Austrian Airlines resumes flights to Bangkok,Vietnam Deluxe Travel
Transcription
Austrian Airlines resumes flights to Bangkok,Vietnam Deluxe Travel
The New York Times announces the 2009 New York Times Travel Show FEBRUARY 6 – 8, 2009 AT THE JACOB K. JAVITS CONVENTION CENTER, NYC Presented by American Express The New York Times announced today that the sixth annual New York Times Travel Show will be held Feb. 6 – 8 at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City. The Travel Show will feature nearly 500 exhibitors representing over 100 countries and will focus on travel destinations, packages and special offers, as well as tour operators, cruise lines and live entertainment for the whole family. For more information, visit http://www.nytimes.com/travelshow. American Express has signed on to be the presenting sponsor of The New York Times Travel Show through 2011. As a founding sponsor, American Express has participated in the show since its inception. This year, the Travel Show will move to the Main Hall, located on the south side of the Javits Center. The event will showcase the variety of travel and vacation opportunities for consumers of all types: those traveling solo, as a couple, without children or taking the whole family; those looking for budget vs. luxury trips; and those looking for relaxation and wellness trips or for adventure travel. The common thread will be the opportunity for consumers to book any type of vacation during the show taking advantage of all the special on-site promotions that provide the most value for their travel investment. The New York Times Travel show is the largest consumer and trade travel event of its kind in the U.S. featuring different regions of the world including Africa, Asia, Australia/South Pacific, Canada, the Caribbean, Central America, Europe, Mexico, South America and the United States. Travel experts including Rick Steves, Arthur and Pauline Frommer, Stephanie Abrams and experts from the Travel Channel will take questions and offer tips in on-site seminars. Among the pavilions for specialty travel are: Adventure Travel, Luxury and Spa Travel and Cruise Travel. “American Express is thrilled to once again be the presenting sponsor of The New York Times Travel Show,” says Lynne Biggar, senior vice president and general manager, American Express Travel. “As a founding sponsor, we take particular pride in the show’s record-breaking growth year after year, and we expect the 2009 Travel Show to follow suit. American Express’s collaboration with The Times’s Travel Show has been a successful one from the start. It has given us the opportunity to support an event that encourages and highlights the joys of travel and the invaluable service and expertise travel professionals provide, while showcasing the best-in-class travel benefits that American Express offers its Cardmembers and travel agency partners.” “We are delighted to welcome back American Express as our presenting sponsor for this year and the years to come,” said Yasmin Namini, senior vice president, marketing and circulation, The New York Times. “The Times’s Travel Show has become a much anticipated destination for thousands of consumers each year. We look forward to a fantastic and successful show with plenty of opportunities for booking the trips you have always dreamed of taking.” About The New York Times Company The New York Times Company, a leading media company with 2007 revenues of $3.2 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 16 other daily newspapers, WQXR-FM and more than 50 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company’s core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment. About American Express Travel American Express entered the travel agency business in 1915 and today is one of the largest travel agency networks. The company has Travel and Foreign Exchange Services locations worldwide. American Express Company (www.americanexpress.com) is a leading global payments, network and travel company founded in 1850. Taoyuan County named one of world’s 21 intelligent cities Taoyuan County, Taiwan, Dec. 3 (CNA) The head of Taoyuan County in northern information Taiwan shared an international honor with industry leaders at a reception Wednesday after the New Yorkbased Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) named the county one of 21 smart communities in the world. Taoyuan County Magistrate Li-lun Chu was joined by executives of Chunghwa Telecom Co., Quanta Computer Inc., Hewlett Packard Co. and Microsoft Taiwan Corp. at the celebration of the county’s emergence from among 400 candidate cities around the world to win the rare honor. Chu signed a letter of intent for future cooperation with the Industrial