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June 14, 2010Published by Odyssey Media Group

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DEVOTED TO THE “BUSINESS” OF BUSINESS TRAVEL

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Amadeus Introduces Car Booking ToolAmadeus is launching a new car booking tool which uses cutting-edge technology to power a user-friendly interface.

Travel agents using the Amadeus Selling Platform (version 4.2 and above) will be able to access Cars Plus in any one of the 10 languages supported by our global booking solution. Marion Fuhrmann, Office Manager Pforzheimer Reisebuero, Lufthansa City Center observed: “Making car bookings is now so simple, we can always find a product to match our client’s specific criteria, and the easy-to-use comparison functionality ensures...

Emirates Orders 32 Airbus A380 Super JumbosEmirates has placed an order with Airbus for an additional 32 A380 aircraft, taking the total firm order for the iconic flagship of the 21st century to 90 super-jumbos. The order for the additional aircraft has a list price of $US 11.5 billion (AED 42.2). The agreement was signed during a ceremony at the Berlin Air Show by His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group and Tom Enders, Airbus President & CEO which was witnessed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other dignitaries.

“This latest order, adding to 58 A380s previously ordered, affirms Emirates’ strategy to become a world leading carrier...

Vietnam Airlines Joins SkyTeamDuring a ceremony held in Hanoi, Vietnam Airlines officially joined the SkyTeam global airline alliance. SkyTeam is increasing its focus on Asia as a whole, and by welcoming its first member in Southeast Asia, the alliance significantly strengthens its network reach in the region.

Joining SkyTeam marks an important step toward Vietnam Airlines’ future growth. It will bring passengers convenient and seamless service of international standards to a global network covering more than 850 destinations in 169 countries. Vietnam Airlines customers can earn and redeem frequent flyer miles when traveling on flights of all other SkyTeam member airlines. Customers from the other SkyTeam frequent flyer programs can achieve the same when flying Vietnam Airlines.

Pan Pacific VP, North America DevelopmentPan Pacific Hotels Group has announced the appointment of Todd Wynne-Parry as Vice President, Development - North America. In his new appointment, Todd will focus on identifying, negotiating and securing hotel management contracts in North America to drive the development of the Group’s Pan Pacific brand in major gateway markets.

Todd brings onboard 30 years of hospitality experience and has been primarily involved in the development aspect of the business - charting career successes with InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Westin Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International.

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Publisher & Managing Editor: Colin J. Holden - colin@odysseymediagroup.comAssociate Editor: Brian Menzies - brian@odysseymediagroup.comAssociate Editor: Edward Lambert - ed@odysseymediagroup.com

Technology Editor: Marten Streifel - marten@odysseymediagroup.comM.I.C.E. Editor: Deborah Ibsen - deb@odysseymediagroup.com

Vancouver, Canada - San Francisco, USATelephone: (604) 543-7375

CONTENTSEgencia Releases 2010 Benchmarking Study page 3Amadeus Introduces Car Booking ToolLAN Airlines Signs Global Agreement With Travelport

Travelport Signs Long-Term Agreement With Marriott International page 4Leading Hotels of The World Upgrades To Customized yourVoyager System

Vietnam Airlines Joins SkyTeam page 5Delta Expanding First Class On Domestic Flights

Emirates Orders 32 Airbus A380 Super Jumbos page 6Porter Airlines To Operate Full Schedule During G20 SummitFinnair Has New Baggage Handling Centre

Japan Airlines & China Eastern Increase Codeshare Flights page 7Etihad Airways Launches Non-Stop Abu Dhabi - Erbil FlightEmirates Launching ‘Mobile Emirates.com’Lufthansa To Fly From Munich To Baghdad

Delta Eliminates Award Redemption Fees For Frequent Flyers page 8Alaska Airlines Launches Inflight Wi-FiSingapore Airlines Offers Streamlined Check-in

Tourism Australia Partners With China Southern Airlines page 9Hotusa Expands Portfolio With 42 New HotelsFairmont Scottsdale Princess Joins ALHIDesign Hotels Offering Free Night, Free Upgrade Or 10% Off

Taiwan Approves 37 New Hotels page 10Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou To OpenShangri-La Hotels Announces First Hotel In TibetCarlson Hotels Signs First Hotel in Wuxi Hi-Tech Zone

Choice Hotels Rolls Out New Tech Plan page 11LHW Unveils “Leaders Club Rewards” Program

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Appoints Joseph Dir. of Ops page 12Carlson Hotels Appoints Deschamps As VPHalifax International Airport Authority’s Jerry Staples HonoredMcConnell Named GM, Outrigger WaikikiParsons Named GM, Naples Beach HotelPan Pacific Names Wynne-Parry As VP, NA Development

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TRAVEL MANAGEMENTEgencia Releases 2010 Benchmarking StudyEgencia unveiled its 2010 Corporate Travel Global Benchmarking Study that evaluates the current business travel landscape and corresponding supply environment for air, hotel and car inventory. Focusing on top domestic and international business destinations in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, Egencia analyzed industry trends, supplier research and capacity implications in Q1 2010. The study validates themes uncovered in Egencia’s 2010 Forecast and Hotel Negotiability Index, including that the hotel market for corporate travel has experienced significant decreases in Q1. In addition, Egencia also surveyed more than 400 travel buyers in North America and Europe regarding travel program expectations, policies and challenges.

“We are seeing changes in corporate travel purchasing and management behavior by customers. We’re seeing a different pricing picture compared to this time last year,” said Gaurav Sundaram, Country Director, Egencia India. “While corporate travel spending is certainly on the upswing, companies seek to control spend and buy smart . While their air programs are quite structured and disciplined, the greatest incremental saving opportunity for corporations is found with hotels.”

According to respondents of Egencia’s survey of more than 400 travel buyers in North America and Europe, 56 percent of North American buyers and 45 percent of European buyers expect their travel volumes to increase during the remainder of 2010, with 20 percent (North America) and 15 percent (Europe) planning to change their travel policies during the year. Additionally, 40 percent of North American travel buyers and 49 percent of European travel buyers said they will negotiate more this year than they did in 2009.

“Quality and frequency of reporting on travel spend & continued evaluation of supplier contracts are some of the key areas that travel managers focused on , in the current economic climate,” said Gaurav. “Indian travel buyers can derive incremental efficiency’s in managing corporate travel spend through implementation of technology allowing greater control &reporting systems apart from a stronger hotel program”.

