Travel Counsellors is one of the UKÂ's largest independent travel companies with turnover at the end of its last financial year (Oct 31 2006) of £175 million ($A440k).  Founded in 1994 it currently has over 780 travel consultants who work from home, with the support of over 150 staff at the companyÂ's head office in the UK.

Travel CounsellorsÂ' expansion into Australia follows on from its recent announcement to open in South Africa and is the sixth launch of the concept overseas in the past two and half years.

Travel Counsellors now has over 780 Travel Counsellors worldwide and also operates from Ireland, Netherlands, Germany, South Africa, tha USA and the UK.  Travel Counsellors are launching the Australian business after planning the expansion for over nine months.

Emaar Properties has launched the sale of luxury, waterfront serviced apartment suites at the 38-storey Dubai Marina Mall Hotel and Serviced Residences.

The development includes studios, one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments and penthouses ranging from 540 to 3,995 sq ft in size.

The Dubai Marina Mall Hotel & Serviced Residences is part of the 150,000 sq m Dubai Marina Mall complex that also includes the Dubai Marina Mall Hotel, the Dubai Marina Mall - a modern shopping and entertainment destination, and an 8-storey tower dedicated to diverse cuisines. The 442 serviced residences will be managed by the Emaar-approved hospitality operator that also manages the 5-star hotel.

MMBL Money Transfer (Pvt) Ltd (MMBL) and Sanasa Developmant Bank (SDB) have entered into an agreement to offer Western Union money transfer services through their network of 27 locations.

Western Union is a leading provider of global money transfer services and is listed in the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE). Together with its affiliates Orlandi Valuta and Vigo, Western Union operates through a network of more than 305,000 Agent locations in over 200 countries and territories.

MMBL a joint venture company between Aitken Spence & Co., and Mercantile Merchant Bank Ltd represents Western Union as Agent to handle money transfer services. The MMBL network is spread across Sri Lanka including banks, financial institutions and retail outlets. MMBLÂ's strategy is to provide easy access to every Western Union customer allowing them to collect their remittance at a location Â"right next doorÂ".

One of AsiaÂ's leading (and the largest) low cost airline, AirAsia will be the first airline in Asia to deploy in-flight mobile communications services as announced at the Paris Air Show. The service, to be deployed across the entire AirAsia fleet, will enable passengers to use their mobile phones and BlackBerry-type devices to send and receive SMS text messages, emails, and to make and receive mobile phone calls during flight. The OnAir services will be introduced by Air Asia in early 2009.

AirAsiaÂ's entire fleet of Airbus A320 aircraft will be fitted with the OnAir equipment, including aircraft currently flying and those on order from Airbus. A total of 150 aircraft will be equipped by 2013. AirAsia X, the latest long haul low cost airline have also signed a similar agreement for a minimum of 15 A300-300 aircraft ordered from Airbus.

DatoÂ' Kamarudin Meranun, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, AirAsia, said, Â"We have worked very hard to strengthen our network and enhanced connectivity in the ASEAN region, and we are now working equally hard to improve the services we offer our guests. We firmly believe that offering them the ability to communicate during flight is vital in this era of information technology.Â"

Airbus ends the 47th Paris Air Show with new momentum for its product range, the A380, the A350 XWB, the A330/A340 Family, as well as the A320 Family. During the Show the manufacturer received a total of 425 firm orders from 19 customers. In addition, Airbus received commitments for a total of 303 additional aircraft.

Market demand for the A380 was further consolidated, with 13 additional orders and commitments from existing customers who further confirmed their interest in AirbusÂ' all new Â"gentle green giantÂ" by increasing their orders and commitments for this new product.

Qatar increased its order book for the A380 by three firm orders. Emirates and Air France both committed to acquiring eight and two more A380s, respectively. This brings the total orders and commitments for the A380 to 173. Delivery to the first operator, Singapore Airlines, will take place in October this year.

CV Travel is currently owned by John Boyle, also founder of Direct Holidays and Zoom Airlines.

Established in 1972, CV Travel originally specialised in renting private villas in Corfu, but has since expanded into many other areas throughout Europe with a key focus on Greece, France and Italy.

