The Peninsula Hong Kong Set New Standards in Guest Room Technology

Pioneering mobility technology gives guests control
HONG KONG /PRNewswire/ — iBAHN, a global leader in IP platform-based systems and broadband technologies for hospitality, retail, enterprise and venues has completed the first phase of installation of their IPTV solution, ETVi, as part of The Peninsula Hong Kong’s landmark room renovation programme.

Mobile streaming of TV or movies is available via the in-room tablet or on the guests’ own mobile device.
The Peninsula Hong Kong’s guest room upgrade is setting new standards in hotel technology, and the addition of the latest ETVi feature, Mobile Streaming, cements The Peninsula Hotel’s commitment to luxury travel.
Shane Izaks, General Manager, Information Technology of The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited, parent company of The Peninsula Hotels, said: “The Peninsula Hotels was looking for a guest entertainment and IPTV solution to integrate with our next generation guest room technology. iBAHN’s ETVi solution exceeded our technology criteria and this, combined with iBAHN’s high level of customer service and technical support, confirmed our IPTV partner choice.”
The ETVi installation provides guests at The Peninsula Hong Kong with control of in-room functions at their fingertips. Guests can control features such as mood lighting, air conditioning, curtain control, TV and radio stations with a simple swipe directly from their tablet. Hotel services such as valet, in-room dining menus and the new “PenCities” guides are also only a touch away on the tablet, with all functions available in five languages.
In addition, ETVi’s Mobile Streaming feature allows guests to stream TV or one of over 50 movies on their mobile device or the Peninsula-provided tablet located in each guest room.
Matt Mitchell, Managing Director iBAHN Asia Pacific, commented on the ETVi installation, “The Peninsula Hotels are renowned for the highest standards in hotel luxury as well as an innovative approach to guest room technology. We have worked closely with the Peninsula’s own Electronic Services Department to create a solution that was customised specifically for The Peninsula Hong Kong and also integrated with the hotels’ existing in room technology. I believe the result is the creation of a leading guest room technology solution in the region, if not the world.”
iBAHN has also installed wired and wireless broadband at The Peninsula Hong Kong to ensure seamless Internet coverage throughout the hotel.
The remaining guestrooms will be transformed and unveiled by Spring 2013.
To view a clip of The Peninsula Hong Kong’s guest room technology, including iBAHN’s Mobile Streaming & IPTV features, click here.
About iBAHN
iBAHN creates exceptional information and entertainment experiences for people on the move.
iBAHN is a partner with business owners in the hospitality, conference, food service and retail industries. We complement business strategy with managed services enabling connectivity, entertainment and information over a dedicated enterprise grade IP platform.
The iBAHN managed network operates in more than 50 countries across six continents delivering connectivity, information and entertainment to tablets, laptops, mobile phones and flat screens. Three million times a month, business owners, people on the move and more than half of the Fortune 500 companies rely on iBAHN solutions.
For more information, visit http://www.ibahn.com
About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of transport, club management and other services. The hotel portfolio of the Group comprises The Peninsula Hotels in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Tokyo, Bangkok, Manila and Paris (opening in 2013). The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and The Peak Tramways, St. John’s Building, The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand.
For further information:
Lara McLaren
iBAHN – Marketing Director, APAC
+61-410445272
lmclaren@ibahn.com
Source: iBAHN

Air China Taps CyberSource to Secure Call Center Payments across Asia with Payment Security and Fraud Management Solutions

