Thai courses debate viability of price cuts,22.638 familles Belges

Celebrate The Opening
Holiday Inn Pattaya
Of
To celebrate the opening of Holiday Inn Pattaya, scheduled to
open on 1st October 2009. We thought we’d focus on something
really important. You. After all we’re nothing without our
guests and we know you’re not one for making a big fuss. So
rather than making lavish statements we’d prefer to do
something that makes a real difference with simply giving you
our best introductory offer.
Relax. It’s Holiday Inn.
Ocean View Room from
THB 1,999++ inclusive of breakfast for 2 persons per room per
night
(Subject to 10% service charge and 7% TAX)
THB 4,000net inclusive of breakfast for 2 persons per room per
2 nights
(Inclusive of 10% service charge and 7% TAX)
Valid from 01st October to 20th December 2009
To
book
call
+66
(0)
www.holidayinn.com/pattaya
2656
8655-63
or
visit
Terms and Conditions:
• Rates are inclusive of daily buffet breakfast for two
people.
• Children 12 and under eat free when sharing parents’ room.
• Bookings are valid for stays from 01 October until 20
December 2009
• Rate is subject to room availability.
• Final bill will be presented in local currency.
• Black out dates may apply for all hotels.
• Offer is not available to groups of 10 or more rooms and
cannot be combined with any other special offer.
• General terms & conditions apply.
IHG has signed a contract to manage the Holiday Inn Pattaya.
The hotel, being developed by the Erawan Group, is scheduled
to open in October 2009. Located along the popular Beach Road,
North Pattaya, the hotel offers panoramic views of Pattaya Bay
from all 367 contemporary designed guest rooms and suites over
looking ocean views. Offering smart casual dining, dedicated
kids services, refreshing spa, infinity pool and meeting
center.
Holiday Inn Pattaya is the choice for everyday travelers.
IHG currently operates eight hotels in Thailand under the
InterContinental and Holiday Inn brands and has another one
opening resorts in Hua Hin.
http://www.ihg.com
Relais & Châteaux expands
internationally – Creation of
new
delegations
and
subsidiaries
The creation of new delegations (Australia-New Zealand, Latin
America) and subsidiaries (France, South Africa, Asia)
underlines the ongoing expansion of Relais & Châteaux both in
France and on the international level.
New delegations in Australia-New Zealand and Latin America
In order to increase the potential of these key regions and
broaden the Relais & Châteaux offering to its guests, the
Association has created two new delegations: the Australia-New
Zealand Delegation with 10 Relais & Châteaux member properties
and the Latin America Delegation with 11 members in 5
countries (Mexico, Argentina, Ecuador, Brazil, and Uruguay).
“These two regions still hold major untapped potential for us.
We hope that with the support of these delegations we can
continue to expand our presence. What this means in concrete
terms is that we further enhance our network in 2010 with a
focus on Australia, Mexico and Chile”, says Jaume Tàpies,
International President of Relais & Châteaux.
A representative of each delegation will sit on the
Association’s international Board of Directors from November
onwards.
The new subsidiaries of Relais & Châteaux
In order to step up its international promotion efforts,
Relais & Châteaux has created three new subsidiaries, in
France, in Asia and South Africa.
The French subsidiary will have the main mission of promoting
the French members of the Association. The Asia subsidiary in
Bangkok and the South Africa subsidiary in Cape Town will
pursue the objective of promoting the brand and taking
reservations in those parts of the world in which the
Association has grown in recent years.
“The Association is strengthening its structures on the
international level in order to carry out joint, targeted
activities. Our approach has borne fruit: today the unique
character of our properties is identifiable regardless of the
country or culture. Relais & Châteaux is recognized by our
guests as the best way to discover the world”, stresses Jaume
Tàpies, International President of Relais & Châteaux.
About Relais & Châteaux:
Relais & Châteaux is an exclusive collection of 480 of the
finest charming
countries.
hotels
and
gourmet
restaurants
in
56
Established in France in 1954, the Association’s mission is to
spread its unique art de vivre across the globe by selecting
outstanding properties with a truly unique character.
Furthermore, Relais & Châteaux is also a family of hoteliers
and Grands Chefs from all over the world who share a passion
for and a personal commitment to ensuring their guests are
privy to moments of exceptional harmony, an unforgettable
celebration of the senses.
From the vineyards in Napa valley to the beaches in Bali, from
the olive trees in Provence to the lodges in South Africa,
Relais & Châteaux offers all the stops on the finest route for
discovering each special place and country.
