Saturday 29 November 2014

UAE: Transformed itself into a first-class global tourism hub

UAEThe UAE has transformed itself into an excellent global tourism hub – an impressive attempt that managed to overcome many a perceived obstacle initially believed to be there. UAE show the world the transformational power of becoming a leading destination. This provides a vibrant example of the nation’s capabilities and a result of sound policies and a leadership capable of implementing such decisions.


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Europe maintains global leadership in tourism both in numbers & revenue

Hands touching a globeWhen it comes to international travel Europe is one of global tourism’s heavyweight contenders. Data from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) revealed that 563 million people visited Europe in 2013, which helped generate $489 billion in tourism receipts, making the continent the highest performer in the world in both aspects.


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Schooner Zodiac Offers Deck Tours in Bellingham Dec. 6

bellinghamThe Schooner Zodiac, the Bellingham based tall ship, will conduct special tours of the vessel in conjunction with the Holiday Port Festival at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal on Saturday, December 6. The ship will be open to the public from noon to 3 pm. Crewmembers will be on hand to lead the tours and answer questions about the ship. Tours will feature information on the various projects that are conducted over the winter to maintain the 90-year-old vessel and the upcoming 2015 sailing season.


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Portraits With Santa at Holiday Port Festival in Bellingham Dec. 5-7

bellinghamSanta will be waiting to hear children’s wishes and pose for portraits with him at the Holiday Port Festival December 5-7 in Bellingham. Portrait photographer Mark Turner will photograph the young, and young at heart, in individual, family, or group poses with Santa Claus. Portrait packages including two 5×7 portraits begin at $20, and additional prints and packages may be ordered.


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All City network services have been recovered with only minor impacts

queenslandrail-logoOur crews have worked hard through the evening to restore our network following severe storm damage and flash flooding, yesterday afternoon.

We are pleased to confirm that all lines have now been recovered and services will run with minor impacts, this morning.


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Westport, Kinsale honoured with Irish tourism awards

Fáilte IrelandWestport and Kinsale have been handed the 2014 National Large Tourism Town and National Small Tourism town at Fáilte Ireland Tourism Towns Awards.

The Mayo hotspot and Cork fishing village were zeroed in from a shortlist of top ten Irish tourism towns, with the remaining towns all receiving certificates of merit to acknowledge their own impressive performances in reaching out to visitors and creating the best possible tourism experiences.


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Queensland Rail Update 9: 6.40am Severe storm activity impacts SEQ rail network

queensland railOur crews have worked hard through the evening to restore our network following severe storm damage and flash flooding, yesterday afternoon.

We are pleased to confirm that all lines have now been recovered and services will run with minor impacts, this morning.


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Update 8: 5.00am Severe storm activity impacts SEQ rail network

queensland railOur crews have worked hard through the evening to restore our network following severe storm damage and flash flooding, yesterday afternoon.

We are pleased to confirm that all lines, except for part of the Ipswich line, have been recovered and services will run with minor impacts, this morning.


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Network Rail transparency update – November 2014


London Bridge plansNetwork Rail has today published new and updated information on its online transparency portal, including how much gas, electricity and water are used at its managed stations, spend on annual performance bonus and how the company manages vegetation growing along the railway.


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ITB World Travel Trends Report: foreign trips by Europeans at record levels

itb-berlin-2015-logoTravel-hungry Europeans are defying local crises and political unrest, having undertaken record numbers of trips this year. Compared to last year, in 2014 the number of foreign trips rose by three per cent, reaching a new record. According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by the world’s leading travel trade show, destinations such as Greece, Spain and the UK profited from this boom. All signs point to growth in 2015 as well.


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ITB World Travel Trends Report: foreign trips by Europeans at record levels

itb-berlin-2015-logoTravel-hungry Europeans are defying local crises and political unrest, having undertaken record numbers of trips this year. Compared to last year, in 2014 the number of foreign trips rose by three per cent, reaching a new record. According to the ITB World Travel Trends Report, conducted by IPK International and commissioned by the world’s leading travel trade show, destinations such as Greece, Spain and the UK profited from this boom. All signs point to growth in 2015 as well.


