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MAY 2015 SPECIAL EDITION
$499$599 Canada
SPECIAL EDITION
AVIATION
VISIONARIES
The BRILLIANCE of Observation
Worldrsquos Best
First-Class
Airline
Cabins
PT PICKS
Around the World in 7 DaysPLUS
MAY 2015 9
WRITE AND WIN
Send us your anecdote gripe or insight on one of
our stories and it may be selected as the Letter of the
Month entitling you to a Pathfnder 22 Carry-On
with Suiter (available in black or blue) Thatrsquos a value
of $560 This lightweight fully functional roller has
an organized interior that will ensure that you arrive
at your destination rumple-free Whatrsquos more unlike
most other luggage manufacturers Pathfnder ofers an
Extra Mile Warranty that covers airline damage
To enter email lettersjarppubscom or write to
Letters to the Editor
Premier Traveler
388 Second Avenue Suite 520
New York NY 10010
We reserve the right to edit letters
HAWAII UH-0
Wonderful writing and assessments I
particularly loved the callout on the Hawaiian
Airlines attendants This is so true for when it
comes to the inter island fights Maybe they
lump the good ones onto the domestic and
international fights
Linda J Latz Esq
Scottsdale Arizona
DADDYrsquoS GIRL
Bill Kizorek is the most interesting
daddy in the world
Jessica Kizorek
Two Parrot Productions
READERSrsquo LETTERS
PRISON PENPAL
Premier Traveler
What a great surprise Thank
you very much for choosing us
as one of your PT Picks
We already got the first
booking for extreme night in
prison this year from american
youngsters I suppose it is
because of your project
Thanks Have a nice day My
best wishes and the warmest
greetings from Latvia
You are always welcome to
our prison )
CAN WE GET THE ldquoBILLrdquo PLEASEI wanted to send you an email conveying how much fun Irsquove had
reading the Around-the-World travels of Bill Kizorek in the electronic
edition of Premier Traveler I went to your sight looking for travel tips
and found myself enthusiastically reading and waiting for the next
installment of his adventures Bill Kizorek did a great job
I always have a tinge of fear when I venture out in a new foreign
land yet therersquos also excitement and it feeds my explorer spirit
After I get back whether I was lost or it didnrsquot go as frst planned
I always have a fond memory and am stronger in spirit for trying
where others or maybe even a weaker self may have avoided
venturing out solo Though I have not been to nearly the amount
of countries Bill has traveled to (150 countries and counting per
the prelude to the articles) tales from his trip helped remind me of
some of my memorable experiences Billrsquos trials and tribulations
often made me smile and I want to thank you for publishing the
articles and look forward to future installments
1 DECEMBER 2014JANUARY 2015
DECEMBER 2014 JANUARY 2015
$499$599 Canada
PT PICKS bull TRAVEL BITES bull CHEERS bull TECH TALK bull READERSrsquo LETTERS bull AIRLINE UPDATE
Being Rude on the Road
Plus
Itrsquos Not Always Lonely
at the Top
Revealing the
Award Winners
Besttof
g
2014
3Women in Motion
Monta Krafte Karosta Prison Liepāja Latvia
+371 26488200
Phil Chandler Oconomowoc WI
LETTER OF THE MONTH
12 MAY 2015
Global media is abuzz with a series
of reports on incidents in China
where passengers did unthinkable
things on board commercial
airliners The bad behavior ranges
from throwing hot noodles at a
fight attendant on a Nanjing-
bound Thai Air Asia fight over a
seating dispute to passengers
opening emergency exits on
different airlines at various stages
of fightmdashincluding (and thankfully
unsuccessfully) in midfightmdashto
lighting up the now taboo cigarette
The reasons for the transgressions
varied to protest an extended
delay to ldquoget fresh airrdquo to ldquoget off
quickerrdquo or good old-fashioned
inebriation
Most of these passengers
ended up in jail and in response
to the malfeasance the Chinese
government introduced a ldquoNational
Uncivilized Travel Recordrdquo a no-
fy list where errant passengerrsquos
names were recorded Why As
Can you believe itrsquos been 25 years
since fights (of six hours of less)
became no smoking in the US
Not long after that all fights were
smoke free The rest of the world
soon followed The American
Heart Association and other health
organizations celebrated that
NEWSFLASHWHILE YOU WERE AWAY
living standards in China have
risen more passengers have taken
to the air for the frst time whereas
in the past the train was the
most common mode of inter-city
transportation While China has an
enviable high speed rail system
train tickets can now sometimes
cost the same as an air ticket
This madness brings back
memories of American Airlinesrsquo
introduction of ldquoValue Pricingrdquo
in 1992 which resulted in a
fare war that made fying too
cheap to pass up for people who
hadnrsquot previously fown Those
passengers new to air travel were
referred to as ldquoFIRIDrdquo in airline
lingo an abbreviation for ldquofrst
time fierrdquo However they became
better known as ldquoThe Clampettsrdquo
and that summer of full fights was
labeled ldquoThe Clampett Summerrdquo
The Clampetts were a fctional
family on a US sitcom called
The Beverly Hillbillies that ran
throughout the 1960s The laughs
were derived from the fact that
the Clampetts had struck it rich
but were unfamiliar with creature
comforts of living in a mansion
raising the eyebrows and ire of
their neighbors
Stories that summer about
novice passengers opening
windows smoking not knowing
what to do with a seat belt and
much more emerged up and
down the employee ranks These
kinds of incidents now happen
elsewhere due to the unfamiliarity
of an airplane in emerging nations
These incidents however are
far from comical they can result
in expenses inconvenience to
others and a threat to passenger
and employee safety In the
meantime when fying in China
keep an eye on your fellow
passenger as this phenomenon
is sure to pass once again as air
travel becomes more routine
RETURN OF THE CLAMPETT SUMMER
SPEAKING OF SMOKING anniversary on
February 23 of
this year This makes the presence
of those iconic ldquono smokingrdquo signs
and armrest ashtrays both a novelty
and a curiosity
Indeed some of us remember being
asked upon check-in whether we
preferred ldquosmoking or no smokingrdquo
Most airlines relegated smoking to
the rear of the cabin which meant
the back of the economy class
section and the last row or two of
frst class Essentially after takeoff
before there was the now familiar
announcement about electronic
devices there was the ldquosmoking
is now permittedrdquo PA Some
passengers in the non-smoking
section would congregate near the
rear galleys to grab a smoke On
some airlines such as Lufthansa
as I experienced smoking was
permitted on one entire side of the
aircraft ldquoto be equitablerdquo
AMEX DECLINED
Once upon a time and not
long ago celebrities fnancial
hotshots and regular folks
put their trust into American
Expressrsquo credit cards and
products in marketing and
in real life For years their
effective branding as the
one thing you could never
leave home with out is now
being kicked to the curb by
retailers investors and the
high rollers who once swore
by the miraculous piece of
blue plastic
According to Paul R La
Monica of CNNMoney AmEx
is the worst performing stock
in the Dow this year and the
once mighty giant credit card
giant reported its frst quarter
downfall in 2015 tanking 17
percent Representatives
from AmEx reason that the
strong dollar was having a
ldquosignifcant impactrdquo on its
international business but
this defects slightly from the
impending loss of credit card
partner Costco in 2016
Earlier this year Slatecom
reported the once venerable
credit-card company lost an
antitrust lawsuit over whether
it could stop merchants from
asking customers to use other
credit cards Other credit-card
companies including Visa
and Mastercard typically
MAY 2015 13
Croatia is recognized as one of
the most beautiful destinations
appreciated for its diversity
unique coast and unspoiled
nature In the northern Adriatic
Sea in the Kvarner bay lies an
island of vitalitymdashLošinj For
centuries Lošinj has been known
as a place of fragrant healing
naturemdasha point of pride that
carries on to this day
In the idyllic surroundings of the
Park Forest Čikat next to the sea
surrounded by tall pines agaves
and palm trees and sheltered
from the wind lies one of the
most luxurious hotels in Lošinjmdash
the boutique hotel Alhambra
Its private beach is perfect for
moments of contemplation by the
An impressive ldquoArkrdquo is about
to set sail at New Yorkrsquos JFK
International Airport It may not
be Noahrsquos but itrsquos designed
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
LULLED BY
CROATIArsquoS
LOŠINJ
for the transport of domestic
and wild animals The new $48
million178000-square-foot transport
and quarantine ldquoterminalrdquo will
handle 70000 animals annually
when it opens next year The Ark
is designed with its customers
in mind to reduce the stress of
travel with an animal arrival and
departure lounge gourmet food
showers an overnight pet resort
called ldquoParadise 4 Pawsrdquo and
veterinary services
That said animal transport has
been business as usual at KLM
since 1924 Its status as the frst
airline to transport live animals
was sealed when a bull named
Nico was fown from Rotterdam
to Paris that year The reputation
has grown since and KLM still
recognized as one of the best
and largest animal transporters in
the world Zoo animals livestock
horses ornamental fsh dogs and
cats and many exotic creatures
NOAHrsquoS ARK NYC
have fown onboard JFKrsquos ldquoArkrdquo
team should take note that KLM
also boasts a special hotel for all
the animals
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
PREMIER TRAVELER READERS
Use code ldquoPTrdquo for booking
a stay at Boutique Hotel
Alhambra to realize a 15
discount on reservations made
until July 15 2015
charge merchants that accept
their credit cards lower fees
than AmEx does The higher
fees that AmEx charges
merchants allow AmEx to
offer better rewards to the
customers who use its cards
Slate warned the T ruling
would mean cardholdersrsquo
rewards would likely to worsen
over time
It doesnrsquot stop there
AmEx has bigger issues
than currency fuctuations
Company spokespeople said
the frm would be investing
heavily this year to try and
replace business they are set
to lose in 2016 after Costco
rides into the sunset JetBlue is
also closing the door on AmEx
and opening a new window
through a new deal with
Barclays and MasterCard
Prospects for 2016 are not
looking too bright for the once
mighty blue chip company
