Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces to Delight Travelers With Fly-N-Stay Program, a Dynamic and Comprehensive Holiday or Business PlannerMUMBAI - Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces is renowned for its legendary hospitality - a result of successful anticipation of guest needs. Taj aims to delight travelers by launching exciting and innovative offers that offer additional value . Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. Second Quarter 2009 News Release and Conference CallHAMILTON, Bermuda - Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH) (www.orient-express.com) will release its second quarter earnings on Wednesday August 5, 2009 after the market closes and will host a conference call for the investment community on Thursday August 6, 2009 at 10.00 am ET (15.00 BST). Conference ID: Orient-Express. As of 29 June 2009, Tom J. Krooswijk Will be joining Hotel de l’Europe in Amsterdam as General ManagerAMSTERDAM - A veteran of the hotel industry, Tom previously made his mark at InterCotinental Hotels & Resorts. His career saw him working in the Middle East, where he held the position of Senior Vice President overseeing 17 hotels in the area, after which he was appointed VP for Eastern Europe and subsequently GM of the ‘Grand Inter-Continental Paris’ and VP for France and Switzerland. Venere.com Names New Chief Technology OfficerROME - Venere.com, the European online hotel reservations specialist recently acquired by Expedia Inc., has appointed Philippe Vimard to lead its technology department. Frost & Sullivan: Improving Security in Luxury Hotels is a Top Global PriorityLONDON - The list of locations around the world having experienced terrorist attacks on luxury hotels is growing fast: Netanya in Israel, Jakarta in Indonesia, Taba and Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt, Sana’a in Yemen, Amman in Jordan, Islamabad in Pakistan, Mumbai in India in November 2008 and last month, Peshawar in Pakistan. Each of these events points to the same major vulnerability that exists in the high-end hotel sector, not just in global terrorism hot spots, but also closer to home, where possible copycat attacks have been predicted, and highlights the urgent need for major security improvements. Starwood Hotels and Tata Communications Partner to Roll-Out TelePresence Rooms in Hotels GloballySINGAPORE and WHITE PLAINS, New York - - TelePresence Provides the Experience of In-Person Meetings With Participants in Locations Around the World Hilton Hotel and GlaxoSmithKline Take Energy-Efficient Measures by Installing 7,000 M Squared of Luxasolar Window FilmSINT-NIKLASS, Belgium - - Energy Savings in Winter and Summer for a Smaller Ecological Footprint Entrepreneurs Offered GBP100,000 Investment for Travel Industry’s Next Big IdeaLONDON - - Nationwide Search Launched for a New Travel Business The leading trade newspaper for the travel industry is offering a GBP100,000 prize to the individual or group with the most innovative idea for a new travel business. Back off our Beautiful Beaches!WIGAN, England - - Keep Britain Tidy Blasts Lager Company A lager company which branded England’s beaches “dirty and rubbish ridden” has been criticised by Keep Britain Tidy. Choice Hotels Rewards Program Offers European Travelers an Added Bonus with Double Points for Every StaySILVER SPRING, Maryland - European-Based Choice Privileges Rewards Members Receive Double the Value at Thousands of Hotels Across the World Mitchell C. Hochberg Appointed to the Board of Orient-Express Hotels Ltd.HAMILTON, Bermuda - Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH) (www.orient-express.com), owners and operators of 50 deluxe leisure properties in 25 countries, today announced that Mitchell C. Hochberg has been elected to the Board of Directors at the Company’s Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on June 5, 2009. Trivial Pursuits: Britons Clock Up More Holiday Hours Drinking and Sunbathing Than Fellow EuropeansLONDON - TripAdvisor Reveals Holiday Habits of British, French, German, Italian & Spanish Travellers Tiger Hover Tours - The Only Tourist Passenger Hover Service in the UK Launches This WeekendPLYMOUTH - 2009 marks the 50th anniversary of the first channel crossing of a hovercraft. This great British invention can now be experienced with Tiger Hover Tours in the heart of Plymouth. The first flight is on the 13th of June, starting from 10am, every hour from the Barbican landing stage. You can buy tickets online at www.tigerhovertours.co.uk, by phone on 0870-766-9125, on the day at the tourist office in the Barbican, and from our shore service. Like our bright yellow hovercraft, they are easily identifiable with their bright yellow polo shirts and tiger logo. Skyscanner Sees Late Surge on Summer Flights: Recession Changing the Way Brits Book TravelEDINBURGH - Visitor Traffic on Skyscanner up 85% Cheap flight site Skyscanner (www.Skyscanner.net) saw an unprecedented spike in user traffic last month (May 09), reflecting a surge of late bookings which has led to record visitor numbers. James Park Associates Interiors Unveiled as The Pierre, New York ReopensLONDON and SINGAPORE - The Pierre, New York’s Iconic Fifth Avenue Hotel Which has Just Reopened,has Unveiled Stunning New Guestrooms and Suites Designed by James Park Associates (JPA). Holiday Extras Launches Family Friendly Summer DealsLONDON - To make sure that families get the best possible start to their holidays, HolidayExtras.com is launching a summer of family friendly deals. 