TSA’s first-step towards Risk-Based Airport Security gets acclaim from U.S. Travel Association

A nod of appreciation was given by the U.S. Travel Association on the announcement of the ‘trusted traveler’ program, by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).

The program is aligned with the Association’s March 2011 recommendations and is expected to test enhancements to TSA’s pre-flight identity-bases screening capabilities a partnership with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and U.S. air carriers.

Roger Dow, President and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association exclaims, “We applaud Administrator Pistole’s courage to find a better way to conduct air travel security screening. We look forward to working with TSA to move our nation’s air travel security away from today’s one-size-fits-all approach.”

TSA allows certain frequent travellers of American and Delta Air Lines and certain members of Custom and Border Protection’s (CBP) existing trusted traveller programmes en route to Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Detroit and Miami to participate in the pilot. Once it gets operationally ready, TSA is looking forward to expand the pilot to other various Airlines.

“Recent studies show that travellers are widely supportive of this concept,” said Dow. “As the program evolves, it is critical that eligibility expands beyond frequent flier programs and that the entirety of the security process – lines and screening – is improved for all travellers.”

Green Globe Certifies Movenpick Hotel and Resort Yanbu

Movenpick Hotel & Resort Yanbu was awarded the Green Globe Certification for its sustainability achievements.

This is the sixth Movenpick property, located in the kingdom of Saudi Arabia, to get certified in the Middle East.

Mr. Khaled Habbab, General Manager Movenpick Hotel & Resort Yanbu said, “Protecting our mother nature is a belief, commitment, and a way of living. Needless to say, that although we are living in a model industrial city here in the Royal Commission of Yanbu, we have achieved a high level of sustainability, through the efforts of our team who have worked with high spirits to be part of the Green Globe community.”

“Operating in such a modern setting, Movenpick Hotel & Resort Yanbu has had to focus on environmental efficiency, particularly its use of water and electricity”, says Green globe Certification CEO Mr. Guido Bauer. “In this respect, and together with the hotel, we will be keeping a close watch on these efficiencies to ensure that the resort is seen as a leader within their destination. We are once again impressed with the dedication Movenpick has shown to work through the certification program with great diligence and attention to detail,” he added.

Movenpick Hotels & Resorts under the partnership with Green Globe Certification, can access itss famed certification program, that includes commitment to the internationally-accepted Green Globe Standard for sustainable travel and tourism.

Expecting A Rate Increase, Boeing Opens The Renovated 737 Paint Hangar

 Boeing has inaugurated a new paint hangar near its Renton, Washington site that would help in increasing the 737 Next-Generation production capacities.

The 737 program presently manufactures about 31 aeroplanes per month. It targets 35 per month in early 2012, 38 per month in second quarter 2013 and then 42 per month in the first half of 2014.

737-700 for Southwest Airlines was completed painting yesterday.

“City of Renton is working very closely with Boeing to ensure its ramp up of production of the 737 is seamless,” said Renton Mayor, Denis Law. “Coupled with Boeing’s signing of a 20-year lease agreement for the Renton Municipal Airport, we view the capital improvements such as those at the paint hangar as important signals that Renton will continue to be a centre of commercial airplane manufacturing for many years to come. We will continue to do everything we can to ensure Boeing’s continued success.”

Boeing looks forward to the market where single-aisle aircraft will continue to grow over the next decade and beyond.
This outlook is making the 737 program take several steps in meeting the market demand.

Beverly Wyse, Vice President and General Manager of 737 program says, “We identified this paint hangar as a key piece of infrastructure to support our future plans for increased 737 production several years ago. We have a measured approach to meeting rate increases on the program. Bringing this facility online demonstrates our progress.”

Nira Spa Introduces New Treatments this Summer At Shanti Maurice

Nira Spa of the renowned Shanti Maurice comes up with unique ranges of therapies, which features regimes of Ayurveda, Yoga and Vedanta, banded with the latest like Hydrotherapy, Cocoons, Body Polishes, Fusion Massage and Watsu treatments.

