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Latest travel news. Air travel, hospitality and tourism news.

Accor to open 8 new hotels for Indonesia

by Travel News Editor

Accor the largest international operator of hotels in Indonesia today announced further growth of its hotel network, with eight new projects throughout the country. The eight new projects which will all open before the end of 2012 include hotels in Padang, Surabaya, Manado, Balikpapan, Kuta, Denpasar, Jakarta and Bangka.

Commenting on the progress to date and the prospects of Accor’s development and growth in Indonesia Michael Issenberg – Accor Asia Pacific Chairman and Chief Operating Officer said “Indonesia with its strong economy and strengthening domestic travel volumes offers significant opportunity for development. This development is leveraged off Accor’s already strong network, diverse brand presence and significant in country infrastructure supporting organic growth of our managed hotel portfolio throughout the archipelago.”

Accor currently operates 39 hotels throughout Indonesia, which will increase to 40 hotels by years end. Thereafter, 10 new hotels will be added in 2011 and 5 more in 2012 taking the network to 55 hotels and 9,500 rooms by 2012. [Read more…]

Resorts World Sentosa opening first four hotels on January 20th

by Travel News Editor

Resorts World Sentosa, the first integrated resort in Singapore, will start a phased opening on January 20th, 2010 with four of its hotels opening on the same day. Resorts World Sentosa’s four hotels – Festive Hotel, Hard Rock Hotel Singapore, Crockfords Tower and Hotel Michael – offer a combined inventory of 1,350 rooms and 10 restaurant outlets at their opening. Another two hotels at the Resort, Equarius Hotel and Spa Villas, will add another 500 rooms when they launch after 2010. Room and restaurant reservations will begin on Monday, January 11th, 2010 [Read more…]

EVA Air to start direct flights between Taipei and Toronto

by Travel News Editor

EVA Air will start direct passenger flights between Taipei, Taiwan and Toronto, Canada on Monday, March 29, 2010. For countless residents of Toronto and Eastern Canada who fly back and forth to Asia for family, business and leisure, the new service will shave hours off of travel time and make trip planning significantly more convenient. EVA is introducing the service with three flights a week. [Read more…]

Singapore Airlines losing, AirAsia gaining

by Travel News Editor

Singapore Airlines (SIA) – arguably among the world’s best-run, most profitable major airlines in the past – has announced a whopping loss for the April-June quarter of this year, blaming the world economic crisis, the H1N1 pandemic and losses on fuel hedging.

Not mentioned by the airline, but possibly another factor, is an ongoing boycott by Indian travel agents furious at having had their 5% commission on ticket sales cancelled. The boycott has been going on since the end of last year, and means that anyone in India wishing to travel by SIA can now book only at the SIA offices there, or online. Lufthansa and British Airways, too, are being boycotted for the same reason. [Read more…]

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport Awarded Green Globe

by Travel News Editor

Crowne Plaza Changi Airport has been awarded “Green Globe” by the non-profit environmental organization EC3. In its first annual ‘Earthcheck’ assessment against benchmarking indicators and checklists to track performance in key areas of environmental and social impact, the 320-room hotel outperformed baseline levels in seven areas including water savings, use of paper products, cleaning products and pesticides. [Read more…]

Marina Bay Sands in Singapore planned opening by February 15, 2010

by Travel News Editor

Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman Sheldon G. Adelson and other senior executives celebrated the topping off of the three hotel towers at the company’s Marina Bay Sands property in Singapore. To clarify any ambiguities concerning the property’s opening date the company issued the following statement:

“The company has said on previous occasions that it is targeting an early 2010 opening for its Marina Bay Sands integrated resort in Singapore. That plan remains the same, and although we do not have an exact date, we are making every effort to open the property by February 15, 2010. [Read more…]

Accor opens two Mercure resorts on Koh Samui

by Travel News Editor

Accor, the largest international hotel operator in Thailand, opened of two beachfront Mercure resorts on Southern Thailand Island – Samui (Koh Samui) – Mercure Samui Buri and Mercure Samui Fenix.

Mercure Samui Buri Resort marks Accor’s first mid-scale hotel on the island. The hotel is situated on the secluded northern Maenam Beach, a beach that remains a secret paradise. The waters are calm and shallow for most of the year, the sandy beach is long, and has stunning vistas of Pha Ngan Island. The location is perfect for couples on a honeymoon or those in need of a relaxing break. [Read more…]

AirAsia Drops Admin Fees to Stimulate Travel

by Travel News Editor

With the aim of further stimulating travel and tourism in Malaysia and the region, AirAsia is abolishing the administration fee from its fare structure. This presents further real savings to AirAsia guests as they now only have to fork out the seat fare and airport tax.

‘No Admin Fee’ as it is aptly called, will come into effect for bookings made for all AirAsia and AirAsia X flights from 24th June 2009. From this date, AirAsia.com will display All-In Fares (fare + airport tax) throughout the booking process. This ensures transparency from the advertised price to selecting your flight and paying for it on AirAsia.com [Read more…]

Singapore Airlines Check-In at Crowne Plaza Changi Airport

by Travel News Editor

Guests at the Crowne Plaza Changi Airport in Singapore now get an added bonus when they stay at the 320-room city-style resort.

Guests can now literally “check in” as they “check out”: check into Singapore Airlines or SilkAir flights from a dedicated counter in the lobby of the hotel, at the same time as they check out of their rooms.

The unique new service is operated by the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) personnel, who take care of check–in baggage and issue boarding passes. [Read more…]

Ritz-Carlton Opens Hotel in Shenzhen

by Travel News Editor

Ritz-Carlton hotel in Shenzhen opened on March 15, 2009. The opening of this hotel further demonstrates the exceptional brand growth of The Ritz-Carlton in China, with five new luxury hotels having opened in the space of slightly more than two years.

Contemporary in design, The Ritz-Carlton, Shenzhen comprises 282 luxurious guestrooms, including 43 suites that offer magnificent views of the city – nine of which feature signature balconies. The 446-square meter (4,801 square feet) Ritz-Carlton Suite features a magnificent two-storey grand entrance with floor-to-ceiling, offering a 270-degree panoramic view of the city, a steam room, Jacuzzi, study, library and games room. [Read more…]