Air China launches Direct Beijing - Lhasa Flights
Posted July 14, 2009 , add a commentAir China today launched direct flights between Beijing and Lhasa.
Flight
times will be cut by two hours, as the new, now non-stop route, no
longer goes
via Chengdu.
Air China is using a wide-body Airbus A330 for the new direct Beijing -
Lhasa route.
The daily flight, with the flight number CA4112, will
depart from Beijing Capital Airport at 07:00 and arrive at Gonggar Airport in Lhasa at 10:50.
The flight time as around 3
hours and 50 minutes.
To maximize the safety of the flights,
Required Navigation Performance (RNP), an improved
method of implementing routes and flight paths, is
applied on the Beijing- Lhasa route.
Hogg Robinson the Platinum Sponsor at CTEMF in Beijing
Posted , add a commentHogg Robinson, an international corporate travel
services company, is the platinum sponsor of the CTEMF 2009 in
Beijing, 14-15 July, where it will spearhead discussions on
challenges to the business travel industry and strategies to
maximise T&E cost savings and improve the corporate bottom line in
light of the economic downturn.
The forum will feature a panel of eminent
speakers from top corporations including HRG China, Haier,
Philips, Cathay Pacific, General Electric Company Water & Process
Technologies Group, Invensys, Caterpillar and IKEA.
Recognising
that business travel is a major expense reduction channel during a
financial crisis, HRG will examine
macro economy trends, its implications on corporate travel
strategies and achieving effective T&E cost management.
HRG’s CEO, David Radcliffe, will helm a session analysing the new
global and regional economic environment, and provide direction on
corporate travel strategy in order to help companies formulate
more proactive measures to equip them for the economic downturn.
“This forum will benefit companies seeking to learn how
major stakeholders in the business travel industry are adjusting
their policies for the current fiscal year and coping with the
financial crisis,” said Radcliffe, an industry veteran of 30 years
recognised as a pioneer and innovator in the business travel
industry, and a dynamic catalyst behind HRG’s growth,”
Mr Radcliffe said.
“The
present economic climate presents opportunities for the business
travel industry to assess its vulnerabilities in order to minimise
the impact of the downturn, and propose solutions to create better
practices to achieve the ideal bottom line.”
Key speakers
and topics will include:
- James Stevenson, Executive
Vice President of HRG Asia Pacific, will cover a case study
conducting total cost management and showcase best practices in
corporate travel and expenses management.
- Harald Weber-Liel,
General Manager of HRG China, will moderate a session on exploring
alternative travel practices to lower cost whilst complying with
business objectives.
- Dinesh Chauhan, Regional Supply
Director of Travel of Philips Asia Pacific, will provide expert
opinion on enhancing the travel supply chain in response to new
market dynamics.
- Yves Galimidi, Global Travel Service
Manager of IKEA, will analyze the impact of the current global
economic climate on China’s business travel market and identify
saving opportunities through consolidating sourcing strategies and
channels.
Organised by Marcus Evans, the two-day event is
slated to attract between 40-60 individuals heading corporate
travel-related departments, in addition to tourism and hospitality
professionals.
Beat Klarer appointed General Manager of Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza
Posted , add a commentMr. Beat Klarer has been appointed as the new General Manager of
the Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza. The appointment is effective 21 July 2009.
Beat
is a graduate from Swiss School of Hotel and Tourism Management
and Swiss Hotel and Restaurant Association in Switzerland. He
started his career with various positions in Rooms Division and
Food and Beverage in Switzerland.
In 1995, he continued his
career with Swiss-Bel Hotel International as Director of Food and
Beverage at the Jianguo Hotel Beijing in China, followed by
positions as Director of Food and Beverage at the Sedona Hotel
Yangon, Myanmar and Westin Yuda Palace Hotel Zhengzhou, China.
Beat first joined Accor in 1999, where he was Director of Food
and Beverage of Sofitel Jinan Silver Plaza and part of the
pre-opening team. Later he was promoted to Executive Assistant
Manager at the Novotel Apollo Singapore and served as well as
Acting General Manager during his 2 year assignment.
His
first General Manager position was at the Movenpick Al Nawras
Resort Jeddah in Saudi Arabia in 2003, followed by the Movenpick
Hotel Cairo-Media City.
In 2006, he relocated back to Asia and
served as General Manager of Windsor Plaza Hotel Saigon and was
promoted to Managing Director of EMC Hospitality & Property
Management Saigon, who operated various properties in Vietnam
besides the Windsor Plaza.
Beat’s last posting was General
Manager at InterContinental and Holiday Inn City Centre in
Shenyang, China.
Best Western Hotels in Asia launch Buy One Get One Promotion
Posted , add a commentBest Western has launched a new campaign that
offers guests one free room night for one paid room night at
hotels and resorts in eight prime countries across Asia - Bali,
China, India, Japan, Macau, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.
To qualify, guests must book between 20 July
and 2 August
2009 for travel between 20 July and 31 October 2009.
The offer is
on a first come, first served basis and is dependent upon
availability.
IHG launches Asia on Sale Promotion
Posted , add a commentInterContinental Hotels Group has launched an
“Asia on Sale” campaign.
For three days only, 153 of
IHG’s hotels in 16 countries across China, South Asia,
South East Asia and South Korea will be offering special
rates.
The promotional rates will be bookable
between 22 and 24 July 2009. New and existing members of
IHG’s Priority Club Rewards programme get a head start
however, with the rates being made available to them a
day early - from 21 July. It is free to join Priority
Club Rewards.
Once booked, the special rates are
available for stays between 22 July and 31 October 2009.
Rates will start from:
InterContinental Hotels & Resorts from
US$89
Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts from US$79
Holiday Inn Hotels and Resorts from US$59
Holiday Inn
Express from US$35
IHG owns, manages, leases or
franchises, through various subsidiaries, more than
4,200 hotels and over 620,000 guest rooms in nearly 100
countries and territories around the world.
The company has nearly 1,700 hotels in
its development pipeline, which will create around 140,000 jobs
worldwide over the next few years.