Author: News Team

Crystal Cruises, a US-based cruise company, has released its Worldwide Cruise Atlas, detailing its itineraries and services for 2013. The new 170-page catalogue offers 84 itineraries covering around 75 countries, and more than 250 ports. The brochure, part of the company’s new brand campaign, includes personal travel stories, images, and details of the amenities aboard the Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity cruise ships. Nitsa Lewis, the company vice president of marketing, said, ‘This Atlas showcases the Crystal experience in a very different, emotional, and sensory way, so that, through the personal stories of our own guests, other discerning travellers can…

For those holidaymakers who have yet to decide how to spend their summer vacation this year, consider spending it in Europe, and avoid the crowds that are expected to descend on the UK for the 2012 London Olympics Games. In the summer Europe offers numerous events and activities for both local and international visitors, and here are just a few suggestions. The Paris Street Music Festival is held annually in Paris, France, on June 21, 2012. Also known as the ‘Fete de la Musique’, it is open to any amateur or professional musician who wishes to perform in it. The…

Altrincham Central Travelodge is now open in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England. The hotel is owned by Travelodge Hotels, Inc, a US-based company that owns and operates hotel properties, and is located in the mixed-use property, the Grafton Tower building, in Altrincham. The new hotel has been constructed with an investment of £3.5m, and offers 69 rooms, with room rates commencing from £19 per night. The new hotel is expected to add around 17 new jobs in the neighbourhood. Jonathan Hazeldine, the hotel manager said, ‘Not in my wildest dreams did I think I would one day be making history by…

Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, a hotel group formed by the US-based Carlson and Belgium-based Rezidor Hotel Group companies, has announced partnership with SAS Credits, a corporate loyalty programme of SAS, the Sweden-based airline company. The partnership is allowing employees of small and medium enterprises to earn credits on flying with SAS and certain Star Alliance affiliated airlines, and staying at Radisson Blu or Park Inn by Radisson hotels in Europe and the Middle East. The earned credits may be redeemed for complimentary flights or room nights at the participating hotel properties. Kurt Ritter, the president and chief executive officer of…

Following Ryanair’s recent announcement, Flybe, a UK-based airline company, has announced new flights to supplement bmibaby routes affected by the sudden halt of operations. Earlier, bmibaby, an airline subsidiary of UK-based British Midland Airways Limited (bmi), reported closing down its operations in phases, with the initial phase commencing from June 2012. Flybe is offering to bring forward its earlier announced plans to start new routes from East Midlands airport to early summer, to take care of bmibaby passengers stranded by its ceasing of operations. The new routes from East Midlands to Amsterdam, in the Netherlands; Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport…

Costa Cruises, an Italy-based cruise company and part of US-based Carnival Corporation, has announced the debut of its newest cruise ship, the Costa Fascinosa. Costa Fascinosa, an 114,500 gross tonnage vessel, which can host around 3,800 total guests, has been delivered to the company in Venice, Italy. The company has announced that Costa Fascinosa and all Costa fleet vessels will be implementing seven new safety initiatives to maintain high safety standards for the fleet. Pier Luigi Foschi, the company chairman and chief executive officer, said, ‘The delivery of Costa Fascinosa is an important stepping stone on our Company’s road to…

TravelSupermarket, a UK-based online travel company, has reported that coverage on a recent BBC2 series is boosting vacations to Seychelles, an island country in the Indian Ocean. The company is reporting that airing of BBC 2’s Sunday evening programme, Indian Ocean with Simon Reeve, has resulted in a spike in the number of reservations to the island country. While the first part of the television series aired on April 22, 2012, bookings and searches have increased by around 3,500% after airing of the second part of the series on April 29, 2012. An island nation, Seychelles, consisting of an archipelago…

With the start of the UEFA Euro 2012 football championship now only six weeks away, England supporters will be anticipating their team’s opening game against France in Donetsk, Ukraine, on Monday June 11. But how prepared are travelling fans for navigating around a country that is not yet a regular tourist destination? Those supporters intending to stay in Ukraine, at least for the duration of England’s three group-stage matches, will have to contend with a serious amount of travelling within a country that is close to two and a half times larger than the UK. The second England game is…

Ryanair, an Ireland-based low cost airline, is offering a new fare deal for passengers already booked with the airline, bmibaby, following bmibaby’s plan to wind up operations, starting with its imminent summer schedule. bmibaby, a subsidiary of UK-based British Midland Airways Limited (bmi), is to close its operations in phases, the initial phase commencing from June 2012, and the final phase ending in September 2012. Ryanair is stepping up its summer schedule to offer stranded bmibaby passengers booked from the Belfast and Birmingham airports rescue fares commencing from £29.99 one way. The airline is working with British International Airlines Group…

Greek holidays are set to gain popularity with travellers this summer, says Holiday Hypermarket, a UK based holiday travel retailer. Tourism in Greece is poised for growth in 2012, with low airfares and hotel rates at destinations such as Crete, Mykonos and Corfu, according to the company. In 2011, travellers to Greece increased by around 10 percent, compared to the figures for 2010. In 2012, organisations promoting Greek tourism have announced marketing campaigns to help promote Greek holidays to visitors from abroad. Calum MacDonald, Holiday Hypermarket’s online marketing manager, said, ‘Greece is slowly climbing into the top 10 tourist destinations…