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Network Rail’s Paddington station celebrated as Paddington Bear hits the big screen

Paddington stationLondon’s historic Paddington station will be shown in all its glory on the big screen as the film version of the beloved Paddington Bear books hits cinemas this week.

The fictional traveller famously ventured from darkest Peru as a stowaway and was found sitting on a small suitcase near the lost property office in Paddington station, after which he was named.


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Tips for Minimizing Food Waste at Your Event

Minimizing Food WasteWhen you throw an event that includes food service, waste is inevitable. So, what can you do to reduce some of that waste and save money in return? BizBash.com has asked experts in this area to share some of their best tips.


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Is email deliverability affecting your corporate event attendance rates?

hiltonThanks to rapid technological advancement, the way in which we live and work has changed. We’re now ‘hyper-connected’ – toggling between multiple devices in an effort to stay in touch with multiple people across multiple platforms.


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Mercure Pattaya ocean Resort Welcomes New General Manager

GM Nikolay_Mercure Pattaya Ocean ResortMr. Youssef El Khomri, Executive General Manager of Mercure and ibis Erawan is delighted to announce the appointment of Mr. Nikolay Stoyanov as General Manager of the brand new Mercure Pattaya Ocean Resort with immediate effect.


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Ali Center’s Donald Lassere to lead Louisville tourism commission

louisvillePresident and CEO of the Muhammad Ali Center, Donald Lassere, has been chosen chairman of the commission that supervises the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau. Also at a recent Louisville Convention Commission meeting, director of corporate affairs for Brown-Forman Corp., Jim O’Malley, was elected the panel’s vice chairman.


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Responsible tourism awards handed to best players

World Responsible Tourism AwardsThe responsible tourism industry has recognised the best players at a prestigious awards ceremony that aims to encourage and inspire the tourism industry to consider its impact.

The awards were first given in 2004 to celebrate and inspire change in the tourism  industry. The awards argue that all types of tourism can and should be organised in a way that respects and benefits the destinations, from people to the environment.


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Modernize Shark Tourism Industry
Adventure Bay Charters in Port Lincoln has launched a world-first glass base viewing case to allow adventure lovers to get close with the great whites without getting wet.


The Shark Warrior is fitted with a specially build glass viewing area allowing passengers to get up close and personal with those predators of the deep, taking shark spotting to another level.


Once the charter reaches shark infested waters the six sitter glass pod is lowered and the passengers simply climb down a ladder to get inside.


2014
Christmas tree arrives in White HouseAs the lovely notes of “O Christmas Tree” filled the North Portico this morning, four Clydesdale horses adorned in jingle bells pulled this year’s official White House Christmas tree up to the front door. First Lady Michelle Obama, Sasha, Malia, Bo, and Sunny greeted the 18.5-foot-tall Douglas Fir, along with the Botek family — who grew the impressive evergreen on the Crystal Spring Tree Farm in Leighton, Pennsylvania.
American tree farmers from around the country have been presenting the White House with an official Christmas tree since 


THE SPA AT FOUR SEASONSEnjoy all of the beauty that the Monterey Peninsula has to offer as you and the love of your life exchange vows. Romantic and intimate, Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa provides eliminates the stress and chaos of a large-scale wedding and plans a personalized elopement package.
If you are planning on eloping on the Monterey Peninsula, the Hyatt Regency Monterey Hotel and Spa is the perfect solution. Celebrate your vows — just the two of you. Let our wedding team pamper you and take care all of the details.
Hyatt Regency Monterey 2015 Elopement Package


aegeanAEGEAN reported a strong set of 9-month 2014 results, driven by successful network expansion and Olympic Air synergies. Consolidated revenue increased by 10% to €736m, pre-tax earnings improved to €105.4m from €75.9m while net earnings rose by 31% to €78.6m from €60m in 2013.
ΑEGEAN and Olympic Air carried 7.9m in the 9-month period to September 2014, an increase of 14% compared to 2013 with load factor at 79%. Traffic in the domestic network increased by 16% with the market showing good elasticity to lower fares. International traffic rose by 12%, with traffic out of Athens registering a higher growth rate of 18% on the back of AEGEAN’s network expansion and a strong rebound for the city’s incoming tourism.


light dubaiInfiniti will continue to bring first class performances to its customers and fans when it presents its world-first ‘Inspired Light by Infiniti’ performance, starting at 6pm on 28th November at the Motor Village, Meydan, as part of the exciting line-up of events and activities at the ongoing Dubai Motor Festival.

