DEVOTED TO THE “BUSINESS” OF BUSINESS TRAVEL fileDEVOTED TO THE “BUSINESS” OF BUSINESS...

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December 13, 2010Published by Odyssey Media Group

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DEVOTED TO THE “BUSINESS” OF BUSINESS TRAVEL

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New Arrivals Terminal At Doha International Airport Close To CompletionDoha International Airport (DIA) is preparing to open its brand new Doha Arrivals terminal as the country’s only international airport expands to receive an increasing number of visitors to the State of Qatar. The new Doha Arrivals terminal is a separate stand-alone facility to DIA’s current Main terminal and will handle all airport passengers arriving into the country.

SWISS Application For Blackberry SmartphonesSWISS now offers an application for use on BlackBerry smartphones. The new app enables users to make a SWISS reservation, check in, check the status of their flight, and more, while they’re on the move.

The new SWISS app offers BlackBerry smartphone users access to all the airline’s mobile services. The app, developed especially for use on BlackBerry smartphones, provides swift, simple and secure access to SWISS’s timetables, the latest status information on arriving and departing flights and the option to purchase additional flight tickets. The application also integrates with other functions on a BlackBerry smartphone, including GPS capability, meaning the app can even be used to check the latest flight details at the nearest airport served by SWISS, based on the user’s current location.

All Continental 777 International Flights Have Flat-Bed BusinessFirst SeatsContinental Airlines has announced that all of its Boeing 777 long-haul, international flights now feature new flat-bed seats in its BusinessFirst cabin. Continental currently operates the 777-200 on international routes between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London/Heathrow, Mumbai, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Tokyo...

New Etihad Lounge In Manchester’s Terminal 1Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has opened the doors of its latest premium lounge in Manchester Airport’s Terminal 1, as part of the airline’s continued commitment to the North West of England. Etihad Pearl Business class guests were among the first to enjoy the Etihad premium lounge, following an opening ceremony hosted by Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) manager, Roberto Mancini; Garry Cook, MCFC Chief Executive; and Mike Summerbee, MCFC ambassador.

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Publisher & Managing Editor: Colin J. Holden - [email protected]. Editor: Deborah Ibsen - [email protected]

Technology Editor: Marten Streifel - [email protected] Editor: Brian Jacobson - [email protected] Editor: Brian Menzies - [email protected] Editor: Edward Lambert - [email protected] Editor: Anita Streifel - [email protected]

San Francisco, USA - Vancouver, Canada Telephone: (360) 778-3534

INSIDEITP To Offer New Technology To TMC Partners Worldwide page 3ATPI To Use Conferma’s Hotel Booking, Settlement & Reconciliation Technology

HRG Opens New Office In Georgia page 4ITM: Lessons Learned From The Ash Cloud - Volcano: Eyjafjallajökull

Site and IMEX America Planning Ahead For October 2011 In Las Vegas page 5IMEX America 2011PATA Renews MoU With The Africa Travel Association (ATA)

GTA by Travelport and Shangri-La page 6 Hotels & Resorts New AgreementMalmaison Extends Agreement With Pegasus SolutionsAir New Zealand Launches New Sabre Branded Fares Option

New Arrivals Terminal At Doha International Airport Close To Completion page 7

Cathay Pacific Unveils New Business Class Seat, Latest Lounge Concepts page 8EVA, UNI Air Introduce Flights to New Destinations in China

SWISS Launches Application For Blackberry Smartphones page 9All Continental 777 International Flights Have Flat-Bed BusinessFirst SeatsSAS and EGYPTAIR Co-operate On Routes

Delta SkyMiles Members and Brazil’s GOL FFP Benefits page 10New Etihad Lounge Brings Business To Manchester

Great Hotels of the World Announces New Hotel Opening In Brazil page 11ALOFT “Checks In” With Foursquare Mobile AppMandarin Oriental Hotel Group Honoured In 2011 Michelin Guides

Courtyard by Marriott Opens First Refreshing Business Hotel in New York City page 12New Mercure Paris Voltaire Opens In The Bastille Quarter

MasterCard Acquires Travelex’s Prepaid Card Program Management Assets page 13


TRAVEL MANAGEMENT

ITP - International Travel Partnership (ITP), a global network of independent travel management companies has signed an agreement with truvle Ltd, a travel technology company. Now ITP partners can provide branded, web-empowered email itineraries that make planning and monitoring easier for their portfolios of business travel clients.

ITP’s new itinerary/trip planner features a bright contemporary look that’s customised with each partner’s colours, logo and promotions. Designed to convey the excitement of travel, the e-docs contain links to useful trip information tailored to each destination. Clicking through links, travellers get local information on restaurants, shopping, entertainment, tours, events, attractions, weather, currency exchange rates, maps, directions and more. There’s no need to search multiple websites. Everything needed to plan a, productive trip is readily available through the truvle-powered e-itinerary.

“We’re delighted to provide travel professionals with this dynamic, new service,” says Virginia Palla, General Manager, ITP. “The truvle technology enables our partners to compete successfully in the booming online travel business. It consolidates everything, putting the full gamut of essential destination and related information at travellers’ fingertips instantly.”

The truvle software also helps companies monitor travel compliance, according to Alon Zaibert, truvle’s CEO.

“This breakthrough application lets travellers do everything -- book hotels and rental cars, make dinner reservations, purchase tickets to a show and more -- directly from their email itineraries,” Zaibert explains. “That makes it easy to track where money is spent.”

ITP’s consortium spans 35 countries in North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and the Middle East. ITP launched its innovative itinerary/trip planner this month with Sun Spree Travel Partners, a leading travel management company and ITP Partner in Bulgaria. In the coming year, ITP is committed to assisting its partners worldwide in adopting the

ATPI To Use Conferma’s Hotel Booking, Settlement & Reconciliation TechnologyConferma, the expert in travel and expense reconciliation and settlement technology, has announced that leading international travel management company, ATPI, has signed a global contract to use its hotel booking settlement and reconciliation technology.

ATPI, which already uses Conferma in the UK, will roll out its technology initially in The Netherlands followed by the Nordics and other European markets.

Conferma’s Hotel Booker is a supplier-independent, intuitive online hotel booking platform, enabling ATPI and its corporate clients to benefit from increased adherence to its clients corporate policy and improved speed and search functionality. It displays in a single portal GDS, non-GDS, low-cost and direct connect wholesale internet rates for over 150,000 hotels globally.

Hotel Booker, which will be used by ATPI travel consultants, seamlessly integrates to the PNR and agency back-office system avoiding the need for duplication or re-keying of information. Expensive manual processes like fax, telephone and email are also replaced by automated confirmations.

