The Journey Time

(TDN): Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. announced that it has completed the sale of the Bliss spa and product company to Steiner Leisure Limited for $100 million. As part of the transaction, Bliss and Remede spas and amenities will remain exclusive to Starwood in the hotel category at W Hotels and St. Regis Hotels, respectively. Additionally, Starwood’s Aloft brand will continue to offer Bliss Tried+Blue amenities.

“Not only does this sale further our strategy to focus exclusively on our global hospitality business (more…)

(TDN): ACI’s monthly PaxFlash and Freight Flash reports show strong positive growth in both passenger numbers and freight tonnage in November. Angela Gittens, Director General ACI World, comments, “The steady improvement of traffic at airports indicates that losses for the year may be softer than originally expected. In the first quarter 2009 airports registered an alarming downward spiral yet since mid-year we have witnessed the return of demand - first for domestic and now for international travel. For sure, we are comparing November 2009 against November 2008, the month (more…)

(TDN): This holiday season, Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) will be giving travellers from around the world an extra luxurious touch with the opening of more than 40 top-tier luxury brand boutiques. To make discerning shoppers’ visit at HKIA an even more exclusive and memorable experience, more than 20 unique Christmas delights will be presented by  these world-renowned luxury brand boutiques as part of HKIA’s “Exclusive Christmas Delights” promotion.

Every traveller can make best use of their time no matter which gate they are boarding. Located conveniently in East Hall (more…)

(TDN): SITA announced a ten year, $26.7 million agreement, with the Kenya Airports Authority (KAA) for a complete upgrade of passenger processing at the country’s two international gateways, Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi and Moi International Airport (MIA), Mombasa. This includes the installation of the country’s first ever self-service check-in kiosks.

The installation of the new generation S3 Kiosks by June 2010 will bring passenger self-service to Kenya for the first time and the upgrade of passenger processing to the SITA (more…)

(TDN):  Abu Dhabi Airports Company (ADAC) released the October 2009 traffic figures for Abu Dhabi International Airport showing strong growth throughout 2009. ADAC recorded a 7.0 per cent increase in passengers over the course of 2009, to date, and during the month of October saw a 2.8 per cent increase in Passengers and 24.3 per cent increase in Cargo against the month of October last year.

It was also noted that in the extra-ordinary circumstances provided by the inaugural Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix 2009 event, Abu Dhabi International Airport and Al Bateen (more…)

(TDN): Leading hospitality group Accor UK has renewed its contract with online publisher ABC Connection for a further three years, following a review of its sales and marketing strategy. The agreement means that detailed descriptions and images of its Sofitel, Novotel and Mercure branded properties, plus several Ibis hotels, are promoted directly to leading booking agents, travel management companies, corporate travel managers and online hotel and venue guides via ABC’s network of distribution partners.

Accor UK ensures that its hotels maximise all possible marketing opportunities in working with ABC Connection, through careful management of high quality (more…)