Etihad Airways set to expand in South America

Etihad Airways is keen to expand its footprint in South America, said President and Chief Executive Officer, James Hogan.

Mr Hogan said that the airline is currently in discussions with South American-based carriers about potential commercial partnerships.

Etihad Airways currently has 38 codeshare partnerships with airlines around the globe, resulting in a combined network of 323 destinations, more than any other Middle Eastern airline.

Beyond its own organic growth, codeshare partnerships and equity stakes are a significant and growing part of the airline’s expansion strategy. Etihad Airways holds a 30 per cent stake of airberlin, 40 per cent of Air Seychelles, 3 per cent of Aer Lingus and 10 per cent of Virgin Australia.

The airline will launch its first route in South America on June 1, 2013, with daily non-stop flights between Sao Paulo, Brazil and its home base of Abu Dhabi, the capitol of the United Arab Emirates.

Etihad Airways' service will also provide seamless connections from Brazil to the airline's global network, offering connectivity over Abu Dhabi to markets in the Gulf Co-operation Council, the Indian Subcontinent and Asia.

Mr Hogan spoke of the significance of the new route, in particular the economic impact. "Brazil is one of the fastest growing economies in the world, now ranking as the sixth largest since overtaking the UK in 2011. Bi-lateral trade between Brazil and the UAE is valued at nearly US$3 billion annually, with authorities aiming to lift this to US$10 billion within five years.

"There are 25 major Brazilian companies with offices in Abu Dhabi. Mubadala, the development company of the Government of Abu Dhabi, last year signalled its intent to begin investments in Brazil, valued at up to US$13 billion.

"According to the Arab-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce, Brazil trade volumes with the Arab world grew by 28 per cent in 2011 to reach US$25 billion. This is forecasted to grow by a further 10-15% this year.

"In addition to supporting the growing ties between Brazil and the Middle East, this new route complements Etihad Airways' recent expansion in North Asia, including the recent introduction of services to Chengdu and Shanghai and the upcoming increase to daily Tokyo services with connections to Nagoya from April 2013.

"With some of the fastest connecting flight times to China and Japan, Brazil's largest and fifth largest trade partner, respectively, Etihad Airways is providing vital air links between the world's major emerging markets."

Mr Hogan was in Sao Paulo late last week to meet prominent local diplomats, travel industry executives, media and corporate representatives.

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, began operations in 2003, and in 2011 carried 8.3 million passengers. From its hub at Abu Dhabi International Airport, Etihad Airways serves 86 passenger and cargo destinations in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Australia and North America and Asia, including Japan flights. The airline has a fleet of 67 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, and 100 aircraft on order, including 10 Airbus A380s, the world's largest passenger aircraft. Etihad Airways also holds equity investments in airberlin, Air Seychelles, Virgin Australia and Aer Lingus. For more information, please visit: www.etihad.com.

Europcar's lost property reveals the secret life of its hire cars

Europcar the leader in car hire services in Europe for business and leisure users, hires out thousands of vehicles every day. But the variety of weird and wonderful items left by customers never fails to puzzle Europcar staff.

Unsurprisingly, sunglasses, CDs and loose change are the most common items left in Europcar vehicles. However, some customers carry more intriguing cargo when they travel, as Europcar’s lost property department has recently reported. Some of the more unusual items found in Europcar vehicles include 30 plants, two 6x10 ft. oil paintings, a live mouse in a cage, hedge trimmer and ashes in an urn.

The urn of ashes was found when a vehicle was returned by a car hire at Belfast airport customer. The ashes of the customer's mother had been brought over from South Africa and the customer was relieved to have them back so that she could scatter them at her mother's birth place.

And all the glasses that go unclaimed are recycled as part of Europcar's 'Go Green' pledge.

Perhaps the best item was left behind by a car hire in Blackpool customer. It was a life-size dummy, dressed as an old lady and left in the boot of a Ford Focus. The Europcar driver had the fright of his life when he thought he’d found a body.

"Judging from our lost property, our vehicles have a tale to tell," said Ken McCall, Managing Director, Europcar UK Group. "But our staff always go out of their way to reunite our customers with their forgotten items, no matter how bizarre."

Europcar is the leader in car rental services in Europe. Present in 140 countries, the company provides customers with access to the world's largest vehicle rental network through its own operations, franchisees and partnerships. With 6,500 employees committed to delivering customer satisfaction and an average fleet of 190,000 vehicles, Europcar is conscious of its corporate citizenship responsibilities. Winner of the first World Travel Award recognizing the World's Leading Green Transport Solutions Company, Europcar also was honoured with the Award in 2010 and 2011. Europcar is owned by Eurazeo.

For more information: www.europcar.co.uk

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) Photography Competition 2013 launch

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELLER (UK) — Photography Competition 2013 launch
www.natgeotraveller.co.uk/competitions

LONDON (18 September 2012) —A year after National Geographic Traveller launched its inaugural photography competition, it's back on the lookout for the next generation of travel photographers.

As a leader in breathtaking and you-are-there photography from across the world, National Geographic Traveller is inviting UK photographers to send in their vision of the world.

