Author: Lee Fletcher

Holiday Extras, a UK-based travel company offering pre-booked hotels and airport parking, has reported a 47 percent increase in airport parking bookings for June 2012, compared to figures achieved in the same period last year. On April 30 this year, the company registered a record number of parking bookings through its website and through its customer service centre, a 6 percent increase from its previous record number of parking bookings made on April 3, this year. The increase in parking bookings is thought to indicate a growth in travel bookings in general, and an upward trend in the travel industry.…

A new Radisson Blu Resort is scheduled to open in Tsinandali, Georgia, in 2014, according to an announcement by Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, a hotel group formed by US-based Carlson and Belgium-based Rezidor Hotel Group. The Radisson Blu Resort, Tsinandali, will feature 100 rooms and is part of the Tsinandali estate. It will be developed by Silk Road Group, a Switzerland based company. George Ramishvili, the Silk Road Group company chairman, said, ‘We are happy that Rezidor partners with us to build an exclusive spa resort in Tsinandali. We will offer visitors a luxury experience of Georgia’s stunning nature, generous…

British visitors are showing a growing preference for visiting destinations in the US, as a stronger pound makes bargain holidays in the States more lucrative. Dealchecker, a UK-based company offering a flight, accommodation, holiday and car hire price comparison service, has reported that UK tourists are looking to America for bargain travel offers, as poor weather in England urges increased numbers to look outside the country for their vacation requirements. There has been a marked increase in searches for flights to New York City and other US destinations in April 2012, compared to figures for February 2012. In April 2012,…

Hilton London Metropole Hotel, located close to Paddington Station, in London, has recently completed a GBP2.3 million transformation ahead of the 2012 London Olympic Games. The transformation includes the remodelling of the 354 bedrooms in the hotel’s Conference Wing, to create what Hilton claims are the largest ‘Double-Double’ rooms in London. The recent renovation is part of a three-year plan of multiple property remodelling that is currently underway worldwide for the Hilton Hotels & Resorts brand of US-based hospitality company, Hilton Worldwide. Avner On, the general manager of the Hilton London Metropole, said, ‘With space at a premium in the…

Sheffield, a city and metropolitan borough in South Yorkshire, England, is the home of the largest percentage of caravan and motor home owners in the UK, according to a survey conducted by Safeguard UK, a company that provides insurance for caravan owners. The company has reported that around 10 percent of its caravan insurance buyers are from South Yorkshire, more than from any other single area of the UK. Part of South Yorkshire is located within the Peak District National Park, and it is also relatively close to the Lake District, the North York Moors and the Yorkshire Dales, all…

British Airways, a UK-based airline company, has announced a new route from London Gatwick Airport, in the UK, to Las Vegas, USA. The  new, three times weekly service commences from October 29, 2012, and will be operated by a three-class Boeing 777 aircraft, which will feature fully flat beds for Club World cabin passengers. The new route will add more alternates for travelling between London and Las Vegas, by supplementing an already existing service of 10 weekly flights between Heathrow Airport and Las Vegas Airport. Colm Lacy, the airline head of commercial at Gatwick Airport, said, ‘Las Vegas has proved…

London Heathrow Airport has announced the commencement of the second phase of a trial to improve and control punctuality and flight delays at the airport from July 1, 2012. The trial will be running until the end of March 2013. BAA LTD, owner and operator of six British airports, including Heathrow Airport, in collaboration with the UK Department of Transport, a UK government department, will conduct the second phase of the Operational Freedoms trial. The first phase of the Operational Freedoms trial ran from November 1, 2011 to February 29, 2012. In this phase, the airport experimented with ways of…

London Gatwick Airport has announced a new service to Lagos, in Nigeria, with flights offered by Nigeria’s national carrier, Air Nigeria. Air Nigeria is offering passengers a daily flight to Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, from London Gatwick Airport, using an A330-200 aircraft. The service became operational as of May 17, 2012, and the airline has stated that its intention is to offer a unique onboard experience on its flights at affordable fares. David Amurun, the country manager for Air Nigeria in UK, said, ‘Air Nigeria’s return to its long hub operations with a London-Lagos route is exciting news for…

Around 74 percent of travellers surveyed by Skyscanner, a UK-based flight search engine, have said that they would welcome low-cost no-frills airlines for travelling on long-haul routes. British travellers are ready to give up on the amenities offered by regular airlines on long distance routes, in order to save on costs. The survey has indicated that 48 percent of around 1,800 travellers polled are willing to give up on more personal space and legroom to travel on low-cost airlines for four hours or more. Around 30 percent of those polled are willing to fly low-cost for more than ten hours…

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, a hotel group formed by the US-based Carlson and Belgium-based Rezidor Hotel Group (STO: REZT) companies, has announced a new summer offer for its guests. The company is offering a ‘Park Inn by Radisson 1+1 Stay One, Get One’ offer, where new members of its Club Carlson loyalty programme will be eligible to receive around 44,000 bonus Gold Points on registration. The points may be redeemed against a complimentary night at any Park Inn by Radisson hotel located anywhere in the world. Heather Passe, the company vice president for marketing, loyalty and E-commerce, said, ‘This year…