TripAtlas.com launches innovative travel planner tool
Thursday, February 26, 2009

TripAtlas.com, the world’s largest travel portal with more than 500,000 unique visitors monthly, has launched an innovative travel planning tool called Trip Builder that will save consumers time and money and provide a much needed human element to booking travel online. TripAtlas.com is the world’s largest online network with 104,300 global travel professionals - all ready to respond to inquiries from consumers looking to plan their next business or leisure trip.

“We have developed a user-friendly and secure environment for consumers to contact TripAtlas Pros from around the world and assist them in organizing their trip and obtaining the best possible rates,” explained Travis Snelling, general manager of TripAtlas.com. “More importantly we have added a human element to Trip Builder. Consumers can actually engage in online discussions with TripAtlas Pros for ideas and suggestions on restaurants, hotels, tours, etc. - something they can’t get with traditional online travel agencies (OTA’s) like Expedia or Travelocity."

Simplicity rules for consumers accessing TripAtlas.com’s vast network and to begin planning their trip. Go to TripAtlas.com, click on Trip Builder on the upper navigation bar and it will bring you to the Trip Builder page. There are different fields to fill out depending on your trip needs such as: Trip Name, Leaving from, Going to, When, Name, Email and a Message/Itinerary comment box to provide some additional details.

There are a few optional boxes you can click - What services do you require, Length of Trip, Approximate Budget, number of people. Then just click submit. In only a minute or two your trip request is done - no frustrating time-outs, trying to save various itineraries or spending endless time at numerous travel sites. TripAtlas Pros will then respond to your request and provide rates and information via email (phone is an option if you leave your phone number but it is not required).

It’s important to note - no one has access to your email address - TripAtlas Pros contact you via a simple web based form and you are notified when you have a response. When you receive a response, simply click on the link in the email and then you can enter into a private, anonymous discussion with the TripAtlas Pro.

www.traveldailynews.com

Alila Hotels and Resorts to open six new properties in 2009
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Asia’s leading luxury boutique hotel operator, Alila Hotels and Resorts, is set to expand its footprint in Asia with six new properties slated to open this year, which will include the launch of three Alila Villas properties, the new generation of resorts that deliver ultra luxury in design, space and bespoke hospitality combined with innovative lifestyle concepts. “These upcoming properties represent a significant milestone in the growth of Alila in both established and emerging destinations across the region,” says Frederic Flageat-Simon, Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Alila Hotels and Resort.

The six new properties will expand Alila’s existing presence in Indonesia and Thailand, as well as mark the group’s first venture into the Maldives and India. They include: Alila Villas Uluwatu, Indonesia - a spectacular resort designed by award-winning WOHA Architects, located along the southernmost coast of Bali on the Bukit Peninsula. It offers clifftop resort living with panoramic views over the Indian Ocean. This will be the debut of Alila Villas, come June 2009.

Alila Villas Hadahaa, Maldives - located on a remote tropical island in the North Huvadhoo Atoll. Designed by SCDA Architects, its beach and water villas capture the ultimate Maldivian experience of tranquility and space. The resort’s very own dive centre will offer unique diving experiences in the region’s unexplored waters. Alila Villas Hadahaa will open in July 2009. Alila Hansar Koh Samui, Thailand - a stylish beachside resort located along the picturesque Bophut Beach.

A fusion of contemporary Thai design and luxe comfort, complete with destination dining and spa wellness heralds Alila’s entry into this popular holiday island in third quarter of 2009. Alila Diwa Goa, India - sited on the beautiful Majorda Beach in south Goa, the resort fuses traditional architecture with understated elegance, tastefully complemented with varied options and recreational zones for family activities. A strong wellness component is evident in the living concept with emphasis on local culture and environs as can be seen in its destination dining restaurant and show kitchen. The resort with its comprehensive event centre will open in September 2009. Alila Villas Soori, Indonesia - luxury residences right along the southwest coast of Bali, near the island’s famous Tanah Lot Temple.

Designed by award-winning SCDA Architects, its vibrant mix of spaces for living, relaxation and spa wellness embrace Bali’s unique balance of tranquility and vitality. Surrounded by a stunning landscape of verdant rice terraces and stretches of beautiful black-sand beach, this villa resort will open in November 2009.

Alila Hansar Bangkok, Thailand - combines ultra-luxe residences and intimate boutique hotel services in the heart of the Thai capital. Its mix of urban sophistication, new-age lifestyle concepts and high-tech business lofts will make Alila Hansar Bangkok one of the premier meeting places for business and leisure in the city. Opening in last quarter of 2009. Alila’s reputation for design innovation and warm hospitality encompassing fine living, dining and wellness into rich destination experiences has hit the high note with many discerning travelers. Its commitment to minimizing its impact on the natural environment and helping local communities has already seen several of its hotels achieve the prestigious Green Globe certification.

With Alila Villas, the company introduces a new generation of exclusive timeless properties, developed in some of the most naturally spectacular locations. Designed by award-winning architects and crafted by artisans, Alila Villas will offer an unprecedented level of private space, personalized hospitality and culturally enriching destination and lifestyles experiences for its guests. The opening of these six properties will double Alila’s current portfolio of hotels and resorts, which are Alila Ubud, Alila Manggis, Alila Jakarta and Kemang Icon by Alila in Indonesia, Alila Cha-Am in Thailand and 3 Nagas by Alila in Laos. Meanwhile, Alila is also presently developing hotels and resorts in China, Oman and the Gulf region.

www.traveldailynews.com

Visa campaign tempts travellers to Thailand
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Visa -a PATA Premier Partner- has teamed up with some 335 merchants across Thailand to offer attractive Visa cardholder promotions. It's a move designed to help boost local tourism revenues. The Visa Preferred Merchants programme offers discounts to cardholders when they use their cards at participating restaurants, shopping malls, spas and tour operators. The programme targets goods and services most commonly used by travellers and offers discounts of 10-50 percent off purchases made at participating merchants. Visa cardholders arriving at Bangkok can enjoy special promotional rates at hotels with possible savings of up to 50 percent off the hotel rack rates. These promotions will run until 14 November 2009.

Somboon Krobteeranon, country manager, Thailand, Visa said, "People want value when they travel and never more so than when times are uncertain. In the current economic climate, travel is often one of the areas where people cut back or look for cheaper alternatives while on holiday. With the Visa Preferred Merchants programme we're working together to help further stretch cardholders' budgets."

www.traveldailynews.com

New survey reveals destination preferences of affluent leisure travelers
Thursday, February 26, 2009

Urban destinations continue to top the list of vacation destinations preferred by affluent leisure travelers, with New York City and Las Vegas receiving top mentions according to the just-released Ypartnership Portrait of Affluent Travelers. Maui, San Francisco and Honolulu round out the top five in this nationally-representative survey of 800 U.S. adults living in households with a minimum annual income in excess of $150,000 (the top 8% of all U.S. households defined by current income) conducted during August of 2008.

According to the survey results, three in ten affluent leisure travelers are interested in visiting New York City and Las Vegas during the next two years. One in four is interested in visiting Maui, San Francisco and Honolulu, and approximately two in ten are interested in traveling to Orlando or San Diego. Four new destinations made the top ten domestic list in the most recent iteration of the survey, which is conducted every two years: Honolulu, Orlando, Napa/Sonoma and Hilton Head Island.

Interest in visiting Europe during the next two years remains strong, with seven in ten affluent travelers citing the region as their preferred international destination. Within Europe, Italy continues to reign as the number one choice for almost one-third of affluent American leisure travelers. The Far East, Mexico and Australia follow respectively. Interest in visiting the Caribbean, South Pacific and Africa declined since 2006, with interest in visiting the Caribbean reflecting the most significant decline.

“The preferences measured in this survey auger well for the listed destinations because the survey also revealed that affluent travelers plan to take slightly more trips in the year ahead than they did last year,” said Peter C. Yesawich, Chairman and CEO of Ypartnership.

