United Airlines makes significant new investment in in-flight food and beverage service

United Airlines today unveiled new, improved lunch, dinner and beverage choices for domestic first-class customers, offering travelers chef-inspired meals and premium beverages that elevate their in-flight experience. Among the changes: New, premium salads beginning this month for customers flying United First and United Business within North America; New, premium sandwiches and wraps, beginning Sept. 1, for United First and United Business customers withinNorth America; Addition of Prosecco sparkling wine in premium cabins beginning this fall; Introduction of premium-cabin meals to flights of shorter duration, beginning in 2015; and Fresh meal options for premium-cabin customers on United Express flights, beginning in 2015. Premium-Cabin Refresh This month, United began offering customers in premium cabins on North America flights four new salad entrée choices – a Southwestern salad, an Asian-style noodle salad, a seasonal greens with roast beef and blue cheese salad and a Strawberry Fields salad – replacing the previous chicken and shrimp salad options. In September, premium-cabin customers on flights within North America will enjoy new chilled sandwiches and wraps – Italian prosciutto on tomato focaccia, a Thai-style chicken wrap, Cobb salad wrap and caprese on Asiago baguette – as well as new warmed options – turkey and Swiss on cranberry baguette, ham and Swiss on pretzel baguette, chicken and mozzarella on tomato focaccia and roast beef and cheddar on Asiago baguette. Designed by United's team of chefs, the new salads and sandwiches will be made fresh daily and paired with a gluten-free soup, along with United's signature service elements, including warmed nuts, premium snacks and warmed cookies. On transcontinental flights and on longer mid-continental dinner flights, the airline will continue to offer customers a choice between a pasta dish and a chicken or beef option. "These changes mark the beginning of an extensive overhaul of our North America and international food service, offering travelers a level of service above that offered by our peers," said Lynda Coffman, United's vice president of food services. "Our new selections offer customers more of what they tell us they want when they travel – variety, bold flavor combinations and higher quality." Additional Food and Beverage Changes Beginning this fall, United will add Prosecco sparkling wine to its premium-cabin beverages on mainline North America flights. By mid-2015, United will further enhance its in-flight dining by: Launching completely redesigned menu concepts and expanding premium-cabin meals within North America to flights that are more than two hours and 20 minutes, or 800 miles; Upgrading premium-cabin meal service on domestic and international United Express flights, replacing snack boxes with freshly prepared food; and Significantly enhancing United Economy meals and beverages on long-haul international flights. United offers in-flight meals and snacks depending on flight duration, departure time, origin and destination. Specific breakfast, lunch and dinner parameters are available at united.com. Customer Investments The airline's food and beverage enhancements are United's latest investment in its customers' onboard experience. The company also offers: Premium-cabin, flat-bed seats on every long-haul international flight to and from the continental United States – the only U.S. airline to do so; Wi-Fi on more than 290 aircraft, including the airline's entire Airbus and Boeing 747 fleets; Personal device entertainment on dozens of aircraft; and Live television on more than 200 aircraft, the world's largest fleet of aircraft with live television.

Brussels Airlines : new campaigns, new colours, a new tagline and new products

The Brussels Airlines marketing team launched a brand new market positioning.

“THE passengers” doesn’t exist anymore. The number of different types of passengers has grown over the last years. And someone who travels for professional reasons today, may make a city trip next month or travels abroad to visit a family member, and will have different needs and expectations every time. One passenger looks for the cheapest fare or has no luggage to check in, the other wants to save time and travel in all comfort. More than ever, product segmentation has become very important. With this evolution in mind, Brussels Airlines has worked on a new market positioning, which is being rolled out today.

We give the choice to our customers,we let them decide what is important during their travels. With Check&Go, Light&Relax, Flex&Fast and Biz&Class  we have developed  four products with their own features and pricing. This unique product offer gives the customer the service choice and budget freedom he wants today.”

-- Nathalie Erdmanis, Brussels Airlines VP Marketing 

Whichever travel product the passenger prefers, a personal service is key. Brussels Airlines hass chosen to position itself as a ‘human airline’, bringing people together and making travel a pleasure again and acting on new trends.