SINGAPORE and BEIJING /PRNewswire/ — CyberSource, a Visa company (NYSE Code: V) and one of the world’s largest providers of eCommerce payment management services, today announced that it has signed an agreement with China’s national airline Air China, to provide payment gateway and fraud management services for its international sales and service hotline.
Air China launched its international sales and service hotline in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia and the Philippines to provide better service to their travelers. This was supported by CyberSource’s international payment gateway and risk management services. The 800 hotline number, using Air China’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) payment services, supported by CyberSource’s solutions, will also be rolled out gradually in four other markets — Taiwan, UAE, Thailand and India.
This CyberSource-enabled infrastructure is a critical element in Air China’s strategy to increase its share of the regional market by extending its high quality, customer experience to each new market, immediately upon service inception. In October, Air China served 160,100 regional and 526,400 international passengers (Note 1).
“It is an honor to be a part of Air China’s newly launched call center solution,” said Poon Khye Wei, Regional Director, Greater China & Korea for CyberSource. “Payments that are made via Air China call centers’ IVR system, supported by CyberSource payment gateway and fraud screening solutions, will protect Air China from fraud and keeping sensitive payment data off Air China’s networks. This same CyberSource connection can also be used by Air China to support other payment channels as Air China scales its operations.”
In a statement, Air China said: “Our aim is to continue to provide convenience to overseas travelers. As part of our offering, Air China’s customer service staff will provide the traveler’s itinerary over the phone and when the traveler is ready to proceed with payment, we will switch the call to the IVR system, supported by CyberSource and the traveler can continue with card number entry and the ensuing checks to complete the payment process.”
CyberSource’s fraud-management technology and processes feature the world’s largest fraud detection radar, and include over 250 tests for fraudulent activity — all in the space of a couple of seconds. Its payment gateway and payment security services facilitate secure cross-border transactions in multiple payment types, currencies, and transaction environments. Banks, merchants and third-party service providers are using CyberSource technology to capitalize on the growth of eCommerce in China and around the region to expand their business.
For more information on CyberSource products, visit http://www.cybersource.com/asiapacific.
Note 1: http://www.airchina.com.cn/www/en/html/index/ir/traffic/
About CyberSource
CyberSource Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Visa Inc., is a payment management company. Over 370,000 businesses worldwide use CyberSource and Authorize.Net brand solutions to process online payments, streamline fraud management, and simplify payment security.
The company is headquartered in San Francisco and maintains offices throughout the world, with regional headquarters in Singapore (Asia Pacific); Tokyo (Japan), Miami/Sao Paulo (Latin America and the Caribbean), and Reading, U.K. (Europe/Middle East/Africa).
CyberSource operates in Europe under agreement with Visa Europe. For more information, please visit http://www.cybersource.com/asiapacific.
About Air China
Air China Limited (“Air China”) and its predecessor, the former Air China, were founded in 1988. According to the “Civil Aviation System Reform Program” which was approved and passed by the State Department in October 2002, the former Air China consolidated with China National Aviation Company and China Southwest Airlines and founded China Aviation Group Company. Based on the combined air transportation resources of the three entities, the new Air China Company was established. On September 30th, 2004, approved by the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council (SASAC), Air China Limited was officially launched in Beijing, operating air transport services as its primary business and controlled by the China Aviation Group. On December 15th, 2004, Air China successfully listed in Hong Kong (SEHK: 0753) and London (LSE: AIRC).
Air China is China’s exclusive national flag carrier for civil aviation, a member of the Star Alliance, the world’s largest airline alliance, and it was the official airline partner of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. It ranks first among domestic airline brands (evaluated by the World Brand Laboratory as having a brand value of RMB 61.885 billion in 2012) and it is leading ahead of its domestic competitors in passenger and freight air transport and related services.
As of December 31, 2011, Air China (including holding companies) owns 432 Boeing and Airbus aircraft, with an average age of 6.77 years; operates a total of 282 passenger flight routes, including 71 international routes, 14 regional routes, and 197 domestic routes covering 30 countries and regions worldwide connecting 143 cities, including 43 international cities, 96 domestic cities and four regions. In cooperation with Star Alliance member airlines, its service network is further extended to 1,160 destinations in 181 countries.
Air China is committed to providing passengers with “Four Cs” service: Credibility, Convenience, Comfort and Choice. Air China PhoenixMiles, the frequent flyer program, has the longest history of any frequent flyer program in China. Air China was the first domestic civil airline to launch two classes of premium service. Currently, Air China’s ground service provides support for 940 departure and arrival flights each day in Beijing, up to 1,026 flights on peak travel days, and 79 flights per hour during peak hours.
For five consecutive years from 2007 to 2011, Air China was listed among the “top 500 global brands”, becoming the only Civil Aviation airline ever listed. In June 2012, Air China was rated 24th among China’s 500 most valuable brands by the World Brand Laboratory, and the first in the domestic aviation service sector. The Air China brand has been jointly awarded one of “China’s Top Ten International Brands” by the Financial Times of Great Britain and American McKinsey Management Consulting Company.
Media Contacts:
Grace Lam James Dyson
Fleishman-Hillard Hong Kong Fleishman-Hillard Hong Kong
Tel: +852-2111-3552 Tel: +852-2111-9858
Mobile: +852-9130-0656 Mobile: +852-9381-1460
Email: grace.lam@fleishman.com Email: james.dyson@fleishman.com
Source: CyberSource Corporation

TheLuxenomad.com Sets Sail with Media Launch Aboard Luxury Cruise

All-girl tech start-up hosts media event on luxury boat with celebrity Nomad, HENRY GOLDING
SINGAPORE /PRNewswire/ — To celebrate the media launch of the members-only luxury travel portal in Singapore, TheLuxeNomad.com hosted an intimate gathering for leading lifestyle and travel media yesterday afternoon.

