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Category: News

  • InterContinental Hotels tap into China

    InterContinental Hotels Group has begun adding its entire portfolio of four,600 properties all over the world to China travel retailer Ctrip.com International via a reservations system connection designed and implemented by DerbySoft.

    “We are happy to have a successful reference to IHG through DerbySoft, and Chinese customers can easily reserve more global hotels through Ctrip,” said Maria Maohua Sun, Ctrip’s Senior Vp and Head of Hotel Business Division. Online travel bookings in China overall are expected to achieve nearly $14.4 billion this year, in keeping with PhocusWright. 

    With 160 operating properties and 30% of its global pipeline in China, IHG recognized the necessity to directly connect its central reservations system (CRS) to China’s largest travel portal allowing online booking of its properties for both outbound and inbound Chinese travelers.  End result of the DerbySoft connection to IHG’s CRS, Ctrip users would be in a position to view real time availability and receive an instant booking confirmation.

    “Having worked with DerbySoft since 2007 on quite a lot of technology projects, we were extremely confident of their ability to assist us with this complex direct connection,” said IHG Vice chairman of Distribution and Intermediary Sales Andrew Rubinacci. DerbySoft was the primary technology provider to attach an international hotel company’s CRS to Booking.com, the Amsterdam-based division of Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN), when it connected IHG to Booking.com in 2008. 

    The XML-based connection between IHG and Ctrip, facilitated by DerbySoft, went live this week. Over the subsequent several weeks, DerbySoft will continue rolling out IHG’s 4,600 properties onto the Ctrip system. “We are proud to have created this new reservations connection between these two major industry players,” said DerbySoft Vice chairman of Connectivity Keith Cotton. “Our distributed technology platform, which gives extremely flexible and unique solutions to deal with the various business rules of both partners, includes servers strategically positioned all over the world to offer reduced latency and exceptional system response times for both Ctrip and IHG..” 

      DerbySoft builds highly customized electronic “pipelines” that transmit accurate room availability, rates, and inventory (ARI) from the hotel companies’ CRSs to 3rd-party online booking channels, and in turn deliver the reservations made at the travel booking websites back to the hotel companies’ central reservations systems.

  • Focus: Breaking Travel News interview: Lee Seow Hiang, chief executive, Changi Airport Group

    Having been recognised because the World’s Leading Airport by the realm Travel Awards, Singapore Changi Airport seriously isn’t resting on its laurels. With a brand new terminal under construction, chief executive Lee Seow Hiang here sits down with Breaking Travel News to bring us brand new.

    Breaking Travel News: Are you able to let us know a bit in regards to the latest developments at Changi Airport What are you doing to make sure the positioning remains the pre-eminent destination within the region

    Lee Seow Hiang: On the subject of new projects at Changi Airport, we have now begun some of infrastructural projects making sure that Changi Airport is easily-positioned to stay a significant global aviation hub, able to meet the challenges of growing passenger and aircraft traffic within the years ahead.

    These include the improvement of our new Terminal 4 and ancillary works to extend the selection of aircraft parking stands.

    T4 is predicted to be completed by 2017, with a planned capacity of 16 million passenger movements a year.

    It will raise Changi Airport’s handling capacity to 82 million a year and help make it possible for the passenger experience at Changi isn’t compromised at the same time passenger traffic grows.

    Throughout its history, Changi Airport has always stayed earlier than its capacity needs. This approach has underpinned Changi’s success as an air hub – an airport that passengers love and airlines appreciate.

    Along with the measures announced by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore to enhance runway capacity, our infrastructure investments over the subsequent four to 5 years will lay the groundwork for us to continue delivering a fantastic Changi Experience and attracting more airlines to fly to Changi Airport.

    BTN: Changi welcomed over 50 million passengers for the 1st time in its 31-year history in 2012. Do you’re feeling this upward growth in number is sustainable

    LSH: Traffic growth at Changi Airport in its 31-year history has averaged about six per cent every year.

    The stronger growth beforehand three years was using a superb recovery in air travel demand following the worldwide financial crisis of 2008. In 2012, we saw our strongest traffic growth on routes to Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia and Southwest Pacific.

    We believe that the Asia Pacific region will remain a strong aviation market anchored by the massive economies of China, India and Indonesia.

    Having said this, the worldwide economic outlook remains cloudy. Within the near term, Changi Airport’s performance will depend largely on how economies, especially in Asia, adjust.

    We are confident that our strong partnership with our stakeholders will see the airport during the challenges that lie ahead.

    BTN: Are you able to bring us up-to-date at the construction of the fourth terminal at Changi

    LSH: The brand new Terminal 4 may be a two-storey building that we are hoping will delight passengers when it comes to its facilities in addition to retail and F&B offerings.

    It may be a higher quality product than the old Budget Terminal.

    We expect the terminal to be ready by 2017.

    T4 can be designed to satisfy the operational needs of both regional full service and occasional cost carriers.

    To enhance passenger convenience, accessibility and experience, especially in adverse climatic conditions, aerobridges may be available at its boarding gates.

    Passengers transferring to any other terminals may also be capable of accomplish that without the necessity to clear immigration.