21% of British Travellers Risk Their Own SafetyLONDON - More than one in five of us ignore the flight safety talk when flying, according to a poll released today. Holiday Like There’s No RecessionLONDON - The Best Travel Value for 2009 Smart travellers know that a weak economy means a great time to travel, particularly when there are great deals around. As more people discover the benefits of home exchange it’s now possible to holiday like there’s no recession for as little as GBP69.99 a year. The “you stay at my home while I stay at yours” concept means that except for getting there, a holiday nearly anywhere in the world doesn’t have to cost any more than staying at home. InterContinental New York Times Square Tops OffNEW YORK - Brand Investment in New York Area Continues Despite Difficult Economic Times WHAT: InterContinental Hotels & Resorts has officially topped-off the InterContinental New York Times Square hotel. Premiering summer of 2010, the Gensler-designed InterContinental New York Times Square will rise 35 stories above Eighth Avenue. The hotel will have over 600 rooms and suites that offer 360-degree panoramic views of Times Square and the Hudson River, with vistas stretching uptown to Central Park and downtown to the World Trade Center site. InterContinental New York Times Square will be the first luxury hotel built in the Times Square-neighbourhood. Keeping sustainability in mind, the Jeffrey Bears-designed interiors will feature recycled material including gouged and carved reclaimed wood. Additionally, 13-foot-tall lobby columns echo the texture of tree bark in metal. Natural stones and caramel millwork set a neutral backdrop for vibrant pops of color, introduced in wall coverings and textiles throughout the hotel. “We are extremely excited to reach this milestone as we continue on pace to open next summer,” said Jenifer Zeigler, Senior Vice President, Global Brand Management, InterContinental Hotels & Resorts. “This is indicative of the tremendous growth experienced by the brand in the U.S., Canada and Mexico over the last few years. The progress of this new luxury property, despite uncertain economic times, demonstrates InterContinental’s commitment to long term needs of the luxury hotel market.” Hotel facts and figures: — 35 story glass tower rising out of a six-story granite podium — Total space of 450,000 gross square feet — Over 11,000 square feet of meeting space, including a 4,000 square feet ballroom and ten additional meeting rooms — Over 600 guestrooms averaging 350 square feet in size, each with oversized bathrooms, ergonomic workspace, wall mounted 42-inch flat panel televisions, large windows, all designed with a residential feel in mind — Signature restaurant. WHERE: InterContinental New York Times Square 300 West 44th Street New York, New York 10036 CONTACT: Charles Yap InterContinental Hotels & Resorts +44-(0)-7808-098-698 charles.yap@ihg.com Andrew Bard Weber Shandwick +1-212-445-8368 Abard@webershandwick.com /C O R R E C T I O N — InterContinental Hotels & Resorts; IHG/NEW YORK - In the news release, InterContinental New York Times Square Tops Off, issued earlier today by InterContinental Hotels & Resorts and IHG over PR Newswire, we are advised by the companies that the second paragraph, second sentence, should read “Keeping sustainability in mind, the Jeffrey Beers-designed interiors…” rather than “Jeffrey Bears-designed” as originally issued inadvertently. The Address Hotels + Resorts Partners With the World’s Largest Mall to Offer an Exciting Summer GetawayDUBAI - This summer, The Address Hotels + Resorts, Dubai’s 5 star hotel brand, is offering guests the opportunity to experience some of the iconic attractions in Dubai. Guests staying at The Address Downtown Burj Dubai and The Palace - The Old Town can enjoy complimentary priority access to The Dubai Mall’s famous attractions such as the Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo and the Dubai Ice Rink. The offer, including attractive summer rates valid until September 20, 2009, is also applicable for guests residing in the Al Manzil and Qamardeen hotels - also located within Downtown Burj Dubai, described as the ‘new heart of the city.’ DialAFlight Fly Kids Free to USALONDON - This summer, DialAFlight have teamed up with United Airlines to offer free children’s fares to a whole host of US destinations. Only taxes and surcharges will apply to the ticket. Food and Beer Prove Resilient for Marston’sLONDON - Sales of food and beer at independent brewer and pub operator Marston’s contributed to a resilient performance for the first half of the year in a difficult trading environment. Star-Studded Opening of $1.4bn Mardan Palace, TurkeyLONDON - The $1.4bn luxury resort Mardan Palace was unveiled last night at a spectacular opening party in Antalya, Turkey. Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces Announces a Premium HotelPANAJI, Goa - Vibrant Experiences With Charming Hospitality! Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces announce their new premium hotel, “Vivanta by Taj - Panaji, Goa”, slotted in the “upper upscale” segment. Keeping the spirit of Goa, the hotel located in Panaji, addresses the needs of Goa’s expanding business environment, and offers contemporary experiences for the sophisticated and cosmopolitan customer. Vivanta also gives Leisure guests coming into Goa an opportunity to sample the culture & charm of this historic city before or after their sojourn to the beaches. Combined with the Taj’s strong presence in both North & South Goa, Vivanta Panaji gives full coverage and multiple choices to this key tourist market for both domestic as well as international travellers. Expedia Unveils Easy-To-Manage, Commission-Based Hotel ProgrammeBELLEVUE, Washington - ‘Expedia Easy Manage’ programme a