Travelodge has opened its first hotel built using an innovative construction method involving shipping containers. The 120-room hotel, in Uxbridge, London, is made from 86 steel containers of two different sizes made and fitted out with fixtures and fittings in Shenzen, China. The placing together of the containers took 20 days.

Paul Harvey, Travelodge’s managing director, international and development, said: “The opening of Europe’s first hotel to be constructed from modified shipping containers shows Travelodge’s commitment to innovation and cost effectiveness. Customers will notice no difference in their room to a traditionally constructed hotel, yet they will benefit from the low prices we charge due to our desire to cut the cost of doing business.”

The company is also building a 307-room Heathrow hotel using the same technique, developed by the UK’s Verbus Systems.

www.travelodge.co.uk

8/19/2008 4:01:54 PM UTC     

Two cruise passengers on a tour of Norway’s fjords have spent thousands of dollars on taxi fares after mispronouncing their destination.

The pair were separated from their ship after having to spend a short time in hospital while on a stopover in Stavanger. After the medical situation had been resolved they tried to rejoin the ship in Olden on Norway’s west coast.

However the taxi driver didn’t understand the destination and instead drove them to Halden, 560 km away. And they didn’t even realize the mistake, paying the driver the €1875 fare. After spending the night in a hotel the couple discovered the mistake and called another taxi, this time driving 610km in the other direction and paying a further €1950 fare.

The misadventure saw them end up spending more than the price of their cruise on taxi fares.

8/19/2008 12:50:56 PM UTC     

Foreign exchange specialist Travelex has launched their Global Rewards Card, to reward customers making a repeat purchase at Travelex shops around the world.

Customers who exchange currency pre-trip at Travelex will be given a free Global Rewards Card which entitles them to a discount at their destination. The Global Rewards Card gives customers a discount on the exchange rate or commission if they choose to purchase foreign currency from Travelex again in another country, within three months of their original transaction. The card will be valid in over 20 countries and more than 700 Travelex shops worldwide.

Julian Neal, Global Marketing Director, Travelex said, “This is the first time a foreign currency provider has implemented a global promotion on this scale. “Travelex are delighted to launch the Global Rewards Card at a time when we‘re all conscious of the challenging economic conditions, the card is a win for both customers and for

Travelex.”

www.travelex.co.uk

8/19/2008 12:45:17 PM UTC     

If you had enough miles to go anywhere, where would you go?

This is the situation facing Bill Shiver from Huston. Mr Shiver has just won 21 million frequent flier miles as the grand prize winner of its OnePass 21st Birthday Texas Hold'em Poker Tournament at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas.

Mr Shiver, who has been playing poker for four years as a hobby, plans to use some of his winnings toward a Mediterranean cruise and holidays with friends.

The contest's grand prize could be redeemed for up to 200 roundtrip BusinessFirst tickets from Houston to Rome, up to 400 roundtrip economy tickets within the United States, or be used to bid on exclusive OnePass Online Auction items including premier sporting events, VIP performing arts experiences and vacation packages.

www.continental.com

8/19/2008 7:47:49 AM UTC     

For the 3rd time in 10 years, Singapore Airlines has been named World's Best Airline, winning the 2008 Airline of the Year title in the latest Skytrax World Airline Awards.

According to Skytrax, over 15 million eligible survey interviews were completed during the 11 month survey period. From Seoul to Sao Paulo, Copenhagen to Cape Town, the scale and breadth of the 2008 survey strengthens Skytrax's reputation as one of the world's largest passenger surveys.

Singapore Airlines also collected the award for Best Business Class in a very competitive section of the survey.

Cathay Pacific took 2nd place overall in the 2008 Awards (up from 3rd in 2007), and picked up the award for World's best First Class thanks to its new onboard 1st Class product and service concept.

Qantas ranked 3rd worldwide (5th in 2007) and won the award for the Best First Class Lounge - achieved in a period where the airline has seen competition ramped up both in its domestic and regional market.

Asiana Airlines was one of the biggest improvers across the 2008 results, ranked 5th worldwide (up from 12th in 2007), as well as taking the sought-after World's Best Cabin Staff Award and also collecting the Award for Best Economy Class.

Qatar Airways is another 5-Star airline achieving a top-10 ranking (placed 7th worldwide), and collecting the award for Best Airline and Best Cabin Staff for the Middle East region, as well as the Best Business Class Catering category.

Air New Zealand ranked 8th worldwide (7th in 2007), and also collects the 2008 Award for Best Airline Transpacific, ahead of Qantas in that category.

Emirates maintained the same ranking as last year, placed 9th worldwide. The Dubai-based airline picked up the award for Best Airline Inflight Entertainment for the 4th year in succession,  ahead of Singapore Airlines in 2nd. 