ATPI will also be able to offer Conferma’s settlement and reconciliation technology through its international offices. At the time of making a booking Conferma, in conjunction with its payment partners, creates a virtual card number which TMCs can use to pay and settle hotel transactions. In addition, Conferma provides accurate and powerful matching data which includes booking, itinerary and payment data which provides a full audit trail right down to specific fields such as client cost centres.

Adam Knights, Group Sales Director, ATPI commented: “Conferma’s booking and settlement technology will give us a complete audit trail which should eliminate billing disputes and streamline the often labour intensive hotel bill-back process. This will free up our staff to focus on other potentially more innovative areas of customer service.”

Simon Barker, Conferma’s CEO, added: “We are delighted to have signed this global agreement with ATPI. Using our settlement offering TMCs have the opportunity to settle client transaction using either Mastercard, Visa or American Express, which removes their own credit exposure and dramatically reduces their financial risk”.

Last month Conferma announced that it had expanded its portfolio to offer corporates and their TMCs the ability to book, reconcile and settle low cost carrier transactions.

www.atpi.com

ITP To Offer New Technology To TMC Partners Worldwide

truvle technology to manage their corporate accounts. Among the targets are partners in several countries, including companies in Russia, Holland, Switzerland and Australia.

Web-Empowered Email Itinerary

The new truvle-powered itinerary/

trip planner has two key parts: the interactive email itinerary and a website called the Personal Trip Planner (PTP). Ideal for consortia like ITP, the email itinerary serves as a branding platform, featuring the travel company’s logo, colours, contact information, interactive promotions and personalised messages from the agent.


Odyssey Media Group2011 Media & Information Kit

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ITM: Lessons Learned From The Ash Cloud - Volcano: Eyjafjallajökull

Accompanying each email itinerary is the PTP, linking travellers to their own websites with information on things to see and do in the destination. The information is tailored to each traveller according to trip dates, gender, flight class and city of origin. Using services such as Ticketmaster and Open Table for each country, the PTP contains the full panoply of information on area hotels, tours, restaurants, shopping, events, attractions, car rental companies, nightlife, recreation, golf courses and more.

Travellers can make reservations and purchases directly through their PTP, saving themselves time and enabling travel managers to create a comprehensive experience for every client. Additionally, the PTP provides maps, directions, currency exchange rates, sports scores, weather forecasts and more. Travellers on the go can receive Short Message Service (SMS) alerts from airlines and check in for flights directly from this handy, interactive itinerary/travel planner.

www.truvle.comwww.itptravel.net

HRG Opens New Office In GeorgiaHogg Robinson Group (HRG) has further strengthened its operation in Eastern Europe with the opening of a new office in Georgia. To celebrate the launch of HRG Georgia, a prestigious event was held (7 December) for clients, suppliers and other corporate partners at the Marriott Hotel in Tbilisi.

Keith Burgess, Company Secretary and General Counsel at HRG, comments: “We are delighted to move into the increasingly important Georgian market which continues to benefit from an influx of foreign business visitors, airlines and suppliers. A growing number of multinational clients are opening their offices in Georgia and HRG will be able to provide corporate travel solutions for these clients. Our global knowledge, combined with considerable local expertise in Georgia, will enable HRG to deliver first class customer service to our corporate clients through a full range of corporate travel services.”

HRG Georgia and HRG Ukraine are fully owned by Sky Travel Holdings Ltd, with whom HRG has had a strong working relationship since 1999. Valerie Luyk, Managing Director, comments: “We see great opportunities in this growing market to develop the HRG brand and ensure that we continue to exceed our

clients’ expectations.”

In addition to corporate travel management, HRG Georgia offers a well established and comprehensive Events and Meetings Management (EMM) service for meetings, incentives, conferences and events.

ASSOCIATIONS

The Institute of Travel & Meetings (ITM) UK & Ireland has released its thirty page report on the lessons business travel managers and suppliers can take away from the ash cloud which occurred in April 2010. The report is the first output of a project created by ITM immediately after the ash cloud in response to the confused situation the travel sector found itself in and the lessons travel managers and buyers discovered about their programmes during the crisis.

Speaking about the report, Mr Jamie Hindhaugh, ITM Chairman and Head of Production L2012 and Head of Sourcing -- Logistics for the BBC, said, “It was clear to us at ITM that the ash cloud effectively acted as a test-run for corporations to see how robust their travel crisis management solutions were. Fortunately, without life having been at risk, we are easily able to objectively look at the reactions of business travel buyers and managers and the supplier community and present some lessons in this report for our members.”

The report details over fifty tips from travel buyers and suppliers who coped with the crisis and lays out how the association plans to help its members and the wider industry in the future.

Talking about the forward plans of the ITM Phoenix Project, Paul Tilstone, ITM CEO said, “We see ITM Phoenix acting as a conduit to lead to better crisis management in the business travel and meetings industry. We are working with partners to provide some long term fulfilment for a virtual operational crisis centre, to be implemented whenever a crisis occurs, so that we know in the business travel and meetings sector there’s one central point for information to flow. This will allow buyers and suppliers to work more effectively with each other and get on with the job of looking after British citizens away on business.”

The association plans a micro-site to act as an information filter and the publishing of further reports and guidelines during 2011. In the meantime, ITM members (and their European counterparts through NBTA Europe) can access the report without charge through the Member Zone of the association’s website.

www.itm.org.uk


During this year’s Site International Conference in Cape Town, South Africa, hundreds of delegates heard more details about the co-location of the 2011 Site Conference with IMEX America in Las Vegas - America’s new worldwide exhibition for incentive travel, meetings and events.

Next year’s Site International Conference will take place immediately after the inaugural IMEX America (October 11 - 13, 2011) on October 13-15. In addition, Site Nite North America is also scheduled to take place just before the opening of IMEX America on Monday October 10, 2011.

The business relationship between Site and the IMEX Group dates back many years as both organizations have worked together with great success on a series of initiatives and events at the Group’s award-winning trade show, IMEX in Frankfurt.

As a result, Site was one of the first international association partners to officially endorse IMEX America when it was announced.

A team of IMEX delegates, including Chairman Ray Bloom, are in South Africa to answer Site member questions and to deliver a presentation about the new show.

As Mary MacGregor, 2011 Site President and Vice President, Account Development for BCD Meetings & Incentives explains: “Site has a long-term, high level partnership with IMEX. Our vision in these challenging times is to hold our events where attendees can minimize their costs and maximize their education, networking and ROI. It is perfect synergy to hold our event at the conclusion of this exciting new industry-wide gathering.”

Each year Site’s delegates travel from 35 countries around the world to enjoy the association’s rich seminar and networking program at the international conference which takes place over three days.

The annual Site Nite North America regularly attracts around 700 site members. It is one of the association’s key networking events in North America and also a fundraiser for the Site International Foundation of which Ray Bloom was appointed Treasurer earlier this year. Site Nite Europe takes place around the IMEX in Frankfurt

exhibition in May.

