2016 Top Luxury Hotel & Brand Report released by ReviewPro

Mexican hotel chain selects eRevMax to improve online sales
9 Grupo Presidente hotels using RateTiger for managing distribution

Growth in UK air travel predicted to remain buoyant even in post-Brexit economy
Although the recent economic instability prompted by last month’s Brexit vote is expected to result in a small overall slowdown in the rate of growth, Direct Airport Parking Investment, a Cheshire-based firm that offers private investors the opportunity to purchase individual car parking spaces close to major UK airports, doesn’t view this as a cause for real concern.

The Land of Legends Theme Park has opened its gates
The biggest leisure and entertainment park in Turkey, The Land of Legends Theme Park, welcomes its guests in the tourism capital of Turkey, Antalya, as of July 1st.

Around 2 in 3 Americans have or will take vacation this Summer
Adults who traveled for leisure last summer (May-August 2015) are more likely to travel again this summer (91% vs. 33% who didn’t travel last summer), and this year’s poll revealed the largest percentage of Americans report having traveled for leisure last summer — more than half (55%) — since the summer of 2008 (60%).

Medical tourism industry valued at $439B; Poised for 25% year-over-year growth by 2025
In its just-released 2016 report, industry-leading journal, Medical Tourism Index™ (MTI), listed the top 41 destinations for those seeking value-added services and high quality of healthcare across the globe.

ibtm world 2016: Association buyers join the club
As the leading annual event for the global meetings and events industry and the one attended by the biggest number of international Association buyers,  ibtm world has upgraded the purpose of the Club to give the space and freedom for buyers to choose their own itinerary and  industry experience at this year’s event, which takes place in Barcelona from 29 November – 1 December.

United Airlines expands service to St. Kitts
United will continue to utilize a 737-800 aircraft with capacity ranging from 154 to 166 seats for these flights.

Green light for major improvements at Stonehenge
The improvements refine and build on the successes of the temporary expansion of the coach park, which has been in place for a year, and will provide a longer term solution to better accommodate the 1.3m people from across the globe who visit the World Heritage Site annually – 60% of whom arrive by coach.

Residence Inn hotel to open in Anaheim, California
Stylish and functional hotel design lets extended-stay guests thrive on the road.

STR: Central/South America hotel performance for Q2 2016, June 2016
Compared with the three key performance metrics from Q2 2015, the Central/South America region reported a 5.1% decrease in occupancy to 54.1%. Average daily rate was up 5.3% to US$89.75. Revenue per available room was flat at US$48.58.

Etihad Airways announces additional A380 service to New York’s JFK Airport in response to strong passenger demand, beginning June 2017
Beginning on June 1, 2017, the airline will upgrade its second flight between Abu Dhabi and New York JFK to its award-winning A380 aircraft which features The Residence, the only three-room suite available in commercial airline operation, and its award-winning First Apartment cabins.

Hertz Global appoints Rick Frecker executive vice president and general counsel
Frecker, who joined the company in 2008, previously served as vice president and deputy general counsel.

NewLeaf Travel Company takes to the skies
Less than one month after ticket sales opened, NewLeaf Travel Company announced that the inaugural flight from Hamilton to Moncton on July 29th has sold out.

TourTakers.com launches the un-travel travel agency
Agency alternative provides travelers relief from search engine overload as first online packaged vacation store.

Turkey’s Pegasus Airlines receives world’s first CFM powered Airbus A320neo
Airline becomes launch operator for A320neo with CFM engines.

Verdura welcomes new golf manager
Gianluca di Biase took up his new position at Verdura – a Rocco Forte hotel – this month and is delighted to have been given a key role in helping the award-winning contemporary golf and lifestyle resort build on its recent success following a record-breaking last 12 months which saw its total golf revenues rise by almost 20 per cent.

JLL presents the H1 2016 results of the quality hotels market in Moscow and St. Petersburg
Quality resort hotels of Moscow region continue to benefit from the stable upward curve of domestic tourism, and in particular, from increased demand for short countryside breaks within a driving distance from big cities. The occupancy of this segment grew by the end of the H1 2016 by almost 17 p.p. compared with the previous year and reached 47.2%.

Hospitality Ventures Management Group (HVMG) adds Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Airport West to its growing management portfolio
The hotel is conveniently located near the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, off of Camp Creek Parkway. Nearby is Atlanta’s downtown area, the Georgia International Convention Center, Turner Field and the Georgia Aquarium, among other attractions.

Christopher Burley is appointed Vice Chair of WestJet’s Board of Directors
Mr. Burley was appointed to the Board in September 2015 and has served as a member of the Audit Committee, the People and Compensation Committee, as well as the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee.

HotelPlanner and Meetings.com expands meeting planners services with e-destinACCESS partnership
The recent partnership will provide HotelPlanner and Meetings.com’s customers with the opportunity to source and schedule all their meeting and event destination services utilizing the e-destinACCESS http://www.nexgenmtgs.com interface while also sourcing and booking their hotel rooms for their groups.

STR: Europe hotel performance for Q2 2016, June 2016
Compared with the three key performance metrics from Q2 2015, Europe reported nearly flat occupancy (+0.6% to 73.9%). Average daily rate was up 2.1% to EUR114.33. Revenue per available room grew 2.7% to EUR84.49.

Gateway Sports Village announces partnership with Liberty Hotel Group
Gateway Sports Village is the first of its kind, $300 million dollar sports complex that combines youth soccer fields, retail, office space, and hotels.  The complex will attract 1.8 million visitors a year, generating thousands of hotel rooms a night for visiting teams, players, and families.

London City Airport introduces Facebook Messenger to check flight information
Following a short trial period, from today any passenger who has Facebook Messenger on their device can send their flight number on the day of travel to the LCY Flight Info Facebook page and receive personalised flight information.