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JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts is pleased to introduce the new JWM Wine Club, designed exclusively for JW Marriott guests to complement their passion for wine and the in-home wine-tasting experience. Created in collaboration with Treasury Wine Estates, the JWM Wine Club provides members with carefully curated wine experiences, highlighting fine wines from some of California’s most awarded luxury estates.
The JWM Wine Club will introduce wine enthusiasts to the reserves and iconic labels of California’s most heralded wine estates with a sampling of four wines in a single-serving format shipped quarterly to a preferred address. Members will then select their two favorites and receive a 750ml bottle of each to enjoy. Additionally, wine tasting notes from a JW Marriott wine ambassador and recipes to pair with your wines from a hotel executive chef will be included with each shipment, providing members with the tools to learn about the life of the vine, duties of a winemaker and how to properly choose, taste and enjoy the best wine for any occasion. The cost to participate is $150 per shipment.
“We are thrilled to officially introduce our new JWM Wine Club, a program which was designed to further enhance our connection with our guests by providing luxuries that speak to their personal interest,” said Mitzi Gaskins, vice president & global brand manager for JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts. “The collaboration with Treasury Wine Estates offers an innovative way for guests to access and experience fine wine, providing them with a JW Marriott experience to savor at home at their leisure.”
“The JWM Wine Club is an extension of a very important strategic partnership between Treasury Wine Estates and JW Marriott,” said Nicole Carter, vice president, public relations for Treasury Wine Estates. “We are always looking for dynamic ways to talk to new consumers. I believe the JWM Wine Club brings a new level of innovation into our hospitality business and allows us to bring a taste of California to consumers at home.”
London Gatwick today welcomed the Thomson Boeing 787 Dreamliner to the airport for the first time, ahead of scheduled services to Cancun and Phuket later in the year.
The one-off Thomson service to Menorca will provide passengers with the full Dreamliner experience, which includes up to 34 inches legroom in economy and dynamic LED lighting that can mimic dawn and dusk. The aircraft also has environmental benefits as the Boeing 787 has a reduction of twenty percent in fuel and CO2 emissions1.
Gatwick and Thomson already serve Cancun, but from early July passengers will be able to fly to the popular Mexican destination on a scheduled long haul service on the Dreamliner before a new route to Phuket is opened for the winter in November.
The Dreamliner as an aircraft, along with Airbus A350s, are set to play a pivotal role for the future of aviation and how passengers travel, offering more access to direct flights to new destinations that are further afield. Airlines, which plan decades ahead, are investing heavily in these new generation long-range aircraft and moving away from the traditional ‘hub and spoke’ model that generates transfer passengers2.
Around 800 Dreamliners and more than 600 Airbus A350s are currently on order from airlines around the world – more than triple the orders for the Airbus ‘superjumbo’ A380.
London Gatwick has already proved that new direct long-haul routes from the UK can be supported by providing direct routes to Vietnam and China. From autumn 2013, Gatwick will also offer Europe’s first direct route to Jakarta, Indonesia.
Guy Stephenson, Chief Commercial Officer at London Gatwick, said: “This is an exciting milestone for us as this innovative aircraft offers our airlines even more potential to create new long haul routes in the future from Gatwick.
“We have already made great progress in opening new routes to key emerging markets such as China and Vietnam, and have a strong long-haul leisure business. We look forward to continuing this success and we continue to work closely with all of our airlines to provide the best passenger experience.”
David Burling, Managing Director of Thomson Airways’ parent company TUI UK and Ireland, joined passengers on-board the historic first flight. He commented: “Today has been several months and years in the planning and after a lot of hard work I am absolutely thrilled to celebrate the first flight from London Gatwick, which is a very important event in the company’s history. We’re very proud to be the first UK airline to fly the Dreamliner and will operate this state-of-the-art aircraft on short and mid haul routes in preparation for our inaugural long-haul flights to Cancun and Florida on 8th July.”
Travelport, a leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions and data for the global travel industry, has been selected as GDS provider by Smart Helpline, the Polish branch of GAMA Business Travel, a global leader in business travel management and meeting solutions. Travelport has worked successfully with GAMA Business Travel in the USA for over 20 years and this new, long-term agreement extends the relationship to Poland.
“Travelport remains a major supplier of choice for the broadest range of business travel content,” commented Dov Kagan, Founder and Chairman of Gama Business Travel. “Alongside this extensive travel content, we also decided to work with Travelport in Poland for its leading-edge technology and calibre of service they offer. As a global business we have been working with Travelport for more than 20 years and place a lot of value on our excellent working relationship.”
“We are delighted to seal this long-term relationship with GAMA Business Travel,” added Aleksandra Tomaszewska, Sales Manager, Poland. “Our commitment is to help them reach new customers by providing them with highly efficient technology and extensive travel content. This in turn will enable them to enrich their business.”
Travelport and Russian carrier Transaero Airlines have signed a new global full content agreement. The new multi-year deal secures access to Transaero Airlines fares, seat availability and schedules for Travelport-connected travel agencies worldwide.
Leisure carrier Transaero Airlines offers a wide range of tourist air services thanks to its fleet that consists of predominantly wide-bodied aircraft. The airline’s route network covers destinations all over the world.
“Being part of Travelport’s extensive network is an important part of our distribution strategy to ensure our flights are available to travel agents everywhere. We look forward to working closely with Travelport in launching new products and services for travel agents,” said Roman Vdovenko, Sales Director Transaero Airlines.
“Travelport’s global breadth, technology and merchandising capabilities will ensure we continue to have a very successful relationship for years to come.”Robin Ranken, Head of Airline Relationships, Travelport Europe, said:
“The new agreement with Transaero Airlines is excellent news for Travelport and our global travel agency customers. Securing full content delivers many benefits for travel agents, including access to the most competitive fares available.”
Air France KLM has announced it has finalised a deal with European manufacturer Airbus for 25 new A350 jets with a further 25 on option.
The A350-900 aircrafts are equipped with Rolls-Royce XWB engines, which will significantly contribute to the performance of the Airbus A350.
In addition, this acquisition will reduce fuel consumption by over 15 per cent compared to the current aircraft, as well as reduce noise and gas emissions, further outlining the Group’s commitment to the environment.
Henri Hourcade, general manager Air France KLM, UK & Ireland, said: “This order of new-generation, high performance aircraft reflects the importance of our investments for the benefit of our customers, whose comfort is at the heart of our concerns.
“With the A350, Air France-KLM will continue to operate one of the most modern fleets in the world, and ensure the growth of its long-haul activity, while achieving significant cost savings.
“Furthermore this aircraft introduces major environmental advances and will contribute to our ambitious targets for noise and carbon reduction.”
The agreement was signed at the 50th International Air Show at Le Bourget near Paris.
Today’s announcement marks the completion of a deal with Airbus announced in September 2011 for 50 aircraft - 25 A350-900s and 25 Boeing 787-9s.
In December 2011, Air France-KLM also signed a contract to acquire 25 firm orders for Boeing 787-9s, with another 25 on option.
The first Boeing 787-9 aircraft is due to enter into service with KLM in 2016 with the first A350-900 is expected to be in service with Air France in 2018.
Canadian Pacific today announced it has launched a faster intermodal rail service between Toronto and Calgary to better serve customers in this key corridor. The new service offering cuts 20 hours from previous schedules.
“Customers are taking advantage of CP’s faster transit times in major intermodal corridors, and given Calgary’s importance as a Canadian distribution hub, improving this service is the next logical step,” said Jane O’Hagan, CP’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer. “We are helping our customers become more competitive in their own markets and offering previously unavailable options to business not currently shipping with CP.”
O’Hagan added, “CP is focused on its commitment to faster, more reliable service for its customers. The improved schedule is made possible by pairing efficient train design at origin while leveraging a CP advantage; the shortest rail route between Toronto and Calgary.”
The 20-hour service improvement means the 3,400 kilometre distance from Toronto to Calgary will now take 64 hours.
Using similar practices last year, CP shortened schedules from Vancouver to Chicago and Vancouver to Toronto. Initiatives like these will continue to improve asset utilization while meeting customer demands for supply-chain improvements.
United has placed an order with Airbus for new A350-1000 aircraft. The agreement converts United’s existing order for 25 A350-900s into A350-1000s and adds 10 firm orders for A350-1000s, giving the airline a total order of 35 aircraft.
The increased seating capacity of the A350-1000 will enable United to replace older, less efficient aircraft currently serving long-range, high-demand markets. United expects delivery starting in 2018.
“We look forward to taking delivery of the A350-1000,” said Jeff Smisek, United’s chairman, president and CEO.
“This is a modern, fuel-efficient and advanced-technology aircraft that our customers and co-workers will enjoy flying. It will be a great addition to our fleet, and will allow us to meet demand on larger, long-haul markets in our world-leading network.”
The A350-1000 is the largest member of the A350 WXB family and uses advanced materials including composites, titanium and aluminum alloys combined with the latest engine technology to make it lighter and more fuel efficient.
