For the second consecutive year, Lufthansa wins “Doing it All” honors from Condé Nast Traveler 2012 World Savers Awards

Carrier recognized as world leader in social responsibility; airline’s landmark biofuel study highlighted Lufthansa has once again received top honors among the airline industry, earning the “Doing it All” distinction in the 2012 Condé Nast Traveler World Savers Awards.  The comprehensive awards program, which recognizes travel companies that are doing the most to save the world,… Read the full news article

RYANAIR SLASHES THE UK’S LOWEST SKI FARES

FLY TO EUROPE’S BEST PISTES FROM JUST £29.99 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-cost airline, today (11 Sept) launched its London Winter Ski Programme 2012/13 which offers 20 weekly flights from London (Stansted) to ski destinations in Grenoble, Salzburg and Turin at the lowest ski fares in Europe this year! These very popular ski… Read the full news article

Trial of GST Visitor Refund Scheme to boost retail and travel industries

2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — A GST Visitor Refund Scheme is being introduced for a twelve-month trial period, with the aim of stimulating sales in the retail and travel industries. Refunds will be available for visitors to Jersey who buy items costing more than £300 from a participating retailer.  They will also need to meet certain conditions,… Read the full news article

Rotana Jet announces Domestic Service expansion from Abu Dhabi International Airport

Rotana Jet announces Domestic Service expansion from Abu Dhabi International Airpor

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) and Rotana Jet announced today the launch of double daily services to Fujairah, Al Ain and Sharjah from Abu Dhabi International Airport, in an initiative from the airline to extend its domestic route network. This comes just three months after it launched the… Read the full news article

Metrolink expands connectivity with bus partnership to Palm Desert

SunLine Transit Agency to implement Commuter Link 220 on Sept. 10 LOS ANGELES, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — In its continued effort to expand connectivity throughout Southern California, Metrolink is partnering with SunLine Transit Agency, which will operate a new express bus service between Palm Desert and downtown Riverside beginning Sept. 10. Metrolink passengers who want to… Read the full news article

Six in Ten Conservative MPs believe reduction in APD should be considered

Half of all MPs believe APD is damaging the UK Economy ABTA calls on Government to take action now it is back from recess 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Six in Ten (61%) Conservative MPs believe a reduction in Air Passenger Duty (APD) should be considered to stimulate growth according to a new survey published today by… Read the full news article

Heathrow’s Olympic effort recognised

2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Heathrow has won ‘Best arrivals experience’ at this year’s Future Travel Experience Awards, held in Vancouver on Friday 7th September. Heathrow has won ‘Best arrivals experience’ at this year’s Future Travel Experience Awards, held in Vancouver on Friday 7th September. Now in its 2nd year, the awards celebrate outstanding efforts by organisations… Read the full news article

Travelport industry first: 97% compliance in new streamlining process for hotel negotiated rates

Langley, UK, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, is taking an industry lead in streamlining the upload of hotel negotiated rates, by: proactively conducting rate audits with hotel suppliers designing and implementing new processes removing the availability of outdated and duplicated codes streamlining the process for hotels to upload… Read the full news article

Tourism Authority of Thailand Calls for Stronger ASEAN Technology Partnerships to Build Regional Tourism

Bangkok, September, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has called for stronger regional partnerships to promote connectivity and harness the forces of technology to improve the ASEAN travel & tourism industry. Speaking at the Asia Pacific Digital Travel Forum on 30 August 2012, TAT Governor Mr. Suraphon Svetasreni outlined how the TAT has… Read the full news article

Travelport and RAK Airways sign first GDS participation agreement

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, and RAK Airways, one of the flag carriers of the United Arab Emirates, have today jointly announced their first ever GDS participation agreement. Under the new deal, Galileo and Worldspan-connected users worldwide will gain access to all of RAK… Read the full news article

Industry Icons Mark the Pairing of Two World-Renowned American Brands as Arnold Palmer & Bill Marriott Open SpringHill Suites Latrobe in Palmer’s Hometow

Industry Icons Mark the Pairing of Two World-Renowned American Brands as Arnold Palmer & Bill Marriott Open SpringHill Suites Latrobe in Palmer’s Hometown

