The Traveller Journal News from the travel industry
Virgin Galactic selects European space port in Sweden Once
flights
have
been
in
operation for 6 to 12 months in the US, the shuttle will move to the to its new Swedish site to address the European market. In a recent interview with Swedish broadcaster TV4, Richard Branson said that spaceflight from Sweden could become a reality as early as 2012. “We would love to send people up Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic has selected
with rocket so they can experience the aurora from
Kiruna, in northern Sweden, as the second
space. Sweden has been very welcoming and very
port for its SpaceShipTwo space shuttle.
enthusiastic about this project, so I am hopeful that
SpaceShipTwo’s first flights are due to to take
we, very soon after having started our space program
off from Virgin Galactic’s home port in New
in New Mexico, will be able to start up in northern
Mexico, US, in 2011.
Sweden”, Branson said.
Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace in Bruges voted Leading Business Hotel in Belgium The Kempinski Hotel Dukes’
organizations in over 160 countries
Palace has been recognized
across the globe.
EU to Review Financial Protection for Travellers Booking Flights Directly with Airlines
as the Leading Business Hotel in Belgium by the
Philippe
prestigious World Travel
Manager of the Kempinski Hotel
De
Meyer,
General
Awards.
Dukes’ Palace commented “This award is a tribute to my entire staff
The World Travel Awards were
which day after day ensures the most
launched in 1993 to acknowledge
consistent and attentive service. We
and recognize
are delighted to be recognized in our first full year of operations with
excellence in the world’s travel
this distinguished honour and it is
and tourism industry. Votes for
wonderful to be acknowledged for
the Awards’ various categories are
our consistent effort to deliver the
The Consumer Commission of the European
cast by travel professionals from
most attentive service, amongst so
Union is launching a review of the financial
183,000 travel agencies, tour and
many outstanding and renowned
protection available to travellers who book
transport companies and tourism
five star hotels in Belgium.”
flights direct with an airline. Currently, only those who have booked through a travel agent or taken out independent financial failure insurance are covered for the cost of a new flight if their carrier goes bust. However, with the airline
Hilton The Hague to open in April 2010
industry under pressure, the Commission considered
The consultation period was finalised at the end
whether the existing Package Travel Directive could be
of January and the Commission expects to publish
A new member of the Hilton
example of how an existing building
extended to cover independent travellers.
proposals for a revised directive in the autumn.
chain, Hilton The Hague, will
can be revived and revitalized.
Emirates Airlines to operate flights to Amsterdam Schiphol
open its doors at the beginning of April. The hotel will feature
The Hague, political capital of the
195 contemporary bedrooms
Netherlands, is home to the Dutch
and 11 meeting rooms,
Royal family and host city to the
including a ballroom with a
International Court of Justice.
maximum capacity for up to
Strategically
400 guests.
Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the
located
between
Hague is just 25 minutes from Situated in the heart of the city,
Schiphol airport and enjoys direct
Emirates Airlines will be operating flights between
2010. The new Emirates service will offer daily links on
Hilton The Hague has a strong
high-speed train links to Brussels
Dubai and Amsterdam Airport Schiphol as from 1 May
Boeing 777 aircraft, with three different service classes.
emphasis on design and is a textbook
and Paris.
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