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  • News: Grand Hyatt Hotel announced for Changsha China

    Hyatt Hotels Corporation announced that a Hyatt affiliate has entered right into a management agreement with an affiliate of Huayuan Property Co., Ltd for a Grand Hyatt hotel in Changsha, Hunan Province in central China.

    “Changsha has established itself as a chief hub for global business and entertainment, and we’re honored to be able to bring the Grand Hyatt brand to one of these great city,” said Mark Hoplamazian, president and chief executive officer of Hyatt Hotels Corporation on the agreement signing in Changsha earlier today. “Throughout our 40 years in China, now we have showed thousands of guests how our associates can meet and exceed their needs, and we glance forward to bringing Hyatt’s signature authentic hospitality to one of these dynamic and historic city.”

    Grand Hyatt Changsha can be centrally located within the most prestigious commercial and business areas along the Xiangjiang River in downtown Changsha. The hotel may be portion of “The Central,” a mega mixed use complex with a view to incorporate high-end residential buildings, office spaces, and comfort shopping facilities. Situated at the upper floors of an iconic 268-meter-high skyscraper, Grand Hyatt Changsha will enjoy unobstructed views over town and the river, and is anticipated to become the brand new landmark of Changsha. The 324-room hotel will feature an array of restaurants and bars, multi-purpose meeting and banquet facilities, a gymnasium, a pool and a spa, and is predicted to create over 500 new jobs.

    “We are more than happy to work with Hyatt on such a thrilling and important project. We glance forward to our collaboration with Hyatt in further developing the high-end hotel market in Changsha,” said Ren Zhiqiang, Chairman of Huayuan Property Co., Ltd.

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  • ITP launches guidance for hotels on addressing human trafficking

    Green Globe Certification associate, the International Tourism Partnership (ITP), has produced a guide to assist hoteliers understand human trafficking and compelled labor – what it truly is, the way it may affect them and what actions they may take to minimize the danger of trafficking of their businesses.

    Human trafficking is the purchase of folks by improper means resembling force, fraud or deception, aiming at exploiting them. It often – but not always – involves people being taken from one country to a different, where they’re subject to sexual exploitation, forced labor or other forms of servitude. Briefly – it’s modern-day slavery. It is a relevant topic for hoteliers, since it can be guests or staff on the hotel who’re victims of this abuse.

    Human trafficking is, by nature, a ‘hidden’ crime, however the scale is large. In accordance with the International Labor Organization (ILO) human trafficking is the third-largest illicit moneymaking venture on the earth, after drug dealing and arms trading, and over 30 million people worldwide are victims of trafficking. Figures at the impact at the hotel industry specifically are hard to come back by. However, government and law enforcement agencies pinpoint the hospitality industry as being ‘high risk’, and the increasing variety of national initiatives in lots of countries highlights the growing center around this issue as one that is especially relevant for hotels. Whether statistics can be found or not, there ought to be no threshold of interest and engagement with this issue – no level of human trafficking is appropriate.

    Human trafficking has to forestall, and we as an industry use every power we need to end this scourge. The International Tourism Partnership (ITP) and its members were active at the issue for some years now. Today, they may be proud to launch their Understand how Guide to addressing human trafficking to tell, encourage and support others inside the industry to sign up for the fight.

  • ONYX brings Amari brand to Indonesia with Bali property

    Thailand-based ONYX Hospitality Group was appointed to function a 435-room property at the Indonesian island of Bali.

    Amari Pecatu is a three way partnership between STA Group Property Division and PR Bali Pecatu Graha.

    This can be ONYX’s first step for expansion into Indonesia for the Amari brand.

    The property is scheduled to open in 2015.

    Located at the southern peninsula of Bali, Pecatu is easily-called a surfer’s paradise with limestone cliffs and lovely, secluded beaches.

    Amari Pecatu might be portion of the 400-hectare Pecatu Indah Resort, an integrated development with planned facilities including a shopping center and conference venues that may accommodate as much as 12,000 people.

    It is already home to an 18-hole golf course, designed by famous golf architect Ronald Fream.

