Hilton Worldwide Expands its Portfolio in Australasia with the Signing of a New Hilton Hotels & Resorts Property in New Caledonia

NOUMEA, New Caledonia and MCLEAN, Va., 2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hilton Worldwide today announced that it has signed a franchise agreement with GLP Hotels for a 154-key conversion project to be known as Hilton Noumea La Promenade Residence. The property, currently the La Promenade, opened in 2008 and will undergo a refurbishment before officially opening under the… Read the full press release

Travelport completes KLM Economy Comfort rollout for Galileo agents in Benelux

Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport, the business services provider to the global travel industry, today announces the completion of its KLM Economy Comfort seat rollout to all Galileo-connected travel agents in the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg. In March, Travelport became the first GDS to complete a live booking of a KLM Economy Comfort seat… Read the full press release

Lufthansa to resign from external cabin crew staffing in Berlin

Aviation Power flight attendants currently working on Lufthansa flights to receive offer for permanent employment within Lufthansa Group next year 2012-09-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — “Without preconditions and for a foreseeable time frame Lufthansa is going to resign from deploying external cabin crews in Berlin”, announced Christoph Franz, Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of Deutsche… Read the full press release

OLT Express launches major expansion of flights from Dresden

Dresden, Bremen, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The airline OLT Express Germany is once again significantly expanding its range of flights from Dresden. Starting on 15 October 2012, it is adding new flights to Vienna, Budapest and London alongside its existing Dresden-Zurich and Dresden-Hamburg routes. In addition, the Dresden-Hamburg route launched this spring will be operated with… Read the full press release

Vladivostok Airport Welcomes Guests and Participants of the APEC-2012 Summit

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Vladivostok International Airport (VIA) will be greeting participants and guests of the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit, which will be held September 2-9, 2012 in Vladivostok. The Vladivostok Airport conducted a comprehensive IT systems readiness inspection for the new passenger terminal, ensuring that quality service will be provided to guests and participants of the APEC-2012 Summit. Vladivostok Airport’s new Terminal A has been designed… Read the full press release

New bag tag technology on New York flights

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Customers flying to New York on British Airways’ exclusive all-business class flights from London City will be able to tag their own bags from today (September 5). For the first time anyone travelling on the double daily flights from the Docklands airport will benefit from revolutionary self-help technology. London City was… Read the full press release

BIODIVERSITY IN TROPICAL PROTECTED AREAS MAY NOT BE SO PROTECTED SAY SMITHSONIAN SCIENTISTS

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — A team of Smithsonian scientists joined more than 200 others around the world to examine if giving protected status to a tropical forest offered adequate protection to the plants and animals within its borders. They found that in almost half the cases it did not. The team’s findings are published online in… Read the full press release

2012 Florida Tourism Industry Awards Announced

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — During the 45th Annual Florida Governor’s Conference on Tourism, held September 5-7 at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, VISIT FLORIDA announced the 2012 Florida Tourism Hall of Fame inductee, as well as the winners of the Flagler and Iris Larson Awards. Annually, leaders in Florida tourism are chosen by a… Read the full press release

PRELIMINARY NECROPSY FINDINGS FOR IVAN THE GORILLA

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Detailed analysis and tests are still pending WHO: Officials at Zoo Atlanta have received preliminary necropsy findings following the recent passing of Ivan the western lowland gorilla, who died on August 20, 2012, at the age of 50. WHAT: According to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine Zoo and Exotic… Read the full press release

UK Media Familiarisation Tour to Maldives 2012

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Maldives Marketing and Public Relations Corporation coordinated a familiarisation tour to the Maldives for a group of 3 journalists representing various media targeting the general consumer via daily papers covering and online magazine versions from 26th August – 3rd September 2012. The main purpose of arranging such media fam trips is… Read the full press release