Development Bureau under the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Chunghwa Telecom and Global Mobile Corp. on the provision of wireless broadband service in Taoyuan County. Taoyuan County, with a population of 1,950,000, was the only Asian community on the list of the Smart21 Communities of 2009 announced by the ICF on Oct. 29. The ICF is a think tank that studies the economic and social development of the 21st century community. It will name the Top Seven Intelligent Communities of 2009, selected from among the Smart21, on Jan. 21 next year during the Pacific Telecommunications Council annual conference in Honolulu, Hawaii. The Smart21 of 2009 includes communities from 12 nations on four continents with populations ranging from 17,000 to 2.5 million. Ten of the 2009 Smart21 are North American communities, seven are in Europe, two in the Asia-Pacific, one in South America, and one in Africa. The list includes Albany in New York; Edmonton, Canada; Gold Coast City, Australia; Manchester, England; and California, the United States; “Each of these communities has demonstrated a commitment to improving their communities through innovative broadband applications,” said ICF Co-founder Louis Zacharilla in a news release. “The ingenuity of these communities is exemplified in their investments in the future of the young, the growth and progress of job-creating businesses, and economic security,” he said. An overarching theme of the 2009 honorees has been the dedication to putting people first and building a “talent inventory” that will thrive with technology and innovation, he added. (By Han Nai-kuo) No information from China on WHA bid talks: presidential spokesman Taipei, Dec.3 (CNA) The government has not received any information about talks with China on Taiwan’s bid to take part in the annual World Health Assembly (WHA) meeting, Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said late Tuesday. Wang was responding to reports that Beijing is open to dealing with issues regarding Taiwan’s participation in the WHA — the decision-making arm of the World Health Organization (WHO) — in line with a joint communique issued after a meeting in Beijing in 2005 between then-Kuomintang (KMT) Chairman Lien Chan and Chinese President Hu Jintao. The reports quoted an unidentified KMT official as saying that when Hu met with Lien on the sidelines of the annual Asia Pacific Economic Forum (APEC) leaders’ summit in Peru, he expressed the hope that President Ma Ying-jeou would send delegates to Beijing to discuss the WHA issue. Lien, now the KMT’s honorary chairman, served as Ma’s envoy at the Nov. 22-23 APEC summit held in the Peruvian capital of Lima. Wang said the government has been working toward its goal of securing participation in the 2009 WHA to be held next May in Geneva. “We have been striving hard for this target and will never stop our efforts until realizing the goal, ” he said. As to how Taiwan activities, will participate in the annual WHA Wang said the government has not yet received any further information. Because of Beijing’s sovereignty claim, Taiwan has been barred from taking part in international organizations or activities that require statehood, including the United Nations and the U.N.-affiliated WHO and its governing body, the WHA. In the 2005 Lien-Hu joint communique, the two men pledged to galvanize the two sides to address the aspiration of Taiwan’s people to be represented in major international activities, particularly Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities. At the time, the KMT was in opposition and Hu signed the communique in his capacity as general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC). The two parties promised to work together to create favorable conditions for an ultimate solution to the thorny issue regarding Taiwan’s participation in world organizations. Lien’s office would not comment on the latest reports about Hu’s hope of President Ma sending delegates to China for talks on WHA issues. Although the KMT returned to power in May this year, senior party officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said there is little chance that Taiwan’s WHA participation issue will be addressed through the KMT-CPC dialogue platform. In their view, they added, the issue should instead be handled by the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council and Taiwan’s quasi-official intermediary body — the Straits Exchange Foundation. Meanwhile, KMT Deputy Secretary-General Chang Jung-kung, who concurrently heads the KMT’s Mainland Affairs Department, said he had not heard Lien mention China’s hope that Ma send envoys to China for talks on the WHA issue. As to a regular KMT-CPC forum