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Articles by Eva Leonard

Waldorf-Astoria Expansion to Include Chicago, Washington D.C., and Amsterdam Hotels

Waldorf-Astoria Expansion to Include Chicago, Washington D.C., and Amsterdam Hotels

Hilton Worldwide’s Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts brand is undergoing rapid expansion both domestically and globally.
Hilton Worldwide has purchased The Elysian Hotel Chicago, which opened in 2009, in a joint venture with Elysian principals, and is scheduled to rebrand the hotel as the Waldorf Astoria Chicago in February 2012. The 188-room hotel, situated in Chicago’s Gold Coast area, features two restaurants, a fitness center and spa, and a courtyard. Guest …

Luggage Gurus From Heys, Rimowa, Titan, and Tumi Share Top Holiday Packing Tips

Luggage Gurus From Heys, Rimowa, Titan, and Tumi Share Top Holiday Packing Tips

Who better to give advice on smart holiday packing than luggage industry execs who spend much of their lives traveling?  We asked these seasoned road warriors how to get the most out of bags during the holidays, when space is at a premium, both onboard and in your luggage.
They naturally had lots of tips and, as we prepared this list (the first of several), we discovered many fresh ideas and …

On Heels of First U.S. Hotel’s Debut, Rezidor to Expand Radisson Blu in Greece, Serbia

On Heels of First U.S. Hotel’s Debut, Rezidor to Expand Radisson Blu in Greece, Serbia

The Rezidor Hotel Group’s Radisson Blu brand is making its debut in Greece with a new property in Athens.
Rezidor plans to rebrand the 152-room Athens Park Hotel, in the north of the city center,  as Radisson Blu Park Hotel Athens by the end of 2011. Renovations are scheduled for completion in 2012. The hotel has two restaurants (one rooftop), a bar, two meeting rooms, and a rooftop pool with views …

Two Stays Earn Free Night with Wyndham Rewards

Two Stays Earn Free Night with Wyndham Rewards

Wyndham Rewards is offering members 6,500 bonus Wyndham Rewards points, or 1000 air miles or rail points, for every two stays through February 1, 2012.
For each stay, an additional 1,000 bonus points can be earned by booking online, and 500 more points can be earned by payment with a Wyndham Rewards Visa card.
In addition to Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, participating brands include Days Inn, Ramada, and Super 8. The promotion …

American Increases Access to Lounges for Admirals Club Members, Adds Free Wi-Fi

American Increases Access to Lounges for Admirals Club Members, Adds Free Wi-Fi

Through partnerships with fellow oneworld alliance carriers and other airlines, American Airlines  Admirals Club members now have access to lounges at more airports where the carrier flies, but does not have Admirals Clubs.
At airports including Budapest, Delhi, Portland, Seattle, and Shanghai, Admirals Club members now have access to partner lounges with a valid Admirals Club card and a boarding pass for an American Airlines flight on that day.
American is also …

SkyTeam Adds Xiamen Airlines

SkyTeam Adds Xiamen Airlines

Chinese carrier Xiamen Airlines has been accepted into the SkyTeam alliance, with full entry scheduled to occur by the end of 2012.
Operating from three key hubs in China, Xiamen, Fuzhou and Hangzhou, Xiamen currently primarily serves domestic Chinese cities and other regional Asian destinations. The carrier plans to add service to Australia, Europe and North America by 2014 and to serve more than 30 million passengers by 2015.
Xiamen Airlines’ largest …

Qatar Airways to Add Routes in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Europe

Qatar Airways to Add Routes in Asia-Pacific, Middle East, Africa, and Europe

At the Dubai Air Show, Doha-based Qatar Airways announced that it plans to add new international routes in early 2012. Destinations include Perth, Helsinki, Zagreb, Gassim in Saudi Arabia, Zanzibar in Tanzania, Kigaili in Rwanda, and Mombasa in Kenya.
In addition, flights to Baku, Azerbaijan and Tbilisi, Georgia are to begin February 1. Qatar Airways recently launched flights to Benghazi, Libya, and on November 28, 2011 is to begin service to …