W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, recently celebrated the official unveiling of W Barcelona (Barcelona Hotel Deals) which opened its doors on October 1, 2009. Over the course of a three day launch, W Barcelona highlighted the W brand’s passion points of fashion, design, architecture, music and “B&F” (beverage & food) through a new event series called “W Premiere.” Global jetsetters and local tastemakers alike were immersed into a unique event that provided them with an insider perspective to the city curated by the following W ambassadors: W’s recently announced Global Fashion Director, Amanda Ross; W’s Global Music Director, Michaelangelo L’Acqua; Michelin star Chef, Carles Abellan, who recently debuted his upscale Spanish restaurant Bravo24 at W Barcelona; Matt Hermer, Founder of The Ignite Group (and creative mind behind London’s Boujis nightclub and Barcelona’s Eclipse Bar on the 26^th floor of the hotel); and the hotel’s world-famed star architect Ricardo Bofill.

“The Premiere Event of W Barcelona was not just a traditional opening of a new hotel, but rather the unique activation of the W brand’s passion points, brand partnerships and design concept. In its first six months, W Barcelona has already established itself as an architectural icon and an international lifestyle destination”, said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien.  “This event was a showcase of the W brand promise to provide insider experiences in an authentic way.”

Read more

Partnership with over 100 hotels, key tourist attractions and destination companies in Dubai offers families a never-before integrated experience from flights to ground activity

Families are at the forefront of Emirates airline’s global “Kids Go Free” campaign and the best Dubai Hotel Deals this summer.

Building on the success of its “Kids Go Free” promotion last year, Emirates has now partnered with Dubai Tourism & Commerce Marketing (DTCM), over 80 hotels, The Dubai Mall, the Department of Residency, and local destination management companies, to offer families even more incentives and savings when they spend their summer in Dubai.

The “Kids Go Free” offer gives families an unrivalled integrated destination experience, whereby two children up to the age of 16 can basically enjoy free flights on Emirates, tourist visa, accommodation, meals, rides on the Dubai metro, airport transfers, and access to numerous attractions in Dubai when accompanied by two paying adults. Families also get an attractive discount booklet at The Dubai Mall, the world’s largest.

Read more

• Emirates, one of the world’s fastest-growing airlines, launches services to Dakar, Senegal from 1st September
• Dakar will be Dubai-based Emirates’ 106th international destination

Emirates passengers can look forward to a warm welcome on and off the aircraft after the airline unveiled plans to launch direct services to Senegal – known as the land of ‘Teranga’ or hospitality because of its friendly and welcoming people.

The West African nation will be Emirates’ 106th international destination, and closely follows new route announcements to Tokyo, Amsterdam, Prague and Madrid, also launching in 2010. Dakar is the airline’s third new African destination in less than 12 months, after Durban and Luanda joined the network in late 2009.

Starting 1st September 2010, Emirates will fly non-stop to Dakar five times a week on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The service will be operated by an Airbus A340-300 aircraft, offering a three-class configuration of 12 First Class, 42 Business and 213 Economy Class seats.

Read more

Luxury Hotels by Dnata is to represent one of the world’s most sought after hotel groups, after announcing today that The Peninsula Hotels has joined its exclusive portfolio.

The Peninsula Hotels operates ultra-luxurious properties in nine major cities – Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing, New York, Chicago, Beverly Hills, Bangkok and Manila with Paris opening in 2012. (online bookings can be made also through Hotel Planner). Flagship property The Peninsula Hong Kong is regularly described as one of the finest hotels found anywhere across the globe.
“The Peninsula Hotels epitomize personalized service and luxurious comfort, having perfected a unique blend of Eastern and Western hospitality. As such, they are an ideal fit for our highly discerning customers in the Middle East,” said Lisa Balsom, Manager of Luxury Hotels by Dnata. She added: “Despite the ongoing economic downturn, demand for luxury travel remains strong across the region and I am confident that this new partnership will produce excellent results.”

Read more

With 100 days to go until the whistle blows for the opening match of the football’s premier tournament, Emirates’ FIFA World Cup 2010™ Travel Packages have never been more accessible and attractive.

As an Official Tour Operator, Emirates will be bringing the world to South Africa for the FIFA World Cup™. Through the award-winning airline’s network of over 100 destinations across 62 countries, Emirates is offering seamless travel to three of the host cities, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban via our Dubai hub.

Currently on sale in 65 countries around the world, Emirates’ tailor-made FIFA World Cup Travel Packages are some of the most competitive on the market, offering flights, accommodation, ground transportation and match tickets.