Even with Warren Buffett
standing by AmEx as one of
Berkshire Hathawayrsquos ldquoBig
Fourrdquo stocks and praised
its managers for being ldquoboth
talented and shareholder-
orientedrdquo cautious investors
are looking elsewhere to give
credit where it is due
sea under the pleasant sunshine
from early spring until late fall
This exclusive natural
environment complements the
priceless architectural value of
this beautiful hotel built in 1912
and designed by respected
Austrian architect Alfred Keller
to provide the utmost comfort
without spoiling the natural beauty
Newly renovated the boutique
hotel Alhambra maintained the
same charm and goal offering
impeccable accommodation in
36 romantic double rooms and 15
spacious elegant suites
In communication with the
beautiful villa Augusta which can
be completely separated if rented
in its entirety the boutique hotel
Alhambra provides a full range of
services
For guests with exquisite taste
who are accustomed to superior
personalized service and elegant
comfort the boutique hotel
Alhambra is an idyllic destination
The additional amenities such
as offers of in-room wellness
motor and sailing boat rentals or
panoramic tours by plane make
Alhambra a unique hotel with
made-to-measure offers
Boutique Hotel Alhambra is
part of the Small Luxury Hotels of
the World
14 MAY 2015
UP IN THE AIR
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE
BRIGHT INSIDE AND OUT
Icelandair in recognition of the Aurora Borealis
has introduced a new livery on one of its Boeing
757s that fies back and forth between Europe
and North America via Iceland (of course) In
addition to the paint job of the plane named Hekla
Aurora the airline has ftted the interior with blue
and green LED lighting that brings the natural
phenomena inside
The company says it celebrates the Icelandic
stopovers they are known for since it is one of the
places in the world where the Aurora Borealis can
be seen most often
Airline Update
BLUE SKIESIn the days of airline cutbacks we had many choices yet lacked
competition JetBlue upgraded the commuter flight experience by adding
amenities such as in-flight entertainment a TV at every seat and Sirius
satellite radio In former CEO David Needemanrsquos words JetBlue sought
ldquoto bring humanity back to air travelrdquo JetBlue grew a cult following by
offering their extras keeping the legacy carriers on their toes
Since launching MINT service on transcontinental routes JetBlue is
recognized for its fresh take on upscale flying which includes private
suites the widest seat in the US domestic market 15-inch flat screens
and a partnership with Saxon amp Parole JetBlue will now be the only US
carrier with lie-flat seating to the Caribbean
In 2011 by introducing charter service to Cuba thanks to the now-
ended embargo JetBlue is in the prime position JetBlue currently
serves over 90 destinations with more to be added In the meantime it
continues to flex its muscle as a travel brand by making a bid to transform
JFK Aiportrsquos iconic TWA terminal into a hotel blending futurism and mid-
20th century nostalgia The airlinersquos New York-based hotel developer
partner MCR Development LLC are in advanced negotiations with the
Port Authority for the rights to the ldquospace-agerdquo 1962 architectural marvel
designed by Eero Saarinen
Truth be told Reykjavik is a cool (as in fun not
temperature) place for a stopover where 365
days a year one can breathe clean air eat fresh
seafood swim in one of the many natural indoor or
outdoor heated pools or relax in the world-class
Blue Lagoon Spa which is right near the airport
A PAL INDEED
After establishing successful routes in Los
Angeles San Francisco Honolulu and Guam
Philippine Airlines bites into an expanded
customer base in the Big Apple at Terminal 1
of New York Cityrsquos JFK International Airport
March 15 2015 marked the carrierrsquos much-
awaited network expansion with four-times-
a-week service to and from Manila with a
stopover in Vancouver Canada
PAL will utilize the Airbus A340-300 jets
which seat 36 passengers in business class
and 218 in economy In Business Class
passengers can expect PALrsquos signature ldquoat
homerdquo in-flight service offering seats that
convert to full-flat beds in-flight entertainment
systems with audio-video on demand and
gourmet cuisine designed by top international
guest chefs
Flight PR 126 departs Manila every
Tuesday Thursday Saturday and Sunday
at 1150 pm After a two-hour transit stop in
Vancouver the service continues on to JFK
arriving at 1050 pm The return service
PR 127 departs New York at 1100 am every
Monday Wednesday Friday and Sunday
arriving in Vancouver at 150 pm and landing
back in Manila at 835 pm the following day
The flight to New York 165 total flying hours
is PALrsquos longest route
16 MAY 2015
HotelUpdate
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the vast verdant Scottish countryside seen on Game of Thrones or even JK Rowlingrsquos Casual Vacancy there is a place travelers can now visit Though at Alladale Wilderness Reserve there are no worries of beheading here instead a welcoming staff is at your beck and call
In the Highlands of Scotland Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a nature-loverrsquos paradise Encompassing 23000 acres of land visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline golf catered picnics and wilderness activities In fact naturalist and owner Paul Listerrsquos long-term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into Scotland which were hunted out 500 years agomdasharound the time of the fictional Westeros
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests It can be a romantic getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends A butler and personal chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a never-to-be-forgotten adventure
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions To curb wasteful government spending
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($19 billion) according to the
proposed 2015 budget
However as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business) it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries
In response to complaints the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban
Yanti Sukamdani head of the Indonesian Hotel
amp Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago
ldquoHotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percentrdquo said Sukamdani ldquoAnything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million peoplerdquo she noted The governmentrsquos 2015
growth target ldquocannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel businessrdquo
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latviarsquos Karosta Prison which guarantees
the ultimate pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience
complete with bad food humiliation and
emotional torture included in the package The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks
In Boston Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh plush suites and gracious public
areas The Jail Hotel Loewengraben a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne Switzerland offers
simple and clean overnight roomsmdashvisitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the directorrsquos offce Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout
Oxford Castle has a storied 1000-year-old
history most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex
the monolithic building has overnight rooms
apartments restaurants and bars Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors
though everything has of course been upgraded
remodeled and refurbished
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
ldquoHOMErdquo VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb a country thatrsquos been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors The online home
rental servicersquos decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administrationrsquos loosening
restrictions from the former US trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the islandrsquos small private
sector Typing ldquoCubardquo in Airbnbrsquos search engine
yields 1000 properties across the island with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners and plans to expand further
in the coming months
ldquoWe believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnbrsquos biggest markets in Latin Americardquo said
Kay Kuehne regional director for Airbnb ldquoWe are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years agordquo
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba including family visits
educational activities and humanitarian projects
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS
Mention ldquoPTrdquo for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15 discount or for
booking a stay Contact andrew
therovingambassadorcom or judith
alladalecom for further information
wwwalladalecom
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively
MAY 2015 9
WRITE AND WIN
Send us your anecdote gripe or insight on one of
our stories and it may be selected as the Letter of the
Month entitling you to a Pathfnder 22 Carry-On
with Suiter (available in black or blue) Thatrsquos a value
of $560 This lightweight fully functional roller has
an organized interior that will ensure that you arrive
at your destination rumple-free Whatrsquos more unlike
most other luggage manufacturers Pathfnder ofers an
Extra Mile Warranty that covers airline damage
To enter email lettersjarppubscom or write to
Letters to the Editor
Premier Traveler
388 Second Avenue Suite 520
New York NY 10010
We reserve the right to edit letters
HAWAII UH-0
Wonderful writing and assessments I
particularly loved the callout on the Hawaiian
Airlines attendants This is so true for when it
comes to the inter island fights Maybe they
lump the good ones onto the domestic and
international fights
Linda J Latz Esq
Scottsdale Arizona
DADDYrsquoS GIRL
Bill Kizorek is the most interesting
daddy in the world
Jessica Kizorek
Two Parrot Productions
READERSrsquo LETTERS
PRISON PENPAL
Premier Traveler
What a great surprise Thank
you very much for choosing us
as one of your PT Picks
We already got the first
booking for extreme night in
prison this year from american
youngsters I suppose it is
because of your project
Thanks Have a nice day My
best wishes and the warmest
greetings from Latvia
You are always welcome to
our prison )
CAN WE GET THE ldquoBILLrdquo PLEASEI wanted to send you an email conveying how much fun Irsquove had
reading the Around-the-World travels of Bill Kizorek in the electronic
