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  • News: Hawaiian Airlines takes to the air for brand new Zealand

    Hawaiian Airlines today launched non-stop service to Auckland, the newest addition to its expanding international network. The primary flight lands in Auckland at 6.55pm today.

    The arrival of HA445 might be followed by gate side festivities that included Hawaiian music and hula, a performance honoring the Maori culture and a normal Hawaiian blessing.

    “We were delighted by the interest in our new service, both here at home and in New Zealand,” said Mark Dunkerley, Hawaiian’s president and CEO. “The deep cultural connections between our islands and the islands of Aotearoa make New Zealand a natural destination for Hawaiian and for our singular brand of authentic Hawaiian hospitality.”

    Among the VIP guests at the inaugural flight are seven crewmembers of the conventional sailing canoe Hokule`a, whose groundbreaking 1985 voyage from Hawaii to Waitangi reintroduced the practice of celestial navigation to the Maori culture. The gang is led by Hokule`a and Polynesian Voyaging Society captain Nainoa Thompson.

    With today’s inaugural, Hawaiian Airlines becomes the single U.S. carrier flying into Auckland. Hawaiian’s market research indicates that non-stop service will release pent-up demand in New Zealand for a Hawai’i vacation. There are currently 30% fewer arrivals from New Zealand than in 1999 when both destinations were served by more non-stop flights.

    In addition, Hawaiian Airlines’ trans-Pacific and interisland route networks allow convenient connections throughout Hawai’i and in to 11 U.S. gateway destinations.

    “Hawai’i is an ideal midpoint destination for the type of extended vacation that New Zealanders prefer, and we’re ideally situated to supply dual-destination holidays and straightforward connections from Auckland to places like San Francisco, Las Vegas or Ny city,” commented Dunkerley. “And that works in reverse in addition, making it easier than ever for U.S. residents to benefit from the wonders of recent Zealand.”

    Auckland Airport General Manager Aeronautical Commercial, Glenn Wedlock, says it’s great to claim aloha to Hawaiian Airlines and welcome them to New Zealand.

    “It is astounding to have this kind of significant and fast growing US based carrier as Hawaiian Airlines arrive to aid develop and stimulate markets both outbound and inbound to Hawaii and the mainland Country. The demand is definitely there and with holiday packages to Hawaii now around $1400 and airfare of $1599 to popular destinations reminiscent of Las Vegas or $1799 to The big apple we’re seeing great market response and we forecast traffic doubling at the route.

    “In fact as a result of high demand for his or her impending service, Hawaiian has already increased the selection of their flights from three to four a week throughout the peak period, that is outstanding news for travellers. New campaigns have recently been launched inside the US market promoting to US consumers the hot flights and we think to determine relatively untapped inbound markets corresponding to San Diego, Seattle, Las Vegas and Long island reply to a brand new and convenient way of visiting New Zealand.”

    Tourism New Zealand’s Chief Executive Kevin Bowler welcomes Hawaiian Airlines’ arrival and echoes these sentiments, adding they’re working along with the airline to advertise travel to New Zealand.

    “The U.s. is an important marketplace for New Zealand leisure and business travel, and is a key focus for our marketing efforts given the numerous potential for growth that exists. Tourism New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines and Auckland Airport shall be launching a brand new three way partnership campaign on 19 March, set to run for the following month, offering a competitive fare for travellers from the West Coast of the us to Auckland. Within the coming days we are going to even be hosting a number of Hawaiian Airlines’ key travel trade agents and travel bloggers, giving them an unforgettable 100% Pure New Zealand experience.”

    In celebration of the beginning of Hawaiian Airlines Auckland service, iconic tourist landmark the Auckland Sky Tower can be lit in Hawaiian Airlines colours for 3 nights.

    Hawaiian Airlines will operate three flights per week between Honolulu and Auckland using a 294-seat A330-200 aircraft.

    Hawaiian Airlines’ Flight HA 445 will depart Honolulu International Airport at 1:45pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, cross the international dateline, and land at Auckland Airport at 9:55pm day after today. Flight HA 446 will depart Auckland at 11:55pm every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, cross the international dateline, and arrive in Honolulu at 9:45am a similar day.

