Manchester Airport expecting festive getaway rush of 620,000 travellers

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Around 620,000 passengers are set to travel through Manchester Airport over the Christmas and New Year holiday period – an increase of 4.5% or 27,000 on the same period last year (593,000). The busiest day of the ‘Getaway’ period – which runs from Friday 21st December, 2012 to Friday 4th January, 2013… Read the full press release

Meliá Hotels International raises more than €750,000 amongst guests and employees for UNICEF – Spain

A three year agreement was signed at the end of 2010 to help increase awareness and raise funds for projects focused on preventing child exploitation The hotel company has already exceeded the agreement’s €600,000 fundraising goal Palma de Mallorca, 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — “Mission accomplished”. This is how Gabriel Escarrer, Vice Chairman and CEO of Meliá… Read the full press release

SIA Unveils $95 Million Upgrade Of B777-200ER Cabins

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Singapore Airlines will be investing nearly SGD$95 million to refit ten Boeing 777-200ER aircraft with new long-haul cabin products to provide customers with additional space and comfort. The cabin upgrade programme will provide greater product consistency across the Airline’s long-haul fleet, with Business Class seats that convert into full-flat beds and larger in-flight… Read the full press release

EASA successfully re-attested Aeroflot for Airbus and Boeing aircraft technical maintenance

MOSCOW, 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has successfully recertified Aeroflot for technical maintenance of airplanes made by Airbus and Boeing till August 2014. The first EASA certificate was received by the air company in 1996 and since that time Aeroflot has been consistently re-attested by EASA safety auditors, demonstrating the highest professional skills of the carrier’s technical ground team…. Read the full press release

Hard Work Makes Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens Happen

Hard Work Makes Holiday Lights at Garvan Woodland Gardens Happen

Article follows the photos. Click on a thumbnail to view and download a high-resolution version of the image. Due to the large file size of the high-res images, they may take a few minutes to appear. You must be logged in to view the high-res images. ore than two million holiday lights illuminate Garvan Woodland Gardens… Read the full press release

Nominations Being Accepted for AH&LA’s Stars of the Industry Awards Competition

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), the national trade association representing all sectors and stakeholders in the lodging industry, is seeking nominations for the 2013 Stars of the Industry Awards competition.  The competition recognizes employee and lodging property achievement in 11 categories, including Outstanding Lodging Employee of the Year, Outstanding General… Read the full press release

EU and EUROCONTROL sign agreement on enhanced cooperation

Brussels, Belgium – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — On the sidelines of the Transport Council meeting today, the European Union and the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation (EUROCONTROL) signed an agreement establishing a new and stable framework for enhanced cooperation (13792/12). The agreement, which lists the areas of cooperation and defines the forms and… Read the full press release

Schiphol welcomes 50 millionth passenger of 2012

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — This morning, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol welcomed the 50 millionth passenger of 2012. This is the first time in the airport’s history that more than 50 million passengers travelled via Schiphol in a single year. Mrs Edith Smits from Veghel, who arrived on KL0836 from Singapore, was welcomed at the gate by Schiphol… Read the full press release

Winter Coat Storage Service at Flughafen Frankfurt

Winter Coat Storage Service at Flughafen Frankfurt

Head for the Sun Light and Easy 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Those flying from Frankfurt to spend the Christmas holidays in warmer climes now no longer have to lug their heavy winter coats with them. For only 50 euro cents a day, they can leave them behind in Frankfurt and head south with a weight off… Read the full press release

Paradise Playgrounds for Fun-Loving Families at Four Seasons Resorts Maldives

Kuda Huraa

Marine Discovery Centres, diving and surfing, programs for kids and teens, spa and more await Maldives at Kuda Huraa, Republic of Maldives – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Embark on the ultimate family adventure with Four Seasons Resorts Maldives. Double the sense of discovery with two diverse paradise playgrounds, seamlessly linked by a thrilling seaplane ride* or, for those blessed… Read the full press release

Pan-Asian Ceramics: Export, Import, and Influence from the Collection of the Asian Art Museum, San Francisco

