DEVOTED TO THE “BUSINESS” OF BUSINESS TRAVEL · Historic Hotel Viking Announces Multi-Million...

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October 11, 2010Published by Odyssey Media Group

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DEVOTED TO THE “BUSINESS” OF BUSINESS TRAVEL

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Pan Pacific Names Rheinberger Director of Sales & Marketing, OceaniaAfter announcing its entry into the Australian market with three hotels, Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Richard Rheinberger as Director of Sales & Marketing for Oceania. Based in Sydney, Australian-born Richard will be responsible for increasing business growth, building brand awareness, and driving sales and marketing initiatives as Pan Pacific Hotels Group establishes operations in Australia and New Zealand.

Outrigger Consolidates Australia and FijiOutrigger Enterprises Group is consolidating its Australia and Fiji operations into its Asian office located in Phuket, Thailand, effective immediately.

“We have grown quickly in the few years that we have been in Asia and are rapidly accelerating our expansion into other areas,” said David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group. Outrigger has two properties open in Asia - O-CE-N Bali by Outrigger in Legian, Bali and Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas in Phuket - and has signed management contracts for three other hotels in Asia - Outrigger Panorama Bali Resort and Spa in the Bukit, Bali; Outrigger Clearwater Bay Resort and Spa in Sanya, Hainan Island, China; and Outrigger Vinh Hoi Bay Resort and Spa in Quy Nhon, Vietnam...

Eurostar Plans £700 Million Investment In Its FleetEurostar International Limited, the high-speed passenger train operator between the UK and mainland Europe, has announced its plans for a £700 million capital investment in its fleet. This represents the first key initiative since the recent transformation of the business from a partnership to a single, unified corporate entity¹. The investment in the fleet will be funded privately by Eurostar with a combination of cash and bank financing.

Jet Airways and bmi Reciprocal FFPJet Airways has entered into a reciprocal frequent flyer partnership (FFP) with bmi. JetPrivilege members may now earn and redeem their JPMiles on the entire network of bmi. Similarly, bmi’s Diamond Club members may earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on the entire network of Jet Airways and Jet Airways Konnect.

According to Mr. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, “Jet Airways offers guests unmatched pan-India connectivity as well as a growing 23-destination strong international network...

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Technology Editor: Marten Streifel - [email protected]. Editor: Deborah Ibsen - [email protected]

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INSIDEAmadeus and Concur Partner On Travel & Expense Management Solution page 3Travelport Launches “Universal API”

TransViet Travel & WorldLink Travel In Tanzania Join GlobalStar page 4FCm Greater China: Corporations Risk Overpaying When Booking Online

Amadeus & Cathay Pacific Sign Content Agreement page 5ACTE Introduces New Travel Index Linked To Global Economy

ACTE Develops Formal Certification Programme page 6ACTE Eager To Attract New Talent and Fresh IdeasACTE Selects Paris For Its 2011 Global Education Conference

Iberia, American & British Airways Form New Trilateral Relationship page 7United Airlines And Air Canada To Form Transborder Joint VentureSWISS To Expand Its Zurich And Geneva Services In 2010/11

Singapore Airlines To Offer Inflight Connectivity page 8

Jet Airways and bmi Reciprocal Frequent Flyer Partnership page 9Finnair And airberlin Expand CooperationCathay Pacific & WestJet Begin Code-Share ArrangementMunich Airport Reports Record Growth

Great Hotels Organisation Consolidates Brands page 10Outrigger Consolidates Australia and Fiji Operations With Its Asia Office In Phuket

Sol Meliá Upgrades Facilities In France page 11STR Launches Monthly Market ForecastsFairmont & Etihad Airways New Partnership AgreementAC Hotels & Marriott To Partner On “AC by Marriott”

Historic Hotel Viking Announces Multi-Million Dollar Renovation page 12Doubletree by Hilton, Mexico City Airport AreaIHG Rebrands Pan Pacific Bangkok

Eurostar Announces £700 Million Investment In Its Fleet page 13

Carlson Hotels Appoints Lewis As Area VP China page 14HRG Appoints Managing Director, Asia PacificEmirates Appoints New Manager For CanadaPan Pacific Names Rheinberger Director of Sales & Marketing, OceaniaMark Rizzuto To Lead NBTA’s Operations In Asia Pacific


TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

Travelport Launches “Universal API” Travelport announced the formal launch of Travelport Universal API. Travelport Universal API is the GDS industry’s first application programming interface (API) that offers the power and capacity to aggregate travel content and related services from multiple sources through a single interface:

- GDS content- Low-cost carrier content- Directly connected high speed rail content- Merchandising content including optional services content from travel suppliers worldwide, regardless of the filing method.

As a result of the new technology, developers will be able to access extensive content in a faster and more time efficient manner by coding to one single solution instead of multiple APIs.

Third-party developers, online travel agencies (OTA), travel agencies and consolidators globally will experience many benefits using Travelport Universal API when building travel related applications for deployment on the Web, for desktop solutions or mobile applications:

- Improved efficiency and time-to-market- Streamlined travel supply chain- Reduced software development costs.

Customers using applications built with Travelport Universal API benefit greatly from seamless booking experiences through the use of the Travelport Universal Record - a true Super PNR. Travelport Universal Record is an off-host structured database that stores data for all segments booked through the Travelport Universal API - regardless of content source - with full synchronisation back to the GDS PNR to maintain mid- and back-office integration.

Travelport Universal API also works side-by-side with existing APIs. Agencies and developers can maximize their IT investments by gradually supplementing their existing content feeds and functionality as they transition to the new content resources and tools made available through Travelport Universal API.

“Today’s travel agencies and developers are challenged by having to tap into multiple Web sites, GDSs, and supplier-direct channels to access the content, functionality, and pricing they need to satisfy consumer demand and in Travelport Universal API we have the solution,” said Sally Balcombe, chief marketing officer, Travelport.

Travelport Universal API is also a key interface and central to the underlying architecture of Travelport’s next-generation technologies, including Travelport Universal Desktop. Travelport Universal Desktop is the groundbreaking booking solution that unifies travel selling and merchandising onto a single platform, currently in testing at Flight Centre Ltd.

“These technologies represent a reengineering of Travelport’s technology infrastructure, leading to greater opportunities for up-sell and cross-sell revenues for travel retailers and suppliers, and greater satisfaction for travelers,” said Balcombe.

www.travelport.com

Amadeus and Concur announced that they will be showcasing the new integrated corporate travel and expense claim solution, Amadeus eTravel Management (AeTM) integrated with Concur’s expense solution, at the ACTE Global Education Conference in Berlin.

“Organisations have a universal need to establish visibility and control over T&E expenses,” said Chris Dwyer, Research Analyst at Aberdeen Group. “Technology solutions that address the entire continuum of the T&E process -- like those from Concur and Amadeus -- enable organisations to rein in this significant area of controllable spending and more effectively monitor what’s really happening.”

With technology from Amadeus and Concur now tightly integrated together, organisations have a tool that provides worldwide content, with an intuitive end-to-end travel booking and expense claim solution that helps improve control, drive compliance and increase productivity. With the synchronisation of travel bookings from AeTM into Concur, customers will have a full view of what was planned versus what was actually spent. The two companies are also delivering the integration of Amadeus core distribution technology into Concur’s own travel booking technology.

