Author: admin

  • News: Malaysia Airlines to give A380 services to Hong Kong

    Malaysia Airlines will commence an everyday Airbus A380 service at the Kuala Lumpur – Hong Kong route effective May 1ST 2013, offering UK passengers a regular A380 connection from London Heathrow through to Hong Kong.

    The 494-seater super jumbo would be replacing one of the vital current B737-800 double daily services in this route.

    Flight MH72 from Kuala Lumpur will now depart at 09.15 and arrive in Hong Kong at 13.05, while MH73 from Hong Kong leaves at 14.45 and arrives in Kuala Lumpur at 18.25.

    Hong Kong stands out as the national carrier’s third A380 destination after London and Paris.

    The growing A380 fleet offers Malaysia Airlines’ passengers a premium service at the latest and most spacious aircraft within the skies.

    Some 420 economy class seats comprise 350 at the main deck and 70 at the upper deck.

    The forward recline seats come equipped with individual PED power supply, USB port and 10.6 inches in-flight entertainment touch screen.

    A further 66 Business Class seats at the upper deck each include individual 17-inch in-flight entertainment screen, the most important of Malaysia Airlines’ fleet.

    Personal items stowage is accessible on each seat along side 115VAC PED power supply and USB port and services including ‘Chef on Call’ now available for A380 business class passengers.

    With the A380 replacing the B737-800, Malaysia Airlines can also be introducing Top quality travel in this route.

    The super jumbo has eight Top notch seats at the main deck, which converts right into a flat bed of 87 inches in length and a width of 40 inches, making it the widest First-class seat within the skies.

    Each seat has a person 23-inch in-flight entertainment screen with personal closet and stowage for coat, luggage, laptop and private belongings.

    Recommended

  • Ritz-Carlton in digital focus at ATM

    The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company is launching a completely-integrated social media campaign that may offer visitors a distinct interactive experience. at ATM The move is in keeping with The Ritz-Carlton commitment to deepen connections with existing and prospective guests in an atmosphere during which they spend increasing amounts of time.

    As section of the luxurious hotel company’s social media outreach in the course of the Middle East’s largest travel trade exhibition, The Ritz-Carlton has members in their social media engagement team present on their stand at ATM.  During the @RitzCarlton twitter handle, the team will provide live content and updates from the development. With a sizeable selection of The Ritz-Carlton Twitter followers comprising of trade partners, customers and the media, it’s a perfect platform to initiate and build brand conversation relevant to the fair.

    The introduction of a dedicated ‘Tweet Bar’ at the Ritz-Carlton stand HC5240 located within the Arena Hall, will give the brand’s global Twitter following access to news from the development because it unfolds in Dubai, including highlights from exclusive talks and seminars. Additionally, visitors checking in at ATM on Foursquare will receive recommendations on the fitting things to peer and do in Dubai, as recommended by The Ritz-Carlton concierges from both hotels within the city. The Ritz-Carlton also uses Foursquare and The Ritz-Carlton Mobile App to tailor local content and supply engaging information relevant to their guests. This may occasionally be dropped at life at ATM where a chain of QR codes can be utilized to download property insights, including recipes from chefs and guided tours of hotels.

    “Our social media interactions at Arabian Travel Market are a natural extension of our ‘Let Us Stick with You’ brand philosophy. We wish to enrich the experience on the show for visitors, as well as being a superb luxury travel information resource for our Twitter followers by providing news because it is occurring from the show,” said Chris Gabaldon, Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. “Each of The Ritz-Carlton social media channels grow in importance to us year-over-year as our guests live increasingly more in their lives within the digital space. Use of Facebook alone already stands at 40% of time spent online within the UAE, 30% in Kuwait and 21% in Saudi Arabia making Facebook an increasingly important channel for us to converse with our Middle East guests.”

    The Ritz-Carlton has a proven track record of using social networking platforms to construct and enhance the logo and produce people together within the same physical space or event. It successfully used Twitter to underscore its central role at global events similar to Toronto International Film Festival and IMEX America, whilst broadcasting and conversing concerning the brand’s messages on a big scale and in addition drawing foot traffic to physical spaces by engaging with other attendees.

