El Al is to launch a Monday morning flight from Heathrow to Tel Aviv with its refurbished 767 fleet. The service will operate from the end of October to the end of March next year and will compliment the existing twice-daily service.

Departing Heathrow at 08:05 and arriving in Tel Aviv at 14:50 this new flight will allow business travellers to arrive into Tel Aviv early afternoon for a more productive working day.

This year, the airline completed a £3.5 million refit of its business class cabin throughout its 767 fleet. Seat pitch has been increased from 48 to 55 inches and new "cradle" seats recline 165 degrees. Each seat also has an 110v power point for passengers with laptops and satellite phones.

www.elal.com

8/30/2007 11:21:34 AM UTC     

From September 1, Air China is adding its upgraded premium-cabin services, “Forbidden Pavilion” First Class and “Capital Pavilion” Business Class to its Beijing-London, Beijing-Madrid-Sao Paulo, Shanghai-Milan-Rome, and Shanghai- Paris routes.

The “Forbidden Pavilion” First Class seat features the private-compartment style of seating with individual partitions and a fully flat in-flight bed that extends to nearly 6 feet 3 inches in length. In the new “Capital Pavilion” Business Class nearly five feet of seat pitch separate 21-inch wide seats that extend and recline170 degrees.

Each seat in both premium class cabins is equipped with a multi-system power socket providing standard AC power for laptops or other electronic accessories, and passengers can also enjoy 60 DVD films, 98 music CDs, and various electronic games on 10½-inch personal TV sets.

Along with the cabin upgrade, Air China has also made similar improvements in other premium class services including free pick up service, free transfer to hotel accommodation, gourmet onboard food, and mileage reward bonuses.

www.air-china.co.uk

8/30/2007 10:18:32 AM UTC     

The InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong has opened its new state-of-the-art Club InterContinental Lounge. The lounge, featuring panoramic views of Victoria Harbour, is eight times larger than the former facility.

Peter Pollmeier, General Manager of InterContinental Grand Stanford Hong Kong said, "The enhanced sense of space was a key design element in the new lounge. Club InterContinental is incredibly popular, particularly during peak season making expansion a logical next step, to accommodate the demand. We anticipate Club InterContinental will be a signature facility for guests who stay in the Tsimshatsui East area."

www.ichotelsgroup.com

8/30/2007 8:25:59 AM UTC     

The Venetian(R) Macao-Resort- Hotel opened its doors today and with it ushered in a new chapter in the history of Macao.

"In this day and age its commonplace to throw around phrases like historic, groundbreaking, and revolutionary," said Sheldon G. Adelson, chairman and chief executive officer of Las Vegas Sands Corp., the parent company of The Venetian Macao. "But it is no overstatement to say that the opening of The Venetian Macao represents a massive paradigm shift for Macao and the future of tourism development in Asia."

At a cost of US$2.4 billion Venetian Macao is the largest single structure hotel in Asia and the second largest building in the world. Like its sister-property in Las Vegas, The Venetian Macao is a renaissance Venice-themed property featuring stunning replicas of Venice landmarks such as St. Mark's Square, the Doge's Palace, Campanile Tower, and three indoor canals with gondolas and singing gondoliers.

The hotel has 3,000 all-suite guest rooms and with one million square feet of retail space, which the hotel claim is more than any shopping mall in Hong Kong. The casino floor, at 550,000 square feet, is the largest in the world and is home to 870 table games and more than 3,400 slot machines.

The Venetian Macao also has 1.2 million-square feet of meeting, convention and exhibition space, more than twice the amount of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. The facility features the largest pillar-less ballroom in Asia and has the catering facilities to provide a five-course banquet for 15,000 guests. Early next year, the 1,800 seat Venetian Theatre will open featuring an original production from world-renowned Cirque du Soleil.

www.venetianmacao.com  

8/29/2007 3:26:19 PM UTC     

Together with its Star Alliance partner United Airlines, Lufthansa has put together 100 dream destinations to choose from right across the United States – from Boston to Honolulu, from Miami to Portland – with flights at special prices.

Go Christmas shopping in New York for as little as 369 euros, enjoy powder snow and après-ski in Aspen from 579 euros or go surfing in Hawaii from 899 euros. Starting in November, flights will be available to Orlando, a new Lufthansa destination in Florida, from just 499 euros, while fares to the popular West Coast city of San Francisco start at 599 euros.

