Nomination Committee recommends succession for Lufthansa Supervisory Board

Wolfgang Mayrhuber and Karl-Ludwig Kley set to follow Jürgen Weber and Klaus Schlede 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — At its meeting today in Frankfurt, the Nomination Committee of the Supervisory Board of Deutsche Lufthansa AG has given a recommendation for the succession plan for those Supervisory Board Members who will not be available for re-election on conclusion… Read the full press release

Executive Board decides to merge Lufthansa Direct Services with Germanwings effective from 1 January 2013

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Lufthansa direct European services, which include all German domestic and European services outside of the Lufthansa Frankfurt and Munich hubs, will be merged commercially and organisationally with Germanwings to form one company on the basis of Germanwings GmbH from 1 January 2013. The company’s headquarters will be Cologne. The new company is… Read the full press release

Karma Resorts Signs with The Registry Collection® Program

Kettering, Northampton, U.K., 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Karma Resorts, a high-end luxury resort brand and part of the Karma Royal Group of companies, has signed a new affiliation agreement with The Registry Collection, the global leader in luxury vacation exchange. The first two Karma Resorts to affiliate to The Registry Collection under the new agreement will be Karma Kandara… Read the full press release

Marriott Celebrates First TownePlace Suites LEED® Volume Hotel

[Pictured: L to R: (front row) Karl and Margaret Ewald of Arapahoe Lodging, hotel owners; E.B. "Bud" Robinson of Arapahoe Lodging, hotel owner; Kevin Hougen, president and CEO of the Aurora Chamber of Commerce; (back row)Tom Burdeshaw, vice president - design management, Marriott International; Steve Hogan, mayor of Aurora, Colo.; Todd Dickson, TownePlace Suites Denver general manager; Loren Nalewanski, vice president - global brand management, TownePlace Suites. Photos provided by The Vern's LLC]

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE:MAR) today announced the first TownePlace Suites hotel to open as part of its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environment Volume Program) Volume Program – the TownePlace Suites Denver Airport at Gateway Park in Colorado.  TownePlace Suites is the hospitality leader’s second brand to construct a hotel built using Marriott’s LEED… Read the full press release

Wyndham Worldwide Releases 2011 Sustainability Report, Achieves Five Percent Carbon Footprint Reduction

Second annual Sustainability Report highlights continued carbon reduction measured by custom state-of-the-art eco-software program tracking energy efficiency across the Company’s owned and managed properties Parsippany, N.J. 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE:WYN), one of the world’s largest hospitality companies, today announced a five percent reduction in its carbon footprint over 2010 based on carbon emission… Read the full press release

Renaissance Hotels to Open New Hotel in Izmir, Turkey

Marriott International Continues Expansion in Turkey With Growth of its Signature Lifestyle Brand. 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marriott International, Inc (NYSE:MAR) today announced plans to open its tenth hotel in Turkey, the 110-room Renaissance Izmir Hotel, set to open in late 2012.  Renaissance Hotels is the signature lifestyle brand within the Marriott International global portfolio. Recognized… Read the full press release

Warwick International Hotels welcomes Hotel Jardin Savana Dakar in its Collection

Paris, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Group’s portfolio is still growing through the affiliation of a new hotel, located beachfront in the heart of lush vegetation and just five minutes from downtown Dakar, Senegal. Hotel Jardin Savana Dakar is located in the residential area of Dakar, on Cap Manuel, five minutes from the city center. At the… Read the full press release

Wyndham Vacation Ownership Acquires Shell Vacations LLC

Acquisition immediately accretive to adjusted EPS; Expands fee-for-service businesses PARSIPPANY, NJ, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) today announced that its subsidiary, Wyndham Vacation Ownership (WVO), has acquired privately held Shell Vacations LLC (Shell) and its subsidiaries.  Shell is one of the largest independent vacation ownership club and property management groups, serving approximately 115,000… Read the full press release

IHG announced Special Dividend and Share Consolidation: Publication of Circular

On Tuesday, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — the Board of IHG announced its intention to return US$1 billion of funds to Shareholders via a Special Dividend with a Share Consolidation of US$500 million and a Share Buyback Programme of US$500 million. The Board of IHG today announces it is publishing a circular (the “Circular”) setting out full… Read the full press release

