Destination News - Car Rental, Destination, Hotel, Rail.

Mar 12, 2007

Regent Hotels & Resorts

Regent Makes Caribbean Debut, Marks Further Brand Growth Regent Hotels & Resorts is bringing its brand of luxury to the Caribbean with the opening of The Regent Palms Turks and Caicos on Apr. 2. Regent had previously taken over as manager of the property last September when it was The Palms, vowing to raise the level of luxury. "What we've done is taken a great resort and found ways to make it better," says general manager of the property, Diderik Van Regemorter. New touches include a 20 percent bump in staff, upgraded concierge services, spa enrichments and a revamped dining menu. The news adds to Turks & Caicos' ongoing mission to become the most luxurious destination in the Caribbean. In the last few years, it has been the site of projects headed by prominent names in luxury travel including Mandarin Oriental Hotel Groups, which has ongoing development in Dellis Cay, as well as the continuing Ritz Carlton project. Since the integration of Regent Hotels & Resorts and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, the Regent brand has seen a surge in hotel development. The Regent Beijing and Regent South Beach both had soft openings in Dec. and over the next three years, Regent will add seven new hotels to its current portfolio of eight throughout the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Middle East. Of note is The Regent Dubrovnik, Regent's second property in Croatia. Slated to open in early 2009, the hotel represents Regent's dedication to the region, which has absorbed a tremendous influx of tourism over recent years. Stateside, new Regent properties will sprout in Bal Harbour, FL, this year, and Boston in 2008. (DE, JP) Mar 8, 2007

Radisson SAS

Radisson SAS has completed the second tower of its Dubai Media City hotel, adding a further 125 rooms to the property. Linked to the first tower by a bridge on the first floor, the additional tower takes the total room number to 246. Mar 7, 2007

Advantage Travel, Conferma

Advantage Travel, the largest consortium of travel agents in the UK, has selected hotel booking solution company Conferma, as the preferred supplier to its 800 agents nationwide. Mar 7, 2007

Auto Europe

Auto Europe, the European car rental broker, has signed an agreement with global technology and distribution solution provider, Amadeus. The company will use Amadeus Complete Access Plus - the highest level of connectivity to the Amadeus systems - to distribute its 4,000 car rental locations and content worldwide. Mar 6, 2007

St. Petersburg, Russia to Get a W. The W St. Petersburg is set to open in mid-2008 in the main historic area of the city. The move can be considered a coup for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which owns the W brand, as several luxury hotel companies, including Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, are said to be searching for sites in St. Petersburg. The city is considered one of "the hottest" in Europe for tourism development; in fact, Virtuoso this week is hosting its annual agent-supplier symposium there, at The Grand Hotel Europe. The W St. Petersburg will be on Voznesensky Prospect, between St. Isaac's Square and the Admiralty; it will be close to the Winter Palace, which houses the Hermitage Museum. Guest rooms will have views of the landmark gold-domed St. Isaac's Cathedral. Mar 6, 2007

Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton

St. Petersburg, Russia to Get a W. The W St. Petersburg is set to open in mid-2008 in the main historic area of the city. The move can be considered a coup for Starwood Hotels & Resorts, which owns the W brand, as several luxury hotel companies, including Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, are said to be searching for sites in St. Petersburg. The city is considered one of "the hottest" in Europe for tourism development; in fact, Virtuoso this week is hosting its annual agent-supplier symposium there, at The Grand Hotel Europe. The W St. Petersburg will be on Voznesensky Prospect, between St. Isaac's Square and the Admiralty; it will be close to the Winter Palace, which houses the Hermitage Museum. Guest rooms will have views of the landmark gold-domed St. Isaac's Cathedral. Mar 6, 2007

Universal Orlando, Delta Air Lines

Universal Orlando Resort Puts More Focus on Agents.Universal Orlando Resort is adding five new sales managers in the destination's top U.S. markets, growing its travel industry sales team as part of an initiative that began last fall. The new regional sales managers will focus on the travel industry and call on travel professionals within their markets. The new regional sales team includes: Al Johnston in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey; Lisa Forbell in New York City and Long Island; John Presutti covering the greater New York, Connecticut and Northern New Jersey markets; Cynthia Holmes in the Boston area and New England; Ken Kramer in Illinois and Wisconsin; and Universal Orlando veterans Gail McGrath and Barry Johnston serving travel partners in Michigan/Ohio and Georgia/Carolinas, respectively. Industry veteran Tom Etchart, who was recently appointed Director of Travel Agency Sales at Universal Orlando, will oversee the efforts of Universal Orlando's growing field sales team. Etchart spent 17 years with Delta Air Lines as general manager of agency sales before joining Universal Orlando Resort last December. Mar 6, 2007

Universal Orlando Resort

Universal Orlando Resort Puts More Focus on Agents.Universal Orlando Resort is adding five new sales managers in the destination's top U.S. markets, growing its travel industry sales team as part of an initiative that began last fall. The new regional sales managers will focus on the travel industry and call on travel professionals within their markets. The new regional sales team includes: Al Johnston in eastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey; Lisa Forbell in New York City and Long Island; John Presutti covering the greater New York, Connecticut and Northern New Jersey markets; Cynthia Holmes in the Boston area and New England; Ken Kramer in Illinois and Wisconsin; and Universal Orlando veterans Gail McGrath and Barry Johnston serving travel partners in Michigan/Ohio and Georgia/Carolinas, respectively. Industry veteran Tom Etchart, who was recently appointed Director of Travel Agency Sales at Universal Orlando, will oversee the efforts of Universal Orlando's growing field sales team. Etchart spent 17 years with Delta Air Lines as general manager of agency sales before joining Universal Orlando Resort last December. Mar 6, 2007 03/12/2007

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Editor: Aram Gesar, eMail: [e-mail] For Air Transport & Travel Business Experts contact eMail: [e-mail]

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Mar 5, 2007