scheduled to take place later this month, Chang said the meeting’s agenda will focus on economic and trade topics and will not address the WHA bid. (By Sofia Wu) Dalai Lama visit could be arranged at proper time: spokesman Taipei, Dec. 4 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou’s decision to nix the idea of a visit to Taiwan at this time by the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was based on concern for Taiwan’s overall interests, but “such a visit could be arranged at a proper time in the future,” Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi said Thursday. “The president is concerned about the situation in Tibet, but his rejection of a possible visit by the Dalai Lama at present was based on consideration of the nation’s overall interests, ” Wang said while taking questions from the press at the Presidential Office. However, Wang sidestepped a question on whether the term “national interests” refers to cross-Taiwan Strait relations, saying that “this is a complex issue.” He also stressed that Beijing has not contacted the Taiwan government on the Dalai Lama issue. Although the Dalai Lama has publicly expressed interest in visiting Taiwan for a third time, sources said, the Tibetan spiritual leader has not applied to the Taiwan government to do so. President Ma said during a news conference with members of the Taiwan Foreign Correspondents’ Club Wednesday that Taiwan welcomes visits by all the world’s religious leaders, but added, “I think at the current moment, the timing is not appropriate” for a visit by the Dalai Lama. Fielding questions from reporters on the matter Thursday at the Legislative Yuan, Legislative Yuan Speaker Wang Jin-pyng suggested President Ma reconsider his position, as a visit by the Dalai Lama, widely viewed as the world’s most admirable religious leader, would be religious in nature. “It is not necessary to look a visit by the Dalai Lama from a political viewpoint,” Wang said. “Taiwan could permit him to visit in a way that would make the world take positive notice of Taiwan, without upsetting the improving cross-strait ties.” Later Thursday, opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) spokesman Cheng president’s Wen-tsang expressed regret over the negative position on a possible visit by the Dalai Lama at this time. Cheng said the president should provide the public with a clear explanation of his stance on the issue, arguing that Taiwan should never give way to pressure from Beijing as this would tarnish Taiwan’s international image. Speaking at a news conference at the Legislative Yuan, members of the DPP legislative caucus urged the president to review his stance, adding that they would propose a motion in the legislature to welcome a visit by the Dalai Lama to Taiwan. Ma’s position on the Dalai Lama issue has not only hurt the Taiwan people’s feelings, but will also create a misconception of Taiwan internationally, DPP lawmakers said. DPP Legislator Huang Wei-cher questioned why the Ma administration had so eagerly welcomed a visit by Chen Yunlin, but was turning a cold shoulder to the Tibetan spiritual leader. Chen, who serves as Beijing’s top negotiator with Taiwan, held talks with his Taiwanese counterpart in November in Taipei amid warming ties between Taiwan and China since Ma came to power in May. (By Flor Wang) European countries urged to give Taiwan nationals visafree entry Taipei, Dec. 4 (CNA) President Ma Ying-jeou expressed the hope Thursday that European countries will waive visa requirements for Taiwanese tourists. Ma noted that Taiwan has given more than 30 countries, including 20 European Union nations, visa-free treatment. If the European countries could also reciprocate, then the number of Taiwan tourists to Europe will definitely increase dramatically, he added. The president made the remarks when he received foreign participants to the 25th Taiwan-European Conference, an annual academic meeting sponsored by National Chengchi University’s Institute of International Relations. Ma said the conference has played a major role in increasing academic exchanges between Taiwan and European countries over the past 25 years. He added that it has also contributed to the progress made in relations between Taiwan and many European countries. Ma noted that the European Union is now Taiwan’s fourth largest trading partner. The EU has been supportive of Taiwan in many ways, including its support of the second round of talks between Taiwan and China in Taipei last month and of Taiwan’s bid to join the World Health Organization and its governing body, the World Health Assembly, Ma said. (By Lilian Wu) Hotel Indigo Offers Respite With “Escape The In-laws” Package Survey Says Travelers