TRAVEL

Eurostar confirms pound 700m fleet overhaul

Eurostar has unveiled a pound 700 investment program to overhaul its aging rolling stock.

The Channel Tunnel rail operator – which offers services between London, Paris and Brussels – confirmed the plans will see the company purchase ten new trainsets from German manufacturer Siemens. A complete overhaul and refurbishment of the existing fleet will also begin in 2011.

The move represents the first key initiative since the recent transformation of the Eurostar business from a partnership to a single, unified corporate entity.Eurostar was established in 1994 as a partnership between SNCF, SNCB and LCR railways, but became a single company owned by the three founders last month.

Eurostar chief executive, Nicolas Petrovic, said the transformation of Eurostar into a standalone business and the major capital investment announced today is a mark of our growth ambitions for the future.

“The combination of our new state-of-the-art trains and our refurbished fleet will assure our position as the leading rail operator between the UK and the continent and make us the obvious choice for short haul European travel.

The investment in the fleet will be funded privately by Eurostar with a combination of cash and bank financing.

Eurostar chief executive, Nicolas Petrovic, argues the move will transform the business Last month Deutsche Bahn outlined proposals to begin services through the Channel Tunnel.

The German train operator plans to offer services between the financial capitals of London and Frankfurt once safety requirements have been met.

New Trains

THe new Eurostar e3202 trains will be interoperable, allowing them to operate across the European high speed rail network.

With capacity to carry more than 900 passengers, the Eurostar e320 will have 20 per cent more seats than the existing Eurostar trains which carry 750 travellers.

Capable of a speed of 200 mph, the new trains could see journey times between London and Paris reduced to just over two hours, London to Amsterdam to under four hours and London to Geneva to around five hours.

Secretary of state for transport, Philip Hammond, said: “The transformation of Eurostar into a single entity has created a company well placed to attract the resources and investment needed to deliver a world class service. AP

Club Hotel Dolphin, invests $5 m on refurbishment

Club Hotel Dolphin Waikkal, owned by Hemas has undergone a Rs. 530 m (US$5 m) refurbishment and is now ready to welcome visitors this forthcoming festive and winter season, as a newer and better up-market property.

General Manager Chamin Wickremasinghe said, “We’re now showcasing the hotel with its spanking new tag line - Best of Both Worlds. Club Hotel Dolphin has been endowed with a dual personality - a vibrant and active ‘PLAY’ side which sharply contrasts with its peaceful and quiet ‘PAUSE’ side. This dual concept best personifies the look and feel of the newly refurbished hotel.”

As part of its ‘PLAY’ side, Club Hotel Dolphin boasts of one of the longest pools in South Asia with its 10-member animation team including kids’ animators.

Among the activities one can choose from are kayaking on the river, horse riding, archery, beach volleyball, tennis, badminton, squash, croquette, mini golf, water volleyball, animation shows and a discotheque.

The ‘PAUSE’ side affords visitors the peace and quiet of absolute calm and privacy. The individual villas are very private enclaves. The specialty restaurant with its show kitchen bring you gourmet cuisine while spa facilities pamper you.

There is also a second swimming pool which is a designated quiet pool while special candle-lit private dinners can be arranged at any location of your choice.

As part of the refurbishment process, the cottage rooms were completely redone, and are now branded as ‘Villas’. The general footprint of the room has been made larger with all facilities such as flat screen TV, DVD player, tea/ coffee making facilities, mini bar and an in-room safe. The main building deluxe rooms have had improvements done to their soft furnishings while a mini bar and an in-room safe have also been added to each room.

Gulf Air relaunches services

by Sapumali GALAGODA

Gulf Air, the Middle East international network re-launched its services to Sri Lanka, after a lapse of five years recently. Gulf Air will operate five times a week making a historic re-entry.

Gulf Air has the largest network in the Middle East with non stop flights providing onward connections.

