From hotels to airlines, the following is a roundup of news and
notes from throughout the region:
• The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa offers cruise
packages on its new, three-level, 128-foot catamaran.
The boat, which features 10 staterooms and one suite, takes no
more than 22 guests to remote islands in the Maldives on three-,
four- and seven-night itineraries.
The seven-night program includes accommodations in a
215-square-foot stateroom, fresh fruit upon arrival, meals and hot
beverages, scuba diving (two dives per day; certificates and log
books must be presented) and other recreational activities, and
airport transfers.
Through August, the seven-night package is available at $2,720
per person in a stateroom and $5,240 per person in the Explorer
Suite. Both rates are based on double occupancy.
For more information, call (960) 444-888 or visit www.fourseasons.com/maldives.
• Business travel that keeps people from home for long periods
has been made easier in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The Pan Pacific Glenmarie Kuala Lumpur is offering access to two
golf courses, Asian and Western menu selections as well as
recreational and business facilities.
Valid through Dec. 31, long-term rates include American
breakfast for one, a weekly fruit platter, a daily newspaper and
use of the sauna, Jacuzzi and gym.
Guests who charge hotel purchases and services receive 10% off
food and beverages and 20% off dry cleaning. Rates for a deluxe
room begin at about $44 per night for 15 to 30 days, and drop to
about $42 per night for 30 days or more.
For a minimum of 14 consecutive days on the exclusive Pacific
Floor, the rate for a single room is about $66 per night; a double
room is about $76.
Rates are commissionable to travel agents at 10%. For details,
call (800) 327-8585 or visit www.panpacific.com.
• Meanwhile, Pan Pacific also has spruced up its Web site, with
tips for new activities in most of its hotel locations.
"Things You (May) Have Never Done Before in ..." lists new
activity possibilities at 13 of the firm's 18 properties in a
variety of Asia/Pacific destinations.
In Palau, for instance, visitors are encouraged to plant giant
clams at Palau Pacific Resort's beachfront, dive with sharks or try
fruit bat soup and mangrove crab.
• China Southern Airlines signed a cooperative marketing
agreement with Sichuan Airlines, allowing China Southern frequent
flyers to "earn and burn" miles on any Sichuan Airlines flight
through the summer and fall travel seasons.
Future plans include working together on flight ticketing and
sales of multiple class seats.
In other news at China Southern, the carrier increased its
flight schedule to more than 3,000 weekly flights for 2003.
Changes include increased Guangzhou (China)-Beijing-Amsterdam
service from two to four flights per week and boosted service to
four flights weekly between Guangzhou and Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and
five times weekly between Guangzhou and Jakarta, Indonesia.
Transpacific service between Guangzhou and Los Angeles will be
reduced from five to four times per week, and service between
Guilin, China, and Seoul, South Korea, will be canceled.