Hapag-Lloyd AG (Frankfurt: HLAG) has officially welcomed into its fleet the “Berlin Express”, the first ship of its new Hamburg Express class. At an event attended by some 300 guests from business and politics, naming patron Elke Büdenbender performed the ceremonial christening of the ship at the Container Terminal Burchardkai (Athabaskakai) in the Port of Hamburg. Among the guests were Peter Tschentscher, the First Mayor of Hamburg, and Daniel Günther, the Minister President of Schleswig-Holstein.
The Hamburg Express class will mark the beginning of a new era for Hapag-Lloyd and its fleet. In total, a dozen state-of-the-art large container ships will be put into service by 2025. Together, these vessels will make an important contribution to Hapag-Lloyd’s efforts to operate its entire fleet in a climate-neutral manner by 2045. Thanks to their cutting-edge dual-fuel technology, they will also be able to operate using non-fossil fuels, such as bio-methane and e-methane, and thereby generate hardly any CO2 emissions.
For the time being, liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be used, which will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 25 percent and soot emissions by 95 percent. In addition, advanced components – such as an optimised hull and a highly efficient propeller – will help the vessels to reduce fuel consumption and thereby greenhouse gas emissions.
The “Berlin Express” was built at the Hanwha Ocean shipyard in South Korea. With a length of almost 400 metres and a capacity of 23,600 TEU, it is the largest cargo ship ever to sail under German flag. The container ships in the Hamburg Express class will exclusively operate on the cargo-intensive Far East route between Asia and Europe. The “Berlin Express” will operate regularly on the FE3 service, which sails between Ningbo and Hamburg, via Xiamen, Kaohsiung, Yantian, Hong Kong, Singapore and Rotterdam.
FILE PHOTO: BAIC Group automobile maker at the IEEV New Energy Vehicles Exhibition in Beijing
BEIJING/FRANKFURT (Reuters) – Daimler’s <DDAIF> main Chinese joint venture partner BAIC Group has signalled its intention to increase its stake in the German luxury car manufacturer, sources briefed on the matter said, after it built up a 5% Daimler holding in July.
Officials at BAIC’s listed company, BAIC Motor Corp Ltd, said at investor conferences in mid-October that “both sides are willing to increase stakes in the other”, responding to questions about future relationship between BAIC Group and Daimler, the sources said.
Daimler said in a regulatory filing on Friday that HSBC held 5.23% in Daimler’s voting rights directly as well as through instruments such as equity swaps as of Nov 15. BAIC has used HSBC to help it build its initial 5% stake.
Sources declined to be named as they are not allowed to speak to media.
A Daimler spokesman on Monday said, that the company had received notification from HSBC that the voting stake of 5% has been exceeded.
While the spokesman would not say whether BAIC played a role in the transaction, he added that Daimler welcomed long-term shareholders such as BAIC, who support the carmaker’s strategies.
“Daimler AG appreciates BAIC as long-standing partner and long-term investor,” the spokesman said in a written statement.
“Such shareholders help us to further safeguard and strengthen the capitalization of our company,” the statement continued.
BAIC was not immediately available for comment.
Geely, Daimler’s biggest shareholder with a 9.7% stake, said: “We are a long-term investor in Daimler. We do not react spontaneously to any volatility and we support Daimler’s management and their strategy.”
BAIC (Beijing Automobile Group Co Ltd) has been Daimler’s main partner in China for years and operates Mercedes-Benz factories in Beijing through Beijing Benz Automotive.
Two months before its July stake deal was announced, sources told Reuters that BAIC wanted to invest in Daimler to secure its investment in Beijing Benz Automotive.
In March, sources told Reuters Daimler had asked Goldman Sachs <GS> to help it explore increasing its stake in BAIC’s Hong Kong-listed company.
The partners also planned to revamp manufacturing facilities to make Mercedes Benz-branded trucks via their commercial vehicle joint venture Foton Daimler Automotive (BFDA), Reuters reported in August citing a document and sources familiar with matter.
The companies also said Daimler and BAIC’s new energy vehicle unit BluePark have jointly developed a battery research lab in Beijing.
State-owned BAIC built its stake after Li Shufu, chairman of rival private automaker Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, built a 9.69% stake in Stuttgart-based Daimler in early 2018.
By using Hong Kong shell companies, derivatives, bank financing and structured share options, Li kept the plan under wraps until he was able, at a stroke, to become Daimler’s single largest shareholder.
Since the investment, Geely and Daimler have said they plan to build the next generation of Smart electric cars in China through a joint venture.