Travel Managers universally identified cost control/reducing spending as the greatest challenge facing travel programs. Specific rankings of travel program challenges are as follows:

- Cost control/reducing expenses (59% Europe, 49% North America)- Traveler satisfaction (11% Europe, 23% North America)- Traveler compliance/policy enforcement (12% Europe, 13% North America)- Capturing a full view of travel spend (9% Europe, 7% North America)

www.egencia.com

GDS/CRS

Amadeus is launching a new car booking tool which uses cutting-edge technology to power a user-friendly interface.

LAN Airlines Signs Global Agreement With TravelportTravelport has a new global full content agreement with LAN Airlines. The new multi-year agreement secures access to the airline’s full range of published fares and inventory for all Travelport-connected travel agents, corporate customers and online agencies worldwide booking through the Galileo and Worldspan platforms, with immediate effect. “Through this partnership, we are pleased to provide our customers with full access to LAN Airlines fares and inventory through our Galileo and Worldspan distribution channels,” said Dan Westbrook, VP, Supplier Services, Travelport GDS. “As a global marketplace for approximately 60,000 online and offline travel agencies, which in turn serves millions of end consumers globally, Travelport is committed to providing full content for our customers and providing cost-effective and value-added distribution to all suppliers.”

“Travelport is an important commercial partner for LAN Airlines and we’re delighted that we’ve reached a global agreement for their agents, which provides them with access to all of our published fares and inventory,” said Sergio Mendoza, VP, Distribution and Revenue Management, LAN Airlines.

Amadeus Introduces Car Booking Tool

Travel agents using the Amadeus Selling Platform (version 4.2 and above) will be able to access Cars Plus in any one of the 10 languages supported by our global booking solution. Marion Fuhrmann, Office Manager Pforzheimer Reisebuero, Lufthansa City Center observed: “Making car bookings is now so simple, we can always find a product to match our client’s specific criteria, and the easy-to-use comparison functionality ensures we are offering customers the best rental arrangement available. In fact, with enhanced graphics, images and mapping features, Cars Plus looks and feels like a consumer website, but has the advantage of integrated and powerful

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Amadeus booking technology.”

In addition to the intuitive booking flow, Cars Plus includes new features, providing agents with the best sales tools available to deliver superior customer service; advanced search options (e.g. search for car rental offers around a landmark or an address), multiple comparative availability displays, data pre-population from customer profiles and company/travel agency policies or extensive multi-media (car images, product icons, maps) amongst others. Equipped with a top of the range booking tool, that is so simple to use, agents will be able to generate customer loyalty and create instant revenue opportunities from increased car rental sales.

For car providers, Cars Plus delivers important merchandising opportunities. Guirec Grand-Clément, Sales & Marketing Director, The Europcar Group explains, “now we can really differentiate our brand using the rich multi-media options available with Cars Plus to highlight our car rental offering, bringing to life our locations, in-car features and add-on services’’. Guirec Grand-Clément adds “Cars Plus also helps enforce corporate and customer policy compliancy by matching each set of client preferences - an important feature for our business clients.”

“We have already seen in our pilot agencies that Cars Plus has had an immediate impact on car booking behaviour” said Jérôme Vanazzi, Director of Amadeus Cars, and added “agents are developing a greater confidence in booking cars and, more importantly, are seeing the immediate benefits of incremental revenue and the added value they can offer customers. In addition, Cars Plus integrates all booking information directly into the PNR (Passenger Name Record), resulting in improved agent productivity and data consistency from front to back office systems. With such positive feedback, we are excited about delivering Cars Plus throughout our agency network over the coming months.”

Leading Hotels of The World Upgrades To Customized yourVoyager SystemThe Leading Hotels of the World, Ltd. has launched a customized version of Trust International’s yourVoyager centralized reservation system (CRS), dubbed LEO (Leading Excellence in Operation), to its member hotels. Leveraging the “white label” highly customizable nature of the yourVoyager CRS application, The Leading Hotels of the World (LHW) tailored yourVoyager to its needs, including utilizing their own branding and activating the features that were important for their member hotels.

More than 450 LHW member hotels are now using the LEO application to maintain and control their hotel online reservation and rate content. Following LHW’s service philosophy, all hotels have received training by LHW to ensure that new features of the LEO yourVoyager CRS are conveyed so they can be used to their fullest extent.

“LEO has improved many aspects of our daily work,” said Jon Londeen, Senior Vice President, Reservations Management, LHW. “It is as aesthetically appealing as any hotel customer-facing application. LEO provides a full information portal for our member hotels, including access to our internal extranet and the major social media sites of Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. The application is user friendly, intuitive, and has drastically reduced the amount of time required for training. The feedback from our staff members has been very positive, and we value LEO as a tool that will help us impact our bottom line.”

“With the launch of yourVoyager less than a year ago, Trust International has been one of the first to combine the latest technology features with the ability to fully customize the application so that the hotel group customer can create its own tailored and branded version of the application,” said Richard Wiegmann, Managing Director, Trust International. “The Leading Hotels of the World has embraced the full functionality of our yourVoyager system’s customization capabilities and has truly made the system its own, as we had hoped hotel groups would. By incorporating LHW’s own corporate identity they will increase brand recognition by member hotels, while enabling efficiency and maximizing revenue streams for each individual property.”

www.lhw.com

Travelport Signs Long-Term Agreement With Marriott InternationalTravelport has detailed a ground-breaking, global agreement with Marriott International. The five-year agreement secures access to Marriott International’s wide variety of content, inventory, and brands for all Travelport-connected users worldwide, including corporate customers and retail online agencies booking through the Galileo

and Worldspan systems.

As part of the agreement, Marriott has also committed to upgrading its current interface to Galileo and Worldspan to Travelport’s XML Pro Direct Connect interface, including enhancements to the shopping and pricing capabilities. Significantly for Marriott, the hotel company will be in a position to reduce its distribution costs as a result of only supporting a single connection to both GDS platforms. Travelport-connected travel agents will also benefit from significant improvements in response times and a more efficient purchasing experience.

“Marriott is pleased to work with Travelport to provide Travelport-connected travel agents with key booking process improvements and assured access to our content and wide variety of brands,” said Larraine Voll Morris, vice president, eDistribution, Marriott International. “Marriott’s upgrade to Travelport XML Pro will give travel agents better visibility to

Marriott’s over 15 brands worldwide, and from an enterprise perspective, will make future changes to the GDS easier, increasing our ability to deliver future functionality enhancements to the marketplace, faster,” added Voll Morris.

