Three roundtrips now every weekend from January 10 through March 29, with the popular $29 starting fares again this season
WINTER PARK, Colo. – Every weekend this ski season can last for three days instead of two, with Amtrak “ski train” roundtrips between Denver and Winter Park Resort on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, starting Jan. 10. Adult fares start at $29 each way and tickets are on sale now at Amtrak.com/WinterParkExpress. Each ticketed adult can bring a child age 2-12 for half the adult fare.
This will also be the second season of snack and beverage service using a Superliner® Sightseer Lounge Car, with windows from floor level and into the top of the railcar. Since 2017, more than 52,000 customers have avoided frustrating stop-and-go ski traffic on the roads to enjoy the service partnership on the rails by Amtrak and the resort named last year as the “Best in North America”. The 2019 season set a ridership record on a transportation mode that is reliable, sustainable and friendly.
The 2020 Amtrak Winter Park Express will run each Friday, Saturday and Sunday through March 29. The Amtrak trains depart Denver Union Station at 7 a.m. and arrive at the resort at approximately 9 a.m., leaving Winter Park at 4:30 p.m.to return to Denver at 6:40 p.m. All times Mountain. The station is served by the Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) commuter trains to Denver International Airport, light rail, local or intercity buses, ride-sharing services and taxis.
The public can choose from 36 roundtrips for the comfortable and scenic ride using RTD, BNSF Railway and Union Pacific tracks to pass through the historic Moffat Tunnel.
Investments at the resort for this season include the new six-person Sunnyside lift, a $6 million upgrade to reduce the ride time from 8 minutes to under 4 minutes and give improved access to some of the most beloved intermediate terrain in the Mary Jane territory. This season will also see the first “Winter Park Fireworks & Family Fests” on Saturday nights Dec. 14, Jan. 18, Feb. 15 and Mar. 14 for fireworks, slope-side bonfires and more. Questions about the resort and its many features can be answered by calling the resort directly: 888-923-7275.
Amtrak and Winter Park Resort have also made it easy to book group travel by calling 800-USA-1GRP for a train/ski package – including lodging – crafted by representatives of the resort and Amtrak.
The last we heard of the Icelandic budget airline Wow Air was in March 2019 when it ceased operations without warning, stranding up to 4,000 passengers at the time. According to Yahoo, the airline is now on schedule to come back in October of this year, thanks to a major investment by USAerospace Associates.
Michele Ballarin, chief executive of USAerospace Associates, said in a press conference last week that Wow Air will relaunch with just two planes in operation, with the potential to increase that number to more than 10 aircraft by summer 2020. The relaunched Wow Air operations will be based at Dulles International Airport, located outside of Washington, DC, though it will have facilities in Reykjavik and nearby Keflavik International Airport.
Lavish Playground Set to Shake up the Coastal Haven with Bold Design, Eclectic Programming and Oman’s First Siddharta Lounge By Buddha-Bar
MUSCAT, Oman, Aug. 26, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Make a splash! W Hotels Worldwide, part of Marriott International Inc., today announced the opening of W Muscat, the brand’s newest beachfront W Escape and the second to open in the Middle East this year. Set against the stunning backdrop of the rugged Al Hajar Mountains, which form a stark contrast to the historic capital city’s lively waterfront, W Muscat sits at the intersection of the bustling Shatti Al Qurum area. The new hotel opens in an ideal locale to bring the W brand’s signature take on playful luxury to the serene waterfront of Oman.
Fabulous Room at the W Muscat
“Muscat is a fascinating and exciting city. Its cultural DNA honors millennia of tradition while looking to what’s new and next – an ideal match for the W brand,” said Anthony Ingham, Global Brand Leader, W Hotels Worldwide. “The arrival of W in Muscat marks a new chapter for both the brand and this buzzing metropolis. The hotel reinterprets Omani design and cultural traditions to create a modern, energetic and stylish Escape unlike anything the sultanate has seen before.”
Dive In The architectural narrative of W Muscat immerses guests in the concept of exploration and the illustrious storytelling tradition of the nomadic Bedouin traveler. Its striking design is inspired by the diverse and vibrant natural locale – from the rugged mountain range to the vast Omani desert, the sparkling bay to the azure waters of the Arabian Sea. Colorful hints of Muscat’s vibrant culture are interspersed throughout the spaces to evoke the mystery and adventure of the city’s rich heritage and storied past. W Muscat is a bold remix of traditional charm, natural beauty and the disruptive W DNA.
