Air Seychelles Announces Flights to Abu Dhabi

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:55:41 GMT

Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of the Seychelles, today announced details of its new direct flights from Mahé to Abu Dhabi.

This follows last week’s announcement that Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, would form a strategic partnership by taking a 40 per cent stake in the airline.

Complementing Etihad Airways’ existing four weekly services from Abu Dhabi to Mahé, March 12 will see Air Seychelles inaugurate two weekly return services on the route. Effectively, the new schedule will offer six direct services per week between Abu Dhabi and Mahé, increasing to seven per week from June 2012.

These Air Seychelles flights will operate on a Boeing 767-300ER series aircraft, in a two-class configuration, offering a total of 844 seats each week.

The new flights are on sale from today.

A key benefit to travellers of the new Air Seychelles non-stop Mahé-Abu Dhabi service is convenient flight arrival and departure times and connectivity from Mahé with Etihad Airways’ codeshare flights through Abu Dhabi to the Far East, flights to Australia, the Indian Subcontinent and the Gulf region.

Etihad Airways guests, particularly from key feeder markets of Germany, France, Italy, Belgium and the United Kingdom, will also benefit from the increased connectivity options in travel to Mahé and onward destinations across the Air Seychelles network, such as Mauritius and flights to Johannesburg.

Cramer Ball, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, said: “The Seychelles have already proven to be a hugely popular holiday destination amongst Etihad Airways guests. With these additional two Air Seychelles weekly flights, we look forward to successfully serving the route, tourism and business at each end and beyond.”

Etihad Airways commenced services itself to the Seychelles on November 2, 2011.

Kuoni reveals its Travel Trends Report 2012

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 10:54:09 GMT

The Maldives has once again topped Kuoni's annual poll of where UK customers want to spend their holidays. In the company's top ten selling destinations for 2012, the Indian Ocean archipelago has held on to the top slot since 2005.

Where holidaymakers want to go is just part of leading tour operator Kuoni's annual Travel Trends Report. The 20-page report also tracks hot travel trends and the top destinations for weddings and honeymoons, for families, for solo travellers, for pampering spa holidays, for the most exciting adventures and authentic experiences as well as the best destinations for those that care about the planet.

The report also highlights changes in holiday behaviour and includes trends in holiday booking behaviour, such as the importance of social media in driving holiday choices.

The top five destinations for 2012 are Maldives holidays, Thailand, Sri Lanka, The United Arab Emirates and the USA, including New York holidays. Kuoni predicts that South Africa will witness huge growth over the next 12 months, helped by the exposure from the football World Cup last year and the weakened currency against sterling. The only mid-haul destination in the 2012 Top Ten selling destinations is the United Arab Emirates, mostly due to the popularity of Dubai holidays.

The Maldives also retained its top slot for honeymoon destinations and topped the wish list for digital natives, better known as Generation X, Y and Z. Sri Lanka holidays retained 'Number One Destination for Weddings', Kuramathi Island Resort in the Maldives kept the top slot for 'Family Destinations', as did Thailand holidays for solo travelling.

The winner of the Top 10 Adventure Holiday is the 11-day tour of culture-rich Sri Lanka on the Ceylon Tour, while those looking for the best 'Planet Friendly Holiday' voted for Governors Main Camp in the wildlife safari heaven of Kenya.

Aside from favourite and new destinations, there are changes in the type of holiday the customer wants. More destination-savvy and discerning holidaymakers are looking for different types of holiday, with four specific trends emerging:
- a thirst for discovery
- authenticity of experience
- social responsibility
- face to face contact with a travel expert when booking.

To meet the needs of a changing holidaymaker, Kuoni launched the Discover brochure for 2012, packed with experiences and tours to help get under the skin of a destination. The company has also launched ananea, a sustainable brand that stands for socially responsible holidays that empower people to protect the natural environment and local population. Kuoni has also strengthened its retail presence across the UK over the last 12 months, with more retail stores for holidaymakers to access all-important first-hand expertise and knowledge.

About the 2012 Travel Trends Report:
Figures in Kuoni's 2012 Travel Trends Report are based on multiple sources, namely statistics from booking patterns made between January to December 2011 for holidays during 2011 and 2012, actual passenger numbers, customer behaviour and feedback.

About Kuoni:
Kuoni was established in 1906 in Switzerland by Alfred Kuoni, a visionary adventurer and explorer of his time who opened some of Europe's first travel agencies. Today it has branch operations in over 40 countries. For 105 years Kuoni has been creating holidays with a spirit of adventure and has been recognised consistently, winning coveted awards such as The World's Leading Tour Operator for 11 years in a row at the World Travel Awards, Best Large Tour Operator at the 2011 Daily Telegraph Ultratravel 100 Awards for five consecutive years, best Luxury Tour Operator at the Sunday Times Travel Magazine Readers' Awards and has also scored most highly in the Which? top 20 travel company survey 2011. Kuoni has also been voted Britain’s Best Long-haul Tour Operator by travel agents for the past 29 years.

The National Trust bucks economic trends to have bumper December

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 16:37:13 GMT

The National Trust has reported a substantial increase in its visitor numbers, and retail and catering sales in December 2011 compared to the previous December, despite a backdrop of challenging economic times and lack of consumer confidence.

There were more than half-a-million (521,000) visitors to Trust properties in December 2011, an increase of 74 per cent on the previous year*.

Factors affecting the large jump in visitor numbers include the mild weather (December 2010 saw heavy snowfall hitting the number of getting out and about) and an increasing number of houses running Christmas themed activity, such as lighting schemes and decorating stately homes for Christmas.

