The Ancient Relic Trail|travel package

The Ancient Relic Trail
travel package - 11 days / 10 nights

Follow in the footsteps of monks, traders and explorers of old on the hunt to discover some of ancient China's most sacred religious relics and sites. Venture into China's central western provinces, home to vast sand dunes and Silk Road citadels and travel from the remains of the old Ming Great Wall in the far western deserts, to caves treasured by archeologists either for their pre-historic remains or the Buddhist treasures they hold within.

Day 1 Arrive (D)

- Arrive Yinchuan in afternoon
- Visit Shuidonggou Relic (20km, about 20 min drive): One of the best preserved relics of the Paleolithic age with a history of 400,000 years
- En-route, visit the Ming Great Wall relic
- Welcome Dinner
- Overnight in Yinchuan

Day 2 Yinchuan (B L D)

- Ningxia Provincial Museum: excellent collection from the Western Xia Empire, and the Silk Road (accompanied with Museum Curator C optional)
- Haibao Ta: one of the 16 famous pagodas in China and a symbol of Yinchuan
- Western Xia Museum & Tombs (30 min drive): imperial graveyards of the powerful West Xia Kingdom (1038-1227)
- Overnight in Yinchuan

Day 3 Yinchuan C Zhongwei (B L D)

- Helan Shan Rock Carvings (1 hour drive): dating back 10,000 years and home to one of the richest concentrations of rock art in China
- After lunch, drive to 108 Pagoda in Qing Tong Xia (2 hours)
- Transfer to Zhongwei City (2 hours)
- Visit Zhongwei Gao Temple; a complex of temple architecture (Ming Dynasty). Over 260 rooms and considered an outstanding representative of Ningxia's ancient architecture. Alternatively, visit it on day 4 early morning. 
- Overnight in Zhongwei

Day 4 Zhongwei C Guyuan (B L D)

- Drive to Tongxin county (2 hours)
- Tongxin Muslim Mosque (Ming): combines architecture of Chinese traditional style and Muslim decoration art.
- Xumi Grottos, Buddhist grottoes with a rich collection of fine quality carvings of the Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui and Tang times.
- Overnight in Guyuan

Day 5 Guyuan (B L D)

- Visit the Kaicheng Relics.
- Kaicheng town: local family visit
- Visit Guyuan Museum, over 10,000 relics unearthed from tombs of the Western Zhou to Tang Dynasty, and ancient tombs of Sui & Tang Dynasty (walk-around as artifacts are in museum)
- Overnight in Guyuan

Day 6 Guyuan C Tianshui (B L D)

- Drive to Tianshui (3-4 hour)
- En-route, visit Qin Great Wall relics
- Overnight in Tianshui

Day 7 Tianshui (B L D)

- Visit Tianshui Museum
- Drive to Qian'an (1.5 hour)
- Dadiwan Relics, dating to the Neolithic age (5,500 BC), with collection of farming tools, and pottery
- Return to Tianshui (1.5 hour)
- Overnight in Tianshui

Day 8 Tianshui (B L D)

- Visit Maiji Mountain, Buddhist Cave Art from Northern Wei Dynasty
- Visit Fuxi Temple
- Overnight in Tianshui

Day 9 Tianshui C Lanzhou (B L D)

- Drive to Wushan (2 hours)
- Visit Water Curtain Caves & Lashao Temple: Important grottoes and temples on the eastern line of the Silk Road. Construction work over many dynasties, from Jin (265) to Yuan (1271) Dynasty
- Drive to Lanzhou (3 hours)
- Overnight in Lanzhou

Day 10 Lanzhou (B L D)

- Visit the Gansu Provincial Museum, best known for its ancient sculpture horse (Galloping horse), Silk Road artifacts, and a 4m tall mammoth
- Drive to Binglinsi (1.5 hours) and take a boat ride (1 hour) to approach the grottoes
- Binglingsi Grottos: Over 200 Buddhist caves featuring close to 700 stone statutes and numerous murals, mostly crafted during the Tang Dynasty (accompanied by expert guide C optional)
- Return to Lanzhou
- Overnight in Lanzhou

Day 11 Depart (B)

- Transfer to airport and connect your flights back home
- End of Service

For travel package bookings and more information please contact Hotline Beijing: +86-10-8519 8999(phone)

Cornell Green Hotel Report Details Sustainability Road Map for Hospitality Industry

Ithaca, NY August 19, 2008

Offering a detailed "road map" for sustainable operations, a new Green Hotel Industry White Paper from Cornell&39;s Center for Hospitality Research details the comprehensive program implemented by the Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel. The report, "Sustainable Hospitality&169;: Sustainable Development in the Hotel Industry," is written by Herv&233; Houdr&233;, general manager of the Willard, and is available for download at no charge from the center&39;s website at http://www.hotelschool.cornell.edu/research/chr/pubs/perspective/ . In addition to explaining the Willard&39;s sustainable eco-friendly hotel development program, the Cornell Industry Perspectives paper outlines environmental efforts by several of the industry&39;s major companies - including InterContinental, Marriott, and Taj - all of which are partners of the Center for Hospitality Research.

Houdr&233; explains that the basis of sustainable hotel operation is a three-part balance, expressed as "profits, people, and planet." By taking those three elements into account, Houdr&233; suggests, a sustainable green hotel development program becomes economically viable, as well as beneficial to the community and environment. As a result, the "road map" for the Willard InterContinental&39;s eco-friendly hotel sustainability program extends far beyond conservation and recycling to conducting programs in the surrounding community and encouraging both guests and employees to consider a healthy lifestyle.

Sustainable Hotel Program Already Yields Dividends

As part of its sustainability program, the Willard InterContinental has switched its electricity source to 100-percent wind energy, encouraged employees to walk or run nearly 4,300 miles in 2007, and has begun a program of planting cherry trees near the National Mall and maintaining Pershing Park, which faces the hotel. In June 2008 the Willard hosted a Dean&39;s Leadership Series event on sustainable "green hotel" practice that drew more than 150 industry and academic leaders and was chaired by Michael D. Johnson, dean of the School of Hotel Administration.

"Our hotel will demonstrate the way that sustainable development will be integral to future hotel operation," writes Houdr&233;. "I see this as a long-term strategy." Given the length of time that the Willard has been in operation, Houdr&233; believes that the long term is at least the next one hundred years.

The Willard InterContinental Washington Hotel is located in the heart of the nation&39;s capital on Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, the Smithsonian museums, and the downtown business and theatre districts. The Willard epitomizes world-class hospitality as the hotel of choice for heads of state and leaders of the world&39;s business, cultural, social, and political elite. The hotel&39;s 332 well-appointed large guestrooms include 40 elegant suites. The classic Willard InterContinental combines heritage and luxury with contemporary comfort and the latest technology. An American institution, the Willard has hosted nearly every U.S. president since 1853. It was at the Willard that Julia Ward Howe wrote The Battle Hymn of the Republic, where President Ulysses S. Grant popularized the term "Lobbyist," and where Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King finished his renowned "I Have a Dream" speech.

Recently awarded the International Hotel&Restaurant Association&39;s Environmental Award for Sustainability, the Willard has embarked on a green hotel sustainability program entitled, "Willard InterContinental - The Next 100 Years." The holistic plan is comprised of numerous interwoven sustainable projects designed for a luxurious urban hospitality experience in harmony with social and ecological consciousness. Please visit http://www.willarddc.com/sd , a useful guide to the Willard&39;s eco-friendly hotel sustainability programs.

Thanks to the support of the Center for Hospitality Research partners listed below, all Cornell Hospitality Reports and Tools are made available free of charge from the center&39;s website, http://www.chr.cornell.edu .

About The Center for Hospitality Research

A unit of the Cornell School of Hotel Administration, The Center for Hospitality Research (CHR) sponsors research designed to improve practices in the hospitality industry. Under the lead of the center&39;s 73 corporate affiliates, experienced scholars work closely with business executives to discover new insights into strategic, managerial and operating practices. The center also publishes the award-winning hospitality journal, the Cornell Hospitality Quarterly (formerly the Cornell Hotel and Restaurant Administration Quarterly). To learn more about center and its projects, visit http://www.chr.cornell.edu .

Center partners and sponsors: AIG Global Real Estate Investment, American Airlines Admirals Club, Davis&Gilbert LLP, Deloitte&Touche USA LLP, Denihan Hospitality Group, Expedia, Inc., Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Fox Rothschild LLP, FX Real Estate and Entertainment, Inc., General Growth Properties, Inc., HVS, InterContinental Hotels Group, job.travel, JohnsonDiversey, Inc., Jumeirah Group, LRP Publications, Marriott International, Inc., Marsh&39;s Hospitality Practice, Mobil Travel Guide, Inc., Nestl&233;, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Proskauer Rose LLP, Smith Travel Research, Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc., SynXis (a Sabre Holdings Corporation), Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, Thayer Lodging Group, TIG Global, Travelport, WATG, and WhiteSand Consulting.

