India’s Second Ibis Opens In Pune

Accor’s economy Ibis brand has opened its second property in India. The 175-room Ibis Pune is located 5 minutes away from Pune International Airport and offers easy accessibility to the city’s commercial, leisure and cultural districts.

 

Each room is furnished with amenities familiar to guests at Ibis properties around the world. Amenities include a comfortable bed and hypo-allergenic pillows, bathroom, LCD television with international programming, high-speed internet access, telephone, ergonomically-designed workspace, in-room safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

For dining, the hotel’s multi-cuisine, all-day dining restaurant Spice It features interactive cooking stations serving a la carte dishes and buffet. An outdoor area adjacent to the restaurant enables guests a choice to dine whilst enjoying Pune’s weather or in air-conditioned comfort within the restaurant. The Hub is a casual lounge offering drinks and light snacks for guests to unwind, with complimentary internet access.

 

Ibis Pune has 2 meeting rooms for business travellers and event planners that can accomodate up to 24 guests each. Both spaces are supported with the latest audio-visual technology and are designed to allow natural light and views of the bustling city. For recreation, there is a 24-hour fitness room that guests work out after a day of business.

 

Ibis Pune joins the Ibis Gurgaon as part of the brand’s expansion in India. Accor plans to open Ibis properties in the cities of Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Jaipur and Mumbai.

 

For more information, visit www.ibishotel.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.

Best Western Expands Vietnamese Presence

Best Western International is set to expand its presence in Vietnam with the opening of a new property in Hanoi and the announcement of new developments in Dalat, Lao Cai and Nha Trang.

 

Best Western Muong Thanh Hanoi

The new Best Western Muong Thanh Hanoi is the group’s second Vietnamese property and is located in Linh Dam district near the city’s bus and railway stations.

 

The hotel offers 168 rooms, including 22 larger suites to guests, which are fully wheelchair-accessible. Each room is furnished with comfortable bedding, spacious bathrooms, satellite television, direct-dial telephone with voicemail, workdesk with dataports, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities. Adjoining rooms are available to families or guests travelling in a large group.

 

For dining, there are 3 restaurants located within the property. Peppercorn’s serves western cuisine and grill dishes, while Basil and Cilantro offer a selection of Asian cuisine. In the vicinity, various restaurants offer Vietnamese cuisine and specialty food from the mountain regions, with numerous lounges and watering holes serving alcoholic/non-alcoholic beverages paired with live music entertainment.

 

Best Western Muong Thanh Hanoi also boasts an indoor swimming pool and the Savasana Spa & Wellness Center where guests can relax following a day of business in the city. Meeting and banquet facilities, including a spacious ballroom, can cater to events of various sizes and is supported by a fully-equipped business center.

 

New Developments

In addition to properties now open in Haiphong and Hanoi, Best Western International will open 3 new hotels in Vietnam in 2010. The group is focusing on the gateway cities of Da Nang, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Vietnam’s World Heritage areas of Halong City and Halong Bay, Hoi An and the ancient capital, Hue.

 

The Best Western Sapaly Hotel Lao Cai, Best Western Premier Nha Trang Plaza and Best Western Dalat Plaza Hotel reflect the group’s optimism on Vietnam’s growing tourism industry. When completed, the 3 hotels will add 460 rooms to Vietnam’s hotel inventory.

 

Best Western International currently operates more than 30 properties across Asia in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, South Korea, Thailand and Vietnam.

 

For more information, visit www.bestwestern.com.

Cruise To Seychelles In December 2009 With Silversea Cruises

Luxury cruise operator Silversea Cruises will operate an exotic voyage from Dubai to Mahe in December 2009. The 16,800-GRT Silver Wind will call at ports in India, Maldives, Oman and Sri Lanka during the 16-day cruise as it makes its way across the Indian Ocean to the Seychelles.

 

Departing Dubai on 4 December 2009, the vessel makes its way to Muscat, capital of the Sultanate of Oman, before spending 2 days at sea as she cruises to India. Silver Wind arrives in Mumbai on the morning of 8 December 2009, where guests opting for a shorter 12-day voyage can join the ship, before continuing to Cochin, Colombo and Male. From the Maldives, the vessel explores the ports of Curieuse Island, La Dique, Praslin in the Seychelles, arriving in Mahe on the morning of 19 December 2009.

 

Silversea Cruises has planned a series of shore excursions and activities for guests on the cruise, including private city tours in Cochin, Colombo, Mahe, Male, Mumbai and Muscat, as well as visits to Agra and the magnificent Taj Mahal. Onboard Silver Wind, guests will enjoy all-suite accomodation, gourmet meals accompanied by fine wines and champagne, as well as the attentive service the cruise line is known for.

 

For more information, visit www.silversea.com.

