Rebranded Azamara Club Cruises Promises New Attributes

Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has rebranded Azamara Cruises, announcing a new name and renewed focus on destinations, onboard service, cuisine & wine and wellness & vigour. Now known as Azamara Club Cruises, the already upscale brand will cater to upmarket, experienced travellers and feature a new loyalty program called “Le Club Voyage”.

 

Destination Immersion

In 2010, the line’s 2 ships, Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey, will visit 140 ports in 50 countries. Itineraries will feature more overnight stays in destinations such as Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Singapore, Sorrento and St. Petersburg, allowing guests more time to explore and experience the local culture and communities. 

 

To highlight the line’s increased destination focus, Azamara has placed renewed emphasis on shore excursions. Experiences will be designed to make it easy for guests to immerse themselves at each location. Amongst the programs planned are a 2-night package from Bangkok to Laos, an overnight tour from Hiroshima to Osaka by the shinkansen, visits to the Taj Mahal and a Grand Egypt tour to Luxor and Cairo. Specialty tours include a Ferrari driving tour in Civitavecchia, the “In the steps of The Beatles” tour in Liverpool, a private demonstration of chocolate flavours in Dubrovnik, a “Theatre A La Carte” evening in London, imperial Russian Court evening in St. Petersburg, gondola serenade in Venice and high tea at the Burj al Arab hotel in Dubai.

 

Onboard Service

Azamara is promising highly personalised service with 1 dedicated staff member to 2 guests onboard its ships. Suite guests will be served by butlers trained to be true English butlers offering anticipatory yet non-intrusive service, while experienced stateroom attendants cater to the needs of guests in staterooms.

 

Cuisine & Wine

Praised since its inception for the quality dining experience, the line will expand its focus on wine. Both the Azamara Quest and Azamara Journey will carry more than 8,000 bottles of wine onboard, including vintages from boutique wineries around the world. Offered complimentary at lunches and dinners, guests will be able to taste the premium wines that would otherwise be available only in their country of produce.

 

The line will also be offering complimentary bottled water, specialty coffees and teas for all guests throughout each voyage. In addition, suite guests will enjoy complimentary specialty dining at the intimate Prime C steakhouse and Mediterranean-influenced Aqualina restaurants.

 

Wellness & Vigour

Another core component of the Azamara Club Cruises experience, guests can look forward to programs and facilities dedicated to helping them look and feel healthier and more youthful. The line is offering a world-class spa to guests featuring Elemis treatments, with massages, facials and enrichment programs such as acupuncture, pilates and yoga.

 

For more information, visit www.azamaraclubcruises.com.

Hainan Airlines To Link Beijing And Brussels Daily

Hainan Airlines, the largest private airline in China, has announced it will increase frequencies on the Beijing-Brussels route to daily service. The airline currently offers 3 weekly and 4 weekly flights during the winter and summer seasons respectively.

 

Beginning 27 April 2010, flight HU 491 departs Beijing Capital Airport daily at 0120 hrs, arriving in Brussels Airport at 0530 hrs in the morning. On the return leg, flight HU 492 takes off from Brussels at 1350 hrs and lands back in Beijing at 0510 hrs the next day. The airline has timed the flights to allow for convenient onward connections to and from Hong Kong, Shanghai, Taipei and other destinations across China and Northeast Asia.

 

All flights will be operated using a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft configured with 36 Business Class and 186 Economy Class seats. Offering a generous 74-inch seat pitch, the fixed-shell Business Class seats convert into a full-flat bed, with the audio-video on-demand inflight entertainment delivered by a 10.6-inch personal screen. In Economy Class, passengers enjoy ergonomic slimline seats with a 8.9-inch personal monitor fitted to the seatback.

 

Haikou-based Hainan Airlines has been operating on the route since 2006. Brussels is 1 of 18 international destinations served by the airline in Africa, Asia, Europe and North America, including Astana, Bangkok, Berlin, Budapest, Dubai, Luanda, Moscow, Seattle, Seoul and St. Petersburg.

 

For more information, visit www.hnair.com.

