Singapore Airlines To Start Singapore – Tokyo (Haneda) Flights In 2010

Air travellers flying between Singapore and Tokyo will enjoy greater convenience next year. Singapore Airlines has announced that it will begin services to Tokyo (Haneda) from October 2010, in addition to its existing operations at Tokyo (Narita).

 

The airline will operate twice daily between Singapore Changi International Airport and Haneda Airport, but has yet to reveal flight timings or capacity on the route. Singapore Airlines expects the new flights to cater for growth in demand and boost business and leisure travel between Singapore and Japan.

 

Located 30 minutes south of downtown Tokyo, Haneda Airport enjoys easy access by rail and road to the city, making it highly attractive to time conscious travellers compared to a 2-hour transfer to Narita. The new flights add a sixth international destination served from the airport, in addition to Beijing, Hong Kong, Seoul, Shanghai and Ulan Bator. Passengers will also enjoy increased accessibility to other Japanese cities, connecting seamlessly to domestic flights which make up the bulk of the airport’s traffic.

 

Japan is opening up Haneda Airport to more international traffic in a bid to alleviate capacity restrictions at Narita Airport. A fourth runway is due to open in 2010, increasing the airport’s handling capacity and allowing for the opening of flights to new destinations and greater frequencies on existing routes.

 

Singapore Airlines currently flies twice daily to Tokyo (Narita), as well as services to Fukuoka, Nagoya and Osaka. For more information, visit www.singaporeair.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.

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.

The Peninsula Shanghai Opens On The Bund

Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels has expanded its hotel portfolio with the opening of The Peninsula Shanghai along the bank of the Huangpu River. Located next to the former British Consulate Gardens, the grand and glamourous property is the first new building on the city’s celebrated Bund in over 60 years and marks the company’s return to its Shanghai roots.

 

Built in the style of a noble 1920s and 1930s residence, the hotel combines art deco features with subtle Chinese influences to reflect Shanghai’s glorious heyday. Special features include an elevator large enough to deliver a limousine to the ballroom, a custom-made 1930s Schindler cage lift, a full-scale replica of a 1930s seaplane and a fleet of customised Rolls Royce Phantom limousines.

 

The 235 guestrooms and suites are amongst the largest in the city and boasts views of Huangpu River, Pudong skyline or the former British Consulate Gardens. Each room is furnished with luxury bedding, a marble bathroom with separate bathtub and shower, 46-inch flat screen plasma television, CD/DVD player with sound system and iPod connectivity, in-room safe, minibar and Nespresso coffee machine. Business travellers will enjoy complimentary high-speed internet access, dual-line telephones with voicemail function, a 3-in-1 fax, printer and photocopier machine, VOIP and spacious workdesk.

 

4 themed suites (Astor, Majestic, Palace and Peninsula Suites) provide unique, private accomodation for discerning guests. Floor-to-ceiling windows open out to a landscaped terrace with its own table and whirlpool, making them perfect for romantic retreats. The Peninsula Shanghai’s most luxurious accomodation, the 900-square meter Palace Suite, promises utmost privacy and exclusivity. Accessed by a dedicated private lift, the suite features a large foyer with 3 grand reception rooms perfect for private parties and events, complemented by the wraparound outdoor rooftop terrace.

 

The Peninsula Shanghai brings 5 unique restaurants and bars to Shanghai, spearheaded by Sir Elly’s Restaurant, Bar and Terrace serving modern European cuisine. At Yi Long Court, Executive Chef and China’s first Michelin Star winner Tang Chi Keung offers mouthwatering Cantonese and regional dishes. The Lobby recreates the world of a wealthy noble house of the 1920s where guests can enjoy breakfast in the mornings, exquisite afternoon tea and drinks in the evenings. Guests preferring a more intimate venue can proceed to The Compass Bar, where the dark timber floor, deep navy and purple furnishings combine with nautical memorabilia to create a cozy haven for meetings and socializing. In the basement, Salon de Ning provides a glimpse of Shanghai’s decadence during the 1930s with 4 private alcoves (Azure, Indian, L’Atelier and Cinema).

