Jeff Clarke appointed Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors
Atlanta, GA, 31 May, 2011: Travelport Limited, a leading provider of critical transaction processing and business services for the global travel industry, today names Gordon Wilson as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective June 1, 2011.
“Gordon has led Travelport’s GDS, the firm’s core business, comprising its global travel distribution capabilities and Airline IT operations, for the last five years and has served as Deputy CEO for the last year. With Gordon’s vision, deep industry, commercial and operational expertise he is ideally qualified to manage the firm globally,” said Jeff Clarke, current President and CEO. Gordon Wilson has also been named to the Travelport Limited Board of Directors.
“I’d like to thank Jeff Clarke for his transformative leadership of Travelport over his tenure as President and CEO. With the completed sale of GTA to Kuoni Travel Ltd on May 5th, Travelport is now focused on its GDS business; the firm’s most strategic and largest business. Over the last five years of Jeff’s leadership, Travelport has been successfully repositioned as a globally diversified GDS with a culture of innovation in key products and technologies along with improved efficiency and execution,” said Chip Schorr, current Chairman.
As Executive Chairman, Clarke will be responsible for Travelport’s strategic investments – including remaining as Chairman of Orbitz Worldwide, mergers and acquisitions and corporate development as well as ensuring a seamless transition of the President and CEO duties to Gordon Wilson.
Eric Bock, Chief Administrative Officer and General Counsel, Phillip Emery, Chief Financial Officer, and Lee Golding, Executive Vice President of Human Resources will continue in their current roles reporting to Wilson.
Effective June 1st, the Travelport Limited Board of Directors will be comprised of Martin Brand, Jeff Clarke, Will Griffith, Chip Schorr, Gordon Wilson and a representative from One Equity Partners who will be named in the near future.
For Every Three Stays From May 1-July 31, SPG Members Earn One Free Night Award to Redeem at Over 200 Starwood Resorts Worldwide Including Sheraton Fiji, The Royal Hawaiian, The St. Regis Punta Mita and More
Third time’s the charm, they say. And with the latest special offer from Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), every three stays at a participating Starwood hotel or resort worldwide will earn SPG members a free resort night – with no limits on the number of resort nights they can earn.
The “SPG Getaway Free” offer is available exclusively for members of SPG, the award-winning loyalty program of Starwood Hotels & Resorts (NYSE: HOT). Travellers who are not yet SPG members can join the award-winning loyalty program and register for the promotion instantly during any stay at a Starwood hotel or resort, or by visiting spg.com/eamegetawayfree. SPG membership is free and guests can begin earning Starpoints starting with their first stay.
Like all SPG rewards, the “SPG Getaway Free” award is flexible and simple to redeem. Here’s how it works: From May 1 through July 31, registered SPG members who stay three times at any of the more than 1000 Starwood hotels or resorts worldwide will earn one free Resort Night Award.
Award Nights can be redeemed at approximately 200 resorts worldwide – seven days a week - through December 21 with no blackout dates. Best of all, Getaway Free awards are combinable -- so the more frequently you stay, the more free nights you will earn to enjoy a long resort getaway.
“Our SPG Getaway Free promotion is a way for us to thank our members with free nights for getaways with their loved ones at our amazing resorts,” said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of Starwood Preferred Guest. “It’s also a great incentive for travellers to consider joining SPG to receive the industry-leading recognition and rewards that we provide.”
SPG members can register for the “SPG Getaway Free” promotion at spg.com/eamegetawayfree through June 30, 2011.
Starwood’s sought-after resort brands include St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels, Sheraton, Le Méridien, Westin and Four Points by Sheraton. Resort experiences range from the stunning St. Regis Princeville Resort in Kaua’i and the sophisticated Equinox Golf Resort & Spa in Vermont to the family-friendly Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort in Orlando and the indulgent Westin Siray Bay Spa & Resort in Phuket.
