BHO rewards is free reward program where customers can earn points at over 125,000 hotels worldwide, but not limited to a single hotel brand. Customers can earn 5 BHO points for every Hong Kong dollar spent on hotels book through BestHotelOnline. To celebrate the launch of BHO Rewards, customers will earn double BHO Points for staying at any “Best Buy” hotels booked between now until 15 October 2011.

“BHO Rewards is a breakthrough hotel reward program. We are a leading online travel agency offering customers cash back as reward. Customers can redeem cash back starting as low as HK$50. If they can wait to reach a higher spending threshold, they will earn a higher percentage of cash back return. We offer customers up to 8% cash back rewards!”

“Customers enjoy greater flexibility in spending their points towards gift vouchers or cash back whenever they want. BHO Rewards are more rewarding than credit card reward programs. Normally, customers can earn gift vouchers and cash back ten times faster than with their credit cards. Additionally, customers continue to enjoy rewards along with their credit card reward program,” said Stella Ng, Director of Market Manager, and BestHotelOnline.

Travelers can easily sign up a free account at BestHotelOnline website Points can be earned immediately. Become a fan of BestHotelOnline Facebook page from now until 15 October 2011, you’ll get an exclusive bonus — 5,000 bonus BHO points!

About BHO Rewards
BHO Rewards is a free reward program available to BestHotelOnline customers. Customers can earn 5 BHO Points per HK$1 spent on all hotel bookings made via BestHotelOnline. Customers can redeem BHO Points for gift vouchers or cash back.

About BestHotelOnline
Established in 2010 and headquartered in Hong Kong, BestHotelOnline is one of the Asia’s fastest-growing online travel agency, providing travelers a choice of over 125,000 hotels in 248 cities worldwide and access to more than 5,500 tours, attractions and activities in over 400 destinations. We help
travelers unlock the best hotel rate in their preferred destination with our Lowest Rate Guarantee and commit to deliver an exceptional experience of online travel.

So we all know the weather conditions over the past couple of years have, at times, caused monumental problems for airports, travel companies and also passengers. There was the Icelandic ash cloud saga last year that caused absolute chaos in airports across Europe (I was stranded in Lanzarote but we had a family friend who lent us their house for a week so the effect of the ash cloud was an extra week’s holiday so I can’t really complain!), the ash cloud that emerged earlier this year, which thankfully wasn’t as problematic, and also the hoards of snow that came down over the Christmas period.

Oh, the snow. How problematic this was for thousands of passengers, many of whom physically could not get to the airport and for many, even if they did it was not good news. Thousands of people’s Christmas vacations were postponed, or worse cancelled and this particular Christmas for them turned into a nightmare.
However, there were those who were lucky and managed to salvage their holiday and be with their families at Christmas. One of my friends was due to fly out to America the week before Christmas to spend it with his family. However, due to the dreaded snow his flight was cancelled and because he lived in Jersey, which you also have to fly to, he was stranded. However, he checked into an airport hotel until he could fly, and three days later he was on his plane to America. What’s more, he has never looked back.
What initially was a lifesaver, has now become a necessity; he has already booked one of the Gatwick hotels for this summer and I’m sure it won’t be the last.

So whether it is one of the Stansted airport hotels, Dublin airport hotels or a room in one of the many discount Manchester airport hotels, follow in his footsteps and book an airport hotel now to ensure you can make the most of any departure situation.

Book by January 31, 2011 to avail of some Greatest Deals in Chicago for as low as $55!

Hotel Reservations should be completed by January 31, 2011 to be eligible for the promo. Travel by January 31, 2011

The Hotel, Resort and Restaurant Association of Cebu (HRRAC) projected a 100 percent occupancy rate in hotels and pension houses with the onset of the Sinulog celebration.

HRRAC president Marco Protacio said the high occupancy rate is expected from Jan. 14 to Jan. 17.

”We are anticipating an influx of local and foreign tourists to visit Cebu this month with the Sinulog celebration,” Protacio said. He said Sinulog is an event that never fails to draw tourists to Cebu.

Protacio also believes that Cebu already has enough rooms to cater to its huge number of guests.

