AirTran set to fly Midway-Cancun
Southwest subsidiary AirTran set June 3 as the launch date for daily service between Chicago Midway and Cancun, after the Transportation Department finalized a decision to approve the route as a competitive alternative to service from O'Hare operated by American and United. Southwest and AirTran serve 58 cities nonstop from Midway.
Amtrak foresees record traffic year
At the halfway point of its fiscal year, Amtrak said it is on pace for another record year, with an overall 3.7% increase in ridership. That breaks down to 5.2% in the Northeast Corridor, 3% on long-distance trains and 2.7% on short-distance routes, Amtrak said.
Upgrades to close Singapore hotel
The 790-room Pan Pacific Singapore was slated to shut down April 15 for an $80 million renovation. About 150 rooms and the hotel's first-floor public areas will reopen in August, while the rest of the hotel will be fully operational by September. The Pacific Ballroom, fitness center, swimming pool and St. Gregory Spa will remain open through July.
California hotel dons Indigo brand
InterContinental Hotels opened the 94-room Hotel Indigo San Diego Del Mar, after a complete renovation and rebranding of the former Best Western Stratford Inn. Owned and operated by Pacifica Host Hotels, the property is north of San Diego near the Del Mar racetrack.
Vail to acquire Tahoe ski resort
Vail Resorts closed on its acquisition of Kirkwood Mountain Resort at Lake Tahoe, Calif. The company valued the deal, which includes the resort plus some undeveloped sites, at $18 million. Vail's portfolio includes the nearby Heavenly Mountain Resort and Northstar California, and the company is offering passes good for all three.
Azamara: Repairs on track for Quest
Azamara Club Cruises said it was on track to operate the April 24 sailing of the Azamara Quest, which was undergoing repairs in Singapore after a March 30 engine room fire that cut short one cruise and caused the cancellation of the April 12 sailing. The April 24 cruise is from Mumbai, India, to Suez, Egypt.
Sale to split up Six Senses, Soneva
Private equity fund Pegasus Capital agreed to acquire the high-end resort and spa business of Bangkok-based Six Senses Resorts & Spas for an undisclosed sum. The deal includes all management contracts for Six Senses and Evason resorts and spas, which will be taken over by "a new company managed by Pegasus." The Soneva brand, which is not included in the sale, will continue to be managed by founder Sonu Shivdasani, as CEO and principal owner of the Soneva Group.
Westin arrives in Xian, China
Starwood opened its 13th Westin in China, the 329-room Westin Xian. The hotel, which also features 32 apartments, includes a fine arts museum with more than 2,000 ancient Chinese artifacts.
Friends & Colleagues
Pat Gray retired earlier this month as manager of worldwide coordination for American Express Vacations, with responsibility for relationships with key consortia and travel agents. Among Gray's accomplishments were "prominent positioning" for American Express at key industry trade shows and conferences, and pioneering "Blue Box Collaboration" across various American Express divisions to integrate the company's presence and messaging at industry events, said Sheila Heustess, Amex's vice president of travel industry relations. Heustess said that Gray, who joined Amex in 1994, was "legendary in the travel industry." • • • Norwegian Cruise Line promoted Camille Olivere to senior vice president of sales for the Americas. She had been vice president of North America sales. In her new position, Olivere oversees North America and Latin America sales as well as charters, meetings and incentives. • • • Larry Pimentel, president and CEO of Azamara Club Cruises, a brand of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd., is overseeing RCCL's corporate communications department following the recent resignation of its vice president, Michele Nadeem. A search is under way to replace Nadeem, who joined the company two years ago and left due to "family circumstances," said RCCL.