CIVR joins Renaissance on Southern California's only island resort destination

AVALON, CALIF. - Catalina Island, Southern California's only Island resort destination, has recently been undergoing a renaissance.

New attractions, new architecture, and new experiences have been thrilling both experienced island travelers and new visitors alike.

Avalon, Catalina's only city, has been the epicenter of the changes, with several new restaurants, tours and shops added, as well as, renovations to historic properties. The changes are continuing; new spas, an expanded golf course, and an expansive new museum are all either planned or currently under construction. 

"There have been more changes on Catalina Island in the last couple of years than there have been in the last couple of decades," said Kevin Strege, President and CEO of Catalina Island Vacation Rentals and Catalina Island Real Estate. "It's very exciting to be a part of this on-going transformation."

Catalina Island Vacation Rentals, along with its sister company, Catalina Island Real Estate, recently moved back into a renovated office where both companies will be able to work together to serve Catalina's residents and visitors.

"Our two companies are now sharing space, which allows us to work together to help our guests, homeowners and clients," Strege said. "We've worked hard to develop a synergy between the two companies and that synergy has worked well as real estate clients oftentimes become our vacation rental homeowners and vice versa."

CIVR and CIRE share an office in the recently renovated Shops at Atwater, a redeveloped space with unique shops that will soon host a coffee house and cafe. The new office has been completely modernized with new architectural and design elements. A dramatic dark blue accent wall spotlights both companies' logos in brushed aluminum. Historic artwork from the Catalina Island Museum will soon adorn the walls to provide an homage to Catalina's past.

The new office represents an investment in Catalina's future as well as a pledge to CIVR's guests and homeowners and CIRE's clients, according to Strege.

"Catalina Island's renaissance will continue for many years to come," he said. "Our companies are a part of that renaissance and will continue to serve the Catalina community."

Catalina Island Vacation Rentals is the leading vacation rental management company on Catalina Island. The growing company represents nearly 200 homes, including Hamilton Cove Villas, quaint cottages and luxurious condominiums in Avalon, as well as the only vacation rentals available in Two Harbors at the island's remote West End.  CIVR is a member of the Vacation Rental Managers Associations and are experts in the vacation rental industry as well as active members in the Catalina Island community.

Prague is the mest meeting destination in the region

PRAGUE – Prague won the 2013 Meeting Star Award in the category of meeting destinations awarded by Slovenian Kongres magazine which focuses on the region of Central and South East Europe. The Editorial Board of the magazine prepared an overview of convention centres, hotels and congress destinations which were assessed by hidden congress guests. In total, Prague collected 4,64 points and ranked higher than Dubrovnik and Budapest.

For the third year in the row, Kongres Magazine called a tender for Meetings Star award - award for outstanding contributions in the field of marketing communication of destinations, congresses, events and meetings industry suppliers in South East Europe. The award is a visible recognition of creativity, knowledge and work based on team-work and experience that brought clear and measurable results.

The winners in five categories – Top Destination, Top Convention Centre, Top City Meeting Hotel, Top Resort Meeting Hotel and Inside Award - were awarded during the welcome reception at 2014 Conventa trade show in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on Monday 21 January, 2014. Prague was represented by Prague Convention Bureau, the official convention bureau of the city of Prague.

"For us, this award is the sign that Prague has significantly improved the level of provided congress services and currently ranks among the European top," says Lenka Zlebkova, managing director of Prague Convention Bureau, adding: "I would like to thank all who have been supporting us in our efforts to highlight Prague on the congress map of Europe, whether they be Prague Convention Bureau members, our partners or representatives of the City. With their help we managed to get really far over the last three years and we believe that we can meet our ambitious goals and get Prague among the best congress destinations not only in Europe but also worldwide.“

Tourism revenues in Morocco crossed US$ 4.69bn. in first 8 months of 2013

EL JADIDA, MOROCCO - Ministry of Tourism Morocco, quoting from Expenditure Statistics Office report, has said that tourism revenues in Morocco touched MAD 38.8 billion (USD 4.69 billion) in 8 months (from January to August 2013), an increase of 2.1% over the corresponding period in previous year. 

Through a questionnaire, the Moroccan National Tourist Office, part of Ministry of Tourism Morocco, announced that 96% of tourists rated their trip to Morocco higher than other destinations. Moreover, CNN International also categorized Morocco as one of the best tourists-friendly countries in Africa. 

Echoing the sentiment, Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, one of the leading tourism destinations in Morocco which is managed by Kerzner International, reported that there was a significant increase in room occupancy and in GCC families and visitors during 2013 compared to 2012. According to the resort management, this was due to the customized packages offered at Mazagan, a destination that European comfort levels with traditional Arab style.

