Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation launched its U.K. Outdoor Adventure marketing campaign with Ray Mears as the official spokesperson

Attracting the U.K. Visitor with Personality Favourite Ray Mears Toronto, Ontario, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Ontario is a popular destination for the outdoor adventurer and the Ontario Tourism Marketing Partnership Corporation (OTMPC) welcomes the opportunity to share Ontario’s dynamic tourism offerings with visitors from the United Kingdom. The OTMPC has launched its U.K. Outdoor Adventure… Read the full press release

VIA Rail Canada signed a partnership with Hainan Airlines in China

Toronto, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — VIA Rail Canada (VIA Rail) has signed a partnership with Hainan Airlines, the first to be concluded with a company based in China. As well, for the first time, this partnership will allow an airline company to sell VIA Rail tickets. Hainan Airlines’ ticket offices and other travel agencies… Read the full press release

Oakland International Airport: Southwest Airlines adds new nonstop flights linking Oakland with Nashville and New Orleans beginning June 7, 2015

New Daily Nonstops to Link Nashville, New Orleans with Bay Area Starting in June Oakland, CA, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Oakland International Airport (OAK) and Southwest Airlines have announced the expansion of Southwest’s operations at OAK with the addition of new nonstop flights linking Oakland with Nashville and New Orleans beginning June 7, 2015. The… Read the full press release

America’s Largest Cruise Agency CruisesOnly® to add “free hotel stay” option to its already robust Loyalty Club

America’s Largest Cruise Agency Provides Unprecedented Benefits Program to Past Customers and Best Cruise Deals Wilmington, Mass., 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — CruisesOnly®, America’s Largest Cruise Agency, and flagship brand in the World Travel Holdings portfolio of brands, has announced that it is adding a “free hotel stay” option to its already robust Loyalty Club, the exclusive benefits… Read the full press release

SriLankan Airlines continues its extensive wide-body re-fleeting programme taking delivery of its second Airbus 330-300 on 19 December 2014

Colombo, Sri Lanka, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Sri Lanka’s national carrier and oneworld member, SriLankan Airlines, continuing its extensive wide-body re-fleeting programme, took delivery of its second Airbus 330-300, on Friday, 19 December 2014. The new aircraft named “The City of Sihagiri ” will be utilised on the major Far Eastern markets of Canton, Shanghai,… Read the full press release

Marriott International signed up Dubai’s luxurious Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa to its Autograph Collection

Marriott International’s exclusive portfolio of independent hotels continues growth in world class destinations, makings its entry into the Middle East and Africa continent DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Marriott International, Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) has just signed up Dubai’s luxurious Habtoor Grand Beach Resort & Spa to its Autograph Collection. This represents the… Read the full press release

Marriott International Autograph Collection welcomes two luxurious hotels from the Shahdag Mountain Resort in Azerbaijan into its collection

Introducing Four Luxury Properties to its Portfolio  Marriott International’s exclusive collection of independent hotels continues rapid growth in world class destinations  LONDON, 2014-12-19 — /Travel PR News/ — Marriott International, Inc (NASDAQ:MAR) Autograph Collection, an exclusive portfolio of hotels recognised for championing independence, is delighted to announce its entry into Azerbaijan, welcoming two luxurious hotels… Read the full press release

The Steigenberger Hotel Group’s founding hotel The Europäischer Hof to remain in the company’s portfolio for at least 20 more years

Frankfurt am Main, 2014-12-18 — /Travel PR News/ — The Europäischer Hof, the founding hotel of the Steigenberger Hotel Group, is to remain in the company’s portfolio for at least twenty more years. After completing an extensive renovation and modernisation programme, the Steigenberger Hotel Group will operate the hotel under a management agreement. Both –… Read the full press release

The Steigenberger Hotel Group takes over the Hotel Cologne Rudolfplatz in Cologne with effect from 1 January 2015

Cologne , Germany, 2014-12-18 — /Travel PR News/ — The Steigenberger Hotel Group will be taking over the Hotel Cologne Rudolfplatz in Cologne with effect from 1 January 2015 and has now signed an agreement to this effect with the owner company Carey Property, S.L. of Madrid. €15 million has been budgeted for renovation and… Read the full press release

