ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Δευτέρα 30 Απριλίου 2018

Joint EU-UNWTO report provides better understanding of tourism in the European Union




Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Joint EU-UNWTO report provides better understanding of tourism in the European Union




MADRID, SPAIN - The new report ‘European Union Tourism Trends’, prepared by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) in cooperation with the European Commission, underscores tourism’s major social and economic benefits for 28 countries comprising the European Union (EU). EU destinations welcomed 538 million international overnight visitors in 2017, 40% of the world total. EU accommodation establishments provide over 3 billion nights a year, half of which to domestic guests (residents) and half to international guests. Tourism accounts for 6% of the EU’s overall exports, while the direct contribution of tourism to individual EU economies reaches up to 11% of the GDP.
Preliminary results for 2017 indicate that international tourist arrivals (overnight visitors) grew by 8% in the EU last year, to reach 538 million, or 40% of the world’s arrivals. The EU has enjoyed continued growth in international arrivals following the global economic crisis of 2009, with annual growth rates exceeding 4% in the last five years.
The UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili stated that “Sustained growth in tourism has been instrumental  in the economic recovery of many countries in Europe and around the world, contributing to job creation, economic growth and a healthy balance of payments
EU countries earned EUR 342 billion in international tourism receipts in 2016 (31% of the world’s total), making a significant contribution to their balance of payments. As EU destinations earn more in international tourism receipts than EU residents spend on international tourism (EUR 315 billion), EU consequently boasts a surplus of EUR 27 billion in the travel trade balance.
International passenger transport (rendered to non-residents) is estimated to have generated another EUR 67 billion, resulting in total export earnings from international tourism of EUR 409 billion. This represents 6% of the EU’s exports of goods and services, making tourism the fourth largest export category, after chemicals, automotive products and food.
Over two million businesses dedicated mainly or partially to tourism operate in the EU, most of them small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), employing some 12 million people. For individual EU economies, the direct contribution of tourism to GDP is as high as 11%.
The UNWTO Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili added that “Tourism is a key pillar of the EU strategy for jobs and inclusive growth and I am confident that our strong partnership with the European Union will continue to drive the quality, sustainability and competitiveness of the European tourism sector forward”.
EU tourism is driven by both domestic and international visitors. Accommodation establishments in the EU offered 31 million bed-places in 2016. Guests spent a total 3.1 billion nights, half of which were by domestic visitors (residents) and half by international visitors. Of the 1.5 billion international nights, 1.1 billion were spent by guests from EU countries and 413 million by guests from outside the EU.
EU-UNWTO cooperation
The European Union Tourism Trends report provides a comprehensive overview of tourism in the European Union and constitutes a tool for policy makers and other tourism stakeholders for developing market strategies and enhancing the knowledge base of the EU Virtual Tourism Observatory. The report is the result of a cooperation agreement between UNWTO and the Directorate-General for Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs of the European Commission (DG GROW) and is part of the ‘Enhancing the Understanding of European Tourism’ initiative. The project aims to improve the socio-economic knowledge of the tourism sector, enhance the understanding of European tourism and contribute to economic growth, job creation and the overall competiveness of tourism in Europe.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide to Acquire ILG





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Marriott Vacations Worldwide to Acquire ILG


MIAMI —Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation (MVW) and ILG have entered into an agreement under which MVW will acquire all of the outstanding shares of ILG in a cash and stock transaction with a value of approximately $4.7 billion.

ILG is a provider of vacation experiences with more than 40 properties and more than 250,000 owners in its Vistana Signature Experiences and Hyatt Vacation Ownership portfolios, as well as exchange networks that comprise nearly two million members and more than 3,200 resorts worldwide.

As a combined entity, MVW and ILG will have the largest portfolio of upper-upscale and luxury brands in the industry, according to the companies. The combined company will be the global licensee of seven upper-upscale and luxury vacation brands, including Marriott Vacation Club, Grand Residences by Marriott, Ritz-Carlton Destination Club, Sheraton Vacation Club, Westin Vacation Club, St. Regis Residence Club, and Hyatt Residence Club. It also will have exclusive access for vacation ownership to the Marriott Rewards, Starwood Preferred Guest and Ritz-Carlton Rewards loyalty programs for its six Marriott vacation ownership brands. With respect to its Hyatt business, the combined company will have rights to develop, market and sell under the Hyatt Vacation Ownership programs, including access to the nearly 10 million members of the World of Hyatt loyalty platform.

Marriott Vacations Worldwide’s President and CEO Stephen Weisz, and its CFO and Administrative Officer John Geller will continue to serve in their roles following the close of the transaction. The Marriott Vacations Worldwide Board of Directors will be expanded from eight to 10 members to include two current members of the ILG Board. William Shaw will remain chairman of the board. MVW’s headquarters will remain in Orlando, FL, and the combined company will maintain a significant operating presence in Miami.

