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Eva Air
With effective from 01st June 05, the Eva Air check-in counter closure time will be changed to minus 40mins prior to departure. Passengers are advised to check-in at the airport for their flight at least 2 hours before flight departure.

There will be no Eva Air service for BR225 Taipei - Singapore and BR226 Singapore - Taipei on 18 June 05.


Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia introduced a 3 times weekly direct service (Mon, Wed, Thurs) from Singapore - Beijing, from 16th May 2005. GA 890 departs Singapore at 0125, arrives Beijing 0740. GA 891 departs Beijing 0855 and arrives in Singapore at 1510.


KLM
All functions of the new World Business Class sleeper seats on KLM Royal Dutch Airlines latest aircraft, the Boeing 777, are controlled at the touch of a button. These seats measure 190 cm in length, are 60 inches apart and can be tilted back to an almost horizontal (170 degrees) position. The many functions offered by this modern recliner include an inflatable lumbar support, a massage setting and an electrical outlet for using your laptop without an electricity adapter (suitable for North American, Japanese and all European plugs except for those issued in the UK). The recliner has a privacy canopy, a large video screen located in the armrest, its own reading light and a telephone.

KLM will cease operations for the Singapore – Jakarta – Singapore schedule effective 02nd July, 2005. The last flight for Singapore-Jakarta-Singapore will be on 01st July, 2005. From 02nd July, 2005 all KLM flights will be operating daily Singapore – Amsterdam – Singapore with turnaround in Singapore and the timings remain unchanged.


Lufthansa
Commencing summer 2005, Lufthansa introduces – Lufthansa Private Jet. In cooperation with NetJets, Lufthansa offers passengers a service which boasts all the benefits of private jet travel, complemented by the services of a renowned and successful international airline.

This offer includes a point-to-point as well as a hub service to and from Lufthansa long-haul flights. The hub service will, in future, give travellers a seamless connection from the more remote destinations in the EU, Switzerland and Norway to Munich airport with its many long-haul Lufthansa routes.

The point-to-point service connects, on request, over 1,000 destinations in the EU, Norway and Switzerland. Your travel time can be significantly shortened, saving up to 5 hours per route.

At the airport benefit from the shortest possible transfer times, check-in and baggage check right through to your final airport destination. At the Munich hub, transfer passengers will be individually escorted through a special service lane and be brought directly to the aircraft by a chauffeur driven limousine. Passport control, security checks and customs procedures can be completed extremely quickly.

On board Lufthansa Private Jet, our passengers will enjoy catering tailored to individual preferences, as well as reading material and in-flight entertainment. Certain additional services such as limousine service at departure or arrival airports, hotel reservations, conference facilities, additional catering options or an unaccompanied minor service for children travelling on their own are also available for an additional fee. The entire itinerary can be booked conveniently through a dedicated service hotline. The invoice will be issued as part of the Lufthansa Ticket.

Due to the size of their fleet, the technological standards of the aircraft with an average age of just 18 months, professional operation, pilot training quality and high safety standards, NetJets is the ideal partner for this exclusive cooperation. Lufthansa Private Jet operates two aircraft types - the Cessna Citation Excel and the Cessna Citation Bravo.


Qantas
Qantas and British airways are introducing a simpler, more straightforward fare structure between Singapore and Australian and European destinations. Some fares include a free stopover on some flights and from London or Frankfurt you can add $100 for a side trip. You can now enjoy flexible combinations at competitive prices between 80 destinations.


Singapore Airlines
Effective 26 June 2005, the US Bureau of Customs and Border Protection will require all passengers (including infants) seeking entry into the U.S. under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) to hold either an individual Machine Readable Passport (MRP) or a valid, unexpired US non-immigrant visa.

If neither is available, entry into the US may be denied. Where conditional entry is granted, a fee of US$65 will be imposed.

In addition, please note that under the Visa Waiver Program, passports issued on or after 26 October 2005 must be biometric passports with machine-readable features.

For more details including the list of VWP countries, please log on to www.singaporeair.com.sg.

