Qatar Airways Takes Delivery Of First 787 Dreamliner

Celebrating the official handover to Qatar Airways of its first 787 Dreamliner in Seattle are, from right: Qatar's Ambassador to the United States, His Excellency Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al-Rumaihi; Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker; and Boeing Commercial President and CEO Ray Conner.

Special Ceremony At Boeing Hangar In Seattle Marks Beginning Of New Era For Middle East Aviation First Fully Wireless Connected 787 Set To Take To The Skies For Qatar Seattle, USA – 2012-11-14 — /travelprnews.com/ — Qatar Airways has taken delivery of its first Boeing 787 Dreamliner at a special ceremony held at the US aircraft… Read the full news article

Four Seasons Hotel New York Launches “Our Neighbors In Need” Initiative

Support the Superstorm Sandy victims with a touch of a button New York, U.S.A. – 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Four Seasons Hotel New York has set up a new microsite at http://American.redcross.org/fourseasonsny-pub for guests to donate to the American Red Cross Hurricane Sandy Relief Fund. “Our hearts go out to all the communities that were affected by Superstorm Sandy. It… Read the full news article

Innovative low-cost carrier Flydubai to launch flights to Maldives from January 2013

Innovative low-cost carrier Flydubai to launch flights to Maldives from January 2013

2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Flydubai, Dubai’s innovative low-cost airline, has announced flights to Malé, the capital of the Republic of Maldives (the Maldives). Commencing on 19 January 2013, flights will operate five times a week between Dubai’s Terminal 2 and the Maldives’ Ibrahim Nasir International Airport on the island of Malé. Bringing Flydubai’s presence in the… Read the full news article

VisitEngland, INVESTMENT, INNOVATION, INSPIRATION – DON’T MISS THE VISITOR ECONOMY FORUM!

Find out how to boost your bottom line in 2013 and beyond with VisitEngland   2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Don’t miss out on the chance to debate the big issues affecting growth at VisitEngland’s Visitor Economy Forum next week.  Taking place on 22 November in association with Natwest Bank plc, the one-day conference will focus on growing… Read the full news article

HYATT REGENCY ISTANBUL EXPECTED TO OPEN IN ISTANBUL IN JANUARY 2014

Hyatt Regency Istanbul Ataköy will be the third Hyatt-branded hotel in Istanbul CHICAGO,  2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has signed an agreement for a Hyatt Regency hotel in Istanbul with Bosphorus Otelcilik ve Yatirim Ltd. The hotel, which will open in January 2014, will be the third… Read the full news article

Tourism Australia and China Eastern Airlines sign up to A$9m marketing deal

2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Tourism Australia and China Eastern Airlines sign up to A$9m marketing deal Key facts Tourism Australia has signed a major aviation marketing deal in China which will see close to A$9 million invested over the next three years with major China international carrier, China Eastern Airlines. The new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)… Read the full news article

Popular Vietnamese Beauty Pageant to Use Thai Tourist Spots as Backdrop for the First Time

Bangkok, 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Tourism Authority of Thailand is to host 12 contestants of a Vietnamese beauty pageant as part of a new promotional effort to boost visitor arrivals from one of the kingdom’s fastest growing source-markets. Between 14-18 November, the contestants of Miss Teen Vietnam 2012 will visit tourism spots in Bangkok, Samut… Read the full news article

Meliá receives the Honorary plaque for Tourism merits for the “Calviá Beach Resort”project, a pioneer initiative for the repositioning of a mature destination in Mallorca

Palma de Mallorca, 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The Spanish Government has approved the “Tourism Merit Award for public-private partnership for the modernization of mature destinations” to Melia Hotels International, in recognition of its repositioning project for Magaluf, one of the most popular destinations of Mallorca, developed in the 60s. These Honorary National Awards were created in 1962,… Read the full news article

Hilton Worldwide, Global Week of Service – November 12 Recap

Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton Worldwide and more than 100 Team Members from the Global Headquarters in McLean, VA kicked off the company's Global Week of Service by serving families at the ACCA Child Development Center in Fairfax, VA. Learn more about the over 300 Global Week of Service projects at www.hiltonworldwide.com/serve. Credit: Hilton Worldwide.