For the very first time, coupling precision and innovation perfectly, Infiniti cars will create visually mind-blowing experiences and images that truly capture the imagination.  Choreography will be directed by the world’s leading name in light painting, Patrick Rochon.



Antigua and Barbuda2Antigua and Barbuda will implement a new tourism action agenda, following consultation with more than fifty tourism stakeholders, in the private and government sector.
The action plan will focus on three destination stewardship initiatives: the development of a sustainable tourism strategy, new community-based cultural tourism products, and the mapping of cultural heritage sites.
Stakeholders developed the action plan in August during a 


Regent Seven Seas CruisesFor those judicious travelers who select and critique the ultra-luxury sector, even those ships have variable rankings.
CruiseCompete has reviews from thousands of cruise travelers, who provide insight into cruise lines, ships, amenities, service, dining and the destinations the lines visit. This information is particularly helpful to cruise consumers when choosing their next ultra-luxury cruise vacation. Read the actual ship reviews on CruiseCompete.


BRITISH AIRWAYSBritish Airways’ 90 years of rich heritage in India witnessed a grand celebration treating guests with an experience like never before! The airline walked down the memory lane reminiscing the best of music and food, bringing yesteryears back to life.
Celebrated at the British High Commissioner’s residence, the event witnessed presence of crème de la crème of New Delhi including prominent personalities from the Bollywood industry- Arbaaz Khan, Sophie Choudry and Mandira Bedi.


17th edition of the Archaeology Tourism Fair BorsaThe Malta Tourism Authority has recently participated in the 17th edition of the Archaeology Tourism Fair Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo Archeologico which was held in Paestum, Southern Italy.
This Archaeology Fair is the only event in the world dedicated to archaeological heritage as an ideal tourism product. The Borsa Mediterranea del Turismo Archeologico underlines the importance of cultural heritage as a factor of intercultural dialogue, social integration and economic development. Moreover, an international workshop for specialized cultural tour operators was organized, whereby participants met tour operators from 12 different countries on a one to one basis. The fair also served as a good 


airplane-christmasAs the busiest travel month approaches, the airline industry is gearing up to welcome festive travelers worldwide. Innovative and attractive offers from the airlines are hitting the mail boxes of every frequent traveler. Here is a quick selection of 3 most attractive offers from the airline industry to woo the Christmas travelers of 2014.




1) Malaysia Airlines – ‘YES campaign’

UTair Announces Favorite Cities Special Offer – 990 Rubles for Connecting Flights

UTairUTair Aviation announces special airfares for connecting flights via Moscow starting from November 24, 2014 to March 31, 2015.

The special offer is valid for residents and visitors of Arkhangelsk , Barnaul, Belgorod, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Krasnoyarsk, Kurgan, Murmansk, Naryan-Mar, Nizhnevartovsk, Nizhnekamsk, Nizhniy Novgorod, Noyabrsk, Omsk, Perm, Samara, Surgut, Syktyvkar, Tambov, Tomsk, Tyumen, Ulyanovsk, Ufa, Khanty-Mansiysk and Chelyabinsk.


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NATS: New runway technology at Newcastle Airport

New runway technologyNewcastle International Airport is the first airport in the UK to achieve Category III status for the use of forward scatter meter runway visual range equipment.

Airport landing equipment is ranked dependent on the level of visibility it can operate in – from category I through to III.


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Diamond Experience At The Spa At Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou

Mandarin Oriental PudongRenowned Spanish beauty brand, Natura Bissé, has chosen to launch its award-winning Diamond Experience treatment at The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou. Following the success of its treatments in Mandarin Oriental properties in Las Vegas, Washington D.C. and San Francisco, Mandarin Oriental, Guangzhou is the fourth hotel within the Group and the first hotel spa in China to exclusively offer this premier product line.


