The first ship of TUI Cruises docked at the Lloyd Wharf in Bremerhaven on Thursday, 03/26/09, after a successful journey from the Caribbean. This marks the beginning of a 38-day long wharf stay for the future “Mein Schiff”, during which it will be comprehensively remodeled to fit the new concept. The remodeling investment amounts to 50 million euros.

Richard J. Vogel, CEO of TUI Cruises, is happy to see the ship safely inside the docks: “This is the beginning of the last phase of our exciting founding history for the time being – the commissioning of the first ship of TUI Cruises.”

Six months after the Life Heritage Resort Hoi An reopened with a fresh, tropical Asian modern design, the Old Town’s premier resort has opened the doors on a new facility – a fully fledged Life Spa.

Throughout its first several years of operation, the riverside resort’s Life Spa operated in a cabana setting between the banks of the Thu Bon and the resort’s pool. This month, the expanded Life Spa debuts four new treatments rooms and a spa menu that borrows more than a few pages from its acclaimed sister resort in Quy Nhon.

Steigenberger Middle East is well represented in Egypt with four luxury hotels in key destinations of the country: The Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel and the Steigenberger Al Dau Club in Hurghada, the Steigenberger Golf Resort in El Gouna and the Steigenberger Nile Palace in Luxor.

On the occasion of this year’s ITB, Steigenberger Middle East was proud to announce its first annual breakfast event where the Steigenberger Al Dau Beach Hotel and the Steigenberger Al Dau Club awarded their best tour operators and business partners that contributed to the great success of the two hotels in the year 2008 and the fast-growing awareness of the brand in the area.

The leadership of the „Mein Schiff“, the first ship of TUI Cruises, has been determined: Kjell Holm (59) will be taking command of the bridge, while Axel Sorger (41) will be responsible for the hotel operations on the five-star plus ship as General Manager.

Kjell Holm, hailing from Finland, looks back on a long career on the water. Raised on the Finnish coast, he became a captain with the Swedish sea carrier Wallenius in 1983, for which he worked for 16 years. During this period, Holm was stationed in Bremerhaven for five years and is since fluent in the German language. Over the last 14 years, he worked as captain for Norwegian Cruise Line and Star Cruises.

Two leading international companies will be working together in the future. Air Partner, one of the world’s leading providers of charter airplanes, and Engel & Völkers, one of the leading international realty companies will now offer joint services to their discerning clients. Engel & Völkers is one of the world’s leading brokerage companies for residential and business properties, as well as yachts in the premium segment, and is currently represented in 26 countries worldwide. The core capacities of its more than 3,300 employees include consultancy, letting, sales and appraisal for private and institutional clients.

by editorial office, bw

Largest Asset Ever to be Offered at Open Outcry Real Estate Auction

Las Vegas. The 22-acre Dragon City Hotel and Resort casino site in Las Vegas, Nev., will go on the auction block May 16 during the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) Convention.

“The site could be the largest single asset ever sold at an open outcry real estate auction in the history of the world,” said Michael E. Berland, executive vice president and principal of Chartwell Group’s Accelerated Marketing Division. “This is a highly strategic opportunity for buyers to acquire a fully entitled casino site in an unparalleled location.”