“This deal with Marriott benefits our customers through significant technology enhancements, including an upgrade to a direct connect to Travelport via our industry-leading XML platform for enhanced shopping and pricing capabilities,” said Travis Christ, president, Travelport GDS, The Americas. “This is great news for our customers, who will have full access to Marriott’s Best Available Rates and its inventory. Marriott will gain even greater access to the services and support delivered by Travelport’s professional travel agency subscribers.”

Added Christ, “We’re particularly pleased with the agreement as it validates the value of Travelport’s global marketplace of approximately

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60,000 online and offline travel agencies worldwide to an important industry leader such as Marriott, and also, underscores the effectiveness of our Complete Pricing Plus program as well as the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of Travelport’s XML Pro direct connect. The agreement is really all about meeting the needs of both our

travel agents and a key hotel partner.”

An industry first, the Complete Pricing Plus program gives travel agents access to all the normal rates and rules as well as additional detailed pricing information on optional room extras. This streamlines the booking process, especially for leisure bookings, and

provides a consistent approach with the way travel agencies price hotel stays. In turn this saves time for hoteliers, agents and travelers by returning more detailed information regarding hotel rates and room features.

www.travelport.com

AIRLINES & AIRPORTS

Delta Expanding First Class On Domestic FlightsDelta Air Lines revealed a major enhancement of its domestic schedule, with plans to make First Class service available on all domestic flights longer than 750 miles, or about two and one-half hours of flight time, beginning this fall.

The enhancement means Delta customers can enjoy the benefits of First Class service on more domestic flights, and SkyMiles members will have more opportunities for upgrades to First Class seating. With its June schedule, Delta already leads the industry in availability of first-class seating, with 11 percent of the carrier’s domestic seats in First or Business class.

When the upgrade is complete, 50 routes that currently feature Delta Connection flights with only one class of service will be upgraded to two-cabin aircraft with First and Economy Class service. Some of the routes scheduled for enhanced service include flights between Atlanta and Albany, N.Y.; Boston and Memphis, Tenn.; Detroit and San Antonio; and Cincinnati and Dallas/Fort Worth.

“This enhanced service reflects the investment Delta is making in improving the customer experience on the ground and in the air across both our domestic and international network,” said Glen Hauenstein, Delta’s executive vice president - Network Planning and Revenue Management. “Business customers who appreciate the option of traveling in a First Class cabin and frequent fliers who appreciate the opportunity to upgrade will particularly benefit from the significant expansion of two-class service on longer Delta Connection flights.”

Delta’s domestic route upgrades are part of the airline’s ongoing $1 billion investment in products and services across its network, including the retrofit of Delta Connection 70-seat Bombardier CRJ700 aircraft. By fall, Delta’s fleet will include 219 regional aircraft with two-class service flying on 272 domestic routes.

Delta Connection aircraft featuring First Class cabins include Embraer 170, Embraer 175, Bombardier CRJ700 and Bombardier CRJ900 models. The aircraft feature between nine and 12 seats in First Class and between 56 and 64 seats in Economy.

www.delta.com

During a ceremony held in Hanoi, Vietnam Airlines officially joined the SkyTeam global airline alliance. SkyTeam is increasing its focus on Asia as a whole, and by welcoming its first member in Southeast Asia, the alliance significantly strengthens its network reach in the region.

Joining SkyTeam marks an important step toward Vietnam Airlines’ future growth. It will bring passengers convenient and seamless service of international standards to a global network covering more than 850 destinations in 169 countries. Vietnam Airlines customers can earn and redeem frequent flyer miles when traveling on flights of all other SkyTeam member airlines. Customers from the other SkyTeam frequent flyer programs can achieve the same when flying Vietnam Airlines.

As part of the ceremony attended by Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, senior government officials and representatives from SkyTeam member airlines, Vietnam Airlines unveiled its first aircraft in SkyTeam livery to commemorate its membership in the alliance. “The joining today reaffirms Vietnam Airlines’ position as a major carrier in the Southeast Asian region as well as a strategic partner of SkyTeam,” said Dr. Pham Ngoc Minh, President and CEO of Vietnam Airlines. “Our cooperation will help further develop SkyTeam and its member airlines, generating valuable benefits for our passengers and making greater contributions to the international economic integration of Vietnam.”

“We are proud to welcome the first carrier from Southeast Asia in our midst today,” said Leo van Wijk, Chairman of the SkyTeam Governing Board. “Asia is an important and strategic growth market for SkyTeam and we well are on track to strengthen our network offering in this part of the world. Together with our current members China Southern and Korean Air, Vietnam Airlines brings us closer to becoming the leading

Vietnam Airlines Joins SkyTeam

alliance for Asia. By adding 20 new destinations to the SkyTeam network, the joining of Vietnam Airlines marks an important step in this direction.”

“Apart from adding new destinations to our SkyTeam Round the World Pass, Vietnam Airlines enriches the opportunities of our Asia Pass, enabling customers to travel through Asia on a

single ticket in a more economical way,” said Marie-Joseph Male, SkyTeam’s Managing Director. “Furthermore, Vietnam Airlines will be included in all our global deals we offer our corporate clients. Our newest member will also be part of SkyTeam Global Meetings, our service providing event organizers with helpful planning tools to bring people together from all over the world.”

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Finnair Has New Baggage Handling CentreThe baggage of all Finnair scheduled flights is now being handled in a new baggage handling centre, with the opening of check-in area 240 at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport. Baggage handling is now faster and more reliable due to modern technology and larger premises. “The new premises mean that we are able to serve customers better and more reliably than before, because baggage handling capacity is significantlygreater. We can therefore offer customers a smoother overall travel experience,” says Tero Lampén, Product Development Manager of Finnair subsidiary Northport.

The Helsinki-Vantaa premises can now handle 13.5 million items of baggage per year, which is 43 per cent more than the old premises. The entire baggage handling system is over 10 kilometres long and has a peak capacity of 7,000 items of baggage per hour.

In total, the refurbishment of the old parts of the terminal will take nearly two years. More new check-in desks will be taken into use at the end of this year. When the work is completed at the beginning of 2012, the airport will have a completely new look.