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A Journey To Holistic Wellbeing At Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur

Mandarin Oriental PudongThis holiday season, reminisce treasured memories with loved ones whilst bidding goodbye to 2014 and welcoming 2015 with a spectacular view of the fireworks with Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur’s Fireworks Fantasy package.


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Celebrate A Prosperous New Year With Auspicious Moments At Mandarin Oriental, Singapore

Mandarin Oriental PudongDelight in the Year of the Goat and celebrate an abundance of good fortunes and auspicious moments with Mandarin Oriental, Singapore.

Bask in an exclusive one-bedroom suite overlooking the city’s glittering skyline, while enjoying a myriad of delightful dining treats, including delicious welcome cocktails, tantalising Lunar New Year goodies, and a splendid reunion set dinner, complete with the traditional Yu-Sheng.


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Global Debut Of BGA Insoles At The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Mandarin Oriental PudongBastien Gonzalez, the internationally acclaimed pedi: podiatrist who has given pedi:mani:cure its “letters of nobility” will debut a revolutionary podiatric cure, the BGA InSoles® at a global launch atThe Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong in February 2015. His innovative approach, which began in his Pedi:Mani:Cure Studio by Bastien Gonzalez  in Paris in 2002, has been followed by an expanding foot print in many cities around the world including the exclusive studio at The Oriental Spa.


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Gaza Strip flooded after two-day deluge, hundreds evacuated

689India FloodsAfter two days of heavy rain led to severe flooding in the Gaza Strip the United Nations has declared a state of emergency in the area. However, no casualties have been reported though hundreds of people have been evacuated and 63 schools were closed for the day in Gaza City.


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All 8 Four Seasons Hotels in China Earn Travel + Leisure Awards in 2014

ALL 8 FOUR SEASONS HOTETravel + Leisure, a leading travel magazine worldwide, has announced the 2014 China Travel Awards. At the awards ceremony, Four Seasons hotels in Beijing, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai and Shenzhen were recognized in several categories including China’s Top 100 Hotels, China’s Best New Hotels and China’s Top 20 Boutique Hotels:


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Worst storm in 3 decades devastates Brisbane, 90k homes damaged

Victoria Transport stumped as wild storm paralyses normal lifeA major clean-up operation is under way in the third largest Australian city of Brisbane after a severe storm blew across south-east Queensland. The storm poured hailstones the size of golf balls, causing widespread damage.

Around 90,000 homes had no power as winds rushing at 140km/h (85mph) brought down trees and power cables. Commuters were also stranded after rail services were suspended across Brisbane.


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Tourism New Zealand records strong visitor influx

Tourism-New-ZealandTourism New Zealand is welcoming the ongoing growth in holiday visitor arrivals – up 6.4 for the year ending October – pushing total holiday arrivals to 1.3 million visitors.
The data, released today by Statistics New Zealand, reveals that total arrivals for the year ending October are up 5.1 per cent ahead of the high season.


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Friday 28 November 2014

Britain- the most desirable destination for Chinese outbound travelers

Chinese Tourists to Visit UKThis week, VisitBritain is holding its biggest Destination China tourism mission to date in Guangzhou and Hong Kong. China ranked Britain second out of the 50 countries for ‘Tourism’ in the 2014 Anholt GfK Nations Brand Index study. It is Britain’s best ranking to date, one place higher than in 2013.


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Westport and Kinsale awarded 2014 National Large and Small Tourism Town — Fáilte Ireland

KinsaleFáilte Ireland announced that Westport and Kinsale have been crowned the 2014 National Large Tourism Town and National Small Tourism Town respectively. The Mayo hotspot and Cork fishing village were chosen from a shortlist of ten top tourism towns, with the remaining towns all receiving certificates of merit to acknowledge their own impressive performances in reaching out to visitors and creating the best possible tourism experiences.


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Estonia welcomes visitors for rejuvenating weekend

Estonia 2In the late spring this year, Estonia nominated the age-old smoke sauna custom of Võromaa to be included in UNESCO’s prestigious listing. Smoke sauna, where the smoke heats up the building before being aired out, is an important weekly cleansing ritual for the small Võro community of Estonia. It comprises a set of traditions including the actual bathing customs, the skills of making bath whisks, building and repairing saunas, as well as smoking meat in the sauna.