The special fares are for a return flight in Economy Class from Frankfurt or Munich. Flights can be booked until 29 September 2007, depending on availability. Tickets are valid between 1 November and 13 December 2007, and from 24 December 2007 to 29 February 2008. 

The fares quoted include all taxes, fees, surcharges and the Lufthansa Ticket Service Charge of 15 euros for bookings made online.

www.lufthansa.com

8/29/2007 9:31:51 AM UTC     

Vietnam Airlines has begun operating its international flights from the new International Terminal at Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City.

www.vietnamairlines.com.vn

8/29/2007 8:52:24 AM UTC     

To mark the one year countdown to the Beijing Olympic Games Air China has announced its Olympic slogan, “Carrying the Olympics, Flying your dream,” in a ceremony at the foot of the Great Wall of China. The slogan was selected from more than a thousand slogans submitted by Air China employees around the world.

Air China is the country’s sole designated flag carrier and the Airline Partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. It serves 78 domestic and 39 international cities with an extensive network from its Beijing hub, conveniently linking passengers between China and destinations around the world.

www.air-china.co.uk

8/28/2007 4:28:40 PM UTC     

Following the announcement in July of its initial plans for a new service between Stansted and JFK beginning October 29, 2007, American Airlines has announced a second daily Stansted - JFK service to commence April 8, 2008. The additional service will give passengers the choice of a morning or late afternoon departure.

American has also announced that from May next year it would begin two new routes to New York JFK from Milan, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain.

www.americanairlines.co.uk   

8/28/2007 10:55:41 AM UTC     

Passengers booking an economy or business class ticket with Oasis Hong Kong Airlines between August 25 and September 28, can get a free return flight with Hong Kong Airlines to one of 11 cities in China and Vietnam. Passengers have to travel between September 15 and December 14.

Terms and conditions apply and can be viewed on the Oasis web site.

www.oasishongkong.com

8/28/2007 10:05:00 AM UTC     

InterContinental Hotels Group has re-opened the InterContinental Nairobi following an extensive multi-million dollar refurbishment to cater for the significant increase in demand in Nairobi.

The refurbishment project covered four floors of the property, 150 rooms in the casino wing, the boardrooms, Club InterContinental and public areas.

With the final part of the renovation now complete the hotel has already seen a high level of demand, in particular from business travellers looking for premium accommodation and amenities.

www.hilton.com

8/28/2007 9:10:59 AM UTC     

Continental Airlines is extending its complimentary helicopter transfer service in New York for BusinessFirst passengers until March 31, 2008.

Continental Airlines and US Helicopter Corporation launched the shuttle service between Manhattan (Wall Street or 34th Street) and Newark Liberty International Airport in December 2006 and launched a codeshare agreement to simplify the booking and ticketing experience for customers in June 2007.  A one-way transfer takes eight minutes and normally costs US$159.00 (£80.00), plus applicable security fees and of course a great view of the city.

www.continental.com

8/28/2007 8:58:36 AM UTC     

Marina Mandarin Singapore will be introducing a new level of comfort with the Executive Deluxe Rooms and Suites on 4 September 2007 aimed at business travellers.

160 rooms and suites formerly tagged in the Deluxe Category will be given a makeover to complete the transformation into the new Executive Deluxe Rooms and Suites.

Rooms will have new upholstery and fixtures include, a 32-inch flat screen television, a larger work desk and an ergonomic work chair and 6 hours of complimentary broadband Internet access to keep in touch with work and loved ones.

Mr. Tony Cousens, General Manager of the Marina Mandarin said, “In the face of growing demand for rooms in the hospitality industry, our guests’ expectations of service and product offerings are also increasing in tandem. Thus, the introduction of the enhanced Executive Deluxe Rooms will not only provide the added edge to our 5-star quality of offering, but also bridge the gap between our ‘Economy Class’ Deluxe rooms and ‘Business Class’ Premier rooms. The opportunity to add variety to our product offerings will provide more options for the consumers.”

www.meritus-hotels.com

8/28/2007 8:44:12 AM UTC     

Virgin Blue and its three year old New Zealand subsidiary Pacific Blue are gearing up to launch a new domestic airline for New Zealand in November, with fares from NZ$39.00.

Initially the carrier will fly on New Zealand’s key trunk routes Auckland-Wellington (5 daily return), Auckland-Christchurch (2 daily return) and Wellington-Christchurch (3 daily return) from 15 November 2007.

