New Year Discounts on Emirates

New Year Discounts on Emirates
Emirates Airlines is celebrating the New Year by offering exceptional discounts on airfares to more than 100 cities, with bookings from now until January 9, 2012.
Customers can save up to 25 percent off all published first class, business class and economy class fares departing between January 22 and June 30, 2012, when travelling round-trip to any destination on Emirates’ extensive global network, a statement from the airline said. 
The airline is renowned for its excellence in service and innovation, offering multi-course meals, complimentary wines, dedicated children’s menus and activities, and ice, Emirates’ award winning entertainment system with more than 1,200 channels of on-demand entertainment.

Open Skies to Foreign Carriers

Open Skies to Foreign Carriers

Officials at the General Authority of Civil Aviation (GACA) in Saudi Arabia have confirmed they will allow foreign airlines to operate domestic flights in the country in order to revitalise the aviation industry.
At present price caps in the Middle Eastern destination make it unfeasible for international airlines to offer flights in the country.
Low-cost airlines such as Air Arabia could be among the first to benefit. Foreign airlines are to be allowed to bid for licences before the end of next month the (GACA) said in a statement.
The move will add pressure to Saudi Arabian Airlines and low-cost carrier Nas Air, the two remaining domestic carriers in the kingdom.  

Anantara's Riverside Resort & Spa

Anantara’s new Riverside Resort & Spa

At the newly opened Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, Anantara’s ancient Sanskrit meaning - ‘without end’ - is captured by the flow of timeless Chao Phraya River life, edging 11 acres of exotic landscaped grounds. 
Impressive leisure and business facilities ensure that no two days are the same.
Proximity to the capital’s greatest cosmopolitan and cultural attractions provides journeys of infinite discovery.
Guests can choose from 407 rooms, including 97 suites, which reflect exquisite Thai culture in abstract style inside, and scenic river or lush garden views from private balconies.
Unwind in a luxurious home away from home with 24 hour in-room dining and elite amenities including an in-room bar, tea and coffee making facilities, internet access, an LCD TV, DVD player and iPod dock. 
Indeed the palatial penthouse of the Suan Luang Suite is so spacious and well equipped, that its uses extend from the ultimate urban sanctuary, to an intimate space for business or an exclusive event.
Energise in the fitness centre, inspired by a garden view. 
Pop into the Jim Thompson boutique located within the resort. 
Spend wonderfully lazy days at the generous outdoor pool, exchanging a cool dip for the heated Jacuzzi and cocktails at the swim up bar, all the while surrounded by swaying palms, blooming nature and Chao Phraya River glimpses. 
Let little ones play at the kids’ club or be taken care of by a babysitter, leaving parents free to enjoy themselves. 
Sign up for a Thai cooking class, which begins with a local market trip to pick up the freshest ingredients, and ends by savouring the flavourful creations. 
Experience sensual relaxation at Spa, where rituals can be shared side by side in a spacious double suite with a large bathtub, and a private garden courtyard features a rain shower and traditional sala.
Ten restaurants and bars dish up culinary diversity. 
Wake up to a breakfast buffet of world flavours at The Market. 
Replenish at Numero Uno with a coffee and freshly baked pastry, or the finest handmade chocolates. 
Enjoy sunset cocktails on the pier at Longtail Bar.
Delve into Pacific Rim traditions at Trader Vic’s, where unique flavours are cooked in Bangkok’s only wood-fired Chinese oven.
The Japanese steakhouse Benihana delivers lively “eatertainment” through theatrical Teppanyaki style. Savour the Italian way of life in Brio’s Tuscan villa setting. 
At Riverside Terrace an international buffet and BBQ is accompanied by Thai dance performances overlooking the river.
Step aboard a beautifully restored antique rice barge to dine on delectable Thai cuisine and glide past the city’s famous cultural sites with a Manohra Dining Cruise. 
For the ultimate in secluded intimacy, Dining by Design invites guests to collaborate with a personal chef and choose an idyllic location, such as a candlelit meal along the river or a picnic under the shade of a banyan tree.
Special functions and weddings take place in a range of elegantly appointed indoor venues and scenic riverside spaces. 
Business travellers balance work with pleasure, courtesy of recent enhancements to the resort’s meeting venues and facilities, and the opportunity to play at eight nearby golf courses.
The luxurious lifestyle choice showcases the resort’s riverside charms to the full, and seems a world away from Bangkok’s bustling heart. 
Yet a complimentary shuttle boat service connects guests to the capital’s extensive sky train network, giving daily exploration a convenient appeal. 
Shop in world class malls and uncover Bangkok’s art scene. Call upon the resort’s experienced concierge to plan tours of compelling attractions short drive from the resort. 
Use the expertise of this “Streetwise Guru” to find out about unforgettable local experiences, or ask him to be a personal companion for a private back
Take a street tour and gain a local’s perspective. 
Travel in ways that help discover the real Bangkok, taking a thrilling tuk tuk ride through the city’s vibrant streets, or boarding a longtail boat to meander the fascinating maze of canals.
Uncover the capital’s secret highlights by visiting one of Bangkok’s oldest markets Talard Plu, the morning market Talard Bangrak to pick up herb and spice souvenirs, or China Town’s vast bazaar network of market stalls, street-side cafés, and probably the greatest concentration of gold shops in the city.
Share the Thai people’s love of street food for every sense as spicy aromas and masterful cooking displays tempt passers-by to street-side tables. 
Avoid navigating the city’s overwhelming choice and head straight for vendors which have been given a knowledgeable seal of approval by the hotel’s Streetwise Guru, meaning that Anantara guests can dine on the very best back street cuisine.