Welcoming guests upon arrival is a striking, nine-ton frankincense tree sculpture designed by renowned artist Pongsatat Uaiklang that pays tribute to Omani culture. Standing at an impressive 10 meters tall, the piece is made of solid stainless steel, welded from 28 winding pieces. In traditional Omani culture, frankincense was used to bless and welcome weary travelers after their long journeys. In that same tradition, guests are then ushered into the inviting Living Room (W’s signature take on the lobby) where they can relax and unwind in an Arabic Majlis, beneath an oversized installation of the Omani Kummas, chic headgears that are unmistakable marks of the Omani attire. Whether looking for a re-energizing iced tea or a cocktail, The Living Room is the perfect venue to see and be seen.
Hit Escape All of the 279 guestrooms and suites at W Muscat provide uninterrupted views of the glistening blue water, with their design drawing inspiration from the ocean as well as the asymmetrical lines of the nearby mountains, caves and desert. These are contrasted with art deco detailing, reminiscent of traditional Omani charm. Asymmetrical corridors across the floors depict an artistic theme of ‘every girl has a story’ through locally commissioned holographic artworks depicting a female perspective of power, love, peace and beauty. Designed for an extra spacious and edgy stay is the EWOW suite (the brand’s take on the traditional Presidential Suite) which features subtle Arabic characteristics with a distinctive W edge. The corner Majlis seating showcases a Zanzibar-inspired print, a nod to the Omani Kumma or headgear, set against an inviting coffee table in celebration of Arabic coffee or Qahwa. The ceiling features tilted white paneling, evoking the intimacy of relaxing inside a tent. A saddle-like leather chair, bold mustard yellow stool, and faux fur wall are inspired by horse or camelback travel. Stacked luggage trunks comprise the MIXBAR (the W spin on the minibar) while a trunk closet lined with exotic silk links back to the narrative of the nomad.
United Airlines is planning to reveal its long-awaited new livery on April 24th at a United maintenance hangar at Chicago O’Hare International Airport. Little is known so far about the details of United’s new paint job, except that it will display a new and expanded brand color palette the carrier introduced in August of 2018.
United stated at the time that the unifying brand color going forward would be “Rhapsody Blue,” a dark navy color named in honor of United’s longstanding signature brand music, George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue.”
The color details revealed also specified a lighter “United Blue”, even lighter “Sky Blue,” and a “Premium Purple,” shade currently being used in United’s new Premium Plus international premium economy cabin.
The new United livery is one of several major brand changes the airline has been making in recent years, along with a new Polaris International business class, Polaris lounges, uniforms with new color palettes, and a redesigned mobile app.
The moves in a new direction have come after the infamous incidents of a man being dragged from his seat two years ago, and a pet being forced into the overhead luggage bin where it died in-flight tarnished United’s brand image.
The expansion project at Chicago O’Hare is expected to cost $8.5 billion and is hoped to increase the ease with which passengers travel through the terminal, increasing the passenger experience.
The City of Chicago has announced the selection of an architect team to lead the design of the unprecedented $8.5 billion expansion programme for O’Hare International Airport. Studio ORD has been selected to design the new O’Hare Global Terminal and Global Concourse. Studio ORD will work with the City of Chicago and the airlines to design the new Global Terminal and Concourse.
Q4 unit revenue up 5.0% year-over-year; full-year diluted 2018 EPS of $7.70; adjusted diluted EPS of $9.13
CHICAGO, Jan. 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — In a departure from industry trends, United (UAL) announced today that its fourth-quarter unit revenue came in at the high end of its guidance range and also exceeded its full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share target laid out last January. UAL reported full-year net income of $2.1 billion, diluted earnings per share of $7.70 (a 9.1 percent increase year-over-year), pre-tax earnings of $2.7 billion and pre-tax margin of 6.4 percent. UAL reported adjusted full-year net income of $2.5 billion, adjusted pre-tax earnings of $3.2 billion and adjusted pre-tax margin of 7.7 percent.1 UAL increased its full-year 2018 adjusted diluted earnings per share outlook three times during the year despite a $2.4 billion year-over-year headwind from fuel. Full-year adjusted diluted earnings per share increased 33.5 percent year-over-year to $9.13, above the high end of the company’s most recent guidance range.
“United’s financial performance is a testament to the successful implementation of the first year of our strategic plan and to the record-setting operational performance powered by the more than 90,000 airline professionals who work at United,” said Oscar Munoz, chief executive officer of United Airlines. “United delivered proof, not just promises in 2018 – even in the face of significant headwinds from higher than expected fuel costs. It’s why I couldn’t be more proud of our winning culture and customer-focused team and continue to be enthusiastic about United’s bright future.”
