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  • News: Vietnam Airlines expands services from London Gatwick

    Vietnam Airlines has announced will probably be extending its services from Gatwick Airport.

    During the summer, Vietnam’s flagship carrier will add a fifth weekly service from Gatwick, increasing its Ho Chi Minh City route from two to 3 flights every week. The airline may also continue to serve Hanoi twice per week.

    The announcement comes because the UK and Vietnam celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between both countries. Throughout 2013, a programme of cultural, educational and innovation exchanges and events will mark the milestone year.

    Relations have grown rapidly between the united kingdom and Vietnam, with the 2 countries signing a Strategic Partnership Agreement in 2010 to assist boost bilateral trade, economic ties and investment. The ensuing year, Vietnam Airlines announced it had chosen Gatwick as its exclusive partner within the UK, launching the country’s first nonstop flights to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in winter 2011.

    Vietnam is without doubt one of the ultimate destinations within the Asia-Pacific region with around 100,000 UK holidaymakers travelling to the rustic every year. Vietnam is usually a key emerging marketplace for business. Designated one of several UK Trade and Investment’s ‘High Growth Markets’, bilateral trade increased by over 26% in 2011, with UK exports of products and services to Vietnam reaching £520m.*

    Alongside its expanded links to Vietnam, Gatwick already serves the important thing emerging markets of China, Russia and Turkey. Additionally, the UK’s first direct path to Indonesia – South East Asia’s largest economy – will launch from Gatwick later this year, serving Jakarta six times every week.

    Matt Wood, Head of Airline Relations, said: “We are delighted that Vietnam Airlines has decided to expand its services from London Gatwick in the course of the summer months, ensuring that both business and leisure passengers now have much more collection of when to fly to this fantastic destination.

    “Air links to high-growth markets which includes Vietnam are essential in ensuring that the united kingdom can compete and reap the benefits of the numerous trade opportunities available with key emerging markets. Gatwick continues to illustrate that it could possibly open up these links but additionally, by working closely with our airlines, lead them to successful.”

    David Cook, Sales Manager UK, Vietnam Airlines, said: “Following our successful launch of the primary ever nonstop services from the united kingdom to Vietnam, UK arrivals into Vietnam rose by over 40 per cent year on year. We’re very encouraged by the positive results to date, and are actually trialling additional frequency in the summertime months to gauge market response, so that it will possible future expansion into 2014.”

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  • Four Points by Sheraton set to debut in Saudi Arabia

    The Four Points by Sheraton brand is ready to make its debut inside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with the hot Four Points by Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia.

    Owned by Khaldia Towers Company, a partnership between Al Jedaie Group and Al Hokair Group, the hotel is conveniently located 20 minutes from Riyadh’s business district and 45 minutes from the King Khalid International Airport, making it an excellent choice for today’s business traveller.
     
    “We are delighted to partner with Khaldia Towers Company as we mark the entry of the Four Points by Sheraton brand into Saudi Arabia,” said Roeland Vos, president, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa & Middle East.

    “This project further underlines our commitment to continued expansion in Saudi Arabia, an immense business and outbound travel destination.”

    Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton brand’s ‘best for business’ approach provides travellers with everything that matters one of the most with stylish design and an uncomplicated friendly option to hospitality and repair – all at a terrific value.

    Othman Abahussain, general manager, Khaldia Towers Company, continued: “We are enthusiastic about the hole of the Four Points by Sheraton Khaldia in partnership with Starwood.

    “Four Points by Sheraton is an outstanding brand and we believe Four Points by Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia would be the ideal destination for business travellers in Riyadh.”

    Four Points by Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia will feature 376 guest rooms including 138 suites, all fitted with the brand’s signature Four Comfort Bed and modern bathrooms with a separate walk-in shower.

    The suites are equipped with more room, including a big sitting area and separate kitchenette. For guests who wish to relax and refresh, the hotel will feature an absolutely- equipped fitness centre and spa, both available later this year.

    Four Points by Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia currently operates two convenient dining venues, including Al Nakheel, the hotels all-day dining restaurant serving international cuisine and Khaldia Lounge, offering refreshments and snacks within the lobby area.

