Punam Mohandas is the new Director of Communication at PATA,Pacific Asia Travel Association.  She is a senior journalist with 17-years experience. Her most recent assignment was as Editor of Hotelier India magazine. She spent almost four years in Dubai with the Khaleej Times and subsequently, as Editor of The Big Project magazine. She has also been a coordinating Editor with the Times of India, New Delhi and has penned weekly columns for The Hindustan Times, The Statesman, the Times of India Kolkata and the Delhi Midday.

Air Berlin PLC announces an increase of its participation in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH. Following the fulfillment of all the contractually agreed conditions, the contracts notarized on 17 February 2010 have been implemented today. Air Berlin PLC & Co. Luftverkehrs KG indirectly acquired 25.9 percent of the shares of NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH from the Privatstiftung Lauda (private Lauda foundation) and has thereby increased its current participation in NIKI Luftfahrt GmbH from 24 to 49.9 percent. The purchase price for the shares is EUR 21 million.
In connection with the increase of its participation, Air Berlin PLC & Co.

Following the success of last year’s EIBTM Hosted Buyer Programme, which saw record numbers of attendance and numbers of pre scheduled appointments, EIBTM have released details of its 2010 Programme. Registration is now open for those wishing to apply for Hosted Buyer status at www.eibtm.com, http://www.eibtm.com.  EIBTM takes place from 30 November – 2 December at the Fira Gran Via in Barcelona. Increased numbers of Hosted Buyers from all the key European markets, as well as countries such as Brazil, Russia, India, USA and Canada, are expected with

Cooperation between Egypt and the leading trade fair for the world wide travel industry officially agreed on 1 July 2010. Egypt – where it all begins – as the partner country, Egypt will feature very strongly at ITB Berlin in 2012. The agreement between the leading trade fair for the worldwide travel industry and its partner country, Egypt, was

This inaugural event is the first of its kind to take place in Phuket, Thailand. The show will offer Phuket based Hotels and other Hospitality related businesses the chance to show case their services to the rest of the world.  The show will also include professionally coordinated business appointments between buyers and sellers. Buyers will be fully hosted and pre-selected with support from TAT to maximise buying potential.

Royal Caribbean International is increasing the length of its Dubai-based season for the 2,501-guest ship Brilliance of the Seas during the winter 2011-2012 season due to feedback from travel professionals that there is yet more demand for these cruises.

Brilliance of the Seas debuted cruises from the United Arab Emirates in January 2010 with the ship operating a series of seven-night cruises until April 2010.