    ONYX president Peter Henley said: “We are very excited to be interested by this massive-scale venture inside the Pecatu Indah Resort project.

    “This could be the first Amari property in Indonesia, and as such, a major milestone for us.

    “We look ahead to the exciting times ahead as we work closely with our partners to support the on-going development of Pecatu as a colourful tourism destination in Bali.”

    Amari Pecatu will feature 385 deluxe rooms, ten junior suites and 40 villas starting from 54 to 400 square metres in size.

    All accommodation options offer the decision between two breath-taking views, the luxurious green of the golf green or the panoramic vista of the Indian Ocean.

    The design concept for Amari Pecatu is a collaboration between Bangkok based Outdoor Studio and Broadway Malyan, both companies have a wealth of expertise designing notable hotels and resorts all over the world.

    The resort will offer a ramification of dining options, including two destination restaurants, a lounge and bar, sea view swimming pool, Breeze Spa, gymnasium, in addition to a retail area throughout the central reception area.

    For those wishing to plot a special day, the resort may also provide various options for weddings and events.

    Amari Pecatu may even offer investment opportunities for those wishing to buy a vacation home.

    In return for an initial investment, owners will then receive a number of privileges including annual rights of stay and warranted rental returns.

  • News: Travelport set to inspire at Arabian Travel Market 2013

    Travelport, the leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions and knowledge for the worldwide travel industry, has announced its exciting agenda the 2013 edition of Arabian Travel Market.

    Set under the umbrella of its new ‘Inspire’ brand campaign, Travelport will lead the technology debate on the event through a varied programme of cutting-edge technology showcases, an industry-shaping seminar programme, in addition to several high profile announcements.

    Taking place from 6 May – 9 May, the most important annual travel and tourism exhibition will again function a platform for the worldwide distribution system (GDS) provider to enhance its position because the world’s leading provider of informed travel choice.

    As such, this year Travelport will use the highly popular exhibition as a platform to unveil the hot and improved Travelport Rooms and More – its industry leading hotel booking engine. The hot features of the upgraded accommodation portal include a fresh feel and look, improved functionality and a brand new user-friendly interface.

    Another innovation that Travelport might be showcasing at its stand in Hall 1 is Travelport Merchandising Platform, which was launched inside the lead-as much as the exhibition and is already changing the way forward for airline distribution.

    Visitors could also expect to be Inspired by interactive showcases of Travelport’s industry leading agency solutions including Travelport Smartpoint App, Travelport’s powerful point of sale solution, and Travelport Mobile Agent, the Travelport app for agents on-the-go. Tablet technology will be available at Travelport stand, allowing visitors to try and test the products themselves.

    Following the widely reported findings of recent Travelport co-sponsored PhoCusWright study at the growth of online travel, Travelport will also give centre stage at ATM to online travel with solutions such as Travelport Universal API, the leading edge technology that enables online and traditional travel agencies to streamline the booking process. The research showed that the online travel market in the Middle East is expected to reach $15.8b by 2014.

    Innovation in travel technology and online opportunities will form the basis of Travelport’s industry-shaping seminar programme, which might be held at the Travelport stand throughout the exhibition. Travelport experts will even participate in technology-focused panel sessions at Google Technology Theatre: ‘Harnessing the power of travel industry eLearning to drive growth and expertise’ on 6 May at 16:35pm, and ‘Tech Showcase – Back by popular demand. Using the GDS to make Big Bucks’ on 9 May at 13.30pm.

    “With our exciting and information-packed agenda, Travelport will lead the technology debate at this year’s ATM,” commented Rabih Saab, President and Managing Director, Middle East and Africa, Travelport. “Every year, ATM gives us a wonderful opportunity to engage with the travel industry, and this year we have a range of new technologies to showcase to the trade – all created to drive growth and long-term success within the travel and tourism sector. I therefore personally invite everyone to visit Travelport stand this year to find out the latest trends and solutions available within the travel technology sector.”

