The sports world was in mourning following news Sunday that Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna, and seven other people died died in a helicopter crash. Weather is believed to have been a contributing factor in the accident, as the conditions at the time were poor. The National Transportation Safety Board has sent a team of investigators to the site.
The helicopter reportedly departed John Wayne Airport in Orange County at 9:06 a.m. local time. The group was heading to the Mamba Sports Academy in Newbury Park. The Federal Aviation Administration reported that no flight plan had been filed. The Sikorsky S-76B helicopter was flying in low clouds and fog, and was operating under “special VFR” (special visual flight rules) status, requiring the pilot to be responsible for determining safe flying requirements in challenging weather conditions..
The helicopter crashed in foggy conditions on steep terrain in the mountains near Las Virgenes Road in Calabasas, California. The crash was reported to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. The crash set off a small brush fire in the area. Firefighters were able to contain the blaze, but were not able to find any survivors.
Kobe Bean Bryant, born 23 August 1978; died 26 January 2020
165-room Hyatt House San Jose Airport officially opens in heart of Silicon Valley
Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) today celebrates a significant brand milestone with the opening of the 100th Hyatt House hotel: Hyatt House San Jose Airport. The newly built airport hotel provides guests the service and convenience of hotel living with the casual comforts of home. The hotel is jointly owned by Liberty Group and Hyatt Hotels.
Conveniently located adjacent to the Norman Y. Mineta San Jose International Airport (SJC), Hyatt House San Jose Airport is accessible from all major freeways in Silicon Valley including 880, 101, and 87, and is less than 35 miles from San Francisco International Airport (SFO). Downtown San Jose is just five miles from the hotel, where guests can enjoy a number of attractions, including California’s Great America amusement park, Levi’s Stadium, San Jose McEnery Convention Center, Avaya Stadium, and SAP Center at San Jose.
“We are thrilled to be the Hyatt House brand’s one hundredth hotel and to bring a new and dynamic guest experience to the San Jose marketplace for both business and personal occasion travelers,” said General Manager John McEntee. “With more than 15 million passengers traveling through SJC in 2019, we’re confident Hyatt House San Jose Airport will provide guests with a comfortable stay experience before embarking on the next leg of their journey.”
Hyatt House San Jose Airport offers:
165 stylish guestrooms, including 113 apartment-style Kitchen Suites with fully equipped kitchens, comfy living rooms, spacious bedrooms and stylish bathrooms
Free Wi-Fi throughout hotel and guestrooms
The Commons, a comfy lobby lounge with an open and welcoming space for guests to relax, work or socialize, and the Outdoor Commons, which includes a fire pit and BBQ grill, the perfect place to sip cocktails and enjoy savory bites
Complimentary Morning Spread, a full hot breakfast buffet served daily for guests, featuring a made-to-order Omelet Bar and assorted breakfast breads and bowls bar with steel-cut oatmeal, fresh fruit and more, along with vegetarian and gluten free options
H Bar, which features the Sip + Snack menu, serving freshly prepared items including soups and sandwiches, plus craft cocktails and premium beers and wines, offered seven days a week
24-hour grab-and-go H Market to meet the everyday needs of guests, from snacks and sundries to freshly prepared salads and sandwiches
24-hour Workout Room to keep fitness routines going
Gathering Rooms with more than 1,800 square feet of flexible meeting or event spaces, a thoughtful food and beverage menu, audiovisual equipment and a House Host to make sure gatherings are a real crowd pleaser
Borrows Menu with often-forgotten items from phone charges to razors and extended stay extras like blenders and laundry baskets
A Very Important Resident (VIR) program, which includes a complimentary welcome amenity, H Bar dining credit, laundry credit, and other personalized perks, for guests staying 21 or more consecutive nights
Additional conveniences, including 24-hour Guest Laundry
A pet-friendly policy that welcomes most dogs or cats (fees apply)
Free hotel shuttle for guests to/from SJC and companies within a three-mile radius
“The opening of this hotel comes at a time of strong momentum for the brand, with Hyatt House hotels under development around the world, including new markets for the brand, such as Canada and Kenya,” said Paul Daly, senior vice president of operations, Americas, Hyatt Place and Hyatt House. “We continue to build and cultivate strong relationships with guests, colleagues, owners, operators, and developers around the world. With their support, the Hyatt House brand is on a terrific trajectory.”
