Pan Pacific Named as Official Partner Hotel for ITB Asia 2012

Pan Pacific Singapore has become the Official Partner Hotel for ITB Asia 2012.

On the opening day of the three-day trade show, Pan Pacific Singapore will be hosting an exclusive evening reception where guests will be able to enjoy the hotel?s service and ambience.

In addition to providing an excellent networking opportunity for industry leaders and professionals, the evening reception will showcase the hotel?s signature culinary delights inspired by the recipes and cultural influences along the Pacific Rim.

In addition, some 150 top buyers attending the travel trade show will also be able to experience the hotel?s accommodation and hospitality services.

Scott Swank, General Manager Pan Pacific Singapore, said, "We believe that there is no better platform than ITB Asia to showcase our properties across the region. ITB Asia has proven to be a great success in facilitating the growth of the travel market and we?re confident that this partnership will provide us with the opportunity to create memorable experience for ITB visitors in our hotel but also to meet potential business partners and network within the global travel market."

ITB Asia will allow first-time exhibitor Pan Pacific Hotels Group to showcase its portfolio of over 30 upscale Pan Pacific and ParkRoyal hotels, resorts and serviced suites across Asia, Oceania and North America.

ITB Asia 2012 is in its fifth year and will be held from 3 to 5 October 2012 at Suntec Singapore. This year, the show attracted over 7,500 attendees and 750 exhibitors from 70 countries.

"As a leading trade show that represents the Asian travel market, we are honoured to partner with Pan Pacific, a brand with similarly strong regional presence. Synonymous with impeccable hospitality and five-star service, Pan Pacific Singapore is conveniently located within walking distance of Suntec Singapore making them an ideal hotel partner for the show," said Nino Gruettke, Executive Director, ITB Asia.

New York City to Have 90,000 Hotel Rooms by Year's End

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg has announced that New York city will reach a record 90,000 hotel rooms by year's end, representing a 24% increase since 2006.

More than 7,000 rooms are in the pipeline that will add to the city's hotel inventory, with an average 40% of new openings taking place in boroughs other than Manhattan, including in Long Island city, Queens, a hotbed of hotel development.

The increase in hotels reflects an overall upward trend for the city's $31 billion tourism industry. In September for instance, an estimated 323,000 people were employed in the travel and tourism sector, a record for the month. Last year, New York city welcomed a record 48.8 million visitors who collectively spent $31 billion.

The city is on track to reach a record number of visitors this year. Room rates are steadily increasing, and occupancy remained at close to 85%, the highest in the nation.

More people want to visit New York city than ever before, and with a record 90,000 rooms, we have great places for them to stay, said Mayor Bloomberg. That's good news not just for tourists, but also for the city's economy. Our tourism sector employs 323,000 people, and those jobs are now increasingly located outside Manhattan, as tourists want to visit all of the city's great neighborhoods.

There are now 17 hotels in Long Island city that are comprised of 1,500 rooms with five more properties and 650 rooms under construction. Major hotel brands in the neighborhood include the Four Points by Sheraton Long Island city/Queensboro Bridge; Fairfield Inn New York Long Island city/Manhattan View; Country Inn & Suites; Holiday Inn Long Island city Manhattan View; and opening next month, the Wyndham Garden Long Island city. Independent properties such as the Z NYC, which opened in July, join other LIC hotels such as the Ravel, the Queensboro Hotel and the Verve Hotel, among others.

'One of the reasons why New York's economy has rebounded faster than the rest of the country's is the growth and development of the city's tourism industry, Deputy Mayor Robert K. Steel said. 'The tourism boom is driving a boom in hotel construction, which is creating thousands of jobs throughout the five boroughs.'

Overall hotel development in the city has been robust in 2011 with new properties recently opened or under construction in all five boroughs. Approximately 40 new projects are slated to open in the next 30 months, with about 13 properties representing 1,865 rooms in boroughs other than Manhattan (5 in Long Island city, 3 in Queens, 1 in the Bronx, 1 in Staten Island and 3 in Brooklyn). 22 new hotels representing 4,120 rooms are also under construction in Manhattan.

Qantas Launches Thailand - Australia Promotion

Qantas Airways Thailand has launched a 'Qantas 91st Birthday Sale' promotion offering customers departing Thailand reduced airfares until 30 November 2011.

Under the promotion, return air tickets between Bangkok and Australia (Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne or Adelaide) are from 16,000 Baht excluding airport taxes, service fees, insurance, fuel and other surcharges.

Customers are eligible to travel from 1 February 2012 to 31 March 2012, and the air tickets are for a maximum of 12 months stay.

Moreover, travellers can have one free stopover and an additional stopover at a charge of 2,000 baht. Date changes are not permitted, and other terms and conditions apply.

From Thailand, Qantas operates daily services to Sydney and passengers are able to connect their preferred flights to domestic routes throughout Australia. Additionally, the airline operates daily services to London from Bangkok.

Tips For Moving Abroad

Each and every year, a large number of people move around the world to several countries. Often, they're taken abroad through their employers or for new jobs, and some are merely adventure-seekers searching for a different view. Either way, moving abroad is not any simple task. There are many small details to be taken care of beforehand, as well as packing for a long trip and getting rid of your beloved items at home. Moving abroad does not have to be a total task, though, if you keep these few suggestions in mind.

Consolidate. If you're just moving abroad for a short term contract and plan to be back to your old life at your home soon, this probably won't apply. For anybody going on a more long term move, the very first thing you have to do is consolidate your whole life. For many, this is very tough. It requires giving or selling most of your personal property, sometimes including your house or car, furniture along with other bulky day-to-day things.