Sign-up to TheLuxeNomad.com

Celebrity Nomad Henry Golding and Elizabeth Lazan attend TheLuxeNomad.com’s media event
Held on The Equator Club’s NYMPHAEA luxury boat, guests were asked to switch to holiday-mode and sip on sunset drinks, indulge in little bites by Foodology, and pamper themselves with complimentary foot massages by Sole Service. Media guests were also invited on a spin aboard the perfect luxury all-rounder; the JCRAFT – a sexy 42ft Torpedo which evokes all the glamour of the classic wooden speed boats of the 50s and 60s.
Present at the event was Stephanie Chai, Chief Nomad and Founder of TheLuxeNomad.com, and celebrity TV host, Henry Golding to meet and greet the guests. The event kicked off with an introduction by Chai, followed by a brief presentation on Asia’s growing online travel industry and how The Luxe Nomad differs from other online travel portals.
“Asia is one of the fastest growing markets for luxury travel, yet only 25% of bookings are made online. In more mature markets, such as the United States, this rate is over 50% – signaling an incredible growth opportunity. The Luxe Nomad is very niche as we represent luxury hotels only, with exclusive flash sales that offer prices lower than anywhere else.”
Having only launched their beta site late July, this members-only travel site has since seen sales go from strength to strength.
“Despite the short time that we’ve been in the game, we’ve received positive feedback and had a very encouraging first quarter. By October, we tripled our sales and our database numbers,” says Stephanie Chai, Founder and CEO of TheLuxeNomad.com. “Just last month, we had a single booking come in at over US$40,000. That’s huge!”
During the event, Chai welcomed celebrity TV host, Henry Golding, who is one of TheLuxeNomad.com’s “Nomads on the Go”. Unlike other online hotel booking sites, this luxury travel portal adds a touch of glamour to online bookings by appointing Asian celebrities as curators to review partner hotels and share insider tips with members.
“I’m so happy to be a part of The Luxe Nomad…They handpick some of the best hotels and villas from around the region. And it cuts away that boring time of searching and sifting through the internet. So, to get all the best four star, five star hotels in one place? TheLuxeNomad.com – look no further,” says Golding.
By tying up with the celebrities, TheLuxeNomad.com not only provides exciting content, but hopes to engage both their social media platforms and traditional media to create a greater reach and target a wider audience.
With the start-up scene in Asia heating up and Silicon Valley VCs looking east for new investments, TheLuxeNomad.com is one of the growing numbers of female start-ups in the region. “It wasn’t intentional to be an all-girl affair but we realized that women are key drivers of online sales. It is often the wives, girlfriends and mothers who are doing travel research and booking online,” says Chai. “What better way to understand your consumer than to be one yourself?”
About The Luxe Nomad:
TheLuxeNomad.com is a private flash sale site that offers luxury hotels and resorts to a sophisticated and affluent membership base for unique insider deals. Each week, a new rotation of hotels will be featured on the site with discounts up to 70% off. The site displays beautiful property imagery and editorial content from a host of celebrity “Nomads On The Go” to give insider stories on both the hotels and the destinations themselves. The site is run by Singapore-based Luxe Nomad Pte Ltd.
Media Gallery:
Stephanie Chai, Founder and CEO of TheLuxeNomad.com
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/5w9ozm5tkrhyz79/vx_RwJfnJa
The Luxe Nomad Logo
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/2s67p0qovp7m1u0/nGgJOq5nkA
Press Kit 2012
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/04hebo1z0lx12i4/1ALS9xYYsZ
Media Contact
Alexandra Seitz
PR Manager
alex@theluxenomad.com
+852-6106-6781
Source: TheLuxeNomad.com

CNN International Launches New Digital Travel Platform “CNN Travel”

