Category: News

  • News: Etihad Airways trumpets success of equity alliance strategy

    Etihad Airways today heralded a successful first year of its equity alliance strategy, after a financial reporting season which saw all of the five airlines inside the alliance – airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia, Aer Lingus and Etihad Airways – announce profitable performance.

    The airlines’ individual and collective results were boosted by a variety measures, including growing codeshare traffic between their networks, successful joint sales and marketing efforts, and quite a number increasing business and value synergies.

    James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ president, welcomed the success of the airlines.

    He said: “Last year was a year during which the worldwide economy remained very tough and where airline industry profits as an entire shrank, for the second one successive year.

    “Yet all of the airlines in our equity alliance showed strong financial performance with each reporting a profit.

    “That broadcasts two messages, loud and clear. 

    “First, we now have invested in businesses and in management teams that have the vision and focus to outperform the broader industry.

    “Second, the ‘win-win’ of more passengers and shared cost synergies that our alliance brings to every member is having a good effect on performance.”

    The airlines’ results included:

    • Etihad Airways reported a second year of earnings before interest and tax (US$170 million) and net profit (US$42 million), in barely its ninth year of operation. 
    • airberlin, during which it holds a 29.21 per cent equity stake, reported operating profit of EUR70.2 million in 2012, a turnaround of EUR317.20 million at the previous year. The airline’s net income of EUR7 million marked a return to base line profitability for the 1st time since 2007.
    • Air Seychelles, wherein Etihad holds a 40 per cent stake and have been awarded a five-year management contract, reported 2012 net profit of US$1 million, its first profitable year since 2007.
    • Virgin Australia, by which Etihad holds a nine per cent stake, reported statutory profit after tax of AUD$23 million for the six months to December 31st 2012 (the airline’s financial year is to June 30th).
    • Aer Lingus, wherein Etihad holds a 2.987 per cent stake, reported operating profit up 40.7 per cent to EUR69.1 million, with net profit of EUR 40.6.

    Etihad Airways’ equity alliance model has seen increasing cooperation with each of its equity investment airlines. 

    It has codeshare relationships in place with all the other four airlines, adding to its 38 other codeshares around the globe, which together delivered greater than 1.2 million passengers onto the virtual network.

    airberlin, Virgin Australia and Air Seychelles have also already launched new services to Abu Dhabi from their respective markets.

    In 2012, Etihad Airways and its equity partners carried 76 per cent of all passengers at Abu Dhabi airport.

    With the addition of the airline’s remaining codeshare partners, the combined passenger number amounted to 83 per cent.

    Etihad Airways also initiated a number of business and value synergy programs, covering fleet and engine acquisition, maintenance, recruitment and coaching, and joint marketing. 

    It is operating with its equity alliance partners to develop ‘centres of excellence’ wherein operational and commercial expertise is pooled to deliver best practice around the group.

    Hogan added: “Because we’ve got ‘skin within the game’, we go much, much further than the legacy alliances. 

    “Our new model gives benefits on each side of the equation – revenue and charges.”

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  • Club Med launches new brand campaign worldwide

    Club Med – the unique all-inclusive resort company with greater than 78 resorts worldwide – launches a brand new global campaign surrounding “happiness,” a philosophy that’s been within the brand’s DNA for the past 60 years. The campaign is launching in 47 countries worldwide in 22 languages, including the U.S. This breakthrough campaign highlights the individuality of Club Med vacations through a contemporary, surprising and participative approach that differentiates the emblem from the market. The campaign is dropped at life through 16 visual metaphors and invites everyone to visualize their very own happiness through a brand new tagline – “And What’s Your Idea of Happiness”

    The main creative includes 16 visuals whose dreamlike dimension harnesses the facility of imagination, enabling Club Med to speak the intensity of the sensations and emotions that guests will experience. The tagline invites people to ponder their very own, more modern and participative idea of happiness, which has evolved with society and the arrival of the digital age. Additionally, the campaign highlights Club Med’s specific and indisputable strengths inside the type of activities offered inside the “all inclusive” concept, and shared moments through special occasions with friends and family.

    “Today, happiness is participative – everyone ought to be in a position to give their very own vision, their very own idea of happiness,” said Jerome Hiquet , CMO of Club Med North America.” This creative approach enables Club Med to update your complete values that form the brand’s DNA, while helping guests to satisfy their very own ideas of happiness through a singular Club Med vacation and experience.”

    The new campaign launches within the U.S. through a multiphase 360 degree disruptive approach via advertising outlets including large building scapes, digital displays in airports, magazine ads, experiential events in partnership with Shape, Self and Family Fun magazines and travel agencies. The emblem could also be engaging valuable customer communities by revealing the campaign through fresh tactics from media blitzes in key markets to intimate events for prime clients and brand ambassadors. Because the campaign asks the question, “And What’s Your Idea of Happiness”, Club Med is inviting guests and fans to share their ideas of happiness and notice what other have shared on our wall of happiness www.IdeaOfHappiness.com. The campaign will additionally be delivered to life through social media initiatives increasing the virality of the campaign.

