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  • News: Samoa Air tackles weighty issues in aviation

    Samoa Air has become the 1st airline on the earth to begin charging passengers in accordance with their weight.

    The ‘pay what you weigh’ policy have been introduced to assist Samoa battle its obesity, the airline argues, with the rustic having one the best rates of obesity on the earth.

    The airline will now charge travellers by the kilogram for his or her weight and the burden in their luggage.

    Under the brand new system, Samoa Air passengers must type of their weight and the load in their baggage into the net booking element of the airline’s website.

    “We at Samoa Air are keeping airfares fair, by charging our passengers just for what they weigh.

    “You are the master of your Air’fair’, you opt how much – or little – your ticket will cost.

    “No more exorbitant excess baggage fees or being charged for luggage you are able to not carry.

    “Your weight plus your baggage items, is what you pay,” read a press release from the corporate.

    The rates vary counting on the space flown.

    Passengers pay no less than $1 per kilogram at the airline’s shortest domestic route.

    This rises to about $4.16 per kilogram for travel between Samoa and American Samoa.

    Passengers are then weighed again on scales on the airport, to compare that they weren’t massaging the facts online.

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  • News: JA Resorts & Hotels prepares to open first overseas resort

    JA Resorts & Hotels, the UAE-based hospitality group, is gearing up for the grand opening of its first overseas property within the third quarter of 2013.

    Enchanted Island Resort, an individual ten-villa luxury beach retreat within the Seychelles is because of open its exclusive resort facilities for guests in autumn.

    The resort features just ten private villas on an island in the course of a countrywide Marine Park and may be booked on a person or exclusive basis.

    The five-star luxury boutique island resort is home to 8 one-bedroom Private Pool Villas and two two-bedroom Enchanted Signature Villas, designed to mirror the island’s traditional Creole-Seychellois architecture.

    Each villa encompasses a private infinity pool, walkway to the beach, deck, outdoor rain shower, French bathtub, four-poster king size bed, LED screen with satellite channels, DVD player, iPod docking station and complimentary Wi-Fi internet access.

    Bounty Restaurant overlooks the resort’s main swimming pool and caters for guests with contemporary international and Creole cuisine, while Castaway Bar offers plenty of cocktails and aperitifs.

    In-villa dining and personal gourmet experiences at the beach also are on offer. Guests may enjoy complimentary use of snorkelling equipment and kayaks.

    David Thomson, Chief Operating Officer of JA Resorts & Hotels, said: “We are delighted to open this stunning resort and it makes for a magnificent portfolio addition, our first outside Dubai.”

    “While it’s been a mild and extensive process to get to this stage, we were keen to help in making a very special product and disturb as little of the unique island flora as possible,” he added.

    Serena Spa manages the spa that overlooks the Indian Ocean from its elevated position at the island. Besides an ‘Adam & Eve’ couple treatment suite, two other individual treatment pavilions each have their very own private steam room, shower and terrace.

    Serena Spa treatments, yoga, access to a gymnasium and other holistic therapies are offered.

    The island is owned by Enchanted Ventures and it’s possible to exclusively rent the total island for as much as 24 guests. On this instance additionally it is possible to house children below 12 years, that is normally not permitted.

    Eric Laurent, General Manager, says: “Enchanted Island Resort offers an exemplary experience of genuine island hospitality that our guests will remember long when they have departed.”

    Enchanted Island Resort is found on a five-acre tropical island in the course of a chosen National Marine Park, near to neighbouring islands Sainte Anne, Moyenne, Long and Cerf.

    After a 10-minute drive from the Seychelles International Airport, a fifteen-minute motorboat ride takes guests from the most island Mahé, to the resort’s private jetty. The Seychelles Islands is a favoured destination for honeymooners and nature lovers owing to its tropical beaches, transparent turquoise waters and colourful marine life.

    JA Resorts & Hotels manage an inspiring portfolio of properties across Dubai including the newly extended, all suite Palm Tree Court, the award-winning Jebel Ali Hotel and the deluxe hotel apartments of Oasis Beach Tower.

    The company also will welcome a four-star beachfront property to the portfolio as Ocean View Hotel prepares to open.

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  • Holiday Inn opens in Long island

    IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) is opening the recent Holiday Inn NYC – Lower East Side, within the thriving Lower East Side neighborhood near major businesses, universities and Manhattan attractions.

    The 132-room, eight-story hotel at 150 Delancey Street, includes a fresh, modern and open floor plan with signature design and branded elements during the space. Within the lobby area, guests will find lobby seating, a grab & go café featuring a 24×7 market, and a brand new way to the business center via an eBar.

    “We are proud to welcome the vacation Inn Lower East Side to the vacation Inn brand family,” said Heather Balsley, senior vp, Brand Management, Holiday Inn brand family, The Americas, IHG.