HONG KONG/PRNewswire/ — CNN International today announced the launch of a new digital channel, CNN Travel, expected to become the most dynamic, engaging and relevant online destination for the world’s luxury, business and leisure travelers.
Through a network of more than 800 travel contributors around the world, CNN Travel delivers up-to-the-minute travel news, destination insights, inspirational travel ideas, original observation and thoroughly-researched city and country insider guides with directions to the world’s hottest restaurants, bars, hotels and activities.
CNN Travel brings together the best of CNN’s existing digital travel portfolio and CNNGo.com, the successful Asia Pacific-focused travel start-up launched in 2009. The Hong Kong-headquartered team which launched CNNGo.com and has managed the popular site ever since, will continue at the helm of the international CNN Travel platform, working with international travel contributors to provide users with the distinct voice, authority and local insights which have made CNNGo.com such a hit.
“CNN Travel takes the best of CNNGo.com, shakes it up and expands its horizons to create an online travel destination unlike anything else out there. We are incredibly proud of the success CNNGo.com has had over the last three years and are thrilled to be taking it global with the creation of CNN Travel,” said Andrew Demaria, editor in chief of CNN Travel.
“CNN Travel’s blend of reporting, global network, international partnerships, contemporary voice and social media reach will position the site as a compelling travel destination,” said Peter Bale, Vice President and General Manager of CNN International Digital. “What Andrew calls ‘CNN in jeans’ gives the site a fresh and vibrant tone.”
“CNN.com has launched a series of groundbreaking initiatives throughout 2012, including our partnership with Facebook around the U.S. Elections, CNN Trends, and CNN Soundwaves. CNN Travel is an outstanding addition to this roster and we are confident our international users will quickly embrace the site’s unique tone and reportage,” Bale added.
CNN Travel features standalone destination guides on Latin America, North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa, along with dedicated sections on Travel News, Aviation, Hotels, Food and Drink amongst others.
Articles now featuring on CNN Travel include:
26 of the most stunning spots in Africa
101 best sports bars in the U.S.
How Spain is trying to save its tourism industry
London’s amazing street food
Insider Guide: Best of Istanbul
10 outrageous spas in the Middle East
Mexico: Underrated Oaxaca
Piranha fishing in the Amazon
Sahara survival: 3 weeks with the Tuareg
Tony Wheeler’s top edgy destinations
Airbus A350- what’s all the fuss about?
Best new restaurants in Hong Kong
Related links:
cnn.com/travel
https://www.facebook.com/cnntravel
@cnntravel
CNN is the world’s leading global 24-hour news network and one of the world’s most respected and trusted sources for news and information. The CNN brand is available to two billion people via 18 CNN branded TV, internet and mobile services produced by CNN Worldwide, a division of Turner Broadcasting System Inc and a Time Warner company. CNN International is the international directorate of CNN Worldwide and distributes news via 14 services in seven different languages. CNN International can be seen in more than 280 million households and hotel rooms in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, including over 44 million across the Asia Pacific region and online at http://www.cnn.com/international.
Get the latest social media updates from CNN at:
facebook.com/cnninternational
@cnnasiapr
Contact:
Susannah Geary / Ingrid Hsu
Tel: +852 3128 3538 / +852 3128 3568
E-mail: susannah.geary@turner.com / ingrid.hsu@turner.com
Source: CNN International

General Managers’ Appointments at The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited

HONG KONG/PRNewswire/ — The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH), a Hong Kong-listed company and owner and operator of the Peninsula Hotels, announced the transfer of Mr. Nicolas Beliard to be General Manager of The Peninsula Paris (effective 1 January 2013) and the promotion of Ms. Katja Henke to be General Manager of The Peninsula Bangkok (effective 27 December 2012).

