Magnolia Hotel Omaha Named 2012 “Property of the Year” in Stout Street Hospitality Collection

Denver, Colo., 2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Leigh Hitz, president and chief operating officer for Stout Street Hospitality, today announced that Magnolia Hotel Omaha was recently named the company’s 2012 “Property of the Year.” The award was granted based on a combination of factors including guest service scores, employee satisfaction and retention, property revenue and more. “We… Read the full press release

The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism has launched a new website for film makers and producers

Palm Springs, Calif., 2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism has launched a new website, www.psfilmfriendly.com, for film makers and producers sourcing locations in Palm Springs for upcoming movies, television commercials and advertising photo shoots. The new “virtual film office” features an image library, a free film permit application and procedures and a directory… Read the full press release

Schiphol Group supports KLM with the launch of its biofuel-powered intercontinental flights

2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today ( March 8), Schiphol Group together with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and leading global air carriers KLM Royal Dutch Airlines and Delta Air Lines, announced the launch of a first-ever series of intercontinental KLM flights, powered by second-generation biofuel. This second-generation biofuel is made from processed… Read the full press release

London City Airport on Mission to Reduce Carbon Emissions

2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — London City Airport has been recognised for its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint.  The only airport in the city of London, it has become just the fourth in the UK to become Airport Carbon Accredited by the only independent, institutionally-endorsed carbon standard for airports. LCY has been awarded Level 1 accreditation… Read the full press release

Single European Sky Performance Scheme Targets Set to Disappoint Again

Geneva, 2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) criticized the decision of the European Single Sky Committee to endorse weakened Performance and Charging Scheme regulations for air navigation services over the period 2015-2019. The decision was made on 8 March and impacts the calendar years 2015-2019 (known as Reference Period 2 or RP2)…. Read the full press release

Southwest Airlines Converts AirTran Airways Service, Adding 79th Destination To Route Map

Airline Offers Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas Customers Low Fares and More Destinations 2013-03-11 — /travelprnews.com/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) is excited to announce that LUV has officially landed in Branson, Missouri! The Branson Community rolled out the red carpet today as Congressman Billy Long joined the Branson Airport in welcoming Southwest’s first Customers to… Read the full press release

SAS Group’s February 2013 traffic figures

2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — SAS Group’s February 2013 traffic figures SAS Group carried 2.0 million passengers in February, down 2.6%  SAS Group’s capacity (ASK) was up by 1.7% and the Group’s traffic (RPK) increased by 1.1%. The SAS Group’s load factor decreased by 0.4 p.u. to 66.4%. The traffic, capacity and passengers figures are affected by… Read the full press release

Mum’s the word at Gatwick Airport for Mothering Sunday

2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — Passengers passing through Gatwick’s North and South terminals will be treated to a Michael Bublé-style serenade this Mother’s Day. The airport will also bring new meaning to the term ‘yummy mummy’ by treating passengers to delicious Mother’s Day cupcakes while they enjoy the mood music. For passengers missing out on celebrating with… Read the full press release

Toujours plus de femmes à la SNCB

La SNCB met les femmes à l’honneur à l’occasion de la Journée internationale de la Femme 2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ce vendredi 8 mars c’est la Journée Internationale de la Femme. Partout dans le monde, c’est l’occasion de revendiquer l’égalité et de faire le bilan sur la situation des femmes dans la société. Depuis 8… Read the full press release

Avis Car Rental announced its 10th anniversary in the People’s Republic of China

PARSIPPANY, N.J., 2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — Avis Car Rental today announced its 10th anniversary in the People’s Republic of China. Established in 2003 as a joint venture with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, one of the largest car manufacturers in China, Avis China was the first joint venture car rental company in the country. Today, China is… Read the full press release

Indonesia’s future generation pledges tourism leaders to fight climate change

Berlin, 2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — School kids from Pangandaran, Indonesia, have urged global tourism leaders to take climate change seriously. The 451 participants of the Mangrove Ambassadors Programme voiced out through a selection of 24 “Letters to Leaders” how climate change is affecting their daily lives at one of the most popular tourism destinations in Indonesia…. Read the full press release

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT TAKES TIME TO READ WITH LOCAL PUPILS AHEAD OF WORLD BOOK DAY CELEBRATION EVENT

2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — The George Best Belfast City Airport Community Fund has announced its support of this year’s John Hewitt Society World Book Day Celebration. The funding support is an extension of the airports ‘Time to Read’ initiative whereby employees from the airport visit local schools to encourage reading from a young age. Ahead of… Read the full press release

Sarah Linley joins the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau as the new Associate Director Destination Services

2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Sarah Linley, CMP, CTA, joins the San Antonio Convention & Visitors Bureau (SACVB) as the new Associate Director Destination Services. She will assist in managing the Destination Service Team, provide support to high-profile meetings and events and serve as liaison to other City Departments and hospitality partners. Sarah has a Bachelor’s… Read the full press release

U.S. Travel Association: Travel Continues to Lead Export Growth

Accounts for 23 Percent Rise in U.S. Exports Washington, D.C., 2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — David Huether, senior vice president of research and economics at the U.S. Travel Association, provides analysis on today’s Commerce Department announcement that the U.S. trade deficit widened in January. “The travel industry generated a trade surplus of $4.6 billion in January, which was up… Read the full press release

Airports assessed by passengers – Helsinki Airport performs better than before

2013-03-08 — /travelprnews.com/ — Helsinki Airport, maintained by Finavia, performed better than year ago in the Airport Service Quality survey, which measures air passenger satisfaction. The total grade of Helsinki Airport in 2012 was 4.02, whereas in 2011 it was 3.92. The scale is from 1 to 5 (excellent). According to the results, Helsinki Airport has… Read the full press release