Foley & Lardner LLP advised MVW as lead timeshare and exchange counsel in the transaction. Orlando-based partner Bill Guthrie led the team, with assistance from Orlando partners Dan Bachrach and Matt Jassak.

Tags: Grand Residences by Marriott Hyatt Residence Club Hyatt Vacation Ownership ILG

Fort Partners and Four Seasons Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Hotel and Private Residences






Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Fort Partners and Four Seasons Celebrate Groundbreaking of New Hotel and Private Residences


Positioned along the Atlantic Ocean and the beaches of Fort Lauderdale, Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale, developed by Fort Partners, breaks ground today to become the newest iconic global destination for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. The development will offer unmatched access to a lifestyle of leading amenities, services and design and will include 90 Private Residences and 130 guest rooms.

Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale will mark the third collaboration between Four Seasons and Fort Partners, joining Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach and Four Seasons Hotel and Residences at The Surf Club in extending the luxury hospitality brand’s presence in South Florida. Homeowners of Four Seasons Private Residences Fort Lauderdale will have special access as preferred guests to Fort Partners’ portfolio of Four Seasons properties in South Florida.

“We commissioned a team of global minds to create an exemplary hotel and residential property unlike any other in Fort Lauderdale,” acclaims Nadim Ashi, Founder of Fort Partners. “Four Seasons is defining Fort Lauderdale as a global destination and is capturing an international audience. We are committed to developing a world-class hotel and lifestyle.”

The 22-storey oceanfront property will combine luxury and legendary Four Seasons service for visitors and residents alike. The Hotel rooms will reside on the fourth through the 11th floors and the Private Residences begin on floor five. Of the residential portion, the developer has achieved more than USD 100 million in sales to date, a record in Fort Lauderdale that has elevated fully-serviced residential offerings in the city. The Private Residences have been sold to an international mix of buyers from across the Americas and Europe.

“Four Seasons has a history of entering into markets and setting the standard for luxury lifestyle experiences. This new property will be no exception, and we look forward to opening our doors in the vibrant city of Fort Lauderdale,” says J. Allen Smith, President and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts. “In partnership with Fort Partners and our team of international design visionaries, every detail – from location to design to amenities – reflects the highest standards of quality and excellence.”

Smith continues, “Four Seasons will manage both the Hotel and Private Residences, delivering our world-class service to guests and to our homeowners on a permanent basis. This is what will set us apart in Fort Lauderdale and will establish this property as the best luxury lifestyle experience in the city.”

Designed by Global Visionaries
With a commitment to delivering integrity, quality and culture, the team of global visionaries is led by Fort Partners’ Founder Nadim Ashi and Principal Ramzi Achi, as well as an internationally-acclaimed design team.

The interior design is led by London-based Tara Bernerd, who was responsible for the building’s full interior architecture. Her design remains authentic to the location, and appealing to hotel guests and residents from around the world. Tara has designed hotels, private homes, and yachts in London, New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and Hong Kong. In addition, Martin Brudnizki, a renowned London-based hospitality designer, envisioned the culinary experience at Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale, where he designed the property’s restaurants, lounges and pool areas.

Award-winning Miami-based architect Kobi Karp is the architectural mastermind behind the development. Kobi has designed properties worldwide, including in the Caribbean, the Far East, the Black Sea region and the Middle East.

Recognised as one of the most influential landscape designers in America, Fernando Wong is the leading landscape architect for Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale, which will have one-third of the property devoted to green space. He refers to this landscape design as a “civilised jungle,” using palm trees and native plants on both the ground floor and the third floor oceanfront pool deck to allow guests to feel an organic vibe.

Four Seasons Hotel and Private Residences Fort Lauderdale boasts an oceanfront terrace on the third floor with dual pool experiences and luxury cabanas, a world-class Four Seasons spa, fitness centre and a Kids for All Seasons program for children. A signature all-day restaurant with interior and alfresco seating also resides on the oceanfront terrace with a pool bar, lounge and an ocean-view outdoor café. Guests and residents can also enjoy the dedicated attention and à la carte services from Four Seasons beach butlers.

AccorHotels Acquires Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts







Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για AccorHotels Acquires Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts

PARIS—AccorHotels has signed an agreement with Mövenpick Holding and Kingdom Holding to acquire Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts for a cash amount of some $565 million (560 million Swiss francs).

The transaction implies a 14.9X 2019e EBITDA multiple before synergies (including transaction costs), and less than 10X pro forma 2019e EBITDA after run rate synergies and committed development pipeline. The transaction will have an accretive impact on group earnings from the first year, according to the company.

Founded in 1973 in Switzerland, Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts operates in 27 countries with 84 hotels (more than 20,000 rooms) and a particularly strong presence in Europe and the Middle East. Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts also plans to open 42 additional hotels by 2021, representing almost 11,000 rooms, with significant expansion in Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The group, which has high-end expertise in the main hotel-related services, employs more than 16,000 people worldwide.