New Fairmont Properties Open In China, Egypt And UAE

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts has opened 3 new properties in China, Egypt and the UAE, along the path of the ancient silk road. The Fairmont Yangcheng Lake, Fairmont Nile City and the Fairmont Bab al Bahr are the latest additions to the brand’s portfolio.

 

Fairmont Yangcheng Lake

Located along the shores of the scenic Yangcheng Lake in Kunshan, the 200-room Fairmont Yangcheng Lake is easily accessible from metropolitan Shanghai and the picturesque city of Suzhou. The city offers numerous tourist attractions, including historical sites, temples and scenic water towns within close proximity to the hotel.

 

12 accomodation types are available to guests, including a selection of suites and specialty rooms. Each guestroom offers either a park or lake view through large floor-to-ceiling windows and is furnished with a luxury bed, spacious bathroom with Miller Harris bath amenities, 42-inch plasma televisions with cable programming, DVD player, dual-line telephones with voicemail, high-speed internet access and an executive work desk. Guests are also provided with a refreshment center and coffee-/tea-making facilities. Most of the hotel’s suites, which feature a separate living area, as well as selected rooms also feature a balcony from which guests can take in the sights of Yangcheng Lake. Discerning guests can also choose to stay in the Fairmont Gold accomodation, where they enjoy the complimentary use of the Fairmont Gold lounge and a boardroom.

 

Dining at the Fairmont Yangcheng Lake promises to be a gastronomical affair led by authentic Cantonese cuisine at the signature Yi Feng Court restaurant, where guests can sample creations such as Imperial Lobster Dumpling and the area’s famous Hairy Crabs. At Essence, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant, a wide range of local and international selection is available through its buffet and a la carte dining options, while the intimate and sleek Luwei lobby lounge is the ideal setting to relax over light snacks, drinks and its selection of premium chinese teas. After sundown, guests can retreat to the Curve Bar to wind up their day with drinks and live music entertainment.

 

The hotel boasts a range of recreational facilities for guests, including a state-of-the-art health club comprising an indoor swimming pool, outdoor swimming pool with whirlpool, steam room, fitness center and a yoga studio. Fairmont’s Willow Stream Spa also provides an adult sanctuary with spa treatments and facilities such as steam rooms, saunas, mineral pools, experience showers and ice fountains.

 

Meeting and event planners can choose from a multitude of indoor and outdoor venues, including a 1,200-meter Grand Ballroom overlooking the lake and breakout areas ideal for teambuilding activities. A full-service business center with secretarial services is on hand to support business travellers.

 

Fairmont Nile City

Built within the Nile City corporate complex, the 567-room Fairmont Nile City offers sweeping panoramas of the majestic Nile River and the Great Pyramids in the distance. The hotel is located 16 kilometers from Cairo International Airport and easily accessible to the Egyptian capital’s major tourist attractions and shopping districts.

 

Art deco and contemporary design is reflected in each room and suite, which is furnished with king-size or double beds with 100% Egyptian cotton bedding, bathroom with rain shower and amenities from Miller Harris, interactive television system, telephone with voicemail capability, high-speed internet access, large workdesk, in-room safe, refreshment center and coffee-/tea-making facilities. Guests staying in the 75-square meter Nile Suite, 102-square meter Deluxe Nile Suite or the 233-square meter Royal Suite enjoy additional space with separate living areas, while the Fairmont Gold accomodation offer 24-hour, on-call butler service and complimentary access to the Fairmont Gold Lounge.

 

The Fairmont Nile City offers a variety of cuisines and dining options at its selection of restaurants and bars. Located on the second floor, the all-day dining Napa Grill is based on a ‘Californian grill’ concept with its Spanish, Mediterranean and Mexican influences, while Saigon Bleu’s Vietnamese dishes and contemporary Asian design blends impeccable flavours, stylish presentation and seamless service. Focusing on tea and coffee service, the Onyx Lounge will offer light snacks and desserts with a vast array of teas and coffee, while a taste of Japan can be experienced at O Bar’s sushi bar, accompanying specialty cocktails, imported beers, wines, fine cognacs, whiskeys and premium spirits, as well as Cuban cigars in the walk-in humidor. For a bird’s eye view of Cairo, the rooftop Sky Bar and Sky Pool offers Lebanese food and cocktails accompanied by music tunes mixed by the resident DJs.

 

The hotel is home to Cairo’s biggest spa with over 2,043 square meters of private sanctuary for men and women at Fairmont’s Willow Stream Spa, where guests can indulge in holistic, tailor-made therapies. A beauty salon, full-service health club and rooftop swimming pools are also available to guests for recreation. Business travellers have a variety of indoor and outdoor meeting venues to choose from, supported by a comprehensive range of business services. 