Hyatt House San Jose Airport Leadership
Hyatt House San Jose Airport is under the leadership of General Manager John McEntee and Director of Sales Joanne Bianchi. In his role, McEntee is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel, including overseeing the hotel’s 45 associates and ensuring guests encounter the neighborly service for which the Hyatt House brand is known. McEntee joined by Bianchi, Director of Sales, who is responsible for providing sales, service and support to travelers and meeting planners frequenting the San Jose area.
(Reuters) – Teams combing the wreckage of a Hawaii sightseeing helicopter that crashed on Kauai island found no sign of survivors on Friday and recovered six sets of human remains before suspending the search due to bad weather, police and fire officials said.
The grim announcement came in a news conference almost 24 hours after the aircraft, first reported missing on Thursday evening, went down in a remote area of rugged terrain near the end of a tour flight over the island’s famed Na Pali Coast.
The crash was at least the ninth, and by far the deadliest, involving sightseeing helicopters in Hawaii over the past five years, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) records.
The confirmed manifest of the ill-fated aircraft, flown by Kauai-based tour operator Safari Helicopters, consisted of six passengers, two of them children, and one pilot, Kauai County fire battalion chief Solomon Kanoho told reporters.
The identities of the dead were being kept confidential until next of kin could be notified, authorities said.
“We are heartbroken by this tragedy and we continue to ask the public to consider the sensitive nature of this devastating situation,” Mayor Derek Kawakami said in a statement. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of all victims during this extremely difficult time.”
The Kauai fire department called off its search-and-recovery efforts late Friday afternoon due to fog and poor visibility but planned to resume the operation at daybreak on Saturday, Kanoho said.
Although the remains of just six of the seven people who were aboard the ill-fated aircraft have been recovered, Kanoho added: “There are no indications of survivors.”
TOURISTS FROM TWO FAMILIES
Kanoho previously said the passengers on board the helicopter had been in two groups – a party of two from one family and a party of four from another.
Kanoho declined to describe details of the wreckage out of respect for the victims’ loved ones.
While the cause of the crash has yet to be determined, Kanoho said the area where the helicopter went down had experienced “some very bad weather” beforehand, adding that the chopper had crashed within its prescribed flight route.
The NTSB, which said it was sending a three-member team to investigate the crash, reported in May that there had been eight accidents involving Hawaii tour helicopters over the past five years, with four deaths and 18 injuries.
The agency made that report after a tour helicopter went down in a residential neighborhood on the island of Oahu in April, killing three people.
The latest crash was in Koke’e State Park in an area called Nu’alolo, a steep-sided valley north of Waimea Canyon State Park, according to a statement posted by the Kauai police department on Facebook.
Waimea Canyon is a tourist destination known as the “Grand Canyon of the Pacific,” and police said the helicopter was last heard from at about 4:40 p.m. on Thursday, when the pilot radioed that the aircraft was just departing that area.
A search was launched a short time later, after Safari alerted authorities that the helicopter was 30 minutes overdue on its flight back to the airfield in Lihue on the island’s southeast end, officials said.
A U.S. Coast Guard cutter vessel and helicopter search crew were immediately dispatched. The search was expanded at daybreak on Friday to include air, sea and ground teams from the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, police, fire department and other agencies.
The missing aircraft was equipped with an electronic locator beacon, but no signals were received after it disappeared, the Coast Guard said.
According to its website, Safari offers aerial sightseeing excursions to Kauai’s major attractions over the Na Pali Coast and Waimea Canyon. The Na Pali Coast, known for jagged green cliffs laced with towering waterfalls, is one of the most visited attractions on Kauai, the fourth-largest island in the Hawaiian chain.
Reporting by Maria Caspani and Peter Szekely in New York and Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Daniel Wallis and Leslie Adler
In collaboration with the Disneyland Resort, Alaska Airlines reveals its latest special-edition aircraft livery, that offers a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier, a reimagined land at Disney California Adventure Park.
SEATTLE, Oct. 7, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — In collaboration with the Disneyland Resort, Alaska Airlines showcased its latest special-edition aircraft livery today that offers a whimsical tribute to Pixar Pier, a reimagined land at Disney California Adventure Park.