Talking about the power of the partnership between Site and IMEX America, Bloom explains: “As Site knows all too well, ‘creative thinking drives business growth’. As this is very much part of the IMEX philosophy, our

PATA Renews MoU With The Africa Travel Association (ATA)The Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA) has renewed its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Africa Travel Association (ATA) to encourage the sustainable development of the travel-and-tourism industry to Africa.

The MoU was signed by Greg Duffell, PATA chief executive officer, and Edward Bergman, ATA executive director. The MoU offers the two associations a reciprocal membership affiliation together with their products and services, and marks the intent of both to explore resources to facilitate African tour operators to enter the Pacific Asian market and vice-versa.

Said Duffell: “The African continent is growing in importance in trade with Pacific Asia. Tourism will play a vital role promoting international understanding and appreciation of our respective cultures.”

ATA was established as an international travel industry trade association in 1975 to promote travel, tourism and transport to and within Africa, and to strengthen intra-Africa partnerships. ATA international headquarters are based in New York, USA.

Said Bergman: “ATA has partnered with PATA since 2005 and very much enjoys the reciprocal membership affiliation. We look forward to working with PATA to explore avenues of cooperation in the areas of climate change and industry expansion and to consider together how we can increase travel-and-tourism arrivals and investments between Africa and Asia.”

www.PATA.orgwww.africatravelassociation.org

Site and IMEX America Planning Ahead For October 2011 In Las Vegas

two organizations make an excellent fit. Co-locating the Site International Conference in Las Vegas next year means that our exhibitors will be able to meet and make appointments with highly qualified and motivated Site member buyers from North America and other world countries.”

IMEX America 2011The new trade show for the worldwide meetings, events and incentive travel industry; the inaugural IMEX America will take place October 11-13, 2011 at the Sands Expo at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel. The show’s strategic partner and premier educational provider is MPI. It is endorsed by DMAI and Site and has an Industry Partnership with PCMA. Other supporting partners are: ACTE Global, ADME, AIPC, ASAE: The Center for Association Leadership, CIC, ECM, IAEE, JMIC, ICCA, The Venetian and The Palazzo Resorts and the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority.

IMEX America will offer a unique model of trade show, new to the US market. It will assure exhibitors of meeting and making business appointments on their booths with in excess of 2,000 highly qualified hosted buyers.

The majority (80 per cent) of these hosted buyers will come from North America, with the balance from the rest of the world. In addition thousands of additional US buyer attendees are expected to attend from across North America. Entrance to the show and its educational program is entirely free of charge.

www.imex-america.com


GDS/CRS

GTA by Travelport and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts have announced a new and enhanced multi-year distribution agreement. The new deal builds on a long-standing relationship and will see the dynamic distribution of properties and room types across Shangri-La and Trader’s portfolio of 68 luxury hotels and resorts throughout Asia-Pacific, North America and the Middle East.

GTA’s travel agency and tour operator customers can now access Shangri-La’s inventory of over 30 000 rooms in real time. The Hong-Kong based five-star chain will benefit from distribution across GTA’s extensive network in 130 countries.

Kent Zhu, group director of sales and marketing at Shangri-La commented, “GTA has an unparalleled global footprint of ground travel suppliers and through this new dynamic inventory deal, accredited agents and tour operators around the world will be able to access our range of room types and rates in live availability. It gives us great pleasure to continue our relationship with GTA and we look forward to the business prospects this will provide as we embark on new hotel developments worldwide.”

Jesper With-Fogstrup, vice president global hotel strategy & EMEA sourcing, GTA noted, “Not only does our new agreement create outstanding distribution and marketing opportunities for Shangri-La, but it also represents a partnership with one of APAC’s leading hotel ownership and management companies -- a brand that is synonymous with exceptional hotel experiences. We look forward to continuing our relationship with Shangri-La into the future.”

www.gta-travel.comwww.shangri-la.com

GTA by Travelport and Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts New Agreement

Air New Zealand Launches New Sabre Branded Fares OptionAir New Zealand and Sabre Travel Network have introduced Sabre Branded Fares to Sabre Connected travel agents who can now shop and book the airline’s branded fares. This enables the airline to market its products consistently with its own website, while ensuring Sabre Connected customers have efficient access to the airline’s branded fare information and can ensure clarity with the travelling public.

The airline’s new branded fares will be available for its Tasman and Pacific Island Fares, for travel commencing this month.

“Our extensive customer research showed that customers have a range of needs for their travel whether they are flying for business, leisure, for a short trip or a longer time away. The new fare options enable customers to choose the level of product that suits them for each leg of their journey,” said John Whittaker, general manager Australasia Strategy, Air New Zealand.

“Sabre has been the industry leader in providing airlines with the ability to market and sell ancillary products in the most efficient way, and we’re experiencing terrific results,” he added.

The Sabre Branded Fares solution allows airlines to package and brand a variety of fares featuring different attributes. This new way of displaying its fares in all shopping channels allows Air New Zealand to capitalize on its marketing efforts while simplifying their fare structures. Sabre Branded Fares is part of Sabre’s Air Merchandising Suite, which provides travel agencies and airlines the ability to market, sell and fulfill airlines’ ancillary products and services.

Air New Zealand pioneered the use of fare families in the industry and has continued its leadership in marketing its products and services to travelers worldwide.

“Sabre Branded Fares sets Air New Zealand apart in today’s highly competitive and noisy market place. It enhances an airline’s product branding and consistency across channels -- benefitting both the travel agent and the end consumer -- and it adds a lot more clarity in today’s cloud of information,” said Hans Belle, vice president -- general manager, Asia Pacific of Sabre Travel Network. “With Sabre Red we’re investing to ensure agents can deliver the best travel options at the best value. Supporting new airline merchandising initiatives such as branded fares in the agent workflow is a key part of what Sabre Red delivers.”

Each Air New Zealand branded fare will have its own unique inclusions such as checked bags, advance seating, premium check-in and others. When agents click on the fare for details, a screen will pull up displaying a clear comparison chart of the inclusions and fare groupings.

Air New Zealand’s four new fare options are available on its Airbus A320 services to Australia and the Pacific Islands. The four options are also available onboard the airline’s Boeing 767, 777 and 747 Tasman and Pacific Island services.

www.sabre-holdings.com

Malmaison Extends Agreement With Pegasus SolutionsPegasus Solutions has broadened its relationship with Malmaison through an extended three-year contract renewal that includes the addition of sister brand Hotel du Vin’s 14

properties, which are switching from Sabre Hospitality Solutions. As a result, both Malmaison’s and Hotel du Vin’s 27 boutique hotels throughout the UK will migrate to Pegasus’ award-winning

next generation central reservation system (CRS), RezView NG.

