Category: News

  • 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.

  • 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.”

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  • 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.

  • News: SAS opens the door to america West Coast

    North America is a vital and growing marketplace for SAS, which already flies to Big apple, Chicago and Washington. Scandinavia is a market that has no direct flights to the usa West Coast and there has therefore been demand from several Nordic and international companies for a smooth connection to this component of the realm. SAS is now fulfilling that wish.

    “SAS was flying to the united states for over 60 years and we’ve got an excellent understanding of what customers need after they fly long-haul. We’re pleased to provide an immediate service from Copenhagen and a travel experience where customers can enjoy all of our services that are designed to make the adventure easier and less complicated,” says Rickard Gustafson, President and CEO of SAS.

    “San Francisco is a fine looking destination in itself, however the city also is the proper start line for the united states West Coast. From San Francisco, customers have access to many other destinations within the Star Alliance network,” says Rickard Gustafson.

    By scheduling the flight departure time from Copenhagen at 12.25 within the afternoon, SAS has created excellent opportunities for good connections from Stockholm, Oslo and lots of other destinations in Scandinavia and northerly Europe.

  • News: Best Western Premier celebrates grand opening in Haiti

    The opening of the most effective WESTERN PREMIER Petion-Ville marks the primary U.S. branded full-service hotel to open in Haiti and marks a vital milestone within the revitalization of the rustic.

    The 106 room full-service hotel is found within the business corridor north of Port-au-Prince and can provided lodging and meeting space for financial and government institutions, humanitarian organisations, non-government organizations and business and leisure travelers visiting the rustic. “The opening of one of the best WESTERN PREMIER Petion-Ville, provides critically needed hotel rooms, creates jobs and revenue for the local economy and is a mirrored image of the ongoing progress being made towards the recovery of Haiti,” said Mark Williams , vp of North American Development for Best Western International at Thursday’s official grand opening celebration. “This hotel is proof that Haiti is indeed open for business and it’ll help encourage additional business investment in Haiti.”

    Best Western International initially signed a development take care of Carabimmo SA in 2008 and was scheduled to start construction within weeks of when the devastating earthquake hit in January 2010. Williams credits the local ownership group’s tenacity, drive and wish to bring positive growth to Haiti with with the ability to overcome incredible obstacles and move this project forward to completion. “We are pleased with not just the positive economic impact this project has had within the area people and in Haiti, but in addition what it means for a twin of Haiti and its recovery as a business and leisure travel destination within the Caribbean,” stated Stanley Handal of Carabimmo SA.

    The full-service luxury hotel project, funded by two Haitian banks, Unibank and Capital Bank, broke ground in 2011 with the goal of investing within the area people, providing jobs and sourcing Haitian goods and services to construct and furnish the hotel. The result’s the creation of 130 local hospitality jobs and the work of greater than 100 local artisans and craftsmen utilized in the design and décor of the hotel and in addition available on the market within the hotel’s art gallery. “With global support from our partner Best Western, not just will this hotel be successful in Haiti, however it will attract additional investment into Haiti and help drive expansion of the Haitian market globally,” added Handal.