Center friends: 4Hoteliers.com American Tescor, LLC Argyle Executive Forum Caribbean Hotel and Restaurant Buyers Guide Cody Kramer Imports Cruise Industry News DK Shifflet&Associates ehotelier.com EyeforTravel Fireman&39;s Fund Insurance Company Gerencia de Hoteles&Restaurantes Global Hospitality Resources Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals (HFTP) hospitalityInside.com hospitalitynet.org Hospitality Technology Magazine Hotel Asia Pacific Hotel China HotelExecutive.com Hotel Interactive Hotel Resource International CHRIE International Hotel and Restaurant Association International Hotel Conference International Society of Hospitality Consultants (ISHC) iPerceptions Lodging Hospitality Lodging Magazine Milestone Internet Marketing MindFolio Parasol PKF Hospitality Research The Resort Trades RealShare Hotel Investment&Finance Summit Resort+Recreation Magazine RestaurantEdge.com Shibata Publishing Co. Synovate The Lodging Conference TravelCLICK UniFocus WageWatch, Inc. WIWIH.COM

Congress Solutions International to organise major transport sector event

Transport on top of Dubai’s agenda this year DUBAI, U.A.E, 22nd September 2009 - Congress Solutions International (CSI), part of Dubai-based Emirates airline, has been appointed by Road & Transport Authority (RTA) as the local Professional Congress Organiser (PCO) for the 59th UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition. A bi-annual event set to take place at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from 10-14 April 2011, the UITP World Congress is the leading forum for the international public transport sector. It brings together high-level professionals from around the world in order to share knowledge and engage in the discussions on future transport provision. Following the recent RTA’s successful bid to host the 59th UITP World Congress in Dubai, this is the first time that the event will be held in the Middle East and North Africa, demonstrating Dubai’s growing significance as a global congress and conference venue. RTA’s successful bid also reflects the massive investment and development of Dubai’s comprehensive public transport system, including the introduction of the region’s first pilotless Metro system. UITP is a global network of some 3,000 public transport professionals from over 90 countries and it is expected that at least 2,000 members will attend the event in Dubai, coming from some 80 countries. A number of Government Ministers and senior country delegations will also be attending, in addition to 300 exhibitors and 7,000 visitors to the show. CSI will provide a comprehensive range of services such as managing the sales of the sponsorship packages and part of the exhibition space, the social programmes and the event communications in the MENA region. As an integral part of the Emirates Group, CSI will also offer delegates preferential rates on Emirates flights to Dubai. Commenting on CSI’s appointment, Frederic Bardin, Senior Vice President, Congress Solutions International, said: “We are delighted to have been appointed by the RTA as the PCO for the UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition. This is an important event for the international public transport industry and acknowledges the great work that the RTA has done in positioning Dubai as a regional leader in this field. “With the increasing focus here in the UAE on public transport, we are delighted to help showcase Dubai’s progress. The fact that we have been appointed by the RTA is further evidence of CSI’s reputation and ability to deliver successful, high profile and international events.” Obaid Mohammed Al Mulla, RTA Board of Director Member Chief Executive Officer Marine Agency, said “This is the first time that the UITP World Congress and Mobility & City Transport Exhibition will be held in the MENA region and it is great news that Dubai has been chosen as the venue for this event. It will put the spotlight on the Emirate and will allow us to show the incredible progress we have made in public transport in only a short time. We have total confidence in CSI’s ability to deliver a first-class event on every level. CSI also provides the significant added bonus for our delegates in that they will be able to benefit from discounted airfares on Emirates. CSI was also appointed as the local PCO for the 21st World Diabetes Congress which is to be held in Dubai in 2011. The recent appointments not only cement CSI’s reputation as a leading PCO in Middle East and build on its growing credentials internationally but also expand its client base, which already includes Information Technology, Banking, Consumer Goods, Construction, Oil & Gas, Automobiles and Travel & Tourism.

EK Goes The Extra Mile To Help Businesses

8th July, 2009 Emirates airline is going the extra mile to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the economic challenges currently gripping businesses across the globe. To celebrate a successful first year for Business Rewards - the Dubai-based international carrier’s innovative loyalty programme tailor-made for SMEs - 5000 bonus Miles are being offered when each new account is activated. With firms in 55 countries across the airline’s network recognising the broad range of benefits available, the 24/7 online rewards scheme has grown from strength to strength and now has more than 5000 registered accounts across the globe. Russell Sheldon, Senior Vice President Network Passenger Sales Development, said: “Business Rewards has been fantastically popular, with cost-conscious companies attracted to the great value and benefits it offers both themselves and their employees. “Small and medium-sized companies are often the most vulnerable in periods of economic uncertainty and we are delighted to be able to help them keep their costs down and reward their loyalty to Emirates - with bonus Miles. The award-winning programme has been so popular that Emirates which serves 100 destinations in 60 countries across six continents - recently launched customised versions for the French and German markets. A key factor in the success of the free-to-join Business Rewards scheme which gives members two Miles for every $1 they spend on travel - has been the mutual benefits it offers both SMEs and their staff. Each time a registered employee books an Emirates flight, the company earns Business Rewards Miles, while the individual traveller continues to earn personal Miles from Skywards, Emirates frequent flyer programme for regular passengers. The company can then redeem accumulated Business Rewards Miles against future bookings or like many firms use them to recognise the efforts of hard-working employees through staff incentive schemes. The programme also provides a convenient online portal for administrators at SMEs to manage employee travel on Emirates airline. The company must register with Business Rewards in the country where it is located, but it can accumulate Miles for travel undertaken by employees at all their branches into one central account. The offer of 5000 bonus Miles is only available until 30th September 2009 to new or existing members who have yet to make a booking. For full details on the offer and how to sign up for Business Rewards, visit www.emirates.com

Poulter Pounces On Singapore Open Title

Singapore, 1 November, 2009 English golfer Ian Poulter was singing in the rain after triumphing at the weather-hit Barclays Singapore Open to clinch his first European Tour victory since 2006. The 33-year-old - who finished on 10-under par, one shot ahead of Chinas Lian Wen-Chong - said: I would like to thank everyone who has shown their support throughout the tournament. Its good to be back in the winners circle and I will be back to compete next year. And while Poulter and more than 150 professional golfers were battling it out for the US$5 million prize purse from October 29 to November 1, spectators and golfing enthusiasts were treated to a series of exciting Emirates initiatives during the tournament. Twenty young golfers from Anglo-Chinese School (Barker Road) and Methodists Girls School were treated to a master class from Hendrik Buhrmann at the Emirates Youth Golf Clinic on October 31. Besides giving the youngsters advice on how to improve their game, the South African star also shared his personal experiences of playing on the highly competitive circuit. In addition, Emirates VIP guests had the opportunity to play with the stars and also pick up some tips in the Pro-Am tournament on October 28. The Emirates flights were led by Lian Wen-Chong, the Singapore Masters 2007 champion; Johan Edfors who clinched top spot at the Black Mountain Masters in Thailand this year; and Alexander Noren, a rising star who recently won his first European Tour title at the Omega European Masters. Cheryl Yew was the amateur golfer who won the Nearest-to-the-Pin competition at the Pro-Am and was presented a Business Class ticket to Dubai courtesy of Emirates. The competition also raised funds for the Emirates Airline Foundation, a charity which supports disadvantaged children. This is first time Emirates has been the Official Airline of the Barclays Singapore Open and Nick Rees, Emirates Country Manager for Singapore and Brunei, was delighted with the part the airline played in a hugely successful event.

Emirates airlines Remains Committed to Asian Football’s Future

7th January 2009 - Emirates, the Dubai-based global airline, today announced its commitment to the future success of Asian football, with a four year, multi-million dollar extension to its sponsorship of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). Emirates first became an Official Sponsor and Official Airline of the AFC in 2002 and has remained committed to Asia’s most prestigious football events ever since. His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al-Maktoum, Chairman and Chief Executive, Emirates Airline & Group and AFC President, Mohamed bin Hammam, made the announcement at a press conference held at the airline’s global headquarters in Dubai. Sheikh Ahmed said, “Asian football continues to make giant strides forward in terms of quality and reach, and this commitment to success mirrors the drive and ambitions of Emirates. We have been involved in Asian football since 1996 when we were the Official Airline of the AFC Asian Cup and we have all come a long way since then. As an Official Partner of the AFC, Emirates has rights to all AFC tournaments including the AFC Champions League, AFC Cup, AFC Challenge Cup, and a number of Club, Women’s and Youth team events. Through this partnership Emirates will gain considerable media exposure with over 120 games each year being televised on a live or delayed basis around the world. In addition to its support of Asian Football Confederation, Emirates is an Official Partner of the FIFA World Cup with close links to FIFA and all its projects in the 2007 014 period. At the 2006 FIFA World Cup Emirates became the first airline to be an Official Partner of the worlds premier football tournament. Emirates also sponsors Arsenal football club and has the naming rights of their new home, the Emirates Stadium, in addition to partnerships with Hamburg SV, Paris Saint Germain Football Club, AC Milan and Olympiacos FC. Emirates is also involved in a wide range of sports including sailing, golf, horseracing, tennis, cricket and rugby.

Explore the Golden Valley|travel package

Explore the Golden Valley
travel package - 8 days / 7 nights For centuries the mostly ethnic Tibetan province of Qinghai has played host to some of Tibetan Buddhism's most famous temples and holy sites. Situated at the center of the Silk Road route, the holy region that straddles Qinghai and Gansu provinces is rich in cross-cultural history. The art work of the various temples and grottoes that dot the area are indicative of the many civilizations that left their mark here. Through a combination of expert guided tours and a genuine home stay experience learn more about the influence of Tibetan culture and Buddhist arts and crafts at this crossroad of ancient trading routes. Witness the nomadic lifestyle of religious pilgrims and marvel at the splendor of traditional Buddhist monasteries and inspiring natural landscapes. A spiritual journey into western China's Buddhist heartland. Day 1 Arrive in Lanzhou - Meet by your guide at airport
- Visit the Gansu Provincial Museum, best known for its ancient sculpture horse (Galloping horse), Silk Road artifacts, and a 4m tall mammoth
- Overnight in Lanzhou Day 2 Lanzhou C Xiahe - Drive to Binglinsi (1.5 hours) and take a boat ride (1 hour) to approach the grottoes Binglingsi Grottos: Over 200 Buddhist caves featuring close to 700 stone statutes and numerous murals, mostly crafted during the Tang Dynasty
- Drive to Xiahe (3.5 hours)
- Overnight in Xiahe Day 3 Xiahe - Visit Labrang Monastery, one of the six great monasteries of the Geluk (Yellow Hat) school of Tibetan Buddhism, also home to the largest number of monks outside of Tibet
- In late afternoon, walk around local market and explore Xiahe town
- Overnight in Xiahe Day 4 Xiahe C Tongren - Drive to Tongren (3.5 hour), home of a number of Tibetan Buddhist Temples and a center of the Tibetan Thangka Painting School
- En route, stop at Shuangpengxi, an authentic Tibetan village to experience the genuine Tibetan lifestyle
- Visit Geng Dhunq Qiu Phel school and play games with the students
- Arrive Tongren in the evening and have dinner
- Overnight in Tongren Day 5 Tongren - Visit Sgo-dmar Gompa, Goma Ancient Town and Kalachakra Pagoda
- In the afternoon, visit local Tibetan family
- Led by each family host, tour local market and buy products for dinner
- Prepare dinners and enjoy it with local family
- Homestay Day 6 Tongren - Morning visit Rongwu Monastery & Wutong Monastery
- Afternoon learn Tangka painting art with local artist
- Spend another night at local family house
- Homestay Day 7 Tongren C Xining - Transfer to Xining (4 hours)
- Visit Kumbum Monastery, also known as "Ta'er Monastery"
- Overnight in Xining Day 8 Depart - Transfer to airport and connect your flight back home
- End of service For travel package bookings and more information please contact Hotline Beijing: +86-10-8519 8999(phone)

