For Immediate Release

Where press releases are breaking news

Shangri-La issues statement: Attack on the Shangri-La Hotel Colombo Table One Restaurant

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An explosion took place in Shangri-La Hotel, Colombo’s Table One Restaurant on Easter Sunday during Easter Brunch at 9.05 am. As reported on eTurboNews on Sunday the veteran chef was killed with her daughter.

The explosion was part of a coordinated terror attack in Sri Lanka. A statement by Shangri La was received today in regards to the attack on their hotel. The statement says:

It is with great sadness that we can confirm that we are aware of a number of casualties among our guests and colleagues. This includes three of our colleagues who were fatally injured in the course of their duties. We will continue to work closely with local authorities and emergency services to provide our fullest assistance and support to all affected parties. Our hotel remains secured by the military and the police. We have also decided that the hotel will be closed until 30 April.

Our immediate priority continues to be the safety and well-being of all affected. We have also proactively carried out the following measures since the attacks in Colombo:

· We will continue to provide alternative accommodation for our affected guests

· Our team has been assisting with guest requests for transportation and flight arrangements

· We also have staff stationed at the airport and at the hospitals to render assistance where needed

· A dedicated Call Helpline (+603 2025 4619) has been set up for affected guests and/or their loved ones

· We are working closely with relevant embassy officials to support their respective citizens.

Our hotel team remains ready to offer any other assistance to our guests and their families and to provide the necessary support to our colleagues and their next of kin during this very difficult time. As this is an active investigation and out of respect to our guests and staff’s privacy, we are unable to provide further details at this stage.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Shangri La Hotel Colombo Veteran Chef killed with 160 people in 6 terror attacks in Sri Lanka

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Shangri La Colomo

Shangri La Colombo Veteran chef Shantha Mayadunne and her daughter are among 138 or more dead this morning at 6 deadly terror blasts on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka.  Several local news sources report more than  160 dead and among them 8 foreigners.

Explosions occurred at

“How can we fight terrorism when secretly we support the extreme ideologies of one terrorist group? Instead of saying ”terrorism has no religion” please come out and say that religious fundamentalism leads to terrorism and it should be condemned, is a comment eTN received from Sri Lanka.

Shangri La Colomo
Shantha Mayadunne, Chef Shangri La Colombo died in terror attack Easter Sunday

According to unconfirmed information the attack at Shangri La hotel was carried out by suicide bomber Zahran Hashim, while Abu Mohammad has been identified as the attacker at the Batticaloa church.

According to sources, Abu Mahammad was named after Taha Subhi Falaha, known as Abu Muhammad al-Adnani al-Shami, was the official spokesperson and a senior leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. He was described as the chief of its external operations. He was the second most senior leader of the Islamic State after its leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdad

 

Travel News | eTurboNews

CarTrawler appoints new head of North America operations

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CarTrawler has appointed travel industry veteran Charlie Coniglio as senior vice president, North America.

Mr. Coniglio comes to CarTrawler from Green Torino LLC, a boutique travel consultancy he founded in 2016. Through Green Torino, Charlie has worked with the CarTrawler team for the previous three years and has been crucial to CarTrawler’s success in the North American market. Mr. Coniglio brings more than 20 years’ experience in the car rental industry through his roles as VP at Hertz and, prior to that, VP & senior marketing officer at Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group.

“Charlie is placed perfectly for this role as he brings a wealth of experience that will be fundamental to our growth. In this new role he will be responsible for leading our New York team to ensure the successful delivery of our strategy,” said CarTrawler CEO Cormac Barry. “The opening of our New York office is testament to CarTrawler’s remarkable achievements over the last 12 months, following the launch of our partnership with Alaska Airlines. Supporting both our new and existing partners from within their home markets will ensure continued success in North America.”

Commenting on his new appointment, CarTrawler SVP Charlie Coniglio said, “I am very excited to lead the expansion of CarTrawler with the opening of our New York offices. Our B2B focus aligns perfectly with the North American Market, and we see great opportunities ahead. CarTrawler has an exceptional product, supported by an inspiring team of people. I am looking forward to being instrumental in CarTrawler’s future growth.”

Travel News | eTurboNews

Lennox Hotels to opens its first US property this summer

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A new modern hotel, combining contemporary design with original Art Deco design, is on the horizon in South Florida hotspot, Miami Beach. Lennox Hotel Miami Beach will be a bold luxury boutique property offering stylish accommodation and an authentic Miami experience.

Located in what was once the Peter Miller Hotel, the property is a protected building in heart of the area’s Historic District. Lennox Hotels has undertaken a complete transformation of the building, maintaining its legacy by retaining its original Art Deco and Mediterranean Revival architectural style exterior and transforming it into a living landmark.