    The effectiveness of The Ritz-Carlton social media direction and content has brought about significant year-on-year increases across all leading platforms, including Facebook which has jumped 118 percent to a couple of million fans around the company’s brand page and 48 hotel Facebook pages. Moreover, the logo Facebook Page’s year-over-year growth in “People Talking About This” went up 746%.

    “The Ritz-Carlton philosophy is built round the concept of providing unique experiences for our guests which will leave indelible memories they get rid of from every visit to 1 of our hotels.  With the continuing growth and influence of social media – on both a neighborhood and global scale – we’re seeing this amplified online greater than ever before,” continued Gabaldon.

    “It is therefore essential for us to stay relevant to the shopper and be strategic and sensitive in regards to the ways that we engage inside the space. The Ritz-Carlton brand carries expectations of excellence, and that i can proudly say that while each of our social channels perform in numerous ways, all of them convey a truth and authenticity which could only be conveyed by us. We reap great get pleasure from being part of the web conversation and learn much by taking note of guest feedback. The following component of our continued strategy specializes in developing additional global social media assets and online engagement channels to arrive a broader audience of geographies and demographics, incorporate more video, and play host to user generated content for our guests who would like to share their Ritz-Carlton experiences within the digital space.”

    Recommended

  • Brazil highlights positives from Confederations Cup

    The president of Brazilian tourist board Embratur, Flávio Dino, has highlighted the financial returns made by the destination in the course of the recent Confederations Cup.

    Dino confirmed numbers exceeded expectations, with Embratur recording $329 million in more spending, including income from hotels, food faraway from home, and other related expenditure.

    Spending by tourists – Brazilians and foreigners – was estimated by Embratur at $145 million.

    “A study by Embratur showed tourism had a miles greater impact than anticipated,” Dino told local radio show Brasil em Pauta.

    There were 16 games in the course of the two weeks of the Confederations Cup, with the hosts eventually crowned champions.

    “This is significant because a return is immediate and goes straight into the pocket of the entrepreneur within the long chain associated to tourism,” said the president of Embratur, in the course of the interview.

    “The long-term return is the principle picture, because the name and attributes of Brazil are reported worldwide in the course of the period of mega-events.”

    Dino added: “From the viewpoint of selling international tourism in Brazil, it is a spectacular gain, which might be achieved only with an exceptionally massive investment of resources in television advertising in those markets.”

    However, it was not all plain sailing for Brazil, with coverage of the events marred by long running street protests against corruption, rising prices and the perceived miss allocation of oil revenues.

    Recommended

  • News: Hertz introduces three new Porsche sports cars into its U.S. fleet

    The Hertz Corporation, announces it has expanded its line of sports cars available for rent to incorporate the Porsche 911, Boxster, and Cayenne, which join the already-available Porsche Panamera.  With the growth, consumers in select markets at the moment are ready to rent a number of Porsche vehicles that transform a regular trip into a unprecedented journey.

    “The response among Hertz customers to the Porsche vehicles in our fleet have been overwhelming, clearly demonstrating our customers’ passion to get behind the wheel of those cars,” commented Mark P. Frissora, Hertz Chairman and CEO. “The race-proven technology and intelligent performance Porsche brings to everyday driving offer a very unique driving experience to Hertz customers.”

    Hertz was recently voted Top-Rated for Vehicles within the Zagat 2012/13 U.S. Car Rental Survey; the expanded line of Porsche products provides more options for consumers in search of an unforgettable travel experience.  With suggested retail prices beginning from approximately $50,000 to $85,000, the 911, Boxster, and Cayenne offer a sports car driving character and everyday practicality without compromise.  Beginning this month, Hertz customers in select California, Florida, and Nevada markets can experience these remarkable vehicles with rates starting at $250/weekend day. Terms and prerequisites apply, visit www.hertz.com or demand details.