Web Advertising Site Launches Featuring Pete Erickson, Who Connects with the Truck Buyers in All of Us

Traverse City, MI January 25, 2010

“There’s a new truck buyer out there, and a whole world of Web-based automotive advertising, and I want them to connect,said Northern Michigan native Pete Erickson, whose work will be featured in the launch of WebSpotCentral, a new online magazine dedicated to Web-based commercials. While the site will showcase a variety of spots, the genuine, no-nonsense approach and passion Erickson brings to online videos has resonated with truck fans in particular. Complementing his commissioned work, Erickson’s experimental online videos include “The Road Less Traveledabout the Ford F-150. Even before Erickson’s spec work appeared on http://www.WebSpotCentral.com, versions of the videos even rough edits without a soundtrack made their way onto YouTube, in some cases garnering upwards of 440,000 views.

Long-considered a working man’s vehicle, trucks got a bad rap for a while and were deemed gas-guzzlers. Erickson wanted people to understand why trucks are inherently socially responsible and remain part of this country’s fabric. “The truck market isn’t necessarily about cup-holders and luxury. Trucks are a working asset to people who own them,said Erickson. “It’s amazing what is under the skin when you take that truck apart.

Erickson has done a good deal of work for automotive brands and agencies, but his experimental adventures in advertising confirm that there is a broad audience for his particular brand of online video production. “American car companies are getting that their customers are evolving,the director observed. “The audience for trucks has changed men, women, rich, poor and while the product is more technologically advanced than in previous generations, advertising has to connect with the old truck buyer in all of us.

In “The Road Less Traveled,Erickson takes the Ford F-150 over one of the most grueling test roads in the world. “This spot offers straight-up Ford toughness and no special effects just a truck, a camera, and a 3/4 mile stretch of hell,Erickson said. “Let the pictures tell the story.He credits Sean Wilson, producer, and Jay Dalton, product expert, for helping realize his visions. On-camera car expert Rick Titus appears in Erickson’s videos, adding another layer of gravitas. The pair previously collaborated on the wildly successful “The Truth About Trucksvideo series created via marketing firm Jackson Dawson.

For his part, Erickson believes truck buyers are especially interested in what goes into the building of their vehicles, and he’d like to see more of that in commissioned online advertising and video production. “If you’ve ever been in a car factory, you know that for truck drivers THIS is the story,Erickson stated. “You walk into the factory at 7 in the morning and this body is put on the assembly line…and by 3:30pm it’s a truck.Erickson explored that concept in “Birth of a Truck,an online video he created for Ford and which enjoyed popularity on an official site about the Ford Super Duty truck.

Erickson actually came to directing through another passion: sports. After graduating from Ferris State University, he convinced the school to let him put together a 16-station college hockey network. The endeavor was an unqualified success, and soon he was directing live sports for all the major networks. Erickson’s work for NFL Football caught the eye of Detroit’s Ross Roy Agency, one of the original agencies for Chrysler. Working with the agency, he said, “I set a standard for how I like to work clean, simple, relevant, and if I use visual effects they’re seamless.Work for diverse clients such as Ford, GM, Mercedes Benz, McDonald’s, Cunard, Nicole Miller, Amnesty International, Dell, Miller, and American Airlines took him from the Pyramids to the great Wall of China. Throughout, Erickson said, one thing remained constant his substantive connection with audiences. “If there’s no substance, all the style in the world doesn’t matter,he explained. “So much emphasis has been placed on the glitzy, glamorous imagery created by the big production companies, but in some cases I think it’s misfired. The Web offers the purest connection between consumer and product, because in one way or another they’re seeking out this content. And isn’t advertising about giving people what they want

Erickson is currently at work on a commissioned viral piece for an undisclosed automotive client. “It’s a very quirky project, with a real sense of fun,is all the director would say about the subject matter. “For all its amusement value, though, it’s presenting the facts, and that’s what works for me,Erickson concluded. “I’ve always made it a priority to establish credibility with the audience. Whether it’s for the Ford F-150 or something else entirely, I use directing and online video production to tell stories people like me would be interested in.

For more information, please contact: Hesh (at) RagingArtists (dot) com

Bullet Train Express to Historic Nanjing|travel package

Bullet Train Express to Historic Nanjing
travel package - 3 days / 2 nights

Step aboard one of China's super fast new bullet trains departing from the gleaming Beijing South Train station and in under 4 hours you'll be in Nanjing, 'southern capital', as culturally rich and yet far less visited than its northern counterpart, Beijing. Nanjing's historical sites are certainly a vital key to gaining a deeper understanding of China. Take in the majestic views over the city from the top of Purple Mountain, walk in the footsteps of some of China's leaders from the 3rd to the 20th centuries and learn why this proud city on the Yangtze is one of China's hidden travel gems.

Day 1 Beijing - Nanjing

- Take the bullet train from Beijing to Nanjing.
Train: G107 Beijing South C Nanjing South 08:38 C 12:44
- Upon arrival, meet with your local tour guide and then transfer to your hotel.
- Set out on a guided tour of Nanjing's historic Old Town and Confucian Temple. The Confucius Temple in Nanjing was originally constructed in the year of 1034 in the Song Dynasty. It was a place to worship and consecrate Confucius, the great philosopher and educator of ancient China. It is also known as Fuzimiao in Chinese.
- Overnight in Nanjing

Day 2 Nanjing (B L)

- Breakfast in the hotel.
- Today, you will first visit the Mausoleum of Sun Yat-sen. Located in a vast area known as Purple Mountain, the lavish burial ground of Sun Yat-sen, commemorates the revered leader who brought down the Qing dynasty in 1911.
- Afterwards you will visit Xuanwu Lake. The lake sits at the bottom of the verdant Zhongshan Mountain and forms part of the scenic heart of this ancient city. Given the abundance of water in this part of China, naval battles were a crucial form of combat. For 2000 years of imperial history the lake was the primary site for water borne military training.
- Then transfer to the Memorial of the Nanjing Massacre, Nanjing Museum. This somber memorial to the 300,000 Nanjing residents massacred in 1937 is built over a mass grave.
- Overnight in Nanjing

Day 3 Nanjing C Beijing (B)

- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Check out before 12:00.
- Leisure time to stroll around and explore the city at your own pace. (our tour guide will give you some interesting and useful information to you such as where to go and what you can to do)
- Transfer to train station for return to Beijing.
Train: G20 Nanjing South C Beijing South 17:09 C 20:55
- End of service

For travel package bookings and more information please contact Hotline Beijing: +86-10-8519 8999(phone)

Who Wants To See Slumdog Millionaire On Emirates Airline Flights

15th March, 2009 Slumdog Millionaire had its day at the Academy Awards, with eight Oscars sparking a surge at the box office this week that took worldwide sales over the $200million mark. And now it is the order of the day among passengers on board Emirates airline flights who are able to watch it on their personal entertainment systems, even though film fans are still queuing up at cinemas across the globe to see this year’s must-see movie. The feel-good film about how an orphan from the streets Mumbai defies all odds on the TV game show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire is just one of up to 222 movies available onboard Emirates this month. Also showing this month are the Oscar-nominated hits Changeling, starring Angelina Jolie, and Australia with Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman, as well as the latest Bond installment Quantum Of Solace and animation caper Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa, featuring the voices of Ben Stiller and Chris Rock. In addition to the latest releases from Hollywood, Bollywood, Asia and Arabia, Emirates features some of the greatest movies of all time, as well as a collection of Disney Classics such as High School Musical 3 and Wall-E. Patrick Brannelly - Emirates Vice President, Passenger Communications and Visual Services - said: “Providing passengers with the chance to see the winner of this year’s Best Picture Oscar is an example of Emirates commitment to quality and choice for our passengers. “Emirates ice system - which is now available in 80% of Emirates seats - is unparalleled in the industry and we continue to invest in the latest blockbusters, while striving to stay ahead of the competition with an on-going programme of technology and innovation. The award-winning system is not just a hit with film fans. It also features music of all genres and generations, up to 100 video games, as well as up to 450 TV shows, from classic comedy such as Friends and The Simpsons to the latest hit dramas like Heroes and Tess of D’Urbervilles. And if the huge choice proves tricky for passengers and they need help making a decision like the lead character in Slumdog Millionaire, they can always phone a friend. Passengers can make and receive phone calls, e-mails and text messages via the seat-back communications service on all Emirates flights. In addition, they can now use their own mobiles on a number of aircraft with Emirates AeroMobile service now available on 32 Emirates aircraft. Typically about 32 per cent of passengers switch on their own mobile phone, and the service is operating on around one in four flights. Emirates commitment to providing passengers with the very best in in-flight entertainment began in 1992, when it became the first airline in the world to offer personal TV screens in all classes on its entire fleet. Last year, Emirates won - for the fourth consecutive year - the coveted Skytrax award for Best In-flight Entertainment. In addition, it took top honours at the World Airline Entertainment Association’s awards, winning the passenger-voted category of Best In-flight Entertainment in the World Large Airlines, as well as scooping Best in Region for Middle East and Africa.

