UK-based budget hotel chain Premier Inn has expanded into India, with the opening of a new property in Bangalore. The 105-room Premier Inn Bangalore Whitefield is located along the city’s main road in close proximity to the business district and major shopping malls.

Each room at the hotel can accomodate a family of 4. All rooms are furnished with a comfortable bed, bathroom with bathtub and shower, flatscreen television, complimentary high-speed internet access, work desk, in-room safe and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

The hotel offers guests 2 food & beverage outlets. Linx restaurant serves simple meals of European, Oriental and Indian dishes, featuring meats, seafood and vegetarian creations in a relaxed surrounding. For light snacks and drinks, The 87 offers snacks and a selection of beers, wines, cocktails and mocktails.

For business travellers, Premier Inn Bangalore Whitefield has intimate meeting rooms for discussions and conferences. Guests can relax with a workout at the fitness center after a day of business.

Premier Inn’s development in India follows the brand’s expansion out of the UK into Dubai, where it currently has 2 properties. A second Premier Inn is set to open in New Delhi’s Shalimar Bagh district, with plans to open a further 9 hotels in India within the next 5 years.

For more information, visit www.premierinn.com.

Malaysian low cost carrier AirAsia is set to expand its route network with the introduction of new routes from its Kuala Lumpur and Kota Kinabalu hubs. The airline has launched flights between the Malaysian capital and the Indian cities of Kochi, Kolkata and Trivandrum, while Kota Kinabalu will be connected to Taipei early next year.

Kuala Lumpur-Kochi

Operating daily, flight AK 203 departs Kuala Lumpur at 1450 hrs, arriving in Kochi at 1630 hrs. The aircraft returns as flight AK 204 at 1700 hrs, landing back at Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 2350 hrs.

Kuala Lumpur-Kolkata

Flight AK 323 departs Kuala Lumpur at 1430 hrs, arriving in Kolkata at 1550 hrs. The return flight, AK 324, takes off from Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport at 1635 hrs, landing at Kuala Lumpur at 2255 hrs.

Kuala Lumpur-Trivandrum

On Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, flight AK 295 departs Kuala Lumpur at 0620 hrs, arriving in Trivandrum at 0750 hrs. The return flight, AK 296, takes off from Trivandrum at 0830 hrs, landing back at 1500 hrs into Kuala Lumpur International Airport.

On Tuesdays and Sundays, the outbound flight departs 1 hour earlier at 0520 hrs, landing in Trivandrum at 0650 hrs. The inbound flight will take off from the Indian city at 0740 hrs for a 1410 hrs arrival back in Malaysia.

Kota Kinabalu-Taipei

Beginning 15 January 2010, AirAsia will serve Taipei from Kota Kinabalu in the East Malaysian state of Sabah. Flight AK 6318 departs daily at 0600 hrs, arriving in Taipei at 0920 hrs. The return flight, AK 6319, takes off from Taoyuan International Airport at 0950 hrs, landing back in Kota Kinabalu International Airport at 1310 hrs.

All flights will be operated by AirAsia’s Airbus A320 aircraft configured with 180 Economy Class seats. With the new services, AirAsia now serves 4 cities in India while connecting Taipei to Bangkok, Kota Kinabalu and Kuala Lumpur.

For more information, visit www.airasia.com.

Best Western International has launched its latest property in Thailand with the opening of the new Best Western Premier Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport. Located 10 minutes from Bangkok Suvarnabhumi International Airport, the 278-room hotel enjoys convenient access with a complimentary shuttle service to downtown Bangkok and major attractions including the BITEC Convention Center.

Accomodation types range from Deluxe Rooms to the Amaranth Suites. Each spacious room is decorated in Thai contemporary style and features amenities including comfortable King or Twin beds, bathroom with choice of bath or shower, LCD television with cable/satellite programming, complimentary high-speed internet access, IDD telephone, large work areas, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

The hotel provides 2 unique food & beverage outlets. Bua Chompoo, the all-day dining restaurant, provides an assortment of buffet and a la carte menus to satisfy guests’ discerning palates. Situated in the main lobby, the Red Brown lounge offers light snacks paired with an extensive range of teas and coffee in the day, before transforming into a lively lobby lounge after sundown where guests can relax and unwind over cocktails and live music entertainment.