Hotel Offers Guests an Exclusive Opportunity to Play “Arnie’s” Course. LATROBE, Pa., 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Golfing legend Arnold Palmer and hospitality industry icon Bill Marriott today teamed up to celebrate the opening of the SpringHill Suites Pittsburgh Latrobe hotel in Palmer’s hometown of Latrobe, Pennsylvania. SpringHill Suites by Marriott is an all-suite brand that focuses… Read the full news article

New Hampton Inn Opens in Pleasanton

63-room property brings Hamptonality to Texas PLEASANTON, Texas, 2012-09-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hampton Hotels, the global brand of nearly 1,900 mid-priced Hampton Inn, Hampton Inn & Suites, and Hampton by Hilton hotels, today announced the opening of its newest property, the 63-room Hampton Inn Pleasanton located at 2057 West Oaklawn Rd. “Hampton combines quality, innovation, comfort… Read the full news article

IHG and Select Group Ink Deal to Open InterContinental Dubai Marina in 2013

Rahail Aslam (CEO, Select Group) with Pascal Gauvin (COO, IMEA, IHG)

Dubai, UAE, 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ —  IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms, has signed an agreement with Dubai-based property developer Select Group to open InterContinental Dubai Marina. Part of the Bay Central development in the cosmopolitan Marina area, the hotel will offer rooms as well as residential suites for longer staying guests…. Read the full news article

Wyndham Hotel Group Opens 100th Hotel in Latin America

Ramada Encore in Guadalajara, Mexico

PARSIPPANY, N.J., 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Wyndham Hotel Group, a member of the Wyndham Worldwide (NYSE: WYN) family and the world’s largest hotel company with over 7,170 hotels around the globe, today announced the opening of  the Ramada Encore hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico, its 100th property in Latin America. Wyndham Hotel Group is strategically expanding its footprint in… Read the full news article

IHG Announces Robust Expansion Plans in Indonesia

Jakarta, 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — IHG has announced robust expansion plans for Indonesia, identifying it as a key growth market within the region. Revealing a strong pipeline especially in the midscale segment for Holiday Inn and Holiday Inn Express, IHG will also strengthen its position in the market with the launch of Hotel Indigo, which will… Read the full news article

EVA Adapts iPads to Advance Onboard Service and Safety. New Apple video shows innovative uses in cabin and cockpit

2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Apple, the world’s leading technology innovator, launched a brand-new video, showcasing creative business adaptations of its popular iPad. In the video, Apple highlights EVA Air for its use of the iPad as a flight-crew tool for advancing flight safety and service quality. EVA is the only Asian carrier to be featured in… Read the full news article

New Ramp from Dulles Airport Access Highway to I-495 Opens September 8

New Ramp from Dulles Airport Access Highway to I-495 Opens September 8

2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — A new ramp and flyover bridge connecting the eastbound Dulles Airport Access Highway to I-495 will open to traffic on Saturday, September 8, 2012. The ramp provides a direct connection to the northbound and southbound Capital Beltway (I-495), improving safety and convenience for traffic near the interchange. Drivers on the Access Highway… Read the full news article

Norwegian Reports Strong Passenger Figures in August

2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Norwegian’s (NAS) passenger growth continued in August. More than 1.7 million passengers flew with Norwegian, up 13 percent compared with the same month last year. The load factor was also high, while Norwegian’s on-time performance was significantly affected by the lack of air traffic controllers at Avinor (Norway’s civil aviation authority). During… Read the full news article

SFO Wins Gold and Silver Magellan Awards

Travel Weekly Lauds SFO as Sustainability Leader and Recognizes Its Social Media Program SAN FRANCISCO, 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel Weekly, a business-to-business resource for the travel industry, recently announced the winners of its annual Magellan Awards, and in this Olympic year, San Francisco International Airport came away with both a gold award and a silver… Read the full news article

Brussels Airport: passenger numbers up 1.5% in August

2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — With 1,930,954 passengers handled, growth at Brussels Airport continues through August. This 1.5% increase in passenger numbers is in line with the average traffic growth recorded at other European airports this summer. Year-to-date passenger growth amounts to 2%. Whereas the last few months, growth was particularly driven by transfer traffic, O&D traffic… Read the full news article