A new Starwood Resorts web site (spg.com/resorts) also lets SPG members and other guests experience Starwood resorts for themselves. Along with live webcam images of Starwood’s resort properties around the world, the site lets guests find the perfect resort by interests like Beach, Cuisine, and Family activities. The site recently unveiled user-generated “SPG Member Favourites” rankings; for the first time, SPG invited thousands of members to identify their favourite resorts across categories including Best Family Experience, Best Beach Resort, Most Romantic Retreat, Best Exotic Escape, Best Golf Getaway, Best Island Paradise, Best Spa Indulgence, Best Winter Adventure and Best Small Wonder.
The rankings offer surprising inside insights into trends, tips, and preferences among some of the world’s most experienced and knowledgeable travellers. For SPG Member Favourites, visit spg.com/memberfavorites
Kenya Airways, the Pride of Africa has today announced the launch of a new voluntary Carbon offsetting tool aimed at providing a channel for its customers to contribute towards reducing the effect of carbon emissions by supporting environmental sustainability initiatives.
In the unique initiative developed in cooperation with International Air Transport Association (IATA), the airline will now offer its passengers the opportunity to participate directly in offsetting the Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions related to their flights.
The program is based on a Carbon Calculator Tool built into the airline’s online ticket booking process and through this it is now possible for a passenger to pay an additional amount in respect of carbon emissions related to that flight applied per person.
Speaking during the official launch to unveil the program, Kenya Airways Group Managing Director Dr. Titus Naikuni said, “This is an exciting development for Kenya Airways because it shows the commitment that we have to environmental sustainability. What is even more interesting is that we are giving our customers an opportunity to walk on this environmental conservation journey together with us.”
He further said that Kenya Airways was committed to contributing to global efforts in increasing the level of awareness on environmental issues. “The development of this program is another milestone for Kenya Airways after other successful environmental sustainability programs including Ngong Hills Reforestation Project, newer fuel efficient aircraft and fuel saving initiatives that have been employed throughout our operations.”
Amounts collected through this program will be used to support projects that have been qualified by IATA and certified by UNEP as being credible enough to contribute to positive impact on sustainability. One of the already identified projects is the Olkaria III Phase 2 Geothermal Expansion Project in Kenya which has been successfully commissioned by Orpower 4, Inc. located in Hell’s Gate National Park near Naivasha, Kenya.
The Kenya Airways Carbon offsetting programme will be rolled out in three stages. The first stage is already live on the airline’s website and is available only for 100% Kenya Airways operated flights.
During the second phase, the solution will be made available to the network of travel agents available globally while in phase three the airline will make the programme inclusive for passengers travelling within the entire network including on code shared flights.
In 2009, Kenya Airways Carbon Emissions Monitoring Plans also got a seal of approval by the UK Environment Agency in line with the EU-ETS legal requirement.
Kenya Airways prides itself as the 1st Airline in Africa to be able to offer the Carbon Offset Program.
Speaking at the same event, UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner noted that climate change was one of the biggest threats facing mankind today. “Finding more sustainable models and approaches to air travel and other forms of transport is a key part of global efforts to tackle climate change and catalyse the transition towards a low-carbon, resource efficient Green Economy,”
“Carbon offsetting is not in itself a solution to climate change, the most effective way being to reduce our emissions. However, high-quality offsetting can reduce the impact of our actions and also help fund projects in developing countries that address both climate change and wider sustainability challenges, such as cleaner energy and improved management of natural resources", added Mr. Steiner.
UNEP is working with airlines, transport companies and some 250 other participants through the Climate Neutral Network (CN Net). Launched in February 2008, the network shares ideas, success stories and best practices on moving towards climate neutrality by reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions. Today, CN Net has private and public sector members from 50 countries. All have set greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets that are among the most ambitious in the world.
Global Powerhouse Announces Completion of Renovations to more than 120 Sheraton Club Lounges around the World
tarwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) today announced its global powerhouse, Sheraton Hotels, and its owners have invested more than $100 million into upgrading 120 Club Lounges around the world, including flagship properties such as Sheraton Edinburgh, Scotland, Sheraton Waikiki, Hawaii, Sheraton Hong Kong, China, Sheraton Buenos Aires, Argentina.. The enhancement to Sheraton Club Lounges – one of the most popular Sheraton signature amenities – is the final chapter of the brand’s recent $6 billion revitalization effort.