It has recently added long-haul destinations such as Morocco, Oman and the Caribbean.

All passengers traveling on flights to Spain are now required to provide additional information prior to their flight as the Spanish Government moves to introduce entry procedures, similar to those used in the US.

All passengers will be required to provide their full given names, surnames, nationality, date of birth and travel document number (passport or ID card number) when checking in for their flight. This process will require the check-in agent to swipe the passport through a computer.

Trials were successfully completed at MonarchÂ's UK airports in May and live APIS data has been sent for all passengers travelling on MonarchÂ's Spanish flights since then, with no disruption being caused to passengers or check-in queues.

Following recent news of Viva Macau's expansion, with the introduction of key new routes, the airline has announced the appointment of Con Korfiatis as its new Chief Executive. Mr Korfiatis, who was Viva's Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial Officer, has over 17 years of senior management experience in the industry in some of the region's most successful airlines, including Qantas and Singapore Airlines.  Mr Korfiatis was also the founding Chief Executive for Jetstar Asia, a Singapore based low cost airline.

Mr Korfiatis said, "I would like to thank the board and shareholders of Viva Macau for their vote of confidence, and thank Andrew for his vision in bringing Viva Macau to its successful launch last December.  With the additional routes awarded recently - including Korea, the Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam and of course Tokyo and Sydney - I look forward to Viva Macau improving air access to and from Asia's Las Vegas, and to growing the airline aggressively.  Macau is the hot spot in Asia and with many new resort and entertainment developments opening in 2007 and beyond, the future is exciting."

The outgoing CEO, Mr Andrew Pyne added, "It gives me enormous satisfaction to see Viva Macau now positioned for such exciting growth opportunities. I'm also delighted to be handing over to such a capable and experienced airline executive as Con."

Blackpool is an iconic holiday destination within the UK for a number of different reasons. Probably because people come to Blackpool for a number of different reasons!  It is a well known British seaside resort, attracting families seeking the seaside and some active fun – without having to leave the UK.

This summer, BlackpoolÂ's famous Promenade will come alive with thousands of Â'two-wheelersÂ' when the resort celebrates its very first cycling festival. Visitors and residents will not only be able to watch some of the countryÂ's fastest elite cyclists over the course of the weekend (July 13-15), they can saddle up for themselves for a sedate Sunday morning ride along a traffic-free Promenade.

The Â"Promenade du BicycletteÂ" (on Sunday July 15 at 9:30am) is a unique occasion for families, beginners, leisure riders and couples alike to ride along the sea-front on closed roads. The 4mile route is between North Shore and South Shore (Warley Road to Starr Gate), giving cyclists a two-hour opportunity to take in icons such as the worldÂ's largest Mirrorball, the Big One, and of course the Tower, at a gentle leisurely pace.

The commitment of Iceland towards creating the first hydrogen society has reached new heights with the SMART-H2 project. The Icelandic team is convinced that hydrogen can be one of the key energy carriers coupled with extensive use of renewable energy in the future and this new initiative will bring Iceland into a pre-commercial hydrogen society.

Mercedes-Benz fuel cell buses have been running since 2003 and the hydrogen refuelling station has been operating successfully and safely. The hydrogen refuelling station has delivered over 20 tons of hydrogen, mostly to the buses but also for other hydrogen activities.

Looking to expand the use of hydrogen, Icelandic New Energy (INE) is running a project with fuel cell passenger vehicles. Introducing passenger vehicles means a new set of service requirements.

At the Paris Air Show, European Science and Research Commissioner Janez Potočnik presented plans for a major public/private partnership for a greener air transport system. Dubbed the "Clean Sky" Joint Technology Initiative, its objectives are to reduce CO2 emissions by around 40%, NOx emissions by 60% and noise by 50%.

Technology breakthroughs are hoped for in time for major fleet renewal in 2015 and will apply to three main aircraft categories (long range, regional, rotorcraft) and overall to engines and "systems".

