Travelore News: Hilton Hotels & Resorts Announces Opening Of Hilton Tianjin Eco-City

Hilton Hotels & Resorts and Hilton Worldwide today announced the opening of Hilton Tianjin Eco-City as the first Hilton Hotels & Resorts property in Tianjin city. The hotel features 301 contemporary guest rooms and suites with scenic garden landscape and marks the first internationally branded hotel to enter Sino-Singapore Eco-city. Hilton Tianjin Eco-City is operated by Hilton Worldwide and owned by Shimao Co., Ltd.

"As one of China's most important municipalities, Tianjin has a long history of welcoming visitors from around the world and being home to the biggest port in Northern China. Tianjin has also been established as one ofChina's leading economic hubs," said Rob Palleschi, global head, full service brands, Hilton Worldwide. "We look forward to offering travelers to this important gateway city the exceptional service and amenities for which the Hilton brand is known around the globe."

Situated in Tianjin Eco-City, the world's first "Eco-City" venture co-developed by China and Singapore, Hilton Tianjin Eco-City is an oasis tucked away from the hustle and bustle of city life yet conveniently located between Binhai New Area Central Business District and Tianjin Economic-Technology Development Area. Just 42 kilometers away from Tiajin Binghai International Airport, Hilton Tianjin Ecocity is also minutes away from attractions such as Tianjin Water Park,Yang Huo Market and Beitang Ancient Old Town.

"Hilton Tianjin Eco-City is designed to bring world-class travel experiences to domestic and international visitors to this city, by offering a world of unique design, state-of-the-art amenities and Hilton's unrivaled hospitality," said Bruce McKenzie, senior vice president of operations, Greater China and Mongolia, Hilton Worldwide. "We look forward to serving our guests across all Hilton Worldwide properties, and celebrating many more new property openings across Greater China in the near future."

Hilton Tianjin Eco-City offers four dining and entertainment options including an all-day restaurant, Elements, which offers both a la carte and buffet menus featuring a wide selection of international and local cuisine and a Japanese restaurant Arashiyama, featuring sashimi and teppanyaki. The Chinese restaurant Dragon Garden, which features 10 private dining rooms, offers a wide variety of dim sum and local delicacies prepared by seasoned chefs. At the end of the day, guests can unwind at night with refreshing beverages and tasty pastries at Middle Lounge.

Hilton Tianjin Eco-City features an impressive pillar-free Grand Ballroom measuring 1,500 square meters along with nine flexible meeting rooms. Whether the occasion is a large international conference, exhibition or wedding, the highly trained and dedicated team will work to ensure a successful and memorable event. The hotel's business center provides full corporate facilities and 24-hour services to meet guests' business needs.

Hilton Tianjin Eco-City features a broad range of modern amenities, including an indoor pool, a well-equipped 24-hour fitness center featuring an aerobic room as well as a luxurious spa. The hotel also has a unique jogging and cycling path on the property for guests to appreciate the scenic landscape within the hotel's surrounds.

As part of the Hilton Worldwide portfolio, Hilton offers guests the opportunity to earn and redeem points for stays through the Hilton HHonors® guest loyalty program. To mark the opening, the hotel will offer Hilton HHonors® members an extra 1,000 bonus points per night on the best available rate through stays completed fromMarch 1, 2015 to May 31, 2015.

Hilton Tianjin Eco-City is located at No. 82 Dong Man Zhong Lu, Sino-Singapore Eco-City,Tianjin, China.

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Norway – A Dream Destination

We were invited by travel rewards currency Avios to tell them our favourite travel destination in Europe and as someone who is more at home with the countryside than city life, it probably comes as no surprise that my dream destination in Europe is one that is perhaps better known for its rural qualities than for any urban metropolises.

When asked by Avios for my “most inspiring destination” in Europe, therefore, I decided to choose Norway. Whether it be the fjords, the Northern Lights, the midnight sun or the outdoors in general, this country has it all and is arguably one of the most beautiful places on the planet. My personal favourite is the fjords of the west coast which in the Summer months are as dramatic as they are green. Whether you enjoy hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing or simply taking in the amazing views, there is something there for everyone to enjoy – a fabulous destination when you’re travelling solo, with a partner or with family.

