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  • News: South African Airways launches new online training scheme

    South African Airways UK has launched its first ever Online Travel Training programme to teach UK agents concerning the national airline and increase knowledge at the on-board product.

    The comprehensive course can be available for all agents to access and includes details on several new innovations from South African Airways, including the recently launched mobile check-in app.

    Upon completion, agents would be ready to describe the South African Airways route network, understand the variation between SAA’s business and economy classes, identify the Voyager frequent flyer programme and its benefits, to assist support their customers.

    As an added incentive for participating inside the training, agents who successfully complete the course by Friday April 19th will automatically be entered right into a prize draw to win six bottles of award-winning South African wine, that is served on-board.

    The launch of the OTT follows the airline’s recent UK re-launch, Katie Edwards, marketing executive said, ‘We’re really enthusiastic about the launch on OTT. 

    “The current module explains all about us is an extremely short and fascinating way. 

    “It could be refreshed all year long as we bring forth board new and exciting changes and is a vital way by which SAA will work closely with the trade moving forward.”

  • Westin launches innovative New Balance gear lending programme

    Following a successful pilot programme, Westin Hotels & Resorts has launched its innovative fitness gear lending programme with New Balance.  Reinforcing the brand’s ongoing commitment to creating fitness convenient for travellers, all 190 Westin hotels all over at the moment are offering the exclusive product loan programme to guests, enabling more travellers to stick healthy and fit at the road. 

    From begin to finish, Westin Hotels & Resorts is devoted to creating wellbeing convenient for travellers.  For just $5, guests at Westin hotels worldwide including The Westin Paris – Vendôme; The Westin Grand, Berlin; The Westin Sydney; The Westin Palace, Madrid; The Westin Ny Grand Central; The Westin Cape Town; The Westin Tokyo and The Westin Dublin, can now borrow trainers with disposable insoles, in addition to quite a few men’s and women’s New Balance apparel including shorts, shirts and socks for men and shorts, capri pants, shirts, sports bras and socks for ladies.

    “Westin’s mission is to enable our guests to pursue their wellbeing when at the road and our partnership with New Balance not just makes packing much easier but provides an answer for those travellers who forget their workout gear or choose to exercise last-minute.  The programme also helps us to continue to deliver on personalised experiences for our guests round the world”, said Brian Povinelli, Global Brand Leader, Westin Hotels & Resorts.

    In celebration of the Gear Lending launch, on Tuesday 5th March associates on the Westin Dublin participated in a 5k run round the city, taking a scenic tour of Trinity College, Grafton Street and St. Stephen’s Green.  Following the run, participants were treated to a SuperFoods lunch within the hotel’s Exchange restaurant.

    Andrew Henning, General Manager on the Westin Dublin, said of the initiative: “We are thrilled to have the ability to bring this exciting programme to guests on the Westin Dublin.  With the ability to borrow New Balance gear from the hotel will really lighten the burden in case you want to stay active when travelling.”

    Westin’s decision to launch the gear lending programme globally was driven by the unprecedented positive feedback from users of the pilot programme which launched in 10 target markets in 2010.  Guests also rated the gym within the top five amenities they appear for in a hotel and usually tend to decide to training session with the recent Balance programme in place.

  • Katara joins forces with Aspire Zone

    Contributing to the Qatar National Vision 2030, Katara, the Cultural Village and Aspire Zone Foundation today signed a Memorandum of Understanding which supports arts and culture within the realm of sports. The signing was attended by Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara and Hilal bin Jaham Al Kuwari, Head of Aspire Zone.

    The aim of the agreement is for both partners to jointly cooperate to within the promotional and marketing activities, in addition to the organization of special events. The partnership will contribute to the notice of cultural and sports through festivals, exhibitions, seminars and other sports and cultural activities which is able to encourage citizens and residents of Qatar to take part in these activities.

    Commenting at the occasion, Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, General Manager, Katara said: “We are delighted to affix forces with Aspire Zone, the agreement may have a major positive impact at the community by highlighting the significance of Sports through arts and culture. The agreement supports the Qatar National Vision 2030, which promotes an active and healthy lifestyle, and we aim to coach, entertain and inform the Qatari people and residents through culture.”

    The agreement also aims to provide and distribute cultural and sports publications that reflect the goals of the 2 institutions. The 2 parties will cooperate with local and international institutions, including ministries and other government agencies and corporations within the private sector.

    Hilal bin Jaham Al Kuwari, President of Aspire Zone commented, “We are pleased to announce this partnership which we believe will benefit all segments of society. We will be able to work on together to create a healthy Qatar by integrating sport and culture. We glance forward to working with Katara to deliver the events and activities we’ve lined up.”

    As portion of the partnership, the 2 institutions will appoint a coordinator who shall be accountable for maintaining the connection in keeping with a strategic plan prepared by the 2 institutions. Both parties, who’ve previously collaborated on several occasions, might be presenting many events and activities within the coming months.

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  • News: LATAM set for oneworld membership

    LATAM Airlines Group has confirmed it’ll be a member of the oneworld airline alliance.

    The decision, announced at a gathering of the oneworld governing board held in Hong Kong, means Brazil’s TAM Airlines will leave the Star Alliance to enroll in oneworld, together with its Paraguay subsidiary.

    Their transition is anticipated to be completed during 2014’s second quarter.

    LAN Colombia, the most recent portion of LAN, will join oneworld as an affiliate member, within the fourth quarter of 2013.

    With Chile’s LAN Airlines flying as a whole member of oneworld since June 2000 and LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador and LAN Peru added since as affiliate members, today’s announcement will bring all of Latin America’s top airline group into the identical global airline alliance.

    It will take its place alongside 11 of any other leading carriers from world wide and 30 in their affiliates.

    An exact date for TAM’s departure from the Star Alliance may be announced in the end. 

    The intention is for it to become portion of oneworld immediately after it exits Star.

    oneworld governing board chairman Tom Horton said: “Membership of Latin America’s leading airline group, LATAM Airlines Group, in oneworld represents a huge landmark in our journey towards establishing oneworld firmly because the first choice airline alliance for travelers not only around the Americas, however the world over.

  • News: New leadership for Dusit in Middle East

    Leading Asian hospitality group Dusit International has appointed Thierry Douin as its regional vp for the center East & Africa.

    Douin will act because the figurehead for Dusit International within the region, overseeing the company’s expansion efforts, driving operational performance and supervising the outlet of recent hotels from his base within the Dubai Regional Office.

    A passionate and experienced hotelier, Douin have been within the industry for greater than 35 years.

    He has managed luxury hotels in lots of parts of the sector, including in Hong Kong, Bangkok, Singapore, Dubai, Jakarta and Caracas for different groups, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and most recently, Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts.

    Douin, a French national, is a graduate of the Hotel & Catering School in Granville, France and is an authorized Hotel Administrator and authorized Food and Beverage Executive with the yank Hotel and Motel Association.

    Over the process his career, he has attended various executive programs together with the posh Brand Management Program at ESSEC Business School, the Asian International Executive Program at INSEAD Business School and the overall Manager’s Program on the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University.

    “This is an exhilarating and critical time to enroll in the corporate, whilst it’s fascinated by expansion and growth,” said Douin on his appointment.

    “I hope my experience will strengthen the team and that i stay up for capitalising at the great legacy of the Dusit brand inside the MEA region, where it’s been in operation for greater than a decade.”