Author: admin

  • lowcostbeds ventures into the center East

    Rated a few of the top 10 independent bed banks globally, Swiss – based lowcostbeds, has announced its foray into the center East. Targeting the lucrative inbound and outbound markets from the region, the corporate has officially appointed Discover the sector Marketing as their exclusive representative within the region and is calling to enroll with prominent regional and international travel agents.

    Mr Paul Riches, Group Director of Sales, lowcostravelgroup, said, “We are confident we’re hitting the perfect market as both inbound and outbound business inside the region is showing a healthy increase. We’re absolutely delighted to be working with Discover the area Marketing. They have got a proven track record in working closely with the travel trade and we don’t have any doubt they may be the appropriate partner for us to grow our ME business.

    We offer an in depth range of hotels around the globe, coupled with leading technology, so we’re very fascinated by the prospects the center East market has to supply us. As a trade only brand, lowcostbeds boasts an amazing portfolio of hotels across Europe, the Far East and USA, besides other regions that Middle East outbound travellers traditionally like.”

    Commenting at the appointment, Discover the realm CEO, Jenny Adams said, “Discover the realm Marketing is terribly desirous about our strategic partnership with lowcostbeds. We’re wanting to use our vast experience with the local ME travel market to introduce the trade to lowcostbeds. With their vast hotel inventory and engaging commercial terms, lowcostbeds is the proper solution for today’s travel trade.”

    The experienced Discover sales team shall be visiting travel agents and attending various trade shows during the region over the arrival months, providing support and advice on a variety of lowcostbeds related issues including agent registration, site navigation tips, commercial terms, product updates, and exclusive travel agent offers. Ms Sarah Marron, Sales Director, Discover the sector Marketing, said, “Our strategy with lowcostbeds is to work with the network of regional travel players to ensure that them to provide our excellent range of hotels, from leisure resorts to city breaks and from budget to five-star luxury.”

    The team of Directors from lowcostbeds could be present in the course of the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) to satisfy travel trade professionals and agencies, including its Commercial Director Patricia Rossello – Evans.

    Mr Riches added, “ATM is the leading travel and tourism exhibition and offers us the proper opportunity to introduce and position Lowcostbeds. We’re extremely desirous about the show and searching forward to being there. Patricia can also be attending, as a way to meet with the local hoteliers who we’re already working with within the region and to source new hotels, so as to add to our GCC product portfolio.’

    Offering an international inventory of 150,000 hotels in over 4000 resorts and cities, lowcostbeds is the correct partner for travel agencies. Mr Riches continued, “Travel agents are always in quest of good rates and, a growing number of relevant hotel inventory. In the interim we’re working with over 20,000 travel agencies and native buyers worldwide and our objective is to grow that considerably.”

    The Middle East is likely one of the fastest growing regions in relation to tourism with outbound travel quadrupling within the last two decades. The arena Tourism Organisation estimates that a further two million Arabs will travel abroad inside the next two decades, taking its total of outbound tourists to 37 million, spending an estimated $20 billion and accounting for two.2% of world outbound travel, an increase of 0.7%.

    Riches concluded, ‘In the following 2 to three years the corporate is calling to grow its annual turnover to over £1bn USD. Today nearly all of our business is generated from the united kingdom. Our objective now could be to extend our business from other parts of the arena, to become a really global hotel provider. Our launch into the center East market is a key component to that strategy.

    Recommended

  • News: car2go and The Parking Spot: Airport parking made easy

    On April 11, 2013, car2go North America, LLC, a completely owned subsidiary of Daimler North America Corporation, will debut a partnership in its corporate headquarters city of Austin, Texas, with The Parking Spot, the leading near-airport parking company inside the Country. This new partnership will allow car2go members to park their car2go edition smart fortwo vehicles on the Parking Spot, located adjacent to Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

    “As the 1st car2go city in North America, Austin is on the forefront of innovative solutions that address urban mobility issues similar to airport transportation and parking,” said Paul DeLong , Chief Marketing Officer of car2go North America. “car2go is committed to providing the handiest and versatile mobility services to our members, and we’re thrilled to partner with The Parking Spot to supply an added part of accessibility to our members who live in, work in, and travel to Austin.”

    “Airport parking hasn’t ever been easier than with The Parking Spot, and this partnership with car2go further enhances our commitment to providing innovative transportation solutions to and from the airport. It’s an immense complement to our business,” said Chris Maguire , sales manager of The Parking Spot in Austin, Texas.

    More than 32,000 members within the Austin community have used car2go because the company opened to the general public in March 2010. The Austin network of 318 car2go edition smart fortwo vehicles, made from 300 fuel-powered and 18 electric-drive car2gos, travel a typical distance of three to five miles per trip inside the 46-square-mile car2go Home Area in Austin. car2go provides a terrific transportation option for brief or long trips in and round the city. The partnership with The Parking Spot often is the first airport parking option for car2go members in North America.
    How To apply The Parking Spot Airport Shuttle Service

    Eight designated parking spaces could be reserved for car2go vehicles on the Parking Spot, located at 1600 Highway 71 East. Members don’t have to pay The Parking Spot for using designated car2go parking spaces; instead, an extra $5 charge shall be billed to the member’s account for every trip taken to or from The Parking Spot. Parking is on the market 24 hours an afternoon, seven days every week.