The area is easily accessible and each fjord has its own unique character and charm. You’ll find the world’s second longest fjord here (Sognejord, at just over two hundred kilometres long), some amazing waterfalls and the dramatic Preikestolen (also known as Pulpit Rock). A great way to get around if you don’t feel like driving is by rail – if you choose that option, don’t miss the opportunity to go on the Flam Railway where you’ll be able to soak up an amazing panoramic view of the fjords and mountains of the area.

Not being a cruise fanatic, I have yet to experience the fjords from the comforts of a cruise ship such as those run by Hurtigruten but, if I was ever to entertain the prospect of going on a cruise, that is certainly one I would consider.

Further north in Norway, above the Arctic Circle, you’ll increase your chances of seeing the Northern Lights and midnight sun, as well as open up more possibilities when it comes to wildlife safaris. You could even get to know the Sami, the country’s indigenous people. In the Summer, the sun never sets and you’ll get to enjoy this wonderful landscape all day long… quite literally! In the Winter, you could do something really different such as experience an amazing husky ride.

The eastern half of the country is less well known to tourists, perhaps overshadowed by the fjords of the west, but is in fact home to about half of the country’s population because it incorporates Oslo, too. The area still opens up lots of interesting opportunities to outdoor enthusiasts. The mountains of the Jotunheimen National Park, for example, are more remote and wild, but still well worth exploring.

Down in the south of the country, there is a beautiful coastline and lots of interesting little towns and islands to explore. Sorlandet, known as the Norwegian Riviera, has for a long time been the number one destination for Norwegian holidaymakers. Bustling with activity in the Summer months, this is the place to be if you love the water, with fishing, boating, swimming and even a spot of sunbathing all being popular pastimes. Go in the off season and coastal hikes and cycling seem to be more the order of the day.

So… there you have it – a whirlwind summary of my favourite European destination. Have you been to Norway? What was your favourite part and why?

And what is your favourite destination in Europe?  If you’ve been inspired by my selection, click here for 15,000 Avios per person return plus a £35 Reward Flight Saver to fly from London Heathrow to Oslo Airport, Norway with British Airways.

Images: Shutterstock

Contributed by Paul Johnson,  www.aluxurytravelblog.com

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Travelore News: Dubai Makes Plans For World's Biggest Airport, At $32 Billion

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Dubai's ruler has endorsed a $32 billion expansion plan for the city's second airport that officials envision will eventually become the world's biggest, the Middle Eastern commercial hub's airport operator said Monday.

The approval sets in motion a vast building project that aims to give the airport known as Al Maktoum International at Dubai World Central the capacity to handle more than 200 million passengers per year.

The first phase of the expansion alone aims to build enough runway and terminal space to handle 120 million passengers a year and 100 of the double-decker Airbus A380 jets at any given time.

The world's busiest airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, handled 94.4 million people last year.

Once complete in six to eight years, the new Dubai airport will boast five parallel runways spaced far enough apart so they can all be used at the same time and spread over 56 square kilometers (22 square miles), according to the state-backed airport operator Dubai Airports.

The airport opened for cargo flights in 2010 in the desert south of central Dubai. It received its first passengers in October at a single terminal that is mainly used by smaller airlines and low-cost carriers.

The currently larger Dubai International Airport is by far the Mideast's busiest airport and is home to Dubai-based Emirates, the region's largest carrier. It was the world's seventh busiest airport last year, handling 66.4 million passengers.

Travelore News: Norwegian Is Voted Europe’s Best Low-Cost Airline For The Second Year Running

For the second year running, Norwegian has been voted «Best low-cost airline in Europe» by the renowned SkyTrax World Airline Awards. It is the passengers themselves who have evaluated over 200 airlines worldwide in what is described as the most prestigious award in the airline industry. Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos received the prize today at Farnborough Air Show. 

“This award means so much to us. I am very proud and humble to receive such an important recognition two years in a row. I want to thank all our passengers who have given Norwegian such great references. At the same time, I also want to thank all the employees at Norwegian, who each and every day of the year do their utmost for our passengers. This title proves that brand new planes, an expansive route network, good service on board and low fares are appreciated,” said Norwegian’s CEO Bjørn Kjos.

