RIYADH: SriLankan Airlines will add a third flight out of Dammam beginning July 21, bringing its total flights to the Kingdom to seven. With this initiative, SriLankan Airline will have 37 weekly connections to nine cities in the Middle East — Riyadh, Jeddah, Dammam, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Doha, Muscat and Kuwait. Additional flights will operate to three cities, including Doha, which increases from the present four to six, and Bahrain, which goes up from five to seven. “Residents in the Eastern Province have the added benefit of seven flights from Bahrain in addition to the flights from Dammam,” SriLankan Airlines Country Manager Riza Yusoof said. The airline’s new packages include “Kids Go Free.” Its yet another package is “Island Breaks,” which offers stopover holidays in Sri Lanka among travelers transiting Colombo to other leisure destinations.

Japanese CG honored

JEDDAH: Yusuf Alireza honored Japanese Consul General Toshimitsu Ishigure and members of the Japanese community at an open day at Osaka Japanese restaurant on Rawdah Street here recently. Alireza is one of the partners of Alawi Alireza and Brothers, which is a major supplier of Japanese food in the region. The group also owns a Swiss restaurant, one of the elite outlets here. “The Japanese are well-known for supporting Japanese restaurants wherever they live. Japanese residents are extremely happy with the contribution of Osaka restaurant. The food is cooked by Japanese chefs who offer a wide and rich variety of authentic food,”Alireza said. “We appreciate and value the generosity of the Kingdom, and its rich heritage and friendship,” the consul general said.

Jeddah Hilton wins award

JEDDAH: Jeddah Hilton was awarded “2008 Platinum Award for Best Conference Centre in Middle East & North Africa” during the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Travel Awards 2008 held in Dubai recently. The prestigious “Hospitality Commitment to Quality and Ethics” Travel Awards are organized by the Consultants of Hospitality Administrators (CHA), a hospitality service and human resources consulting firm, in recognition of the top industry organizations that have gone the extra mile of success in the Middle East and North Africa’s growing travel industry. Facing the Red Sea on the Corniche, the hotel comprises 388 rooms, including three “Royal” suites and 30 “Sultan” and “Amiri” suites, five restaurants, and Hiltonia Sports and Leisure club.

Gulf Air flights to Shanghai

JEDDAH: Gulf Air flies four times a week from Bahrain to Shanghai. “To make it even easier for you to travel, all redemption flights and upgrades between Bahrain and Shanghai from June 16 to Aug. 31 are available at 50 percent off the normal rates,” a Gulf Air spokesman said. “So, from as little as 13,500 miles you can now take the trip you have been waiting for to Shanghai, or give yourself the upgrade that will allow you to experience our premium services such as ‘Sky Chefs’ in first class and sleeper seats in first and business class,” he added. “If you are looking for a hotel, check out some of the double mile offers from our partners. Alternatively, you can choose from our wide selection of hotels when booking online,” he said.