    If the “Lot Full” sign is displayed or the car2go spots are occupied, car2go members might be directed to finish their trip in car2go designated overflow parking spaces. Because of the nature of airport travel, no stopovers should be allowed at this location; all trips ought to be ended when leaving a car2go on the Parking Spot.

    car2go members from anywhere within the U.S. may also pick up a car2go from The Parking Spot on their way into Austin. They need to verify a vehicle is offered before boarding The Parking Spot shuttle on the airport.

  • Record UK visitor numbers to Israel

    The Israel Government Tourist Office has announced an all time record in increased visitor numbers for May 2013.

    Visitors from the uk rose 21 per cent to 21,277 from 17,566 compared to May 2012 and five per cent when comparing the primary five months of 2013 against 2012 to 90,162 from 85,523.

    Naama Oryan-Kaplan, director, UK & Ireland, IGTO said: “It is exciting to look that the IGTO efforts in the UK market has seen a dramatic increase compared with an identical period in 2012 and is determined to continue with the open skies agreement which was signed earlier this year.

    “With the various marketing campaigns we now have planned, we’re confident the united kingdom market will continue to recognise that Israel is a destination which offers a global renowned tourism product.” 

    Overall, Israel has seen a rise of 5 per cent in visitor number around the globe in May 2013 when compared with the identical period in 2012 and nine per cent increase compared to 2011.

    Since the start of 2013 the rustic has received 1.4 million visitors, representing another record increase for the January to May period.

    Israeli tourism minister Uzi Landau said: “Tourism is a necessary economic growth engine for the economy – it creates jobs in cities and the periphery and generates about NIS 30 billion (approximately £5.28 billion) yearly.”

  • Fred Smits appointed general manager of Westin Dublin

    Westin Hotels & Resorts announces the appointment of Fred Smits as General Manager of The Westin Dublin.  Fred joins The Westin Dublin from the Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel & Conference Center where he was Executive Assistant Manager.

    Born inside the Netherlands, Fred began his career with Starwood Hotels & Resorts on the Westin Rotterdam in 2001 as Executive Chef, working his way as much as become Director of Food & Beverage in 2005, a job he held until February 2007.

    In 2007, Smits was promoted to Executive Assistant Manager of the 406-room Sheraton Amsterdam Airport Hotel where he oversaw all daily operations and held responsibility for the 30-room Conference Center and 4 food and beverage outlets.  During his time on the Sheraton Amsterdam, Fred also played a key role within the renovation of the hotel and the introduction of Sheraton signature guest experiences which includes the Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft, Sheraton Fitness by Core Performance and the Sheraton Club Lounge.

    Before joining Starwood, Fred studied kitchen techniques and kitchen management within the Netherlands, beginning his career in 1992 as a Chef de Partie on the former one-Michelin starred restaurant De Trechter in Amsterdam.  Following a stint with Embassy Suites in Denver within the USA, Fred returned to Europe in 1995 to tackle a food and beverage role with Hyatt Hotels on the Lowndes Hotel in London.  Between 1997 and 2001, he worked at a good number of other Hyatt properties, including holding positions at hotels in Baku, Azerbaijan and the Dead Sea and Jerusalem in Israel.

    Reporting to Colin Bennett, Area Manager UK & Ireland, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Fred will now manage the 163-room Westin Dublin, including the hotel’s stunning Banking Hall, beautiful Atrium lounge, Exchange restaurant and renowned Mint Bar.

    Colin Bennett said of the announcement, “We are delighted to welcome Fred to the team within the UK & Ireland.  i’ve indisputably that The Westin Dublin will benefit immensely from his extensive operational experience.”

    Recommended

  • News: World Travel Awards unveils glittering line up for Europe Gala Ceremony

    World Travel Awards has unveiled its Europe Nominees for 2013 as voting opens for the Gala Ceremony.

    The event, that allows you to happen at Cornelia Diamond Resort in Turkey, is ready to become the most well liked ticket at the agenda during this busy tourism region.

    World Travel Awards is celebrating a landmark 20th year in 2013, with the development sometimes called the ‘Oscars of the travel industry’.

    More than 1,300 travel, tourism and hospitality companies will compete for the distinguished through the ceremony.

    Online voting has now opened and the organisers of the awards are encouraging both trade and consumers to submit their votes.

    World Travel Awards Grand Tour will include regional legs inside the Maldives, Dubai (UAE), Antalya (Turkey), Kenya, Peru, Antigua and Singapore all year long.

    The winners of those regional heats will progress to the Grand Final, if you want to turn up on the end of 2013.

    The ceremonies are widely thought to be the precise networking opportunities within the travel industry, attended by government and industry leaders, luminaries and international media.

    Nominees for the Europe Gala Ceremony may be seen here.

    Votes could be cast here.