SHANGRI-LA
INTERNATIONAL, the Hong Kong-based hotel company, signed
an agreement with Mori Trust Co. to manage its first hotel in
Japan. The 204-room Shangri-La Hotel, Tokyo, will occupy the top 11
floors of the Marunouchi Trust Tower Main Building, beside Tokyo
Station. The hotel is scheduled to open in March 2009. Shangri-La
said hotel guests will arrive by dedicated ground level elevators
and check in at a 28th-floor lobby with views of Tokyo Bay. The
hotel will mark the Japanese debut of Shangri-La's spa brand --
Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La. The property also will feature a
4,300-square-foot ballroom; 538-square-foot guest rooms; several
retail shops; and a restaurant.
CONTINUING
ITS EXPANSION IN CHINA, Starwood Hotels & Resorts
Worldwide said it will open its first Four Points by Sheraton hotel
in Beijing, China, in July 2009. The 301-room Four Points by
Sheraton Beijing, Haidian, will be owned by Beijing Yongtai Real
Estate Development and operated by Starwood under a long-term
management contract. The hotel will be part of a mixed-use complex
that will include offices and retail shops. The hotel will feature
16,800 square feet of meetings space, three restaurants, a spa and
health club and an indoor swimming pool. Starwood operates 28
hotels in mainland China, Taiwan and Macau, and has another 28
under construction.
TRAFALGAR
TOURS has added free pre-tour nights to select packages to
Australia and New Zealand this year and throughout 2007 when
customers book and pay for their tours by Nov. 30, 2006. One night
is included on itineraries such as the nine-night Discover
Australia and the 12-night Highlights of Australia package.
Packages with two free nights include the 15-night Contrasts of
Australia and New Zealand package and the 15-night Tropical
Rainforest and Barrier Reef itinerary. The free pre-tour nights are
available in select cities where the tours originate, including
Sydney and Melbourne in Australia Auckland and Christchurch in New
Zealand. For information or reservations, call (800) 854-0103 or
visit www.trafalgar.com.
QANTAS
AIRWAYS has added four Queensland,Australia, cities --
Rockhampton, Mackay, Gladstone and Gove -- to its Aussie AirPass,
bringing the total number of Australian cities in the promotion to
21. The Qantas Aussie AirPass includes roundtrip economy air fare
from the U.S. to Australia, plus three cities within Australia for
one price. The current Aussie AirPass is available through Dec. 14.
All Qantas transpacific flights include meals, bar service and
seat-back entertainment screens in all classes. For information or
reservations, call (800) 227-4691 or visit www.qantas.com/ca.
TOURISM
AUSTRALIA has issued a statement on the death of Steve
Irwin, the wildlife enthusiast of "Crocodile Hunter" fame who was
killed by a stingray on Sept. 4 while filming a documentary at the
Great Barrier Reef in Australia, stating that "Australia and
America has lost a great mate." Michael Londregan, Tourism
Australia's vice president of the Americas, called Irwin the
"bright, passionate face of Australia." Irwin's "extraordinary
enthusiasm and passion for life, his unequalled devotion to the
animal world, his big hearted love for his country and his efforts
to get more Americans Down Under made us proud of him," Londregan
added. Irwin's Australia Zoo in Queensland was a popular tourist
attraction in Australia, and Irwin helped promote Australia with
"boundless energy and enthusiasm," Londregan said. Irwin's
television programs, including "The Crocodile Hunter," were seen in
more than 100 countries. In addition to numerous TV appearances,
Irwin appeared in the 2001 film "Dr. Dolittle 2."
Asia-Pacific Editor:
Jorge
Sidron
Phone: (973) 898-0011
[email protected]
For promotional
opportunities in the E-letters, contact [email protected].