New Resorts In Thailand From Accor And InterContinental Hotels Group

Accor and InterContinental Hotels Group have opened new properties in Thailand’s Phuket and Hua Hin respectively. The Ibis Phuket Kata is the group’s second Ibis property on the popular Thai holiday destination, while the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort doubles IHG’s portfolio in Thailand.

 

Ibis Phuket Kata

Located 5 minutes away from Kata Beach, the 258-room Ibis Phuket Kata is easily accessible from Phuket International Airport and in close proximity to shopping, dining and nightlife districts.

 

The comfortable rooms feature a private balcony from which guests can take in views of the surroundings. Room amenities include a cosy bed, ensuite bathroom, satellite television, high-speed internet access, in-room safe and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

The hotel’s signature restaurant, TASTE, offers a selection of local favorites in the form of tapas. Guests can choose to dine at the indoor and outdoor seating areas, accompanied by a variety of drinks from the lobby bar.

 

In addition to the sands of Kata Beach, the recrational facilities available at the Ibis Phuket Kata include a swimming pool with traditional Thai massage services offered at the Salas alongside it, as well as car and bicycle rental stations. Guests who require business facilities have a self-service business center and meeting rooms at their disposal.

 

The Ibis Phuket Kata joins sister hotel Ibis Patong Phuket and 4 other Ibis properties across Thailand in Bangkok, Koh Samui and Pattaya. Accor is embarking on a growth of the brand in the Asia-Pacific region, with new Ibis hotels slated to open in locations like China, Hong Kong and India.

 

For more information, visit www.ibishotel.com.

 

InterContinental Hua Hin Resort

Inspired by the majestic Maruekthaiyawan Palace built by Thailand’s King Rama VI, the new InterContinental Hua Hin Resort is located in the city’s Petchakasem Road along the beachfront and enjoys easy access to the railway and bus stations. Thailand’s first resort town, Hua Hin is 2.5 hours by car from Bangkok and is well-known for its beaches, golf courses and historical attractions.

 

Each of the 119 rooms, suites and villas feature amenities such as luxury bedding, private bathroom with separate bath and shower accompanied by bath products from L’Occitane, LCD television with CD/DVD player and satellite programming, iPod docking stations, high-speed internet access, dual-line telephone with voicemail function, spacious workdesk with lamp, electrical and data ports, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. 10 Deluxe rooms enjoy direct swimming pool access, while discerning guests seeking a luxury holiday can choose from the 3 beachfront villas or the Presidential Suite.

 

InterContinental Hua Hin Resort offers guests an epicurean dining experience with 3 restaurants serving various cuisines from around the world. The Beach Grill is an all-day dining venue combining views of the Gulf of Thailand with international dishes accompanied by an exclusive boutique wine list. An Italian restaurant serves contemporary casual Trattoria-style dining, specializing in light salads, antipasti, pizza and pasta, while the Thai-Chinese restaurant features dishes inspired by the Hua Hin Palace during the reign of King Rama VI. Both restaurants serve drinks from the Lounge Bar, located next to the resort’s inner garden, while the Pool Bar offers an array of beers, cocktails and blended concoctions on the menu.

 

For recreation and wellness, the Spa InterContinental offers signature treatments and packages to rejuvenate guests, while the fully-equipped fitness center and outdoor swimming pool caters to guests needing a workout or swim. Beyond the resort, guests can enjoy activities ranging from Hua Hin’s white, sandy beaches, to playing a round of golf at one of the area’s spectacular golf courses. Younger guests will be entertained at the resort’s kid’s club, Planet Trekkers, while their parents enjoy time alone. Business travellers and event planners looking for a location for corporate retreats have a host of meeting and business facilities at their disposal, including a business center providing secretarial services.

 

The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort joins the group’s other Thai property in Bangkok and adds to InterContinental Hotel Group’s growing portfolio in Asia. In 2010, the brand is slated to open 5 new hotels in the region, bringing the number of hotels it operates in Asia to 42.

 

For more information, visit www.ichotelsgroup.com.

AirAsia Expands Network With Launch Of New Routes

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 Opens Suvarnabhumi Airport Hotel

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.