    In 1950, Club Med was built at the vision of its two founders, Gerard Blitz and Gilbert Trigano, saying, “The goal of life is to feel free. The time to be at liberty is now. And where to be at liberty is here.” And today, throughout the new campaign, Club Med maintains this vision.

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  • News: MICE to grow in Sri Lanka

    With the dawn of permanent peace MICE arrivals has been increasing in Sri Lanka within the last 3 threes and they’ll keep growing. Around 11 percent of the full visitors into Sri Lanka represent the (MICE) segment and currently it stands over 100,000 with a 5-10 increase annually.

    Sri Lanka isn’t new to the industry. Government then hosted Non Aligned Conference long ago in 1976 where 83 world leaders were in Sri Lanka . A higher biggest conference is CHOGM happening this year that’s again a state hosted event but Sri Lanka convention Bureau ( SLCB) is creating a direct contribution inside the sub committees.

    The Mission of Sri Lanka convention Bureau is to place Sri Lanka internationally as a recognized venue for Meetings and Events. Among many international conferences, Sri Lanka will host during this year are 22nd Working Meeting IUCN SSC Crocodile Specialist , 42nd SKAL Asia Pacific Congress

    2nd International Conference on Engineering Mathematics and Physics, 2nd International Conference on Psychological Sciences and Behaviors – ICPSB, 2nd International Conference on Innovation, Trade and Economics – ICITE , International Symposium on Community Governance Colombo, Sri Lanka

    1st International Conference on Bio-Diversity
    Sri Lanka also won the bid to host Asian Youth Games that’s coming to Sri Lanka in 2017. This will be the most important Sports events to be held in Sri Lanka. Within the recent past Sri Lanka Sri Lanka has held quite variety of reputed conferences including The 44th Annual Scientific Sessions & 8th South Asia Federation of Obstetrics and Gynecology (SAFOG) Conference , Annual Conference of the Asian Pacific Stroke Organisation , 10th International Conference of the East & Southeast Asia Federation of Soil Science Societies, 6th Asian Congress of Pediatric Infectious decease , Asia Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health ,IATA Global Aviation Summit and 21st Annual Congress & Scientific session of school of Ophthalmologist

    Sri Lanka’s current tourism strategy is focusing more on Infrastructure, Product and attraction development and Investments. MICE sector also awaits infrastructure development and Government has taken a timely decision by embarking on two Convention Centres viz Hambantota and Another in Peliyagoda. That is along with the growth of BMICH and the facilities available in City hotels for conferences may also help the industry. The potential of the expansion of Exhibitions is additionally enormous with the prevailing facilities becoming full with bookings.

    Sri Lanka’s real strength is in Corporate Meetings and Incentive Travel for the range of attractions and locations available on this country that can’t be easily matched by every other competitor. The variety is so vast from beaches, to culture, Heritage, wild life, mountains that may be reached within some hours of drive. The recent products will further be added onto the Tourism plants and these include Boutique type themed products.

    We have promoted Incentive travelers beyond beaches to tea plantations, waterfalls, Wild Life, Horse Riding, Fresh Water fishing , Adventure with team building and motivational programs. Kandy has also become a well-liked venue or in any case a degree which the inducement program touches including a trip to Botanical Garden and a game of Golf

    Unique incentive programs covering diversity of locations are offered to Incentive Houses to distinguish incentive tour packages in Sri Lanka from that of her competitors. Most long haul Incentive travelers wish to avoid Colombo and experience sandy beaches snorkeling, Scuba diving and skiing and now the wild life, Whale Watching, Spiritual Development etc.

    Corporate meeting planners also favor to book venues within the Cultural Triangle, Galle and a number of other locations in Sri Lanka. In most of these locations, accommodation and meeting facilities are offered. There also are facilities for corporate training programs and natural settings for exclusive incentives.

    SLCB is present on the IMEX with the industry to convey to all meeting and Incentive planners that Sri Lanka has now emerged as the most efficient valuable Incentive destinations and company venues for business meetings and we believe more on the planet of mouth than some other communication tools.

  • Coco Collection opens Sankhara Villas in Mauritius

    Coco Collection has announced the addition of Sankhara Villas in Mauritius to its portfolio of luxury resorts.

    Sankhara Villas by Coco Collection will join the celebrated portfolio from April 1st 2013 and is the group’s first venture outside of the Maldives.

    Situated within the picturesque village of Poste-la-Fayette at the East coast of Mauritius, Sankhara Villas by Coco Collection offers discerning travellers an authentic haven of tranquility in a single of the world’s most lovely destinations.