Hope For Hotel Stays This Holiday Season ATLANTA – According to a new survey released today by Hotel Indigo®, one-third (36%) of Americans would rather check into a hotel than stay with family and an astounding 97 percent would rather not stay with their in-laws. Findings show that while travelers are looking to spend the holidays with family, they simply don’t want to stay with them! To minimize the stress and frustrations that often accompany family visits, Hotel Indigo is offering an affordable and refreshingly family-free asylum with its “Escape the In-Laws” package. Guests who book the package at participating properties between now and Jan. 14, 2009, will receive luxury accommodation, breakfast for two, and a “Family Decompression Kit” complete with aspirin, aromatherapy oil and a bottle of wine. Starting from $129, travelers choosing to “escape their in-laws” will find solace at Hotel Indigo from the relaxing lobby and welcoming hotel ambassadors to the comfy guestrooms and spa-inspired showers. To book guests online can visit www.hotelindigo.com or call 1-800-983-3599. Commissioned by Hotel Indigo, the online survey of 1,000 U.S. residents ages 18 and over was conducted by Kelton Research between Nov. 17 and Nov. 20. Hotel Indigo participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program, Priority Club® Rewards. The industry’s first and largest guest loyalty program has 40 million members worldwide. Priority Club Rewards membership is free and guests can enroll by logging on at www.priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by inquiring at the front desk of any Hotel Indigo or any of IHG’s more than 4,100 hotels worldwide. About Hotel Indigo: Launched by IHG in 2004, Hotel Indigo® is the industry’s first branded boutique hotel. Hotel Indigo artfully combines the conveniences and consistencies of a branded hotel with the design cache and service personality of a boutique. An alternative to traditional cookie-cutter hotels, Hotel Indigo caters to the style-conscious traveler that values personal service, affordable luxury and a genuine hotel experience without sacrificing any of the necessary business amenities. By incorporating thoughtful changes throughout the year – similar to the way a retailer changes its windows – Hotel Indigo offers even the most frequent guest a distinctive and engaging experience with each and every stay. Public spaces are transformed seasonally through changing aromas, music, artwork, murals and directional signage, while guestrooms are periodically refreshed with new murals, area rugs and furniture slip covers. From relaxed café dining to high-style rooms – Hotel Indigo creates an intriguing, warm and inviting environment for guests. For more information on Hotel Indigo, please visit www.hotelindigo.com. oneworld remporte à nouveau le titre de « Meilleure alliance aérienne au monde » Pour la sixième année consécutive, l’alliance oneworld® a été nommée « Meilleure alliance aérienne au monde » dans le cadre des « World Travel Awards » ; l’un des plus importants palmarès de la profession, présenté par le Wall Street Journal comme l’équivalent des Oscars pour l’industrie du voyage. oneworld a remporté le titre de « meilleure alliance aérienne » depuis la création de cette catégorie en 2003. L’alliance a également remporté trois fois le titre de « Meilleure alliance aérienne » dans le Palmarès du magazine Business Traveller ; ce qui en fait l’alliance la plus primée du secteur aérien. Les compagnies membres de oneworld ont remporté plus de nominations dans la catégorie « Meilleure compagnie aérienne au monde » que les membres des autres alliances. Les compagnies membres ont également remporté plus de prix dans les catégories régionales que les membres des autres alliances. Cathay Pacific a reçu le titre de « Meilleure compagnie aérienne d’Asie », juste devant Japan Airlines. Qantas a été élue « Meilleure Compagnie d’Australasie » et American Airlines, « Meilleure compagnie aérienne d’Amérique du nord ». LAN était la seule compagnie membre d’une alliance aérienne nominée dans la catégorie « Meilleure compagnie aérienne d’Amérique du sud » et Royal Jordanian, la seule compagnie membre d’une alliance aérienne nominée dans la catégorie « Meilleure compagnie aérienne du Moyen-Orient». British Airways et Iberia étaient toutes les deux nominées dans la catégorie « Meilleure compagnie aérienne européenne ». Ces récompenses ont été décernées hier lors d’une cérémonie de gala qui s’est déroulée aux Turks & Caicos. Les World Travel Awards sont attribués sur la base des votes de plus de 170.000 professionnels du voyage. Pour John McCulloch, Managing Partner de l’alliance oneworld, « Nous avons toujours mis l’accent sur la qualité