A new entrant to the world's Top-10 airlines is Abu Dhabi based Etihad Airways, securing 10th position in the 2008 Awards.

A repeat win was achieved by Virgin Atlantic in being named winner of the Best Business Class Lounge Award, having secured the title in 2007 for their Clubhouse facility at London Heathrow Airport.

Cathay Pacific won the Best First Class Onboard Catering Award.

In the year that Austrian Airlines celebrates it's 50th anniversary, the airline has another honour to mark the achievement, winning the award for Best Business Class Onboard Catering for the second year running. Qantas was named winner of the Best Economy Class Onboard Catering Award, based on their longer haul, international operations.

8/18/2008 8:05:02 AM UTC     

Turkish Airlines will fly from Birmingham International Airport to Istanbul from December 15, 2008 using a Boeing 737-800.

The Turkish flag carrier, which is a member of Star Alliance, will operate five flights a week (no Wed or Sat) to Istanbul with a flying time of four hours.

Prices start from £180.00 return.

www.thy.com

8/18/2008 7:49:00 AM UTC     

Air France will operate a new timetable from London City Airport from September 8, 2008.

Edinburgh will have 20 per cent more seats with the introduction of two more Avro RJ85 jets, which will replace the smaller Dornier 328 turbo-prop aircraft. The Dornier will fly on one of the seven daily flights only. Geneva will get a fifth flight added to the existing route from September 15. 

To Paris’s Orly airport Air France flights will be reduced from six to five times a day.  Strasbourg will also be reduced – from three to two flights a day, to allow for the increased Geneva and Edinburgh routes. 

Other routes Air France says it will suspend flights to Zurich with the last service set to run on September 7. Air France says this service is being cut so that it can “optimise other routes on its network.” Both British Airways and Swiss currently ply the route from City.

Smaller changes to the timetable will also be made from September 8 on the routes to Paris CDG, Dublin, Geneva and Nice.

Air France flies to 10 destinations from London City Airport. These are: Dublin, Dundee, Edinburgh, Eindhoven, Geneva, Nice, Paris Orly, Paris Charles de Gaulle, Strasbourg and Zurich. The airline also flies from Heathrow.

www.airfrance.co.uk

8/18/2008 7:43:03 AM UTC     

Finished your book, ran out of sweets and bored of your mate’s chit-chat? Well, fear not because Iceland Express has broken new ground by becoming the first budget airline to launch an in-flight entertainment system that will keep both adults and children amused for the entire journey.

The Bluebox lite unit or “Airplay” allows customers to watch movies, TV shows, listen to music and play computer games while in the air.  Plugging in USB headsets, travellers aboard the London Stansted to Reykjavik flight can watch their favourite show or sing along to their favourite band using the handheld device.

www.icelandexpress.com

8/14/2008 3:59:20 PM UTC     

Bales Worldwide is giving travellers the chance to experience one of the best events in the world music calendar – the Rajasthan International Folk Festival in Jodhpur.  Taking place from 10-14 October 2008, this incredible festival brings together over 150 musicians to perform at one of Asia’s finest buildings - the Mehrangarh Fort. Bales is offering a 10 day holiday, taking in the entire festival, from £1,650 per person based on two sharing with economy class return flights from Heathrow to Delhi and onward to Jodhpur, 9 nights accommodation (bed and breakfast), transfers and airport taxes.

www.balesworldwide.com   

8/14/2008 3:52:32 PM UTC     

For the second year running, Virgin Atlantic has won the Best Business Class Lounge Award in the SkyTrax World Airline Awards 2008, for its flagship Clubhouse at Heathrow Airport.

The World Airline Awards are based on the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax and are recognised around the world. The awards are renowned for being the only truly global independent passenger survey of airline standards. Virgin Atlantic beat off BA’s new T5 lounge, Cathay Pacific’s Hong Kong Business Class lounge and Qatar Airways’ Business Class lounge to win the prestigious award.

www.virginatlantic.com

8/14/2008 7:58:30 AM UTC     

Thinking about a gap year? Well your kids do. Why not you?

A recent survey from Ramblers Worldwide Holidays entitled 'Gap Years' for Mums and Dads and appeal for single travellers shows that with reasonable disposable income clients are determined to enjoy the fruits of their labours and travel as often and widely as possible.

Tony Maniscalco, Marketing Manager for the operator says, “many of our clients over 45 are playing ‘catch up’ with their sons and daughters who have enjoyed gap years whilst studying at universities and colleges. Some felt they had missed out on the opportunity of travelling to diverse and interesting places throughout the world and experiencing different people and cultures.”

The survey showed walking holidays are a firm favourite because they not only give clients the opportunity to experience exciting and stimulating destinations at a leisurely pace but have added health benefits.

Tony Maniscalco says “our survey shows that single travellers don’t want any special attention but simply seek the friendship, safety and the camaraderie of a group holiday - particularly if they are divorced or bereaved.”