edition of Premier Traveler I went to your sight looking for travel tips
and found myself enthusiastically reading and waiting for the next
installment of his adventures Bill Kizorek did a great job
I always have a tinge of fear when I venture out in a new foreign
land yet therersquos also excitement and it feeds my explorer spirit
After I get back whether I was lost or it didnrsquot go as frst planned
I always have a fond memory and am stronger in spirit for trying
where others or maybe even a weaker self may have avoided
venturing out solo Though I have not been to nearly the amount
of countries Bill has traveled to (150 countries and counting per
the prelude to the articles) tales from his trip helped remind me of
some of my memorable experiences Billrsquos trials and tribulations
often made me smile and I want to thank you for publishing the
articles and look forward to future installments
1 DECEMBER 2014JANUARY 2015
DECEMBER 2014 JANUARY 2015
$499$599 Canada
PT PICKS bull TRAVEL BITES bull CHEERS bull TECH TALK bull READERSrsquo LETTERS bull AIRLINE UPDATE
Being Rude on the Road
Plus
Itrsquos Not Always Lonely
at the Top
Revealing the
Award Winners
Besttof
g
2014
3Women in Motion
Monta Krafte Karosta Prison Liepāja Latvia
+371 26488200
Phil Chandler Oconomowoc WI
LETTER OF THE MONTH
12 MAY 2015
Global media is abuzz with a series
of reports on incidents in China
where passengers did unthinkable
things on board commercial
airliners The bad behavior ranges
from throwing hot noodles at a
fight attendant on a Nanjing-
bound Thai Air Asia fight over a
seating dispute to passengers
opening emergency exits on
different airlines at various stages
of fightmdashincluding (and thankfully
unsuccessfully) in midfightmdashto
lighting up the now taboo cigarette
The reasons for the transgressions
varied to protest an extended
delay to ldquoget fresh airrdquo to ldquoget off
quickerrdquo or good old-fashioned
inebriation
Most of these passengers
ended up in jail and in response
to the malfeasance the Chinese
government introduced a ldquoNational
Uncivilized Travel Recordrdquo a no-
fy list where errant passengerrsquos
names were recorded Why As
Can you believe itrsquos been 25 years
since fights (of six hours of less)
became no smoking in the US
Not long after that all fights were
smoke free The rest of the world
soon followed The American
Heart Association and other health
organizations celebrated that
NEWSFLASHWHILE YOU WERE AWAY
living standards in China have
risen more passengers have taken
to the air for the frst time whereas
in the past the train was the
most common mode of inter-city
transportation While China has an
enviable high speed rail system
train tickets can now sometimes
cost the same as an air ticket
This madness brings back
memories of American Airlinesrsquo
introduction of ldquoValue Pricingrdquo
in 1992 which resulted in a
fare war that made fying too
cheap to pass up for people who
hadnrsquot previously fown Those
passengers new to air travel were
referred to as ldquoFIRIDrdquo in airline
lingo an abbreviation for ldquofrst
time fierrdquo However they became
better known as ldquoThe Clampettsrdquo
and that summer of full fights was
labeled ldquoThe Clampett Summerrdquo
The Clampetts were a fctional
family on a US sitcom called
The Beverly Hillbillies that ran
throughout the 1960s The laughs
were derived from the fact that
the Clampetts had struck it rich
but were unfamiliar with creature
comforts of living in a mansion
raising the eyebrows and ire of
their neighbors
Stories that summer about
novice passengers opening
windows smoking not knowing
what to do with a seat belt and
much more emerged up and
down the employee ranks These
kinds of incidents now happen
elsewhere due to the unfamiliarity
of an airplane in emerging nations
These incidents however are
far from comical they can result
in expenses inconvenience to
others and a threat to passenger
and employee safety In the
meantime when fying in China
keep an eye on your fellow
passenger as this phenomenon
is sure to pass once again as air
travel becomes more routine
RETURN OF THE CLAMPETT SUMMER
SPEAKING OF SMOKING anniversary on
February 23 of
this year This makes the presence
of those iconic ldquono smokingrdquo signs
and armrest ashtrays both a novelty
and a curiosity
Indeed some of us remember being
asked upon check-in whether we
preferred ldquosmoking or no smokingrdquo
Most airlines relegated smoking to
the rear of the cabin which meant
the back of the economy class
section and the last row or two of
frst class Essentially after takeoff
before there was the now familiar
announcement about electronic
devices there was the ldquosmoking
is now permittedrdquo PA Some
passengers in the non-smoking
section would congregate near the
rear galleys to grab a smoke On
some airlines such as Lufthansa
as I experienced smoking was
permitted on one entire side of the
aircraft ldquoto be equitablerdquo
AMEX DECLINED
Once upon a time and not
long ago celebrities fnancial
hotshots and regular folks
put their trust into American
Expressrsquo credit cards and
products in marketing and
in real life For years their
effective branding as the
one thing you could never
leave home with out is now
being kicked to the curb by
retailers investors and the
high rollers who once swore
by the miraculous piece of
blue plastic
According to Paul R La
Monica of CNNMoney AmEx
is the worst performing stock
in the Dow this year and the
once mighty giant credit card
giant reported its frst quarter
downfall in 2015 tanking 17
percent Representatives
from AmEx reason that the
strong dollar was having a
ldquosignifcant impactrdquo on its
international business but
this defects slightly from the
impending loss of credit card
partner Costco in 2016
Earlier this year Slatecom
reported the once venerable
credit-card company lost an
antitrust lawsuit over whether
it could stop merchants from
asking customers to use other
credit cards Other credit-card
companies including Visa
and Mastercard typically
MAY 2015 13
Croatia is recognized as one of
the most beautiful destinations
appreciated for its diversity
unique coast and unspoiled
nature In the northern Adriatic
Sea in the Kvarner bay lies an
island of vitalitymdashLošinj For
centuries Lošinj has been known
as a place of fragrant healing
naturemdasha point of pride that
carries on to this day
In the idyllic surroundings of the
Park Forest Čikat next to the sea
surrounded by tall pines agaves
and palm trees and sheltered
from the wind lies one of the
most luxurious hotels in Lošinjmdash
the boutique hotel Alhambra
Its private beach is perfect for
moments of contemplation by the
An impressive ldquoArkrdquo is about
to set sail at New Yorkrsquos JFK
International Airport It may not
be Noahrsquos but itrsquos designed
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
LULLED BY
CROATIArsquoS
LOŠINJ
for the transport of domestic
and wild animals The new $48
million178000-square-foot transport
and quarantine ldquoterminalrdquo will
handle 70000 animals annually
when it opens next year The Ark
is designed with its customers
in mind to reduce the stress of
travel with an animal arrival and
departure lounge gourmet food
showers an overnight pet resort
called ldquoParadise 4 Pawsrdquo and
veterinary services
That said animal transport has
been business as usual at KLM
since 1924 Its status as the frst
airline to transport live animals
was sealed when a bull named
Nico was fown from Rotterdam
to Paris that year The reputation
has grown since and KLM still
recognized as one of the best
and largest animal transporters in
the world Zoo animals livestock
horses ornamental fsh dogs and
cats and many exotic creatures
NOAHrsquoS ARK NYC
have fown onboard JFKrsquos ldquoArkrdquo
team should take note that KLM
also boasts a special hotel for all
the animals
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
PREMIER TRAVELER READERS
Use code ldquoPTrdquo for booking
a stay at Boutique Hotel
Alhambra to realize a 15
discount on reservations made
until July 15 2015
charge merchants that accept
their credit cards lower fees
than AmEx does The higher
fees that AmEx charges
merchants allow AmEx to
offer better rewards to the
customers who use its cards
Slate warned the T ruling
would mean cardholdersrsquo
rewards would likely to worsen
over time
It doesnrsquot stop there
AmEx has bigger issues
than currency fuctuations
Company spokespeople said
the frm would be investing
heavily this year to try and
replace business they are set
to lose in 2016 after Costco
rides into the sunset JetBlue is
also closing the door on AmEx
and opening a new window
through a new deal with
Barclays and MasterCard
Prospects for 2016 are not
looking too bright for the once
mighty blue chip company
Even with Warren Buffett
standing by AmEx as one of
Berkshire Hathawayrsquos ldquoBig
Fourrdquo stocks and praised
its managers for being ldquoboth
talented and shareholder-
orientedrdquo cautious investors
are looking elsewhere to give
credit where it is due
sea under the pleasant sunshine
from early spring until late fall
This exclusive natural
environment complements the
priceless architectural value of
this beautiful hotel built in 1912
and designed by respected
Austrian architect Alfred Keller
to provide the utmost comfort
without spoiling the natural beauty
Newly renovated the boutique
hotel Alhambra maintained the
same charm and goal offering
impeccable accommodation in
36 romantic double rooms and 15
spacious elegant suites
In communication with the
beautiful villa Augusta which can
be completely separated if rented
in its entirety the boutique hotel
Alhambra provides a full range of
services
For guests with exquisite taste
who are accustomed to superior
personalized service and elegant
comfort the boutique hotel
Alhambra is an idyllic destination
The additional amenities such
as offers of in-room wellness
motor and sailing boat rentals or
panoramic tours by plane make
Alhambra a unique hotel with
made-to-measure offers
Boutique Hotel Alhambra is
part of the Small Luxury Hotels of
the World
14 MAY 2015
UP IN THE AIR
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE
BRIGHT INSIDE AND OUT
Icelandair in recognition of the Aurora Borealis
has introduced a new livery on one of its Boeing
757s that fies back and forth between Europe
and North America via Iceland (of course) In
addition to the paint job of the plane named Hekla
Aurora the airline has ftted the interior with blue
and green LED lighting that brings the natural
phenomena inside
The company says it celebrates the Icelandic