A trio of familiar Pixar characters span both sides of the aircraft: Woody, Buzz Lightyear and Jessie of Toy Story fame. For more added fun, one of the Aliens from the popular animated movie series can be spotted on both winglets, and even Rex the Tyrannosaurus makes a special appearance at the boarding door. The plane is named “Friendship and Beyond at Disneyland Resort.”
“There’s nothing better than landing happy on the way to The Happiest Place on Earth,” said Natalie Bowman, Alaska Airlines’ managing director of brand marketing and advertising. “The Disneyland Resort is one of our signature West Coast friendships, and we love that we can celebrate Pixar Pier by taking these iconic characters on a brand-new adventure.”
The unique design is a collaboration between the teams at Alaska, Disney and Pixar. The Pixar Pier-themed 737-800, tail number N537AS, begins flying throughout Alaska’s route network today, welcoming guests with its artistic flair for many years to come. To get the job done, the exterior of the plane required more than 2,800 work hours over 24 days using more than 50 gallons of paint — in 44 primary colors and custom shades — to completely repaint the aircraft with the vibrant new livery.
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.
New contract reaffirms long-standing relationships with Abellio and with Eversholt Rail
Derby Etches Park depot to maintain Bombardier Class 222sfor East Midlands Railway mainline services until 2022
Rail technology leader Bombardier Transportation has announced today that it has signed a new Train Services Agreement (TSA) with Abellio and Eversholt Rail for the new East Midlands Railway franchise in the United Kingdom. Under the new agreement which lasts from today until December 31, 2022, Bombardier will maintain Bombardier class 222 diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) trains at Derby Etches Park depot for use on East Midlands Railway mainline services. The new agreement follows Bombardier’s previous role in maintaining the 125 miles per hour trains for the former East Midlands Trains franchise. The contract is valued at approximately £133 million GBP ($161 million US, €145 million euro).
Phil Hufton, President, Bombardier Transportation UK said, “We are delighted that we have reached agreement with Abellio to maintain the Class 222 fleet for East Midlands Railway’s mainline services. This important contract win is testament to our team at Derby Etches Park and their hard work and professionalism in continually delivering one of the highest performing and most reliable Intercity fleets.”
Steve Timothy, Client Relations Director, Eversholt Rail said, “We are pleased to be working in partnership with Bombardier Transportation to support the delivery of our Class 222 trains for the Sheffield – London mainline service to Abellio East Midlands Railway from 19th August”.
Under the Train Services Agreement, maintenance of the 27-strong fleet of Class 222 trains will take place at Derby Etches Park depot, where 130 staff are employed, with heavy component maintenance taking place at Bombardier Crewe.
New York-JFK and Boston Service Begins at Bush Intercontinental October 27, 2019
Airline to Introduce Nonstop Service Between New York-JFK and San José, Costa Rica
JetBlue (JBLU) today announced that the airline’s operations in Houston will relocate from William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) later this year. The final day of flying at Hobby Airport will be October 26, 2019 and the first day of flying at Bush Intercontinental will be October 27, 2019. JetBlue plans to operate from Bush Intercontinental’s Terminal A.
Recognizing the needs of today’s tech-savvy travelers, Bush Intercontinental is committed to providing customer-focused cutting-edge technology, like interactive visitor kiosks and fast, free Wi-Fi and plenty of outlets and charging stations through the terminal. Bush Intercontinental also features a variety of local food favorites like The Breakfast Club, Cadillac Mexican Kitchen & Tequila Bar and The Hubcap Grill, all found in Terminal A.
JetBlue regularly evaluates network performance, demand and customer feedback to strengthen its focus city strategy. The move to Bush Intercontinental is aimed at strengthening JetBlue’s relevance in New York and Boston, while also growing the carrier’s customer base in Houston where travelers love the airline’s award-winning service and competitive fares to and from the Northeast.
Customers currently booked on JetBlue flights to and from Hobby Airport on or after October 27, 2019 will be automatically rebooked on flights to and from Bush Intercontinental. JetBlue Customer Support will contact travelers in the coming days to confirm the update to their reservations. Customers who wish to do so may also request a full refund on flights scheduled after the transition date.
Connecting Costa Rica with New York-JFK
JetBlue today also announced it will introduce new nonstop service between New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport (JFK) and San José, Costa Rica’s Juan Santamaría International Airport (SJO) beginning November 1, 2019 (a). Service will operate three times weekly on Fridays, Sundays and Tuesdays.