The Relais & Châteaux signature reflects this ambition:
“ALL AROUND THE WORLD, UNIQUE IN THE WORLD”.
www.relaischateaux.com
Malév deal for stranded Sky
Europe passengers Fixed fare
for €99
Malév has put together a special offer – valid 1 and 2
September – for those passengers holding valid Sky Europe air
tickets who, due to the suspension of flights by the airline,
are unable to travel to Bratislava, Košice, Vienna or Prague,
or who are unable to depart from Prague.
Malév is offering fixed price, one-way tickets to Budapest for
€99 (inc. tax), bookable in travel agencies. The airline
requests all passengers wishing to take advantage of this
Malév offer to present their valid Sky Europe air tickets when
making the reservation.
Malév runs a scheduled, direct express coach service from
Budapest to Bratislava and Košice, departing from Ferihegy
International Airport; tickets for this service can similarly
be booked at travel agencies.
Malév offers travellers flying to or from Prague a fixed price
one-way air ticket for €99 including taxes. Passengers can
reach their destination through the Budapest air hub of the
Hungarian national carrier. Malév operates scheduled services
to 10 destinations that the discount airline flies to out of
Prague.
Budapest represents the ideal departure point for those
wishing to travel to Slovakia and Austria. All passengers hit
by the cancelled flights will find excellent Malév connections
on the extensive European route network of the Hungarian flag
carrier.
Malév also will have other offers to Sky Europe passengers in
the next following days. Further information will be published
on www.malev.com and www.malev.hu.
Star Alliance launches Circle
North Asia Fare
FRANKFURT, Germany – September 1st, 2009 – Travelling across
North Asia has now become more attractive with Star Alliance’s
Circle North Asia Fare. The new multi-carrier fare is valid on
Air China, ANA, Asiana and Shanghai Airlines for flights
between China, including Hong Kong and Macao, Japan and Korea.
Travel on the circle fare needs to include all three
countries, at least three stopovers and begin and end in the
same country. Reservations for the first international flight
have to be made seven days prior to departure, while all
subsequent flights can be booked last minute or changed
without charge. Minimum stay on this circle fare is at least
three days and with the maximum stay being two months. Fare
levels vary according to class of travel: First, Business or
Economy and distance travelled: 4,800 or 6,600 miles. Tickets
can be booked and issued through any Star Alliance member
airline or travel agent.
“Our latest fare product was developed because we are seeing
increasing demand for travel in this part of Asia,” said Horst
Findeisen, Vice President Business Development at Star
Alliance. “Circle fares allow customers to explore several
countries at their leisure with a single booking, and are
becoming more popular with customers who are interested in
doing business or spending time in a small geographic zone.”
Star Alliance now offers 13 fare products: the Round-the-World
Fare, Circle Asia Fare, Circle North Asia Fare, Circle Pacific
Fare, Africa Airpass, Asia Airpass, China Airpass, Europe
Airpass, Japan Airpass, Middle East Airpass, North America
Airpass, South Pacific Airpass and Thailand Airpass.
Overview of Star Alliance Circle North Asia Fares:
Country
Currency
Class
of departure
4,800
6,600
Miles
Miles
CNY
First
15,560
19,560
CNY
Business
11,760
14,750
CNY
Economy
7,370
9,920
Hong Kong SAR
HKD
First
17,680
22,240
Hong Kong SAR
HKD
Business
13,370
16,760
Hong Kong SAR
HKD
Economy
8,380
10,560
JPY
First
337,000
450,000
JPY
Business
251,000
334,000
JPY
Economy
170,000
223,000
KRW
First
2,966,100
4,310,700
KRW
Business
2,237,400
3,084,000
KRW
Economy
1,641,100
2,139,600
All fares quoted excluding fees and taxes.
About Star Alliance:
The Star Alliance network was established in 1997 as the first truly global airline
alliance to offer customers worldwide reach and a smooth travel experience. Star Alliance
received the Air Transport World Market Leadership Award in 2008 and was voted Best
Airline Alliance by Business Traveller Magazine in 2003, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and
by Skytrax in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. The members are Air Canada, Air China, Air New
Zealand, ANA, Asiana Airlines, Austrian, bmi, EGYPTAIR, LOT Polish Airlines, Lufthansa,
Scandinavian Airlines, Shanghai Airlines, Singapore Airlines, South African Airways,
Spanair, SWISS, TAP Portugal, Turkish Airlines, THAI, United and US Airways. Regional
member carriers Adria Airways (Slovenia), Blue1 (Finland) and Croatia Airlines enhance
the global network. Aegean Airlines, Air India, Brussels Airlines, Continental Airlines
and TAM have been announced as future members. Overall, the Star Alliance network offers
17,000 daily flights to 916 destinations in 160 countries.