“Innovative companies are always looking for better ways to help their clients drive down costs and increase policy compliance,” said Barry Padgett, Concur’s General Manager of European Operations. “Concur and Amadeus are two industry leaders that have done the hard work of truly integrating their offerings in a meaningful way to drive real value for their clients. The result is an end-to-end travel and expense management solution that meets the needs of our joint clients in Europe and around the globe.”

Customers will be able to leverage the best of two market leaders. Amadeus not only offers the latest corporate travel technology, but also instant access to a comprehensive choice of relevant global travel content which is travel policy approved. Concur takes the hassle out of the expense claim process by utilizing electronic corporate credit card data to automatically pre-populate

Amadeus and Concur Partner On Travel & Expense Management Solution


FCm Greater China: Corporations Risk Overpaying When Booking OnlineBusiness travellers who book discounted flights and accommodation on ‘last-minute’ and other agency websites need to understand the true cost implications or risk paying much more, says FCm Travel Solutions Greater China. The corporate travel management consultancy has warned corporates that website bookings are usually pre-paid and non-refundable, and fail to provide them with cost control measures, travel policy compliance, and traveller security.

“Travel websites offering discounted airfares and hotel nights are sometimes thought to be the cheapest and fastest way to book travel, but that’s a misperception,” said David Fraser, general manager of FCm Greater China. “We see supplier websites offering upfront discounts of three to five per cent on airfares, but this is likely to be less than what a company could save through a well-managed travel program,” he said. Discounted rates often need to be pre-paid in full. So if the traveller has to make any changes or cancellations to their bookings, they may have to forfeit the entire booking amount - plus pay for a whole new booking.”

“FCm will sometimes book last-minute rates on websites for clients whose plans are 100% fixed. But in Mainland China, changes are made to the majority of corporate flight and hotel bookings prior to ticketing. Further changes are then made to 20-30 per cent of bookings after ticketing, reinforcing companies’ need for flexibility in their travel plans. For companies that like the convenience of booking online, the best solution is to use an online booking tool provided by a travel management company, which provides far more benefits than booking via an online agency or supplier website.”

Mr Fraser said FCm China offered companies an online booking tool that not only searched for the lowest rates and fares across multiple hotels and airlines, but offered additional cost-saving benefits such as travel policy management and reporting. “Policy compliance is incredibly important, and this is where agency and supplier websites let corporates down. Companies with travellers who are making their own bookings to their own preferences risk losing control of their travel expenses and billings,” he said. “Our OBT is an air/hotel booking and travel management platform with real-time links to the global distribution system (GDS).”

Mr Fraser said the FCm tool searched the lowest airfares for domestic travel in China, in addition to negotiated rates that were just as competitive as discounted rates - and more flexible. “In some cases, the rates we source from airlines and hotels are even lower than the rates available on their websites, because we are negotiating based on our strong relationships and on higher volumes. And while travel suppliers can only offer their own product at discounted rates, we can provide an extensive choice of suppliers so clients can select the best services, schedules and prices to suit their needs,” he said. “We also have many instances where we are given value-adds for our clients, such as free hotel breakfasts and complimentary cocktail vouchers.”

Mr Fraser added that FCm’s online booking tool (OBT) streamlines bookings and generates productivity gains for companies, due to the real-time access it provides to last-seat web, client negotiated and FCm-negotiated rates. A point-to-point booking involving air fares and accommodation can be completed in less than three minutes. “Traveller security is also a major issue, as there is no after-sales support with a web booking. Global travel management companies, on the other hand, provide 24/7 emergency support for clients caught in a crisis situation, anywhere in the world,” he said.

“During the recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland, FCm’s clients had complete peace of mind. We kept them constantly updated, we searched all travel options for them, we liaised direct with airlines and hotels on their behalf, and we made all the booking changes. Travellers who booked their tickets through supplier websites were among the many thousands desperately trying to get through to airlines, hotels, and airports. Our OBT enables companies to uphold their duty of care to travellers, while reducing their average ticket prices and achieving long-term savings in their travel management.”

the expense claim -- ensuring that expense data is accurately reported. By combining itinerary data captured at the time of booking with corporate card charges incurred by the employee -- this powerful solution enables travellers to easily complete their expense claim while providing their organisation with unmatched visibility and control.

“We were delighted to offer our customers an integrated solution together with our partner Concur, a clear leader in the employee expense management space for whom we have tremendous respect for their vision and strategy,” said Albert Pozo, Vice President, Multinational Business & Corporate Travel, Amadeus. “This partnership enables us to provide great value to our joint clients, offering an integrated system to make their travel and expense reporting process easier and allows us to expand our market reach and drive increased adoption.”

This alliance supports both companies’ long-term growth objectives. On Amadeus’ part, the agreement is the latest move in its strategy to create a global and end-to-end travel and spend story for its global customer segment. The partnership supports Concur’s broader strategy of local and global market leadership. Customers will be able to select the integrated travel and expense management solution that best meets their requirements and which helps them better manage employee spending.

www.concur.comwww.amadeus.com

TransViet Travel & WorldLink Travel In Tanzania Join GlobalStarGlobalStar Travel Management announced the addition of two new partners to its network: TransViet Travel in Vietnam and Worldlink Travel & Tours in Tanzania.

TransViet Travel is one of the leading business travel agencies in Vietnam employs over 300 employees and realizes an annual turnover of over USD 42 Million annually. TransViet Travel was established in the year 1998 and currently has offices in Ho Chi Minh city and in Hanoi and is connected to the Amadeus GDS. TransViet Travel is known for its high quality of personal service in the Vietnamese market and joined GlobalStar officially on the 1st of August.

WorldLink Travel and Tours with offices in the principal economic city Dar Es


ACTE Introduces New Travel Index Linked To Global EconomyWith Business Travel being widely acknowledged as a key performance indicator of the global economy, a survey of members of the influential Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) reveals that the global economic outlook for 2011 could be more optimistic than experts originally thought as ACTE members indicated a feel of greater activity in the business travel market over the next year.

“The findings from the ACTE survey of members shows clearly that economic performance may well move ahead, across the globe, next year,” commented ACTE President Chris Crowley. “We intend to monitor our members, and their confidence, booking trends and general travel expenditure closely as we watch the expected recovery of the world economy. As business leaders adjust their travel requirements and with an eye to the changing economic landscape, ACTE will start to publish statistics in a regular monthly index”.

The vast majority of respondents to the ‘2011 Travel Spend Survey’ - 64% from Europe and 70% from the US - are anticipating greater travel spend in 2011, with most attributing this to increased travel frequency and not just higher costs -- clearly showing that business activity will increase in 2011.

In fact, 66% of European ACTE members and 60% of those in the US are expecting their company’s employees to travel more in 2011 than in the two previous years of the recession.

More than half the European member companies questioned expect their travel spend to increase by between five and 15%, compared with 43% of those in the US, where 22% of respondents predict an increase in travel spend of between one and five percent, and 5.4% expect a spend increase of 20% or more.

Salaam and Mwanza in Tanzania joins GlobalStar per the 1st of September. The company, connected to both Galileo and Amadeus, employs over 50 staff and realizes an annual turnover of over USD 15 Million annually. Worldlink Travel and Tours was established in the year 1993 and has been rewarded with many industry awards and

Amadeus & Cathay Pacific Sign Content AgreementAmadeus has signed an extensive long-term Content Agreement with the Cathay Pacific Group, which offers Amadeus agents access to a comprehensive range of Cathay Pacific and Dragonair fares, schedules and availability.”Travel agencies remain a key sales channel for Cathay Pacific,” said Clarence Tai, General Manager Sales & Distribution for the airline. “It is critical that our travel agency partners have access to a broad range of fare products of Cathay Pacific and Dragonair.