New exhibition presents ninth- to eighteenth century ceramics from China, Korea, Japan, Persia, Vietnam, and Thailand SAN FRANCISCO — 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — International trade has occurred since Ancient times.  The exchange of ceramics, an important trade good, informed design styles and production techniques across a vast geographical region.  China, which exerted the largest influence on the worldwide… Read the full press release

A Lot of Bottle This Christmas at London City Airport

Aelia Duty Free

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — If you find a gift under the tree from a loved one who has taken a flight from London recently, there’s a good chance it will come in a bottle. London City Airport [LCY] has reported record sales of perfume and alcohol in December, with around £7,000 worth of champagne being sold… Read the full press release

BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport Offers Excellent Transit Access for Holiday Travelers

Rail and Bus Service Provide Convenient Alternatives 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — As thousands of passengers prepare to fly for the holidays, travelers are reminded of the many transit alternatives offered at Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport. BWI Marshall provides among the best transit access of any major U.S. airport. “We work very hard to provide a… Read the full press release

Indianapolis Airport ready to welcome holiday travelers

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — According to Airlines for America (A4A), a trade organization that represents major airlines, this holiday season will once again feature very full flights, with load factors hovering between 85 and 90 percent during the period, which A4A defines as December 17, 2012 through January 6, 2013. A4A projects nearly 42 million people… Read the full press release

2.24 MILLION PASSENGERS EXPECTED AT LAX DURING HOLIDAY SEASON; 5.38 PERCENT INCREASE OVER LAST YEAR

Los Angeles, California – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Passenger volume at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is expected to increase 5.38 percent to nearly 2.24 million passengers this upcoming holiday travel season, compared to 2.13 million actual passengers last year.  The 13-day holiday travel period begins Friday, December 21, and continues through Wednesday, January 2, 2013. The… Read the full press release

Getting in the Mood – Marriott Hotels & Resorts Mood Reader Ranks as One of Spotify’s Most Popular Brand Campaigns

Getting in the Mood - Marriott Hotels & Resorts Mood Reader Ranks as One of Spotify’s Most Popular Brand Campaigns

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Marriott Mood Reader, a new Spotify content experience from Marriott Hotels & Resorts, has become one of the most successful campaigns in the history of Spotify.  The Marriott Mood Reader matches music to the listener’s mood, allows users to create mood-based playlists and offers them the chance to win fun prizes…. Read the full press release

New Year brings Norwegian Airlines and a new route to Copenhagen from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

New Year brings Norwegian Airlines and a new route to Copenhagen from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — With the New Year just a few days away, staff at Liverpool John Lennon Airport are celebrating the news today that a new airline will be starting from Liverpool next year with a new route to add to the Airport’s list of 60 destinations. Europe’s third largest low cost airline, Norwegian have… Read the full press release

British Airways’ Christmas Getaway

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Tomorrow (December 21, 2012) is British Airways’ busiest day of the festive period as nearly 111,000 travellers get away for the Christmas break across the airline’s network. Christmas Day will see nearly 31,000 people travel with British Airways. At 00:01 on Christmas morning there will be 58 planes in the air which… Read the full press release

Self-service passport control at Oslo Airport

Self-service passport control at Oslo Airport

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — As the first airport in Norway, Oslo Airport can now offer travellers arriving from Non-Schengen countries a simpler and more efficient passport control. The service is called EasyPass and was implemented on 17 December with full operation from 7 January 2013. The service is available to travellers who hold a Norwegian biometric… Read the full press release

Budapest Airport, Last minute goose liver and Tokaj wine from Heinemann

Budapest Airport, Last minute goose liver and Tokaj wine from Heinemann

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Heinemann Duty Free is opening a new shop which will primarily sell Hungarian products at Terminal 2A of Budapest Airport. Passengers rushing to catch Schengen-internal flights will thus have an opportunity to grab some high-quality presents from Hungary for their loved ones before boarding.The new, 140-square-meter outlet at Terminal 2A will be… Read the full press release

