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  • Jekyll Island revitalisation provides a lift to tourism

    Since opening slightly greater than a year ago, the Jekyll Island Convention Center has consistently reported positive growth within the variety of events, trade shows and conventions held on the center every month.

    This positive pattern of progress was repeated last month, with 18 events held in May 2013. These 18 events represented 52 event days, as multiple events were booked on single days.

    Of the events held inside the month of May, three were corporate meetings using the power; additionally, the heart accommodated three graduation ceremonies. All totaled, these events brought greater than 22,700 individuals into the power in May.

    Total revenue generated by events in May was the very best for any previous month, and Jekyll Island’s hotel revenue was up 8 percent over the former year. News of the venue’s busy May comes because the center marks its one-year anniversary. Throughout the first year, 158 events were held on the facility, with greater than 126,000 total attendees.

    For the approaching year, the heart has already issued 85 contracts for events, with 61 fully committed.

    Jekyll Island Meetings and Convention Sales saw a spike in interest from event planners because the May 20, 2013, groundbreaking of the recent 200-room, full-service Westin Jekyll Island. In only three weeks, 19 meeting planners requested contract proposals, for a possible economic impact of greater than $3 million.
    Signs of continued progress are visible inside the island. One key project was revealed June 17, with the ribbon cutting at the island’s new 1.4 miles of motorbike path, giving the island a continuing loop of 21.4 miles of motorbike paths.

    In coming months, other bike path projects gets underway, including making a bike path resulting in the island along the Downing Musgrove Causeway; beginning work at the Jekyll Island Beach Village retail project; converting the Oceanside Inn to a brand new Holiday Inn Resort; and the redevelopment of the brand new Jekyll Island Youth Conference Center.

    “As progress and revitalization continue, the balance between conservation and revitalization remains on the forefront of all of our efforts,” said Jones Hooks, Executive Director of the Jekyll Island Authority. “It is our goal to respire new life into Jekyll Island, while also maintaining the original spirit which has made Jekyll Island a treasure for the state of Georgia.”

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  • News: Travelport mobile agent launches within the Pacific

    Travelport, a number one provider of critical transaction processing solutions and information to companies operating within the global travel industry, today announced the launch of Travelport Mobile Agent in Australia and New Zealand.

    This mobile application is offered for download from the Apple and Android app stores, and enables Travelport-connected agents to access, create and modify bookings at the Galileo and Apollo GDS platforms from their iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch or Android device, anywhere, any time.

    Travelport Mobile Agent was developed by Travel Technology & Solutions (TTS), and is without doubt one of the first products to be made available globally as a result Travelport Developer Network, an initiative driven by Travelport’s mission to offer flexible access to content via an open platform. Travelport Mobile Agent highlights the success of this initiative, with the App successfully deployed inside the Americas, Brazil, Middle East, Portugal, Spain and the united kingdom, with greater than 15,000 downloads since its official launch in July 2012.

    Alex Fitzpatrick, Travelport’s General Manager, Pacific, says “We are thrilled to be launching Travelport Mobile Agent inside the Pacific region. The appliance was very successful since its initial launch, and travel agents within the Pacific have expressed a powerful interest for the technology to be deployed here. This mobile solution represents our company’s continued investment in serving agents who’re on-the-go, that is a very important step within this sort of fast evolving industry.”

    As some of the global leaders in travel technology, Travelport continues to encourage the developer community to create innovative ideas to improve travel in the course of the Travelport Developer Network and Travelport Universal API™. As such, Travelport is proud to be among the main sponsors of the Tnooz THack event in Sydney, going on during April 2013.

  • Auckland to welcome Global Ocean Race

    Auckland, New Zealand’s ‘City of Sails’, have been confirmed because the halfway stopover port for the gruelling, round-the-world Global Ocean Race in 2014.
    Legendary hospitality and an unmatched enthusiasm for sailing in a city known as one of the sector’s leading yachting capitals influenced the organisers and the race fleet can look forward to a great reception, says Auckland Mayor Len Brown.

    The Global Ocean Race (GOR) starts at Southampton in the United Kingdom on Sunday 21 September 2014, and the teams are expected to be in Auckland from late December through to mid-January 2015.

    Multi-national race
    Nine teams from six countries are currently registered for the event including a New Zealand entry for the solo class from Graham Dalton – the elder brother of Emirates Team New Zealand managing director, Grant Dalton.

    The Global Ocan Race organisation is working closely with ATEED (Auckland Tourism, Events and Economic Development) and Waterfront Auckland to showcase the 30,000-mile round-the-world race.

    Mayor Brown says the stopover further enhances Auckland’s reputation as one of many world’s yachting capitals. “The America’s Cup, the Volvo Ocean Race and now the Global Ocean Race tell the same story – Auckland is a destination world yachting can’t afford to ignore.”