stopovers they are known for since it is one of the
places in the world where the Aurora Borealis can
be seen most often
Airline Update
BLUE SKIESIn the days of airline cutbacks we had many choices yet lacked
competition JetBlue upgraded the commuter flight experience by adding
amenities such as in-flight entertainment a TV at every seat and Sirius
satellite radio In former CEO David Needemanrsquos words JetBlue sought
ldquoto bring humanity back to air travelrdquo JetBlue grew a cult following by
offering their extras keeping the legacy carriers on their toes
Since launching MINT service on transcontinental routes JetBlue is
recognized for its fresh take on upscale flying which includes private
suites the widest seat in the US domestic market 15-inch flat screens
and a partnership with Saxon amp Parole JetBlue will now be the only US
carrier with lie-flat seating to the Caribbean
In 2011 by introducing charter service to Cuba thanks to the now-
ended embargo JetBlue is in the prime position JetBlue currently
serves over 90 destinations with more to be added In the meantime it
continues to flex its muscle as a travel brand by making a bid to transform
JFK Aiportrsquos iconic TWA terminal into a hotel blending futurism and mid-
20th century nostalgia The airlinersquos New York-based hotel developer
partner MCR Development LLC are in advanced negotiations with the
Port Authority for the rights to the ldquospace-agerdquo 1962 architectural marvel
designed by Eero Saarinen
Truth be told Reykjavik is a cool (as in fun not
temperature) place for a stopover where 365
days a year one can breathe clean air eat fresh
seafood swim in one of the many natural indoor or
outdoor heated pools or relax in the world-class
Blue Lagoon Spa which is right near the airport
A PAL INDEED
After establishing successful routes in Los
Angeles San Francisco Honolulu and Guam
Philippine Airlines bites into an expanded
customer base in the Big Apple at Terminal 1
of New York Cityrsquos JFK International Airport
March 15 2015 marked the carrierrsquos much-
awaited network expansion with four-times-
a-week service to and from Manila with a
stopover in Vancouver Canada
PAL will utilize the Airbus A340-300 jets
which seat 36 passengers in business class
and 218 in economy In Business Class
passengers can expect PALrsquos signature ldquoat
homerdquo in-flight service offering seats that
convert to full-flat beds in-flight entertainment
systems with audio-video on demand and
gourmet cuisine designed by top international
guest chefs
Flight PR 126 departs Manila every
Tuesday Thursday Saturday and Sunday
at 1150 pm After a two-hour transit stop in
Vancouver the service continues on to JFK
arriving at 1050 pm The return service
PR 127 departs New York at 1100 am every
Monday Wednesday Friday and Sunday
arriving in Vancouver at 150 pm and landing
back in Manila at 835 pm the following day
The flight to New York 165 total flying hours
is PALrsquos longest route
16 MAY 2015
HotelUpdate
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the vast verdant Scottish countryside seen on Game of Thrones or even JK Rowlingrsquos Casual Vacancy there is a place travelers can now visit Though at Alladale Wilderness Reserve there are no worries of beheading here instead a welcoming staff is at your beck and call
In the Highlands of Scotland Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a nature-loverrsquos paradise Encompassing 23000 acres of land visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline golf catered picnics and wilderness activities In fact naturalist and owner Paul Listerrsquos long-term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into Scotland which were hunted out 500 years agomdasharound the time of the fictional Westeros
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests It can be a romantic getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends A butler and personal chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a never-to-be-forgotten adventure
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions To curb wasteful government spending
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($19 billion) according to the
proposed 2015 budget
However as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business) it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries
In response to complaints the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban
Yanti Sukamdani head of the Indonesian Hotel
amp Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago
ldquoHotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percentrdquo said Sukamdani ldquoAnything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million peoplerdquo she noted The governmentrsquos 2015
growth target ldquocannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel businessrdquo
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latviarsquos Karosta Prison which guarantees
the ultimate pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience
complete with bad food humiliation and
emotional torture included in the package The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks
In Boston Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh plush suites and gracious public
areas The Jail Hotel Loewengraben a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne Switzerland offers
simple and clean overnight roomsmdashvisitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the directorrsquos offce Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout
Oxford Castle has a storied 1000-year-old
history most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex
the monolithic building has overnight rooms
apartments restaurants and bars Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors
though everything has of course been upgraded
remodeled and refurbished
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
ldquoHOMErdquo VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb a country thatrsquos been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors The online home
rental servicersquos decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administrationrsquos loosening
restrictions from the former US trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the islandrsquos small private
sector Typing ldquoCubardquo in Airbnbrsquos search engine
yields 1000 properties across the island with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners and plans to expand further
in the coming months
ldquoWe believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnbrsquos biggest markets in Latin Americardquo said
Kay Kuehne regional director for Airbnb ldquoWe are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years agordquo
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba including family visits
educational activities and humanitarian projects
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS
Mention ldquoPTrdquo for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15 discount or for
booking a stay Contact andrew
therovingambassadorcom or judith
alladalecom for further information
wwwalladalecom
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively
12 MAY 2015
Global media is abuzz with a series
of reports on incidents in China
where passengers did unthinkable
things on board commercial
airliners The bad behavior ranges
from throwing hot noodles at a
fight attendant on a Nanjing-
bound Thai Air Asia fight over a
seating dispute to passengers
opening emergency exits on
different airlines at various stages
of fightmdashincluding (and thankfully
unsuccessfully) in midfightmdashto
lighting up the now taboo cigarette
The reasons for the transgressions
varied to protest an extended
delay to ldquoget fresh airrdquo to ldquoget off
quickerrdquo or good old-fashioned
inebriation
Most of these passengers
ended up in jail and in response
to the malfeasance the Chinese
government introduced a ldquoNational
Uncivilized Travel Recordrdquo a no-
fy list where errant passengerrsquos
names were recorded Why As
Can you believe itrsquos been 25 years
since fights (of six hours of less)
became no smoking in the US
Not long after that all fights were
smoke free The rest of the world
soon followed The American
Heart Association and other health
organizations celebrated that
NEWSFLASHWHILE YOU WERE AWAY
living standards in China have
risen more passengers have taken
to the air for the frst time whereas
in the past the train was the
most common mode of inter-city
transportation While China has an
enviable high speed rail system
train tickets can now sometimes
cost the same as an air ticket
This madness brings back
memories of American Airlinesrsquo
introduction of ldquoValue Pricingrdquo
in 1992 which resulted in a
fare war that made fying too
cheap to pass up for people who
hadnrsquot previously fown Those
passengers new to air travel were
referred to as ldquoFIRIDrdquo in airline
lingo an abbreviation for ldquofrst
time fierrdquo However they became
better known as ldquoThe Clampettsrdquo
and that summer of full fights was
labeled ldquoThe Clampett Summerrdquo
The Clampetts were a fctional
family on a US sitcom called
The Beverly Hillbillies that ran
throughout the 1960s The laughs
were derived from the fact that
the Clampetts had struck it rich
but were unfamiliar with creature
comforts of living in a mansion
raising the eyebrows and ire of
their neighbors
Stories that summer about
novice passengers opening
windows smoking not knowing
what to do with a seat belt and
much more emerged up and
down the employee ranks These
kinds of incidents now happen
elsewhere due to the unfamiliarity
of an airplane in emerging nations
These incidents however are
far from comical they can result
in expenses inconvenience to
others and a threat to passenger
and employee safety In the
meantime when fying in China
keep an eye on your fellow
passenger as this phenomenon
is sure to pass once again as air
travel becomes more routine
RETURN OF THE CLAMPETT SUMMER
SPEAKING OF SMOKING anniversary on
February 23 of
this year This makes the presence
of those iconic ldquono smokingrdquo signs
and armrest ashtrays both a novelty
and a curiosity
Indeed some of us remember being
asked upon check-in whether we
preferred ldquosmoking or no smokingrdquo
Most airlines relegated smoking to
the rear of the cabin which meant
the back of the economy class
section and the last row or two of
frst class Essentially after takeoff
before there was the now familiar
announcement about electronic
devices there was the ldquosmoking
is now permittedrdquo PA Some
passengers in the non-smoking
section would congregate near the