Ryanair Welcomes CAA’s “Market Power” Assessment At Stansted

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, welcomed today’s (20 Dec) publication by the CAA of its “minded to” assessment of Stansted’s market power. The CAA is minded to rule that Stansted has market power, and accordingly must be subject to effective regulation to protect the reasonable interests of Stansted’s users (airlines and… Read the full press release

U.S. Travel Association, No-Hassle Flying Act Enacted into Law

Washington, D.C. – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — A bill that improves the baggage screening process for international travelers to the U.S. and was a key recommendation of the U.S. Travel Association’s Blue Ribbon Panel on Aviation Security has been enacted into law today. “The No-Hassle Flying Act will maintain security while improving the travel experience for… Read the full press release

Hilton Hotels & Resorts Welcomes Hotel Tampa To Portfolio

Hilton Hotels & Resorts announced its second property in Tampa, Fla., with the opening of s Hotel Tampa, an affiliate of Hilton. Credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Hotel in the Heart of Downtown Will Undergo Major Renovation During Transition TAMPA, Fla. and MCLEAN, Va. – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hilton Hotels & Resorts, the flagship brand of Hilton Worldwide, today announced its second property in Tampa, Fla., with the reflagging of Hyatt Regency Tampa as Hotel Tampa, an affiliate of Hilton. Prior to being… Read the full press release

Air France, 3 YEARS AFTER ITS LAUNCH, PREMIUM ECONOMY HAS SUCCESSFULLY MET ITS OBJECTIVES

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Three years after its launch, Air France has received very satisfactory results for its Premium Economy product, the intermediate cabin class situated between Business and Economy cabins on board long-haul aircraft. Premium Economy, a tool for winning back business, is popular among customers and is proving to be a highly attractive product… Read the full press release

EASYJET STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO CAA’S ANNOUNCEMENT ON THE REGULATION OF STANSTED AIRPORT

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — “easyJet welcomes the CAA’s announcement that it views Stansted as a monopoly airport. “Continued regulation of Stansted will protect the interests of all passengers who use the airport. “easyJet encourages the CAA to continue to view Gatwick as a monopoly airport which also requires regulation to protect passengers’ interests.” ###

Gatwick disappointed by CAA’s initial ruling to continue to regulate Stansted

Competition protects passenger interests better than regulation Stansted and Gatwick should both be de-regulated to promote healthy competition between London airports 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — On Thursday 20 December 2012, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) announced that it was minded to continue regulating Stansted Airport once it moves into new ownership. Gatwick Airport responded by saying:… Read the full press release

Bristol Airport prepares for a busy Christmas

Bristol Airport prepares for a busy Christmas

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bristol Airport is preparing for a busy period in the run up to Christmas, with over 56,000 passengers expected to pass through the terminal over the course of four days from Friday 21 December. As well as those heading for sunnier climes or visiting friends and family overseas for the festive season,… Read the full press release

Renaissance Hotels Kicks Off Global “Year of Discovery”

Renaissance Hotels Kicks Off Global “Year of Discovery”

Brand Rings in New Year with RLife Events Worldwide 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Renaissance Hotels (www.renhotels.com) is encouraging guests and locals to kick off a “Year of Discovery” and ring in 2013 with unique RLife LIVE events at nearly 100 Renaissance properties worldwide in celebration of the upcoming New Year. This special seasonal initiative represents an… Read the full press release

U.S. Travel Applauds Expansion of TSA PreCheck to 35 Airports

Washington, D.C. – 2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — Statement by Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, regarding today’s Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announcement of John Wayne Airport as the 35th U.S. airport to participate in PreCheck: “Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano and TSA Administrator John Pistole deserve our thanks for their commitment… Read the full press release

Nothing Grad-ual About British Airways’ Scheme

2012-12-21 — /travelprnews.com/ — It is not your average graduate programme that offers the potential to deliver a multi-million pound project, aid the integration of state-of-the-art aircraft, manage an overseas operation and travel the world as a member of cabin crew. But then again, British Airways is not your average company. All of these opportunities, and… Read the full press release