Istanbul will be the 76th international destination that United serves from New York/Newark and the 37th city in United’s trans-Atlantic route network. With service to points in the Americas, Europe and Asia, United offers more flights from the New York area to more destinations worldwide than any other airline.

“We are excited to add Istanbul to our global route network,” said Jim Compton, United’s executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “This new service will provide customers throughout the United States, Canada and Latin America direct access to one of the most important cities in the region.”

Convenient Schedules
United flight 904 will depart New York/Newark daily at 7:27 p.m. and arrive inIstanbul at 12:20 p.m. the next day. Flight 905 will depart Istanbul’s Ataturk International Airport daily at 1:55 p.m. and arrive at New York/Newark at 6:02 p.m. the same day.

The airline will initially operate the services with three-cabin Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 183 seats six in United Global First, 26 in United BusinessFirst and 151 in United Economy, including 67 Economy Plus seats with added legroom. Effective Aug. 28, the airline will operate the service with two-cabinBoeing 767-300 aircraft with 214 seats 30 in BusinessFirst and 184 in Economy, including 46 Economy Plus seats. Both United Global First and United BusinessFirst feature flat-bed seats, along with a wide range of premium-cabin services and amenities.

2013 Sailing Schedule Highlights: 

• Island of Whales: Following 2012′s inaugural 11-night sailing to the Australs & Society Islands, The Gauguin will return on September 21, 2013, to witness the majestic humpback whales cavorting en masse off the coast of Rurutu.
• The Society Islands: Throughout 2013, The Gauguin will visit the islands of French Polynesia for 7-, 10-, 11-, and 14-night sailings. Guests will travel through this spectacular collection of islands with stops including the breathtaking lagoons ofBora Bora and Moorea, plus access to Paul Gauguin Cruises’ private Motu Mahana adjacent to the white-sand beaches of Taha’a.
• Special Guests: The launch of guest-host sailings proved so popular in 2012, Paul Gauguin Cruises will be continuing this program on select 2013 sailings. Among the guest hosts will be environmentalist and oceanographer Jean-Michel Cousteau, creator of The Gauguin’s Ambassadors of the Environment Youth Program.  Mr. Cousteau will offer lectures with videos of his work and accompany several dives from the ship.
• Fully Renovated Ship: Having completed a $7 million-dollar renovation, The Gauguin now features new flooring and carpeting, elegant new furniture, new window treatments and decorative wall panels, and new signage, providing a lighter, brighter feel. Additionally, all suites and staterooms have been updated with new teak railings and bathroom floors. Guests will also enjoy the newly expanded Le Casino and new built-in banquettes on the Promenade on Deck 5.

Paul Gauguin Cruises is also offering extraordinary value in luxury cruising with savings of 50% off standard cruise fares plusFREE airfare from Los Angeles. For rates and reservations for Paul Gauguin Cruises, contact a professional travel agent, call            800-848-6172      , or visit www.pgcruises.com.

AirAsia has reduced the prices of the 15kg and 20kg baggage tiers while its long-haul affiliate AirAsia X has reduced the prices of the 25kg and 30kg baggage tiers. Both AirAsia and AirAsia X are also introducing new options of 35kg and 40kg baggage tiers based on popular demand.

The new check-in baggage fees will enable guests to save up to 50% when bookings are done online as compared to purchasing it at the airport counters.

On top of that, sports enthusiasts can also rejoice with the reduction of the current sports equipment fees. Sports equipment are now part of baggage allowance, with only an additional RM20 as handling fees for AirAsia flights (AK, FD, QZ) and AirAsia X (D7) flights. Surfers, golfers, cyclists and other avid sportsperson can now bring along their sporting gears as it is now more affordable. 

AirAsia Berhad’s Regional Head of Commercial, Kathleen Tan said, “Our move to reduce the online check-in baggage and sports equipment fees is part of our continuous effort to provide more value for our guests. Air travel should be affordable, convenient and seamless –which is exactly what the AirAsia experience is all about. The introduction of the 35kg and 40kg baggage tier is inspired by the feedback of our guests and             fans, and these heavier baggage tiers will enable our guests to have peace of mind as they no longer need to worry about the additional fees they need to pay in case of excess baggage at the airport counters.”

AirAsia has also recently reduced its processing fees from RM8 per guest per sector, to only RM5 per guest per sector; apart from waiving the counter check-in fees for international bound guests across all of its hubs and stations throughout their route network which spans across 152 routes, 77 destinations and 23 countries.