 

Business travellers and meeting planners have 6 flexible venues at their disposal, including the spectacular Rose Ballroom, which is capable of accomodating up to 1,000 guests for a cocktail reception. Recreation facilities at the hotel include a fully-equipped gymnasium with state-of-the-art equipment, a 25-meter long indoor swimming pool with its own fireplace, vitality pool and glass doors that open onto an outdoor terrace, as well as a Peninsula Spa by ESPA. The expansive facility boasts 7 treatment rooms and 2 VIP suites, tropical rain showers, steam rooms and saunas with iridescent light features and shaved ice fountains, where guests can indulge in holistic massages and treatments with spa products from ESPA.

 

The Peninsula Shanghai is the 9th hotel for Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, joining other Peninsula properties in Bangkok, Beijing, Beverly Hills, Chicago, Hong Kong, Manila, New York and Tokyo. The group is slated to further expand its portfolio with The Peninsula Paris when it opens in the French capital in 2012.

 

For more information, visit www.peninsula.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.

EVA Air, UNI Air Launch Scheduled Cross-Straits Air Service

Taipei-based EVA Air and its affiliate UNI Air have launched scheduled services from Taiwan to China, marking the next phase in cross-straits air travel. Both airlines will serve 12 destinations and fly 19 routes from Taipei, Taichung and Kaohsiung to major Chinese cities including Beijing, Chengdu, Dalian, Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Kunming, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Tianjin and Xiamen.

 

From Taipei Taoyuan International Airport

EVA Air will fly 5 times a week between Taoyuan and Beijing. Flight BR 716 departs at 0915 hrs (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and at 1620 hrs (Mondays and Fridays), arriving in the Chinese capital at 1230 hrs and 1930 hrs respectively. The return flight, BR 715, departs Beijing Capital International Airport at 1345 hrs (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and at 2030 hrs (Mondays and Fridays), landing back in Taoyuan International Airport at 1655 hrs and 2340 hrs respectively.

 

The airline will also fly to the port city of Tianjin twice a week. Flight BR 730 takes off at 0915 hrs (Wednesdays) and 0945 hrs (Sundays), arriving in Tianjin at 1220 hrs and 1250 hrs respectively. The aircraft returns to Taipei as flight BR 729 at 1355 hrs (Wednesdays) and 1425 hrs (Fridays), landing back in Taoyuan International Airport at 1655 hrs and 1725 hrs.

 

Shanghai will be served 9 times a week. Flight BR 702 departs Taoyuan International Airport at 1010 hrs every Thursday and Sunday, arriving in Pudong International Airport at 1205 hrs. The return flight, BR 701, departs Shanghai in the evening at 2005 hrs, arriving back in Taipei at 2200 hrs. On all other days of the week, flight BR 712 takes off from Taipei at 1010 hrs, arriving in Shanghai at 1205 hrs, before returning as flight BR 711 at 1310 hrs for a 1500 hrs arrival. An additional flight, BR 722, operates on Monday and Friday afternoons at 1630 hrs, landing in Pudong International Airport at 1820 hrs. The return flight, BR 721, departs Shanghai at 2005 hrs and arrives back in Taipei at 2200 hrs.

 

EVA Air will operate a daily flight between Taoyuan and Hangzhou. Flight BR 758 takes off at 1625 hrs (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) and 1815 hrs (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), arriving in Hangzhou at 1815 hrs and 2005 hrs respectively. The return flight, BR 757, departs Hangzhou International Airport at 1930 hrs (Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays) and 2120 hrs (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays), landing back in Taoyuan International Airport at 2125 hrs/2315 hrs.

 

The southern city of Guangzhou will be linked to Taipei 3 times a week, with flight BR 707 departing Taoyuan International Airport at 0955 hrs every Monday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in Baiyun International Airport at 1155 hrs. The return flight, BR 708, takes off from Guangzhou at 1310 hrs in the afternoon and lands back in Taipei at 1520 hrs.

 

UNI Air will operate a twice weekly flight to Dalian. Flight B7 106 takes off from Taoyuan International Airport at 0755 hrs on Tuesdays and Fridays, arriving in Dalian at 1040 hrs, before returning as flight B7 105 at 1200 hrs for a 1440 hrs arrival back in Taipei.

 

Qingdao, located on the east coast of the mainland, will also receive 2 flights each week. Flight B7 102 departs at 0730 hrs (Mondays) and 1645 hrs (Fridays), arriving at 1000 hrs and 1915 hrs respectively. The retrun flight, B7 101, takes off at 1115 hrs (Mondays) and 2025 hrs (Fridays), landing back at Taoyuan International Airport at 1345 hrs and 2225 hrs.