Emirates airlines Advances Footprint In Bangladesh

31st January 2009 Dubai-based Emirates Airline will be stepping up its presence in Bangladesh with the introduction of three additional flights per week to Dhaka, starting 1st February 2009. The award-winning carrier’s move is well timed to support the new trade acceleration policy unveiled by the government of Bangladesh. Bangladesh has announced its intention to organise high level political visits to the UAE to encourage business from both sides. Already UAE investors have shown interest in Bangladesh’s property development, financial services, energy and telecommunication industries. The additional services will bring Emirates weekly operation to 17 flights and add over 800 seats per week on the Dubai-Dhaka route (one direction). Operated by an A330-200 aircraft in a two-class configuration of 27 Business and 251 Economy class seats, EK586 will depart Dubai at 10:15 hrs every Monday, Wednesday and Sunday and touch down at Zia International Airport at 16:30 hrs. Return flight EK587 will take off from Dhaka at 18:30 hrs on the same day and arrive at the airline’s new home Emirates Terminal 3, Dubai International Airport - at 21:50 hrs. Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President Commercial Operations West Asia, Indian Ocean and Africa said: “We are delighted to increase our capacity to/from Dhaka and support the government’s current efforts to grow economic ties between the UAE and Bangladesh. The additional services will help boost trade between the two countries which currently stands at USD300 million. Emirates currently operates double-daily services between Dhaka and Dubai. These flights facilitate travel for half a million Bangladeshis that reside in the UAE as well as offer seamless connections to Bangladeshis living in Europe and North America. Emirates award-winning cargo division, Emirates SkyCargo, has been playing a catalytic role in the export of Bangladeshi readymade garments.

Emirates airlines Offers Football Fans a First Class FIFA World Cup Experience

12th March 2009 - Today marks another date for the history books with Emirates being announced as FIFA’s Global Tour Operator for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Emirates will be offering fans from around the globe the chance to purchase world class, seamless travel packages that will include flights, accommodation, ground transportation and match tickets to the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa. Football fans will also have the opportunity to purchase, for the first time, unique follow your team travel packages that will ensure they don’t miss a moment of their team’s action over in South Africa and safeguard them should their team be unfortunate enough not to qualify. Emirates partnership with FIFA began at the 2006 FIFA World Cup when it became the first airline to be a sponsor of this prestigious global sporting event. Following on from the success of 2006, Emirates then cemented its status as an Official FIFA Partner up to and including the 2014 FIFA World Cup “Emirates is a valued partner of FIFA and we are delighted to have them on board as our global Tour Operator, commented Jérôme Valcke , FIFA General Secretary. The Emirates FIFA World Cup Tour Packages will go on sale shortly and a further announcement will be made detailing the tour packages.

Vision And Power Wins the Emirates Doncaster Mile

18th April 2009 - Vision And Power has continued to thrive, winning the $AUS 2,000,000 Emirates Doncaster Mile at the AJC Autumn Racing Carnival at Randwick Racecourse in Sydney, Australia on Saturday. The Joe Pride-trained Vision And Power has been the surprise packet of the season and the six-year-old, ridden by Jim Cassidy, came from behind to overcome a strong field and secure the Group One victory on Emirates Doncaster Day. The Emirates Doncaster Mile is for three-year-olds and upwards and is run over 1,600 metres. Emirates is naming sponsor of the race and premier partner of the Autumn Racing Carnival. The race was named after the famous racecourse in the north of England, and has been run at Royal Randwick since1866. The race has been won by many of the best gallopers ever to race in Australia. Off the track, Emirates was again the premier social venue, hosting Sydney’s social set, VIP guests and media, with its world renowned first class experience in an opulent Austrian themed marquee. The AJC Autumn Racing Carnival concludes next Saturday, April 25th, with the Schweppes Sydney Cup Day, featuring the Emirates Queen Elizabeth Stakes.

More Medical Talent to be Introduced in Wuhan to Establish the Central Medical C

Wuhan aims to establish itself as the medical centre in central China and it has continuously introduced relevant talents. On August 4, professor Zhu Xuejun, a famous Chinese expert in dermatology was officially hire by Wuhan First Hospital and served as the honored director of its dermatology medical service center.

After Wuhan set its target to become the medical centre in central China, municipal controlled hospitals endeavored to attract high-level medical talents. Among them are: Mr. Qiu Guixing, academician in Chinese Academy of Engineering, who currently served as the special director of orthopedic department of Wuhan Ren’Ai Hospital; Professor Wang Jianping, academician in American Medical Surgery Academy and vice Chancellor of Sun Yat-sen University, who served as a visiting professor of Wuhan Eighth Hospital.

Optics Valley to Beef up Development of Strategic Rising Industry

News quoted from latest statistics figures said that the total income of optoelectronic industry in East Lake High-tech Development Zone reached 92.59 billion Yuan in the front 11 months, which is expected to exceed 100 billion Yuan in the whole year. And the industry will become the 1st 100 billion Yuan industry in Optics Valley.

And the zone will improve the development of optoelectronic industry, biological industry and manufactural industry. They will beef up development of new resources, environmental protection and consumption electric industry, speeding up construction of 5 major industrial zones including Optics Valley biological city, Future Science and Technology City, China Science and Technology Industrial Zone, new resources industrial zone and Foxconn Wuhan Science and Technology Zone.

More upscale hotels planned in south Chengdu

The government of Wuhou District said earlier this week that the dis-trict will speed up the infrastructural enhancement in the Rennan Scientifi c C Commercial Functional Community
by introducing more high-standard hotels and residential buildings. On July 17, a fi ve-star hotel invested by Minyoun Group opened at the com-munity, and the government signed an agreement worth RMB1 billion the same day with a real estate company from the Hong Kong SAR on building another
five-star hotel in the area.
The Rennan Scientifi c C Commer-cial Functional Community lies at the southern reach of the Renminnan Road, the axial thoroughfare of the city, and a large number of Global 500 companies
and international institutions fi nd home in its area.

Beijing Subway|beijing travel

2010-07-21

Subway System

Subway construction started in China's capital in 1965. The first stretch, which opened between the city's railway station and Pingguoyuan, included today's western branch of Line 1 and the southern part of Line 2. In 1987, the circular line was finished (16 km) and both lines started operating separately. In the 1990's an eastern extension of Line 1 was built; the so-called Fu Ba Line, to Sihuidong (formerly shown as BA Wang Fan) which opened for trial in Oct. 1999 for the People's Republic's 50th anniversary. The new section (13.5 km) was eventually connected to the western section of Line 1 on June 24, 2000, which had been upgraded to ATO operation.

The entire Line 1 from Pingguoyuan to Sihuidong is now 38 km long and provides transfer to rectangular loop Line 2 twice, at Fuxingmen and at Jianguomen. Line 2 is 16 km, so the total network operating in 2000 is 54 km. Most stations have central platforms and are 118m long, but only 10 have escalators. 4 or 6-car-trains are used, which are equipped with acoustic station announcement capability. For future extensions of the network (8 lines), some stations have already been built as transfer stations: Xizhimen, Dongsishitiao, Jianguomen, Yonghegong and Jishuitan.

Construction of "City Rail" (Line 13 in the overall "rapid transit" planning) started in December 1999. The semicircular line with 16 stations runs from Xizhimen to Dongzhimen (both are stations on the rectangular loop Line 2). The 40.8 km line is mainly above ground, either elevated (7.7 km) or at a grade (30.3km). After the western section (20.6km) went into operation on Sept. 28th, 2002, the eastern section was opened in January 2003.

Subway Line 5, the first north-south metro line in Beijing, is 27.6-km, with 16.9 km and 16 stations underground and 10.7 km and 7 stations above ground. Platforms are equipped with half-high platform screen doors. Construction started in Dec. 2002, and the entire line was brought into service in October 2007.

Subway Line 10 (25 km) was opened on 19 July 2008, in time for the Olympic Games. Its construction had started in Dec. 2003. Line 10 is fully underground.

The first 4.5 km section of Line 8, the so-called Olympic Branch Line, also opened on 19 July 2008. It serves all the important Olympic venues and at the moment, is only linked to Line 10.

Although planned to open for the Olympics in 2008, Line 4 (28.6 km with 24 stations), which provides a metro link to the new Beijing South Railway Station, opened in Sept 2009.

Fares

A flat fare of RMB() 2.00 with unlimited transfers applies to all lines except the Airport Express, which costs 25 Children below 1.2m in height ride for free when accompanied by a paying adult.

All lines now collect fares through automatic fare collection (AFC) machines that accept single-ride tickets and the Transportation Card or Yikatong, an integrated circuit card (ICC card) that can store credit for multiple rides. Riders can purchase tickets and add credit to Yikatong at ticket counters and vending machines in every station. Yikatong is also accepted on many city buses, and can be used as e-money for other purchases.

Hours of Operation:

The subway is generally closed after midnight, unless a special occasion prompts extended operating hours. The first trains depart terminals at around 5 am and the last leave at around 11 pm. For precise hours and frequency of service, check the official schedule.http://www.bjsubway.com/cczn/dtskb/index.shtml

Official Website:

http://www.bjsubway.com/

Tourism Alliance Established by Cities along Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway|beijing travel

　　A city tourism alliance created by seven cities located along the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway was established on June 20 in east China, aiming to promote regional tourism along the railway.

　　The seven cities, including Beijing, Tianjin, Cangzhou of Hebei Province, Jinan of Shandong Province, Bengbu of Anhui Province, Nanjing of Jiangsu Province and Shanghai, signed a declaration of cooperation on Monday in Jinan, the capital city of east China's Shandong Province.

　　The declaration requires the signatories to cooperate in areas such as passenger source research, tourism promotion and cross-city customer service.