For 2019, UAL expects adjusted diluted earnings per share to again grow year-over-year to between $10.00 to $12.00.2
UAL reported fourth-quarter net income of $462 million, diluted earnings per share of $1.70, pre-tax earnings of $556 million and pre-tax margin of 5.3 percent.
UAL reported fourth-quarter adjusted net income of $657 million, adjusted diluted earnings per share of $2.41 and adjusted pre-tax earnings of $814 million.
UAL reported fourth-quarter adjusted pre-tax margin of 7.8 percent,1 expanding margin on an adjusted basis of 0.9 points versus the fourth-quarter of 2017.
UAL recovered 98% percent of the year-over-year increase in fuel prices in 2018.
Consolidated fourth-quarter passenger revenue per available seat mile (PRASM) increased 5 percent year-over-year, at the high end of the company’s fourth-quarter 2018 guidance range.
Consolidated fourth-quarter unit cost per available seat mile (CASM) increased 7.0 percent year-over-year.
Consolidated fourth-quarter CASM, excluding special charges, third-party business expenses, fuel and profit sharing, decreased 0.7 percent year-over-year.
Employees earned $334 million in profit sharing for 2018.
For more information on UAL’s first-quarter and full-year 2019 guidance, please visit ir.united.com for the company’s investor update.
2018 Highlights
Record-Setting Operational Performance3
Set new UAL records by flying the most revenue passengers ever, operating the most mainline departures and achieving the fewest cancellations ever in a year, resulting in more UAL customers departing on-time in 2018 than ever before.
For the year, achieved the best completion rate in company history with more than 1.7 million flights.
In 2018, achieved the best ever company STAR performance (first departures of the day), with nearly 250,000 flights leaving on time.
In the fourth quarter, the company achieved top-tier performance in on-time departures among its largest competitors. For the December holiday season, UAL had its best-ever on-time departure performance while flying the most revenue customers it had ever flown during the holiday period.
Customer Experience
Opened three new United Polaris lounges located in San Francisco International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Announced UAL’s newest premium seating, United® Premium Plus, which will provide more space, comfort and amenities on select international flights starting later this year.
Introduced a new boarding process designed to reduce customers’ stress by reducing time spent waiting in line and providing them with improved boarding information.
Expanded personal device entertainment option to all aircraft, providing at least one free entertainment option on all Wi-Fi equipped aircraft.
MileagePlus loyalty program voted Best Overall Frequent-Flyer Program in the world for the 15th consecutive year by readers of Global Traveler, and voted Favorite Frequent-Flyer Program in the Trazee Awards.
Employees
Employees earned incentive payments totaling approximately $14 million for achieving operational performance goals in the quarter, marking a full year of earned incentive payments totaling $55 million.
Introduced and trained over 90,000 team members on UAL’s new customer service decision framework, the core4, which focuses on the principles of safe, caring, dependable and efficient.
Deployed 6,000 iPads to maintenance employees, improving reliability and efficiency.
Unveiled a state-of-the-art flight training center in Denver, Colorado – the largest in the world and home to the company’s more than 30 full flight simulators representing all of UAL’s fleet types.
Successfully completed the full implementation of the flight attendant joint collective bargaining agreement, allowing the company to operate more efficiently and reliably.
Achieved the top score of 100 percent on the 2018 Disability Equality Index (DEI), a prominent benchmarking metric that rates U.S. companies on their disability inclusion policies and practices, also earning UAL a place on DEI’s 2018 “Best Places to Work” list.
Received “Best-of-the-Best” Award from the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce and National Business Inclusion Consortium for commitment to diversity and inclusion across all communities.
Network
Introduced 93 new routes, adding more flights in 2018 than any other U.S. airline.
Announced new international service including Washington-Dulles to Tel Aviv, Israel; San Francisco to Amsterdam, Netherlands; Newark/New York to Naples, Italy; as well as Newark/New York to Prague, Czech Republic and Denver to Frankfurt, Germany, all subject to government approval.
Launched several exciting new international routes including Houston to Sydney, San Francisco to Tahiti and Denver to London.
Announced schedule expansion at East Coast hubs in Newark/New York and Washington-Dulles to offer more nonstop flights to destinations popular with New York-area customers while reallocating largely connecting passenger flights to Washington-Dulles.
Announced a joint business agreement with Compañía Panameña de Aviación S.A. (Copa), Aerovías del Continente Americano S.A. (Avianca) and many of Avianca’s affiliates, pending government approval.