A week prior to commencing operations between Lanseria and Cape Town, low cost airline Mango was recognised as the Coolest Domestic Airline for the third successive year in the Sunday Times Generation Next Brand Survey 2011. The annual poll measures brand consciousness and loyalty amongst South African youth.
“We are thrilled to be recognised as the number one brand among young consumers,” says CEO Nico Bezuidenhout. “The youth market not only represents a future market but also, as we have seen, Generation Y’s spending power is significant – thus in present terms being ranked as a favourite brand within this market segment is exceptionally important to us.”
Bezuidenhout believes that the airline’s communication strategy, which includes a large social media component, has paid dividends. “Engagement across all available media channels, in particular through our blog, Facebook and Twitter, empowered the brand to initiate direct two way conversation with our Guests. Social media platforms, in turn, reach a large segment of the youth market.” Much of the airline’s success amongst the youth may be ascribed to this, he says.
Mango’s brand intrinsic encapsulates energy and youthfulness, he adds, a brand character that resonates across generations.
Last year the carrier was awarded Superbrand status and in March awarded Gold PRISM awards for its Corporate Communication and Social Media exercises.
Mango flies between Lanseria and Cape Town from 1 June.
DUBAI, UAE and MCLEAN, VA – May 27, 2011 – Hilton Windhoek opened today as Hilton Worldwide’s 50th hotel in the Middle East and Africa and expanding the Hilton Hotels & Resorts portfolio to 77 countries. Officially opened by the President of Namibia, Mr Hifikepunye Pohamba, the 150-room property is located in the heart of the CBD near Freedom Square, just 20 minutes away from Hosea Kutako International airport. It is operated under a management agreement with the United Africa Group.
“As the global leader in hospitality, it is exciting to mark our entry into a new country with an exceptional hotel. Travellers place great trust in Hilton because our brand’s legacy is one of being the first major hotel brand into emerging markets and Hilton Windhoek continues this tradition,” said Dave Horton, global head, Hilton Hotels & Resorts.
“Namibia is a growing market with tourist arrivals increasing every year; it offers travellers an opportunity to explore the best of Africa with its many conservation parks, wildlife reserves and the untouched Namib Desert.”
Hilton Windhoek offers guests a choice of luxurious accommodation including a presidential suite, four diplomatic suites, four king executive guest rooms, eight king deluxe rooms, 22 executive rooms, 12 double rooms and 99 king rooms. The hotel also offers guests an array of onsite leisure facilities and dining options including a heated lap pool with sundeck, wellness centre with two treatment rooms and a 24-hour Hilton Fitness by Precor gym, all of which are located on the rooftop with spectacular views of the city.
Restaurant choices within the hotel include Ekipa – an all-day dining restaurant, Kalabar Bar and Terrace, Centrum Lounge and Terrace, Divine Wine Bar and the Sky Bar also located on the roof top offering guests the ideal spot for cocktails and light snacks at sundown. Corporate travellers can make use of a choice of meeting rooms including a boardroom which can accommodate up to 250 guests as well as breakout areas suitable for tea and coffee breaks.
“We are delighted to open our Hilton property in Namibia. Not only is it providing Windhoek with its first five-star hotel, but it has also given us the chance to become part of the local community,” says Rudi Jagersbacher, area president, Middle East & Africa, Hilton Worldwide. “We have employed more than 200 people locally to work in the hotel and over the last few months these Team Members have undergone training in our Hilton service standards. We look forward to playing an ongoing part in the development of the Namibian tourism sector.”
Hilton Worldwide currently has 31 hotels across the continent of Africa with another nine in the development pipeline. This year, Hilton Worldwide has opened 6 hotels and signed 10 management agreements across the Middle East and Africa.