EVA Wins Two Prestigious Travel Industry Awards, Magellan Gold and Silver New Royal Laurel Class, Hello Kitty program take top honors

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — EVA Air’s brand-new Royal Laurel Class business cabin is the 2012 Gold Magellan Award winner in the business class category for international carriers and its innovative Hello Kitty Jet program won the 2012 Silver Magellan Award for Advertising/Marketing campaigns in Travel Weekly’s prestigious annual recognition of the best in travel. Titled Royal… Read the full press release

China Airlines Forms Partnerships with NTUT, YunTech and NFU

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — China Airlines (CAL), National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), National Yunlin University of Science and Technology (YunTech) and National Formosa University (NFU) have signed industry-academia agreements that will offer internships to science and engineering seniors from the three universities at CAL Engineering and Maintenance Organization. The internships will count towards students’ academic… Read the full press release

Dulles Day Celebrates 20 Years of ‘Plane-Pulling’ as Airport Marks a Half-Century of Service

Sept. 22 Event to Benefit Special Olympics Virginia 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — It’s the Man vs. Machine event of the year. Special Olympics Virginia and Dulles International Airport will hold their 20th anniversary of Dulles Day Plane Pull during the airport’s celebration of its 50th anniversary. Nearly 70 teams will try to hold their own in… Read the full press release

Manchester Airport to test new generation of privacy friendly security scanners

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Manchester Airport has confirmed today that its trial of “naked” body scanners will end in October when testing will also begin on a new generation of privacy friendly security scanners. The current body scanners will initially be replaced by five next generation security scanners. In line with Government policy, these include a… Read the full press release

Port of Halifax and Halifax Stanfield International Airport Promote Halifax as the East Coast Gateway

Halifax, NS, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Halifax Port Authority and the Halifax Stanfield International Airport hosted a reception together last evening in Shanghai, China to promote Halifax as an east coast gateway. The reception was hosted as part of the Council of the Federation trade mission to China, led by Premier Darrell Dexter.  This event… Read the full press release

St. John’s International Airport Authority Launches a Strike Website

ST. JOHN’S, NL, Monday, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — St. John’s International Airport Authority released a new website today specifically designed to address questions that arise in relation to the strike and to keep the public informed on the negotiations with PSAC and the present labour disruption.The new website address is www.sjiaanegotiations.com. “St. John’s International Airport is the… Read the full press release

Norwegian wins international award for best in-flight WiFi

Norwegian wins international award for best in-flight WiFi

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Norwegian has won the prestigious Passenger Choice Awards 2012 for the category “Best Inflight Connectivity and Communications”. The airline competed against major international airlines like Virgin America, Emirates, Oman Air and Gulf Air. The award was presented in Long Beach, California, USA on Monday 17. September. The award proves that Norwegian’s commitment… Read the full press release

Airport receives share of £140million Government investment

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Manchester Airport, Siemens, Sembcorp and Nissan are some of the 34 businesses that have successfully bid to design the vocational training programmes they need to grow and create tens of thousands of opportunities for young people, Business Secretary Vince Cable has announced. They are the first round of winners taking part in… Read the full press release

First Airbus A320 to enter operation in fleet renewal lands in Vienna

• Austrian Airlines harmonizing its medium-haul fleet • First Airbus A320 expected to be put into operation on 1st October 2012 under registration OE-LBI • Total of seven Airbus A320 scheduled to replace Boeing 737 fleet 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Austrian Airlines is harmonizing its medium-haul fleet: Austrian crews and aircraft engineers today brought the first… Read the full press release

Air New Zealand invests in B777-200ER upgrade programme

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Air New Zealand is investing more than $100 million in upgrading its Boeing 777-200ER fleet to ensure it continues to deliver the most innovative product and technologies to customers flying on its international network. Air New Zealand Deputy CEO Norm Thompson says the upgrade of the eight aircraft is scheduled to begin in the second quarter… Read the full press release

Etihad Airways and RAK Airways sign codeshare deal

Etihad Airways and RAK Airways sign codeshare deal

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: 5 September, 2012 – Etihad Airways and RAK Airways have signed an agreement to codeshare on five flight sectors including, for the first time, domestic flights in the UAE. The agreement, the first ever between two UAE carriers, will see Etihad Airways place its ‘EY’ code on the… Read the full press release