Zhejiang-based Geely owns Volvo while BAIC in addition to Daimler has a partnership with South Korea’s Hyundai Motor <HYMTF>.
Daimler said it had collaborated with BAIC in areas such as production, research and development and sales since 2003.
(Reporting by Yilei Sun and Edward Taylor; additional reporting by Arno Schuetze and Ludwig Burger; editing by Brenda Goh, Jason Neely and Louise Heavens)
China’s BAIC willing to increase Daimler holding after 5% stake buy – sources FILE PHOTO: Ola Kaellenius, Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG, speaks at a media event during the Guangzhou auto show in Guangzhou
Addition of Alila Hotels provides World of Hyatt loyalty members even more places to earn and redeem points and connect to exclusive experiences across distinct hotels and resorts
CHICAGO (June 25, 2019) – Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) today announced the introduction of Alila Hotels into the World of Hyatt loyalty program beginning June 25, 2019. This program expansion allows World of Hyatt members to enjoy more unique stay options, the ability to earn and redeem points and enjoy in-hotel benefits at 16 participating Alila properties located throughout Asia, Southwest Asia and the U.S. This program addition quickly follows Hyatt’s November 2018 acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality and its recent integration of the Thompson Hotels and Joie de Vivre brands, with the Destination Hotels brand set to follow later this year.
16 Alila hotels are joining World of Hyatt beginning June 25, 2019 through July 16, 2019, including:
Ventana Big Sur – an Alila Resort – Big Sur, California (June 25)
Alila Solo – Solo (Surakarta), Central Java, Indonesia (June 25)
Alila Seminyak – Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia (June 25)
Studios at Alila Seminyak – Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia (June 25)
Alila Ubud – Gianyar, Bali, Indonesia (June 25)
Alila Villas Uluwatu – Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia (June 25)
Alila Manggis – Karangasem, Bali, Indonesia (June 26)
Alila SCBD – Jakarta, Java, Indonesia (June 26)
Alila Diwa Goa – Salcette, Goa, India (July 15)
The Diwa Club by Alila – Salcette, Goa, India (July 15)
Alila Jabal Akhdar – Jabal Al Akhdar, Oman (July 15)
Alila Fort Bishangarh – Jaipur, Rajasthan, India (July 16)
Alila Anji – Anji, Zhejiang, China (July 16)
Alila Wuzhen – Jiaxing, Zhejiang, China (July 16)
“Following the additions of the Thompson Hotels and Joie de Vivre brands into World of Hyatt, we are thrilled to introduce Alila as the next former Two Roads brand to join the loyalty program,” said Amy Weinberg, senior vice president, World of Hyatt. “Alila is an award-winning brand known for its combination of innovative design and eco-luxury in unique locations, set apart by an unprecedented level of private space, crafted artisanship, personalized hospitality, and bespoke journeys. We are looking forward to offering our World of Hyatt members the opportunity to discover even more unique destinations and exclusive experiences at these remarkable properties while enjoying the rewards they’ve come to expect from World of Hyatt.”
Following the completion of the Alila Hotels integration on July 16, 2019, more than 40 hotels across the Thompson Hotels, Joie de Vivre and Alila brands will have joined World of Hyatt in many new destinations including Zihuatanejo, Mexico, Ubud, Bali, Indonesia, and more.
Exclusive Alila FIND Experiences
Additionally, as part of the Alila brand integration, World of Hyatt members will be able to participate in uniquely crafted, authentic experiences at participating Alila hotels and resorts through the FIND experience platform, all of which will align with Hyatt’s three landmarks of wellbeing: Feel, Fuel and Function. Available for members to redeem using points, these specially curated experiences will be focused on enhancing mind and body, through offerings like the Balinese Beauty Ritual at Alila Seminyak, Seminyak, Indonesia; Journey to Gastronomy at Alila Villas Uluwatu, Uluwatu, Indonesia; Payangan “Private Bali” Trekking to explore rice terraces and riverside views at Alila Ubud, Gianyar, Indonesia; and Snorkeling the Blue Lagoon in Bali at Alila Manggis, Karangasem, Indonesia.
Exclusive World of Hyatt Member Offer
To celebrate, members can earn 2,000 Bonus Points for their first
qualifying stay exploring each of the new brands for a total of up to
8,000 Bonus Points, plus a free night when they experience all four
brands this year. Eligible stays at participating hotels begin once each
property participates in World of Hyatt and are valid through December
31, 2019. No registration is required. Full terms for these offers are
below. These offers are combinable with other program offers, and are
part of World of Hyatt’s continued commitment to increasing rewarding
offerings for its global members.
