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Category: News

  • News: Tourism Australia participates in Travelweek

    Tourism Australia will take part in luxury travel trade extravaganza, Travelweek, this week as a part of its efforts to reinforce relationships with leading travel operators and inspire more Brazilians to experience Australia’s unique attractions for themselves.

    Brazil is a concern growth marketplace for Tourism Australia because it pursues a goal of tripling Brazilian visitor expenditure in Australia by 2020. Australia is an increasingly popular destination for affluent Brazilian travelers, with visitor numbers growing 6.5% to 31,370 inside the year to January 2013.

    “Travelweek, as probably the most important events for Latin America’s luxury travel industry, presents a good chance to satisfy with operators, develop new relationships and strengthen existing partnerships,” said Tourism Australia Vp, The Americas, Jane Whitehead, who will attend the April 16-19 event.

    Mrs Whitehead said Tourism Australia’s growth strategy for the Brazil market was desirous about a number of opportunities. “We are developing consumer marketing activities in partnership with airlines, industry and media partners to advertise higher awareness of why there’s nothing like Australia for a memorable vacation.

    “We also wish to encourage agents to finish our Aussie Specialist training program, which enables them to extend their understanding of Australia’s outstanding range and quality of vacation options and help them sell the destination confidently.

    Interest in Australia is growing and 4 Brazilian tour operators will travel to Sydney later this month to wait the Australia Tourism Exchange (ATE), the premier event for operators from around the world to fulfill with Australian operators as they showcase their product and services.

    “Australia has always been a well-liked destination for Brazilian students and adventure travelers, and more Brazilians are discovering that Australia also offers exceptional luxury vacation options that combine fine accommodations set in spectacular locations with excellent food and wine,” Mrs Whitehead said.

    “It’s never been easier to go to, with improved flight options including direct flights with Qantas and LATAM in addition to convenient connections with South Africa Airways, Aerolineas Argentinas, Qatar Airways and Emirates Airline.  Brazilian travelers now have access to the e676 electronic tourist visa and, for those researching their trips, the web site Australia.com was translated into Portuguese and is filled with useful information and inspiration.”

  • The Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel opens

    The Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel had opened its doors just outside Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT).

    Owned by an affiliate of Platinum Equity, the hotel completed a comprehensive multi-million dollar renovation ahead of re-opening to be able to meet Sheraton brand standards. The hole is a part of the Sheraton brand’s strategic $8 billion expansion effort.

    “Sheraton is delighted to be adding depth to our Pittsburgh portfolio with the addition of this ideally located property as we continue to expand the emblem in dynamic markets, worldwide,” said Hoyt Harper, Global Brand Leader, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.

    “Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel provides travelers with a trendy, comfortable and social atmosphere where they could enjoy the whole brand’s recently enhanced signature services and amenities.”

    As a part of its renovations, Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel implemented the Sheraton brand’s signature Link@Sheraton experienced with Microsoft – a social hub within the lobby where connections, whether face-to-face or webcam-to-webcam happen, and a Link@Sheraton Café.

    All 200 guest rooms were fully renovated and equipped with the all-white Sheraton Sweet Sleeper bed, designed to satisfy AAA’s Five Diamond Award® criteria, in addition to a large work desk, ergonomic chair, high-speed Internet, and LCD flat panel television.

    Sheraton Pittsburgh Airport Hotel provides approximately 9,000 square feet of flexible meeting space with all of the latest in meetings technology. Additional amenities include a whole-service restaurant and lounge, outdoor pool, Sheraton Club Lounge, and entirely renovated fitness facility featuring the brand’s revolutionary new health and fitness program, Sheraton Fitness, Programmed by Core Performance™, designed exclusively for Sheraton guests through its partner Core Performance.

  • News: Travel Indochina launches Vietnam mega fam

    Leading Asia specialist Travel Indochina, at the side of Vietnam Airlines, is running a mega fam to showcase its exceptional kind of travel on a luxury tour of Vietnam. Valid over three dates in June, the ten-day itinerary includes international and domestic flights, 7 nights’ luxury accommodation and expert Travel Indochina touring for under £895pp*. Equally excellent news, the companion fare is barely £995p – a real five-star experience at two-star prices!

    The heavily-discounted fam trips will depart on 5th, 12th and 26th June 2013. There’ll be 16 places per departure for agents and a travelling companion. “Allowing agents to take a non-industry travelling companion to share the experience for under £100 greater than the agent price is amazingly unique,” said Manda Churchill, general manager of Travel Indochina. “This has already been incredibly well received by travel agents with whom we have now contracts, and we glance forward to welcoming more bookings, particularly for the departure on 5th June where we currently have healthy availability.”