Zoo Breaks Ground on International Orangutan Center

Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Gives $1.5M Toward Campaign For Conservation And Community: Saving the Orangutans INDIANAPOLIS, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Indianapolis Zoo broke ground today on the International Orangutan Center. Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard were among the more than 200 distinguished guests who joined Indianapolis Zoo Board of Trustees… Read the full press release

Jersey’s only official YHA hostel lies in Durrell’s wildlife park

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Stringent standards have been met, an agreement has been signed and Durrell Wildlife Park in Trinity is now home to Jersey’s only Youth Hostels Association (YHA)-accredited accommodation. The wildlife park’s hostel, Durrell Wildlife Hostel, has been awarded the accreditation, which promises guests a “home from home” experience and quality accommodation at affordable… Read the full press release

SMITHSONIAN’S NATIONAL ZOO RECEIVES MAJOR PLEDGE FOR GIANT PANDA RESEARCH FROM FORD MOTOR COMPANY FUND

24-HOUR PANDA PREGNANCY WATCH BEGINS 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Smithsonian’s National Zoo will receive $400,000 over the next two years from the Ford Motor Company Fund to study the health of giant pandas. Zoo scientists, in collaboration with their Chinese colleagues at the developing Wildlife Disease Control Center, will research disease transmission and susceptibility to… Read the full press release

Курьерская доставка «Летающих конвертов» – в сорока городах

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — S7 Airlines объявляет о расширении услуги авиадоставки корреспонденции «Летающие конверты». Теперь чтобы отправить или получить корреспонденцию, не обязательно ехать в аэропорт. Курьерская доставка отправлений доступна не только в Москве и Санкт-Петербурге, но и более чем в сорока крупнейших городах России, Беларуси и Казахстана1, куда выполняет рейсы S7 Airlines. Курьерскую доставку осуществляет партнер… Read the full press release

Metrolink’s Rail Safety Month campaign targets distractions near tracks

LOS ANGELES, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — In observance of Rail Safety Month, Metrolink is joining other railroad agencies across the state to encourage everyone to “Be Track Smart,” with a series of events to emphasize the importance of safe behavior near railroad tracks. In recent years, there have been multiple incidents where individuals from across the… Read the full press release

The National Trust for Jersey Open Weekend

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — This year’s Open Day’s form part of a very special week long event dedicated to exploring and discovering the Island’s history and hidden treasures. Run in association with Jersey Tourism, Jersey Heritage and The Societe Jersiaise, the National Trust’s Open Days offer you the chance to explore some of Jersey’s rich architectural… Read the full press release

VisitEngland’s response to the Cabinet Reshuffle

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Jeremy Hunt’s support for tourism led to delivery of the biggest ever domestic tourism marketing campaign in the build-up to the unprecedented events of this year.  He worked hard to engage with our industry to better understand their ambitions and challenges and to ensure a lasting legacy for domestic tourism. As Minister… Read the full press release

Jersey Post supports local enterprise

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Island produce and hand-crafted products are being showcased in the heart of St Helier thanks to an initiative by Jersey Post in support of home-grown talent and local provenance. Members of the Genuine Jersey Products Association have been promoting locally-produced goods in the Broad Street Post Office over the summer.  This week… Read the full press release

Metrolink Orange County Line trains delayed up to 45 minutes due to Rail Signal Upgrades on Saturday, Sept. 8

Anaheim station closed on during work; buses provided to passengers departing from and returning to Anaheim LOS ANGELES, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Due to rail signal upgrades planned on Sept. 8, Metrolink’s Orange County Line trains will not stop at Anaheim and will be rerouted causing up to 45 minute delays to all 600 series trains…. Read the full press release

PERFORMANCE SERIES SETS A DRAMATIC STAGE AT LAX FLYAWAY® BUS TERMINAL IN VAN NUYS

Los Angeles, California, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) will present a series of three weekend site-specific dance and music performances by Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre, String Theory, and Sarah Elgart during the months of September and October at the LAX FlyAway® bus terminal in… Read the full press release