The hotel – located on Miami’s iconic Collins Avenue – will offer 119 contemporary guestrooms, each unique in keeping with the original form of the building. The rooms are enhanced by natural elements, handcrafted furnishings, and eco-friendly and upcycled materials meticulously curated by acclaimed Argentinian interior designer Juan Ciavarella. Soft neutral tones and unique textiles combine in rooms that will range in categories from Terrace Poolside with direct pool access, to Balcony King with private balcony overlooking the colourful streets of Miami Beach.

At the centre of the property’s four interconnected buildings, a Mediterranean-style courtyard features an intimate swimming pool and poolside bar offering al fresco dining and serving innovative cocktails.

Lennox Hotels is an Argentinian hotel group with properties in Buenos Aires and Ushuaia. CEO of Lennox Hotels, Diego Agnelli, said:

“We are thrilled to be expanding the Lennox Hotel brand to the U.S. with the opening of Lennox Hotel Miami Beach. Our reasons for choosing this area were as much because of the area’s vibrancy and liveliness as it was because of the welcoming spirit of its people and the friendliness they express toward travellers. Our vision for Lennox Hotel Miami Beach is to provide a sophisticated and inviting setting for travellers to live an authentic Miami experience, one that not only provides a place to mingle with the locals, but also allows them to feel like locals and enjoy the area, its culture and vivacity through the lens of a local.”

Transforming a historical landmark

The historic structure was designed by architect Russell Pancoast in 1934. Pancoast is known for much of Miami Beach’s most celebrated buildings, including the Surf Club, the Church by the Sea and the Miami Beach Auditorium.
The property has the notable distinction of being among the 300 Miami Beach buildings that were leased by the U.S. Army for the Air Forces Technical Training Command during World War II. The buildings returned to civilian use in 1943 and remained a military property until 1944. The structure is now part of the Historic District.
The transformation of the hotel’s original structure into Lennox Hotel Miami Beach is the work of veteran Miami architect Beilison Gomez.

Travel News | eTurboNews

Do Millennials want “the Grands” along when they travel?

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It’s no surprise that Millennials love to “do it for the ‘gram.” But when it comes to travel buddies, it’s Millennials’ desire to travel with Grandpa and Grandma that may surprise you.

According to a new survey from Visit Anaheim, the official destination organization for Anaheim, multigenerational vacations are top-of-mind with travelers when it comes to reliving memories, while also creating new ones, with the next generation. The survey, conducted by OnePoll for Visit Anaheim, polled a sample of 1,000 Americans and found that Millennial respondents (aged 25-34) lead the category when it comes to wanting more multigenerational trips, coming in at a whopping 83 percent.

“While Visit Anaheim knew that families loved reliving childhood experiences by having grandparents tag along on vacation, we were surprised by the enthusiasm that the Millennial survey respondents had for this ‘Grandtravel’ trend,” said Jay Burress, president & CEO of Visit Anaheim. “Millennials often have a close relationship with their parents and are now becoming parents themselves. The Baby Boomer grandparents are incredibly active, so they can easily keep up with the grandkids. Additionally, as many smart parents have figured out, having Grandpa and Grandma around means Mom and Dad can escape to check out the local nightlife or less kid-friendly attractions, knowing the kids are in great hands.”

In fact, two thirds (66 percent) of respondents have traveled with three or more generations of their family, making vacations with grandparents, their adult children, and grandchildren, a travel trend with no signs of slowing down. In fact, the majority plan on taking more extended family trips.

Nostalgia is one of the main reasons the trend keeps growing. Many parents and grandparents love reliving memories. The majority (56 percent) “strongly agree” that multigenerational trips are more special when visiting somewhere their parents or grandparents have been before and 53 percent report being “very happy” when they take trips to places they’ve previously been with their parents or children.

VISIT ANAHEIM’S GRANDTRAVEL CONTEST

With Spring vacation around the corner and Summer vacation planning in the works, Visit Anaheim is kicking off their first-ever Grandtravel contest. One lucky family of six will win an Anaheim vacation, including accommodations at Great Wolf Lodge and tickets to Knott’s Berry Farm – perfect for a family of four, plus two grandparents. Contest starts Tuesday, March 26, 2019 and ends Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Enter to win here. Find rules and regulations available here.

Actress, activist and mom to four kids, Holly Robinson Peete, is helping to kick-off the contest by encouraging families to take Grandma and Grandpa along for the vacation fun.

“Anyone who watches us on ‘Meet the Peetes’ knows that my mom is a big part of our lives – and that includes vacation time,” said Robinson Peete. “Whether it’s a girls weekend in New York City visiting my daughter, Ryan, or escaping for a quick staycation to somewhere fun like Anaheim, having grandma along for the journey is something the entire family looks forward to every chance we get.”