 

Fairmont Bab al Bahr

One of the newest hotels in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, the 369-room Fairmont Bab al Bahr is located directly on the beachfront between Maqtaa and Musaffa Bridges, offering easy access to the city centre and Corniche. The hotel enjoys views of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and the azure waters of the Arabian Gulf and is a 15-minute drive from Abu Dhabi International Airport.

 

Embracing an organic theme, the guestroom furnishings employ a range of rich textiles and natural materials such as marble, walnut wood paneling and furnishings inspired by bamboo flowers. All rooms and suites are equipped with a king-size or 2 queen-size beds, 5 piece bathroom with Miller Harris amenities, LCD television, voicemail-enabled telephone, high-speed internet access, a work desk, in-room safe, refreshment center and coffee-/tea-making facilities. Suite and Fairmont Gold guests also enjoy exclusive lounge access, private check-in/check-out, butler service and bespoke VIP amenities.

 

Fairmont Bab al Bahr’s dining options leave guests spoilt for choice with 8 restaurants and bars. Michelin-starred celebrity Chef Marco Pierre White opens his first steakhouse and grill in the region at the hotel, serving guests innovative grill cuisine and classic English fare, as well as collaborating with famed horse jockey Frankie Dettori to open Frankie’s serving authentic Italian cuisine. Elements, a casual yet elegant venue, offers international buffets from Asia, Europe and the Middle East throughout the day, while the hotel is also slated to open a new Lebanese restaurant and lounge in 2010. At the Al Naba’a Lounge, guests can sample one of many blends of tea available under the guidance of the hotel’s tea sommelier, while chocolate enthusiasts will appreciate The Chocolate Gallery, where signature hot and iced chocolate beverages await, complemented by fondues, cakes, truffles and pralines. After sunset, guests can party the night away at Chameleon with its range of cocktails, vintage champagnes and music from the resident DJ.

 

Like its sister properties, the hotel boasts a health club with 2 outdoor swimming pools and separate gymnasiums for men and women equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. Fairmont’s Willow Stream Spa debuts in Abu Dhabi with a 2,500-square meter sanctuary opening in early 2010 with facilities including whirlpools, ice showers, relaxation area and a modern fitness center.

 

As a business hotel, the Fairmont Bab al Bahr offers a spacious 1,070-square meter ballroom and 6 other meeting rooms ranging from 22 square meters to 186 square meters in size to accomodate events of all sizes. A fully-equipped business center is on hand to support guests with a full range of services and facilities.

 

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is slated to continue its expansion in 2010 with new properties planned for Mecca in Saudi Arabia, the Indian city of Jaipur and Shanghai’s landmark Fairmont Peace Hotel.

 

For more information, visit www.fairmont.com.

Taj Hotels, Resorts And Palaces Teams Up With Etihad Guest

The Indian Hotels Company has joined the award-winning Etihad Guest frequent flyer program of Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways as its latest hotel partner.

 

One of Asia’s largest hospitality groups, the group operates under the umbrella of Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces. Through the Taj, Taj Premium and Gateway Hotel collections, the group comprises more than 60 hotels in 45 locations across India and 15 international hotels in Africa, Australia, Bhutan, Malaysia, Middle East, UK and USA.

 

Etihad Guest members will now be able to earn miles when staying at the group’s hotels. 500 miles are awarded for each stay at any Taj property, including the flagship Taj Mahal Palace and Tower in Mumbai. Members will also earn 250 miles per stay at Taj Premium and Gateway Hotels.

 

The new partnership complements Etihad Airways’ continued expansion in India, where it currently operates flights to 6 destinations including Chennai, Kochi, Kozhikode, Mumbai, New Delhi and Thiruvananthapuram. The airline will begin flights to Hyderabad later this year from November 2009.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com or www.tajhotels.com.

Finnair To Fly Helsinki – Delhi Daily

Passengers flying between Helsinki and Delhi can now enjoy greater flexibility when planning their travel. Finnair has increased frequencies from its base to the Indian capital to daily service, using a 2-class Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

 

Flight AY 021 takes off from Helsinki Vantaa International Airport at 1845 hrs, arriving in Delhi at 0400 hrs the next morning. The return flight, AY 022, departs Indira Gandhi International Airport at 0835 hrs in the morning and lands back in Helsinki at 1330 hrs.

 

Both flights offer ample connections with Finnair flights in Scandinavia, the Baltic Sea area and all of Northern Europe, with Delhi offering connections to the rest of India. Finnair first launched flights to Delhi, India’s main air transport hub, in October 2006.

 

For more information, visit www.finnair.com.

Oman Air Receives First A330-200

Oman Air has taken delivery of its first Airbus A330-200 aircraft this week. The twin-engined jet, registered A40-DA, was unveiled at Muscat’s Seeb International Airport on Wednesday, following a delivery flight from Toulouse where it was formally handed over to the airline.