During 2013, Mazagan offered innovative and attractive packages, including Stay for 4 night and pay for 3, or stay 7 nights and pay for 5. The packages also included breakfast for 2 adults and 2 kids, access to 3 kids’ clubs: Baby, Kidz and Club Rush, access to Hammam steam room, Tennis, Fitness & biking, free access to Nightclub and airport shuttle.

Mazagan Beach & Golf Resort, located 90 km south of Casablanca in El Jadida, is a coastal destination resort overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Set around a magnificent internal courtyard, the resort’s 500 rooms boast unspoilt views of the ocean, lagoons, golf course, landscaped gardens and a stunning swimming pool in the center. Mazagan encompasses a 250-hectare site including an 18-hole golf course designed by Gary Player, a 7 km stretch of beach, a variety of restaurants and bars, a nightclub designed by Jeffrey Beers, an award-winning spa, a wide range of sport and leisure activities and one of the largest conference centers in the region. 67 luxurious villas are situated alongside the golf course with fantastic views of the Atlantic coastline.

Hyatt Place London Heathrow/Hayes to Open in 2015

LONDON—A Hyatt Hotels Corporation affiliate has entered into an agreement with Magill Investments Limited for a Hyatt Place hotel near to London Heathrow Airport. Slated to open in the spring of 2015, Hyatt Place London Heathrow/Hayes will offer 170 guestrooms.

Hyatt Place London Heathrow/Hayes is the second Hyatt Place hotel under development in Europe, joining Hyatt Place Zurich Airport. The Hyatt Place brand continues to expand outside of the United States with today’s opening of Hyatt Place Amsterdam Airport in The Netherlands, as well as recent Hyatt Place openings in Armenia, Costa Rica, India, Mexico and Puerto Rico.

Hyatt Place London Heathrow/Hayes will provide 1,809 sq. ft. of meeting space, an open food market with made-to-order meals and snacks available around the clock, free WiFi, and a fitness center. The hotel will be located in Hayes, less than 15 minutes from London Heathrow Airport terminals and close to Stockley Park Business Park and Brunel University.

“We are delighted to introduce the Hyatt Place brand to the third busiest airport in the world and the thriving business community in and around Hayes and Hillingdon,” stated Peter Norman, SVP, real estate and development for Hyatt in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. “The United Kingdom remains an important hub for international business and leisure travel, with more than 70 million passengers arriving to and departing from London Heathrow in 2012 alone.”

Embassy Suites Elizabeth-Newark Airport Opens

ELIZABETH, NJ—The Embassy Suites Elizabeth-Newark Airport, a new-build, 189 two-room guest suite hotel, has opened here.

“We are proud to bring the only full-service all-suite hotel to the Newark market,” said John Rogers, global head, Embassy Suites Hotels. “This hotel features our innovative Design Option III and is convenient to business, leisure and transportation hubs.”

The hotel, owned and operated by Sun Development and Management Corporation, presents a large atrium entrance with an open space lobby and lounge complete with a fireplace and water feature, all part of the brand’s signature Design Option III style. 

Located in proximity to both Newark Liberty International Airport and New York City, amenities at the hotel include three all-purpose meeting spaces, a free 24-hour shuttle service to and from the airport, an indoor heated pool and whirlpool, a 24-hour business center and fitness center.

Chef Terrell Wilson, formerly with the Grand Floridian Hotel at Walt Disney World, heads the Liberty Grille Restaurant within the hotel, which will feature American fare.

Other nearby attractions include The Outlet Collection, Jersey Gardens, a venue for shopping, dining and movies. The Meadowlands Sports Complex is 15 miles down the road.

DoubleTree by Hilton Continues Growth in Canada

ALBERTA, CANADA—Following a comprehensive multi-million dollar property-wide transformation of the former Mayfield Inn and Suites, DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton located here recently opened. DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton is owned and managed by SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts.

“DoubleTree by Hilton has experienced tremendous growth in Canada in recent months, and the opening of DoubleTree by Hilton West Edmonton marks another great milestone as we debut the brand in Alberta,” stated John Greenleaf, global head, DoubleTree by Hilton. "We are excited to bring our globally-recognized service culture to guests in West Edmonton."

The hotel's design features a color palate of gold, rich purples, reds and neutral earth tones to emulate the region's natural canvas. In a nod to the city's urban edge, hotel decor is accentuated by metal and glass elements, including a steel sculpture in the lobby titled "Edmonton Summer Solstice"—a tribute to the longest day of the year in Edmonton. All artwork featured throughout the hotel further highlights the local landscapes and architecture of the city.

"Our dedicated hotel team has long anticipated the launch of DoubleTree by Hilton in Alberta as an opportunity to deliver an unparalleled hospitality experience in West Edmonton," stated Steve Giblin, president & CEO, SilverBirch Hotels & Resorts. "We are thrilled to open our doors to guests and give them an upscale, full-service hotel experience unlike any other in the city."

