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Weak Euro great for tourism

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SOURCE: CNN

Continental Airlines to Inaugurate Nonstop New York-Munich Service Saturday

Hub-to-hub link provides additional travel options

Continental Airlines on Saturday, March 27, will inaugurate service between New York and Munich, Germany, with daily nonstop flights from the airline's hub at Newark Liberty International Airport.

"Launching nonstop service to Munich allows us to link Continental's New York hub to the Munich hub of our new partner Lufthansa," said Jim Compton, Continental's executive vice president and chief marketing officer.  "It's a great example of how joining Star Alliance is allowing our customers to seamlessly connect to a greater number of travel destinations."  

Convenient Flight Schedule

Continental will operate the nonstop daily flight with a Boeing 767-200ER aircraft, seating 25 passengers in BusinessFirst and 149 passengers in economy class.  Flight CO106 will depart Newark Liberty daily at 5:30 p.m. and arrive in Munich at 7:40 a.m. the next day.  The return flight, CO107, will depart Munich's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport daily at 9:20 a.m. and arrive at Newark Liberty at 12:35 p.m. the same day.  The schedule of the Continental service complements that of Lufthansa's existing daily New York/Newark-Munich service, which departs Newark Liberty about three hours later and Munich about six hours later.

The new flight has been timed to provide convenient connections at Munich, where Star Alliance member flights provide service to more than 95 destinations in Western Europe, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, and at New York/Newark with an extensive network of Continental flights to more than 100 destinations throughout the U.S., Canada and Latin America.  Continental operates the largest hub in the New York City metropolitan area at Newark Liberty International Airport.  

Munich becomes the fourth German city to be served with daily flights to New York by Continental after Frankfurt, Berlin and Hamburg; the airline also operates daily service between Frankfurt and Houston.  Munich is the 30th destination in Continental's overall trans-Atlantic network.

Award-winning BusinessFirst Service

The new flights will feature Continental's BusinessFirst service, rated by Condé Nast Traveler magazine as the highest among all U.S. carriers for trans-Atlantic flights for 10 years in a row.  Continental's BusinessFirst amenities include an extensive gourmet menu served with premium wines and champagnes created by Continental's Congress of Chefs and Sommeliers.  A specially selected and trained corps of concierges is available to provide individualized pre-flight and post-flight services for BusinessFirst customers at 35 international airports worldwide. Customers traveling in BusinessFirst are also able to access any of Continental's 24 Presidents Clubs and other airline affiliated lounges worldwide.

Munich Destination

The new service will provide daily nonstop flights to Germany's third largest city and the economic centre of southern Germany.  Munich, the capital of Bavaria, has a population of 1.3 million in the city and 5 million in the Munich Metropolitan Region. Famed for its historic and modern architecture and annual Oktoberfest beer celebration, Munich boasts a wealth of cultural attractions and institutions.  Among the many world-renowned companies whose headquarters are in the city are Siemens AG (electronics), BMW (cars), MAN AG (trucks, engineering), Allianz (insurance) and Munich Re (re-insurance).  Lufthansa operates a hub at Munich's Franz Josef Strauss International Airport, which is the second-largest airport in Germany after Frankfurt.

Continental also offers tour packages to Germany through Continental Airlines Vacations.

SOURCE: Continental Airlines

European Travel Savings from CNN

InterRail Launches Two New Passes

Special Global 60+ Pass Introduced Across Europe

Preceded by students and young globetrotters, mature travellers have discovered that the InterRail Pass offers a comfortable and economical way to explore Europe by train. Following this development, the Eurail Group launches a special InterRail 60+ Pass at the 2010 Vakantiebeurs, on which '60 plussers' can travel through Europe on a special tariff.

This special tariff, available exclusively for the InterRail Global Pass, was officially launched at the Vakantiebeurs (Dutch Travel Fair) last week in the Netherlands. It will continue to be promoted at similar European travel fairs throughout Europe, spreading the message about the benefits of travelling with an InterRail Pass to young and old alike.

"60 plussers form an exciting new group of InterRailers because they have the time and the means to travel. Plus, they are starting to discover that travelling by train is less expensive than flying and there are lots of interesting destinations across the European continent that can be reached by train," Marketing Director, Ana Dias e Seixas of the Eurail Group, explains. Among youth travellers, the InterRail Pass has been the most popular European rail pass for decades and 70% of all passengers are still under 26. Despite these statistics, InterRail Passes are designed for all ages, allowing the pass holder unlimited train travel to or through 30 European countries at a relatively low cost.