Wizz Air rescues SkyEurope
passengers
Wizz Air, the largest low fare – low cost airline in Central
and Eastern Europe announced today that it would provide rerouting alternatives to passengers affected by the collapse of
SkyEurope.
A special rescue package of EUR 30 all inclusive one way fare
is offered to passengers who hold a valid SkyEurope booking
for travel between 1 September 2009 and 26 March 2010. Wizz
Air is making this offer available on its flights from Prague
and Budapest.
To benefit from the special offer passengers should go to
wizzair.com or call the Wizz Air call centres. Seats are
subject to availability and the rebooking should be made by 15
September. Further conditions are available on wizzair.com or
by calling the call centre.
‘This was certainly to be expected. The event underlines the
critical importance of strong cost control and strong
liquidity position, especially in times of financial crisis.
Wizz Air has the track record of rescuing passengers left
stranded by failing carriers and here we are again to restore
customer trust in low cost air travel.’ – said John
Stephenson, Executive Vice- President of Wizz Air. ‘We will be
announcing further developments in the affected markets
shortly.’ – he added.
Wizz Air offers the following re-routing possibilities:
SkyEurope route Wizz Air alternative route
City pair Airport code City pair Airport code
Prague – Amsterdam PRGAMS Prague – Eindhoven PRGEIN
Prague – Milan/Bergamo PRGBGY Prague – Milan/Bergamo PRGBGY
Prague – Bourgas PRGBOJ Prague – Bourgas PRGBOJ
Prague – Bari PRGBRI Prague – Naples PRGNAP
Prague – Brussels PRGBRU Prague – Brussels/Charleroi PRGCRL
Prague – Copenhagen PRGCPH Prague – Malmo/Copenhagen PRGMMX
Prague – Rome/Fiumicino PRGFCO Prague – Rome/Fiumicino PRGFCO
Prague – London/Luton PRGLTN Prague – London/Luton PRGLTN
Prague – Naples PRGNAP Prague – Naples PRGNAP
Prague – Paris/Orly PRGORY Prague – Paris/Beauvais PRGBVA
Prague – Thessaloniki PRGSKG Prague – Thessaloniki PRGSKG
Prague – Venice/Treviso PRGTSF Prague – Venice/Treviso PRGTSF
Bratislava – Barcelona BTSBCN Budapest – Barcelona BUDBCN
Bratislava – Bourgas BTSBOJ Budapest – Bourgas BUDBOJ
Bratislava- Copenhagen BTSCPH Budapest – Malmo/Copenhagen
BUDMMX
Bratislava – Rome Fiumicino BTSFCO Budapest – Rome Fiumicino
BUDFCO
Bratislava – London Luton BTSLTN Budapest – London Luton
BUDLTN
Bratislava – Paris Orly BTSORY Budapest – Paris Beauvais
BUDBVA
Vienna – Amsterdam VIEAMS Budapest – Eindhoven BUDEIN
Vienna – Barcelona VIEBCN Budapest – Barcelona BUDBCN
Vienna – Brussels VIEBRU Budapest – Brussels/Charleroi BUDCRL
Vienna – Bourgas VIEBOJ Budapest – Bourgas BUDBOJ
Vienna
Vienna
Vienna
Vienna
Vienna
BUDFCO
– Copenhagen VIECPH Budapest – Malmo/Copenhagen BUDMMX
– London/Luton VIELTN Budapest – London/Luton BUDLTN
– Naples VIENAP Budapest – Naples BUDNAP
– Paris Orly VIEORY Budapest – Paris/Beauvais BUDBVA
– Rome/Fiumicino VIEFCO Budapest – Rome/Fiumicino
Wizz Air carried over 7 million passengers in the last 12
months. The airline’s fleet currently consists of 26 Airbus
A320 aircraft operating from 11 bases in Poland, Hungary,
Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine and Czech Republic.
Le
Meridien
Continues
Expansion In Asia Pacific
Announcing The Landmark Entry
Of Le Meridien Into Vietnam
With Signing Of Le Meridien
Saigon
Le Méridien Hotels & Resorts continues its expansion momentum
in Asia-Pacific, announcing the signing of its first hotel in
Vietnam : Le Méridien Saigon. Owned by Tien Phuoc & 990
Company Limited, Le Méridien Saigon will offer a European
flair, and sophisticated, environment designed to appeal to
the creative guest in Ho Chi Minh City’s bustling central
business district.