Sébastien Bazin, chairman and CEO of AccorHotels, said, “With the acquisition of Mövenpick, we are consolidating our leadership in the European market and are further accelerating our growth in emerging markets, in particular in Middle East, Africa and Asia-Pacific. The Mövenpick brand is the perfect combination of modernity and authenticity and ideally complements our portfolio. Its European-Swiss heritage is a perfect fit with AccorHotels. By joining the group, it will benefit from AccorHotels’ power, particularly in terms of distribution, loyalty-building and development. This transaction illustrates the strategy we intend to pursue with the opening up of AccorInvest’s capital: to seize tactical opportunities to strengthen our positions and consolidate our leaderships, as well as leverage our growth.”

Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts will benefit from AccorHotels’ loyalty program, distribution channels and operating systems, which will help optimize their performance, according to the company.

The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals. It should be completed during the second half of 2018.

Tags:AccorHotels

Cambria Hotels celebrates grand opening in Chandler, Ariz.





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Cambria Hotels celebrates grand opening in Chandler, Ariz.




ROCKVILLE, MD. - Cambria Hotels celebrated its second grand opening in the Phoenix area in back-to-back months by debuting the 136-room Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center.Franchised by one of the world's largest hotel companies, Choice Hotels International, Inc., the property was developed by Hines and will be managed by Concord Hospitality.
The event featured a ribbon cutting ceremony, live music, raffle and tours of the property, which includes poolside cabanas, a state-of-the art fitness center, lounge and 1,300 square feet of multi-function meeting space. Guests enjoyed a taste of the Southwest, as well as the Cambria brand's signature local craft beer selections and specialty cocktails.
Speakers at the event included Andy Burch, vice president, operations of Concord Hospitality; Chris Anderson, managing director and local city leader for Hines; and Rick Hertan, director of brand operations for Cambria Hotels. The group expressed their excitement in bringing the second Cambria property to Phoenix, joining the Cambria Hotel North Scottsdale Desert Ridge, and the coast-to-coast expansion of the brand's portfolio.
The Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center is part of a mixed-use development project that includes office space, luxury apartments, retail offerings and a pedestrian promenade to the Chandler Fashion Center. The project recently received the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification, a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement honoring healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings.

"The Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center is one of several properties to have recently opened in the western United States," said Janis Cannon, senior vice president, upscale brands at Choice Hotels. "We look forward to offering modern business travelers a locally-inspired option when visiting the Phoenix area. Through our collaboration with Hines and Concord Hospitality Enterprises, we have created a space that provides guests with an experience embracing all that the community has to offer, featuring thoughtful design elements and modern essentials."
Choice Hotels worked with global real estate investment company and developer, Hines, to open the Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center.
"Working with Choice Hotels and Concord Hospitality to bring an upscale hotel to the growing Phoenix market has been a great experience," said Anderson. "The Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center is an ideal destination for today's on-the-go business professional, offering chic shopping and dining options. The Cambria brand is a perfect fit for guests looking for a locally-inspired experience tailored to their needs."
Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center
Located at 3165 West Fry Rd., the newly constructed Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center features 136 rooms custom-designed for the modern business traveler. The hotel features a pool with cabanas, a fitness room, lounge area, and 1,300 square-feet of multi-function meeting space. In addition, the property has onsite dining, including a menu comprised of locally-inspired specialties, signature cocktails, local craft beers, as well as freshly prepared grab-and-go gourmet salads and sandwiches. The hotel, the second Cambria to open in the Phoenix area, is near many Phoenix area attractions, including premier golf courses, national parks and several corporate offices. The Cambria Hotel Phoenix Chandler – Fashion Center is part of the Chandler Viridian, a 25-acre mixed-use development project and is the result of a collaboration with Hines and Concord Hospitality Enterprises.


How To Claim Your Cruise Robocall Settlement









Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για How To Claim Your Cruise Robocall Settlement
If you or someone you know were among the thousands of people who joined a class-action lawsuit after receiving a cruise-related robocall, you may have to take further action to claim your settlement. Why? Because the court is concerned that some of the people trying to get a piece of the action may have committed fraud.

What The Case Was About

You’ll recall that last year, we told you about a class-action lawsuit in which it was found that a company called Resort Marketing Group — which in the past represented Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Norwegian cruise lines, among others — violated the Telephone Consumer Protection Act by spamming thousands of people. Their unsolicited, pre-recorded messages promising a free cruise were proved to be a type of spam prohibited unless specifically solicited.
Offering a free cruise to tropical getaways is costing one company a pretty penny!
As reported at the time by Fortune.com, the folks at Resort Marketing Group purchased consumer contact information from a data broker and then, in direct violation of the law, used an auto-dial system to contact people without their prior consent. After a class action lawsuit was brought against the firm, they — along with the above mentioned cruise lines — settled out of court and were ordered to pay somewhere between $7 and $12.5 million dollars. Exactly how much they would wind up paying was to ultimately depend on how many viable claims are filed by the people they are accused of having targeted.


