Author: admin

  • Germany scores – with excellent value for money

    Whether you’re a tender couple, a family or just a passionate traveller – price always matters. But if it involves accommodation visitors to Germany can’t only place confidence in excellent value for money, they are able to even be assured of excellent facilities and repair.

    Comparing accommodation within Europe, German hotel prices score well below the common, in response to the German Hotel Association (IHA). This will account for the truth that overnight stays in Germany have risen again in 2012 and 3 years in succession. Germany’s Federal Statistical Office reports 68.8 million overnight stays in 2012 – an extra increase of 8.1% in comparison to the former year.

    “Due to the widely prevailing economic troubles, price sensibility amongst travellers has increased in just about all European countries,” states Petra Hedorfer, Chief Executive Officer of the German National Tourist Board (GNTB). “Attractive competitive prices make a difference when choosing a travel destination – here’s where Germany will always score highly.”

    Room rates within Europe have risen in 2012 by 4.7% to 104 Euro, whereas in Germany they’ve only risen by 3.4% and a standard rate of 94 Euro. Especially in Germany’s popular cities hotel rates are far below other European destinations.

    Overall, visitor satisfaction is additionally high – within the result of GNTO/ERV’s quality monitor 2011/2012 Germany’s value for money ratio was given excellent scores by holiday makers and business travellers alike.

  • News: Etihad Guest expands customer offering

    Etihad Guest, Etihad Airways’ award-winning loyalty program, has unveiled a variety of impressive new benefits for holders of its prestigious Gold Elite membership status.

    The new benefits include a rise in tier bonus miles from 50 per cent to 75 per cent in addition to a complimentary nomination to Etihad Guest Gold for every other member in their choosing.

    In addition, whatever the cabin they’re flying in, Etihad Guest Gold Elite members now have access to Etihad Airways’ Diamond First-class Lounges for them and a companion in addition access to Diamond Top notch check-in.

    Gold Elite members also are absolute to be capable to purchase a Pearl Business Class seat, when booking at the least 48 hours ahead of departure, on an Etihad Airways operated flight for his or her chosen date and destination.

    Barry Green, Etihad Airways’ vp customer relationship management and loyalty, said: “Etihad Guest is renowned because the world’s leading loyalty program and so we’re always taking a look at new and exciting enhancements for our members.

    “The new Etihad Guest Gold Elite member benefits, with 75 per cent tier bonus miles and warranted Pearl Business Class seat, make sure that our elite offering continues to set the top benchmark around the industry.”

    The Etihad Guest program was launched in 2006 and within the following couple of months is anticipated to arrive two million members.

  • Hotel Indigo announced for downtown Chicago

    Hotel Indigo®, IHG’s (InterContinental Hotels Group) upscale boutique brand, is continuous its expansion in major U.S. cities with plans for its third hotel inside the Chicago market. The hotel, with the intention to be located within the historic downtown area’s Atlantic Bank Building, is anticipated to open in spring 2014.

    The Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel, located at 168 N. Michigan Ave., will undergo an estimated $20 million renovation by the ownership and can occupy a 101-year-old building that first opened in 1912 because the Federal Life Building. The 156-room hotel will feature design elements that reflect its local neighborhood just north of Millennium Park within Chicago’s central business district.

    As portion of the extensive renovations, the hotel will add four floors to the building—bringing the whole to 16 stories – housing a rooftop bar, and a cafe managed by celebrity chef David Burke. The hotel will maintain lots of its historic features, including the unique white enamel terra cotta exterior, while including the advantages and amenities guests expect from staying with a brand from probably the most world’s largest global hotel companies.

    “The Hotel Indigo brand is uniquely designed to mirror the culture, character and history of the neighborhoods where our hotels can be found,” said Mary Winslow, director, Brand Management, Hotel Indigo, the Americas, IHG. “This hotel will occupy a neighborhood landmark on famed Michigan Avenue, one of the crucial storied neighborhoods in Chicago. The expansion of the Hotel Indigo brand in top-tier markets like Chicago, Big apple and New Orleans proves that guests value the boutique, local neighborhood experience that our hotels provide.”

