2012-13 WINTER SCHEDULE. STABLE CAPACITY FOR AIR FRANCE-KLM GROUP – STABLE CAPACITY FOR AIR FRANCE

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Within an unstable economic environment, the Air France-KLM Group has decided, for the 2012-13 winter season running from 28/10/2012 to 23/03/2013, to stabilize its growth in capacity* compared with winter 2011-12, including +0.5% on long-haul and -0.5% on medium-haul operations. STABLE CAPACITY* FOR AIR FRANCE: -0.1% ON LONG-HAUL NETWORK AND -0.5% ON… Read the full press release

Victoria’s Secret Beauty & Accessories store opening in Copenhagen

Victoria’s Secret, the leading specialty retailer of lingerie and beauty products, plans to open its first Beauty & Accessories Store in Terminal 2, Copenhagen Airport in partnership with Agora Trading.  2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — The new store, scheduled to open on Thursday 18th October, will offer customers access to an assortment of best-selling Victoria’s Secret beauty… Read the full press release

INSPIRED BROWSING – EASYJET LAUNCHES NEW MAP-BASED SEARCH TO HELP CUSTOMERS FIND THE PERFECT TRIP

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has added an innovative new online feature designed to help customers find exactly what they are looking for at the click of a mouse.  ‘Inspire Me’ gives customers ideas on where to go, whatever their budget, helping them to see how far their budget can take them… Read the full press release

Le Meurice holds a candle to Christmas and presents its anniversary Yule log

Le Meurice holds a candle to Christmas and presents its anniversary Yule log

For the holiday season, the pâtissiers at Hotel Le Meurice, under Yannick Alléno, have again let their imagination run riot with a Yule log that celebrates an important anniversary for Le Meurice. 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — This year, the original Parisian palace hotel is lighting 3×5 candles to mark the 5th anniversary of the gastronomic restaurant’s… Read the full press release

ABTA Welcomes 35 New Members from July to September

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — ABTA welcomed the following 35 new Members into the Association from July to September 2012, five trading as retailers, 29 as principals and one in both classes of membership. Once Upon a Dream Ltd, Retailer,  ABTA number P5017 joined 2/7/12 Debbie’s Villas Ltd, Principal, ABTA number Y5238, joined 2/7/12 321 Dive Ltd,… Read the full press release

Hilton Worldwide Signs Management Agreement With Premier Hotels & Resorts For Hotel Development And Introduction Of First Hilton Hotel In Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh and MCLEAN, Va., 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ —  Hilton Worldwide has signed a management agreement with Premier Hotels & Resorts to manage Hilton Dhaka, Bangladesh in central Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh. The agreement will see the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Bangladesh and mark Hilton Worldwide’s entry into the country. Scheduled to open in 2015,… Read the full press release

easyJet celebrates its inaugural flight from Bristol to Copenhagen

easyJet celebrates its inaugural flight from Bristol to Copenhage

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — easyJet, the largest operator at Bristol Airport, has today celebrated its inaugural flight to the Danish capital of Copenhagen. Customers were taken by surprise and put in the mood for their trip by a Danish themed check in area where delicious Danish pastries were distributed. One lucky Bristol traveller won a pair… 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

RYANAIR’S SEPT TRAFFIC GROWS BY 8% (+587,000 PAX)

TRAFFIC OVER 7M FOR 6 MONTHS IN A ROW 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ryanair today (3 Oct) released passenger and load factor stats for September 2012 as follows: Sep 11 Sep 12 Change Yr to Sep 12 Passengers 1 7.25M 7.84M +8% 79.07M Load Factor 85% 84% -1% 82%   September 2012 was the sixth month in… Read the full press release

SAS and Apollo sign million dollar agreement

Apollo is developing its partnership with SAS and has signed another million dollar agreement ahead of the winter season. As a result, Apollo’s customers will be flying on SAS aircraft from 13 different locations in Sweden, Norway and Denmark to 8 destinations around the world. The contract is worth a total of SEK 590 million…. Read the full press release

Ethiopian Takes Delivery of the First Customized Q-400

Ethiopian Takes Delivery of the First Customized Q-400

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Ethiopian, the fastest growing airline in Africa, is pleased to announce that it has taken delivery of the first of its five re-configured Bombardier Q-400 aircraft on 28 September 2012 in Toronto, Canada. Based on its valued customers feed back, the airline requested the manufacturer to reconfigure the new Q-400 and as… 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

Improved Performance Cushions Fall in Profits – Margins and Profits Remain Weak

Singapore – 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced an upward revision to its global aviation outlook for 2012. The fall in airline profits from the $8.4 billion that the industry earned in 2011 will be cushioned by improved airline performance. Airlines are expected to earn $4.1 billion in 2012 (up $1.1 billion… Read the full press release

Sabre Employees Engage in 2012 Global ‘Give Together’ Fundraising Campaign

Teams in The Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific aim to raise more than US$1.2 million for charities around the world SOUTHLAKE, Texas – 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — Sabre Holdings (http://sabre.com), a global travel technology company serving the travel and tourism industry, kicks off its annual Give Together fundraising campaign this week. Launched in 2000 and held in all… 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