Amadeus is an important distribution channel for us, enabling true global coverage. We are pleased to announce this new agreement as we enhance our distribution relationship with Amadeus”.

The new agreement offers Amadeus subscribers in Asia access to the same level of fares, availability and functionality -- and under the same conditions -- as any other travel agent content channel. Outside Asia, Cathay Pacific and Dragonair have increased their content guarantee to Amadeus to include all fares, availability and functionality -- again, under the same conditions -- as the airlines distribute through its own website, call centre and other travel agency content access channels.John Chapman, Vice President, Airline Group, Amadeus Asia Pacific, said, “Amadeus has an excellent, long-term relationship with Cathay Pacific as both a provider of Airline IT solutions and as a distribution partner, ensuring Cathay Pacific fares are available for our extensive global network of travel agencies.. We are committed to securing long-term partnerships with leading airlines in order to ensure our subscribers have access to the most comprehensive range of flight options and are delighted to announce this multi-year agreement with Cathay Pacific.”

In addition to distributing Cathay Pacific’s content to more than 90,000 travel agency points of sale worldwide, Amadeus provides the e-Commerce technology that powers the cathaypacific.com website, enabling the airline’s customers to shop, book and manage their travel online. Cathay Pacific and Dragonair are also in the process of implementing the Amadeus Altéa Customer Management System, which will manage reservations, inventory and departure control from late 2011.

“Amadeus technology plays a critical role in distributing Cathay Pacific’s product both directly to consumers online and via our travel agency users around the world,” said Chapman. This new agreement ensures that the widest possible range of fares and flights are made available via the Amadeus GDS channel.”

recognitions.

GlobalStar’s Director of Partner Recruitment Mark van Iersel stated; “In both countries we have seen an increase of demand for a local TMC, in Vietnam mainly due to the fast growing market for Fashion companies in which GlobalStar services many prestigious

organizations. In Tanzania the increase arising from a boost of requests within the mining industry”. We feel that with the addition of both TransViet and Worldlink we can now meet these client demands by adding the best national choice in both Vietnam and Tanzania”.

www.globalstartravel.com

ASSOCIATIONS


On the issue of controlling costs, the vast majority of US respondents (73%) will be encouraging, or even mandating the use of preferred vendors, with 62% encouraging or mandating booking channels; just over half encouraging or mandating the use of travel alternatives “when travel can be replaced”; and 57% encouraging or mandating hotel booking through preferred channels. The results from European respondents are broadly similar. However, 68% say they will encourage or mandate booking at least 14 days in advance, compared with just 54% of US member respondents.

According to the ACTE survey, a mere 11% of European ACTE member companies plan to control costs by “managing a previously unmanaged aspect of travel, such as corporate housing or parking”, compared with 16% of those from the US, yet 38% foresee a consolidation of meeting spend - which is 11% more than those in the US.

Just 5.4% of US ACTE respondents and 6.4% of those from Europe will be encouraging shorter trip stays, the survey concludes.

ACTE has organised an exclusive collection of members who have agreed to provide monthly data for the newly launched ACTE Index. The ACTE Index will provide the industry with timely and relevant statistics tying travel data to regional economic indicators that will establish predictive economic KPIs and behavioural trends. This unique information will be shared with the industry via a monthly ACTE Index newsletter as well as on the ACTE website.

www.acte.org

ACTE Eager To Attract New Talent and Fresh IdeasIn a bid to attract new ideas and fresh talent to the travel industry, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) has launched 3 under 33, a recognition programme designed to showcase products and services from the next generation of industry leaders.

“There’s no shortage of new technologies in the business travel arena,” says ACTE executive director Ron DiLeo, “but the potential these tools bring are limited as long as we continue buying and managing travel as we have for the past 20 years.” What are needed now, he says, are new ideas and fresh approaches to travel management, “and we will be scouring the world in search of the top three thinkers aged under 33 for their ideas about next-generation travel management”.

A recent survey of ACTE members revealed surprising results: while the use of social media, marketing and communication skills, and behavioural management topped the list of those attributes perceived as most important, procurement was deemed least important.

One respondee noted that programmes designed by the over-50s, built by the over-40s for use by the under-30s, was a “complete disconnect”. And while DiLeo concedes that good ideas are certainly not limited to young people, he says that with 3 under 33, ACTE is trying to create “the sizzle that will attract new talent to our industry”.

The 3 under 33 programme is scheduled to commence before the end of 2010, with the first trio of winners from the Americas being announced at the ACTE Global Education Conference in New York City (April 2011), the second set of three recipients from Asia-Pacific being announced at the ACTE Asia-Pacific Education Conference in Singapore, (August 2011) and three additional winners being announced at the ACTE Global Education Conference in Paris (October 2011), culminating with one top winner globally being announced at the end of the Paris conference.

ACTE Selects Paris For Its 2011 Global Education ConferenceAs the leaders of the global business travel industry meet this week in Berlin at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives’ (ACTE) Global Education Conference, the association announced that its 2011 Global Education Conference will be held in Paris. A leading global business and cultural centre, as well as an eternally popular tourist destination, the French capital is ideally situated to host this leading industry event dedicated to bringing together hundreds of senior level business travel executives from around the world.

“We believe that, like New York, with so many Fortune 500 businesses located in and around Paris, our members and delegates will also take advantage of their visit there to also conduct business with colleagues and customers located in the area, thus allowing an even broader experience and ROI.” said Chris Crowley, president of ACTE.

The 2011 ACTE Global Education Conference, the 21st Annual ACTE European Conference will take place in Paris - October 2011.

ACTE Develops Formal Certification ProgrammeIn response to industry feedback, the Association of Corporate Travel Executives (ACTE) is developing a programme to both certify and assist individuals wanting to launch careers in consulting. The certification component of the Consultants’ Corner programme will feature industry and professional development content.

Once certified, individuals will receive a kit that includes everything they need to start their own practice, including business cards and customisable presentation templates. They will also be given a link on the ACTE website where they can showcase their credentials and ACTE certification.

“There are a lot of people in varying stages of their careers who aspire to going out on their own but don’t know where to start,” says ACTE executive director Ron DiLeo. “Conversely, we get calls regularly from travel managers and buyers looking for consultants with specific technical skills.”

The association believes that the Consultants’ Corner will also attract

new talent to the travel industry. “While larger firms don’t typically get involved directly in travel management projects, it’s not uncommon for their work to affect their clients’ travel programmes,” says DiLeo. “With the Consultants’ Corner, these firms now have a place to shop for sub-contractors.”

The Consultants’ Corner programme is set to launch first quarter of 2011.


AIRLINES & AIRPORTS

The CEOs of the three oneworld airlines met in London today for the official start of the new trilateral relationship, which enables oneworld to compete far more effectively with other global alliances on routes between Europe and North America.

American Airlines, British Airways and Iberia announced today four new routes that will start from next April as an early benefit of the new joint business. They are: New York JFK-Budapest and Chicago-Helsinki (operated by American), London Heathrow-San Diego (operated by British Airways) and Madrid-Los Angeles (operated by Iberia).

