InterCity West Coast franchise

Virgin Trains issued the following statement on 15 October 2012: 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Our customers have made clear they want Virgin Trains to continue its excellent service and we now have the chance to deliver that and offer customers some short-term continuity. We will now be working hard to make sure we continue to provide… Read the full press release

UNWTO launches Global Partnership for the Hotel Industry

Madrid, 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — UNWTO has launched, in cooperation with representatives of leading international, regional and national hotel associations, a Global Partnership for the Hotel Industry aimed to bring the industry together to share best practices and find common positions on issues such as hotel quality, distribution or major consumer trends (Madrid, Spain, October 4, 2012)…. Read the full press release

Chef Alan Chan, Chinese Executive Chef from Jiang-Nan Chun at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Brings Cantonese Flavour to Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake

Chef Alan Chan

Chef Chan’s signature dishes presented at Jin Sha October 17-28 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — One of China’s eight major cuisines, Cantonese cuisine is known for its unique style and flavour. At the award-winning Jiang-Nan Chun restaurant at Four Seasons Hotel Singapore, Chef Alan Chan and his team cook up authentic Cantonese dishes that make the restaurant a must-go. Born and… Read the full press release

Massport Schedules October Board Meeting

Massport Schedules October Board Meeting 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The next meeting of the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport) Board will be held on Thursday, October 18, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. at Massport’s Executive Offices located at the Logan Office Center, One Harborside Drive, East Boston, MA. A draft agenda will be posted prior to the Board Meeting. View… Read the full press release

GBTA and Egencia® Study Shows Travel Professionals Gaining Control of Travel Policies in Europe

Report Ranks Top 10 Most Important Factors in Defining Policy  Alexandria, Va., Bellevue, Wash., Paris, London, Munich, 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel professionals are playing an increasingly large and influential role in shaping and controlling business travel policy, aided by online booking tools and fueled by a growing focus on cost-saving efforts, according to a new… Read the full press release

The Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry commits to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics

Madrid, 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Federal Association of the German Tourism Industry (BTW) has signed the Private Sector Commitment to the UNWTO Global Code of Ethics for Tourism, joining the growing number of private sector companies and associations which have pledged to the principles of the Code (Berlin, Germany, 8-9 October). The signing, held in the… Read the full press release

News Brief: Aviation is a Critical Component of the Saudi Arabian Economy

IATA presents Benefits of Aviation Study to H. H. Prince Fahad Alabdullah 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jeddah The International Air Transport Association (IATA) presented the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with a study quantifying the economic benefits of aviation to the Saudi Arabian economy. The study was commissioned by IATA and completed by Oxford Economics…. Read the full press release

ART Restaurant Introduces Bespoke Breakfast Menu at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle

Healthy items include red quinoa skillet with sautéed greens and beans

New menu features sweet and savoury customized selections, to-go items and a Brekky Buffet at amazing value 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — ART Restaurant’s new menu at Four Seasons Hotel Seattle offers breakfast lovers and power breakfast-goers an assortment of items to start the day off right. ART’s friendly service and warm ambiance is paired with a customizable menu when creating a… Read the full press release

Durban International Airport site now in Transnet’s name

Durban International Airport site now in Transnet’s name

2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Airports Company South Africa is pleased to report that the R1,85 billion sale of the  Durban International Airport site in Durban’s South Basin to Transnet has now been concluded, with the property  registered in Transnet’s name with effect from 1 October 2012. This is the conclusion of a lengthy process which started… Read the full press release

Ryanair Launches Foreign Exchange Services On Ryanair.Com With Moneycorp Partnership

2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (15 Oct) announced a partnership with foreign exchange specialists, Moneycorp, which will allow Ryanair’s UK passengers to access currency exchange services through the Ryanair.com website, have their currency delivered straight to their door and make huge savings on their transactions. Ryanair’s UK passengers can now… Read the full press release

Senior Volunteer at Midway Celebrates Milestone Birthday

Volunteer Airport Ambassador Lucille Serafin at a Midway Information Booth

CHICAGO, 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today is a special day for one Volunteer Ambassador at Midway International Airport. It’s birthday number 95 for Lucille Serafin, who has worked at the airport since 2001. Serafin volunteers for two, four-hour shifts a month. She says she has greeted many travelers from all over the world and that she feels… Read the full press release

Alaska Airlines Begins Nonstop Service Between San Diego and Orlando, Fla.

SEATTLE — 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines today launched nonstop service between Orlando, Fla., and San Diego. The carrier will fly between the two cities five times a week. “We’re thrilled to launch our fourth new market in San Diego this year alone,” said Joe Sprague, Alaska Airlines’ vice president of marketing. “Alaska’s new flight… Read the full press release

One year on: Signature Experiences Collection® case studies Vol. 2: EdgeWalk at the CN Tower

The giant of the Toronto skyline has enjoyed astonishing media exposure as part of CTC’s program. 2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — If you’re scared of heights, take a deep breath before reading on. One of the tourism success stories in the past year has been the EdgeWalk at the CN Tower, Toronto, ON. With guests dangling over a thousand feet above the… Read the full press release

End of ‘BAA’

2012-10-15 — /travelprnews.com/ — From today the name BAA will be dropped. Heathrow, Glasgow, Aberdeen Southampton and Stansted Airports will operate solely under their own stand-alone brand. Heathrow Chief Executive, Colin Matthews, said: “We are a different company today from when BAA was formed. Over the last few years we have sold our stakes in Gatwick,… Read the full press release