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Beachfront Portstewart B&B awarded five star status

portstewartThe beachfront accommodation comprises a selection of six immaculately designed guest rooms decorated in a New England style with pale tones, wooden shutters, painted furniture and nautical art work.
The cosy, modern rooms feature a host of facilities, including iPod docks and luxurious bathrobes, while the Strandeen breakfast menu offers a superb selection of hot dishes all prepared to order using fresh, seasonal and locally sourced produce.


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Long Island Governor urges travelers to exercise caution against stormy weather

Winter Weather WatchesGovernor Andrew M. Cuomo today urged motorists to be safe and adjust plans if possible ahead of potentially hazardous winter weather conditions this holiday week. The National Weather Service has issued Winter Weather Watches and Warnings in and around New York State, with heavy and drifting snow predicted to move south to north beginning early Wednesday and continue through Thanksgiving on Thursday. At this time, predicted snowfall amounts vary from 7 to 16 inches throughout the Mohawk and Hudson Valleys, including the Capital District.


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Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards 2014 for eco tourism announced

Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards 2014 for eco tourism announcedCongratulations to all the winners in the Tropical North Queensland Tourism Awards for 2014.  Ecotourism Australia has been thrilled to see that almost all winners in applicable categories held Ecotourism Australia certification.


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Garuda Indonesia Signs Code Share agreement with Myanmar Airways International

download (4)Garuda Indonesia, the national airline of Indonesia, and Myanmar Airways International have concluded a code share agreement today between the two airlines. The signing of the agreement was carried out by Garuda Indonesia EVP Sales and Marketing Erik Meijer and Myanmar Airways International Managing Director Si Thu, and was also witnessed by the Indonesian Ambassador to the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Ito Sumardi, the Myanmar Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia San Myint Oo, and President & CEO of Garuda Indonesia Emirsyah Satar.


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Experience the world class meeting and conference venue at Regal Airport Hotel

regalRegal Airport Hotel Meeting & Conference Centre is a world-class international meeting and conference venue, featuring the most extensive meeting and conference facilities in Hong Kong’s hotels with 30 function rooms and the largest pillar-free grand ballroom in Hong Kong.


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Kevin Regan of Silversea elected as Chairman of HPAC

silverseaKevin Regan, director of corporate and incentive sales for Silversea Cruises, was elected chair of the Hospitality Partner Advisory Council (HPAC) at the Financial and Insurance Conference Planners (FICP) Annual Conference held in Hawaii this month.


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Ryanair shareholders vote in favour of Boeing 737 “Gamechanger” Order

ryanairRyanair announced that its order to purchase up to 200 Boeing “gamechanger” 737 MAX aircraft has been approved by 99.93% of shareholders who voted at its EGM in Dublin this morning. When finalised (and if all options are exercised) this deal will be valued at over $22bn at current list prices.


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Melbourne Airport awarded for innovation and safety at AAA awards

melbourne airport logoMelbourne Airport has won awards for innovation and safety at the Australian Airports Association National Airport Industry Awards presented at a gala event.

Adding to their Victorian award, Melbourne Airport’s Baggage System Coordinator, Mike New, and BCS Infrastructure’s Senior Operations Manager, Craig Manester, claimed the national award for their innovative integrated baggage belt ‘safety switch’.


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Gatwick Airport and Croydon Council partners to ensure benefits of airport expansion

gatwickGatwick Airport and Croydon Council signed an agreement to work together to help local residents fully realise the economic growth and regeneration opportunities that an expanded Gatwick would bring.

The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by Croydon Council’s Leader Cllr Tony Newman and Gatwick’s CEO, Stewart Wingate, at the Develop Croydon conference, Fairfield Halls, Croydon.


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Surrey to focus on rail improvement

Surrey to focus on rail improvementFollowing a report by Network Rail about improving rail services from Waterloo, Surrey County Council Cabinet Member for Transport John Furey said:
“It’s awful feeling like a sardine packed into a train carriage. These plans are good news for Surrey’s commuters and economy. They include electrifying the North Downs Line, more platforms and ways to ease bottlenecks, all of which we called for in our rail strategy to tackle overcrowding and boost growth.


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