The new tagline ‘We Go The Extra Smile’ expresses this mission and the airline no longer speaks about passengers, but calls them ‘guests’ instead.

“Brussels Airlines positions itsels as an airline with a ‘can do’ mentality. Nowadays an airline offers service, or focuses on price only. Brussels Airlines will prove that attractive prices and service can go hand in hand.”

-- Nathalie Erdmanis, Brussels Airlines VP Marketing

Because aviation has such strict rules, passengers are constantly confronted with a lot of “don’t’s”. That’s why Brussels Airlines bases its new campaign and philosophy on “do’s”, like “do wiggle your legs on board” (plenty of leg space for that), “do sit together”, “do start your holiday on board”… with which they want to emphasize their advantages towards their customers.

To market the 4 new travel products and the new approach, Brussels Airlines has teamed up with marketing agency TBWA, who have worked out a fresh new style for the airline,  with new colours which will be used in all future campaigns.

Publituris Portugal Trade Awards - votação começa hoje

A votação para os Publituris Portugal Trade Awards começou hoje à meia noite e decorre até 15 de Setembro.

As votações decorrem no site http://premios.publituris.pt/. Para votar, basta ir inserir o email no qual recebe a newsletter do Publituris. Se não é assinante da newsletter, deve registar-se para poder votar.

Notas importantes:

1. Podem consultar aqui informação sobre os nomeados: http://www.publituris.pt/2014/08/24/descritivo-dos-nomeados-dos-publituris-portugal-trade-awards/.

2. A eleição dos vencedores resulta de uma média ponderada entre os votos dos assinantes (40%) e dos elementos do júri (60%).

3. Os vencedores serão conhecidos no dia 19 de Setembro, numa gala no Mosteiro de Alcobaça.

Vila Vita Park - o resort mais romântico da Europa

Vila Vita Park - o resort mais romântico da Europa
Prémio atribuído em 2014 pela WTA - World Travel Awards Association

A HISTÓRIA DA VILA VITA HOTELS

A história da VILA VITA Hotels data de 1980, o ano em que as primeiras equipas da ’Deutsche Vermögensberatung’ começaram a viajar para a Áustria.

O Prof. Dr. Reinfried Pohl, em conjunto com a sua mulher Anneliese e os seus dois filhos, levavam regularmente equipas de consultores financeiros e suas famílias para Pannonia, na região austríaca de Burgenland. O Pannonia representa, assim, o berço deste pequeno mas único grupo hoteleiro que hoje em dia inclui cinco hotéis e uma herdade. Em 1990, o VILA VITA Burghotel, o primeiro hotel do grupo, abriu as suas portas em Dinklage, seguido pelo Schlosshotel Oberstotzingen nas margens do Donauried. Apenas dois anos mais tarde, o resort de praia VILA VITA Parc, na costa algarvia de Portugal, tornava-se um sucesso instantâneo. Cheio de luxo e estilo, este membro da ’Leading Hotels of the World’ ficou em segundo lugar na categoria “Melhor Resort de Praia da Europa” pela famosa revista de viagem “Geo Saison”.

Em 1993, o Prof. Dr. Pohl adquiriu a área da primeiríssima viagem na Burgenland austríaca e inaugurou-a como VILA VITA Pannonnia. Desde 1997, o grupo hoteleiro inclui a herdade privada “Herdade dos Grous” na região alentejana de Portugal. Além de produzir vinhos vencedores de prémios, a herdade começou também a produzir cavalos, assim como gado e azeitonas. Em 2000, a última adição ao grupo VILA VITA Hotels foi o aclamado hotel 5-estrelas de luxo VILA VITA Rosenpark, em Marburg, Alemanha.

Desde o início, Anneliese Pohl tomou conta dos designs e conceitos dos diferentes hotéis. É graças à sua liderança e orientação que cada hotel respira o seu próprio particular ambiente, é construído em harmonia com a geografia circundante e decorado com uma cuidada atenção ao detalhe. A atmosfera é sempre acolhedora e por isso não surpreende a quantidade de hóspedes que constantemente retornam aos hotéis VILA VITA Hotels.

