The Pullman Barcelona Skipper opens in the heart of the Catalonian capital... and on the shores of the Mediterranean.

The AB Skipper in Barcelona has become the Pullman Barcelona Skipper, Accor’s upscale hotel brand designed with the requirements of business women and men in mind.  It is the 40th hotel in the Pullman network and the brand’s second establishment to open in Spain, after the 2008 launch of the Pullman Madrid Airport & Feria.

Located in Barcelona’s Olympic Port, 50 metres from Barcelonata beach, 10 minutes from the city centre and the Barcelona International Convention Centre (BICC) and just 12 kilometres from the airport, the establishment offers a genuine living environment where friendliness, serenity and connectivity are the watchwords for meeting the expectations of guests at the Pullman Barcelona Skipper.  The hotel has
241 rooms including 11 junior suites.

The convention centre, comprising 9 reception rooms, is equipped with all the appropriate technologies (business centre, Internet corner, free WiFi), making it the ideal setting for events.  It can seat up to 800 people.

www.pullmanhotels.com

7/7/2009 9:18:56 AM UTC    Comments 

Following a comprehensive 20 month renovation, Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta will re-open in October 2009 to take its place as the most luxurious and contemporary hotel in the city.

The all new hotel will boast 272 guestrooms including 56 oversized and beautifully appointed Mandarin Rooms and six suites. All accommodation has been tastefully designed in a classic contemporary style by the renowned design firm Lim, Teo and Wilkes, combining modern facilities with the Group’s oriental heritage and Indonesian culture. The hotel will truly reflect Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s exceptional quality standards including state-of-the art guest centric in-room technology, which includes PC and iPod connectivity, 42” LCD televisions a complete in-room surround sound audio system and mood-control lighting.

The hotel will also offer a variety of innovative dining concepts, with four new restaurants featuring a range of international cuisine from quintessential regional Chinese to an authentic French brasserie experience. There will also be a signature Mandarin Oriental Cake Shop and a chic MO Bar overlooking the main Jakarta thoroughfare.

Leisure facilities include a state of the art fitness centre with personalized treatment rooms as well as an outdoor pool surrounded by lush tropical gardens.

“Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta first opened its doors in 1978 and quickly became one of the most refined meeting venues for Jakarta society and expatriate community,” said General Manager, Andrew Abram. “We look forward to showcasing the all-new Mandarin Oriental, Jakarta and to delighting guests once again with the Group’s renowned levels of hospitality.” 

To celebrate the opening, guests booking a two night stay at Mandarin Oriental Jakarta between 1 October to 28 December, 2009 will receive a US$50 credit which can be used in the hotel’s restaurants, bar and fitness facilities. This offer cannot be combined with any other promotion, is applicable to Delight and Seasonal Choice rates only and is limited to one voucher per room per stay. 

7/7/2009 9:14:00 AM UTC    Comments 

In a new initiative aimed at making the experience of travelling to Tel Aviv easier, EL AL has teamed up with Heathrow Express and First Capital Connect to offer their passengers the option of booking train tickets to Heathrow and London Luton respectively.

EL AL has negotiated special prices for passengers which relates to around 10% discount off the normal fares. For example a single fare on Heathrow Express is £14.85 and from any London Thameslink station to Luton Airport Parkway £10.50. Tickets can be booked and printed off via the EL AL web site

Uri Danor, EL AL CEO UK and Ireland said: “We are very happy to have the opportunity to work with Heathrow Express and First Capital Connect and to be able to offer our passengers on either route a good product and a competitive price for them to get to and from Heathrow and London Luton”.

www.elal.co.uk

7/6/2009 11:36:22 AM UTC    Comments 

Virgin Atlantic has launched a summer sale on flights to worldwide destinations. The airline has introduced some of the lowest ever fares in Economy and Premium Economy to the US, including New York for £259, Boston for £299 or Las Vegas for £313.

For passengers looking for deals to the Caribbean for the summer, the airline is offering £359 for return flights to Antigua as well as other exotic locations such as Dubai for only £299 and Delhi for £299.