MCLEAN, Va. – 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Today marked the official kick off of the inaugural Hilton Worldwide Global Week of Service as Christopher J. Nassetta, president and chief executive officer, Hilton Worldwide and more than 100 Team Members from the Global Headquarters in McLean, VA served children and families at the ACCA Child Development Center in Fairfax,… Read the full news article

Air New Zealand, More than 1 million per day watch An Unexpected Briefing

More than 1 million people a day have been viewing Air New Zealand’s Hobbit inspired safety video since it was launched just over a week ago 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Air New Zealand General Manager Marketing and Communications Mike Tod says ‘An Unexpected Briefing’ has received more than 9 million online views in just eight days. “The video has been… Read the full news article

Passengers have chosen a retro livery for Aeroflot aircraft

Passengers have chosen a retro livery for Aeroflot aircraft

2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — On November 12, 2012 the open Internet voting for Aeroflot new aircraft retro livery was finished. Celebrating the company’s 90-th Anniversary, an airplane in a heritage livery will join the Aeroflot fleet in 2013. In the middle of this summer Aeroflot addressed to its passengers through social networks, asking about their vision… Read the full news article

HYATT ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF HYATT REGENCY BIRMINGHAM

CHICAGO,  2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today announced that a Hyatt affiliate has purchased the Hyatt Regency Birmingham hotel in the United Kingdom for approximately USD$43 million. The hotel has operated as Hyatt Regency Birmingham since its opening in 1990. Through its affiliates, Hyatt was one of the original co-owners, and since 2002 the hotel… Read the full news article

RONALD VLASIC INDUCTED AS 2013 AH&LA CHAIR

New York, 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ronald Vlasic, CHA, regional vice president of hotels, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, outlined his agenda for the coming year at the American Hotel & Lodging Association (AH&LA) Inaugural Gala held at the Plaza Hotel on Sunday, November 11. He told an audience of top lodging leaders, “Our industry moves fast… Read the full news article

Hays Travel switches to Travelport

Iconic travel brand partners with Travelport to fuel next chapter in growth Langley, 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelport has announced that Hays Travel, the UK’s largest Independent travel retailer, has signed a contract to move its GDS business to Travelport. In addition to providing Hays with air and hotel content, Travelport will also provide Hays with access… Read the full news article

Hilton Kuala Lumpur Sweeps Regional Awards

Hilton Kuala Lumpur continues to top the list as one of Kuala Lumpur's best business and city hotels after sweeping a number of regional and local awards that are designed to recognize key players in the industry. Credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

Hotel Tops “Best Business And City Hotel” Categories In Prestigious Regional Travel Industry Awards KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hilton Kuala Lumpur continues to top the list as one of Kuala Lumpur’s best business and city hotels after sweeping a number of regional and local awards that are designed to recognize key players… Read the full news article

Sir Richard Branson visits Virgin Galactic employees in Mojave, CA

Sir Richard Branson and the hard-working rock stars of rocket science who built SpaceShipTwo and WhiteKnightTwo

And applauds unique achievements and re-names spaceship manufacturing company 2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — Sir Richard Branson, founder of the Virgin Group, today dropped into his Mojave, Calif.-based Virgin Galactic space company as part of a visit to the Los Angeles area. During his visit, Sir Richard, accompanied by his daughter, Holly, toured the extensive facilities and… Read the full news article

GBTA Foundation, Project ICARUS Announces Sustainability Outstanding Achievement Awards for 2013

Project ICARUS is Looking to Recognize Outstanding Achievements in Furthering Business Travel and Meetings Sustainability Programs Alexandria, VA –  2012-11-13 — /travelprnews.com/ — The GBTA Foundation, the education and research foundation of the GBTA and Project ICARUS proudly announce the first Outstanding Achievement Awards for Sustainability in business travel and meetings across North America. The Project… Read the full news article

SOFITEL ANNOUNCES A NEW FLAGSHIP HOTEL IN RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA WITH THE KING ABDULLAH INTERNATIONAL FOUNDATION FOR HUMANITARIAN ACTIVITIES

Jeddah, 2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Representatives of the King Abdullah International Foundation and Sofitel, the luxury brand of French Hotel Group Accor, gathered in Jeddah to commemorate the signing of a management contract of a Sofitel hotel in Riyadh, in the presence of HRH Prince Khalid ibn „Abdullah ibn „Abdulaziz, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Foundation and… Read the full news article

Metrolink’s 16th Annual Holiday Toy Express kicks off 2012 holiday season, Friday, Nov. 16

Festive train making 42 stops across region in November and December LOS ANGELES – 2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Metrolink rings in the holidays with the Holiday Toy Express, Santa’s glittering train, debuting on Friday, Nov. 16 at Los Angeles Union Station, hosted by Metro. The official kickoff is on Saturday, Nov. 17 at 5 p.m. in San… Read the full news article

Heathrow traffic and business commentary October 2012

Terminal 5B gates

Heathrow passengers down 0.1% Hurricane Sandy and late half term affect numbers Record customer satisfaction in Q3 2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Heathrow saw 6 million passengers pass through its terminals last month, down 0.1% on October last year. Hurricane Sandy in the US led to just over 200 flight cancellations and a drop in passengers, many… Read the full news article

