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  • News: flydubai launches double daily flights to Sri Lanka

    flydubai has confirmed it’s going to fly double daily to Sri Lanka starting this summer, bringing the complete collection of weekly flights to fourteen.

    The announcement comes per week after the carrier attended the inaugural ceremony for Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport (referred to as Hambantota Airport).

    Having announced a 3 times per week service; Sri Lanka’s second international gateway can be served with daily services ranging from June 03rd 2013.

    This service is as well as the present daily flights to Colombo.

    flydubai chief commercial officer, Hamad Obaidalla, who headed the delegation to the newly inaugurated airport, said: “The additional flights are in direct response to strong passenger demand across our network and we’re delighted to contribute to the successful developments within the trade and tourism sectors going down within the eastern and southern portion of the island.

    “We had been impressed by the facilities on the new airport and we’re certainly all in favour of the opportunities that these new flights bring to Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates.”

    More than 30 per cent of flydubai’s total passenger traffic to Sri Lanka in 2012 was connecting traffic from the Central & Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) regions.

    This growth is as a result of the the carrier’s improved connection times in Dubai.

    The additional flights this summer will further cement the carrier’s commitment to the market and significantly contribute to further growth.

    flydubai has one of the most comprehensive network to the CIS and CEE of every other Middle Eastern carrier which connects Colombo, and once in operation Hambantota, to 21 destinations in ten countries.

    The network has witnessed a milestone expansion with the carrier recently announcing it’s to double its Russian and Ukrainian network by adding four destinations in Russia, two in Ukraine and extending the frequency to Kiev to double daily.

    These new routes bring the carrier’s network to greater than 60 destinations around the Middle East, Africa, the Indian Subcontinent, Asia, CEE and the CIS.

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  • News: Easter booking bonanza for UK English tourism

    Some 2.7 million Brits – six per cent per cent of the adult population – plan to take advantage of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend by taking a minimum of one overnight holiday trip inside the UK, per figures from VisitEngland.

    Of these 2.5 million people – five per cent – are planning to take that trip in England, in accordance with the most recent Trip Tracker survey from the tourism body.

    This is probably going to generate some £600 million in tourism spend for the united kingdom economy, around £543 million of that can be spent in England.

    A further 4.9 million Brits (ten per cent) are currently undecided about whether to take an overnight trip over the Bank Holiday weekend.

    Of this group, two million people (40 per cent) are waiting to work out what the elements is like before you make a decision.

    The national tourist board also revealed that 5.9 million Brits (12 per cent) have already made plans for day trips in England, with another 14.3 million (29 per cent) saying they’d get out and about over the Bank Holiday weekend.

    Events are happening up and down the rustic to mark the Easter weekend, equivalent to York’s Chocolate Festival and the Trereife Easter Food Fair in Cornwall.

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  • UNWTO discusses technology & social media as tool for competitive tourism

    Bournemouth University Professor Dimitrios Buhalis chaired the conference and advised countries on learn how to use social media and technology to spice up tourist trade.

    Technology and social media are getting critically important tools for successful international tourism.

    This have been recognised by the United Nations World Tourism Organisation and the Minister of Tourism in Costa Rica, who organised a Technical Seminar on Tourism and New Technologies. 

    Delegates came from 22 countries – including Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and the Bahamas – and the conference discussed how tourism have been influenced by the most recent technological breakthroughs, in addition to the opportunities that lie ahead.

    Professor Dimitrios Buhalis, Director of the e-Tourism Lab at Bournemouth University (BU), chaired the seminar, which befell in Costa Rica.

    A tourism marketing expert who specialises in e-tourism and technology, he chaired panels taking a look at the net, social media and mobile marketing on the subject of tourism.

    He also trained delegates – including 12 tourism ministers – on tips on how to use technology and social media to extend the competitiveness in their tourism industry.

    Professor Buhalis said: “It is gratifying that increasingly the international tourism industry and governments from world wide, in addition to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, recognise how technology can support the competitiveness of the tourism destinations and organisations.

    “Cutting edge research and solutions we develop at Bournemouth University provide technological tools akin to social media, augmented reality and gaming to enable organisations to dynamically engage with consumers and facilitate co-creation of goods and usefulness available on the market.”

    Professor Buhalis added that social media is reversing tourism marketing strategies, with consumers becoming advocates and ambassadors for products worldwide.

    He believes that mobile technologies could make interaction between organisations and consumers dynamic and agile – revolutionising engagement and economic benefits.

    “Only those organisations which are able and willing to apply these tools in an agile strategy can be ready to develop their competitiveness at some point and generate prosperity for his or her stakeholders,” he said.

    “I am glad that Latin American countries are committed to developing their knowledge through our expertise, and innovating so one can maximise their benefits.”

    Other speakers on the seminar included executives from Google, Trip Advisor and Expedia Latin America.

    The seminar happened in San Jose, Costa Rica on May 14 and 15.

  • Loews Regency Hotel announces premier hair stylist partner for salon & spa

    Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of Loews Hotels & Resorts, has announced a partnership with renowned hairstylist Julien Farel to include a state-of-the-art flagship salon on the renovated Loews Regency Hotel in Ny city. Set to open autumn 2013, the relocated Julien Farel Salon should be a novel open concept designed by Meyer Davis, in order to include hallmark elements comparable to floor to ceiling windows and a dedicated entrance on 61st Street.

    “Julien is a tastemaker who will play an incredible role inside the continued evolution of the Loews Regency Hotel,” said Tisch. “The salon and spa will add an unparalleled level of curated sophistication to the valuables while enhancing the offerings we will be able to provide our mutual clientele.”

    With a powerful list of clients ranging including A-list celebrities, Farel’s salons are synonymous with modern luxury. As a trusted confidant to many, Farel has extended his salon expertise into households with a comprehensive line of anti-aging hair care.

    The 10,000-square-foot Julien Farel Salon on the Loews Regency Hotel will offer an expanded treatment menu and also will feature exquisite furnishings from the Maletti Group for ultimate client relaxation.

    “I have an eye fixed for all things beauty,” said Julien Farel. “This salon and spa might be a whole wellness experience rooted in hair, nails, makeup and fitness. What we bring most to the Loews Regency is an excellent team of pros and skill to look after the purposes of our clients and hotel guests.”

    In the arrival months, the hotel will announce additional partners leading as much as its reopening within the fall of 2013. This renovation marks the 1st time the hotel has temporarily closed its doors in its history.

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  • News: Hogg Robinson Group selected by Canadian government

    Corporate services company Hogg Robinson Group was awarded the contract for the general travel management for the govt of Canada.

    The seven year award is the culmination of an intensive three year bidding process.

    David Radcliffe, chief executive, HRG, commented: “This is without doubt one of the most prestigious accounts in North America and i’m delighted to make today’s announcement.

    “The process have been rigorous and professional, enabling HRG to illustrate its expertise and position as a global leading provider of corporate services on a very international stage.”

    The contract includes all commercially available civilian travel requirements for the Canadian Government including the availability of travel services, a web-based booking tool, a payment card (supplied by BMO Financial Group), and online expense management via HRG group company Spendvision.

    “In awarding us their business, the govt. of Canada has provided us with a chance to illustrate our talent, experience and information in addition to our commitment to service excellence.

    “We will provide an effective travel service that meets the functional needs of a broad and assorted user community and likewise reduces the executive burden of creating and accounting for travel arrangements.

    “I am incredibly happy with this award and that i truly believe that HRG will successfully deliver and entirely meet the necessities of the govt. of Canada,” concluded Radcliffe.

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