Considering that the majority of visitors who come to the Vakantiebeurs are 45 and above, the Eurail Group chose to start the promotion of the InterRail 60+ Pass in the Netherlands. Furthermore, the InterRail Global Pass, valid for 15 consecutive days, was also launched during this Dutch Travel Fair. In the past, Global Passes were only valid for 22 days, one month or for shorter periods of time. 15-day passes are targeted towards people who wish to travel by train every few days during a fortnight's holiday, or for those who wish to travel to and from their holiday destination by train.

InterRail also acknowledges the growing popularity of Eastern European destinations, such as Romania, Hungary, Slovenia and Slovakia. During the Dutch Travel Fair, around 80% of visitors to the InterRail stand were particularly fond of the idea of travelling through Great Britain with InterRail. For southern European countries like Spain and Portugal, passengers sometimes favour the option of arriving by plane so that they can explore their chosen country in depth, with the help of the InterRail One Country Pass.

SOURCE InterRail

France is World's Best Place to Live, U.S. Drops to #7, Says International Living

Ernest Hemingway did it. So did Julia Child and patriots like Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson.

Humorist David Sedaris is doing it now, as are Johnny Depp, and Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, along with their six children.

These famous Americans all found the "good life" in France. And, it seems, so are many other less-famous Americans, including retirees and families.

Nearly a decade ago, Elizabeth Bonner moved to France with her husband and children. She's never looked back, and the family has now renovated two historic chateaus in the French countryside.

"It has turned out to be a glorious undertaking," Bonner says. "We sit on our veranda on mild nights and are amazed by the brilliance of the stars. And we find ourselves continually amused, enriched, and surprised by the experience of French life."

The "bon vivant" that France offers has led to its # 1 ranking as the best place in the world to live. That's according to International Living magazine (www.internationalliving.com), which has been analyzing data and publishing its annual Quality of Life Index for 30 years now.

For the fifth year running, says publisher Jackie Flynn, France has again earned the top spot as the best place in the world to live.

"In France, life is savored," says Flynn. "I don't think anyone will argue that France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, where there is so much pride in all the small details. The French love little window boxes filled with flowers, tidy gardens, pretty sidewalk cafes, and clean streets. Cities are well tended and with little crime."

This year once again, says Flynn, all the number-crunching, rating, and ranking landed France at the top of the Index. France scores high marks across the board, from health care (100 points) to infrastructure (92 points) to its safety rating (100 points). But the main appeal of living in France, she says, is arguably its overall lifestyle. (It scores 81 points in the Culture and Leisure category.)

And despite high scores in nearly every category, France remains an affordable place to live, including for retirees on a budget. Flynn says that although Paris offers the best of everything, services don't fall away in Alsace's wine villages, in wild and lovely Corsica, and in other provinces like lavender-scented Provence or seaside Languedoc.

And in fact, she says, provincial French properties are often quite affordable and lifestyles are less expensive than Paris. "The Southwestern Midi-Pyrenees region is a particularly good hunting ground for village homes for less than $100,000 and classic three-course lunches for $14."

Following France in the number one spot are Australia (#2), Switzerland (#3), Germany (#4), New Zealand (#5), Luxembourg (#6), the U.S. (#7), Belgium (#8), Canada (#9), and Italy (#10).

"It's evident from our compilation that the British Commonwealth countries of Australia, New Zealand and Canada are doing very well, and despite the bumps in the road have managed dependable economic performance," Flynn says. "Australia moved from fifth place last year into second place this year, largely thanks to its remarkable economic recovery. It's already officially out of recession."

Overall though, European countries slipped a little in International Living's rankings this year, Flynn says, with the exceptions of France and Germany.

"Germany is taking giant strides toward economic recovery. And as for France, it ranks well in every category. It has a stable economy, top-notch health care, and an overall wonderful quality of life. No one can dispute its dominance in cultural offerings."

Why did the U.S. fall from its rank at number three last year to number seven this year?

"Although the U.S. remains in the top 10," says Flynn, "We can't ignore the state of its economy. In this category, the U.S. scored 67 points in 2010 up from 57 last year but it's still mired in recession, and in sector after sector the cost of sustaining the 'American Dream' has escalated out of the reach of many. The U.S. remains an excellent place to live, especially in terms of convenience, but it's generally more expensive to live there now than it has been in years past."

In 2010, Flynn says International Living will continue to focus on several countries, where you can achieve both a high standard and a low cost of living. In addition to France and Italy (#s 1 and 10 on the Quality of Life Index), these countries include Ecuador (#39); Panama (#34); Uruguay (#19); Belize (#63) Costa Rica (#33) and Mexico (#46).

To compile the Quality of Life Index, says Flynn, International Living editors compare almost 200 countries in nine categories: Cost of Living, Culture and Leisure, Economy, Environment, Freedom, Health, Infrastructure, Safety and Risk, and Climate. Data from government sources and resources like the World Health Organization and The Economist, are analyzed, and information is gathered from International Living's many editors and correspondents around the world.

