JEAN-PHILIPPE PEROL was
named chairman of the European Travel Commission for a one-year
term through November. Perol is director for the Americas at Maison
de la France, the French government's tourism organization. He was
CEO of Maison de la France from 1998 to 2003.
NEW
HIGH-SPEED RAIL SERVICE is up and
running between London and Paris, shaving 20 minutes off the travel
time between the two world capitals (the trip now takes two hours,
15 minutes). The $12 billion project included a renovated Eurostar
terminal and the completion of a 68-mile section of high-speed line
on the British side.
AMERICAN AIRLINES is set to
launch nonstop daily flights from New York Kennedy to Barcelona,
Spain, beginning April 24. The flights will feature two-class
service aboard Boeing 767-300 aircraft, with 30 seats in business
and 191 in coach.
KEY
TOURS INTERNATIONAL is trimming
$500 per couple on select Turkey and Greece programs when booked
and paid for by Dec. 21. A 13-night Glories of Turkey escorted
itinerary, for example, includes Istanbul, Troy, Pergamon, Ephesus,
Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Antalya, Konya, Cappadocia and Ankara. The
regular rate, including air from New York, accommodations,
transfers, 24 meals and guided sightseeing by deluxe motorcoach,
starts at $1,519. The discount is valid for departures from April
to December 2008. Visit www.keytours.com.
THE
REZIDOR HOTEL GROUP, a
Brussels-based hotel management company, announced contracts for
six new hotels in Europe. The hotels are a Radisson in Paris; a
Radisson resort in Yalta, Ukraine; two Radissons in Portimao,
Portugal; a Radisson in Brno, Czech Republic; and a Park Inn in St.
Helens, England. Radisson and Park Inn are brands owned by Carlson
Hotels Worldwide.