The airlines have also placed codeshares on a significant number of additional routes, greatly increasing the number of destination choices available to customers. American will add its code to 322 British Airways and Iberia flights serving 101 destinations, British Airways will add its code to 2063 American and Iberia flights serving 181 destinations and Iberia will add its code to 354 American and British Airways flights serving 96 destinations. There will be further opportunities to increase codeshares in the future. In total, customers will be able to travel more easily on the airlines’ combined route network which will serve more than 400 destinations in 105 countries with around 5,200 daily departures.

Gerard Arpey, chairman and chief executive of AMR Corp, the parent company of American Airlines, said: “We’ve been waiting for 14 years to be able to bring these benefits to our customers and it’s great news that we can now put our plans into action. Our revenue-sharing partnership will further boost oneworld, in what has been a momentous year for the alliance, and enable us to reduce costs and attract new business. It will provide additional stability for the airlines and our customers, employees and shareholders and allow us to invest in new products and services”.

Willie Walsh, chief executive of British Airways, said: “Today’s route announcement is a great example of how by working together we can benefit customers. Combined selling and scheduling means that we will able to operate routes that would not have

United Airlines And Air Canada To Form Transborder Joint VentureAir Canada and United Continental Holdings, Inc. have announced that the airlines have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding setting out the principles for a comprehensive revenue-sharing joint venture that would provide for an enhanced partnership on United States-Canada transborder flights, and generate substantial service and pricing benefits for consumers traveling between the two countries. On October 1, 2010, United Continental Holdings, Inc. announced the closing of the merger of United Air Lines and Continental Airlines, combining the carriers’ global networks to create the world’s leading airline which will operate under the name United Airlines.

“Working cooperatively with our partner Air Canada, we can create a more streamlined travel experience for customers traveling between the United States and Canada, providing more travel options and benefits while reducing travel times,” said Jeff Smisek, United Airlines President and Chief Executive Officer.

“This joint venture between United Airlines and Air Canada will provide many benefits and revenue synergies on this important market allowing us to compete more effectively,” said Calin Rovinescu, Air Canada’s President and Chief Executive Officer. “As founding members of Star Alliance, Air Canada and United have benefited from a close relationship, as have our customers through a simplified travel experience and loyalty rewards. By managing pricing, scheduling and sales through a stronger joint venture, the carriers will be better able to serve customers by offering more travel options.”

The Canada-U.S. market is one of the largest air transportation markets in the world. Air Canada’s transborder network to 59 U.S. cities will be strengthened by United’s presence in 210 U.S. airports. Similarly, United’s transborder network to 16 Canadian cities will be strengthened by Air Canada’s network serving 59 communities across Canada.

The joint venture is expected to come into effect in early 2011, subject to Air Canada and United Airlines making the necessary filings, obtaining regulatory approvals and finalizing documentation. The carriers already benefit from anti-trust immunity granted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT).

Iberia, American & British Airways Form New Trilateral Relationship

been viable for us to operate individually. This partnership will provide a one-stop shop for transatlantic travel regardless of how you book, which of our airlines you fly with or where you want to transfer”.

Antonio Vazquez, chairman and chief executive of Iberia, said: “The growth potential of our joint business and the extra capacity Madrid offers will enable Barajas airport to become one of the main gateways for flights between North America and Europe in the very near future. So we will be offering our customers more travel choices, but we will also offer them a better travel experience. Our employees have an essential role in this aim. Around 12,000 employees of the three companies at

airports and call centres have been trained to ensure that all these benefits are delivered to our customers”.

SWISS To Expand Its Zurich And Geneva Services In 2010/11Swiss International Air Lines will be adding further capacity to selected routes in its 2010/11 northern winter schedules. From Zurich, SWISS will be offering additional frequencies to both European and intercontinental destinations.

In Europe these will include more daily flights to Stockholm, Valencia


Singapore Airlines To Offer Inflight ConnectivityCustomers travelling on Singapore Airlines flights will soon be able to stay connected at all times, even at 35,000 feet.

The multi-million-dollar collaboration with inflight connectivity provider OnAir includes a full suite of onboard communication offerings, providing the Airline’s customers with access to Wi-Fi Internet and mobile telephony services. The mobile telephony services will enable customers to send and receive SMS text messages with their GSM-compatible mobile phones, send and receive email messages easily on smartphones and BlackBerry devices, and make and receive voice calls1.

With plans to roll out the services from as early as the first half of 2011, Singapore Airlines will be the first major airline in Asia to launch a full suite of inflight connectivity services. These will be introduced progressively on flights operated by the Airline’s Airbus A380, Airbus A340-500 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.

“Singapore Airlines was in fact one of the pioneers to introduce Internet connectivity on board its Boeing 747-400 aircraft in 2005. Today, with the increasing importance of remaining connected, and the more affordable charges made possible by the higher usage and more advanced technology, we are now fitting all our long-range aircraft with the full suite of telephony and Internet features so that our customers can stay connected. Unlike the earlier trial introduction of an Internet service, this suite of features is for full implementation and we are pleased to offer this as an added choice to our inflight programme,” said Singapore Airlines’ Senior Vice President Product & Services, Mr Yap Kim Wah.

“The environment that our customers have gotten used to on the ground can soon be replicated in the air, when they fly with Singapore Airlines on aircraft fitted with this new connectivity platform. Travelling on business or pleasure, they are just a click or an SMS away, with access to live information, social networking and news updates, as well as inflight shopping.”

Singapore Airlines’ connectivity partner OnAir is jointly owned by Airbus and SITA, the world’s leading provider of global IT and telecommunication solutions for the air transport industry, offering global satellite coverage including for the Asian region. One of the most established companies in the field of onboard connectivity, OnAir has roaming agreements with about 200 telecommunications companies globally, including the three main telecommunication providers in Singapore.

“We are absolutely delighted to have come to an agreement today with an airline of the stature and reputation of Singapore Airlines. The agreement is extremely significant. It sends a strong signal to the industry that inflight passenger communications has come of age -- and is a must-have for airlines looking to remain competitive in the future,” said Ian Dawkins, CEO of OnAir.

Customers who use the mobile telephony services will see their usage reflected in the monthly bills from their telecommunications provider where international GSM roaming rates apply. For Internet access, customers can sign up for an access package upon logging in to the system. Details of the charges will be announced closer to the launch.

www.singaporeair.com

and Belgrade; and on the long-haul network Bangkok, Delhi and Mumbai will all enjoy new daily service. SWISS’s Geneva-based network will also be expanded with the addition of a new Madrid route and a third daily Barcelona flight.

SWISS will be further raising its capacity in response to market demand in its 2010/11 northern winter schedules. Compared to the prior-year period, European production will be increased by some six per cent, while the SWISS intercontinental network will see its capacity raised by around 15 per cent. SWISS will thus operate some 130 flights a week more this northern winter than in the prior-year period, with a total of 2 894 weekly flights.

In its coming northern winter schedules, SWISS will serve 72 destinations (48 European and 24 intercontinental) in 39 countries with a fleet of 87 aircraft (including eight operated under wet-lease arrangements). More than 25 further points will be served from Zurich in collaboration with codeshare partners, and over 20 more destinations will receive non-stop service with Edelweiss Air.

Expansion In Europe

SWISS customers will enjoy a wider range of European services from Zurich with the coming northern winter schedules. A new daily lunchtime flight to Stockholm will be added from 17 December onwards, permitting morning, afternoon or evening arrivals in Sweden’s capital.

Valencia also receives a further daily frequency, as does Belgrade. Both destinations will now enjoy twice-daily service. Thanks to its collaboration with Helvetic Airways, SWISS has also added Bari to its network. The new daily codeshare service from Zurich was introduced on 6 September.

