Travel and Leisure: Trending Stories form Travel Daily News

Starwood Hotels to debut its eco-wise Element brand in Detroit following historic adaptive re-use project
Slated to open in 2018, Element Detroit at the Metropolitan Building will offer a smart, sustainable extended stay experience at the heart of the city’s Central Business District.

Flexjet announces European operations
Expands Flexjet’s growing international travel capabilities and provides point-to-point private jet travel services within Europe. European operations set to begin by Q4 2016.

Terror attacks spark fears of veteran travellers by more than 50%
The recovery time after a mass shooting, hostage taking or plane crash also plays on traveller psyche. Forty-five percent of ACTE respondents said that significant fear lasts for up to a month after an attack; 65% said the effects linger for up to three months.

MidOcean Partners announces acquisition of Travelpro Group, luggage industry leader
Travelpro Group operates two distinct business units: (i) Travelpro, with the Travelpro and Atlantic brands of luggage primarily in the United States and (ii) Holiday Group, which supplies licensed and owned branded products primarily to the Canadian market.

June 2016 – Switzerland opens the world’s longest train tunnel
Wednesday 1 June 2016 sees the festive opening in Switzerland of the longest and deepest train tunnel in the world. The tunnel extends for 57 kilometres to a depth of up to 2,300 metres below the Gotthard massif.

Over 50% of mass affluent British travellers see travel assistance as vital as terrorism increases
More than half (54%) of mass affluent British travellers view international travel assistance as vital or important. Over a third (36%) of high income earners in the UK would think twice before travelling anywhere in the face of a perceived increase in global instability.

New direct connection from Frankfurt to Shenzhen
Starting in May, Air China operates new route three times a week from FRA to China

JLL advises Chris Luken on the management buyout of his company Fletcher Hotels in the Netherlands
Fletcher Hotels is the largest hotel chain in the Netherlands with 73 hotels and a stellar reputation having been voted “most popular hotel chain” for six consecutive years.

Gogo Business Aviation adds Jet ConneX to global connectivity portfolio
With the addition of Jet ConneX service, Gogo Business Aviation offers one of the business aviation market’s widest selections of in-flight voice and data services which include Gogo Biz, SwiftBroadband, Classic Aero, Swift64, Iridium, terrestrial 3G and Gogo Cloud for automated content delivery.

Mexico’s Across signs order for 23 Embraer Business Jets
Aiming to improve customers’ operational flexibility, Across offers air charter solutions with the concept “Aviacion a tu medida,” along with aircraft management, first-rate FBO services and a sales or fractional ownership program for Embraer’s broad business jet portfolio.

Head of Communications Peter Brun is moving to VFS Global in Dubai
Peter Brun has worked for Kuoni since 2005. Since 2008 he has been the CCO at Kuoni Group and until 2015 was also responsible for Kuoni Switzerland’s communications.

YOTEL breaks ground on first hotel in Dubai, UAE
582 key hotel to open on Sheik Zayed Road, Dubai Business Bay in 2018. Opening will mark YOTEL’s debut in serviced residence space.

Grab app soars to new hights with three more airport launches
Airport restaurants in BUF, LAX and ONT join mobile ordering platform.

Kimpton Tideline Ocean Resort and Spa unveils property enhancements
Tideline’s hotel renovations include: new wall coverings, furniture in social areas and upgraded pool furnishings. Brandon’s Palm Beach’s improvements include a new fire pit, outdoor dining tables and chairs, new bar seating and cabinets, and outdoor sofas.

Vladimir Yakushev appointed CEO of the Northern Capital Gateway Consortium
Vladimir Yakushev was appointed as CEO of the Northern Capital Gateway Consortium (NCGC), the operator of Pulkovo Airport. He will replace Sergei Furs, acting head of the NCGC since February 2016. Mr. Yakushev will focus on further developing the airport as a major transportation hub in the Northwestern Federal District and enhancing the company’s operational efficiency in line with the long-term strategy. Yuri Soloviev, First Deputy President and Chairman of VTB Bank Management Board said: “In 2015, Pulkovo’s financial performance demonstrated improvement,

Researchers set to start work on board Costa’s ships
The CNR and Costa Crociere announce a framework agreement to further the cause of research in the fields of oceanography and marine science. Costa will make available its ships for use as facilities to support the scientific research network run by the Italian National Research Council. Joint initiatives to raise awareness are also planned.

Icelandair launches Montreal service
After the signing of the 2007 open skies agreement between Iceland and Canada, Icelandair continues to develop service from the Great White North. Following the commencement of Halifax in 1998, new gateways were launched, including Toronto in 2008, Edmonton and Vancouver in 2014, and today, Montreal in 2016.

European Tour Properties honoured in inaugural Golf Digest Editors’ Choice Awards
For its inaugural Editors’ Choice Awards, Golf Digest USA – which has more than 1.6m subscribers in the US alone – surveyed a 900-strong committee of golf-course panelists.

STR: US hotel performance for April 2016
Compared with April 2015, the U.S. hotel industry’s occupancy increased 2.2% to 68.1%. Average daily rate for the month was up 2.8% to US$123.14. Revenue per available room grew 5.0% to US$83.89.

WNS partners with Etraveli to support its fast-growing travel operations
WNS will manage Etraveli’s fast-growing travel operations, drive improved efficiency, enhance the end-client experience, and help accelerate their digital initiatives.

Air Canada inaugurates Toronto to London-Gatwick service
New Air Canada rouge route complements London – Heathrow gateway.

Extended Stay America celebrates 500th renovated property
National hotel chain has completed 80 percent of portfolio.

Bedford Village Inn introduces The Grand: Luxury boutique hotel destination in Bedford, New Hampshire
A fully equipped fitness facility sits steps away from an outdoor heated year round saltwater pool and hot tub all surrounded by natural and lush garden grounds. Throughout the warmer seasons, the Lobby Bar menu will be served to guests around the pool.

Japan Airlines seeks approval to include Iberia into joint business with BA and Finnair
The four airlines intend to cooperate commercially by sharing revenue and by coordinating flight schedules and fares in order to offer greater benefits to customers travelling between Europe and Japan.

GO Group adds 16 airports to ground transportation network
The addition of 16 new airports is part of a long-term plan to expand The GO Group to every major U.S. and International market, according to John C. McCarthy, president of The GO Group.

Ellinair expands its route network from Pulkovo Airport
Ellinair is a Greek airline, a part of the Mouzenidis Group, with its home base at Macedonia International Airport in Thessaloniki. In 2015, the passenger traffic of the carrier at Pulkovo grew by 97% year on year.

New down-route app revolutionises hotel bookings and crew expense management for business aviation
Down-Route.Com combines expense management with hotel bookings into a single App, enabling business aircraft operators to manage and monitor expenses incurred by crew as they travel around the globe.

Sea-Tac Airport prepares for record number of summer passengers
Port of Seattle making many changes including adding temporary private contractors at checkpoints beginning May 23 to assist passengers and allow TSA to open more security lanes.

Indu Brar first female General Manager in Fairmont Empress’ 108-year history
She will oversee the iconic hotel’s two-phased $30+ million renovation plan that will be completed in June 2017 and includes all guestrooms, restaurants, lobby, Willow Stream Spa and meeting space.

EICC CEO targets US market with North America partnership deal to drive growth
Increasing number of international Associations choosing the EICC; Adding to diversity of events at top UK conference venue outside London.