Fleet
Took delivery of 21 new Boeing aircraft, including four 777-300ER, four 787-9, three 787-10 and ten 737 MAX 9 aircraft.
In December 2018, ordered an additional four Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and 24 737 MAX aircraft.
Community and Environment
Pledged to reduce the company’s greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent by 2050, the only U.S. airline to commit to emissions reductions, further strengthening UAL’s ambition to be the world’s most environmentally conscious airline.
Announced a total of $8 million in grants to benefit organizations in each of UAL’s domestic hub communities.
Announced new global partnership with the Special Olympics and flew hundreds of Team USA Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 2018 athletes, coaches and family members to PyeongChang, South Korea, continuing the 38-year relationship between UAL and the United States Olympic Committee.
Ranked No. 1 among global carriers in Newsweek’s 2017 Global 500 Green Rankings, one of the most recognized environmental performance assessments of the world’s largest publicly traded companies.
Launched a Crowdrise fundraising campaign to support those affected by Hurricane Florence, Typhoon Mangkhut, flooding in Western Japan, wildfires in California and other disasters.
Earnings Call
UAL will hold a conference call to discuss its fourth-quarter and full-year 2018 financial results and its financial and operational outlook for the first quarter and full year of 2019 on Wednesday, January 16, at 9:30 a.m. Central time /10:30 a.m. Eastern time. A live, listen-only webcast of the conference call will be available at ir.united.com. The webcast will be available for replay within 24 hours of the conference call and then archived on the website for three months.
CHICAGO (December 10, 2018) — Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today the opening of Hyatt Regency Seattle, located in the heart of downtown at 808 Howell Street and near some of Seattle’s top attractions including the Space Needle, Chihuly Garden and Pike Place Market. With its sprawling, dynamic event space and number of guestrooms, Hyatt Regency Seattle is the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest and new premier destination for meetings and events in the region. It joins two other Seattle-area Hyatt Regency hotels and offers a one-stop experience that puts everything guests need right at their fingertips.
The 45-story hotel features 1,260 guestrooms, all of which are furnished with floor-to-ceiling windows, sizeable modern bathrooms, 65-inch TVs and a collection of black-and-white photography, shot by six Seattle-based photographers, highlighting the natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest region. The hotel also offers guests a StayFit® Fitness Center, outfitted with Peloton bikes and other Technogym state-of-the-art cardio and strength equipment, and an expansive Hyatt Regency Club lounge with fire pits and wraparound patio that provides guests with stellar views of downtown Seattle.
Located just two short blocks from the Washington State Convention Center and adjacent to The Summit, the planned convention center expansion building slated to open Spring 2022, Hyatt Regency Seattle offers more than 103,000 square feet of dynamic meeting and event space for a variety of gatherings, ranging from intimate meetings to larger conferences and weddings.
“Progress is all around us,” says Hyatt Regency Seattle General Manager Tom Wolf. “No other addition to Seattle’s vastly updated cityscape is more important for Seattle tourism than the new, very visible contemporary building right in the middle of town: Hyatt Regency Seattle. With the opening of the largest hotel in the Pacific Northwest this year, Seattle will finally have the meeting space options it needs.”
Consistent with the Pacific Northwest theme throughout the property, meeting and event spaces are named after bodies of water located throughout Washington state:
The Columbia and Regency Ballrooms each offer 19,000+ square feet of space with 24- and 30-foot high ceilings, respectively.
Two junior ballrooms: Elwha Ballroom is 7,200 square feet, while Quinault Ballroom has 3,400 square feet of functional meeting space.
The high-end Deschutes Executive Boardroom, featuring a private balcony that can accommodate 24 people.
Eight pre-function spaces, each ranging from 4,292 to 7,022 square feet, which are flooded in natural light.
An additional 46 meeting rooms, ranging from 600 to 1,900 square feet, complete with floor-to-ceiling windows.
All meetings rooms are outfitted with audiovisual equipment, multiple electrical, microphone and phone outlets, as well as blackout blinds and T1 high-speed Internet with dedicated bandwidth capabilities.
The new Hyatt Regency Seattle also offers guests three on-site dining experiences:
Andare, a fast-casual Italian-style trattoria, which features a variety of homemade pasta dishes, salads and pizzas cooked in a wood-burning oven
Daniel’s Broiler, an upscale and locally renowned steakhouse owned by Schwartz Bros. Restaurants, which features USDA Prime steaks, seafood, an extensive wine list and a vast collection of whiskeys, as well as a piano bar
The Market, a 24-hour premium grab-and-go retail space with café seating, where guests can purchase freshly prepared hot and cold food and beverage items.