Ypartnership is a worldwide advertising and public relations agency that specializes in serving travel, leisure and entertainment industry clients and is co-author of the widely-quoted National Travel Monitor with Yankelovich, Inc.

www.traveldailynews.com


IATA urges Obama administration to invest in airlines
Thursday, February 26, 2009

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called on the Obama Administration to prioritize aviation as a catalyst to stimulate the US economy. “Smart investments - not bailouts - in air transport will pay-off with jobs and boost other industries,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s director general and CEO in a speech to the Wings Club in New York. “The U.S. air traffic management system is in desperate need of an upgrade. Airlines and airports cannot be efficient economic catalysts if we operate in gridlock. I urge the President to allocate the US$4 billion needed to get the ball rolling with the first phase of the long-awaited NextGen project that will create some 77,000 jobs in the US economy.”

IATA also urged the Obama Administration to deliver broad policy changes in the areas of security, environment and commercial freedoms. “Thirty years after the US started deregulation under President Carter, the job is still incomplete,” said Bisignani in a challenge to reform the more than 60-year-old bilateral system. “International markets remain closed until governments negotiate them open, and foreign ownership restrictions still limit access to global capital and prevent cross-border consolidation. What worked in the 1940s is killing the industry today. To manage through this crisis without bailouts airlines cannot have one hand tied behind their back with outdated restrictions on ownership.

“Why does the US restrict ownership of its airlines to 25%, effectively limiting the ability of international capital to offer Americans aviation jobs?" Bisignani asked. "Passengers don’t care who owns an airline, so long as it is safe and provides efficient service. Governments should take the same view. Following IATA’s Agenda for Freedom Summit last October, we are working with 14 governments and the European Commission on a Multilateral Statement of Policy Principles. I hope that early in President Obama’s term we will be able to change the structure of aviation, not with bailouts, but with commercial freedoms that will generate value for investors and provide a more secure future aviation jobs.

“The priority of government is to create jobs and restore the economy to health," Bisignani continued. "In the US, aviation supports 10.2 million jobs and US$1.1 trillion in economic activity. Meaningful change in government’s approach to security, the environment and commercial freedoms will ensure that aviation plays its role as an economic catalyst.”

www.traveldailynews.com

Travel industry scrambles to cope as Americans spend less

The sinking U.S. economy is forcing many Americans to cut back on or give up a hallowed tradition: the family vacation. A USA TODAY/Gallup Poll finds that 58% of people who normally take an annual vacation away from home will shrink their vacation spending this year –– or just not go.

The finding mirrors a 2009 travel forecast newly issued by consultants D.K. Shifflet & Associates and IHS Global Insight, which research travel behavior monthly. The firms forecast Americans will spend 9.7% less on leisure travel in April, May and June, and 9% less in July, August and September than in 2008. In sum, Americans could spend $30 billion less on leisure trips this spring and summer.

The travel industry sees the storm coming and is hustling to respond. For April, spring break time, airlines have scheduled 8.5% fewer seats than last April on domestic and international flights from the USA, according to OAG-Official Airline Guide. They've scheduled 8.4% fewer seats for June. Travel website Travelocity.com has just launched a "deals" page. It promotes the biggest discount airfare and hotel packages by destination.

Legendary destinations are responding, too. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida is advertising three nights free, along with theme park tickets, with a four-night/four-day package for April through August. But big vacations could be a tough sell for the travel industry in these tough times.

Kelly and Sally Hull of Windsor, Vt., for example, normally pack up their three kids each summer and rent a house on Cape Cod for a week. Not this year. Although Sally's job is secure, Kelly's home improvement business "is dead," he says. "I laid everyone off." For this July, the Hulls booked a rustic lakeside cabin in northern New Hampshire for $700 a week, less than half the $1,800 they'd spend at Cape Cod.

www.usatoday.com


Orbitz signs distribution deal with Accor
February 19, 2009

The agreement provides Orbitz Worldwide access to Accor brands around the world, including the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, MGallery, Suitehotel and Orbis properties. Orbitz Worldwide announced a multi-year distribution agreement deal with Europe’s largest hotelier, the Accor Group.

The agreement provides Orbitz Worldwide access to Accor brands around the world, including the Sofitel, Pullman, Novotel, Mercure, MGallery, Suitehotel and Orbis properties. Customers using Orbitz and CheapTickets in the Americas, ebookers in Europe and HotelClub, which operates globally, will initially have access to more than 1,100 Accor properties around in the world. “Orbitz Worldwide’s agreement with the Accor Group provides a wider selection to our customers who want to book a merchant hotel in Europe,” said Peggy Bianco, group vice president, global hotel supplier relations, Orbitz Worldwide. “With our growing base of customers around the world and industry leading technology, more hoteliers are finding a valuable partner in Orbitz Worldwide.”

Highlights for hotels who partner with Orbitz Worldwide include:

- An average of 14.7 MM(1) unique visitors came to an Orbitz Worldwide site each month in 2008
- In 2007, travelers using an Orbitz Worldwide site drove more than $10BN a year in travel-related gross bookings.
- In January 2009, Orbitz Worldwide completed the migration of its new technology platform in Europe, powering hotel and package bookings.
- In 2008, Orbitz Worldwide grew its global network of hotel market managers to include expanded coverage in Europe and Asia Pacific.
- Orbitz Worldwide brands help hotels facilitate bookings in more than 120 countries.

www.hotelmarketing.com

Tourism Deptt to launch ‘Gulmarg Global Derby 2009’

Srinagar, Feb 25: In a bid to put Gulmarg on the map of international ski circuit, the Tourism department is organising a winter sports carnival, ‘Gulmarg Global Derby 2009’ from February 1-4. Top skiers from India and abroad including Australia and New Zealand are set to vie for honours in the championship likely to be inaugurated by the chief minister, Omar Abdullah. Twenty top skiers and medal winners from all over India will also take part. Athletes from 13 states from across the country will participate in the rugby event.

The championship would be followed by a 3-day national snow-rugby competition from March 6-9. Both the events are being sponsored by ESSAR Group. “The motive behind these events is to promote winter tourism in a big way across the world,” director Tourism, Farooq Shah said. “It’ll in fact serve us in two ways: One it promote Gulmarg internationally and second it will make it popular among the domestic tourists.”

Asked why it was named ‘Gulmarg Global Derby 2009’ he said: “The most important constituent of the championship is the ‘Derby Skiing Race’ in which skiers will ski down from 13000 ft high Apharwat range to Gulmarg.” The other events that will feature in the international event are Alpine run super slalom and cross country ski.

He said Gulmarg is fully equipped to organize international events and every measure will be taken to make the event a success. “There is always a scope for up-gradation,” Shah said. “We will do our best to improve facilities there.” He said Gulmarg will be developed into a world-class ski destination in coming years. “Currently it is reckoned as the cheapest destination which helps us to attract more and more skiing lovers,” he said. “In future we will organize bigger events to promote Gulmarg in a big way.”

“The reason why skiers from across the world like Gulmarg is the quality of snow here which is best suited to skiing,” he said. “The second phase of cable car gondola which carries a skier to the height of over 13000 ft is an added attraction.” Meanwhile Winter Games Association of J&K which is fielding its team in the events has asked all the intended skiers of the state to contact the Adventure Wing of the Tourism department for registration.


www.greaterkashmir.com


State 'incredible' in field of tourism

Rajasthan has been adjudged the best in the field of tourism. Recognising the fact, the Union ministry of tourism has conferred the state with the "Best Tourism State" award. The honour has been bestowed for organising tourism-related functions, and developing infrastructure and facilities to promote tourism in the state.

The state has also bagged three awards and two certificates in the "Best Hotel" category. The awards were announced as a part of the "Incredible India" campaign. The award was presented to Rajasthan because of steps initiated to attract tourists and providing basic facilities to them. Tourism minister Bina Kak received the award from Union home minister P Chidambaram at a function in New Delhi on Tuesday.

In the "best hotel" category, Umaid Bhawan Palace of Jodhpur was awarded in 5-star deluxe category, Gajner Palace of Bikaner for Heritage Classified hotel, and Shiv Niwas of Udaipur in Classified Grand category. Two heritage hotels — Samod Palace in Jaipur and Fateh Prakash Palace in Udaipur — have been awarded with certificates for great achievements and best facilities in heritage hotel categories for last three to four years.

Tourism officials are hopeful the honours would give a boost to the recession-hit tourism industry.

wooing visitors

Tourism minister Bina Kak said the department is focusing on developing “desert circuit”.