The EU will contribute €800 million from its Seventh Research Framework Programme, a sum that will be matched by industry. Industry participation comes from across the aviation and aeronautics sector, with companies taking leading roles in the 6 areas identified for research: SMART fixed wing aircraft; green regional aircraft; green rotorcraft; sustainable and green engines; systems for green operations; eco-design.

B/E Aerospace, Inc. manufactures cabin interior products for commercial passenger aircraft and business jets. The company also provides a wide range of cabin interior design, reconfiguration and certification services, including the conversion of passenger aircraft to freighter use.

B/E customers include virtually all the world's airlines and aircraft manufacturers.

B/E's installed base (products on aircraft currently in service) is valued at approximately $5.0 billion. The company has manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Europe and employs around 4,000 people.

Mandala Airlines has signed a contract for 25 A320s and has become the first customer for the type from Indonesia. The airline already holds the status of being the first Indonesian carrier to operate A320s following the entry into service of the first of two leased aircraft in December 2006. The new A320s will be used to replace old generation Boeing 737-200s on Mandala Airlines' widespread domestic network that extends to over 20 destinations. The A320s will be configured with 180 economy class seats.

More than 5,000 A320 family aircraft have been ordered by customers worldwide, over 1,100 of which are from full-service and low-cost airlines in the Asia-Pacific region.  The A320 has a widespread reputation for high dispatch reliability even on short hops, with wide aisles facilitating quick turnarounds for efficient operations.

"With this order, Mandala will enter a new era in terms of advanced aircraft technology and passenger comfort", said Diono Nurjadin, President Director Mandala Airlines, "The A320 will offer our passengers the highest levels of travel comfort whilst allowing us to benefit from their unbeatable economics including but not limited to lower fuel burn, reduced maintenance costs, lower direct operating costs and higher residual values. We are ready to expand our network from West to East Indonesia with the A320."

BAA Jet Management has placed a commitment for an Airbus Corporate Jetliner (ACJ), becoming the first customer for the type to be based in Hong Kong with extensive business there and in mainland China. The order reinforces the Airbus ACJ FamilyÂ's leadership of top-of-the-line corporate jet sales in Asia.

BAA Jet ManagementÂ's Airbus ACJ will operate from Shenzen, near Hong Kong, and will be the first to be based, and registered, in the PeopleÂ's Republic of China. It will also be the first authorised for charter under the new Chinese CCAR Part 135 rules.

One of the leading aviation companies in Asia, BAA Jet Management offers a complete range of business jet services, including VIP charters, aircraft management, flight support and aircraft sales and acquisition. Handling aircraft that are registered in the USA or the PeopleÂ's Republic of China, BAA Jet Management has bases in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shenzen.

Galileo, a leading global distribution system (GDS) and subsidiary of Travelport, has announced the launch of Galileo Traversa. Initially offered by Galileo Americas for customers with English-speaking employees worldwide, this next generation corporate booking tool integrates the ease-of-use and familiarity of one of the worldÂ's most famous leisure online booking platforms with the control and content corporate travel requires, offering the best of both worlds to corporate travelers and corporations.

Galileo Traversa is planned to be rolled out by IBM, which played a key role in the development of this leading edge corporate travel booking tool.  By the end of Q4, it will be available in six languages. Currently it is offered in U.S. English, U.K. English, French Canadian and European French – German and European Spanish coming later this year –  and available in the 234 currencies supported by the Galileo GDS.

Â"Galileo Traversa delivers the best of all worlds to travel managers, corporations and ultimately their travelers: a booking tool already known to millions, enabling instant adoption, high productivity, increased traveler satisfaction, and fewer low-value calls to the agency, all of which can amount to measurable cost savings,Â" said Dave Falter, president, Galileo by Travelport, The Americas. Â"We are particularly proud to premiere Galileo Traversa because it sets a new standard in the corporate booking tool arena, and we are delighted to be in this enviable market position. Whether the issue is savings, high adoption, policy control or productivity, Galileo Traversa helps companies take advantage of leading edge travel technology to reap benefits every day.Â"

During a glide descent, also known as continuous or uninterrupted descent, aircraft approach the airport with engines idling.