InterContinental Hotels Group PLC to acquire Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants Group LLC for cash consideration of $430 million

– IHG has agreed to acquire Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants (“Kimpton”) for $430 million in cash. – Kimpton is the world’s largest independent boutique hotel operator and a sophisticated food and beverage operator. – Kimpton is a fully asset-light business that manages 62 hotels in the most attractive cities and resorts in the US with… Read the full press release

InterContinental Hotels Group signed with PT. Ciputra Puri Trisula to develop InterContinental hotel in Jakarta

350-key InterContinental in Jakarta to comprise hotel and serviced residences LONDON, 2014-12-18 — /Travel PR News/ — InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed a management agreement with PT. Ciputra Puri Trisula, part of PT Ciputra Property Tbk, a leading property developer in Indonesia, to develop an InterContinental hotel in Jakarta. Located in the central business… Read the full press release

Austrian Airlines and Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) launched ‘AIRail’ on the route between Linz central station and Vienna Airport

• Up to eight train connections a day in addition to the existing flights • Earn miles in same way as travelling by air VIENNA, 2014-12-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Yesterday, on December 14, 2014, Austrian Airlines and ÖBB launched the cooperation entitled ‘AIRail’ on the route between Linz central station and Vienna Airport…. Read the full press release

Central and Eastern Europe low-cost airline Wizz Air announced two new services from Budapest to Hurghada in Egypt and to Alghero in Italy

Budapest, Hungary, 2014-12-18 — /Travel PR News/ — Wizz Air, the largest low-cost airline in Central and Eastern Europe, today announced two new services from Budapest to Hurghada in Egypt and to Alghero in Italy for the 2015 summer season. The new routes will commence on 16 May and 15 June respectively. Wizz Air is… Read the full press release

airberlin: sales partners are now able to order next year’s airberlin Counter Card

BERLIN, 2014-12-18 — /Travel PR News/ — As from today, the sales partners of the full-service German airline are able to order next year’s Counter Card. With the airberlin Counter Card, travel agent staff receive reductions on flights with the airberlin group as well as on codeshare flights with Etihad Airways. The person accompanying the… Read the full press release

Travelport appoints Maria Chevalier as Global Vice President of Corporate Incubation

Langley, UK, 2014-12-17 — /Travel PR News/ — Travelport (TVPT), a leading Travel Commerce Platform providing distribution, technology, payment and other solutions for the $7 trillion global travel and tourism industry, announced today the appointment of Maria Chevalier as Global Vice President of Corporate Incubation, a newly created role to help develop Travelport’s corporate and commercial… Read the full press release

Air India played host to the first ever Star Alliance Chief Executive Board Meeting held in India

Member carrier CEOs reflect on busy 2014 Set priorities for 2015 NEW DELHI, INDIA, 2014-12-17 — /Travel PR News/ — Air India played host to the first ever Star Alliance Chief Executive Board Meeting (CEB) held in India. This follows the national carrier’s joining the world’s longest serving and most comprehensive airline alliance in July this year. Speaking… Read the full press release

Prostate Cancer UK voted as FirstGroup’s new UK Charity of Choice partner

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-12-17 — /Travel PR News/ — Thousands of FirstGroup’s employees have chosen Prostate Cancer UK as the company’s new UK Charity of Choice partner after a recent vote. The new three year partnership between the leading transport operator and the charity hopes to raise £1m for men affected by prostate cancer, and their partners… Read the full press release

UK’s leading bus operator First Bus to operate local services across Britain on Boxing Day

Aberdeen, Scotland, 2014-12-17 — /Travel PR News/ — First Bus, the UK’s leading bus operator, today announced that it will run a record number of services this Boxing Day. Responding directly to people’s changing habits and the increased demand for travel on 26 December, around 1,000 buses and some 1600 staff will operate local services across… Read the full press release

Accor and Huazhu Hotels Group partner to create the most prominent and diversified hotel company in China

Combined access to over 2,000 hotels in China with long-term path for growth in the world’s largest travel market Connected distribution and loyalty programs with over 47 million loyalty members worldwide and a combined access to 5,600 hotels ibis, ibis Styles, Mercure, Novotel and Grand Mercure hotels in China to become part of Huazhu under a master-franchise for… Read the full press release

