QATAR AIRWAYS CEO AKBAR AL BAKER DELIVERS INSPIRING LEADERSHIP SPEECH AT CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY

Students, faculty and guests of Carnegie Mellon University Qatar attend the Lecture Series event on the university campus where Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker delivered an address on the airline’s vision and its success story.

More Than 500 People Attend Lecture As Airline Chief Shares Story Behind Company’s Success Doha, QATAR – 2012-10-8 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker today delivered an inspiring speech on leadership and the airline’s success story during a lecture at Carnegie Mellon University in Doha. Al Baker’s address, attended by over… Read the full press release

Culina, Modern Italian at Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills Announces Chris Bradford as New Wine Director

Wine Director Chris Bradford

Bradford will continue to develop Culina’s unique wine program, which features more than 200 labels, with a majority from Italy and available by carafe Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, U.S.A. – 2012-10-5 — /travelprnews.com/ — Culina, Modern Italian, located on the lobby level of Four SeasonsHotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, announces Chris Bradford as the new Wine Director… Read the full press release

The Board of Directors of JSC “AEROFLOT”

Moscow – 2012-10-5 — /travelprnews.com/ — JSC “Aeroflot” Board of Directors ordinary meeting was held today chaired by Kirill Androsov. The Board of Directors considered results of execution of consolidated budget figures of Aeroflot Group according to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for the first 6 months of 2012. Provided data persuasively confirms position of the Group… Read the full press release

CHRISTCHURCH AIRPORT PAYS TRIBUTE TO NORM THOMPSON

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Christchurch Airport is hailing the contribution made by Air New Zealand’s deputy CEO as he announces his intention to leave the airline next year. Norm Thompson will step down from his role next June, after almost 45 years with the national carrier. Jim Boult, Christchurch Airport CEO, says he enjoys his association… Read the full press release

EASYJET TRADING UPDATE AND PRE-CLOSE STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2012

Outlook At as 25 July 2012 IMS Revised Outlook Capacity growth 1 +7% +7% Revenue per seat (constant currency) 1 Low to mid-single digits +5% to 5.5% Cost per seat ex fuel (constant currency) 1 +1% to 2% +1.5% to 2% Full year pre–tax profit (PBT) £280m to £300m £310m to £320m 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Trading update for… Read the full press release

Budapest Airport Highly Commended at 2012 World Routes Awards

Budapest Airport Highly Commended at 2012 World Routes Awards

Budapest Airport was highly commended as one of the top three airports in Europe last night in the prestigious World Routes Awards, voted for exclusively by airline judges*. 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — “To win such recognition on the world stage after experiencing a difficult year with the loss of Malev is especially pleasing for us,” noted… Read the full press release

Global Business Travel Association Appoints Top Indian Buyer to Its Asia Advisory Board

Bangkok, Thailand, 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — GBTA is thrilled to announce that Mr. Indriyajit Sethi  vice president, Group Strategic Sourcing for the TATA Group has accepted a position on GBTA’s Asia Advisory Board.  Mr. Sethi manages a TATA group aggregated buying shared services unit, reporting to Mr Ishaat Hussain (Director TATA Sons and member Group Corporate… Read the full press release

CTC intercepts and scores with travel plans on social media

Pilot project adds Canada to UK and Aussie travellers’ itineraries in the US; TripAdvisor and Les Clefs d’Or partnerships raise awareness. 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Surprise, surprise! A new Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) pilot project gave travellers from the UK and Australia an added bonus on top of their planned trips to the US—a chance for Canadian adventures. Their amazement at the change… Read the full press release

Digital Native Shows the Way for GBTA Europe Delegates in Budapest

London, 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — GBTA, the voice of the global business travel industry treated delegates at GBTA Europe’s Annual Conference in Budapest last week to an insight to Generation Y and its use of social media by the event’s 17-year-old Digital Native speaker, Max Keegan, in his talk – ‘The Importance of Impatience’. Prior to the… Read the full press release

Marriott International Reports Third Quarter 2012 Results

Listen to the quarterly earnings review at http://www.marriott.com/investor (click “recent and upcoming events” tab and click on the quarterly conference call link). THIRD QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS • Diluted earnings per share (EPS) totaled $0.44, a 52 percent increase over prior year adjusted results; • During the third quarter, the company completed the sale of its equity interest in the Courtyard… Read the full press release