EASA proposes new harmonised rules to avoid flight crew fatigue

2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — The European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) today published its proposal to amend the current EU rules on flight and duty time limitations and rest requirements (FTL) for commercial air transport. Released in a final proposal known as an Opinion, the proposed rules contain more than 30 safety improvements compared to current requirements… Read the full press release

Kids Stay Free This Eid at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

Kids Stay Free This Eid at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

Great value packages this festive season with the Hotel’s Stay Longer offer and a complimentary room for the kids when booking a Corner Suite Cairo at The First Residence, Egypt – The perfect family getaway along the shores of the eternal Nile beckons at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, with the Kids Stay Free Package offering great value 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

Demand Slowdown Continues

Geneva – 2012-10-4 — /travelprnews.com/ — The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported global traffic results for August showing demand for air transport continuing to flatten-out, but with significant regional variations. Freight volumes shrank as business and consumer confidence continued to slip. Demand for air travel expanded by 5.1% in August compared to the same month in… Read the full press release

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa Partners with Local Dive Center for Thailand’s Largest Underwater Cleanup

Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa teamed up with its affiliate dive center Sub Aqua Dive Center, as a boat sponsor of Go Eco Phuket’s “Dive Against Debris” and as part of the resort’s commitment to protecting, conserving, and restoring Phuket’s natural environment. Credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts.

PHUKET, Thailand – 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa teamed up with its affiliate dive center Sub Aqua Dive Center, as a boat sponsor of Go Eco Phuket’s “Dive Against Debris” and as part of the resort’s commitment to protecting, conserving, and restoring Phuket’s natural environment. “Dive Against Debris”, the world’s largest reef clean-up,… Read the full press release

24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest Ends in Splendor Fireworks Team from China Won the First Prize

2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — The 24th Macau International Fireworks Display Contest has come to a perfect finale. The Panda Fireworks Group from China proudly won the first prize, followed by the teams from France, Lacroix-Ruggieri and Australia, Infinity Pyrotechnic in the second and third place respectively. The prize-giving ceremony took place at Macau Tower, director of… Read the full press release

Animals bring stress relief at Stafford station

2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — For commuters feeling the stresses and strains of the daily work life balance, help will be on hand at Stafford station next week when a collection of animals will be on duty to provide therapeutic calm and peace as travellers arrive and depart. Virgin Trains has joined forces with Staffordshire based animal… 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

Actions sociales ce 3 octobre: d’importantes perturbations du trafic sont à craindre

2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Les organisations syndicales ont déposé un préavis de grève pour la période du 2 octobre 22h au 3 octobre 2012 22h. Suite au risque de fortes perturbations, la SNCB conseille à ses clients de ne pas compter sur les seuls trains pour se déplacer ce mercredi 3 octobre. Dans le cadre des débats… Read the full press release

Celebrate Mother’s Day on October 21 with a Super Special Sunday Brunch at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires

Celebrate Mother's Day on October 21 with a Super Special Sunday Brunch at Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires

A unique place to enjoy Día de la Madre: a 1920s mansion in the city. Buenos Aires, Argentina – 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Four Seasons Hotel Buenos Aires invites families to celebrate Día de la Madre – Mother’s Day – in its exclusive Mansion Álzaga Unzué on Sunday, October 21, 2012. For this very special day, there will be a welcome cocktail, abundant flowers… Read the full press release

Hilton Colombo Residences Announces Malaysian Food Promotion in October 2012

Hilton Colombo Residences today announced its latest food and beverage promotion to introduce an authentic Malaysian cuisine at Union Bar & Grill. Credit: Hilton Hotels & Resorts

Meet the Malaysian Palate Conqueror at Union Bar & Grill COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Hilton Colombo Residences today announced its latest food and beverage promotion to introduce an authentic Malaysian cuisine at Union Bar & Grill. The promotion would be launched at the World Spice Food Festival on October 4 at the Hawker’s Street… Read the full press release

One year on: Signature Experiences Collection® case studies Vol. 2: Hôtel de Glace.

Spending the night under ice recalls the igloos of old for visitors and gains great media exposure for this Québec City enterprise. 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — There’s more than just a “Hazy Shade of Winter” to central and eastern Canada: visitors flock from around the world, or just hop over the border from the US to Canada, to… Read the full press release

Renaissance Hotels Kicks Off Election Season with Lavish “Pick Your Party” Package at The Mayflower Renaissance D.C. Hotel

Stacy Keibler Checks Out the Ultimate Democratic and Republican-Themed Suite As Election Season Heats Up

Stacy Keibler Checks Out the Ultimate Democratic and Republican-Themed Suite As Election Season Heats Up. 2012-10-3 — /travelprnews.com/ — Proclaimed by President Truman to be Washington, D.C.’s “Second Best Address” after the White House, the Mayflower Renaissance D.C. Hotel, one of Renaissance Hotel’s (www.renhotels.com) most notoriously historic properties, is celebrating both political parties this election season with its ultimate “Pick… Read the full press release