Kenya Airways receives second fully owned Embraer

Kenya Airways receives second fully owned Embraer

Aircraft emblazoned with SkyTeam Livery Second of eight fully owned Embraer’s that KQ is acquiring this Financial year Nairobi, S2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — National carrier Kenya Airways has deepened its relationship with the SkyTeam Alliance with the arrival of its second fully owned Embraer E-190 in Skyteam livery. The aircraft registered as 5Y- FFB, becomes… Read the full press release

Arik Air reaches 10 millionth passenger milestone

2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Arik Air, Nigeria and West Africa’s leading commercial airline, has finished a busy summer season by flying its 10 millionth passenger – a landmark achievement in its short history. The carriage of ten million passengers is an important milestone for an airline that has grown rapidly since it began operating in 2006…. Read the full press release

24 HOSPITALITY STUDENTS AND INDUSTRY PROFESSIONALS AWARDED SCHOLARSHIPS

Industry Suppliers Provide Critical Funding to AH&LEF Washington, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The American Hotel & Lodging Educational Foundation (AH&LEF), the not-for-profit affiliate of the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA), administers three scholarships on behalf of American Express, Ecolab, and PepsiCo.  These scholarship programs, totaling $44,000, contribute to AH&LEF’s total of $514,500 in academic scholarships… Read the full press release

Jet Airways offers guests a host of attractive travel options to China, Japan, Korea, Australia and New Zealand

Introducing convenient connections and fares beyond our international gateway points: Bangkok, Hong Kong and Singapore, with partner airlines. MUMBAI, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jet Airways, India’s premier international airline, has a truly unmatched bouquet of unique travel options from India to multiple destinations in the ASEAN region, Australia and New Zealand. Jet Airways has launched these… Read the full press release

Austrian Airlines Traffic Results for August 2012: Targeted capacity adjusted, further improvement of passenger load factor

• January-August 2012: 2.9 percent more passengers carried • August 2012: Capacity reduced by 9.3 percent, but passenger load factor up by 5.8 percentage points 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Austrian Airlines Group increased the number of passengers carried in the period January to August 2012 by 2.9 percent from the prior-year level to a total… Read the full press release

ACTING SECRETARY BLANK APPOINTS FOUR MEMBERS TO THE CORPORATION FOR TRAVEL PROMOTION BOARD OF DIRECTORS

WASHINGTON, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — U.S. Acting Commerce Secretary Rebecca Blank today appointed four travel and tourism industry leaders to serve on the Corporation for Travel Promotion (CTP) Board of Directors, including one new member and three reappointments. Established by the Travel Promotion Act (TPA), which was signed into law by President Obama in 2010, the CTP is… Read the full press release

ANDAZ NAPA OPENS AS FIRST ANDAZ HOTEL IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

Located in the heart of wine country, Andaz Napa brings unrivaled personalized guest service and heritage-style cuisine with Andaz Farmers Table restaurant NAPA, Calif. 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The first Andaz hotel in Northern California, Andaz Napa, makes its debut today  in the heart of California wine country. Formerly Avia Napa, the newly rebranded Andaz Napa is… Read the full press release

MICHAEL A. LEVEN TO RECEIVE ALIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Washington, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — Michael A. Leven, president/CEO, Las Vegas Sands Corporation, will be honored with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the Americas Lodging Investment Summit (ALIS), January 22-24, 2013, in Los Angeles.Leven is a veteran hospitality executive with more than 50 years in the business who holds a distinguished and well-recognized record of… Read the full press release

AH&LA PARTNERS WITH GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY LAW CENTER FOR INAUGURAL HOTEL & LODGING LEGAL SUMMIT

Washington, D.C., 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — The American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) and Georgetown University Law Center are hosting the inaugural Hotel & Lodging Legal Summit on November 8-9, 2012, on the campus of Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.  The conference will feature panels of leading industry attorneys, who will explore current legal… Read the full press release

Media Advisory For Thursday, September 20, 2012: Hackers welcome: SFO hosts THack, first time web developer event held at an airport

SAN FRANCISCO, 2012-09-19 — /travelprnews.com/ — On September 20, San Francisco International Airport (SFO) will be the first airport in the world to host THack, an event created by Tnooz to encourage collaboration in the travel technology development community. Participants are invited to create a new product using the application program interfaces (API’s) made available from sponsors… Read the full press release