    “This hotel is likely one of the over 1,200 properties worldwide which represent the brand new face of a brand that’s redefining guest comfort and convenience in cities across America, and the Lower East Side in Ny city is a market where we believe this new Holiday Inn hotel will thrive.”

    The new hotel is in keeping with the vacation Inn brand family’s $1 billion global brand relaunch. The relaunch continues to drive increased quality and consistency around the global portfolio.

    The hotel includes a contemporary image with emphasis on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest bath comfort and a redesigned logo and signage.

  • Multi-billion Euro-Vegas project planned for Madrid

    Las Vegas Casino giant Las Vegas Sands Corp. has chosen Madrid for a multi-billion dollar gambling resort project which have been dubbed “EuroVegas” and should be Europe’s biggest casino and conference centre.

    The latest plans for this exciting project were revealed by the company’s chairman and chief executive officer Sheldon Adelson on the Jerusalem International Tourism Summit.

    The 79 year old entrepreneur, philanthropist and businessman, whose career spans six decades, was honoured for his tremendous contributions within the travel and tourism industry earlier today on the Summit.

    Widely credited for reworking Vegas from a gamingcentric regional location into the leading convention and exhibition city within the Usa, the tycoon now has his sights set on Madrid .

    He revealed to delegates on the Jerusalem forum that his vision is to make Madrid “the convention centre of the world”.

    Having secured the £8.3bn financing needed for EuroVegas, Adelson, has earmarked 12 3,000 room properties with 2,400 meeting facilities, set to remodel the 3 square mile site.

    The first stage of the project – along with four separate “resorts” with casino facilities attached – is predicted to open in 2017.

    The outcome can be a 72-storey hotel building including six casinos, a practice centre, three golf courses, theatres, shopping malls, bars and restaurants.

    A total of 240,000 direct and indirect jobs are expected to be made from the project, in line with reports.

    Adelson also has his sights set on major Integrated Resort projects in South Korea, Japan, Vietnam and Thailand.

    Las Vegas Sands Corp. is now the world’s largest casino corporation, posting profits of $1.27 billion in 2011.

    It owns the Venetian and Palazzo resort casinos at the Las Vegas Strip and the quay Bay Sands in Singapore.

    The Venetian was named North America’s Leading Casino Resort by the area Travel Awards in 2010, meanwhile Las Vegas Sands Corp was named World’s Leading Integrated Resort Company by the Word Travel Awards in 2012.

  • Focus: Breaking Travel News interview: Abdin Nasralla, president, Arab Council for Hotels & Resorts

    Abdin Nasralla, project consultant for Meydan Group, was named president of the primary Arab Council of Hotels & Resorts.

    Here Breaking Travel News sits right down to discuss the ambitions of the project before its launch later this year.

    Breaking Travel News: Could you bring our readers up-to-date with the role of the Arabic Council for Hotels & Resorts  What are its principal ambitions

    Abdin Nasralla: The Arab Council for Hotels & Resorts aims to advertise Arab hospitality, create an Arab hospitality standard with a rating system and create a closed network membership for hotels to share statistics, purchasing power, reservation systems and human resources programmes.

    The body also seeks to advertise the Arab world as a destination, drive cross tourism between countries, encourage new tourism investment opportunities and support Arab countries of their look for in international recognition.

    BTN: When will the body begin operations  How will its success be measured

    AN: The Arab Council for Hotels & Resorts have been announced and is currently in setup phase.

    We aim to finalise the appointment of the board of directors shortly. Given the magnitude of the project and the wide scope – covering 22 countries, including thousands of hotels and millions of employees – we’re moving as quickly as possible. Because the saying goes ‘measure twice; cut once’.

    We are putting an effective effort to be fully operational in a couple of months.

    AN: Our success could be measured by the collection of member hotels and chains which participate;  we’re confident that management companies will seek this membership without hesitation; to exploit the offerings and market advancement.

    BTN: Do you’re feeling the support offered by the governments of the center East to the tourism sector is a major factor in its continued growth.

    AN: Absolutely; tourism plays a very important role within the Arab world.

    We contribute significantly to employment, supply chain, and foreign direct investment as an industry.

    Tourism must stay supported by the governments to look growth inside the coming years.

    BTN: Which destinations within the Middle East do you spot having the best impact on tourism over the subsequent decade

    AN: The following decade might be interesting to look at; tourism will play an increasingly important role within the Arab economies.

    We see Dubai and Abu-Dhabi within the forefront of the race; North Africa will certainly see good years ahead due to the continued projects and the stunning beaches.

    Saudi might be a winner and a frontrunner in family internal tourism. The Levant area is likewise promising given the political situation stabilises.

    BTN: What challenges do you spot for tourism within the Middle East within the post Arab Spring environment

    AN: The major challenge is stability within the region, together with innovation within the available products and maintaining a healthy room rate.

    These are our main concerns for the fast term.

    We hope to create workshops and seminars so as to address these challenges.

    Interview: Chris O’Toole