Current air traffic control procedures often require aircraft to speed up or slow down to allow planes to keep their distance from each other or to make best use of the runway, as aircraft converge on an airport.

Glide approaches could provide significant fuel savings.

easyJet and car rental partner Europcar, are speeding towards a car rental milestone – their millionth car rental customer.

To celebrate, a brand new Volkswagen Eos Sport 2.0 worth over £20,000 will be given away to the millionth customer who books a Europcar rental through easyJet. The VW Eos has been voted What Car? Â"Best Open Top Car 2007Â". Reservations can be made online using www.europcar4easyJet.com, www.easyJet.com, or by telephone 0845 88 99 99.

Europcar has been the car rental partner to easyJet since July 2003, a long-term partnership which was extended in October 2006. All easyJet customers travelling on one of the airlineÂ's 294 routes which encompasses 22 countries have access to a range of car rental services, an easy to use online booking system allowing flight bookings and car reservations to be made simultaneously, and preferential Europcar rates.

You know that times have changed when tourism starts tapping into the Â'nostalgiaÂ' of the former East Germany (GDR). The Ostel hotel is located in the Â"Berlin MitteÂ" district, minutes away from the centre of Berlin and from the cityÂ's bars, restaurants, clubs and shops.

The Ostel will take you back in time where you can enjoy a Â'socialistÂ' stay - as it would have been when the GDR held sway.

The décor and furniture is all typical GDR, with various types of rooms available, each differently themed, at a number of varying and very reasonable prices.  There is the Â'Pioneer CampÂ' (bunk beds for up to 6 people) from 9 € or $14 AUS per person. Next up are single or double rooms from 38 € or $60AUS. The ultimate room is the aptly named Â"Stasi suiteÂ", a four room pre-fabricated apartment for 5 people at 35 € per person per night.

easyJet has announced the addition of two new countries to its network this autumn – Austria and Romania, taking the total number of countries easyJet operates from, to 22.

The new daily service between London Luton and Vienna commences on 29 October and is the first time the airline has entered the Austrian market, which is expected to be particularly popular as a year round city break destination, as well as a ski gateway in the winter. Flights are available from £22.99 one way.

The grand, romantic Austrian capital is located on the banks of the Danube. A stunning monument to the Habsburg Dynasty, Vienna is a city of immense cultural and historical heritage with its UNESCO World Heritage Site centre, filled with medieval back streets and imperial squares and palaces. In this opulent and indulgent metropolis there is a variety of world-class museums to explore, grand palaces such as the Schonbrunn or the Imperial Palace, wide boulevards to wander along and enjoy the magnificent architecture. See the famous white stallions perform or an orchestra perform at one of the many lavish concert halls, such as the Wiener Philharmoniker or the Vienna Boys Choir at the Vienna Conservatorium.

The Wyndham Sugar Bay Resort & Spa is a beach and water-sport lover's paradise. With breathtaking mountain and ocean views - this resort offers the perfect romantic getaway.

This 3-night Romance Package has everything you need to create beautiful memories with the one you love.

Offer Includes:

The air show in Paris opened with an extraordinary series of announcements by Airbus. As one press conference followed another throughout the day, the total number of aircraft orders and commitments continued to climb. By the end of afternoon, John Leahy from Airbus announced a total of 339 orders for Airbus aircraft, representing a global value of 45.7 billion dollars US at catalogue prices.

These announcements include 219 firm purchase agreements and 120 Memorandum of Understanding. In answer to a question at the GECAS press conference, John Leahy said he expected to exceed by far its previous record of Le Bourget 2005.

By Monday night, this prediction seemed likely to come true and Airbus is set to mark another record with important orders for the new A350 XWB from Qatar Airways, US Airways and ALAFCO, and repeat orders for the A380 from Qatar, Emirates and Air France.

Wine For Dudes offer an indispensable guide to help you enjoy the wine tasting experience at the many fabulous cellar doors scattered around the stunning Margaret River Wine Region.

The tour provides a casual and different wine experience that is both entertaining and informative at the same time.