All summer sale fares include taxes and charges and are available for sale until 14 July 2009.  Here are details of some of the best fares available:

•  New York  for £497 (Premium Economy)
•  Miami from £309
•  Chicago for only £289
•  Orlando from £309
•  Boston for £517 (Premium Economy)
•  Nairobi for £359
•  Hong Kong from £310
•  Delhi for £549 (Premium Economy)

www.virginatlantic.com

7/6/2009 11:26:57 AM UTC    Comments 

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group will open its first luxury hotel in Southern Europe at the end of this year.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will offer avant-garde luxury at the city’s most exclusive address. This exciting hotel pairs the legendary hospitality of Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group with the inimitable character that has made Barcelona one of Europe’s foremost travel destinations.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is ideally located on Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s most prestigious address, at the very centre of the city’s commercial and entertainment district. The property provides easy access to the city’s finest shopping, dining and cultural venues and is a short walk from many major tourist attractions. From the hotel, guests will be able to stroll amongst the city’s celebrated promenades and architecture and enjoy the attractions of the famous Las Ramblas and the Gothic Quarter. Barcelona’s many museums, churches and parks are all close at hand and two of the most celebrated buildings by the city’s famous architect, Gaudi, are just a stone’s throw from the hotel. 

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona is housed in the re-development of an elegant mid-20th Century building, which will also incorporate luxury retail at street level. On opening, the 98 room hotel will offer highly stylized and spectacularly creative interiors by internationally renowned Spanish designer, Patricia Urquiola. Each of its stylish guest rooms and exquisitely designed suites will provide guests with highly sophisticated in-room entertainment systems, reflective of the Group’s oriental heritage Mandarin Oriental’s renowned customer-centric technology. The hotel will also provide elegantly designed meeting and banqueting facilities.

Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona will offer fashionable, stylish dining with culinary flair in a choice of restaurants and bars that will be destinations in their own right. Guests will be able to take advantage of the temperate Mediterranean climate and enjoy al fresco dining in the hotel’s 660 sq metre spectacular garden or relax by the rooftop dipping pool with panoramic view over the city’s famous architectural skyline.

On opening, Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona’s ideal location will make it the perfect place from which to explore this fascinating city, as well as offering an intimate and exclusive retreat to return to.

7/6/2009 9:15:15 AM UTC    Comments 

Business and leisure travellers are set benefit from new convenient air services to Aberdeen and Southampton as Eastern Airways launches its first ever scheduled flights from Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The Humberside-based UK regional airline is introducing three flights each weekday to Aberdeen and also three each weekday to Southampton from Liverpool.

As well as the new Liverpool flights, the airline’s Aberdeen to Southampton services increasing from two to five flights each weekday.  A new early morning 7am departure is also being introduced from Southampton to Newcastle on the same day.

Eastern Airways’ high frequency Liverpool schedules and timings are primarily aimed at business travellers heading to and from Merseyside, Cheshire, Lancashire and North Wales.  All of its passengers have access to fast track security channels at Liverpool, Aberdeen and Southampton, which help to avoid queues at security search.

“It’s fantastic to introduce Liverpool as a new departure point on our network,“ said Chris Holliday, Eastern Airways’ chief operating officer.  “Our new services to Aberdeen and Southampton will provide the region’s travellers with convenient day return flights from their local airport, saving them valuable time.  “When developing routes we look at cities where there are traditionally strong industry links and Liverpool and its surrounding region certainly has that.”

Eastern Airways operates over 800 flights a week from 17 airports including Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Durham Tees Valley, East Midlands, Humberside, Isle of Man, Leeds Bradford, Liverpool, Newcastle, Norwich, Oslo (Norway) Southampton, Stavanger (Norway), Stornoway and Wick.

7/6/2009 9:11:08 AM UTC    Comments 

Malaysia Airlines is offering flights to over 25 long-haul destinations, from just £399 return. Book between 4th – 13th July 2009 and you can fly to Malaysia and South East Asia from just £399 per person and to Australia and New Zealand from only £599 return.