“We are thrilled to announce the signing of Le Méridien Saigon
as this marks the entry of Le Méridien brand into Vietnam and
further strengthens the position of Starwood as one of the
largest international upscale hotel chains in the Indochina
and Thailand region,” said Miguel Ko, Chairman and President
of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Asia Pacific. “Vietnam is
amongst the fastest growing nations in Southeast Asia and in
the world and has been experiencing strong leisure and
business travel within and into the country. The growing
demand presents us with tremendous opportunities to better
serve the needs of travelers,” Ko added.
Starwood also recently announced the launch of a dedicated
customer toll free number for Vietnam. Starwood is the first
international hotel group to introduce a toll free reservation
and enquiry hotline : 1206 5111 for customers in Vietnam. The
calls are also answered by native Vietnamese associates. The
launch of the Vietnam customer toll free number is timely as
Starwood builds their foundation for its growing portfolio of
hotels and resorts in Vietnam
“Le Méridien is delighted to invite guests to embark on a
voyage of discovery in Ho Chi Minh City. A former French
colony, Ho Chi Minh City has a vibrant art and cultural scene
and is a great fit with Le Méridien brand, which is committed
to providing guests with an interactive and culturally
enriching experience,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader,
Le Méridien.
Scheduled to open in July 2012, Le Méridien Saigon is part of
a mixed-used 22-storey tower comprising of the hotel and
office space. The hotel will feature 350 guest rooms, 4
restaurants and bars, a health club, an outdoor swimming pool,
spa and close to 800 square meters of meeting space.
Located on Ton Duc Thang Street, in the heart of Ho Chi Minh
City and along the Saigon River, Le Méridien Saigon will be
within walking distance to the commercial and entertainment
districts of the city and about a 45-minute car ride (about 7
kilometers) from Tan Son Nhat International Airport.
Vietnam is part of Southeast Asia, bordering the Gulf of
Thailand, Gulf of Tonkin, and South China Sea, alongside
China, Laos, and Cambodia and Ho Chi Minh City is on the
southern tip of the country. A French colony from 1859 to
1954, Ho Chi Minh City, then known as Saigon, was laid out in
rectilinear fashion with wide, tree-lined avenues and park
which you can still see in the city today, along with historic
French colonial buildings.
Le Méridien in Asia Pacific
Le Méridien currently operates 26 properties in Asia Pacific.
This latest Le Méridien announcement highlights the
significant development of the brand in Asia Pacific. In 2008
and 2009, Le Méridien opened a new resort in China: Le
Méridien Shimei Bay Beach Resort & Spa and three new
properties in Thailand: Le Méridien Chiang Rai Resort, Le
Méridien Chiang Mai Resort and Le Méridien Bangkok.
In the next 3 years, the brand will open 5 new properties in
Asia-Pacific: Le Méridien Chongqing, Nan’an, Le Méridien
Xiamen, Le Meridien Qingdao, Le Méridien Taipei and Le
Méridien Saigon.
About Le Méridien:
Le Méridien, the French-born hotel brand currently represented
by 105 properties in 50 countries, was acquired by Starwood
Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) in November 2005.
Since then, Le Méridien has gone through a brand
revitalization, which included appointing a full-time Cultural
Curator – French arts-provocateur Jérôme Sans – and
transforming numerous guest touch points, thus brining unique
and interactive experiences to its guests. With close to 80 of
its properties located in Europe, Africa, the Middle East, and
Asia-Pacific, Le Méridien provides a strong international
complement to Starwood’s primarily North American holdings.
Plans call for dynamic expansion of Le Méridien hotels and
resorts within the next five years, concentrating in the U.S.,
Latin America, and Asia-Pacific, including destinations such
as India, Thailand and China. Le Méridien recently opened new
hotels in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Shimei Bay (China),
will open in Dallas and Philadelphia in the coming months, and
has recently signed new hotel deals in Taipei, Xiamen,
Chongqing Nan’an, Qingdao (China) and Saigon ( Vietnam ).
For more information, please visit www.lemeridien.com.
Thai courses debate viability
of price cuts
BANGKOK – With the economic slowdown challenging all sectors
of Thailand’s tourism market, the “next steps” debate within
one particular sector, golf, has played out in the back
offices of clubhouses and in the pages of the country’s
largest newspapers.