Wine For dudes pride themselves on being that Â'little bit differentÂ'. Wine for Dudes have devised a way to make wine a little simpler and a bit more hands on by letting you make a wine that you like (that, or you will decide that the winemaker was right all along).  This Â'wine blendingÂ' offer is exclusive to Wine for Dudes.

Construction of the Emirates Park Towers Hotel will commence in July 2007, with the opening set down for 2010. The hotel will comprise:

Two 80-storey hotel towers, including roof area and mast structure to an overall height of 376 metres.

* Podium with two-storey basement car park

The Tall Ships Races have been held since 1956 and were originally prompted by a concern that the era of sailing ships would come to an end. A farewell race was arranged from Lisbon in Portugal to Torbay in the UK. Since then, an annual race has been held somewhere in the world, and every fourth year or so the races are held in the Baltic.

The Tall Ships Races in Kotka from 18 to 21 July are expected to become the major public event in Finland in the summer of 2007, attracting up to 300,000 visitors to Kotka over four days.

The Tall Ships Races were arranged in Finland most recently in Turku in the summer of 2003, when half a million people came to admire the sailing ships.

As the Tourism Society celebrated its 30th Anniversary, Alison Cryer FTS, MD of Representation Plus was elected Chairman by the board of the Tourism Society yesterday following a tight two candidate contest.

Alison takes over from David Curtis-Brignell FTS who resigned at the end of his successful three year term; he remains on the board as part of the Executive Committee.

Alison is the second female Chairman since the society was formed in 1977. She redesigned and restructured the Society's Journal which she has edited since October 2006. "The future of the Tourism Society remains in its membership growth, anyone involved in any aspect of Tourism can apply." commented Cryer.

Govia is the new franchisee of West Midlands rail franchise, which will run from 11 November 2007 to 19 September 2015, the last two years being conditional on achieving performance targets.

It combines the existing Silverlink County franchise and the major part of the current Central Trains franchise - specifically, the West Midlands regional services, including the Snow Hill Lines and the Birmingham to Liverpool route. The new franchise will be branded London Midland to reflect its geographical market.

London MidlandÂ's headquarters will be in Birmingham in recognition of the CityÂ's strategic importance to the franchise.

Expedia Corporate Travel (ECT) has announced plans to launch a service in Italy. Companies doing business in Italy will have access to fully localized service, content, language support and Web site providing a suite of online booking and travel management tools in Italian.

ECT also announced a partnership with L' Orchidea Viaggi, an experienced Italian travel management company, to provide local fulfillment services. This partnership combined with its investment in the Italian market allows ECT to offer corporate clients doing business in Italy a consistent global experience, while also offering Italian clients seamless, world class corporate travel services.

"We continue to expand Expedia Corporate Travel's global presence, ensuring we service each new market's unique needs while maintaining a globally consistent, high level of service," said Christophe Pingard, vice president Europe, Expedia Corporate Travel. "Combining L' Orchidea Viaggi's local market knowledge and service expertise with Expedia Corporate Travel's award-winning technology ensures that our customers will have the same consistent corporate travel management experience they have come to expect from us."

The 4-star Almond Resorts are located on the sunset side of Barbados, along the famous Gold Coast.  The resorts include the family oriented Almond Beach Village and Almond Casuarina; the Almond Beach Club & Spa for adults only (over 16 years); and Almond Morgan Bay and Almond Smugglers Cove on St. Lucia.

Almond Resorts is pleased to announce the partnership with International Star Registry. Book your wedding package at any one of the Almond Resorts and a star will be named in the couples name. Plus, stay 7 nights or longer in a Deluxe category room or higher, and the couple receives their wedding for free. The package includes:

* Clergyman or Magistrate (additional fees may apply)

The UK national tourism agency, VisitBritain has launched a new initiative to encourage EnglandÂ's 6,000 visitor attractions to sign up to a new national Code of Practice.

The Code of Practice will help ensure quality days out for tourists, giving customers an additional avenue for comments and helping maintain BritainÂ's position as the fifth most popular destination in the world. From 1 April 2008, only those attractions committed to the Code of Practice or participants in the Visitor Attractions Quality Assurance Service (VAQAS) will be promoted by VisitBritain.