Built by local developer R.C. Hedreen Company, in collaboration with Seattle-based companies LMN Architects and Sellen Construction Group, the new hotel features elements that celebrate the Pacific Northwest region and can be seen throughout the property’s guestrooms and public spaces. Upon arriving, guests will notice the bright, open, and contemporary design, matched with floor-to-ceiling windows to let in as much natural light as possible, and purposefully selected, locally inspired art and photography.
R.C. Hedreen Company successfully builds and operates hotels in Seattle, and its portfolio includes Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt Olive 8. To leave a lasting impact on the Pacific Northwest region with Hyatt Regency Seattle, local companies who understand Seattle real estate, LMN and Sellen, were brought in to collaborate, design and build the impressive sky-high hotel. LMN believes that architecture celebrates the inherent qualities of the region, community and site. Any new building functions in relationship to the fabric of its physical location and community of users, as well as its social, cultural and environmental context. Sellen is Seattle’s premiere builder – building communities, relationships and of course most of the significant buildings in town.
Additionally, Hyatt Regency Seattle is targeting LEED Gold Certification in 2019, which is the second highest green building rating in the world. As part of their efforts, Hyatt Regency Seattle has incorporated many sustainable elements into its guest amenities and overall design, including:
Premium large-format bath amenities in each guestroom bathroom, saving more than one million plastic bottles in waste.
Installing a light-colored roof to reduce the urban heat-island effect.
Incorporating a highly efficient laundry system that captures both heat and water after use to reduce the need for additional energy to preheat incoming water to the laundry system.
For more information about Hyatt Regency Seattle or to book your accommodations, please visit hyattregencyseattle.com.
Starting May 3, 2019, Lufthansa will offer its first direct flight between Frankfurt and Austin, Texas. This will be the airline’s third nonstop to Texas, adding to Dallas/Fort Worth and George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston. The flight will be operated by an Airbus A330-300, with service operating five times a week. Flight LH 468 will not operate on Tuesday or Thursday, and will have a flight time of about ten hours.
In addition to Austin, Lufthansa is also adding service between its Munich hub and Bangkok, Thailand. The route will begin operating on June 1, 2019, and will be flown by a new Airbus A350-900. Flight LH792 is scheduled to operate on a daily basis.
In other Lufthansa news, the airline announced it will hold “Fly Through Time: A celebration of the Golden Age of Aviation” on October 14, 2018 from 11am to 5pm in New York, NY.
The year was 1958. It was the Golden Age of aviation and Lufthansa was leading the way. The comfort, class and style of a trip on board Lufthansa’s Lockheed Super Constellation L-1649A aircraft was second to none. Every detail was thought of. Passengers dressed to the nines for travel. The flight was an event.
On October 14, New York City will be given the chance to Fly Through Time with a one-day immersive, innovative experience celebrating of the Golden Age of flight and the birth of Lufthansa‘s Senator Service on board the iconic Super Constellation aircraft, affectionately known as the “Super Connie.”
At the Fly Through Time experience, New Yorkers will be able use the power of augmented reality technology to see the Super Constellation virtually on the streets of SoHo, and dress themselves in the 1950s fashions of the Super Connie’s stylish passengers and crew. And of course, guests will enjoy the iconic sophistication of the ‘Senator Service’ First Class lounge in the skies, recreated for the perfect selfie.
We look forward to welcoming you on board the Fly Through Time experience, a celebration of the Lufthansa’s remarkable heritage.
Fly Through Time October 14, 2018 11am-5pm Duarte Square 6th Ave & Grand Street New York, NY
And of course, guests will enjoy the iconic sophistication of the ‘Senator Service’ First Class lounge in the skies, recreated for the perfect selfie. #FlyThroughTime
United Airlines placed an order today for an additional nine Boeing 787-9 aircraft worth an estimated $1.3 billion, with deliveries starting in 2020. The deal raises Boeing’s total 787 order book for 2018 to 105 aircraft, surpassing the 94 orders it received for all of 2017. United also announced that it will add the Boeing 787 Dreamliner on its routes between Newark and both Los Angeles and San Francisco.
The airline already operates a fleet of 25 of the 787-9, and 12 of the smaller 787-8. United now has a total of 13 Boeing 787-9’s on order, in addition to 14 of the larger 787-10 dreamliners.
United also stated today that Dreamliner aircraft operating the routes between San Francisco and Los Angeles to Newark will include United Polaris business-class and Premium Plus seats, but will not include access to the airline’s high-end Polaris Club lounges available at select United Airlines airports.
