MP is the best tourist destination this year

ITC Maurya hotel in New Delhi bagged an award for offering the best facilities for  differently-abled guests, while New Delhi Railway Station was adjudged most tourist-friendly for the second consecutive year, at the annual awards function of tourism ministry here.

Among the states, Madhya Pradesh took home four national awards and honours for best tourism infrastructure and programmes in the country. Rajasthan came a close second.

The award for best implementation of Clean India Campaign of the government went to Sikkim, which also netted a national award for best tourism infrastructure and programmes among seven North Eastern States and Jammu and Kashmir.

A total of 79 awards under different categories were conferred on various states and union territories, hotels, travel and tour operators and private organisations to acknowledge their contribution to tourism sector. President Pratibha Patil presented the awards at a function organised by Ministry of Tourism here.

Hyderabad won best heritage city award, while Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Hyderabad received the honour for best airport in the country.
Kerala Tourism Department bagged an award for most innovative use of information technology, best website and portal.

Among hotels, The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur, Rajasthan, was given the best five star (deluxe) hotel award, while the Gateway Hotel in Ernakulam, Kerala was conferred the best five start hotel award. Bangalore’s ITC Gardenia bagged the Best Eco Friendly Hotel award

The world's top 10 beaches

Seychelles, once believed to be the location of the Garden of Eden, has pristine white sandy beaches that draw both families and solitude-seekers.

Maldives, the 'Garland of Islands,' comprise 1,102 unspoilt coral atolls in the Indian Ocean. 

Bora Bora in Tahiti is surrounded by a picturesque lagoon and barrier reef. It is one of the charming islands of French Polynesia.

The Hamptons, home to the prettiest beaches in Long Island, are a favorite weekend getaway for New York’s swish set.

Hawaii’s Lanikai means “heavenly sea.” Warm turquoise waters and happy sunshine make this island a piece of heaven on earth.

Nantucket Island, Massachusetts, is famous for serene beaches, scenic bike paths and historic tours.

Australia’s Fraser Island, the world’s largest sand island and a World Heritage Site, offers the pleasures of beach life and treks in its dense rainforests.

St Bart's, a volcanic island in the Caribbean, is famous for dreamy beaches. Its French cuisine and culture makes it a hotspot with wealthy tourists.

Langkawi, a 99-island archipelago along Malaysia’s west coast, beckons tourists with gorgeous beaches, verdant paddy fields, and lush forests.

The stunning Kauna'oa Bay is a crescent-shaped white sand beach on the western coast of Hawaii.

Asia Pacific Airlines Traffic Results for January 2012

Preliminary traffic figures compiled by the Association of Asia Pacific Airlines (AAPA) for the month of January 2012 show continued growth in international air passenger traffic demand, with air freight demand falling sharply during the month as a result of the earlier timing of the Lunar New Year holidays this year.

In aggregate, Asia Pacific airlines carried 17.2 million international passengers in January, a 7.3% growth compared to the same month last year, boosted by an increase in travel during the Lunar New Year holiday season.

 In revenue passenger kilometre (RPK) terms, international passenger traffic grew by 6.3%. Available seat capacity was up by 6.7%, resulting in a slight 0.2 percentage point fall in the average international passenger load factor to 78.2%.

International air cargo demand, measured in freight tonne kilometres (FTK), declined by 13.7% in January compared to the same month last year, reflecting the persistently weak trading environment and the closure of manufacturing plants due to the holidays. Even with a 5.3% reduction in offered freight capacity, the average international cargo load factor fell by 5.7 percentage points, to 59.6%.

“The continuing growth in passenger numbers marks an encouraging start to the year for Asian carriers. The slump in air cargo demand mainly reflects the earlier timing of the Lunar New Year holidays this year, but is nevertheless also a reminder of the still uncertain outlook for the global economy in the year ahead,” said Mr. Andrew Herdman, AAPA Director General. “With Europe sliding into recession, we expect this to be another challenging year for the industry, but remain guardedly optimistic given some tentative signs of recovery in the US and continuing positive momentum here in Asia.”

ibis Hua Hin Opens; Rates from THB 1080++

he ibis Hua Hin, Accor’s latest hotel in Thailand, has opened.

 Located in Khao Takiab, Hua Hin with easy access to the beach, the night market and many tourist attractions, the newly constructed 200-guest room hotel has been designed to provide guests with an international quality seaside getaway at value for money rates.

Guest rooms feature LCD satellite television, Wi-Fi internet access, 24-hour services, reasonably-priced food and drinks at the signature TASTE restaurant as well as eight hours nonstop breakfast concept starting from 4am to 12pm noon.

The ibis Hua Hin also offers two meeting rooms for small meeting and incentive groups .

Mr. Nikolay Stoyanov has been appointed as ibis Hua Hin’s General Manager to oversee operations of the hotel. Mr Stoyanov who was previously Operations Manager of ibis Pattaya has had extensive operational experience and played a key role in the deployment of the network in Thailand.

Hua Hin is a beachside town and a favourite destination for both Thai domestic and international visitors alike. Hua Hin is some 200 kilometers south of Bangkok and just over 2-hour drive from the capital. Beyond the beach, other activities visitors can enjoy while in Hua Hin includes golf, spas, pony-riding, shopping at the local market, and visits to historical temples and palace.

Executive General Manager of ibis Hotels Thailand, Mr. Erwann Mahe said, “We are delighted to introduce one of the world’s largest and respected economy hotel brands to Hua Hin and further extending the ibis network in Thailand to eight hotels spread throughout the country. With an award-winning blend of quality and consistent service and value for money accommodation, we are confident that ibis Hua Hin will quickly become one of the city’s most preferred hotels for Thai and international travellers.”

ibis Hua Hin Introductory Promotion

ibis Hua Hin is offering a Standard Room from THB 1,080++ per night or a Family Room from THB 1,580++ per night. The offer is valid until 30 April 2012. Terms and conditions apply.

Starwood Shakes Up Hotel Industry with 24-Hour Stays

With Your24, Starwood Hotels & Resorts is abolishing set check-in and check-out times for select Starwood Preferred Guest elite members, and introducing round-the-clock check-in/out at all Starwood hotels and resorts.

While tradition has long held hotel check-in to 3 p.m., Starwood is bucking convention to give its most frequent travelers complete control of their check-in and checkout times. A member who chooses to check in at 10 p.m. won't have to checkout until 10 p.m. on their day of departure, 24 hours later. Platinum SPG members who spend 75+ eligible nights at Starwood hotels can request Your24 service.

"We're constantly striving to make travel as personalized as possible for Starwood Preferred Guest Members, and that means fresh thinking around long-standing industry practices," said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President for Distribution, Loyalty & Partnership Marketing at Starwood. "Your24 reflects very clearly that the preferences of our guests drive how we do business, and that's another reason why Starwood and SPG have earned such intense loyalty with global travelers."

Starwood recently reported that elite membership in Starwood Preferred Guest has doubled over the past five years. What's more, they are spending 60% more than they did five years ago.