    BTN: In what ways does the expansion of Singapore as a tourism destination benefit the construction of Changi

    LSH: As Changi Airport is the most important gateway into Singapore, the ongoing growth of Singapore as a tourism destination is evidently beneficial for us.

    Hence, we do work closely with partners just like the Singapore Tourism Board and Singapore based airlines to advertise Singapore as a destination of choice.

    At an analogous time, we believe an excellent airport experience also enhances the Singapore holiday for tourists.

    We are proud to be the welcome point for millions of tourists to Singapore every year, and strive making sure that, for them, the Changi Experience may be very much part of their visit to our country.

    BTN: Changi Airport was recognised because the World’s Leading Airport by the celebrated World Travel Awards in 2012. What do you watched caught the judges’ attention

    LSH: We’re honoured to be voted the arena’s Leading Airport by the World Travel Awards all over again.

    We are pleased that our discuss service excellence, enhanced by the offerings provided by the Changi Experience, has resonated well amongst industry professionals and the travelling public.

    Our vision to make the airport experience a first-class one is something we attempt to repeatedly achieve.

    As an example, beautifully-curated horticultural decorations and art pieces round the airport make Changi Airport a serene place to go through on what might have been a stressful journey from one city to a different.

    We remain steadfast in upholding and adorning the Changi. Experience in order that passengers and airport visitors alike continue to find delightful moments while at Changi.

    BTN: Do you intend to take advantage of this accolade in marketing activities for Changi at all

    LSH: Definitely. We’re proud to be the world’s most awarded airport with over 420 awards since 1981.

    Such accolades and popularity spur us to always improve, pushing us to repeatedly top our standards.

    More Information

    For additional info at the latest developments at Changi Airport head over to the official website.

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  • Focus: Cornelia Diamond named best in school by World Travel Awards

    The lush Cornelia Diamond Golf Resort & Spa was named the realm’s Leading Integrated Resort by the World Travel Awards. Here Breaking Travel News takes a glance around this extraordinary property.

  • Westin brand launches in Sacramento

    Accelerating portfolio growth in dynamic markets around the globe, Starwood Hotels has introduced its Westin brand to Sacramento, California.

    The Westin Sacramento opened today at 4350 Riverside Boulevard in a spectacular, waterfront location. Owned by Urban Commons/Brighton Management, the 100-room property formerly called Le Rivage Hotel completed a $3.2 million renovation earlier than re-opening under the Westin flag.

    “We are thrilled to debut the Westin brand inside the scenic city of Sacramento, where we provide travelers a restful retreat within close proximity of the city’s leading attractions,” said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader for Westin Hotels & Resorts. “At The Westin Sacramento, travelers can recharge with assistance from the entire brand’s signature services and amenities, designed to send guests home feeling better than once they arrived.”

    Located alongside the Sacramento River, The Westin Sacramento features 100 guestrooms and suites, many with balconies where guests can enjoy stunning water views. The hotel also offers 7,000 square feet of meeting and serve as space, an entire-service restaurant, outdoor pool, spa, and completely renovated WestinWORKOUT® fitness studio, where guests have loads of choices for cardio, strength and stretching.

    The sensory-rich environment at Westin offers a respite from the trials of travel and sets a welcoming tone. The Westin brand’s innovative programs and instinctive service transform every aspect of a guest’s stay right into a revitalizing experience. All guestrooms and suites on the Westin Sacramento offer the realm-renowned Westin Heavenly® Bed – an oasis of lush sheets, down and a patented pillow-top mattress, which cradles and features to the body for truly restorative sleep. Guests will revive within the Heavenly® Bath enhanced with the brand’s Heavenly® Shower, Heavenly® Robe and White Tea Aloe bath amenities, and in-room high-speed Internet access. The hotel also features the Westin brand’s signature SuperFoodsRX® menu, along with nutrient-rich and delicious options to tempt every palate.

    “We are delighted to introduce the arena-renowned Westin brand to Sacramento and expect to draw both business and leisure travelers by providing a sensory-rich experience in a picturesque, waterfront setting,” said Taylor Woods, Principal, Urban Commons/Brighton Management. “

    The Westin Sacramento is convenient to varied shops, restaurants, art galleries and museums, the Sacramento Convention Center Complex and the campus of California State University. Guests can delve into Sacramento’s Gold Rush days in nearby Old Sacramento, visit the Sacramento Zoo or catch a show at among the nearby theaters. Sacramento International Airport (SMF) is simply 20 minutes from the hotel.

  • News: At the Beach signs first GDS address Travelport

    Travelport has announced a brand new agreement with At the Beach, one of many UK’s leading online travel agencies.

    The agreement is the 1st time At the Beach has signed a partnership with a GDS.

    Carrying greater than 900,000 passengers each year, At the Beach creates tailored holiday itineraries to popular beach destinations all over the world.

    The partnership with Travelport allows the web agent to interrupt into new hotel and flight options outside their current destination profile.

    “Travelport’s uAPI technology allows us to tap-in to new flight and hotel content to construct on our traditional beach travel product, and significantly grow our scheduled air offerings”, Andy Tilby-Baxter, head of supply, At the Beach, explained. 

    “It opens up an entire new area for us to grow, and gives our customers with much more options to create exciting travel experiences.”

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