　　The 1,318-km high-speed railway, which runs along east China from Beijing to Shanghai, connects two of China's most important economic regions: the Bohai Sea Rim Region and the Yangtze River Delta Region.

　　The Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway will be fully operational by the end of June, allowing passengers to travel between Beijing and Shanghai in less than five hours. The railway's trains will hit top speeds between 250 and 300 km per hour and are expected to transport 160 million passengers annually.

Speeds, Prices Cut on High-speed Trains|beijing travel

　　Passengers board a high-speed train at Tianjin railway station on Tuesday. The high-speed trains from Beijing to Tianjin will slow from 350 kilometers per hour to 300km/h, accompanied by a 5 percent decrease in ticket prices, from Aug 16. A one-way run between the two municipalities is thus cut from 33 minutes to 30 and a second-class ticket is sold at 55 yuan ($8.61) from 58 yuan. The State Council has made the decision to slow the speed of high-speed trains on tracks across the country after a severe train crash in Wenzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, on July 23.

　　A passenger shows a ticket for the Beijing-Tianjin intercity train on the first day of speed reductions and price cuts, Aug 16, 2011.

　　A Beijing-Tianjin intercity train departs from Tianjin Railway Station, Aug 16, 2011, the first day of speed reductions and price cuts for the service.

AirAsia - Winner of the CAPA Airline of the Year Award 2009; Connects You to 14 Destinations from Singapore

Singapore October 29, 2009

Exceptional achievement, brilliant innovations, and constant positive growth - these exceptional qualities made AirAsia and AirAsia X joint winners of the prestigious Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) Airline of the Year Award for 2009 this year at the CAPA Aviation Awards for Excellence presentation ceremony, held at the Great Wall Sheraton in Beijing, China.

The Awards Ceremony was held as part of this year&39;s sixth annual Asia Aviation Outlook summit, showcasing airline and airport CEOs from around the Asia Pacific and Middle East regions.

AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes said, "We are greatly honoured to be bestowed the most prestigious award of the evening. Undoubtedly, our ceaseless dedication in providing premium services with low fares, incessant innovations and most significantly, the unbeatable synergy of our short-haul and long-haul networks have greatly contributed to this success.

"From 2 planes to 80 and from 200,000 to over 75 million passengers in just a short 7 years marks unprecedented growth by any airline globally, let alone a low fare airline like AirAsia. We are deeply flattered to accept this award and this shall further bolster our pledge - to provide superior services coupled with our low fares plus diverse service options to our guests. This is our promise," he added.

The CAPA Airline of the Year 2009 award is deemed the uppermost level of recognition given to airlines for excellent achievements in the aviation industry and outstanding strategic contribution over the course of the past year. AirAsia had successfully proven to be the leader in the development of the airline industry with its constant innovations and rapid expansion of its operations across the region and internationally, regularly setting new standards of excellence for others to follow.

AirAsia X CEO Azran Osman-Rani was equally elated by the win. He said, "It was just in 2008 that AirAsia X won the CAPA New Airline of the Year award. Being acknowledged as the CAPA Airline of the Year for 2009 within just a year of our previous win is indeed a great honour. This recognition will greatly boosts our fortitude in offering greater quality services to all our guests and inspire us to further expand our network and enhance our reach tremendously. This is really a proud moment for both AirAsia and AirAsia X. We would like to thank CAPA for their utmost recognition to us".

AirAsia has previously won several awards from CAPA - AirAsia was a joint winner of the Airline of the Year award in 2003, won the Asia Pacific Low Cost Airline of the Year 2004, followed by the Asia Pacific Aviation Executive of the Year 2005 which was awarded to Tony Fernandes, Group CEO and Founder of AirAsia.

In 2007, the airline again scored the prestigious Airline of the Year award and in 2008, AirAsia X was conferred the New Airline of the Year Award.

Peter Harbison, Executive Chairman of the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA) said, "AirAsia has had another superlative year amid some of the toughest conditions to hit the airline industry on record. An innovator in revenue generation, with a strongly developing network and consistent focus on maintaining its world leading low cost base, AirAsia was the outstanding performer in 2009. AirAsia and AirAsia X are leading the way in developing short-haul to long-haul connectivity in ways which promise to revolutionize the international marketplace".

About AirAsia and AirAsia X

AirAsia, the leading and largest low-cost carrier in Asia, services the most extensive network with over 130 routes covering 65 destinations. Within the grasp of 7 years of operations, AirAsia has carried over 75 million guests and grown its fleet from just two aircraft to 85. The airline today is proud to be a truly Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) airline with established operations based in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand, servicing a network stretching across all Asean countries, China, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. This is further complemented by AirAsia X, its low-cost long-haul affiliate carrier that currently flies to destinations in China, Australia, Taiwan, the UK, and, very soon, Abu Dhabi. AirAsia is the only regional carrier with the largest destination network and highest flight frequencies. AirAsia has been named the 2009 World&39;s Best Low Cost Airline in the annual World Airline Survey by Skytrax and was for the third time named the Best Asian Low Cost Carrier by TTG, Asia Pacific&39;s leading travel news publisher.

Please visit "http://www.airasia.com".

'Nerd Bird' Flies Again: Alaska Airlines Inaugurates San Jose-Austin Service

Alaska Airlines will inaugurate nonstop service between San Jose, Calif., and Austin, Texas, officially resurrecting the popular "nerd bird" route. The flight will originate in Portland, Ore., and the airline will add another daily flight between the three cities starting March 14, 2010.

"This route is a natural extension of our network and provides a vital link between these high-tech hubs," said Steve Jarvis, Alaska Airlines' vice president of marketing, sales and customer experience.

Alaska will inaugurate the new route with its "Wi-Fi One" aircraft, a specially-equipped Boeing 737-700 offering inflight broadband Internet access. Customers will be able to connect to Alaska Airlines Inflight Wi-Fi using any Wi-Fi enabled device, such as a laptop, smart phone or portable media player.

"It seems only fitting to offer our tech-savvy passengers a way to stay connected to what matters most to them while in the air, "said Jarvis. "Customers on this inaugural flight will be able to send and receive e-mail, connect to Virtual Private Networks, and browse the Web from 35,000 feet."

Schedule information

Start Date

City Pair

Departure Time Arrival Time Day of week Sept. 2, 2009 Portland-San Jose 6:20 a.m. 8:10 a.m. Daily, except Sun Sept. 2, 2009 San Jose-Austin 8:55 a.m. 2:15 p.m. Daily Sept. 2, 2009 Austin-San Jose 3 p.m. 4:40 p.m. Daily Sept. 2, 2009

San Jose-Portland

5:25 p.m. 7:10 p.m. Daily, except Sun March 14, 2010 Portland-San Jose 3:20 p.m. 5:05 p.m. Daily March 14, 2010 San Jose-Austin 5:50 p.m. 11:10 p.m. Daily March 15, 2010

Austin-San Jose

8 a.m. 9:40 a.m. Daily March 15, 2010 San Jose-Portland 10:25 a.m. 12:10 p.m. Daily * All times based on local time zones
Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan members can earn double miles on the new flights between San Jose and Austin through Oct. 31, 2009. To qualify, customers must first register at alaskaair.com. Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan offers some of the industry's most attractive award levels when booking online, with Super Saver Awards starting at 7,500 miles one way. Members of the American Airlines' AAdvantage program, Delta Air Lines' SkyMiles program, and 13 other airline partner programs, also can earn miles when they travel on Alaska Airlines.

Alaska Airlines began service between Seattle and Austin on Aug. 3, 2009, and will start daily service between Seattle and Houston on Sept. 23.

The airline will operate the flights with Boeing 737-700 aircraft, accommodating 12 passengers in first class and 112 in the main cabin. San Jose-Austin flights will offer Alaska's Northern Bites meals-for-purchase service, which allows coach passengers to buy a meal onboard for $6. Inflight service also will include Alaska Airlines' digEplayer, a personal entertainment system offering a variety of movies, television shows, music and other features. Complimentary in first class, digEplayers are available for $6 in coach.

The new flights are available for purchase at alaskaair.com or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228).

Note to news media: Broadcast footage can be downloaded at http://tinyurl.com/m4zetk or by contacting Alaska Airlines Media Relations.

For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines Newsroom

Across Australia by rail|china travel

The Indian Pacific at Manna Hill Station, South Australia [China Daily]

For some of Down Under's most spectacular scenery, Belinda Sunshine takes an iconic train from Sydney to Perth.

Traveling on the Indian Pacific is an exhilarating adventure and a great eye-opener as it rolls across the diversity of the Australian landscape. The 4,352-kilometer transcontinental journey from Sydney to Perth takes three nights and three days, or approximately 65 hours, and transports the visitor from the stunning Blue Mountains, the Great Dividing Range, the salt lakes and sand dunes of South Australia to the longest straight stretch of rail track across the Nullarbor Plain.

Touted as one of the world's greatest train journeys, the Indian Pacific can be traced back to the early 1900s, but it was not until 1970 that the train finally completed its journey unbroken from Sydney to Perth.

The mighty Indian Pacific has just celebrated its 40th anniversary, and to quote the chief executive of Great Southern Rail, Tony Braxton-Smith: "The Indian Pacific is so much more than a mode of transport. It is a journey of a lifetime as guests experience one of the country's most breathtaking scenery, make new friends and enjoy fine dining in the comfort of an iconic train."

In fact, the train has earned its place as one of Australia's most precious tourism entities.

It goes at a stately pace of 85 km per hour but can rev up to 115 km on certain stretches. It carries about 70,000 people each year on average and employs 25 full time staff on the journey, with two chefs in each restaurant car.

The peak season for this luxury travel is from August to December.

The "platinum service" offers spacious private cabins completely en suite, and elegant dining in the Queen Adelaide Restaurant Car. The cabin turns from private lounge during the day to a comfortable cabin with double or twin beds at night.