 

Flights to Kunming will be flown 2 times weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. Flight B7 191 departs Taipei at 1130 hrs and arrives in Kunming at 1500 hrs. The aircraft returns as flight B7 190 at 1630 hrs, landing back in Taoyuan International Airport at 1940 hrs.

 

Ningbo will be served 3 times weekly, with a morning flight on Mondays and evening services on Wednesdays and Sundays. Flight B7 128 departs Taoyuan at 0900 hrs (Mondays) and 1645 hrs (Wednesdays and Sundays), arriving in the Chinese city at 1040 hrs and 1825 hrs respectively. The return flight, B7 127, takes off at 1210 hrs (Mondays) and 1925 hrs (Wednesdays and Sundays) to land back in Taipei at 1400 hrs/2115 hrs.

 

UNI Air will also fly 3 times a week to Shenzhen, with flight B7 187 departing Taoyuan International Airport at 1610 hrs on Thursdays, Fridays and Sundays, landing in Shenzhen at1755 hrs. The return flight, B7 188, takes off at 1905 hrs and arrives back in Taipei at 2055 hrs.

 

Effective 28 September 2009, the airline will fly twice weekly to Wuhan. Flight B7 195 departs Taipei at 0745 hrs on Mondays and Thursdays, arriving at Wuhan at 1030 hrs. The return flight, B7 194, takes off at 1150 hrs and lands back in Taipei at 1430 hrs.

 

Services to Chongqing will also be introduced on 29 September 2009. On Wednesdays and Saturdays, flight B7 193 takes off from Taipei at 0730 hrs and arrives in Chongqing at 1050 hrs. On the return leg, flight B7 192 departs at 1200 hrs, landing back in Taoyuan at 1515 hrs.

 

From Taipei Sungshan International Airport

UNI Air will also fly twice weekly to Xiamen from Sungshan Airport. Flight B7 2511 will depart at 0800 hrs (Mondays) and 1700 hrs (Fridays), arriving in Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 1000 hrs and 1900 hrs respectively. The return flight, B7 2512, takes off at 1100 hrs (Mondays) and 2000 hrs (Fridays), landing back in Sungshan International Airport at 1300 hrs and 2200 hrs.

 

From Kaohsiung International Airport

EVA Air will connect Kaohsiung with Chengdu on Mondays. Flight BR 791 departs Kaohsiung at 0830 hrs, arriving in Chengdu at 1155 hrs. The aircraft returns as flight BR 792 at 1300 hrs, landing back in Kaohsiung at 1620 hrs.

 

Ningbo will also be served once a week, with a morning flight on Fridays. Flight BR 796 departs Kaohsiung at 0730 hrs, arriving in Ningbo at 0940 hrs. The return flight, BR 795, takes off from Ningbo at 1040 hrs and lands in Kaohsiung at 1250 hrs.

 

The airline will also operate twice weekly services to Shanghai. Flight BR 706 departs Kaohsiung at 1640 hrs, arriving in Pudong International Airport at 1850 hrs in the evening on Thursdays and Sundays. On the inbound leg, flight BR 705 takes off from Shanghai at 1310 hrs and lands in Kaohsiung at 1520 hrs.

 

UNI Air will fly twice weekly to Hangzhou, with flight B7 268 departing Kaohsiung at 1800 hrs and arriving in the chinese city at 2010 hrs on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The return flight takes off from Hangzhou at 2110 hrs, arriving back in Kaohsiung at 2325 hrs.

 

Flights to Shenzhen will be flown once a week on Fridays. Flight B7 287 will depart Kaohsiung at 1730 hrs, arriving in Shenzhen at 1900 hrs, before returning as flight B7 288 at 2005 hrs and landing in Kaohsiung International Airport at 2140 hrs. 

 

From Taichung International Airport

UNI Air will also operate a weekly flight to Shenzhen from Taichung on Wednesdays. Flight B7 2581 departs Taichung at 1700 hrs, touching down at Shenzhen at 1840 hrs. The return flight, B7 2582, takes off from Shenzhen at 1940 hrs and arrives back in Taichung at 2130 hrs.