plutôt que sur la quantité de nos compagnies membres. Nous sommes particulièrement heureux d’être à nouveau distingués en tant que seule alliance à avoir remporté ce prix depuis sa création il y a 6 ans. C’est une nouvelle manifestation de confiance de la part de personnes qui sont on ne peut plus au fait de l’industrie du voyage et du transport aérien international. » A propos de oneworld : oneworld regroupe quelques unes des plus importantes et des meilleures compagnies aériennes mondiales: American Airlines, British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Finnair, Iberia, LAN, Qantas, Japan Airlines, Malév Hungarian Airlines et Royal Jordanian, ainsi qu’une vingtaine de compagnies affiliées dont AmericanEagle, Comair, Dragonair, LAN Argentina, LAN Ecuador et LAN Peru. Mexicana s’apprête à les rejoindre en 2009, avec sa filiale Click Mexicana en tant qu’affiliée Ensemble, ces compagnies desservent près de 700 destinations dans près de 150 pays, proposent près de 550 salons privés aux aéroports et ont transporté 320 millions de passagers l’an dernier. oneworld est la seule alliance disposant de membres basés en Amérique du sud, au Moyen-Orient asiatique ou en Australie. L’alliance permet à ses membres d’offrir à leurs passagers plus de services et de valeur ajoutée que chaque compagnie ne pourrait le faire individuellement. Pour les voyageurs, cela signifie notamment un réseau global très étendu, la possibilité de cumuler des miles et des points sur toutes les destinations du réseau et de les échanger contre des primes de voyage, et l’accès à un plus grand nombre de salons privés d’aéroport dans le monde. Wizz Air is outraged Warsaw Airport plans by Wizz Air is outraged by the fact that PPL (Polish Airport Authorities) will close the Etiuda Terminal and double the charges imposed on airlines currently operating out of Etiuda effectively from April 2009. PPL has confirmed no plans for re-accommodating the low cost carriers other than proposing the prohibitive charges currently available for operations out of the main terminal of Warsaw Airport. Wizz Air, the largest low fare – low cost carrier at Warsaw Airport has been operating out of Etiuda Terminal since September 2004 and has made significant investments in setting up and running an operating base that currently employs over 100 local staff. Wizz Air’s Warsaw traffic will record 875,000 passengers in 2008, accounting for 15% of the airport’s total traffic. The overall airline capacity at Warsaw Airport dropped by 14% in November compared to the same month last year, marking the third sharpest decline of Europe’s primary airports. During the same period Wizz Air’s capacity in Warsaw grew 12% or 4,500 seats which was is the airport’s largest capacity increase in November. Wizz Air views the PPL plan as a major jeopardy on the future perspective of civil aviation of Poland’s capital and a hostile move against the interest of Poland and the Polish people. Millions of Polish people who currently enjoy the financial benefits of low fares will suffer increased charges or no low fare opportunities at all. Also as a result of the PPL plan hundreds of people will lose their jobs. József Váradi, Chief executive Officer of Wizz Air said: ‘We are outraged by the irresponsible and one sided decision of PPL to wipe Warsaw out from the map of low cost airlines. Even though the constantly changing management of PPL has been talking about opening Modlin airport for low cost airlines, it was not able to deliver any progress over the past 5 years.” He went on saying: ‘This incompetent decision is only aimed at protecting LOT, the airline which has been wasting hundreds of millions of zlotys of Polish tax payers money on Centralwings. Once it failed, they decided to shut down the low cost terminal to protect the struggling mother company. This goes against the spirit of free market economy and EU antimonopoly regulations.’ Wizz Air publicly requests the revision of the Warsaw Airport plans in the spirit of the interest of the Polish people and the prospect of Polish civil aviation. Phukets First Exhibition & Conference Centre Officially Launched at Royal Phuket Marina In a ceremony attended by Royal Phuket Marina owner and developer Mr. Gulu Lalvani, and more than 50 VIP guests from Thailand and overseas, Governor of Phuket Mr Preecha Ruanchun, officially opened the island’s first dedicated Exhibition & Conference centre in Thailand’s most exclusive luxury lifestyle yachting community. The new facility will be known as Exhibition & Conference Centre’. ‘RPM International The 2,500 square metre waterfront ‘RPM Convention Centre’ paves the way for a new era of large-scale conferences, expos and private events on the