With effect from 01 June 2005, passengers can travel ticketless to New Delhi (DEL). Please note that paper tickets issued on/after 01 June 2005 for travel to DEL will be subjected to a surcharge of SGD30 as per current practice. With the addition of DEL, SIA will have a total of 50 destinations that accept ticketless travel.


Valuair
Valuair is the region's only value-for-money budget airline operating out of Singapore. Privately owned, Valuair began operations in May 2004 and currently flies to Bangkok, Jakarta, Hong Kong, Perth, Chengdu & Xiamen on its brand new A320's.

Return fares start from SGD 119 to Bangkok. Conditions apply, contact BTI for more information.


The Peninsula Palace Beijing
Recently renamed from The Palace Hotel to The Peninsula Palace Beijing following a US$ 27 million upgrade, The Peninsula Palace Beijing is now unquestionably the premier hotel in Beijing for business and leisure travelers, as well as the venue of choice for important events and celebrations.

Having opened in 1989, The Peninsula Palace Beijing has an imposing, traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior, integrated with the ultimate in luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities. Ideally located in the center of Beijing, The Peninsula Palace Beijing is just a short stroll from Beijing's Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and is within easy access of Beijing Railway Station.

The hotel offers 525 superbly appointed and spacious guest rooms and suites, based on The Peninsula's tradition of comfort, subtly blended with Chinese influences. Each one of the hotel's guest rooms is equipped with advanced technology for the convenience of hotel guests.

Malaysian Hotels hike rates, quote in foreign currencies.

Escalating operating costs including higher wage bills and rising fuel prices have forced the local hotel industry to raise their room rates by quoting in foreign currencies including in US dollars and euros.

Malaysian Association of Hotel Owners (MAHO) president Amir Abdul Rahman that some hotels have begun quoting their room rates in foreign currencies to overseas guests. Other hotels are awaiting their contracts with foreign travel agents to expire before introducing the new rates, he says.

Amir says for example, if a hotel is charging RM250 (US$65) per room for a night’s stay, upon the revision the rates will be more than 20% higher at US$80 (RM304). Next year, hotels can raise their room rates to US$100 (RM380).

The Westin Kuala Lumpur raised its retail and corporate rates early this year, while wholesale or package tour prices were raised on April 1. The Regent Kuala Lumpur increased its rack room rate by 16% and for the corporate


Meliá Hanoi
Meliá Hanoi Executive Suites are said to be the best ones in Hanoi, being superb of its luxury, warm but spacious, terrific view of historic Sword Restored Lake and the Old Quarter of Hanoi. Being in our Suite which is with a living room, a cozy bedroom, two satellite channel large TVs, one rest room and a spacious bathroom with a vast bath-sink and a cubical standing shower, you are comfortable at your business work and relaxation (66 suites), from USD88. Take a virtual tour.


The Plaza Hotel
The Plaza Hotel in New York City, built in 1907 at 59th and Fifth, had dozens of permanent tenants, some in custom-designed apartments, and also catered to transient guests in a way that other hotels did not. After much controversy, Elad Properties, which owns the Plaza, is now converting 457 of the hotel's 805 rooms into condominium residences, resulting in about 150 apartments.


Royal Dublin Hotel
Prestigiously situated on the famous and historic O'Connell Street, the Royal Dublin offers a premium location right in the very heart of Dublin's vibrant city centre. Reflecting traditional standards of excellence in service and hospitality, with the most up to date facilities, the Royal Dublin Hotel provides a high degree of comfort and service to both its corporate, leisure and wedding guests alike
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Le Petit Sherwood, Taipei
Le Petit Sherwood in the heart of Taipei city is unique, with all the charm of a French boutique hotel. Ideally located, it has 62 rooms, Superior, Deluxe, Executive rooms and one Deluxe Suite, with high ceilings, French windows and romantic European interior design that add charm and allure. In the sophisticated lounge located on the ground floor, you may enjoy a relaxing cup of coffee or a glass of wine with a fine cigar. This quiet area with live piano performances may also be ideal for you to spend some time chatting with friends. Of course you can always select a book from the varied selection in the library or prepare for your next important meting in such a calm and serene environment.

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