"Gold service" sleepers come in both single sleeper and twin berths. Twin-berth sleeper cabins have private en suite facilities with a hideaway compact toilet, washbasin and shower. Single-berth cabins are fitted with washbasins but passengers share shower and toilet facilities at either end of the carriage.

Perhaps one of the highlights of train travel is the novelty of dining in the restaurant car with its own chefs and friendly waiters.

Selections of premium Australian wines and beverages are available to complement the dishes. Your fare includes full or continental breakfasts, all on board lunches and a la carte dinners.

There is also access to the lounge car during the journey, where passengers can swap stories and travel tips.

Guests are allowed a baggage allowance of 40 kg on the train, but checked-in luggage cannot be accessed during the journey and passengers are advised to take all they need in an overnight bag.

Traveling aboard the Indian Pacific is a relaxing and comfortable way to see Australia. During the journey, it offers optional Whistle Stop Tours in Broken Hill, Adelaide, Cook and Kalgoorlie.

Take the time to browse through the tours. One of my favorite stops was exploring the historic sights of Cook, a once-thriving railway settlement, in the Nullarbor Plain. Today, it is little more than a ghost town. The train stops here for a short while to change drivers and take on water.

There is no better time to travel on the Indian Pacific than from September to December, which

is the wildflower season in Western Australia. The Indian Pacific departs from both Sydney and Perth twice a week during the high season. During the low season, the journey is limited to one return service per week.

Stung into action|china travel

Spring has sprung and this is the time of year that bugs emerge to bite and sting. Here's how to deal with those irritating itches and welts.

Bedbugs, the latest headline-maker in the United States, are famously hard to eradicate.[Agencies]

It's that time of year when bugs emerge to bug us. Some can pose real threats Lyme disease from tiny ticks, West Nile virus from mosquitoes, or life-threatening allergic reactions to bee stings. But most bug bites are an itchy nuisance.

How itchy or big the welt depends in part on your own skin, how much of the chemical histamine it harbors. Yes, some people really are mosquito magnets. And no, most of the bites people blame on spiders aren't from them at all.

In fact, chances are you won't be able to tell the culprit unless you catch it in the act. Yet doctors and entomologists alike field calls asking, "What bit me "

"People call up really bummed out," says spider expert Jonathan Coddington of the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History, who points to just two worrisome types, the black widow and brown recluse family. Spider phobia, he says, is "out of all proportion to actual risk".

It's not uncommon to have a large skin reaction to any bite or sting, says Dr Reid Blackwelder, a family physician from East Tennessee State University, who sees a couple of them a week in the early spring and summer.

"Most of the time, what people need is reassurance," he says.

Mosquito bites probably are the most common. Sure we've been told to watch out for them at dusk and dawn. But the Asian tiger mosquito bites all day long. It's an aggressive, harder-to-swat version, Coddington says.

If it seems every mosquito's after you, well, there are about 3,500 species around the world and Coddington says most don't bite humans, preferring other animals instead. But those who do can be attracted by sweat, alcohol, perfumes and dark clothing.

Bedbugs are the latest headline-maker. Scientists can't explain why they've suddenly rebounded in many US cities after all but vanishing in the 1940s and 50s. But once they're in a building, they're famously hard to eradicate. You won't feel their needle-like bite, but you might see a line of red dots in the morning.

Not so with horse flies and black flies. They cause painful welts, and they'll chase any blood meal. And yellow jackets may be a bane of summer picnics, but they're most aggressive in the fall, the reproductive mating season, Coddington notes.

Most people face no risk other than infection from scratching, but there are some important exceptions:

Ticks

Blacklegged tick species, commonly called deer ticks, that are as small as poppy seeds can transmit Lyme disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) counted more than 35,000 confirmed or probable cases of Lyme in 2009, the latest data available. These ticks are most active from May through July.

If a tick has been biting for less than 24 hours, chances of infection are small. So do a daily tick check. The CDC recommends using insect repellent with DEET.

Antibiotics easily cure most people of Lyme. But other than Lyme's hallmark round, red rash, early symptoms are vague and flu-like. People who aren't treated can develop arthritis, meningitis and some other serious illnesses.

Different tick species around the country can transmit additional diseases, such as Rocky Mountain spotted fever, tickborne relapsing fever, and STARI or Southern tick-associated rash illness.

Maple trees to add colors to city landscape

As part of the project to beautify the landscape of Chengdu, we have planted 200 maple trees
along several main roads in the city, said officials from local forestation and landscape administration
this week.
The maple trees were introduced from the US and put in the ground at green belts of Yingbin
Avenue and Qingyang Avenue in western Chengdu.

Emirates unveils new travel shop in Um Al Quwain

21st January 2010: Emirates airline today welcomed the first customers to its expanded and newly refurbished Um Al Quwain office. Conveniently located in the city’s commercial district on King Faisal Road, Emirates new-look, ultra-spacious premises in Um Al Quwain has been designed to provide its customers with the world-class service that the airline is renowned for, from the moment they plan and book their travel. The Emirates Travel Shop brings together the airline’s key travel services under one roof, and is equipped to cater to the needs of its corporate and leisure clients, as well as its frequent-flyer members. In addition to ticketing and reservation counters for general airline enquiries, the office also features dedicated counters for premium passengers, Skywards members, and Emirates Holidays customers and travel partners. Customers can also relax in the comfortable lounge area while browsing information on Emirates latest services, products and destinations. For Reservations and general enquiries contact +971 6 7666684; Office opening hours: 0800-1330 and 1600-1930 hr.

Enjoy paradise without the price tag

Emirates Holidays unveils new offers to Mauritius and Seychelles DUBAI U.A.E., 14th April 2010: Anyone thinking that a luxury vacation in paradise is beyond their budget should think again. Emirates Holidays latest range of special packages to Mauritius and the Seychelles, make two of the world’s most exotic and desirable destinations, more affordable than ever before. John Felix, Senior Vice President of Emirates Holidays said, “If you asked anyone to describe paradise, it would be Mauritius or the Seychelles, with clear blue waters, palm trees and miles of sandy beaches. People tend to think that such luxury is beyond their budget but Emirates Holidays latest packages to these two incredible Indian Ocean destinations mean that everyone’s dreams can come true. Whether you are a honeymooning couple or a family looking for relaxation and fun, Mauritius and Seychelles are the ideal holiday destinations. Emirates Holidays has partnered with the National Tourism Offices (NTOs), DMCs and hotels in these two destinations to offer up to 50 per cent off the packages prices to select properties from mid-April to the end of July. Magical Mauritius Lying in the Indian Ocean, some 1,800 kilometres off the east coast of Africa, Mauritius is outstandingly beautiful and its 330-kilometre coastline of sandy beaches is almost entirely surrounded by one of the largest unbroken coral reefs in the world. It offers a range of resorts, from the luxurious to the informal and from the intimate (perfect for weddings and honeymoons) to the family-friendly. Emirates Holidays is offering packages to Mauritius from Dubai starting from: AED 6,366 per person at The Legends in a Superior Room AED 6,980 per person at the Hilton Mauritius Resort and Spa in a Deluxe Room AED 7,003 per person at the Constance Le Prince Maurice in a Junior Suite AED 8,174 per person at Le Touessrok in a Deluxe Room AED 8,481 per person at The Oberoi Mauritius in a Luxury Pavilion, and AED 8,516 per person at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita in a Garden Pool Villa Each package includes Economy Class flights from Dubai to Mauritius with Emirates airline (valid only for EK 3705 and EK 3706), five nights accommodation on twin-sharing basis, meet and assist at Mauritius Airport, return transfers to and from the airport by private car, room tax and service charges. Airport departure taxes are excluded. Stunning Seychelles The Seychelles is a collection of 115 outstandingly beautiful granite and coral islands fringed by sparkling white sandy beaches and encircled by coral reefs. Whilst the islands resorts and hotels offer high standards of accommodation, facilities and services, conservation has been a key to development and there is a rich array of indigenous animals, birds and marine life, in addition to the exceptional natural beauty of the forests, beaches and mountains. Perfect for both honeymooners and families, the Seychelles truly is paradise on earth. Emirates Holidays is offering packages to the Seychelles from Dubai starting from: AED 5,468 per person at the Constance Ephelia Resort in a Junior Suite AED 6,601 per person at Le Meridien Fisherman’s Cove in a Superior Hibiscus Room AED 7,025 per person at the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa in an Ocean View Hillside Villa AED 9,072 per person at the Four Seasons Resort Seychelles in a Garden Villa, and AED 10,608 per person at the Banyan Tree Seychelles, in a Beachfront Spa Pool Villa Each package includes return Economy Class flights from Dubai to Seychelles with Emirates airline, four nights accommodation on twin-sharing basis, meet and assist at Seychelles International Airport, return transfers to and from the airport by private car, room tax and service charges. Airport departure taxes are excluded. Skywards members will receive up to 20 per cent bonus miles. They can also redeem their miles for Skywards Gift Vouchers, which can be used towards payment of those exclusive packages from Emirates Holidays. For more information and bookings please contact Emirates Holidays on 800 5252, emirates-holidays.com or your preferred travel agents. Terms and conditions apply.