The internal flights will complement Pacific Blue’s existing international services, providing convenient connections from within New Zealand to Australia, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

www.virginblue.com www.flypacificblue.com

8/23/2007 8:58:47 AM UTC     

After three years of extensive renovations and revitalization, LaSource, a luxury spa resort, is set to open its doors on December 15, 2007.

Nestled along Pink Gin Beach on the Spice Island of Grenada, LaSource with just 100 rooms offers a personalised first-class, all-inclusive holiday experience that combines the best of an active holiday with a relaxed spa retreat.

Guests can enjoy a variety of land and water sports, which include snorkelling, waterskiing, sailing, windsurfing, ocean kayaking and hydro-boarding. Certified divers are entitled to one complimentary dive per day during their stay.

Land activities include tennis, archery, fencing, aerobics and stretch classes and a nine-hole, par three executive golf course. LaSource also offers a range of holistic activities such as yoga, Tai’Chi and meditation.

To complement the holistic nature of the resort, Cuisine LaSource is globally influenced and designed for healthier eating without sacrificing flavour. There are buffet and a la carte dining options in the Garden Restaurant, the Great House Restaurant and Oscar's Beach Restaurant.  LaSource has three bars – The Terrace Bar, Beach Bar or Piano Bar – for a pre-dinner cocktail or evening nightcap.

www.theamazingholiday.com

8/22/2007 4:18:07 PM UTC     

Hertz has expanded its Green Collection of rental vehicles in the USA, to now offer almost 35,000 cars at 50 major airports.

For every vehicle rented from the Green Collection in America prior to 13 June 2008, Hertz will contribute US$1 to the National Park foundation.

www.hertz.com

8/22/2007 9:23:33 AM UTC     

The 92 room, 5-star Mövenpick Resort Bodrum in Turkey, located in the hill top location of Bitez and offering breathtaking views of Gumbet Bay and the Aegean Sea, has opened its doors following an 18 month construction process at a cost of US$12 million. The hotel is only a ten-minute drive from the centre of Bodrum and a thirty minute transfer from Milas-Bodrum airport.

Created in a stylish Mediterranean using the colours and characteristics of Bodrum, the emphasis has been placed on individuality and privacy and a chill out atmosphere.

A range of leisure facilities are available within the resort, including two outdoor pools, one indoor pool, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a wellness centre. The wellness centre offers a Turkish bath (hammam), sauna and treatments such as Thai, Shiatsu, anti-stress, sports and deep tissue massages, aromatherapy and hot stone therapy.

A business centre is also available and offers three rooms ideal for conferences and banquets for up to 100 people. State-of-the-art AV equipment also complements the hotel's in-room wireless LAN connectivity to offer business delegates the complete support package they need.

The new resort is a member of Great Hotels of the World's niche luxury romantic and business & incentive travel collections.

www.moevenpick.com

8/22/2007 9:17:19 AM UTC     

Hong Kong Express Airways is to launch flights between Hong Kong and Bangkok. Set to commence in early September, the new service will be the second of three scheduled flights between Hong Kong and Thailand that Hong Kong Express Airways will operate before the end of the year, Chiang Mai having been launched in June 2006.

Commenting on the new service, Hong Kong Express Airways President Mr. Guo said, “While we await the liberalisation of routes to promising mainland China markets, we decided to diversify our fleet capacity to popular points in South East Asia. As well as offering more options to passengers flying from Hong Kong, the introduction of flights to Bangkok and other destinations we plan to unveil over the coming few months will also create a network of connecting traffic from our existing mainland routes.”

Hong Kong Express Airways will expand its regional route offering with an additional five routes presently being planned for introduction later this year, which will include the airline’s third route between Hong Kong and Thailand – Phuket

www.hongkongexpress.com

8/22/2007 9:03:23 AM UTC     

In an effort to curb pollution in the build up to the Olympic games China has experimented by pulling 1.3 million cars off the streets of Beijing each day over a four day period in an effort to reduce emissions by 40%.

Experts said the air quality during the test was rated as ‘fairly good’. During the test 200,000 extra people used the city’s subway system.

It is also hoped that pollution and congestion in Olympic City will be eased further by the availability of 50,000 bicycles for rent at 230 outlets close to subway stations, commercial districts, Olympic venues, hotels and office buildings as well as in big communities.

Beijing Bicycle Rental Services has so far put 5,000 bikes for rent at 30 franchise outlets. Bicycles can be hired at one outlet and dropped off at another.  