Over forty Trust pay-for-entry properties were open during the weekends in December. Attingham in Shropshire saw its busiest ever weekend with its Frost Fair which ran on the first Saturday and Sunday of the month.

The Trust is on target to have its best ever year for visitor numbers to its pay-for-entry properties, exceeding 18 million visitors for the first time in its history**.

The retail business, which includes high street shops, shops at properties and online sales, saw an increase in sales of 24 per cent and the cafes and restaurants had a 71 per cent increase in sales in December 2011 compared to the same month in 2010.

In the year to date retail sales have increased by 8 per cent and catering has so far seen a 14 per cent increase in sales.

Fiona Reynolds, Director-General of the National Trust, said: "In these economically tough times the National Trust seems to have swum against the tide with these fantastic results.

"As the nation tightens its collective belt people have been looking for great value and places where they can get a real feel for Christmas.”

Simon Jenkins, Chairman of the National Trust, added: "This shows that arts and heritage charities not dependent on government grants appear to be experiencing a surge in trading income. The public is turning away from more expensive leisure venues, overnight stays and foreign trips. It is a rare good news story in the gloom."

- Ends -

Notes to editors:
* Visitors numbers are broken down into members and paying visitors. Visitor figures for the year to date (2011/12) compared to the previous year (2010/11) are up by more than 9 per cent.
** Overall visitor figures are based on the National Trust financial year which runs between the 1 March and the 28 or 29 February.

About The National Trust:
The National Trust is one of the most important nature conservation organisations in Europe with over 1,000 places to visit to visit in the UK covering 250,000 hectares, including coastal sites, woodland and upland areas, including many gardens to visit; many of which are rich in wildlife. The All 17 species of UK bat have been recorded as roosting or breeding on National Trust land and 96 per cent of all resident UK butterflies can be found on our land. Wicken Fen in Cambridgeshire is our most species rich site and 93 per cent of our land has been surveyed for its nature conservation importance. The charity also offers a number of National Trust holidays, including walks throughout locations across the British countryside. Find out more at: www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nature

The Radisson Blu Birmingham turns six in style

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 16:18:17 GMT

The Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham, a landmark hotel in the heart of the city centre, has celebrated its sixth anniversary in style, with over 100 guests enjoying an Italian themed party at the hotel.

Many of Birmingham's finest, including the Lord Mayor Cllr Anita Ward, were on hand to share in the celebrations of one of the city's premier hotels.

In tribute to the popular movie 'The Italian Job', guests were greeted on arrival by blue, red and white Mini’s at the hotel’s entrance. Super stylish Lambretta and Vespa scooters were loaned to the hotel to further celebrate and embrace all things Italian. Inside the party, guests entertained themselves on Formula One stimulators, testing their mettle behind the wheels of a Ferrari in a Top Gear-style "Filini challenge". Meanwhile, Amore Voce, the Italian pop-opera singers with a name that translates as "love voice", provided the evening's entertainment with some striking sounds.

The Italian flavour continued through the food and beverages on offer for guests, with Jonathan Parnell, Head Chef of 'Filini', the hotel's authentic Italian restaurant in Birmingham, serving up delicious treats including homemade pizza, mini risottos and selections of Italian breads and olives.

Christopher Pike, General Manager of the Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham, said: "We are all extremely excited to be celebrating our 6th year of business in the city and it is great to be able to celebrate in style with so many of our valued guests and clients, it has been a great six years with some challenges along the way but we are extremely proud to be here and look forward to many more successful years in this wonderful city."

One happy chap at the end of the evening was the lucky winner of the hotels Formula One "Filini Challenge" who achieved the fastest recorded lap on the Formula One Stimulators, in a hotly contested competition, winning a VIP stay in the hotel's impressive Presidential Suite in the process.

Notes to Editors:
Ideally positioned near the business district, convention centre and shopping complexes, the Radisson Blu hotel in Birmingham city centre is located in a 39-storey glass skyscraper. This contemporary hotel offers stylish Birmingham accommodation, with 211 stylish guest rooms and suites featuring floor-to-ceiling windows, flat-panel televisions, free high-speed Internet access and other desirable amenities. In addition to state-of-the-art conference facilities, this hotel features an award-winning Italian restaurant, two bars, three spa treatment rooms and a health and fitness centre offering spectacular city views from the 18th floor.

About Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts:
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its "Yes I Can!" spirit of service and the "100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee". September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio - the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes more than 250 hotels either in operation or under development and with more than 58,300 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including Birmingham hotels.

For more information, visit www.radissonblu.com.

Radisson Blu Edinburgh crowned Gram Hotel Sustainable Champion of the Year

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:39:21 GMT

Radisson Blu Edinburgh has been crowned Gram Hotel Sustainable Champion of the Year by Gram UK, the award-winning manufacturer of energy efficient commercial refrigeration. The prize is awarded to the most environmentally conscious hotel in the UK.

To make the important decision, Gram appointed an independent judging panel, formed of representatives from Caterer & Hotelkeeper Magazine, the Considerate Hoteliers Association and the Institute of Hospitality, who were all impressed with the high standard of entries. The panel chose Radisson Blu Edinburgh as overall winner because of the focus the team at the hotel in Edinburgh city centre has placed, on putting sustainability at the top of their agenda for the hotel. The hotel walks away from the competition with a Gram refrigerator from the Energy Technology List.

Lisa Jenkins, products and suppliers editor at Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, commented: "This hotel had an obvious passion for the environment with many systems in place. I particularly liked the fact that they were reducing the use of chemicals. They had also reduced the number of beverage deliveries and I think this will become much more of a key target for many businesses in 2012."