Mr. Nicolas Beliard

Ms. Katja Henke
Commenting on these senior executive appointments, Mr. Clement K.M. Kwok, Chief Executive Officer of HSH, said, “Mr. Beliard brings with him a wealth of experience in managing luxury hotels. He will lead The Peninsula Paris in its opening and will drive a number of exciting initiatives that we will put in place ahead of the hotel’s launch in 2013. Ms. Henke has a proven track record in luxury hotels, which will be crucial to ensuring the continued success of The Peninsula Bangkok. I wish to congratulate both of them on their promotions.”
Mr. Nicolas Beliard
Aged 46, Mr. Nicolas Beliard is a French national and is currently General Manager of The Peninsula Bangkok. He will be transferred to The Peninsula Paris as General Manager on 1 January 2013.
Mr. Beliard joined HSH in 2009 as Resident Manager of The Peninsula Hong Kong. In May 2010, he was promoted to be General Manager of The Peninsula Bangkok.
Born in France and educated in the USA, Mr. Beliard possesses a Bachelor of Arts degree from Princeton University, a Master of Business Administration degree from Crummer Graduate School of Management and a Master of Management in Hospitality degree from the Cornell School of Management. He began his career in St. Tropez, France and progressively took on senior positions with international luxury hotels, including the Four Seasons hotels in New York, Paris, the West Indies and Geneva, The Waldorf Astoria and The Pierre hotels in New York, as well as Mandarin Oriental hotel in Miami.
In his new capacity, Mr. Beliard will be overseeing the launch of the 200-key Peninsula Paris, HSH’s tenth Peninsula hotel and the first Peninsula hotel in Europe, which is due to open in late 2013.
Ms. Katja Henke
Aged 42, Ms. Katja Henke is a German/Swiss national and is currently Hotel Manager of The Peninsula Shanghai. She is promoted to be General Manager of The Peninsula Bangkok, effective 27 December 2012.
Ms. Henke joined HSH in May 2011. She received her education in Germany and attended a hospitality school, the Schweizerische Hotelfachschule Luzern in Switzerand. Her international career has taken her to Switzerland, France and England, before moving to the USA to work for Relais & Chateau where she held the position of General Manager at their Lenox, Massachusetts property. Before joining HSH, Ms. Henke was Hotel Manager at the Four Seasons Hotel in Washington DC and subsequently, the Beverly Wiltshire hotel in California.
Ms. Henke will be taking over from Mr. Nicolas Beliard to manage the 370-key Peninsula Bangkok.
About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH)
Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of transport, club management and other services. The hotel portfolio of the Group comprises The Peninsula Hotels in Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Tokyo, Bangkok, Manila and Paris (opening in late 2013). The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and The Peak Tramways, St. John’s Building, The Landmark in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam and the Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand.
For further information on this release, please contact:
Irene Lau
Senior Manager, Corporate Affairs
The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited
Tel: +852-2840-7788
Fax: +852-2840-7567
Email: irenelau@peninsula.com
Websites: http://www.hshgroup.com, http://www.peninsula.com
Source: The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited

SATTE 2013: Catalyst for India’s Tourism

NEW DELHI/PRNewswire/ —
Top industry players view the 20th edition of SATTE, to be held in New Delhi from 16-18 January 2013 and in Mumbai from 21-22 January 2013, as the most sought after travel and tourism event in South Asia.
Over the years SATTE has received tremendous response from national tourism boards, Indian states, hotel chains, airlines and tourism products from across the globe. SATTE has always played a vital role in promoting diverse segments of tourism and has now evolved as a leading travel event in South Asia. The vast participation of many major Indian and global players and the presence of the who’s who from the travel industry is testimony to the importance the travel and tourism industry gives to SATTE. Sajid Desai, Group Director, UBM India, is quite bullish about SATTE 2013. “India’s tourism has consistently been growing at a rapid pace. While foreign tourist arrivals during January-September witnessed a growth of 5.9 per cent over the corresponding period in 2011, outbound and domestic tourism are notching a growth of 12 per cent.” He further added that the recent measures taken by the Government of India, such as FDI in aviation and the intention of extending Visa-on-Arrival facility to a few more countries, are further going to provide impetus to the Indian tourism industry. “The Prime Minister is quite hopeful of achieving the GDP growth rate of eight per cent during the 12th Five Year Plan. We all know that tourism always grows at twice the GDP growth rate of any country.”
While the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, has already confirmed their participation in SATTE 2013, State Tourism Boards such as Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Goa and Lakshwadeep have confirmed their participation at SATTE 2013. Other states including Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Odisha, West Bengal among others are also in the process of confirming their participation.
NTOs of over 33 countries including Abu Dhabi, Argentina, Bhutan, Botswana, Brand USA, China, Dubai, Egypt , Ethiopia, Fiji Islands, Germany, Hungary, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Jordan, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, New Zealand, Oman, Seychelles, Singapore’s Changi Airport, Spain, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey among many others have either confirmed or are in the process of confirming their participation at SATTE 2013.
This year, the participation of countries, states and tourism products are quite encouraging. Some of the key exhibitors; including Thailand, Turkey, Malaysia, Maldives and Indonesia among others have increased their stand size considerably, and several more have evinced their interests for the same. “The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) and the Thai travel trade are expecting to meet more potential buyers and travel trade partners from India at SATTE 2013 at our stand no. 1159. We would like to thank the Indian travel trade and media for supporting Thailand. This year, TAT has a much larger space, and buyers will meet more partners from the popular destinations in Thailand, as well a variety of services and products.” said Runjuan Tongrut, Director, Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), Delhi office.
Similarly, Singapore’s Changi Airport, which is participating in SATTE for the first time, is further creating awareness about their facilities and services in Indian market through SATTE. “Singapore Changi Airport is participating in SATTE for the first time together with the Singapore Tourism Board, inbound travel operators, attractions and hoteliers under a Singapore Pavilion. India, being one of the top five visitor arrival source markets for Singapore and the seventh largest market for Changi Airport in 2011, is an important market for us,” said Peh Ke-Wei, Vice President, Passenger Development, Changi Airport Group and added that our partners and we look forward to SATTE 2013 being an excellent B2B platform to strengthen our presence here, as well as network with key Indian travel buyers.”
Arturo Ortiz, Tourism Counsellor, Spain Tourism Board said “We have been very happy with SATTE and the success can be measured considering the size of the event and the size of our stand there. Even though we have had budget restrictions in Spain, SATTE Delhi is one of the top 10 exhibitions in which we will keep participating. At SATTE 2013, we will have representatives from both Madrid and Barcelona, plus we will be promoting cruises. We will have at least 8 Spanish DMC’s from Madrid and Barcelona and also from Andalusia present.”
SATTE has received the support of World Tourism Organization UNTWO and International Council of Tourism Partners (ICTP) along with leading tourism associations of India such as the Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), Association of Tourism Trade Organisations India (ATTOI), Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA), Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Association of India (FHRAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI), Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) and Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI).
While the participation of countries, states and tourism products is quite encouraging, the number for registered buyers is also increasing with every passing day – 542 registered National buyers and 168 International buyer applications has been received besides business visitors. SATTE has revamped its buyer programme this year to offer an incentivised pre-scheduled appointments system that allows for buyers to schedule appointments ensuring the opportunity to get business done on the show floor. Desai expects a growth of 15 percent in terms of nett space and buyers for SATTE 2013. “I urge the stakeholders of the tourism industry and tourism associations to come forward and extend their support to SATTE 2013 to make it a grand success. I am thankful to all associations, hoteliers, airlines, NTOs, State Tourism Boards, tourism products and the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India for supporting SATTE over the years,” added Desai.
About UBM India
UBM India is a subsidiary of UBM plc, which is the second largest independent exhibition organiser in the world. It is the largest trade exhibition organiser in India, responsible for 26 exhibitions in different locations across the country. The company is also involved in the organisation of conference programmes throughout India and in the publications of trade journals and magazines.
Media Contact:
Jayesh Kanaskar
Email: jayesh.kanaskar@ubm.com
UBM India Pvt Ltd.
119, Sagar Tech Plaza – A, Saki Naka Junction
Andheri -Kurla Road, Andheri (East), Mumbai – 400 072, India
Tel: +91-22-67692400
Fax: +91-22-67692426
Mobile: +91-9819586780
Event URL http://www.satte.in
Website: http://www.ubmindia.in
Source: SATTE 2013 – UBM India Pvt Ltd

Euromonitor’s WTM Global Trends Report Identifies Emerging 2012 Travel and Tourism Trends

LONDON /PRNewswire/ — The World Travel Market Global Trends Report 2012 has been released today, November 5, at the World Travel Market, the leading event for travel and tourism worldwide. The report highlights the nine key emerging travel and tourism trends worldwide, looking at how the global, regional and national political, social and economic situation is shaping the travel industry.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121105/573139 )
Americas: The Attraction of Forbidden Lands
Since 2010, countries previously off-limits to American tourists have become open; benefiting economically from tourism revenue. Caroline Bremner, Head of Travel and Tourism Research at Euromonitor said, “It’s a small but growing market. Most US visitors to previously banned countries are expected to come from the Baby Boomer generation.”
Europe: BRIC’s Grand Shopping Tour
Brazil, Russia, India and China are embracing shopping tourism in key European destinations. Dynamic economic growth has led to rapidly increasing disposable income levels in these countries. Together with increased awareness of an improved quality of life, consumers from BRIC countries are keen to spend more on travel.
Middle East: Rise of Shopping Hotels
Big spenders with cash are driving the trend for Middle Eastern hotels built inside shopping malls. Wealthy consumers from Bahrain and Saudi Arabia have disposable income and love shopping, thus mega-malls in the Middle East are booming. Shopping malls and associated hotel developments are key elements in the recovery of tourism, which saw a difficult year in 2011.
Africa: Destination Nollywood
Nigeria’s massive film industry, dubbed Nollywood, is the world’s second largest film industry in volume terms, after India’s Bollywood and ahead of Hollywood, with more than 2,000 films produced annually. The increasing popularity of Nollywood in many African countries will be a major growth driver with the leisure sector attracting film fans.
Global Village: Digital Detox
In a time when technology is an intrinsic part of everyday life, with more consumers addicted to their devices, some hotels are going against the tide, helping guests to check in and switch off. Some hotels are offering “technology-free” packages as an escape for busy travellers.
Further information:
Travel and tourism reports worldwide:
http://www.euromonitor.com/travel-and-tourism
About Euromonitor International
Euromonitor International is the world’s leading provider for global business intelligence and strategic market analysis.