    Nestled on almost an acre of lush private gardens the beachfront property comprises of 2 luxurious villas, Villa Tiara and Villa Almira.

    Both feature eclectic Balinese architecture and luxe-living, with each offering unique interior design aspects drawn from different regional references.

    Villa Tiara features 550m² of well-appointed living space, with interiors reminiscent of the wealthy heritage of Indonesia. Spacious and light-weight, the villa’s five bedrooms can accommodate as much as 14 guests and every bedroom comes complete with an en-suite bathroom and dressing room.

    Villa Tiara also boasts its own private hammam for the joy of its guests.

    The villa also offers two fully equipped kitchens and 3 dining areas, one interior and two exterior, and boasts an integrated surround sound entertainment system and a quiet office space.

    Villa Almira features 430m² of living space incorporating contemporary Moroccan design.

    Its teak wooden roof, balustrades, pillars and floors blend harmoniously with the multi-coloured basalt stones sourced from ancient sugar factories.

    The colourful villa comprises of 3 large en-suite double bedrooms which might be configured to house a complete of nine guests, an outsized dining and sitting room, a second lounge and television room, a kitchen and two dining areas – one interior and one exterior.

    Both villas feature a heated swimming pool with al-fresco rain showers.

    Each villa also has its own private beachfront garden complete with a spectacular veranda that promises uninterrupted views over the untamed great thing about the lagoon and beyond.

    As portion of the Sankhara Villas by Coco Collection experience, guests reap the benefits of a dedicated kitchen team lead by Chef Arlando.

    As an awarding-winning chef, Arlando has developed his own signature cuisine that mixes style with delectable gastronomy.

    His culinary repertoire, which incorporates a-la-carte and tailor-made dishes, spans French, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Arabic, Mauritian and vegetarian cuisine ensuring all guests tastes may be catered for.

    A team of efficient lifestyle hosts are available to make sure that guests’ needs and needs are met throughout their stay, and guests also get pleasure from an array of à-la-carte services and leisure facilities.

    Activities available include aqua-gym, yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, star-gazing, live classical and jazz music, complimentary pedalos & kayaks, boat excursions, deep-sea fishing and dolphin watching. Additionally, the resort is in close proximity to no fewer than five world-class golf courses.

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  • News: Six Senses Luxury Hotels & Spa launch new websites

    The Site makes full use of the group’s vast library of extraordinary images, which frequently highlight the aesthetics and experiences, that are always unique, often unexpected and infrequently unusual. In addition they show the incredible natural wonderful thing about the locations that Six Senses calls home.

    The Six Senses symbol, the highly recognised graphic of a six-sphere pyramid was streamlined. It’s now reproduced in purple, channelling the colour’s association to dignity, wisdom, spirituality, vision, power and keenness.

    Clearly defining the emotional hospitality for which Six Senses is synonymous, the location is filled with a wealth of data that incorporates the all-encompassing crafted experiences and the various experts that support them.

    From visiting spa practitioners and celebrity chefs, to star-gazers, marine biologists or even a resident paragliding professional. These fascinating individuals compliment the dedicated employees that contribute significantly to 6 Senses’ uniqueness.

    Addressing the wishes of the patron, industry partners, and media, the website also encompasses a section on Six Senses Residences, careers and a glance behind the brands on the group’s management style, mission and repair philosophy. It’s also the Evason-branded properties, and the virtually legendary sustainability commitments espoused by Six Senses.

    Partnering Six Senses within the development of the website were Gyro – an Advertising Age Top 50 Global ideas shop and London-based media agency, John Henry.

    The new Website, which retains the unique address – http://www.sixsenses.com – is a move to preserve and enhance the location of Six Senses into the longer term by Ny based Pegasus Capital Advisors, who acquired Six Senses in June 2012.

    This launch is simply the primary instalment of the brand new site and there’ll be several progressions inside the near future, on the way to better to attach the Six Senses brand and folks with potential guests, partners, experts and influencers around the social Internet.

    Six Senses Resorts:
    Maldives – Six Senses Laamu – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/laamu/destination
    Oman – Six Senses Zighy Bay – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/zighy-bay/destination
    Thailand – Six Senses Samui – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/samui/destination
    Thailand – Six Senses Yao Noi – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/yao-noi/destination
    Vietnam – Six Senses Con Dao – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/con-dao/destination
    Vietnam – Six Senses Ninh Van Bay – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ninh-van-bay/destination
    China – Six Senses Qing Cheng Mountain (Open late 2013) – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/quing-cheng-mountain/destination

    Evason Resorts:
    Jordan – Evason Ma’In Hot Springs – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ma-in/destination
    Thailand – Evason Hua Hin – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/hua-hin/destination
    Vietnam – Evason Ana Mandara Nha Trang – http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/ana-mandara/destination