Author: Shawon Hannan

Sonesta International Hotels, a US-based hospitality company with properties in North and South America, Africa, and the Caribbean, is opening a new extended stay hotel in Somerset, in the United States. The 140-room Sonesta ES Suites Somerset has been recently re-branded from an earlier Staybridge Suites Somerset, and is opening on August 1, 2012, under the new company’s administration and a new brand name. The hotel is offering studio, one and two-bedroom suite accommodation, all with a work area, a kitchen, and complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access. Sonesta ES Suites is a recently launched extended stay brand from the company,…

Haven Holidays, a UK based holiday park operator, is reporting a 15 percent increase in holiday bookings by families for seaside locations for the summer of 2012, when compared to the same time last year, as more and more families opt for a traditional British holiday. Tim Gibson, the company sales director, said, ‘Despite the general economic downturn it appears families are not prepared to sacrifice their family holiday. It seems it’s even more important for them to spend quality time together. We are already 26 percent ahead for the main school summer holiday period, so our advice is if…

Hilton Hotels and resorts, a multinational hotel company, is offering family vacations in its Caribbean and Latin America properties. The ‘Family Time package’ will remain available until September 8, 2012 at participating properties in the Caribbean and Latin America. The package includes accommodation with connecting rooms; daily family breakfast; complimentary gifts and activities for children; and in-room high-speed Internet access. The participating hotels are Hilton Buenos Aires, Argentina; Hilton Sao Paulo Morumbi, Brazil; Hilton Belem, Brazil; Hilton Bogota, Colombia; Hilton Cartagena, Colombia; Hilton Garden Inn Santiago Airport, Chile; Hilton Los Cabos Beach & Golf Resort, Mexico; Hilton Mexico City Reforma,…

W Hotels, a luxury hotel brand from Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, will be remodelling around 10 hotel properties in North America. The brand will be completing renovation projects at certain properties to upgrade the public areas, introduce new signature bar and restaurant concepts, and redesign the guestrooms. Carlos Becil, the company vice president of brand management, luxury and design brands, North America, said, ‘When W Hotels launched in 1998, it quickly redefined the space and continued to transform the traditional hotel experience as we entered new markets across North America. As W evolves from a US phenomenon into a…

Air Berlin, the Germany-based airline company, is currently offering a new route, from Berlin in Germany to Kaliningrad, in Russia. The airline will be flying the new route three times per week, having commenced the service on June 5, 2012. Opening the new route, the airline chief executive officer, Hartmut Mehdorn, said, ‘The economic relations between Germany and Russia continue to grow, and this means an increased demand for air travel, especially in the market sector of business travel. No other airline connects these two cities non-stop from Germany. Our new route between Berlin and Kaliningrad fills this gap in…

NCL Corporation Limited, or Norwegian Cruise Line, a US-based cruise company, will be acquiring Norwegian Sky, a cruise ship already operated by the company. The company operates Norwegian Sky under a Bareboat Charter with Ample Avenue, a subsidiary of Genting Hong Kong Limited. It will be paying a purchase price of around £168 million for the 50 percent ownership of the cruise ship, currently owned by Ample Avenue. The cruise ship, with a capacity of 2,004 passengers, is currently offering 10 dining options, 11 bars and lounges, an onboard spa and a casino for guests. For entertainment onboard, the guests…

Travelodge Hotels, a US-based company that owns and operates hotel properties, is offering a complimentary zoo visit for its guests in the US. As part of its ZOOcation promotion, the company is offering families, with children the chance to receive two complimentary Travelodge ZOOcation vouchers when booking a stay at participating hotels for two consecutive nights. Travelodge ZOOcation vouchers may be redeemed against a complimentary children’s admission on the purchase of a regular adult admission. The offer is valid at participating Travelodge hotels in the US, booked by September 3, 2012, and redeemed by November 30, 2012. Rui Barros, the…

The hotel brand, Le Meridien, has announced the opening of the first Le Meridien hotel in Algeria. The new Le Meridien Oran Hotel & Convention Centre, in Oran, claims to offer stunning views of the coastline and one of the largest conference facilities in North Africa. The hotel is part of a mixed-use development, which includes a neighbouring conference and exhibition centre and an oceanfront esplanade. Roeland Vos, the company president, for Europe, Africa and the Middle East, said, ‘We are proud to partner with Sonatrach as we introduce the Le Meridien brand to Algeria. This spectacular new hotel allows…

While more and more passengers are travelling by air globally, it seems that the impending Euro zone crisis could affect European air traffic, according to the April 2012 global traffic results from the International Air Transport Association (IATA), an international industry association of airlines that is headquartered in Canada. While global passenger traffic has increased by 6.1 percent in April 2012, with a capacity increase of 3.8 percent, European airlines only registered a passenger demand increase of 5.9 percent for April, despite the fact that the period included the Easter holidays. The load factor is at a record level of…

Doubletree by Hilton Hotels, a brand from the US-based hospitality company, Hilton Worldwide, will be opening a new DoubleTree by Hilton hotel in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. The 365-room DoubleTree by Hilton, Johor Bahru opens in 2014, and will be the third DoubleTree by Hilton property in Malaysia. The hotel is located within Johor Bahru’s Central Business District. Andrew Clough, the senior vice president of development for Middle East and Asia Pacific for Hilton Worldwide, said, ‘Hilton Worldwide has been in Malaysia for over 30 years and we remain committed to expanding our footprint in the region with the DoubleTree by…