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  • News: Norwegian cruise liners act fast

    Norwegian Cruise Line is launching its popular DASH sale on all sailings of 3 days or longer, fleet-wide. Guests who book a Norwegian cruise vacation from Tuesday, April 23 through April 26, 2013, can receive as much as $250 per stateroom to spend on board (in response to cruise length and stateroom category) and reduced deposits. For an entire vacation package, guests may receive as much as $1,000 in air credits on select sailings. Also, for a limited time, kids ages 17 and under who’re cruising with two adults within the same stateroom, will receive 50% off their cruise fare on select Europe and Alaska vacations.

    Guests seeking to experience the majestic fantastic thing about Alaska can set sail on board Norwegian Pearl, Norwegian Jewel or Norwegian Sun. Norwegian Pearl sails a chain of 7-day cruises from Seattle every Sunday from May 19, 2013 through September 22, 2013 and Norwegian Jewel sails from Seattle every Saturday from May 18, 2013 through September 14, 2013. Both ships visit a few of the most scenic destinations in Alaska including Juneau, Skagway, Glacier Bay, and Ketchikan, in addition to a stop in Victoria, British Columbia. Norwegian Sun offers a sequence of open jaw seven-day cruises from Vancouver, British Columbia or Whittier, Alaska. Ports of call in Alaska include Ketchikan, Juneau and Skagway. The itinerary also incorporates a scenic cruise through Glacier Bay. Cruises departing from Vancouver may even enjoy a morning sail past Hubbard Glacier and people cruising south from Whittier will enjoy a cruise though the spectacular Inside Passage. Fares start at $399* per person (in accordance with double occupancy), and for a limited time, when kids sail on Norwegian Sun in Alaska, with two adults inside the same stateroom, they may receive an extra 50% off their cruise fare.

    Guests trying to discover the wealthy history of Europe can accomplish that while cruising on board Norwegian Epic, recently named “Best Ship for Sea Days” by Cruise Critic and “Best Overall Cruise Ship” by the readers of Travel Weekly two years in a row, sailing from Barcelona, Spain from May 5 through October 13, 2013. Norwegian Epic’s seven-day Western Mediterranean cruises have fares starting at $549* and visit ports of call including Naples, Rome (Civitavecchia) and Florence/Pisa (Livorno), Italy; Cannes and Provence (Marseilles), France.

    Norwegian Star sails a sequence of nine-day Baltic Capitals cruises from Copenhagen, Denmark between May 7 and September 10, 2013. With fares starting at $849*, this exciting itinerary includes an overnight in St. Petersburg, Russia, in addition to a scenic sail throughout the Stockholm Archipelago following the ship’s afternoon departure from Stockholm, Sweden. Those wishing to embark on an extended cruise, can set sail from Rome (Civitavecchia ) on a ten-day Eastern Mediterranean itinerary, with fares from $549*, visiting a brand new port of call almost each day including, Olympia (Katakolon), Athens (Piraeus), Greece; Ephesus (Izmir), Istanbul, Turkey; and Naples, Italy.

    For fun inside the sun, guests can set sail from Ny city on a seven-day cruise to Bermuda on board Norwegian’s modern-day ship, Norwegian Breakaway, with fares starting at $749*.  Referred to as “Big apple’s Ship” for its New York inspired amenities and lines, Norwegian Breakaway will bring definitely the right of NYC to sea when she arrives to her year-round homeport in early May 2013, offering the high-caliber dining and entertainment options that Ny city is known for.

    Beginning November 2, 2013, Norwegian Epic will set sail on a chain of 7-day cruises to the Eastern Caribbean, roundtrip from Miami, Florida, with stops in Philipsburg, St. Maarten; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and Nassau, Bahamas, with fares starting at $549*.

    Cruisers can hang ten in Hawaii once they book a seven-day cruise on board Pride of America, with fares from $1,249*. Sailing year-round, round-trip from Honolulu, this spectacular cruise offers nearly 100 hours of port time and visits Hawai’i’s four main islands, including an overnight in Kahului, Maui; an overnight in Nãwiliwili, Kaua`i; stops in Hilo, Hawaii and Kona, Hawai`i; in addition to a day cruise by the awe-inspiring Nãpali Coast.

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