Together with BIG, AirAsia’s global loyalty program, guests who book value-added services such as check-in baggage, Hot Seats, Pick-A-Seat, AirAsia Insure, and pre-booked meals online with the BIG Card will be entitled to additional 5X BIG Points (loyalty points). This promotion for additional BIG Points is from now till 26 February 2012. For more information about the BIG Card, please log on to www.tune2big.com.

For the latest updates on AirAsia promotions, activities and contests, follow them on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

“Here I am now on the North Cape – the last outpost of civilisation – and it’s safe to say that my thirst for knowledge has been sated. I will now return home content.” Similar thoughts to those of the Italian priest Francesco Negri, allegedly the first tourist to travel to the North Cape in 1664, are sure to have entered the minds of the almost 57,000 Hurtigruten guests who visited the northernmost point of the European continent during the “North Cape” and “Breakfast at the North Cape” excursions in 2011. The “North Cape” excursion was the top-selling Hurtigruten excursion last year.

Tromsø, Norway’s biggest city north of the Arctic Circle, also proved to be a magnet for Hurtigruten guests in 2011: The “Midnight Concert in the Arctic Cathedral”, which almost 20,000 Hurtigruten guests attended in the famous Arctic Sea Cathedral in Tromsø, was the second best-selling excursion of 2011. In third place last year was the “Arctic Capital Tromsø” excursion, with more than 18,000 participants.

Hurtigruten guests have a varied and diverse excursion programme to choose from: All in all, roughly 45 excursions are offered on the roundtrip from Bergen to Kirkenes and back.

With their great interest in Tromsø, the Hurtigruten guests proved themselves to be trendsetters: The city was recently named one of the Top 10 cruise destinations of 2012 in the Frommer’s Guide.

Hurtigruten is a world leader in expedition cruising and is represented in Australia by Discover the World Marketing.

For more information, contact Discover the World Marketing on 1800 OCEANS (1800 623 267) hurtigruten@discovertheworld.com.au.

Last week Life Heritage Resort Ha Long Bay unveiled three overnight itineraries for guests of its private fleet; including the most extensive cruise route currently open to travellers within the UNESCO Natural Heritage Site.

Life Resorts heritage junk on Halong Bay

Taking advantage of the compact design and shallow draft of its 22 heritage junks, Life Resorts’ itineraries are intended to offer travellers a choice between three distinct adventures through previously unexplored regions of Ha Long Bay.

Unfamiliar stops in the three itineraries – the Eastern, Central and Western Isles – take in Cong Do Island, a floating primary school, Ha Long’s largest fishing village, Cat Ba National Park, a sail through the international shipping channel and along the mouth of the Gulf of Tonkin.

“We’ve taken our years of first-hand knowledge of the bay and these waters and distilled them into these three incomparable itineraries,” said Chris Duffy, general director of Life Resorts.

“From the start, the plan was to allow visitors to experience Ha Long Bay in the broadest sense possible, while in the greatest comfort, privacy and safety,” said Duffy. “Already we’re sailing guests farther into the bay than any other cruise operator, and the feedback is overwhelming.”

By following the planned circuits, guests will sail a different area during each part of the voyage, staying in secluded anchorages overnight and never covering the same stretch of water twice. Itineraries can be customised to suit guests’ preferences.

Aimed at culture seekers and the adventurous, the Western Isles Itinerary sails guests on the border of the UNESCO boundary and Cat Ba National Park, stopping at Cua Van fishing village. The most far-reaching circuit open to Ha Long’s visitors, the Eastern Isles Itinerary skims the Gulf of Tonkin and circles Cong Do Island, providing a taste of the breadth and scope of the bay. The Central Isles Itinerary takes guests to their choice of famous attractions in the most-visited part of the bay, only a few minutes from the Life Resorts hub on Tuan Chau Island.

Delta operates the world’s largest Wi-Fi-equipped fleet of aircraft and by this summer more than 800 Delta aircraft, including more than 250 two-class regional jets, will be equipped with in-flight Wi-Fi service. More than 550 mainline aircraft are already Wi-Fi-equipped.

Delta is the first carrier to deploy Wi-Fi across its entire mainline and two-class regional fleet. When Wi-Fi installations on regional jets are complete, more than 400,000 Delta customers on more than 3,000 daily flights will have in-flight connectivity on a fleet that already makes up nearly half of the world’s Wi-Fi-equipped aircraft.

