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  • News: easyJet introduces new designed lightweight seats

    easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, is today introducing new, lightweight and more well-off seats onboard all of its new aircraft. The primary of 14 new aircraft with the recent seats onboard is being delivered today with the rest due for delivery between now and the tip of next summer.

    The look of the cabin has also been redesigned to create a more modern feel. The recent seat cover is grey with orange accents and is complimented by a brand new carpet and specially designed easyJet orange aisle lighting.

    The SL3510 seat, ergonomically designed and manufactured by Recaro, optimises a mixture of foams to give the simplest comfort and support for the passenger. The backrest is at a fifteen degree angle for a peaceful seating position and the slimmer backrest provides more room for passengers. In addition to the shopper benefits the brand new seat can even improve fuel efficiency and decrease C02 emissions because of the seat being lighter.

    Peter Duffy, Marketing Director for easyJet, commented:
    “easyJet has chosen the Recaro seat because we actually believe that it’ll provide a more well-off flight and that our passengers will notice the adaptation.

    “It was ergonomically designed with the relaxation of the passenger top of mind so the backrest angle is pre-defined for a calm sitting position and the seat is designed to produce more room for passengers.

    “easyJet’s new seat selection also has the passengers’ wallets in mind – the lighter weight brings fuel savings which in turn enables us to continue to preserve our low fares – even if fuel prices remain at historic highs.”

    Recaro, based in Germany, is a world supplier of premium aircraft seats. The brand new seats offer greater simplicity with over 100 fewer parts. The Recaro developers have fascinated about the seat’s ergonomic qualities. The netting within the aluminum frame conforms to the form of the passenger’s spine. As a result of slim backrest, the seat also offers a maximum of space, meaning that passengers enjoy an exceedingly comfortable flight.
    Recaro Aircraft Seating has won several awards for this innovative and environmentally sustainable seat development, including the industry’s Crystal Cabin Award inside the “Industrial Design/Interior Concept” category.

    The new, lightweight seat is only one example of easyJet’s commitment to reducing CO2 emissions. The airline has always scrutinised all aspects of its flying to make certain it operates within the surest way. Due to the easyJet’s simple, efficient operations an easyJet passenger’s carbon footprint is already 22% lower than a passenger on a standard airline flying at the same route and aircraft.

    Along with the hot seat easyJet is additionally introducing lightweight trolleys onboard in addition to aerodynamic improvements like sharklets, an enlarged wing tip which makes the wing more efficient.

  • Aldwark Manor Golf and Spa Hotel appoints new general manager

    Aldwark Manor Golf and Spa Hotel, one in all QHotels’ award-winning 21 luxury hotels, is delighted to announce the appointment of Kay Harrison-Mann as General Manager.

  • Mega show World bill unveiled for Summerfest Abu Dhabi

    Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, organiser of SummerFest Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s seasonal destination extravaganza, has unveiled an action-packed line-up of 98 shows over 47 days during its flagship Show World family activation at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

    Free-to-attend for all SummerFest Abu Dhabi general ticket holders, Show World – some of the core attractions on the festival’s ADNEC hub – will feature seven blockbuster acts performing twice-daily shows during week-long runs. Show World can be open during the 52-day festival, which runs 27th June – 17th August and spans the Holy Month of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and the emirate’s traditional EidFest celebrations.

    Designed to entice, engage and excite, the Show World bill kicks off with two consecutive regional premieres of 90-minute live action shows so one can attract local and expatriate kids alike. Raising the Show World curtain is Cartoon Network’s LAZY TOWN SURVIVE STAGE – ROBOTICUS show, which get kids up and active throughout its June 27th- July 3rd run, with daily performances at 16:30 and 19:30.

    Show World’s second week sees much-loved BANANAS IN PYJAMAS duo, B1 and B2, take-over for his or her side-splitting Banana-rific production from July 4-8th – again performing in daily shows at 16:30 and 19:30. For the ultimate July 9th performances, to coincide with the beginning of Ramadan, timings change to 21:00 and 23:30.

    The evening performances continue into week three as Sesame Street’s IFTAH YA SIMSIM LIVE: TREASURE HUNT – featuring loveable Muppet favourites, Bader, Anees, Elmo, Khokha, Ka’aki and Gharghour known as Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover – embark on a mega dance and musical show from July 10-13th and 15-19th.

