Northstar

NEWS www.travelweeklyweb.com Turkish Airlines names Kobe Bryant as brand ambassador SINGAPORE – Turkish Airlines has named legendary basketball star, Kobe Bryant, as the global brand ambassador for the airline for the next two years. Turkish Airlines, the fourth biggest network carrier in Europe, has rapidly expanded its U.S. presence in recent years and will be launching its fi rst non-stop fl ight from the West Coast. The airline will offer four fl ights per week from Los Angeles' LAX Airport to Atatürk Airport in Istanbul beginning 3 March 2011. A global advertising campaign featuring Bryant is planned for 2011 with television advertisements slated to run in the US and the Middle East in the fi rst quarter of 2011. After which, it will be broadcast globally to more than 80 countries. In addition to the US, the campaign will focus on the Middle East as well as the Far East where the basketball player has a large fan base. The campaign will also include billboards, print and online components. Bryant is scheduled to make several appearances on behalf of Turkish Airlines in the coming year, including the planned Los Angeles launch. "I'm so proud to be chosen as a global brand ambassador for Turkish Airlines. They have been providing travellers with excellent service for 77 years, and I'm glad that U.S. travellers, including my fellow Angelenos, are able to experience Turkish Airlines fi rst- hand," said Kobe Bryant. "Turkey is a country rich in natural beauty and thousands of years of cultural history, and I'm proud to partner with Turkish Airlines to bring that majesty to people around the world." Crowne Plaza debuts in Bangkok BANGKOK – Crowne Pl a z a Hotels & Resorts is making its brand debut in Bangkok, in the heart of the city's central business district. The 241-room Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park is located on the 21st to 32nd floors of the Ramaland complex in the Silom- Rama IV district. Replacing the Pan Pacific Bangkok, the property is a short distance from the prestigious S i am Pa r a gon Ma l l, Ba ng kok Convention Centre, Chulalongkorn University and a vast variety of retail, dining and entertainment options in the Silom area. And next door to the property are two key public transport options – the Sala Daeng sky train and the Silom subway – both providing quick, easy access to the rest of the city. The ho t e l 's me e t i ng an d lobby and conference facilities, entrance will be renovated shortly to reflect hallmark features of the Crowne Plaza brand. A fe a t ure of the Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Park is the dedicated meet ings spaces on the 21st floor of the hotel , of fering natur a l dayl i ght and flexible set-up options together with the Crowne Meetings team offering personalised services. Guests can also enjoy a range of upscale dining and leisure options within the hotel, including fi ve food- and-beverage outlets, extensive banqueting facilities, a resort-style pool and a spa. "This hotel provides the perfect launch pad for the Crowne Plaza brand in Thailand," said general manager, Mark Winterton. The Crowne Plaza Bangkok Lumpini Qatar Airways to promote Kenya KENYA – Qatar Airways, the world's five-star airline, in conjunction with the Kenya Tourist Board, launched a new Kenya informative joint website to help Chinese travellers fi nd a warm weather vacation to Kenya. Starting from today, it will unroll a new digital campaign where visitors can send Kenya themed e-postcards to their friends and relatives, and simply fi ll in the reason why they fly with Qatar Airways to Kenya, to win a dream holiday to Kenya. The promotional site (http://www. fl yqatar-china.com/kenya/) is specially designed to introduce high quality Kenya travel to China mainland and Hong Kong market. 6 | ■ TRAVELWEEKLY ASIA | 04 JANUARY 2011 Qatar Airways operates a total of 14 flights a week to Nairobi, capital city of Kenya, with varying connection times via Doha. In China, the airline serves Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. Customers can book flights to Kenya from any one of four network points across Greater China. "We are very pleased to launch this promotional website with our esteemed partner Kenya Tourist Board to advocate the 'cradle of humanity', Kenya, in China market" said Woo Yew Seong, Qatar Airways country manager Greater China. "With the global economy on the mend, Chinese travellers are packing their bags again for travel." www.travelweeklyweb.com Park is the Group's fourth hotel in Bangkok and the tenth IHG hotel in Thailand – joining hotels in Hua Hin, Pat t ay a , Phuket , Cha-am, Phi Phi and Chiangmai. IHG wi ll be opening its 11th proper ty in mid 2011 wi th the Holiday Inn Resort Mai Khao Beach in Phuket. Additionally, two new brands will premier in Southeast Asia in Bangkok – the Hotel Indigo Bangkok Wireless Road and the Holiday Inn Express Siam, located in Rama 1 over the next few years.

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