    Set within the heart of Chicago’s vibrant business district, and within walking distance to a lot of Chicago’s best restaurants, shopping and theater districts, the Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel may be conveniently located just steps from the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and Millennium Park. The hotel may also be in close proximity to the Magnificent Mile, Grant Park, the Art Institute of Chicago and various corporate offices. Within a mile of Interstates 90, 94 and 290, in addition to U.S. Highway 41, the Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel could be served by several bus and train stops and should be near the Chicago Cultural Center, one of the most city’s most well liked sites for fundraisers, concerts and other special events.

    “We are excited to be involved with bringing the Hotel Indigo brand to downtown Chicago,” said Musa P. Tadros, president, Crown Series 168 North Michigan Avenue LLC, a Frankfort, Ill. based company. “Chicago is a thriving business and travel destination that provides unique local flavors not found anywhere else within the U.S. We glance forward to welcoming both business and leisure guests and sharing our neighborhood story with them.”

    The Hotel Indigo brand, the world’s first global branded boutique hotel brand, has grown rapidly since launching in 2004. The Hotel Indigo brand remains to be a powerful growth vehicle for IHG with its strategy involved in growing in top-tier priority markets and gateway cities. With a high quality global pipeline of nearly 50 hotels, the Hotel Indigo estate is anticipated to double in size to 100 properties inside the next three to 5 years.

    The Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel is among the many Hotel Indigo properties expected to open in key cities inside the U.S. within the following few years, including Ny city, Philadelphia, Newark, N.J., Savannah, Ga. and Pittsburgh. The emblem has recently seen growth in top U.S. markets with the 2012 openings of the Hotel Indigo Brooklyn and Hotel Indigo New Orleans Garden District hotels. The Hotel Indigo brand has also seen strong international growth, with the hot opening of the Hotel Indigo Barcelona – Plaza Catalunya hotel, and the imminent opening of the Hotel Indigo Hong Kong Island hotel, anticipated to open by mid-year.

    The Hotel Indigo Chicago-Millennium Park hotel, owned by Crown Series 168 North Michigan LLC and managed by First Hospitality Group, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG.

  • Thomas Cook offers free insurance on travel money

    With summer well and really here, many thousands of holidaymakers are preparing themselves for his or her annual holiday abroad. However, with many leaving it until only a week before departure to modify their pounds for foreign exchange consistent with Thomas Cook research, customers could be in search of a quick and simple way of not just getting great rates on their forex – but additionally keeping it safe.

    With that during mind, Thomas Cook is offering customers free insurance on travel money in recognition that existing policies might not cover currency trading within the event of loss or theft. The sole high street foreign currency echange provider to do that, Thomas Cook’s free insurance cover is exclusively available in stores, and is nice for brand new purchases of foreign exchange notes from £500 as much as a maximum value of £2,000. It is going to apply from the date of purchase to the date of return to the united kingdom, or for 31 days – whichever is less**.

    For holidaymakers unsure how much foreign currency echange they may need, Thomas Cook recently launched a vacation Budget Calculator hosted on thomascook.com. The Calculator aims to assist holidaymakers gauge how much foreign currency they could need upfront through calculating the $64000 cost of holiday essentials abroad. The service, that is powered by data collected and compiled overseas and in resort by the Thomas Cook Travel Money team, calculates totals via the common cost of selected holiday essentials in a number popular tourist destinations, together with a bottle of beer, glass of wine or a 3 course meal.

  • News: Virgin Atlantic improves in-flight entertainment offering

    Virgin Atlantic has announced that passengers can be capable of activate their in-flight entertainment systems ahead of take-off and should be capable to leave it on during landing.

    This new service that is available on Virgin Atlantic’s video on demand in-flight entertainment system will offer passengers an extra two hours of entertainment per flight.

    Up until recently in-flight entertainment systems on board Virgin Atlantic aircraft were turned on 25 minutes after starting up and needed to be switched off 40 minutes before landing but this new service allows passengers to observe movies once the protection demonstration is completed

    Reuben Arnold, customer experience director for Virgin Atlantic Airways commented: “We are always looking into other ways to improve our customer experience and it is a good example of creating our existing product work for our passengers.”

    During taxi, take-off and landing, only headsets provided by Virgin Atlantic should be worn but once inside the air, passengers may be able to use their very own headsets.