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  • momondo pinpoints popular summer destinations

    Leading meta-search momondo.co.uk this week analysed its UK flight search data of the last three months, for travel throughout the UK Summer holiday period, which generally lies between 24 July 2013, and 1 September, 2013.

    Within this information, momondo was capable of pinpoint popular destination airports for UK summer travellers, for 6 of the united kingdom’s largest airports. Starting points for the UK-wide evaluation were here airports; London Heathrow, London Gatwick, Manchester, Bristol, Glasgow and Birmingham.

    Bangkok, Thailand’s buzzing Capital, proved popular for Brits this summer, being most-searched on momondo for summer travel from Manchester airport, and second-most-hunted for summer travel from London Heathrow.

    Sunny Madeira was the main-searched airport on momondo for summer travel from Gatwick airport.

    New York’s JFK was within the Top 5 lists of most-searched destination airport’s on momondo for summer travel, for Heathrow, Manchester and Birmingham airports.

    And traditional sun-spots Gran Canaria and Porto, Portugal were amongst the pinnacle 5 most-searched airports on momondo.co.uk, for summer travel from Stansted airport. Also in that prime 5 were stag party favourites – Budapest, Hungary and Riga in Latvia.

    Please note each Top 5 list varied on specific routes flying out of any particular airport on this specified duration and is subject to switch at other times of the year. Flight prices are true as of 16 July 2013 and can be subject to vary.

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  • News: United Airlines launches sustainable supply chain initiative

    United Airlines is launching a Sustainable Supply Chain (SSC) initiative with a purpose to better understand the environmental performance of its suppliers and deepen relationships with its key supply chain partners. The initiative underscores United’s effort to guide commercial aviation as an environmentally responsible company and builds at the airline’s actions and commitment to environmental sustainability.

    “We work with hundreds of suppliers so it’s important for us to realize the environmental impact on our supply chain, and this new initiative allows us to be proactive,” said Katrina Manning , United’s vice chairman of technical procurement. “Focusing on our supply chain presents us with a chance to make responsible decisions to further strengthen our commitment to the surroundings.”

    The SSC program involves measuring and evaluating the sustainability of United’s current suppliers’ products and operations through a comprehensive survey, starting with those suppliers in traditionally high-risk industries in addition to members of the airline’s strategic supplier community. United also will integrate the environmentally focused questions into its request for proposal (RFP) process. Through implementation of the SSC program, United will evaluate whether the usage of its suppliers’ product or services would scale back the airline’s impact at the environment.

    “We are pleased to launch this program that demonstrates our commitment to working with key supply chain partners on environmental issues,” said Jimmy Samartzis , United’s managing director of worldwide environmental affairs and sustainability. “We won’t only incorporate environmental considerations into our buying decisions, but may even seek to spot opportunities to collaborate with our suppliers to enhance the environmental profile of the goods and services we use.” 

    In 2014, United will seek to determine targets for improvement and start to speak those expectations to its suppliers.
    The SSC initiative is aligned with the airline’s participation within the United Nations Global Compact, which inspires its signatories to advertise environmental practices throughout their supply chain. United was the primary U.S. airline to sign up for the worldwide Compact.

  • UK Royal baby on board

    As the nation waits with bated breath for the now-overdue Royal Baby, it seems that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s pregnancy has sparked the most important baby boom in 40 years. New figures suggest that greater than 700,000 babies shall be born in England this year – the top number since 1971, in step with the Royal College of Midwives.

    In anticipation of the advent of the most recent addition to the Royal Family, VisitEngland rounds up the very best holidays and experiences on offer for brand spanking new families, as two become three…

    Baby in Tow
    His or Her Royal Highness the Prince or Princess of Cambridge will likely spend numerous their childhood at London’s Kensington Palace where the Duke and Duchess will reside. To mark the occasion, the nearby Hilton London Kensington has created a ‘Tot-ter Around Kensington’ package. Guests can enjoy a two-night shopping break, ideal for mother-daughter bonding and mums-to-be. The package features a two-night stay on the stylish Hilton London Kensington, with each guest receiving a VIP card for Westfield London Shopping Centre, situated directly opposite the hotel. The VIP card entitles shoppers to offers and discounts of as much as 20% from over 80 stores and restaurants. Stylish mums-to-be can refill on baby treats from stores including Bébé Bisou, Mamas & Papas and Atelier de Courcelles. Price depending on availability.

    Meanwhile, one of many luxury suites on the Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane was transformed right into a five-star nursery for jet-setting babies. The hotel has teamed up with bespoke nursery designers Dragons of Walton Street and transformed a Premium Park View Suite right into a quintessentially English nursery, designed and tailored with a royal baby in mind. Dragons of Walton Street has a historic association with the Royal Family, with William and Harry, Beatrice and Eugenie all growing up in a Dragons nursery. Inspired by the suite’s idyllic views of Hyde Park and the hotel’s history, this latest creation is fitted with bespoke, hand crafted and painted furniture.  The pièce de résistance is a gorgeous dolls house toy cupboard hand painted to symbolize Grosvenor House’s signature architecture.

