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  • News: New private car excursions with Crystal Cruises in 2013

    Due to guest demand, beginning this spring, Crystal Cruises’ luxury travelers have a brand new and versatile private option for exploring Europe: their very own car and driver, with local, English-speaking guide.  The hot private car or van offerings allow singles, couples and small groups (8 maximum) to completely customise time ashore upon arrival.  While Crystal is launching this system in 50 European ports on Crystal Symphony Mediterranean cruises and Crystal Serenity Northern European cruises, the ultra-luxury line plans to increase this system to other destinations later within the year.

    “Many of today’s luxury guests desire to explore all alone, but don’t benefit from the hassle, time and questionable quality of attempting to find transportation and guides, in addition to the aggravation of negotiating fees,” says John Stoll , vp, land and port operations.  “With our trusted transportation and destination expertise at their disposal, and via fully licensed and insured companies, guests can tour independently easily and safety, in addition to be ultra-flexible should they need to follow a final-minute insider’s suggestion or simply see how they feel inside the moment.”

    The program is the most recent addition to a rapidly-expanding roster of Crystal Adventures shore excursion choices, including:
    *  Organised shore tours that range from special-interest adventures and town overviews to very intimate only-with-Crystal Cruises Boutique Adventures, and unique, high end Signature Collection experiences to You Care, We Care voluntourism excursions.
    *  Private Options: For guests desperate to follow the identical tour itinerary as select Crystal Adventures, privately.
    *  Private Adventures: Ultra-personalised and entirely customised to a guest’s exact wishes beforehand by Crystal, including itineraries, admissions, meals, and transportation.

    Overland Adventures: Multiple-day excursions on land, farther from port, providing two to 3 days of intimate exploration ashore, with hotel stays.
    The new private car and driver services start at $270 per car, with guides speaking languages rather then English also available upon request.
    Crystal’s passion for creating exclusive, eye-opening luxury shoreside experiences are cornerstones of its Crystal Adventures program, helping earn the road top ratings for 2 decades.

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  • Wizz Air and VisitBritain renew partnership

    Wizz Air, the most important low-cost, low-fare airline in Central and Eastern Europe, together with VisitBritain, the national tourism agency of the UK, announced the renewal of their successful partnership to promote low fare routes between Poland and the UK in a bid to attract more Polish tourists.

    The joint “Great” campaign in 2012 increased awareness among Polish consumers for Great Britain as a tourism destination and together with Visit Britain the airline will invest in promoting its 15 Polish routes to 7 UK destinations between April and June 2013. Great Britain is the third most visited destination by Polish tourists and around 60% of all Polish visitors to the UK arrive by air, therefore providing an excellent opportunity for the British Tourism agency and Wizz Air to join forces in promoting Great Britain as an excellent choice for short breaks.

    The partnership will include an advertising campaign and a bigger number of low fare promotions on Wizz Air flights between Poland and the UK to attract Polish visitors to Great Britain’s unique features. The campaign will highlight that “Tradition, Culture, Sport and Shopping is GREAT Britain”.

    Daniel de Carvalho, Corporate Communications Manager at Wizz Air, said: “Wizz Air is excited about its renewed partnership with VisitBritain because our 15 low in cost routes from 7 Polish airports to Great Britain are the best choice for Polish travelers and this campaign is a confirmation of Wizz Air’s attractive low fares route offer to Great Britain. With fares starting from GBP 19.99 there is a reason for everyone to go and visit Great Britain!”

    Joanna Sosnowska, Representative Poland at VisitBritain, said: “Wizz Air was a valuable partner in 2012 to carry visitors to the London 2012 Games and to draw Polish passengers to explore more of what Great Britain offers its visitors.

    VisitBritain’s four year global campaign “Great Britain – You’re Invited”, joins forces with strong partners which are equipped of quickly generating tourism traffic, and i’m thrilled to determine how low fares contribute to stimulate demand and influence travel choices. Polish tourists of every age will find the proper fare offer on wizzair.com and the ideal entertainment choice at their UK destination. From unforgettable landscapes heritage, sport, culture and shopping in world-class shops, stores and markets – everything could be experienced in Great Britain making the subsequent trip truly “GREAT”.”

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  • News: Lion Air places huge Airbus order

    Lion Air of Indonesia has placed an organization order with Airbus for 234 A320 Family aircraft, comprising 109 A320neo, 65 A321neo and 60 A320ceo.

    The deal sees the carrier become a brand new customer for Airbus.

    The order was finalised earlier at a distinct ceremony on the Elysée Palace in Paris within the presence of president

    François Hollande of France, who witnessed the signing of documents by Rusdi Kirana, co-founder and chief executive of Lion Air Group and Fabrice Brégier, president, Airbus.

    In a single class layout the A320 can seat as much as 180 passengers, while the A321 can carry as much as 236 with the newest cabin configuration options.