Jeremy Brinkworth, VisitBritainÂ's general manager for quality, says: Â"BritainÂ's tourism industry must do all it can to keep its visitors returning year after year. We are facing increasing competition as rival destinations outstrip our tourism performance: although inbound tourism to the UK has seen average annual growth close to 7%, both India and Turkey are growing at double-digit rates.

OnAir has announced at the Paris Air Show that the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) has certified the airborne GSM equipment, which supports OnAir services on Airbus A318. For the first time, this will enable airline passengers in Europe to use their BlackBerry-type devices and mobile phones during flights.

EASA is the competent authority in the European Union with responsibility for the airworthiness certification of all aeronautical products. As such, it develops common safety rules at the European level and is also responsible for type-certification.

Benoit Debains, CEO of OnAir, said, Â"The airborne equipment has been designed to meet the specific needs of the aviation environment. This certification validates the integrity of the work that Airbus has done in developing and integrating technology from best of breed suppliers.Â"

Air China and Aviation Partners Boeing have reached an agreement to assure Air ChinaÂ's future deliveries of Boeing 737-800 aircraft will be equipped with Blended Winglets.

The firm order for 25 shipsets scheduled to deliver from October of this year through 2010 provides Air China, the Airline Partner of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, with the most competitive aircraft in the demanding Chinese market. With this order, over 240 737-NG aircraft in China will be equipped with winglets.

Â"Air ChinaÂ's position in China speaks for itself,Â" says Aviation Partners Boeing CEO John Reimers. Â"We immensely value their trust in Aviation Partners Boeing and Blended Winglet technology.Â"

Whitbread has announced that Premier Travel Inn has entered into a 50:50 joint venture agreement with Emaar-MGF – one of IndiaÂ's leading real estate developers, to develop the UKÂ's largest budget hotel brand, Premier Travel Inn, in India.

A total equity investment of up to £300m will be invested in the joint venture over the next 10 years of which Whitbread's share will be 50%.  Over the period the venture will create some 80 hotels and over 12,000 rooms for business and leisure travellers seeking high quality branded budget hotel accommodation.  The initial sites are targeted in the Delhi Region (National Capital Region), Chennai, Goa, Hyderabad and Chandigarh.

Alan Parker, Chief Executive, Whitbread PLC said: Â"Our entry into India will fill a gap in the countryÂ's hotel market by providing high quality branded budget hotels.  The pace of economic development in India is quite phenomenal; and importantly for us there is rapid growth in both business and leisure travel markets.  WeÂ're very pleased to have Emaar-MGF as our JV partner.Â"

Two men from the climate action group, Plane Stupid, caused disruption at East Midlands airport by supergluing themselves to the passenger entrances to the airport.

Supporters handed out leaflets to airport customers encouraging them not to fly next time, and a banner carried by helium-filled balloons was also released in the departure lounge bearing the slogan Â'LetÂ's fryÂ'.

Last week another activist from Plane Stupid, Penny Eastwood, a mother of two from Yorkshire, glued herself both to the doors of Lastminute.com HQ in London in protest at the ever growing greenhouse gas emissions from aviation.  The day of action was called to illustrate that short-haul flights are unnecessary and unsustainable and journeys can easily be taken by train or bus, claimed to be less polluting.

Greenpeace has set up 'climate ticket exchanges' in airports across the UK, where people booked on domestic flights can swap the return section of their plane ticket for a climate-friendly train ticket.

The campaigners say companies like BA are trying to create a 'binge-flying' culture in Britain that threatens the UK's global warming targets. The environment group rapidly constructed booths by check-in desks at London City, Manchester, Newcastle and Edinburgh as travellers queued for morning flights.

Campaigners dressed as stewards and stewardesses offered the free return train tickets to passengers while security guards attempted to move the ticket exchange booths. Greenpeace members announced the ticket exchanges on megaphones and took questions from travellers about the impact of aviation on the climate.

Greenpeace today branded a report by airline pilots on climate change 'pure propaganda... a dodgy dossier produced by people who should know better.'