At one end of the spectrum are those course owners who’ve seen
the drop in Japanese and Korean visitorship and, in response,
have cut prices in hopes of off-setting this drop in revenue
by attracting and building business among Thai golfers. This
point of view was spelled out in the Bangkok Post’s 27 July
story, “Golf Courses hard hit by slump”.
At the other end are a vocal group of Thailand’s premier golf
and hotel properties, which have pooled their resources and
formed a marketing cooperative called “Golf in a Kingdom: The
Thai Golf Experience”. The 13 hotels and courses in this
cooperative (www.golfinakingdom.com) have kept prices level,
have focused on maintaining course quality, and have invested
in building/broadening new markets abroad, in North America
and Europe.
And it appears to be working. Golfasian, the country’s leading
golf tour operator and a “Golf in a Kingdom” member, has
reported visitation numbers exceeding 2008 figures, while
several Golf in a Kingdom member courses report rounds that
either match or exceed those from 2008, when three quarters
out of four were more or less untainted by the current
slowdown.
Stacey Walton, general manager at Banyan Golf Club in Hua Hin,
and JP Schneider, general manager at Thai Country Club in
Bangkok, report no significant drop-off in rounds played
during 2009. Walton said the paradigm of rate cutting,
especially in reaction to the current economic environment,
would surely result in price wars and a downward spiral effect
on revenues.
Schneider added that this drop in revenue would, perhaps more
importantly, prevent golf clubs from sustaining a high quality
product and customer service experience compared to other
golfing destinations in Europe, the Middle East and elsewhere
in Asia.
“We need to solidify the reputation of Thai golf in markets
where our products are well known (Japan, Korea, Australia/New
Zealand) and enlarge our presence in markets where Thai golf
isn’t so well known: Europe and North America,” added Mark
Siegel, CEO of Bangkok-based Golfasian Co Ltd. “The answer
isn’t, and never will be, price cuts. The answer is growing
our audience through promotion and quality, to maintain
revenues in hard times and lay the groundwork for increased
revenues and market share when the economy comes back.
“And it will come back, for all Thai courses – not merely Golf
in a Kingdom member courses. We recognize that members of our
cooperative are the elite, and perhaps their revenue
situations aren’t as dire as some of the more modest course
operations in Thailand. But the price of Thai golf has always
been affordable by Japanese and Korean standards. These price
cuts make no difference to them: They don’t encourage more
business and they only hurt course employees through wage cuts
and attrition. The drop in Japanese and Korean business, which
has so severely compromised the revenues of these modest
courses, will be followed by a rebound and it’s important that
prices remain constant in the interim.
“Approximately 63% of Thailand’s 14 million tourists in 2007
were repeat visitors and this loyalty factor was a major
reason why, in the past, the country’s tourism business could
ride out economic and political storms more successfully than
competitors. However, according to TTR Weekly, an influential
tourism industry publication, there is a growing opinion among
international travellers that Thailand’s travel product is
showing signs of wear and tear, possible even serious flaws
and ruptures in the quality of its service and day-to-day
security. In addition to the political disquiet, there has
been a proliferation of travel-oriented scams, widely reported
on the Internet; the most recent focused on the alleged
illegal treatment of passengers accused of shoplifting at
Bangkok’s airports.
However, there has been very little in the way of a credible
response from government to indicate it takes seriously either
the scams, the unwarranted price-cutting or the larger brand
crisis suffered by Thai tourist entities. The creation of
“Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf Experience,” had been mulled
for more than 18 months, says Golfasian’s Siegel. But it was
the downturn of 2009 that galvanized formation of the
cooperative this spring – and it’s working.
“The answer,” Siegel told the Post, “is growing our audience
through promotion, to maintain revenues in hard times, and lay
the groundwork for increased revenues and market share when
the economy comes back.
“At another “Golf in a Kingdom” property, the 36-hole Siam
Country Club in Pattaya, site of this month’s Queen’s Cup, an
Asian Tour event, the owners have raised greens fees some 15
percent at both its Plantation and Old courses. At Thai
Country Club in Bangkok, another Asian Tour stop in recent
years, rates have remained relatively constant and so have
revenues/profitability, thanks to promotion through “Golf in a
Kingdom”, payroll trimming and concentration on maintaining a
quality product. So says the general manager.
“The 2009 year-end forecast is still pretty optimistic in the
sense that we’re looking at a volume of 53,000 golfers versus
52,000 budgeted,” Schneider explains. “Our main business
strategy during this difficult time is to further improve our
golf course maintenance, to ensure the best possible playing
conditions. We don’t believe that reducing our rates will
improve our bottom line as, at the end of the day, our
discerning clientele is and will always be willing to spent
more for high service consistency and manicured golf course
conditions.”
