news to use
APRIL 2014 UPDATES
HOTELS
Riu opens a palace in St Martin
RIU Hotels & Resorts has purchased a luxury hotel in the French part of the Caribbean island of St. Martin –a $45million investment. The 252-room hotel, which will first guests on June 1,
welcome its
offers a seafront location on an exclusive cove with white sand and turquoise waters. Riu Palace St. Martin will also feature several restaurants,
THE NEWS YOU NEED TO KNOW FLIGHTS
TOUR OPERATORS TRADE SHOWS
Punta Cana gets non- stop flights from LGW
BRITISH Airways is to offer non-stop flights to Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, with a twice-weekly service from Gatwick from October 26. Colm Lacy, British Airways’ Gatwick
Commercial Director, said: “These extra flights mean families and holiday- makers will have more choice where to enjoy the winter sunshine,
bars,
swimming pools, sports and aquatic activities, a mini-club for children, a complete spa and marina, as well as special places to hold weddings. Caribbean cruises make a stop in St
Martin and the island offers a range of high-quality restaurants, hotels and leisure activities. The island is also renowned as a paradise for snorkellers. Other RIU hotels are in the USA, where the group has 37 hotels: Mexico (17), Dominican Republic (7), Jamaica (5), Cuba (2), Costa Rica (2), Panama (1), Aruba (1), and Bahamas (1).
riu.com
with
fantastic direct services to Punta Cana. “This builds on the extra flights we
introduced for our Summer 2014 season, thanks to an extra Boeing 777 to our long-haul Gatwick fleet.” Return flights from Gatwick to Punta
Cana cost from £592.
Batraveltrade.com
A Minor Malaysia opening
THAI hotel group Minor Hotels’ upscale brand AVANI Hotels & Resorts has added its fifth property: AVANI Sepang GoldCoast Resort in Malaysia. The resort is located on the country’s
west coast in the state of Selangor, close to Sepang International Circuit – home to the Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix – and 45 minutes’ drive from Kuala Lumpur International Airport. Formerly operating as Golden Palm Tree
Iconic Resort & Spa, the resort is designed in the shape of a palm tree and has relaunched under the
Garuda goes non-stop
GARUDA Indonesia is to launch the first-ever non-stop flight between Amsterdam and Jakarta-Amsterdam. The five-times-a-week service will offer onward connections to Gatwick, starting in September 2014. The flights will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER aircraft, with a full three-class cabin configuration; First Class, a new business class service concept, and the world’s best economy class (accroding
to Skytrax global airline awards 2013).
garuda-indonesia.com www.sellinglonghaul.com AVANI flag
following the completion of the first of two phases of a total MYR 15million (£2.75million) refurbishment programme. Facilities include five restaurants and
IN BRIEF New CEO for NYC & Co: Fred Dixon has
been appointed as President and CEO of NYC & Company, New York City’s official marketing,
tourism and partnership
organisation, succeeding George Fertitta. With 23-plus years of travel industry experience, Dixon has responsibility for developing and implementing NYC’s tourism strategy.
Nycgo.com
New luxury tented lodge for Tsavo: Finch Hattons camp in Tsavo West National Park in Kenya is set to re-open this month (April)
following a US$5.5
million refurbishment. Positioned around a water hole fed by a natural spring from Mount Kilmanjaro, the colonial-style property is a haven for hippos, crocs, lizards and birds.
mantiscollection.com
New hotel for Taj Mahal area: The first DoubleTree by Hilton in Agra will open this August. Located just two kilometres from the Taj Mahal, DoubleTree by Hilton Agra will be among very few hotels offering
mausoleum.
location will also place it near popular tourist attractions.
doubletree.com
two bars, a spa, an extensive selection of activities and an 840 sq m ballroom. Dillip Rajakarier, CEO of Minor Hotel Group commented,
“AVANI Sepang
GoldCoast Resort is a great addition to our growing AVANI portfolio. This resort will be joined later on this year by several further rebranded AVANI properties, with the first new-build AVANIs to follow next year.” Surrounded by the sheltered waters of Malaysia’s Malacca Straits, AVANI Sepang GoldCoast Resort features a mainland beachfront setting with lush gardens and a palm structure built on stilts which extends over warm shallow waters. The overwater palm features 392 Polynesian- inspired guest rooms/villas.
avanihotels.com
From temple to Waldorf in Beijing
OPERATED by Hilton Worldwide, the Waldorf Astoria Beijing is now open, the second Waldorf Astoria hotel in China. The hotel features 176 luxuriously appointed guest rooms and suites, three restaurants (Peacock Alley, Brasserie1893 and Zijin Mansion) and a spa and fitness centre with a heated indoor swimming pool. Waldorf Astoria Beijing is in the
heart of the city on the former site of Xianliang
Temple, the permanent
residence of Li Hongzhang, the first Chinese guest to stay at the iconic Waldorf Astoria New York. The hotel is within walking distance
of Dengshikou Subway Station. Guests have access to the shopping malls and historic landmarks.
Waldorfastoria.com
views of the legendary The hotel’s city centre
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