San José – Costa Rica’s capital and largest city – is home to more than 300,000 people and boasts museums, parks, cultural spots, as well as a variety of bars and restaurants. It also serves as a central jumping off point for travelers interested in hiking, visiting rain forests or exploring national parks.
New York-JFK service in San José will complement JetBlue’s daily service between Costa Rica’s capital and the airlines’ focus cities in Fort Lauderdale and Orlando. Additionally, JetBlue also offers nonstop service, including seasonal Mint flights, to Liberia, Costa Rica from the airline’s home at New York-JFK. JetBlue first began serving Costa Rica with San José service more than a decade ago in March 2009.
JetBlue will operate both Houston and San José flights using its Airbus A320 aircraft offering the airline’s award-winning service featuring the most legroom in coach (a); free Fly-Fi, the fastest broadband internet in the sky (b); complimentary and unlimited name-brand snacks and soft drinks; free, live DIRECTV® programming and 100+ channels of SiriusXM® radio at every seat.
About JetBlue Airways
JetBlue is New York’s Hometown Airline®, and a leading carrier in Boston, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Los Angeles (Long Beach), Orlando, and San Juan. JetBlue carries more than 42 million customers a year to 100+ cities in the U.S., Caribbean, and Latin America with an average of more than 1,000 daily flights. For more information, please visit jetblue.com.
MIRAMAR, Fla., May 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The savings and signature service has arrived in the Research Triangle! Today Spirit Airlines officially began service to and from Raleigh-Durham International Airport (RDU). The airline’s signature yellow Airbus jets will now connect RDU to Baltimore/Washington, DC, Boston, Detroit, Fort Lauderdale, New Orleans, Chicago, and Orlando with nonstop flights. The new routes also create dozens of connections to other Spirit destinations in the United States, as well as the Caribbean and Latin America. Raleigh-Durham is Spirit’s third destination in the Tar Heel State, joining the Piedmont Triad and Asheville and will soon be joined by Charlotte on June 20.
“The time has finally arrived for us to begin serving the Research Triangle, and we are ready to do just that,” said Ted Christie, Spirit Airlines’ president and CEO. “With eight daily flights to some of our biggest destinations, and connections to many more, we believe our service and value will resonate in the Raleigh-Durham region. In less than a year, Spirit has gone from no footprint in the state to serving four destinations by June 20, and I want to thank North Carolinians for embracing us.”
“We are happy to welcome Spirit Airlines as the newest carrier connecting the Research Triangle community to the world,” said Michael Landguth, president and CEO of the Raleigh-Durham Airport Authority. “Spirit’s low fares and suite of nonstop destinations will add to the world-class airport experience business and leisure travelers expect from RDU.”
Raleigh-Durham, NC (RDU)
Starts:
Frequency:
Baltimore, MD/Washington, DC (BWI)
May 2, 2019
2x daily, year-round
Boston, MA (BOS)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Detroit, MI (DTW)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Orlando, FL (MCO)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
New Orleans, LA (MSY)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Chicago, IL (ORD)
May 2, 2019
Daily, year-round
Beyond next month’s launch in Charlotte, the airline will also be expanding on the West Coast, adding Burbank and Sacramento to its network. All three new cities will launch on June 20. Spirit’s growing route network comes with ongoing investments into its guest experience. The airline continues to rank among the top in on-time arrivals, baggage handling, and is in the process of installing high-speed Wi-Fi to its entire fleet.
About Spirit Airlines: Spirit Airlines (NYSE: SAVE) is committed to delivering the best value in the sky while providing an extraordinary Guest experience. We are the leader in providing customizable travel options starting with an unbundled fare. This allows every Guest to pay only for the options they choose — like bags, seat assignments and refreshments – something we call À La Smarte. We make it possible for our Guests to venture farther, travel more often, and discover more than ever before. Our Fit Fleet™ is one of the youngest and most fuel-efficient in the U.S. We operate more than 600 daily flights to 75 destinations in the U.S., Latin America and the Caribbean, and are dedicated to giving back and improving the communities we serve. Come save with us at spirit.com. At Spirit Airlines, we go. We go for you.