SWISS’s services between Geneva and Spain will see the addition of two new daily flights to Madrid from 17 December. A third daily service will also be added on the existing Geneva-Barcelona route. SWISS will serve eleven destinations from Geneva using its own aircraft in the winter schedules. A further 16 points will be served under codeshare arrangements with partner carriers, and one additional seasonal destination can be reached with Edelweiss Air.

SWISS will serve nine destinations with its own equipment and a further five under codeshare agreements from Basel in the 2010/2011 northern winter timetable period.

Further Demand-Driven Adjustments On Intercontinental Routes

On the SWISS intercontinental network, Delhi receives two additional weekly frequencies and Mumbai gains a further weekly flight, establishing daily service to both of SWISS’s Indian destinations. Service between Zurich and Bangkok is expanded to daily with the addition

of a further weekly flight. The Zurich-Shanghai route, meanwhile, will see its service reduced by one weekly frequency in the northern winter period. Four of SWISS’s 15 Airbus A340-300s will have been fitted with the new SWISS Business Class cabin by the start of the northern winter schedules, enabling the new product to be offered on services to San Francisco, Boston


Cathay Pacific & WestJet Begin Code-Share ArrangementCathay Pacific Airways and WestJet will begin a new code-share arrangement with immediate effect, providing passengers with a wider choice and greater connectivity when travelling between Hong Kong and Canada. Bookings for the code-share are now open for travel from 20 October 2010.

Under the new arrangement, Cathay Pacific’s “CX” code will be placed on WestJet flights between Calgary, Edmonton, Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa and Winnipeg and the Hong Kong carrier’s two Canadian gateways, Toronto and Vancouver.

WestJet, which pioneered low-cost flying in Canada, currently operates a modern fleet of 90 Boeing Next-Generation 737 aircraft offering scheduled services throughout its 71-city network in North America and the Caribbean. It offers increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television on all its flights.

Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: “We are very pleased to announce this new code-share arrangement with WestJet, just one week after announcing another code-share service extending our reach in the United States. This latest partnership will further expand our network and give passengers seamless connections on a quality carrier to six more cities in Canada - a country that’s popular both as a leisure and business destination for travellers from Hong Kong and Mainland China.”

WestJet President and CEO Gregg Saretsky said; “Our first code-share is yet another significant milestone in the history of Canada’s favourite airline. We are very excited to partner with Cathay Pacific, one of the world’s most prestigious and successful airlines, to offer our unique guest experience to a whole new group of guests. As we continue to achieve our strategic goals, today’s announcement is the first in a series of planned code-share agreements that help to solidify our vision to become one of the five most successful international airlines in the world.”

North America has long been one of Cathay Pacific’s key markets. In addition to expanding its worldwide network through the launch of new routes, the airline has also been working closely with many quality partners on code-share flights to offer passengers increased connectivity.

and Hong Kong.

Edelweiss Air and SWISS leisure services Customers from Zurich have further choice for their leisure-travel activities, too, thanks to the close collaboration between SWISS and Edelweiss Air. The Edelweiss Air northern winter schedules will see the addition of new vacation destinations such as Kilimanjaro (Tanzania) and Mauritius. Service will also be offered to Goa, as it was last winter.

The northern winter timetable period runs from 31 October 2010 to 27 March 2011. Full details are available on:

www.swiss.com

Jet Airways and bmi Reciprocal Frequent Flyer PartnershipJet Airways has entered into a reciprocal frequent flyer partnership with bmi. JetPrivilege members may now earn and redeem their JPMiles on the entire network of bmi. Similarly, bmi’s Diamond Club members may earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on the entire network of Jet Airways and Jet Airways Konnect.

According to Mr. Sudheer Raghavan, Chief Commercial Officer, Jet Airways, “Jet Airways offers guests unmatched pan-India connectivity as well as a growing 23-destination strong international network, while bmi’s network spans the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa, via the airline’s hub at London Heathrow. As such, the partnership is a mutually beneficial one, enabling guests to earn and redeem frequent flyer miles, while tapping into both carriers’ networks.”

Jet Airways currently has frequent flyer partnership agreements with twenty-two leading international airlines, including Air France, All-Nippon Airways, American Airlines, Austrian Airways, Brussels Airlines, Cathay Pacific, Delta, Dragon Air, Emirates, Etihad, Gulf Air, JetLite, Kenya Airways, KLM, Lufthansa, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, South African Airways, Swiss Air, Turkish Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

www.jetairways.com

Finnair And airberlin Expand CooperationFinnair and airberlin have agreed to start code-share cooperation. The cooperation in the first phase covers the routes between Germany and Finland. Finnair will place its code on airberlin

flights between Finland and Germany and beyond to Nürnberg, Hannover, Köln, Salzburg in Austria and Palma de Mallorca in Spain.

airberlin will also place its code on all Finnair services between Germany and Finland. The code-share cooperation will start on 31.10.2010.

- For Finnair, cooperation with airberlin will provide a stronger foothold in Central Europe, which will support Finnair’s Asian strategy significantly. airberlin’s network covers the area of Europe with the highest purchasing power. For airberlin customers the cooperation will lead to numerous new, fast connections from German-speaking Central Europe via Helsinki to Asia. Finnair will provide for business passengers a competitive alternative, which will boost Finnair’s corporate sales in an important market, says Hannu Sundberg, Finnair’s VP, Airline Partnerships.

For Finnair’s Finnish customers,

closer cooperation with airberlin will also open up new destinations in both German-speaking Europe and the Mediterranean area. airberlin is Germany’s second largest airline and Finnair’s future oneworld partner.

www.finnair.com

Munich Airport Reports Record GrowthTraffic at Munich Airport has soared. In the third quarter of 2010, the airport counted more than 10 million passengers in a quarter for the first time in its history. This marked a 10 percent gain over the third quarter of the previous year. The airport also posted new monthly and one-day records: In September almost 3.5 million passengers used Munich Airport. A new all-time high for total passengers in a single day, namely 128,649, was also set in the third quarter, on Friday, September 24, 2010. The record proved short-lived, however, and was topped


HOTELS & RESORTS

just a week later, on October 1, 2010, when a new mark of 129,707 was set. The number of aircraft movements also showed improvement in the third quarter, with a gain of 3 percent.

The boom in traffic was not only a reflection of the continuing stable demand for personal travel. The business travel section also picked up noticeably and contributed to the strong traffic growth. During the first nine months of 2010, a total of 26 million passengers used Munich Airport -- a 5 percent increase on the previous year.

Key factors driving this improved performance were the European traffic segment, which was up by 9 percent, and intercontinental traffic, where passenger traffic jumped by 20 percent, boosted above all by new long-haul connections offered by All Nippon Airways (Tokyo), Continental Airlines (New York), Oman Air (Muscat) and Singapore Airlines (Singapore). In absolute terms, nearly half of the intercontinental traffic increases resulted from the new flights.

In addition to passenger traffic, the freight segment has also benefitted enormously from the resurgent economy. Never before has the airport handled as much freight in the first nine months of the year: The new record is now just under 200,000 tons of flown airfreight, a massive 29 percent increase over the same period in 2009. The increased import and export tonnage at Munich Airport is mainly attributable to co-loaded freight on long-haul flights.

Great Hotels Organisation, the London-based hotel sales and marketing company, has announced the consolidation of its hotel brands to create one global hotel marketing alliance -- Great Hotels of the World.