The new report from the British Airline Pilots' Association (BALPA) claims aviation is being scapegoated by environmentalists, alleging campaigners use 'half-truths' in the climate debate. Greenpeace says that BALPA presents no evidence to back up the claim, and that a reading of the report reveals Â'BALPA has relied on an almost comical reading of the statistics to back up its claimsÂ'.

Greenpeace director John Sauven said: "This report is pure propaganda. Frankly the aviation industry should be embarrassed by this nonsense. The authors assume everyone drives a top of the range 4x4 across continents, before taking the QE2 then jumping on a Maglev bullet train, and still they have to conclude that flying is worse for the climate. You'd think this union would know better than to play fast and loose with reality. When ministers receive this report in the post they can safely drop it into the recycling bin before phoning scientists to hear the truth."

JetBlue Airways has been awarded the highest honours in an airline customer satisfaction among low-cost airlines from J.D. Power and Associates. The low-fare airline, based in New York, also ranked highest in satisfaction among low-cost airlines in 2006 and among all U.S. major airlines in 2005.

"JetBlue customers continue to recognize the outstanding service provided them by our 11,500 crewmembers. It is the dedication of these crewmembers that allows JetBlue to be consistently ranked as one of the top service-oriented companies in the transportation industry," said Dave Barger, President and CEO of JetBlue Airways.

"This recognition is especially meaningful to JetBlue after experiencing operational challenges earlier this year. It shows that our customers continue to believe in the JetBlue brand and in our dedication to high-quality service and further, that we are well-positioned for the future."

Rail passengers are another step towards ticketless travel as TheTrainline, in conjunction with Midland Mainline, launches the UKÂ's first mobile phone ticketing pilot for business travellers.

As well as making train journeys simpler and easier for business travellers, mobile phone ticketing will:

• reduce the need for paper tickets
• encourage more passengers to use train travel, which is one of the greenest forms of transport
• help reduce ticket office queues.

Ryanair, has released 3 million £10 seats (taxes and charges included) for travel in July, August and September and challenged Easyjet to step up to the plate by offering passengers a Â'real price guaranteeÂ' instead of the Â'misleading non guaranteeÂ' it has been promoting for the last two weeks.

Ryanair claims that EasyjetÂ's guarantee is worthless because it avoids comparisons with Ryanair.  Unlike Easyjet, RyanairÂ's Price Guarantee compares all flights from all airports between two cities while EasyjetÂ's so called guarantee is confined to flights between the same airports, which in many cases means Easyjet is the only operator.

For example, between London and Milan, RyanairÂ's Price Guarantee allows comparison with over 70 flights operated by 4 airlines, flying between 5 London airports (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, & City)  and 3 Milan (Malpensa, Linate & Bergamo) airports.

One of the UKÂ's leading travel companies, Thomson, has provided insights into how technology is changing the way people book travel.

Speaking at ThomsonÂ's annual Online Booking Report, Director of New Media Graham Donoghue, painted the picture of the UK online travel market which is worth £17 billion – all of which has grown from nothing in the past 10 years.

Thomson now sells 60% of its holidays online – having evolved significantly in recent years shifting from package holidays being booked through its travel agencies to customers piecing together components of their trip at Thomson.co.uk.

Celebrity Cruises is beaming about the approach of summer solstice. The term for the longest day and shortest night of the year, summer solstice traditionally marks the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but at Celebrity Cruises, it also marks the opening of bookings for Celebrity Solstice, the top-rated premium cruise line's first new ship since 2002.

Bookings for Celebrity Solstice will open exclusively for members of Celebrity's loyalty program, "Captain's Club," on June 21, the date of this year's summer solstice. Beginning July 5, all other cruise enthusiasts are welcome to book a Celebrity Solstice vacation. "We are thrilled with the early interest and enthusiasm we're receiving from our guests and travel partners about Celebrity Solstice," said Celebrity's President Dan Hanrahan. "As a special gesture of appreciation to our loyal Captain's Club members, we're pleased to offer them the first opportunity to set sail in the ship's inaugural season."

Celebrity Solstice will offer the service and dining experience the brand is known for providing, along with a variety of compelling new features that will be revealed over time.