John Firrell, director of the Considerate Hoteliers Association and fellow judge added: "The winners have shown consistency and persistency in their intent, staff colleagues willingly embrace the hotel’s green credentials and despite the economic outlook the hotel is prepared to press home their sustainable initiatives. Well done!"

The competition goes hand in hand with the publication of the hotel edition of the Gram Green Paper which takes all of the insight, findings and results from the landmark 2010 issue of Gram's Green Paper, and draws conclusions and results that are specifically relevant to the hotel sectors.

Steve Valentine, Regional Chief Engineer of Radisson Blu Edinburgh commented on their win: "We are delighted to receive this prize as we have always taken pride in our green programme and which for many in the hotel is second nature. This prize will be welcomed by our kitchen team and will certainly not look out of place in our newly refurbished kitchen in early 2012."

The Radisson Blu Edinburgh offers 238 contemporary rooms of Edinburgh accommodation that reflect the individuality of the hotel and its unique location on the historic Royal Mile.

Ends

About Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts:
Radisson Blu Hotels & Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels & Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its "Yes I Can!" spirit of service and the "100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee". September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio - the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes almost 250 hotels either in operation or under development and more than 58,000 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including hotels in Edinburgh, and offers many special offers including Edinburgh hotel deals.

Air Seychelles Appoints Cramer Ball As Chief Executive Officer

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 11:00:05 GMT

Minister Joel Morgan, the Minister responsible for Transport in the Government of Seychelles, and Mr James Hogan, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways, have today announced that Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of Seychelles, has appointed Cramer Ball as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from February 1, 2012 under the management contract that it has with Etihad Airways, its new strategic partner.

The Minister stated that the President of Seychelles, President James Michel has welcomed the arrival of a strong management team from Etihad to orient Air Seychelles on a robust and secure footing, in order to position it for future development to serve Seychelles’ tourism industry internationally.

Mr Ball, who was formerly Etihad Airways Regional General Manager Asia Pacific South and Australasia, has been seconded to the Seychelles national carrier as part of the restructuring for Air Seychelles which will be implemented jointly with Etihad Airways.

With a wealth of broad-based industry experience, which encompasses both commercial and financial areas of the business, Mr Ball is a highly respected aviation professional.

Before joining Etihad Airways, in a career spanning two decades, he held senior management positions at Gulf Air, Qantas, Kendell Airlines and Ansett Australia/Air New Zealand.

Commenting on his new role, Air Seychelles Chief Executive Officer, Mr Ball said: “This is a very exciting point in the development of the airline. The recently announced strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, backed by the 40 per cent stake the UAE national carrier has taken, will allow us to consolidate our position as a brand leader on the routes we serve.

“Air Seychelles will work closely with Etihad Airways to leverage synergies and create efficiencies that will reduce costs and maximise yields. We will also look to implement strategies that will benefit the economy and support the tourism industry of the Seychelles as a whole.”

Shelley Cole has also been seconded to Air Seychelles to take on the position of Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Prior to joining Air Seychelles, Ms Cole, who is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, was Etihad Airways Regional Finance Manager Asia Pacific, and has also held positions at Shell International Ltd in London and Caltex in Sydney.

Etihad Airways Offers Complimentary UAE Visas

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:57:32 GMT

Etihad Airways is offering complimentary 96-hour tourist visas to guests transiting through the UAE, effective immediately. The visas, ideal for travellers making stopover visits en route to their final destination, are being offered in cooperation with Radisson Blu hotel on Yas Island.

The offer is valid for travellers previously eligible for Etihad Airways’ paid-for visa service (available at a cost of AED 300), including passport holders from Bangladesh, Belarus, Canada, China, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Syria, Thailand, Turkey and Vietnam.

Eligible guests must have confirmed overnight accommodation at the Radisson Blu Yas Island, available at promotional rates from USD 70 per person per night.

To book accommodation and apply for a complimentary visa, guests can visit etihad.com/freeuaevisa. A passport copy and passport-sized photograph are required for processing visa applications.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Not only is Abu Dhabi the place where East meets West, making it ideal for transiting to destinations worldwide, but it is also a world-class destination in its own right. With complimentary visa services on offer, more Etihad Airways guests will have the opportunity to experience the signature Arabic hospitality and exciting attractions of the UAE in a convenient and affordable way.”

Guests booking a 3-night stay will also receive a complimentary Abu Dhabi City Tour. Hala Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways’ destination management company, is available to all guests for booking custom itineraries, attractions and tours (halaabudhabi.com).

Citizens of the following countries are allowed to enter the UAE without a visa prior to arrival as long as they are carrying a valid passport that will not expire within six months of their arrival date: Australia; Andorra; Austria; Brunei; Belgium; Denmark; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hong Kong; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Liechtenstein; Luxembourg; Malaysia; Monaco; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Portugal; San Marino; Singapore; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; United Kingdom; United States of America; and The Vatican. Immigration officials may grant a tourist visa, which is valid for 30 days, on arrival at the port of entry.

Etihad Airways Selects New Media Agencies

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:42 GMT

Etihad Airways has recently concluded a tender process to select global media agency partners.

MediaCom, part of the WPP group, has been selected to manage above-the-line media planning and buying. LBi has been selected to manage digital media strategy, search and affiliate marketing.

Both agencies will service the account globally from Abu Dhabi.

The selection is an outcome of a routine agency review process during which Etihad Airways invited select global media agency networks to respond to a creative and media brief.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Etihad Airways is the fastest growing airline in the history of commercial aviation, so we sought out media agencies that can not only keep up with our pace of growth, but also help us bring our brand to a global audience in a more innovative and effective way.

“This is the first time we have split our ATL and digital media into separate contracts, which we elected to do simply to ensure that we are able to best leverage specialist agency strengths.”

Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart celebrates first anniversary

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:33:34 GMT

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group has celebrated the first anniversary of the opening of its Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart. Located directly at the Marienplatz, the hotel offers its guests 181 modern rooms beside 460 sqm of conference space also divided into nine individual meeting rooms.

The Park Inn by Radisson hotel Stuttgart had a very successful first year and has established itself well in the Stuttgart hotel market.

According to the General Manager, Mr Norbert Schneider said: "Stuttgart has so much to offer every traveller. Business or pleasure, Stuttgart’s infrastructure and excellent transport links makes it a perfect city to visit."

The guest reviews and comments of the hotel in Stuttgart reflect this success. In the popular travel website tripadvisor.de it occupies the prestige's ranking number 8 out of 154 Stuttgart hotels. Guests particularly appreciate the central location in Stuttgart, The RBG Restaurant & Grill and local delicacies such as 'Maultaschen'. These reviews are of great importance to the hotel.

Beside the central city centre location and the easy access to the airport and Stuttgart's convention centre the Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart offers its guest modern, spacious rooms, high speed Internet access free of charge as well as an international and local menu in the RBG Stuttgart Restaurant Bar Grill.

With the opening of the Park Inn by Radisson Stuttgart, the Rezidor Hotel Group just set another mile stone in hospitality. And the development of the fastest growing hotel company continues.

About the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group:
In January 2012, Carlson Hotels and Rezidor have announced that they will go to market and do business as the "Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group".

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group - born in early 2012 - is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels (including Stuttgart accommodation); a global footprint spanning 80 countries, a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson, Country Inns & Suites by Carlson, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Missoni and Park Plaza). In most of the group’s hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club Carlson, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium.

Etihad Airways And Air Seychelles Codeshare Flights Now On Sale

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:25:11 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today launched a new reciprocal codeshare agreement with Air Seychelles, the national airline of the Republic of the Seychelles.

The deal follows yesterday’s announcement that the Abu Dhabi-based airline would form a strategic partnership by taking a 40 per cent stake in the national carrier of the Seychelles.

Under the first phase of the agreement, Etihad Airways guests will have the opportunity to travel to Praslin via Mahé and Air Seychelles guests will be able to travel to Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways. The new codeshare services are on sale from today, effective immediately on flights with both airlines.

The second phase of the agreement will see Etihad Airways-marketed flights across Air Seychelles’ network and Air Seychelles-marketed flights to Etihad Airways destinations across Europe, including flights to the Middle East, the GCC, Asia and flights to Australia.

The agreement – Etihad Airways’ 36th such commercial partnership – continues the Abu Dhabi-based airline’s global network expansion.

Etihad Airways commenced services to the Seychelles capital of Mahé on November 2, 2011.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “Although we only recently launched the route, the flights to the Seychelles has already proven to be a hugely popular holiday destination among our guests. By expanding our presence in the region and increasing connectivity in cooperation with Air Seychelles, Etihad Airways’ guests can look forward to a more seamless travel experience within the diverse and scenic islands.”

An integrated, reciprocal frequent flyer agreement, including mileage earning and redemption, will be introduced later this year.

Etihad Airways And WAHA International Team Up For Somalia

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:25:06 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, and WAHA International, the international non-profit, nongovernmental organisation, have teamed-up to transport disaster relief kits to Somalia.

The relief kits, destined for two refugee camps and two hospitals in the Somali capital Mogadishu, contained 474 tents, 50 education boxes, and three tons of electrical material.

Currently, 3.7 million Somalis, or 50 per cent of the population are facing acute food shortages and a lack of proper shelter and livelihoods. Some 1.5 million people are classed as internally displaced persons (IDPs), with more than 400,000 living in Mogadishu and its environs.

Working closely with WAHA International, UAE Red Crescent and the Shelterbox France charity, Etihad Airways coordinated the consignments from various points in Europe through the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub.

David Kerr, Etihad Airways Vice President for Cargo said: “Acting as a bridge between Europe and Africa, our team at Etihad Airways, both on the passenger and freighter side of operations, worked closely with WAHA International, UAE Red Crescent and Shelterbox France to ensure the safe arrival of these relief kits in the UAE, before their eventual shipment by WAHA International to Somalia.

”This successful operation further proves Etihad Airways’ ability to provide secure logistical solutions for our partners and customers through Abu Dhabi, and we are delighted to have played a role in part-coordinating these much needed relief supplies to Somalia.”

Dr Sinan Khaddaj, WAHA International Secretary General said: “These relief kits will make a dramatic difference to the well-being of hundreds of Somali families in dire need of assistance in Mogadishu.

“The support of Etihad Airways in transporting these supplies has been instrumental in ensuring their timely arrival on the ground so that WAHA’s team can begin their distribution to those in urgent need.”

Eurostar offers winter breaks for less

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 09:41:51 GMT

Eurostar, the high-speed rail service between the UK and mainland Europe, is offering special, limited prices for Standard and Standard Premier travel to Paris, Brussels or Lille until March 29th.

With plenty of the special return Standard class fares available for midweek travel, this is the perfect time for Eurostar customers to book a reviving day trip or a relaxing long weekend. Travellers can also treat themselves to a more luxurious journey for less as Eurostar is also offering special Standard Premier return fares for travel during the same period.

When passengers arrive in their chosen destination their Eurostar ticket gives them much more than travel alone, with a range of enticing 'Eurostar Plus' offers and discounts.

'Eurostar Plus Culture' offers travellers 2-for-1 entry into paying exhibitions at selected top museums and galleries in Paris, Brussels and Lille, simply by showing their Eurostar ticket. So, whether they're visiting the Grand Palais, Galeries Nationales in Paris or the Musical Instrument Museum in Brussels, there's plenty to keep them entertained over the coming months.

