The International Travel Partnership (ITP) travel management company consortium has a new partner in Jordan. Amman-based Dakkak Tours International specialises in corporate and MICE travel, and is a leading inbound operator.
Oman Air has switched its daily London-Muscat operation from Gatwick to Heathrow. The service is operated with two-class Airbus A330s.
ON THE RIGHT TRACK
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION GIANT Amadeus has incorporated the Evolvi rail booking engine into its e-Travel Management product. Bookers will now be able to access UK rail content without leaving the e-Travel system. Una Bennett, director of marketing at Amadeus UK & Ireland, said: "In a market where efficiencies are key to controlling costs and growing business, we are confident that by integrating Evolvi into our corporate travel management solution we can help our corporate customers streamline their travel booking processes."
EURO EXPANSION FOR CHAMBERS
CHAMBERS TRAVEL MANAGEMENT has joined Lufthansa City Center (LCC), the global network of independent travel agents. LCC members between them have annual sales of €4.13 billion, 4,550 staff, and some 600 offices in nearly 80 countries. The City-based TMC is expected shortly to make further inroads into Europe. Says CEO Chris Thelen: "Our membership of LCC is a major step in the development of the Chambers proposition in mainland Europe and beyond."
Hotel booking agency Hotelscene has been officially certified with the Carbon Trust Standard. It follows action on climate change by reducing its carbon footprint through a combination of energy and environmental policies, energy reduction projects and energy reduction targets.
India's privately owned Kingfisher Airlines has added a second Heathrow route with the introduction of daily non-stop flights to Mumbai. It follows the successful launch last September of its first service to Bangalore.
COURTYARD MILESTONE
MARRIOTT INTERNATIONAL has opened its 800th Courtyard by Marriott, a 364-room property in Shanghai. Courtyard is now the 12th largest hotel brand in the world, represented in 28 countries, with a further 12 nations to be added to the portfolio over the next three years. The first Courtyard by Marriott hotel opened in Atlanta in 1983.
AMADEUS TEAMS UP WITH BLACKBERRY
AMADEUS HAS LINKED up with BlackBerry to pioneer "integrated wireless applications" for the ubiquitous PDAs. The global distribution service has joined BlackBerry's Alliance Programme and promises travel planning and booking tools will be available by the end of this year. Francois Laburthe, Amadeus' operational research and innovation director, says: "Travellers are increasingly demanding personalised real-time information for managing their travel arrangements while on the move." With BlackBerry, he continues, "we are developing functions that will enhance the travellers' experience with new levels of convenience and flexibility".
MORE OOTA FROM CAPITA
CAPITA BUSINESS TRAVEL has embarked on a second version of its Ooto - "out of the office" - package of online tools. New services include a "direct connect" hotel booking that allows users to browse live availability and prices from GDS suppliers and to connect directly into non-GDS low-cost chains such as Premier Inn and Travelodge. Travelooto and Flyooto now have a "single view" facility which allows users to see different types and classes of fares - including low-cost carrier tariffs and published rates - on one screen. The system can be customised to exclude non-policy items.
A 259-room Jury's Inn has opened in Sheffield. The £18 million property, the largest hotel in the city, is a 10-minute walk from the main rail station. Another 200- room Jury's property is planned for the quayside in Gateshead.
Bristol International airport is this month due to submit a formal planning application for improvements that would enable it to handle up to 10 million passengers a year, up from the existing six million.
Bmibaby's Birmingham- Aberdeen operation will be taken over by bmi regional on March 29. Frequencies will be increased to three flights a day.
What is claimed to be the UK's first budget 'floatel' is planned by Premier Inn for Hartlepool Marina later this year.
RELAX AT LAX
LOS ANGELES: The first pay-to-use executive lounge has opened at LAX's Tom Bradley terminal. Admission to the reLAX lounge, open to all travellers and to the public, is US$25 and this provides up to three hours' use. Facilities include complimentary snacks and beverages, and use of a business centre that offers wifi internet, fax, photocopier and printer services.
ANANTARA OPENS IN BANGKOK
BANGKOK: This month sees the opening of 97 one and two-bedroom apartments on Rajadamri Road, to be managed by Anantara, a Thai-based company that operates luxury resorts and spas.
ETIHAD US EXPANSION
ABU DHABI: Etihad Airways plans to introduce a second US destination in September with the launch of a service to Chicago. The carrier already serves New York. Initially, there will be three flights a week, increasing to a daily frequency from October 1.
Marriott's 'get one free' offer
COINCIDING WITH THE LAUNCH of a new day delegate package, Marriott Hotels has an incentive for organisers booking events at its UK and Ireland hotels before May 1. Its 'One For You' promotion offers a free delegate place or bedroom for every nine people or rooms booked. Daily delegate rates start from £30 at provincial hotels, to £50 at four-star central London properties and £65 at its five-star flagships in the capital. Rates include a dedicated event organiser; all-day coffee and tea service; two breaks, each with a sweet, savoury and fruit option; lunch with creative regionally-inspired menus and locally sourced ingredients; and an LCD projector and screen, flip chart. Bookings also qualify for Marriott Rewards points.
Expotel has become the latest member of the Hotel Booking Agents Association, boosting membership to 75.
Ffos Las racecourse, near Llanelli in South Wales, will open its doors to the corporate market in June, offering hospitality packages for up to 500 people.
CCD Conference Reservations has been appointed as a preferred supplier of venue finding for Johnson & Johnson.
Best Western Hotels GB has launched its Best Western Venues service, which includes fl exible billing options and inclusive delegate rates. "This service makes all aspects of event planning, booking and execution efficient and cost effective," says chief executive David Clarke.