Aeroflot recognized as the world’s most punctual airline once again in November 2014 according to FlightStats

Moscow, 2014-12-17 — /Travel PR News/ — Aeroflot was recognized as the world’s most punctual airline once again in November 2014, according to FlightStats, a US-based flight statistics agency. According to the November 2014 survey, 93.22% of Aeroflot flights arrived on time, putting Aeroflot ahead of renowned global peers like SAS, KLM, Lufthansa, British Airways and Emirates. «The first key to success for any company in the transportation… Read the full press release

Czech Airlines marks 50-year anniversary of its regular scheduled connection between Prague and Frankfurt on the Main

Prague, 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Czech Airlines commemorates today a 50-year anniversary of launching its regular scheduled connection between Prague and Frankfurt on the Main. Czechoslovak Airlines serviced its first passenger flight on the Prague – Frankfurt route by a Tupolev Tu-124V airplane on 15 December 1964. The carrier has transported more than 2.7 million… Read the full press release

Etihad Airways recognized as “2014 Airline of the Year” by the readers of U.S.-based Global Traveler magazine

Etihad Airways also collects awards for Best Airline in the Middle East and Best Airport Staff/Gate Agents ABU DHABI, 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Etihad Airways was recognized as “2014 Airline of the Year” by the readers of U.S.-based Global Traveler magazine. The prestigious award was presented at Global Traveler’s “11th Annual GT Tested Reader… Read the full press release

Emirates expects this week to be its busiest of 2014, as travellers head home or abroad for the holiday season

Customers are advised to arrive to the airport early to avoid delays DUBAI, U.A.E., 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Emirates expects this week to be its busiest of 2014, as travellers head home or abroad for the holiday season. Over 80,000 people will travel on 19 December with Emirates on over 240 flights, according… Read the full press release

The Emirates Group publishes its fourth annual Environmental Report

Highlights Sustainability Efforts and Improvement in Key Efficiencies DUBAI, U.A.E., 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — The Emirates Group has published its fourth annual Environmental Report which measures and tracks the Group’s environmental performance, as well as identifies examples of best practice across the 75,000 strong workforce. Covering the 2013-2014 fiscal year, the report, audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers, presents… Read the full press release

Four Seasons Hotel Denver and EDGE Restaurant welcome artist Duke Beardsley as its first “artist in residence” from January 9 to 31, 2015

Western artist Duke Beardsley creates pop-up studio as Hotel and EDGE host an array of events in January Denver, CO, 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Four Seasons Hotel Denver and EDGE Restaurant welcome prolific contemporary Western artist Duke Beardsley as its first “artist in residence” from January 9 to 31, 2015. Beardsley will paint from… Read the full press release

Dubai Airports issues advisory for passengers to ease their travel through Dubai International during the seasonal rush this week and over the weekend

Dubai, UAE, 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Dubai Airports has issued an advisory for passengers to ease their travel through Dubai International as part of preparations for the seasonal rush of travellers anticipated to hit peak later this week and over the weekend. Smart Travel Tips Aim to arrive early at the airport. It is best… Read the full press release

Hong Kong International Airport sets new monthly record for cargo tonnage throughout November 2014

HONG KONG, 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) set a new monthly record for cargo tonnage throughput in November 2014. During the month, cargo volume rose by 5.5% year on year to reach 421,000 tonnes. Continued growth was also seen in other traffic categories during the month, in which HKIA… Read the full press release

Auckland Airport: Air New Zealand to start direct flights to Buenos Aires in December 2015

AUCKLAND, New Zealand, 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — Air New Zealand has announced today that it will begin flying direct to South America in December 2015 for the first time in the airline’s history. The year-round Air New Zealand service will see a Boeing 777-200 aircraft operate three return flights per week between Auckland… Read the full press release

ALPA: FedEx pilots to deliver food baskets and gifts to Memphis daycare center devoted to children affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS

MEMPHIS, Tenn., 2014-12-16 — /Travel PR News/ — In the spirit of giving this holiday season, FedEx pilots will once again deliver food baskets and gifts to Hope House, a Memphis day-care center devoted to children who have been affected by or infected with HIV/AIDS. The pilots will make their visit to Hope House on Tuesday, December… Read the full press release