HONG KONG, 15 November 2003 — Cathay Pacific Airways, Hong Kong’s number one airline, has become the first carrier to formally offer in-flight e-mail on all international services.
For a flat fee of $19.95 first, business and some economy class passengers can send and receive an unlimited number of e-mails throughout their flight and on some connecting services. The system, which allows people to access Hotmail and AOL accounts, has been fitted to 53 of the airlines fleet of 83 aircraft. All the planes are expected to be equipped with servers and satellite communication links by the middle of next year. The only other airlines to offer in-flight e-mail are United Airlines and Continental Airlines on domestic services in the United States. The network, which has been developed over the last three years, follows a partnership between PCCW, a Hong Kong telecommunications provider, and Tenzing Communications, a US-based software company. (DPA)
Muscat InterContinental’s New Management Team
DUBAI, 15 November 2003 — InterContinental Hotels Group has appointed a new management team at Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat. With more than 20 years’ experience in the hotel industry, Malcolm Rann has taken over as general manager of the hotel. He is also the new director of operations for InterContinental Hotels Group for Oman. Rann, who has spent six years of his career in the Middle East and Africa, was previously general manager of the newly built Asmara InterContinental in Eritrea. He started off as a room service manager at the Portman InterContinental in the UK in 1982 after obtaining a higher national diploma in hotel, catering and institutional management from Oxford Polytechnic. He has since held a number of senior positions at InterContinental Hotels Group properties in Riyadh, Cairo, London, Lujbljana in Slovenia, and Moscow. His first general manager’s posting was at the George InterContinental, Edinburgh. He will be assisted by Hafidh Al-Busaidy, an Omani national born in Brighton, the UK, who has been promoted to resident manager at the Al Bustan Palace InterContinental Muscat.
Austrian Tourist Board Promotes Vienna
JEDDAH, 15 November 2003 — In a recent presentation held at Jeddah Marriott Hotel, the Vienna Tourist Board of Austria focused on Vienna as an ideal destination for Saudi families, especially during the upcoming winter break. “Vienna boasts a whole host of events for its visitors in the 2003-04 season. The “Elisabeth,” described as the world’s most successful German musical, will be on at the Theater an der Wien, while the latest exhibition at the Albertina showcases masterpieces by “Albrecht Durer” and the MusuemsQuartier focuses on the art scene and special winter architecture. Winter is the time when Vienna is at its most romantic, with many exciting gift and toy markets and “Winter at the MQ.” During winter, especially in the current month and the next, the entire main courtyard of Vienna’s MQ will again be transformed into an artscape with spectacular lighting effects and special winter architecture. The “Magic of Winter on Rathausplatz” welcomes visitors with the traditional gift and toy market and the festively illuminated trees of the Rathaus Park. The Le Meridien chain’s new five-star hotel has come up on Ringstrasse in the vicinity of the Vienna State Opera. All rooms are equipped with high-speed Internet access. Every year on Dec. 31, Vienna is transformed into a pulsating ballroom overflowing with joie de vivre. When the Pummerin, Austria’s largest bell, rings in the new year, thousands will celebrate the start of 2004 to lively waltz music. The SoulCity 2003 — the Snowboard event — will take place around the giant Ferris wheel in Vienna’s Prater funfair.
Gulf Air Introduces Sky Nanny
JEDDAH, 15 November 2003 — Gulf Air has announced the introduction of a ‘sky nanny,’ described as the world’s first. The nanny will be available on its routes between Bahrain, Abu Dhabi and London, and the Bahrain-Sydney route, beginning with the airline’s inaugural flight to Sydney on Nov. 23. The nanny will be a fully qualified member of the in-flight service team, dedicated to delivering specialist care for children up to the age of 12 traveling with their parents or as unaccompanied minors. “Development of this enhanced in-flight childcare service has been undertaken with Norland College one of the foremost establishments in the world for childcare and education,” said John Butler, vice president marketing and sales at the airline. “The all-female complement of sky nannies will provide qualified professional attention and care from the moment of boarding the flight to the end of the journey. This will include keeping children entertained and fed, giving parents a breather,” he added. “Services of the nanny who will be identified on board by a special apron, will include checking dietary requirements and keeping children amused with a range of Arabic and English books, comics and entertainment channels. We’re presently upgrading the children’s menu to include new and healthy options. Their meals will be served ahead of the rest of the cabin to allow them to be assisted by their parents,” he said. A specially tailored childcare training course was developed for members of the airline’s flight attendants selected as sky nannies. The pan-Gulf carrier, owned by Bahrain, Oman and the UAE, flew a record 1.81 million passengers during the third quarter of 2003.