simplified option for accessing the world’s largest source of online travel demand GTA and Louvre Hotels Sign Global Distribution DealLONDON and PARIS - GTA by Travelport, a global travel wholesaler and Louvre Hotels, hotel operator with more than 830 hotels in nine countries across Europe, today announced that they have signed a distribution agreement to distribute more than 30,000 Louvre Hotel rooms in GTA’s inventory. GTA and Accor Sign Global Distribution DealLONDON and PARIS - GTA by Travelport, a global travel wholesaler and Accor, owner of 4,000 hotels in 90 countries spanning the spectrum of the hotel market from budget/economy to luxury, today announced that they have signed an innovative distribution agreement wherein Accor will enhance their distribution of properties and room types in GTA’s inventory portfolio. Hozpitality.Com- Global Recession….What is Recession?DUBAI, UAE - The Arabian Travel Market concluded on 8th May with a positive note and smiles on all faces. Many new contracts were signed and finalized. New hotel projects were announced, new brands were launched, and positive signs of the recovering economy were seen. Positive sentiments were echoed by a host of Middle Eastern industry decision makers. Cap Cana Announces Settlement of Exchange Offer and Consent SolicitationSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Cap Cana, S.A. (”Cap Cana”) announced today the settlement and consummation of its exchange offer and consent solicitation (the “Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation”), originally announced on March 31, 2009, as subsequently amended. Cap Cana issued US$129,990,800 aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior Secured Notes due 2016 and US$126,567,000 aggregate principal amount of its 10% Senior Secured Recovery Notes due 2016 in exchange for US$236,565,000 (or approximately 95.99%) of Cap Cana’s outstanding 9.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 (the “Existing Notes”) that were validly tendered (plus accrued and unpaid interest on the Existing Notes through May 8, 2009). In addition, Cap Cana paid to each holder of Existing Notes who validly tendered and did not validly withdraw their Existing Notes prior to 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2009 a fee of US$5.00 per US$1,000 principal amount of Existing Notes tendered. GTA and InterContinental Hotels Group Sign Global Distribution DealLONDON - GTA by Travelport, a global travel wholesaler and the InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], owner of the InterContinental(R) Hotels & Resorts, Hotel Indigo(R), Crowne Plaza(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn(R) Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn Express(R), Staybridge Suites(R) and Candlewood Suites(R) brands, today announced that they have signed a global full content distribution agreement to further strengthen their strategic relationship. Orient-Express Hotels Reports First Quarter 2009 ResultsHAMILTON, Bermuda - First Quarter 2009 Earnings Summary - First quarter total revenues, excluding real estate, of $91.0 million, down $24.9 million over prior year - Same store RevPAR down 18% in local currency, 26% in US dollars - Adjusted EBITDA before Real Estate of $9.9 million, down $7.0 million over prior year - First quarter net loss from continuing operations of $13.6 million - EPS loss from continuing operations of $0.27 per common share Key Events - Raised $141.3 million of cash in common share offering primarily for debt reduction - Closed on new $30 million secured construction loan to complete Porto Cupecoy - Sold a total of 11 additional residences at Porto Cupecoy during 1Q 09 - Reduced impact of revenue decline on EBITDA by 72% through fixed and variable cost savings - Agreed in principle resolution of tangible net worth covenants on two facilities referenced in 2008 Form 10-K - Received deposit and signed Memorandum of Understanding for sale of a European hotel and Letter of Intent signed on a second property - Enhanced corporate brand strategy - In discussions to amend agreements with the New York Public Library Cap Cana Announces Final Results of Exchange Offer and Consent SolicitationSANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic - Cap Cana, S.A. (”Cap Cana”) announced today that as of 11:59 p.m. on April 30, 2009 (the “Expiration Date”) under the Company’s exchange offer And consent solicitation (the “Exchange Offer and Consent Solicitation”), originally announced on March 31, 2009, as subsequently amended, an aggregate of approximately US$235,271,000 (or approximately 95.46%) aggregate principal amount of the Company’s outstanding 9.625% Senior Secured Notes due 2013 (the “Existing Notes”) were validly tendered and not withdrawn. Taking account of US$3,550,000 of Existing Notes held by Cap Cana in its account, the aggregate principal amount of Existing Notes effectively outstanding as of the Expiration Date was US$246,450,000. Orient-Express Hotels Announces Pricing of Common Share OfferingHAMILTON, Bermuda - Orient-Express Hotels Ltd. (NYSE: OEH, www.orient-express.com), today announced the pricing of its public offering of 22,500,000 Class A common shares at a price of $5.75 per share. The Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 3,375,000 shares to cover over-allotments, if any. Subject to customary conditions, the offering is expected to close on or about Monday, May 4, 2009. Prix Romantik Liebold for Joachim FranzWIESBADEN and FRANKFURT, Germany - Romantik Hotels & Restaurants Presents Award for European Values and Virtues to the Internationally Known Extreme-Sportsman and Aids-Activist Joachim Franz. |