Ideal for business and leisure travellers, Best Western Premier Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport offers a range of facilities to satisfy their requirements. The conferencing and banquet facilities include the Amaranth Ballroom, which can accomodate up to 800 guests, as well as smaller venues designed for up to 30 classroom-style seminars. All venues are equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment and supported by a deluxe business center. Following a day of meetings, guests can retreat to the outdoor swimming pool and fitness center for a refreshing workout, or head to the Ama Spa for a traditional Thai massage and other wellness treatments.

Thailand boasts one of the largest collection of hotels under Best Western International’s Asian portfolio. The Best Western Premier Amaranth Suvarnabhumi Airport joins 11 sister properties across the country in Bangkok, Koh Samui, Krabi, Pattaya and Phuket.

For more information, visit www.amaranthhotel.com or www.bestwestern.com.

Luxury resort operator Six Senses Resorts & Spas has opened 2 new dining concepts at the Soneva Gili by Six Senses, Maldives. The Bar is a new outlet situated on the resort’s lagoon while Sense by the Sea offers intimate dining with breathtaking sea views.

The Bar

Floating across the resort’s lagoon, The Bar seats 20 guests who can choose to arrive by platform boat, kayaking or swimming. The outlet features 4 sunken glass-bottomed dining tables, allowing guests to enjoy views of tropical marine life and coral amidst the clear waters of the Maldives. The Bar offers a selection of tropical cocktails throughout the day accompanied by snacks and light meals such as seafood salads, sushi, imported meats and lobster casseroles.

Sense by the Sea

Helmed by Chef Santini De Los Santos, the resort’s resident Peruvian chef who trained under Japanese-born Peruvian Chef  Toshiro Konishi, Sense by the Sea offers fusion cusine blending Asian, European, Japanese and Peruvian flavours. Focusing on the abundance of fresh ingredients available in the Maldives, the culinary team has created a tasting menu of signature dishes paired with a fine selection of Japanese sakes and wines from Argentina and Chile. The restaurant also features a sushi bar and open kitchen station where guests can witness live cooking demonstrations when not taking in the panoramic ocean views.

Located on Lankanfushi Island on the North Male Atoll, Soneva Gili by Six Senses has 45 stilted, over-water villas, including 7 Crusoe Residences and The Private Reserve accessible only by boat. Each villa has been crafted in a traditional style using natural materials with private water gardens and sun decks. The resort also features the group’s signature Six Senses Spa.

For more information, visit www.sixsenses.com.

Indonesian airline Batavia Air will commence flights to Singapore from Jakarta and Semarang from Wednesday, 25 November 2009. The airline will operate daily on both routes using an Airbus A319 configured with 144 Economy Class seats on a Jakarta-Singapore-Semarang-Singapore-Jakarta routing.

Jakarta-Singapore

Flight 7P 861 departs Jakarta at 0700 hrs, arriving in Singapore at 0935 hrs. The return flight, 7P 862, takes off from Changi International Airport at 1650 hrs and lands back at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 1720 hrs.

Together with other international carriers, 12 airlines now fly between Singapore and Jakarta with over 450 scheduled flights each week.

Semarang-Singapore

From Semarang, flight 7P 863 departs at 1240 hrs, arriving in Singapore at 1540 hrs. The inbound flight, 7P 864, takes off at 1035 hrs from Changi International Airport, landing in Achmad Yani International Airport at 1140 hrs.

Batavia Air is the only operator to fly between Singapore and Semarang.

The latest Indonesian airline to operate passenger services in Singapore,  joining Garuda Indonesia, Indonesia AirAsia, Lion Air and Sriwijaya Air, Batavia Air operates a fleet of 38 aircraft on routes within Indonesia and selected international services to Guangzhou and Kuching. The airline plans to introduce flights to the Saudi city of Jeddah with Airbus A330-200 aircraft.