24/7 Virtual help at Dubai Airports

New Virtual assistants at Dubai Airports

Dubai Airports has brought on board four bilingual virtual assistants at Dubai International Airport to communicate important travel information to the 50 million plus passengers that pass through the airport each year.

The state-of-the-art digital signage solutions use the very latest in rear-projected audio visual technology to create the illusion of a real person, conveying helpful security and brand messages. It makes Dubai International Airport the first airport in the region to use the technology according to management.

The virtual assistants, which have been created by leading queue management specialist Tensator, cheerfully greet and engage with the airport’s passengers in order to provide them with information on the preparations they need to make prior to entering the security screening and immigration areas. The use of this innovative technology is set to improve operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience at Dubai International Airport by reducing wait times in key areas near security screening points.

“Just like Dubai International Airport, the virtual assistants work 24/7 and will play an important role in helping to achieve the goal.”

The use of the four virtual assistants, which have been installed for a three-month trial period, are designed to help ease the passenger journey by delivering guidance before and as they pass through departures and transfers areas.

Virtual assistants are one of a number of initiatives underway the world’s fourth busiest airport for international passenger traffic. In September, Dubai Airports launched a comprehensive service measurement project that aims to deliver intelligent, real-time information to drive better service delivery for passengers.

Oscar of the Travel Industry

Grand Finale of World Travel Awards in Qatar

World Travel Awards (WTA), “the Oscars of the travel industry”, will host its Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Doha, Qatar, in partnership with Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) on January 11th 2012.
The most important decision-makers in global travel and tourism are set to attend the glittering ceremony, which will be staged at Katara Cultural Village, Qatar’s ground-breaking new arts and exhibitions complex.
Created under the leadership of HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, emir of the State of Qatar, Katara Cultural Village was born out of a vision to position Qatar as an international cultural lighthouse through theatre, literature, art, music, conventions and exhibitions.
Katara features a remarkable array of attractions, from an opera house and art galleries to world-class restaurants and a beach.
QTA chairman, Ahmed Al Nuaimi, said the choice of Doha to host WTA’s Grand Final reflects the country’s growing importance and stature in the industry and that QTA was lending as much support as possible to make the awards the best ever.
“The staging of the ceremony in Doha is an illustration of the confidence the travel and tourism industry has in Qatar as well as the potential it has to develop further,” said Al Nuaimi.
“Qatar has allocated more the US$25 billion for the development of tourism infrastructure in preparation for the 2022 World Cup.
“WTA’s Grand Final forms part of our country’s growing roster of world-class events, ranging from art and music to sport and travel.”
The evening marks the culmination of a year-long search for the very best travel and tourism brands in the world, and will feature the winners from WTA’s regional heats competing head to head.
The regional ceremonies included Middle East (Dubai, UAE), Europe (Antalya, Turkey), Africa & Indian Ocean (Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt), Asia & Australasia (Bangkok, Thailand), and Caribbean and The Americas (Montego Bay, Jamaica).
Graham Cooke, president and founder, World Travel Awards, said: “We are delighted to host our Grand Final Gala Ceremony in Qatar as it is such an exciting place to be right now.
“Our Grand Final will see the winners of our five regional heats, who represent the cream of the global travel and tourism industry, compete head to head for the ultimate travel accolade.”
WTA has partnered with tourism marketing firm Phenomena to bring the ceremony to Qatar.

Gulf Air announces promotional fares

Promotional fares for Saudi Arabia announced

Following the recent announcement of the launch of services to three new destinations in Saudi Arabia – Gassim, Yanbu and Taif – Bahrain’s national carrier Gulf Air, announced special discount on fares to travel between these three cities and select GCC, Indian subcontinent and Asian destinations.

The promotional fare is scheduled to be available for booking between now and December 31 and valid for travel from the date of commitment of service to the respective destinations until June 1, 2012.

The airline is set to launch its services to Taif on January 15, 2012 with four weekly flights while flights to Gassim are planned to commence on January 17, with three flights per week. Yanbu services are expected to begin on February 15, 2012 with three weekly flights.