    Travellers on Hawaiian Airlines enjoy an inflight experience not offered by every other airline. From the instant they board, Hawaiian’s signature ‘Mea Ho‘okipa’ (translation: i’m host) onboard hospitality engages them within the flight with its warm and friendly celebration of the culture, people, and Aloha Spirit of the Hawaiian Islands.

    The comfort, roominess and amenities of Hawaiian’s new A330 aircraft will add to the joy of customers’ travel experience at the new route. With high-resolution LCD touch-screen monitors in each seatback, the A330’s state-of-the-art entertainment system lets customers choose between a variety of movies, TV programmes, music, and games, while also offering a USB port for using their very own personal media players. Customers sitting in Business Class may even enjoy iPod compatibility.

    As a whole service leisure carrier, Hawaiian provides all of its passengers between New Zealand and Hawaii with complimentary meals, drinks and blankets, in addition to selected in-seat video entertainment on its A330 aircraft.

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  • Avoid taking a taxi from Tokyo airport to city centre, it’ll cost you just about £200

    For the millions of Britons warding off this summer to holiday destinations around the globe, or if you happen to go on regular weekend breaks to mainland Europe, taking a taxi from the airport to a city centre hotel is mostly the handiest and fastest approach to travel. But how much or little are Brits deciding to buy this convenience

    New research from travel money specialist Moneycorp looks on the cost of a taxi ride – not booked beforehand – from a few of the major international airports in Europe and the remainder of the area, to the town centre. Moneycorp checked out the most well-liked destinations for British holidaymakers, and results were ranked by cost per kilometre, as some airport to city centre transfers were dearer because of the journey distance. The consequences revealed huge differences in price, even within mainland Europe, with taxi fares potentially adding hundreds of pounds onto the price of a vacation or weekend break.

    European destinations fill six of the pinnacle seven places for many expensive airport to city centre taxi transfers. But top of the pile is Tokyo. A taxi ride from Tokyo Narita airport to the centre of town, 66 km away, will set tourists back almost £200, or a price per km of £2.90. That’s even with sterling strengthening against the yen since last summer by greater than 24%. Take a taxi both ways, and also you might be watching an eye fixed-watering £400 additional expense on top of all of your other holiday costs.

    Ranking by £ per km, Copenhagen (Denmark) is the costliest airport-city centre taxi transfer in Europe. Although the taxi journey from Copenhagen airport to the town centre is barely 8km, the common fare is £34.08, which equates to £4.26 per km. A better costliest is Geneva (Switzerland) to centre of Geneva. Again the adventure is brief, only 6km, but will set holidaymakers back a regular of £22.63 or £3.77 per km.

    On price alone, the 45km taxi ride from Oslo’s Gardermoen airport to the town centre costs an eye fixed-watering £73.45. That implies a round trip will set people back almost £150 (£146.90). Oslo is closely followed by Milan Malpensa airport to the centre of Milan, with a purpose to leave holidaymakers out of pocket by the princely sum of £70.25.

    In terms of the least expensive airport-city centre taxi rides, Delhi’s Indira Ghandi International to the centre of Delhi, will set you back just £2.69 for the 16km journey, or £0.17 per km. It’s closely followed by Thailand’s Suvernabhumi airport to Bangkok central, where a 30km taxi ride costs just £5.63 or £0.19 per km.

    The next three cheapest destinations are in Europe; Sofia airport to city centre (£0.22 per km), Istanbul Ataturk airport (£0.24 per km), and Ottopeni airport (£0.28 per km), that’s 17km outside Bucharest. On price alone, Sofia airport-city centre transfer works out cheapest at £2.17, followed by Bucharest (£4.79), Istanbul (£6.01) and Warsaw (£8.11).

    In terms of distance, the international airports that are furthest from town centre are: Tokyo Narita (66km), Reykjavik Keflavik (48km), Milan Malpensa (46km), Oslo Gardermoen (45km), Stockholm Arlanda (43km), Buenos Aires Ministro Pistarini (35km) and Hong Kong (34km). The nearest are Geneva (6km), Copenhagen (8km) and Lisbon’s Portela airport (9km).