 

Hangzhou will also be served once a week. Flight B7 2562 departs Taichung at 1630 hrs every Tuesday, landing in Hangzhou at 1830 hrs. On the return leg, flight B7 2561 takes off at 1930 hrs and arrives back in Taichung at 2130 hrs.

 

On Fridays, the airline will fly to Xiamen in the evening. Flight B7 2517 takes off from Taichung at 1600 hrs, landing in Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport at 1735 hrs. The return flight, B7 2518, departs at 1840 hrs for a 2025 hrs arrival back in Taichung.

 

The new scheduled flights are expected to boost air travel between China and Taiwan, where travellers had to previously transit via Hong Kong or Macau, offering increased convenience and flexibility. Travellers can plan itineraries with multiple cities within the same region (northern China, eastern China, central China and southern China), arriving into 1 city and departing from another. Both airlines will operate a variety of aircraft on the routes. EVA Air will deploy its Boeing 777-300ERs, Boeing 747-400s and Airbus A330-200s while UNI Air will operate the smaller McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft.

 

For more information, visit www.evaair.com and www.uniair.com.tw.

Shangri-La Ningbo Opens

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has further expanded its portfolio in China with the opening of the new Shangri-La Ningbo, its 23rd hotel in the country. Located in the heart of the city’s business district at the confluence of the Fenghua, Yuyao and Yong Rivers, the 563-room hotel is a 20 minute drive from the airport and within walking distance to Ningbo’s major shopping districts and tourist attractions.

 

Each guestroom at the hotel measures a minimum of 45 square meters and is equipped with a luxury bed, spacious bathroom with separate bathtub and shower, LCD television, a multimedia jack panel where guests can plug in their personal devices, complimentary high-speed internet access, IDD telephone with voicemail. Other in-room amenities include an electronic safe, minibar and coffee-/tea-making facilities.

 

Shangri-La Ningbo also features 7 Horizon Club floors, offering additional amenities and privileges to guests, including express check-in/check-out, personal butler service and exclusive use of the 2-storey Horizon Club Lounge. Guests can also choose from 4 suite types (Executive, Premier, Specialty, Presidential) offering a separate sitting area, with a dining area and kitchenette in selected suites.

 

A selection of dining experiences await guests at the hotel. Helmed by Chinese Executive Chef Alan Sun, the brand’s signature Shang Palace serves Cantonese and Ningbo specialties in a contemporary and elegant setting. At the all-day Yi Dining, guests can dine on fresh seafood and the international buffet, while being treated to culinary performances by the chefs at work in the open kitchen. The Lobster Bar and Grill is one of Ningbo’s finest restaurants, offering succulent seafood and prime cuts of meat accompanied by nightly jazz performances. With panoramic floor-to-ceiling windows, the Lobby Lounge serves a wide selection of drinks and light snacks in a calm, relaxing and sophisticated environment.

 

Business travellers and meeting planners at the Shangri-La Ningbo have more than 5,000 meters of convention space at their disposal, including a 2,000-meter column-free Grand Ballroom which is the largest of its kind in China’s Zhejiang Province. A purpose-built VIP meeting room serves as the ideal location for hihg-level dialogue, after which guests can relax at the fully-equipped health club, comprising a 25-meter lap pool, gymnasium and 2 tennis courts. The hotel also boasts a luxurious spa with 9 private treatment rooms offering a variety of treatments.

 

For more information, visit www.shangri-la.com.

W Hotels Debuts In Washington DC

Starwood Hotels and Resorts has opened its first W Hotels property in Washington DC. Located on the corner of 15th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue, the W Washington DC is converted from the former Hotel Washington built in 1917, combining its Beaux Arts architecture with edgy yet elegant designs synonymous with W Hotels.

 

The hotel features 317 rooms, comprising of 7 accomodation types designed by Los Angeles-based designer Dianna Wong in sleek and chic shades of black and white. These include the Cozy, Wonderful and Fabulous rooms, furnished with the signature W bed and 350-threadcount bedsheets with hypoallergenic pillows, spacious bathroom with waterfall showers accompanied by bath amenities from Bliss, 37-inch LCD television, iPod docking station, dual-line cordless telephone with voicemail capability, high-speed internet access and a multi-device charging station by Bluelounge Design. The rooms also boast a leather chaise sitting space, spacious workdesk, Munchie Box and laptop-compatible in-room safe.