island. Three times larger than any existing exhibition facility in Phuket, it expects to host one or two high profile events every month. PIMEX, which runs from December 4 to 7 and which is hailed as “Asia’s favourite boat show” by its organiser, is the first major exhibition to be held at the new RPM facility. The conference centre is a joint venture between Royal Phuket Marina and Informa (www.informa.com), the largest publiclyowned organiser of conferences and courses in the world, staging over 10,000 events annually. In his address Governor Ruanchun said, “Phuket is one of the world’ premier tourist destinations, and I am confident that with the opening of such facilities as the RPM International Exhibition and Conference Centre, our island paradise has the potential to become a leading international venue for conventions, expos and large scale private events.” On Phuket’s eastern seaboard overlooking scenic Phang Na Bay, Royal Phuket Marina is Thailand’s first world-class luxury lifestyle community rivaling top marina resort communities in Europe and the Caribbean. It was developed by the world’s second phones, who is on a yachting hub in one locations. tycoon Gulu Lalvani, founder of Binatone, largest manufacturer of digital cordless mission to promote Phuket as a world class of the world’s most idyllic and assessable Royal Phuket Marina has become an entertainment and lifestyle hub with open air restaurants and bars overlooking mega yachts moored in the Mediterranean-style marina. “The launch of the waterfront ‘RPM International Exhibition & Conference Centre’ is an important milestone for Royal Phuket Marina as we continue to contribute to the social and economic fabric of the Phuket community,” said Mr Lalvani. “The island is a natural magnet for growing international demand for conventions and exhibitions. I too am confident that Phuket will be placed firmly on the international convention and exhibition map.” Visitors to Phuket exceeded a record five million last year, up 11.25 per cent from 2006. Despite the troubles in Bangkok over the past few weeks, Phuket has been largely unaffected and high season hotel bookings and visitors to the Island are expected to be high. More information: Following the successful completion and sale of Phase I with its luxury condominiums and unique Aquaminiums, the marina complex is now going into Phase II. More than half of the Royal Phuket Marina development is devoted to leisure, shopping, recreation, and dining set amidst landscaped gardens overlooking the marina. For more information about Royal Phuket Marina please visit www.royalphuketmarina.com SpaFinder teams up with the International Spa Show – London Organisers of the International Spa Show in London next March, today announced a cooperative agreement with SpaFinder, the award-winning spa media, marketing and gifting company. The UK’s premier event dedicated to spa industry and spa tourism will be held at one of the most established and prestigious London venues – Olympia National Hall 20 to 22 March 2009. International Spa Show – London, Event Director, Stanislava Blagoeva welcomes the exciting co-operation commenting: “SpaFinder is a very well-known and respected brand in the spa community and makes a perfect partner for us.” SpaFinder promotes well-being experiences through vertical search, its new online magazine, SpaFinder Lifestyle, an annual spa directory, reservation technology and gift programmes, and, like International Spa Show, aims to stimulate industry growth by connecting consumers and providers. As well as marketing directly to the affluent UK trade buyers and consumers, SpaFinder and the other exhibitors at the International Spa Show 2009 have the opportunity to participate in a specialised Spa and Resorts travel trade industry programme, discussing issues from future trends to profitably marketing the product, from hot destinations to new ideas and products. Despite the economic downturn, the travel and tourism trends remain positive with continuing increases in premium leisure services. The luxury lifestyle on offer at Spas and Resorts, combined with the consumer pursuit of relaxation and wellbeing, has created one of the most powerful trends in the UK outbound and domestic travel and tourism industry. “SpaFinder is dedicated to working with organisations that are looking to further grow the spa sector,” said Cassandra Cavanah, Executive Director, SpaFinder Europe. “ The organisers behind next year’s International Spa Show, seem well equipped to deliver a strong consumer spa show.” FOR GENERAL SHOW INFORMATION OR TO EXHIBIT The International Spa Show Team: Tel. +44 (0) 1923 49 1035 Slava Blagoeva : [email protected] WEBSITE : www.spashow.co.uk