'Eurostar Plus Gourmet' offers also give passengers up to 50% discounts on meals at popular restaurants in Paris, Brussels and Lille, by booking their table via www.eurostarplus.co.uk/gourmet and presenting their Eurostar ticket at the restaurant on arrival.

Nick Mercer, Commercial Director for Eurostar said: "Many of our travellers like to travel midweek as our destinations and their tourist attractions tend to be less busy. These discounted fares give everyone the perfect excuse to treat themselves to a getaway for less. After all, with special fares to Paris, Brussels or Lille and exclusive offers for museums, restaurants and shopping when you're there, this is an offer not to be missed."

For more information about the new promotional fares, Eurostar Plus, or to book cheap Eurostar tickets or purchase Eurostar gift vouchers, customers can visit eurostar.com or call 08432 186 186.

-ENDS-

About Eurostar:
Eurostar is the high-speed train service, offering a birmingham to paris train, a manchester to paris train, a train from london to paris, a london to brussels train and linking St Pancras International, Ebbsfleet International, Ashford International, Disneyland Resort Paris, Avignon and the French Alps.

Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between three railway companies: SNCF, SNCB and LCR (London and Continental Railways). On 1 September 2010, Eurostar became a single, unified corporate entity owned by three shareholders: SNCF, SNCB and LCR.

The current Eurostar train was first introduced into service in 1994 carrying 750 passengers and operating at speeds of up to 300kph. Since then, the fleet of 28 trains has carried more than 115 million passengers between London and the Continent. Following their refurbishment these trains will continue to form a core part of the Eurostar fleet.

About The Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel:
Since 2001 the Ashden awards have been supporting sustainability projects across the globe and now they’re working with Eurostar to promote sustainable travel. As part of the Tread Lightly programme to cut carbon and get people thinking differently about their journeys, Eurostar has launched the Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel.

With a prize fund and a host of benefits, the Eurostar Ashden Award for Sustainable Travel will celebrate and support local sustainable travel projects in the UK, France and Belgium. Eurostar is a founder member of Railteam, a partnership between Europe's leading high-speed train operators that is developing simpler ways to book and travel on the fast-expanding, European high-speed rail network.

Eurostar and Eurotunnel are entirely separate companies. Eurostar operates high-speed passenger trains, while Eurotunnel operates vehicle shuttle services and the Channel Tunnel itself. Eurostar is Eurotunnel's biggest customer.

Door2Tour.com reports recession affecting romance as Valentines breaks decline

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 16:53:35 GMT

Door2Tour.com has reported that non-essentials like gadgets and CDs aren't the only things to have suffered at the hands of the current economic climate. With rises in petrol prices, food and energy costs squeezing household budgets more than ever, there's little doubt that consumers are thinking more carefully about where to spend. This year however, couples are opting to put something other than champagne on ice - their romantic Valentine’s break.

Figures from the UK coach holidays company report a drop in dedicated Valentine weekend breaks by 50% compared to 2011, with an additional 72% drop in overall breaks departing over the Valentine weekend.

Despite offering level holiday prices on 2011 for its most popular Valentines break, the destination to have suffered the most was romance-favourite Paris. In a double whammy with increased costs of living, consumers are thought to still be exercising caution towards the Eurozone due to poor exchange rates. The second destination to have been sacrificed in the romance stakes was London, whose theatre break bookings for Valentines weekend have also weakened, though to a lesser extent.

Kate Glanfield, Web Manager of Door2Tour.com, said: "While there is still time for people to book a Valentines break this year, and patterns show that people are generally leaving it later to book, it does look as though this year's Valentine’s Day is going to lack some va-va-voom in terms of traditional, whisk-away romance."

Despite the decrease in Valentines break sales for 2012, Door2Tour.com has reported a 73% rise in event tours and a revival in theatre breaks London for departures throughout the year. The increasing demand in the latter is thought to have been boosted by a host of new shows such as 'Singin' in the Rain' and Dreamboats and Petticoats and a series of new stars freshening up the London stage.

Kate concluded: "What we've seen with the decline in Valentines breaks but the comeback of theatre breaks is that people are now combining a romantic break with an occasion more personal to them to save money. We frequently receive enquiries from people wanting to get away for birthdays and anniversaries, which just goes to show that that despite the cutbacks, romance is not completely dead."

About Door2Tour.com:
Door2Tour.com is a consolidation of national and regional tour operators creating a diverse choice of UK, European and worldwide touring holidays including New Year breaks and Christmas breaks, coach holidays, day trips, mini cruises and holidays by air to many exciting destinations. All have live availability and offer the customer the opportunity to book online, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Door2Tour.com features over 35 operators, including Cosmos holidays, Travelsphere and Leger Holidays.

Rezidor and Carlson establish the Carlson and Rezidor Hotel Group

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 11:33:20 GMT

The Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the fastest growing hotel companies in the world, and Carlson, a global hospitality and travel company, have announced that they have established The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. While the legal status and ownership structure of Carlson and Rezidor remain the same, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group will pursue the global alignment and management of its brands, the ambitious development of its revenue generation engines, global purchasing opportunities, and people development, on a global basis. Commercial activities will be conducted under the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group name, irrespective of geographies.

"Carlson and Rezidor have a long common history and have grown together over the past 17 years," said Hubert Joly, President & CEO, Carlson. "Going to market as one is a next and natural step. We are leveraging the strengths of two great companies to create value for all our stakeholders."