For more information on ‘Golf in a Kingdom: The Thai Golf
Experience’, or to make golf travel plans in Thailand, visit
www.golfinakingdom.com,
or
send
email
to
[email protected]
22.638 familles Belges aidées
par Europe Assistance, 55.580
appels reçus, un bilan chargé
pour l’été 2009
2333 dossiers médicaux ouverts, soit une hausse de 12,7%
Europ Assistance dresse le bilan de son activité estivale.
22.638 familles ont été aidées durant ces deux mois d’été pour
un total de 55.580 appels reçus sur le plateau d’Europ
Assistance. Des chiffres globalement en baisse par rapport à
l’été passé mais le nombre de dossiers médicaux est en
augmentation significative de 12,7% Il s’agit principalement
de traumatismes, de problèmes gastriques et des infections,
dont des cas avérés ou suspects de grippe H1N1.
L’engouement des vacanciers belges pour les vacances d’été est
donc resté très important. Comme prédit dans le Baromètre des
Vacances d’Europ Assistance, les Belges ont privilégié la
France, l’Espagne et l’Italie comme destinations de vacances.
57% des interventions ont eu lieu dans ces 3 pays.
Toujours autant de vacanciers belges sur les routes d’Europe
cet été : 55.580 appels reçus.
Depuis le début de la saison estivale, Europ Assistance a reçu
près de 56.000 appels (55.580), soit une moyenne de 830 appels
par jour, et aura aidé près de 23.000 familles (22.638) durant
ces deux derniers mois. Un chiffre en baisse par rapport à
l’année passée (-10,75%) qui s’explique par une diminution du
nombre d’interventions liées à des problèmes de pannes ou
d’accidents de véhicules ( 3362 dossiers, -12,8%). En
revanche, le nombre de dossiers médicaux est, quant à lui, en
forte progression (2333 dossiers, +12,7%).
Durant le week-end de la fête nationale (3489 appels), un pic
d’appels a été enregistré avec 1232 appels le lundi 20 juillet
correspondant à la première vague de retours pour les uns et à
de nombreux départs pour les autres.
Parmi leurs destinations de prédilection, les Belges ont opté
pour la France, l’Espagne et l’Italie où Europ Assistance a
effectivement recensé un nombre important d’interventions. Au
total, 7360 dossiers auront été ouverts à l’étranger par Europ
Assistance durant tout l’été.
1 intervention sur 3 a donné lieu à une hospitalisation
Le nombre de cas médicaux traités est en hausse pour cet été
2009 : 2333 dossiers ont été enregistrés soit une hausse de
12,7% par rapport à la saison passée. Les principales
interventions pour causes médicales ont eu lieu en Europe mais
l’Afrique (8%), l’Amérique du Nord (5%) et l’Asie (4%) font
aussi partie du palmarès.
Si, pour leurs vacances d’été, les Belges ont opté
principalement pour la France, l’Espagne et l’Italie, Europ
Assistance constate également que des destinations plus
exotiques comme le Maroc ou encore la Thaïlande sont de plus
en plus prisées par les Belges.
2916 personnes ont été rapatriées et plus d’une intervention
médicale sur trois (37%) a donné lieu à une hospitalisation à
l’étranger.
Dans certains pays, Europ Assistance doit faire face à des
difficultés liées au niveau de qualité de l’infrastructure
médicale qui rendent l’organisation d’une assistance beaucoup
plus complexe.
Le groupe Europ Assistance s’est donc constitué une base de
données centrale d’évaluation des infrastructures médicales
afin d’orienter ses clients vers des établissements adéquats.
Les pathologies les plus souvent rencontrées étant des
traumatismes divers (32%, dont des entorses, foulures,
fractures,…) et des problèmes gastriques (13%). Europ
Assistance a également constaté une progression du nombr
d’infections (10% vs 6% en 2008) qui touchent surtout les plus
jeunes (38% pour le 11-20 ans et 36% pour les 0-10 ans). Ces
infections ont des origines diverses. Une dizaine de cas de
grippes H1N1 sont à noter. A côté de ces cas avérés, Europ
Assistance a enregistré une forte augmentation du nombre
d’appels de Belges présentant des symptômes grippaux
(essentiellement de la fièvre). Dans la plupart des cas, il
s’agissait d’une infection classique mais par mesure de
prudence, ces personnes ont été maintenues sur place en
attendant un diagnostique médical précis et un rapatriement
éventuel. Cette
augmentation de dossiers pour cause de fièvre s’explique par
un facteur anxiogène lié à la situation de pandémie actuelle.