The great value prices offer an affordable way to visit 26 of the UK’s most popular long-haul destinations - choose from the beautiful beaches of Bali, Penang or Langkawi; have an unforgettable city break in Sydney, Singapore, Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur; or enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the ancient ruins of Angkor Wat, the Orangutan sanctuary in Borneo or a cruise of the limestone cliffs of Vietnam’s Halong Bay.

The offer is available between 4th – 13th July and even better, is valid for travel between 15th August – 9th December 2009 and 15th January – 31st March 2010, which means you can swap the British winter for some much-needed sunshine.

Prices quoted above are inclusive of all fees and taxes, subject to availability at the time of booking. The special fares apply to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, Kota Kinabalu, Kutching, Bangkok, Cebu, Jakarta, Denpasar - Bali, Phuket, Hanoi, Yogyakarta, Medan, Manila, Phnom Penh, Yangon, Siam Reap, Ho Chi Minh City, Singapore, Surabaya, Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Auckland. Terms and Conditions apply. 

www.malaysiaairlines.com.

7/4/2009 8:45:30 AM UTC    Comments 

Situated in the heart of the Medina, maison mk a quirky six bedroom riad is offering a complete VIP party house experience. Fire eaters in the courtyard, clairvoyants predicting the future and henna tattooists merge to create the perfect traditional Moroccan celebration. No matter how simple or elaborate the occasion, the maison mk team will arrange everything from extravagant parties, sunset cocktails on the stylish roof terrace, pampering treatments in the on-site spa and hammam, VIP entrance into Marrakech’s hippest bars and personal shopping trips around the bustling medina.

The riad has six suites and is perfect for groups of friends or families. The open roof terrace, restaurant, refreshing pool, cinema room, spa and hammam will keep guests entertained day and night in comfort and style. maison mk takes the phrase ‘making an entrance’ to a new level, with camels leading guests through the winding passages of the medina to the riad where they enter a magical world of snake charmers, romantic story tellers and exotic belly dancers. 

maison mk opened in February last year and is the creation of professional fashion and portrait photographers Paul and Aoibheann Hopkins.  Their artistic vision has been implemented with their team of leading international interior designers and lighting consultants, and has led to the creation of a sophisticated space that surprises and delights. maison mk represents a glimpse of the Marrakech of tomorrow with cutting edge design concepts within a historic Moroccan framework.

maison mk is a perfect hideaway for groups of friends wanting a short break in this enchanting city or a once in a lifetime party they will never forget. Rooms start at €300 based on two sharing or €1500 for the riad as a whole.

www.maisonmk.com

7/2/2009 11:49:59 AM UTC    Comments 

Hungary has a growing reputation for producing excellent wines and the annual Budapest International Wine Festival in September gives wine lovers the perfect opportunity for tasting some of them, whilst enjoying the stunning backdrop of the Buda Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Wine Festival takes place from 9-13 September on the terraces of Buda Castle, overlooking the Pest side of city and it’s wonderfully lively time to visit one of the world’s most picturesque capital cities. The five day festival opens at 2pm on the 9th & 10th, 12pm on 11th and from 10am on 12th and 13th and is open until 11pm everyday – so there is plenty of time to sample as many wines as possible over a weekend stay.

Around 170 Hungarian wineries will exhibit as well as a few other wine producing countries and it’s a great opportunity to learn about the wines, as well as enjoy traditional food and festivities. Gastronomy is a huge part of the festival and there are plenty of Hungarian delicacies that can be tried including scones baked on site, many varieties of cheese and grilled meats.

There will be around 1,000 wines to sample, as well as a grape wine auction, grape harvest procession, plus cultural programmes including many musical concerts. On the Saturday there is a Harvest Parade starting at 1pm, with around 800 representatives from the various wine regions dressed in folk costumes and ending with a lovely show on the festival stage.

www.winefestival.hu.

7/1/2009 6:45:21 PM UTC    Comments 

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts announced that for a limited time, it is offering savings of up to 29% off the Hyatt Daily Rate for stays at participating Park Hyatt, Andaz, Grand Hyatt, and Hyatt Regency properties in key urban and resort destinations around the globe. For travellers who seek attentive service and attractive accommodation in prime locations, and seek a home base from which to explore memorable destinations, this guestroom sale is a perfect match.

