Alaska Air Group declared two-for-one stock split to be effected in the form of stock dividend

SEATTLE, 2014-6-12 — /Travel PR News/ — Alaska Air Group (NYSE: ALK) announced today that its board of directors has declared a two-for-one stock split to be effected in the form of a stock dividend. The additional shares will be distributed on July 9, to shareholders of record as of June 23, 2014. The stock split will… Read the full news article

Stagecoach East Scotland becomes the first in Scotland awarded with five star rating for its environmental performance

Perth, Scotland, 2014-6-11 — /Travel PR News/ — Stagecoach East Scotland has become the first in Scotland to be awarded a coveted five star rating for its environmental performance. The company – part of Perth-based Stagecoach Group – was assessed under the ECO Stars Fleet Recognition Scheme, run by Dundee City Council. Presenting the firm with its… Read the full news article

Norwegian carried 2,103,477 passengers in May; 12% increase compared to the same month last year

Fornebu, Norway, 2014-6-11 — /Travel PR News/ — Norwegian carried more than 2.1 million passengers in May 2014, an increase of 12 percent compared to the same month last year. The load factor was 77 percent. The strike threats from labor union Parat affected the company’s revenues this month, as many customers in Norway and Denmark refrained… Read the full news article

Ariane Gorin appointed SVP and General Manager of Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN)

DALLAS and LONDON, 2014-6-11 — /Travel PR News/ — Expedia, Inc. (NASDAQ: EXPE) announced today that Ariane Gorin will assume responsibility for the Expedia Affiliate Network (EAN) as Senior Vice President and General Manager. Gorin will begin her duties immediately. EAN began as a standalone brand within Expedia, Inc. approximately five years ago and will remain… Read the full news article

IHG announced its intention to return US$750 million to Shareholders via Special Dividend with Share Consolidation

Buckinghamshire,UK, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — On Friday, 2 May 2014, the Board of IHG announced its intention to return US$750 million to Shareholders via a Special Dividend with a Share Consolidation. The Board today announces it is publishing a circular (the “Circular”) setting out full details of the proposed Special Dividend and associated Share Consolidation… Read the full news article

InterContinental Hotels Group to open first internationally branded limited service hotel near Istanbul International Airport

Buckinghamshire,UK, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG®), one of the world’s largest hotel companies has announced the signing of Holiday Inn Express® Istanbul – Halkali.  The hotel, due to open in 2014, will be the first internationally branded limited service hotel near Istanbul International Airport. The 110-room hotel will operate under a franchise… Read the full news article

Singapore Airlines to deploy the world’s largest aircraft the Airbus A380 to and from Beijing starting on 1 August 2014

SINGAPORE, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Singapore Airlines customers travelling to and from Beijing will soon be able to enjoy the luxury and comfort of the world’s largest aircraft, the Airbus A380. From 1 August 2014, the A380 will be deployed on flight SQ802, departing Singapore at 0830hrs and arriving in Beijing at 1440hrs. The return… Read the full news article

Arik Air becomes the first Nigerian airline to offer commercial service between Abuja, Nigeria and Dubai, UAE

Ikeja, Nigeria, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Arik Air, has reinforced its position as West and Central Africa’s largest commercial carrier by expanding its reach to the Middle East, becoming the first Nigerian airline to offer a commercial service between Abuja, Nigeria and Dubai, The United Arab Emirates (UAE). The first commercial flight on the new… Read the full news article

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group signed long-term management contract to brand and manage new luxury 275 room hotel in Metro Manila

Hong Kong, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group has signed a long-term management contract to brand and manage a new luxury 275 room hotel in the heart of Metro Manila. The new Mandarin Oriental, Manila, which is scheduled to open in 2020, will be part of a mixed-use development centrally located within… Read the full news article

Enterprise Rent-A-Car now available in Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia

LONDON, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Enterprise Rent-A-Car is now available to customers in the new markets of Belgium, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Bosnia Herzegovina and Macedonia. This is the next step in the company’s phased expansion programme and means that the Enterprise brand is currently operating in 19 European countries with more in the pipeline. The… Read the full news article