Ramblers Worldwide Holidays offers over 200 holidays in over 70 countries including everything from Botswana and Jordan to The Galapagos Islands and Montenegro.

www.ramblersworldwideholidays.co.uk

8/14/2008 7:49:44 AM UTC     

Villa specialist Artemis Travel is hoping travellers will take an extra helping of Turkey this winter.

With four-star resorts on the Aegean Coast of Turkey, the company is promoting the region for winter breaks, with two-bedroom apartments priced at just £125 per week from October to February. And to encourage long stays away from the British weather and soaring fuel bills, the company is offering four weeks for the price of three for any break longer than a month.

With four people sharing an apartment – which can sleep up to six using sofa beds – this means one week’s accommodation costs less than £4.50 per person per night or as low as £3.35 for four people sharing and taking advantage of the four weeks for three offer.

Artemis Travel’s business development director Nigel Harris explained: “We feel that Turkey does not always get the recognition it deserves as a winter destination. Our resorts are fully-operational year-round, offering a great range of facilities on-site. With winter temperatures averaging between 18° and 20° C in winter it really is a welcome alternative to grey British skies.

The resorts are in the Altinkum area of south-west Turkey, easily accessible from airports at Bodrum or Izmir, which in turn are linked by scheduled, low-cost and charter flights from departure points around the UK.

www.artemistravel.co.uk

8/12/2008 2:55:28 AM UTC     

Hilton Garden Inn, one of the fastest growing brands that is part of the Hilton Family of Hotels, has opened the Hilton Garden Inn Luton North on Butterfield Business Park. The hotel is a short distance from both the Luton town centre and airport as well as a short distance to many businesses and attractions in the area.

The Hilton Garden Inn Luton North features a complimentary 24-hour business centre, Wi-Fi in guestrooms and public areas, a restaurant offering cooked-to-order breakfast, bar with plasma screen television, comfortable living room area, complimentary gym facility and the 24-hour Pavilion Pantry® shop offering a selection of snacks, delicious ready made meals, beverages and sundries.

Guest room features at the hotel include the Garden Sleep System® bed that allows guests to adjust the firmness of the bed, ergonomic Mirra® chair by Herman Miller, oversized work desks, air conditioning, LCD satellite television and a “hospitality centre” featuring a mini refrigerator and kettle.

Hilton has also opened the 255 room Hilton Beijing Wangfujing in Beijing’s commercial and social district.

www.hilton.com

8/10/2008 12:04:48 PM UTC     

Four Points by Sheraton has opened its first Four Points by Sheraton hotel in North China. The Four Points by Sheraton Beijing, Haidian Hotel & Serviced Apartments, follows the successes of other Four Points hotels in cities like Shenzhen, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Changshu, Lhasa and Taipei.

www.starwoodhotels.com

8/10/2008 11:58:14 AM UTC     

Marriott International has announced the opening of the huge 1,312-room Beijing Marriott Hotel City Wall. The new property becomes Marriott’s largest hotel outside the US. Built on the Ming Dynasty City Wall Relics Park, the hotel is situated in Beijing’s central business district.

www.marriott.com

8/10/2008 11:56:30 AM UTC     

Anantara has announced its latest resort offering, promising to show a new side of Thailand. The Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa lies on the secluded Changlang Beach in the relatively undeveloped Trang province, south of Krabi. The resort will offer 138 sea-view rooms and suites when it is completed by the end of 2008, including a presidential villa comprising three bedrooms, set around a private pool.

www.anantara.com

8/10/2008 11:54:20 AM UTC     

Eurostar is expecting to take thousands of shoppers to La Braderie in Lille, one of Europe’s largest annual flea markets, which takes place every year over the first weekend of September. Return fares to Lille start from £55.

La Braderie dates back to medieval times. The city’s streets come alive as over a million people from all over Europe flock to Lille to join the marathon bargain hunt. Over the weekend, the city is transformed into a vast outdoor market covering over 200km of pavement. Stalls selling everything from rare antiques and furniture, to vintage clothing, bric-a-brac and art line the narrow cobbled streets, alongside street entertainers and food stands offering mouth-watering French and Flemish cuisine.

www.eurostar.com

8/10/2008 11:50:44 AM UTC     

Mont Rochelle Hotel and Mountain Vineyard in South Africa's Cape Winelands will be celebrating "all things bubbly" in December during the annual Franschhoek Champagne Festival.

Franschhoek, the Valley of the Huguenots, in South Africa, is one of the premier destinations in the World of Wine – and is also the “Gourmet Capital of South Africa” – making it the perfect “Grape Escape” for discerning travellers who enjoy the finer things in life!