"The goal of this development is to generate more attractive financial returns for the owners and greater value for all shareholders, to be perceived by business partners around the world as one global hotel company, to offer more compelling and consistent value propositions to the guests, and to offer global career and development opportunities to the staff," said Kurt Ritter, President & CEO of Rezidor.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups, with a portfolio of more than 1,300 hotels, including a hotel in Dresden, Stockholm hotel and hotel Leipzig.

Through a number of concrete revenue generation initiatives, the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group aims to generate more than US$ 400 million in additional revenue and a RevPAR Index increase of more than 9 points by 2015. These initiatives include a reinforced global sales team; unique revenue optimization tools, partnership projects with travel intermediaries, including Carlson Wagonlit Travel; and the rapid growth of Club Carlson, the group's successful loyalty program. The group will pursue the global alignment and management of its brands to ensure that its guests enjoy a compelling and consistent value proposition around the world. Joint purchasing activities entail the development of competitive sourcing agreements, especially for high-spend and business-critical categories. Global people development programs also will help the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group fulfil its ambition to be the number one hospitality company to work for.

A global steering committee has been established to oversee these value creation areas and the development of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. It is co-chaired by Joly and Ritter.

The chosen logo of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group symbolizes several key elements: the combination of the Carlson name and the Rezidor name highlights the nature of the relationship, i.e. that of a partnership; and the Carlson symbol on top of the logo represents important values such as relationships, heritage, innovation and service.

The group's new website, www.carlsonrezidor.com, will launch on February 1st 2012.

About the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group
The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group - born in early 2012 - is one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups. The portfolio of the Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group includes more than 1,300 hotels, including hotel Reykjavik and hotel Dubai, and a global footprint spanning 80 countries. The group also has a powerful set of global brands (Radisson Blu, Radisson, Country Inns & Suites By Carlson, Park Inn by Radisson, Hotel Missoni and Park Plaza). In most of the group's hotels, guests can benefit from the loyalty program Club Carlson, one of the most rewarding loyalty programs in the world. The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group and its brands employ more than 80,000 people.

The Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., and Brussels, Belgium.

Etihad Airways Buys More Airbus Freighters

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 11:06:34 GMT

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, today announced it would double the size of its Airbus A330-200 Freighter fleet.

The carrier said it had ordered two more A330-200Fs in a deal worth $423 million at current list prices.

“We are strongly committed to building our presence in the cargo sector with the platform of Abu Dhabi as our hub to connect global trade lanes,” Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer James Hogan said.

“The A330-200F has been a key part of our recent success in the market. We are very pleased with its high reliability and versatility, and that’s why we are keen to expand this fleet type,” he added.

Etihad Airways was a launch customer and the launch operator of the A330-200F, having taken delivery of its first aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow in 2010.

The A330-200F, which has just celebrated a successful first year of operation, can carry up to 70 tonnes of payload and offers a range of up to 4,000 nautical miles.

Etihad Airways operates its A330-200Fs on routes to Addis Ababa, Almaty, flights to Beijing, Erbil, Frankfurt-Hahn, Hong Kong, flights to Johannesburg, flights to Milan and Nairobi.

“This repeat order by Etihad Airways underlines the key role the A330-200F is playing alongside larger freighters. The A330-200F enables Etihad Airways to optimise its network by addressing markets which do not make business sense with large freighters,” said John Leahy, Airbus Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

“In a challenging economic environment, with high fuel prices and yields under pressure, the A330-200F helps match capacity neatly with demand which, allows for efficient cargo operations.”

Seychelles Government And Etihad Airways Team Up In New Strategic Partnership In Air Seychelles Ltd.

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:45:40 GMT

The Government of Seychelles and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding wherein Etihad will invest to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Air Seychelles Ltd as part of a strategic partnership alliance initiative between Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways.

The deal was announced today by Joel Morgan, Seychelles Minister of Home Affairs, Environment, Transport and Energy and James Hogan, President and Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Airways.

Etihad Airways’ investment of USD 20 million will be matched by an equal capital injection from the Government of Seychelles. In addition, Etihad Airways will also provide a shareholder’s loan of USD 25 million to meet working capital requirements and support network development.

Mr Morgan said: “This is a game-changing strategic partnership for us, establishing Air Seychelles on a sustainable growth trajectory and offering a realistic way forward for long-term commercial growth.”

“The partnership simultaneously provides international presence, strategic penetration and a bright future for our national carrier.”

“The aviation industry is under enormous pressure right now, with small airlines especially vulnerable to global economic instability and ongoing oil price volatility. In this context, consolidation offers the best possible solution for Air Seychelles. This agreement will allow Air Seychelles to share the benefits of the visionary strategy of one of the world’s leading airlines and leverage its economies of scale and synergies.”

Mr Hogan said: “This deal is consistent with our approach to expansion, which relies on the strength of strategic partnerships across the globe. The investment in the national carrier of Seychelles is a natural next step towards growing our operations in the increasingly important leisure markets of the Indian Ocean and Africa.

“The Seychelles is a renowned leisure destination and its tourism industry is surging, as indicated by record-setting visitor numbers for the island nation in 2011. There is a need for greater connectivity to support this tourism boom, and both Air Seychelles and Etihad Airways are well-positioned to leverage that demand into substantial commercial growth.

The integration of the networks will give Air Seychelles greater opportunity to tap into key tourism feeder markets across Europe – such as with flights to Germany, France, Italy and flights to the UK – where Etihad Airways’ presence is strong and growing.”

Asia, and more specifically China, is increasingly important to the Seychelles national economy. Apart from the Seychelles strategic geographic significance as a stepping stone between China and Africa, the island nation is also an important trading partner for Chinese business and an increasingly popular leisure destination for significant numbers of Chinese travellers.