Malmaison and Hotel du Vin offer distinct and aesthetically inspiring


properties throughout the UK, which are known for exceptional dining and cocktails. Operating through a centralized business model, Malmaison has expanded its relationship with Pegasus with new services and properties to streamline and integrate operations for reservations and distribution.

“We were the first hotel group to automate mobile bookings through the Pegasus CRS,” said Roberto Varsalona, group director of revenue for Malmaison. “With this new agreement, we can take our proven relationship with Pegasus to twice as many properties to develop and implement the most efficient revenue management, reservations and distribution solutions possible for our complete portfolio.”As the industry leader in distribution, reservations and commission processing, Pegasus can provide hotel groups like Malmaison with fully integrated solutions for all distribution channels, including revenue management, property management and mobile.

“We’re delighted to be able to continue our relationship with Malmaison given the hotel group’s track record of technological innovation,” said Ric Leutwyler, chief operating officer of Pegasus Solutions. “We’ve worked with the team to execute successful revenue-driving solutions in the mobile space, and now we have the chance to put in place a fully integrated solution, with an upgrade to next generation functionality, for all 27 properties.”

RezView NG is the most sophisticated CRS available in the hospitality industry. Its award-winning flexible design allows hotels to operate and adapt their business in the manner in which they choose, not based upon the constraints of the system. This flexibility includes support for a wide variety of revenue management strategies, the ability to sell and manage non-room inventory, high-level customization, real-time reporting, close integration with property management systems and automated distribution content management. It has been lauded for its next-generation capabilities in 2010 alone by InfoWorld, CIO and, most recently, InformationWeek.

Pegasus Global Commission Processing, which will also be used by both Malmaison’s 12 and Hotel du Vin’s 14 properties, will offer agents weekly commission payments via check or direct deposit in any of 37 currencies. As the preferred commission payment provider for more than 60,000 travel agencies worldwide, Pegasus processes more than $500 million in commissions

annually, serving more than 35,000 properties, as well as the majority of travel distributors in more than 200

countries.

www.pegs.com - www.utell.com

AIRLINES & AIRPORTSNew Arrivals Terminal At Doha International Airport Close To CompletionDoha International Airport (DIA) is preparing to open its brand new Doha Arrivals terminal as the country’s only international airport expands to receive an increasing number of visitors to the State of Qatar. The new Doha Arrivals terminal is a separate stand-alone facility to DIA’s current Main terminal and will handle all airport passengers arriving into the country.

Residents in Qatar will be familiar with the location of the Doha Arrivals terminal as the site of the temporary terminal erected for the Doha Asian Games in 2006, across the road from Qatar Airways’ Premium Sales office. The new facility is situated on C-Ring Road between VIP roundabout and Ras Aboud flyover and is designed to greatly enhance the arrival experience for people entering Qatar.

The Doha Arrivals terminal forms part of a multi-million dollar DIA re-development plan that will enable the airport to continue its efficient operation as it prepares for the opening of the New Doha International Airport, scheduled for 2012.

Features of the new Doha Arrivals terminal include an increased number of baggage belts, more immigration counters, Duty Free retail shopping, bus and taxi stands, and an enlarged meet and greet waiting area for those receiving passengers at the airport.

Frequent shuttle buses will provide passengers who have parked their vehicles at the Main Terminal -- which will be renamed the Departure and Transfer terminal -- with transport from the Doha Arrivals terminal on their return.

Soon after the new Doha Arrivals terminal becomes operational, work will begin on reconfiguring the existing arrivals terminal into an expanded Departure and Transfer terminal which will accommodate increasing passenger flows. The additional work will take several months to complete.

Doha International Airport is managed and operated by Qatar Airways, the national airline of the State of Qatar. Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said the changes were aimed at enhancing customer experience ahead of the opening of the New Doha International Airport.

“Over the next few days, Doha International Airport and Qatar Airways will be providing more information on the new facilities to ensure passengers are fully aware of the significant changes taking place,” said Al Baker. “It was imperative for the continued development of Qatar that the existing airport infrastructure was expanded. The new Doha Arrivals terminal is the latest step in the infrastructure improvements to handle the influx of passengers through the airport. We are eagerly awaiting the opening of the New Doha International Airport in 2012, which will provide an even better facility for the people of Qatar and for international travellers flying on Qatar Airways and other airlines.”

Qatar’s only international airport has received several upgrades since November 2006 when Qatar Airways’ exclusive Premium Terminal for First and Business Class passengers opened, and has subsequently seen the expansion of the airport’s Eastern Apron, including increased aircraft parking space, a dual carriageway perimeter road to the Main terminal, and the establishment of a new Satellite Transfer terminal.

In 2008, the main airport terminal was also upgraded with extra boarding gates added to accommodate the increased number of flights departing from Doha. Last year, the Premium Terminal was extended to provide additional space for the growth of the number of First and Business Class passengers flying with Qatar Airways.


Cathay Pacific Airways has unveiled its latest innovations in product and service at a glittering event in Hong Kong attended by more than 3,000 people. The airline revealed, for the first time in public, its new Business Class seat, which will help to redefine the travel experience for premium passengers beginning March 2011, and showcased the new uniform for cabin crew and other customer-facing staff -- created by Hong Kong designer Eddie Lau - that will be introduced in the second half of next year. Also put on show were the latest innovations in the airline’s Hong Kong passenger lounges.

The event, dubbed “Light Up the Sky”, was held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre with Henry Tang, Chief Secretary for Administration of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, as Guest of Honour. Mr Tang officiated at the opening ceremony together with Cathay Pacific Chief Executive Tony Tyler and Chief Operating Officer John Slosar.

Speaking at the unveiling event, Chief Executive Tony Tyler said: “Tonight we are pleased to unveil product innovations that will not just do Cathay Pacific proud, but Hong Kong proud. Our new flat-bed Business Class seat was developed after listening to what our customers had to say and it will, I believe, underline our commitment to excellence in innovation. We are also pleased to unveil the new uniforms for our frontline staff, created by our brilliant Hong Kong home-grown designer, Eddie Lau, and some of our exciting lounge developments at Hong Kong International Airport.

What we are unveiling tonight is quite a package that has been put together for the most important people in our business - our passengers. These latest product and service enhancements form part of Cathay Pacific’s ongoing investments in the continued development of Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading international aviation hubs.”

Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang said: “Aviation is a fast-moving industry in every sense. Cathay Pacific’s constant development of its products and services has helped to enhance the airline’s competitiveness for more than six decades. The new products and services being unveiled today will help to keep the airline ahead of the competition. Cathay Pacific

EVA, UNI Air Introduce Flights to New Destinations in ChinaEVA Air and its regional subsidiary UNI Air are adding three new gateways to their far-reaching network of destinations in China, giving business and leisure travelers from North America faster, easier access to resource, trade and culturally rich regions of the vast nation. EVA is introducing regularly scheduled flights to Zhengzhou on Dec. 10, 2010 and UNI Air will start flying to Ningbo on Dec. 20, 2010. EVA is initiating service to Jinan on Dec. 18, 2010 with weekly charters. Passengers can book flights through travel agents, by calling an EVA Air ticket office or on the airline’s website at www.evaair.com

EVA is starting with two flights a week to Zhengzhou and one regular weekly charter to Jinan via Taipei’s Taoyuan International Airport. UNI’s weekly service to Ningbo is from Taichung in Taiwan’s thriving west central region. EVA will deploy Airbus 330-200s on its Zhengzhou and Jinan routes, configured for 24 passengers in the Premium Laurel Class business cabin and 228 in Economy.

The capital of Henan province, Zhengzhou is a burgeoning economic center south of Beijing, located on the southern bank of the Yellow River. It’s also an ancient city and known for its Lu Cai or Shandong Cuisine, one of China’s eight distinctive geographic food styles. Home to more than 400 Taiwan-owned factories, Zhengzhou’s economic and cultural resources attract a steady stream of business and leisure travelers. EVA’s projections are that 20 percent of its passengers on this new route will be businessmen and 80 percent group travelers.

Jinan is the capital of Shandong Province, known as the city of springs. It’s also south of Beijing on the Yellow River. The seaport city of Ningbo is south of both Shanghai and Hangzhou Bay on the East China Sea. A political, economic, technological and educational center, Ningbo was an important destination on the Silk Road 2,000 years ago and established as a Portuguese community before Macau.

EVA is the first Taiwan-based airline to fly to Jinan. The regular charter service will be transformed into scheduled flights as market demand and the load factor grow.

The launch of Zhengzhou, Jinan and Ningbo services give EVA and UNI a combined total of 17 destinations in China linked to Taiwan by 27 routes with 77 weekly flights. Adding the service code-shared with Air China, Shenzhen Air and Shandong Air, EVA and UNI come close to doubling frequency and bring the weekly total to 119 flights.

From gateways in Los Angeles, Newark/New York, San Francisco, Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto, EVA offers more trans-Pacific flights that, with easy one-stop connections in Taipei, Taiwan, connect onward to more destinations in China and throughout Asia than any other airline. The Taiwan-based carrier serves an international network with destinations throughout Asia, Europe, Oceania and North America.

www.evaair.com

Cathay Pacific Unveils New Business Class Seat, Latest Lounge Concepts

has been a close partner with the Government in strengthening our city’s status as a regional and international aviation centre, and we are proud to have Cathay Pacific as Hong Kong’s flag carrier.”

The highlight of the evening was the unveiling of Cathay Pacific’s new Business Class seat -- a passenger-led

design that aims to refine comfort, versatility and function. Every aspect of the new product has been thoughtfully designed around the passenger’s needs, providing a space in which to sleep, dine, work, read, watch TV or simply relax.

The new seat offers both privacy and openness, with a wing-back chair that


All Continental 777 International Flights Have Flat-Bed BusinessFirst SeatsContinental Airlines has announced that all of its Boeing 777 long-haul, international flights now feature new flat-bed seats in its BusinessFirst cabin. Continental currently operates the 777-200 on international routes between its New York hub at Newark Liberty International Airport and Beijing, Delhi, Frankfurt, Hong Kong, London/Heathrow, Mumbai, Shanghai, Tel Aviv and Tokyo, and between its Houston hub at Bush Intercontinental Airport and London/Heathrow and Tokyo.

cocoons passengers in their own private area and has been carefully designed to maximise living space. The seats, which are angled to give passengers a perfect view through the windows and are ideal for those travelling with a companion, provide everything passengers need to control either their widescreen inflight entertainment system or the infinitely adjustable seat. The seat quickly converts into a bed that is one of the longest and widest provided on any commercial airline.

Inside the cabin, the new Business Class will feature artwork -- all original designs - by Hong Kong artist Maria Lobo. Guests at the gala party were given a preview of Ms Lobo’s creative designs.

The first aircraft to feature the new Business Class product will be an Airbus A330-300, which is planned to enter service on some of the flights on the Sydney route in March. The new seats will be rolled out rapidly, being installed on all Cathay Pacific’s new long-haul A330-300 and Boeing 777-300ER deliveries and progressively being retrofitted on existing aircraft. By February 2013, all 30 Boeing 777-300ER and 20 long-haul A330-300s in the fleet are expected to have the new product.

Guests at the “Light Up the Sky” event were also treated to a fashion show featuring the new Cathay Pacific uniform, which will be worn by all cabin crew, airport staff and other customer-facing employees of the airline from the third quarter of next year. The new uniform, once again created by renowned Hong Kong designer Eddie Lau, continues the tradition of creating a stylish, elegant and unique look that’s symbolic of a modern Asian Airline respected worldwide for quality, style and gracious service.

The new uniform is an evolution of the existing uniform and among the signature features being retained are red as the principal colour, the brush-wing logo, standing collars and cuffs, and the long skirts for senior frontline staff. New fabrics with a mechanical stretch are being employed on a number of uniform items to provide more comfort and ease of movement while still meeting stringent occupational health and safety requirements.

The final element of the gala event was a special section set up to showcase Cathay Pacific’s latest lounge developments, which include the recent opening of The Cabin, the Group’s newest departure lounge at Hong Kong International Airport, and the comprehensive renovations of its signature lounge, The Wing, which are

SWISS Launches Application For Blackberry SmartphonesSWISS now offers an application for use on BlackBerry smartphones. The new app enables users to make a SWISS reservation, check in, check the status of their flight, and more, while they’re on the move.

The new SWISS app offers BlackBerry smartphone users access to all the airline’s mobile services. The app, developed especially for use on BlackBerry smartphones, provides swift, simple and secure access to SWISS’s timetables, the latest status information on arriving and departing flights and the option to purchase additional flight tickets. The application also integrates with other functions on a BlackBerry smartphone, including GPS capability, meaning the app can even be used to check the latest flight details at the nearest airport served by SWISS, based on the user’s current location.

The app’s webview function enables SWISS customers to check in from their mobile phone and select their seat. Their electronic boarding card is then sent to them as an email or text message. The app also acts as a trip advisor: details of SWISS’s baggage provisions, lounge facilities and inflight services can be called up at any time.

The new app is available to BlackBerry smartphone users free of charge in English, French, German or Italian and can be downloaded on BlackBerry App World.

www.swiss.com/blackberry

now underway. The airline set up an exhibition at “Light Up the Sky” which included scale models as well as lounge features such as the unique Cathay Solus Chair and the new Health Bar.

