Figures reported in PATA’s Travel Monitor for the third quarter of 2008 reflect the growing impact of the global economic downturn on travel and tourism across the Asia Pacific region.

But the Monitor, which analyses international arrivals figures obtained exclusively by PATA, also indicates cause for optimism in certain destinations.

Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park, one of the world’s leading, full-service hotel brands has launched ‘The Art of Christmas’, a charity auction that celebrates Chinese art during this festive season of giving and goodwill.

With all proceeds going to disadvantaged students of the Yang Dong Migrant Primary School, the hotel has commissioned three young and talented artists from Shanghai to create artwork for the hotel that resonate with the Christmas spirit.

by djd

Superlatives in the sands of the desert: A new subway is to help cope with the rapid growth in Dubai. Photo: djd/Grammer

The emirate Dubai at the Persian Gulf is breaking all boundaries, with a superlative luxury oasis growing from the desert sands. Amongst the many construction projects, two stand out: before the end of this year, the Burj Dubai will be completed, its 700 meters making it the highest building in the world, and the most comfortable subway in the world is to start operating next year. The metro will play its part in helping Dubai to cope with its growth – the population is expected to rise from 1.4 million to five million.

UNWTO and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have formally launched the UN Silk Road City Awards Scheme within the framework of the Silk Road Initiative (SRI), which is to be implemented in the coming months. The key aims of the Initiative are to improve policy and legal conditions for trade, to attract investment to the region, and to promote and attract tourism.

by CHD

Tophotelprojects.com: Nearly 500 new top hotels world wide are close to opening
The first-class and luxury hotel industry continues to grow rapidly. World wide, nearly 500 new top hotels with around 199,000 rooms will be opened over the next months. 28 percent of openings take place in Europe, 27 percent in North America and 41 percent in East Asia. This is shown by research conducted by tophotelprojects.com, the leading international database for hotel projects. 32 hotel projects have more than 500 rooms (mainly in Asia).

by tophotel.de

At the anniversary gala of trade journal Top hotel, which took place at Sofitel Munich Bayerpost and was moderated by Werner Schulze-Erdel, 21 year old BA student Saskia Winkler from Kempinski Grand Hotel Heiligendamm was nominated as „Top hotel Beauty 2008“.

For the third time, Germany’s renowned hotel trade journal searched for the most beautiful hotel employees from the German-speaking region.