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  • Western & Oriental launches new USA programme

    Following on from the success of its existing North American ranch portfolio, luxury travel specialist Western & Oriental has launched a dedicated USA programme if you want to include a variety of city breaks, fly drive itineraries and escorted tours in addition to multi-centre holidays. The operator is aiming to provide a programme showcasing the assorted cultural highlights in addition to stunning destinations of america including; cities, winelands and national parks.

    David Pointer, Head of Product for Western & Oriental says, “We have tried to give something a piece different with our new USA programme, the core of that is tailor-made and goes far beyond a normal flight and hotel booking. America offers such diverse highlights and we can prepare personalised route maps for our fly-drive holidays in addition to delving deeper into the accommodation available to provide smaller boutique hotels for our city breaks.”

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  • Fairmont Istanbul to open in 2016

    Fairmont Hotels & Resorts announced a brand new development in Istanbul, Turkey, scheduled to open in 2016. The 210-room hotel would be joined by branded residences and is a part of the Quasar Istanbul complex, a brand new mixed-use development inside the Sisli district, a colourful neighborhood blending commercial, residential and retail yet situated near major attractions within the city. The project is being developed through a three way partnership between Viatrans – Meydanbey. Viatrans is a Geneva-based company focusing on shipping logistics and insurance in addition to commercial real estate.

    The Quasar Istanbul complex is inside the central business district whose showpiece is the previous Mecidiyeköy Liqueur and Cognac Factory. Inbuilt the 1930’s on then undeveloped land, the factory was designed by Robert Mallet-Stevens, who with Le Corbusier was one of several most influential modern French architects of that era.

    Two 41-story towers will sit above a 4-story office podium with fitness facilities and comfort retail stores. The towers will house a Fairmont Hotel and Fairmont Residences in addition to Quasar Residences and offices that will be managed by Fairmont. The hotel will feature Fairmont Gold, the brand’s hotel within a hotel lifestyle offering, a lot of lounges and several other restaurants, 2,000 square meters of function space, and a Willow Stream Spa.

    The two residences are whole-ownership, private homes and may offer studios, 1 and a pair of-bedroom apartments and three-bedroom duplexes. While in residence, owners could have access to a non-public lounge and several services and amenities corresponding to 24-hour concierge, wine cellar, preferred pricing for diverse hotel offerings including dining, spa and fitness, meeting facilities, hotel guestrooms and more. Owners may also be awarded VIP status and privileges once they travel to any Fairmont hotels or resorts worldwide.

    The former distillery, located adjacent to the hotel will undergo a thoughtful restoration echoing the trendy sort of its French designer to become a culture, fashion and humanities center for special events and exhibits. A verdant urban open space can be planned for the event of a city park and recreation area.

    “Istanbul is a thrilling, dynamic city which will attract our business and leisure guests,” said Jennifer Fox, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “As well as complementing our other developments within the region, it’s very exciting to be partnering with Viatrans in this amazing project blending hotel, residential and community space.”

    Turkey’s largest city straddles the Bosphorus among the world’s busiest waterways, and is the country’s economic, cultural, and historical heart. Istanbul served because the capital of 3 distinct empires, including Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman, and is found on the fringe of Europe and Asia, with one-third of its population living in Asia and its commercial and historical center in Europe. Today it’s a thriving tourist and business destination rich with history and natural beauty, home to 13.5 million people inside the second-largest metropolitan area in Europe.

    Fairmont Quasar, Istanbul is the newest project to be announced by the logo within the region and joins Fairmont Kyiv, Ukraine; Fairmont Baku, Azerbaijan (2013) and Fairmont Pekin, Moscow (2016).

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  • News: Sarawak takes up reins for Routes Asia 2014

    After a successful Routes Asia in Mumbai which saw over 700 hundred delegates in attendance, greater than ever before, GVK’s Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport have officially handed the development over to Kuching, Sarawak the host destination for Routes Asia 2014.

    Building at the success of this year’s event the most important route development forum for the whole Asia region will happen on March 9th-11th 2014 in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia hosted by the ministry of tourism Sarawak and co-hosted by Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad.

    Speaking on the official handover ceremony which happened earlier today in Mumbai Datuk Amar Haji Abdul Rahman Zohari Bin Tun Abang Haji Openg, minister for tourism for Sarawak said: “We are indeed grateful to Routes for giving us the chance to be linked to this kind of prestigious event.

    “This is a smart honour for Sarawak to be highlighted among prominent airlines and airports fraternity at this significant event. Of course, we’re the host on your Routes Asia 2014 and i’ve come personally to Mumbai to welcome all of you to Kuching when the development unveils itself next year in March.”

    Air transport to Sarawak is served by four major airports; Kuching International Airport, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri Airports and because the region has frequent air links from major aviation hubs Kuching is among the most accessible cities in Malaysia.

    Flights to Kuching are available in from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, that’s served by greater than 50 carriers.