During the last 14 months Vietnam Airlines has worked intensively to fulfill the alliances’ membership requirements, ranging from customer service elements such as the recognition of frequent flyer programs, lounge access and priority baggage handling, to establishing codeshare agreements with SkyTeam members. After Vietnam Airlines successfully passed the required audit in May, the SkyTeam Governing Board officially approved the membership.

www.vietnamairlines.comwww.skyteam.com

Porter Airlines To Operate Full Schedule During G20 SummitPorter Airlines confirmed that it will operate a full flight schedule during the G20 Summit meetings scheduled on June 26-27, in Toronto. At the same time, it is possible that some minor delays may be experienced due to special security measures being implemented downtown.

“Our main objective is to give people as much information as possible about Porter’s plan for operating during the G20, so that they can make informed travel decisions,” said Robert Deluce, president and CEO of Porter Airlines. “Everyone recognizes this is an extraordinary event and new information may cause some plans to be adjusted. We’ll do our best to make sure our passengers have the best information as soon as possible.

“Porter is an important part of the transportation network moving thousands of people for the summit in a short period of time. It’s a responsibility that we take seriously and intend to carry out in a safe and secure manner.”

Peak summit activity between Friday, June 25, and Sunday, June 27 and the time leading up to it from Monday June 21 to Thursday June 24, may affect aspects of travel for passengers arriving to or departing from Toronto.

Specifics on associated transportation are as follows:

- Ground transportation: On the ground, passengers should allow more time than usual for getting to and departing from Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport. Some delays and detours are to be expected when navigating the city. Movement will be highly restricted within designated downtown areas that are typically accessible, particularly beginning Friday, June 25.

- Shuttle bus: Road closures will prevent Porter’s shuttle bus from operating on certain days. A proactive decision has been made to suspend this complimentary service as part of security and safety plans starting Monday, June 21, through Sunday, June 27. This allows alternative plans to be made in advance. Regular shuttle service resumes Monday, June 28.

- Public transit: Union Station and public transit are to continue operating. A streetcar stop is conveniently-located one short block from the airport at Bathurst St. and Queen’s Quay.

- Ferry: Airport ferry service will operate on its normal schedule.

www.flyporter.com

Emirates Orders 32 Airbus A380 Super JumbosEmirates has placed an order with Airbus for an additional 32 A380 aircraft, taking the total firm order for the iconic flagship of the 21st century to 90 super-jumbos. The order for the additional aircraft has a list price of $US 11.5 billion (AED 42.2). The agreement was signed during a ceremony at the Berlin Air Show by His Highness (H.H.) Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline and Group and Tom Enders, Airbus President & CEO which was witnessed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel and other dignitaries.

“This latest order, adding to 58 A380s previously ordered, affirms Emirates’ strategy to become a world leading carrier and to further establish Dubai as a central gateway to worldwide air travel. The A380 is our flagship in terms of passenger comfort, innovation, operating and environmental efficiency & revenue generation,” said H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al- Maktoum. “Our latest commitment signals Emirates’ confidence in the growth to come in a thriving aviation sector as we build our fleet for tomorrow,” he added.

“Emirates supported the development of the A380 from the earliest days, a project employing tens of thousands of Europe’s best people and today’s increased order, is the best endorsement I can imagine. On behalf of all of us at Airbus, we thank Emirates for their support. The A380 is indeed a remarkable eco-efficient aircraft, a profit generator for airlines and a great flying experience for passengers,” said Tom Enders.

www.emirates.com

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Emirates Launching ‘Mobile Emirates.com’Booking a flight on the move has just become much easier with Emirates launching ‘Mobile Emirates.com’. Emirates customers, around the globe, now have the option of booking their flight from the palm of their hand - through their phone’s mobile browser - giving them the freedom to book a getaway anytime, anywhere.

Designed to work with over 3000 mobile devices, Mobile Emirates.com has been optimised to ensure that customers on the move can easily and efficiently access the emirates.com website, through their mobile phones.

The new sophisticated functionality ensures that the Emirates website is downloaded in the appropriate format for each specific mobile device, allowing customers to perform a multitude of tasks including; booking and managing a flight, mobile check-in, searching flight schedules and status and even checking the in-flight amenities available on a specific flight.

Russell Sheldon, Emirates Senior Vice President, Network Sales and Passenger Development said: “Consumers are far more mobile than ever before. There is a constant need for products and services to cater to the fast paced lifestyle that today’s individuals lead, people want it here and now, without exception. Mobile search has become one of the fastest growing activities on the internet and as one of the foremost innovative airlines, the move to allow passengers to quickly and conveniently book their tickets through their mobile phone was a natural one. Emirates has always been committed to offering our customers simple and efficient ways to interact with us and we are confident that Mobile Emirates.com will help us to further achieve this.”

www.emirates.com

Japan Airlines & China Eastern Increase Codeshare FlightsJapan Airlines and China Eastern Airlines (MU) have reached an agreement to expand their codeshare partnership. From June 3, 2010, JAL will start to codeshare on 7 daily MU-operated flights between Shanghai (Pudong) and three other Chinese cities - Xi’an, Wuhan and Shenzhen.

Furthermore, both airlines have agreed to increase the flight frequency - from 4 daily flights to 9, on two existing codeshare routes connecting Shanghai with Chengdu and Chongqing. JAL will have its ‘JL’ indicator on a total of 16 daily flights operated by MU that links Shanghai with the 5 cities in China.

As traffic demand from China to Japan is expected to increase once the Japanese government eases restrictions on the application of individual tourist visas for Chinese nationals from July 1 this year, JAL will prepare to catch this wave and meet the increasing demand. Japan Airlines currently codeshares with China Eastern Airlines on 22 routes between China and Japan, and intends to pursue further enhancement of its China domestic network through such partnerships, for the convenience of its valued customers.

Etihad Airways Launches Non-Stop Abu Dhabi - Erbil FlightsEtihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has commenced non-stop flights from its home base in Abu Dhabi to Erbil, becoming the first UAE carrier to operate to northern Iraq.

Etihad operates two return services per week with two-class Airbus A320 aircraft.

The commencement of Etihad’s services to Erbil follows the successful launch of the airline’s flights to Baghdad in April this year, which quickly grew from three services per week to a daily service.

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive Officer, said: “Etihad is delighted to be the first UAE carrier to operate both Baghdad and Erbil. The response to our services to Iraq has been overwhelmingly positive and we are expecting a high volume of traffic on this new route.”

“Iraq is a key market for Etihad and will be an important focus for the airline in 2010. We believe the new route

will attract leisure travellers from Iraq who are looking for short breaks within the Gulf region, as well as business customers, friends and relatives travelling between the UAE and Erbil.”