    The itinerary will soak up bustling Saigon where agents will discover the city’s world-famous attractions, traditional markets and the luxurious Mekong Delta. a quick flight then transfers guests to Danang for an unforgettable stay at in a personal pool villa on the Fusion Maia Resort, where spa treatments are complimentary. Guests will enjoy leisurely days by the South China Sea with access to the riverside town of Hoi An, a travellers favourite with great shopping opportunities, before flying to the northern capital of Hanoi to explore the highlights of the Old Quarter. The trip finishes with an overnight cruise across the breathtaking islands of Halong Bay.

    Reflecting Travel Indochina’s impressive product, the mega fam will include the services of a Western tour leader and accommodation at three centrally-located, five-star properties in Vietnam. These include the Caravelle Hotel (Saigon), Fusion Maia (Danang) and Hilton Hanoi Opera (Hanoi), plus an overnight on Indochina Sails junk boat (Halong Bay). There’ll even be the opportunity to mingle with the Travel Indochina team during two hosted welcome and farewell dinners.

    “In partnership with Vietnam Airlines, our aim is to enable agents to experience the captivating diversity of Vietnam the Travel Indochina way,” comments Manda Churchill. “We are delighted to present a really incredible deal for agents to find ‘authentic’ Asia in luxury with the support of our Western tour leader and native English-speaking guides.”

  • News: Passengers to profit from £40m investment in South West Trains

    Passengers using South West Trains are to learn from a newly-launched £40 million upgrade of its Class 455 train fleet, that is already the foremost reliable within the UK.

    The upgrade will deliver even greater reliability for services which operate at the Metro area from London Waterloo to Reading, the Hounslow loop and the Shepperton branch. 

    The 91 Class 455 trains, which can be already essentially the most reliable trains within the country, could be fitted with new traction equipment which promises to augment performance and improve reliability even further.
     
    The programme – that allows you to be rolled out over the following three years – involves removing the prevailing DC traction equipment, including the motors, and replacing it with a good more reliable modern AC traction system.

    Regenerative braking is the dominant consider the business case for brand new traction as projections show it’ll return over 20% of traction electricity on inner suburban services and around 10% on main line services. The recent traction units may also be lighter, reducing the quantity of wear at the rail infrastructure.

    An added benefit of the brand new traction units is the increased mileage which might be performed between major servicing and upkeep works, with a purpose to increase from 10,000 to fifteen,000 miles.  This would therefore mean that the category 455 trains will spend less time in Wimbledon depot and more time delivering services for passengers.  an extended term good thing about this maintenance improvement will mean that space may be freed up at Wimbledon depot, enabling South West Trains to watch future capacity developments.

    Over a better 20 months, South West Trains shall be introducing 100 more carriages onto its services to produce capacity for one more 23,000 peak-time passengers daily.  Plans for developing long run capacity enhancements also are underway.

    Christian Roth, Engineering Director for the South West Trains – Network Rail Alliance, said: “Our Class 455 trains are already by far the foremost reliable fleet within the country, however we aren’t complacent and we wish to make certain these excellent results are sustained and improved even further.

    “The new traction motors should help us to enhance the reliability of those trains for our passengers similtaneously delivering environmental benefits throughout the reduced electricity supply.”

    The prototype train would be fitted at Wimbledon depot with the rest of the fleet fitted at Eastleigh depot. The project ought to be finished by Spring 2014.

    The investment is being delivered in partnership with the South West Trains-Network Rail Alliance, Porterbrook and the dep. for Transport.

  • News: lowcostbeds ventures into the center East

    Rated many 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 arena Marketing as their exclusive representative inside 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 best market as both inbound and outbound business within 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’re the correct partner for us to grow our ME business.

    We offer an intensive range of hotels around the globe, coupled with leading technology, so we’re very involved in the prospects the center East market has to present us. As a trade only brand, lowcostbeds boasts an exceptional 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 area CEO, Jenny Adams said, “Discover the arena Marketing is extremely desirous about our strategic partnership with lowcostbeds. We’re desperate 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 may be visiting travel agents and attending various trade shows inside the region over the approaching months, providing support and advice on quite a lot 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 area Marketing, said, “Our strategy with lowcostbeds is to work with the network of regional travel players to ensure that them to give 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 keen on the show and searching forward to being there. Patricia is usually attending, with the intention to meet with the local hoteliers who we’re already working with within the region and to source new hotels, to feature to our GCC product portfolio.’

    Offering an international inventory of 150,000 hotels in over 4000 resorts and cities, lowcostbeds is the proper partner for travel agencies. Mr Riches continued, “Travel agents are always searching for good rates and, increasingly relevant hotel inventory. These days 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 on the subject of tourism with outbound travel quadrupling within the last two decades. The area Tourism Organisation estimates that a further two million Arabs will travel abroad inside the next 20 years, taking its total of outbound tourists to 37 million, spending an estimated $20 billion and accounting for two.2% of worldwide 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 the vast majority of our business is generated from the united kingdom. Our objective now’s to extend our business from other parts of the area, to become a very global hotel provider. Our launch into the center East market is a key component to that strategy.

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