American Airlines Employees Recognized for Excellence in Customer Service

American Airlines is recognizing its employees around the airline’s network for excellence in customer service, specifically measured by improved customer experience and innovative problem solving for the fourth quarter 2011.

Employees at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA), LaGuardia Airport (LGA), Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC), Louisville International Airport (SDF) and Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ), are being recognized today for their customer service efforts as the airline announces its winners of the quarterly “Customer Cup” program.

 

Source:- travelandtourworld.com

Ian Fleming International Airport expanding to accomodate larger aircrafts

The Airports Authority of Jamaica, operators of the Ian Fleming International Airport in Boscobel, St Mary, is gradually expanding the facility, according to President Earl Richards. The airport observed its first anniversary last Thursday with a fly-in of eight private aircraft, which was part of the Air Journey’s TBM Tour 2012.

 

Source:- travelandtourworld.com

Divi Village is Proud to Show Off Its New Lobby

Divi Village opened its new lobby without much fanfare, but with great pride. The spacious new facility was also designed to serve guests checking into the Divi Links Residences and the Dutch Village. With tall ceilings, large fans, natural wood beams, rough-cut stone walls, and open windows and doors, the lobby allows the tropical exterior to become an integral part of the structure. While the center stage is occupied by a user-friendly front desk, the right wing is dedicated to timeshare sales and the left wing to a sunken lobby bar with comfortable seating and an upstairs round lounge hanging just below the tree tops, overlooking the sunsets on the beach and the 9th hole lagoon.

 

Source:- travelandtourworld.com

Star Alliance conventions plus goes online

Star Alliance has become the first global airline alliance to offer online booking and ticketing to convention delegates. The new booking tool allows the convention organisers to direct their participants to a dedicated online booking and ticketing site for all air travel contracted under Star Alliance Conventions Plus.

Christopher Korenke, Vice President Commercial, Star Alliance said: “The Star Alliance Conventions Plus booking platform is an integral part of our strategy to further enlarge the scope of our online distribution channel. We are proud to be the first airline alliance to offer convention organisers a simplified and streamlined manner of displaying available air travel options through the web, with delegates being able to book directly from the site.”

 

Source:- travelandtourworld.com

Cebu Pacific's corporate and government accounts sales revenue increases by 27%

Cebu Pacific’s corporate and government accounts sales revenue increased by 27% in 2011, compared to 2010.

“CEB operates the largest network in the Philippines and to the rest of Asia, and its corporate and government accounts get to book CEB’s trademark lowest fares themselves. This easy access, along with other CEB BIZ incentives, suits the needs of companies with a lot of travel needs,” said CEB VP for Marketing and Distribution Candice Iyog.

 

Source:- travelandtourworld.com

Houston is First in Texas to Receive A380 Service

The Houston Airport System announces it will welcome its first double-deck A380 at George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) on August 1, 2012, when Lufthansa upgrades the aircraft on its Houston to Frankfurt service.

Houston’s Bush Intercontinental Airport will be Lufthansa’s fourth A380 market served in the United States. The A380 is the largest passenger jet in the world, with 63 percent more cabin space than the next largest aircraft, the Boeing 747-400.

The new jet will carry up to 526 passengers, with eight seats in First Class and 98 in Business Class, both located on the upper deck, and 420 seats in Economy on the lower deck.

Source:- Travelandtourworld.com

Qantas launches faster, smarter, check-in across the Tasman

Qantas launched the first stage of its international Faster, Smarter Check-in with new Q Card Readers now operational at key trans-Tasman ports.

Qantas CEO Alan Joyce said Faster Smart Check-in would provide trans-Tasman customers with greater ease when checking in for flights to and from New Zealand.

“Faster, Smarter Check-in has proved so popular with our frequent flyers for their domestic travel, we are now implementing stage one of our international roll out with Sydney, Auckland and Wellington,” Mr Joyce said.

“Our trans-Tasman frequent flyers can now scan their frequent flyer card and passport and retrieve their boarding pass within seconds of arriving at the airport. It’s all about cutting down the journey time for our customers.”

The new trans-Tasman Q Card Reader Check-in means Platinum, Gold and Silver Frequent Flyers and Qantas Club members travelling across the Tasman will be able to use their Qantas card to check-in at an internationally configured Q Card Reader, streamlining their international experience.

 

Source:- travelandtourworld.com

HILTON GARDEN INN RECEIVES TOP RANKING IN EUROPE BY J.D. POWER AND ASSOCIATES

Hilton Worldwide announced that Hilton Garden Inn has been awarded top honors in the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 European Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM. The brand was awarded the highest ranking in the “Upscale” segment, coming in 57 points above segment average. This honor is Hilton Garden Inn’s ninth J.D. Power award collectively; joining the brand’s eight other J.D. Power North American awards. This year happens to be the first time the brand has had a sufficient sample size to rank in the European study.

“Since opening our first hotel in Europe in 2006 – the Hilton Garden Inn Stuttgart NeckarPark in Germany – it is a great feat to win this recognition in only five years. Our team members in Europe have grown our brand awareness by bringing the brand culture, quality, and hospitality to life. By being focused on our brand values, strategy and positioning, we are able to define and maintain the brand’s integrity as it spreads throughout the world,” said Adrian Kurre, global head, Hilton Garden Inn.

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THAILAND TOURISM INDUSTRY REMAINS UNAFFECTED BY FLOOD

Floods of epic proportions have adversely affected several regions of Thailand, but reports reveal that most of the tourist destinations have survived the catastrophe. According to the authorities of Thailand tourism department, although the flood have had an impact in the tourism industry of Thailand, most key attractions and tourist destinations of Thailand, including Bangkok, have apparently recovered from the tumultuous conditions. As per reports, Ayutthaya is the only tourist destination that has been widely affected by the flood.

TOURISM SHIFT FROM FAR WORLD TO NEAR WORLD IS ON

The downgraded tourism forecast released by The Tourism Forecasting Committee underscores the structural and economic difficulties faced by consumers in many of our key source markets, the industry’s peak body Tourism & Transport Forum said.

The paper shows three of Australia’s top five source markets in decline this year, with 5.7 per cent fewer British travellers expected at year-end, travellers from the US down four per cent and those from Japan down 18.1 per cent.

The outlook shows international visitor numbers are likely to flatline this year, with modest growth of 0.4 per cent now forecast, compared the previous forecast of 3.1 per cent growth.

However, the expected 5.9 million international arrivals for 2011 include a growing contingent of Asian travellers, whose numbers are set to swell by 3.2 per cent, largely offsetting the 2.4 million expected loss in non-Asian travellers, representing a 1.6 per cent market decline.

The shift to emerging Asian markets will continue next year, with a 5.8% growth to 2.6 million forecast for 2012, while arrivals from countries outside Asia will to fall a further 0.4 per cent.

The outlook also provides poor news for the struggling domestic tourism sector, as Australians continue to favour outbound travel versus holidaying at home. Domestic visitor nights will be down by 0.3 per cent this year, while the number of Australians heading overseas will have grown by 9.2 per cent by the end of the year to 7.8 million.

Source: TTF