 

The W Washington DC also has 4 suite types available, including the Fantastic Suites, Marvellous Suites, WOW Suites and a signature 109-square meter Extreme WOW Suite, offering panoramic views of the Washington Monument, Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street. In addition to the standard room amenities, suites offer guests a separate living room, dining areas, double vanity and spacious bathtubs in bathrooms and 2 flatscreen televisions.

 

Dining at the W Washington DC promises to be an epicurean experience with venues helmed by world renowned figures in food and beverage circles. Michelin-starred Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten makes his debut in Washington DC with the J&G Steakhouse, offering dishes from his New York restaurants and an inspired menu. Located below the dining room is J&G’s Wine Bar, an intimate lounge where guests can sample a selection of new and old world wines, cocktails and bottled beers from around the world.

 

The famed rooftop terrace of the Hotel Washington has been transformed into POV, the latest ultralounge by cocktail expert Sasha Petraske. The striking red, black and white decor complements the night sky, with floor-to-ceiling windows that frame the cityscape as guests enjoy Petraske’s artisanal spirits and classic cocktails, which are also available at the W Living Room.

 

W Washington DC also introduces the brand’s Bliss Spa to the US capital. The facility offers more than 370 square meters of space housing 4 treatment rooms, a luxury nail lounge, steam showers and saunas. As with other Bliss Spas around the world, guests can experience the trademark rhythm & blues tunes, a retail boutique and the legendary brownie buffet.

 

Other facilites at the hotel include the state-of-the-art SWEAT fitness center, WIRED business center and over 1,114 square meters of convention space with The Great Room and Altitude Ballroom.

 

W Washington DC is the 25th property in North America for the brand and joins other recently opened W Hotels in Hoboken, New Jersey and South Beach, Miami. Forthcoming hotels include properties in Bangkok, Boston, Dubai, London, Marrakech, Milan, Shanghai and St. Petersburg.

 

For more information, visit www.whotels.com.

Etihad Opens New Lounge, Partners Rendezvous Hotels

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways has once again introduced enhancements to its ground product with the opening of its first premium lounge outside the UAE and a new hotel partner for Etihad Guest, the airline’s frequent flyer program.

 

Etihad Premium Lounge Frankfurt Airport

Located in Transit Area E, near the gates most commonly used by Etihad flights, the new lounge can accomodate up to 50 premium guests in comfort. Designed to emulate the look and feel of the airline’s flagship lounge at its home base in Abu Dhabi International Airport, the facility is open to Etihad’s Diamond First and Pearl Business guests 3 hours prior to the departure of their flight.

 

The lounge offer a selection of food from around the world from a live kitchen, while the timber-panelled business center has individual workstations for privacy and a telephone providing free calls to the greater Frankfurt area. Other facilities include a lounge area with plush Italian seating, showers for guests to freshen up before their flight and a prayer room.

 

Etihad currently operate 2 flights daily between Abu Dhabi and Frankfurt, using a 2-class Airbus A330-200 aircraft. The new Frankfurt lounge marks the beginning of a gradual roll-out of the airline’s lounges across its network, with a new facility to open in September 2009 at London Heathrow Airport Terminal 4.

 

Rendezvous Hotels and Resorts International Join Etihad Guest

Australian hotel group Rendezvous Hotels and Resorts has joined Etihad Guest as its latest partner. The group offers 4-star and 5-star hotel accomodation in 10 destinations across Asia-Pacific under its Rendezvous Hotels and Marque Hotels brands.

 

Etihad Guest members will earn 500 miles per qualifying stay at Rendezvous Hotels located in Adelaide, Auckland, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth, Port Douglas, Shanghai, Singapore and Sydney. At the group’s Marque Hotels located in Brisbane, Canberra and Sydney, guests earn 300 miles per qualifying stay.

 

The award-winning Etihad Guest program recently garnered the Best Website, Best Member Communication, Best Bonus Promotion and Best Award Redemption accolades at the global Freddie Awards. The program offers travellers immediate rewards, no blackout periods and anytime availability, with a wide choice of redemption options.

 

For more information, visit www.etihadairways.com.

Airlines Begin Flights To Shizuoka

Japan’s newest air hub, Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport, has opened for operations. Located 80 kilometers from Mount Fuji, the facility is intended to serve as an alternative airport to Tokyo’s crowded Narita and Haneda Airports for air travellers.