To see the complete scores for every country in every category, go to: www.internationalliving.com/qofl-data

SOURCE International Living

SuperShuttle to Open Airport Transportation in Paris

 SuperShuttle, the largest shared ride airport transportation service in the U.S., just launched its first international service in Paris, France. The new service is available from Charles de Gaulle (CDG) - main international airport, ORLY (ORY) and the local airport Beauvais (BVA) to anywhere in Paris including hotels, local residences, and Disneyland Paris.

1. Service: all three Paris airports, seven train stations and Disneyland Paris
2. Shared ride and private transfer
3. Comfortable new, air-conditioned vehicles
4. Service is by reservation only
5. Currently reservations can be made online through the French website www.supershuttleparis.fr or by phone during the hours of 1:00 AM - 3:00 PM Eastern Standard Time: Tel: +33 1 43 65 55 55
6. Reservations must be made 24 hours prior to travel

US customers traveling to Paris will be able to book reservations through the U.S. SuperShuttle website and call center in early 2010.

Pricing for Paris will be the same whether your destination is a hotel, residence, office or train station. The fare to or from Charles de Gaulle and Paris city center is 27 EUR for the first passenger and 17 EUR per additional adult in the same party. Children under 12 are priced at 12 EUR per child. Veolia Transport, headquartered in Paris, bought SuperShuttle International in 2006 and started Veolia Transportation On Demand headquartered in Scottsdale, AZ. This is the first expansion for SuperShuttle in the international market and Veolia chose its hometown of Paris for the first international rollout.

SuperShuttle International, based in Phoenix, AZ, is a division of Veolia Transportation On Demand and a subsidiary of Veolia Environment (Euronext: VIE, VE). SuperShuttle serves 33 airports, carrying more than eight million passengers a year. Airports served by SuperShuttle include some of the largest in the country including Los Angeles, New York, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Washington, D.C. and Miami. Please go to www.supershuttle.com for more information.

SOURCE SuperShuttle International

W Hotels Worldwide Opens First Western European Hotel with the New W Barcelona

A Flagship for W Hotels Globally, W Barcelona is the Latest in the Brand’s Continued Expansion to Become a Global Powerhouse, Including Upcoming Openings in London, and Paris

 

W Hotels Worldwide, the hotel category buster and industry innovator, today unveils a global brand flagship hotel, W Barcelona. An icon of stunning architecture rising high above the Mediterranean in Spain’s most dynamic and stylish city, W Barcelona is designed by world-renowned Spanish architect Ricardo Bofill. Situated at Nova Bocana, where the glamorous Barceloneta beach boardwalk commences, the hotel has a commanding presence against Barcelona’s magnificent waterfront and skyline, and has already made its mark as a landmark in an ambitious urban renewal plan for Barcelona’s coastline. The 26-story, slender, sail-shaped W Barcelona sits perpendicular to the dock, showcasing unprecedented sea and city views from virtually every guest room. Global jetsetters and local tastemakers are already referring to the curved sandy and very exclusive bay adjacent to the hotel as Barcelona’s very own “Copacabana,” a reference that alludes to W Barcelona’s passion for design and fashion, which will be the key brand differentiators for this emblematic destination.

“Taking the W brand into the dynamic city of Barcelona, a European hub known for fashion, design and architecture, will mark a true milestone in W Hotels’ global expansion into the world’s most exciting and vibrant destinations,” said Eva Ziegler, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide and Le Méridien. “W Barcelona offers stunning architecture and innovative design from Ricardo Bofill, a renowned architect. His leading-edge design will set a dramatic stage for the W brand’s unique lifestyle positioning, soon to become a true flagship hotel for the W brand, offering insider access to a world of Wow.”

Through W Hotels’ unique and distinctive programming, W Barcelona will provide a contemporary lifestyle experience with a complete service offer. The hotel will feature 473 guest rooms, including 67 suites, two WOW suites and one Extreme WOW suite. W Barcelona will also offer guests Spain’s first Bliss® Spa; a signature restaurant by famed Michelin-Star rated and acclaimed Catalan Chef, Carles Abellan, featuring unparalleled views of the Barcelona shoreline; Eclipse, a glamorous rooftop bar with stunning vistas over the Mediterranean from London-based nightlife gurus, Ignite Group (the creative minds behind famed London nightclub, Boujis); the signature W lounge welcome experience featuring W BAR for cocktails and WAVE Restaurant; WET, a glamorous infinity-edged pool and bar, all surrounded by multiple sun terraces, inspiring exterior lounge decks, fully equipped cabanas, and one ultra-exclusive Extreme WOW Cabana with Jacuzzi and lounge deck. The hotel also features SWEAT state-of-the-art fitness facility outfitted with Technogym equipment featuring panoramic views of the Mediterranean, complemented by resident DJ sets to inspire high energy work out sessions.