Read more

Partners with Hong Kong Tourism Board once again to offer customers the best deals from February to April 2010

After the success of their 2009 promotion, Kanoo Travel has once again partnered with Hong Kong Tourism Board to offer customers special vacation packages to Hong Kong from February to April 2010. As part of the promotions, customers will be able to avail of the best Hong Kong Hotel Deals, accommodation and promotions at many of Hong Kong’s best restaurants and shops. Search and Compare Top Travel Sites!

Read more

Costa Cruises – together with AIDA Cruises, the German brand and affiliate of the Costa Crociere S.p.A. Group – was the first Company , mentioned  in Cruise Travel Magazine,  to market regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf, turning Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributing to its growth as a tourist resort. Costa Cruises’ operations in the region were launched in winter 2006/2007 with the deployment of one ship – the Costa Classica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,680 total Guests) – and were an immediate success; so much so, in fact, that Costa has increased its capacity in the region every year since then.  The number of Costa Cruises Guests in Dubai has risen from 44,000 in winter 2006/2007 to an estimated 140,000 in winter 2009/10, thanks to the presence of three ships – the Costa Luminosa, Costa Deliziosa and Costa Europa, with a total of 32 port calls. In winter 2010/2011 a further increase is expected with 31 calls and 150,000 passenger movements. The estimated economic impact in 2009/10 was around 14* million euros, derived from direct spending by Costa’s Guests, shoreside excursions, transport, port fees and expenditure on food & beverage.

Read more

• Costa Deliziosa, the new diamond of the Costa Cruises fleet, is the first cruise ship ever to be inaugurated in an Arab city
• A unique event staged in collaboration with the DTCM (Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing) and emphasizing the dialogue between Italian and Arab culture

An emblem of Italian-made excellence worldwide like her sister ship Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa is the cruise line’s top of the range offer, operating on regular Arabian Gulf cruises in the winter months with forecasts of 150,000 passenger movements in winter 2010/2011.

Today sees the staging in Dubai of the inauguration ceremony for the Costa Deliziosa, the new diamond of the Costa Cruises fleet and the first cruise ship ever to be named in an Arab city: a unique and quite extraordinary event which sets a new record and combines traditional Arabian enchantment, reminiscent of “A Thousand and One Nights”, with the unmistakable Italian style of Costa Cruises, the largest Italian travel group and Europe’s n.1 cruise line.

Read more

Dnata Travel and the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), the region’s leading experts in corporate, business and leisure travel, opened a new outlet in Bahrain today, its second in the Kingdom.

The new outlet, located on Palace Avenue, offers an extensive range of travel products and services for business and leisure travellers alike. These include a choice of over 100 airlines, tailor-made holidays, Hajj and Umrah packages, tours, excursions and cruises, travel insurance and international car hire.

The new outlet, like the current office – which opened in September 2008 in Bahrain City Centre – has a team of dedicated consultants who provide corporate clients with a total travel management service tailored to their individual business needs. Services include: VAT reclaim, aircraft charters, visa processing and preferential hotel and car rental rates.  Clients will also benefit from Dnata/HRG’s advanced tracking and reporting tools, which are designed to offer increased control of travel policies as well as deliver significant savings.

Read more

In winter 2009/2010 Costa’s ships are expected to bring 140,000 passenger movements to Dubai thanks to the presence of three ships – the Costa Luminosa, the Costa Deliziosa and the Costa Europa – for a total of 32 calls. The estimated economic impact will be about €14 million*, coming from Costa Guests direct spending, shore excursions, transfers, cruise operation expenditures, general expenditures (food & beverage). Most of Costa’s Guests will come from Europe (Italy, Germany, UK and France). In addition to Costa Cruises ships also one AIDA Cruises ship, AIDAdiva (69,200 gross tonnage and 2,500 total Guests), will be calling 20 times at Dubai in winter 2009/10.

Costa Cruises – together with AIDA Cruises, the German brand also belonging to Costa Crociere’s group – was the first to market regular cruises in the Arabian Gulf, turning Dubai into a major cruise destination and contributing to its growth as a tourism destination, as mentioned by Cruise Travel Magazine. Costa’s operations in the area started in winter 2006/2007 with one ship, Costa Classica (53,000 gross tonnage and 1,680 Guests). The immediate success of the new cruise destination prompted Costa Cruises to increase its capacity in the area year after year. Costa Cruises’ passenger movements in Dubai increased from 44,000 in Winter 2006/07 to 100,000 in Winter 2008/09. Costa Cruises’ ships have generated substantial and growing business for the emirate of Dubai and the other ports of call on the itinerary.

Read more