8/21/2007 8:46:29 AM UTC     

Accor has opened its 20^th hotel in China, the Sofitel Wanda Beijing. The hotel is located on Jianguo Road between The World Trade Centre and Dawang Bridge with easy access to the China International Exhibition Centre, the city subway, major attractions and is only 30 minutes via airport expressway to Beijing Capital International Airport.

The 27-storey Sofitel Wanda Beijing has 417 rooms and suites, including 63 Club Sofitel rooms and a dedicated Club Sofitel executive lounge.

Business travellers are well catered for with free wireless broadband, an executive desk and top loading depository safe in every room as well as comprehensive business services.

There are Special Opening Packages where guests can enjoy Club Sofitel benefits when they book a Deluxe Premium Room and are valid until 30 November 2007, subject to 15% service charge.

www.accor.com

8/21/2007 8:20:09 AM UTC     

The Guild of Travel Management Companies has reported a 13% increase in the first 6 months of 2007 against the same period last year. By category air bookings were 7% ahead, hotel bookings 18%, rail 24% and car hire 11% ahead.

However, in percentage terms the biggest growth came in the ‘other’ category, which increased by 28%. These included such business trip elements as airport car parking, chauffeur-drive transfers, and passport and visa services.

www.gtmc.org

8/20/2007 2:31:20 PM UTC     

Air China has introduced “Air Express”, for passengers flying between Beijing and Shanghai. There are 20 scheduled daily flights (including 7 code-sharing flights) and the service includes, special check-in counters, baggage service, security inspection, and boarding channels.

Passengers can also benefit from using its 24-hour telephone call center in China (4008-100-999) for enquiries, or by using the Air China website to check in online.

As host carrier, Air China is also working to deliver excellent air transport services for the needs of the Beijing 2008 Olympics next summer and the Shanghai World Exposition in 2010.

Air China is the most frequent airline between Europe and China and serves Frankfurt, Munich, Paris, London, Rome, Milan, Stockholm, Moscow and Madrid with non-stop service to Beijing or Shanghai.

www.airchina.co.uk

8/20/2007 2:04:00 PM UTC     

Leading Brazilian airline TAM is to operate four additional weekly frequencies to Germany, totaling seven weekly flights to that country. The company should start daily operations to Frankfurt by the end of the year.

In Europe, it already has direct flights to Paris (three flights per day, two from São Paulo and one from Rio de Janeiro); London (one flight per day) and Milan (one flight per day).

In the United States it flies to Miami (three flights per day, two from São Paulo and one from Manaus) and to New York (two flights per day).

TAM also serves various destinations within South America: Buenos Aires and Cordoba (Argentina), Santiago (Chile), Asuncion and Ciudad del Este (Paraguay), and Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Cochabamba (Bolivia).

The company has already announced the beginning of daily flights to Caracas (Venezuela) in September, Montevideo (Uruguay) in October, and Madrid (Spain) in December.

TAM has been the leader in the Brazilian domestic market since July 2003, and held a 50.6% domestic market share and 64.3% international market share at the end of July 2007.

www.tam.com.br

8/20/2007 7:59:40 AM UTC     

Oasis Hong Kong Airlines is celebrating its 1st anniversary of ticket sales and the launch of three additional flights between Hong Kong and London  from 16 December 2007, bringing the number to 10 a week.

www.oasishongkomg.com

8/17/2007 9:01:30 AM UTC     

Singapore Airlines have announced that the auction of seats on its first commercial flight of their Airbus A380 will commence on August 27 and will run until September 10, with all proceeds going to charity.

Singapore Airlines will take delivery on Monday 15 October at a ceremony in Toulouse, France and the first commercial flight will be from Singapore to Sydney on Thursday 25 October.

While the Airbus A380 can hold over 800 passengers, Singapore Airlines' double-decker aircraft will be configured with 471 seats in three classes: Economy, Business and the new Singapore Airlines Suites.

Singapore Airlines Chief Executive Officer, Mr Chew Choon Seng, said the delivery would mark the beginning of a new chapter for the aviation industry. “Everyone at Singapore Airlines is keenly anticipating the delivery of this new plane, and our people are working hard on final preparation for its entry into service. The first flight promises to be one of the most exciting occasions in aviation history.”

The auction will be for single, double and multiple seats in each class. All seats will be sold on a one-way basis, so people wanting to fly on both legs will need to bid twice.

www.singaporeairlines.com

8/17/2007 8:20:51 AM UTC