Etihad has recently launched cargo operations to Erbil, which is expected to perform well for Etihad Airways.

Lufthansa To Fly From Munich To BaghdadLufthansa will initiate a new route between Munich and Baghdad on September 30, 2010. Service will be available four times a week with a Boeing 737 that will be operated on behalf of Lufthansa by the Swiss aviation specialist PrivatAir. Lufthansa resumed flights to Iraq in April after a 20-year hiatus with service between Frankfurt and the city of Erbil in Northern Iraq.

“Against the backdrop of the economic recovery and as foreign companies establish themselves in the country there is growing demand for flights to Iraq. We are pleased to be offering our customers this convenient non-stop connection from Munich to the Iraqi capital,” said Thomas Klühr, Group Representative and Head of Hub Management Munich.

Baghdad is the largest city in Iraq, with a population of about nine million. The

country has the world’s third-largest proven oil reserves and is experiencing dynamic economic growth. Key growth areas are the construction sector, the energy and water industries, and the healthcare sector.

On board the PrivatAir aircraft, equipped with 24 Business Class and 84 Economy Class seats, passengers will experience all the benefits of Lufthansa’s long haul product. In Business Class, these include an inflight entertainment system with the latest films and topical programs, Star Chef menus that change every two months, as well as amenities that enable passengers to work while on board. When extended, the lie-flat seats provide an almost horizontal bed, 6 feet 7 inches in length. In Economy Class, ergonomically designed backrests, extra legroom and seats fitted with individual video screens enhance the passenger experience.

www.lufthansa.com

NBTAHouston 2010International Convention

& ExpositionAugust 8-10, 2010

www.nbta.org

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Singapore Airlines Offers Streamlined Check-inSingapore Airlines customers who check in online and travel without check-in baggage can now look forward to a streamlined check-in experience, with the Airline partnering Changi Airport Group to introduce the Passenger Reconciliation System (PRS) for its flights at Terminals 2 and 3.

Currently, customers with self-printed boarding passes are required to present their travel documents at the check-in counters for verification and endorsement. This is the case even for customers who travel without check-in baggage. Only after all documents have been verified can customers then proceed to the immigration access point.

With PRS, customers departing Changi Airport without check-in baggage can proceed directly to the immigration access point, where security officers with 2D barcode scanners will verify their self-printed boarding passes. Customers who have visa or credit card verification requirements will, however, still need to present their documents at the check-in counters first. These customers should proceed to the designated self-service counters at Row 9 in Terminal 2 and Row 4 in Terminal 3.

Presently, close to a quarter of Singapore Airlines’ customers check in online and over a third of these customers print their own boarding passes. These numbers have increased significantly over the years and PRS is one way through which the Airline aims to enhance the travel experience for this growing segment of customers.

www.singaporeair.com

Alaska Airlines Launches Inflight Wi-FiAlaska Airlines launched Aircell’s Gogo inflight internet service on six Boeing 737-800 aircraft and plans to expand the service to its entire fleet by the end of 2010. The airline is partnering with Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card to offer passengers Inflight Wi-Fi free of charge on flights through July 31, 2010.

Delta Eliminates Award Redemption Fees For Frequent FlyersDelta Air Lines is eliminating award ticket redemption fees for SkyMiles frequent flyer members. Effective immediately, members will no longer pay fees of up to $150 for award tickets redeemed within 20 days of departure.

Before this change, the fee to book an award ticket for travel within three days was $150 per ticket; for travel within four to seven days the fee was $100; and for travel within eight to 20 days the fee was $75. Award tickets booked 21 days or more before departure continue to have no redemption fee.

“We want members to be able to redeem their miles - whether it’s for a last-minute trip or a vacation of a lifetime - and eliminating this fee for our loyal travelers makes doing so significantly easier,” said Jeff Robertson, Delta’s vice president - SkyMiles. “We are actively listening to customers’ concerns about the SkyMiles program and are responding.”

Last year, frequent flyers redeemed more than 230 billion miles in the SkyMiles program for more than 11 million award redemptions. In 2009, 8.5 percent of revenue miles flown on Delta were for award travel, among the best of U.S. network airlines according to data filed in airlines’ 10-K annual reports.

Delta offers more ways to redeem frequent flyer miles than any other airline - including airline tickets, mileage upgrades, car rentals, hotel stays, Delta Sky Club memberships, merchandise and more than 30 types of gift cards.

The announcement is the latest in a series of changes Delta is making to improve their frequent flyer program, including:

- Introducing a Diamond Medallion tier in March and the industry’s first rollover Medallion Qualification Miles for 2010.- Launching a “first checked bag free” benefit - up to a $50 savings per person on a round-trip ticket - for customers with a Consumer or Business Gold, Platinum, or Reserve Delta SkyMiles Credit Card from American Express which began June 1.- Increasing the allocation of preferred Economy seats to ensure the most frequent travelers are guaranteed the best seats on all Delta and Delta Connection flights by August 2010.- Allowing Delta’s most loyal customers - Diamond, Platinum and Gold Medallions - flying on domestic award redemptions to be eligible for complimentary upgrades by September 2010.- Re-engineering the online award calendar at delta.com to make it easier to find and redeem award seats. These changes began in May and will be completed by November 2010.

Delta also has changed award ticket redeposit and reissue fees to make them consistent with fees for non-award tickets. These fees, which have increased from $100 to $150, will continue to be waived for SkyMiles Diamond and Platinum Medallion members.

www.delta.com/awardtravel

browse the Web; access online music, games, podcasts and webcasts; send and receive e-mail; and connect to virtual private networks while flying. The easy-to-use service will provide passengers with full Internet access on any Wi-Fi-equipped laptop or personal electronic device at speeds similar to wireless mobile broadband services on the ground.

“Through July 31, our customers traveling on Wi-Fi-equipped planes will be able to try out the new Gogo service at no cost, courtesy of the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Card,” said Joe

Sprague, Alaska’s vice president of marketing.

By the end of summer, Gogo will be installed on the airline’s fleet of 737-800s and -900s, which represents the majority of Alaska’s fleet. The remaining 737-400s and -700s will be equipped with the service later in the year. A detailed coverage map of the Gogo service is available for download from the Alaska Airlines Newsroom “Image Gallery” at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom .

Aircraft equipped with inflight Wi-With Gogo, Alaska Airlines passengers with wireless devices will be able to

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Fi will have a Wi-Fi symbol located outside the aircraft’s boarding door and information about the service located in seatback pockets. Gogo will be available above 10,000 feet, following an announcement approving the use of portable electronic devices.

www.alaskaair.com

Tourism Australia Partners With China Southern AirlinesTourism Australia and China Southern Airlines have announced a new partnership agreement to help realise the potential of travel between China and Australia. Tourism Australia Managing Director Andrew McEvoy said China continues to be a key growth market for Australian tourism.

“China has been an engine room of growth for Australian tourism since Australia became the first Western Destination to be granted Approved Destination Status (ADS), enabling Chinese group leisure travellers to easily access travel to Australia,” Mr McEvoy said. “And the new partnership with the country’s largest international airline will help to further grow the tourism opportunities between the two countries.

“Since receiving Approved Destination Status 10 years ago, China has emerged as one of Australia’s most important inbound tourism markets. It is currently, the fourth largest source market for international tourists to Australia with more than 366,000 Chinese visitors travelling to Australia in 2009. More importantly, though, China is the second largest source market in terms of economic value, worth $2.8 billion in 2009. Tourism Australia’s partnership with China Southern Airlines is essential in securing future growth in the China market, particularly as we expand our marketing focus beyond the primary cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou.

“China Southern’s hub approach and development will open up a wide range of source markets throughout China who will then travel through Guangzhou, which is the closet point from mainland China to Australia. This fits perfectly with our strategy of continuing to build our primary markets of Guangdong, Greater Beijing and Greater Shanghai but also the development of high outbound travel growth areas including the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions and a number of secondary city markets. Guangdong is Australia’s largest source market in China, with recent estimates suggesting

that Guangdong and Southern China accounts for 30 per cent of the total China visitor arrivals to Australia,” Mr Mc Evoy said.

Speaking about the partnership, the President of China Southern Airlines Mr Tan Wangeng said, “The flower city of Guangzhou, where China Southern Airlines is headquartered, is the southern gateway of China to the outside world. It enjoys natural geographical advantage of convenient connections to Oceania. In recent years taking advantage of its most extensive domestic route network, China

Southern Airlines has been building up Guangzhou into its core aviation hub and setting up the most convenient international air route transit centre leading to Oceania”.

The strategic partnership agreement covers three areas including: quarterly strategic development reviews, cooperative marketing programs to identify target audiences, as well as access to each partner’s client and brand assets to maximise marketing effectiveness by leveraging the power of both brands.

HOTELS & RESORTS

Design Hotels Offering Free Night, Free Upgrade Or 10% OffDesign Hotels is offering new summer specials, giving guests more time and space in over 50 of its member hotels. Guests staying between the June 25 and September 20 can enjoy a free upgrade, a complimentary room night or save 10% off the best available rate when booked online.

From Crosby Street Hotel, a New York townhouse, to The Cambrian, a Swiss mountain lodge, guests are promised a one-of-a-kind experience. Hotels include Argentario Golf Resort & Spa, a deluxe eco-friendly resort with an 18-hole golf course on Tuscany’s Costa d’Argento, and Boca Chica, a fun revived 1950’s hotel in Acapulco, Mexico.

The three promotional options are:

- 3 for 2: one complimentary overnight stay (minimum length of stay three nights)

- Upgrade: free upgrade to the next available room category (minimum length of stay two nights)

- Value: save a minimum of 10 percent off the best available rate (minimum length of stay two nights)

www.designhotels.com/summerspecials

During the month of May, Hotusa Hotels enlarged its portfolio with 42 new establishments.

Out of the total number of new additions, 27 are overseas hotels. Hotusa Hotels has added new hotels in Colombia (8 hotels), Portugal (4), Italy (3), Argentina (3), Morocco (3), United Kingdom (1), France (2), Ireland (1), United States (1) and Germany (1).

In Spain, the consortium has enlarged its portfolio with 15 new hotels situated in Andalusia (3), Catalonia (3), Extremadura (2), Aragon (1), Valencia (3) Castile and Leon (1), Madrid (1) and Asturias (1).

Hotusa Expands Portfolio With 42 New Hotels

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Joins ALHIArizona’s Fairmont Scottsdale Princess has been accepted as the newest member of Associated Luxury Hotels International (ALHI). ALHI now provides authorized National Sales services and support for the resort to corporations, associations, independent planners, and incentive and product launch specialists desiring to conduct meetings, incentive programs, conventions, and exhibitions at the property.

In addition to becoming the newest offering within ALHI’s portfolio, Fairmont Scottsdale Princess becomes the newest Arizona offering, and the 17th “ALHI Level 5 Collection” member. The specialty segment consists of ALHI’s member hotels and resorts which have earned the highest and most distinctive recognitions including the prestigious AAA Five-Diamond rating, and/or the esteemed Forbes (Mobil) Five-Star

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Shangri-La Hotels Announces First Hotel In TibetShangri-La Hotels and Resorts announced it will open a new hotel in 2012 in Lhasa, a city set on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, the highest region on earth. The 350-room luxury urban resort, owned and operated by Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, will rest amongst the tallest peaks in the world: a striking mountain landscape of glaciers, valleys and lakes considered sacred by many.

Located on Lingkor Road, Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa will be one mile from the Potala Palace, the famous 7th century complex at the centre of Lhasa with over 1,000 rooms and a collection of cultural relics including handwritten Buddhist manuscripts. The hotel will be about one third of a mile from other notable Lhasa landmarks including: Chokpori, known as “Iron Mountain” and one of the four holy mountains of central Tibet; Norbu Lingka, the summer palace originally built in 1755; and the Tibet Museum.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa will include modern interpretations of traditional Tibetan architectural motifs and interiors will layer locally produced arts, crafts and fabrics over a contemporary space. Designed with comfort in mind, guestrooms will begin at 388 square feet and many will offer views of the Potala Palace. Service touches will include Tibetan welcome rituals and the local hand churned butter tea.

The hotel’s design will also take into consideration the difficulties travelers face acclimating to the high altitude and attempt to mitigate its effects. Inspired by the window boxes of flowers found outside traditional Lhasa homes, the hotel will be surrounded with extensive garden landscaping featuring indigenous plants to increase oxygen levels in the area. The hotel will also have a full service clinic with medical staff to attend to guests.