    Early 2014, the hotel will open Panorama in order to serve the best local flavours and offer spectacular views over Riyadh from the 26th floor.

    The hotel features all the brand’s defining elements, including free Wi-Fi in all public areas, reflecting the brand’s promise and insight into the purposes of today’s traveller.

    To cater to business travellers, Four Points by Sheraton Riyadh Khaldia also offers ultra-modern meeting and event space, including 18 purpose-built meeting rooms.

  • News: Alta Vista Suites, a brand spanking new hotel on Santorini

    Alta Vista suites (altavistasuites.com), the beautiful new addition to Santorini’s hotel scene, opens its doors on 1st May.

    The exclusive three suite property is the newest within the Aqua Vista portfolio (www.aquavistahotels.com), a group of remarkable accommodations in great locations across Santorini and Crete.

    Perched high at the cliffs of Imerovigli, 3km from the island’s capital Fira, the hotel has glorious views of the Aegean and the volcano and belongs to Greek pop star and one time Eurovision song contest entrant Michalis Hatzigiannis.

    The styling and layout are strongly focused towards romance and Alta Vista is predicted to prove highly regarded with honeymooners. The 3 suites, Passion, Senses and Love, each sit on their lonesome level, giving guests complete privacy and seclusion. They’re individually designed and furnished in an easy, elegant, Cycladic style and decorated with contemporary artefacts by prominent designers including Jaime Hayon and Patricia Urquiola. All have expansive outdoor space with views out over the Caldera and there’s also a phenomenal pool and cave style eating area.

    Continuing the romance theme, Alta Vista’s 200sq metre patio is an excellent spot for a marriage ceremony and reception, allowing couples to tie the knot in spectacular style. It will possibly host as much as 50 guests and is an incredibly rare space inside the often cramped and impossibly steep caldera cliff edge.

    Alta Vista’s location at one end of Imerovigli means at night there’s also a superb illuminated view of the village along the cliff edge.

    Room rates start at 180 euros per night including champagne breakfast.

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  • Britons will spend a normal of £40bn this year on holidays alone

    A new study conducted by a web independent cruising travel agency has revealed that the typical Briton spends £1,024 on holidays within the average year; collectively spending £40 billion on holidays within the average year as a nation.

    With many Britons already venturing off to their summer holiday destinations, an independent online cruising travel agency has conducted a survey to delve deeper into Britons’ budgets on the subject of holidays;  taking a better investigate how much Britons collectively spend on holidays within the average year.
    The study, conducted by www.BonVoyage.co.uk, polled 1,367 Britons aged 18 over from around the UK as component to research into holiday budgets and spending. Respondents were asked questions on the subject of their holiday spend over the last one year.

    The study initially asked respondents, ‘Have you been on holiday some time past year, either within the UK or abroad’ to which the overwhelming majority, 62%, of respondents said ‘yes’.

    These respondents were then asked to estimate how much that they had spent on their holidays during the past 365 days per person (bearing in mind all holidays, accommodation costs, travel and food expenses etc). After taking the entire answers from respondents into consideration, the effects showed that Britons spend a normal of £1,024 per person on holidays in an ordinary year.

    Using official figures released by the Office of National Statistics, the united kingdom has a population of 63.2 million people. According to this figure and taking this further, with 62% of Britons venturing on holiday last year and claiming to spend an ordinary of £1,024 per person on holidays, Britons collectively spend a typical of £40,124,416,000 on holidays within the average year.

    Respondents were then asked to specify which aspect (s) in their holidays usually cost them probably the most. In line with the result of the study, ‘transport’ appeared on the top of the chart because the costliest holiday cost, with 38% of the vote. 34% of respondents also stated that they spent the vast majority of their money on ‘food and drinks’. Only a fifth, 21%, stated that their ‘hotel/ accommodation’ was usually among the largest costs, whilst 17% pinned ‘souvenirs/ gifts’ for family and friends as a significant holiday expense.