With an average of 25% off of accommodation at Hyatt locations, guests can plan getaways that include more experiences with local cuisine, more shopping for artisan goods, and more pampering for true relaxation. The offer is valid for a limited time at participating Hyatt hotels and resorts worldwide.

In the United States, Canada and the Caribbean, guests receive up to 29% off the Hyatt Daily Rate. 

In Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia/Pacific, Latin America, and at Park Hyatt and Andaz hotels worldwide, guests receive 20% off of the Hyatt Daily Rate.

To take advantage of this global offer, guests may book the LTO Sale beginning June 19, 2009 with offer code LTO109 on the Special Offers page of www.hyatt.com,

7/1/2009 6:40:37 PM UTC    Comments 

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts has announced the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina Club and Spa, marking its entry into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Set among beautifully landscaped gardens on the Corniche of Jeddah, Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is an innovative five-star sanctuary where contemporary luxury and exceptional service meets unrivalled views of the Red Sea and King Fahd fountain. The hotel enjoys a prime location in the very heart of the city, within the esteemed Al Hamra District at the Equestrian Club of Jeddah, and just minutes away from the central business district.

Business and leisure travelllers will be welcomed with state-of-the-art meeting and business facilities as well an impressive array of sport and leisure pursuits. The commercial and financial districts, as well as the main shopping and entertainment areas of Jeddah are nearby, making Park Hyatt Jeddah the ideal launching point from which visitors can conduct business or explore the relaxing activities of the destination.

The multi-faceted resort is a remarkable engineering feat that reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea, while retaining the delicate surrounding marine life. The 34.5-acre (140,000 square metre) complex overlooks sweeping views of the sea and the world-famous King Fahd fountain with its more than 1,000-foot-high (312 meters) plume of water.

Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club and Spa is the ideal base for Hajj or Umrah pilgrimages to Mecca or Medina. Located just 30 minutes away from the King Abdullaziz International Airport, Park Hyatt Jeddah is a well-situated stopover upon entering or leaving the region. Mecca is a convenient 45-minute drive from the hotel.

www.park.hyatt.com

7/1/2009 11:29:58 AM UTC    Comments 

bmi, launch's a pre-flight Lounge Dining service for Business Class customers flying on bmi’s evening flights to Moscow and Tel Aviv from 1 July 2009.  Customers heading to Tel Aviv or Moscow can enjoy three-course meals in the new bmi international lounge – bmi Number One Heathrow before they fly, meaning that they can then relax or sleep on the flight without being disturbed for meals.  Once on board, customers can also choose a lighter meal or a nightcap from bmi’s new Night-Time Supper menu.

The move comes as bmi continues to improve services and benefits for those travelling for in Business Class whether for business or pleasure. Earlier this month, bmi opened its flagship international lounge bmi Number One Heathrow which offers a quintessentially British environment in which to work, relax, dine and refresh.  

Lounge Dining will be available daily to all customers using the international lounge from 8.30pm and is ideal for customers who are taking the night-time flights to Tel Aviv and Moscow, or connecting via London Heathrow.   Customers taking advantage of the pre-flight dining can start with steaming hot soup served fresh from bmi’s bespoke AGA.  Followed by macaroni cheese, salads, dressed with Mark Hix salad dressings, created by the reknowned English chef, or hot salt beef bagels with rye and pickles.  The perfect finish to the pre-flight dining is a selection of Mark Hix ice-cream, exclusively available in the bmi international lounge and onboard. Round off supper with a generous pot of either ‘Credit Crunch’ (caramel and honeycomb chocolate) or Blueberry and Dorset Honey flavours.  In addition, the bmi pub ‘The Local’ will be open, serving champagne, English rosé Wine, Pimms and Fullers London Pride, as well as brandies and whiskeys for a pre-flight nightcap. 

Once on board, customers can then either go straight to sleep without being disturbed – only being woken 30 minutes before landing or enjoy the Night-Time Supper menu in subdued lighting.  The Night-Time Supper menu  boasts light and comforting dishes such as duck and potato hash with gooseberry chutney or salmon fishcake with baby spinach and parsley sauce.  For those who would just like a sweet treat or a nightcap then Mark Hix ice cream will be available onboard or the ultimate comforter drink – hot chocolate served with marshmallows. 