How To Claim Your Settlement

As it turned out, a whole lotta people wanted a piece of the settlement… some of which the courts believe have been claim-jumpers. “Because of concerns about potential fraud in the original claim process,” a site tracking the cases progress reports, “the Court has required that claimants submit documentation linking them to the phone number that they used to make their claim.”
It goes on to say that “even if you previously submitted a claim, you must submit additional documentation sufficient to show or explain your ownership, use or subscription of the phone number relating to your claim in order to receive money from this settlement. Such documentation might include (but would not be limited to) a phone bill or a copy of a relevant page of a phone directory.”
For more information on how to submit documentation and claim your piece of the settlement, click here.

Dynamic global growth on the horizon for Renaissance Hotels








Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Dynamic global growth on the horizon for Renaissance Hotels


BETHESDA MD. - The dynamic design strategy guiding Renaissance Hotels has hit its stride. The brand revealed today significant momentum in its growing global portfolio and investment by its property owners in marquee renovations around the world. This year nearly half of the brands hotels in North America are scheduled to complete dramatic transformations, from Nashville to Newport Beach, with the brand also slated to debut in 16 new neighborhoods globally in the next 12 months, including Chelsea, Philadelphia, Warsaw, Taipei and Hangzhou.
"We have been on a journey to evolve our hotels' design to reflect what the Renaissance brand offers today: a sense of clever theatricality and an open invitation to experience something a little unexpected during our guests' travels," said George Fleck, Vice President of Global Brand Marketing & Management, Renaissance Hotels. "The brand's design momentum coupled with our engaging Navigators and entertaining Evening Bar Rituals are sure to inspire stories worth sharing among travelers and locals alike."

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Dynamic global growth on the horizon for Renaissance Hotels
Renaissance Hotels Reveals the Grit & Glamour of Beloved Neighborhoods around the Globe
Renaissance Hotels encourages travelers to discover the hidden gems that give neighborhoods their soul: from underground art to local cuisines. Inspired by the notion that Renaissance Hotels can set the scene for the spontaneous to happen, the brand's design strategy leverages architecture, interiors and art together – creating engaging elements at every turn and inviting guests to go "off-script" and experience something they weren't planning.
"Whether a new build, conversion or renovation, the design of each Renaissance hotel employs different principles to create a dynamic tension and theatrical spirit that introduces an unexpected sense of the neighborhood to our guests," said David Kepron, Vice President, Global Brand Design Strategies, Marriott International. "There is an overarching and recognizable design DNA that sets the stage for stories worth re-telling, but Chelsea will feel very different than Charleston, as will Paris and Philadelphia."
Following the recent marquee opening of Renaissance Paris Republique Hotel, the brand will see even more transformation in Paris, with the completion of a multi-million dollar renovation of Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel this month.  Designed by Didier Gomez, the intimate 97-room hotel is inspired by the fashion designers and jewelers that have had their salons in the square. With creatively layered patterns and textures throughout the interiors, each guestroom features statement art pieces of French feminine style that wrap the ceiling, a signature of the brand.  The hotel's transformation is anchored by its new cocktail bar & restaurant Balagan - a Hebrew name meaning "Joyful Bazar" - born of a collaboration between the renowned Experimental Group, acclaimed Israeli chefs Assaf Granit and Uri Navon, and the designer Dorothee Meilichzon, which opened last year.
Also opening in Spring, Renaissance Philadelphia Downtown Hotel will boast a theatrical design reframing the historic fabric of the city with a modern energy, contrasting materiality and unexpected pop art throughout the hotel: from a reimagined lobby, reminiscent of Elfreth's alley in Old Town anchored by a 100' graffiti wall designed by local artist Dan Murphy, to the hotel's restaurant, which features portraits of Benjamin Franklin's five mistresses created with pixelated $100 bills.
Next year the brand is slated to introduce Renaissance New York Chelsea South Hotel, a new build on the former Antiques Garage Flea Market site, from which it will draw inspiration. Giving a wink-and-nod to the neighboring floral district, the hotel will weave together design elements of an indigenous flea market and secret garden with a dramatic staircase taking center stage in the lobby: a collection of contrasting modern and antique door knobs, locks, and keys.
The Renaissance Harlem Hotel is scheduled to open in 2020, restoring and playfully reimagining the Victoria's Loews Theatre, which was at the center of the vibrant "Harlem Renaissance" era in the 1920s and 1930s when art began to flourish in northern Manhattan. With approximately 200 guestrooms and suites, the hotel will exude polished glamour with a nod to the grit and tenacity of the destination's triumphant past.
Renaissance Hotels Reimagines Airport Hotels for Today's 'Road Warrior', from Amsterdam to Atlanta
As global air travel demand continues to grow year over year, according to the International Air Transport Association, there is an increasing opportunity to reimagine airport hotels through design and signature experiences. "Shouldn't road warriors enjoy a touch of the unexpected, too? It's about letting a place have its own voice, something you can't find anywhere else," said Lauren Rottet, Founding Principal, Rottet Studio, which designed Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel.
Renaissance Hotels plans to open two airport hotels this year: Renaissance Warsaw Airport Hotel this Spring, which will mark the brand's debut in Poland, and Renaissance Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Hotel in November 2018. In North America, this momentum follows the recent opening of Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel and the design-driven renovation of Renaissance Los Angeles Airport Hotel, which just completed this month.
The design of the Renaissance Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Hotel draws inspiration from Amsterdam Bos, the city's largest park situated adjacent to the hotel. Because the verdurous park was created in the beginning of the twentieth century, at the same time as Dutch modern art, architecture and design gained popularity, the hotel is peppered with playful unexpected moments that reveal a sense of time and place. Notably, the interiors juxtapose a natural color palette with high gloss furniture, contemporary accents and a modern twist on famous Dutch art throughout the public spaces, buzzy bar and guestrooms.
In Poland, the Renaissance brand is bound to make a splash with the debut its first hotel in Warsaw. Looking to the avant-garde modernism of the 1930s, 1960s and today, the hotel's design features modern pops of primary colors in its art, textiles and furniture, inspired by the fashion, graphic design and pop culture of the time. Celebrating the inherent creative tension in Polish modern design, the hotel is poised to set a new standard for the staid airport experience.
Renaissance Hotels Shakes Up the Scene with Brand Debuts in Indonesia and Taiwan
Last month, the brand debuted in Indonesia with the opening of Renaissance Bali Uluwatu Resort & Spa, reinterpreting the destination's cliff-fringed coastlines throughout the resort with artfully designed interiors created with contrasting materials, such as rattan furniture paired with Ikat textiles.  In June, Renaissance Taipei Shihlin Hotel is scheduled to debut as the brand's first hotel in Taiwan, opening in the buzzing Shilin district famous for its street art and night markets.
These two hotel openings will follow on the heels of last year's opening of Renaissance Downtown Hotel, Dubai in the thriving Business Bay district, inspiring spontaneous discovery through design – to which there is no better example than the artwork in each guestroom: a close-up black and white photograph of a camel smirking; and above the bed, Pablo Picasso's famed camel sketch is reimagined into a cheeky, 3D iron rod sculpture – both playful jests to reframe your stay. 