Jersey hosts ‘Islands of the World’ conference

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Highlands College University Centre, in partnership with Hautlieu School, will be hosting an international conference on small islands next year. The theme of the conference is ‘Challenges and success’. Almost 300 international experts and academics in the field of island studies are expected to attend the International Small Islands Studies Association… Read the full press release

WestJet And Air France Announce Code-Share Agreement

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — WestJet and Air France today announced they have entered into a code-share agreement enabling Air France to offer its customers 15 new Canadian routes operated by WestJet. The “AF” code is now on select WestJet flights connecting from Toronto to Vancouver, Edmonton, Saskatoon, Regina, Thunder Bay, Ottawa, Quebec City, Saint-John’s, Moncton and Halifax. Winnipeg and… Read the full press release

Finavia is campaigning for smooth security checks

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — This year, Finavia, responsible for airport and air navigation services in Finland, will highlight security check matters to an even greater extent to make airport security check lines as smooth as possible. “Security checks are a compulsory part of modern air travel. We are continuously working to ensure convenient security checks for… Read the full press release

SAS increases cooperation with SYKES

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — SAS has agreed a contract with SYKES to significantly extend cooperation and to transfer further elements of Customer Contact Center (CCC) operations to Sykes. Some parts of SAS support for corporate customers and agents will continue to be managed internally. SAS and SYKES have been working together since 2010, when SYKES took… Read the full press release

SkyTeam Members’ Premium Travelers Speed through Narita International Airport

First SkyPriority-branded fast-track security lane opens, enhances airport experience AMSTERDAM, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — A new SkyPriority fast-track security lane has opened at Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, offering SkyTeam’s premium customers a speedier airport experience from checking-in to boarding the plane.  The dedicated security lane is located behind an easily identifiable, SkyPriority-branded wall. Available exclusively to Elite… Read the full press release

Aeroflot summed up traffic and capacity statistics for January 2013

Moscow, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — JSC “Aeroflot – Russian Airlines” summed up traffic and capacity statistics for January 2013. In January 2013 passenger traffic increased by 19.1% against January 2012 and totaled 1,395.7 ths passengers. International passenger traffic rose by 22.0% (+155.9 ths passengers) reaching 863.1 ths passengers. The number of passengers served on domestic lines was 532.6… Read the full press release

British Airways marks 10 years at London City Airport

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — British Airways marks 10 years at London City Airport in March with a year-long party for customers, colleagues and charity. The celebrations begin on March 27 with a birthday party at the Museum of London Docklands, hosted by football legend Gary Lineker and Willie Walsh, CEO of International Airlines Group (IAG), parent… Read the full press release

Shannon Airport welcomed four new board directors

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ —  The Chairman and management of Shannon Airport Authority have welcomed the appointment of four new members to the board of the SAA. The new appointees are US based public policy consultant and transport expert Kathryn O’Leary Higgins, Managing Director of Clare FM and Tipp FM radio stations Liam O’Shea and Shannon… Read the full press release

MAYOR VILLARAIGOSA, AIRPORT OFFICIALS UNVEIL STATE-OF-THE-ART AIRCRAFT GATES AT LAX’S NEW TOM BRADLEY INTERNATIONAL TERMINAL

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Los Angeles Mayor Antonio R. Villaraigosa was joined today by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and Singapore Airlines executives to unveil the north concourse and three gates of the New Tom Bradley International Terminal (New TBIT) at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The gates are the first of 18 to be built… Read the full press release

SAS and Swissport International signed Letter of Intent: Swissport to take over SAS Ground Handling

2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Swissport International Ltd. (Swissport) and Scandinavian Airline Systems (SAS) today announced they have signed a Letter of Intent. The letter creates the basis for continued negotiations between the two companies, aiming at an agreement to transfer full ownership of SAS’ Ground Handling in Denmark, Sweden and Norway to Swissport. As a first… Read the full press release

PATA: 2012 Was a Record Year for Asia/Pacific Tourism

BANGKOK, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Asia and the Pacific continued as a hot spot for international tourism in 2012, attracting what is expected to be in excess of 350 million international visitor arrivals, expanding its collective inbound count by more than 5% and generating more than 18 million additional foreign visits, year-on-year. This is according to… Read the full press release

Rate Remains Key Driver of Growth for Hotels in 2013

NEW YORK, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — While demand for hotel rooms continues to see moderate growth across all segments , average daily rate (ADR) continues to be the main driver of growth for hotels in 2013, according to data from the February 2013 TravelClick North American Hospitality Review (NAHR). “Based on TravelClick data, while committed occupancy… Read the full press release

LATAM Airlines Group chooses oneworld as its global alliance

Brazil’s TAM to leave Star for oneworld in early 2014 LAN Colombia to join oneworld too, building on LAN group’s 13-year membership of alliance Business as usual for customers meantime, with seamless transition promised Latin America’s top airline group strengthens oneworld’s status as global first choice alliance 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — LATAM Airlines Group today confirmed its selection of oneworld® as… Read the full press release

The U.S. Travel Association Applauds House Bill to Fund Government

Legislation Requires Staffing to Facilitate International Travelers Washington, D.C. 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ —  The U.S. Travel Association today applauded the House for approving a six-month stopgap spending bill to keep the government operating past March 27 and require Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to maintain its staffing levels from the end of fiscal 2012. “We applaud… Read the full press release

Royal Jet Establishes Operational Base at Al Bateen Executive Airport

MoU Between Royal Jet and Abu Dhabi Airports Company Supports Double Digit Industry Growth Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2013-03-07 — /travelprnews.com/ — Royal Jet and Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will effectively facilitate the expansion of operations into the Al Bateen Executive Airport by the Abu Dhabi-based international luxury… Read the full press release