The aircraft will consume approximately 20 percent less fuel per seat than the large widebody aircraft it will replace. It is powered by new-generation Rolls-Royce Trent engines. The cabin will offer an improved customer experience with more headroom, wider panoramic windows and more overhead storage space.
“Less than a week after the success of the A350 XWB’s first flight, we see that demand for the new aircraft continues to grow, especially for the larger -1000 model. Airbus is proud to have United Airlines on board the exciting A350 program in such a significant way,” said Fabrice Bregier, Airbus President and CEO.
The Airbus order supports United’s commitment to improve the overall efficiency of its fleet. On Tuesday, the airline announced an order for 10 Boeing 787-10 aircraft and conversion of 10 existing 787 orders to the -10 variant, making United’s total Dreamliner order book 65.
In July of last year, United announced a narrowbody order for 100 Boeing 737 MAX 9 aircraft and 50 Boeing 737-900ER aircraft. The airline is also modernizing its United Express fleet by adding seventy 76-seat Embraer aircraft that will be operated by regional partners.
Brand USA, the public-private partnership responsible for promoting the United States as a premier travel destination, appoints in-market representation firms in key markets – India, Australia, New Zealand, China, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
“When we have fully established all international offices, Brand USA will have representation in the markets that generate 93 percent of inbound travel to the United States,” said Chris Thompson, President and CEO for Brand USA. “We look forward to working even more closely with the travel industry and media partners around the world to attract rapidly increasing numbers of international travelers to the U.S.”
Brand USA has partnered with the following representation firms:
India Sartha Global Marketing was named in-market representative firm for India. The organization was instrumental in Brand USA’s first and highly successful trade mission hosting 50 U.S. delegates in Mumbai and New Delhi. They also facilitated the first Brand USA pavilion at SATTE, the largest networking forum for the travel & tourism industry in South Asia. Moving forward, the New Dehli based organization will work closely with in-market and U.S. partners to augment the destination profile and educate stakeholders. Additionally, they will work aggressively to increase arrivals to the USA, encourage repeat visits and escalate visitor spending through marketing, promotional and public relations efforts.
Australia/New Zealand Gate 7, marketing and representation agency specializing in the promotion of travel and tourism, will represent Brand USA in Australia and New Zealand. The recipient of multiple travel industry awards, Gate 7’s appointment is the first time Brand USA has engaged representation in the Australian and New Zealand markets. Gate 7 will be responsible for the overall strategic framework, consumer segmentation and direct marketing outreach in Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, the team will implement marketing initiatives, travel trade training and public relations outreach; oversee the cooperative marketing partnerships and liaison with the media buying and creative agencies.
China China’s leading destination marketing company, AVIAREPS Marketing Garden Ltd. was named Brand USA’s in-market representative. With offices in Beijing and Shanghai, the new Brand USA China team will be responsible for promoting tourism from China to the United States and for working hand-in-hand with key travel agent, airline, media, and brand partners throughout China, to promote the United States as a world-class destination. In conjunction with the opening of its two new offices in China, Brand USA will also be launching a new representative office in Hong Kong via ConnectWorldwide.
Hong Kong/Taiwan Connectworldwide BrandStory to serve as the representative firm for Brand USA’s Hong Kong and Taiwan operations. BrandStory will be responsible for expanding Brand USA’s media network and travel trade outreach in these markets, as well as developing co-operative partnership programs with the trade and media to increase visitation to the United States. Thompson added, “With the launch of our consumer campaign in additional markets later this year, and our enhanced representation around the world, we anticipate that more visitors will choose to discover America.”
Directors at Kuoni Travel Holding have appointed group chief financial officer Peter Meier to the position of chief executive of the Kuoni Group with immediate effect, on an interim basis.
Following the decision of the board Peter Rothwell, group chief executive, will be leaving Kuoni after a handover at the end of June 2013.
A new group chief executive is expected to be appointed in the course of 2013.
Rothwell joined Kuoni at the beginning of 2009.
During the past four years, Kuoni has been successfully transformed into a leading, global, and broad-based travel service provider.
Peter Meier will take over this position as of tomorrow in addition to his role as chief financial officer.
The recruiting process for the new chief executive is underway and an appointment is expected to be announced in the course of 2013.
BCD Travel, a top provider of travel management services for businesses globally, today announced it has acquired Travelocity Business from its parent company, Travelocity.
Widely known as “TBiz,” the Texas-based TMC ranks among the top 10 travel agencies in North America and, in recent years, has been one of the corporate travel industry’s fastest-growing agencies.
The acquisition does not include products, services or customers of the consumer travel brand Travelocity.
Launched in 2003, TBiz has built a solid client portfolio, servicing major companies worldwide. BCD Travel plans to continue servicing TBiz clients under the TBiz brand. Clients will continue to receive the quality service and focus on travelers they experience today.
The TBiz team also brings their creative talents to BCD Travel, further paving the way for expanded innovation for clients.
“We’re a growth-oriented company and see this move as a smart, strategic acquisition,” said Mike Janssen, president of BCD Travel’s Americas region. “We see a fantastic cultural fit with TBiz. Their success comes from focusing on customer needs, enabling travelers and offering great solutions—in other words, they share our priorities and goals.
“We’re excited about the fresh ideas that we’ll be exchanging with TBiz team members,” Janssen said.
“Over the last 10 years, Travelocity Business has grown into a powerful force in corporate travel. We’ve built strong relationships with our clients, and I’m confident their interests—and the interests of our employees who transfer to BCD Travel—will be very well-served by the sale of TBiz,” said former Travelocity Business President Yannis Karmis , who will stay with Travelocity Global as president of Travelocity Partner Network.
Among other benefits, BCD Travel plans to offer TBiz clients access to its global network and expertise in global program consolidation, business analytics and consulting and meetings services through Advito and BCD M&I.
Princess Cruises is celebrating CPR awareness during the month of June by announcing a special cruise to benefit the American Heart Association (AHA). Expected to raise $1 million for the Association’s heart health programs and educational outreach, the cruise is the second in Princess’ new “Cruising for a Cause” series that devotes an entire sailing to support a charitable cause.
Sailing from February 10-15, 2014, aboard Ruby Princess on a Caribbean cruise from Ft. Lauderdale, the five-day voyage will offer passengers a heart-themed experience, focused not only on “affairs of the heart,” but also a variety of onboard features themed around heart health awareness – including special guest speakers, educational activities and other programs to foster healthy living.
A portion of each passenger’s cruise fare, totaling approximately $500,000, will be matched by Princess Cruises with an additional $500,000, for a total of $1 million. The proceeds will be used to support the American Heart Association’s mission to build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular diseases and stroke.
“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men and women in the United States, with one in every three deaths attributable to heart disease and stroke,” said Jan Swartz, Princess Cruises executive vice president. “Because we care about the health and well-being of our employees, passengers, and all members of the Princess family, we felt the American Heart Association would be the perfect fit for our second charity cruise.”
The American Heart Association cruise will sail on a Western Caribbean itinerary roundtrip from Ft. Lauderdale, with calls at Grand Cayman and Cozumel. Cruise fares range from $599 to $1,649 per person based on double occupancy. A tax-deductible portion of each fare ranging from $100 to $300 per person, depending upon cabin category, will be donated to the American Heart Association.
The cruise is the second of the company’s new “Cruising for a Cause” initiative where Princess will dedicate entire sailings to support select charitable causes. This new, industry-leading program will provide the line’s passengers, many of whom are looking for opportunities to make positive contributions to their communities and the world, a way to make a difference even as they vacation. The first cruise, to support U.S. veterans, will sail November 5-9, 2013, aboard Caribbean Princess.
The Ritz-Carlton, Bali, Indonesia is set to open in 2014.
The luxury resort is owned by PT Oriental Indah Bali Hotel Company and designed by architects and designers, Burega Farnell.
It will feature 288 keys including 90 exceptional suites and 14 villas. The Ritz-Carlton, Bali will also debut 10 cliff top villas that offer ocean views.
The luxury resort will also include six restaurants and bars, which include a cliff-side restaurant integrated into a natural cave that doubles as a private dining room.
Other restaurants include a beach grill, an Indonesian restaurant, a Japanese restaurant, a pool bar and all-day dining. Within the resort grounds, there will be a Ritz-Carlton Spa; a water sports pavilion and other recreational facilities.
“Bali is a naturally beautiful destination that global travelers have consistently returned to. We are delighted to be creating an authentic Balinese resort in Sawagan which will offer breathtaking views and carefully curated experiences and recreational activities that speak to the aspirations of today’s Ritz-Carlton guest,” said Herve Humler, President and Chief Operations Officer, The Ritz-Carlton.
Bali is a dream wedding destination, and The Ritz-Carlton will provide ideal wedding venues, including a choice of two wedding chapels, a ballroom, three intimate function rooms and outdoor terraces to create memorable celebrations that will stay with a couple and their guests for a lifetime.