Gulf Air also re-confirmed its partnership with Mac Air(Pvt) Limited, the airline division of John Keells Holdings PLC to provide General Sales Agency Services.

CEO Gulf Air Samer Majali said the main objective of Gulf Air’s re-launch to Sri Lanka is for added connectivity from Colombo to Bahrain and from there to Middle Eastern destinations. The other reason for the re-launch is customer demand, new opportunities since the return of political stability, massive surge in tourism growth, growing export markets, Surge in inward investment.

Gulf Air has been the favorite airline not only for thousands of Sri Lankans living and working in Bahrain but also for Bahrainis who have been flocking to this beautiful country for vacation for many years.

Gulf Air has also been a key link for many Sri Lankan businessmen exporting goods ranging from tea, coffee, coconuts, rubber to cinnamon to Bahrain and beyond in the Middle East region.

Now that peace has returned, I am glad the time has come for us to re-connect with Sri Lanka. The country is back in full action with its economy springing back to its dynamic past. I personally see there is a huge business and tourism opportunity for both countries as we recommence services.

Gulf Air first flew to Sri Lanka in 1976.

“Mac Air was extremely successful in selling Gulf Air flights which finally led to the airline operating daily into Colombo. However, after 25 years in operations the airline withdrew from this market” said President, Transportation Sector, John Keells Holdings Plc, Romesh David.

Gulf Air was established in 1950, it is the national carrier of the Kingdom of Bahrain.The main objective of Gulf Air is to connect Bahrain to the Middle East countries and the rest of the world. The Gulf Air network stretches from Europe to Asia, connecting 44 cities in 29 countries with a fleet of 36 aircraft. They have opened 11 new destinations in 2010. Gulf Air has a near 100 connections per week within 3 hours on flights to and from Colombo.Gulf Air flies to four points in Iraq and Saudi Arabia daily and also to London, Frankfurt, Paris and Istanbul as well.

Cheap holiday airfares: it’s now or never

No one wants to pore over holiday airfares, looking for the best deal, like cramming for a final exam. Instead of being a student, be savvy. The travellers who get the best airfares this holiday season will be those who searched the smartest, not the longest.

The trick: You’ll have to know the right time to look. There are “sweet spots” in which to get the best deals this year, fare experts say, and one of those starts this week.

When to book

You can save a bundle by booking early, but what if you haven’t decided if you’re headed to grandma’s yet? If you’re not ready to book, don’t worry. Procrastinators still might score low fares, despite the fact there are more travellers and fewer seats this year.

For Thanksgiving and Christmas flights, fares will be at lowest through next week, according to historical data analyzed by Expedia for The Associated Press. Ticket prices are about 10 to 20 percent lower now than they will be in just a couple of weeks, said Daniel Kissin, Expedia’s manager of strategy and analysis.

After next week, Thanksgiving fares will start to climb, peaking about three weeks ahead of the holiday. For Christmas travel, ticket prices will likely be highest in mid-November, Kissin said. But procrastinators take note: There should be a period after those peaks when fares will fall —- two weeks before Thanksgiving and two weeks before Christmas —- as airlines evaluate their bookings.

A word to the wise. Don’t wait for a big, flashy sale. Both price drops probably will be under the radar. So it’s best to comparison shop on various sites to find the best price. The chance for spectacular deals with the holidays looming is less likely than in the past two years.

And if you know your plans, booking sooner is always better than later. Procrastinating doesn’t usually pay when you don’t have flexibility with your travel dates or destination, said Travelocity senior editor Genevieve Shaw Brown.

“To me it doesn’t make a lot of sense to roll the dice,” she said. “I don’t think there’s a lot of opportunity for last-minute deals, but if you want one, you’ll have to be flexible” with travel times. Travellers will have more flexibility and more opportunity to get cheaper flights around Christmas because travel isn’t concentrated in one weekend, as it is for Thanksgiving.