Qatar Airways Rolls Out ‘Super Wi-Fi’ High Speed Broadband On Its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 Fleet





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Qatar Airways Rolls Out ‘Super Wi-Fi’ High Speed Broadband On Its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 Fleet



Qatar Airways passengers can now experience ‘Super Wi-Fi’ high-speed broadband connectivity using Inmarsat’s GX Aviation technology. The broadband service is being progressively rolled out on all Boeing 777 aircraft and Airbus A350 aircraft in Qatar Airways’ young fleet. Qatar Airways is the first airline in the MENA region to have invested in the technology to provide this quality of service for passengers.
 
The progressive fit-out will equip its Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 aircraft with the new technology. Passengers on flights fitted with GX Aviation can receive one hour free access to the ‘Super Wi-Fi’ to further enhance the award-winning level of service provided by the world’s best airline. If more time is needed, passengers can purchase full-flight access to the service selecting from a range of affordable options.



Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker, said: “In another first for the MENA region, Qatar Airways passengers can now enjoy high-speed broadband connectivity, providing rich content without restriction, whether using the internet for work or relaxation during their journey. Business travellers in particular will be able to maximise their ‘office in the sky’ with seamless continuity.”


President of Inmarsat Aviation, Mr. Philip Balaam, said: “Qatar Airways is renowned as one of the greatest innovators in global aviation with passengers being at the centre of everything they do. We are delighted that they are now pioneering our game-changing GX Aviation inflight broadband across the globe. This unprecedented service adds to the airline’s award-winning, five star onboard experience by allowing passengers to seamlessly browse the internet, stream videos, check social media and more during flights.”

Inmarsat are the same high-tech provider selected by Qatar Airways for its space-based tracking system used to track all its flights worldwide. As one of the world’s leading developers of tracking systems, Inmarsat use a network of satellites to detect signals transmitted from aircraft and relay this information reporting speed, location and direction, to ground-based receivers.

Qatar Airways operates a modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft to a network of more than 150 key business and leisure destinations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific, North America and South America.

The airline plans a host of exciting new destination launches this year, including London Gatwick and Cardiff, United Kingdom; Lisbon, Portugal; Tallinn, Estonia; Valletta, Malta; Cebu and Davao, Philippines; Langkawi, Malaysia; Da Nang, Vietnam; Bodrum and Antalya, Turkey; Mykonos, Greece and Málaga, Spain.