rear galleys to grab a smoke On
some airlines such as Lufthansa
as I experienced smoking was
permitted on one entire side of the
aircraft ldquoto be equitablerdquo
AMEX DECLINED
Once upon a time and not
long ago celebrities fnancial
hotshots and regular folks
put their trust into American
Expressrsquo credit cards and
products in marketing and
in real life For years their
effective branding as the
one thing you could never
leave home with out is now
being kicked to the curb by
retailers investors and the
high rollers who once swore
by the miraculous piece of
blue plastic
According to Paul R La
Monica of CNNMoney AmEx
is the worst performing stock
in the Dow this year and the
once mighty giant credit card
giant reported its frst quarter
downfall in 2015 tanking 17
percent Representatives
from AmEx reason that the
strong dollar was having a
ldquosignifcant impactrdquo on its
international business but
this defects slightly from the
impending loss of credit card
partner Costco in 2016
Earlier this year Slatecom
reported the once venerable
credit-card company lost an
antitrust lawsuit over whether
it could stop merchants from
asking customers to use other
credit cards Other credit-card
companies including Visa
and Mastercard typically
MAY 2015 13
Croatia is recognized as one of
the most beautiful destinations
appreciated for its diversity
unique coast and unspoiled
nature In the northern Adriatic
Sea in the Kvarner bay lies an
island of vitalitymdashLošinj For
centuries Lošinj has been known
as a place of fragrant healing
naturemdasha point of pride that
carries on to this day
In the idyllic surroundings of the
Park Forest Čikat next to the sea
surrounded by tall pines agaves
and palm trees and sheltered
from the wind lies one of the
most luxurious hotels in Lošinjmdash
the boutique hotel Alhambra
Its private beach is perfect for
moments of contemplation by the
An impressive ldquoArkrdquo is about
to set sail at New Yorkrsquos JFK
International Airport It may not
be Noahrsquos but itrsquos designed
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
LULLED BY
CROATIArsquoS
LOŠINJ
for the transport of domestic
and wild animals The new $48
million178000-square-foot transport
and quarantine ldquoterminalrdquo will
handle 70000 animals annually
when it opens next year The Ark
is designed with its customers
in mind to reduce the stress of
travel with an animal arrival and
departure lounge gourmet food
showers an overnight pet resort
called ldquoParadise 4 Pawsrdquo and
veterinary services
That said animal transport has
been business as usual at KLM
since 1924 Its status as the frst
airline to transport live animals
was sealed when a bull named
Nico was fown from Rotterdam
to Paris that year The reputation
has grown since and KLM still
recognized as one of the best
and largest animal transporters in
the world Zoo animals livestock
horses ornamental fsh dogs and
cats and many exotic creatures
NOAHrsquoS ARK NYC
have fown onboard JFKrsquos ldquoArkrdquo
team should take note that KLM
also boasts a special hotel for all
the animals
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
PREMIER TRAVELER READERS
Use code ldquoPTrdquo for booking
a stay at Boutique Hotel
Alhambra to realize a 15
discount on reservations made
until July 15 2015
charge merchants that accept
their credit cards lower fees
than AmEx does The higher
fees that AmEx charges
merchants allow AmEx to
offer better rewards to the
customers who use its cards
Slate warned the T ruling
would mean cardholdersrsquo
rewards would likely to worsen
over time
It doesnrsquot stop there
AmEx has bigger issues
than currency fuctuations
Company spokespeople said
the frm would be investing
heavily this year to try and
replace business they are set
to lose in 2016 after Costco
rides into the sunset JetBlue is
also closing the door on AmEx
and opening a new window
through a new deal with
Barclays and MasterCard
Prospects for 2016 are not
looking too bright for the once
mighty blue chip company
Even with Warren Buffett
standing by AmEx as one of
Berkshire Hathawayrsquos ldquoBig
Fourrdquo stocks and praised
its managers for being ldquoboth
talented and shareholder-
orientedrdquo cautious investors
are looking elsewhere to give
credit where it is due
sea under the pleasant sunshine
from early spring until late fall
This exclusive natural
environment complements the
priceless architectural value of
this beautiful hotel built in 1912
and designed by respected
Austrian architect Alfred Keller
to provide the utmost comfort
without spoiling the natural beauty
Newly renovated the boutique
hotel Alhambra maintained the
same charm and goal offering
impeccable accommodation in
36 romantic double rooms and 15
spacious elegant suites
In communication with the
beautiful villa Augusta which can
be completely separated if rented
in its entirety the boutique hotel
Alhambra provides a full range of
services
For guests with exquisite taste
who are accustomed to superior
personalized service and elegant
comfort the boutique hotel
Alhambra is an idyllic destination
The additional amenities such
as offers of in-room wellness
motor and sailing boat rentals or
panoramic tours by plane make
Alhambra a unique hotel with
made-to-measure offers
Boutique Hotel Alhambra is
part of the Small Luxury Hotels of
the World
14 MAY 2015
UP IN THE AIR
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE
BRIGHT INSIDE AND OUT
Icelandair in recognition of the Aurora Borealis
has introduced a new livery on one of its Boeing
757s that fies back and forth between Europe
and North America via Iceland (of course) In
addition to the paint job of the plane named Hekla
Aurora the airline has ftted the interior with blue
and green LED lighting that brings the natural
phenomena inside
The company says it celebrates the Icelandic
stopovers they are known for since it is one of the
places in the world where the Aurora Borealis can
be seen most often
Airline Update
BLUE SKIESIn the days of airline cutbacks we had many choices yet lacked
competition JetBlue upgraded the commuter flight experience by adding
amenities such as in-flight entertainment a TV at every seat and Sirius
satellite radio In former CEO David Needemanrsquos words JetBlue sought
ldquoto bring humanity back to air travelrdquo JetBlue grew a cult following by
offering their extras keeping the legacy carriers on their toes
Since launching MINT service on transcontinental routes JetBlue is
recognized for its fresh take on upscale flying which includes private
suites the widest seat in the US domestic market 15-inch flat screens
and a partnership with Saxon amp Parole JetBlue will now be the only US
carrier with lie-flat seating to the Caribbean
In 2011 by introducing charter service to Cuba thanks to the now-
ended embargo JetBlue is in the prime position JetBlue currently
serves over 90 destinations with more to be added In the meantime it
continues to flex its muscle as a travel brand by making a bid to transform
JFK Aiportrsquos iconic TWA terminal into a hotel blending futurism and mid-
20th century nostalgia The airlinersquos New York-based hotel developer
partner MCR Development LLC are in advanced negotiations with the
Port Authority for the rights to the ldquospace-agerdquo 1962 architectural marvel
designed by Eero Saarinen
Truth be told Reykjavik is a cool (as in fun not
temperature) place for a stopover where 365
days a year one can breathe clean air eat fresh
seafood swim in one of the many natural indoor or
outdoor heated pools or relax in the world-class
Blue Lagoon Spa which is right near the airport
A PAL INDEED
After establishing successful routes in Los
Angeles San Francisco Honolulu and Guam
Philippine Airlines bites into an expanded
customer base in the Big Apple at Terminal 1
of New York Cityrsquos JFK International Airport
March 15 2015 marked the carrierrsquos much-
awaited network expansion with four-times-
a-week service to and from Manila with a
stopover in Vancouver Canada
PAL will utilize the Airbus A340-300 jets
which seat 36 passengers in business class
and 218 in economy In Business Class
passengers can expect PALrsquos signature ldquoat
homerdquo in-flight service offering seats that
convert to full-flat beds in-flight entertainment
systems with audio-video on demand and
gourmet cuisine designed by top international
guest chefs
Flight PR 126 departs Manila every
Tuesday Thursday Saturday and Sunday
at 1150 pm After a two-hour transit stop in
Vancouver the service continues on to JFK
arriving at 1050 pm The return service
PR 127 departs New York at 1100 am every
Monday Wednesday Friday and Sunday
arriving in Vancouver at 150 pm and landing
back in Manila at 835 pm the following day
The flight to New York 165 total flying hours
is PALrsquos longest route
16 MAY 2015
HotelUpdate
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the vast verdant Scottish countryside seen on Game of Thrones or even JK Rowlingrsquos Casual Vacancy there is a place travelers can now visit Though at Alladale Wilderness Reserve there are no worries of beheading here instead a welcoming staff is at your beck and call
In the Highlands of Scotland Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a nature-loverrsquos paradise Encompassing 23000 acres of land visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline golf catered picnics and wilderness activities In fact naturalist and owner Paul Listerrsquos long-term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into Scotland which were hunted out 500 years agomdasharound the time of the fictional Westeros
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests It can be a romantic getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends A butler and personal chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a never-to-be-forgotten adventure
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions To curb wasteful government spending
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($19 billion) according to the
proposed 2015 budget
However as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business) it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries
In response to complaints the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban
Yanti Sukamdani head of the Indonesian Hotel
amp Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago
ldquoHotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percentrdquo said Sukamdani ldquoAnything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million peoplerdquo she noted The governmentrsquos 2015