When to fly

For Thanksgiving flights, it’s cheapest this year to fly out on Thanksgiving Day and return on Tuesday, according to Brown. An average fare on those travel days is $293, compared with $463 for a flight leaving the Tuesday before the holiday and returning Sunday. Avoid flying on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, if you can. Fares are much more expensive and there could be headaches at the airport because it’s one of the heaviest travel days of the year.

Fees

Many people are probably well-versed in bag fees by now, but there are other fees to look out for that might take holiday travellers by surprise.

AirTran last month raised its first checked bag fee to $20 from $15. Most major airlines’ checked baggage fees have remained steady at $25. If you’re flying Spirit Airlines, don’t forget about the new carry-on bag fee that started Aug. 1. That can run up to $45.

American Airlines now charges $19 to $39 for seats in the first few rows of coach. You can only book those seats at airport kiosks. Airlines that charge extra for certain seats include United Airlines, Continental Airlines Inc., US Airways Group Inc., JetBlue Airways Corp. and Spirit.

Although they’re baked into fares and invisible to travellers, peak day surcharges will return this year. A fee of $10 to $30 will come with fares on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Sunday after, as well as popular travel days around Christmas.

AP

Prema Cooray appointed Chairman, Reefcomber

Prema Cooray, an icon of Sri Lanka’s tourism industry has been appointed Chairman of Reefcomber PLC. Cooray is widely credited for his pivotal role in elevating Sri Lanka’s tourism industry to international standards and for driving the concept of sustainable tourism.

Cooray is the immediate past Chairman of Aitken Spence Group and counts over thirty years in the travel and tourism industry, most of which he spent at Aitken Spence developing the conglomerate’s hotels and resorts in Sri Lanka and the Maldives. He led the pioneering effort of the group’s large scale expansion to the Republic of Maldives in the early ‘90s.

His extensive involvement with the industry has included stints as Past President of the Tourist Hotels Association of Sri Lanka (1998-2000) and as the Chairman of the Sri Lanka Convention Bureau (2007-2009). Cooray was selected by USAID to lead the Tourism Cluster from 2001 to 2008 which initiative introduced the concept of ‘going beyond beaches’.

The diversity in the profile of Sri Lanka’s tourism today is mainly attributed to the efforts made by this Cluster. He currently chairs a Rainforest initiative partnered by the private sector which once completed (early 2011), will bench-mark the best practices for Eco Tourism development in Sri Lanka.

A much respected corporate leader, Cooray served as the Secretary-General/CEO of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce from 2003 to 2008 and presently heads the Project Management Arm of the Chamber - CCC Solutions (Pvt) Ltd. He also serves as a Member of the Tourism Cluster of National Council for Economic Development (NCED) and is a Member of the Grants Board of ICTA. He also sits on the Board of Waters Edge and Lighthouse Hotel Plc.

Cooray has an MBA from the University of Sri Jayawardenepura, is a Certified Management Accountant and is also a Member of the Institute of Hospitality, UK.

Deccan’s heli shuttle service from BIA

Deccan Aviation, the country’s only privately owned domestic airline has announced the commencement of a helicopter shuttle service from Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA).

Director Deccan Aviation, Denham Schokman

A second helicopter is to be inducted, while December will see the arrival of a new eight-seater aircraft, GA8, to Sri Lanka. We hope to adopt the same strategy and operate scheduled services using the GA8 aircraft, to coastal destinations, and to other parts of the country, like Jaffna, Trincomalee and Ampara, said Director Deccan Aviation, Denham Schokman.

“We have been virtually the sole internal air option for tourists and investors for the past several years and the launch of the heli shuttle service from BIA is for the expected influx of visitors in the months ahead. We are very excited at being able to offer our guests our services on a per seat fare basis and will be the first helicopter service in the country,” he said.

The service will link BIA with any destination in the south coast from October 15, with two daily flights. “What is unique about our flights is that, the actual destination where you will land in the schedule is determined by the client, not by the operator,” said Schokman.