This combines to give a complete healing effect with the balance between inner and outer self.

The two new treatments launched this summer are:

a) Devifacial: A sacred journey in which the spirit is metamorphosed into a space of pure ecstacy. The therapists would predict the appropriate product that will suit one’s skin and would remove all the uneasiness from it. The skin would love the sacred treatment it would receive.

b) Sega Ritual: Sega Ritual is always performed on the beach with bonfires. The fire is a symbolic expression of the spirit always incited to stay positive. The massage is done with deep hydrating coconut butter, fused with pure frangipani flower extracts. After the ritual is over, the guest is served rum-cocktail.

Source: shantimaurice

Enjoy the Algarve and Vale De Lobo with Villa Parade

The Algarve is situated in the south of Portugal’s mainland and has been one of the very popular tourism destinations because of its fantastic climate and picturesque locations.

Villa Parade proffers excellent opportunities to stay in a selection of fabulous locations with awesome facilities. Vale de Lobo, a villa in Algarve is a holiday resort which bestows a lot of comfy features like golf courses, wonderful beaches and ample of places to dine out.

Vale de Lobo gets certainly the favourite among the tourists when they visit Praca, a development which consists of over 15 restaurants, bars and cafes which is located right on the beach.

The villas in Algarve makes the holiday even more beautiful and comfortable.

Source: villa parade

Centara introduces new elementary rates for the Waterfront Suites in Phuket

 Great elementary offer is available in the rebranded Waterfront Suites Phuket, by Centara hotels, located in the heart of Karon Town.

A 1-bedroom suite and 2-bedroom suite is available at 1,600 Baht and 2,200 Baht per night respectively. The offer is valid till October 31, 2011.

The above rates are framed on the basis of 2 adults per night at 1-bedroom suite and 4 adults per night at a 2-bedroom suite. Two children under the age 12 years are allowed to share their parents’ rooms. 10 percent service charge and 7 percent prevailing Government tax apply.

This offer does not apply to group or MICE reservations.

This Sino-Portuguese styled, 21-story apartment offers great luxury, along with an array of facilities like a fitness center and swimming pool.

It consists of 39 1-bedroom and 2 bed-room suites.

More Than 1,000 Business Travel Buyers Register for GBTA Convention 2011

The Global Business Travel Association (GBTA) – the voice of the global business travel industry – announced today that more than 1,000 business travel buyers have registered for the GBTA Convention 2011. Registration is well ahead of last year’s pace as nearly 5,000 people currently registered. The Convention, being held in Denver, Colorado, August 21st – 24th, will feature executive sessions with a dozen top industry CEOs and other nationally recognized speakers.

“Travel buyers are the heartbeat of a company’s travel program-they make sure travel continues while also making sure company dollars are wisely invested. There is no better place than Convention to bring together these agents of growth, connecting travel managers and suppliers and continuing the conversation of smarter travel,” said Michael W. McCormick, executive director and COO, GBTA. “Every year GBTA’s Convention gets better and better. We’ve ensured there is no shortage of interesting speakers and informative panels-helping to elevate the industry and the business of travel. Unlike any Convention before, we’ve invested in online planning tools that make it easier and more productive for attendees to plan their Convention experience.”

To ensure that attendees have an interesting and educational experience in Denver, GBTA is providing means to help members anticipate and prepare for their arrival. Through My Convention Planner, registrants can plan out their Convention experience including education sessions, events and meetings with exhibitors on the Expo floor. The customized online schedule can be synchronized to your Microsoft Outlook calendar and mobile applications. The GBTA Convention mobile application, available in early July, will be helpful for attendees to navigate all aspects of the Convention, including connecting with other attendees, creating their own personal agenda, obtaining information on speakers and sessions, and learning more about local attractions in Denver.

