Best Holiday Lettings

Author: Alicia

  • DoubleTree by Hilton to open two new London hotels

    DoubleTree by Hilton has announced it is going to open two new hotels in London this summer under franchise agreements with Westmont Hospitality.

    The latest additions are DoubleTree by Hilton London – Hyde Park and DoubleTree by Hilton London – Ealing, either one of which can be inside the final stages of intensive refurbishments totalling £20 million, joining seven other DoubleTree by Hilton properties around the capital city.

    Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice chairman, development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said: “London is a worldwide class destination and DoubleTree by Hilton is becoming a prime a part of its tourism offering.

    “These two new properties complement the strength of our long established Hilton Hotels & Resorts presence, whereby this year we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of the landmark London Hilton on Park Lane.

    “Building at the international exposure of 2012, we’re thrilled to be enhancing our presence in London with these two latest additions, whereby we are going to have 38 upscale hotels spread right around the city and its airports.” 

    Doubletree by Hilton London – Hyde Park, located on Bayswater Road, is situated opposite the Kensington Gardens, with regards to the ever popular delights of Hyde Park, and is a quick walk from the Notting Hill and Queensway underground stations.

    The hotel’s refurbishment has created a spacious 24-hour fitness centre, in addition to 12 new guest rooms at the first floor, taking the whole variety of guest rooms to 228.

    Located very few minutes’ walk from London Ealing underground and overground station, the 189-room DoubleTree by Hilton London – Ealing offers spacious in-room work areas in addition to tech-friendly stations inside the hotel’s public spaces, which also provide a peaceful setting for casual meetings.

    The bar and lounge area features seating with in-built power outlets, ideal for convenient laptop use. The restaurant, W5 Grill & Bar, specialises in dishes using locally sourced ingredients, and allows guests to unwind in a warm and contemporary dining room.

  • Cruise ships arrive back to European waters from winter routes

    As the summer cruise season gets under way in Europe, 96 ships have sailed back to European waters from their winter routes within the Caribbean, Latin America, Africa and Asia.

    This brings the whole fleet within the region this summer to 200 cruise ships, operated by 65 lines, serving as a minimum 530 destinations stretching from the Mediterranean to the Arctic.

    Underlining the industry’s steady growth in Europe, the eu summer fleet will include 11 new ships this year, including three ships re-entering service for brand spanking new operators because the data compiled for the Cruise Lines International Association in Europe shows.

    “The collection of new destinations, new lines and new ships entering service in Europe this year are all further evidence of ways cruising is growing and should keep growing within the region, drawing on Europe’s unique offering with regards to its rich culture, its varied geography and its long maritime traditions, and its expertise in hospitality and repair,” said CLIA Europe chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio.

    Recommended

  • News: JetBlue Airways launches the sole nonstop service between Ny and Albuquerque

    JetBlue Airways, New York’s Hometown Airline™, today launched New York‘s only nonstop service to the colourful city of Albuquerque. Dave Barger , JetBlue’s President and CEO, was joined today by Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry in the course of the inaugural flight’s departure ceremony at Kennedy International Airport.

    Albuquerque is JetBlue’s first destination in New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, and is the 77th destination served within the airline’s growing route network.

    “Today we’re happy to announce that JetBlue now serves Albuquerque International with the only real daily nonstop service to the brand new York Metro Area,” said Dave Barger in the course of the event. “We know that Albuquerque is likely one of the nation’s top leisure destinations, with a rich offering of outside activities, festivals and art. “It’s also important to notice that Albuquerque was, until today, the most important market from Ny without nonstop air service! Once you take all that under consideration, it makes absolute sense for JetBlue to fly here.”

    “This is a giant step for Albuquerque so as to add to our opportunities for business and leisure travel.  Ny city is the biggest market within the country and we’ve got non-stop service. This may make us more business, convention and tourist friendly, that’s excellent news for us all,” Mayor Berry said. “JetBlue is a major company and the town looks forward to a protracted-term partnership and extra growth opportunities with the airline.”

    Customers traveling between Albuquerque and The big apple can conveniently connect onwards to dozens of different cities in JetBlue’s route network: Aruba; Bermuda; Boston, Mass.; Buffalo, Rochester and Syracuse, N.Y.; Burlington, Vt.; Charleston, S.C.; Fort Lauderdale, Jacksonville, Orlando, Tampa, and West Palm Beach, Florida; Grand Cayman; Kingston, Jamaica; La Romana, Puerto Plata , Punta Cana, Samana, Santiago and Santo Domingo within the Dominican Republic; Nantucket, Mass. (eff. May 16); Nassau, The Bahamas; Portland, Maine; Providenciales, Turks and Caicos; San Juan, Puerto Rico; and St. Maarten.

    JetBlue’s flights from Albuquerque would be operated with its 150-seat Airbus A320 fleet complete with the carrier’s well-known premium offerings, including a primary checked bag free (b), assigned leather seating with legroom to spare, and greater than 140 channels of complimentary live television and radio on personal seatback screens (c). All flights also include JetBlue’s superior and personable customer support and free and unlimited assortment of brand name brand snacks and drinks for the ride.