Plan your packing. Remember that most airlines now limit passengers (even those on long haul flights across the world) to one bag that is 50 lbs (20 kg) or less. That's not much. You must figure out what stuff you can fit into that 1 bag and how much you are ready to pay for excess baggage. Remember the fact that, oftentimes, it's cheaper to ship your belongings than pay airlines for excess baggage fees. Compare and contrast postal rates with airline baggage rates for the cheapest price and plan accordingly.

Sort out your bank. You have to tell your banking and credit institutions of your impending move, and the sooner the better. Be sure to sign up for paperless statements if offered and confirm that the bank has lifted any international restrictions on using credit and ATM cards abroad. Also, double check the fees and exchange rates for using your cards internationally.

Cancel the utilities/give notice. If you have a lease, you will need to speak to your landlord as far in advance as possible to settle a termination of your lease. If you have a 1-year or more lease, you could possibly be fined for this procedure, particularly if you give less than 30 days notice. You will also need to call the gas, electric, telephone, cable and water companies, where applicable, to terminate services there. It is a good idea to speak to them as soon as you have given your landlord notice and let them know the date that you will have vacated the premises so that they can bill you appropriately.

Plan for the 1st few days abroad. The first week abroad is going to be the most difficult. That is the time during which you'll be getting a new home, getting your phone and daily utilities set up and learning your way around. Purchase a guidebook and/or map in advance and study as much as you can about the culture in which you are about to be residing. Search for online resources about which neighborhoods are good to live in and which parts of the city to avoid.

Get your documents together. Moving internationally needs a lot of paperwork. First and foremost, you need to make sure that you have a passport with blank pages which is valid for at least one year. If your passport is near to its expiration date, contact the passport office for a renewal right away. Based on which country you are traveling to, you might be required to get a visa. Be sure to check online for visa requirements at least 2 months prior to your trip. You should also carry copies of your bank statements, marriage certificate, birth certificate, international driving license and other pertinent documents.

Travelport Launches New Developer Network Programme

Travelport has launched the Travelport Developer Network, a programme which has been designed for third party developers, and provides members with full access to key software resources, dedicated help and support and an entry in the new Travelport Developer Directory.

As part of the new programme, Travelport's developer tools will continue to be built on open standards technology, so developers can program in the environment of their choice and build applications that easily integrate with existing Travelport databases and technologies.

Membership includes access to the Travelport Universal API providing access to extensive content and functionality through a single API connection.

In 2012, members will also gain access to the Travelport Universal Desktop Software Development Kit (SDK) which creates a wealth of new opportunities for developers. The extensive configurability can be further enhanced to meet agency needs with custom activities incorporated into workflows, shopping and booking from blended GDS and non-GDS content, and custom pop-up widgets with anytime access.

By working more closely with talented developers and enhancing our already strong relationships, we will be very well placed to offer the best possible applications to our travel agency customers worldwide, said Gillian Gibson, Chief Marketing Officer, Travelport. ?The focus on creating leading solutions is core to developers business and for many this leaves little time for other essential activities, such as lead generation, marketing and advertising. Because the Travelport Developer Network addresses this challenge, providing our developers with a single access point to our extensive content and agency network, along with providing technical support, it is indeed a win-win-win for developers, Travelport and our joint customers.?

Over twenty independent software developers, including Dolphin Dynamics, Rearden Commerce and flextrip, have already signed up to the new network ahead of its official launch at the PhoCusWright conference in Miami (15-17 November).

Thai Airways Launches Copenhagen - Phuket Flights

Thai Airways International has launched thrice weekly direct flights between Copenhagen and Phuket, utilizing the Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

Flight TG953 is a 10-hour 35-minute flight, departing Copenhagen on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 20:45 and arriving in Phuket at 13:20 the following day, utilizing Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

On the return, passengers can take any of THAI's daily flights from Phuket to Bangkok and connect on flights to Copenhagen via Suvarnabhumi Airport.

According to the Winter Traffic Program, which started 30 October 2011, THAI operates daily flights between Bangkok to Copenhagen, with flight TG950 departing Bangkok 00:50 and arriving in Copenhagen on the same day at 06:35. On the return flight TG951 departing Copenhagen 14:00 and arriving in Bangkok 06:30 the next day.

THAI has also just started three additional flights per week on the route Bangkok to Copenhagen, with flight TG952 departing Bangkok on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays at 13:00 and arriving in Copenhagen on the same day at 18:45 hours, utilizing Boeing 747-400 aircraft.

Tiger Airways Launches ex-Singapore Promotion

Tiger Airways has launched a new promotion offering reduced fares to cities across the Asia Pacific region.

The promotion includes flights to all of Tiger Airways? destinations including Phuket (from Sin$48 one-way), Ho Chi Minh (from Sin$68 one-way), Thiruvananthapuram (from Sin$128 one-way) and Guangzhou (from Sin$138 one-way), inclusive of taxes and charges.

The travel period is from 17 November 2011 to 31 July 2012, varying for each specific route.

Many Singaporeans love travelling. However, due to work commitments or budget constraints, they don't take holidays as frequently as they would like to, said Stewart Adams, Managing Director of Tiger Airways Singapore. ?We all work very hard and deserve regular short breaks to rejuvenate ourselves. Tiger Airways? great-value fares and list of exciting leisure destinations provide two additional reasons for Singaporeans to take more short vacations overseas, even if it's just for a weekend.