“Described as simply the world’s best island, Bali a resort destination that appeals to many seeking an escape from the world and we are proud to unveil a resort that will, once again, raise the bar for hospitality in the region and contribute to the growth of tourism in Indonesia,” added Humler.
The stunning island of Bali enjoys an enviable reputation as one of the world’s most luxurious resort destinations with its combination of sandy beaches, local Balinese artisan culture and relaxed ambiance.
Canadian Pacific has revealed Robert Johnson has been hired as CP’s Vice-President U.S. Operations.
Johnson’s railroad career spans 32 years with BNSF where he held successively more responsible roles in operations, transportation, engineering, and service excellence. His most recent position at BNSF was General Manager, Northwest Division, overseeing day-to-day operations for that region.
“We welcome Robert to Canadian Pacific,” said Keith Creel, CP’s president and chief operating officer. “His depth of experience significantly adds to our operation’s bench strength to help continue CP’s ongoing drive for efficiency, optimizing assets and improving service for our customers.”
Johnson takes over from SVP U.S. Operations Doug McFarlane, who has announced his retirement after 37 years with the railroad in both Canada and the United States.
McFarlane joined CP in 1976 and has held a number of positions within the company, including conductor and locomotive engineer. He later served in key executive roles in operations, transportation, marketing & sales and labor relations, and ultimately as SVP U.S. Operations.
“On behalf of the entire CP family, I would like to thank Doug for his professionalism and many years of dedication and passionate leadership,” added Creel. “Doug leaves behind a strong legacy and positive example of accountability for people across the entire CP network.”
Lufthansa is making baggage check-in even simpler. From now on, at Munich airport passengers can check their bags in themselves. New baggage drop-off machines with easy-to-follow instructions guide passengers through the few steps needed to check in their bags. Six new-generation baggage machines are already in operation at the southern end of Terminal 2, and a further 13 will be added at Munich by the end of November 2012. At Frankfurt, two baggage drop-off machines are also undergoing a test run. By the middle of next year, a total of 16 will be in routine operation at Germany’s largest airport. Since 2011, the new baggage machines have been tested by about 95,000 passengers. Passengers who request personal assistance or who would like to check in bulky items can, of course, still drop off their baggage at a check-in counter.
Boarding service for premium passengers on Lufthansa’s European flights On European routes, Lufthansa passengers travelling in First and Business Class as well as HON Circle members, Senators and holders of a Star Alliance Gold Card can board their flight before all other passengers. The personalised Priority Boarding service, which is supervised by a staff member at the gate, allows these customer groups to board their aircraft immediately after families with children and passengers in need of assistance. Premium customers then have plenty of time to stow their hand baggage and take their seats. The new boarding service has already been tested on numerous routes and is offered on all European flights.
Aeromexico, Mexico’s global airline, today started to serve the Los Angeles – La Paz route with modern Embraer 190 aircraft equipped with 99 passenger seats.
With this route, the airline offers its first international connection from La Paz, in addition to its currently flights to Mexico City and Culiacan, continuing the latter to Guadalajara.
This flight allows passengers to take advantage of the summer season to enjoy La Paz, a diverse travel destination, where you can choose to visit the top-tier nightclubs, or try the best aquatic sports facilities in Mexico, and maybe discover several natural wonders that will take your breath away.
Aeromexico is committed to its customers, which is why continues to strengthen its connectivity in the State of Baja California Sur, flying to and from La Paz, Los Cabos and with its recent flight Loreto – Los Angeles. Furthermore, its code share agreement with Alaska Airlines, allows passengers to travel to and from points beyond Los Angeles to Seattle, Portland, Anchorage in the USA, and Vancouver, Canada.
Abu Dhabi Tourism & Culture Authority, organiser of SummerFest Abu Dhabi, the emirate’s seasonal destination extravaganza, has unveiled an action-packed line-up of 98 shows over 47 days during its flagship Show World family activation at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).
Free-to-attend for all SummerFest Abu Dhabi general ticket holders, Show World - one of the core attractions at the festival’s ADNEC hub - will feature seven blockbuster acts performing twice-daily shows during week-long runs. Show World will be open throughout the 52-day festival, which runs 27th June – 17th August and spans the Holy Month of Ramadan, Eid Al Fitr and the emirate’s traditional EidFest celebrations.
Designed to entice, engage and excite, the Show World bill kicks off with two consecutive regional premieres of 90-minute live action shows which will appeal to local and expatriate kids alike. Raising the Show World curtain is Cartoon Network’s LAZY TOWN LIVE ON STAGE - ROBOTICUS show, which get kids up and active throughout its June 27th– July 3rd run, with daily performances at 16:30 and 19:30.
Show World’s second week sees much-loved BANANAS IN PYJAMAS duo, B1 and B2, take-over for their side-splitting Banana-rific production from July 4-8th - again performing in daily shows at 16:30 and 19:30. For the final July 9th performances, to coincide with the start of Ramadan, timings change to 21:00 and 23:30.
The evening performances continue into week three as Sesame Street’s IFTAH YA SIMSIM LIVE: TREASURE HUNT - featuring loveable Muppet favourites, Bader, Anees, Elmo, Khokha, Ka’aki and Gharghour also known as Bert, Ernie, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Grover – embark on a mega dance and musical show from July 10-13th and 15-19th.
Week four sees the major characters from four hit Cartoon Network shows - Ben 10 Omniverse, Ben 10, Ben 10 Alien Force and Ben 10 Ultimate Alien – perform the BEN 10 LIVE: TIME MACHINE in evening performance slots from July 20-21st and 23-27th.
Local sensation, FREEJ, closes out the final week of evening Ramadan shows from July 28th – 30th and August 1st – 4th. The all new locally-produced show features hilarious antics as hero character, Abood, goes on a fantasy adventure while looking after one of the grandmother’s pet canary – a bird that lives in a fish bowl. Meeting new friends and learning new lessons, ‘Abood’s Dream’ is a fun-filled, traditional family theatre experience with a local cultural twist.
From August 5th and 7th-12th, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! MUSICAL MYSTERIES picks up the Show World mantle with big musical numbers - including the cartoon’s classic theme song, ‘Scooby-Doo, Where Are You?’ – as well as original tracks ‘Round Every Corner’ and ‘We’re Mystery Inc.’ The August 5th shows keep the 21:00 and 23:30 Ramadan timings, before returning to the earlier slots of 16:30 and 19:30 from August 7-12th.
Rounding out the Show World line up, from August 14-17th, is BEN 10 ULTIMATE CHALLENGE – a live game show pitting the region’s biggest Ben 10 fans against each other in four rounds of intense competition. The made-for-TV special runs three-times-a-day at 16:00, 18:00 and 20:00.
“This Show World line-up will ensure ADNEC is the hottest and coolest place to be this summer,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, Manager, SummerFest Abu Dhabi. “With so many free-to-attend shows and such a varied line-up of international and homegrown stars, families will be spoilt for choice throughout the festival. We hope it will be a major draw for visitors from across the GCC and beyond,” said Sultan Al Muhairi, Manager, SummerFest Abu Dhabi.
In addition to the edutainment activities, world-class shows and exciting international performances at its ADNEC hub, the new-look SummerFest Abu Dhabi, formerly known as Summer in Abu Dhabi, also features an exciting line-up of Arabic concerts, comedy nights, theatre productions and celebrity-driven sport activations rolling out at du Forum on Yas Island – the first time Abu Dhabi’s entertainment district has got in on the emirate’s summer act.
Meanwhile, guests booking a minimum of three nights’ stay at any of 40 participating Abu Dhabi hotels during SummerFest Abu Dhabi, with the exception of Eid, will also get free entry tickets to Ferrari World Abu Dhabi theme park and the award-winning Yas Waterworld - recently named the Middle East’s leading attraction by the World Travel Awards. Hotel guests will also receive free WiFi and kids under 12 will eat free.
The European Commission has sent a formal request to France and the United Kingdom to comply with EU rules against excessive track access charges for passenger and freight trains in the Channel Tunnel.
The Commission has also asked them to ensure a fully independent regulator and to end an agreement which currently reserves capacity for certain train operators in a restrictive way.
The high track access charges get passed on to passengers in their ticket prices and rail freight companies complain that they cannot afford to send more freight through the Tunnel - it remains on the roads causing congestion and pollution.
European Commission vice president Siim Kallas said: “The Channel Tunnel is not being used to its full capacity because of these excessive charges.
“As a result, more freight is being carried on lorries instead of by rail, freight operators and their customers are being over-charged, and passenger are paying over-the-odds for their tickets.
“The current regime is also stifling growth in the rail sector.”
Excessive track access charges mean higher prices for rail passengers and rail freight companies when using the Tunnel.
It also discourages new railway operators from entering the market.
EU rules require track access charges to be set on the basis of direct/marginal costs – the cost directly incurred as a result of operating a train service.
As an exception for specific investment projects only, higher charges can be set on the basis of the long-term costs of such projects.