GROW – Bóthar exhibition by local photographer lands at Shannon Airport

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — To mark the 21st anniversary of Bóthar, the Irish based Charity that enables families and communities worldwide to overcome hunger and poverty and to restore the environment in a sustainable way, Shannon Airport is pleased to host Bóthar’s photographic exhibition GROW in the Airport’s Transit Lounge. The exhibition is a stunning collection of… Read the full press release

KLM serves Budapest with the longest Boeing 737

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Dutch carrier KLM is flying the Amsterdam-Budapest route with the largest variant of the Boeing 737 aircraft, in order to be able to satisfy the ever-increasing demand. KLM’s longest “small Boeing” is able to carry 189 passengers with a two-class arrangement. It was precisely 12:33 when KLM’s 737-900 type airliner landed smoothly… Read the full press release

Americans Want to Fly Wireless

NEW YORK, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Fly.com™, the world’s easiest-to-use airfare search engine, today released the results of a new consumer survey that shows Americans don’t want to unplug from their portable communication devices when flying. Fly.com’s survey, which questioned 500 U.S. travelers this summer, found that 80 percent of respondents want the option to connect… Read the full press release

bloc™ Gatwick to open in Summer 2013

More choice for passengers as Gatwick plans to add a boutique bloc™hotel to its airport hotel portfolio Set to open at Gatwick’s South Terminal in Summer 2013 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Gatwick Airport is delighted to announce its agreement with bloc™ hotels to open a 244 room property at the airport in early Summer 2013. The… Read the full press release

Former Australian cricket great now plays for Australian tourism in growing India

Key facts Former Australian Test, One Day and Twenty20 cricketing great, Brett Lee, is joining Tourism Australia’s ‘Friends of Australia’ advocacy program to promote the country’s tourism experiences to a growing market of Indian travellers. In his debut as a Friend of Australia, Brett Lee welcomed on Wednesday evening more than 70 of India’s leading… Read the full press release

SURF’S UP IN SYDNEY FOR FIRST TIME VISITORS TO OZ

Syndey and the Great Barrier Reef from just £1,899 per person 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Thinking of taking a trip down under but don’t know where to start? Check out leading independent tour operator Premier Holidays’ Australia packages, which are perfect for first time visitors to the destination. There is a package for everyone – from… Read the full press release

Porter Airlines sets record August load factor of 74.5%

TORONTO, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Porter Airlines set records for any month in its history by carrying more than 260,000 passengers with a load factor of 74.5 per cent in August. Passenger numbers increased 23.8 per cent from the previous year. Figures for the month show 133.1 million Available Seat Miles (ASMs) and 99.1 million Revenue… Read the full press release

Tourism Australia statement: Qantas-Emirates international alliance

2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Key facts Qantas and Emirates have today announced a new international flight alliance. Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said that the alliance would need to be judged fully over time, but that it had the potential to bolster international visitation and increase dispersal of visitors in Australia. Key quotes “Improving aviation… Read the full press release

Visitors to Thailand Urged to Ask for “Miracle Thailand Card” for Discounted Shopping

Bangkok, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Visitors to Thailand this high season should make it a point to ask their travel agents and tour operators for a “Miracle Thailand Card” to help them take advantage of discounted shopping during their stay. TAT Governor Suraphon Svetasreni said the TAT is supporting this initiative, launched by one of Thailand’s leading banks,… Read the full press release

PARADISUS RESORTS’ PLAYA DEL CARMEN PROPERTIES JOIN PREFERRED HOTELS & RESORTS

New Members Bring Adults-Only and Family-Friendly Destinations to Preferred Hotels & Resorts’ Portfolio in Mexico CHICAGO, SEPTEMBER, 2012-09-06 — /travelprnews.com/ — Preferred Hotel Group, a leading provider of sales and marketing support to independent hotels around the world, increased the presence of its Preferred Hotels® & Resorts brand in Riviera Maya with the addition of Paradisus Playa del Carmen La… Read the full press release