    Tracey Tivnan, head of selling for Travel Money at Moneycorp, comments:  “Taking a taxi from the airport isn’t the cheapest option in comparison to taking the train or bus, however it is often the well-liked option as a result of sheer convenience of being taken from right outside the terminal to a hotel. For those arriving late at night in unfamiliar territory, the very last thing any folks wish to do is navigate foreign transport systems. We wish to get to our hotel as quickly as possible, with out a hassle.

    “What our research into airport taxi costs reveals is the wide variation in taxi fares looking on which country you’re visiting. And this additional cost can make an enormous dent for your holiday budget if you’re not careful or prepared. If the airport to city centre taxi ride is especially expensive, like in Tokyo, then taking the bus or train could be the only option – so it’s worth finding out the local transport system earlier. Alternatively, you are ready to book a taxi before you travel, which can be significantly cheaper than flagging down a taxi outside the airport.

    “It’s interesting that a few of the biggest variations in taxi costs are in mainland Europe. As an example, the taxi fare from Milan Malpensa airport to the town centre will cost you greater than £70. This compares to only £2.17 from Sofia airport to the centre of Sofia. And with sterling greater than 6% weaker against the euro since last July, taxi fares may be much more expensive in Europe this summer.”

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  • News: Hilton opens dual-branded properties

    Home2 Suites by Hilton, announced the outlet of its first dual-branded property in collaboration with Hampton Hotels, the international brand of nearly 1,900 mid-priced properties worldwide.

    Located in Huntsville, Ala., the hotel houses two distinct brands under one roof — the 77-suite Home2 Suites and a 98-room Hampton Inn & Suites — each catering to diverse market segments with enhanced amenities and offerings.

    “Home2 Suites by Hilton’s dual-branded model is designed to maximise resources while minimizing costs for owners and developers,” said Bill Duncan, global head, Home2 Suites by Hilton. “These cost savings allow two leading brands to provide business and leisure travelers access to a price-conscious product and high-quality services in a single convenient location where they would like to remain.”
    “Hampton Hotels is in the middle of an exhilarating growth period and this new dual-branded property is a hallmark of what’s to come back from us someday,” said Phil Cordell, global head, focused service and Hampton brand management, Hilton Worldwide. “This kind of project is an innovative way for us to open the door to travelers new to the Hampton brand, allowing them to experience our signature amenities including our free hot breakfast, free Wi-Fi and the clean and fresh Hampton bed®. We’re excited to peer this hotel open as dual builds are an awesome solution to streamline operating costs for our franchisees and confirm efficiencies around the board.”

    Located at 7010 Unit #3, Governor’s West Drive in Huntsville, Ala., the four-story hotel complex features shared meeting spaces, pool facilities and a joint health club that may be enjoyed by all guests. The valuables services business travelers visiting Fortune 500 companies, manufacturing centers and retail corporations located within the area. Huntsville could also be home to the Army’s Redstone Arsenal, NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, and Cummings Research Park, among other industries. The hotel also caters to tourists visiting the area’s many attractions, including the Huntsville Botanical Garden, the U.S. Space and Rocket Center, and the Alabama Constitution Village, among others.

    Hilton Worldwide has selected premier hotel development/management services firm LBA Hospitality to function this project’s third-party manager. Beau Benton, LBA President says, “We are thrilled to be a key a part of another Hilton Worldwide first; our General Manager Chrissy Wadsworth and her team are fully-prepared to offer our guests with ‘Southern hospitality’ at an awesome value.”

    Home2 Suites currently operates 16 hotels with 14 under construction and a powerful development pipeline of nearly 70 planned properties in the next eight years. For Hampton Hotels, the brand new property joins nearly 1,900 mid-priced properties worldwide and greater than 80 domestic and international properties expected to open in 2013. Additionally, the brand new property is anticipated to bring 45-50 jobs to the Huntsville area.

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  • Holiday Inn Express Romulus/Detroit Metro Airport opens

    IHG® (InterContinental Hotels Group) announces the outlet of the hot Holiday Inn Express® Romulus/Detroit Metro Airport, lower than a mile from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport, and fewer than half-hour from the downtown business district.