“Wi-Fi offers travelers the flexibility and tools to stay connected at 30,000 feet, enabling them to send email or finish a presentation before they reach their destination,” said Gail Grimmett, Delta’s senior vice president – New York. “We are thrilled that Wi-Fi is now available to our Delta Shuttle customers as it’s a perfect complement to other Shuttle amenities including free morning coffee and newspapers.”

Delta was named last month as the “Top Tech-Friendly U.S. Airline” by PCWorld magazine for its airport recharging stations, in-flight Wi-Fi on more domestic flights than any other carrier and smartphone apps with innovative features such as baggage tracking and airport check-in. The magazine also highlighted Delta’s 24-hour customer service via Twitter from @DeltaAssist, as well as the ability to book tickets directly from Facebook.

Delta also offers Delta Connect, its in-flight Wi-Fi portal, for access to real-time travel information, free news content from The Wall Street Journal and People magazine, exclusive shopping deals and entertainment options.

Delta’s Wi-Fi investments are the latest in the airline’s previously announced plan to spend $2 billion improving its products, services and facilities. As part of that goal, Delta is participating in a $1.2 billion project to expand Terminal 4 at John F. Kennedy International Airport to create a modern overseas gateway. When completed in spring 2013, the terminal will feature nine new gates, a state-of-the-art baggage screening system and one of the largest Delta Sky Clubs in the system. Delta also will spend more than $100 million to renovate Terminals C and D at LaGuardia after it takes over certain landing rights there from US Airways next month. Delta will add 100 new flights and 28 new destinations to become the leading carrier in New York by mid-July.

The Grand Chifley Hotel and Chifley Hotels are 4 and 4½ star hotels and apartments with impressive features. These include spacious accommodation rooms and suites, set in a stylish decor and with private balconies; state-of-the-art conference facilities boasting natural light; fresh food prepared by Chefs; and a high level of service that ensures customer satisfaction.

An hour from Melbourne’s CBD and at the foothills of Mount Dandenong, is the Chifley Doveton Hotel. If space is what you need, then this hotel has it! Set on a large site comprising 8,000 square metres, this venue is perfect for large MICE events. Hotel features include 128 well presented accommodation rooms; 4 function rooms, with a maximum capacity to hold 150 guests banquet and 300 cocktail; and parking onsite. For beer lovers, book a Brewery Tour of the Coldwater Creek Microbrewery onsite…and at $5 per person, this price includes a tour and tasting of Coldwater Creek Pilsner. Conference day package is priced at $65 per delegate.

Geelong is known as the ‘City by the Bay’ and gateway to the Bellarine Peninsula, surf coast and the Brisbane Ranges. It is Victoria’s largest regional city and less than 1 hour from Melbourne, and a 20 minute drive from Avalon Airport. Chifley Hotel & Apartments Geelong is conveniently located opposite beautiful Corio Bay, where guests can enjoy stunning views or take leisurely strolls along this spectacular foreshore. Hotel features include 68 accommodation rooms; 3 function rooms, with a maximum capacity of 120 guests cocktail; and onsite parking. Guests will enjoy dining in the popular Black Salt Restaurant, which offers sweeping views of beautiful Corio Bay. For residential conferences, the hotel provides complimentary conferencing equipment. Conference day package starts from $55 per delegate.

The Grand Chifley Hotel Adelaide is a 4½ hotel of superior quality, and overlooks the beautiful South Parklands. Located on the southern fringe of Adelaide’s CDB, guests have the luxury of being close to the CBD and enjoying relaxing tranquillity of the parklands opposite. With spectacular views of the Adelaide Hills and Glenelg Beach in the distance, this hotel is also close proximity to world famous wine regions such as the Barossa Valley and Adelaide Hills. Features include 138 accommodation rooms, including spa suites; 3 function rooms, with a maximum capacity of 250 guests cocktail and theatre; onsite parking; and menus are creatively designed by inhouse Chef, Michelle Navara. Conference day package is priced at $60 per delegate.

Chifley Hotel on South Terrace is another Adelaide gem! This 4 star property is conveniently located on the perimeter of the CBD, with stunning views of picturesque South Parklands. The hotel has a 30m outdoor swimming pool and the prestigious Kurrajong Restaurant can be used for private group bookings. Hotel features include 95 accommodation rooms, mostly Deluxe Queens; 4 spacious conference rooms, with a maximum capacity to hold 150 delegates theatre style; and complimentary parking. Conference day package is priced at $55 per delegate.