InterCity West Coast franchise

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Secretary of State for Transport has announced today, 3 October, that the InterCity West Coast franchise competition has been cancelled. A Virgin Rail Group spokesperson  said: “We welcome today’s frank announcement by the Secretary of State, acknowledging the flaws in the way the InterCity West Coast competition was assessed and… Read the full press release

Brenda McLaughlin appointed as SVP and General Manager of Lonely Planet Americas

Lonely Planet Announces New Leadership in the Americas Brenda McLaughlin appointed as SVP and General Manager of Lonely Planet Americas 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Lonely Planet announced today the appointment of Brenda McLaughlin as the new Senior Vice President and General Manager of Lonely Planet Americas. Reporting to Stephen Palmer, Lonely Planet’s Managing Director of Publishing,… Read the full press release

GBTA and Egencia® Study Shows Travel Professionals Gaining Control of Travel Policies in Asia Pacific Region

Report Ranks Top 10 Most Important Factors in Defining Policy Alexandria, VA and Bellevue, WA – 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travel professionals are playing an increasingly large and influential role in shaping and controlling business travel policy, aided by online booking tools and fueled by a growing focus on cost-saving efforts, according to a new report… Read the full press release

Andolino Discusses Aviation Industry Outlook at World Route Summit

CHICAGO, 2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Chicago Department of Aviation (CDA) Commissioner Rosemarie S. Andolino was one of many industry experts who spoke at the opening day of the World Route Development Strategy Summit on September 30 in Abu Dhabi. Leaders from airlines, airports, governments, network planning, travel and tourism, air cargo and economic development authorities attended the summit to discuss the… Read the full press release

Maldives local travel agents honours the country’s first Travel and Tourism Awards

Maldives local travel agents honours the country’s first Travel and Tourism Awards

2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Maldives Association for Travel Agents and Tour Operators (MATATO) honoured the travel and tourism industry with first ever Maldives Travel Awards. The grand awarding ceremony was held on 28th September 2012 at Paradise Island Resort. Awards for 21 categories including resorts, hotels, liveaboards and aviation were awarded trophies. The event began with… Read the full press release

Marcus Stewart Appointed Executive Sous Chef of Four Seasons Resorts Lanai

Marcus Stewart Appointed Executive Sous Chef of Four Seasons Resorts Lanai

Hawaii, Lana’i at Manele Bay, U.S.A. – 2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marcus Stewart has been named Executive Sous Chef of Four Seasons Resorts Lanai. In his new role, Chef Stewart will assist Executive Chef Kevin Erving in overseeing all culinary operations and menu development for the seven restaurants and bars at Manele Bay and The Lodge at Koele. “Chef Marcus… Read the full press release

Accor: Motel 6 disposal completed

2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Accor today announces the completion of the sale of its Motel 6 / Studio 6 hotels in North America to an affiliate of Blackstone Real Estate Partners VII, for an amount of US 1.9 billion dollars¹. This transaction allows Accor to reduce its adjusted net debt by c. €780m. Following the divestment,… Read the full press release

Maldives to hold roadshow in Mumbai and Chennai on 27th and 28th September

Maldives to hold roadshow in Mumbai and Chennai on 27th and 28th September

2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Maldivian airline together with Maldives Marketing & Public Relations Corporation (MMPRC) will hold a two city road-show in Mumbai and Chennai on 27th and 28th September. The delegation led by Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts & Culture, Hon. Mohamed Maleeh Jamal will comprise of members drawn from  15 companies both hoteliers and… Read the full press release

Accor reaches a secured pipeline of 90 contracts in Brazil

Group has ambitious plans to reach 250 hotels in the country by 2016. Accor partners are committed to invest $1.5 billion. 2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Accor, the world leader hotel operator and market leader in Brazil, announces a record secured pipeline of 90 contracts to be delivered by 2016. The Group network in Brazil will increase… Read the full press release

Frontier Airlines Announces Executive Changes

Denver-based carrier appoints chief information officer DENVER, 2012-10-2 — /travelprnews.com/ — Frontier Airlines today announced the appointment of Amit Agarwal as chief information officer of the Denver-based carrier. Frontier also announced the departure of Cliff Van Leuven, the airline’s vice president of customer service since 2004. Jan Fogelberg, currently Frontier’s vice president of commercial technology, will… Read the full press release