She said sustained efforts are being made to promote religious tourism, heritage tourism, adventure and wildlife tourism.

Kak said a new terminal of International airport in Jaipur will boost tourism in the state.
DNA-Daily News & Analysis

Domestic tourism a top priority: Ambika Soni

The government is firm to promote tourism industry with priority to the domestic sector that has registered a 75% growth rate in 2008, though the number of foreign tourists has dipped from the projected target, said Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni on Tuesday.
While replying the questions in the Rajya Sabha, Soni said that the industry in 2008 has attained 5.

56% growth in foreign tourist arrivals while the country has registered a growth rate of 14.56 per cent in the tourism sector as against the global growth rate of 6 per cent.

Explaining the reason behind the drop in number of foreign tourists, the Minister said that Mumbai terror attacks and economic meltdown in world have sternly hit the foreign tourist arrival.

She, however, said that foreign exchange earnings had rose to 14.4% last year, and this was because the industry had a high growth rate till August-September during which high-end travelers spend a lot of money coming to India.

In a move to encourage foreign tourists, the government does not provide any special convenience that would affect domestic tourism, emphasized Soni quoting that in 2008 over 560-million Indians traveled across India in comparison to 320-million of previous year.

Accepting this fact that the arrivals of foreign tourists have increased due the promotion of health tourism, the Minister said that by doing so, the government is only facilitating the usage of the country's natural strength of Unani and Ayurvedic treatment system to foreign patients, but that was not at the cost of domestic patients.

Further to promote foreign tourist arrivals, the ministry has extended its budget to assist more medical tourism service providers and facilitators for promoting health tourism in overseas markets, Soni pointed out.

And to boost domestic tourism, 139 new places have been spotted for the promotion of rural tourism while 16 mega projects have been sanctioned. A total of Rs.378-crore has been allotted for infrastructure development and capacity building.

www.newstrackindia.com


Tourism industry progressing despite recession, Mumbai attacks: Soni
February 24th, 2009

New Delhi, Feb 24 (ANI): Union Tourism Minister Ambika Soni on Tuesday said that despite global meltdown and the Mumbai terror attacks, tourism industry registered an increase of 5.6 percent foreign tourist arrivals in 2008.

While replying the questions in the Rajya Sabha, Soni said the total number of tourists arrival in 2008, was 53 lakhs and 67 thousand.

The country registered a growth rate of 14.56 per cent in the tourism sector as against the global growth rate of 6 per cent, she said.

The minister said Medical Visas are also being issued for foreign tourists coming to India for medical treatment.

This time, government is giving top priority to the promotion of domestic tourism, she said while giving more information in this regard. (ANI)

Abu Dhabi adopts ambitious target of 2.7m visitors by 2012

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) aims to attract 2.7 million guests to Abu Dhabi hotels by 2012 as it strives to expand its overseas network, a senior official announced.

More than 100 delegates, tour operators and guests attended a special trade and media dinner on Friday to celebrate the opening of two ADTA offices in Milan and Rome.

The authority currently has offices in the UK, Germany, France, China and Australia.

The function was organised at the Four Seasons Hotel, Milan, to coincide with Abu Dhabi's participation in the Borsa Internazionale Del Turismo (BIT) tourism trade fair.

ADTA and four industry stakeholder partners - the NET Group, DBA and Sons Travel and Tours, Eithad Airways (the national airline of the UAE) and the signature Emirates Palace Hotel - have opened a pavilion at the show, the only Arabian Gulf state represented at BIT this year.

ADTA's director, Tourism Standards, Nasser Al Reyami said the opening of the offices sent a strong signal to the international tourism industry to pursue long-term goals when looking to trying to develop international destinations.

"Italy remains an important element in our long-term vision of attracting 2.7 million hotel guests by 2012.

"Our case is strengthened by the plans of Etihad to increase its services from Milan's Malpensa International to Abu Dhabi International to five flights a week from its current thrice-weekly services at the end of March," Al Reyami said during his speech at the dinner gathering.

Etihad will operate an Airbus A330 on the route.

Marco Malato, Etihad Airways country manager in Italy, said there is a huge potential for stopover breaks, making Abu Dhabi International Airport a hub for Italians with onward destinations in Australia, Oman, India, Pakistan and Bangkok.

"The stopover potential will be boosted with our extra flights from Milan. Whereas currently travellers have a choice of 45 onward flights within three hours of arriving in Abu Dhabi on our existing three flights a week," he said.

ADTA is now planning to roll out a progressive strategy to engage the Italian travel industry and consumers via media penetration over the coming year.

Italian cruise line Costa Crociere (Costa Cruises) has declared its intention to enhance its Abu Dhabi sailing schedule next year. The company already takes around 40,000 passengers a year to Abu Dhabi.

Gulf News


Abu Dhabi Tourism Holding Up Well
Sunday, Feb 22, 2009

The Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority (ADTA) says that tourism in the capital city has not been severely affected by the credit crunch, with the impact limited to a seven per cent decline in hotel guests in the last three months. Nasser Saif M. Al Reyami, Tourism Standards Division Director at the ADTA ADTA , said that the situation remained stable, with occupancy rates as high as 87 per cent in Abu Dhabi's hotels.

"We are strongly supported by the Abu Dhabi government and will continue to work on improving our tourist attractions and business travel, which is a growing sector in Abu Dhabi. "Seven per cent is not a large decline in comparison to last year's occupancy level, which ranged from 85 to 95 per cent," Al Reyami told Gulf News. The ADTA ADTA is participating in the four-day Borsa Internazionale Del Turismo (BIT) in Milan.

Sharing the authority's booth are travel agencies Net Tours and DBA & Sons Travel and Tours, together with representatives from Emirates Palace Hotel. "Italians are increasingly interested in visiting Abu Dhabi because it exhibits similar trends to Milan. "Italian tourists like luxury and good service, and that is exactly what Abu Dhabi offers as a destination. "They are especially interested in staying at the Emirates Palace hotel due to its luxury, and in visiting the diverse cultural projects that have been recently announced, such as the Louvre and the Shaikh Zayed Mosque," said Tiziana Spila, Product Manager for the Italian Idee Per Viaggiare International Tour Operator.

Spila was waiting to talk to one of the officials at the ADTA ADTA booth. "I am very much interested in Abu Dhabi, it's a growing tourist location and a lot of Italians have shown interest in visiting it already. That's why I'm here today, to speak to ADTA ADTA about cooperating in their projects," Spila said.

While leisure tourism may be declining, the Emirates Palace Hotel says demand for business conferences remains high. "We are definitely Abu Dhabi's hub for conferences now, with more than 10 different meetings taking place in 40 of our conference rooms each day. The Emirates Palace's original name was Conference Palace and it was especially designed to host local and international business delegates.

"The majority of our tourists arrive from Germany, the UK and the GCC region," a hotel employee said. S.A. Kareem, senior sales executive for DBA & Sons Travel and Tours, spoke with 30 walk-in Italian clients during the first two days of the BIT. "Most inquiries dealt with hotels in Abu Dhabi, visa procedures, site seeing, safari tours, culture and heritage.

"We have witnessed a decline of between 15 and 20 per cent in tourists visiting Abu Dhabi in the past three months. "On average we currently receive around 200 people, 120 for leisure purposes and 50 to 60 for business tourism. "Before the economic crunch we used to receive 350 tourists. It's a temporary situation that will soon be enhanced with ADTA ADTA 's ongoing efforts to promote tourism in Abu Dhabi," said Kareem.

Net Group, which has worked closely with the ADTA ADTA since its founding in 2004, has been promoting tourism by highlighting natural attractions, mosques and hotels, while emphasising the luxury and safety of Abu Dhabi. "In 2008, business travel in Abu Dhabi contributed up to 85 per cent and approximately 12 per cent was leisure.

"These percentages evidently declined by 2009 due to the economic crisis, but what makes up for this is that certain sectors are attracted to Abu Dhabi because of the business opportunities that are available there and in the region," said Anwar Abu Monassar, Group General Manager for Net Group.