The award-winning airline has received a number of recent accolades, including ‘Airline of the Year’ by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, held at the Paris Air Show. This is the fourth time that Qatar Airways has been given this global recognition as the world’s best airline. In addition to being voted Best Airline by travellers from around the world, Qatar’s national carrier also won a raft of other major awards at the ceremony, including ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ ‘World’s Best Business Class’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’

Source:-Qatar Airways

Dracula Is Taking A Summer Cruise







Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Dracula Is Taking A Summer Cruise


One of our favorite things to do on a cruise is gather up the family and watch a movie beneath the stars. But if you don’t have a trip on the high seas planned for this summer, we might just have the next best thing: You can take your clan to the movies to see Hotel Transylvania 3: Summer Vacation… in which Dracula and some of his pals find adventure (and maybe even love) when they leave their worries behind for a cruise!
Hitting theaters July 13, the third in the popular series of animated films takes places 6 years after the events which unfolded in Hotel Transylvania 2 (not that one needs to have seen the previous flicks to jump into the action). Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) is down in the dumps and, like the rest of us, in need of a vacation. So his daughter Mavis (voiced by Selena Gomez) suggests maybe what her hard-working pop needs is a vacation. Next thing you know, they — along with Mavis’ human husband, Johnny (voiced by Brooklyn 99’s Andy Samberg) and their vampire/human hybrid son Dennis are booked on a cruise

Dracula Meets The Love Boat

Although Drac isn’t exactly thrilled with the idea, he quickly changes his mind after getting a glimpse of Captain Ericka (who also happens to serve as the ship’s cruise director). What the lovestruck vamp doesn’t realize is that his new crush is actually the great-granddaughter of monster-hating Abraham Van Helsing, who is hoping to do away with Dracula and his fellow creatures of the night during the voyage!
Along for the ride are Mr. and Mrs. Frankenstein, The Invisible Man, a werewolf and Blobby (who is, as his name suggests, a big green blob). The trailer for the summer flick is below, featuring the DNCE tune “Cake By The Ocean” which is somewhat perfect, given that it’s pretty much impossible to spend time on a cruise ship and not repeatedly hear the catchy earworm.
Meanwhile, in the film Like Father, Kristen Bell plays a woman left at the altar who decides to take her honeymoon cruise anyway… and brings along the father (Kelsey Grammer) with whom she has a strained relationship. The dramedy is set to hit Netflix this August.

ICAO Secretary General highlighted challenges and opportunities for aviation during Berlin Aviation Summit





Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για ICAO Secretary General highlighted challenges and opportunities for aviation during Berlin Aviation Summit


MONTREAL and BERLIN – ICAO Secretary General Dr. Fang Liu was in Berlin earlier this week to deliver an important message on air transport growth and sustainability during a panel event at the Berlin Aviation Summit, and to tour the Berlin Air Show with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
During the Berlin Aviation Summit panel discussion on the topic of Who will shape the future of aviation, Dr. Liu stressed to the German and international participants that “By just after 2030 we expect that as many people will travel by air in a single year as currently occupy the entire planet, close to 8 billion people. Aviation is very hard at work preparing for this challenge today, and it’s critical that the world’s governments understand how important it is to have sufficient capacity in place to manage future air traffic demand.”
The ICAO Secretary General also highlighted the evolution underway in air transport today as new and emerging technologies continue to evolve for both passengers and freight “higher, faster and greener than ever before.”
At one end of this spectrum we’ll see drones navigating to deliver goods and services in dense  urban environments,” she emphasized, “and at the other new sub-orbital planes will soon be moving at super or hyper sonic speeds and at altitudes well beyond what we now know as ‘controlled airspace’.”
Dr. Liu underscored that, as the world’s civil aviation standards-setter, “it’s ICAO’s job to anticipate these new developments and ensure the global regulatory framework is ready to accommodate them.”
During her mission to Germany, Dr. Liu met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the opening ceremonies of the Berlin Air Show. Together they toured its exhibits, and with the State’s Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, Mr. Andreas Scheuer, they discussed Germany’s leadership in innovative aeronautical technologies for sustainable aviation development and future aviation capacity challenges and the strengthened cooperation between ICAO and Germany. Dr. Liu also met with a wide range of industry representatives as they toured the various exhibits.
Meetings were also held between ICAO Secretary General and the State’s Director General of Civil Aviation, Mr. Johann Friedrich Colsman, and the Executive Director of the German Aviation Association (BDL), Mr. Matthias von Randow. Discussions with these officials focused mainly on the important role and contributions by industry to the implementation of ICAO standards, policies and programmes, the Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation (CORSIA) and aviation security in particular.
Dr. Liu expressed her gratitude to Germany for its support and contributions to ICAO, noting in addition the upcoming CORSIA standards to be considered by the ICAO Council this June. She encouraged the State’s support for the envisaged adoption of the Roadmap to implement the new Global Aviation Security Plan at the upcoming ICAO Regional Conference, and to participate in ICAO’s assistance and capacity-building projects under its No Country Left Behind initiative.  
Tags:ICAO

Aeroflot Group Announces Operating Results for March 2018







Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Aeroflot Group Announces Operating Results for March 2018