The GBTA Convention is the largest, most comprehensive annual gathering of business travel and meetings managers, meeting planners, procurement professionals and suppliers anywhere in the world. The Business Travel Event of the Year features: more than 70 industry-leading education sessions organized into 20+ specialized tracks geared to specific levels of experience and a variety of disciplines; a 400+ company Exposition showcasing market choices not available at other industry gatherings; executive sessions with a dozen top industry CEOs and world-renowned speakers; a wide selection of professional development opportunities; and, much more.

Source – GBTA

ADNEC wins prestigious award at AEO Excellence Awards 2011 in London

The Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre has won the “Best International Venue” award at the AEO Excellence Awards 2011 for the second year running. The flagship ceremony for the exhibitions and live events industry, which was held in London on July 1st, was attended by more than 1,000 industry professionals from around the world.

The award was received by ADNEC Chief Sales and Marketing Officer Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, who said: “I am pleased that we have been recognised once again as the leading venue for hosting international exhibitions and events. This is one of many awards received by ADNEC since the venue’s establishment in 2007, this recognition is a tribute to the strategy of ADNEC’s Board of Directors,”

Al Dhaheri emphasised that winning the award for the second consecutive year, reflects the commitment and hard work of everyone at ADNEC, and also their keenness to provide the highest levels of service to event organisers. He also said that this award reaffirms the crucial role that ADNEC plays in the extremely competitive MICE industry, and stressed that ADNEC is committed to remain a regional hub for events and exhibitions.

The Association of Event Organisers awards is held annually and are an important occasion for the global MICE industry, as key industry figures meet to discuss various issues of this growing sector.

In addition to ADNEC’s success, ExCEL London, ADNEC’s UK exhibition and convention centre, was named best UK Venue at the awards.

Source: ADNEC

National Rail Recycling Centre Helps Cut Cost of Britain’s Railways

 Britain’s biggest railway recycling centre opened its doors today – a move that will save hundreds of thousands of tonnes of materials going to landfill, remove thousands of lorry journeys from the roads and help cut the cost of Britain’s railways by more than £7m each year.

Network Rail’s new national track materials recycling centre (NTMRC) covers 40ha of formerly derelict railway land at Whitemoor Yard in March, Cambridgeshire. The centre – whose foundations were constructed using more than 125,000 tonnes of recycled railway ballast – will handle more than 40% of Britain’s used track materials annually, creating reusable products for the rail and construction industries.

Over 500 miles of used rail, 800 switches and crossings and 50,000 tonnes of contaminated ballast will be processed at Whitemoor each year. Recycling just the ballast will remove more than 2,500 lorry journeys from our roads and save Network Rail around £5m in landfill tax each year.

Martin Elwood, director of Network Rail NDS, said: “The new national recycling centre is at the heart of our efforts to drive down the cost of Britain’s railways and make the industry more sustainable. Rail travel is the greenest form of public transport so Network Rail must take the lead in making our industry greener still.

“Our work to maintain, renew and enhance the railway means we have to deal responsibly with hundreds of thousands of tonnes of waste every year. Our facility at Whitemoor Yard will play a massive role in minimising both the financial and environmental impact of this waste, creating new products which can be used on the railway or sold on at a profit.”

Principal contractor for the project was multi-disciplinary company, Spencer. Their project manager, Neil Hewitt, said: “Not only are we proud to have been involved in a scheme with such ambition – we are proud to have delivered it on budget and on time. Much of the work was carried out during a period impacted by heavy rains and a very difficult winter. Nonetheless the strong teamwork between all companies working on the site made sure this recycling centre became a reality by summer.

“We are proud to have worked closely with Network Rail in what I believe was a genuine achievement for all involved – no doubt this will make a huge difference to how railway maintenance affects the environment.”

In 2010/11, Network Rail’s National Delivery Service logistics function handled more than 1.5m tonnes of construction and maintenance waste, 90% of which was recycled at local depots and the company’s existing recycling centres at Westbury, Crewe and Doncaster. The NTMRC will help Network Rail achieve its goal to reuse, recycle or recover 95% of construction and maintenance waste by 2014.