“Shangri-La is delighted to announce a new project in the Himalayas, which will support development efforts in the region. The tourism and hospitality industry will bring greater prosperity to Tibet and we are proud that Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa can be part of that growth,” said Greg Dogan, president and chief executive officer of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts.

The modern hotel will feature a variety of dining and entertainment options including an all-day dining restaurant, a Chinese restaurant, a bar and a lobby lounge. Recreational facilities such as an indoor swimming pool and health club will be available. The meeting and banqueting facilities will include a 18,300-square-foot grand ballroom, complemented by several smaller function rooms.

rating, along with ALHI’s newly-opened hotels designed to achieve one of these ratings when they become eligible.

Fairmont Scottsdale Princess also becomes ALHI’s 27th member resort or hotel which features at least 500 guest rooms and suites, and a minimum of 50,000 square feet of meeting space.

www.alhi.com

Taiwan Approves 37 New HotelsFollowing a record number of visitors during 2009, the Taiwan Tourism Bureau has approved 37 new hotel investment projects on the island. The building of these new facilities, including large international tourist hotels, business properties and boutique hotels, will increase the number of guestrooms in Taiwan by more than 10,000.

Recent visitor figures show that a record 4.4 million people traveled to Taiwan in 2009. These figures include a total of 44,815 visitors from the UK, many of whom cited ‘pleasure’ as their reason for visiting. These impressive arrival figures come at a time when Taiwan is spending a record amount on advertising and promotion in the UK and other key destinations.

Josephine Huang, marketing manager of the Taiwan Tourism Bureau (Europe), commented: “We are delighted that more and more people are recognising Taiwan as a fantastic leisure destination. We look forward to developing our tourism market even further and to welcoming even more travellers to our beautiful island.”

www.taiwan.net.tw

Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou To OpenFour Seasons Hotels and Resorts is about to unveil its newest hotel: Four Seasons Hotel Hangzhou at West Lake. The brand’s fourth China property and part of the overall expansion plan within the country, the hotel is poised to open late summer under the leadership of industry veteran General Manager Rudolf van Dijk.

Located on the historic West Lake, the resort-like hotel featuring pagoda-like buildings amid traditional water gardens is intimate at just 81 rooms and villas. Distinctive features include a cutting edge spa offering Chinese and Asian therapies and a Cantonese and classical local cuisine restaurant, Jin Sha, with 11 private dining rooms terraced over a lagoon providing willow-veiled

views of West Lake.

Four Seasons’ presence in China will continue to increase significantly in the coming years, with openings scheduled in Guangzhou, Shanghai Pudong, Beijing, Shenzhen, Qingdao, Suzhou and two planned properties in Sanya.

Carlson Hotels Signs First Hotel in Wuxi Hi-Tech ZoneCarlson Hotels has signed its first hotel in Wuxi’s new high technology zone area. The 196-room upscale hotel will open in the first half of 2012.

“The Radisson brand is famous for its vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality characterised by the Yes I Can! service philosophy. This signing takes us closer to our Ambition 2015 strategy to have strong global growth in major cities, airport getaways, leisure

destinations and other important locations,” said Jean-Marc Busato, managing director, Carlson Hotels, Asia Pacific.

The Radisson Hotel Wuxi Hi-Tech Zone signing is among four hotel signing announcements by Carlson Hotels in China this week.

Located in the city’s energetic and exciting new business area, the 196-room Radisson Hotel Wuxi Hi-Tech Zone is owned by Wuxi Wu Culture Expo Park Construction and Development Company Limited, and will be managed by Carlson Hotels.

“Wuxi has become a major tourism hotspot in the lower Yangtze Delta and has great potential to suit the needs of the meetings, incentive tourism, conventions and exhibitions business,” said Guo Hui Wen, director, Wuxi Wu Culture Expo Park Construction and Development Company Limited. “We

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LHW Unveils “Leaders Club Rewards” ProgramIn a move to reward the most loyal customers of the brand, The Leading Hotels of the World unveiled “Leaders Club Rewards”, a new benefit offering free nights for members of Leaders Club.

Available to long-time devotees as well as newcomers to Leading Hotels’ loyalty programme, “Leaders Club Rewards” is exciting, straightforward and simple: members who complete five stays at a minimum of two Leading Hotels by December 31, 2010, will receive one complimentary night to be redeemed at any Leading Hotel in the collection within one year.

Designed for the discerning global traveller who desires an authentic and culturally enriching experience, Leaders Club was launched five years ago to provide loyal guests of Leading Hotels around the world with personalised attention and enhanced travel benefits.

The Leaders Club’s latest perk goes beyond recognition, by granting hotel aficionados gratis access to the entire Leading Hotels portfolio of independent, iconic hotels - including treasures such as Ritz Paris, Villa d’Este and The Pierre, or much-extolled resorts like The Setai, Cap Juluca, and Carlisle Bay.

There is no limit to the number of complimentary nights earned, so ambitious travellers can book to their heart’s content, knowing that for every five stays they complete, a free night and unique experience awaits them.

Details of the programme, which requires members to make their reservations through The Leading Hotels of the World, are as follows: a minimum of two hotels must be represented in the five stays; only non-continuous stays will qualify; all publicly available rates are eligible.

Ongoing advantages of the programme include early check-in and late check-out, room upgrades upon availability, exclusive member offers, special rates, and event invitations. Registration is complimentary and can easily be done via www.lhw.com.

www.lhw.com/leadersclubrewards

are pleased to be partnering with Carlson Hotels to ensure the success of this upscale property,” Guo added.

Radisson Hotel Wuxi Hi-Tech Zone will comprise five villas, 21 suites and 170 guest rooms. Hotel facilities include: an all-day dining restaurant; a Chinese and specialty restaurant; an 800 square metre ballroom; four function rooms and four meeting rooms; a health club; and an indoor and outdoor swimming pool.Commonly referred to as the ‘Pearl of Lake Tai’ because it is built on the scenic shores of Lake Tai, Wuxi city is also dubbed ‘Little Shanghai’ for its close proximity to Shanghai and rapid urban development.

The Radisson Hotel Wuxi Hi-Tech Zone is situated four kilometres from the new train station which easily connects Shanghai to Beijing on the high-speed railway, and is only six kilometres from Wuxi airport. The hotel is adjacent to some of Wuxi’s historical World Heritage Sites, such as the Meili Ancient Town and Temple of Wu, and natural scenic spots including the Lianghong National Wetland Park and China Stone Park.

www.carlson.com

Choice Hotels Rolls Out New Tech PlanChoice Hotels International, the global company behind the ComfortT, QualityT, Sleep InnT and Clarion brands, announced that it is rolling out a multi-million dollar technology infrastructure investment plan in Europe and other markets outside the US.