Aeroflot PJSC (Moscow Exchange ticker: AFLT) today announces operating results for Aeroflot Group (“the Group”) and Aeroflot – Russian Airlines (“the Company”) for March and 3M 2018[1].
January – March 2018 Operating Highlights
In 3M 2018, Aeroflot Group carried 11.0 million passengers, up 6.6% year-on-year. Aeroflot airline carried 7.4 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 5.4%. Group and Company RPKs increased by 6.7% and 4.6% year-on-year,respectively. ASKs rose by 6.1% year-on-year for the Group and by 6.3% year-on-year for the Company. The passenger load factor increased by 0.4 p.p. year-on-year up to 78.5% for Aeroflot Group and decreased by 1.2 p.p. year-on-year down to 76.5% for Aeroflot airline.
March 2018 Operating Highlights
In March 2018, Aeroflot Group carried 3.9 million passengers, up 7.6% year-on-year. Aeroflot airline carried 2.7 million passengers, a year-on-year increase of 6.5%.
Group and Company RPKs were up 7.5% and 5.3% year-on-year, respectively. ASKs rose by 7.1% for Aeroflot Group and by 6.9% for Aeroflot airline.
On domestic routes, Group passengers carried and RPKs grew by 6.7% and 7.7% year-on-year, respectively. ASKs grew by5.2% year-on-year. Company passengers carried and RPKs increased by 6.9% and 4.8% year-on-year, respectively. ASKs grewby 5.9%. The passenger load factor on domestic routes increased by 1.9 p.p. year-on-year to 80.3% for Aeroflot Group and decreased by 0.8 p.p. year-on-year to 79.6% for Aeroflot airline.
In March 2018, the number of passengers carried on the Group’s international routes increased by 8.8% year-on-year. RPKsgrew by 7.4%, while capacity grew by 8.4%. The number of passengers carried by Aeroflot airline on international routes increased by 6.1%. RPKs grew by 5.6%, ASKs by 7.4%. The passenger load factor on international routes decreased by 0.7 p.p. year-on-year to 79.8% for Aeroflot Group and by 1.3 p.p. to 77.8% for Aeroflot airline.
The passenger load factor in the international segment decreased due to increased flight frequencies, primarily on European andUS routes. In addition, the significant increase in the passenger load factor in March 2017 driven by appreciation of the rouble created a high base factor, leading to a non-material normalisation of this indicator in the March 2018 reporting period. (In March 2017, the passenger load factor increased by 3.8 p.p. year-on-year for the Group and by 2.2 p.p. year-on-year for the Company).
Fleet update
In March 2018, Aeroflot Group added seven aircraft: three Airbus A320, one Airbus A321, one Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 777-300 and one SSJ100. One Airbus A320 and two Airbus A321 were phased out. As of 31 March 2018, the Group fleet had 336 aircraft2. 
Aeroflot airline added five aircraft: three Airbus A320, one Airbus A321 and one SSJ100. One Airbus A320 and two Airbus A321 were phased out. As of 31 March 2018, the Company fleet had 232 aircraft.


Net changes in the fleet
Number of aircraft[2]
as of 31.03.2018 

March 2018
3M 2018
Aeroflot Group
+4
+10
336
Aeroflot airline
+2
+8
232

Aeroflot Group Operating Results
March
2018
March
201
7
Change
3M 2018
32017
Change
Passengers carried, thousand PAX
3,930.1
3,651.1
       7.6%
10,985.2
10,301.5
       6.6%
- international
1,744.5
1,603.5
      8.8%
4,887.8
4,577.6
      6.8%
- domestic
2,185.6
2,047.7
      6.7%
6,097.3
5,723.9
      6.5%
Revenue Passenger Kilometres, mln
10,190.1
9,477.5
7.5%
28,743.1
26,933.5
6.7%
- international
6,198.0
5,771.9
      7.4%
17,567.7
16,531.0
      6.3%
- domestic
3,992.1
3,705.6
      7.7%
11,175.4
10,402.5
      7.4%
Available Seat Kilometres, mln
12,735.0
11,888.8
       7.1%
36,623.6
34,510.0
       6.1%
- international
7,764.6
7,165.4
      8.4%
22,503.8
20,846.6
      7.9%
- domestic
4,970.3
4,723.3
      5.2%
14,119.8
13,663.5
      3.3%
Passenger load factor, %
80.0%
79.7%
    0.3 p.p.
78.5%
78.0%
    0.4 p.p.
- international
79.8%
80.6%
  (0.7 p.p.)
78.1%
79.3%
   (1.2 p.p.)
- domestic
80.3%
78.5%
     1.9 p.p.
79.1%
76.1%
    3.0 p.p.
Cargo and mail carried, tonnes
23,140.4
23,422.6
      (1.2%)
62,667.8
57,180.0
       9.6%
- international
13,372.7
13,462.3
     (0.7%)
36,011.1
32,788.5
      9.8%
- domestic
9,767.6
9,960.3
     (1.9%)
26,656.7
24,391.5
      9.3%
Revenue Cargo Tonne Kilometres, mln
100.1
105.8
      (5.4%)
270.6
258.7
       4.6%
- international
64.0
66.7
     (4.1%)
171.4
162.5
      5.5%
- domestic
36.2
39.2
     (7.6%)
99.2
96.2
      3.1%
Revenue Tonne Kilometres, mln
1,017.2
958.8
       6.1%
2,857.5
2,682.7
       6.5%
- international
621.8
586.1
      6.1%
1,752.5
1,650.3
      6.2%
- domestic
395.5
372.7
      6.1%
1,105.0
1,032.5
      7.0%
Available Tonne Kilometres, mln
1,501.7
1,448.3
       3.7%
4,327.5
4,220.9
       2.5%
- international
924.1
881.6
      4.8%
2,682.7
2,569.6
      4.4%
- domestic
577.6
566.7
      1.9%
1,644.8
1,651.3
     (0.4%)
Revenue load factor, %
67.7%
66.2%
    1.5 p.p.
66.0%
63.6%
   2.5 p.p.
- international
67.3%
66.5%
    0.8 p.p.
65.3%
64.2%
   1.1 p.p.
- domestic
68.5%
65.8%
     2.7 p.p.
67.2%
62.5%
   4.7 p.p.
Revenue flights
31,028
28,884
       7.4%
88,538
82,350
       7.5%
- international
12,866
11,779
      9.2%
36,869
33,765
      9.2%
- domestic
18,162
17,105
      6.2%
51,669
48,585
      6.3%
Flight hours for fleet
84,452
78,174
       8.0%
241,954
224,959
       7.6%