The current track access charges for use of the Channel Tunnel infrastructure do not appear to be based on direct costs or the long term investment costs of building the Tunnel, the EU said in a statement.
Boeing has announced at the Paris Air Show a memorandum of understanding with Air Lease Corporation to purchase 33 airplanes.
The Los Angeles-based leasing company has committed to order three 787-9 and 30 787-10X Dreamliners.
In a statement to press, Boeing said it looked forward to working with ALC to finalise the details of the agreement, at which time the airplanes will be posted to the Boeing Orders & Deliveries website as a firm order.
“We are thrilled to announce our commitment for 787-10Xs and additional 787-9s,” said ALC chairman Steven Udvar-Hazy.
“Both of these airplanes possess the characteristics our airline customers desire by providing the ideal size, capabilities and economical operating costs for their medium to long-haul markets.
“We believe the performance characteristics of the 787-10X will build on the 787 family’s success in the marketplace.”
ALC expects to begin taking 787-10X deliveries in 2019.
The 787-10X would be the third version of the popular 787 family, with a range of up to 7,000 nautical miles (12,964 km) and seating for 300-330 passengers, depending on an airline’s configuration choices.
The second member of the family, the 787-9, is in final assembly in Everett, Wash., and set to make its first flight later this year.
The expansion of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts continues at the crossroads of south-west Asia and Europe with a new deluxe hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Scheduled to open in 2015, Swissôtel Baku is currently under construction and will open in time for the first European Olympic Games.
The mixed use complex consists of two towers set upon a shared podium which will accommodate businesses, retail and entertainment outlets and numerous restaurants.
Swissôtel Baku will be situated in the taller, 160-metre tower and will offer 149 rooms and suites, as well as a Swissôtel Living with 45 furnished apartments and 80 Swissôtel Residences, which will be sold to private individuals looking to enjoy the benefits of Swissôtel services from the comfort of their home.
Food and beverage offerings will include a lobby bar and lounge, an all-day restaurant, and a restaurant and bar on the top floor which will boast panoramic views over the city.
Additional facilities will comprise a 2100sqm Pürovel Spa & Sport, the company’s signature spa brand, and 3000sqm of meeting and event facilities including a dedicated 900sqm outdoor space.
Swissôtel Baku is ideally situated with a prominent, elevated position featuring unrivalled views across the city and its crescent shaped bay. The hotel is located in an elegant, residential area of the city and is close to the Parliament buildings.
Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, is the economic and cultural heart of the country and boasts several universities, colleges, research institutes, theatres and museums.
With its population of two million inhabitants, it is the most densely-populated city in the Caucasus.
Nestled between the Caucasus and the Caspian Sea, and bordering Russia to the north, Georgia to the north-west and Armenia to the west, Azerbaijan has been an independent state since 1991.
The economy has seen exponential growth, largely due to the expansion of the oil industry and increased production of natural gas, representing the two most important economic sectors for the country.
The owner and developer of the project is Arya Insaat, advised by one of the world’s leading hospitality consultancies, Servotel Corporation.
The project will be designed by internationally recognized and award-winning architectural firm Kreatif Mimarlik.
Heathrow is better located for passengers, business and jobs than a new hub airport at Stansted or in the Thames Estuary according to new analysis published today… by London Heathrow.
The new report, entitled “Best placed for Britain”, argues expanding Heathrow is the quickest way for Britain to get ahead in the global race, connecting the UK to growing markets around the world faster and at less cost to the taxpayer than any other hub option.
The report has been compiled by Heathrow Airport with architectural and planning consultants AECOM and Quod, and was commissioned as part of new evidence to present to the Airports Commission under Sir Howard Davies.
The report shows that compared to a new hub Heathrow is:
Best for passengers: Building a new hub airport to the east of London would increase travel times for 90 per cent of hub passengers. Even if a new hub airport came with a major investment in new transport infrastructure, Heathrow would still have four million more people within 60 minutes travel time. The economic cost of longer journeys to a new hub could be £26 billion net present value – the equivalent to cancelling out all the benefits of reduced journey time delivered by High Speed 2. Best for business and the economy: The area around Heathrow is home to some of the world’s most highly productive business clusters in industries like IT and pharmaceuticals. In total 202 of the UK’s top 300 company HQs are in close proximity to Heathrow. The area has 60 per cent more international businesses, twice as many US businesses, and three and a half times as many Japanese businesses than the national average. Best for local jobs: The 76,600 people directly employed at Heathrow would face re-location or redundancy if Heathrow was replaced by a new airport. Direct job losses would be far greater than those that occurred when the largest single redundancy in the UK took place at Shotton Steel in 1985 and MG Rover closed its factory at Longbridge in 2005 (both 6,500 jobs), or the worst year of pit closures in the UK, 1984 (30,000 jobs). Best for speed of delivery: Additional capacity at Heathrow could be delivered around seven years more quickly than any new hub airport could be built. Any delay is critical, as the UK is losing some £14 billion a year in trade and export earnings due to constraints in aviation hub capacity. Each additional year of delay would see the UK fall further behind European hub competitors in the global race for growth and jobs. Best for taxpayers: Adding capacity at Heathrow will cost the taxpayer much less than building a new hub airport. The report calculates for the first time that £20-£25 billion of sunk rail infrastructure cost has been committed around Heathrow since the 1970s. Any new hub would need to build vast new infrastructure from scratch using public money. Mayor of London Boris Johnson estimates that a new hub airport would cost in the region of £70-80 billion of which £25 billion would require public subsidy.
Colin Matthews, CEO of Heathrow, said: “Britain already has one of the world’s most successful international hub airports in Heathrow.
“Expanding Heathrow will put Britain ahead in the global race, connecting UK business to growth more quickly and at less cost to the taxpayer than any other option for new capacity.
“Heathrow is better located for passengers, business and jobs. Why build from scratch at a new hub when we can build on the strength that already exists around Heathrow today?”
Virgin Atlantic has announced it will be offering 30,000 extra return seats to Orlando from Manchester Airport in summer 2014.
To meet high demand for travel to one of Virgin Atlantic’s flagship destinations, Richard Branson’s airline is deploying a Boeing 747 aircraft on all 11 of its weekly flights from the UK’s northern gateway, Manchester Airport - resulting in up to 2,000 extra available seats to and from the Sunshine State every week.
Confirming the enduring popularity of Florida with British holidaymakers, Virgin Atlantic will carry up to 10,000 passengers every week from Manchester Airport next summer, a 25 per cent increase from this year.
The move further confirms Virgin Atlantic’s commitment to expansion in Manchester following the recent launch of its domestic service Little Red, which operates four daily return flights from Manchester Airport to London Heathrow.
Little Red’s services reintroduced competition on the route, which had been served by a single carrier since British Airways’ takeover of bmi.
Edmond Rose, director of airline planning, Virgin Atlantic, commented: “Orlando has always been one of our most popular destinations and across our network we offer nearly 40 return flights a week to Florida.
“We are delighted to see continued high demand for our flights from the North West of England and to meet this demand we have taken the decision to bring a second Boeing 747 jumbo jet onto this route, resulting in a huge increase in the number of seats available for holidaymakers looking for a sunshine break.
“This continues our recent work with Manchester Airport to expand our operations, after we launched our first ever domestic flight from the airport this Easter. We now offer passengers from the city four daily flights to London Heathrow, opening up a host of onward connection opportunities on our worldwide network, with destinations varying from Tokyo to Cape Town, Lagos to Los Angeles.”
The 455 seat jumbo jet will replace a 314 seat Airbus A330 which previously operated seven of Virgin’s 11 weekly flights.
The Boeing 747 aircraft also features Virgin Atlantic’s award winning Upper Class in addition to the Premium Economy and Economy product available on the Airbus, and was recently refitted to include touch screen in-flight entertainment systems, new seats and mood lighting in all cabins.
EVA Air has joined the Star Alliance network, further strengthening its presence in Asia/Pacific.
At the official joining ceremony, held at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport, Mark Schwab, chief executive, Star Alliance said: “EVA Air has successfully completed all joining requirements and I can confirm that our Chief Executive Board has now unanimously accepted EVA Air into our Alliance.”
Founded just over 16 years ago, Star Alliance has progressively built its presence in Asia/Pacific and now has eight member carriers based in this region, which continues to show a growing demand in air travel, posting 5.2 per cent growth in 2012.
At present, 19 Star Alliance member airlines operate more than 4,000 daily flights to, from and within the Asia / Pacific region, serving 280 airports in 44 countries.
“Star Alliance has since its inception had a strong presence in Asia / Pacific.
“With the addition of EVA Air to our existing combinations of member carriers and hubs, we further cement our position of providing the strongest network on an international scale to, from and within this ever growing region.
“We are looking forward to welcoming new customers from Taiwan and serving more travellers on the expanding Cross-Straits market”, Schwab said.
EVA Air now offers through check-in to the final destination for connecting flights operated by any Star Alliance member airline for both passengers and baggage, hence providing seamless travel.
