American Airlines and Qatar Airways sign reciprocal frequent flyer program agreement

Members of American’s AAdvantage® Program and Qatar Airways’ Privilege Club Can Earn and Redeem Miles on Flights Operated by Both Airlines Fort Worth, Texas, 2013-09-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — American Airlines and Doha-based carrier Qatar Airways today announce an expansion of their relationship to include a reciprocal frequent flyer program agreement, providing customers more opportunities to earn… Read the full press release

La SNCB réclame des dommages et intérêts à AnsaldoBreda

2013-09-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — la SNCB a introduit une demande en dommages et intérêts de plus de 27 millions auprès d’un tribunal néerlandais à l’encontre du constructeur de train italien AnsaldoBreda. Le montant doit compenser le préjudice subi en raison de la non-livraison de rames fonctionnelles V250. Il s’agit d’une somme provisionnelle. Le 3 juin 2013,… Read the full press release

The Global Business Travel Association released its latest GBTA BTI™ Outlook – Western Europe report

BUSINESS TRAVEL SPENDING SET TO GROW 3.4% IN 2014  London, UK, 2013-09-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), the voice of the global business travel industry, announces the results of its latest GBTA BTI™ Outlook – Western Europe report, a semi-annual analysis of the five most critical business travel markets in Europe: Germany,… Read the full press release

Ms. Pansy Ho, Shun Tak Holdings Managing Director, becomes first official PATA Foundation Ambassador

Bangkok, Thailand, 2013-09-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — The PATA Foundation, is delighted to announce that Ms. Pansy Ho, Managing Director, Shun Tak Holdings Limited, has accepted the role as the Foundation’s first official Ambassador. Announced during the closing ceremony of the second annual Global Tourism Economy Forum (GTEF) on September 19, in Macau, Ms. Ho, who is also the Vice Chairman,… Read the full press release

Visitors to some of Scotland’s most famous historic sites will be able to channel their inner artist this October

2013-09-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Visitors to some of Scotland’s most famous historic sites will be able to channel their inner artist next month. A number of Historic Scotland sites are taking part in ‘The Big Draw’, the world’s biggest drawing festival. The participating sites are Edinburgh Castle, Duff House, Bothwell Castle, Urquhart Castle, Iona Abbey, Castle… Read the full press release

Qatar Airways made enhancements to its frequent flyer programme – Privilege Club

All New Qatar Airways Privilege Club Programme To Be Effective From 4 October DOHA, Qatar, 2013-09-27 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways today unveiled details of its exciting new enhancements made to the airline’s frequent flyer programme – Privilege Club. These added benefits have been carefully tailored to offer Privilege Club members exclusive benefits as well as… Read the full press release

Maria Jagla appointed General Manager Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh announces the appointment of Maria Jagla as new General Manager of the Red Sea Resort. Maria is a hotel veteran who made the switch to Four Seasons twenty years ago, having first started in the “land down under” in Sydney, Australia.  Four Seasons Resort Sharm El Sheikh is Maria’s 9th Four… Read the full press release

Emirates named Aviation Company of the Year at The Gulf Business Industry Awards 2013

DUBAI, U.A.E., 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Emirates demonstrated its industry leading role last night by picking up Aviation Company of the Year at The Gulf Business Industry Awards 2013. The award comes as Emirates embarks on another wave of route launch announcements, extending its network across six continents. More than 300 guests attended the awards night… Read the full press release

Oakwood Worldwide enhanced its apartment portfolio in downtown Seattle

Corporate Residences Situated in a Unique Vertical Neighborhood LOS ANGELES, 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Oakwood Worldwide, the global leader in corporate housing and serviced apartments, recently enhanced its apartment portfolio in downtown Seattle. The furnished, corporate residences at the newly constructed Via6, a 24-story, mixed-use development, feature a unique set of retailers and hotel-like amenities. Located at… Read the full press release

Historic Scotland: apprentice given the chance to learn centuries old skills helping conserve one of Orkney’s most impressive landmarks

2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — A young woman is to be given the chance to learn centuries old skills, to help conserve one of Orkney’s most impressive landmarks. Sophie Turner, aged 22 and a graduate in Photography and Film from Napier University in Edinburgh  will take up her chisel and begin a four year apprenticeship in stonemasonry… Read the full press release