Aeroflot - Russian Airlines Operating Results
March
2018
March
201
7
Change
3M 2018
32017
Change
Passengers carried, thousand PAX
2,667.4
2,505.7
       6.5%
7,394.0
7,015.3
       5.4%
- international
1,392.9
1,313.4
      6.1%
3,899.5
3,753.5
      3.9%
- domestic
1,274.5
1,192.3
      6.9%
3,494.6
3,261.8
      7.1%
Revenue Passenger Kilometres, mln
7,496.8
7,116.7
5.3%
20,975.3
20,058.8
4.6%
- international
5,087.6
4,816.9
      5.6%
14,324.7
13,759.9
      4.1%
- domestic
2,409.2
2,299.8
      4.8%
6,650.6
6,298.9
      5.6%
Available Seat Kilometres, mln
9,568.1
8,948.6
       6.9%
27,419.2
25,805.3
       6.3%
- international
6,540.6
6,088.6
      7.4%
18,912.0
17,723.3
      6.7%
- domestic
3,027.5
2,860.0
      5.9%
8,507.2
8,082.0
      5.3%
Passenger load factor, %
78.4%
79.5%
(1.1 p.p.)
76.5%
77.7%
   (1.2 p.p.)
- international
77.8%
79.1%
(1.3 p.p.)
75.7%
77.6%
    (1.9 p.p.)
- domestic
79.6%
80.4%
(0.8 p.p.)
78.2%
77.9%
      0.3 p.p.
Cargo and mail carried, tonnes
17,690.2
20,208.7
  (12.5%)
47,547.8
48,830.7
      (2.6%)
- international
12,183.5
13,232.5
     (7.9%)
32,765.3
32,246.7
      1.6%
- domestic
5,506.7
6,976.2
  (21.1%)
14,782.5
16,584.0
    (10.9%)
Revenue Cargo Tonne Kilometres, mln
83.3
94.0
  (11.4%)
224.5
226.1
      (0.7%)
- international
60.5
65.7
     (7.9%)
162.1
160.2
      1.2%
- domestic
22.8
28.3
  (19.6%)
62.3
65.9
     (5.4%)
Revenue Tonne Kilometres, mln
758.0
734.5
       3.2%
2,112.2
2,031.4
       4.0%
- international
518.4
499.2
      3.8%
1,451.4
1,398.6
      3.8%
- domestic
239.6
235.3
      1.8%
660.9
632.8
      4.4%
Available Tonne Kilometres, mln
1,147.2
1,109.1
       3.4%
3,291.5
3,204.0
       2.7%
- international
793.4
763.2
      4.0%
2,296.9
2,226.9
      3.1%
- domestic
353.8
345.9
      2.3%
994.7
977.1
      1.8%
Revenue load factor, %
66.1%
66.2%
(0.1 p.p.)
64.2%
63.4%
      0.8 p.p.
- international
65.3%
65.4%
(0.1 p.p.)
63.2%
62.8%
     0.4 p.p.
- domestic
67.7%
68.0%
(0.3 p.p.)
66.4%
64.8%
       1.6 p.p.
Revenue flights
21,125
19,486
       8.4%
60,232
55,507
       8.5%
- international
10,524
9,736
      8.1%
30,259
28,029
      8.0%
- domestic
10,601
9,750
      8.7%
29,973
27,478
      9.1%
Flight hours for fleet
60,979
56,386
       8.1%
174,577
162,023
       7.7%