Raffles Hotels & Resorts 125th Anniversary Around the World

Raffles Hotels & Resorts 125th Anniversary Around the World

2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Evening in Singapore. The scent of frangipani and the soft hum of conversation drift across the Palm Court at Raffles Hotel. Is it 1887 or 2012? The doormen, looking crisp in their distinctive Gieves & Hawkes uniforms, welcome arriving travellers. Somewhere deep in the hotel a butler swoops in from a teak… Read the full press release

Concur Showcases Commitment to Helping Colleges and Universities Drive Down the Costs of Travel and Expense Management

Industry-leading innovation, partnership with Huron Consulting Group and higher education successes all on display at 2012 SCTEM Conference REDMOND, Wash., 2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today, at the Society for Collegiate Travel and Expense Management Conference, Concur (Nasdaq: CNQR) announced that the company continues to see success addressing the travel and expense management needs of the higher education community through… Read the full press release

VISIT FLORIDA CEO Chris Thompson Tapped to Head Brand USA

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., 2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today, VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – held a Board of Directors meeting to establish a formal process for filling its soon-to-be vacant President and CEO position. This vacancy was created when Chris Thompson was officially announced as Brand USA’s new President and CEO, effective November… Read the full press release

Maldives holds a Road Show in Japan

Maldives holds a Road Show in Japan

2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Maldives Marketing & PR Corporation (MMPRC) together with the tourism industry successfully completed a road show in major two cities, Fukuoka and Osaka in Japan on Sunday 9th September 2012. More than 90 different Japanese tour operators participated in this road show. The main objective of holding a road show is… Read the full press release

NIGHT TIME TOURISM WORTH £66BN TO THE UK ECONOMY

VisitEngland and Association of Town Centre Management Partner to Promote the Opportunity for Destinations After Dark 21 September 2012, 2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — In the run-up to Purple Flag Week (24-30 September), the national tourist Board, VisitEngland, together with the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM) have issued guidelines in a publication called ‘The Evening &… Read the full press release

Marriott Completes Acquisition of Gaylord Hotels Brand and Hotel Management Company

Group and Meetings Portfolio Enhanced BETHESDA, Md., 2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Marriott International, Inc. (NYSE: MAR) said today that it has completed the transaction announced on May 31 with Gaylord Entertainment Company, now Ryman Hospitality Properties, Inc. (NYSE: RHP), to acquire the Gaylord brand and hotel management company for $210 million. Gaylord Entertainment’s shareholders approved that… Read the full press release

The 18th World Route Development Forum Opens today in Abu Dhabi

The 18th World Route Development Forum Opens today in Abu Dhabi

Over 2,800 senior professionals from airlines and airports around the world visit Abu Dhabi to establish strategic partnerships Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today the 18th World Route Development Forum, one of the largest international civil aviation industry events worldwide, opened in Abu Dhabi. Hosted by Abu Dhabi Airports Company, the 18th World… Read the full press release

CTC tradeshows build overseas business opportunities and relationships

Events in Mexico and Brazil capitalize on Canada’s growing strength in these two emerging markets. 2012-10-1 — /travelprnews.com/ — Tradeshow season is in full swing. The Canadian Tourism Commission(CTC) and its partners have been on the road, leading two important B2B events in Mexico and Brazil. The doors have just closed on a successful Conozca Canada & GoMedia Mexico at the Sheraton… Read the full press release

International Aviation Leaders Land in Abu Dhabi for Global Summit

Over 2,800 senior professionals, including 90 CEOs from airlines and airports around the world to visit Abu Dhabi for World Routes 201 Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 2012-09-30 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 30th of September will mark the official opening of the 18th World Route Development Forum, the largest annual international aviation event, at the Abu Dhabi… Read the full press release

ROSEWOOD MANSION ON TURTLE CREEK ANNOUNCES NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

DALLAS, 2012-09-28 — /travelprnews.com/ — Rosewood Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce that Christian Tavelli has been appointed managing director of Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek. A Rosewood veteran, Tavelli was most recently managing director of Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, a resort located in the heart of an enchanting artists’ village in the mountains… Read the full press release