Author: Lee Fletcher

Park Plaza Hotels, a brand from Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, has reported that rooms are available at its properties in London for the 2012 Olympics Games commencing in London, from July 27, 2012 until August 12, 2012. The company owns five luxury hotels in London, the Park Plaza Victoria London, Park Plaza Riverbank London, Park Plaza Sherlock Holmes London, Park Plaza County Hall London, and Park Plaza Westminster Bridge London. The hotel brand is offering rooms for rates commencing from GBP329, for the 2012 Olympics period, without any stay restrictions. Greg Hegarty, the regional general manager of the brand, said,…

PhoCusWright, a US-based travel industry research authority, has reported that cutting-edge gadgets and applications are more and more defining business travel. The company report, PhoCusWright’s US Corporate Travel Report: Market Size and Technology Trends, highlights that more and more businesses are opting for managed travel programs, mobile applications and technological tools. Companies are increasingly offering iPads and other tablets for their employees’ for business use, and even integrating the employees’ own devices into the corporate network. Susan Steinbrink, the company senior research and corporate market analyst, said, ‘The consumerisation of IT within organisations has definitely begun to impact the managed…

Jet2holidays, a UK-based holiday company and subsidiary of Jet2.com airline, has launched its first family brochure. The new brochure includes complimentary child places on a number of family packages and complimentary accommodation and food for infants. The free child places include a 22kg baggage allowance for flights. The new summer 2013 brochure includes 86 new hotels that have been added to the company’s portfolio, which increases its collection of hotels by around 50 percent from those on offer in the 2012 brochure. The company is offering families a choice of 17 destinations for stays at 40 family friendly European resorts.…

Doubletree by Hilton Hotels, a brand from the US-based hospitality company, Hilton Worldwide, has opened its first branded hotel in Japan. The new DoubleTree by Hilton Naha, in Okinawa, Japan, is the tenth Hilton Worldwide hotel in Japan. The 227-room hotel is minutes away from Naha Airport by monorail, and 500 metres from the local ferry terminal. Rob Palleschi, the company global head, said, ‘DoubleTree by Hilton is delighted to continue the expansion of our Asia Pacific presence by introducing another rewarding hotel experience with the DoubleTree by Hilton, Naha. This new addition is our first in Japan and an…

The Welsh town of Monmouth, in the UK, is preparing to receive the Olympic torch as it reaches the town today. The Secretary of State for Wales, Cheryl Gillan, said, ‘The London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay is Wales’ moment to shine, and a chance to showcase the people and places that make the country great. Over the next five days, the Olympic torch will be carried by around 550 runners along more than 300 streets in Wales and provides a unique opportunity to celebrate the Games as a country. I congratulate the many deserving people across Wales who have been…

With Britain gearing up to receive a massive tourist influx for the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games to be held in July, and Her Majesty The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in June, several travel companies are offering a range of Best of Britain tours. CIE Tours International, a US-based guided tour company, is offering escorted tours of Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales for travellers visiting the country for the upcoming events. Eight or nine-day Best of Britain itineraries include travel by deluxe motor coach, overnight stays in first class hotels, and guided tours of local attractions. All vacations are inclusive…

The St Pancras Renaissance London Hotel is offering its facilities as a wedding venue for couples wishing to marry in the UK’s capital city. The hotel, which was meticulously restored only a year ago to reflect its period design, offers 245 guest rooms, including 38 luxuriously refurbished suites. The historical Victorian era building is intended to become a premier wedding destination in London, having nine licensed wedding venues, and facilities to accommodate up to 240 guests for dinner and dancing, in addition to the celebrated Grand Staircase, which can provide a stylish setting for wedding photographs. The hotel is offering…

Monarch Airlines, a UK-based airline company, has announced its expanded summer schedules for 2012. The airline is currently offering two new scheduled flights to Barcelona (Spain) and Nice (France) from Birmingham Airport in the UK. The new daily flights to Nice, and four times weekly flights to Barcelona, commence from July 20, 2012, with airfares starting at GBP5.99 per person, one-way. The airline is also launching its services from its new base, East Midlands Airport in the UK, and is offering daily services to the Mediterranean destinations of Malaga (Spain), Alicante (Spain), Faro (Portugal) and Palma (Majorca). The services from…

Hilton Worldwide, a US-based multi-national hotel corporation, will be opening a new Hilton brand hotel in Lima, Peru, by the end of this year. The company has entered into a management agreement with JGJ Proyectistas SAC for the 207-room, Hilton Lima Miraflores, which is located 13 miles from the international airport in Lima. Christopher J Nassetta, the company president and chief executive officer for Hilton Worldwide, said, ‘Hilton Worldwide is experiencing a period of remarkable global growth, with the highest growth rate of any major lodging company, the largest pipeline in the industry, and the largest Latin America expansion in…

Hertz Global Holdings, a US-based car rental company that offers its services around the world, is offering a new addition to its Green Traveler Collection. The Green Traveler Collection offers clean diesel vehicles for rental, as part of the company’s policy of moving to a greener portfolio. The company, the first of the car rental companies to offer electric vehicles, will be adding the 2012 Volkswagen Jetta TDI clean diesel vehicle to its collection, a car that is currently available for rent in the US. Mark P Frissora, the company chairman and chief executive officer, said, ‘Hertz has one of…