For more information, visit www.batavia-air.co.id.

Nigerian airline Arik Air has announced 2 new international routes to the UK and USA. Beginning 26 November 2009, the airline will begin non-stop flights from Abuja to London (Heathrow), with services between Lagos and New York commencing from 29 November 2009.

Abuja-London

Arik Air will fly a 2-class Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with 20 Premier Class and126 Economy Class seats on the route. Flights will operate 5 times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays.

Flight W3 105 departs Abuja at 1030 hrs, arriving into London at 1605 hrs. The return flight, W3 106, takes off from London (Heathrow) Terminal 4 at 2150 hrs, landing back at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport at 0520 hrs the next morning.

The flights connect a second Nigerian city to the UK, following the existing Lagos-London flights launched in December 2008. 

Lagos-New York

Arik Air will also launch transatlantic flights from Lagos to New York. The airline is the first Nigerian airline to connect the country with the USA in over a decade.

The airline has scheduled the flights to allow for convenient connections at both ends of the route. Flight W3 107 departs Lagos at 2320 hrs and arrives in New York at 0550 hrs the next morning. The return flight, W3 108, takes off from John F. Kennedy International Airport at 2200 hrs, landing back in Murtala Muhammed International Airport at 1440 hrs.

Arik Air will fly 3 times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays using a 2-class Airbus A340-500 configured with 36 Premier Class seats that convert into full-flat beds and 201 Economy Class seats. Premier Class passengers will also enjoy the use of a private bar and lounge area onboard the aircraft, with all passengers offered personal screens and audio-video on-demand inflight entertainment.

From its hubs at Abuja and Lagos, Arik Air currently flies to 21 airports across Nigeria and internationally to Accra, Banjul, Cotonou, Dakar, Freetown, Johannesburg, Niamey and London with a fleet of 30 aircraft. For more information, visit www.arikair.com.

Pangu 7 Star Hotel, Beijing’s newest luxury accomodation address, has opened opposite the 2008 Beijing Olympic Park. Overlooking the ’Bird’s Nest’ National Stadium and ‘Water Cube’ National Aquatic Center, the hotel is part of the iconic dragon-shaped Pangu Plaza complex and enjoys convenient connections to Beijing Capital Airport and the city’s major attractions.

Designed by Taiwanese architect C. Y. Lee, whose portfolio includes the 508-meter Taipei 101 Tower, the hotel occupies a 21-storey tower incoporating a East-meets-West interior by Brazilian designer Ricardo Bello Dias. Marble embellished with traditional Chinese motifs engraved by local craftsmen can be found throughout the building, which also features lighting by Italian consultants Metis and Venini, while the lobby is adorned with solid granite dragon thrones and rosewood ceiling murals carved with scenes from the Chinese classic ‘A Dream of Red Mansions’.

The hotel’s 234 guestrooms, including 140 suites, range from the 45-square meter Grand Deluxe Rooms to the 488-square meter Pangu Presidential Suite. Each room is furnished with a luxury King-sized bed with 600-threadcount Egyptian cotton bedding by Frette, spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and monsoon rain shower accompanied by Ferre and Hermes bath products, heated towel rack and hand-sculpted dual washbasins, LCD televisions with Bose surround sound system, complimentary high-speed internet access, IP telephones, full-size executive workdesk with plug extensions, in-room safe and complimentary minibar.

Discerning guests can also choose to stay in Pangu Plaza’s 770-square meter Sky Courtyard. Priced at RMB 1 million a night, the residence situated on the 23rd floor with private lift access recreates traditional Chinese courtyard living. Built with antique carved wooden walls from southern China and featuring art-infused decor by fashion label Shanghai Tang’s Sir David Tang, the residence also features a rooftop garden, wading pool and a retractable electric glass roof.