Passengers benefit as they do not need to collect their boarding passes for connecting flights at the transfer airports and, where permitted by local customs regulations, baggage will also be sent through to the final destinations.
Austin Cheng, president, EVA Air, said: “Star Alliance membership gives us the privilege of serving new customers from all corners of the globe and introducing our passengers to the seamless services and status recognition that the Alliance provides.
“As a member, we have the opportunity to introduce travellers to new ways of connecting to destinations throughout Asia via our hub in Taipei.”
Members in EVA Air Infinity MileageLands Frequent Flyer Programme will now be able to collect and redeem miles on all Star Alliance member airlines.
MileageLands Diamond and Gold Card holders now enjoy Star Alliance Gold Status which entitles customers to such privileges as access to more than 1,000 lounges across the globe, extra baggage allowance on all Star Alliance member airlines as well as priority baggage delivery.
FFP members from all other Star Alliance member airlines can also now make use of these when travelling on EVA Air.
bmi regional will spend the week at Le Mans this year with tipped-for-the-top-spot endurance racing team, Murphy Prototypes.
As the team’s official airline, the bmi regional logo will adorn the Murphy Prototype car at 24 Hours at Le Mans, the world’s oldest endurance racing event, held June 22nd-23rd in France.
The sponsorship deal aligns the airline with one of the strongest teams at this year’s 24 Hours at Le Mans.
Fighting for podium spot is the team boasting a driver line-up of New Zealander Brendon Hartley, endurance sports car campaigner, Mark Patterson and former F1 driver, Karun Chandhok.
Last year, Murphy Prototypes led the LMP2 class for five hours, while Chandhok was placed sixth overall.
Hopes are high for further success this year.
Colin Lewis, director of marketing, bmi regional, said: “The eyes of the world are on the iconic La Sarthe circuit and our presence there, as a sponsor of Murphy Prototypes, enables us to engage with global, European and British business decision-makers.
“In addition to the thrill of the race, Le Mans offers us the opportunity to reach business travellers from across Europe as we mark our first anniversary as an independent airline.”
Keep up with the action and follow an hourly ticker during the race here.
Follow the race with bmi regional by searching for the hashtag #murphsywingmen.
Aeromexico has confirmed it will take delivery of its first Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in the first half of August this year.
The move mean the carrier will become the first Mexican carrier to operate the airline industry’s most current and equipped aircraft.
The carrier will start to serve its commercial operations with the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner in October this year.
The aircraft is scheduled to first serve the Mexico City-Monterrey and Mexico City-Tijuana routes on October 1st, followed by the Mexico-New York City route between October 2nd and 13th this year.
On October 14th, Aeromexico will fly its inaugural flight between Mexico City and Tokyo, Japan, route it now serves with three flights a week.
Aeromexico will take delivery of its second and third Dreamliners in September to start serving the Mexico City-Paris route with a daily service, plus certain weekly flights to New York from October.
These are first three Boeing 787 Dreamliners Aeromexico will add to its fleet as the first of the 19 Dreamliners it will incorporate over the next few years.
“This aircraft will change the experience of flying with its structural and technological advances made available to passengers,” Aeromexico said in a statement.
“Our incorporation of the Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner to its fleet represents the carrier’s consolidation as the leading airline in Mexico, and one of the most modern on the continent, thus reiterating its commitment to provide world-class products for its customers and partners alike.”
Hertz has announced the launch of Hertz Dream Cars, a line of ultra-high-end performance vehicles that redefine the premium car rental experience.
The new fleet and broad range of markets offer greater access to high performance luxury vehicles than ever before, while the VIP rental experience delivers white glove, personalised service to every renter.
“The launch of Hertz Dream Cars gives consumers the opportunity to experience luxury travel at its finest,” commented Mark Frissora, Hertz chairman.
“The experience starts with a choice at select rental locations of some of the finest vehicles built on the planet.
“Additionally, the Dream Cars experience extends from special reservation channels to being greeted by a Hertz representative at the airport terminal, to a rental vehicle in pristine condition.
“We ensure the travel experience with a Hertz Dream Car will be unforgettable.”
The Hertz Dream Car VIP rental experience begins with the personalised reservation service available on a dedicated microsite.
Hertz will either personally meet customers at their airport terminal and give them a one-on-one orientation to the car, or deliver the car directly to the customer.
Hertz is offering Dream Cars in 35 markets, including Los Angeles, Miami, and Las Vegas – expanding the availability for consumers around the country to enjoy a once-in-a-lifetime luxury travel experience.
easyJet has celebrated the launch of its first flight from London Gatwick to Santiago de Compostela, the capital city of the Galicia region in western Spain.
The thrice weekly, year round flights are expected to be very popular with British holidaymakers looking for a city full of breathtaking historical monuments steeped in tradition and spiritual heritage.
Visitors can enjoy the spectacular Santiago de Compostela Cathedral along with the destination’s unique blend of cultural influences at the heart of its cuisine and numerous other visitor attractions.
The city is set against the beautiful backdrop of the Galician mountains and unspoilt greenery boasting over a million square metres of public parks and green areas and with the beach under an hour away by car, Santiago de Compostela really does have something for everyone.
Paul Simmons, UK director, easyJet, said: “We’re delighted to be launching our inaugural flight from London Gatwick to Santiago de Compostela today.
“Spain remains a firm favourite for British holidaymakers so with over 8.5 million seats available this year alone we’re sure that it will be a strong addition to our existing services from London Gatwick.”
In November 2012, easyJet announced a strategic partnership with Spanish hotel institution, the Paradores de Turismo de España – the first collaboration of its kind for the hotel group, offering flight inclusive short breaks and holidays via the easyJet Holidays website.
Located across mainland Spain (and the Canary Islands,) the Paradores offer a unique and authentic take on tourism with no two Paradores the same.
The Parador Santiago di Compostela is often considered the most prestigious in the group’s portfolio and flights direct to the city will enable quick and convenient access direct from London Gatwick.
Transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin today joined MAG chairman, Mike Davies, and Stansted Airport managing director, Andrew Harrison, to launch the start of an £80 million project to transform the airport’s iconic terminal building and meet the demands of modern air travel.
The way passengers travel by air has dramatically changed over the last decade.
For example, the overwhelming majority of Stansted passengers check-in online and over half travel without checked-in baggage.
To reflect this, Stansted is undertaking the biggest transformation since the terminal opened in 1991 to improve all aspects of the passenger journey.
Stansted’s state-of-the-art Lord Foster designed terminal building will be enhanced by making better use of existing space and providing passengers with new security facilities and an enlarged departure lounge.
New owners MAG have wasted no time in identifying ways to improve the passenger experience, with the long-term ambition of becoming the best airport in London.
To inform its approach to the redevelopment, MAG has used research by psychologists to understand the points when passengers feel confused, stressed and relaxed during their time at the airport.
They also analysed changing trends and passenger expectations over recent years and in the future to inform the plans.
To ensure Stansted’s award winning terminal continues to provide passengers with award winning levels of service, MAG is investing £40 million in the project to redevelop the terminal - supported by a further £40 million that will be invested by commercial partners.
The transformation will provide a more intuitive and easier journey through the airport, a bigger and relocated security area, double the amount of seating, better restaurants and more shopping choice alongside improved way-finding and additional flight information screens.
The new design will also provide flexibility to accommodate future airline requirements as Stansted grows it existing customer base and begins to attract a broader range of airline partners.
McLoughlin said: “Just three months into its ownership of the airport M.A.G. has shown it is prepared to invest in the infrastructure to improve passenger services and provide new facilities.
“The millions invested in this project will transform Stansted Airport’s terminal building and the way passengers use it.
“That’s not just good news for travellers, it’s also good news for the country because this sort of improvement to our transport infrastructure helps to make the UK more competitive in the global economic race.”
Register TodayEarn Free CME Credits by reading the latest medical news in your specialty.Sign Up By Ed Susman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse PlannerNote that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.Patients with blepharospasm, an involuntary closure of the eyelid caused by spasms of the ocular muscles, can get relief with injections of botulinum toxin.Note that blepharospasm secondary to Parkinson's disease appeared to achieve greater relief with botulinum toxin than patients diagnosed with primary blepharospasm.
SYDNEY -- Patients with blepharospasm, an involuntary closure of the eyelid caused by spasms of the ocular muscles, can get relief with injections of botulinum toxin, researchers found.
Scores on the Jankovic Rating Scale dropped from a baseline of 1.96 to 1.34 (P=0.0018) for all 27 consecutive patients during the 4 week trial, Achinoam Socher, PhD, of Chaim Sheba Medical Center in Tel-Hashomer, Israel, reported here at the International Conference of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Orders.