Net Group received more than 100 walk-in customer inquiries each day during the BIT exhibition, and more than 45 requests for tours. On the rise Tourism in Abu Dhabi - 1.6 million tourists visited Abu Dhabi in 2008. - 16 per cent of these came from European countries. - Around 270,000 tourists came to Abu Dhabi from various European countries in 2008. This represented a 26 per cent increase over the year before. - Dh100 billion has been spent by the Abu Dhabi government on various cultural sites and infrastructure to attract tourists.

www.zawya.com/

Marriott to double Mideast hotel portfolio
Global hotel giant Marriott International will more than double its Middle East hotel presence by 2011, the company's CEO said on Tuesday.

John Willard Marriott Jr, also chairman, said the hotel operator would expand its Middle Eastern portfolio of properties from 26 to 65 over the next three years. Marriott said it intends to launch a number of UAE deals, including two with Abu Dhabi-based Aldar Properties for a 411-room Renaissance hotel and another 195-room Courtyard hotel in the UAE capital.

Another joint venture with Al Futtaim Group will see Marriott open a 320-unit Marriott Vacation Club International resort in Dubai Festival City. All three hotels are scheduled to open in 2011. Marriott said the Middle East was not only a rapidly expanding centre of commerce, but also a “thriving tourist destination”.

“The region is a lynchpin in our company's long-term vision to expand global distribution that supports our business strategy,” he said in a statement. Marriott will also launch a 250-room Marriott resort in Marsa Alam, Egypt and five hotels in Saudi Arabia.

The Saudi properties include a 250-room Marriott hotel and 50-unit Marriott Executive Apartments in Damman, a 250-room Ritz-Carlton hotel with a 100-unit Ritz-Carlton Residences in Riyadh, and a 220-room Courtyard hotel in Jubail.

www.arabianbusiness.com


Asian travel demand slows but bright spots remain
Thursday 26th February, 05:46 AM JST

As the final numbers on Asia’s 2008 tourism performance are tallied, preliminary results from different sources suggest that the winners in terms of inbound tourism included Indonesia with 17% and Macau with 10%. Southeast and South Asia tied for best performing sub-region, with average increases of 4% each. Yet the general trend for Asia, usually a star performer in terms of both inbound and outbound international travel, was very mixed in 2008 due to rising fuel costs and surcharges. Inbound international arrivals growth of 6% from January to June 2008 turned to a 2-3% deficit in the second half, according to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), as economic clouds gathered and the oil price hikes hit home.

2009 is likely to be an even more challenging year. “In addition to Japan, which has been soft for a few years now, a number of other leading source markets for Asia suffered declines in outbound travel in 2008 that are likely to continue in 2009,” said Rolf Freitag, president & CEO of IPK International, founder of the World Travel Monitor, on which much of the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2009 is based. Freitag said continued economic downturns in Japan, South Korea, China and Taiwan will hit travel across much of Asia, which receives around 70% of its arrivals from within the region. “It is still possible that Asia could start to recover before the end of 2009,” said Dr Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel & Logistics at Messe Berlin, which commissions the ongoing research from IPK. “Initial findings in the World Travel Trends Report still point to a modest overall growth in outbound travel demand from Asian markets in 2009. We expect short-haul travel to gain at the expense of long-haul demand. And if oil prices stay low, there could be another surge in low-cost flights in the region,” Dr Buck said.

Economic weakness in Asia has implications for the rest of the world. Japan is still the only Asian outbound travel market to rank among the world’s top ten source countries for travel and tourism. The Japanese made an estimated 16.5 million trips in 2008 – a 1.5 million drop on 2007. While China’s official outbound trip count is much higher, at around 40 million, some 70% of these trips are to Hong Kong and Macau, special administrative regions of China. Non-Hong Kong and Macau outbound trips were 13-14 million, according to IPK.Official Chinese data says this was still 14% up on 2007. Residual travel demand from China in 2009, despite rapidly slowing economic growth, will mean China remains a much sought-after source market this year.

Young consumers across Asia, not just in China, are becoming an increasingly powerful market for travel too. According to Dr Yuwa Hedrick-Wong, economic adviser, Asia Pacific, MasterCard Worldwide, personal travel in Asia was seen as an item of luxury expenditure 10 to 15 years ago. An overseas trip was a rare treat for the average young consumer. “This has now changed,” said Hedrick-Wong.

“Young consumers in Asia Pacific now typically see personal travel as a key activity in their lifestyles. Our research on consumer purchasing priorities shows personal travel ranking among the top discretionary spend priorities for consumers in the region. For young consumers, travel is not something they want to put off. Younger consumers in Asia would postpone buying a car, but not put off going somewhere for their next vacation.”

More details on trends out of Asia’s source markets, and other emerging markets around the world, will be available from the ITB Berlin Message, the annual event held during the ITB Convention on ITB Future Day, March 11. In the Message, IPK’s Rolf Freitag will present final tourism results for 2008, with an update on prospects for 2009 – all of which will be published later the same month in the ITB World Travel Trends Report 2009.

www.japantoday.com




Arzoo.com launches Franchise Model
An unique business opportunity for Entrepreneurs & Travel Agents

Mumbai, February 25, 2009: Arzoo.com, one of the leading travel portals in India promoted by Sabeer Bhatia (Hotmail.com), has launched Arzoo Franchisee Associate Program (AFAP), to enable Entrepreneurs & Travel Agents to be associated with Premium Arzoo Brand & earn handsome revenues.

An Arzoo.com franchisee will be able to sell all of Arzoo.com’s inventory including Online Flight & Hotel Booking at best rates, wide range of Holiday Packages, Car Hire, Travel Insurance, Visa & Passport Services & any other products launched by Arzoo.com. AFAP is available in Platinum, Gold, Silver & Bronze categories so that anybody wishing to be an Arzoo Franchisee has a choice depending on his investment capacity. AFAP promises to give good ROI to its Franchisees by way of providing best commissions on all its products & excellent 24 X 7 customer support.

“AFAP is designed at providing the entrepreneurs an opportunity to be a part of multi- billion Tourism Industry & earn good income. AFAP also provides an opportunity to small & medium Travel Agents to be associated with India’s Premium Travel Brand & cash in on the revenues.” says Mr. Sameer Patil – Head Marketing.

Arzoo.com already has more than 2500 Travel Agents under its Preffered Sales Agent Network who book Flights, Hotels & Holiday Packages for their customers on a daily basis. Arzoo.com is participating in FRO2009 the Franchise Exhibition at Worli on 26th & 27th Feb where AFAP will be officially launched.

About Arzoo.com:
Through Arzoo.com, customers can book Domestic and International Flights, make Hotel Reservations, buy Domestic & International Holiday Packages, and find Exciting Weekend Gateways and also Service Apartments. Apart from offering amongst the best rates in all categories, the unique value proposition of Arzoo.com is that customers have a choice of multiple ways of making travel reservations via the Internet or Mobile Phones or by calling 022-6713 4444 or email to sales

Arzoo also specializes in handling regular travel requirements of corporate customers, including group bookings. Through special deals with major hotels in all categories across India and overseas, Arzoo suits the budget and tastes of all types of customers.

www.indiaprwire.com


Hotel rating and information directory launched at London Business Travel Show
Monday, February 23 2009 @ 12:45 PM GMT

The new worldwide online corporate hotel rating and information directory was launched by Cranley at the London Business Travel Show in February 2009. The breadth of information in the unbiased hotel reports is very relevant for companies currently creating or reinforcing compliance with preferred hotel programmes incorporating corporate social responsibility policies or increasing its percentage of bookings made online. Issues such as disabled employees’ special needs, employees’ security whilst staying over night or environmental sustainability practices are assessed by Cranley’s inspectors and monitored during annual onsite audits to ensure compliance with any agreed standards. And while many major companies have the ability and muscle to drive corporate social responsibility, these features are particularly relevant to buyers in the SME sector who often lack the resources or influence to obtain and monitor such specific information.

Said Mike Murray, Cranley Managing Director:" We now provide travel managers with a unique tool and superb resource when implementing CSR to a company’s accommodation and MICE needs. "Whilst there are a growing number of self-managing carbon calculators suitable for hotel emissions and web sites and services assessing travel security to countries or regions, we believe that we are the only provider in the business travel sector with the ability to give companies detailed, audited information essential to CSR at the level of individual hotels. And of course, the facilities reports and rating are very useful too!”