Travelport outlined details of its new global brand vision and strategy

Differentiated content and product offering results in need to redefine vision and definitions of business operations Langley, UK, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Travelport, a leading travel commerce marketplace providing distribution, technology, payment and other solutions for the $7 trillion global travel and tourism industry, has today outlined details of its new global brand vision and… Read the full news article

Abu Dhabi International Airport reported 22.5% increase in passenger traffic during April 2014

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Abu Dhabi Airports has reported a 22.5% increase in passenger traffic during April 2014 at Abu Dhabi International Airport, as compared to April 2013. The airport’s passenger statistics showed that 1,620,324 passengers used the airport during the month, growing from 1,515,407 during the same month a… Read the full news article

Brussels Airport awards second licence for catering transport to Newrest-Servair joint venture

Brussels, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Brussels Airport has completed its selection procedure to award the second licence for catering transport. The Newrest-Servair joint venture meets the set criteria and will be granted a licence to operate on the airport tarmac. The selection procedure was started at the end of 2013 as a consequence of the… Read the full news article

Maldives: Kandolhu Island now a Small Luxury Hotels of the World member

Maldives, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Set in North Ari Atoll, Kandolhu is a heart shaped island with wide sweeping beaches surrounded by a ring of an intricately formed house reef; a venue ideal for romantics and those seeking a blissful holiday in the beautiful island-dotted nation of the Maldives. The small island with just… Read the full news article

Accor launched Web 2.0 internal communication platform for its 170,000 employees worldwide

The world’s leading hotel operator in 92 countries gives its employees access to the Cloud Paris, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Accor has completed another stage in its digital revolution with the transformation of its collaborative systems by launching a Web 2.0 internal communication platform that combines a new generation intranet site – AccorLive, and a… Read the full news article

Christchurch Airport marks 5th year of partnership with Jetstar

Christchurch, New Zealand, 2014-6-10 — /Travel PR News/ — Orange balloon towers are in place in the Jetstar area of Christchurch Airport this week as part of a week-long celebration of the airline’s fifth birthday. The airline has been operating domestic services into and out of Christchurch since June 2009 and now carries more than 827,000 passengers… Read the full news article

airberlin announced it had 2,971,840 passengers in May 2014

Berlin, Germany, 2014-6-7 — /Travel PR News/ — In May 2014, airberlin welcomed a total of 2,971,840 passengers on board, i.e. an increase of +0.5 percent over the corresponding month of the previous year. Overall, passengers traveled almost 4.4 billion kilometers within airberlin’s global flight route network, thereby reaching the high capacity utilization rate of 79.5 percent…. Read the full news article

TravelClick to present two free webinars on June 11 on how to get most out of Metasearch

NEW YORK, 2014-6-6 — /Travel PR News/ — TravelClick, global provider of innovative cloud-based solutions that enable hotels to grow revenue, will present two free webinars on June 11 to discuss the growth outlook and trends across Metasearch sites, including best practices for improving your Metasearch results. Curtis Brewer, Vice President of Reservations Solutions at TravelClick,… Read the full news article

Avis Car Rental announced its 20th anniversary in Argentina

PARSIPPANY, N.J., 2014-6-6 — /Travel PR News/ — Avis Car Rental today announced its 20th anniversary in Argentina. Established in 1994 with two corporate locations – one at Ezeiza International Airport and the other in the city of Buenos Aires – and six licensees in other parts of the country, Avis Car Rental today boasts more… Read the full news article

Shannon Airport welcomes Ryanair’s plan to add five routes onto its winter schedule this year

Shannon, Ireland, 2014-6-5 — /Travel PR News/ — Shannon Airport has welcomed today’s announcement by Ryanair that it is to add five routes onto its winter schedule this year as another significant boost for the airport. The airport’s winter schedule, which starts at the end of October, will see Ryanair retain its new Paris, Berlin, Fuerteventura, Warsaw… Read the full news article

