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  • Boris Johnson declares Abu Dhabi ‘world beaters’

    London mayor Boris Johnson has declared himself “impressed and fascinated” by Abu Dhabi’s cultural vision after touring Saadiyat Island – where the Cultural District could be home to the Louvre Abu Dhabi, Zayed National Museum and Guggenheim Abu Dhabi.

    During the tour the mayor also met HE Sheikh Sultan Bin Tahoon Al Nahyan, chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority.

    Johnson, who showed particular interest in a model of the Zayed National Museum designed by Lord Norman Foster, said he believed the architecture of the museums, combined with the museums’ collection and narrative and Saadiyat’s surroundings would present a compelling visitor proposition.

    “To my mind you’re making a cluster of true world beaters,” he told Sheikh Sultan.

    The mayor was on a fact-finding visit to Abu Dhabi to forge links between the region and London.

    He highlighted many areas of past, present and future collaboration. Opportunities for cultural projects in London include the realm in and across the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in Stratford.

    Ambitious regeneration plans are in place to make the realm a global class sporting, entertainment and cultural centre as a legacy of the London 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

    “London and Abu Dhabi share a rich history of cultural exchange.

    “This is something i would like to encourage. i’ve been hugely impressed by Abu Dhabi’s scale of ambition in relation to developing an international class cultural offer.

    “I am keen we explore ways for further future collaboration not least in London’s growth areas corresponding to Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park within the east of the town which hosted last year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games.” he said.

    Mayor Johnson said the activation of East London into London’s tourism appeal would also benefit the Abu Dhabi-owned ExCel London – which last year hosted more Olympic events than another venue.

    “There is far we will learn from London and masses we will share,” said Sheikh Sultan.

    “The British capital did a superior job in hosting the 2012 Olympics and that i need to congratulate you on it.”

  • News: Brooker Travel Group re-signs with Travelport

    Travelport, the business services provider to the worldwide travel industry, has today announced that their long-standing partnership with prominent New Zealand travel agency, Brooker Travel Group, have been extended with the signing of a brand new multi-year agreement. The agreement, which sees Brooker Travel continue to exploit Travelport’s Galileo platform as its sole GDS provider, will give Brooker Travel consultants access to Travelport’s suite of industry-leading products.  Included on this portfolio are products aimed toward improving operational efficiencies via solutions along with the Travelport Smartpoint App™, Travelport ViewTrip™ Mobile and Travelport Rooms and More™.

    Andrew Carmody, Managing Director of Brooker Travel Group, says, “At Brooker Travel we believe that travel technology, coupled with unparalleled customer support, is the important thing to our success. We were some of the first travel agencies in New Zealand to implement a GDS reservations system and our long-standing relationship with Travelport have been very successful.  We’re pleased to continue partnering with them as their commitment to travel technology and innovation matches our own interest during this area.”

    Robert Clark, Travelport’s New Zealand Commercial Director says, “Travelport is pleased with its long-term relationship with Brooker Travel and congratulates them on their strong and stable growth within the New Zealand market. We glance forward to continuing to produce support on the high level that they’ve come to expect from us.”

  • Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel now officially open

    Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc and Majid Al Futtaim Properties today celebrated the hole of Sheraton® Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel. With this opening, Starwood now operates 14 hotels in Dubai, representing the very best concentration of Starwood hotels in any one city outside of recent York.

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is directly connected to Dubai’s leading shopping destination, Mall of the Emirates, which features greater than 560 international retail brands and can be home to the long-lasting Ski Dubai snow dome.

    “Sheraton has an extended history within the Middle East, spanning over 50 years and it remains one of the sought-after hotel brands inside the region,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader for Sheraton Hotels & Resorts. “With the hole of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel, our brand portfolio inside the region is stronger than ever and globally, we’re anticipating record-breaking growth with plans to open our 500th Sheraton hotel by 2015.”
    Peter Walichnowski, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Properties, said: “Sheraton’s international standards and bold track record within the region make it an ideal fit for Mall of the Emirates, which houses a singular range of high-end retail, leisure and entertainment concepts. The hotel may be an excellent addition to our hospitality portfolio and should complement our offerings at Mall of the Emirates, which was ranked because the seventh most lucrative shopping center on this planet by the International Council of Shopping Centres.”

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel comprises of 481 guest rooms, including 94 suites, in addition to as regards to 9,000 square-feet of ultra-modern meeting and event space. The hotel offers four restaurants and lounges, including: Sanabel, a Mediterranean restaurant; Sodabox, an American retro 1950s café; Vantage, a modern urban lounge; and Sanctuary Pool Lounge, boasting panoramic views.

    As the most recent Sheraton hotel inside the region, Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel offers an unrivalled signature experience. This includes all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper® Beds in all guest-rooms, the Sheraton Club Lounge, the administrative business centre – The Link@SheratonSM Experienced with Microsoft® and Sheraton Fitness Programmed by Core® Performance, with state-of-the-art gym equipment and coaching. Guests may also pamper themselves inside the Sanctuary Spa with its wide selection of innovative spa treatments.

    Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel is conveniently located half-hour from the Dubai International Airport and 20 minutes from Dubai World Trade Centre. This opening marks Starwood’s 16th Sheraton hotel inside the Middle East because the debut of the corporate within the region with the Sheraton Kuwait in 1966.

    “The addition of Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel into the Sheraton and Starwood portfolios is a testament to the arrogance owners have in Starwood and our brands,” said Bart Carnahan, Senior Vp Acquisitions & Development, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East. “The Sheraton portfolio and pipeline is the strongest it has ever been and we glance forward to both new-build and conversion opportunities for the logo within the Middle East.” Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel offers the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) programme, which provides guests a big gamble to earn Starpoints™ to avail more choices, flexibility and benefits including exclusive redemption options, free nights and access to award-winning properties. Starwood’s SPG® loyalty program recently offered members the chance to witness the Dralion™ by Cirque du Soleil®, for which Sheraton Dubai Mall of the Emirates Hotel was the official hotel partner.

  • Tourism Australia participates in Travelweek

    Tourism Australia will perform luxury travel trade event, Travelweek, this week as portion of its efforts to reinforce relationships with leading travel operators and inspire more Brazilians to experience Australia’s unique attractions for themselves.

    Brazil is a concern growth marketplace for Tourism Australia because it pursues a goal of tripling Brazilian visitor expenditure in Australia by 2020. Australia is an increasingly popular destination for affluent Brazilian travelers, with visitor numbers growing 6.5% to 31,370 within the year to January 2013.

    “Travelweek, as one of the crucial important events for Latin America’s luxury travel industry, presents a superb opportunity to satisfy with operators, develop new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships,” said Tourism Australia Vp, The Americas, Jane Whitehead, who will attend the April 16-19 event.

    Mrs Whitehead said Tourism Australia’s growth strategy for the Brazil market was inquisitive about a couple of opportunities. “We are developing consumer marketing activities in partnership with airlines, industry and media partners to advertise higher awareness of why there’s nothing like Australia for a memorable vacation.

    “We also wish to encourage agents to finish our Aussie Specialist training program, which enables them to extend their understanding of Australia’s outstanding range and quality of vacation options and help them sell the destination confidently.

    Interest in Australia is growing and 4 Brazilian tour operators will travel to Sydney later this month to wait the Australia Tourism Exchange (ATE), the premier event for operators from worldwide to fulfill with Australian operators as they showcase their product and services.

    “Australia has always been a well-liked destination for Brazilian students and adventure travelers, and more Brazilians are discovering that Australia also offers exceptional luxury vacation options that combine fine accommodations set in spectacular locations with excellent food and wine,” Mrs Whitehead said.

    “It’s never been easier to go to, with improved flight options including direct flights with Qantas and LATAM in addition to convenient connections with South Africa Airways, Aerolineas Argentinas, Qatar Airways and Emirates Airline.  Brazilian travelers now have access to the e676 electronic tourist visa and, for those researching their trips, the web site Australia.com was translated into Portuguese and is full of useful information and inspiration.”

  • News: State-of-the-art gates at LAX’s new Tom Bradley International Terminal

    La Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa was joined by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) executives last week to unveil the north concourse and 3 gates of the recent Tom Bradley International Terminal (New TBIT) at L. a. International Airport (LAX).  The gates are the primary of 18 to be built at New TBIT.

    Nine of the 18 gates can accommodate the bigger, new-generation aircraft, together with the Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental and Airbus A-380 super jumbo jets.  All 18 gates will use state-of-the-art, laser-based, visual guidance docking systems.  Computerised passenger boarding bridges automate the operations between the terminal and aircraft doors.  LAWA is installing three passenger boarding bridges in any respect of the hot A-380-compatible gates, with a view to greatly improve the quantity of time to load and unload an aircraft.

    “The overall goal of the LAX Modernisation Program is to dramatically improve the passenger experience with a building designed to capture the spirit of la, while establishing new levels of passenger convenience and luxury,” said Gina Marie Lindsey, executive director of la World Airports, the town department that owns and operates LAX and two other Southern California airports.

    In the identical week British Airways’ announced that its first Airbus A380 will fly at the ‘Red Carpet Route’ to L. a. from London, and tickets at the moment are on sale for flights from 15 October 2013. The double-decker superjumbo is because of be brought to BA in July and can be the most important aircraft within the BA fleet, accommodating 469 customers across four cabins.

    Francine Sheridan, Director, Europe and Middle East, La Tourism commented “We are thrilled that British Airways has chosen L. a. because the first destination to fly the A380. The hot international terminal at LAX might be opening in the summertime, so the A380 will bringing passengers into the new facility, that’s well equipped with 18 gates capable for brand spanking new-generation aircraft.  The addition of the A380 increases capacity to LA, keeping the spotlight firmly at the home of Hollywood and likewise southern California.”