Business Travel

72 hours visa-free in Guangzhou from August

July 23, 2013

GUANGZHOU – The Chinese Government has officially confirmed that travellers from 45 countries, including Australia and New Zealand, with onward international reservations from Guangzhou, will be granted visa-free status for 72 hours from August 1. The decision brings travel to Guangzhou into line with Beijing and Shanghai, where the 72-hour visa-free rule was implemented earlier this year. Visitors to Guangzhou can travel to any part of Guangdong Province including the Hong Kong border city of Shenzhen (ATI).

DISCOUNTED ROOM REDEMPTIONS FOR GOLDEN CIRCLE MEMBERS

July 17, 2013

HONG KONG - Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts if offering members of its Golden Circle loyalty club programme savings of up to 40% on points required for room redemptions through to December 31 - discounts start at 25% off the number of points required for a standard room, 30% off for a Club Room and 40% off for an Executive Suite at selected Shangri-La, Kerry or Traders hotel worldwide. Participating hotel destinations will be updated every fortnight on GC’s dedicated website http://www.shangri-la.com/less-is-more (ATI).

KOREAN, ETIHAD TO CODE-SHARE ON ABU DHABI ROUTE

July 17, 2013

SEOUL - Korean Air is to code-share with Etihad Airways on the Incheon-Abu Dhabi route from July 22 (subject to regulatory approval). The code-share will apply to daily Etihad flights and complement Korean Air’s current routes from Incheon-Dubai (five flights a week) and Incheon-Riyadh/Jeddah (three flights a week). Korean says it plans to expand its partnership with Etihad to other destinations in the Middle-East and Africa in the future. www.koreanair.com (ATI).

GEOFF DONAGHY NAMED HEAD OF PEAK CONVENTION CENTRES GROUP

July 17, 2013

BRUSSELS – Senior AEG Ogden executive Geoff Donaghy has become the first Asia-Pacific region representative selected to lead the International Association of Congress Centres (AIPC), the peak association for convention centres worldwide.

AUSTRALIAN TRAVEL PROVIDERS EMBRACING CHINESE MARKET

July 13, 2013

SYDNEY – More Australian travel providers are widening their service offerings for visitors from China. Experience Oz (www.experienceoz.com.au) says it is the first Australian travel experience provider to launch a fully-functional Chinese-language site into which it has incorporated payment through the Chinese credit card system UnionPay. There is also Chinese-language phone support for information and booking help.

EU CLEARS PHILIPPINE AIRLINES TO FLY IN EUROPEAN SKIES

July 12, 2013

BRUSSELS – Flag carrier Philippine Airlines (PAL) can again fly in European skies, with the 28-member European Union (EU) taking the country out of its aviation safety blacklist. The decision takes effect immediately, and is expected to see an early lift in tourism numbers from Europe. These increased 10% last year despite the absence of direct flights.

Pages