The latest product and service enhancements form part of Cathay Pacific’s ongoing investments in the continued development of Hong Kong as one of the world’s leading international aviation hubs. The airline currently has a total of 65 new aircraft on order, with a book value of HK$115 billion, for delivery up to 2019. Cathay Pacific is also investing HK$5.5 billion in its own state-of-the-art cargo terminal at Hong Kong International Airport that will open in early 2013.

www.cathaypacific.com

“Customers flying to international destinations on our Boeing 777s are now assured a flat-bed seat whenever they choose to fly with us,” said Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “These seats are highly popular with customers from all over the world, and we will begin installing them on the rest of our widebody fleet beginning next year.”

The BusinessFirst flat-bed seat reclines 180 degrees and provides 6 feet 6 inches of sleeping space in the fully extended position on the Boeing 777. It is one of the widest business-class seats in the air, measuring up to 27 inches. Laptop power, headset and USB plugs are conveniently tucked above the customer’s shoulder. iPod connectivity allows customers to view their personal videos and enjoy their music while their iPods are charging. The new seats feature 15.4-inch video monitors for customers to enjoy on-demand movies, music and games.

The flat-bed seats made their operational debut in November 2009 and are also being installed on Continental’s fleet of Boeing 757-200 aircraft. CO will begin retrofitting substantially all of its Boeing 767 aircraft with BusinessFirst flat-bed seats in 2011.

SAS and EGYPTAIR Co-operate On RoutesSAS and EGYPTAIR will be code-share partners on a number of routes between Europe and Africa.


EGYPTAIR commenced its Copenhagen-Cairo service on September 1 this year, and with the new partnership customers of both carriers can travel efficiently from Brussels, Gothenburg, Oslo and Stockholm with SAS to Copenhagen and onwards to Cairo with EGYPTAIR.

The code-share agreement will be in operation as of December 15. Already now, members of SAS' EuroBonus program earn points when flying on EGYPTAIR as the airline is a fellow Star Alliance member.

New Etihad Lounge Brings Business To ManchesterEtihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has opened the doors of its latest premium lounge in Manchester Airport’s Terminal 1, as part of the airline’s continued commitment to the North West of England. Etihad Pearl Business class guests were among the first to enjoy the Etihad premium lounge, following an opening ceremony hosted by Manchester City Football Club (MCFC) manager, Roberto Mancini; Garry Cook, MCFC Chief Executive; and Mike Summerbee, MCFC ambassador.

Etihad’s premium lounge in Manchester is the latest in a progressive roll-out of the lounge concept successfully introduced at the airline’s home base in Abu Dhabi.

Peter Baumgartner, Etihad Airways Chief Commercial Officer, said: “Manchester has always been an important market for Etihad and the ties between Manchester and Abu Dhabi have never been stronger. This latest development is testament to our commitment to the North West of England, and to the ever-growing business and leisure travel demand in and out of the region. We are very proud to be able to offer Etihad Pearl Business Class guests in Manchester this amazing lounge.”

Roberto Mancini said: “Abu Dhabi is our home when we are away from home and as a regular user of Etihad, I, like my players, am always impressed with the impeccable service and fantastic facilities on board. The new Etihad premium lounge will make our journeys to the region even more enjoyable, starting from the moment we step into the airport to arriving at our destination. I am proud to be opening it today.”

Garry Cook said: “It is difficult to find ways to improve on the service that Etihad offers, but the provision of the Premium lounge is the icing on the cake for all Pearl Business class passengers. We are proud to have Etihad as our Official Partner and share their delight as they continue to be awarded and acclaimed by the airline industry.”

The 318 square metre lounge will bolster business services, offering the airline’s Pearl Business Class guests a range of features, including:

• five-star dining facilities with a selection of international cuisine;• a modern business centre providing individual workstations and privacy for people with laptops;• a family room, where children can be entertained; • a relaxation area, including high-comfort leather chairs and reading material;• luxurious bathrooms and shower facilities for customers to freshen up before their departure; • a prayer room; and• expansive views over the airport’s taxiway and runway

Andrew Harrison, Manchester Airport’s Managing Director, said: “This new luxury lounge facility really puts Manchester on the map as a world class airport. Etihad’s Abu Dhabi service is a crucial link between our two closely-linked regions and the addition of a premium lounge demonstrates real confidence in this important relationship.”

This new addition to the premium service out of Manchester follows the successful roll-out of premium lounges in Abu Dhabi, London, and Frankfurt. Each of these lounges reflect Etihad’s award-winning style and service concept, with high quality look and feel throughout; Manchester will also be instantly recognisable by a specially designed gallery showcasing memorabilia of Manchester City Football Club, which Etihad has sponsored since 2009.

Earlier this year, as part of the airline’s development in the North West, Etihad announced a 60 per cent increase in capacity on the route -- with more Business Class seats than ever before -- with the introduction of the Boeing 777 aircraft. With business class travellers enjoying free limousine transfers to and from the airport, the dedicated lounge will ensure premium passengers can relax in Etihad’s signature style from door to door.

www.EtihadAirways.com

Delta SkyMiles Members and Brazil’s GOL FFP BenefitsDelta Air Lines SkyMiles members can now redeem their miles for flights on GOL, one of Brazil’s largest airlines. The expanded alliance provides Delta customers access to frequent flyer awards on more than 900 GOL flights to 64 Latin and Caribbean destinations, increasing customers’ ability to reach fast-growing Latin markets.

Popular Brazilian frequent flyer destinations served directly by GOL, but not by Delta, include Porto Alegre, Belo Horizonte, Salvador, Recife and Fortaleza.

“Delta welcomes the opportunity to expand its cooperation with GOL by offering greater access to its extensive network from Brazil’s largest hubs in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Brasilia,” said Charlie Pappas, Delta’s managing director -- Alliances. “GOL is an excellent airline with a young and modern fleet offering a wide range of services in the growing Brazilian market.”

To celebrate the new reciprocal frequent flyer agreement, GOL and Delta customers can earn triple miles for travel on the partner airline’s flights between Dec. 1, 2010 and Feb. 28, 2011. For example, a Delta SkyMiles member flying a GOL flight in Economy class between Sao Paulo and Fortaleza, Brazil will earn 8,712 SkyMiles round-trip compared to the normal 2,904. Full details are available at delta.com/brazilbonus.

“Delta is one of the world’s leading airlines and we are pleased to provide our customers access to its global network,” said Marcelo Bento, director of Yield and Alliances for GOL. “Delta is a highly strategic partner for GOL’s growth around the world, and provides us a strong platform to build from in the New York market, throughout the United States and to Europe and Asia.”

www.delta.com


HOTELS & RESORTS

Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group Honoured In 2011 Michelin GuidesMandarin Oriental hotels have long been renowned for their excellence and innovation in food and beverage, and the Group’s passion for creating memorable dining experiences has once again been recognised, with no fewer than nine diverse restaurants from around the world being honoured in the 2011 Michelin Guides.