The agreement, which is the first of its kind in Africa, makes for provision for a five-year management contract for Etihad Airways which will see the implementation of strategic measures to encourage Air Seychelles’ long-term commercial growth.

Importantly, the partnership will offer unprecedented career development opportunities and access to Etihad Airways state-of-the-art training academy and facilities in Abu Dhabi for Seychellois aviation professionals.

Etihad Airways has achieved a high level of success in encouraging and facilitating the professional growth and increased presence of nationals in the organisation following the implementation of its localisation program, and will support a similar knowledge and skill transfer for Seychellois within Air Seychelles.

Another important element of the agreement gives Air Seychelles office presence in Etihad Airways offices across the Etihad Airways network. This means vastly improved marketing possibilities for the country and its national carrier.

Finally, the new partnership will further drive consolidation of key functions, resulting in significant cost savings and process optimisation.

Also under the partnership:

? Etihad Airways will seek to increase frequency of flights between Abu Dhabi and Mahé from four per week to daily, as well as providing new services to the islands;

? Etihad Airways will work in conjunction with Air Seychelles to develop a renewed fleet and network growth plan for the island-based carrier;

? The airlines will sign a comprehensive codeshare agreement to include Etihad Airways-marketed flights across Air Seychelles’ network and Air Seychelles-marketed flights to Abu Dhabi and Etihad Airways destinations across Europe, the Middle East, the GCC, Asia and Australia.

? Etihad Guest and Seychelles Bonus, the airlines’ frequent flyer programs, will be integrated to include mileage earning and redemption on each other’s flights.

This agreement is Etihad Airways’ second equity investment, following its December 2011 announcement that it would increase its stake in airberlin to 29.21 per cent, making it the single biggest shareholder in Europe’s sixth largest airline.

Etihad Airways Launches A World Innovation - Etihad Guest Miles To Become A Global Currency

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:45:36 GMT

Etihad Guest, Etihad Airways’ award winning loyalty program, is offering its members an innovative new way to convert their Etihad Guest Miles into cash to spend anywhere, anytime.

This is delivered through PointsPay® an exclusive, real-time transaction solution that gives Etihad Guest Members unlimited freedom to spend in-store or online at millions of outlets worldwide.

Members simply use the PointsPay® application (available now as an iPhone app and shortly also via the PointsPay website) to exchange their Etihad Guest miles for funds to be added directly to their PointsPay® Visa prepaid card before using the card either in-store or online. For online shopping, they don’t even need a physical card, as the system produces a Virtual PointsPay ® Visa card for them to use directly on the web.

The PointsPay® application is safe to use as it incorporates robust security standards including automatic information encryption, password protection and notifications whenever miles are converted to credit.

Before the end of January, all existing Etihad Guest Members will be given the opportunity to be selected to be amongst the first group of members accessing this new feature. More and more members will be given access to the application over the course of the first quarter of 2012, with the application being available to the entire membership by the end of April 2012.

PointsPay® application is developed by PointsPay Inc., a Loylogic Company. Loylogic specialises in loyalty program innovations.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways’ Chief Commercial Officer, said: “This is a break-through innovation for the airline and loyalty industry, transforming our Etihad Guest miles into a global currency and we are very pleased to deliver this new solution to the world.

“The new service is indicative of the innovative services we continuously seek to provide to our members. The PointsPay® application is a ground-breaking innovation, and we are pleased to be the first and only loyalty program to have access to this technology. This new facility changes the face of how loyalty programs offer their members the ability to use their miles or points. Our members can now effectively redeem their Etihad Guest miles to make purchases at more than 30 million points-of-sale worldwide, which makes us the most flexible and rewarding program in the industry.”

Dominic Hofer, Founder and CEO of Loylogic and PointsPay, said: “PointsPay® is a truly amazing concept but also the answer to the most challenging dilemma of the loyalty industry: How can members redeem points and miles easily, securely and wherever they want? We are launching the new PointsPay® solution, as we have done in the past with other innovations, with Etihad Guest. We have worked with Etihad Airways over a period of more than 6 years, and are proud to exclusively offer this new ground-breaking innovation to Etihad in recognition of our close partnership.”

Currently the Etihad Guest program offers members opportunities to accumulate air miles which can be redeemed against a wide selection of over 2900 flight and non-flight rewards from over 200 partners. Non-flight rewards cover a wide variety of categories, from computer and electronic equipment to jewellery and lifestyle products. The program boasts over 1.4 million members to date and has more than 70 global partners.

Etihad Airways Operates First Biofuel Powered Delivery Flight

Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:45:32 GMT

Etihad Airways’ flight from Seattle to Abu Dhabi – the delivery flight of the airline’s newest Boeing 777-300ER that arrived on January 24 – was the first in the Gulf to be operated using sustainable biofuel.

The 14 hour delivery flight of the airline’s newest and most efficient long haul aircraft was operated using a combination of traditional jet fuel and plant-based jet fuel, which is fully certified for use as commercial jet fuel.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ President and Chief Executive Officer, said: “This flight marks a significant milestone in our efforts to support and drive the commercialisation of sustainable aviation fuel in Abu Dhabi, the region, and globally.

“However, the use of a presently available biofuel is just one part of a more comprehensive long-term biofuel strategy to ensure that we are able to use biofuels to decarbonise substantially an entire industry sector in the long term.”

SkyNRG, an Amsterdam-based sustainable jet fuel provider, supplied the fuel, which is based on recycled vegetable cooking oil. As a plant-based source that has been used already for cooking purposes, it qualifies as a bio-based waste stream with a high sustainability value.

