Loews Regency Hotel Announces Partnership with Renowned Hairstylist Julien Farel

Landmark Hotel Redefines Luxury Salon and Spa Experience New York, NY, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jonathan Tisch, Chairman of Loews Hotels & Resorts, today announced a partnership with renowned hairstylist Julien Farel to incorporate a state-of-the-art flagship salon at the renovated Loews Regency Hotel in New York City. Set to open fall 2013, the relocated Julien… Read the full press release

Concur Welcomes InterContinental Hotels Group as New Partner for Concur® Open Booking

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Powerful new option gives businesses the ability to connect every hotel booking made directly on IHG sites to their expense reporting and corporate travel program Redmond, Wash., March 26, 2013 – Concur (Nasdaq: CNQR), a global leader in integrated travel and expense management, today announced that IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) (LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG… Read the full press release

Smithsonian National Zoo’s Three-Month-Old Sloth Bear Cub Is a Boy!

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Asia Trail Curator Tony Barthel and keeper staff at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo have determined the sex of a 3-month-old sloth bear cub: it’s a boy! Keepers report that the cub is quite daring and adventurous; he will balance himself atop wobbly enrichment toys (such as logs and boomer balls) and has… Read the full press release

It’s Sunny and Raining Raisins for Play Days at San Diego Zoo

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Following a “raisin rain,” two lowland gorillas forage for the sweet treats in the thick grass of their exhibit at the San Diego Zoo on Tuesday. Twenty-four-year-old Paul Donn, a male silverback, and 18-year-old female gorilla Ndjia were treated to the fruit as part of the Zoo’s Play Days event, which highlights… Read the full press release

PATA will organise the PATA Youth Forum, with the theme, “Search, Connect, Experience – The Future of Tourism

Bangkok, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) will organise the PATA Youth Forum, with the theme, “Search, Connect, Experience – The Future of Tourism.” Hosted by the College of Innovation at Thammasat University, the Forum will take place Thursday April 25 at Sri Burapa Auditorium, Thammasat University, Tha Pra Chan Campus, Bangkok…. Read the full press release

S7 Airlines переходит на летнее расписание полетов

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — S7 Airlines, участник глобального авиационного альянса oneworld®, объявляет о введении с 31 марта 2013 года летнего расписания полетов, которое будет действовать до 26 октября 2013 года. В этот период авиакомпания будет выполнять рейсы по 134 направлениям в 25 странах. Пассажиров S7 Airlines традиционно ждут новые рейсы, в том числе, по европейским туристическим направлениям…. Read the full press release

Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch Prepares For Re-Opening

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Visitors to Christchurch will be able to see the rebuild of the city from its very heart when the centrally located Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch re-opens on May 1. The Rendezvous Hotel Christchurch has 171 guest rooms and occupies levels 4 to 15 of the Pacific Tower building on Gloucester Street, opposite recently… Read the full press release

ROSEWOOD MAYAKOBA PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE GOLF PACKAGE TO COINCIDE WITH THE OHL CLASSIC AT MAYAKOBA

Mexico’s Only PGA TOUR Event Moves to Fall Schedule Boasting Unencumbered Dates Riviera Maya, MEXICO, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — All eyes will be on the stunning El Camaleón Golf Club the week of November 11-17, 2013 for the OHL Classic at Mayakoba when the world’s top PGA TOUR players will have the opportunity to compete on… Read the full press release

Qatar Airways enters into a strategic agreement with SSP to operate F&B services at Doha’s new Hamad International Airport

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways has signed a joint venture with SSP, The Food Travel Experts, to work with its subsidiary Qatar Duty Free to operate 11 F&B outlets at the new Hamad International Airport, Doha. The project will be SSP’s first business venture in Qatar and is for a seven-year term, worth over US$190million in… Read the full press release

Warwick International Hotels appoints new tandem at the head of its hotels in Brussels

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — After six years at the head of its hotels in Brussels, Louis Vanheusden was offered by the Warwick International Hotels Group (WIH) new responsibilities of international stature. He will now oversee operations for the hotels of the Collection in North America. Consequently, WIH announced the appointment of Jacques Vitu the position of… Read the full press release

TORONTO PEARSON RECOGNIZED AS A LEADER IN AIR CARGO

Toronto, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Air Cargo Excellence Award has recognized Toronto Pearson as a leader in service standards and operational excellence as rated by airline staff and partners worldwide. The Air Cargo Excellence Awards were announced on March 14, 2013 in Doha, Qatar on the final evening of the IATA World Cargo Symposium. Toronto Pearson… Read the full press release

IHG commits to provide free internet to all its 71m loyalty members worldwide

New global research reveals free internet is more important than room service to travellers 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) today announced that it will be providing free internet to all its 71m loyalty programme members, worldwide. The announcement comes as IHG reveals the results of a global online survey* which show that nearly half… Read the full press release

London City Airport Secures Grant For ‘Internet of Things’ demonstrator – a concept being championed as the next wave of the internet

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — London City Airport has been awarded a grant by the Technology Strategy Board [TSB] to run an ‘Internet of Things’ demonstrator – a concept being championed as the next wave of the internet. The airport is one of a small number of organisations to secure funding for such a demonstrator project from… Read the full press release

Brussels Airport and Brussels Airlines test automated “self baggage drop-off”

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Brussels Airport, in cooperation with Brussels Airlines, launches a unique pilot project that will allow passengers on intra-European flights to check in their baggage themselves at the airport. The brand-new self-service baggage drop-off units, which will be exhaustively tested in the next few months, allow passengers to weigh and label their baggage… Read the full press release