All hotels under the former umbrella brand Great Hotels Organisation, four-star brand Special Hotels of the World and corporate mid-range brand Metro Hotels will become part of Great Hotels of the World. The incorporation of brands will create a stronger and more recognisable global hotel brand.

Within the Great Hotels of the World brand there are three levels of distinction to differentiate between hotels of different quality and current member hotels will be reclassified accordingly.

- Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection -- for the most luxurious hotels in the collection- Great Hotels of the World Premium Collection -- for upscale superior hotels- Great Hotels of the World Classic Collection -- for mid-range properties

Carly Gotz, group director sales & marketing at Great Hotels of the World says “We’ve decided to make this big change following extensive research and consultation with our member hotels, clients and consumers. By bringing the brands together, we will convey a clear message to consumers and the travel trade to strengthen our brand and increase recognition. Each of the hotels will be represented in a luxurious annual directory and will benefit from a whole range of sales and marketing activities. We have also refreshed the Great Hotels of the World logo which will be unveiled at this year’s World Travel Market. The consolidation of branding will come

Great Hotels Organisation Consolidates BrandsOutrigger Consolidates Australia and Fiji Operations With Its Asia Office In PhuketOutrigger Enterprises Group is consolidating its Australia and Fiji operations into its Asian office located in Phuket, Thailand, effective immediately.

“We have grown quickly in the few years that we have been in Asia and are rapidly accelerating our expansion into other areas,” said David Carey, president and chief executive officer of Outrigger Enterprises Group. Outrigger has two properties open in Asia - O-CE-N Bali by Outrigger in Legian, Bali and Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas in Phuket - and has signed management contracts for three other hotels in Asia - Outrigger Panorama Bali Resort and Spa in the Bukit, Bali; Outrigger Clearwater Bay Resort and Spa in Sanya, Hainan Island, China; and Outrigger Vinh Hoi Bay Resort and Spa in Quy Nhon, Vietnam - and is in discussions for additional properties in Phuket, Phang Nga, Koh Samui, Pattaya and Bangkok in Thailand; the Maldives; Vietnam; China, Korea and India.

“While we have had a presence in Australia and Fiji since the late 90s, we are looking to expand our presence in Australia again after the sale of our properties there in 2007,” Carey added. “The realignment of our operations and marketing will enable us to take advantage of a number of regional marketing opportunities and will enable us to better support our growth.”

Outrigger currently has two properties open in Australia - Outrigger Twin Towns Resort between Tweed’s Head New South Wales and Coolangatta and Outrigger Little Hastings Street Resort & Spa in Noosa, Queensland and one property in Fiji - Outrigger on the Lagoon on the Coral Coast, Viti Levu, Fiji.

Darren Edmonstone, Outrigger’s senior vice president-Asia, will oversee the consolidated Australia/Asia office located in Phuket. “Outrigger’s present Asia regional office is well positioned to realign the management of Outrigger’s operations in Australia, Fiji and Asia and this move will result in a better coordination between all properties as we continue to grow our presence in this region,” said Edmonstone.

All of Outrigger’s international operations will continue to be supported by the Company’s global marketing and technology platforms.

into effect later this month.”

The announcement of the consolidation of brands is the first in a series of exciting changes in the pipeline for

Great Hotels of the World, of which will be announced in the run up to World Travel Market in November.

www.ghotw.com


AC Hotels & Marriott To Partner On “AC by Marriott”The Spanish hotel group AC Hotels, chaired by Antonio Catalan, and Marriott International, Inc., chaired by J.W. Marriott, Jr., have reached a preliminary agreement to form a joint venture that will manage and franchise a new lodging co-brand across Europe and Latin America - “AC by Marriott”.

The new co-brand will combine the strengths of AC Hotels and Marriott International. “AC by Marriott” will incorporate the concept and business model of AC Hotels’ urban-style four-star hotel product, characterized by a unique blend of quality, comfort, design and technology, with Marriott International’s global systems, distribution, and sales platforms, particularly Marriott Rewards, one of the world’s largest hospitality loyalty programs with 33 million members. The combination will permit Marriott’s customers access under the Marriott Rewards program to a portfolio of Spain’s leading business and urban-leisure hotels, enable AC’s guests to earn Marriott Rewards points for travel at Marriott branded hotels around the world, and provide both companies with a platform for future growth.

“AC by Marriott” will focus on becoming a market leader in Europe and Latin America in the urban, four-star hotel category. At the launch of the joint venture, more than ninety (90) existing AC hotels in Spain, Italy and Portugal are expected to be re-branded “AC by Marriott” and enter into long term management or franchise agreements with the joint venture. The hotels will continue to be owned by affiliates of AC Hotels and other third parties.

Future hotels would be added to the portfolio under both management contracts and franchise agreements. The joint venture will be led by Antonio Catalán and his current team from AC Hotels headquarters in Madrid, with support on key functions from Marriott’s team in Europe, headed by Marriott’s European President Amy McPherson.

Formation of the joint venture is subject to negotiation of definitive transaction documents and customary closing conditions for transactions of this type, including obtaining any necessary consent. The parties anticipate closing in calendar year 2010, with the new AC by Marriott brand to launch in 2011.

www.ac-hotels.com

Sol Meliá Upgrades Facilities In FranceThe Meliá Colbert Boutique Hotel, located in one of the liveliest and central areas of Paris, the Quartier Latin, has recently renovated its facilities, creating even more comfortable and functional rooms with a careful contemporary design. The hotel is built within a magnificent 19th century building and offers elegance and exclusivity to guests on an authentic journey into the cradle of French romanticism.

A few metres from the majestic Notre Dame, La Sorbonne University and the River Seine, the Meliá Colbert Boutique Hotel provides excellent access to all of the most important attractions in Paris. The hotel provides 39 rooms with Internet access, LCD television, air conditioning and central heating. One of its most outstanding rooms is the Grand Suite, with stunning views of Notre Dame.

Meliá Colbert Boutique Hotel is one of the seven hotels that Sol Meliá operates in the French capital. The company began operations in the city in 1999 with the acquisition of four small hotels located in some of the most emblematic districts in Paris, thus sowing the seeds for a new line of hotels “with charm”. Associated to the prestigious “Meliá Boutique” brand, these new hotels were renovated with the greatest respect given to their original structure and features, providing them with an intimate and exclusive ambience but also guaranteeing all the comforts required in today’s modern hotel industry. The Eiffel Tower, the Champs Elysees, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Louvre are some of the major attractions within easy reach of visitors who want to explore Paris but not make long journeys from distant hotels.

The rest of the hotels which form part of Sol Meliá France are the Meliá Alexander, Meliá Royal Alma Boutique, Meliá Vendôme Boutique, TRYP Blanche Fontaine, TRYP de Saxe and TRYP François.

Fairmont & Etihad Airways New Partnership AgreementFairmont Hotels & Resorts and Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, have announced a new partner agreement that provides valuable benefits to guests of the luxury hotel brand. Members of Etihad Guest, the frequent flyer program of Etihad Airways, can now collect 500 miles per qualifying stay whenever they book at Fairmont’s hotels and resorts worldwide.