Cranley® launched with hotels in the Middle East in 2006, setting benchmarks in hotel ratings and information for the region. This was followed by Cyprus, London, Dublin, Brussels and other European cities and more recently by US cities and States including Boston, New York and Florida. Cranley® takes no commissions from hotels and does not make bookings and therefore is a truly independent information provider.

Featuring comprehensive and unbiased reports and assessments on hotels’ facilities and quality, these independent ratings on the Cranley website are a valuable aid to corporate travel managers and travellers, particularly when considering corporate social responsibility policies.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

Etihad brings Hurling to Abu Dhabi
Wednesday, February 25 2009 @ 09:38 AM GMT

Etihad Airways, in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Tourism Authority, will bring Abu Dhabi its first taste of Irish hurling, one of the world's fastest sports, when it hosts the M. Donnelly Inter-Provincial Hurling Championship final.

The Irish inter-provincial final is one of the biggest matches in the hurling calendar and will take place at the Ghantoot Racing and Polo Club, between Abu Dhabi and Dubai when Ireland's top two teams battle it out in the Abu Dhabi final.
Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways' executive vice president marketing and product, said, "This will be an historic occasion for both the UAE and Ireland and we are honoured to host such a prestigious event in Abu Dhabi."

"There is a growing Irish population living in the UAE and I'm sure they will be joined by hundreds of sports fans on the day to experience first-hand this amazing sport. Having experienced the thrill of watching live hurling in Ireland I recommend any sports enthusiasts to come and watch this fantastic event."

Christy Cooney, Gaelic Athletic Association President-elect added, "This will be a novel experience for our top level hurlers and everyone involved with the tour. Although some of the best Gaelic footballers played an All-Stars game in Dubai in 2007 this will be the first time top level hurling has visited the region."

"It also presents us with another chance to reach out and interact with the Irish population in the UAE and especially those involved with the GAA. We see it as a further extension of the relationship with Etihad Airways that worked so well last year over the course of the hurling championship."

Etihad is also a lead sponsor of the Gaelic Athletic Association Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, the country's premier hurling competition. Twelve teams compete in a series of knock-out games each summer prior to the Liam McCarthy Cup in September played in Ireland's capital, Dublin.

Hurling is a game similar to field hockey and is played with a small ball and a curved wooden stick, called a hurley. It is also said to be Europe's oldest field game. The sport is an integral part of Irish culture and one of the fastest and most physical sports in the world.

In addition to the final of the M. Donnelly Inter-Provincial Hurling Championship, visitors to the Ghantoot Polo and Racing Club will be able to enjoy a wide variety of entertainment for all the family including the chance to hit a sliotar the game's ball with a hurley.

Tickets for the final are Dhs100 on the day, but a 25%discount is available to those who buy tickets prior to match day. Children under the age of 12 gain free admittance.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

Marriott unwraps Shenzhen addition
Tuesday, February 24 2009 @ 08:22 PM GMT

Marriott has opened a new hotel in Shenzhen, China. The 411- room JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen is the fifth JW Marriott branded hotel in China.

Colin Young is general manager and Eric Loh the director of marketing.

JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen offers spacious rooms and suites, fully equipped with 42-inch flat screen TVs, high-speed internet, rainforest showers, oversized work desks and 24-hour room service. The executive lounge on the 27th floor provides a panoramic view of the city skyline.

From cocktails to fine dining, JW Marriott Hotel Shenzhen’s four restaurants have something for everyone. The Lounge provides intimate areas for social and business gatherings while Café Chinois has seating for 180 diners and features an international grand buffet. Man Ho Restaurant offers six themed private rooms, a live noodle and dim sum cooking station along with one of the largest selections of Mao-tai and Chinese liquors in Shenzhen. Guests can also experience the sushi and teppanyaki counter at Shinzuku Japanese restaurant, open daily for lunch and dinner. For sandwiches and salads, Java+ is open throughout the day.

Meeting space is abundant at the hotel with a 600 square meter grand ballroom, four meeting rooms, ranging from 52 to 89 square meters and a 58 square meter board room.

Guests can relax and unwind after a full day at Marriott’s signature Quan Spa. Eight treatment rooms and a myriad of services including massages, scrubs, wraps and hydro-therapy, promise to ease away any stress.

Centrally located in the heart of the city, the hotel is surrounded by shopping malls and has easy access to major landmarks such as the Shenzhen Convention Exhibit Center, Shenzhen Window of the World Safari Park and TianAn Cyber Park.

Other JW branded properties in China include 602-room JW Marriott Hotel Hong Kong, 342-room JW Marriott Hotel Shanghai, 470-room JW Marriott Chongqing and 549-room JW Marriott Hotel Beijing.

www.breakingtravelnews.com


Accor Asia Pacific and Kangaroo Lodge join forces
Thursday, February 19 2009 @ 01:13 PM GMT

Kangaroo Island Lodge is delighted to announce a new partnership between Kangaroo Island Lodge and one of the world’s largest hotel operators, Accor Asia Pacific.

In March 2009, the property will assume the "all seasons‟ brand and change its name to “All Seasons Kangaroo Island Lodge”.
The past year has seen significant investment at KI Lodge in refurbished rooms, exteriors and a new kitchen, in anticipation of this exciting opportunity. The property already enjoys a strong reputation for its food, wines and accommodation and we see our partnership with Accor as a means of sustaining and improving this, with promotion to a global audience.

Accor is a truly global hotel operator, with the following brands: All Seasons, Sofitel, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Ibis, Mercure and Formula One operating across 5 continents. It also owns numerous other tourism related businesses, from rail networks to catering operations and car rental companies.

The Accor name is synonymous with high standards and an innovative approach to hotel operations. In training, risk management, quality control benchmarks and service standards, the company leads the world and KI Lodge will reflect these standards in its operations.

www.breakingtravelnews.com



Private sector urges Government to support UK tourism
Tuesday, February 17 2009 @ 12:55 PM GMT

Leaders from the private sector have joined forces to lobby the UK government to take British tourism “more seriously”, following last week’s call by industry bodies VisitBritain and UKinbound.

The coalition includes Merlin Entertainments, owner of Alton Towers and the London Eye, Butlins, Hoseasons, Bourne Leisure and Travelodge. The lobby is demanding the responsiblilty for tourism be passed to the business department as it is treated as a "poor relation" in its current home.

It argues that the country's tourism industry ought to be given the same government focus as industries such as farming. In a letter to the prime minister, the coalition says tourism has the potential to be one of the country's biggest assets this year as the weak pound attracts visitors while the downturn also forces Britons to holiday at home. However, it says the industry is only granted a "lowly status" within the Department of Culture, Media and Sport and believes its needs would be better served as part of the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform.

"Instead of being at the forefront of government activity we are hidden in a department that does not represent UK industry," says the letter. "Too often ministers concentrate on sport and the arts rather than tackle the hard business and commercial matters needed to ensure the future progression of the tourism industry. Despite tourism employing more than two million people and generating £110bn in revenue, smaller sectors such as transport and farming have their own department."

Unlike other industries, the group is not pushing for additional finance. "It is not a lack of money that is the problem, it is a lack of focus," said Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn. "At the moment the industry approach is very fragmented; what's needed is a collective business voice," added one former tourist chief. Last week tourism bodies called into question’s the Government’s support for the tourism sector, following a tightening of visa requirements and new air passenger duty regulations.

VisitBritain said the high cost of visas and the bureaucracy obtaining one is putting off people from visiting Britain. Meanwhile UKinbound took a similar stance, as well as calling for a delay in the new system for Air Passenger Duty, which comes into force later this year. VisitBritain said visa fees had risen 75 per cent since 2006, and claimed that their costs were the reason many tour operators and independent travellers did not include the UK in European tours. France, for example, received 750,000 visitors from China in 2007, but the UK took in only 150,000.