    Outside the capital, Cornwall’s Bedruthan Steps Hotel has a ‘Welcome to the World’ break, offering new mums and dads a helping hand through their first year of parenting. The package encourages new parents to deepen their bond with their new arrival through baby massage, swimming and yoga classes. The break includes workshops with psychologist Dr Sarah Mundy on some approaches to the challenges that new parents face. The hotel aims to take the pressures off you and defend your every need – little need to fret about cooking, washing, cleaning or tidying up here. If you want a while out, the expert childcare team is handy to permit you to experience some ‘me’ time to walk the spectacular coast path, relax by the pool, have a Mama Mio massage treatment or spend quality time together with your partner.

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  • News: Enterprise partners with Megadrive Autovermietung GmbH

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car today announced the appointment of Megadrive Autovermietung GmbH as a brand new franchise partner, to increase the short-growing network of Enterprise branches in Europe to incorporate prime locations in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia including major airports and town locations. The locations are set to open later this year.

    With Enterprise’s combination of corporately owned markets and franchise partners, this latest appointment signifies that the flagship brand will soon be represented across 23 European countries. Together these countries account for over 90% of vehicle hire demand in Europe.

    Austria is a number one destination in Europe for leisure and business travellers, whilst Hungary and Slovakia are European growth stories, benefitting from an increase in tourism in addition to an influx of external investment. These three markets deepen Enterprise’s presence in central Europe, between the company’s wholly-owned operations within the UK, Ireland, France, Spain and Germany and an expanding network of franchise relationships in Southern and Eastern Europe.
    Established in 2008, Megadrive Autovermietung has 12 locations in Austria, two branches in Hungary and 4 branches in Slovakia. Together these branches provide on airport coverage around the countries’ major airports, with additional branches in core city locations.

    Commenting at the new agreement, Karlheinz Wiener, Managing Director for Megadrive said: “We are very proud to be chosen as Enterprise Rent-A-Car’s partner in Austria, Hungary and Slovakia. Enterprise is renowned for its customer support ethos and its strong management. We believe that together we are able to provide a special service level to customers in these three regions. Enterprise’s entrepreneurial culture opens up the chance to develop this relationship further as new vistas arise, to aid us both grow stronger through our partnership.”

    Peter A. Smith, vp of world franchising, Enterprise, said: “We are delighted to locate one of these strong appetite for partnership in Europe. It’s only during the support of sturdy, independent, owner-managed businesses similar to Megadrive that we’ll achieve growing our footprint around the continent. We have already got franchise partners in place that, which includes our corporately owned network, account for roughly 90 percent of the ecu car rental market, and we owe this achievement to the deep market and cultural knowledge of our franchise partners, and the dedication which their employees bring to serve their customers, every day. Working with the management and staff of Megadrive has helped us to intensify our knowledge of what European travellers want in these very diverse markets, in order that we will bring new option to meet their requirements.”

    Enterprise Rent-A-Car is a part of St. Louis-based Enterprise Holdings, the most important car rental supplier on the earth. Enterprise operates wholly-owned operations around the UK, Germany, Ireland, France, Spain, the usa and Canada, with over 7000 offices and almost 75,000 employees worldwide.
    Enterprise also has rapidly expanding operations at airports and transport hubs around the globe through franchise and partnership agreements with independent local providers. This includes Portugal, Italy, Greece, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Brazil and China.

    Enterprise Holdings also operates the National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car brands within the Americas, and along with its affiliate Enterprise Fleet Management, offers a complete transportation solution. Combined, Enterprise Holdings and Enterprise Fleet Management—which includes extensive car rental and car sharing services, commercial truck rental, corporate fleet management, and retail car sales—accounted for $15.4 billion in revenue and operated 1.3 million vehicles within the world in fiscal 2012. Operating through its regional subsidiaries, Enterprise Holdings is the most important car rental company on the planet as measured by revenue, fleet, and employees. Enterprise Holdings’ annual revenues also place it near the head of the travel industry, exceeding all other rental car companies, and most airlines, cruise lines, hotels, tour operators and online travel agencies.

  • Grace Hotels expands into North Africa with Morocco acquisition

    Grace Hotels has announced its entry into the North African region with the purchase of the acclaimed Les Terres M’Barka, a luxury boutique hotel located near the village of Tamesloht, just 22 kilometres south west of Marrakech.

    The hotel turns into often known as Grace Marrakech.

    Breathtaking views of the Atlas Mountains surround this tranquil hideaway which rests on 15 hectares of Moroccan countryside and contours its own farmstead with olive trees, vegetable gardens and horse stables.

    Comprising 18 suites and lofts (some with two or three bedrooms), a cafe, bar, library, outdoor heated pool, traditional farm kitchen and completely serviced spa with traditional hammam and whirlpool, it provides the ideal escape for both couples and families or those seeking an exclusive corporate retreat.

    Les Terres M’Barka will close in June and after full refurbishment, it’s going to re-launch as Grace Marrakech inside the fourth quarter of the year.

    Philippe Requin, chief executive, Grace Hotels, commented: “We are very excited to announce the most recent addition to the Grace portfolio.

    “The blend of traditional design with contemporary touches which dominates Les Terres M’Barka perfectly complements our existing portfolio of boutique hotels.

    “We stay up for bringing the Grace philosophy of elegance and ease to this gorgeous property in a single of the main wanted destinations in North Africa.”

    The creation of Grace Marrakech coincides with the group’s further expansion into the Americas.

    Grace Cafayate, situated on a residential and sporting estate with vineyards in northwest Argentina and charm Panama, a modern boutique hotel in the dramatic ‘Twist Tower’ in Panama City, are as a result of open later this year.