Bilan technique : 3601 interventions à l’étranger, soit une
baisse de 12,8%
Le nombre d’interventions liées à des pannes ou accidents de
véhicules à l’étranger est en recul de 12.8% par rapport à
l’été 2008. 51% des interventions ont eu lieu en France, 10%
en Espagne et 8% en Italie. Les principales causes
d’interventions sont des pannes de moteur et pneus crevés
(78%) et des incidents (12%) causés par la distraction des
conducteurs (erreur de carburant, perte des clés,…). Par
ailleurs une hospitalisation s’est avéré nécessaire pour 7%
des cas.
Europ Assistance a également remarqué que, finalement, les
Belges ne sont pas toujours si bien préparés pour le grand
départ en vacances puisque 4% des interventions sont déjà
effectuées au Luxembourg.
Comme chaque été, Europ Assistance doit également faire face à
d’autres types de problèmes rencontrés par ses clients comme
le retard des bagages, le vol de documents, la perte de
papiers, des lunettes cassées… : 1110 dossiers d’assistances
diverses ont ainsi été ouverts.
La Belgique aura également fait l’objet
interventions : 14.475 dossiers cet été
de
nombreuses
La Belgique compte également son lot d’interventions : 14.475
dossiers ont été traités par Europ Assistance dont 255
dossiers médicaux, 11.297 dossiers techniques, 2923 dossiers
divers (vol de papiers, demandes de renseignements,…). Des
chiffres importants mais néanmoins en légère baisse par
rapport à 2008.
140 professionnels de l’assistance 24h/24, c’est le plateau
d’été chez Europ Assistance
Chaque année, Europ Assistance reçoit plus de 300.000 appels
et réalise 125.000 interventions par an.
La période estivale est traditionnellement plus chargée et
pour répondre au mieux à l’afflux des interventions de l’été,
Europ Assistance déploie des moyens importants pour proposer
aux malchanceux des vacances des solutions sur mesure de la
plus haute qualité. Les 140 chargés d’assistance qui se sont
relayés 24h/24 sur le plateau d’assistance sont formés pour
pallier à toutes les situations.
www.europ-assistance.be
Suite Home – Nouvelle phase
d’innovation pour une plus
grande flexibilité hôtelière
Bruxelles, le 31 août 2009 – Suite Home, la société hôtelière
résidentielle
bruxelloise,
annonce
trois
nouveaux
développements et services.
Après avoir triplé son parc hôtelier de logements raffinés
bruxellois (suites, maisons duplex, appartements hôteliers) au
2ème trimestre 2009, Suite Home propose désormais pour ses 45
suites de nouveaux services et avantages.
Dès octobre 2009, de nouveaux salons d’attente ou d’accueil
visiteurs, les ‘Suite-Lounges’, seront ouverts dans les trois
résidences bruxelloises de Suite Home (Avenue Louise, Place
Stéphanie et rue de l’Abbaye). La politique de Suite Home
étant de ne pas avoir d’heure de check-in et check-out. Dans
le cas d’une arrivée matinale ou d’un départ dans la soirée,
la direction de Suite Home met à partir de l’automne ce salon
à disposition des clients afin qu’ils puissent y déposer leurs
bagages en toute sécurité. Ce salon proposera aussi des
boissons chaudes et fraîches, une connexion internet sans fil,
des magazines et journaux. Ce service est offert gracieusement
aux clients.
Une salle de réunion sera aussi proposée à dater d’octobre
dans chacune des résidences. Les clients désireux de
travailler ailleurs que dans leur appartement ou de se réunir,
pourront utiliser cette salle moyennant un prix équivalent à
50% du prix payé par nuit pour leur appartement.
Au Suite Home Stéphanie, une formule week-end à Bruxelles à
135€ pour 2 personnes par nuit (valable les vendredis, samedis
et dimanches soirs) du 04 septembre au 20 décembre 2009. Ce
prix comprend également le dîner au restaurant Ma Folle de
Sœur avec menu « Made in Brussels » toujours pour deux, menu 3
services hors boissons. Les clients pourront également, selon
disponibilité, bénéficier de l’utilisation de deux e solex et
de MP3 avec balades thématiques dans s Bruxelles (en plusieurs
langues). Pour 20€ supplémentaires, un traitement VIP sera
offert (champagne, corbeille de fruits et produits d’accueil).