PLL LOT Oficjalnym Przewoźnikiem EFNI 2013

Warszawa, 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — LOT otrzymał tytuł Oficjalnego Przewoźnika Europejskiego Forum Nowych Idei. Przewoźnik specjalnie dostosował rozkład rejsów na trasie Warszawa-Gdańsk–Warszawa z myślą o wygodzie gości Forum. PLL LOT przygotowały także dla uczestników EFNI pulę biletów w atrakcyjnych cenach, w ramach programu LOT Conventions. Przewoźnik aktywnie wspiera największe wydarzenia ekonomiczne i gospodarcze w Polsce. Samoloty… Read the full press release

Alaska Airlines launched its Permanent Fund Dividend sale offering savings on air fares

Plan travel now to take advantage of attractive fares through next summer  ANCHORAGE, 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Alaska Airlines launched its Permanent Fund Dividend sale today, featuring savings on air fares for residents of the 49th state. The special PFD rates are on routes within Alaska and between Alaska and the Lower 48 states, Hawaii, Canada… Read the full press release

Qatar Airways now with over 2M Facebook fans, becomes the 4th most liked airline wordwide

DOHA, Qatar, 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways has exceeded the two million Facebook fan milestone and is now in fourth position for most “Liked” airline across the industry according to analytics firm, Socialbakers. Launching on Facebook in April 2011, Qatar Airways has achieved remarkable fan growth, especially in the past year, due to a wide… Read the full press release

airberlin’s Medical Transport Service celebrates 5 years of service

2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — airberlin provides the highest level of care when transporting patients to their destination: passengers who suddenly become ill on holiday or who have an accident, frequently have special needs in terms of transport for their return journey. Since 2008 airberlin has been offering patients with health issues a Medical Transport Service, which… Read the full press release

Four Seasons Hotel Austin appoints Maria Hirt as New Director of Marketing

Four Seasons veteran excited to call Austin home Austin, U.S.A, 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Four Seasons Hotel Austin announces the appointment of Maria Hirt as Director of Marketing, overseeing sales, catering, public relations, advertising and room revenue at the 291-room hotel in downtown Austin. Originally from Lima, Peru, Hirt is a long-time Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts manager, serving in various sales… Read the full press release

Oktoberfest cheer comes to Germany’s largest aviation gateway, Frankfurt Airport

Prost! – Cheers! 2013-09-26 — /travelprnews.com/ — Frankfurt Airport (FRA) is now celebrating Oktoberfest until October 6 at Terminal 1’s concourse “Z”. Decked out in the style of this popular annual festival, concourse “Z” will feature brass-band music, traditional Bavarian costumes, and schuhplattler-style folk dancing to create the atmosphere of the Oktoberfest beer tents. Considered the… Read the full press release

Malaysia Airlines announced capacity and frequency increases regionally and new destinations internationally

2013-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Subang, 20 September 2013: Malaysia Airlines is on an expansion mode with capacity and frequency increases regionally and new destinations internationally. “In the recent weeks, we launched flights to Dubai and Kochi and increased capacity and frequencies to Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei) and Medan (Indonesia). Soon, we will be flying more often to… Read the full press release

New partnership between Singapore Airlines and Singapore Workforce Development Agency expected to benefit about 800 new SIA cabin crew members each year

Joint release with WDA, 2013-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — A new partnership between Singapore Airlines (SIA) and the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) is expected to benefit about 800 new SIA cabin crew members each year. As part of the collaboration, new cabin crew members who graduate from the 15-week Cabin Crew Readiness Programme (CCRP) will achieve a… Read the full press release

Inland American Lodging Group, Inc. to acquire from Hyatt Hotels Corporation two Andaz hotels located in Napa, CA, and Savannah, GA

Oak Brook, Ill., 2013-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Inland American Lodging Group, Inc. (“IALG”), a wholly owned subsidiary of Inland American Real Estate Trust, Inc. (“Inland American”), and Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that IALG has acquired a portfolio of two Andaz hotels for approximately $115 million. The hotels, both part of Hyatt’s acclaimed boutique… Read the full press release

Iberia received 17,000 bids for seats for its first “social flight” from Madrid to New York