Ethiopian Graduates 197 Professionals

2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian Aviation Academy graduated 12 pilots, 125 aviation maintenance technicians and 60 cabin crew at a ceremony held at the Ethiopian Headquarters on Thursday, September 6, 2012. At the graduation ceremony, Ethiopian CEO, Mr. Tewolde GebreMariam, gave out diplomas to all the graduates, and flight wings to graduating pilots and cabin crew…. Read the full news article

BRITISH GOVT SHOULD FOLLOW SPANISH LEAD – CUT COSTS – FLY RYANAIR

TAXPAYERS DESERVE THE BEST VALUE ON TRAVEL EXPENSES 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair, Europe’s only ultra-low cost airline, today (10th Sept) called on the British Government and its civil servants to follow the cost saving example of Spanish politicians after the President of Valencia (Alberto Fabra) instructed govt workers to cut costs by flying with low… Read the full news article

RYANAIR AUGUST TRAFFIC GROWS BY 760,000 (+9%)

RECORD 8.9M PASSENGERS IN ONE MONTH 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair today (5 Sep) released passenger and load factor stats for Aug 2012 as follows: Aug 11 Aug 12 Change Yr to Aug 12 Passengers  1 8.14M 8.90M +9% 78.48M Load Factor 2 89% 88% -1% 82%     August 2012 was Ryanair’s highest-ever monthly traffic figure… Read the full news article

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C. Announces First Hotel in Tunisia

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C., the leader in luxury hospitality, has announced the brand’s first hotel in Tunisia. The Ritz-Carlton Tunis, Carthage is owned by Companie Tunisienne de Development Touristique (CTDT), a subsidiary of the Driss-Jenayah Group, and a pioneer group in hospitality. Located in Carthage-Sidi Bou Said,… Read the full news article

Online Registration for Contractor Open House

Chicago, 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) will host a Contractor Open House on Tuesday, September 25, 2012 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. for firms interested in bidding on work at Chicago’s airports. The event will take place at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Road, Chicago, IL. The Contractor Open House provides an excellent… Read the full news article

Airport City vision unveiled

Ambitious plans to create Scotland’s first ‘airport city’ are taking shape around Aberdeen Airport. 2012-09-10 — /travelprnews.com/ — Airport MD Derek Provan has hailed a series of major multi-million pound developments, currently underway or planned for the future, which he says have the potential to transform the local economy. But with Aberdeen set to grow by… Read the full news article

Singapore Airlines Launches US$50 Million In-Flight Connectivity Programme

2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Singapore Airlines is today formally launching In-Flight Connectivity as part of a US$50 million programme to bring Internet and mobile data services to customers, even when flying at 35,000ft. Following a recent soft launch on a limited number of aircraft, In-Flight Connectivity is today available on 14 aircraft in the fleet, including… Read the full news article

Kenya Airways announces successful completion of Voluntary Early Retire Programme and Staff rationalization Exercise

Kenya Airways announces successful completion of Voluntary Early Retire Programme and Staff rationalization Exercise Thursday, 2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — National carrier, Kenya Airways has announced the completion of its staff rationalization programme that will see the airline save close to Sh1.2 billion annually in labour costs as it embarks on its ambitious expansion programme. According to… Read the full news article

Kenya Airways takes delivery of first fully-owned Embraer E190 jet

2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — The first Embraer E190 aircraft to be fully purchased by Kenya Airways touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi on September 1st. The aircraft is expected to boost the airline’s expanding fleet and service new routes and frequencies on its growing African network. Kenya Airways Chief Executive Officer Titus… Read the full news article

Arik Air, Lufthansa Technik seal new partnership deal

2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Arik Air, West and Central Africa’s largest carrier and world renowned aircraft maintenance service provider, Lufthansa Technik of Germany have sealed a new partnership deal that will maintain the safe operations and support further growth of the Nigerian airline. During a meeting held at Arik Air corporate head office in Lagos on… Read the full news article