    Sarawak, referred to as the Land of the Hornbills, is the biggest of the Malaysian states and is situated at the island of Borneo.

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  • Peru travel specialist launches new family-friendly itineraries

    Aracari Travel, an award-winning travel agency based in Lima, Peru, has announced various new family-friendly tour itineraries for summer 2013.

    Responding to increasing demand for family-oriented experiences in Peru, Aracari Travel has developed two itineraries (www.aracari.com/traveling/family-trips.html) that incorporate the destinations, accommodations and activities which are most suited for younger families with children aged as much as 12 years old in addition to families with children aged 13 years and older.

    Both itineraries include a broad range of adventure activities, educational visits and opportunities to satisfy and engage with area people and communities.

    Activities for the more youthful itinerary include a visit to the Amazon rainforest, treasure hunts, interactive weaving lessons, a chocolate workshop and fishing excursions. The tour also features a visit to Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco.

    The older itinerary includes more adventurous activities equivalent to surfing, mountain biking, hiking and driving sand buggies. As well as visiting Machu Picchu, the Sacred Valley and Cusco, the older itinerary adds the Nazca Lines, Lima and Paracas National Reserve.

    Interest in family travel to Peru has grown rapidly lately with Aracari Travel noting a considerable increase in family requests since 2010. The Lima-based company attributes this to improvements in travel infrastructure and hotel accommodations in addition to a growth within the variety of destinations and activities suitable for younger travelers.

    This is especially the case within the Amazon rainforest where numerous lodges have developed activities specifically for youngsters, similar to interactive rainforest trails and child-friendly field guides which are designed to coach youngsters the price of the natural environment.

    Other family-friendly activities are becoming widespread inside the country over recent years corresponding to horseback riding, quad biking, hot-air ballooning and kayaking. Short treks have also become well-liked by day treks and short camping hikes which are more manageable for younger travelers.

    Marisol Mosquera, founding father of Aracari Travel, said: “When we first started during this business Peru was generally still a backpacker destination with little or no to provide families, especially younger children. Nowadays almost a 3rd of our groups are traveling with their families, that is incredibly exciting for me.

    “Peru has lots potential for families and younger travelers. i’ve been traveling in Peru for decades with my very own son, who’s now 11, and the experience for a kid of traveling in a rustic like this can’t be over exaggerated. Our country offers such a lot for younger travelers, not just the joys and excitement of our out of doors adventures but in addition the richness of our culture and history that may be such an academic or maybe transformative experience for any youngster.”

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  • News: Bench confirms Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference headed for Sochi

    Bench Events and Questex Media Group today announced that the ninth annual Russia & CIS Hotel Investment Conference will occur October 21st-23rd 2013 on the Radisson Blu Resort & Congress Hotel in Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

    Sochi is undergoing a main transformation from a regional tourist hub right into a global tourism destination because it gears as much as host the Winter Olympic Games early next year and a variety soccer matches when the FIFA World Cup Finals come to Russia in 2018.

    In preparation for these mega-events, Sochi and the local region are creating new attractions and investing in infrastructure.

    “With the 2014 Winter Olympic Games fast approaching, the world’s eyes are on Sochi,” said Jonathan Worsley, Bench Events chairman.

    “We are delighted that the town will host RHIC this year.

    “There is a good buzz and excitement about Sochi. Colleagues inside the travel and tourism industry are anticipating seeing the Olympic Park and the region’s new hotels in person with Sochi’s preparations for the Winter Olympic Games in full swing.”

    Total investment inside the region is predicted to exceed $50 billion. Morgan Stanley has reported that infrastructure spending is anticipated to account for seven per cent of Russia’s rising GDP in any case until 2018 as Moscow and regional governments improve facilities for the FIFA World Cup Finals.

    “Beyond the Olympics, the subsequent five years will see the field drawing in new investment and development opportunities,” said Kerry Gumas, Questex president.

    The selection of international brand hotels in Russia is predicted to extend from 87 to 220 by 2018, and the entire choice of international brand hotel rooms will greater than double from 21,885 to 47,5341.

    The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, Host Sponsor of RHIC, is without doubt one of the fastest-growing hotel companies worldwide in addition to being a number one international hotel operator in Russia/CIS.

    The doors to the Radisson Blu Resort & Congress Hotel in Sochi opened in January this year.

    “We are excited to be hosting this year’s RHIC and bringing the region’s most prestigious hotel investment conference to Sochi at such an incredible time,” said Wolfgang Neumann, Rezidor Hotel Group president.

    RHIC is the industry’s premier event in Russia, bringing together the region’s largest gathering of hotel investors, developers, brands, operators, financiers, advisors and government officials under one roof.

    Attendees will gain insights from Russian and global leaders as to where the actual opportunities lie within the region, discover successful strategies from those already operating available in the market and listen to from government officials and top economists at the latest forecasts and trends.

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