The visa threatens VisitBritain’s promotion of UK as a destination in key growth markets such as China, India, Russia and the UAE. Meanwhile UKinbound has criticised the new Air Passenger Duty. At the annual UKinbound Convention in Manchester, chairman Philip Green said the Government is ‘“supporting” us by complicating & increasing APD and by extending the reach of VISA costs requirements. Is that the kind of support we need?”

www.breakingtravelnews.com


French debut for W Hotels
Tuesday, February 17 2009 @ 01:06 PM GMT

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has announced plans to open W Paris-Opéra in 2011, marking the debut of W Hotels Worldwide in France. Located in the chic Opéra area of Paris, W Paris-Opéra will occupy an elegant 1870s Haussmann era building, close to the Galleries Lafayette and Place Vendome in an area where Paris earned its praise as the “City of Lights.”

Owned by Meridia Capital, a Barcelona-based private equity global real estate fund, W Paris-Opéra will feature 90 stylish guest rooms, a contemporary restaurant and destination bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility with spa treatment rooms, and W Hotels’ signature lounge experience where guests are invited to mix, mingle and relax in a chic social atmosphere.

W Paris-Opéra will be the W brand’s eighth property in Europe, following the opening of W Istanbul in 2008, and the upcoming openings of W Hotels in Barcelona, St. Petersburg, Athens, Manchester, Milan and London. Founded in 1998 in New York City, W Hotels will triple its footprint by 2011 in vibrant primary destinations throughout Europe and the world from Paris to Marrakech, Dubai to Doha, Hollywood to South Beach, and Shanghai to Bali.

Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien said: “W Paris-Opéra will offer insider access, extravaganza and cool contemporary design in the heart of Paris, bringing contemporary luxury and a completely new and distinctive product to the Parisian hotel market.”

W Paris-Opéra will join six sister properties in France under the Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin and The Luxury Collection brands.

www.breakingtravelnews.com



Tourism to Central America grows despite downturn
Friday, February 20 2009 @ 11:38 AM GMT

Latest figures released by the World Tourism Organisation show that the number of visitors to Central America increased by 8% in 2008, the highest increase in the whole of the Americas.

The region – which includes the countries of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama – received 8.4 million foreign visitors in 2008, attracted by its diverse offering of adventure tourism, wildlife, beaches, Mayan ruins and colonial cities, plus better international flight connections. The Spanish carrier Iberia has started to offer a fifth weekly flight from Madrid to Guatemala and Panama. Iberia has the largest offer of flights from Europe to Central America, with 350,000 seats available (4.2% more than in 2008). The Dutch airline KLM has also increased the number of flights from Amsterdam to Panama City from three to five a week. Air Caraibes has launched new weekly flights from Paris to Panama and Costa Rica, via Pointe a Pitre or Fort de France in the French Antilles.

From the US, Delta Airlines has started a daily flight from Atlanta (Georgia) to Tegucigalpa (Honduras) and the low cost airline JetBlue will start a daily flight from Orlando (Florida) to San Jose (Costa Rica) from 26 March. Guatemala has announced the launch of a new “Mayan People” ethnic tourism programme which includes the development of three new tourist routes: The Mayan Universe Trail, the Mayan Calendar Trail, and the Mayan Dualism Trail. All services and products in the three new routes will be provided by members of the country’s large indigenous Mayan community, including local businesses, cultural associations, artists, craftsmen and tour operators.

The new routes will provide visitors with a true insight into the Mayan culture, and how this survives today. Besides exploring some of the main archaeological sites and sacred places, visitors will also have the opportunity to learn about Mayan food, clothes, crafts, spiritual ceremonies and traditions. Details of the routes are currently being developed and more information, including a new website, maps and other promotional materials, will be available later this year. There are also plans for a central reservations office to manage all visits on the three trails.

Also the first home port for cruises in Central America has opened in the tourism centre of Colon, on Panama’s Atlantic coast. Since December 2008 the new terminal is the home port for Royal Caribbean’s “Enchantment of the Seas” 2,200-passenger cruise ship, which offers weekly cruises to Colombia and the islands of Aruba, Curacao and Bonaire until April 2009. The new port is expected to boost the cruising market in Central America. Cruising is already a major revenue source in Panama, where in the last cruising season alone (October 2007 to May 2008), 141 cruise ships docked bringing 163,358 passengers who spent around US$15.5 million.

The Nicaragua Tourist Board has launched a US$14.7 million project to promote tourism in the San Juan River area. A new “Water Route” is being developed with local operators to take visitors to the Solentiname Archipelago on Lake Nicaragua, home to a bohemian artists’ community, and then follow the San Juan River to the Caribbean, travelling through pristine jungle and visiting important archaeological sites.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

SITA predicts huge tech influence on air travel
Wednesday, February 25 2009 @ 09:38 AM GMT (www.breakingtravelnews.com)

SITA has predicted a revolution in how passengers in the future will use the online flight-booking engine, as the specialist in air transport communication and IT solutions marked its 60th anniversary with a look at how technology will change the face of air travel over the next five years.

Jim Peters, SITA’s Chief Technology Officer, said, “The rise of social networking over the internet means that the days of the simple online flight-booking engine are numbered. Web 2.0 technologies will transform airline websites into travel planning portals that go far beyond date and location. By making it faster, easier and more cost-effective to provide real-time content from diverse sources, Web 2.0 technologies meet travellers’ demands for greater information and personalization.

“In the near future when a customer makes a booking, the airline website could extract the passenger’s preferences from its frequent flyer programme, combine it with external content from travel websites so that hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions can be overlaid on a Google map and the traveler can then take a virtual sight-seeing tour and be linked in with friends’ travel plans.”

In a New Frontiers Paper, Ten Technology Advances That Will Change Air Travel, released on Monday, SITA forecasts that mobile devices are about to have the same impact on the passenger journey as the jet engine did 50 years ago.

“Mobile phones are fast becoming access points to online services and over 90% of passengers carry them. Digitally-equipped passengers will access all their travel needs while on the move including purchasing airline tickets and checking-in. Mobile boarding passes could save the industry $500 million as we move towards paperless travel. The launch last week of in-flight mobile phone services on Ryanair by SITA’s subsidiary, OnAir, is further proof of how important the mobile phone is becoming for today’s travellers.”

Biometric identification and the use of mobile devices will also be boosted by the adoption of Near Field Communications (NFC), a short-range high frequency wireless communication technology that enables the simple and fast exchange of data between devices over a space of about 10 cms or four inches.

The technology is intelligent, secure and interactive which makes it ideal for the air transport industry. Peters added, “NFC makes it possible to provide electronic services to travellers in a simple way while reducing the amount of paper and plastic cards a passenger has to carry for a journey.

A NFC-embedded mobile phone may be all that’s necessary for a passenger to take their flight. “The ticket can be purchased online and sent to the mobile phone; check-in can then be made on the way to the airport. Biometric border controls verify the passenger’s identity and a simple wave of the phone across a wireless reader at the gate validates the e-boarding card enabling the passenger to walk directly onto the aircraft.”

Biometric identification is set to have a huge impact as SITA predicts its adoption will explode from 2% of airports using it today, to over 30% using it in five years, and not just for speeding passengers through border control but also through the check-in and boarding processes.

SITA also predicts that Radio-frequency identification (RFID), an automatic identification method, is about to have a major impact on travel not only through RFID chips being embedded in e-passports but also in tackling passengers’ number one frustration after flight delays, mishandled baggage. “RFID is not a universal solution to the problem of mishandled baggage but if implemented system-wide it could save the industry $750 million annually by ensuring origin-to-destination tracking of baggage,” said Peters.

RFID is also looked at from the perspective of technologies that will improve Air Transport Industry operations alongside Service Oriented Architecture, Cloud Computing, Collaborative Decision Making and Virtualization. When data encoded on RFID tagged parts and situational data received from new generation digitally-enabled aircraft, can be intelligently combined, it will lower maintenance costs considerably for the industry, the SITA study predicts.

SITA was founded 60 years ago by 11 airlines to provide shared information and telecommunications services to the infant air transport industry. Today it is one of the world's most international companies. Its global reach is based on local presence, with services for around 600 air transport industry members and 3,000 customers in over 220 countries and territories.


Le Bristol Paris to make Abu Dhabi debut
Wednesday, February 25 2009 @ 09:14 AM GMT

HE Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Chairman of National Corporation for Tourism and Hotels (NCTH) has appointed Hotel Le Bristol Paris, owned by the Oetker Hotel Collection, to manage Le Bristol Abu Dhabi.

