News in Brief from CWT, CSA, IHG, Finnair, ACTE, ITP, Virgin and IMEX
CWT to extend Room Select
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has announced plans to extend its hotel booking tool, CWT Room Select, across Europe in 2010.
Launched in the UK earlier this year, the online tool allows clients to access CWT's hotel database of more than 160,000 properties.
CWT Room Select displays hotel information specific to each client, which allows travellers to book within their companies' budgets and contracts.
Jennifer Charlton, CWT's vp of global supplier management in EMEA & Asia Pacific, said: "CWT Select offers clients the ultimate in terms of hotel content, smart technology and ease of use.
"With hotel spend totalling almost as much as air spend today, CWT will provide even greater value to clients without the inconvenience multiple intermediaries bring."
www.carlsonwagonlit.com
Czech government rejects CSA bid
The government of the Czech Republic has rejected a CZK1bn (€39m) bid for CSA Czech Airlines from Unimex and Travel Service, a consortium of a Czech and Icelandic companies.
The consortium was the only bidder for the carrier after Air France KLM dropped out in the summer.
www.csa.cz
IHG to open new London hotel
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has signed an agreement to manage a new 254-room hotel in Central London.
The 20-year deal with Splendid Hotel Group is for a hotel in the former Queen Anne's Chambers, a six-storey Victorian building in Westminster currently used for offices and shops.
The InterContinental Westminster, which is due to open in 2011, will be the chain's second hotel in the city after the InerContinental Park Lane which opened in 1975.
www.ichotelsgroup.com
Finnair turnover falls by 22%
The Finnair Group's third quarter results show an operating loss of €36.4m and a fall in turnover of 22%.
Between July and September, Finnair's passenger demand fell by 11%, despite a similar cut in capacity.
Jukka Heinonen, Finnair's ceo, said: "We have adjusted to falling demand by cutting capacity.
"Adjustment to the fall in price level, in contrast, has been less effective.
"Aircraft are flying with fairly reasonable passenger load factors, but a steep fall in the average price is eroding profitability.
Cost cutting measures, which have produced around €70m of savings over the past nine months, have dampened the airline's loss, Finnair said.
Its strategy to promote Europe-Asia routes had also helped reduce losses.
Flights between Europe and Asia now account for more than 50% of the airline's scheduled traffic revenue.
www.finnair.com
ACTE honours Stammnitz and BATM
Lutz Stammnitz, president of corporate mobility for Siemens, and the Belgian Association of Travel Management (BATM) were both honoured at the Association of Corporate Travel Executives' Global Education Conference in Prague.
Mr Stammnitz received the "Advancing The Industry Award" for his innovations in travel management at Siemens.
BATM was given the President's Award for being a model regional partner of ACTE.
Pascal Struyve, BATM's president, accepted the award on behalf of his organisation.
www.acte.org
ITP and Virgin sign co-operation deal
International Travel Partnership (ITP), a global Travel Management network, and Virgin Atlantic Airways have signed an agreement to work together at both local and international level.
The deal gives ITP partners in 33 countries access to local sponsorship and marketing co-operation from the airline which in turn will receive local support and promotion of key routes.
Ian Epps, Director of Partnership Relations with ITP, said: Virgin Atlantic's route network closely matches ITP's market coverage; this is a natural fit".
www.itptravel.net www.virgin-atlantic.com
IMEX to launch US show
IMEX, the largest meetings exhibition in Europe, is to launch an American version of the show.
The first IMEX America will be held in Las Vegas on October 11-13, 2011.
Ray Bloom, chairman of IMEX Group, said the show was backed by the Meeting Professionals International and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.
Mr Bloom said: "IMEX America will deliver the largest-scale hosted buyer programme in North America, where top meetings and incentive buyers from across the US and the world will travel and stay free as our guests.
"For the inaugural show in 2011, we are forecasting 1,500 hosted buyers, of whom 80% will originate from within North America."
www.imex-frankfurt.com www.mpiweb.org www.lvcva.com