“With our presence in the Gulf continuing to grow, Fairmont is extremely pleased to align itself with a world-class airline like Etihad,” said Brian Richardson, Vice President, Brand Marketing & Communications, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. “At Fairmont, we’re committed to providing travelers with benefits that are not only thoughtful and enjoyable, but that also provide value to them as an individual and enhance their travel experience. Whether our guests are visiting the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in Abu Dhabi, Fairmont Dubai, or any other landmark Fairmont around the globe, they now have more mileage options available to them.”

For Etihad Guest members who are also Fairmont President’s Club members, there are even more benefits available. Fairmont President’s Club Premier Members will earn an additional 250 miles per eligible stay and Fairmont President’s Club Platinum Members will earn an additional 500 miles per eligible stay. Fairmont Presidents Club is free to join and pre-enrollment before the first stay is required in order to obtain additional Etihad Guest miles.Qualifying stays are subject to hotel availability at published rack, corporate or package rates.

www.fairmont.com

STR Launches Monthly Market ForecastsSTR announced the launch of the new monthly market forecasts for the Top 25 Markets in the U.S. The STR Market Forecasts look back at historical data and key hotel demand drivers and indicators at both the market, domestic and international level to predict future performance.

“The STR Market Forecast is the


Historic Hotel Viking Announces Multi-Million Dollar RenovationIn an effort to consistently improve the experience at the Hotel Viking, the historic hotel has announced its newest renovations project. Scheduled to commence in January 2011, the project will involved renovation of hotel’s Newport Wing. The design will be reflective of the ‘Progressive Era’ featuring a luxurious selection of texture and color. Soft and hard goods will be replaced offering a vintage feel with modern comforts. The renovation will take three months to complete at an estimated cost of $6 million.

“Hotel Viking renovated the Viking wing accommodations and added the Mansion Suites in 2007. This renovation will elevate the entire hotel experience,” states Mark Gervais, general manager. “We are looking forward to offering an unparalleled standard for accommodations.”

As a result of the renovation, the hotel will not allow pet guests after December 31, 2010. The Hotel Viking will continue to serve the animal community with a holiday pet food drive in the month of December, and as a hotel partner for the Potter League Have a Heart Fundraiser in February and their Happy Tails summer party.

culmination of many months of collaborative development between STR and e-forecasting.com,” said Chad Church, director of special services. “With initial coverage of the top 25 U.S. markets released on a monthly basis, our goal is to provide stakeholders with forecasts that include the most up-to-date market intelligence possible.”

The econometric model behind the market forecasts integrates key domestic indicators such as: gross domestic product, oil prices, unemployment, consumer price index and corporate earnings. Additionally, the model takes into account international policies as well as local market conditions and events.

The STR Market Forecast includes forecasted supply, demand, revenue, occupancy, average daily rate and revenue per available room performance at the market level. The reports also include monthly, quarterly and annual forecasts. STR Market Forecasts are currently available for the Top 25 Markets; plans for launching the next 25 markets are under development.

www.str.com

Doubletree by Hilton, Mexico City Airport AreaHilton Worldwide has announced the signing of a franchise license agreement with Operadora de Hoteles y Restaurantes ITER, SA de CV to open a Doubletree by Hilton hotel near Mexico City Benito Juarez International Airport. The Hotel ITER Internacional Aeropuerto Terminal 2 will reopen as the Doubletree by Hilton Mexico City Airport Area, and the brand’s second hotel in the country in Q3 of 2011 upon the completion of a major renovation and refurbishment project. The Doubletree by Hilton, Mexico City Airport Area marks the brand’s second hotel development deal signed in the country this year. The Doubletree by Hilton, Merida was announced earlier this year and is due to open in the spring of 2011.

Rob Palleschi, global head, Doubletree by Hilton, commented, “This latest Doubletree by Hilton development deal in Mexico City represents another positive step in our brand’s rapid growth across Latin America and the Caribbean. The hotel will join a fine collection of Doubletree by Hilton airport hotels located at or near more than 40 of the world’s gateway airports. With additional deals currently in active negotiation across Latin America, the potential benefits for owners and developers of current and new-build hotels to become affiliated with Hilton Worldwide and the Doubletree by Hilton brand are more exciting than ever.”

The Doubletree by Hilton, Mexico City Airport Area is located 10 minutes from Terminal 2 and 15 minutes from Terminal 1 and is opposite two of the most popular shopping malls in Mexico City -- Parque Tezontle and Plaza Oriente. The upscale, full-service hotel will offer 96 deluxe guestrooms and suites, 700 m2 of superior conference and event facilities, a specialty restaurant & lobby bar, a state-of-the-art fitness facility, 24-hour room service and complimentary airport shuttle service.

With convenient access to the Agricola Oriental Metro station, the Doubletree by Hilton Mexico City Airport Area also is conveniently located five minutes from Hermanos Rodriguez racetrack and the Foro Sol and Palacio de los Deportes event venues. The Historic Center, the Pink Zone, the Cathedral, the World Trade Center and the Azteca Stadium are within 25 minutes of the hotel.

Doubletree by Hilton will introduce business travelers and tourists in Mexico to the brand’s longstanding tradition of distinctively designed properties that reflect the destination and surrounding area. Some Doubletree by Hilton characteristic qualities include the warm worldwide welcome of the brand’s legendary chocolate chip cookie to every guest at check-in, the rewards of the prestigious Hilton HHonors loyalty program and a unique and caring commitment to the communities in which they operate. Doubletree by Hilton believes in a set of business values that make their hotels a desirable place for employees to work and a satisfying place for travelers to stay. Doubletree by Hilton is a proud member of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels, with a fast-growing network of hotel and resorts that currently spans five continents. Five Latin American Doubletree by Hilton hotels currently welcome guests in Costa Rica (2), Peru (2) and Puerto Rico, with additional hotels under development in Panama and Mexico.

IHG Rebrands Pan Pacific BangkokInterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) announced that a Crowne Plaza hotel will replace the Pan Pacific Bangkok, marking the entry of the brand to the capital of Thailand. The rebranding will come into effect 1 January 2011, making Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park the fifth IHG property in Bangkok. The 241-room property takes its new name from Lumpini Park, the city’s first public park. The hotel is located in the heart of Bangkok, close to the Siam Paragon Mall and is a short distance from the Royal Bangkok Sports Club, the Chulalongkorn University as well as a variety of entertainment, dining and retail options in the Silom area. The property offers panoramic city views from the 21st to 32nd floor, and is the hotel component of Ramaland, a mix-use development complex.

“It’s no secret that we’ve been looking for the right opportunity to open a Crowne Plaza in Bangkok. This rebranding gives us the chance to launch Crowne Plaza in a great location and a fantastic platform to build this brand in Thailand,” said Jan Smits, Managing Director of IHG Asia Australasia.


GROUND TRANSPORTEurostar Announces £700 Million Investment In Its FleetEurostar International Limited, the high-speed passenger train operator between the UK and mainland Europe, has announced its plans for a £700 million capital investment in its fleet. This represents the first key initiative since the recent transformation of the business from a partnership to a single, unified corporate entity¹. The investment in the fleet will be funded privately by Eurostar with a combination of cash and bank financing.

With customers increasingly opting for rail over plane for short-haul journeys across Europe, Eurostar plays a pivotal role in demonstrating the speed, ease and convenience of high speed rail travel. By providing an unrivalled travel experience between the UK and the continent, Eurostar’s ambition is to encourage more travellers to choose high speed rail as their preferred option.