The ultra-deluxe hotel is scheduled to open in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi in 2012 and aims to set new standards in the hospitality sector in the Middle East.
Announcing the appointment, HE Sheikh Hamdan said: “We are delighted to welcome the Oetker Hotel Collection and to work with them to manage Le Bristol Abu Dhabi, as we have recognized the common spirit of the group and the incomparable individuality of the various hotels.

Superbly located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, this city resort will bring a new dimension of classic European hotel luxury and style infused with French flair to Abu Dhabi. The hotel will extend unparalleled service levels, which will reflect the highly individualized nature of its Parisian sister hotel.”

Once operational, Le Bristol Abu Dhabi will feature 250 luxury guestrooms with a minimum size of 40 square metres and suites with private fitness and amenities.

Guest facilities and services will include various contemporary gastronomic choices with a high market Café and a gourmet restaurant, a selection of banqueting rooms with daylight and stunning seaside views for up to 300 persons.

This will be accompanied by a Spa inspired by the Brenner’s Park-Hotel & Spa in Baden-Baden, also member of the Oetker Hotel Collection, and long time considered as one of the best spas in Europe. A private beach and a private marina next to the hotel complement the ensemble.

“We are aware of the strength, unique heritage and reputation of the name Hotel Le Bristol Paris. It was awarded as ‘2008 World’s Best Hotel’ by The Institutional Investor – one of the most renowned business publications,” HE Sheikh Hamdan added.

“Le Bristol Abu Dhabi represents an important milestone in our expansion strategy and we feel extremely honoured to work with His Excellency Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan. We foresee a hotel growth of 10 to 15 hotels within the next 10 years. I truly believe that our concept deserves cautious growth as we only seek the most prestigious locations in the world and the finest and most talented employees to give our hotels the right soul. Both are like a gold nugget - hard to find. There will be no compromise on either one of it and we will carefully select our future projects,” said Frank Marrenbach, CEO of the Oetker Hotel Collection.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

Carlson expands Radisson Plaza brand in China

Carlson Hotels Worldwide has signed an agreement to add a new Chinese property to the Radisson Plaza portfolio, the premium extension of the upscale, full-service Radisson Hotels & Resorts brand.

The 300-room Radisson Plaza Hotel Chongqing Nan Bin Lu is scheduled to open at the end of 2010.

Owned by Chongqing Xun Sheng Real Estate Development Co., Ltd, this will be the fifth Radisson property in the future pipeline for China. Other planned Radisson properties are the Radisson Plaza Hotel Shenyang Hunnan, Radisson Plaza Hotel Tianjin, Radisson Plaza Hotel Sanya Lu Hui Tou and Radisson Hotel Liuzhou. This is part of CHW’s strategy to increase the brand’s presence across the region and also support the group’s overall development plans to more than double its hotel portfolio in Asia over the four year period of 2008 to 2012.

Set in Chongqing and on the bank of the Yangtze River, the largest tourism hub in southwest China, the Radisson Plaza Hotel Chongqing Nan Bin Lu will be prominently located on Nan Bin Road, the city’s most vibrant street for shopping and nightlife.

“This property will create an important foothold for the Radisson Plaza brand as Chongqing continues to aggressively grow as an important economic and tourism hub for southwest China. In addition, the location of this hotel provides an ideal setting for the brand, which is becoming a well-established name in key commercial cities across China,” said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director – Asia Pacific, Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

Radisson Plaza Hotel Chongqing Nan Bin Lu will feature three restaurants, including a speciality restaurant with a five meter high ceiling and bars on the 36th floor, as well as a spa, health club and executive club. There will also be extensive banquet and state-of-the-art conference facilities, including eight function rooms and a grand ballroom.

The hotel will be close to the city’s tourist attractions, as well as Chongqing’s main shopping, restaurant and nightlife districts. It will be 25 kilometres from Chongqing Jiangbei airport, which is connected to more than 30 local and international destinations, five minutes from the Jie Fang Bei Central Business District and in close proximity to Chongqing International Exhibition Centre and Nan Ping Commercial Centre.

There are currently five Radisson properties already operating in China. They are the Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park, Radisson Hotel Shanghai Hong Quan, Radisson Hotel Shanghai New World, Radisson Plaza Xing Guo Hotel Shanghai and the Radisson SAS Hotel Beijing.

www.breakingtravelnews.com

WANDER IN THE WILDERNESS AGAIN WITH TAJ SAFARIS!

~ Banjaar Tola at Kanha National Park opens for guests from February 18, 2009 ~

Mumbai, February 23, 2009: Taj Safaris is delighted to open doors of its new luxury lodge,Banjaar Tola at Kanha National Park from February 18, 2009, just in time for the high season.

Banjaar Tola, recently added to the Taj Safari Circuit, promises to offer Taj Hotels' legendary hospitality, and the expertise of & Beyond through the delivery of unique and in depth wildlife experiences.

Kanha National Park is one of India’s largest reserves encompassing beautiful areas of Sal forests, large bamboo stretches and lush green meadows. It is prime tiger country and is Project Tiger's star success story. Kanha features approximately 22 animal species, 70 tree species and is a bird watcher's paradise with over 200 recorded bird species.

Over the years a number of lodges have opened, but Banjaar Tola’s location near the southern gate means that guests can enjoy quick access into the park.

Banjaar Tola consists of two elegant camps each containing nine tented suites out of which one camp with nine tents are currently open for guests. The lightweight ensuite tents have been designed in a contemporary style using locally sourced sustainable materials. Interiors showcase the rich block-printed cottons and silks that are typical of Madhya Pradesh. Each suite will feature its own intimate private deck overlooking the river plus a discreetly positioned swimming pool.

Conservation efforts at Banjaar Tola start from the ground up; each suite is set on raised structures, supporting the tent at only seven points on the ground, allowing natural growth and drainage under all the buildings. Instead of conventional electrical units, the tents are designed with double layers of canvas with insulation materials and air gaps to keep them cool. In winter, hot water for the bathroom will be piped under the insulated bamboo floor. The eco-friendly air conditioning system uses a reversible cycle to efficiently deliver both cooling and heating.

Kanha National Park is 5 hours away from Bandhavgarh and 4 hours drive from Pench National Park. Kanha National Park can also be accessed via Raipur by road (4 hrs) (Raipur is connected by daily flights from Delhi and Mumbai).


Choice Hotels India opens Quality Inn Sabari Resorts in Kodaikanal.
2009-02-24

Choice Hotels India, a leading American chain of mid market hotels in India and Sabari Inn Pvt. Ltd., opened Quality Inn Sabari Resorts in Kodaikanal. Sabari Inn Pvt Ltd. entered into a franchise and marketing tie up with Choice Hospitality India Ltd., the master franchisee of Choice Hotels International for ComfortTM, QualityTM, Sleep InnTM, Clarion® brands in India.

Quality Inn Sabari Resorts is the first branded hotel in Kodaikanal, spread over an area of 2 acres with 50 rooms. New hotel boasts of tastefully done, Wi-Fi enabled, spacious and elegant rooms that are customized to the needs of Leisure/Business traveler.

“Rendezvous”, the all day dining restaurant serves exotic gastronomic delights, with a-la-carte specialties in an ambience surging with energy & warmth. “Grammy” is sprawling sensual well stocked bar that offers sumptuous array of gourmet tidbits. In addition, hotel has well equipped conference and banquet facilities.

Choice Hospitality India also markets two other properties of Sabari Inn Pvt. Ltd.- Quality Inn Sabari with 72 rooms and Quality Hotel Sabari Classic with 81 rooms in Chennai. Quality Inn Sabari is centrally located in T. Nagar, close to commercial districts and important consulates whereas Quality Hotel Sabari Classic is situated in the midst of IT Park at Navalur at Chennai- OMR.

Mr. Vilas Pawar CEO, Choice Hotels India said “Our relationship with Sabari Group was inked over 5 years back when CHI signed Quality Inn Sabari and got further strengthened with Quality Hotel Sabari Classic in 2007. After Quality Inn Sabari and Quality Hotel Sabari Classic in Chennai, CHI is proud to be associated with Sabari Group for their new property in Kodaikanal - Quality Inn Sabari Resorts. The launch of this new property would further strengthen our ties by adding new hotel in CHI portfolio.”