En apenas 24 horas, se recibieron 17.000 ofertas solicitando cerca de 33.000 plazas para este vuelo. En Facebook, Iberia ha creado una comunidad para que los participantes compartan sus gustos y poder ofrecerles un “social seating”. El avión del “social flight” se ha customizado completamente: lucirá el vinilo “Hoy, social flight”, y el servicio a… Read the full press release

Bahrain International Airport’s Safety Week initiative launched

2013-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — Bahrain International Airport’s (BIA) Safety Week was launched yesterday in an opening ceremony held at the Movenpick Hotel and attended by Bahrain Airport Company (BAC) officials and partners. The event is a leading initiative designed to educate airport’s staff about world-class measures that ensure safety of employees and travelers alike, while maintaining… Read the full press release

Philippines’ leading low-cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air increased operations from its Visayas hubs by 33%

2013-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Philippines’ leading low-cost carrier, Cebu Pacific Air (PSE:CEB) increased operations from its Visayas hubs, in line with its continued push for more tourism and trade in the destinations it flies to. From January to August 2013, the number of passengers through the airline’s Iloilo hub went up by 33%, while guests… Read the full press release

Budapest Airport announced structural management changes to better serve its passengers and airline partners

Budapest Airport has announced further structural management changes in order to better serve its passengers and airline partners, to streamline its daily operations. This step marks a further reorganization of the airport company’s structure during the last two years to answer the challenges posed by the profound changes in the aviation market in Hungary and… Read the full press release

New Online Travel Agency Fareboom.com Uses Unique Technology To Uncover Better Airfares

Los Angeles, 2013-09-25 — /travelprnews.com/ — A new online travel agency that uses special algorithms to find the best value on international airfares officially launched its website today: Fareboom.com. No other booking website searches for airfares the way Fareboom does. It implements a custom search strategy to dig deeper into airfare data, uncovering international routes that are… Read the full press release

Embrace Arizona’s Unique Nature And Wildlife At Loews Ventana Canyon’s Butterfly Garden And Tortoise Exhibit

Resort is the first in Arizona to have certified butterfly and tortoise features  TUCSON, Ariz., 2013-09-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Guests visiting Loews Ventana Canyon can now encounter the unique nature and wildlife of Arizona just steps from the comfort of their pool chairs with the opening of its new butterfly garden and tortoise exhibit. The resort,… Read the full press release

Christchurch Airport bar, “South Bar and Café”, makes the list of finalists for the Airport Food and Beverage Awards

2013-09-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — The list of finalists for the Airport Food and Beverage Awards (FAB Awards) has been released, with the Christchurch finalist amongst luminaries. Airport bars in Ibiza, Dubai, Amsterdam, Chicago and London are competing with the Christchurch Airport bar for an award which will be announced in Dubai on October 2. Steve Hagerty,… Read the full press release

Air France Business Class Cabin Will Soon Serve Gourmet Creations Of The Bocuse d’Or 2013 Winner, Thibaut Ruggeri

On 20 September, coinciding with the 3rd Gastronomic festival, Thibaut Ruggeri presents his gourmet creations to Air France customers in the Business lounge at Paris-Charles de Gaulle. Starting from 1st October and for a period of 6 months, this new Chef will sign five dishes for Business class customers on long-haul flights. This is the… Read the full press release

Ethiopian Airlines started Hajj transport services for the 8,000 Ethiopian Hajj pilgrims

2013-09-24 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian Airlines is pleased to announce the start of Hajj transport services for the 8,000 Ethiopian Hajj pilgrims, who will travel to the Muslim holy land of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, starting 18 September 2013. The first Ethiopian chartered Hajj flight of 2013 will take-off from Addis Ababa with 234 out of the… Read the full press release

Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) wishes to thank Ms. Kate Chang for her eight outstanding years dedicated service to PATA

Thailand, 2013-09-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA)bids farewell to its much admired Regional Director – Greater China, Ms. Kate Chang, who has accepted a position with the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Bureau in the Beijing office. The Executive Board thanked Ms. Chang for her dedicated service to PATA for the last eight years… Read the full press release

Cape Town International Airport facilitated about 800 pilgrims leaving for Mecca during September

2013-09-23 — /travelprnews.com/ — Airports Company South Africa, Cape Town International Airport (ACSA CTIA) has been facilitating the Haj delegation leaving for Mecca. In the month of September, about 800 pilgrims would have used the airport for domestic and international travel. The airport has been working closely with South African Haj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) as… Read the full press release