From 2011, Eurostar will embark on a major programme of investment in its rolling stock. This includes the complete overhaul and refurbishment of the existing fleet of Eurostar trains to a design created by Pininfarina, the world-famous Italian design house renowned for its iconic car designs. In addition, Eurostar will purchase 10 new trainsets which will complement its existing fleet and ensure it can deliver the best possible service to its passengers as it expands its operations.

Following completion of a competitive tender process, Eurostar has advised the participants of its decision to award the contract for the manufacture of new trainsets, subject to negotiation of final terms, to the train manufacturer, Siemens Plc.

Direct Services To New Destinations

Built to a bespoke specification, the new Eurostar e3202 trains will be ‘interoperable’. This means that they can operate across the European high speed rail network and can provide direct services between London and a range of city centre destinations throughout Europe.

With capacity to carry more than 900 passengers including their luggage, the Eurostar e320 will have 20 per cent more seats than the existing Eurostar trains which carry 750 travellers.

Capable of a speed of 320 kph (200 mph), the Eurostar e320 could see journey times between London and Paris reduced to just over two hours, London to Amsterdam to under four hours and London to Geneva to around five hours.

Pininfarina Redesign To Deliver Optimal Comfort And Style

The interiors and external livery of both the e320 and the upgraded existing fleet will be designed by Pininfarina to a specification unique to Eurostar. This design draws on extensive passenger feedback and includes a number of innovative features that will create an exceptional travel experience for customers.

In addition to offering a contemporary, stylish environment in which passengers can work or relax, the new Eurostar fleet will be equipped with the most advanced wi-fi and on-board ‘info-tainment’ on any train in Europe. This will include real-time travel and destination information as well as interactive entertainment including video-on-demand, music and news-feeds.

Philip Hammond, Secretary of State for Transport, said: “The transformation of Eurostar into a single entity has created a company well placed to attract the resources and investment needed to deliver a world class service. That’s good news for passengers but also for the UK taxpayer as well, who owns 40% of Eurostar International.

Eurostar has proven its worth. On Monday I announced further details of what I believe will be a similar success story -- our proposed nationwide high speed rail network. High Speed 2 is looking at options to link that new network to the channel tunnel link, creating a truly international service for passengers and business.”

Nicolas Petrovic, Chief Executive of Eurostar, said: “Over the last 16 years Eurostar has revolutionised travel between the London, Paris and Brussels but our sights are now set on expanding our business across Europe.

The transformation of Eurostar into a standalone business and the major capital investment announced today is a mark of our growth ambitions for the future. The combination of our new state-of-the-art trains and our refurbished fleet will assure our position as the leading rail operator between the UK and the continent and make us the obvious choice for short haul European travel.”

www.eurostar.com


PEOPLE

HRG Appoints Managing Director, Asia PacificHogg Robinson Group (HRG), has announced the promotion of Greg Treasure as Managing Director for the Asia Pacific Region with immediate effect. Based in Hong Kong, Greg will take overall responsibility for HRG’s operations in China, Hong Kong and Singapore, as well as managing HRG’s partner network in the region. He will continue to take charge of the day-to-day management of HRG Australia.

Greg started his career with HRG in 2006 as the General Manager for Hong Kong. He was subsequently appointed as the Managing Director for HRG Australia in March 2009. Greg takes on his latest appointment with over 25 years of experience in the travel industry, of which a good deal of time has been spent in China and Hong Kong.

Carlson Hotels Appoints Lewis As Area VP ChinaCarlson has appointed Lyle Lewis as area vice president for China, for its hotel business. Lewis will be responsible for leading the growth and operating performance of Carlson Hotels in Greater China. This newly created leadership role reinforces Carlsons plans to expand its hotel business in Asia Pacific. In China, Carlson today has 10 hotels in operation and 11 hotels in development that include the Radisson and Park Plaza brands. Radisson is also the number one, fastest growing upscale brand in Asia Pacific with over 40 hotels in development.

Lewis will report directly to Jean-Marc Busato, managing director, Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific. Besides taking the leadership helm in China, Lewis has also been promoted from vice president to executive vice president of operations for Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific. Assuming his new dual role this October, Lewis will relocate to Shanghai, China from Singapore.

Pan Pacific Names Rheinberger Director of Sales & Marketing, OceaniaAfter announcing its entry into the Australian market with three hotels, Pan Pacific Hotels Group has appointed Richard Rheinberger as Director of Sales & Marketing for Oceania. Based in Sydney, Australian-born Richard will be responsible for increasing business growth, building brand awareness, and driving sales and marketing initiatives as Pan Pacific Hotels Group establishes operations in Australia and New Zealand.

Three hotels will launch shortly in Australia - PARKROYAL Darling Harbour, Sydney (to be rebranded from Crowne Plaza Darling Harbour) and PARKROYAL Parramatta (to be rebranded from Crowne Plaza Parramatta) will launch in November, while Pan Pacific Perth (to be rebranded from Sheraton Perth) will launch in January 2011.

Boasting over 20 years of sales and marketing experience, Richard has headed sales and marketing teams across the hospitality and travel industry at companies such as Mirvac Hotels & Resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group as well as Federal Hotels International Group. His last appointment was Regional Director of Sales and Marketing with Mirvac Hotels & Resorts where he oversaw the revenue generation of sales teams in 16 hotels across New South Wales. In addition, Richard also spearheaded marketing and advertising activities across print, e-commerce, television, radio, direct mail, signage, sponsorship channels.

Mark Rizzuto To Lead NBTA’s Operations In Asia PacificThe National Business Travel Association introduced Mark Rizzuto as the new Managing Director, Asia Pacific and Australia/New Zealand. This new leadership position has been created as part of NBTA’s transition to the Global Business Travel Association (GBTA), which will be completed in 2011. The announcement was made during IT&CMA and CTW Asia-Pacific 2010 being held this week in Bangkok, where NBTA is presenting an Overview and Forecast of Asia-Pacific Corporate Travel Trends.

NBTA Executive Director & COO, Michael W. McCormick, said, “Mark is a proven, highly effective business leader with deep experience and relationships across the Asian markets that are essential to the future of GBTA, as well as Australia/New Zealand where the association has an established presence as the market-leading organisation. We are thrilled to have him join the NBTA team.”

Rizzuto joins NBTA with 30 years of travel industry experience. His work on behalf of the association will draw from his extensive background across multiple countries, travel sectors and roles, including travel management consulting, distribution, technology, account management, marketing, business development, and sales -- for airlines, global distribution systems, tourism commissions and convention bureaus, and consulting firms. His work has delivered results in Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong, and India.

He most recently served as Managing Director of Tactical Management Consulting & RMB Consulting. His previous position was Vice President & Managing Director Asia -- Hong Kong for Cendant Travel Distribution Services (now Travelport). Earlier positions included management roles at Lumina Marketing/Lumina Technologies’ Internet Travel Group, Sabre Pacific, the Western Australia Tourism Commission, the Perth Convention Bureau, and Australian Airlines (Qantas).

Rizzuto will lead NBTA’s operations in Australia/New Zealand, and the development of the association’s strategy in key Asian markets.

Emirates Appoints New Manager For CanadaEmirates has appointed airline executive Don McWilliam as its new Manager for Canada. McWilliam has more than 25 years’ airline industry experience. In his new role at Emirates, Don will be responsible for the airline’s commercial operations in Canada. During his day-to-day, he will oversee 25 staff, work closely with Emirates’ headquarters in Dubai, and facilitate local partnerships and initiatives. He replaces Mary Heron, who has retired after a distinguished 44-year travel career, including five great years at Emirates.

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