 

The first of 7 A330s for Oman Air, the aircraft will form the mainstay of the airline’s long-haul fleet in support of its international expansion beyond the Middle East. The jet will initially be deployed on services between Muscat and Europe, flying to Frankfurt, London (Heathrow) and Paris (Charles de Gaulle). Oman Air currently operates 2 A330s leased from India’s Jet Airways on long-haul routes from Muscat.

 

Oman Air has configured the aircraft in a 2-class layout, featuring 20 Business and 196 Economy Class seats. Passengers will enjoy a full-flat bed, electrically-controlled backrest and legrest, ottoman and 17-inch personal monitor in Business Class, while a 34-inch seat pitch, adjustable headrest and footrest and individual 10-inch monitors await passengers in Economy Class. The advanced inflight entertainment system will offer live television, as well as access to e-mail and the internet onboard to every seat.

 

Muscat-based Oman Air currently flies to international destinations in Asia, Europe, Indian Subcontinent, the Middle East and North Africa.

 

For more information, visit www.omanair.aero.

Kingfisher Takes Off For Hong Kong, Singapore

Kingfisher Airlines has launched flights to Hong Kong from Mumbai yesterday, with a non-stop service to Singapore to follow later today. Hong Kong and Singapore are the latest destinations to join Kingfisher’s growing international network from India, which also includes Bangkok, Colombo, Dhaka, Dubai and London.

 

Mumbai-Hong Kong

Flight IT 071 will depart Mumbai daily at 2255 hrs and arrive in Hong Kong International Airport Terminal 2 at 0805 hrs the next morning. The return flight, IT 072, will take off from Hong Kong at 1405 hrs, landing back in Mumbai at 1750 hrs in the evening.

 

Mumbai-Singapore

Flight IT 029 takes off from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport daily at 2305 hrs, landing in Singapore Changi International Airport at 0705 hrs the next morning. The aircraft returns to Mumbai as flight IT 030 at 1015 hrs, arriving back in India at 1305 hrs.

 

The flights have been scheduled to allow for greater connectivity with the airline’s extensive domestic network. Kingfisher will operate its 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft on both routes, . The twin-engined jet is configured with 30 Kingfisher First seats and 187 seats in Kingfisher Class, with premium travellers also enjoying the use of an onboard social area comprising a full bar and comfortable couches.

 

Bangalore-based Kingfisher Airlines is India’s only 5-star airline and currently operates a fleet of 71 aircraft to 65 cities in India and 7 international destinations.

 

For more information, visit www.flykingfisher.com.

Vivanta By Taj – Coral Reef Opens In Maldives

India’s Taj Hotels Resorts & Palaces has opened a new resort in the Maldives, the Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef. Formerly the Taj Coral Reef, the 62-villa resort is located on Hembadhu Island in the North Male Atoll and 1 hour from Male International Airport by luxury power yachts.

 

The newly redesigned accomodation offer unrivalled views of the crystal clear waters and spacious living spaces. There are 12 Beach Villas (58 square meters), 16 Deluxe Beach Villas (66 square meters), 32 Deluxe Water Villas (85 square meters) and 2 duplex Beach Villa Suites (215 square meters). Each villa is equipped with large comfortable beds, outdoor shower allowing natural lighting, LCD television with home theatre system, iPod docking station, cordless IDD telephone, high-speed internet access, in-villa safe and minibar. In addition to the standard amenities, most of the villas also feature an outdoor sun deck and loungers.

 

Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef provides guests with an array of dining choices with its 3 restaurants and bars. The pan-Asian Latitude restaurant serves breakfast, lunch and dinner from a daily menu, created by the resort’s Executive Chef and offering the privacy of an intimate dining room, complete with its own wine display. From sushi to wood-fired Italian pizzas, al fresco dining overlooking the lagoon and swimming pool is available at Open The Grill, where each meal is accompanied by flavoured organic sea salts and a choice of different olive oils. At Reef Bar, guests can soothe their senses with a selection of sundowners, accompanied by live entertainment, recreational activities and the cool breeze of the Indian Ocean.

 

The resort boasts an array of leisure activities for guests, including a dive school, sailing, sea-sports, offshore fishing, excursions and a fully-equipped fitness center. There is also the exclusive Jiva Spa, set in the heart of the island with 2 double and 2 single treatment rooms with private soak bath areas, steam room and retail boutique. Guests can choose from all-natural signature Jiva Spa and traditional Indian treatments drawing on the ancient health and beauty traditions of Asia.

 

The Vivanta by Taj – Coral Reef is the group’s second resort in the Maldives, joining the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa. Other Vivanta by Taj properties are located in the Indian cities of Bangalore and Goa.

 

For more information, visit www.tajhotels.com.