Turkish treat for travellers
In addition to a special offer on round-trip tickets starting at HK$4,890 ($628) from Hong Kong to 73 popular destinations worldwide, including major cities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Hong Kong travellers now also have the opportunity to stop in Istanbul and spend a day there with Turkish Airlines’ free transit service.
Passengers can choose to enjoy a complimentary one-night stay in Istanbul at a four or five-star hotel, or join Turkish Airlines’ free city tour which includes transportation, museum tickets and a breakfast or lunch.
The promotion is valid for outbound travel from Hong Kong until January 31.
Cathay to launch Abu Dhabi service
Cathay Pacific is expanding its international network with plans to add two new routes in 2011 – a four-times-weekly service to Abu Dhabi, UAE, beginning June 2, and a daily flight to Chicago, US which launches on September 1.
The Chicago service, which will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER, will boost the airline’s presence in North America and provide passengers with increased connectivity between the Midwestern United States and Hong Kong and the rest of Asia. Given the demand for travel to other US cities via Chicago, Cathay Pacific intends to launch codeshare services from its new gateway with Oneworld alliance partner American Airlines.
The Abu Dhabi service will be operated by an Airbus A330-300 aircraft with departures to and from Hong Kong on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Cathay Pacific has been serving the UAE market for more than 30 years and currently offers a double-daily operation to and from Dubai.
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Peninsula announces renovation project
The board of Hong Kong and Shanghai Hotels has approved a plan for a complete renovation of guest rooms at The Peninsula Hong Kong which is expected to be carried out in two phases beginning January 2012 and taking around 16 months.
The hotel will remain open for business throughout the refurbishment and it is expected there will be very minimal disruption to public areas.
The hotel is the company’s flagship property, which has consistently been regarded as one of the top luxury hotels in the world. This renovation is part of a scheduled upgrade programme to enhance its facilities.
The last significant room redesign coincided with the office tower opening in 1994 and the renovation aims to ensure that The Peninsula retains its leading position in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Airlines engages Aviareps
Hong Kong Airlines has signed up with leading aviation and tourism management company Aviareps for representation in the UAE, Chile, Mexico, Peru and South Africa. Aviareps will handle ticketing, sales and marketing activities aimed at establishing the brand and promoting its services.
Agoda.com, Asia’s global hotel booking site and part of Nasdaq-listed priceline.com has also announced a partnership with the Asian carrier.
Agoda.com lists more than 150,000 hotels worldwide, working closely with hoteliers to secure the best online hotel promotions available. As one of Asia’s leading online hotel booking sites, Agoda.com is known for its coverage of major Asian travel hubs such as Hong Kong, Thailand, China, and Singapore, providing instant confirmation at every hotel in every destination.