growth target ldquocannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel businessrdquo
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latviarsquos Karosta Prison which guarantees
the ultimate pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience
complete with bad food humiliation and
emotional torture included in the package The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks
In Boston Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh plush suites and gracious public
areas The Jail Hotel Loewengraben a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne Switzerland offers
simple and clean overnight roomsmdashvisitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the directorrsquos offce Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout
Oxford Castle has a storied 1000-year-old
history most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex
the monolithic building has overnight rooms
apartments restaurants and bars Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors
though everything has of course been upgraded
remodeled and refurbished
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
ldquoHOMErdquo VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb a country thatrsquos been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors The online home
rental servicersquos decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administrationrsquos loosening
restrictions from the former US trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the islandrsquos small private
sector Typing ldquoCubardquo in Airbnbrsquos search engine
yields 1000 properties across the island with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners and plans to expand further
in the coming months
ldquoWe believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnbrsquos biggest markets in Latin Americardquo said
Kay Kuehne regional director for Airbnb ldquoWe are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years agordquo
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba including family visits
educational activities and humanitarian projects
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS
Mention ldquoPTrdquo for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15 discount or for
booking a stay Contact andrew
therovingambassadorcom or judith
alladalecom for further information
wwwalladalecom
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively
MAY 2015 13
Croatia is recognized as one of
the most beautiful destinations
appreciated for its diversity
unique coast and unspoiled
nature In the northern Adriatic
Sea in the Kvarner bay lies an
island of vitalitymdashLošinj For
centuries Lošinj has been known
as a place of fragrant healing
naturemdasha point of pride that
carries on to this day
In the idyllic surroundings of the
Park Forest Čikat next to the sea
surrounded by tall pines agaves
and palm trees and sheltered
from the wind lies one of the
most luxurious hotels in Lošinjmdash
the boutique hotel Alhambra
Its private beach is perfect for
moments of contemplation by the
An impressive ldquoArkrdquo is about
to set sail at New Yorkrsquos JFK
International Airport It may not
be Noahrsquos but itrsquos designed
WHILE YOU WERE AWAY
LULLED BY
CROATIArsquoS
LOŠINJ
for the transport of domestic
and wild animals The new $48
million178000-square-foot transport
and quarantine ldquoterminalrdquo will
handle 70000 animals annually
when it opens next year The Ark
is designed with its customers
in mind to reduce the stress of
travel with an animal arrival and
departure lounge gourmet food
showers an overnight pet resort
called ldquoParadise 4 Pawsrdquo and
veterinary services
That said animal transport has
been business as usual at KLM
since 1924 Its status as the frst
airline to transport live animals
was sealed when a bull named
Nico was fown from Rotterdam
to Paris that year The reputation
has grown since and KLM still
recognized as one of the best
and largest animal transporters in
the world Zoo animals livestock
horses ornamental fsh dogs and
cats and many exotic creatures
NOAHrsquoS ARK NYC
have fown onboard JFKrsquos ldquoArkrdquo
team should take note that KLM
also boasts a special hotel for all
the animals
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
PREMIER TRAVELER READERS
Use code ldquoPTrdquo for booking
a stay at Boutique Hotel
Alhambra to realize a 15
discount on reservations made
until July 15 2015
charge merchants that accept
their credit cards lower fees
than AmEx does The higher
fees that AmEx charges
merchants allow AmEx to
offer better rewards to the
customers who use its cards
Slate warned the T ruling
would mean cardholdersrsquo
rewards would likely to worsen
over time
It doesnrsquot stop there
AmEx has bigger issues
than currency fuctuations
Company spokespeople said
the frm would be investing
heavily this year to try and
replace business they are set
to lose in 2016 after Costco
rides into the sunset JetBlue is
also closing the door on AmEx
and opening a new window
through a new deal with
Barclays and MasterCard
Prospects for 2016 are not
looking too bright for the once
mighty blue chip company
Even with Warren Buffett
standing by AmEx as one of
Berkshire Hathawayrsquos ldquoBig
Fourrdquo stocks and praised
its managers for being ldquoboth
talented and shareholder-
orientedrdquo cautious investors
are looking elsewhere to give
credit where it is due
sea under the pleasant sunshine
from early spring until late fall
This exclusive natural
environment complements the
priceless architectural value of
this beautiful hotel built in 1912
and designed by respected
Austrian architect Alfred Keller
to provide the utmost comfort
without spoiling the natural beauty
Newly renovated the boutique
hotel Alhambra maintained the
same charm and goal offering
impeccable accommodation in
36 romantic double rooms and 15
spacious elegant suites
In communication with the
beautiful villa Augusta which can
be completely separated if rented
in its entirety the boutique hotel
Alhambra provides a full range of
services
For guests with exquisite taste
who are accustomed to superior
personalized service and elegant
comfort the boutique hotel
Alhambra is an idyllic destination
The additional amenities such
as offers of in-room wellness
motor and sailing boat rentals or
panoramic tours by plane make
Alhambra a unique hotel with
made-to-measure offers
Boutique Hotel Alhambra is
part of the Small Luxury Hotels of
the World
14 MAY 2015
UP IN THE AIR
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE
BRIGHT INSIDE AND OUT
Icelandair in recognition of the Aurora Borealis
has introduced a new livery on one of its Boeing
757s that fies back and forth between Europe
and North America via Iceland (of course) In
addition to the paint job of the plane named Hekla
Aurora the airline has ftted the interior with blue
and green LED lighting that brings the natural
phenomena inside
The company says it celebrates the Icelandic
stopovers they are known for since it is one of the
places in the world where the Aurora Borealis can
be seen most often
Airline Update
BLUE SKIESIn the days of airline cutbacks we had many choices yet lacked
competition JetBlue upgraded the commuter flight experience by adding
amenities such as in-flight entertainment a TV at every seat and Sirius
satellite radio In former CEO David Needemanrsquos words JetBlue sought
ldquoto bring humanity back to air travelrdquo JetBlue grew a cult following by
offering their extras keeping the legacy carriers on their toes
Since launching MINT service on transcontinental routes JetBlue is
recognized for its fresh take on upscale flying which includes private
suites the widest seat in the US domestic market 15-inch flat screens
and a partnership with Saxon amp Parole JetBlue will now be the only US
carrier with lie-flat seating to the Caribbean
In 2011 by introducing charter service to Cuba thanks to the now-
ended embargo JetBlue is in the prime position JetBlue currently
serves over 90 destinations with more to be added In the meantime it
continues to flex its muscle as a travel brand by making a bid to transform
JFK Aiportrsquos iconic TWA terminal into a hotel blending futurism and mid-
20th century nostalgia The airlinersquos New York-based hotel developer
partner MCR Development LLC are in advanced negotiations with the
Port Authority for the rights to the ldquospace-agerdquo 1962 architectural marvel
designed by Eero Saarinen
Truth be told Reykjavik is a cool (as in fun not
temperature) place for a stopover where 365
days a year one can breathe clean air eat fresh
seafood swim in one of the many natural indoor or
outdoor heated pools or relax in the world-class
Blue Lagoon Spa which is right near the airport
A PAL INDEED
After establishing successful routes in Los
Angeles San Francisco Honolulu and Guam
Philippine Airlines bites into an expanded
customer base in the Big Apple at Terminal 1
of New York Cityrsquos JFK International Airport
March 15 2015 marked the carrierrsquos much-
awaited network expansion with four-times-
a-week service to and from Manila with a
stopover in Vancouver Canada
PAL will utilize the Airbus A340-300 jets
which seat 36 passengers in business class
and 218 in economy In Business Class
passengers can expect PALrsquos signature ldquoat
homerdquo in-flight service offering seats that
convert to full-flat beds in-flight entertainment
systems with audio-video on demand and
gourmet cuisine designed by top international
guest chefs
Flight PR 126 departs Manila every
Tuesday Thursday Saturday and Sunday
at 1150 pm After a two-hour transit stop in
Vancouver the service continues on to JFK
arriving at 1050 pm The return service
PR 127 departs New York at 1100 am every
Monday Wednesday Friday and Sunday
arriving in Vancouver at 150 pm and landing
back in Manila at 835 pm the following day
The flight to New York 165 total flying hours
is PALrsquos longest route
16 MAY 2015
HotelUpdate
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the vast verdant Scottish countryside seen on Game of Thrones or even JK Rowlingrsquos Casual Vacancy there is a place travelers can now visit Though at Alladale Wilderness Reserve there are no worries of beheading here instead a welcoming staff is at your beck and call
In the Highlands of Scotland Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a nature-loverrsquos paradise Encompassing 23000 acres of land visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline golf catered picnics and wilderness activities In fact naturalist and owner Paul Listerrsquos long-term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into Scotland which were hunted out 500 years agomdasharound the time of the fictional Westeros