    Recommended

  • International visitors flock to New Zealand following Hobbit success

    Tourism New Zealand has revealed UK visitor numbers within the first half 2013 were up 3.3 per cent compared with the identical time last year.

    Globally, there was a robust increase in international visitor arrivals, setting an effective base for the winter season.

    “When we glance on the first six months of the year we see a robust picture for arrivals -with total arrivals up 5.8 per cent against an identical period last year and holiday arrivals up ten per cent,” explained Justin Watson, Tourism New Zealand acting chief executive.

    “This puts the industry in a terrific good place previous to the 2013 ski season which has already seen a great start – with record levels of snow to all ski-fields and Australian arrivals up 17 per cent for the month.

    “We anticipate seeing further growth over the approaching months.”

    For the primary six months of the year holiday arrivals are up across Tourism New Zealand’s top six markets: Australia six per cent, China 30.9 per cent, US 20.7 per cent, UK 3.3 per cent, Japan 7.8 per cent, Germany 2.9 per cent.

    “It is encouraging to determine this growth from our traditional long-haul markets after what have been a tricky few years for the industry,” added Watson.

    The US has become the third-largest source of tourists to New Zealand.

    “The underlying growth from the long-haul markets further supports the positive impact seen from the investment in marketing New Zealand’s association with the Hobbit trilogy,” continued Watson.

    “Our 100 per cent Middle-earth, 100 per cent Pure New Zealand campaign continues to gain its objectives – providing the extra motivation and reason to transform interest in a vacation to New Zealand into an exact booking.”

    Recommended

  • News: Hilton Worldwide adds third brand to Portuguese portfoli

    Following a succession of latest brand introductions within the Iberian Peninsula, Hilton Worldwide has announced that its DoubleTree by Hilton brand is ready to reach in Portugal. The signing of a management agreement with Turismadeira SA will see Lisbon’s Fontana Park Hotel convert to DoubleTree by Hilton Lisbon – Fontana Park in summer 2013, as Hilton’s first hotel within the Portuguese capital.

    The agreement sees DoubleTree enter its thirteenth European country, having only in the near past opened its first Spanish property, DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel & Spa Emporda. In Portugal itself, the Lisbon property will join Conrad Algarve, which opened in autumn 2012, on the subject of the present Hilton Vilamoura as Cascatas Golf Resort and Spa, while Hilton Bom Sucesso Obidos Resort opens next winter.

    Patrick Fitzgibbon, senior vice chairman of development, Europe & Africa, Hilton Worldwide, said, “This is a main coup. Not just are we bringing one among Europe’s hottest hotel brands to Portugal for the 1st time, we’re doing so within the capital city, while also demonstrating the strength of our portfolio with this becoming our third brand inside the country.”

    Fontana Park Hotel first opened in 2008 and its impressive design quickly won plaudits, including ‘Best Interior Design’ on the European Hotel Design Awards. The hotel has 139 rooms, seven meeting rooms, two restaurants and a bar.

    John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton, said, “DoubleTree by Hilton continues its rise as one in every of Europe’s superior conversion brands and we’re thrilled to be entering certainly one of Europe’s most enticing and historic capital cities, with what’s a pretty property.”

    Located on Rua Engenheiro Vieira da Silva, within the northern district of town centre, the hotel benefits from excellent public transport links and is simply quarter-hour from Lisbon Portela Airport. Its proximity to at least one of the city’s main roads connects it to the historical tourist and shopping districts of Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto, Avenida da Liberdade and Alfama.

    As probably the most oldest cities on earth, Lisbon offers a lot of cultural, architectural and historical attractions. The Park of countries, set out along the banks of the Tagus River, is an urban space that brings together contemporary architecture, theme gardens, exhibition centers, and is a venue for diverse shows and events. It also houses Lisbon Oceanarium, among the many largest marine mammal parks of its kind in Europe.

    The coast to the west of Lisbon offers further leisure destinations, including the resorts of Estoril and Cascais, plus the historic and cultural town of Sintra.

    Once converted, the hotel will feature the brand’s signature welcome with a warm chocolate chip cookie presented to each guest at check-in; an array of upscale amenities and guest services, and a novel and caring team member commitment to the local people.

    Joaquim Justino, Chairman of Turismadeira SA, said, “This partnership provides a superb opportunity for this glorious property to profit from the worldwide reach and operational expertise of 1 of the world`s strongest hotel brands. Located in an exhilarating and increasingly vibrant area of Lisbon, the DoubleTree by Hilton Fontana Park is destined for popularity with both corporate and leisure guests alike and we strongly believe that Hilton Worldwide may be ready to make our jewel shine much more in future.”

    Guests of DoubleTree by Hilton Lisbon – Fontana Park will benefit from the benefits of the realm-class guest reward programme Hilton HHonors®, the best hotel loyalty programme that lets members earn both points and miles collectively.

    European countries where DoubleTree by Hilton is either trading or has a property under development include; Uk; Ireland; Netherlands; Luxembourg; Spain; Portugal; Italy; Greece; Poland; Romania; Slovakia; Turkey; and Russia.

    Recommended