Boeing has delivered Qatar Airways’ 100th airliner, a Boeing 777-200LR (longer range), at a ceremony in Everett, Washington The Doha-based airline now operates 27 Boeing 777s of various types, including 16 777-300ERs (extended range), two 777 Freighters and nine 777-200LRs. Boeing handed over the airplane to Qatar Airways at a ceremony attended by its CEO Akbar Al Baker. Qatar Airways has 13 more Boeing 777s of different variants scheduled for delivery. “Since we received our first Boeing 777 in November 2007, the airplane has earned itself a reputation for comfort, versatility and reliability, and it is only fitting that our 100th aircraft is a 777,” said Al Baker. “From an operational perspective, the 777 has enabled us to pursue our aggressive global expansion plans, allowing us to operate direct non-stop flights from our Doha hub in Qatar to destinations such as Sao Paolo in Brazil, and Melbourne in Australia, in a cost-effective manner. From a passenger perspective, the airplane offers unparalleled reliability, while its cabin architecture, combined with our award-winning five-star service and interiors, makes for one of the finest flying experiences for passengers today,” said Al Baker. “We congratulate Qatar Airways on this significant milestone,” said Jim Albaugh, president and CEO, Boeing Commercial Airplanes.

Oman Air has received the Airline of the Year award at France’s Laurier d’Or du Voyage d’Affaires. The gold award was presented at the International French Travel Market IFTM-Top Resa, France’s leading international travel and tourism trade fair. The awards, hosted by IFTM-Top Resa in partnership with Deplacements.com and Thalys, recognize the very best in the business travel products and services, and Oman Air’s won the gold award in the Airline of the Year category, ahead of Qatar Airways and Korean Airlines. Philippe Georgiou, chief corporate affairs officer, said: “It is indeed an honor to receive this recognition for our service between France and Oman, as we celebrate the second anniversary of the launch of our Muscat-Paris route. The extraordinarily high quality of our Business Class service has attracted many accolades and this award follows a number of other quality awards we are delighted to have received over the last couple of years, including Skytrax’s recent Best Business Class Seat in the World award.” The nomination follows 18 months in which the airline has introduced new airbus A330 aircraft to its fleet, each with spacious and luxurious interiors and state-of-the-art in-flight entertainment. It has also been the first airline in the world to offer passengers full mobile phone and wi-fi connectivity simultaneously onboard its wide-body aircraft.

Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts is partnering with TCS & Starquest Expeditions to create the ultimate globetrotting adventure: Around the World by Private Jet. Departing from Los Angeles on Oct. 29, 2012, the specially outfitted Boeing 757 will take 78 guests on an epic 22-day adventure to Hawaii, French Polynesia, Australia, Bali, Indonesia, Thailand, India, Egypt and the UK. Travelers will enjoy the ultimate jetsetter experience from their first check-in to their final disembarkation, with thoughtful service and opportunities for customization every step of the way. The in-flight experience, provided by TCS & Starquest Expeditions includes a one to five crew-to-traveler ratio and two-by-two VIP-style seating as well as expedited customs and immigration formalities wherever possible. On the ground, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts will exclusively provide accommodations as well as most of the dining experiences. The in-flight crew features a Four Seasons concierge that will extend the company’s service standards in the air. By serving as the primary liaison with Four Seasons colleagues on the ground, the concierge provides insider destination knowledge prior to landing and effortlessly arranges private tours, spa treatments, tee-times and more during any point of the trip. On-the-ground itineraries showcase the best local sights and specialties, while remaining flexible enough to accommodate personalized excursions and adventures. From the glitzy Hollywood welcome in Los Angeles to the farewell gala dinner overlooking London’s Hyde Park, guests can expect more than three weeks of extraordinary experiences.

Hankook Tire, the seventh largest and one of the fastest growing tire companies in the world, and Bin-Shihon Group, Hankook’s exclusive distributor in Saudi Arabia, announced the opening of the brand’s first Hankook Masters in Saudi Arabia, a tire integrated service center for Hankook’s customers, in Jeddah. Hankook Masters are flagship stores dedicated to providing high-quality tires and comprehensive tire services. Hankook Tire gives extensive support to its direct-invested and franchised stores aimed at offering premier services to customers. All Hankook Masters stores employ advanced management concepts and state-of-the-art equipment. Hankook Masters form a global retail network with centers in Europe, China, Australia, and other various parts of the world. The Hankook Masters center in Jeddah is established with Hankook’s international standards, providing quick and reliable services that include sales offering of a wide range of Hankook-branded PCR and LT tires, tire check-up services with the latest technology, as well as wheel balancing and alignment tests to ensure customers’ safety and satisfaction. By 2013, Hankook Tire plans to establish fifty Hankook Masters centers in Saudi Arabia. Ahmad Bin-Shihon, president of Bin-Shihon Group, said: “The new center is staffed with highly qualified technicians specialized in providing Hankook tires with maximized customer service.” Sang Wook Lee, Hankook Tire’s chief manager of Jeddah office, said: “Hankook Tire’s ongoing efforts to provide the highest quality products and services to our customers are borderless.”

Available only from Alshaya Home in Saudi Arabia, the pieces seen here are just a few of the great items available from the And So To Bed collections. And So To Bed was Alshaya Trading’s first venture into home furnishings and first became available in the Middle East in 2004. This renowned English brand unites both contemporary and classic premium bedroom furniture designs with the high-end market. A dazzling range of British-designed wood, iron, brass and leather beds, along with a full complement of mattresses, bed linen and bedroom accessories, the And So To Bed collections are Available at the Alshaya Home flagship store on Tahlia Street, Jeddah, in the Al Haddab Center. Alshaya Home gives discerning Saudi consumers exclusive access to the most exciting brands in the home furnishings sector, including And So To Bed, Becara, Duravit, Estel, Hansgrohe, Imola, Keuco and Nobilia. And So To Bed has launched a glamorous silver version of one of its best-loved beds — the Versailles. Versailles is a splendid hand-carved rococo folly of a bed, with a soaring headboard, bow feet and swan-necked endposts. Previously only available in mahogany, it can now be ordered in a sumptuous silver leaf finish. Applied by hand, the finish is slightly antiqued and buffed to a subtle sheen. New to the collection is the Juliet Caned, a classic French bed in the fabulous Rococo style of the 18th Century. Decorative in every detail, the Juliet Caned features exquisite hand carving, with a floral motif crowning the extra tall headboard.