In Europe, Mandarin Oriental, Barcelona celebrates its first anniversary with the news that Moments restaurant, headed by the renowned chef Carme Ruscalleda and chef Raül Balam has been awarded a Michelin star in the newly launched Spanish Guía Michelin. For the celebrated Catalan chef, this is one more star to add to her collection of five stars shared between her two other restaurants located in Sant Pol de Mar and in Tokyo. Rasoi by Vineet has maintained its coveted one star status by Michelin’s 2011 Guide for Switzerland. The restaurant offers the cuisine of London-based Michelin starred chef, Vineet Bhatia, who specialises in deliciously spectacular “evolved” Indian food. In Munich, Restaurant Mark’s at Mandarin Oriental, Munich again retained its coveted Michelin star status. The restaurant’s Chef Tobias Jochim delights diners with predominantly French dishes that have been inspired from travels around the Mediterranean.

In Asia, the Group is delighted to have a total of three Michelin starred restaurants in Hong Kong. The Group’s flagship property, Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong is home to two Michelin starred restaurants. Pierre on the top floor of the hotel, which features the bold cuisine of multi award-winning, three Michelin starred chef, Pierre Gagnaire has achieved two Michelin star status, while the Mandarin Grill + Bar, a Hong Kong dining institution, where artistic Executive Chef Uwe Opocensky serves a modern interpretation of grill classics and the city’s finest seafood, has retained its one Michelin star. Amber at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, also maintained its coveted two Michelin star status. The restaurant features the innovative and exhilarating cuisine of talented Chef Richard Ekkebus.

In Japan, Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is the only hotel in the capital to have three Michelin-starred restaurants in the latest Japanese guide. Signature (serving contemporary French), Sense (Cantonese) and the creative Tapas Molecular Bar (serving innovative molecular cuisine) each received a single star: Signature for the fourth time, and Sense and the Tapas Molecular Bar for the third time.

“We are truly delighted to receive these prestigious accolades,” said David Nicholls, the Group’s Corporate Director of Food and Beverage. “It speaks volumes about the dedication to fine dining excellence that all of our hotels offer.”

The Group also continues to be acknowledged for its ability to appoint enthusiastic culinary talent. Recent openings include Bar Boulud, featuring the award-winning French inspired cuisine of Lyon-born chef Daniel Boulud at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London. Chef Heston Blumenthal, who has won international acclaim for his unique and multi-sensory approach to cooking will also open his first restaurant outside of the village of Bray, at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London in early 2011. The restaurant, called Dinner, will feature the chef’s inimitable style of culinary alchemy with a menu heavily influenced by his ongoing research and discovery of historic British gastronomy. Elsewhere in Europe, Michelin starred chef Thierry Marx will introduce his award-winning cuisine to Mandarin Oriental, Paris when the hotel opens in the summer of 2011. This will be Chef Marx’s first gastronomic venture in the French capital.

www.mandarinoriental.com

Great Hotels of the World has announced the opening of a brand new hotel -- Dom Pedro Laguna Beach Villas, Golf & Spa Resort on December 17 2010 following two years of development at a cost of €20 million.

The newly-built resort which is a member of Great Hotels of the World Luxury Collection is the first five star hotel of the “Aquiraz Riviera” and is 40km from Fortaleza International Airport in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Situated between a beach and a golf course, the resort boasts luxury accommodation integrated into a beautiful lagoon with transfers between villas by boat. The resort’s accommodation comprises 102 rooms including deluxe rooms, water villas, presidential water villas and royal villas, all impeccably decorated and some with private swimming pool.

The hotel currently has a 9-hole Ocean Golf Course which is shortly to be expanded to 18 holes, a luxury spa and fitness room with a wide variety of treatments on offer, various sports facilities including beach volleyball, kite surfing, surfing and beach football and a good selection of restaurants and bars.

Dom Pedro Laguna is also ideal for meetings and incentives with three meeting rooms with capacity for up to 130 delegates and a wide variety of group incentive activities.

www.ghotw.com

Great Hotels of the World Announces New Hotel Opening In Brazil

ALOFT “Checks In” With Foursquare Mobile AppAloft, is revolutionizing the traditional hotel check-in process by allowing guests to bypass the front desk and go straight to their rooms via an RFID enabled smart card, is now inviting guests to “check in” all over again.

That’s because Aloft has partnered with Foursquare, the fast-growing mobile app and web site that allows users to “check in” online at different venues, broadcast their location with friends on sites like Twitter and Facebook, and access insider tips on the places they visit.

On Foursquare’s site, Aloft’s tips page


Courtyard by Marriott Opens First Refreshing Business Hotel in New York CityThe newly-built Courtyard New York Manhattan/SoHo has opened in SoHo’s new hot Hudson Square area on Varick Street. This 20-story hotel is a sleek, modern addition to a unique neighborhood known since the 1930s for its spacious lofts and printing houses. Today, it’s abuzz with designers, graphic artists and architects, along with trendy restaurants and shops.

The Courtyard SoHo features the brand’s new Refreshing Business lobby, providing travelers with a great place to work or relax with a variety of flexible seating options and free WiFi access. Guests can get some work done with a cup of Starbucks or catch up with colleagues in one of the lobby’s intimate media pods or at a high-top table at Table 181, a wine bar with light food offerings. Guests can also peruse the two-story lobby’s large interactive GoBoard for area attractions and information. The lower lobby level has a private meeting room for up to eight guests, a 400 square-foot fitness center, and a washer/dryer.

For quick bites on-the-go, guests can stop by the Market, located in the lobby and open 24 hours a day. In addition to snacks and sundries, guests can purchase treats from famous chocolatier and pastry chef, Jacques Torres, whose shop is around the corner from the hotel. The neighborhood has many choices nearby for restaurants and lounges, including the well known City Winery, just two blocks south of the hotel.

Guest rooms feature custom-fitted furnishings in warm earth tones with striking accents, including copper and bronze jeweled tile work in the bathrooms. All guest rooms have a refrigerator, a coffee station, in-room safes, and include free WiFi. Most rooms feature king-sized beds; some of these have pull-out sofas. There are 36 double-bedded rooms and one king suite, with a separate living room area. From the 17th through 20th floors, several rooms offer views of either the Hudson River or the Manhattan skyline. A unique design feature in some guest rooms is a glass wall which extends almost a foot beyond the surface of the building, giving guests an extra-wide view of the city.

The Courtyard New York Manhattan/SoHo is located at 181 Varick Street, between King Street and Charlton Street. It is conveniently located with easy vehicle access via the Holland Tunnel and is near all public transportation. Varick Street is just two blocks from the heart of SoHo, with its many art galleries, shops, and restaurants.