He said that the new scheduled operations, aims to introduce more flexibility and popularise air travel in Sri Lanka. It will also allow passengers to enjoy and spend more time at their destination, improving efficiency and augmenting their travel experience.

“Helicopters offer a utility unmatched by any kind of plane, and what this means for the passenger is a drop exactly at their hotel or project site, and not at a place requiring a further trip by road.”

The twice daily schedule will depart from BIA at 6.30 am and 15.30 pm, and return to the airport at 10.20am and 18.30pm, respectively, while stopping at various destinations on the southern coast including Bentota, Galle and Tangalle.

‘Feel Sri Lanka’ for International Children’s Day

Feel Sri Lanka - the concert of traditional dances that takes place every Friday at the Hotel School Auditorium, Colombo 3, was witnessed last Friday (International Children’s Day) by the Kerala business delegation and their spouses as well as the children of the Islamic Montessori, Wellawatta. They were invitees of the Tourism Authority.

2012 Olympic Park to be named after Queen Elizabeth

London’sOlympic Park will be renamed the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park after the 2012 Games.The Olympic Park Legacy Company said Thursday the name will take effect once the 500-acre park reopens to the public in 2013.

“We chose the name because there is no more durable institution in this country than the monarchy,” Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt said.

Queen Elizabeth II gave her permission for her name to be used, while the International Olympic Committee and British Olympic Association also approved the change.

The queen will mark the 60th anniversary of her ascendancy to the throne in 2012.

“Her Majesty has been supportive of London 2012 from the start and the event taking place in her Diamond Jubilee year, it is fitting that the park bears her name,” Hunt said.

By 2013, construction will have begun on housing alongside the athletes’ village to take the number of homes on the site to 11,000. The legacy company said its plans will ensure the site becomes a new suburb of London.

London Mayor Boris Johnson said 40 percent of the homes in the traditionally deprived east of the city will contain three or more bedrooms and be suitable for families, marking a change from the past 15 years, when construction in the city was dominated by small apartments.

Johnson said the design of the homes will be inspired by the terracing and public squares of central London’s 18th century and Victorian developments.Government sports minister Hugh Robertson said the housing will be built privately.

“We look to public money to put in the infrastructure and private money to put the housing up and that’s exactly what’s happening,” Robertson said.

Much of the housing will be close to the Olympic Stadium, which last week was subject to rival tenancy applications from Premier League football clubs Tottenham and West Ham.

The head of UK Athletics has criticized the joint bid by Tottenham and American sports and entertainment company AEG because it includes no plans for a running track, which was one of the post-Games commitments in the London bid.

Robertson, Johnson and legacy company chair Margaret Hodge confirmed Thursday an athletics track remained one of the necessary commitments, but did not say whether it had to be inside the stadium or whether a tenant could agree to build a replacement elsewhere as part of its bid.”It was core to our bid to leave an athletics legacy and that is unchanged,” Robertson said.(Courtesy AP)

New location for Quebec’s Ice Hotel

Famous the world over, the Ice Hotel in Quebec has become a must-see attraction for many visitors to the region. This year a visit is set to become even easier, with the property taking up residence in a new location just seven minutes outside downtown Quebec City.

A guest enjoying the unique Hôtel de Glace

Not only can guests sleep overnight on ice - protected from the cold by thick pelts - they can enjoy a drink in the bar, get married in one of the most spectacular ice chapels on earth, and enjoy activities such as dog sledding.

Also new for 2011 - guests can build an Igloo, but not just any igloo, a typical Quebec type of igloo called a Queenzy.

Ice Hotel

Since it opened its doors in 2001, the Hôtel de Glace has wowed over half a million visitors.

With snow archways towering over five metres tall and crystal ice sculptures standing by the warmth of the fire, North Americas only ice hotel has made a name for itself not only through its architecture and artistry, but also its warm hospitality.

Every year, the property is redesigned and rebuilt in its entirety.

With time, it has evolved with the technical and artistic wizardry of its creators.

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