    The new hotel opens following a multimillion dollar remodeling that included renovations to every of its 110 guest rooms and the addition of a brand new business center, exercise room and guest laundry. Located at 7680 Merriman Rd. at Interstate 94, the hotel offers a free airport shuttle service 24 hours an afternoon and 7 days per week, in addition to a Park and Fly package, which incorporates a one-night stay and 8 days of parking at a safe facility next to the hotel.

    “We’re pleased to be welcoming the vacation Inn Express Romulus/Detroit Metro Airport into the vacation Inn brand family,” said Heather Balsley, senior vice chairman, Brand Management, Holiday Inn Brand Family, The Americas, IHG. “With greater than 2,100 properties worldwide and 450 more hotels within the pipeline, the vacation Inn Express brand portfolio continues to supply our guests with an enhanced-stay experience at a terrific value.”

    The Holiday Inn brand family’s $1BN global brand relaunch, the biggest project of its kind in hospitality history, continues to drive increased quality and consistency around the global portfolio. The hot hotel will feature a up to date image with emphasis on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest bath comfort and a redesigned logo and signage.

    “Holiday Inn Express is a fresh brand that matches well with the desires of tourists to the Detroit area, whether or not they are here for business or leisure,” said Chris Edwards, general manager. “Our goal is to present guests with unmatched comfort and convenience, and we’re sure they may enjoy each of the comforts our new Holiday Inn Express hotel has to present.”

    Business travelers will benefit from the hotel’s proximity to the business centers of Dearborn and Detroit – home of Ford Motor Company® and General Motors Company® respectively. The hotel can be near Eastern Michigan University and the University of Michigan’s Dearborn campus. Leisure travelers will find the hotel location convenient to the Henry Ford Museum, Noah Webster’s home – where the 1st American dictionary was written – and Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park laboratory.  Additionally, the Detroit sports venues of Comerica Park and Ford Field are only a brief drive away.

    The new Holiday Inn Express Romulus/Detroit Metro Airport hotel offers guests a cozy, yet affordable, stick with innovative, preferred-guest upgrades to make sure a pleasurable experience. The complimentary Express Start® breakfast bar encompasses a full range of breakfast items, including Smart Roast® coffee.

    The SimplySmartTM shower features a signature Stay SmartTM Kohler showerhead, upgraded 100% cotton terry towels and a custom line of cinnamon-scented bath products.  Guests will benefit from the SimplySmartTM bedding collection, where they’ll find crisp fresh bedding that includes a stunning decorative throw, a medium-weight duvet blanket and soft, 200 thread-count sheets. As well as its 24-hour business center, the hotel also offers a small meeting room and free wireless Internet service during the hotel.

    The Holiday Inn Express Romulus/Detroit Metro Airport, owned by the Koza family, and managed by Group 10 Management, is franchised by an affiliate of IHG. Reservations could be made by calling 1-800-HOLIDAY or by going to IHG.com/HolidayInnExpress.

    Holiday Inn Express hotels take part in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards, the industry’s first and biggest guest loyalty program, with 71 million members, offering free membership by enrolling online, via phone or by inquiring on the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s greater than 4,600 hotels worldwide.

    Holiday Inn Express hotels are modern hotels for value-oriented travelers.  Fresh, clean and uncomplicated, Holiday Inn Express hotels offer competitive rates for both business and leisure travelers.  Guests Stay Smart® at Holiday Inn Express hotels where they enjoy a free hot Express Start® Breakfast Bar, free high-speed Internet access and free local phone calls (U.S. and Canada only).  There are currently greater than 2,100 Holiday Inn Express hotel locations worldwide.

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  • Western & Oriental launches new USA programme

    Following on from the success of its existing North American ranch portfolio, luxury travel specialist Western & Oriental has launched a dedicated USA programme with a purpose to include an expansion of city breaks, fly drive itineraries and escorted tours in addition multi-centre holidays. The operator is aiming to provide a programme showcasing the various cultural highlights in addition to stunning destinations of the us including; cities, winelands and national parks.

    David Pointer, Head of Product for Western & Oriental says, “We have tried to supply something a piece different with our new USA programme, the core of that is tailor-made and goes far beyond a regular flight and hotel booking. The united states offers such diverse highlights and we can prepare personalised route maps for our fly-drive holidays in addition to delving deeper into the accommodation available to supply smaller boutique hotels for our city breaks.”

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