    Week four sees the foremost characters from four hit Cartoon Network shows – Ben 10 Omniverse, Ben 10, Ben 10 Alien Force and Ben 10 Ultimate Alien – perform the BEN 10 LIVE: TIME MACHINE in evening performance slots from July 20-21st and 23-27th.

    Local sensation, FREEJ, closes out the ultimate week of evening Ramadan shows from July 28th – 30th and August 1st – 4th. The all new locally-produced show features hilarious antics as hero character, Abood, goes on a fantasy adventure while taking care of one of the most grandmother’s pet canary – a bird that lives in a fish bowl. Meeting new friends and learning new lessons, ‘Abood’s Dream’ is a fun-filled, traditional family theatre experience with a native cultural twist.

    From August 5th and 7th-12th, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES picks up the Show World mantle with big musical numbers – including the cartoon’s classic theme song, ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You’ – in addition to original tracks ‘Round Every Corner’ and ‘We’re Mystery Inc.’ The August  5th  shows keep the 21:00 and 23:30 Ramadan timings, before returning to the sooner slots of 16:30 and 19:30 from August 7-12th.

    Rounding out the Show World line up, from August 14-17th, is BEN 10 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE – a live game show pitting the region’s biggest Ben 10 fans against one another in four rounds of intense competition. The made-for-TV special runs three-times-a-day at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00.

    “This Show World line-up will ensure ADNEC is the freshest and coolest place to be this summer,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, Manager, SummerFest Abu Dhabi. “With such a lot of free-to-attend shows and the sort of varied line-up of international and homegrown stars, families would be spoilt for choice in the course of the festival. We are hoping it will become a main draw for visitors from around the GCC and beyond,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, Manager, SummerFest Abu Dhabi.

    In addition to the edutainment activities, world-class shows and exciting international performances at its ADNEC hub, the recent-look SummerFest Abu Dhabi, formerly referred to as Summer in Abu Dhabi, also features an exhilarating line-up of Arabic concerts, comedy nights, theatre productions and celebrity-driven sport activations rolling out at du Forum on Yas Island – the primary time Abu Dhabi’s entertainment district has got in at the emirate’s summer act.

    Meanwhile, guests booking at least three nights’ stay at any of 40 participating Abu Dhabi hotels during SummerFest Abu Dhabi, excluding Eid, also will get free entry tickets to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park and the award-winning Yas Waterworld – recently named the center East’s leading attraction by the realm Travel Awards. Hotel guests can even receive free WiFi and youngsters under 12 will eat free.

  • News: Choice Hotels International checks in to new global headquarters

    Choice Hotels International, Inc., among the many world’s largest hotel companies, has completed its move and officially checked into its new state-of-the-art global headquarters at 1 Choice Hotels Circle in Rockville, Maryland within the heart of Rockville Town Square.

    After greater than 40 years based in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, the move reflects the company’s continued growth, the strong appeal of its hotel brands—which include industry icons Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, and Econo Lodge and the newer upscale brand Cambria Suites, and the original and upscale Ascend Hotel Collection membership program—as well as Choice Hotels’ want to remain rooted within the Montgomery County community.

    Choice Hotels worked with top level developers, architects, designers, project managers and sustainability consultants Foulger-Pratt Companies, WDG Architecture, VOA Associates, rand* construction corporation, AtSite, Inc. and Clear Real Estate Services to develop and manage the graceful new facility. The 135,000 square foot global headquarters maintains the texture of a hospitality company incorporating hotel elements resembling check-in desks at reception, a trendy great room lounge, and a business center for visitors that helps to support tasks inclusive of checking email or printing boarding passes. Featuring a large open, contemporary design, the postulate helps to encourage innovation, efficiency and collaboration.

    Today greater than 400 headquarter employees moved in to their new offices at 1 Choice Hotels Circle. Innovative technology and connectivity ensure associates and guests can work and relax within the building and out of doors on greater than 3,500 square feet of patio space which offers an inviting open fire pit and outdoor living furniture in addition to cafe tables. Non-conference room meeting and gathering spaces on every floor were created knowing great ideas come from everywhere.