AEROFLOT BOARD MEETING RESULTS (31 Jan

JSC Aeroflot («Aeroflot» or «the company», Moscow Exchange ticker: AFLT), announces the results of its Board of Directors meeting that took place yesterday and was chaired by Kirill Androsov. The following topics were discussed:

Flight safety. In 2013, Aeroflot’s flight safety performance indicator reached a high level (99.961%), and also demonstrated a strong EU SAFA safety ratio. The SAFA safety ratio at Aeroflot’s subsidiaries also improved significantly. In 2014, Aeroflot plans a number of initiatives to enhance further its flight safety performance.

Work with shareholders and investors. The board reviewed the results of the ongoing investor relations activity that the management team is undertaking, and plans for 2014. The company’s positive share price performance was noted, as well as increased trading volumes, following the publication of Aeroflot’s 9M financial results. In December the company’s share price increased by 32%.

It was also noted that Aeroflot’s market capitalisation during the previous year increased by USD 1,314.7 billion as of 31 December 2013. Within a peer group of five major international competitors, Aeroflot ranks second in terms of market capitalisation growth during the year.

Opening a representative office in Georgia. Aeroflot plans to open a representative office in Tbilisi and to launch passenger flights on the Moscow — Tbilisi — Moscow route, in line with the Company’s strategy to expand its network of routes.

The Aeroflot Board of Directors also discussed the results of its options programme and its procurement procedures, including plans to optimise further these and other business processes.

Single Sky: how to ensure the reorganisation of European airspace takes off

With 27,000 flights crossing the continent every day, Europe's skies risk becoming completely saturated unless the airspace is organised more efficiently. The European Union launched the Single European Sky initiative in the late 1990s to remove national boundaries in the sky, enabling planes to take more direct routes and making air travel safer, greener and more competitive. However, progress on this project has proved very slow. MEPs are currently looking at plans to improve implementation.

The cost of fragmentation

European airspace is structured around national boundaries: 28 national air traffic control systems managing about 60 air traffic centres divided into more than 650 sectors. This fragmentation means more inefficiency. Flights are often unable to take direct routes, making flight times, fuel consumption and CO2 emissions higher than they need to be. The cost of this is about €5 billion a year, which is passed on to passengers.

Delays in implementation

The Single European Sky project was launched in the late 1990s. A first package of measures called SES1 was adopted in 2004, but as it did not produce the desired results, an updated version known as SES2 was initiated in 2009. The current  SES2+ proposal is intended to accelerate the reform of air navigation services as there are still significant delays in the implementation.

The new proposal

The SES 2+ proposal deals with two major issues:

• The insufficient efficiency of air navigation: removing national boundaries will enable the creation of shorter routes, thus reducing fuel consumption. The organisational and budgetary separation of national supervisory authorities from the air traffic control organisations will improve both safety and oversight.
• Fragmented air traffic management: the current 28 national air traffic blocks will be replaced by nine regional ones that have already been created but are not fully operational yet. The SES 2+ will also make the target setting more independent, transparent and enforceable to improve the performance.

The transport committee voted on the proposal on 30 January. It will have to be approved by the Parliament and member states before it can enter into law. The plenary vote has been scheduled for March. 

European Commission has formally opened a previously announced in-depth investigation into the state aid for LOT Polish Airlines

As previously announced, the European Commission has officially published its decision to open the in-depth investigation into the state aid for LOT Polish Airlines. This is the next step of a standard procedure for entities applying for such aid. At the same time, the Commission published the underlying principles and elements of LOT Restructuring Plan in order to submit them to consultation with aviation market participants.

In November 2013 the Commission decided to open the in-depth investigation into the restructuring aid for LOT. Presently, only a formal decision initiating this procedure was published. This document inter alia describes the main elements and underlying principles of LOT Restructuring Plan, inviting all interested parties (e.g. competitors) to submit their comments within one month. Poland will be able to respond to these comments. 
The Commission is obliged to present in its decision issues that require consultation with the aviation industry. Their answers are aimed to help the Commission to fully assess and accept LOT Restructuring Plan. Therefore, in accordance with a standard practice, the published document has a form of a list of questions and issues that require clarification. 