Planes, trains and astronauts - Emirates tells Amsterdam: We have lift off from 1st May

23rd March 2010: If youre hoping to deliver an out of this world event, it always helps if an astronaut turns up. Dutch astronaut Andre Kuipers joined hundreds of guests including football stars, media celebrities, politicians and key travel industry figures to mark Emirates impending arrival in Amsterdam. The venue for the high-profile Gala event was the Beurs van Berlage, a former commodity exchange and indicative of the trade Emirates will help support when passenger flights start on 1st May. Dutch TV presenter Anouk Smulders was MC and saxophonist Candy Dulfer, who has worked with Prince and the Eurythmics, headed up a musical feast where foot-tapping was compulsory. This, after an aerial act in which a giant globe was lowered above the audience - before opening to reveal a singer. Only a week earlier, the airline won an award at ITB in Berlin for its eye-catching and modified Emirates Globe stand. Amongst the senior Emirates representatives at the 17th March Gala event were Richard Vaughan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Europe & Russian Federation and Jean-Luc Grillet, Manager France & Benelux. The UAE Ambassador to the Netherlands, His Excellency Ali Thani Alsuwaidi, joined the Gala gathering, which served as an introduction to Emirates and Dubai. Mr Vaughan said: This tremendous event is a sure sign that the launch of our daily flight between Dubai and Amsterdam is edging closer. There is a long history of trade between The Netherlands and the Arab region. The Netherlands has become an important trading partner for the UAE with business now running into billions of Euros a year. Emirates will provide a significant boost to commercial and tourism activity. In the presence of Dutch football stars like Patrick Kluivert and Pierre van Hooijdonk, the audience was reminded that Emirates is an official FIFA World Cup Partner, offering the three South African gateways of Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town. Some of Emirates 80-plus Dutch staff also travelled to Amsterdam for the Gala activities, such as Pilot Jan Cocheret, cabin crew member Ellis Ofenhammer and Joost Heymeijer, General Manager of the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa in Australia. A big hit on the night was an Emirates First Class Private Suite, which had been shipped in especially for the event and was quickly overrun by fascinated experimenters. Earlier in the day at Sofitel The Grand Amsterdam, Emirates held a press conference to explain the latest on preparations for the first flight - now just five weeks away. Ivo van der Vlis appeared on behalf of Amsterdams Schiphol Airport. Both venues were dressed with tulips, the much loved symbol of the Netherlands. Mr Vaughan said: Our daily service aboard our modern Boeing 777 aircraft will bring a truly exceptional product to the Netherlands. Emirates will be the only carrier offering a First Class cabin on this route and via Dubai, passengers can easily reach popular destinations such as South Africa, India, Indonesia, Thailand and the Maldives. Boasting a fleet of 145 aircraft, including eight A380 superjumbos and a network spanning more than 100 destinations, the carrier will launch Amsterdam as its 23rd point in Europe. The flight timings from 1st May will see EK flight 145 leave Dubai daily at 0825hrs and arrive in Amsterdam at 1330hrs. From Amsterdam, EK 146 departs at 1530hrs, arriving in Dubai at 2359hrs. Emirates SkyCargo has been serving Amsterdam with freighters for 15 years. The airline has announced four other new passenger routes so far this year: Tokyo from 28th March, Prague on 1st July, Madrid as of 1st August and Dakar from 1st September.

FIFA World Cup mascot enjoys fun-filled tour of Dubai with Emirates

26th May 2010: Zakumi, the Official Mascot of the 2010 FIFA World Cup enjoyed an action-packed holiday in Dubai as he counts down the last few days to the kick-off of the biggest event on the world sporting calendar. He flew in with Emirates and was welcomed to the airline’s home base by cabin crew representing each of the 32 nations taking part in the soccer spectacle in South Africa. The fun-loving leopard was in no mood to take a break from football, though, and quickly rounded up some of the crew for a kick-about at Dubai International Airport. He was then given the VIP treatment from South African cabin crew members Cindy Speirs and Gillian Scott who were in no doubt that he would have a ball in Dubai. “Like Zakumi, all the football fans travelling with Emirates are going to get a great welcome, said Cindy, from outside Durban, who believes Emirates multicultural crew will help make the journey to her homeland extra special. Emirates an Official Partner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup rolled out the red carpet for Zakumi and whisked him on a whistle-stop tour of all Dubai’s top spots before giving him a bird’s-eye view of the emirate from the helipad of the iconic Burj Al Arab. Gillian was delighted the mascot had the chance to see all the highlights of Dubai. “It is great to have Zakumi here and I am sure he is having an incredible time, said Gillian, also from the Durban area. Zakumi also got a taste of the local culture as he took an abra ride on Dubai Creek before heading off on a desert safari, which saw him bouncing around the slopes in a 4x4, surfing the dunes and getting a belly dancing lesson. He got his adrenaline fix with trips to the Wild Wadi water park and showed that a leopard can change his spots when he jumped on the snow and sped down the piste at Ski Dubai, one of the world’s largest indoor ski centres. However, no trip to Dubai would be complete without indulging in a little luxury. Every leopard needs his rest and Zakumi got to put his feet up before setting off for the festival of football when he visited Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa. He had a great time at Emirates conversation-based destination, catching up with some friends the Arabian Oryx and some falcons and camels before indulging in a Timeless Spa treatment during an afternoon spent lazing by the pool. However, Zakumi quickly pounced back into action when he found out he was going to be following in the footsteps of Tiger Woods, Roger Federer and Andre Agassi by getting to play on the helipad of the Burj Al Arab the world’s most luxurious hotel. Three-hundred-and-twenty metres above the stunning Dubai coastline, Zakumi enjoyed a kick-about at the Burj Al Arab a Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts property - before casting his eye towards home, where the greatest show on earth is set to get under way. Zakumi will be just one of many thousands of football fans to travel with Emirates this summer and captain Cliff Chetcuti is looking forward to taking them to the party. He said: “We fly into three host cities - Johannesburg, Cape Town and Durban and, as an Official Tour Operator of the 2010 FIFA World Cup fans will be able to experience our award-winning service as part of seamless travel packages which also include match tickets, accommodation and ground transportation. Click here to see the video.

Sinotrans to set up logistics center in Chengdu

Chinas leading logistics and transportation company Sinotrans signed an agreement on Wednesday with the government of Longquanyi District in eastern Chengdu to start its logistics center in the district. The center is intended to provide international level service for the growing demand from the emerging auto manufacturing zone in the district. Investment for the logistics center is expected to be RMB300 million.

First Jiuzhaigou Icefall Festival

On December 1st, Sichuan will hold the First Jiuzhaigou Icefall Festival and attract visitors from all over the world to enjoy wonderful snow sights including lofty snow peaks, grand icefalls and beautiful tarns at Jiuzhaigou this winter. Meanwhile, the Fourth South China Ice-Snow Festival of Sichuan will also raise its curtain.

peach blossom viewing: Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region|china travel

Spring has a reputation for brevity in China. Flowers of various species reserve themselves for a short prime blooming time from late February and early April. So there's no time to spare in planning a flower tour across China.

The best place for peach blossom viewing: Guilin in Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

The best time to go: February to March

Peach blossoms are not the only thing that has made Guilin a popular tourist destination. But if you happen to be in Guilin during this time of year, the peach blossom scenery is something you might not want to miss.

Every year the city holds a peach blossom festival at Dalingshan Peach Blossom Park. The best way to take in the scenery is to take a walk along the 10-mile path in the park bordered by peach trees bearing pink flowers.

The best place for cole flower viewing: Luoping, Yunnan province

The best time to go: February to April

The annual cole flower festival is underway in Luoping, a city with more than four tracts of 10,000 hectares of land each covered by the flowers. With the cole blooms drawing numerous tourists every year, the flowers are beneficial for locals not only for their agricultural worth but also their tourism value.

The best place for magnolia flower viewing: Beijing

The best time to go: March

Magnolias are a messenger of spring in the eyes of Beijing locals. The many temples around the capital are the best places to see magnolia flowers. Their pure white, heavy petals are a symbol of elegance and regality. Emperor Qianlong planted a magnolia tree at the Summer Palace during the Qing Dynasty 200 years ago. The oldest magnolia tree is said to be the 350-year-old one at Dajue Temple in suburban Beijing.

Wuhan Port Group

Wuhan Port Group
Add: No. 91, Riverside Avenue, Hankou, Wuhan, Hubei, China 430014
Tel: 0086-027-82824776
E-mail: jtb@wuhanport.com

Wuhan Port Transportation Head Corporation was established in August 1950. It is subordinated to Wuhan Communications National Holding Group Co., Ltd and a multi-aspect, multifunctional and triphibious port-transportation enterprise with port transportation, industry, trade, real estate and double 2-grade business qualifications for passenger transportation and cargo transportation on national highways.

The head company has two hundred and three million yuan for total assets, among which the net value for goods transportation occupies 64,540,000.00 yuan, and the current working staff 4013, professional technical personnel 218 and 89 persons with senior or middle qualification. In addition, the head corporation possesses 25 production lines at port area, which equipped with the advanced high-tower crane volume 40 tons and various professional port charging vehicles amount 1015, 331 sets of machinery equipment, two 2-grade goods-transportation fields and a automobile repair factory; besides the above, it can finish 4,089,000 tons of goods-transportation volume and 89,399,000 tons?km of turnover volume for goods-transportation annually, its annual business income for goods-transportation reaches 67,050,000 yuan, and the head corporation owns 200,000m2 housing area by itself and 100,000m2 has been developed.

Alaska Airlines 2010 Permanent Fund Dividend Savings

Alaska Airlines (IATA CODE AS) launched its Permanent Fund Dividend sale, featuring air fares as low as $89 for travel between Anchorage and Fairbanks and $199 between Anchorage and Seattle, as well as discounts on freight shipping and Alaska Airlines Vacation packages. The special rates are on select routes between Alaska and the Lower 48 states, Canada, Hawaii and Mexico for travel purchased by Oct. 23, 2010.

"This sale features some very attractive fares so that residents receiving their checks next month can plan ahead to purchase discounted travel to most all the destinations we fly, including Hawaii and Mexico," said Bill MacKay, the airline's senior vice president for the state of Alaska.

Sample one-way fares:

City Pair One-way fare: Anchorage-Fairbanks $89 Anchorage-Seattle $199 Anchorage-Honolulu $219 Anchorage-Mazatlan, Puerto Vallarta, San Jose Del Cabo $299
The fares are one-way, valid for travel through Aug. 18, 2011, and require a 14-day advance purchase, except for travel to Mexico and Hawaii, which does not require an advance purchase. Additional restrictions, taxes and fees apply.*

In addition, this year Alaska Airlines is offering a "Fly Now, Save Later" discount. Alaska residents, who are members of Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, and register and fly qualifying segments to/from or within the state of Alaska between Oct. 1 and Nov. 30, 2010, qualify for additional discounts of up to 50 percent off for travel between Jan. 7 and Feb. 26, 2011. Visit www.alaskaair.com to register and review the terms and conditions of this promotion.