Dirk Kronemeijer, SkyNRG’s Managing Director, said: “We think the Middle East has great potential to give a critical boost towards making a market for sustainable flights' fuel that is affordable. With this flight Etihad Airways has taken a fantastic step, particularly in increasing awareness within the region. There is a lot more to come in this continent and we are determined to be there when that happens.”

Boeing also supported this initiative by supplying their ‘fly-away’ fuel, provided for every new delivery, as a biofuel blend.

Sustainability is a key aspect of the biofuel production process. Etihad Airways, as a member of the global Sustainable Aviation Fuel Users Group, has committed to a stringent set of sustainability principles when looking at opportunities for biofuel development and use. This includes ensuring that feedstock is non-competitive with food sources and does not jeopardise drinking water supplies.

As part of this commitment and in helping to drive the development of potential feedstock in Abu Dhabi, Etihad Airways is also one of the founding members of the Masdar Institute’s Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) in Abu Dhabi. This innovative five-year program, backed by over USD 2 million of financial and other support from the airline, supports research into the use of salt water tolerant plants as the basis for alternative aviation fuels.

With new regulations now being imposed on aviation carbon emissions, the commercial viability of biofuel is gaining even more importance. Starting this year, the EU emissions trading scheme (ETS) will require all airlines to pay for emissions and this is likely to lead to other such schemes around the world. Biofuel is considered ‘carbon neutral' as the plant biomass takes in carbon as it grows and releases it again during the combustion process, and this means that the use of biofuel as part of the EU ETS would be considered exempt.

Etihad Airways-Airberlin Partnership Set For Take Off

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:13:14 GMT

German and Austrian regulatory authorities have given their approval to the deal announced last month in which Etihad Airways increased its shareholding in airberlin to 29.21 per cent.

The approved strategic partnership between the airlines will offer passengers a combined global network of 239 destinations, seamlessly connected through hubs in Abu Dhabi, Berlin, Düsseldorf, Vienna and Palma de Majorca.

Already, both airlines have announced a number of joint actions, including codesharing on a number of routes on each other’s networks, integrating aspects of their frequent flyer programs, and mutual maintenance agreements in Abu Dhabi and Düsseldorf.

Etihad Airways President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan, said: “We are delighted that all the regulatory approvals have been concluded successfully and we can now to move forward with plans to create an outstanding offering for passengers on our combined network.

“The partnership between Etihad Airways and airberlin will have a positive market impact, stimulating competition and ultimately benefiting passengers across the globe.

“It is a significant milestone in our history and the first step in what will be a very positive association over the coming years.”

airberlin CEO Hartmut Mehdorn said: “I am confident that this is the beginning of a very successful collaboration which will benefit the customers of both companies. It opens up unique possibilities for joint future market development and provides the prerequisite for increased synergies and cost optimisations.”

Etihad Airways and airberlin group carry a combined total of more than 40 million passengers a year, operate 233 aircraft and employ 18,000 people.

British Airways unveils winning dove design for London 2012 aircraft

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 11:00:10 GMT

The design of the British Airways aircraft to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be 'The Dove' by up and coming British designer Pascal Anson. His artwork beat hundreds of entries in the BA Great Britons Programme, and was chosen by a judging panel including Turner-prize nominated artist and Royal Academician Tracey Emin, the Royal Academy of Arts and the airline.

As BA Great Britons mentor, Tracey Emin has advised Pascal during the project, and said: "It would have been easy to put a motif or a pattern on the side of an aircraft but Pascal's design takes it to another level. He uses the entire livery of the aircraft to redefine the way you look at it. The dove is a stunning piece of work and will bring real excitement to anyone who flies on one of the repainted planes."

The 38 year-old designer and artist from Brighton, also a Design Tutor at Kingston University, has spent the past few months honing his design with Emin. It will be emblazoned across a number of British Airways aircraft and seen by a global audience of millions.

BA Great Britons winner Pascal Anson, said: "On my journeys from Brighton to London, I've often looked up at aircraft landing at Gatwick and wondered if it’s a 'bird or a plane', and the idea developed from there. When I started researching birds further I realised it had to be a dove. Not only are they a symbol of peace and social unity, but they were also used in previous Olympic Games ceremonies, including the last London Games in 1948."

To create an illusion of a dove, Pascal spent hours in a cote observing the birds. He incorporates their intricate detail on the livery, which will use a new colour of paint produced by the British Airways engineering team and its suppliers.

Frank van der Post, British Airways managing director, brands and customer experience, said: "When we invited up and coming British artists to submit a design to celebrate the London 2012 Games, we didn't expect a concept that would change the way we look at the aircraft - yet Pascal's work has achieved this and we're very proud to be sharing it with the world on our giant flying canvas."

The BA Great Britons Programme was launched to discover the best of British talent in Art, as well as Food and Film and offer British talent a platform in the run up to the London 2012 Games. Pascal's aircraft launch will coincide with the unveiling of a London 2012 inspired menu, created by Simon Hulstone with support from Michelin-star restaurant owner and chef Heston Blumenthal, and short film written by Prasanna Puwanarajah with mentoring from scriptwriter and director Richard E Grant. All three projects will be unveiled to the public in April.

For more information, visit: Facebook.com/britishairways

Ends

About British Airways:
British Airways plc offers a wide range of worldwide destinations, including holidays in London, flights to London, Maldives holidays, flights to Berlin and Prague holidays, as well as hotels, car rental with Avis and experiences. Customers can save time and money with ba.com when booking ATOL protected holiday packages, ATOL number is 5985. Passengers are offered added peace of mind to their holiday plans and the security of travelling with British Airways. British Airways plc constantly seeks to exceed customers' expectations, both in terms of the value for money and quality of the service provided.

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