Southern Sun Elangeni's Lingela Restaurant received the highest accolade from the Chaine de Rotisseurs Committee this week – it’s sought-after Blazon for 2010. This prestigious award, which was flown in specially from France for the occasion, was made to the Hotel by Philip Mostert, the Chaine Vice - Chancelier. This is proudly displayed at the entrance to the restaurant.
Since it is offered only to the finest restaurateurs and hoteliers, the Blazon proclaims excellence in food and service. However, the plaque remains the exclusive property of Chaîne des Rôtisseurs, and the privilege of using it is limited to those who continue membership and their high standards, and can be displayed only as long as the member remains in good standing.
This Blazon was presented by the Chaine KZN Chapter to Southern Sun Elangeni Hotel General Manager Mike Jackson and Executive Chef Shaun Munro.
To celebrate Bafana Bafana’s upcoming June clash with Egypt’s seven times Africa football champions, The Pharaohs, Egyptair will fly direct from Johannesburg to Cairo with their high-tech Airbus 330-200.
This aircraft has the newest cabin including fully flat seats in business class, as well as an in-seat massage. All passengers will benefit from in-flight mobile phone services and Wi-Fi internet access as they fly over some African countries.
For bookings and further information, please visit www.egyptair.com, join Egyptair’s Twitter and Facebook pages for more exciting offers
Singapore Airlines has today announced its intention to establish a new nofrills,
low-fare airline operating widebody aircraft on medium and long-haul
routes.
The new airline is being established following extensive review and
analysis. It will enable the SIA Group to serve a largely untapped new
market and cater to the growing demand among consumers for low-fare
travel.
Operations are expected to begin within one year. The airline will be wholly
owned by Singapore Airlines, but will be operated independently and
managed separately from SIA.
“We are very excited about what our new low-fare subsidiary will offer to
consumers. We are seeing a new market segment being created and this
will provide another growth opportunity for the SIA Group,” said SIA CEO Mr
Goh Choon Phong.
“As we have observed on short-haul routes within Asia, low-fare airlines
help stimulate demand for travel, and we expect this will also prove true for
longer flights.”
Mr Goh added: “At the same time we remain fully committed to the further
growth of SIA, which will continue to offer the highest-quality products and
services to our customers.”
More details will be announced by the new airline’s management team in
due course, including its branding, products and services, and route
network.
Comair Limited, operator of British Airways in South Africa and kulula.com, confirmed that the imminent commencement of its flights from Lanseria to Maputo in Mozambique and to Gaborone in Botswana on 30 May 2011 has been postponed, pending the finalisation of commercial terms with Lanseria International Airport, and a commitment from Lanseria to commence the building of a new runway and upgrade of the airport infrastructure.
Comair, in partnership with Solenta Aviation recently introduced the first of three ATR turboprop aircraft earmarked for local and regional network growth into its growing fleet. The aircraft originally planned for the regional flights is currently deployed on the Johannesburg-Nelspruit route and performing well, providing the backdrop for Comair to assess the possible increase in capacity into Nelspruit as well as growing their domestic footprint to include other smaller domestic destinations.
Stuart Cochrane, Executive Manager for Network Development and Alliances at Comair says “We regret the decision to suspend the launch of our Gaborone and Maputo flights as our team has worked tirelessly to ensure that the new routes reach operational readiness in time, however we are extremely pleased with the current performance of the ATR aircraft and look forward to introducing additional routes utilising this equipment.”
Comair is now set to commence operations on the Maputo and Gaborone routes from 01 September 2011, and bookings for these new destinations are currently open for sale via ba.com, the British Airways Call Centre on 0860 I FLY BA (0860 4 359 22) or through travel agents.
Customers that have already booked and paid for their flights on these routes are being contacted and have been provided with the option for a full refund, or to change their flights to a date on or after 01 September 2011.
The Sheraton Pretoria hotel has once again been nominated by the World Travel Awards as Leading Business Hotel in South Africa after being unveiled as the winners for the same category in 2010
In 2010, the 5-star Sheraton Pretoria Hotel was presented with the “Oscars” of the travel and tourism industry excelling as the winner of the World Travel Awards for the category of “Leading Business Hotel in South Africa” at the Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony that took place in Johannesburg, South Africa. This year the Sheraton Pretoria Hotel is once again in the run for this prestigious award after World Travel Awards revealed the nominees on the 23rd of March 2011.