Get the adrenalin pumping at the Chifley Eastern Creek located in Western Sydney and opposite Eastern Creek International Raceway, close to the action! This hotel is easily assessable from the M4 and M7 motorways and features include 104 modern accommodation rooms; 3 spacious function rooms, with a maximum capacity to seat 100 guests and 200 cocktail; and onsite parking. All food items are prepared fresh by Chef, Kirk Bayldon including the popular menu at the Coldwater Creek Tavern. This unique eatery will tempt any private group to dine a la carte or traditional pub style. And don’t worry about any noise as the hotel has double glazed windows so is perfect for clients requesting ‘no distractions’.Conference day package is priced at $65 per delegate.

Located also in the Western Sydney region and at the base of the Blue Mountains, is the established Chifley Penrith. If entertainment is high on your client agenda, then this hotel is definitely best choice as it is located on the same site as the recently refurbished Panthers World of Entertainment. Hotel features include 223 accommodation rooms, including the new design courtyard style; 12 conference rooms at the Panther complex next door, with a maximum capacity to hold 1,500 guests; and has parking onsite.

Looking for a venue out of Sydney? Then book the Chifley Wollongong Hotel, a 1½ hour drive from Sydney and located on the pristine South Coast. Hotel features include an oceanfront location with beach and walking paths close by; 168 spacious accommodation rooms with private balconies; 10 functions rooms, with a maximum capacity to hold 280 guests banquet and 480 cocktail; discounted internet; and parking. A perfect venue for clients wanting a relaxed atmosphere with a professional touch! Conference day package is priced at $62 per delegate.

Just a leisurely two hour drive north of Sydney is the 4½ star Chifley Apartments Newcastle located in the heart of Newcastle. Within easy walking distance from the property is a vast selection of waterfront restaurants on the Wharf, making this hotel ideal for clients looking for stylish accommodation and intimate conference facilities with the flexibility to dine offsite most evenings. Features include 70 apartments with large private balconies; 2 function rooms with own terrace, with a maximum capacity of 45 guests theatre; parking onsite; and an impressive swimming pool! Conference day package is priced at $55 per delegate.
If you’re taking your conference north to Queensland, then Chifley at Lennons Hotel in Brisbane’s CBD is perfect. This 4½ star hotel features 154 accommodation rooms, many with panoramic views of the Brisbane River and city skyline; 13 conference rooms, with a maximum capacity of 350 delegates banquet; and a large outdoor terrace with swimming pool that can be incorporated into venue space for private events. Conference day package is priced at $61 per delegate.

Pack the cozzies and travel further north with a stay at the Chifley Pacific International located in the heart of Cairns and overlooking gorgeous Trinity Harbour. Cairns is the major gateway to all activity in Far North Queensland, the mountain ranges and the Great Barrier Reef. Hotel features include 176 spacious rooms and suites; 6 function rooms, with a maximum capacity of 180 guests banquet and 350 theatre; and the popular Bushfire Flame Grill and SugarCane Rhumbar. The hotel conference facilities is currently undergoing a major refurbishment, and re-opens on 7 May 2012, to emerge as the most sought after conference venue in Cairns. So be quick to book space! Conference day package is priced at $55 per delegate.

For an outback Australian experience, book the 4½ star Chifley Alice Springs Resort in the Northern Territory. This hotel combines efficient and friendly outback services with modern, comfortable facilities. Low rise architecture and lush green lawns combine a relaxed atmosphere of this award-winning resort, situated on the banks of the famous Todd River. Hotel features include 139 accommodation rooms; 3 function rooms, with a maximum capacity to hold 200 guests; Barra on Todd restaurant for dining and Barra Bar for pre-drinks and cocktails; and, of course, a pool! Conference day package is priced at $71.50 per delegate.

If New Zealand is more suitable for a working holiday, then book the Chifley Suites Auckland on the North Island. This stylish hotel located in Central Auckland combines one and two bedroom apartments and is ideal for smaller groups. Hotel features include 110 suites with spectacular views of the harbour and CBD and balconies; 2 meeting rooms, with a maximum capacity to hold 40 guests; and onsite parking. Conference package pricing on application.

“This is a really exciting, innovative development for Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines. While we know that many of our regular cruise guests relish several days at sea, there are many would-be cruisers who are slightly younger and cannot take time for a leisurely voyage, or simply prefer to start enjoying their sun-seeking as soon as possible. The short and easy flight to Tenerife means that guests can start to enjoy their cruise holiday in the sun within hours. This is a great new product to help agents sell cruises to those who might otherwise take a traditional package holiday.”