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests It can be a romantic getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends A butler and personal chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a never-to-be-forgotten adventure
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions To curb wasteful government spending
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($19 billion) according to the
proposed 2015 budget
However as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business) it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries
In response to complaints the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban
Yanti Sukamdani head of the Indonesian Hotel
amp Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago
ldquoHotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percentrdquo said Sukamdani ldquoAnything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million peoplerdquo she noted The governmentrsquos 2015
growth target ldquocannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel businessrdquo
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latviarsquos Karosta Prison which guarantees
the ultimate pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience
complete with bad food humiliation and
emotional torture included in the package The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks
In Boston Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh plush suites and gracious public
areas The Jail Hotel Loewengraben a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne Switzerland offers
simple and clean overnight roomsmdashvisitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the directorrsquos offce Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout
Oxford Castle has a storied 1000-year-old
history most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex
the monolithic building has overnight rooms
apartments restaurants and bars Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors
though everything has of course been upgraded
remodeled and refurbished
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
ldquoHOMErdquo VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb a country thatrsquos been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors The online home
rental servicersquos decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administrationrsquos loosening
restrictions from the former US trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the islandrsquos small private
sector Typing ldquoCubardquo in Airbnbrsquos search engine
yields 1000 properties across the island with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners and plans to expand further
in the coming months
ldquoWe believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnbrsquos biggest markets in Latin Americardquo said
Kay Kuehne regional director for Airbnb ldquoWe are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years agordquo
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba including family visits
educational activities and humanitarian projects
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS
Mention ldquoPTrdquo for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15 discount or for
booking a stay Contact andrew
therovingambassadorcom or judith
alladalecom for further information
wwwalladalecom
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively
14 MAY 2015
UP IN THE AIR
THE NORTHERN LIGHTS SHINE
BRIGHT INSIDE AND OUT
Icelandair in recognition of the Aurora Borealis
has introduced a new livery on one of its Boeing
757s that fies back and forth between Europe
and North America via Iceland (of course) In
addition to the paint job of the plane named Hekla
Aurora the airline has ftted the interior with blue
and green LED lighting that brings the natural
phenomena inside
The company says it celebrates the Icelandic
stopovers they are known for since it is one of the
places in the world where the Aurora Borealis can
be seen most often
Airline Update
BLUE SKIESIn the days of airline cutbacks we had many choices yet lacked
competition JetBlue upgraded the commuter flight experience by adding
amenities such as in-flight entertainment a TV at every seat and Sirius
satellite radio In former CEO David Needemanrsquos words JetBlue sought
ldquoto bring humanity back to air travelrdquo JetBlue grew a cult following by
offering their extras keeping the legacy carriers on their toes
Since launching MINT service on transcontinental routes JetBlue is
recognized for its fresh take on upscale flying which includes private
suites the widest seat in the US domestic market 15-inch flat screens
and a partnership with Saxon amp Parole JetBlue will now be the only US
carrier with lie-flat seating to the Caribbean
In 2011 by introducing charter service to Cuba thanks to the now-
ended embargo JetBlue is in the prime position JetBlue currently
serves over 90 destinations with more to be added In the meantime it
continues to flex its muscle as a travel brand by making a bid to transform
JFK Aiportrsquos iconic TWA terminal into a hotel blending futurism and mid-
20th century nostalgia The airlinersquos New York-based hotel developer
partner MCR Development LLC are in advanced negotiations with the
Port Authority for the rights to the ldquospace-agerdquo 1962 architectural marvel
designed by Eero Saarinen
Truth be told Reykjavik is a cool (as in fun not
temperature) place for a stopover where 365
days a year one can breathe clean air eat fresh
seafood swim in one of the many natural indoor or
outdoor heated pools or relax in the world-class
Blue Lagoon Spa which is right near the airport
A PAL INDEED
After establishing successful routes in Los
Angeles San Francisco Honolulu and Guam
Philippine Airlines bites into an expanded
customer base in the Big Apple at Terminal 1
of New York Cityrsquos JFK International Airport
March 15 2015 marked the carrierrsquos much-
awaited network expansion with four-times-
a-week service to and from Manila with a
stopover in Vancouver Canada
PAL will utilize the Airbus A340-300 jets
which seat 36 passengers in business class
and 218 in economy In Business Class
passengers can expect PALrsquos signature ldquoat
homerdquo in-flight service offering seats that
convert to full-flat beds in-flight entertainment
systems with audio-video on demand and
gourmet cuisine designed by top international
guest chefs
Flight PR 126 departs Manila every
Tuesday Thursday Saturday and Sunday
at 1150 pm After a two-hour transit stop in
Vancouver the service continues on to JFK
arriving at 1050 pm The return service
PR 127 departs New York at 1100 am every
Monday Wednesday Friday and Sunday
arriving in Vancouver at 150 pm and landing
back in Manila at 835 pm the following day
The flight to New York 165 total flying hours
is PALrsquos longest route
16 MAY 2015
HotelUpdate
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the vast verdant Scottish countryside seen on Game of Thrones or even JK Rowlingrsquos Casual Vacancy there is a place travelers can now visit Though at Alladale Wilderness Reserve there are no worries of beheading here instead a welcoming staff is at your beck and call
In the Highlands of Scotland Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a nature-loverrsquos paradise Encompassing 23000 acres of land visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline golf catered picnics and wilderness activities In fact naturalist and owner Paul Listerrsquos long-term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into Scotland which were hunted out 500 years agomdasharound the time of the fictional Westeros
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests It can be a romantic getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends A butler and personal chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a never-to-be-forgotten adventure
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions To curb wasteful government spending
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($19 billion) according to the
proposed 2015 budget
However as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business) it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries
In response to complaints the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban
Yanti Sukamdani head of the Indonesian Hotel
amp Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago
ldquoHotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percentrdquo said Sukamdani ldquoAnything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million peoplerdquo she noted The governmentrsquos 2015
growth target ldquocannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel businessrdquo
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latviarsquos Karosta Prison which guarantees
the ultimate pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience
complete with bad food humiliation and
emotional torture included in the package The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks
In Boston Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh plush suites and gracious public
areas The Jail Hotel Loewengraben a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne Switzerland offers
simple and clean overnight roomsmdashvisitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the directorrsquos offce Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout
Oxford Castle has a storied 1000-year-old
history most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex
the monolithic building has overnight rooms
apartments restaurants and bars Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors
though everything has of course been upgraded
remodeled and refurbished
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
ldquoHOMErdquo VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb a country thatrsquos been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors The online home
rental servicersquos decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administrationrsquos loosening
restrictions from the former US trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the islandrsquos small private
sector Typing ldquoCubardquo in Airbnbrsquos search engine
yields 1000 properties across the island with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners and plans to expand further
in the coming months
ldquoWe believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnbrsquos biggest markets in Latin Americardquo said