The patients all scored significantly better on various standard assessment instruments, the research team noted in a poster presentation: Scores on the Blepharospasm Disability Scale decreased from 10.54 to 9.29 (P=0.045)Scores on the Blepharospasm Movement Scale decreased from 5.04 to 4.00 (P=0.039)Scores on the Severity Rating Scale dropped from 1.61 to 1.19 (P=0.013)Scores on the Blepharospasm Disability Index decreased from 5.22 to 4.11 (P=0.147, ns)The blink rate decreased from 30 to 21.86 (P=0.023), largely driven by a reduction in blink rate among those with Parkinson's disease who did not undergo deep brain stimulation (P=0.22)
In addition, 21 of the 27 patients appeared to have achieved improvement in their condition on the Clinician Global Impression of Change outcome measure.
"In this study, we found that botulinum toxin A was an effective treatment for blepharospasm," the researchers reported. They did acknowledge the small numbers of patients in their study. "Larger studies are needed to assess the effect of botulinum toxin A on Parkinson's disease patients in comparison to other patients suffering from blepharospasm."
The researchers stratified patients by types of blepharospasm, identifying 10 with primary disease; 6 with blepharospasm secondary to Parkinson's disease; 6 with Parkinson's disease treated with deep brain stimulation, and 6 with various other types of blepharospasm.
There were 15 men in the study and 12 women. The average age was 65.1 years, and the patients had been diagnosed with blepharospasm for an average of 7.7 years prior to undergoing the treatment at the clinic.
The patients were enrolled consecutively and their outcomes were videotaped and then read by outside neurologists who were unaware of etiology. They were evaluated prior to start of therapy and after 4 weeks of treatment. They received one treatment course during that time frame.
Socher and colleagues from Tel Aviv University determined that patients who had blepharospasm secondary to Parkinson's disease appeared to achieve greater relief of the condition than patients diagnosed with primary blepharospasm.
"Blepharospasm occurs frequently in older individuals and in patients with Parkinson's disease and in dystonia patients. It can arise due to both the disease and from treatments for the disease," said Francesca Morgante, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the University of Messina in Sicily, Italy.
"Botulinum toxin works very well in these patients to control blepharospasm. I use it in my patients," she told MedPage Today.
Socher and Morgante had no disclosures.
Primary source: Movement Disorders Society Source reference: Faust-Socher A, et al "Botulium toxin treatment for blepharospasm" MDS 2013.
Register TodayEarn Free CME Credits by reading the latest medical news in your specialty.Sign Up By John Gever, Deputy Managing Editor, MedPage Today
Causes of death listed on official records have long been suspect, and a survey of medical residents in New York City found good reason for that. Also this week: a promising lymphoma drug fails.
Resident Survey: Don't Believe Official Cause of Death
Half of medical residents in New York City said in a survey that they had written a diagnosis of death they believed was false, researchers said.
Led by Keith Rose, MD, of St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City, the survey was completed by 521 residents in internal medicine, general surgery, and emergency medicine at 26 institutions across the city.
One problem appeared to be that septic shock was not accepted as a cause of death in the record system used in New York -- 70% of respondents said they had listed an alternative cause of death because septic shock was not an option, according to the researchers' report in May 9 issue of the the CDC's Preventing Chronic Disease publication.
Some 40% indicated that personnel in the admitting office had instructed them to record a cause of death other than what the respondents considered to be true, and about 30% said the medical examiner told them what to put.
Also of note, only 20% of residents knew they could use terms such as "probable," "presumed", or "undetermined" on the death certificate, and only 3% had ever amended a death certificate on the basis of later information.
Lilly Pulls Plug on Lymphoma Drug
Eli Lilly and Co. said it would stop development of enzastaurin, after a phase III study in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients failed to show a benefit against placebo.
The firm had tested the drug in a variety of cancers. An earlier study in ovarian cancer was also negative, but it had shown promise for other diseases including lymphoma.
Enzastaurin is a serine-threonine kinase inhibitor that inhibits tumor angiogenesis by targeting protein kinase C-beta and the PI3K/AKT pathway.
The lymphoma trial had enrolled patients at high risk of relapse after chemotherapy including rituximab (Rituxan). Lilly had hoped the drug would prevent or delay relapses relative to the placebo group.
You Could Put Your Eye Out
Following a Consumers Union report slamming eyelash extensions as unsafe, the American Academy of Ophthalmology issued a statement largely agreeing.
The academy "cautions consumers about the dangers of cosmetic eyelash extensions and the adhesives used to apply them to eyelids," according to the statement.
Infections of the cornea or eyelid, swelling of the eyelid, and potentially permanent loss of eyelashes are the specific risks, the statement indicated.
Consumers should make sure that salon workers practice good hand hygiene and should also "check the eyelash adhesive ingredients before use." However, the statement did not indicate what consumers should specifically look for.
FDA Approves Computerized Propofol System
A computer-assisted, personalized sedation system for delivering intravenous propofol, sold under the name Sedasys by an Ethicon Endo-Surgery division of the same name, was approved by the FDA, the firm said.
The device is designed to "enabl[e] physician-led teams to administer minimal-to-moderate propofol sedation, personalized to the needs of each patient, by precisely integrating drug delivery and comprehensive patient monitoring," Sedasys said in a statement.
It is indicated for delivering 1% propofol solutions to patients undergoing colonoscopy and upper GI endoscopy procedures. Sedasys estimated that 15 million patients would be candidates for such sedation annually in the U.S.
Actual product launch is slated for early 2014, the company said.
Treat Asian Bird Markets Like Hospital Rooms?
Researchers in Great Britain and Vietnam suggested that transmission of avian influenza -- whether H5N1, H7N9, or others yet to emerge -- could be stemmed by targeting certain live bird markets for daily disinfection.
Guillaume Fournie, DVM, MSc, PhD, of the Royal Veterinary College in Hatfield, England, and colleagues performed a computer analysis indicating that a relatively small number of live bird markets serve as local hubs for the Asian poultry industry. These can be identified by interviewing sellers to determine their travel habits and where they buy and sell birds.
After-hours disinfection of these hub markets on a daily basis would go a long way toward keeping bird flu outbreaks from spreading to other regions, as has been the case with H5N1 strains.
However, the effectiveness of such interventions is uncertain, and the researchers did not attempt to test it themselves. Their report appeared in the May 6 Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
FDA Warns on Kadcyla Name
Nothing is known to be wrong with the new breast cancer drug sold as Kadcyla, but its generic name could cause confusion, the FDA said.
The officially approved generic name is ado-trastuzumab emtansine, the FDA said, but many electronic records systems, medical publishers, and other third-party information sources have called it simply trastuzumab emtansine without the ado- prefix.
This could lead to errors in prescribing, with patients given trastuzumab (Herceptin) instead of the newer drug, the FDA said.
"It is important for drug information content publishers to identify drug products by the FDA-approved proprietary (brand) and nonproprietary names that are used in FDA-approved drug labels. This will help prevent medication errors and ensure adverse events are reported for the correct product," an FDA statement said.
Product Recalls
The FDA announced several drug and device recalls last week, including these:
As always, the FDA urged healthcare professionals to report adverse events associated with medical products to the agency's MedWatch system.
John Gever
Senior Editor
John Gever, Senior Editor, has covered biomedicine and medical technology for 30 years. He holds a B.S. from the University of Michigan and an M.S. from Boston University. Now based in Pittsburgh, he is the daily assignment editor for MedPage Today as well as general factotum on the reporting side. Go Pirates/Penguins/Steelers!
Travel agents booking Oman Air via Travelport’s Galileo and Worldspan distribution systems will now be able to benefit from new functionality, which allows them to manage the seat selection process in a ‘live’ and interactive environment.
The Interactive Seat Assignment functionality – jointly unveiled by Travelport, the leading provider of critical transaction processing solutions and data for the global travel industry, and Oman Air, the flag carrier of the Sultanate of Oman – will provide agents with greater ease in booking Oman Air content and help improve customer service.
Oman Air chief executive, Wayne Pearce, said: “We aim to ensure that Oman Air offers both customers and travel agents the greatest possible convenience and I am sure that the opportunity to select and assign seats using Travelport’s systems will be warmly welcomed.
“The system also offers the opportunity to reduce costs, enabling Oman Air to continue offering outstanding value throughout our network of more than 40 exciting destinations.”
In practice, Interactive Seat Assignment allows agents to request seat maps and assign, change or cancel specific seats in a real-time environment, while maintaining full control with the ability to accept or decline seat assignments.
“Seat maps and advance seat assignments are becoming basic expectations amongst travel agents providing a high level of service to travellers,” added Will Owen Hughes, senior director, supplier services, Middle East & Africa, Travelport.
“Managing these services can consume valuable airline resources, if they are not automated.
“Travelport systems reduce and often eliminate these costs, enabling travel agents to improve their service to their passengers, as well as to the airline.”
Oman Air’s commitment to safety for all its customers was underlined when it hosted the IATA, ICAO Safety Management Workshop at Hotel InterContinental - Muscat on 11th and 12th June 2013. The event was organised by Oman Air in conjunction with OAMC, Airbus, Nexus and MedAire.
