Hong Kong To Open New Cruise Terminal

Volume 6, Issue 7, Feb. 14, 2013

Intelligence Hong Kong To Open New Cruise Terminal In June   KAI TAK: Hong Kong debuts new cruise terminal in June. © Hansenn In June, Hong Kong expects to open the first half of a new $1 billion cruise terminal with the capacity to disembark a total of 8,400 passengers and 1,200 crew. Located in Victoria Harbour in East Kowloon, the Kai Tak Cruise Terminal is nearly 400 metres long and anticipates 16 ships in the first 10 months of operation. The second half of the terminal is expected to open in July 2014. Hong Kong officials built the new terminal to accommodate more ships and make the city a more appealing cruise destination. When construction is finished, it will be three times the size of the city's existing cruise terminal, Ocean Terminal in Tsim Sha Tsui, which can only handle two ships of about 50,000 gross tons each. Recognizing the limited size of Ocean Terminal, officials put out a bid for a new facility on the site of the city's former airport international airport, Kai Tak, in 2008. The airport's main runway extends more than 3,000 metres into Victoria Harbour and creates a natural pier. The new terminal will have five passenger bridges and 100 check-in stations. Customs facilities will be able to accommodate and process 3,000 passengers an hour, according to officials. It will also include a landscaped park on the third story with elevated views of Victoria Harbour and the Hong Kong skyline. The terminal is part of a larger development that may see 17 hotels built on the old airport site. Officials are also looking into adding a venue for special events and exhibitions in the future. Are you interested in traveling to Hong Kong on a cruise and visiting the new Kai Tak Terminal? Email us. Please include your full name with your email.

News Macau Sheraton Opens Second Tower   On Jan. 28, the Sheraton Macao Hotel opened its second tower, adding more than 2,000 guestrooms to the Las Vegas Sands development on Macau's Cotai Strip. Named Earth Tower, it features 2,067 guestrooms, three restaurants and approximately 15,000 square metres of meeting space. With this new tower, the Sheraton Macao Hotel is now the city's largest, with 3,896 guestrooms. JW Marriott To Open In Bangladesh   JW Marriott International signed an agreement with Jamuna Builders Limited to develop Bangladesh's first JW Marriott in the capital city of Dhaka. JW Marriott Hotel Dhaka will have 700 guestrooms, three restaurants, two bars, a spa and 2,280 square metres of meeting space. The opening date has not been set. Seventeen of the world's 59 JW Marriott hotels are in Asia, including three in India. Air China Upgrades Beijing-New York Service   Beginning March 31, Air China will increase frequency on its non-stop service between New York (JFK) and Beijing (PEK) from seven to 11 flights per week and upgrade its aircraft to the Boeing 777-300ER. The additional outbound flight departs New York on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday at 2:50 and arrives in Beijing at 14:20 local time the next day. The additional inbound flight departs Beijing at 9:00 Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and arrives in New York at 10:20 on the same day. The airline's Boeing 777-300ER aircraft features a wider cabin than any competing aircraft. The carrier includes eight luxury suites in the Forbidden Pavilion (first-class cabin), 41 full-flat bed seats in the Capital Pavilion (business class) and 259 economy seats. Tauck To Launch New Land And Sea Tours   Tauck plans to launch "Treasures of Southeast Asia," a new 16-day land and sea exploration of Hong Kong, Vietnam and Singapore on the 264-passenger Le Soleal, this fall. The excursion kicks off with two nights in Hong Kong, featuring accommodations at the Kowloon Shangri-La and guided sightseeing. Tauck guests then spend 11 days cruising, with stops in Hai Phong, Da Nang, Hoi An, Nha Trang and Ho Chi Minh City. The itinerary concludes with a two-night stay in Singapore at the Marina Bay Sands. Southbound departures are scheduled for Oct. 28 and Nov. 29, and a reverse itinerary is slated for Nov. 8. The all-inclusive journey is priced from $9,990 per person. Sofitel To Add New Properties   Accor's Sofitel brand expects to open new hotels in Bali and Shenyang, China, by the end of 2014. Located 25 miles from Denspasar, the Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua Beach will open in September and have 415 guestrooms, including 17 villas. The Sheraton Shenyang Lido will be rebranded as the Sofitel Shenyang Lido and will have 590 guestrooms and six restaurants and bars when it reopens after renovations in early 2014.

Dollars & Sense

Stay For Breakfast In Singapore   Singapore Marriott Hotel offers guests a breakfast special, including overnight accommodations and a buffet breakfast at Marriott Café. Rates start from SGD 430. Book now with promotional code S4B. Suite Deal From The InterContinental Hong Kong   Guests who book a junior suite for a minimum stay of two nights at the InterContinental Hong Kong receive complimentary Club InterContinental access for two, breakfast, afternoon tea, evening cocktails and a one-way airport transfer in the hotel's Mercedes limousine. Travel is valid through March 31. Visit the website for more information. Time Out In Phuket   Angsana Laguna Phuket offers travelers a Time Out special, including more than 50 percent off the best available rate, daily breakfast, complimentary evening cocktails and an additional savings of 20 percent if booking is made 14 days in advance. Book here for stays through Oct. 31. Spring Family Special In Binjiang   Four Points by Sheraton Hangzhou, Binjiang offers guests a Spring Family special, including complimentary breakfast, two glasses of house wine, free Internet and late check-out. Rates start from RMB 799. Book now. Stay And Shop In Hong Kong   Through May 31, J Plus Boutique Hotel in Hong Kong offers guests a Shopaholic Holidays promotion, featuring 15 percent off the best available rate. Visit the website for more information.

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