Kay Kuehne regional director for Airbnb ldquoWe are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years agordquo
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba including family visits
educational activities and humanitarian projects
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS
Mention ldquoPTrdquo for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15 discount or for
booking a stay Contact andrew
therovingambassadorcom or judith
alladalecom for further information
wwwalladalecom
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively
16 MAY 2015
HotelUpdate
ACCOMMODATIONS
FEEL LIKE SCOTTISH ROYALTY
WITHOUT THE BLOODSHED
For those who are seduced by the vast verdant Scottish countryside seen on Game of Thrones or even JK Rowlingrsquos Casual Vacancy there is a place travelers can now visit Though at Alladale Wilderness Reserve there are no worries of beheading here instead a welcoming staff is at your beck and call
In the Highlands of Scotland Alladale Wilderness Reserve is a nature-loverrsquos paradise Encompassing 23000 acres of land visitors can enjoy the stunning coastline golf catered picnics and wilderness activities In fact naturalist and owner Paul Listerrsquos long-term vision includes plans to re-introduce wolves and bears into Scotland which were hunted out 500 years agomdasharound the time of the fictional Westeros
The lodge accommodates 12 to 14 guests It can be a romantic getaway or a dream trip for a group of friends A butler and personal chef is provided so a private getaway is definitely a reality as is a never-to-be-forgotten adventure
THE FIRST CUT IS THE DEEPEST
Sometimes the road to trouble is paved with good
intentions To curb wasteful government spending
Indonesian President Joko Widodo banned civil
servants from hosting meetings in hotels late last
year and cut the allowances they would get for
attending The hotel ban saves the government
24 trillion rupiah ($19 billion) according to the
proposed 2015 budget
However as this move slashes hotel revenues in
resort destinations like Bogor (where government
events have accounted for as much as 60 percent
of the hospitality business) it has caused an uproar
among hoteliers and others in related industries
In response to complaints the administration
announced in February that it would relax the ban
Yanti Sukamdani head of the Indonesian Hotel
amp Restaurant Association and director at Hotel
Sahid Jaya told Bloomberg Business that the
move will reduce tax revenue for local and central
administrations and the administration is not
taking into account the multiplier effect of the hotel
trade from transport to insurance She adds that
government business is even more important for
hotels in remote areas across the archipelago
ldquoHotels can survive if the occupancy rate is 55
percentrdquo said Sukamdani ldquoAnything below that
would lead to layoffs in an industry employing 11
million peoplerdquo she noted The governmentrsquos 2015
growth target ldquocannot be achieved if there is a
slowdown in hotel businessrdquo
THE JAILHOUSE ROCKS
Premier Traveler recently gave you the scoop
on Latviarsquos Karosta Prison which guarantees
the ultimate pre-Glasnost KGB jail experience
complete with bad food humiliation and
emotional torture included in the package The fip
side of that comprises former prisons that not only
reformed their former tenants but were reformed
themselves into conversation-starting hotel
properties with unusual features and perks
In Boston Charles Street Jail was transformed
from a former 19th-century prison in a state of
disrepair into an astonishingly luxurious four-star
jail with posh plush suites and gracious public
areas The Jail Hotel Loewengraben a 19th-
century prison in Lucerne Switzerland offers
simple and clean overnight roomsmdashvisitors can
upgrade to luxury suites built out of the former
library and the directorrsquos offce Every part of
the prison has been chicly repurposed while
maintaining the essence of the original layout
Oxford Castle has a storied 1000-year-old
history most notoriously as a prison in the 1800s
Now known as the Malmaison Hotel complex
the monolithic building has overnight rooms
apartments restaurants and bars Much of the
prison infrastructure is still visible to visitors
though everything has of course been upgraded
remodeled and refurbished
CUBANS WELCOME AMERICANS
ldquoHOMErdquo VIA AIRBNB
Thanks to Airbnb a country thatrsquos been off limits
to Americans for 50 years is now opening its
doors and its arms to visitors The online home
rental servicersquos decision to expand into Cuba is
illustrative of the Obama administrationrsquos loosening
restrictions from the former US trade embargo to
encourage the growth of the islandrsquos small private
sector Typing ldquoCubardquo in Airbnbrsquos search engine
yields 1000 properties across the island with 40
percent in Havana and the rest in resort areas such
as Cienfuegos Airbnb has been sending teams of
representatives to Cuba for three months to sign up
interested homeowners and plans to expand further
in the coming months
ldquoWe believe that Cuba could become one of
Airbnbrsquos biggest markets in Latin Americardquo said
Kay Kuehne regional director for Airbnb ldquoWe are
actually plugging into an existing culture of micro-
enterprise in Cuba The hosts in Cuba have been
doing for decades what we just started doing
seven years agordquo
The service for now is only open to those
Americans traveling on the existing 12 government
sanctions for travel to Cuba including family visits
educational activities and humanitarian projects
A SPECIAL OFFER FOR
THE READERS
Mention ldquoPTrdquo for booking a stay
at Alladale Wilderness Reserve
and realize 15 discount or for
booking a stay Contact andrew
therovingambassadorcom or judith
alladalecom for further information
wwwalladalecom
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively
MAY 2015 17
Loyalty Programs
MARRIOTT CONTINUES TO
EXPAND WORLDWIDE
The acquisition of the 116-property Protea Hospitality
Group last April was the tipping factor that made
Marriott the largest hotel company in Africa However
Marriott Rewards arenrsquot available at all of the locations
yet Point earning and spending eligibility has just
recently been made available at 26 of the Protea Hotel
South African locationsmdashin Johannesburg Cape
Town and Durban Rewards points are set to roll out
by the end of the year to the remaining properties
located in six African countries Zambia Nigeria
Namibia Malawi Uganda and Tanzania
ETHIOPIAN AIRLINES CONTINUES
TO MAKE AVIATION HISTORY
Ethiopian Airlines the largest and most
profitable airline in Africa and the second
fastest-growing national carrier in the world
has enjoyed a banner year
To highlight a few Ethiopian historical
moments the airlines unveiled its first Ethiopian
Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner The ultra-
modern 787 serving the Addis Ababa-Dublin-
GLOBAL REWARDS
EXPEDIA-TING WORLD DOMINATION2015 has been quite a year for Expedia as it assimilated rivals Orbitz and Travelocity into its portfolio in January Through its $133 billion deal with Orbitz Expedia gains access to the namesake brand as well as brands like CheapTickets and HotelClub This adds to a stable of ldquohousehold namerdquo travel site brands including Hotelscom and Hotwirecom
According to Expedia CEO Dara Khosrowshahi Orbitz was a particularly attractive acquisition option in part because of its highly recognized brands and loyal customers Expedia also liked Orbitzrsquo loyalty program and has installed plans to invest in it and expand upon it
Though some consumer groups expressed concern that Expediarsquos acquisitions may result in less competition and higher fares and room rates for consumers industry expert Jason Clampet head of content at the travel intelligence company Skift points out that ldquoItrsquos been a two-horse race for a while now Expedia and Priceline are the big two giants in the US but there are still a ton of ways to buy travelrdquo
LA route will offer extensive on-board comfort
to passengers for the long haul (figuratively
and literally) with greatly reduced noise higher
cabin air humidity the biggest windows in the
sky and spacious cabin interior
In March Ethiopianrsquos 787 Dreamliner
made a scheduled first visit to Dublin Airport
Earlier this year the largest airline in Africa
announced that it would commence three-
times-weekly flights direct from Dublin to Addis
Ababa and Los Angeles on the Dreamliner
ahead of its inaugural flight to Los Angeles on
June 20
In December at the ldquo2014 Best of Awards
Galardquo Ethiopian Airlines was awarded ldquoBest
Airline to Africardquo by the most prominent travel
magazine in the United States Commenting
on the award Ethiopian Airlines Group CEO
Tewolde Gebremariam said ldquoWe are honored
that Premier Traveler Magazinersquos readers in
the US have selected us as the best airline
for travel to Africa I wish to thank them for this
vote of confidence which once again reaffirms
the quality of the service and product we offerrdquo
With the addition of Dublin the airlinersquos
11th European city (now recognized officially
as their European hub) and Los Angeles
(its fourth point in the Americas) Ethiopianrsquos
international network will cover 85 destinations
across five continents
Ethiopian Airlines was also pleased to
announce that it began new services to Tokyo
Narita International Airport as of April 21
2015 in codeshare agreement with fellow
Star Alliance member All Nippon Airways
Japanrsquos leading airline The thrice-weekly
flight the only direct connection between
Africa and Japan will be operated through
Hong Kong with the aforementioned Boeing
787 Dreamliner aircraft to provide the utmost
comfort to its passengers
CHANGE NOT ALWAYS GOOD
Southwest has announced upcoming changes
regarding its Rapid Rewards program Members
have been fearing the worst devaluation Set to
go in place April 17 the airline announced that
more factors will be taken into account when
calculating the amount of points needed for a
free fight
If membersrsquo worst fears come to fruition this
change will follow suit with the point devaluation
that other airline reward programs such as
Deltarsquos SkyMiles and Unitedrsquos Mileage Plus have
gone through within the last year Long gone will
be days of the refreshing transparency Rapid
Rewards has had up until now when all you had
to do to determine the amount of points needed
for a free ticket was multiply the base fare by 70
100 or 120 for ldquoWanna get awayrdquo ldquoAnytimerdquo or
ldquoBusiness Selectrdquo tickets respectively