    Lion Air Group will use the aircraft to satisfy growth requirements on its expanding domestic and regional route network.

    The carrier will announce engine selections for the aircraft within the near future.

    “The fuel-efficient A320 Family will enable Lion Air to accomplish the bottom possible operating costs and continue to present probably the most competitive fares within the Asian region,” said Kirana.

    “This landmark order will make sure that the Lion Air Group will continue its expansion with one of the crucial modern and advanced fleets on the earth.”

    Offering the bottom operating costs in its class, the A320 Family is the world’s best-selling single-aisle product line.

    To date, some 9,400 aircraft was ordered and greater than 5.400 brought to over 380 customers and operators worldwide.

    The A320ceo and A320neo share over 95 percent airframe commonality, enabling seamless operation of the varied models in one fleet.

    “This announcement marks our first order from Lion Air – one in every of Asia’s fastest-growing and most successful budget friendly carriers,” said Brégier.

    “The news underscores the market-leading position of the A320 Family, which continues to draw new customers for both the present and new engine options.

    “We greatly look ahead to welcoming Lion Air as an immense new operator of Airbus aircraft.”

    Since taking to the skies in 2000, Jakarta-based Lion Air has become certainly one of Asia’s fastest-growing airlines.

    Today the crowd operates an in depth network covering over 70 destinations in Indonesia and south-east Asia.

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  • Hilton expands presence in Alexandria, Egypt

    Hilton Hotels & Resorts has announced the hole of the 158-room Hilton Alexandria Corniche following a chief refurbishment programme.

    The hotel represents the 19th upscale property in Egypt for Hilton Worldwide and its second inside the city of Alexandria.

    With a key specialise in the brand’s signature service and grace standards, the refurbishment and rebranding programme covered most of the hotel’s public areas including bedrooms, restaurants in addition to the outside and hotel grounds.

    Enhancements also incorporated cutting-edge in-room amenities combined with new stylish bedroom furnishings and guests at Hilton Alexandria Corniche will particularly welcome the introduction of complimentary wi-fi now offered inside the hotel.

    The renovation also included the hotel’s Royal Floor, which have been significantly upgraded and enhanced in classic baroque style.

    Rob Palleschi, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts said: “For over five decades, Hilton Hotels & Resorts was the hotel brand of choice for visitors to Egypt and i’m proud and delighted our legacy continues as we officially open the lovely Hilton Alexandria Corniche within the vibrant and exciting community of Egypt’s second city.”

    Hilton Alexandria Corniche enjoys a main location in an exclusive district of Alexandria, at the Corniche and overlooking the beachfront and beyond to the Mediterranean Sea.

    Offering the ideal blend of proactive, friendly service inclusive of welcoming features, the hotel boasts a magnificent list of amenities designed to advertise business productivity in addition to time for relaxation.

    Rudi Jagersbacher, president, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East & Africa said: “Hilton Worldwide enjoys an enviable status because the foremost international hotel operator in Egypt and today’s opening further enhances our proud reputation.

    “Hilton Alexandria Corniche perfectly complements our city based property, Hilton Alexandria Green Plaza, and is a welcome boost to our growing, quality portfolio for Middle East & Africa.”

  • NTA eyes adverse impacts of sequestration on travel

    Across-the-board sequestration cuts for an array of federal government functions are commencing to take a toll on travel to and throughout the U.s.a.. And meaning trouble for tourism, an NTA leader warns.

    “NTA is rather concerned that cutbacks in funding may have negative impacts on visitation, jobs, the U.S. economy and the balance of trade,” said Lisa Simon, president of NTA. “Tourism is an investment that produces jobs and revenue that support the remainder of the U.S. economy, and these cuts may cause serious ripple effects.”

    Simon added that the sequester cuts come at a foul time. In a contemporary survey, NTA members reported a rebound in 2012 business following a protracted economic slowdown, and the vast majority of all members projected an excellent brighter 2013—tour operators (59 percent), suppliers (70 percent) and DMOs (74 percent).

    Sequestration took effect on March 1, however the full impact of federal reductions in personnel hours and operating budgets continues to mount. NTA is most closely following cuts in five areas that directly impact tourism:
    *  FAA air traffic controllers: Furloughs began yesterday and flight delays started today.
    *  Transportation Security Administration personnel
    *  Customs and Border Protection officers at airports and border crossings
    *  consulate offices overseas, which process visas and conduct interviews
    *  federal parks and public lands, where staffing reductions will limit or delay access

    Simon said NTA also is anticipating increased fees at U.S. national parks, diverted operational funds for parks and public lands, and changes to funding for marketing america as a global destination.

    “NTA will keep a detailed eye on how these issues impact the travel economy and our members’ livelihoods, and we shall work with other travel organizations to tell Congress and the Obama administration concerning the significant, adverse effects of sequestration,” said Simon. “The travel sector must increase its efforts to assist public policy makers understand the specter of reduced funding.”

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