Announcing the new promotions, CCO, Gulf Air, Karim Makhlouf said: “Saudi Arabia has always been, and remains an important market for us and we are proud to be the largest international carrier into Saudi Arabia with the addition of three more new destinations in the Kingdom making a total of seven destinations.

“As the Middle East’s largest network carrier, we are well positioned to connect all these seven cities to the vast MENA, Far East and Indian subcontinent markets and vice versa,” Makhlouf added.

“With the promotional discounts, travel is now more affordable whether you want to fly to Mumbai or Nairobi, Addis Ababa or Bangkok, Dubai or Kuwait, just to name a few. We would like to offer value-for-money and enable more people to travel while enjoying Gulf Air’s excellent Arabian hospitality onboard,” concluded Makhlouf.

Boeing Dreamliner largest customer

Etihad world’s largest customer of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner
Etihad Airways, voted “World’s Leading Airline” by World Travel Awards, has become the world’s largest customer of Boeing’s 787-9 Dreamliner by placing an order for a further 10 of the revolutionary aircraft.
Following the $2.8 billion order, the UAE flag carrier now has a total of 41 Dreamliner’s on order.
James Hogan, Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Airways said: “Our decision to expand our Dreamliner fleet is testimony to Etihad’s commitment to operating one of the youngest and most fuel efficient fleets in the skies.
He added “It also reflects our confidence in the 787’s ability to have a significant impact on our operating efficiencies and the passenger experience we can offer onboard this revolutionary aircraft. Both the Boeing 787 Dreamliner and the 777 Freighter offer highly attractive operating economics and will facilitate our global expansion plans by allowing us to transport passengers and cargo into new global markets from our hub in Abu Dhabi.”
Founded in 2003, Etihad Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world and currently operates scheduled flights to 84 passenger and cargo destinations across Europe, Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific and North America.
“In less than 10 years Etihad Airways has established an enviable track record and has earned global recognition for its focus on providing its customers with a quality product,” said Jim Albaugh, ceo, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.
“We are extremely proud of our partnership with Etihad Airways and are confident the 787 Dreamliner and the 777 Freighter will make valuable contributions to Etihad’s growth plans and service to its passenger and freight customers.”
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is an all-new commercial jetliner that brings new efficiencies to airlines and delivers superior comfort to passengers. The Dreamliner is the fastest-selling twin-aisle airplane in aviation history, with more than 800 orders from 58 customers around the world.
The order also included two Boeing 777 Freighters, which increases Etihad’s current Boeing 777 backlog to 12 airplanes. The Abu Dhabi-based airline’s fleet currently includes eight Boeing 777-300ERs and one 777 Freighter. 
The 777 freighter is the world’s longest-range, twin-engine freighter and features the lowest trip cost of any large freighter, with high-cargo density and 10-foot (3.1-meter) interior height capability that complements the popular 747 freighter family.
Etihad Airways was voted “World’s Leading Airline” by World Travel Awards. It also followed that victory this year by picking up “Middle East’s Leading Airline”. The carrier has also been nominated for “World’s Leading Airline” at 2011 World Travel Awards Grand Final, which takes place in Doha Qatar on 11 January 2012.

Seychelles Carnival with Emirates

Emirates support Seychelles Carnival second consecutive year

Emirates Airline, has today announced that it will support the Seychelles Carnival for the second consecutive year. Emirates will be the Official Airline for the 2012 edition of this international event.
“The announcement of our support to the Seychelles Carnival follows the recent signature of a Memorandum of Understanding between the Seychelles Tourism Board and Emirates for the promotion of the archipelago. This is yet another demonstration of our commitment to the Seychelles,” explained Majid Al Mualla, Emirates’ Senior Vice President Commercial Operations, West Asia and Indian Ocean.
“It is with great pleasure that we will support the Seychelles Carnival 2012, a major event for the Seychelles Tourism Board and the whole archipelago. As we always say, we see ourselves as partners of the Seychelles,” Mr. Al Mualla added.
On his part, Alain St.Ange, the CEO of the Seychelles Tourism Board, said that the carnival right in the middle of the Indian Ocean remains a focus point for celebrating diversity and togetherness. He said: “As we congratulate Emirates for being the official partner airline for this unique event, we also say thank you to them for helping to make the event more visible and more known. Their direct support remains vital and crucial. The Indian Ocean is a key tourism destination and the ‘Carnaval International de Victoria’ is that region’s annual carnival staged under the theme of the melting pot of cultures.
“Emirates has shown their support to help organize an event that brings the cultural groups from the Community of Nations to parade alongside the best and most known carnivals of the world.”
For the first edition of the carnival, Emirates created awareness around the event in new markets such as Czech Republic, Spain, Brazil, Russia, the Middle East, India, Korea, China, and Japan.
The 2012 Carnival in the Seychelles is set for March 2-4.