He further added “We look forward to associate with Sabari group for their upcoming hotels in Coimbatore, Bangalore, Pune and Hyderabad. The Coimbatore hotel would be ready for operations by the end of this year, Bangalore by end 2010 and Pune in the first quarter of 2011.”

www.indiaprwire.com

Ramdev to set up mega food park at Haridwar

New Delhi February 22, 2009, 15:49 IST
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who has been campaigning against aerated drinks, will be setting up an mega food park at Haridwar with processing units mainly manufacturing juices, herbal products and fruit pulp.

The park expected to attract investments to the tune of Rs 500 crore is being developed by a company promoted by the well-known Yoga guru.

In the first phase, factories for processing juices of bottlegourd, bittergourd, carrot, Amla, Aloe Vera, mint, tulsi, tomato, cucumber and wheat grass are proposed to be established, said an official of Patanjali Yog Peeth, an institution established by Ramdev.

He has been promoting the ethnic food in his camps.

The foundation of the Patanjali Food and Herbal Park Ltd is scheduled to be laid on February 25 by Minister of State for Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai.
The park, spread over 95 acres of land will be a boon for the growers of these fruits and vegetables Acharya Bal Krishna of Patanjali Yog Peeth said. The growers will also be trained how to grow Amla and Aloe Vera crops on barren lands he said.
In his largely attended yoga camps, Ramdev has consistently been opposing aerated drinks.

Press Trust of India

Marhaba signs up for extended representation in Middle East and N. Africa
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Marhaba, Dubai's premier airport meet and greet service, has signed a deal with leading Jordan-based travel management company, Refadah. With this new partnership, customers in Jordan and Algeria wishing to use the Marhaba service at Dubai International Airport will be able to book in advance through Refadah.

Jon Conway, Divisional Senior Vice President, Dnata Airport Operations, said: "Refadah's personalized approach, uncompromising attention to detail and constant appraisal of services made it the natural choice to help us extend Marhaba's reach in Jordan and Algeria."

Akram Sha'ar, CEO, Refadah International, added: "We are excited by the prospect of working in partnership with Dnata, the largest, most innovative and most successful supplier of air travel services in the Middle East. The Marhaba service reflects the warmth and hospitality of the Arab culture which have always been hallmarks of Refadah's services in Algeria and Jordan."

The move follows the recent announcement that the Marhaba service can now be booked online at www.marhabaservices.com and is part of Dnata's commitment to ensuring a stress-free and pleasant experience while travelling through or from Dubai. Drawn from many nationalities and cultures, Marhaba's friendly, multi-lingual staff are specially trained to cater for the needs of families, VIP passengers and corporate business travellers alike, making their journey - whether arriving, departing or just passing through Dubai International Airport - a stress-free experience, round-the-clock, 365 days a year.

www.traveldailynews.com

Tourism: An engine for employment creation
Wednesday, February 25, 2009

The Secretariat of the World Tourism Organization presents its compliments to the recipients of the present note and has the honour to refer to its note verbale CONF/291/2009 of 22 January concerning the Fifth UNWTO International Conference on Tourism Statistics - Tourism: an Engine for Employment Creation, which will be held from 30 March to 2 April 2009 in Bali, Indonesia.

A first objective of the Bali Conference is to discuss the “way forward”, now that the 2008 International Recommendations for Tourism Statistics have been approved by the United Nations (39th session of the Statistical Commission, February 2008). Another significant objective of the Bali Conference in 2009 is to address the issue of the measurement and quality of employment in the tourism industries. The Conference will focus, for the first time at the global level, on employment as a key challenge for National Tourism Administrations and the tourism industries.

Participants are kindly requested to register directly on the website of the Conference: http://www.unwto.org/TSAconf2009/registro/form.php. Please, note that working documents of the Conference will not be distributed on the spot, but rather sent to all registered participants by email and placed on the following website as they become available.

The Secretariat of the World Tourism Organization avails itself of the opportunity to renew to the recipients of the present note the assurances of its highest consideration.

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Holiday Inn Express Opens in California Wine Country

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today that the Holiday Inn Express and Suites Napa Valley-American Canyon will open within a month. The new-build property is the 18th Holiday Inn Express hotel in California to showcase the brand’s new sign, which is the seal of approval that this hotel exemplifies the standards of the $1 billion Holiday Inn brand relaunch program.

The 101-room Holiday Inn Express is ideally located on state Route 29, in the world famous Napa Valley Wine Country, home to the finest wineries in the U.S. Situated at Napa Junction across from beautiful Main Street Park, the hotel is just a short drive away from downtown Napa, with world-renowned restaurants, boutique shops and charming Victorian homes. More than 350 wineries and numerous championship golf courses are also nearby. Notable local businesses include Foster’s Wine Group, Coca Cola, Robert Mondavi, Six Flags Discovery Kingdom and Infineon Raceway.

Guests at the Holiday Inn Express will experience a comfortable and smart environment with innovative preferred guest upgrades to ensure a productive stay while traveling for business or leisure.

The hotel’s newly enhanced complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar will feature a full selection of breakfast items including a rotation of egg and meat selections, biscuits, yogurts, fruit and the brand’s proprietary cinnamon roll and Smart Roast® coffee. The SimplySmart™ shower incorporates a proprietary Stay Smart™ Kohler showerhead, signature shower curtain with curved rod, upgraded 100 percent cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.

Guests will also enjoy the SimplySmart™ bedding collection where they will find new crisp fresh bedding which features an attractive decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft 200 thread-count sheets.

First announced in 2007, the Holiday Inn brand relaunch program was established to create a more contemporary brand image as part of the drive to increase quality and consistency across the global portfolio. The program focuses on arrival and welcome services, guestroom, and guest bath comfort. The global estate of more than 3,200 Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express properties is expected to be relaunched by the end of 2010.

Elements of the relaunch for Holiday Inn Express include:
Redesigned Brand Signage
An evolution of the iconic script logo, energizing the signature color green and eliminating the current shield shape for a more refreshed and contemporary look.

Warm Welcome
A new signature arrival – including new lighting, landscaping and design features – that creates an energized and branded sense of welcome that is universally recognizable. Customized music and scent selections also engage guests in a complete sensory experience, and a decluttered front desk to promote a more efficient and interactive check-in process.

New Service Promise
A best-in-class service culture – “Stay Real” – to further ensure the team develops the behaviors and skills to best serve guests so they feel like individuals and not numbers. Genuine people delivering real service. Leading the charge will be a newly created position at each hotel – the Guest Experience Champion.

“Holiday Inn Express hotels are designed to be the smart choice for value-conscious business and leisure travelers,” said John Merkin, senior vice president, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brands, The Americas. “With more than 1,900 properties worldwide and more than 700 properties in the pipeline, the Holiday Inn Express portfolio continues to expand in markets like Napa Valley, providing our guests with an enhanced stay experience at a great value. We welcome this hotel into the Holiday Inn family with the brand new sign and everything it represents.”

Standard Holiday Inn Express hotel guest rooms feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair and an in-room coffee machine featuring complimentary Smart Roast 100% Arabica coffee. Business travelers will find large desks, ergonomic chairs, free high-speed wireless internet access, free local and toll free phone calls and phones with private voicemail.

The new Napa Valley property offers a variety of additional amenities including an outdoor patio area with swimming pool and spa, fitness center, business center and 2,000 square feet of meeting space for business functions or special events. The hotel also plans to offer a complimentary wine hour for guests.

“Holiday Inn Express hotels are fresh, clean and convenient for travelers,” said Kay Eardley, general manager, Holiday Inn Express and Suites Napa Valley-American Canyon. “We invested $13 million to build this property, and we’re especially pleased to be among the first wave of hotels to showcase the brand’s new sign.”

Holiday Inn Express hotels participate in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program has 42 million members. Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on www.priorityclub.com, calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s more than 4,150 hotels worldwide.

The Holiday Inn Express hotel and Suites Napa Valley-American Canyon is owned by BKL LLC and managed by BKL Hospitality Group, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group and is located at 5001 Main St., American Canyon, Calif., 94503.