Air Canada Expands Tokyo Operations

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.

W Hotels Opens 35th Property

W Hotels has opened its 35th property with the unveiling of the new W Boston, marking a milestone in the brand’s ongoing expansion. Located in the heart of Boston near Chinatown and the Theater District, the hotel is designed as a ‘virtual garden’ concept and is the result of a collaboration between local architect William Rawn, TRO Jung|Brannen and New York-based Bentel & Bentel. The building’s glass facade enables light to be subtly transitioned as it filters through into the interior spaces, while the designers have made use of falling water and a modern fireplace to create visual interest of the interior.

 

The hotel features 235 guestrooms and suites, ranging from W Hotels’ signature Wonderful Room to the Extreme WOW Suite, vividly-designed with high-energy interiors familiar to guests at sister properties around the world. Each room is furnished with the W bed and pillow menu, a spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and rain shower complemented by amenities from Bliss, flat-screen televisions with CD/DVD player and iPod docking station, high-speed internet access, dual-line cordless telephones with voicemail feature, workdesk and a munchie box/minibar.

 

Dining at W Boston promises to be a gastronomic experience with outlets offering gourmet food and drinks from Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten and master mixologist Sasha Petraske. Market by Jean-Georges serves a multicultural menu inspired by Asian, French and Italian influences and prepared with ingredients from the New England region. The cozy W Bar boasts stylish spaces to mix and mingle over drinks and light snacks, while Descent, scheduled to open early next year, will be an exclusive underground spot with cocktails created by Sasha Petraske of New York’s Milk & Honey fame.

 

Business travellers at W Boston requiring conference facilities will have 9 spaces available to them, including the 177-square meter Great Room. Each meeting space is equipped with complete audio-visual support and a teleconferencing system, with business and secretarial services provided by the WIRED business center. Guests seeking a workout can do so at the SWEAT fitness center, or indulge in the variety of spa treatments available at Bliss Spa.

 

W Boston is the brand’s ninth hotel to open in 2009. W Hotels is on track to double its portfolio by 2011, with new hotels scheduled to open in Athens, Bangkok, Dubai, Hollywood, Koh Samui, London, Marrakech, Paris and Shanghai.

 

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Air Astana Begins Almaty – Kuala Lumpur, Tiger Airways Resumes Singapore – Hat Yai

Air travellers in Southeast Asia now have greater options when flying beyond and within the region. Kazakh national carrier Air Astana has commenced flights from Almaty to Kuala Lumpur, while low cost carrier Tiger Airways returns to the southern Thai city of Hat Yai.

 

Air Astana Links Malaysia With Kazakhstan

Travellers now have a direct link when flying between Kuala Lumpur and Almaty. Air Astana has launched a weekly, nonstop service using a 2-class Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 30 Business and 190 Economy Class seats.

 

The inaugural flight on 31 October 2009 was welcomed at Kuala Lumpur International Airport by Malaysia’s Minister of Transport, YB Dato’ Sri Ong Tee Keat, and officials of Malaysia Airports. Onboard the flight was the Deputy Chairman of Kazakhstan’s Committee for Civil Aviation, Talgat Lastaev, accompanied by Ibrahim Canliel, Vice-President of Marketing and Sales at Air Astana and members of the media from Kazakhstan. 

 

Flight KC 935 departs Almaty International Airport every Saturday at 0055 hrs, arriving in Kuala Lumpur International Airport at 1055 hrs. The return flight, KC 936, takes off from Kuala Lumpur at 2335 hrs, landing back in Almaty at 0625 hrs the next morning.

 

Kuala Lumpur is Air Astana’s 7th international destination in Asia and the Middle East, joining Bangkok, Beijing, Delhi, Dubai, Seoul and Urumqi. From its hubs in Almaty, Astana and Atyrau, the airline flies to 44 domestic and international destinations with a fleet of Airbus A319, A320, Boeing B757, B767 and Fokker 50 aircraft.

 

For more information, visit www.airastana.com.