Hyatt Hotels Corporation and Melco Crown Philippines to build Hyatt City of Dreams Manila

CHICAGO, 2014-6-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) and Melco Crown (Philippines) Resorts Corporation (“Melco Crown Philippines”) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate and Melco Crown Philippines have entered into a management agreement for Hyatt City of Dreams Manila, which will consist of two hotel towers and is expected to open in 2014. “We… Read the full news article

Hyatt Hotels Corporation named Julienne Smith as SVP of franchise and managed development for Hyatt Place and Hyatt House in North America

CHICAGO, 2014-6-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced Julienne Smith will serve as Hyatt’s senior vice president of franchise and managed development for Hyatt Place and Hyatt House in North America, effective July 15. Smith, who will be based in Hyatt’s corporate office in Chicago, will report to B. Anthony Isaac,… Read the full news article

Hugh Sumner: Gatwick will be “road and rail ready” for a second runway by 2021 with no additional cost to the taxpayer

LONDON, 2014-6-4 — /Travel PR News/ — Unveiling Gatwick Airport’s transformational public transport improvements today, Hugh Sumner – the mastermind behind London 2012’s transport infrastructure – said Gatwick will be “road and rail ready” for a second runway by 2021, with no additional cost to the taxpayer. Transport improvements include: A train to central London every 2.5… Read the full news article

Star Alliance welcomed passengers to its new home in Heathrow – The new Terminal 2 | the Queen’s Terminal

First passengers arrive at Star Alliance’s new home at Heathrow LONDON, 2014-6-4 — /Travel PR News/ — The new Terminal 2 – the home of Star Alliance at Heathrow – threw open its doors to welcome its first passengers, marking the start of a new travel experience for the 12 million Star Alliance passengers who pass through… Read the full news article

Swissport and the 2nd largest Russian carrier Transaero Airlines sign five year Global Framework Agreement for worldwide ground handling services

Opfikon, Switzerland, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — Swissport International (Swissport), the world’s leading provider of ground and cargo handling services to the aviation industry, and  Transaero Airlines (Transaero), the second largest Russian carrier, announce the signing of a five year Global Framework Agreement for worldwide ground handling services. Swissport received the “Preferred Supplier” status from Transaero. Both companies are looking forward… Read the full news article

American Airlines, FedEx Express, UPS, Airlines for America to co-host 71st IATA AGM in Miami from 7 June – 9 June 2015

Doha, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that American Airlines, FedEx Express and UPS will host the 71st IATA Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in conjunction with Airlines for America, the trade association for the US airline industry. The event will draw the top leadership… Read the full news article

Air Canada CEO Calin Rovinescu named new chairman of IATA Board of Governors

Doha, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced that Calin Rovinescu, President and CEO of Air Canada, has assumed his duties as Chairman of the IATA Board of Governors for a one-year term, effective immediately. Rovinescu succeeds Richard H. Anderson, CEO of Delta Air Lines, whose one-year term expired at the… Read the full news article

Ty Speer named President and CEO of Tourism Vancouver

Vancouver, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — Tourism Vancouver Board Chair Bob Lindsay (owner, Lift Bar Grill View) announces the appointment of Mr. Ty Speer (48) as president and CEO of the 111-year-old destination marketing and management organization. Speer joins Tourism Vancouver from the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games where he was Deputy CEO before accepting his… Read the full news article

American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) adopted new graphic look to better reflect its new dynamism and focus

New Identity Conveys New Focus, Unity and Shared Purpose of Broader Membership Base Washington, DC, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) has adopted a new graphic look to better reflect its new dynamism and focus. The change is a timely illustration of the association’s new operating model that immediately affords… Read the full news article

AH&LA and Asian American Hotel Owners Association released national study on the impacts of extreme local wage initiatives on the U.S. hotel industry

Potential increases could cost industry thousands of jobs, billions in economic impact Washington, DC, 2014-6-3 — /Travel PR News/ — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and the Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA) today released a groundbreaking new national study on the impacts of extreme local wage initiatives on the U.S. hotel industry and small… Read the full news article