7/1/2009 11:27:09 AM UTC    Comments 

The latest addition to The Natural History Museum event space portfolio is unveiled, The Tree Gallery. With the museum’s largest dendrology specimen integrated into the ceiling, this functional gallery accommodates up to 50 for a seated dinner and 60 for a stand up reception.

The new events space is ideal for last minute occasions with room hire available in a six week window. The Tree Gallery is available seven days a week from £5,000.

The Gallery’s artwork, a 17metre long wafer thin section of an entire 200 year old oak tree embedded into the ceiling, was designed by Tania Kovats and commissioned to celebrate Charles Darwin’s bicentenary. It draws its inspiration from the iconic tree of life drawing by Darwin which sketches out the evolutionist’s scientific ideas and theories.

The Tree Gallery is the first of three new up and coming event spaces at the Natural History Museum, which include the West Garden and the Darwin Centre. The latter encapsulates a scientific research centre and embodies innovative ways in which the natural world can be discovered. These join the current two event spaces, Central Hall and the Earth Galleries, in hosting important business events, awards dinners, fashion shows and many other functions - adding another branch to this ever growing museum. 

7/1/2009 9:27:22 AM UTC    Comments 

Take advantage of up to 50% savings during the Vietnam on Sale when you make a booking at any participating Accor hotel through an online channel. The sale runs from July 7 until July 13, 2009 for stays during July 17 – September 30, 2009.   

Accor Advantage Plus members can make advance bookings from July 6, 2009 and enjoy an extra 10% discount. 

The participating hotels are:

Novotel hotels: one rate at US$45
- Novotel Ha Long Bay
- Novotel Nha Trang
- Novotel Dalat
- Novotel Ocean Dune Golf & Resort Phan Thiet

Others: one rate at US$75
- Grand Mercure La Veranda Resort & Spa Phu Quoc
- La Residence Hue 

Accor is currently the largest international hotel operator in Vietnam with 10 existing hotels and 10 development projects in the pipeline.

www.accorhotels.com

6/30/2009 8:35:16 AM UTC    Comments 

The Crowne Plaza Vilamoura, set to open in January 2010, will be the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Portugal. The new hotel is right on the Vilamoura beach, near the world famous Vilamoura Casino, 300 metres from the Algarve’s main marina, Marina Vilamoura, and 20 kilometres from Faro Airport. The hotel is within walking distance of five golf courses in Vilamoura, and only 20 minutes drive from other major courses in the Algarve.

The Crowne Plaza Vilamoura will have 327 rooms and suites, and impressive conference facilities with 1,200 square metres of meeting room space. There is a 760 square metre meeting room divisible into three, a 275 square metre meeting room also divisible into three, an executive boardroom for 12 people and 22 guest rooms that have been designed for use as meeting rooms when needed. A beautiful garden with large palm trees makes the hotel ideal for hosting outdoor events.

Crowne Plaza Vilamoura will also have a variety of entertainment facilities and restaurants, including one al fresco restaurant open most of the year, a 1,000 square metre outdoor swimming pool and a driving range supervised by the hotel’s golf pro.

Hylko Versteeg, director of development for Spain and Portugal, IHG, said: “Since introducing Crowne Plaza to Europe more than 20 years ago it has become one of the world’s fastest growing upscale hotel brands. Signing this deal with the Grupo Marope, which takes us into Portugal, is a milestone for us.”

“Crowne Plaza is an internationally renowned hotel brand, popular with business travellers across the world. This unique opportunity to open the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Portugal is an exciting move for us. We are confident the hotel will draw more business and leisure travellers to Vilamoura and indeed the Algarve,” explained Mario Vasco Pereira, Grupo Marope president.

6/29/2009 11:20:40 AM UTC    Comments 

Maintaining a company’s level of business travel is vital to the individual organisation and has far reaching implications for the state of the economy, according to research released today from the annual Barclaycard Commercial Business Travel Survey.  The survey, now in its 13th year, polled more than 2,200 business travellers across the country, forming a comprehensive picture of the business travel landscape.