In association with the Utah Office of Tourism, Delta Air Lines and Fujifilm, this new talent search is inviting entrants to submit their best digital photographs in six categories: Action, Colour, Faces, Rural, Urban, and Wildlife.

The winner will receive a photographic commission for two to Utah in an eight-night fly-drive, taking in Zion National Park, the Park City region and Monument Valley, courtesy of The Utah Office of Tourism and Delta Air Lines. www.goutah.co.uk/photo www.delta.com

The winner will also receive a Fujifilm X-Pro-1 camera and 35mm lens worth nearly £2,000. www.fujifilm.eu/uk
Six runners up — the category winners — will receive a Fujifilm X-S1. RRP: £599.

Winning images will also be showcased in National Geographic Traveller (UK) and at The Active Travel Show (17-20 January 2013). www.theactivetravelshow.co.uk

The judging panel consists of Carol Enquist, National Geographic’s photo editor; Jonathan Briggs, editor of the British Institute of Professional Photography’s (BIPP) The Photographer magazine; Fujifilm; and Chris Hudson, National Geographic Traveller's art editor.

Chris Hudson said: “Last year's photography competition was a resounding success and set the standard with thousands of professional and amateur photographers entering from across the UK and Ireland. If I was to give one bit of advice, I'd ask entrants to ensure their submitted image accurately reflects the captured moment. I can't wait to see what our readers will submit this year.”

The closing date is the 7 December 2012 at 17:00 GMT.

Find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NatGeoTraveller
And Twitter: http://twitter.com/NatGeoTraveller

Notes
National Geographic Traveller (UK) is published under license by Absolute Publishing Ltd (APL), from the National Geographic Society in Washington, D.C. It became the 15th local-language edition when it was launched in December 2010. The magazine is also available in China, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, Israel, Poland, Latin America, Armenia, Czech Republic, Croatia, Indonesia, Romania and South Africa. The 180-page travel and lifestyle magazine is packed full of you-are-there photography, authentic travel experiences and inspiring narratives, all focused on the brand’s theme “All Travel, All the Time.” www.natgeotraveller.co.uk

National Geographic Traveler (USA) is the world’s most widely read travel magazine, created in 1984. It championed sustainable travel before it was cool and, eight times annually, celebrates journeys that are about place, experience, culture, authenticity, living like the locals and great photography. It makes a distinction between tourism and travel and stresses inquisitive, not acquisitive, trips. It employs storytelling and outstanding photography to inspire readers to pick up and go, eschewing fashion and fluff in favour of articles that offer a strong sense of place, inspiring narratives that make readers take trips, and solid service information to help them plan those trips.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organisations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. National Geographic reflects the world through its magazines, television programs, films, music and radio, books, DVDs, maps, exhibitions, live events, school publishing programs, interactive media and merchandise.

National Geographic magazine, the Society’s official journal, published in English and 33 local-language editions, is read by more than 40 million people each month. The National Geographic Channel reaches 370 million households in 34 languages in 168 countries. National Geographic Digital Media receives more than 15 million visitors a month. National Geographic has funded more than 9,600 scientific research, conservation and exploration projects and supports an education program promoting geography literacy. For more information, visit www.nationalgeographic.com

Premier Inn reports rise of virtual vacations

Premier Inn has revealed the results of a new report which suggests that by the year 2050, the nation will be able to feel, taste and smell their holiday whilst sitting at their desks. Brits will have drinks served by robots and will holiday with their great-great grandparents, according to the report by the UK’s best value* hotel chain, which also indicates the ultimate demise of the two-week package holiday.

Premier Inn has explored a range of emerging trends, developments and advancements in technology to understand the future of UK travel, with some radical changes being forecast. 

Key concepts of the 'Holiday of the Future' report include:

- 'Try-before-you-buy' will become a new consumer experience for travellers, thanks to a fully immersive, multi-sensory 3D version of the internet. Brits will be able to sample every aspect of their get-away, from the beach to the bar.

- Extreme holiday patterns will become commonplace as the duration of holidays become more fluid. An increase in part-time careers and variable working hours will result Brits taking anything from three day to three months breaks.

- Advancements in technology will see robots in regular use across the travel and service industries.

- Digital wallpaper and flexible, digitally-controlled interiors including movable walls will be added to the hotel rooms.

- Global travel will become regulated as a preventive measure to global warming, leading to an increase in UK holidays as the nation aims to keep within their quota.

- Multi-generational holidays will increase as people live longer, have children younger and become a part of super-extended families.

- Niche trips with like-minded people from across the country will replace the traditional beach holiday as the growth of social media will enable special interest groups to not only meet online, but holiday together.

Claire Haigh, Premier Inn spokeswoman, commented: "Holidays are an important part of our lives and something we all look forward to, so it's pleasing to see that they will still exist as a form of leisure activity in 2050. We are always keen to look forward to see what our guests will want in the future and the idea of being able to try out our holidays before we travel is a fascinating way to ensure we have the best possible breaks."