 

5 airlines currently operate scheduled services to Shizuoka. South Korea’s Asiana Airlines and Korean Air fly daily to Seoul Incheon International Airport while China Eastern Airlines flies to Shanghai 4 times a week. Japanese heavyweights All Nippon Airways and Japan Airlines operate daily domestic services to Fukuoka, Naha and Sapporo, with flights to Kagoshima, Komatsu and Kumamoto to begin in July 2009.

 

Seoul – Shizuoka

Asiana Airlines flight OZ 126 departs Seoul Incheon International Airport at 0950 hrs, arriving in Shizuoka at 1145 hrs. The return flight, OZ 125, takes off from Japan at 1245 hrs and lands back in South Korea at 1450 hrs. A 2-class Airbus A321 aircraft with 12 Business and 165 Travel Class seats will operate the route.

 

Korean Air flight KE 779 departs Seoul at 0850 hrs and arrives in Shizuoka at 1045 hrs before returning as flight KE 780 at 1145 hrs, landing back in Incheon International Airport at 1355 hrs. The airline will utilize a 2-class Boeing 737-900 aircraft with 8 Prestige Class and 180 Economy Class seats for the flights.

 

For more information, visit flyasiana.com or www.koreanair.com.

 

Shanghai – Shizuoka

China Eastern Airlines flight MU 2019 takes off from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays at 0930 hrs, landing in Shizuoka at 1250 hrs. The return flight, MU 2020, departs at 1350 hrs, arriving back in Shanghai at 1530 hrs.

 

The airline will operate a 2-class Airbus A319 aircraft with 8 Business and 114 Economy Class seats on Wednesdays and Sundays, switching to the larger A320 with 8 Business and 150 Economy Class seats on Mondays and Fridays.

 

For more information, visit www.flychinaeastern.com.

 

Shizuoka – Fukuoka

Japan Airlines will offer 3 daily flights between Shizuoka and Fukuoka.

 

Flight JL 3810 departs Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport at 0840 hrs, arriving in Fukuoka at 1015 hrs. The second flight, JL 3814, takes off at 1400 hrs for a 1535 hrs arrival into Fukuoka. Flight JL 3818 is the final flight of the day and departs Shizuoka at 1755 hrs, landing in Fukuoka at 1930 hrs.

 

On the return leg, flight JL 3811 departs Fukuoka at 0900 hrs to arrive in Shizuoka at 1025 hrs, followed by flight JL 3815, departing at 1205 hrs and landing in Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport at 1330 hrs. Flight JL 3819 departs Fukuoka at 1805 hrs and arrives in Shizuoka at 1930 hrs.

 

With the exception of JL 3814/3815, which is operated by the Embraer E170 aircraft with 78 Economy Class seats, all flights are flown with McDonnell Douglas MD-90 aircraft configured with 18 Business and 132 Economy Class seats.

  

Shizuoka – Naha

All Nippon Airways will offer a daily service to and from Naha, Okinawa. Flight NH 783 will depart Shizuoka daily at 1155 hrs to arrive in Okinawa at 1420 hrs before returning at 1445 hrs, landing in Shizuoka at 1700 hrs in the evening. A 2-class Boeing 737-700 configured with 8 Premium Class and 112 Economy Class seats will operate the route. 

 

Shizuoka – Sapporo

Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways will each offer 1 return flight daily between Shizuoka and Sapporo.

 

Flight JL 2857 departs Shizuoka in the morning at 1130 hrs, arriving in Shin Chitose Airport at 1315 hrs. The return flight, JL 2858, departs Sapporo at 1515 hrs and lands in Mount Fuji Shizuoka Airport at 1710 hrs. Japan Airlines will utilize the 2-class MD-90 aircraft on the route.

 

All Nippon Airways will operate an evening service to Sapporo from Shizuoka. Flight NH 781 departs at 1730 hrs daily, arriving in Shin Chitose Airport at 1900 hrs. On the return leg, the airline will fly a morning service with flight NH 782 departing Sapporo at 0940 hrs and arriving in Shizuoka at 1125 hrs. Both flights will be operated by 2-class, 120-seat Boeing 737-700 aircraft.

 

For more information, visit www.ana.co.jp and www.jal.co.jp/en.