CHICAGO(December 10, 2018) – Hyatt Place Chongli is the first Hyatt-branded hotel to open in Zhangjiakou in China’s Hebei Province. The hotel features the Hyatt Place brand’s intuitive design, casual atmosphere and practical amenities such as free Wi-Fi.
Hyatt Place Chongli is located within Thaiwoo Ski Resort, which offers offering skiing and other exhilarating snow-sports in the winter and mountain biking and horse riding in the summer.
Hyatt Place Chongli is a 55-minute drive from Zhangjiakou Ningyuan Airport and a three-hour drive from Beijing Capital International Airport. By the end of 2019, guests will be able to travel by train from Beijing to Thaiwoo Ski Resort in 50 minutes. The hotel offers easy access to local attractions, including Grass Skyline, a 133-kilometer stretch of picturesque grassland dotted with Mongolian yurts and grazing cattle; Cuiyun Mountain Forest Park, which is comprised of more than 20 peaks; Huapiling scenic area, a mountainous border between Zhangbei and Chongli counties; and Ice & Snow Museum Chongli, the largest museum of its kind in China.
“As the Chongli district continues to develop its infrastructure and thrive economically, we are excited to add to the momentum with the opening of the first Hyatt Place hotel,” said General Manager Luke Li. “With our smartly designed social spaces and guestrooms with separate work and sleep areas, our multitasking guests can easily accomplish what they need to do while on the road.”
Hyatt Place Chongli offers:
132 spacious guestrooms with separate spaces to sleep, work and play, as well as a Cozy Corner sofa-sleeper
Free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel and guestrooms
Gallery Kitchen Breakfast features an array of Western and Chinese breakfast favorites, including noodles, dim sum, ham, and eggs, as well as fresh fruit, yogurt and more
Gallery Menu serving freshly prepared meals
24/7 Gallery Market offering ready-to-go sandwiches and salads all day long
Coffee to Cocktails Bar featuring coffees and premium beers, as well as wines and specialty cocktails
Odds & Ends program for forgotten items that guests can buy, borrow or enjoy for free
Meeting Places with 160 square meters of flexible, high-tech meeting/function space
24-hour Gym featuring cardio equipment with LCD touchscreens and free ear buds
Heated indoor swimming pool with views of Thaiwoo Ski Resort as well as a freeform kids pool and a massage pool
HYATT PLACE CHONGLI LEADERSHIP
Hyatt Place Chongli is under the leadership of General Manager Luke Li and Director of Sales Justin Guo. In his role, Li is directly responsible for managing the day-to-day operations of the hotel, including overseeing the hotel’s 54 associates and ensuring guests encounter the thoughtful service for which the Hyatt Place brand is known. Guo is responsible for providing sales service and support to travelers and meeting planners frequenting the Beijing area.
The Europa-Park theme park in southwestern Germany has reopened after a major fire. After hundreds of firefighters put out the blaze, the site was able to welcome visitors for a regular music event.
A televised music show went ahead on Sunday, but parts of Germany’s largest amusement park remained unusable following the huge fire which had taken well into Saturday night to extinguish.
Europa-Park attracts about 5.6 million visitors a year and, according to police estimates, some 25,000 people were at the park when the fire broke out. It is likely to have started in a warehouse and spread to the nearby “Pirates of Batavia” attraction. The cause of the blaze is not yet known.
Europa-Park’s managing director, Michael Mack, said the Norway-themed area had been “completely lost,” however many others had not been damaged.
Seven firefighters were injured due to smoke inhalation.
Three of the park’s 100 attractions remained closed on Sunday.
What happened:
– A building described as a warehouse caught fire early evening, prompting the evacuation of several attractions.
– Fire service crews were also called in from Karlsruhe and Freiburg, two major cities in Baden-Württemberg state, said local fire spokesman Michael Wege.
– Residents of Rust were asked to keep windows and doors shut, according to the newspaper.
What is Europa-Park:
The park has 15 European themed areas in which visitors can explore a minature vesion of several countries, from England to Russia.
The family-owned amusement park has over 100 attractions and fairground rides and includes five upscale hotels and camping grounds, according to its host town of Rust.
It ranks as Europe’s second most-visited amusement park, trailing only Disneyland in Paris. Opened in 1975, it now spans 995,000 square meters (235 acres) and is divided into 18 themed areas.
Click the link below for a YouTube video of the fire!