    In addition to the brand new Porsche offerings, Hertz has once more been named a chain partner of the 2013 IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge by Yokohama and a sponsor of the 2013 JDX Racing Team.  As component of the sponsorship, Hertz will remain integrated into the GT3 Cup Challenge, with Hertz branding displayed prominently on all vehicles, while the 2013 JDX Racing Porsche GTC car will compete throughout 2013 inside the American LeMans Series.

    “JDX had a sturdy 2012 season, winning their first ALMS race at Mid-Ohio, and we’re excited JDX will campaign the #11 JDX/Hertz Porsche GTC for the whole 2013 season. With a brand new line up of avid passionate drivers, we’re confident their skills and expertise will continue to electrify all year long,” Frissora added.

    Operating among the many youngest and most diverse fleets within the industry, Hertz is committed to offering its customers probably the most technologically innovative services and products available to maintain customers “Traveling on the Speed of Hertz.” This includes Hertz Carfirmations and Carfirmation Upgrade which offer mobile confirmation of one’s rental car and the facility to upgrade straight from a customer’s mobile device; Gold Choice, which supplies Gold members the flexibility to maintain the automobile they reserved or just choose a further car from the Gold Choice area; and e-Return, with the fastest car rental drop-off that features an email receipt within hours. These are all complimentary services for members of Hertz Gold Plus Rewards, that’s currently free to enroll in. Further, Hertz continues to expand the presence of its ExpressRent Interactive Kiosks that allow customers rent a car, without or with a reservation, through a live, face-to-face video kiosk.

    Recommended

  • Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel to start soft opening

    Jumeirah Group has announced the soft opening of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa, as of May 7th.

    Jumeirah’s first hotel inside the Gulf region outside the United Arab Emirates is situated along the shores of the Arabian Gulf, on the subject of Kuwait City’s business and fiscal centre and only ten minutes drive from Kuwait International Airport.

    The hotel was designed by architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill from Ny to create a really luxurious destination in Kuwait that merges the newest in design and technology with the heritage and culture of the region.

    Jumeirah Group president, Gerald Lawless, said: “The opening of Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa is a landmark event.

    “We are proud to be bringing our brand to Kuwait and want to thank the management of the hotel’s owning company Al Aziziah for giving us the chance to function this remarkable property.

    “I believe that the standard of the hotel and the services delivered by our colleagues under the leadership of the overall manager Mark Griffiths will offer the folks of Kuwait and visitors from all over the world a real taste of Jumeirah’s unique brand of hospitality.”

    The luxury beachfront development is made from 408 guest rooms, including 316 rooms and suites, 80 residential suites and 12 villas that offer an unhampered view of the hotel gardens. All rooms range from 40 to 60m², suites from 80 to 360m² and villas from 350 to 450m².

    Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel and Spa is electrified by its location.

    Messilah, derived from the word ‘Massiyalah’, denotes a low-lying area where waters merge and circulate the ocean. Water is a recurring theme within the hotel’s design.

    Water features flow from the central lobby and within the building to hook up with streams, channels and fountains within the gardens.

    Water also is reflected in a chain of striking sculptures, the internal design of the hotel and the Talise Spa, which covers 3,500m² and includes 17 treatment rooms and two private suites.

    In addition, Talise Spa has the Salt Room – an exclusive treatment inside the Middle East where salt blocks from the Himalayas are used for rejuvenation, relaxation and wellbeing.

    Another key design feature is the usage of traditional Kuwaiti oriel windows of Mashrabiya design which might be found round the hotel.

    Mashrabiya screens also are fitted within the bedrooms and may be pulled around the windows to produce privacy and shade from the sun.

    Jumeirah Messilah Beach Hotel & Spa has six restaurants, along side a variety of cafes and lounges.

    These include a signature seafood restaurant and a premium steakhouse, a classy Italian restaurant and an all-day dining concept, an Arabic café lounge with a terrace overlooking the hotel entrance and a chic tea lounge.

    Other outlets include the Club Executive, a health and wellness restaurant next to the Talise Spa and a beachfront café for healthy snacks and views of the Arabian Gulf.

    Recommended