The same process was followed in the case of other EC investigations into the restructuring of European airlines, which have successfully undergone the "formal investigation" procedure. They included among others the Czech Airlines (CSA), Air Malta, Cyprus Airways or the Austrian Airlines. When initiating formal proceedings regarding these carriers, the European Commission expressed serious doubts as to key aspects of their restructuring plans. Nevertheless, those proceedings ended with positive decisions. The Commission highlighted four key issues. Firstly, credibility of the examined restructuring plan and its underlying principles, secondly adequacy of compensatory measures, thirdly an amount and adequacy of own contribution tothe restructuring plan and fourthly doubts whether earlier transactions made by the carrier did not involve state aid. Questions regarding the same issues are formulated towards LOT. The European Commission is currently conducting ca 70 investigations into state aid for companies in the aviation industry and it should be emphasised that initiation of formal proceedings in a particular case should not be interpreted as an announcement of a negative decision to be given by the Commission. It is only another formal element of the procedure.

"We expected this decision to be published in the beginning of 2014. The Commission did not ask any additional questions in this document, as compared with its November announcement of opening the investigation. There is nothing new or surprising, because we are answering all questions from the Commission on a regular basis." - says Sebastian Mikosz, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines. ÑThe only difference is that now a summary of our Plan was made public, which starts a kind of a public consultation. Our competitors will certainly not save us critics and will raise numerous doubts. It is not surprising, as we all operate on the highly competitive market. We can also expect not necessarily favourable analyses by experts who will in principle raise doubts to individual elements of the Plan. Since so many people have aggressively criticised the plan not knowing its details, one can imagine what will happen now. We are facing a difficult and intense period of giving explanations and answering questions, but I believe that we shall convince both the Commission and the public that LOT is an important participant of the market, and that Poland - in the interest of passengers not only from the country but also from the region should have a modern and efficiently managed carrier." - adds Sebastian Mikosz. 
The Restructuring Plan for LOT Polish Airlines was submitted to the European Commission on 20 June 2013. It is being consistently implemented and brings positive results. 
LOT situation is consistently improving. Financial results are much better than expected. 
Full data for the previous year will be available after the end of the first quarter of 2014. 
It is estimated that 2013 will end with slight loss (about minus 20 million Zloty or less) as compared to the previously assumed minus 146 million. "These results confirm validity of the underlying principles and increase our reliability and credibility of our plan in the eyes of Brussels. It should be borne in mind that the document published by the Commission refers only to the Plan submitted in June, and not to all the progress in its implementation made since then. Consistently improving LOT situation is therefore the best " test of life for our Plan" and I am confident that the Commission appreciates this fact.î - says Sebastian Mikosz, CEO of LOT Polish Airlines.
It is difficult to predict when the European Commission will close the state aid notification process for LOT Polish Airlines. As part of the formal investigation process, the EC shall endeavour to take a decision within 18 months from the initiation of the procedure. 
The practice differs, largely depending on an individual case.

In December 2012, the Ministry of Treasury approved public aid for LOT. Under the first tranche (the so-called rescue aid) an amount of PLN 400 million was paid. A tranche for restructuring in the amount of PLN 381 million was planned to be paid in August 2013. However, thanks to the consistent efforts of the Company, its situation has gradually improved and - as a result - LOT will not apply for payment at least till the end of June 2014. 

LOT Restructuring Plan envisages introduction of almost one hundred changes and initiatives, which - on the one hand - will reduce Company operating costs, while on the other hand will generate additional revenue. As a result of Plan implementation and introduction of a fleet of Boeing 787, LOT is to become one of the most cost-effective network carriers in Europe, restoring long-term viability as from 2015.

Europe’s airports ready for new rules on liquids, aerosols & gels

The new EU* rules for air passengers carrying liquids, aerosols and gels (LAGs) take effect today. They are being introduced as part of a more ambitious plan to lift the ban on the carriage of LAGs altogether.

The new rules will have minimal direct impact on EU air passengers as their primary function is to facilitate passengers travelling from/to non-EU airports transferring at EU airports and the LAGs in question are only those purchased (and correctly packaged) at airport shops and on board air carriers.

Olivier Jankovec, Director General ACI EUROPE commented “The new LAGs regime starting today is the fruit of strong cooperation with the European Commission, national authorities and international partners°, as well as other industry stakeholders. Europe's airports are ready and have spent in excess of €150 million to accommodate the change. This will enhance the airport experience of transfer passengers who until now had to surrender their duty free purchases from non-EU airports** and air carriers.”

He added “This is part of our investment toward getting back to the good old days before 2006, when there were no restrictions on LAGs at all for passengers. We are committed to reaching that ambitious endgoal and we will continue our cooperation with the European Commission and the other partners. This will require further advancements in screening technology, in terms of security, operational feasibility and passenger facilitation. It’s only by taking all these into account, that we will remove the hassle out of this aspect of air travel.”
 

* The new EU rules are effective at airports in the EU, EEA and Switzerland.

° The US, Canadian and Australian authorities are all introducing equivalent rules.

** The exceptions to this rule were airports in the USA, Canada, Singapore and Croatia (before its entry into the EU in July 2013) and Malaysia.