Source: Euromonitor International

EVEN(TM) Hotels Announces First Property Signing

ATLANTA, Georgia /PRNewswire/ —
Wellness Brand Will Fill Unmet Demand for Healthier Travel in New York City
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG; NYSE: IHG (ADRs)] today announces the signing of the first EVEN™ Hotels property which will be located in New York City, with ownership group CWC, Inc. The IHG-managed hotel will be located at 219 E 44th Street in the heart of midtown Manhattan, and will be a flagship property for the brand. The hotel will be a new build scheduled to open in late 2014. The hotel will feature 23 guestroom floors and 230 guestrooms, dedicated meeting areas, and indoor and outdoor exercise and eating spaces for an impressive 87,000 square feet in total space.
“This is another important first for IHG. By developing our portfolio of preferred brands in line with emerging consumer preferences, we are meeting the needs of a new type of guest who’s looking for hotels with an intrinsic focus on wellness in terms of food, work, exercise and rest,” said Richard Solomons, chief executive officer, IHG. “New York City is an ideal location, being one of the most health-minded cities in the U.S. – so it will provide the EVEN Hotels brand with the right exposure to its target guest, the healthier-minded traveler.”
With over 50.9 million visitors in 2011 alone, New York City is one of the strongest markets for the EVEN Hotels’ target guest, and perfectly complements the four priority areas of the EVEN Hotels experience – eat, work, exercise and rest. New York City was ranked one of the top 50 healthiest cities in the U.S. in 2012, and it’s no surprise with more than 1,700 parks, playgrounds, and recreation facilities across the five boroughs providing multiple opportunities for exercise. New York City has also led the charge on changes aimed at a healthier city experience, including: banning the sale of sugary drinks over 16 oz., posting all calorie counts on menus and menu boards and banning the use of artificial trans-fats in foods.
“New York City is a key part of EVEN Hotels’ distribution strategy and provides strong market exposure to healthier-minded people both living and traveling to New York City, looking for a holistic wellness hotel experience,” said Kirk Kinsell, president, the Americas, IHG. “We are excited about the start of this new owner relationship with CWC Inc. as it brings together IHG’s branding and management expertise with CWC Inc.’s strong presence in the New York City real estate market.”
EVEN Hotels meets the large and growing customer demand for a healthier travel experience and is another industry first for IHG. EVEN Hotels uniquely provides solutions for all aspects of travelers’ wellness needs in the areas of food, work, exercise and rest – no other brand can do this under one roof. Joining IHG’s existing seven hotel brands, EVEN Hotels will be a key pillar in IHG’s portfolio of preferred brands and in the long term, a key driver in market share growth in the U.S.
IHG expects to sign 100 EVEN Hotels in the U.S. in the next five years under managed and franchised agreements in key markets including New York, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. IHG plans to announce additional locations over the next few months and to open the first EVEN hotel later on in 2013. To learn more about EVEN Hotels, please visit our brand website at http://evenhotels.com.
About CWC, Inc.
Frank Chan and Lance Steinberg have been in business together for over 20 years. Over the life-span of their business, they’ve created a substantial 300,000 square foot portfolio of owned and managed multi-tenant commercial space.
Notes to Editors:
IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with nine hotel brands including InterContinental® Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo®, Crowne Plaza® Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn® Hotels and Resorts, Holiday Inn Express®, Staybridge Suites®, Candlewood Suites®, as well as our two newest brands, EVEN™ Hotels and HUALUXE™ Hotels & Resorts. IHG also manages Priority Club® Rewards, the world’s first and largest hotel loyalty programme with over 67 million members worldwide.
IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns over 4,500 hotels and more than 666,000 guest rooms in nearly 100 countries and territories. With more than 1,000 hotels in its development pipeline, IHG expects to recruit around 90,000 people into additional roles across its estate over the next few years.
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Group’s holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales.
Visit http://www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and http://www.priorityclub.com for more on Priority Club Rewards. For our latest news, visit http://www.ihg.com/media, http://www.twitter.com/ihgplc, http://www.facebook.com/ihg or http://www.youtube.com/ihgplc.
Source: IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group)