    Warm welcome
    ATEED chief executive Brett O’Riley says the organisation is delighted to welcome the fleet, international visitors, officials and spectators to Auckland.
    “As a prominent sailing destination, I’m sure teams will be given a warm welcome. We can provide world-class marine services to crews of the GOR as they prepare for one of the most gruelling legs through the Southern Ocean and around Cape Horn,” says O’Riley.

    Auckland’s Viaduct Harbour has hosted many successful stopovers for major yacht races and facilities continue to be improved according to Waterfront Auckland chief John Dalzell.

    “The Viaduct marina is the natural spectator home for yachting in Auckland and we are excited to see offshore boats return once again for the GOR stopover. It’s events like these which help make the Auckland waterfront the vibrant, enjoyable space that it is and I am sure many an enthusiast will jump at the chance to come down to view the boats and meet the sailors.”

    Auckland hospitality
    GOR race director, Josh Hall, says Auckland is the prime choice for a stopover.
    “Auckland’s hospitality for round-the-world race teams is legendary and public enthusiasm for sailing is virtually unmatched. Following the hardships of Leg 2 within the Indian Ocean, our teams will have easy access to expertise in all aspects of offshore yacht racing to repair any damage to sails or gear and prepare fully for the 4,000 miles of the Pacific’s Southern Ocean between New Zealand and Cape Horn in Leg 3,” says Hall.

    Around 135,000 boats are registered in Auckland – the highest per capita boat ownership for any city in the arena, with one in three Auckland households owning a ship. Formerly a commercial harbour, the city’s Viaduct Basin is a space ringed by apartments, offices and restaurants and is a well-recognized venue for international sailing events. In 2000 and 2003, the Viaduct Harbour was the bottom for the America’s Cup.

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  • News: Hertz partners with chic outlet shopping villages

    The Hertz Corporation, the world’s largest general car use brand, has expanded its partnership portfolio by signing a 3 year global deal because the preferred car rental supplier for the gathering of nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe by Value Retail. The partnership, which encompasses the nine luxury outlet shopping Villages across Europe, offers American customers exclusive VIP offers and joint promotions including 10% off worldwide car hire.

    Michel Taride, Group President, RAC International, Hertz Corporation, said: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Chic Outlet Shopping® delivering Hertz’s global car rental services to international visitors to Europe. With the growing trend in ‘shopping tourism’, the partnership provides Hertz with a superb opportunity to arrive new and existing consumers with compelling car rental and shopping offers.”

    Neil Herbert, Head of Partnerships for Chic Outlet Shopping®, added: “This is a thrilling new addition to our portfolio of partners for the Chic Outlet Shopping®, Villages in Europe, allowing us to further hook up with our global guest. This month sees the launch of our new Chic Travel Portal on ChicOutletShopping.com allowing our guests to construct customized itineraries incorporating our full range of luxury guest services. Hertz can be included throughout the portal providing guests to our nine Villages access to beneficial rates and further flexibility to incorporate a shopping experience as a part of their itinerary.”

    The nine Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Europe offer an authentic luxury retail experience to visitors internationally. The nine Villages are situated within easy reach of Europe’s favorite gateway cities – London, Dublin, Paris, Madrid, Barcelona, Milan, Bologna, Brussels, Antwerp, Cologne and Frankfurt, and in regions of cultural renown making the Villages the best destinations to enjoy an afternoon out and drive with Hertz.

  • Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa appoints new general manager

    Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa has announced the appointment of Julian Moore as General Manager, effective April 2013. Julian returns to the Maldives property, having been component to the pre-opening team within the lead as much as the hotel’s launch in 2009.

    With a career in hospitality spanning 30 years, Julian brings a wealth of expertise to Hadahaa. He has an intensive understanding of leading luxury island resorts, managing new and existing properties, and has over five years experience inside the Maldives. Julian also has vast knowledge of Hadahaa, having spent two years as General Manager of the valuables previous to the hole.

    Originally from Australia, Julian has previously held management positions at Coco Palm Dhunikolhu, Maldives; Soneva Fushi Resort & Spa, Maldives; The Royal Mirage, Dubai; Longitude 131, Australia; and Meridien Hotels & Resorts, Thailand. Previous to joining Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa, Julian was General Manager at Pacific Resort Aitutaki within the Cook Islands, where he was selected General Manager of the Year for the South Pacific in both 2011 and 2012 on the annual HM Industry Awards in Australia.

    Speaking about his appointment, Julian said: “I am delighted to come back to Hadahaa and to sign up for the renowned Hyatt brand. Since its launch in September 2009, Hadahaa has become one of the crucial finest luxury resorts within the Maldives, and i’m excited to have the ability to construct at the excellent work of the former GM, Pierre Lang.”

    Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa underwent an in depth refurbishment in 2012, to coincide with the launch of a brand new regional airport within the south of the Maldives. Maldivian now flies five times daily to Kooddoo Airport the Gaafu Alifu Atoll, reducing the interior journey time to Hadahaa by nearly half (now 1 hour from Male).

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