 

Tiger Airways Returns To Hat Yai

Singapore-based Tiger Airways has resumed flights to Hat Yai in southern Thailand. The low cost carrier will operate 3 flights a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

 

Flight TR 132 departs Singapore at 1325 hrs, arriving in Hat Yai at 1350 hrs. The return flight, TR 133, takes off from Hat Yai International Airport at 1420 hrs, landing back in Changi International Airport at 1645 hrs. Tiger Airways will operate a 180-seat Airbus A320 aircraft on the route.

 

The resumption of flights to Hat Yai increases the number of Thai destinations in Tiger Airways’ network to 4, including Bangkok (served triple daily), Phuket (served double daily) and Krabi (served 4 times weekly), which was also recently restarted in October 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.tigerairways.com.

Continental Airlines Now A Star Aliiance Member

Houston-based Continental Airlines has joined Star Alliance as its 25th member airline, completing its switch from rival alliance Skyteam. The entry of Continental Airlines is expected to enhance the alliance’s customer benefits of global reach, worldwide recognition and seamless travel.

 

Passengers can now have access to 19,500 daily flights serving nearly 1,701 airports in 171 countries, with network enhancements in North and South America, transpacific and across the North Atlantic, including the prestigious London (Heathrow)-New York route. Continental adds its 3 hubs in Cleveland, Houston and Newark, offering greater connectivity and access to its extensive Caribbean and South American network. Across the Pacific, the airline adds flight options to mainland China, Hong Kong and Japan, while affiliate Continental Micronesia offers services from Guam.

 

Apart from network enhancements, travellers will also benefit from Continental’s operational integration with other Star Alliance member airlines. Effective immediately, through check-in will be available for any itinerary involving a Continental flight with another Star Alliance flight at the originating airport, eliminating the need to repeat the process at connecting airports. The airline will also physically move airport operations to co-locate with other member airlines at locations such as Bangkok, Chicago, Frankfurt, Los Angeles, Munich and Tokyo (Narita). In case of flight irregularities, Star Alliance Connection Centres will also include Continental-operated flights, looking after passengers and baggage transfers.

 

Continental’s entry also integrates its frequent flyer program with Star Alliance. OnePass Members can now accumulate and redeem miles on all Star Alliance member airlines, with Gold and Platinum Elite members automatically accorded Star Alliance Gold status and benefits while Silver Elite members will enjoy automatic Star Alliance Silver status. Members of the frequent flyer programs of the other 24 member airlines will also be able to earn miles when travelling on Continental Airlines.

 

Continental Airlines is the 3rd US member in Star Alliance, joining United Airlines and US Airways. For more information, visit www.continental.com and www.staralliance.com.

Garuda Indonesia To Reopen Jakarta – Amsterdam Service

Following a 5-year absence, Indonesian flag carrier Garuda Indonesia is to return to Europe with the reopening of its flagship Jakarta-Amsterdam route, operated via Dubai, from June 2010. Amsterdam is the first of several European services planned by Garuda Indonesia, which was recently permitted to operate in the European Union following improvements to its safety standards.

 

Flight GA 088 departs Jakarta at 2100 hrs, arriving in Dubai at 0209 hrs the next morning before departing again at 0315 hrs for a 0800 hrs arrival into Amsterdam. The return service, GA 089, takes off from Amsterdam Airport Schiphol at 1000 hrs, landing in Dubai at 1830 hrs and departing for Jakarta at 1945 hrs, where it lands at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport at 0710 hrs the next morning.

 

Garuda Indonesia will operate a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft, configured with the airline’s latest cabin products. Passengers will enjoy 36 full-flat beds in Executive Class, while the Economy Class seats feature a 32-inch seat pitch and 6 inches of recline. Individual touch-screen monitors deliver audio-video on-demand entertainment in both classes.

 

The airline joins several airlines already established on the route, including KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Lufthansa and Singapore Airlines. Garuda Indonesia currently flies to 17 international destinations including Bangkok, Beijing, Dubai, Hong Kong, Jeddah, Kuala Lumpur, Melbourne, Osaka, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.

 

For more information, visit www.garuda-indonesia.com.