Fares are available for purchase at at alaskaair.com/pfd or by calling 1-800-ALASKAAIR (1-800-252-7522 or TTY/TDD line 1-800-392-0228). Reservations may also be made through travel agents.

Alaska Airlines Vacations is offering $100 off on any vacation package, including packages to Mexico, Hawaii, Las Vegas and Southern California. Vacation packages include air transportation, hotel accommodations, optional ground transportation and tours. Vacations must be booked by Oct. 23, 2010, and travel must be complete by Aug. 18, 2011. Restrictions apply. Visit alaskaair.com/vacations for details or call 1-800-468-2248.

Alaskans can also save 25 percent on general cargo tariff rates for packages shipped on Alaska Air Cargo within the state of Alaska through Nov. 19, 2010, by mentioning the PFD sale. Restrictions apply. Visit alaskacargo.com for more information.

Fare rules: Tickets must be purchased by Oct. 23, 2010, for travel between Oct. 7, 2010, and
Aug. 18, 2011. A 14-day advance purchase is required, except for travel to and from Hawaii and Mexico. Blackout dates for travel from Alaska are: Nov. 18-21, Nov. 24, Dec. 14-24, 2010, and March 2-7, 2011. Blackout dates for travel to Alaska are: Nov. 28-Dec. 2, Dec. 26, 2010-
Jan. 5, 2011, and March 10-15, 2011. Blackout dates for travel to King Salmon and Dillingham are: June 1-24, 2011, and from King Salmon and Dillingham are: July 10-30, 2011. Travel is valid Monday through Thursday only, except for travel to and from Hawaii and Mexico, which is valid daily or when flights operate. Travel to Chicago must be nonstop. Travel to Honolulu is valid Oct. 7-Dec. 15, 2010, and March 16-June 9, 2011, via the nonstop flight. Travel to Maui is valid Nov. 8 Dec. 15, 2010, and March 16-April 2, 2011, via the nonstop flight. Travel on Alaska Airlines flights 4800-4999 operated by Era Aviation and on Alaska Airlines flights
3200-3274 operated by PenAir are not permitted. Travel to Prudhoe Bay is not allowed. Some markets offer seasonal travel only. Other service exceptions apply. See alaskaair.com or check with your travel agent for details and further restrictions.

*Travelers are responsible for the following taxes and fees, as applicable: Airport Passenger Facility charges of up to $9 (amount depends on itinerary), Federal Segment Tax of $3.70 per segment (takeoff and landing) and September 11 Security Fee of $2.50 per enplanement. Additional fees apply to travel to Mexico: U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, U.S. Aphis Fee of
$5, U.S. International Transportation Tax of $16.10, Mexico International Departure Tax of up to $33, Mexico Tourism Tax of up to $24, and Mexico Transportation Tax of 4 percent of the fare. Additional U.S. taxes may apply to itineraries involving a U.S. stopover of more than 12 hours duration. Fees may fluctuate with dollar-peso exchange rates. Additional fees apply to travel to Canada: U.S. Immigration User Fee of $7, U.S. Aphis Fee of $5, Canadian Airport Improvement Fee of up to $22 (varies by airport), Canadian Security Fee of $9 (fluctuates with exchange rate) and Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST) of less than $3. All taxes and fees shown are based on one-way travel and may be doubled if traveling roundtrip. Tickets purchased at Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air airport locations or through Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air reservation call centers will cost $15 more per person than the advertised fare. Tickets are nonrefundable but can be changed. Changes made at alaskaair.com or horizonair.com will incur a $75 (USD) per person change fee and any difference in fare. Ticket changes made through Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air reservation call centers or airport ticket counters incur a $100 (USD) per person change fee or a $125 (USD) per person change fee if originally booked through a travel agent and changed through Alaska Airlines or Horizon Air reservation call centers or ticket counters, and any difference in fare. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights or all days. Some flights may not operate daily service. All fares, taxes and fees are in U.S. dollars and are subject to change without notice, and other restrictions apply. A $20 baggage fee will apply for each of the first three checked bags. Additional fees apply to more than three bags or oversize or overweight items. If travel is solely within the state of Alaska, passengers can check up to three bags free of charge. See checked baggage policy at alaskaair.com for more details.

Alaska Airlines ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction Among Traditional Network Carriers" in the J.D. Power and Associates 2008, 2009 and 2010 North America Airline Satisfaction Studies SM. For reservations, visit www.alaskaair.com. For more news and information, visit the Alaska Airlines/Horizon Air Newsroom at www.alaskaair.com/newsroom .

Passengers from around the world cross new Dubai-Prague bridge

2nd July 2010: Emirates lived up to its name as the international airline of the UAE after passengers from more than 20 countries joined its first flight to Prague. Travellers from Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, India, Pakistan, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Singapore, China, South Korea - and as far a field as Australia - were amongst those on board yesterdays inaugural. The airline is providing the only daily, non-stop passenger service to Prague, capital of the Czech Republic and site of the famous Charles Bridge, straddling the Vltava River. Tim Clark, President, Emirates Airline, who headed the Emirates delegation on the first flight, said: Prague is our second European route launch this year after Amsterdam on 1st May and our 103rd destination globally. The Czech Republic is a popular tourist destination and an exciting emerging market. The route is off to a good start with passengers joining the inaugural flight to Prague from more than 20 countries across the world, underscoring the hub role of Dubai and the boost this new link will provide to the Czech tourism industry. Mr Clark added: With a fleet of 149 aircraft including 11 A380s, we continue to drive forward with our expansion plans and more new routes are on the way. Madrid starts up 1st August and Dakar in Senegal begins a month after that. Also representing Emirates for the first flight were Richard Vaughan, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide; Salem Obaidalla, Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, Europe & Russian Federation; Boutros Boutros, Divisional Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications and Ram Menen, Divisional Senior Vice President, Cargo. They were joined by Brigadier Obaid Mehayer Bin Suroor, Deputy Director of Dubai Naturalisation & Residency department and members of the UAE media. After arriving at Ruzyne International Airport in Prague, the Emirates aircraft received a water cannon welcome, while a traditional Rosenka dance group performed on the tarmac. Amongst those welcoming the flight were Jaroslav Ludva, the Czech Ambassador to the UAE and Miroslav Dvorak, CEO of Prague Airport. Mr Dvorak said: The Emirates flight is the first scheduled all-year-round non-stop service to Dubai. It will enable Czechs to travel directly to the Middle East for the first time, whilst also linking passengers to a range of destinations in the Eastern hemisphere. Thanks to this network of connections, we are expecting a great deal of interest in flights to Dubai. Last night, more than 300 guests were invited to a special gala dinner at Pragues Municipal House where Michael Bolton headed up the entertainment. Guests also enjoyed New Yorks String Angels and the Czech National Symphonic Orchestra. EK 139 leaves Dubai daily at 1030hrs and arrives in Prague at 1450hrs. EK 140 departs from Prague at 1620hrs and gets into Dubai at 0010hrs the following day. An Airbus A330-200 aircraft is being deployed for the service, offering up to 278 seats across Business and Economy. Trade between the Czech Republic and the UAE has leapt from under USD 26 million (AED 95 million) in 1993 to USD 678 million (AED 2.4 billion) in 2008, according to the Czech Foreign Ministry. Nearly 30% of exports to the UAE are glass products including Czech-made Bohemian glass. Aside from glass, Czech exports include electrical equipment, jewellery, beverages, data processing devices, machine tools, cars and car parts. Emirates SkyCargo has served Prague until now by moving goods by road via Vienna. The new non-stop service provides extra capacity in the belly hold of the passenger flights, bringing more flexibility over the movement of goods. Speaking about the Czech Republic as a destination, John Felix, Senior Vice President, Emirates Holidays, said: As Emirates Airlines tour operating arm, the introduction of new routes helps us consolidate and continue to grow the variety of holidays we offer our customers. Europe is a key market for us and Prague is a stunning addition, popular amongst a wide range of tourists, and a gateway to the rest of central Europe. It’s therefore an exciting opportunity for our business and our customers in the Middle East.

British Airways offers great value with UAE to UK flights

Dubai, UAE. 4 May, 2011: British Airways has launched its most competitive summer fares on selected flights from the UAE to the UK, with other great fares to Europe, the USA and Canada. One of the world’s largest airlines, British Airways is providing an attractive incentive for Middle Eastern travellers looking to take an early summer break.

Available on bookings made to London before 15 May 2011 for travel until 30 September 2011, customers can book return flights in Club World (business class) from just AED11,565, World Traveller Plus (premium economy) from AED4565 and World Traveller (economy class) from AED2575 all inclusive return to London Heathrow.

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With some of the best prices going at the moment, British Airways customers will experience the airline’s world-class products and services, all at great value for money.

In addition to great rates on flights, customers who book online can also take advantage of some great offers on hotel and car rental. With Avis, British Airways is offering customers 7 days car rental for the price of 5 in the UK when they book the special offer at ba.com.

“Offering premium products and services at such great prices is our way of offering our valued customers the opportunity to visit destinations which otherwise would not be considered. Summer time is the best period for our customers to beat the heat and plan their holidays well in advance,” said Paolo De Renzis, British Airways’ Regional Commercial Manager, Middle East.

“Just an example of the value customers get for the competitive price they pay is in our World Traveller Plus cabin. Our premium economy product offers a wider, ergonomically designed seat, with 7 inches of extra leg room in a dedicated private cabin. And they get 2 free checked bags at 23kg each,” added DeRenzis.

A full timetable of British Airways’ GCC – London services is available online at ba.com – where the lowest fares are guaranteed – and customers can book, pay and check-in online for their flights.