The investment is designed to strengthen Choice’s technology platform, automate back and front office processes at franchised hotel properties and drive increased central reservation system (CRS) delivery to Choice-branded hotels which will position the brands for future growth. Mark Pearce, SVP, International Division, commented: “The groundwork for this investment is currently underway in Europe and other markets and the next two years will see significant initiatives launched to meet the needs of our growing international business and accelerate our global growth.”

Choice Hotels International currently franchises more than 6,000 hotels globally and as of March 31, 2010, had more than 600 hotels under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development in the United States, representing more than 52,000 rooms. In markets outside the US more than 100 hotels, representing

approximately 8,200 rooms, are under construction, awaiting conversion or approved for development, including forty in Europe.

The multi-million dollar IT investment will include the international roll-out of choiceADVANTAGE, the company’s web-based Property Management System (PMS) which automates front and back office hotel processes such as check-in, invoicing and inventory management, starting with testing in the UK market later this year.

Already implemented at many hotels in the US and Canada, it alleviates the manual work required by hoteliers to process reservations from multiple systems and makes inventory centrally available. An interface will also be available to other industry-recognised PMSs.

The company also plans to migrate its international websites onto choicehotels.com architecture and infrastructure, while maintaining functionality and localisation features that are required by each market.

Pearce added “Our investment in technology infrastructure will not only benefit hoteliers but the many business and leisure travellers who book and stay at Choice-branded properties in Europe.”

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PEOPLE

Parsons Named GM, Naples Beach HotelJason Parsons has been named general manager of The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club in Southwest Florida. In his new position, Parsons is responsible for overseeing the operations of the newly renovated beachfront resort, which features 319 guest rooms and suites, an on-site championship golf course, a world-class spa, an award-winning tennis center, multiple restaurants and bars including HB’s on the Gulf and the Sunset Beach Bar, 34,000 square feet of indoor meeting and event space, and many beautiful outdoor Gulf-front venues.

Parsons joins The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club from the 1,501-room Rosen Shingle Creek in Orlando, where he served as resident manager for the past four years. In that position, he was responsible for overseeing the rooms division (front desk, front services, housekeeping and engineering), food & beverage outlets, spa and recreation division, and security department.

McConnell Named GM, Outrigger WaikikiBarry Wallace, executive vice president of hospitality services for Outrigger Enterprises Group, has announced the appointment of Robert McConnell as general manager of Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach, effective July 1. In his new position, McConnell will oversee all aspects of the 524-room hotel, including operations, front office administration, housekeeping, engineering and guest services. McConnell joins the Outrigger Waikiki following five years as general manager of two Outrigger affiliate properties, the OHANA Honolulu Airport Hotel and Best Western The Plaza Hotel, where he oversaw multiple renovation phases and re-branded the OHANA Honolulu Airport Hotel.

Fairmont Chateau Whistler Appoints Joseph Dir. of OpsMr. Joseph joins Fairmont Chateau Whistler from The Fairmont Dubai where, as Director of Food & Beverage, he was responsible for the hotel’s entire food and beverage operation. Since March 2003, Mr. Joseph has held progressive positions at The Fairmont Dubai beginning as Outlet Manager and progressing to Banquet Manager then Assistant Food & Beverage Director for the award-winning Spectrum on One. In 2006, Mr. Joseph assumed the position of Assistant Food & Beverage Director. Prior to joining the Fairmont Dubai, Mr. Joseph held various positions in food and beverage operations in India, the United Arab Emirates and Australia.

Halifax International Airport Authority’s Jerry Staples HonoredNominated and selected by his peers, Jerry Staples, Vice President of Marketing and Business Development at the Halifax International Airport Authority, was named the 2010 winner of the Ted Bushelman Legacy Award for Creativity and Excellence during the

Carlson Hotels Appoints Deschamps As VPCarlson Hotels has appointed Frederic Deschamps as vice president of global revenue optimization. Deschamps and his team are responsible for revenue optimization both on a global scale and for The Americas. In his new role, Deschamps will oversee revenue optimization, focusing on the effectiveness of Carlson Hotels’ industry-leading tools and programs to drive greater revenues and market share.

His responsibilities will include hotel pricing strategies, demand forecasting, program development, and hotel revenue optimization support. Strategic pricing and revenue management play a central role in elevating the Carlson hotel brands and are especially critical as markets are starting to rebound with the improving economy.

Deschamps will report to Fredrik Korallus, executive vice president, responsible for revenue generation for Carlson Hotels, both globally and for The Americas.

Pan Pacific Names Wynne-Parry AsVP, NA DevelopmentPan Pacific Hotels Group has announced the appointment of Todd Wynne-Parry as Vice President, Development - North America.

In his new appointment, Todd will focus on identifying, negotiating and securing hotel management contracts in North America to drive the development of the Group’s Pan Pacific brand in major gateway markets.

Todd brings onboard 30 years of hospitality experience and has been primarily involved in the development aspect of the business - charting career successes with InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Westin Hotels & Resorts and Marriott International.

In his most recent role as Director of Development for Australia, New Zealand and South Pacific with InterContinental Hotels Group, Todd negotiated and closed management contracts which added 13 InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn branded hotels to the Group’s development pipeline in the Australasia region.

After working in various operational roles during college and graduate school, Todd started his career with Laventhol & Horwath in 1989, working first in the United States and then moving to Hong Kong in 1990 with Horwath Asia Pacific. Thereafter, he joined Marriott and then Westin where he held senior development roles.

In his next appointment as Director of Acquisitions and Development with Australia based Toga Hospitality, Todd contributed to the rapid expansion of the company’s Medina Apartment Hotels, Vibe and Travelodge hotel brands.

“The sum of these experiences uniquely positions Todd to combine the best industry practices he was exposed to at large established players with the hunter mentality he honed at the smaller groups he worked with,” said A. Patrick Imbardelli, President and CEO, Pan Pacific Hotels Group.

Airports Council International-North America’s (ACI-NA) Marketing and Communications Conference in San Diego.

The award, which is considered the airport industry’s most prestigious honor awarded to a communications and marketing professional, recognizes exceptional values, accomplishments and creativity, and commitment to both the airport industry and their profession throughout an honoree’s career.