Pangu 7 star Hotel boasts 3 signature restaurants and 2 elegant lounges. The 300-year old Kyoto kaiseki restaurant Minokichi opens its first international branch with Kaden Minokichi, while Pangu Wenqi Chinese restaurant offers Chiu Chow and Cantonese private dining in 26 individually styled dining suites. Auspicious Garden, the hotel’s all-day dining venue, serves a buffet spread of Asian and International specialties. Guests can enjoy high tea and evening aperitifs at the Karma Lounge, or proceed to the alfresco Happiness Lounge on the 21st floor for cocktails against views of the 2008 Olympic competition venues.

Business travellers and meeting planners have 2 floors of event space at their disposal, including 2 large, pillarless ballrooms that can accomodate up to 500 guests. The hotel also has 5 meeting rooms ranging in size from 68 to 176 square meters. All venues are equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual facilities and supported by a full-service Business Center. For recreation, the hotel currently offers a fitness center with Technogym facilities and will add a day spa with luxurious spa suites and an indoor swimming pool in 2010.

For more information, visit www.panguhotel.com.

Paris-based Air France has completed its first revenue flight with the Airbus A380. Flight AF 380 arrived at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport at 1318 hrs, after crossing the Atlantic from Paris (Charles de Gaulle), where it departed at 1119 hrs. The flight marked the A380’s first transatlantic flight by a European airline and the aircraft was met by a customary water cannon salute on arrival in New York.

Onboard the double-decker aircraft are 538 passengers, invited guests and 24 crew, who were treated to complimentary champagne and a 3-member jazz band. 380 passengers who participated in a charity auction in October 2008 also raised 300,000 euros to benefit humanitarian projects supported by the Air France Foundation. Having generated a larger amount than expected, Air France will donate the proceeds from the auction to 2 more charities in Brazil and Madagascar, in addition to 3 previously announced organizations in France, India and South Africa.

The Air France A380 features 538 seats in a 3-class configuration with innovations including improved seating, mood lighting and an onboard meeting area showcasing artwork from various museum collections. The airline has announced Johannesburg as the second destination for its A380 following New York, which will be operated daily. Air France joins Dubai’s Emirates, Sydney-based Qantas and Singapore Airlines as the fourth operator of the type.

For more information, visit www.airfrance.com.

Low cost carrier Flydubai has launched flights from Dubai to Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan. The inaugural flight, FZ 705, departed Dubai International Airport at 1940 hrs and is enroute to Heydar Aliyev International Airport, where it is scheduled to arrive at 2230 hrs.

The airline will operate the route daily. Flight FZ 705 departs Dubai at 1935 hrs, arriving in Baku at 2230 hrs. The return flight, FZ 706, takes off from Baku at 2330 hrs, landing back at Dubai International Airport at 0220 hrs the next morning. All flights will be operated by Flydubai’s Boeing 737-800 aircraft configured with 189 seats.

Baku is the airline’s ninth destination in its route network. The service marks Flydubai’s expansion into Central Asia and will provide competition to Azerbaijan Airlines, which operates a daily Boeing 757 flight between Baku and Dubai.

For more information, visit www.flydubai.com.

Air Canada has announced a new direct service linking Calgary with Tokyo. Beginning 27 March 2010, the airline will fly the route 3 times a week offering the only non-stop service between Alberta and Asia.

Flight AC 009 departs Calgary International Airport at 1220 hrs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, arriving at Tokyo (Narita) at 1400 hrs the next day. The return flight, AC 010, takes off from Tokyo at 1600 hrs and lands back in Calgary at 1045 hrs every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday.

Air Canada has timed the flights to allow for convenient connections at both points of the route. Together with its Star Alliance partners (ANA, Asiana, Thai Airways and United Airlines), passengers can connect to other Asian destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Manila, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore and Taipei, as well as other cities across Japan. In Canada, passengers can connect with the flights to and from other destinations across Alberta and Western Canada.

The new Calgary-Tokyo service will complement Air Canada’s existing daily flights to Tokyo from Toronto and Vancouver. With the new flights, Air Canada will operate 17 flights a week from Canada to Tokyo Narita International Airport using its 211-seat Boeing 767-300ER and 349-seat Boeing 777-300ER aircraft offering Executive First and Economy Class.

For more information, visit www.aircanada.com.