The event was held as part of an initiative by the IATA Regional Aviation Safety Group (RASG-MID) to enhance safety in the Middle East and brought together officials involved in the implementation of the State Safety Program and/or Safety Management Systems (SMS), in the areas of training, aircraft operations, maintenance and airworthiness of aircraft, aircraft design and manufacture, air traffic services, aerodrome operations and Accident and Incident Investigation. It was attended by safety management officials from the Royal Oman Police (ROP), the Oman Ministry of Defence (MOD), the Oman Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC), the Royal Air Force of Oman (RAFO), the Oman Public Authority for Civil Aviation (PACA) and international delegates from the MENA region.
The purpose of Safety Management Workshop was to share best practices and lessons learned for Safety Management Systems (SMS) and State Safety Programmes (SSP), provide break-out sessions for the sharing of safety data and SMS/SSP implementation, promote safety data tools and enhance safety culture.
Following a welcome and opening address by Oman Air General Manager Quality & Safety, Captain Manin Al Said, in which he gave an overview on the history, progress and changes in aviation in Oman, the growth of Oman Air and the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, delegates enjoyed keynote speeches by a number of major figures from the Middle East aviation sector. These included Mohamed Smaoui, Regional Officer ANS/AIM, ICAO; Abdullah Al-Ojaili, Assistant Director General for Safety, PACA; Achim Baumann, Regional Director SO&I MENA, IATA; and Marthinus Olivier, Serco Middle East Aviation Director.
Wayne Pearce, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said:
“Oman Air was delighted to welcome delegates to the IATA/ICAO Safety Management Workshop in Muscat. This important event has made an important contribution to the safety of air travellers in the region and emphasises both Oman Air’s close co-operation with organisations and agencies throughout the Middle East and our total commitment to safeguarding the safety of all our customers.
“I would like to thank all those who contributed to the event, particularly Captain Manin Al Said, whose knowledge and expertise have helped make this event such a success. I would also like to echo Captain Al Said’s gratitude to ICAO and IATA for holding such event in Oman.”
Captain Manin Al Said added:
“We have been very pleased to host this event and are grateful to all the sponsoring organisations for partnering to support this workshop in Oman and for taking such a positive and proactive approach to promoting safety initiatives.”
Register TodayEarn Free CME Credits by reading the latest medical news in your specialty.Sign Up By Todd Neale, Senior Staff Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by F. Perry Wilson, MD, MSCE; Instructor of Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse PlannerNote that this case series demonstrated acceptable results for temporary repair of perforated corneal ulcers using an autologous fibrin membrane and solid platelet-rich plasma.Be aware that preparation of the membrane and platelet clot is time-consuming and costly.
The combination of an autologous fibrin membrane and platelet-rich plasma clot appears to be safe and effective for treating perforated corneal ulcers, a pilot study showed.
The approach sealed the perforations in all 11 patients included in the study, without any signs of inflammation or infection, according to Jorge Alió, MD, PhD, of Vissum Corporación Oftalmológica in Alicante, Spain, and colleagues.
And at the end of follow-up 90 days after the procedure, there were no relapses or additional perforations, the researchers reported online in JAMA Ophthalmology.
The procedure "is a safe and effective surgical alternative for the closure of corneal perforations," they wrote. "This technique can be considered as a temporary measure until the condition of the cornea permits definite intervention."
They added that its use deserves further study to confirm its place in clinical practice.
Corneal perforations can be caused by trauma or ulcerative disease and "constitute a major ophthalmic emergency necessitating the intervention of corneal surgeons because of the severity and major consequences, such as infection, severe anatomic distortion of the anterior segment of the eye, retinal detachment, phthisis bulbi, and total blindness," according to the researchers.
Various methods are used to treat them, including ocular adhesives, conjunctival flaps, heterologous amniotic membrane transplants, and corneal grafting.
Alió and colleagues explored another alternative -- the combination of a fibrin membrane and a platelet-rich plasma clot, which were both derived using 40 to 60 mL of each of the 11 patients' own blood before the operation. The patients, ranging in age from 23 to 82, had perforations stemming from severe corneal ulcerative diseases.
During the procedure, part of the fibrin membrane was attached to the conjunctiva using nylon stitches. The clot was then placed over the corneal perforation underneath the fibrin membrane, after which the membrane was attached to the rest of conjunctiva. At the end of the procedure, the researchers performed a temporal partial tarsorrhaphy.
The patients received systemic ciprofloxacin 750 mg every 12 hours for 5 days after the operation, as well as ibuprofen 800 mg every 8 hours for 3 days.
Follow-up lasted at least 3 months after the procedure.
The perforations were sealed in all patients, with the fibrin membrane disappearing after the first 3 to 5 days. Finger pressure revealed "acceptable levels of ocular tonus" for all of the patients from postoperative Day two.
None of the patients reported any pain, discomfort, or complications after the operation.
Seven of the patients ultimately underwent definite corneal grafting.
The researchers explained the role the platelet-rich plasma played in the recovery of the patients.
"Platelets play a central role in hemostasis, promoting coagulation in vascular injuries. At the same time, platelets constitute natural reservoirs of growth factors, cell adhesion molecules, and cytokines stored in their alpha granules," they wrote. "Between these growth and mitogenic factors are epidermal growth factors, platelet-derived growth factors, fibroblast growth factors, insulin-like growth factors, and transforming growth factors.
"They also contain important cell adhesion molecules, such as fibrin, fibronectin, and vitronectin, which enhance growth factor activities. The release of these molecules at the site of injury helps initiate and modulate wound healing, thus promoting tissue reparation in both soft and hard tissues.
"We assume that this formulation [used in the study] contains the proper growth factors of blood and platelets, although their concentration was not measured in this study," the investigators wrote.
The primary advantage for the studied approach was the use of autologous material, Alió and colleagues noted, although there is some downside.
"The main disadvantage of this technique would be the cost, especially when compared with the cost of cyanoacrylate glue," they added. "Specialized technicians are needed to prepare the autologous fibrin membrane and [platelet-rich plasma] clot, and the process requires at least 2 hours of laboratory work."
The study was supported in part by a grant from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.
The authors reported that they had no conflicts of interest.
Todd Neale
Senior Staff Writer
Todd Neale, MedPage Today Staff Writer, got his start in journalism at Audubon Magazine and made a stop in directory publishing before landing at MedPage Today. He received a B.S. in biology from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and an M.A. in journalism from the Science, Health, and Environmental Reporting program at New York University.
Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. exercised its option to build a second ship in its “Genesis Project” today. Destined to become the 24th ship in the Royal Caribbean International fleet, the 5,400-guest, 220,000-gross-registered-ton ship would be built at Aker Yards in Finland, with delivery projected for August, 2010.
Like the prototype ship due out in Fall, 2009, the second Project Genesis ship will be a trailblazer in cruise-ship and vacation innovation.
New icons and amenities will continue to challenge and expand guests’ expectations of cruising, and the latest technology and design will continue to increase efficiencies.
The company estimates the all-in cost of the ship will be approximately $260,000 per berth. The contract is contingent on the completion of customary financing.
IATA statistics have confirmed Ryanair carried more international passengers than any other airline last year.
The Irish low-cost carrier welcomed 79.6 million international passengers on to its flights last year, almost 29 million more than second-placed Lufthansa (50.8 million) and 35 million more than third-placed easyJet (44.6 million).
Ryanair expects to carry more than 81.5 million passengers this year.
Ryanair spokesperson Robin Kiely said: “IATA has once again confirmed that Ryanair is the world’s favourite airline with more international scheduled passengers than any other carrier.”
Register TodayEarn Free CME Credits by reading the latest medical news in your specialty.Sign Up By Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse PlannerA screening program for diabetic retinopathy eventually diminishes the likelihood of eye disease in patients with diabetes.Point out that the results provide further support to the argument for less frequent monitoring of patients who do not have retinopathy detected on their initial screening.
A screening program for diabetic retinopathy eventually diminished the likelihood of eye disease in patients with diabetes, English researchers found.
There was no significant decline in sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) 4 years after the program was implemented among those getting screened for the first time, Alice Forster, PhD, of King's College London, and colleagues reported online in Diabetes Care.
But among patients with no retinopathy on the first screen, the proportion with STDR at the second or later screen fell from 9.2% in 2008 to 3.2% in 2011 (P<0.001), they reported.
"Four years after the introduction of population-based, annual diabetic eye screening, patients who are at lower risk of STDR comprise a greater proportion of the screening population and may be suitable for less frequent screening," they wrote.
Annual retinopathy screening for diabetic patients has been implemented in England since 2008. Its aim is that all patients with diabetes are invited for eye screening within 3 months of their diagnosis.
To estimate the changes in the detection of retinopathy in the first 4 years of the program, Forster and colleagues looked at data on 32,340 patients with type 2 diabetes living in three London boroughs who had at least one screen between 2008 and 2011.
Patients had a total of 87,570 screens during that time. Participants identi?ed as having STDR were referred for ophthalmologic care and treatment, and left the screening program.