Turkey to Join the Eurail Global & Eurail Select Pass

UTRECHT, the Netherlands/PRNewswire/ —
Westbahn to Join Eurail Group GIE; SNCF to pull out of the Eurail Select Pass
Eurail Group G.I.E., the organization dedicated to the marketing and management of the Eurail Pass, today officially announced the following changes to the Eurail Pass product, taking effect January 1, 2013:
– Turkey will join the Eurail Global and Eurail Select Pass when TCDD, the Turkish railway company, becomes a Eurail Pass member on January 1, 2013. With Turkey ranked as the 6th most popular tourist destination in the world, visited by more than 31.5 million foreign tourist in 2011 (source: http://www.goturkey.com), Eurail Group GIE expects the country to become a very popular choice among Eurail Pass travelers as well.
Although Turkey is accessible by train from Bulgaria, travelers should be aware that construction work will affect some routes until the fall of 2013.
– Westbahn will be the first private railway company to join the Eurail Group railway community in January, offering Eurail Pass holders the opportunity to enjoy its high-speed services between Salzburg and Vienna. Westbahn, a December 2011 start-up enterprise, is offering hourly passenger train service between these two cities: https://westbahn.at/en/
– SNCF, the French national railway company, has decided to withdraw its participation in the Eurail Select Pass as of January 2013. Nevertheless, the French network will still be accessible to customers who purchase the Eurail Global Pass (valid in 24 participating countries per Jan. 2013) or the Eurail Regional Pass (valid for travel in two bordering European countries).
Eurail Select Passes, including France, can still be purchased through December 31, 2012 from authorized sales agents (note that some agents may stop selling this pass around the 27th December). Select Pass holders, who purchase their passes before the end of the year, can rest assured that their passes will be valid on SNCF’s trains for their entire validity period in 2013; however, passes must be validated within six months of purchase.
“Even though SNCF will no longer participate in the Eurail Select Pass product, pass holders will still be able to reach Spain and Portugal by ferry via Italy, receiving a 20% discount from Grimaldi Lines,” says Ana Dias e Seixas, Eurail Group’s Marketing Director. “Furthermore, travelers will still be able to travel in France using a Eurail Regional Pass (2 country combination including France), which can be used in conjunction with a Eurail Select Pass to cover any other country combinations,” Dias e Seixas added.
For more information: Eurail Group corporate website and press room: http://www.eurailgroup.org
Source: Eurail Group G.I.E.

14th West Lake International Expo in Hangzhou, China Opens

HANGZHOU, China /PRNewswire/ — The 14th West Lake International Expo Hangzhou, China officially opened on October 13. Themed “Quality West Lake Expo, Happy Hangzhou”, the 22-day event features 132 programs and 14 sub-venues with exhibitors from more than 40 countries. The expo is expected to receive as many as 10 million visitors and generate 10 billion yuan (approx. $US 1.6 billion) in trade business, US$1 billion in contracted foreign investment and 10 billion yuan (approx. $US 1.6 billion) in domestic investment.
This year’s expo brings in 38 new programs, highlighting the importance of the role that the expo will play in the economic development of Hangzhou. More than two-thirds of the programs are closely related to industrial transformation, including the International Investment Cooperation Conference, the China-Latin America Entrepreneur Summit, the Hangzhou Cultural and Creative Industry Expo, the China 100-CEO Communication Conference, the Hangzhou Electronic Information Expo, the New Energy Vehicle Industry Expo and the Global Lighting Conference. The expo’s floor space of 100,000 square meters, of which 20 percent has been taken by international booths, is attracting more than 50,000 professional visitors including 5,000 from outside of China. In numbers, exhibits by foreign companies account for more than 55 percent of the total. A series of internationally recognized brand events are being held to catch the attention of potential customers, bring together a variety of resources and facilitate economic development.
For more information, please visit http://en.xh-expo.com/index.html.
Source: Hangzhou West Lake Expo Organizing Committee