W Barcelona features spectacular public spaces with more than 2,500 square metres of ultra-modern meeting and event space, including a unique Great Room (W Hotels’ interpretation of a ballroom) with breathtaking, unobstructed sea views, making W Barcelona more than the ultimate insider escape but also an ideal hotel for special events, meetings and celebrations. All of these offerings will be supported by the W brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever® service promise, providing guests whatever they want – from a private chartered yacht excursion along the Mediterranean coastline to an insider shopping spree from the vintage Catalan fashions to the latest Spanish designers – whenever they want it (as long as it’s legal!).

“W Barcelona is now the third W Hotel in Europe, Africa and the Middle East, following the openings of W Istanbul and W Doha Hotel & Residences earlier this year,” said Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, EAME. “The W brand continues its fantastic growth and is on track to open ten more W Hotels in some of the region’s most sought after destinations, including London, Paris, and Milan.”

W Barcelona is at the beginning of the world-famous boardwalk La Barceloneta, first-class restaurants of Port Vell, pristine beaches and water sports of Puerto Olimpico, and a short stroll from the romantic cafés, fashionable shops and innovative nightlife options of Barcelona’s Old Town and Las Ramblas. The only hotel in Barcelona with direct access to the beach, W Barcelona anchors Passeig de Joan de Borbó, a massive redevelopment project slated to bring luxury retail, office and entertainment venues to this dynamic area.

W Barcelona is accepting reservations, including group arrivals and event bookings, from today onwards. To celebrate this divine debut, W Barcelona has introduced an exclusive opening offer for guests, providing a taste of W Hotels’ insider contemporary lifestyle experience. Starting at €249, the opening offer includes two welcome cocktails, daily breakfast for two, complimentary appetizer or dessert with dinner at W Barcelona’s signature restaurant, Bliss® Spa gift set, VIP access to Eclipse, the hotel’s rooftop destination bar, and an upgrade from a Wonderful Room to the next available room type. This limited celebratory offer is valid for stays between October 1, 2009 and February 27, 2010.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts has a commanding presence in Spain with six of its nine world-class brands represented, including Westin, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Sheraton, and now W Hotels. The grand hotels that make up Starwood’s Spanish portfolio include The Westin Palace Madrid, Marqués de Riscal, A Luxury Collection (Rioja), Hotel Alfonso XIII, A Luxury Collection Hotel (Seville), and Arabella Golf & Spa Resort (Mallorca).

Source: Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Crowne Plaza moves into Portugal - first Crowne Plaza will be in Vilamoura in the Algarve

The Crowne Plaza Vilamoura, set to open in January 2010, will be the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Portugal. The historic deal is the first franchise agreement between IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) and the Grupo Marope, a Portuguese property and hotel owning company. The hotel will create more than 200 jobs when it opens.

The new hotel is right on the Vilamoura beach, near the world famous Vilamoura Casino, 300 metres from the Algarve's main marina, Marina Vilamoura, and 20 kilometres from Faro Airport. The hotel is within walking distance of five golf courses in Vilamoura, and only 20 minutes drive from other major courses in the Algarve.

Vilamoura is one of Europe's most popular destinations for tourists and golfers.

The Crowne Plaza Vilamoura will have 327 rooms and suites, and impressive conference facilities with 1,200 square metres of meeting room space. There is a 760 square metre meeting room divisible into three, a 275 square metre meeting room also divisible into three, an executive boardroom for 12 people and 22 guest rooms that have been designed for use as meeting rooms when needed. A beautiful garden with large palm trees makes the hotel ideal for hosting outdoor events.

Crowne Plaza Vilamoura will also have a variety of entertainment facilities and restaurants, including one al fresco restaurant open most of the year, a 1,000 square metre outdoor swimming pool and a driving range supervised by the hotel's golf pro.

The hotel was previously the Vilamoura Beach Hotel. The construction team stripped the building down to its original steel structure and floors and then rebuilt the hotel.

Hylko Versteeg, director of development for Spain and Portugal, IHG, said: "Since introducing Crowne Plaza to Europe more than 20 years ago it has become one of the world's fastest growing upscale hotel brands. Signing this deal with the Grupo Marope, which takes us into Portugal, is a milestone for us."

"Crowne Plaza is an internationally renowned hotel brand, popular with business travellers across the world. This unique opportunity to open the first Crowne Plaza hotel in Portugal is an exciting move for us. We are confident the hotel will draw more business and leisure travellers to Vilamoura and indeed the Algarve," explained Mario Vasco Pereira, Grupo Marope president.