. and arrives Shanghai at 7:45 p.m. the next day. Return flight AA182 leaves Shanghai at 9:45 p.m. and arrives LAX at 6:40 p.m. the same day. Across the country, American launches daily nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Budapest Ferihegy International Airport (BUD) in Hungary, the aviation hub of Central and Eastern Europe for oneworld partner Malev. Flight AA158 leaves JFK at 6:40 p.m. and arrives Budapest at 9:30 a.m. the next day while return Flight AA159 leaves Budapest at 11:55 a.m. and arrives JFK at 3:35 p.m. American has teamed with oneworld partner Malev to schedule these new flights so customers can make easy connections at American’s JFK hub and Malev’s Budapest hub. In addition to American’s new Shanghai nonstop, American Eagle will add new nonstop service to the following nine cities today from Los Angeles: Albuquerque, N.M.; Boise, Idaho; El Paso, Texas; Houston – Bush Intercontinental; Oklahoma City; Phoenix; Salt Lake City; Sacramento, Calif. and Tucson, Ariz.. Today’s new departures from LAX represent an increase of 28 percent over last winter’s figures. American also will increase nonstop service in two of its important international markets, Miami – Madrid and New York JFK – Barcelona. The airline will increase its Miami – Madrid service from one to two daily flights and will increase its JFK – Barcelona service from seven to 11 weekly frequencies. American’s international growth continues on May 1 when the carrier will inaugurate its first-ever service between Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport and Helsinki, Finland. Flight AA130 will leave O’Hare at 3:40 p.m. and arrive Helsinki’s Vantaa International Airport at 8:30 a.m. the next day. Return Flight AA131 will leave Helsinki at 2:10 p.m. and arrive O’Hare at 3:40 p.m. American has teamed up with oneworld partner Finnair to schedule the flights so customers can make easy connections at American’s Chicago and Finnair’s Helsinki hubs. In addition, American will reinstate daily seasonal service in the following markets: Boston – Paris; Chicago – Dublin, Ireland; and New York – Manchester, England. “Los Angeles, Miami and New York, along with Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago, form American's network cornerstones and are important international gateways for us and our oneworld partners,” said Virasb Vahidi, American’s Chief Commercial Officer. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our commitment to enhancing the travel experience in these important markets by offering our customers more destinations and schedule options, not only through American's network but through the global network of our valued oneworld partners.”To celebrate the expanded service, American is offering AAdvantage
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