Author: Shawon Hannan

Ryanair, an Ireland-based low cost airline, is attempting to acquire its Irish rival airline, Aer Lingus, by offering a bid of €694 million. The airline currently owns a 29.8 percent interest in Aer Lingus, and its new offer is 38 percent higher than the Aer Lingus share price of €0.94 per share, as at the close of trading on June 19, 2012. Back in 2006, Ryanair made a bid for Aer Lingus, but could not make more headway because the European Commission then banned the bid in 2007. Michael O’Leary, the chief executive officer of Ryanair, said, ‘This offer represents…

Daniel Wood, lives and works in Norwich as a web developer for a special effects software company, but during May he became a construction worker in Madagascar and, after a life changing experience, is hoping to encourage others to follow suit and discover more about the magical island of Madagascar and its people. Daniel is 24 and after 2 years working hard in a new job he decided that this year he wanted to do something a little bit different during his time off. So instead of booking a relaxing holiday in the sun he signed up for a month…

A recent study has shown that European roads are becoming less congested as car usage drops due to the Euro zone debt crisis, high rates of unemployment, and rising fuel prices, which are all conspiring to force motorists to abandon using their vehicles. INRIX, a company that offers traffic information and intelligent driver services, has recently released its INRIX Traffic Scorecard, which indicates a 17 percent reduction in traffic congestion worldwide for 2011. The UK has been named the fourth worst country for congestion, with Manchester and London ranking below Milan in Italy and Paris, France, as the worst cities…

With hotel conglomerates InterContinental Hotels Group and Hilton already having made further inroads into the Chinese market, US-based hotel company Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide is to launch its newest expansion plans for Greater China. While Starwood currently operates around 100 hotels in the Asia Pacific region, the company has announced that another 100 hotels are in the pipeline for the area. Greater China is the company’s second largest market, outside of the US. The company previously opened 11 hotels in China in 2012, and intends to open another 13 hotels by the year-end. Speaking at the celebrations at the…

Tourism in Mexico is set to get a boost with UK-based InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) intending to expand its brands in the country. While participating in a trade mission to Mexico with the British Prime Minister, the company announced its efforts to boost tourism in Mexico by opening around five new hotels in 2012. The company is currently operating around 120 hotels in Mexico. These include 10 InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; 17 Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts; 53 Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts; 37 Holiday Inn Express hotels; and three Staybridge Suites properties. 23.4 million international visitors have visited Mexico…

Canada-based luxury hotel brand, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, is offering new service options specially designed to cater for Chinese travellers. Around 77 million Chinese travellers are expected to take a trip overseas in 2012, so the company is offering a new Chinese Menu Programme at its 60 luxury hotels located worldwide. The new programme will be initialised in 2012, and will be offering customisable service and cuisine options for Chinese guests. Jean Michel Offe, the company vice-president for food and beverage, said, ‘Personalisation has and always will be a hallmark of the Fairmont experience, so to that end we’ve taken…

Europcar Groupe SA, a France-based car rental company, will be offering a new communications campaign for the Tour de France 2012 cycling event, starting on June 30, 2012. The company is accompanying nine riders in Team Europcar and tour organisers, Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), for the second year in the tournament, as the official car hire company. Team Europcar riders have already lodged 22 wins and numerous podium places in the 2011 season, and the company is to provide communication across several media segments for audiences and sports lovers interested in following the tour and receiving instant information about Team…

In a recently published inspection report by the independent chief inspector of Borders and Immigration, UK, it has been highlighted that passenger searches at Gatwick Airport North Terminal are unfavourable to certain groups of travellers, especially women. John Vine CBE QPM, the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration, has reported that while immigration is working hard to only refuse entry to the UK based on sound logic, it is matter of concern that 71 percent of passenger searches are unjustified and disproportionate. The searches have also resulted in the arrest of some persons, even though the initial searches had…

The new Sonesta ES Suites Schaumburg opens in Schaumburg, US, in place of an earlier extended stay hotel, Staybridge Suites Schaumburg, on August 16, 2012. Sonesta International Hotels, a US-based hospitality company with properties in North and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, and owners of the new 112-room hotel, has announced that the hotel is offering one and two bedroom suite accommodation, each with a work area, a kitchen, and complimentary high speed wireless internet access. The hotel is also offering an outdoor swimming pool, a 24-hour exercise room, a sports court, a seasonal BBQ grille, a guest laundry,…

Greek holiday bookings are on the rise, says Holiday Hypermarket, a UK based holiday comparison company. The company has reported that British travellers seem unfazed by the Euro crisis in Greece, with holiday bookings to the country seeing a rise for the summer of 2012. Zakynthos International Airport in Zante, Greece, has been consistently rated in the Top 10 for the company’s customers, from January to May 2012, especially for those passengers flying in from Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham airports in the UK. Calum MacDonald, the marketing manager at Holiday Hypermarket, said, ‘It’s incredibly affordable to travel in the Eurozone…