Nous rappelons également la possibilité pour tous les clients
Suite Home d’avoir accès au Serendip Spa (cadeau offert à tout
client de Suite Home), ainsi que la possibilité d’utiliser les
e-solex Suite Home au prix de 12€ pour 12h et 24€ pour 24
heures.
Suite Home se distingue pour sa flexibilité d’accueil et pour
son excellent rapport qualité-prix hôtelier ; les appartements
et studios Suite Home, d’un minimum de 45m2 étant superéquipés (TV, lecteur DVD et station Ipod, Wifi, cuisine,
services hôteliers), et très agréablement décorés. Ils sont
par ailleurs disponibles pour le court terme (par nuitée) ou
pour le long terme.
A titre indicatif, les prix des séjours se veulent abordables
et sont dégressifs selon la durée d’occupation, le type
d’appartement et la résidence choisis. Compter à partir de:
80€/ nuit (si séjour moins d’1 sem.), 70€/nuit (entre 1 sem.
et 1 mois), 60€/jour (entre 1 et 3 mois), 55€/jour (entre 3 et
6 mois).
www.suitehome.be
First of five N.C. properties
opens, second to open later
this year in Asheville
ATLANTA – Hotel Indigo today announced the opening of Hotel
Indigo Durham-Research Triangle Park, the first of five
properties planned for North Carolina. The 125-room new-build
boutique hotel will be joined later this year by a 100-room
property in Asheville; additional deals are signed in
Charlotte, Wilmington and Winston Salem.
The new hotel is conveniently located off Interstate 40, in
the heart of Research Triangle Park, a 7,000 acre development
that is home to more than 170 companies, from Fortune 100
research companies to start-up operations and federal
agencies.
“As a world-renowned center for innovation, Research Triangle
Park is an ideal location to introduce our innovative boutique
brand to our guests in North Carolina,” said Gina LaBarre,
vice president, Brand Delivery, the Americas. “The Interpret
Indigo design program will allow us to offer a unique
experience at each of these five properties, while still
providing the service culture and consistency that our guests
expect.”
Hotel Indigo Durham features a renewable exterior building
mural, showcasing the brand’s iconic nautilus shell. Inside
the hotel, photographic murals of local flowers are
incorporated in the guest rooms and public areas, designed in
a color palette of vibrant shades of green and blue.
Additional design elements intended to inspire relaxation
include a meditation courtyard and exterior water feature.
Minutes from the Raleigh-Durham International Airport, Hotel
Indigo Durham provides convenient access to downtown Raleigh
and Durham. The property is located within walking distance of
several restaurants and provides a complimentary shuttle to
nearby dining, theatre and shopping. Several educational
institutions are within a short drive of the hotel, including
Duke University, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
and North Carolina State University.
Hotel Indigo Durham features inviting guestrooms with plush
bedding, hard-surface flooring with area rugs, a spa-inspired
bath experience, and complimentary high-speed Internet access
in guestrooms and public spaces. The hotel also offers gourmet
menu items and full service-bar at Phi Bar and Bistro,
complimentary parking, a 24-hour business center, and 1,600
square feet of meeting space for business functions or special
events.
The Hotel Indigo Durham-Research Triangle Park is owned and
managed by Shrijee, LLC, under a license agreement with IHG
(InterContinental Hotels Group), [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)],
the world’s largest hotel group by number of rooms.
Meeting the desires of today’s traveler, Hotel Indigo is an
upscale boutique brand that delivers a refreshing and inviting
guest experience that is truly reflective of the local
community. From the locally-inspired murals to the seasonal
renewal program where the images, music, scent, and menu items
change four times a year, Hotel Indigo gives guests a vibrant,
engaging and genuine boutique experience.
With the addition of Hotel Indigo Durham there are currently
31 Hotel Indigo properties open worldwide and more than 60
hotels under development, either in the pipeline or in final
negotiation. By the end of 2009, Hotel Indigo will almost
double its footprint in the Americas by opening properties in
New York City, San Antonio, and Miami Beach. For more
information on Hotel Indigo, or to make reservations, please
visit www.hotelindigo.com.
Hotel Indigo participates in IHG’s guest loyalty program,
Priority Club® Rewards. With 44 million members worldwide,
Priority Club Rewards is the industry’s first and largest
guest loyalty program. Guests can enroll for free by logging
on at priorityclub.com, by calling 1-888-211-9874 or by
inquiring at the front desk of this hotel or any of IHG’s more
than 4,300 hotels worldwide.