The Sheraton Pretoria Hotel is not only internationally known for its prime location, situated in the capital city of South Africa opposite the magnificent Union Buildings, but also for its service excellence and state-of-the-art facilities highlighting luxury and sophistication while bringing people together and connecting with our guests. This flagship hotel’s associates know what it takes to form emotional connections and create distinctly Sheraton experiences, helping guests make the most of their travel
sheraton.com/pretoria
King Shaka International Airport will have a direct flight to London’s Gatwick Airport.
DURBAN — King Shaka International Airport is to have a direct flight to London’s Gatwick Airport in terms of an agreement reached last night between Comair and the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government’s key economic development project, the Dube Trade Port.
Comair, which has 23 daily flights into the new King Shaka airport north of Durban, is the biggest user of the airport and the largest local airline not owned by the government.
The KwaZulu-Natal government has been working hard to increase the number of flights from King Shaka in an effort to boost tourism and economic activity. At present, the only international airline using the airport is Emirates Airline.
KwaZulu-Natal economic development and tourism MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu said they hoped to be able to announce the first flight in 12 months. They also plan to develop new regional flights from Durban to Southern African Development Community countries.
Comair CEO Gidon Novick said it had not been decided which of the group’s two airline brands would be used for the London route. There was "still a huge amount of work we need to do", he said.
Spain Transport Secretary Isaías Táboas, Iberia's chairman Antonio Vázquez, AENA chief Juan Ignacio Lema, and AlgaEnergy company president Augusto Rodríguez-Villa, today unveiled a microalgae-based biofuel production project that will be set up Madrid-Barajas airport. The presentation was made at the Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis Institute in Seville.
The research platform, with an initial budget of more than 600,000 euros, will be installed near Terminal 4 of the Madrid-Barajas Airport and will become operational in June.
The platform will be devoted to research, experimentation, and improving technologies for sequestering carbon dioxide and for the cultivation of microalgae. The purpose is to reduce the production costs of biomass and to achieve profitable biofuel production.
Spain's airport and air traffic control agency Aena granted the site for the platform which will be managed by AlgaEnergy. Helping to design the platform were scientists from the Plant Biochemistry and Photosynthesis Institute and from the universities of Seville and Almeria.
The technological platform will be supplied with distilled water from the Iberia purification plant in its industrial site in the airport complex, and with CO2 from Aena and recovered at Iberia's aircraft engine bench test facility in its Madrid-Barajas maintenance hangars, where it is currently emitted into the atmosphere. Both Aena and Iberia will analyse the use of the biofuel obtained to power airport ground vehicles and aircraft.
Also taking part in the project is the oil company Repsol, a shareholder and technological partner of AlgaEnergy, which will convert the biomass oils obtained into biofuel.
The project situates Aena and Iberia at the vanguard of research into the biological sequestering of CO2 and into ecological biofuels, whereby they contribute to sustainable development and environmental protection.
Substantial Improvements
Through photosynthesis the microalgae transforms the CO2 its captures as a nutrient for its own subsistence into an energy source. In addition, some of the 40,000 estimated to exist on earth contain fatty acids that can be converted into biofuel.
Research into the cultivation and production of microalgae biomass at the facility, which needs no soil nor large amounts of water (recovered waste water can be used) will be aimed at improving essential aspects of algae-base biofuel that is rich in fats, from which second-generation biofuel can be made.
The new research facility will also supply biomass to partners in the CENIT-VIDA programme (Comprehensive Evaluation of Microalgae) headed by the utility company Iberdrola, also a shareholder in AlgaEnergy).
The facility will also be used to develop the patents of the biological processes AlgaEnergy has acquired from Spain's CSIC national scientific research institute. The universities of Seville and Almeria, world pioneers in this field, will contribute to the achievement of the project's aims via the knowledge acquired in decades of research into microalgae.