The proportion of screens that were first-ever screens fell from 31.3% in 2008 to 15.4% in 2011.
Among the 16,621 patients having their first-ever screens, the frequency of STDR was 7.1% in 2008, falling to 6.4% in 2011, but this was not a significant change.
More patients started getting second or later screens over the study period, with the proportion rising from 68.7% in 2008 to 74.6% in 2011.
For those who didn't have retinopathy at first screen, the rate of STDR on the second or later screen fell from 9.2% in 2008 to 3.2% in 2011 (annual change -1.8%, P<0.001).
And for those who had mild noproliferative retinopathy at first screen, the rate STDR at second screen or later declined from 21.6% in 2008 to 8.4% in 2011 (annual change -2.2%, P<0.001).
The decline in frequency of STDR among patients who had a second or later screen is most likely attributed to the fact that patients with existing STDR had been identified at the first screening, and so were removed from the eligible population.
Thus, lower-risk patients made up a larger fraction of the population for subsequent screening rounds, they wrote.
"Our findings provide further support to the argument for less frequent monitoring of patients who do not have retinopathy detected at [initial] screening," they wrote.
"Screening patients less frequently may increase the cost-effectiveness of diabetes eye screening programs," they concluded, noting that several American groups, particularly insurers, recommend screening every other year for patients with no retinopathy on the original screen.
The study was supported by the South London Health Innovation and Education Cluster and the National Institute for Health Research.
The researchers reported no conflicts of interest.
Kristina Fiore
Staff Writer
Kristina Fiore joined MedPage Today after earning a degree in science, health, and environmental reporting from NYU. She's had bylines in newspapers and trade and consumer magazines including Newsday, ABC News, New Jersey Monthly, and Earth Magazine. At MedPage Today, she reports with a focus on diabetes, nutrition, and addiction medicine.
Denver is to host the largest international travel trade show, United States Travel Association’s International Pow Wow, in May 2018.
IPW is the US travel industry’s premier international marketplace and the largest generator of travel to the country.
In just three days of intensive pre-scheduled business appointments more than 1,000 travel organisations from every region of the USA and around 1,200 international and domestic buyers from over 65 countries conduct business negotiations that result in the generation of more than $3.5 billion in future US travel.
At IPW buyers and sellers are able to conduct business that would otherwise be generated only through an exhaustive number of long haul trips.
“There is simply nothing we could do better to showcase all the exciting things that are happening in Denver to the international travel trade than to host IPW.
“This convention will have a lasting impact on our city, helping us to secure more international flights and bring more foreign visitors to Denver,” said Richard Scharf, president, Visit Denver.
“Previous studies show the city that hosts IPW can reap up to $350million in future international tourism business.”
IPW was last held in Denver in 1991.
“By 2018, IPW delegates will be able to travel by train from Denver International Airport to downtown Denver and see an exciting, walkable and active city with more than 9,100 first class hotel rooms, all within easy walking distance of the critically acclaimed Colorado Convention Centre,” Scharf added.
Avis Car Rental has announced it has been selected as the preferred car rental supplier of Club Premier, Latin America’s first frequent flyer program established in 1992 and Mexico’s leading coalition loyalty program.
Under the new multi-year agreement, the more than three million members of Club Premier will receive money-saving offers on Avis rentals around the world.
In addition, members will have the opportunity to earn Premier Kilometres on Avis rentals and redeem rewards toward rentals.
“Club Premier is one of the most recognised loyalty programs in Mexico, which makes it the perfect partner to help us drive revenue and enhance customer loyalty,” said Patric Siniscalchi, president, Asia Pacific/Latin America, Avis Budget Group.
“We’re confident that together we can bring added value to business and leisure travellers and provide them with the best travel experience possible both in the air and on the ground.”
As the preferred car rental supplier of Club Premier, Avis will promote its products, services and money-saving offers through the loyalty program’s electronic marketing channels.
Avis will be featured on the Club Premier website, in member newsletters and in email and banner advertisements.
Register TodayEarn Free CME Credits by reading the latest medical news in your specialty.Sign Up By Nancy Walsh, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by Zalman S. Agus, MD; Emeritus Professor, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse PlannerNote that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.In this study of young people with type 2 diabetes, retinopathy was present in a significant number after approximately 5 years of followup.
WASHINGTON -- Retinopathy had already developed within 5 years of the onset of type 2 diabetes in a substantial number of teens with the disease, a researcher reported here.
Among a cohort of patients ages 10 to 17 at baseline, 13.7% had evidence of retinopathy during follow-up of 2 to 6.5 years, according to Lynne L. Levitsky, MD, of Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, and colleagues.
That's similar to an estimated 15.5% prevalence over 3 years previously identified among adults, Levitsky said at the annual meeting of the Pediatric Endocrine Society.
The finding emerged from the TODAY study, an NIH-funded multicenter intervention trial that included 699 young patients with type 2 diabetes.
"The detailed characterization of the early course of retinopathy in adults with type 2 diabetes has been hindered by the long lag time after diagnosis. We sought to more closely examine the natural history of this in younger patients," Levitsky said.
To do that, the researchers obtained digital fundus photographs for 517 of the TODAY participants. They were classified as having retinopathy if one or more retinal lesions were present in at least one eye.
The types of lesions included microaneurysms, intraretinal hemorrhages, and cotton wool infarcts.
At the time of retinal examination, patients' average age was 18.1. Two-thirds were female, all were overweight or obese, and 80% were minorities.
Mean body mass index (BMI) was 36, and average hemoglobin (Hb) A1c was 7.1%.
All patients with retinopathy had mild nonproliferative changes, and none had macular edema.
Factors that were associated with an increased risk of retinopathy included disease control, age, and duration of disease.
"There was a gradual, significant increase in the prevalence of retinopathy depending on HbA1c such that those in the lowest tertile had a prevalence of retinopathy of 4.7%, rising to 12.4% in the middle tertile and to 25% in those with the most poorly controlled disease," she said.
Compared with the lowest tertile of HbA1c, odds of retinopathy in patients with higher concentrations were: Tertile 2, OR 2.497 (95% CI 1.058 to 5.894)Tertile 3, OR 6.311 (95% CI 2.840 to 14.023)
For patients ages 12 to 16, the prevalence of retinopathy was 5.7%, increasing to 12.4% in those ages 17 to 18, and to 19% for those 19 to 24.
The odds ratio in the oldest group was 3.005 (95% CI 1.270 to 7.112), which was statistically significant, according to Levitsky.
Prevalence was 5.3% among those who had had diabetes for 24 to 49 months, reaching 22.3% for those with disease duration ranging from 67 to 101 months (OR 3.649, 95% CI 1.5 to 8.8).
"But the most interesting finding was that there was no difference in prevalence of retinopathy between patients in the lower ranges of BMI, which was 16.3% in the lowest tertile and 15.6% in the second tertile, and the prevalence was actually lower in the very obese," she said.
For those with a BMI ranging from 37.87 kg/m2 to 68 kg/m2, only 9.3% had retinopathy (OR 3.649, 95% CI 0.377 to 0.810).
"This is known as the obesity paradox, and has been observed in adult retinopathy as well as for adult mortality from heart failure, hypertension, and a number of other conditions," Levitsky said.
But it has not previously been reported in young people, she added.
"We can speculate that extreme insulin resistance in the very obese is in some way protective, but the mechanism is still unknown," she said.
"If we could understand this association, we might separate out the effects of hyperglycemia from the direct effects of insulin or the inflammatory effects of obesity in retinopathy development," she said.
Continuing follow-up of this large cohort of young patients with type 2 diabetes will help define the natural history of the disease and the course of retinopathy, she concluded.
Levitsky has consulted and received support from Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly.
Primary source: Pediatric Endocrine Society Source reference: Levitsky L, et al "Prevalence of retinopathy in young people with type 2 diabetes in the TODAY study" PES 2013; Abstract 3490.2.
Nancy Walsh
Staff Writer
Nancy Walsh has written for various medical publications in the United States and England, including Patient Care, The Practitioner, and the Journal of Respiratory Diseases. She also has contributed numerous essays to several books on history and culture, most recently to The Book of Firsts (Anchor Books, 2010).
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By Ed Susman, Contributing Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse PlannerNote that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.Patients with blepharospasm, an involuntary closure of the eyelid caused by spasms of the ocular muscles, can get relief with injections of botulinum toxin.Note that blepharospasm secondary to Parkinson's disease appeared to achieve greater relief with botulinum toxin than patients diagnosed with primary blepharospasm.
By Kristina Fiore, Staff Writer, MedPage Today Reviewed by Robert Jasmer, MD; Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco and Dorothy Caputo, MA, BSN, RN, Nurse PlannerA screening program for diabetic retinopathy eventually diminishes the likelihood of eye disease in patients with diabetes.Point out that the results provide further support to the argument for less frequent monitoring of patients who do not have retinopathy detected on their initial screening.