Qatar Airways-AccorHotels partner to reward loyalty programme members

Qatar Airways and leading global hotel group, AccorHotels, have partnered to provide industry-leading reciprocal benefits to the members across both loyalty programmes, providing even more opportunity to earn and redeem Privilege Club Qmiles and Le Club AccorHotels points.

SriLankan named Best Airline in South Asia

SriLankan Airlines added yet another accolade when China’s Top Travel magazine named it the Best Airline in South Asia at the 10th Annual Top Travel Awards, recognizing SriLankan’s continuous efforts at expanding travel between China and Sri Lanka.

Paradise Resort & Spa wins Booking.com Guest Review Award

The Paradise Resort & Spa, the luxury resort situated in the heart of the Cultural Triangle in Dambulla, has been recognised for its exceptional service by Booking.com, a global leader in booking accommodations, online. 

Sri Lanka Tourism participates in New York Times Travel Show

Sri Lanka Tourism showed it’s a holiday destination worth visiting by showcasing its local splendour at the New York Times Travel Show, which is the largest consumer and trade travel event in North America.  

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle wins multiple TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards

Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort is celebrating a haul of TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice awards after being recognised in four different categories. 

Oman Air Catering Services division looks back at impressive 2016

Oman Air Catering Services has posted positive results for 2016 despite volatile market conditions. Being awarded a new contract for British Airways to supply inflight catering to their London flights, at the end of last year, for an initial period of three and a half years, is just one among them. 

Waters Edge breaks ground for mega entertainment centre project

Situated on the outskirts of Colombo and surrounded by the tranquil waters of the Diyawanna, Waters Edge Battaramulla is known globally for its breathtaking views and plethora of restaurants that serve up gourmet cooking from around the world. It is also a preferred choice for those who desire 

Koggala Beach Hotel wins TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award

Koggala Beach Hotel recently announced it has been recognized as a winner in the Top Bargain Hotels category of the 2017 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Awards for Hotels, ranking 24th out of 25 total winners. 

Jetwing Hotels dominates top 25 Sri Lankan hotels list

As befitting a reputation of excellence and being Sri Lanka’s premier hospitality brand, four Jetwing properties have been listed in the recently published Top 25 Hotels in Sri Lanka by TripAdvisor as part of its 2017 Travellers’ Choice Awards. 

Etihad expands Boeing 787 network in Levant, Far East

Etihad Airways recently unveiled plans for the deployment of its new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners to key Levant and Far East markets in 2017.

Finland’s Metropolia University signs MoU with CINEC

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences (Metropolia) signed a distinctive memorandum of understanding 

Another strong year for air travel demand in 2016: International Air Transport Association

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced full-year global passenger traffic results for 2016 showing demand (revenue passenger kilometres or RPKs) rose 6.3 percent compared to 2015 (or 6.0 percent if adjusted for the leap year). 

IATA renews SriLankan Airlines’ IOSA re-registration

SriLankan Airlines, as part of its efforts to maintain the highest standards as the trademark national carrier, has renewed its registration under the IATA Operational Safety Audit (IOSA) for 2016-2017 in conformity with the standards introduced by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). 

Citrus Waskaduwa wins 2017 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Award

Citrus Waskaduwa was recently awarded the 2017 TripAdvisor Travelers’ Choice award in the category of ‘Top Hotels’, ranking within the top 25 hotels in Sri Lanka. 

Emirates opens access to premium lounges at Dubai International Airport

Emirates has launched an additional privilege to extend the usage of its luxury lounges at Dubai International Airport to its loyalty programme members and their guests at a minimal fee regardless of their class of travel. 

President visits Tamarind Hill by Asia Leisure

President Maithripala Sirisena was recently in Galle to grace an event to mark significant improvements in the application of new technology for the Nilamehewara Janapathi Janatha Sewaya, held at the Labuduwa Siridhamma College in Galle. During this time, he also visited Tamarind Hill by Asia Leisure. 

IATA grants SriLankan ISAGO registration

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) awarded SriLankan Airlines the IATA Safety Audit for Ground Operations (ISAGO) renewal registration, following the successful completion of a comprehensive audit of ground handling operations at Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB). SriLankan Airlines is the 158th ground handling company in the world to receive the mentioned registration.

Indonesian plane skids off runway in new aviation mishap

AFP: An Indonesian passenger plane carrying 130 people skidded off the runway as it landed at a major airport in heavy rain, the airline said yesterday, the latest mishap to hit the country’s aviation sector.

FHAM international exhibition scheduled for April 3

The Food & Hospitality Asia Maldives (FHAM) 2017 international exhibition is poised as the event of the year for the business and hospitality industry of the Maldives. Over the past years, FHAM has been recognized as the main gateway for business in the Maldives. This exhibition is an ideal platform for Sri Lankan exporters to enter into the Maldivian market.

Cocoon Resort gets 3rd TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence

 Celebrating five years in the hospitality industry this year, Cocoon Resort & Villas, Induruwa has created a name for itself as a boutique resort par excellence located in an exquisite surrounding. Quite notably the resort was awarded the TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence for the third time in 2016.

Asia, a future market for TUI brand

TUI subsidiary Robinson will open two new clubs in Asia in 2017. In autumn, the premium operator will commence its first operations in Thailand with Robinson Club Khao Lak. A second Club in the Maldives will likewise strengthen the portfolio when Robinson Club Noonu – currently under construction – opens on the island of Orivaru, also this autumn.

TRAc takes hospitality industry to new heights

The TRAc NVQ programme graduated its second batch of students, providing the participants with a suite of certificates essential to be marketable and better their skills and knowledge in the hospitality industry.

Etihad wins Islamic Deal of the Year Award for historic Sukuk

Etihad Airways has been awarded the Islamic Deal of the Year by Global Transport Finance for its debut Sukuk.

China’s Ruili Airlines applies for international permit

Ruili Airlines (DR, Kunming Changshui) has applied to the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) to extend its operations into the international market, China Aviation Daily reported. 

SriLankan rewards ‘Go Gan’ contest winner

Amaya Wijesinghe, the winner of the SriLankan Airlines’ social media contest ‘Go Gan with UL’, received her fabulous prize of two return air tickets to SriLankan’s latest destination, Gan in the Maldives and a three-night holiday package at Canareef Resort Maldives. 

American Airlines, Qantas may revive joint venture plan under Trump

REUTERS: American Airlines Group Inc and Australia’s Qantas Airways Ltd may reapply to the US Transportation Department for permission to coordinate prices and flight schedules now the Trump administration is in charge, Qantas Chief Executive Alan Joyce said.

EFL receives Gold honours at National Business Excellence Awards

Following a landmark year of initiatives and milestones, Expolanka Freight (Pvt) Ltd received the honour for excellence in the Logistics and Transport sector at the National Business Excellence Awards 2016. 

Certain flight crew barred from US entry after Trump order: IATA memo

REUTERS: A new ban on US travel for nationals of seven Middle Eastern countries caught the airline industry unprepared, with flight crew from those states also barred from entering, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) said on Saturday.

Etihad announces worldwide January sale for travellers from Sri Lanka

Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates, is offering travellers from Sri Lanka fantastic savings in its January sale.

Top professional Col. Kevin Byrne takes helm of CILT

The New Year will see a new era for The Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport (CILT) as Lieutenant Colonel (Ret) Kevin Byrne takes over from out-going President Paul Brooks.