O grupo VILA VITA Hotels possui mais de 550 quartos e suites, acomodando um total de 1.400 hóspedes que são servidos e acarinhados por cerca de 900 empregados na Alemanha, Áustria e Portugal. Andreas Pohl dirige o grupo hoteleiro como CEO.

Em 2011, uma nova adição ao grupo VILA VITA irá abrir as suas portas: o VILA VITA Seedorf, no lago Plauer See, no Mecklenburg sul. Concebido como uma aldeia livre de carros e inspirada pela natureza, irá oferecer a 290 hóspedes um local de tranquilidade e beleza para férias e conferências.

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VILA VITA Parc has won the prize for “Europe’s Most Romantic Resort” at the 21st edition World Travel Awards (WTA) ceremony that took place on th 3rd of August in Athens, Greece. Having recently completed an extensive renovation, VILA VITA Parc is recognised for offering its guests the ultimate romantic experience, through is luxurious rooms, exceptional service and restaurant offerings, as well as being situated in a prime cliff top location with endless ocean views.

Of the latest nomination General Manager Mr. Gillig commented ‘We are thrilled to have been recognised by the World Travel Awards and nominated as one of the most romantic resorts in Europe. It is our objective to be attentive to our guests’ needs, ensuring their overall experience is an unforgettable one.’

The World Travel Awards was established in 1993 and acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence across all sectors of the tourism industry.  Today the WTA brand is recognised globally as the ultimate hallmark of quality, with winners setting the benchmark to which all others aspire. The annual programme is renowned as the most prestigious and comprehensive in the travel and tourism industry.

Lufthansa retoma voos para Erbil, no norte do Iraque

Após reuniões com as autoridades nacionais responsáveis pela segurança, o Grupo Lufthansa decidiu retomar hoje os voos para Erbil, no norte do Iraque. Erbil está localizada bem longe da zona de crise no Iraque. Os voos de e para a cidade irão ter nova rota, evitando sobrevoar a zona.

A Lufthansa tem dois voos semanais para Erbil e a Austrian Austrian um voo diário. Por enquanto, todo o tráfico para a Ásia e Médio Oriente irá continuar a evitar o espaço aéreo iraquiano.

O Grupo Lufthansa tem contactos próximos e regulares com as autoridades nacionais responsáveis pela segurança  em todo o mundo, e também no Iraque.  Com base na avaliação atual, não há perigo em sobrevoar o Iraque. No entanto, o Grupo Lufthansa decidiu evitar por enquanto o espaço aéreo acima da secção controlada pelo Isis. 

Ao avançar com este passo, o Grupo Lufthansa teve em consideração a apreensão crescente dos clientes e das próprias tripulações, A segurança e o bem-estar dos passageiros é naturalmente a prioridade máxima das companhias aéreas do grupo. As novas rotas de voo não vão aumentar significativamente os tempos de voo.

Lufthansa Group resumes flights to and from Erbil in northern Iraq / The Iraqi airspace above the section controlled by Isis to be avoided by transit traffic till further notice

After renewed consultation with the relevant national security authorities, the Lufthansa Group has decided to resume flights to Erbil in northern Iraq from tomorrow. Erbil lies well outside the direct crisis zone in Iraq, and flights to and from the city will be routed to avoid overflying the zone. 

Lufthansa flies twice-weekly to Erbil, a further daily flight is operated by Austrian Airlines. For the time being, however, transit traffic to Asia and the Middle East, for example, will continue to detour Iraqi airspace.  

The Lufthansa Group is in close and regular contact with the relevant national security authorities, also in Iraq.  Based on our own assessment, there is currently no danger in overflying Iraq. Nevertheless, the Lufthansa Group has decided to avoid the Iraqi airspace above the section controlled by Isis for the time being. 

In taking this step, the Lufthansa Group is taking into account the growing apprehension of customers and our own flight crews. The safety and wellbeing of passengers is naturally our paramount priority. 

The changes in flight routes apply to all airlines in the Lufthansa Group.  Aside from Lufthansa, those airlines include Lufthansa Cargo, Austrian Airlines and Swiss. The new flight routes will not significantly lengthen flight times.