Author: Shawon Hannan

Etihad Airways, a UAE-based national airline, is acquiring a part of the equity holdings of Virgin Australia Holdings, the holding company for Virgin Australia airline. The airline has recently acquired a stake of 3.96 percent in Virgin Australia Holdings for an undisclosed amount. The airline currently operates a code share service, including 24 flights a week, between Abu Dhabi, in the UAE, and Australia, with Virgin Australia, and hopes to expand its relationship with the area following the recent acquisition. In a statement the airline has said, ‘Etihad Airways believes that this equity investment in Virgin Australia’s domestic operations significantly…

InterContinental Hotels Group, a UK-based owner, manager and franchiser of hotels and resorts, is all set to open the new Intercontinental London Westminster in Britain in 2012. The new hotel is the first InterContinental Hotel to open in the UK in the last 36 years, after the existing InterContinental London Park Lane. The hotel is a six-floor structure featuring 256 rooms, including a Penthouse, 14 one-bedroom suites, and 30 studio suites, and it will be opening in November 2012. The property is located next to New Scotland Yard and the Ministry of Justice, and is expected to create around 180…

The latest research from Kantar Media, a UK-based media company, shows that leisure travel in the UK still continues unabated in spite of an economy that is slowing down. Around 90 percent of adults in the UK are planning a holiday in 2012, which is more than the 82 percent that vacationed last year. The Kantar Media Compete’s Online Shopper Intelligence Report indicated that although budget and luxury holidays remain equally favoured by British consumers, holiday costs are a concern to them. Around 49 percent of the UK online population visited the website of UK-based low cost airline, Easyjet, in…

HostelBookers, a UK-based company offering travel accommodation on a budget, has announced a summer sale. The company is offering accommodation at select properties at discounted prices, with savings of up to 40 percent on normal rates. The sale is available until July 31, 2012, and stays must be completed by August 31, 2012. The company is offering accommodation at Apartment Marin, located in Split, Croatia, with air conditioning and Wi-Fi, for prices commencing at €11.90 per night, which represents a 20 percent discount. The Jacobs Inn in Dublin, Ireland is offering complimentary events such as Irish Dance Parties, ‘Live @…

The London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games (LOCOG), has announced that around 43,000 more contingency tickets for the Opening Ceremony and Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games, and six additional sports, will be offered to public from June 8, 2012. Tickets for Athletics, Swimming, Football at Wembley, Volleyball, Table Tennis and Boxing sessions will be available on a first come, first served basis during this sale, at www.tickets.london2012.com. Tickets for both the Opening and Closing Ceremonies commence at £995. Tickets for other sports on offer are available within a price range of £20 to £720, across…

Westin Hotels & Resorts, a hotel brand from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has announced plans to open a new hotel, The Westin San Jose, in San Jose, US. The new hotel, with views of the San Jose McEnery Convention Center, is currently known as the Sainte Claire, and will receive a transformation before opening under the Westin brand. Brian Povinelli, the brand’s global brand leader, said, ‘The Westin San Jose will be a terrific addition to our growing portfolio, offering travellers a revitalising urban retreat in the ‘Capital of Silicon Valley. Here, guests will enjoy all of Westin brand’s…

Sheraton Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, a subsidiary of US-based Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, has announced the opening of a new property, the Four Points by Sheraton Colonia Roma Hotel in Mexico City. The 90-room new hotel, which is owned and managed by the Sora Group, is the third in Mexico from the Four Points by Sheraton brand. The Four Points by Sheraton Colonia Roma offers guest rooms with workspace and complimentary in-room internet for its guests. The hotel’s other amenities include a 24-hour fitness centre, a restaurant, and a bar and lounge. Event spaces include around 9,300 square feet…

The new Crowne Plaza Houston Galleria Area hotel has recently opened in Houston, in the US. The 207-room hotel, which opens having just completed a £13 million renovation project, is a part of the Crowne Plaza Hotels and Resorts group, a subsidiary of the UK-based owner, manager and franchiser of hotels and resorts, InterContinental Hotels Group PLC. The hotel accommodation includes 29 regular suites, two presidential suites, and three hospitality suites. It also features an outdoor heated pool and cabana bar, a fitness centre, and a business centre. Mark Peck, the hotel general manager, said, ‘It’s exciting to be opening…

A spokesman for Manchester Airport has said that the Airport will probably run out of fuel by 6pm this evening. The fuel crisis has been caused by disruption at the local Stanlow oil refinery in Ellesmere Port, which has been blamed on quality concerns about the fuel. The Airport is hoping that the issue will be resolved by midnight. The airport is supplied by a pipeline direct from the refinery, which is capable of delivering 250,000 litres of fuel per hour.  The airport uses approximately 3 million litres per day, with this being the first occasion that they have run…

Crystal Cruises, a US-based cruise company, is offering special sale deals for its new voyages. The company is offering 12 new Mediterranean itineraries, as part of its Crystal Getaways sale. The sale is running until June 30, 2012, for sailings that will operate from July to December 2012. All-inclusive, five to eight-day vacations on the Crystal Serenity commence at £850 per person, including accommodation, gourmet dining, fine spirits, gratuities, fitness lessons, and inspirational activities. Jack Anderson, the company senior vice president of sales and marketing, said, ‘Many savvy travellers appreciate the pampering luxury of Crystal Cruises and know how amazing…