Gatwick Airport is A380 ready

New stand showcases Gatwick’s development into a world-class aviation facility Larger aircraft are key to increasing passenger numbers going forward Stand will offer further opportunities to open new long-haul routes from Gatwick 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today marks a key milestone in Gatwick’s on-going transformation, as the airport officially opens its new £6.4 million pier-served A380… Read the full press release

Ninth Annual GBTA Canada Conference Continues to Impress

Toronto, ON., 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the premier business travel organization in Canada, concluded its first full-day of their 9th Annual Conference. The conference being held March 25-27, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre includes more than 400 corporate travel professionals from across Canada and around the world, and over 55… Read the full press release

Eurostar reported a strong performance in 2012 marked by rising passenger numbers and good growth in profitability

Passenger numbers grew 2% year-on-year to 9.9 million (2011: 9.7 million) with particularly good growth in travellers from outside EU – up 8% year-on-year Strong post-Olympic boost with traffic up 5% in quarter 4 Positive performance delivers operating profit of £52.3 million up from £25.0 million in 2011 Sales revenues broadly flat at £799 million… Read the full press release

China’s new national tourism strategy set to increase outbound tourism

Madrid, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — ‘The Outline for National Tourism and Leisure (2013-2020)’, recently issued by the government of China, sets the ground for the redefinition of tourism development and management in the country, including a strong support for outbound tourism as well as a focus on a greater distribution of the economic, socio-cultural and environmental benefits… Read the full press release

IATA called for government and industry to join forces to Improve Indian Aviation

Delhi, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) called for government and industry to join forces on a series of projects to enhance safety, security and efficiency in India. These would align with IATA’s longstanding calls for improved infrastructure, cost reduction and a relief from excessive taxation. “I propose a series of projects… Read the full press release

Now Boarding: Two New Around-the-World Trips on a Private Jet, Four Seasons Style

Embark on a tour of the Americas or visit 10 legendary destinations in 2014. 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Departure. Few words in the English language carry such excitement and promise (especially when spotted at an airport). It means you’re going places – in more ways than one. Now, after selling out all threeAround the World by… Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines makes a new and exciting partnership with Adams Golf

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — As the “Official Airline of Golf Lovers,” Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) teed off a series of initiatives building on its commitment to those who love the game of golf.  In addition to a new and exciting partnership with Adams Golf, maker of the #1 Hybrids on the PGA Tour, Southwest, the airline where… Read the full press release

An airberlin group first: First Airbus A320 with Sharklets delivered to NIKI

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — OE-LER, welcome to our fleet! The airberlin group became one of the first airlines in the world to receive its very first Airbus A320 equipped with fuel-saving Sharklets at the Airbus factory in Hamburg on 26th March 2013. The development sees the company further strengthen its position as Europe’s most eco-efficient network… Read the full press release

RYANAIR ANNOUNCES NEW PAY & ROSTER AGREEMENTS WITH CABIN CREW & PILOTS

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost carrier (ULCC), today (26 Mar) announced a new collective agreement with all its cabin crew, which will result in pay increases and favourable rostering arrangements across the airline, as well as new pilot agreements at the majority of those Ryanair bases whose long term pay deals were… Read the full press release

Copenhagen Airport launches Pick Up On Return

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today, Copenhagen Airport is launching a new service that allows travellers to shop before they travel and pick up their purchases at the airport on their return. The ‘Pick Up On Return’ service is free of charge and aimed at the many travellers who would like to shop but do not want… Read the full press release

Travelport announces a new long-term technology agreement with Holiday Genie

Langley, United Kingdom, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, a leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions and data for the global travel industry, today announces a new long-term technology agreement with Holiday Genie, a leading UK independent online travel agency. The new agreement builds upon 15 years’ technology partnership between Travelport and Holiday Genie, one of… Read the full press release

Finnair and Finavia’s Helsinki Airport launch Quality Hunters 2013 to seek out practical ways of improving the travel experience

What are the most memorable moments in travelling? How can the travel experience be made smoother and even more enjoyable? After two ground-breaking crowdsourcing initiatives, Finnair and Finavia’s Helsinki Airport know who to ask. In 2013, Quality Hunters returns — more interactive than ever. 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — On 26 March, Finnair, one of the world’s… Read the full press release

Travel industry warned not to mislead consumers when selling holidays

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel companies operating in the UK must provide consumers with clear, transparent and timely information when advertising and selling flights and holidays, states new guidance launched by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) today. The guidance is aimed at airlines, price comparison websites, travel agents and… Read the full press release

Heathrow is preparing for its busiest seven days of the year so far, with 1.2 million passengers hop off for Easter break

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Heathrow is preparing for its busiest seven days of the year so far, with 1.2 million passengers expected to hop through Heathrow over the Easter break between Thursday 28 March and Tuesday 2 April. As Brits get ready to make the most of the long weekend, the UK’s hub airport forecasts that… Read the full press release

Lufthansa trains 747-8 pilots on an energy-efficient flight simulator

2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — It is the place where future pilots practise before flying the real thing. Simulator training is an integral part of pilot training. The Lufthansa Group naturally has a vested interest in training its pilots on the best and most advanced simulators. These are operated by Lufthansa Flight Training. But that is not… Read the full press release

ADAC appointed Taylor Woodrow International to carry out major expansion works at Abu Dhabi International Airport

Construction works to include 2 passenger buildings and link bridge in a joint venture with Fibrex Construction Group Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-03-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) appointed today Taylor Woodrow International Construction LLC to carry out major expansion works at Abu Dhabi International Airport. The new contract is part of the… Read the full press release