Additional Survey Highlights

Other noteworthy Visit Anaheim survey results include:

  • LET’S HIT THE ROAD – Multigenerational trips are most likely to be either a road trip (69 percent), traveling to see family (67 percent), or a flight to a major destination (48 percent)
  • PARENTAL PLANNERS – When planning a multigenerational (grandparents, parents, kids) trip, parents are most likely to choose the flights (46 percent), set the dates (38 percent), pick the hotels/lodging (44 percent) and pay for the trip (41 percent)
  • GRANDPARENT TRAVEL PERKS – Top benefits of traveling with three generations are:
    • Allows bonding time/memories to be built between grandparents and grandchildren (67 percent)
    • Spending more quality time together (65 percent)

Though packing up the minivan with three generations can be fun, over half of the respondents (51 percent) have taken a trip where Grandpa and Grandma took the grandkids on vacation – sans their adult children. Many wanted one-on-one time with their grandchild(ren)/grandparent(s) (48 percent), others celebrated a special event or milestone (45 percent), and some believed it created a different dynamic when parents are not there (41 percent).

“Getting to spend time with your grandkids is always special, but being able to vacation with them is truly a treat,” said Dolores Robinson, Holly Robinson Peete’s mom. “My grandkids affectionately call me everything from ‘Gorgeous’ to ‘G-Money.’ It’s because we’ve carved out time to create memories that we have such a close bond. Visit Anaheim’s survey is proof that families love to travel with grandparents. And I love that they’re giving a family a chance to win a vacation to Anaheim – including spots for Grandma and Grandpa. How fun!”

Fans can watch Holly, grandma Dolores, Holly’s husband – NFL veteran quarterback Rodney Peete, and their four kids, embark on their newest adventures on season two of “Meet the Peetes,” which debuted on the Hallmark Channel in late February and airs Monday at 10 p.m./9 Central.

For more information on Anaheim and to begin planning a memorable family-friendly vacation, please visit: visitanaheim.org

Travel News | eTurboNews

CEO Pilar Laguana is fantastic news for Guam Tourism

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Pilar Laguana, an international tourism veteran, is now in charge of the Guam Visitors Bureau. She thinks out of the box, she has a global mindset, and she is a prominent figure in the global travel and tourism industry.

The new president and CEO, Pilar Laguana, was appointed on February 15, 2018 to lead the most important industry in the U.S. territory – Guam. She took over from former GVB President and CEO Nathan Denight

eTN Chatroom: Discuss with readers from around the world:

The GVB Board of Directors unanimously voted Pilar Laguana as the new head of the agency. Board members also confirmed her nomination for Bobby Alvarez to serve as her Vice President.

The board could have not made a better decision.

Previously Ms. Pilar Laguaña has been the Marketing Manager of Guam Visitors Bureau since May 1987. She managed to position Guam as a major global travel and tourism destination.

Pilar always reached out to global markets. Her recent effort to include LGBT travelers to visit Guam was the first for Guam and well received.

Her tourism career began in 1977 as the first candidate under the GVB Management Promotions Internship Program.

Over the years, Ms. Laguaña advanced through the ranks of Promotions Specialist for various markets until she was promoted to Deputy General Manager in 1982. Five years later, she opted to continue her career as the bureau’s marketing manager.

In her role as manager, Ms. Laguaña is responsible for the establishment, overall planning, development, implementation, coordination and supervision of all the bureau’s worldwide marketing and promotional activities.

As a team player with skilled organizational, managerial, analytical and supervisory skills, Ms. Laguaña played a key role in opening up the Korea market in the early 1980s and consistent growth of international markets including Japan, Taiwan, North America/Canada, Hong Kong, Philippines, Micronesia, Australia, Europe, and China.

Ms. Laguaña is an active member of the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA), which awarded her the prestigious PATA Award of Merit in 2009.

She is currently serving a second term as chairman of the National Tour Association’s (NTA) Leadership Team China Task Force. She also holds the longest tenure in the PATA Micronesia Chapter, in which she serves as the organization’s Marketing Committee Co-Chair.

She is a 2011 charter member of the Hawaii Pacific Export Council (also referred to as the District Export).

Ms. Laguaña has earned the Outstanding Young Woman of America award three times, and has been awarded several other honors including being named the Institute of Japanese Studies Awardee, receiving a Guam Legislation Resolution in recognition of her involvement in the research and production of the Jack DeMell Music & Legends of Guam, and being named a Governor of Guam Honorary Ambassador-at-Large.

Her past experience within the tourism industry includes work within the Travel Industry Association (TIA), terms on the editorial board of the Guam Hotel & Restaurant Association (GHRA) and the GHRA Public Relations & Marketing Committee.

Ms. Laguaña acquired her high school and college education in Hawaii and also pursued her professional Japanese language and cultural training from The Tokyo School of Japanese Language – Institute for Research in Linguistic Culture, (Tokyo, Japan).