    Choice Hotels International selected Rockville, Maryland-based Foulger-Pratt Companies from a prestigious group of prominent owners and developers within the Washington Metropolitan Area to be the landlord, developer, and general contractor of its new global headquarters. Now celebrating its 50th year of operations, Foulger-Pratt is behind other notable real estate projects consisting of the Park Potomac luxury residential and retail development and the Washington, D.C. Mormon Temple located in Kensington, Maryland for which it served as design consultant and general contractor.

    “We chose Foulger-Pratt to develop, own and be the final contractor for Choice’s new world headquarters as a consequence of their excellent history of developing and constructing successful and prestigious commercial office and mixed-use real estate projects within the Washington, DC area,”  said Stephen P. Joyce , president and CEO of Choice Hotels International. “Foulger-Pratt was exceptional to work with throughout this process.  From the onset, they assured us they might develop and construct Class A commercial offices that might meet all of Choice Hotels’ requirements, on time and within budget.  They usually did.  They were even prior to schedule.”

    Designed to satisfy the ideas for certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the facility’s sustainability features include water consumption that was reduced by 40%, locally sourced building materials and controllable lighting and thermostats. Energy consumption would be further offset through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) sourced from wind power. Foulger-Pratt and building designers WDG Architecture are pursuing a LEED Platinum certification for the entire facility.

    The Choice Hotels workspace on floors four through nine was designed by VOA Associates, the architecture firm behind Choice Hotels’ offices in Phoenix, Arizona which function the company’s global technology hub. Just like the Rockville headquarters, the Phoenix facility was in accordance with an open design to aid foster innovative ideas and teamwork. Other parties involved with this project include: rand* construction corporation, because the general contractor for the decision Hotels workplace; AtSite, Inc. as project manager and LEED consultants; and Clear Real Estate Services as project manager.

  • News: Marriott extends AC Hotels three way partnership

    Marriott International has continued the growth of its three way partnership with AC Hotels with the hole of 2 new properties – the AC Hotel Nice at the French Riviera and the AC Hotel Sant Cugat in Catalonia, Barcelona. 

    The two new hotels shall be welcome additions to the AC Hotels by Marriott brand, which launched in 2011 and now offers over 80 hotels across Europe.

    After an intensive renovation, the AC Hotel Nice opened on April 1st 2013.

    The 143-room downtown hotel overlooks the Mediterranean Sea just steps from Promenade des Anglais. 

    Standout hotel features include a breathtaking terrace with heated swimming pool and a calming hotel Zen garden.

    In addition to 22 suites, the hotel has three conference and banqueting rooms, accommodating as much as 100 guests. 

    The Acropolis Congress Centre is purely a brief distance away making it ideally appointed accommodation for business in addition to leisure travellers.

    The AC Hotel Nice is the second one AC Hotel by Marriott hotel to open in France joining the AC Hotel Ambassadeur Antibes-Juan Les Pins, which opened last summer. 

    Another French property, AC Hotel Paris Porte Maillot, was announced in September 2012 and is about to open in early 2014.

    The newly opened AC Hotel Sant Cugat is conveniently located within the business area of Sant Joan.

    The hotel has 152-rooms and a number of other function rooms for meetings and events.

    The hotel’s AC Lounge is , multi-purpose space open 24 hours where guests can relax with free Wi-Fi.

    The affluent suburb of Sant Cugat del Valles is abundant with beauty and heritage and has convenient connections to central Barcelona. 

    Local attractions include the Benedictine monastery of Sant Cugat and the medieval castle Castell de Canals.

    “We are delighted to be developing the presence of AC Hotels by Marriott in France and across Europe with these two exciting new openings in such current locations,” said Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe. 

    “Nice and Sant Cugat del Valles are popular destinations for both business and leisure travellers and fit perfectly with the brand’s associated modern comfort and concrete style.”

    The new hotels join over 80 existing AC Hotels by Marriott throughout France, Spain, Italy and Portugal. 

    AC Hotels by Marriott is a part of Marriott Rewards, among the world’s largest hospitality loyalty programmes with over 37 million members.