    Furthermore, respondents were asked in the event that they felt that they spent an excessive amount of on holidays, to which most people, 55%, said ‘no’. When asked why, over a 3rd of the respondents, 34%, explained that they saved money specifically for holidays and so could afford the spend; whilst most of the people, 44%, claimed that holidays were what they ‘look forward to the most’ each year.

    Steph Curtin, Cruise Development Manager of BonVoyage.co.uk, spoke in regards to the findings:
    “To see what we Britons spend collectively on holidays annually is a whopping amount of cash – but it surely appears we’re a nation of holiday lovers! Despite the present hot spell, we’re usually cursed with bad weather that the majority would rather escape from to sunnier climbs; and is the highlight of many people’s years. i myself consider those who don’t wish to reduce their holiday budgets. Holidays are ordinarily one of the most only times of the year you could reap the benefits of your exertions and completely enjoy your money by spending it on what you like. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with attempting to get a chit in your hotel or flights or bagging a late deal bargain, but when cashing in on your holidays means spending a piece greater than you always would then I say opt for it. In any case, we only live once!”

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  • Anantara expands operations into Qatar

    Minor Hotel Group has continued with its strategic expansion inside the Middle East with the announcement of its first hotel in Qatar. 

    Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa is a 141 key five star resort inside the Arabian Gulf, just off the coast of the country’s capital Doha, and should open early in 2014.

    Minor Hotel Group is partnering with the Qatari owned company Al Rayyan Hospitality for its first property within the country.

    Qatar is rich in oil and natural gas reserves, with the world’s highest GDP per capita and is currently experiencing a big boom within the real estate and hospitality sectors.

    The new property would be portion of the internationally renowned Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas portfolio, known for its luxury experience and discovery-led hospitality, that’s already well established within the UAE with three properties in Abu Dhabi.

    Located on a 13 hectare island, the hot resort shall be accessible by speedboat from Doha’s downtown area and from The Pearl, both journeys taking between 20-half-hour.

    Anantara Doha Island would be the sole off-shore escape for both Doha residents and visitors alike, representing an exclusive getaway from the hectic business city.

    The new island resort will offer an infinite range of facilities and an expansion of accommodation options for the range of guests that it’ll attract.

    With a complete of 141 rooms, the 96 guest rooms, 34 pool villas and 11 two- and 3-bedroom over-water pool villas will offer guests a large selection of room types during which to spend their break.

    There might be four restaurants and bars, including a modern Japanese restaurant and an Arabic beach club.

    A total of 4 pools shall be spread through the resort’s lush grounds, including a massive lagoon pool, directly accessible from a number of the family guest rooms, a surf pool with wave machine and hydro exercise pools.

    For spa lovers, the resort will offer both an Anantara Spa and an in depth Wellness & Holistic Centre, plus a 24-hour fitness centre and tennis court shall be available for those wishing to maintain their fitness regimes.

    The island can also be home to a marina accommodating as much as 50 boats.

    An extensive choice of family activities could be available including a kids club, a dedicated family beach with access to beach volleyball and water sports, a nine-hole golf putting course, a 10-pin bowling alley and a cinema.

    An off-shore reef is likewise being developed and the resort would be home to a reef conservation centre, giving guests the chance to plant their very own coral and learn more in regards to the underwater environment.

    In addition there’ll be a totally equipped diving centre.

    For business guests, the resort will offer a ballroom accommodating as much as 250 people for a banquet. There’ll even be two meeting rooms for as much as 50 delegates and an out of doors event space with a capacity to host as much as 100 people.

    When the hot resort opens early next year, Qatar would be the second country of operation for Minor Hotel Group within the Middle East.

    Dillip Rajakarier, chief executive, Minor Hotel Group, commented: “We are very excited to announce this new resort in Qatar in partnership with Al Rayyan Hospitality, who we’re already successfully working with within the city of Doha with our Anantara Spa on the recently opened Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

    “The Middle East is a key strategic area of development for Minor Hotel Group and we’re actively watching opportunities to grow not just Anantara but in addition our AVANI and Oaks brands within the region in addition.”