Used ballast forms a large part of Network Rail’s waste products and around 200,000t is currently processed at an existing facility at Whitemoor Yard, which opened in 2004. Until now the dirtier ballast, around 50,000t per year, was sent to landfill sites. The new hazardous ballast washing facility in the NTMRC will remove contaminants to create further recycled products, with only a very small amount (around 2,000t) of residual materials required to go to landfill.

Each year around 650,000 used concrete sleepers are returned to depots. Around 130,000 of these are able to be re-used on the railway, with the rest sold or crushed to create recycled concrete and a commercial recycled steel product. All concrete sleepers to be crushed will be processed at the NTMRC.

Network Rail made the most of the on-site recycling facilities already available at its adjacent ‘phase 1′ facility at Whitemoor to reduce the environmental impact of the build. More than 125,000t of recycled ballast was used for foundations and base layers, and the internal roadways were constructed using 17,000m3 of concrete mixed on-site using recycled ballast – saving at least 6,000 lorry movements through the local area.

Source: Network Rail

 

Tauck announces godmother of new ms Treasures riverboat

Tauck, a world-leader in premium quality guided tours and cruises, has announced that Robin Tauck will serve as godmother to the company’s new ms Treasures riverboat. The Tauck family, company executives, travel agents and journalists will gather for the ship’s christening on August 10 in Cologne Germany. The ms Treasures will be the fourth new Tauck riverboat launched since 2006.

“This is a wonderful way to recognize the many contributions Robin made to Tauck during her many years with the company,” said company chairman Arthur Tauck, Jr. Robin Tauck’s brother-in-law, company CEO Dan Mahar, echoed Arthur Tauck’s sentiments. “Tauck has been a family-owned and operated company for 86 years, and honoring a valued family member in this way also celebrates the guiding family principles that have formed the framework of Tauck’s success since 1925.”

Robin Tauck joined her family’s travel company in 1982, holding a variety of executive positions within the company. She remains a shareholder in the company along with her siblings. She now serves on a variety of travel industry and non-profit boards, as well as focusing her outside efforts on public-private partnerships in world heritage and sustainability issues within the broader travel industry.

“It’s truly an honour to serve as the godmother of the ms Treasures,” said Robin Tauck. “We began our ‘land and sea’ cruise business with the theme ‘Treasures’ in the 1980s; and we are also celebrating our 20 years of European touring in 2011. I’m sure that christening the ms Treasures in the presence of three generations of family members will be a very special moment that I will cherish forever.”

The christening and a subsequent three-day celebratory cruise have special meaning for the Tauck family, which has strong German roots. Herman von Tauchnitz, the father of company patriarch Arthur Tauck, Sr. emigrated to the U.S. from Germany in 1882. Decades later, Arthur Tauck, Jr. served in the US Army in Germany, and Robin Tauck was born there in the town of Kaufbeuren.

Also launching in August, Tauck’s first river cruises on the Rhone

Along with the ms Treasures, two new Tauck river cruises on the Rhone will also debut in August. The company’s 10-day “French Waterways & Vineyards” itinerary (from $4,490 pp, double, plus air) begins with an included two-night stay in Paris, complete with guided local sightseeing. Guests then board the high-speed TGV train to Lyon to begin their seven-day cruise, with highlights including Vienne, Tournon, Valence, Viviers, Avignon, Roussillon, Arles, and a memorable dinner at Provence’s Pont du Gard.

The second Rhone itinerary, “French Escapade: Monte-Carlo to Paris” (14 days, from $5,990 pp, double, plus air), begins with a guided exploration of Monte-Carlo and Nice during a two-night stay at the Fairmont Monte Carlo. Guests then travel to Arles to begin their nine-day cruise on the Rhone and Saone rivers exploring Viviers, Tournon, Vienne, Lyon, Macon, Chalon-sur-Saone and Beaune. The trip concludes with a two-night hotel stay and guided sightseeing in Paris.

Source – Tauck