Three quarters of respondents (75%) stated that they expect to travel more or the same amount in 2009 compared to 2008 with 50 per cent, of those planning to travel more, citing planned business expansion in the UK (29%) or overseas (21%) as the reason.  The findings illustrate that whilst companies compete to survive and budgets are tightened face-to-face meetings and networking are seen as crucial to keeping businesses going, even if this incurs travel costs.  In addition, 85 per cent believe that face-to-face business meetings are more effective than using technologies such as video and web conferencing.

Market contraction has the worst effects on those organisations and individuals that are most exposed in terms of risk and debt. The converse of this is that small organisations and medium size enterprises in the beginning of their life cycle stand most to benefit from the current stimulus deal and interest rates and there is a real opportunity for entrepreneurs and SMEs in the latter half of 2009.

It is vital that business people continue to travel not only because of the immediate effects of a contraction in the market but also because so many industries and businesses around the globe rely on revenue from business travellers.

Neil Radley, Managing Director of Barclaycard Commercial said:

“The travel and tourism industry is one of the world’s biggest employers with business travel playing a significant role in the industry.   The Barclaycard Commercial Business Travel Survey is a positive indicator for economic recovery with a third planning to travel more in 2009 – this will have a knock-on effect on the economy and the parallel industries that survive because of it.  The fears of the recession have not deterred some businesses from expansion – whilst the media reports stories of businesses downsizing, the Travel Survey shows positive signs for business expansion in both the UK and more globally.”

With the Government’s confirmation in the Budget that the Airline Passenger Duty (APD) is going to rise in November 2009, results from the survey suggest that this is not set to dramatically affect business travel.  84 per cent of the survey’s respondents have not changed their travel plans due to the initial introduction of the APD and 53 per cent agreed that an additional environmental tax should be brought in on airlines.

Reflective of last year’s findings whilst business travel is on the up there are clear signs that businesses are making a conscious effort to cut back where possible.  Those staying in budget hotel accommodation has risen from 53 per cent to 55 per cent, between 2007 and 2008 and Flybe (ranked 4th with a one per cent increase in market share) now joins other low cost airlines easyJet (ranked 2nd) and Ryanair (ranked 3rd) in the top four airlines most used for business travel.  British Airways remains the most used airline for business travel (29%).   In contrast, travel in business and first class has increased by two per cent from last year (13% in 2008 compared to 11% in 2007).

The survey, now in its 13th year, polled more than 2,200 business travellers across the country, forming a comprehensive picture of the business travel landscape.  

6/29/2009 11:07:37 AM UTC    Comments 

Gulf Air has introduced half price flights for children under the age of 12 years on all its services from London Heathrow. 

Until 27 July 2009, families booking with children will get 50% off the adult ticket price, adding to the reasons for holidaymakers to choose Gulf Air for their travels this year.   The offer is available on all travel taking place from now until 11 December 2009. All travel must be completed by 14 December. 

The airline has also introduced a number of unbelievable all inclusive return flight offers on services from London Heathrow to fantastic holiday destinations outside the expensive euro zone including Kuala Lumpur from £386, Bangkok from £390, Muscat from £245, Kochi from £330, Shanghai from £360, Bahrain from £330 and Dubai and Abu Dhabi from £247.  And don’t forget, KIDS GO HALF PRICE, a 25% saving on the normal Gulf Air children’s fare.

Gulf Air prides itself on recognising the needs of families travelling with them.  It was the first airline in the world to introduce the onboard Sky Nanny, a dedicated service for the individual needs of all its customers, no matter how young or old they are.  Sky Nanny takes the strain off parents travelling with young children and keeps the younger passengers amused during the journey making it a memorable and enjoyable experience for both parents and children.

Working on board all three of Gulf Air’s service from London, Sky Nanny offers help with boarding and disembarkation, gives parents that much-needed break during a long flight and generally provides a watchful eye on the little ones. 

Every Gulf Air Sky Nanny is specially trained for inflight childcare services so parents can be assured that children will receive the best care and attention every step of the way.

www.gulfair.com

6/27/2009 6:17:44 AM UTC    Comments