Travelport, UAE leads the Middle East online travel race

New research released by Travelport as it launches its pioneering Travelport Universal API technology in MEA Dubai, 2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — The UAE is spearheading the surge in Middle East online tourism with 60% of all web-based travel bookings originating from the Emirates, Travelport co-sponsored research has revealed. New figures from the study – carried out by… Read the full news article

Schlitterbahn Co-Owner Jeff Henry Named Inventor of the Year

Austin Intellectual Property Law Association presents award during the annual Judges’ Dinner at 7 p.m. on November 12, 2012 at the Stephen F. Austin Hotel NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas NEW BRAUNFELS, Texas – 2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — Schlitterbahn’s Jeff Henry will be named Inventor of the Year at the annual Austin Intellectual Property Law Association’s Judges’ Dinner… Read the full news article

InterContinental Hotels Group launches first IHG Academy in Italy

2012-11-12 — /travelprnews.com/ — IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group), one of the world’s leading hotel companies, today announced the opening of its first IHG Academy programme in Italy, through a collaboration with InterContinental De La Ville Rome and UET Italy, the European University for Tourism. The IHG Academy is a global network of educational and community organisations… Read the full news article

VISIT FLORIDA Partners with FSU and UF for ‘Share a Little Sunshine Showdown’

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. 2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Today, VISIT FLORIDA – the state’s official tourism marketing corporation – announced that it has teamed up with two of the state’s top brands – the Florida Gators and Florida State Seminoles – to harness the passion associated with the annual football rivalry game and direct it toward the promotion… Read the full news article

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris Triumphs Again in SpaFinder’s Annual Readers’ Choice Awards

The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris Triumphs Again in SpaFinder's Annual Readers' Choice Awards

The Spa is voted Best Spa in Europe and Best Spa in France Paris, France – 2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — SpaFinder, considered to be the leading magazine for spas and well being in the US, has published its annual ranking of the best spas in the world for 2012. The annual Reader’ Choice Awards are tabulated according to… Read the full news article

flydubai rewarded for contribution to aviation

flydubai rewarded for contribution to aviation

Carrier takes home Outstanding Contribution and Low Cost Airline of the Year at the sixth Aviation Business Awards Dubai, UAE, 2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — flydubai, Dubai’s innovative low-cost airline, received the Outstanding Contribution to Aviation trophy at the annual Aviation Business Awards, held last night (7 November 2012) in Dubai. The airline also maintained its status as… Read the full news article

SkyWork Airlines triumphs at British-Swiss Business Awards

SkyWork increases its frequency

2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — SkyWork Airlines of Bern, Switzerland was named ‘Company of the Year 2012’ at this year’s prestigious British-Swiss Business Awards during a ceremony held at the Four Seasons Hotel des Bergues in Geneva last week. SkyWork Airlines was praised for its contribution to business success in Britain and Switzerland by the distinguished panel… Read the full news article

YEW restaurant + bar at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Absolut Vodka Pair Up to Donate $3000 to Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with “Bubbles for Bosoms” Cocktail

YEW restaurant + bar at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver and Absolut Vodka Pair Up to Donate $3000 to Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation with “Bubbles for Bosoms” Cocktail.

Vancouver, Canada – 2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — The team at YEW restaurant + bar at Four Seasons Hotel Vancouver is extremely proud of the success of the “Bubbles for Bosoms” cocktail sold in support of breast cancer awareness throughout the month of October 2012. Ten percent of the purchase price of each cocktail sold was donated to the… Read the full news article

Travel Industry Leaders Terry Jones, Roger Dow, Amir Eylon to speak at Nevada Governor’s Conference

Annual Conference to Shine a Spotlight on Innovation CARSON CITY, Nev. — 2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — Travelocity.com founder Terry Jones, U.S. Travel Association (USTA) President and CEO Roger Dow, and Brand USA Vice President Amir Eylon will bring their insights and experience to the annual Nevada Governor’s Conference on Tourism, Tourism Director Claudia Vecchio announced. “The focus… Read the full news article

London City Airport Jet Set Fashion

2012-11-09 — /travelprnews.com/ — London’s City Airport was treated to an impromptu fashion show as leading British catwalk model, Jade Parfitt, showcased the hottest winter-sun looks for shorthaul travel. Renowned for modelling for the likes of Vogue, Jade Parfitt brought high fashion to the runway, literally, as she descended the aircraft showcasing stylish look after stylish… Read the full news article