December 2008 will see the valley, which has over 40 wine farms, celebrate the ‘Magic of Bubbles’, during the annual Franschhoek Cap Classique and Champagne Festival. A decadent weekend of gourmet cuisine, popping corks and flutes overflowing with the finest South African Cap Classique and French Champagne.

www.montrochelle.co.za and www.franschhoek.org.za/festivals

8/10/2008 11:49:24 AM UTC     

Car Hire 8, a revolutionary new online car hire service, launched in the UK this weekend. Their site provides car hire reservations from the leading brands like Alamo, Avis, Budget, Dollar Rent a Car and Europcar.

What makes it different from other car rental brokers is that you choose which brand you want but benefit from Car Hire 8’s great prices. Available in 125 countries at 17,000 locations worldwide.

To celebrate the launch, consumers can receive 10 percent off on car hire anywhere in the world throughout the month of August by using promotional code 10OFFCH8 upon booking.

www.carhire8.co.uk

8/10/2008 11:46:36 AM UTC     

Don’t miss Turkey’s fastest growing airline’s one-way prices starting from 66 Euros (£52) on international routes and 41 New Turkish Lira (YTL) (£18)* on domestic routes.

Pegasus Airlines launches its winter flight schedule with tickets onsale today.  Valid from 26th October 2008, the new schedule boasts unbeatable one-way prices starting at 66 Euros (£52) on international routes and 41 YTL (£18) on domestic routes*, available until 29th March 2009. 

Pegasus Airlines’ winter schedule tickets go on sale today, 6th August 2008, with one-way prices starting at 66 euros* (£52) on international routes.  Pegasus Airlines operates flights between Ankara, Istanbul and Izmir in Turkey to Amsterdam, Dusseldorf, Copenhagen, Cologne, London, Lefkosa, Munich, Stuttgart and Zurich.

Domestic flights prices start at 41YTL* (£18), making it the cheapest and easiest way to get to your favourite holiday destination in Turkey.  Pegasus Airlines flies to Adana, Ankara, Antalya, Bodrum, Diyarbakır, Erzurum, Gaziantep, İstanbul, İzmir, Kayseri, Malatya, Mardin, Samsun, Trabzon and Van.

www.flypgs.com/en,

8/7/2008 11:09:57 AM UTC     

When the renowned Calabash Hotel & Villas shut for just over a month on 1st September, construction will begin on Heaven & Earth, a brand new spa facility, which is scheduled to open in October.
 
Treatments will include Swedish massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Reiki and Indian head massage, as well as Facials, Manicures and Pedicures. A yoga pavilion will also be incorporated at the spa, allowing classes to be held overlooking Prickly Bay. Grenada has a multitude of natural products such as nutmeg, coconut and cinnamon oils, many of which will be used in the treatments.

All guests will receive a complimentary head and neck massage voucher when the hotel re-opens in October.

There are a number of operators featuring the Calabash Inn one such is Just Grenada and they are offering return bed and breakfast deals for around £870.00 flying from Gatwick on October and November.

www.calabashhotel.com  www.justgrenada.co.uk

8/5/2008 3:11:40 AM UTC     

French airports are hoping to help holidaymakers get in the mood for their trip by offering dance lessons. A spokesperson for Aeroports de Paris said the free classes are targeted to destinations “so if you’re flying to Cuba you can learn salsa and if you’re flying to New York you can learn hip hop.” Participants in the 15-minute lessons hear music and instructions through headphones, with other dance styles on offer including tango, mambo, modern jazz and rock’n’roll.

Can’t see it happening at T5!!

8/5/2008 2:56:19 AM UTC     

Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, home of EL AL Israel Airlines, has been voted number one airport in the Middle East in a customer satisfaction survey.

The World Airport Survey is conducted by UK-based aviation research organisation, Skytrax, with more than 8.2 million questionnaires completed by passengers across the world, during the 10 month survey period.

Passenger interviews include a detailed appraisal for more than 40 categories of product and service quality from check-in to departure, from arrivals to baggage collection - including terminal cleanliness, staff efficiency, staff courtesy, terminal signage, security processing, immigration and customers, walking distances, as well as features like shopping, dining options, internet services.

www.airlinequality.com

8/4/2008 2:59:20 AM UTC     

City smartcard specialist Leisure Pass Group has launched the latest version of its popular London Pass with a range of new attractions for Summer 2008. The London Pass gives visitors to the capital instant entry to over 50 of its most famous attractions, plus lots of new things to do with the latest version launched this month.

For the first time visitors can take a unique look behind the scenes in the Household Cavalry Museum to watch the famous Queen’s Life Guard preparing for their ceremonial duties and working with their horses. Or they can re-view all those advertising campaigns they loved and hated at the Museum of Brands, Packaging and Advertising where some 12,000 famous names are on view going back to the Victorian age.

www.leisurepassgroup.com

8/4/2008 2:49:36 AM UTC