"For Norwegian to triumph yet again in the Best Low-Cost Airline in Europe category is a fantastic achievement, and one which the airline should be proud of. Europe is well known to be one of the most competitive regions in the low cost market and Norwegian continues to be a popular choice with customers not only for short hops around the continent but also on its burgeoning long haul network," said Edward Plaisted, CEO, Skytrax.

Skytrax World Airline Awards is the most prestigious and recognized accolade in the airline industry. Travellers from over 160 countries take part each year in the world’s largest airline passenger satisfaction survey to decide the award winners. Over 200 airlines are reviewed in the survey. Customers judge everything from the experience during check-in, boarding, seat comfort, to cleanliness in the cabin, food, drink, entertainment and service.

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA, commercially branded “Norwegian”, is a low-cost airline listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Norwegian is the second largest airline in Scandinavia and third largest low cost carrier in Europe. More than 20 million passengers fly on its network per year. Norwegian has a route portfolio that stretches across Europe into North Africa and the Middle East, as well as long-haul flights to the US and Southeast Asia. The company has a total of 416 routes to 126 destinations and employs approximately 4,500 people in Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, UK, Spain and Thailand. The company has 258 undelivered aircraft on firm order. Norwegian was founded in 1993 and its headquarter is in Fornebu, Norway. In 2013, Norwegian was voted Europe’s best low-cost carrier of the year by the renowned SkyTrax World Airline Awards. Norwegian offers better leg room than most competitors, in-flight WiFi, world-class punctuality and a fleet of 96 aircraft with an average age of only 4.8 years. 

Travelore News: Airberlin Receives “Best Business Class Airline Europe” Award

Airberlin has received the “Business Destinations Travel Award 2014” from British trade journal Business Destinations in the category “Best Business Class Airline Europe”.

“We are very pleased that airberlin has received the “Best Business Class Airline Europe” award. With our new Business Class we offer both business and leisure travelers a very high-quality product, and are currently the only German airline to offer FullFlat seats with completely horizontal adjustment on every Business Class flight,” says Thomas Ney, Senior Vice President Guest Experience.

airberlin recently equipped the last of its Airbus A330-200s with the new Business Class. From now on flight guests will enjoy the comfort of the new FullFlat seats on every Business Class flight guaranteed. The new configuration, with only 19 seats, offers flight guests increased privacy and direct access to the aisle from every seat. The majority of seats are also positioned in a single-seat arrangement. The FullFlat function very quickly transforms the new seats into a comfortable, horizontal sleeping configuration, ensuring a restful flight. The new seats also offer a massage function. On-board entertainment is provided by an Inflight Entertainment System with 15-inch screens on each seat. Flight guests in airberlin Business Class also enjoy very individual and personal service at their seats, while gourmet menus and premium wines from Sansibar further enhance the exclusive traveling experience.

airberlin is one of the leading airlines in Europe and flies to 171 destinations worldwide each year. The second largest airline in Germany carried more than 31.5 million passengers in 2013. airberlin offers a global route network through its strategic partnership with Etihad Airways, which has a 29.21% share in airberlin, and through membership of the oneworld^® airline alliance. The airline with the award-winning service operates codeshare flights worldwide with
17 airlines. The fleet has an average age of five years and is among the most modern and eco-efficient in Europe.

Travelore News: New York JFK To Be Qatar Airways’ Third A380 Destination

As part of the opening of the new Hamad International Airport in Doha today, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker announced that Qatar Airways’ third A380 destination would be New York JFK. Now, he hasn't actually announced when the service will launch, but just that it’s the third destination.

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Travelore News: Qatar Airways Completes Move To New Doha Airport

Qatar Airways has moved all of its operations to a new multi-billion dollar airport in its capital of Doha.

The Mideast airline says the move to Hamad International Airport marks "a milestone" for the national carrier, which began operations just 17 years ago.

A ceremonial Qatar Airways flight landed in the new airport last month.

Tuesday marks the official move of Qatar Airways to Hamad International, making the airport fully operational. Qatar Airways says passengers on the first flight that touched down were greeted with roses, dates, coffee, chocolate and Qatari flags.

Like the nearby United Arab Emirates, Qatar has invested heavily in its aviation sector in recent years. The airport cost at least $15 billion to build.