The new fly-cruises will be between seven and 14 nights’ duration, with exclusive charter flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Santa Cruz, Tenerife. The fly-cruises are available as a ‘cruise only’ option, so that guests have even more choice when booking their Fred. Olsen cruise holiday. This flexibility means that agents can take advantage of ‘dynamic packaging’ to create a tailor-made cruise experience that is just right for their customer. It also means that agents can sell cruises to their local markets using convenient regional airports, as Tenerife is served by flights from London Gatwick, London Stansted, London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham, Blackpool, Glasgow, Newcastle, Edinburgh, Bristol, East Midlands, Cardiff, Aberdeen, Belfast, Bournemouth and Doncaster Sheffield.

The cruise ship Braemar, which in previous years has been based in the Caribbean over the winter, will be based in Tenerife from January to March 2013. Braemar will depart from Southampton on 6th January 2013, on her repositioning cruise of seven nights, and will return to the UK on 24th March 2013.

Prices for the new fly-cruises start from £799 per person, based on M1305FC, a seven-night cruise departing from London Gatwick/Manchester on 17th February 2013, visiting Lanzarote, Madeira, La Palma, El Hierro, La Gomera, with return flights from Tenerife. Prices include accommodation, all meals and entertainment, as well as flights, and airport taxes.

The most popular fly-cruise is 14-night ‘Cape Verde, Senegal and The Gambia’, calling at Fuerteventura, Cape Verde, Senegal, The Gambia, and Gran Canaria, from £1,299 per person.

For more information, agents should contact Agency sales on 01473 746164 or e-mail cruise.sales@fredolsen.com More details can be found at www.fredolsencruises.com

In addition to its three times weekly service (Tues, Thurs, Sat) which will commence from 27^th March, Vueling will also operate an extra flight on Good Friday, 6th April and another on Easter Monday, 9th April, enabling passengers to take advantage of the extended break.

Last month Vueling announced it was bolstering its destinations from Cardiff Airport this summer with the addition of two new destinations, Alicante and Palma, Mallorca with three times weekly scheduled services operating on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays.

The Cardiff-Barcelona flights are Vueling’s first direct service from the UK to the airline’s home base. The additional April flights make Barcelona the ideal destination for an Easter short break.  Renowned for its cultural and gastronomic delights, Barcelona, the capital of Spain’s Catalunya is one of Europe’s most popular city break destinations with cultural spectacles varying from Gaudi’s architecture including the as yet unfinished legendary Sagrada Familia, to Montjuic which hosts the world’s leading Miró Museum.  Travellers can sample the culinary delights at the Boqueria market and Ferran Adrià inspired restaurants. For night owls, el Born neighbourhood offers everything from cool restaurants, to chic nightclubs, whilst the Ramblas provides authentic bar experiences.

From 24^th June the Cardiff-Barcelona schedule will alter to Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays to accommodate the increasing interest in the Barcelona cruise market. All services will be operated by 150-seat Airbus A319 aircraft.

Vueling flights offer a wealth of onward connections available via Vueling’s successful Barcelona Hub operations, currently accessing more than 40  destinations in Europe and North-Africa, such as the Greek Islands, Malaga or Ibiza with full baggage through check-in from Cardiff Airport to final destination.

Fares for the Cardiff-Barcelona route will start from approximately £26 (30€) and tickets are available to book via www.vueling.com, travel agents,  both Vueling’s iPhone and Android applications, mobile portal m.vueling.com, and call centre UK number 0906 754 7541.

Great Hotels of the World’s meetings and incentive team help planners find the perfect venues for events, thanks to their diverse portfolio of over 200 unique meeting properties. Director of Sales and Marketing, John Clarke, comments, “We are delighted at the level of increase in enquiries that our MICE desk has reported this past year. Our service level agreement both to our member hotels and our clients has facilitated this growth. The ease of using one point of contact, our one-hour response to enquiries to acknowledge receipt and our 24-hour response policy, providing a detailed proposal to clients within 24 working hours, are all factors which have contributed to our success and growth.”

53% of Great Hotels of the World’s MICE enquiries have come from the UK and Ireland, followed by Germany (16%) and France (13%). Based on 2010, 2011 has seen a 39% increase in new enquiries from the UK and Ireland, an 18% increase in new enquiries from Germany and a 96% increase in new enquiries from France. Other enquiries have come from the Belgian market and the Scandinavian market, as well as the US, Middle Eastern, Russian and Asian markets. Great Hotels of the World’s MICE department has also seen a 47% increase in enquiries from agencies.

For more information on Great Hotels of the Worlds’ venue-finding service, please visit http://www.ghotw.com/venuefinder/.