The Courtyard by Marriott brand features hotels with a refreshing environment that helps guest stay connected, productive and balanced. Intuitive service and design accommodate guests’ desire for choice and control and allow them to use public spaces and guest rooms to meet all of their travelling needs. With more than 900 locations in 34 countries, Courtyard is Marriott’s largest brand.

www.courtyard.com

will feature smart, branded tips on destinations, along with exclusive promotions at Aloft’s buzzing w xyz bars across the country. From now through January 18, 2011, Foursquare users who check into participating Aloft Hotels for the first time will receive a 20 percent discount at the w xyz bar.

“Aloft guests keep telling us how much they appreciate the chance to engage with the brand online, and a presence on Foursquare is another terrific way to connect with them,” said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood.

“Since Aloft guests always want to know whats happening before everyone else does, Foursquare is a perfect vehicle to share the inside track on a property, our bars, or a destination.”

Aloft has led the industry in fun, forward-thinking technology initiatives. Aloft recently became the first hotel brand to launch a sweeps using digital tags as entries; by scanning tags scattered around participating Aloft hotels throughout the U.S. and Canada, guests became eligible to win a VIP trip to an exclusive music showcase, Aloft-sponsored “Live in the Vineyard,” in November.

www.alofthotels.comwww.starwoodhotels.com

New Mercure Paris Voltaire Opens In The Bastille QuarterAccor has opened the brand new boutique Mercure Paris Voltaire hotel in the Bastille Quarter, with stylish baroque interiors and exceptional views of Montmartre and the Eiffel Tower. Two floors of ‘Privilege Rooms’ provide a real taste of luxury with super-sized beds, panoramic views and special touches such as espresso machines, plush bathrobes and quality bath lotions and body salts -- perfect for those who enjoy the finer things in life but without breaking the bank.

Until 28 February 2011 the Mercure Paris Voltaire is offering a special package of two nights’ accommodation for two people including full breakfast from just €230.

With 52 beautifully appointed rooms, this brand new hotel immerses guests in a contemporary, baroque atmosphere - poetic, elegant and conducive to reverie. It is ideally located close to the city’s most popular tourist attractions, including the beautiful Bastille and the fashionable Marais neighborhoods. From the moment they arrive, guests are enveloped in an intimate setting cut off from the bustle of the city, but with views that remind them


CORPORATE CARDSMasterCard Acquires Travelex’s Prepaid Card Program Management AssetsMasterCard Incorporated and Travelex have announced that MasterCard has purchased the prepaid Card Program Management (CPM) operations of Travelex for £290 (US $458) million in cash, with an earn-out of up to an additional £35 (US $55) million if certain performance targets are met. The transaction is expected to close in the first half of 2011.

MasterCard is acquiring the Travelex operations that manage and deliver consumer and corporate prepaid travel cards to business partners around the world, including financial institutions, retailers, travel agents and foreign exchange bureaus. These operations also manage cross-border payroll, per-diem and expense-management prepaid cards for corporations. MasterCard has no plans to issue cards directly as a result of this transaction.

As part of the transaction, MasterCard and Travelex signed a long-term contract whereby MasterCard will provide program management services for the Travelex Cash Passport prepaid card sold through Travelex stores and online channels. Travelex, the world’s largest foreign-exchange specialist, pioneered the growing prepaid travel card market with its Cash Passport card, which provides international travellers a more secure and convenient way to carry and spend money abroad.

The deal is an extension of a strong and long-term partnership between MasterCard and Travelex. Last year, the two companies expanded their relationship by agreeing to convert the majority of Travelex card programs to the MasterCard brand and by implementing the global prepaid transaction-processing capabilities of MasterCard Integrated Processing Solutions (IPS). MasterCard IPS provides financial institutions world-class debit and prepaid processing solutions that are scalable, reliable, secure and flexible.

“The acquisition of Travelex’s CPM operations underscores MasterCard’s commitment to the global prepaid business, which remains a key strategic focus for us,” said Ajay Banga, MasterCard president and chief executive officer. “This acquisition enables MasterCard to play a greater role in the prepaid value chain, allowing us to shape the future of prepaid, especially in high-growth markets and in the attractive cross-border payments space where we can displace cash and traveler’s cheques.”

Peter Jackson, CEO of Travelex, commented: “The sale of CPM will allow us to accelerate our investment plans, particularly in higher growth regions such as Asia and South America and in the growing e-commerce channel. MasterCard is a great partner of Travelex and we are also pleased to continue to offer our customers the benefits of the Travelex Cash Passport. The sale follows a strong year for the Group in which we have continued to extend our global footprint and deliver a strong performance.”

The acquisition furthers MasterCard’s strategic business goals. Adding Travelex’s CPM operations strengthens MasterCard’s suite of global prepaid business assets allowing the company to focus on countries outside of the U.S. to accelerate prepaid market entry and growth. The transaction is consistent with MasterCard’s commitment to working with partners and issuers around the world to issue MasterCard prepaid cards and deliver the most innovative prepaid card solutions to the marketplace.

For Travelex, the sale will provide further resources to continue to invest across the Group. Travelex remains focused on growing its consumer foreign exchange and international payments business for its retail and corporate customers with further expansion in fast growing emerging markets, including areas of Asia and South America. The retail distribution of cards through Travelex channels also remains a strategic priority. As part of the transaction, Travelex has agreed with its lenders to use part of the proceeds to reduce its senior debt facilities.

Prepaid is one of the fastest-growing payment card categories. According to a 2010 Boston Consulting Group study commissioned by MasterCard, prepaid is expected to reach more than $840 billion in global volume by 2017, a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 22 percent. This same study estimates that the prepaid open-loop market in the travel sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 31 percent over the same period.

www.mastercard.com - www.travelex.com

immediately that they are in the one of the most elegant and timeless areas of Paris. The magnificent Marais district with its fashionable boutiques, lively restaurants and bars and exceptional pre-Revolution architecture are at the hotel’s doorstep, as is the famous Bastille area, putting you right in the heart of the city.

The new hotel is a sign of the Mercure

brand’s evolution, proving that elegance and sophistication can be provided at an affordable price.

The Mercure was conceived in every detail by Michel Héberlé of Cabinet MH Production who says: “For this contemporary, baroque hotel with its warm, uncluttered style, the guiding thread is harmony. Plum-colored tones...and metallic effects provide a

subtle counterpoint to the designer furniture. Majestic baroque sofas and metal consoles complete the decoration. The world globe chandeliers add a surprising note, sending out shafts of warm and cool tones. Large Ingres frescoes are distributed throughout the space and echoed in the bed heads in the rooms.”

www.mercure.com


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