Rohit Talwar, Founder and CEO of Fast Future, who compiled the research said: "We explored a range of concepts that could shape the future of UK travel and focused in particular on how technology might be used to transform every part of the experience - from booking through to personalisation of the in-room experience.

"While technology will make it possible to experience the world from our living rooms, we believe this will only increase our desire to go out and experience the world first-hand - using technology to help us make the most appropriate choices."
 

www.premierinn.com

Jumeirah Beach Hotel announces official launch date of 360 Lounge and Club

Jumeirah, the luxury global hospitality group and member of Dubai Holding, has announced details of the new-look 360 Lounge and Club ahead of its official launch on 11 October 2012.

World-renowned superstar DJ Hernan Cattatneo will be headlining the launch, followed by Danny Daze and The Revenge, brought by Audio Tonic on Friday 12 October.

Dubai's most famous nightlife venue will now occupy two levels of indoor and outdoor space with added bar areas, tables and seating as well as an elevated DJ console on the first floor. The new stylish and minimalistic design concept incorporates a contemporary colour scheme, chic furnishings and a state-of-the-art lighting concept. An integrated music system enables two DJs to perform at the same time on each level while first floor restrooms and a glass staircase suspended above the water have also been added.

A new cocktail list inspired by a musical theme includes drinks such as Nu Funk, Sunshine Soul and Unforgettably Retro, whilst a Pan-Asian menu is also on offer.

360's prime location, at the end of its very own pier, makes it the perfect spot for sundowners and stargazing while overlooking the city’s ever changing skyline. The name of the venue comes from its 360 views of Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, the Arabian Gulf and Dubai's city centre.

Each night features different acts from Resident DJ Tristain Bain, AudioTonic, Infusion, Restrospect and Must Have Soul.

www.jumeirah.com

One In Four People Don’t Know Where Malta Is

Do you know where Malta is? Recent findings from lowcostholidays.com highlighted that one in four people don't know where to find the Mediterranean island, and despite 1900 people in the UK searching Google for "Where is Malta?" every month, the nation is not learning. Incorrect answers from the research included the Red Sea, Atlantic Sea, the Baltic Sea and simply “I don't know”.

Find out exactly where Malta is with the ‘Where is Malta?’ infographic from lowcostholidays.com here.

The lowcostholidays.com Malta Survey looked at how the general public perceives Malta as a tourist destination. Other surprising findings include nearly 8% of people thinking Malta isn’t its own country, 19% believing Malta uses the old Lira instead of the Euro and a third didn’t recognise any names of the major Maltese tourist resorts.

With its Mediterranean climate, stunning coastline and rich history, Malta is one of the hottest destinations for Brits to holiday. In fact, visitors from the UK make up the largest part of the tourism market in Malta. As such, you’d expect us to know a bit more than we do about the country!

Lawrence Hunt, COO of lowcostholidays.com says “At the moment we are the UK’s No. 1 tour operator for Malta and it’s astonishing to learn that so many people lack a basic understanding of this exciting destination.”

Despite poor geography knowledge, there were top marks in sociology. Most participants correctly assumed it is couples who primarily holiday in Malta, and one in three people knew Malta is a great place for scuba diving. Nearly half of the participants recognised Malta’s important military history with 75% saying they would consider it for a cultural holiday.

But some elements of Malta, such as its popular nightlife scene, remain a mystery to most. Over 80% of people had never heard of Isle of MTV, a free, 50,000 capacity concert held in Malta since 2007, with headline acts from Will.I.Am to Lady Gaga. Participants were also unfamiliar with Paceville, the clubbing area of Malta. To improve their knowledge, lowcostholidays.com has created a Malta Nightlife guide.
.

Aer Lingus to sponsor Ulster Rugby Club

Ulster Rugby's flying start to the season has been given a turbo charged boost with the signing of a major new sponsorship deal with Aer Lingus.

Details of the two-year support package were unveiled at a signing ceremony held at Ravenhill.

As part of the new relationship, Aer Lingus will provide Ulster Rugby with air travel as well as supporting the development of travel and accommodation packages for Ulster supporters to away matches.

Declan Kearney, Aer Lingus Director of Communications said the link-up with Ulster Rugby represented a significant sporting first for the company: "As the official airline of Ulster Rugby we are absolutely delighted to have the responsibility of providing transport from George Best Belfast City Airport and Dublin Airport for the playing squad, the support team and fans, throughout our extensive UK and European network.

"The broadening of our sponsorship horizons through this exciting new Ulster Rugby deal reflects a continued commitment by Aer Lingus to the local community and complements our other community support such as sponsorship of the Dublin GAA team and of the Galway Hurlers supporters club.

"We look forward to welcoming Ulster’s players, support team and fans on board our flights over the coming season and future years."

Phillip Polack, Ulster Rugby Business Development Director said: "The reputation of Aer Lingus as a proactive organisation fits superbly with our ambitions at Ulster Rugby and we look forward to cementing a long-lasting partnership."

Aer Lingus will start flying from George Best Belfast City Airport on Sunday 28th October 2012.