”The previous years were a bit challenging as Cebu lacked rooms to accommodate tourists but with the opening of some new hotels and pension houses, I believe that we have enough rooms to accommodate our guests,” he said.

He said that just last year, eight new facilities joined their association.

Protacio also said most hotels have come up with different platforms to entertain their guests, especially that this year’s Sinulog celebration will showcase Chinese influence and heritage.

He also noted that the high occupancy rate may also be experienced in resorts, particularly in Mactan, apart from the hotels and pension houses in the city.

”It’s hard to tell where these tourists would stay but I believe that the high occupancy rates will be felt by the hotels and resorts because tourists also prefer to relax in resorts after enjoying the city celebrations,” he said.

Protacio, who is the general manager of Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino, also said Cebu’s tourism industry would do well this year as performance of the industry has already picked up since last year.

”What we need to work on is to increase the capacity of our airport, build luxury properties to cater to the high-end market and promote medical tourism to boost Cebu’s tourism industry,” Protacio said.

The rates of hotels here in Iloilo city have now started to jock up because of the forthcoming Dinagyang Festival 2011 highlights.

Department of Tourism Regional Dir. Edwin Trompeta said that the hotel rates have gone up because of the many reservations that they have already gotten from tourists who would be witnessing the famous Dinagyang Festival highlight on January 22 to 23.

“I was informed that Westown Hotel that used to have a room rate of P 1,800 only for its overnight stay is now charging P 3,000,” Trompeta revealed.

He then advised tourists to get early reservations in hotels, pension houses and inns in the city so they could avail of lower rates and be assured of accommodations even as most hotels are already reportedly fully booked.

In Iloilo city, the DOT has 14 accredited hotels and these belong to the standard that is two-star and the economy class.

“We do not have anymore a four-star hotel here,” Trompeta said.

The DOT accredited hotels belonging to the standard classification are the Sarabia Manor Hotel, Amigo Terrace Hotel, Hotel Del Rio, Days Hotel, Iloilo Grand Hotel, The Grand Dame Hotel, Iloilo Business Hotel, and Eon Centennial Plaza Hotel.

The economy class are the Residence Hotel, Four Season Hotel, La Fiesta Hotel, Century 21 Hotel, Iloilo Midtown Hotel, and Highway 21 Hotel.

There are also other big hotels in Iloilo city like the Westown which has not yet been accredited by the DOT.

Pop! Hotels – if you have never heard of this new Indonesia-based budget hotel brand, then make a note of it, as it is going to get big, very big.

Pop! Hotels is the brain child of Mr. Marc Steinmeyer, an highly respected industry veteran with over 20 years experience within the Asia Pacific region.

Unlike some other budget hotels, Mr Steinmeyer has insisted on simplicity, and charges just one rate that includes everything from the towel to aircon, to free WiFi, TV etc. There are no hidden surprises for you to worry about, and rates will fall within a reasonable band rather than rise to outrageous levels just because of demand.

In this HD video interview with Mr. Steinmeyer, we discuss the brand, projections, rates, BAR, and what the hotels will offer. Plus we ask with some of the best 5-star hotels in Jakarta offering extremely affordable rates, why is there a need for a new budget brand.

Pop! Hotels is a very exciting project so do not be surprised to be hearing a lot more of them in the future.

Travel the globe in search of adventure, romance or laid-back luxury with Anantara. Surreal landscapes in the Arabian desert. Heavenly sunsets in Seminyak, Bali. Endless azure waters in the lap of Maldivian luxury. Ocean, mountain or metropolis in Thailand, who hasn’t dreamt of the four day weekend?

As part of the ‘Pay Three, Stay Four’ campaign, 12 Anantara luxury resorts worldwide are giving the opportunity to be pampered with 5 star luxury for one extra day in the paradise of your choice. From a rejuvenating spa treatment on the misty hilltops, to camel trekking through the desert dunes or simply relaxing on the pristine shores, the four day weekend becomes reality.

The ‘Pay Three, Stay Four’, campaign is available for all bookings from now through to 19th December, 2010.

For more information on the campaign please visit anantara.com/stay4pay3 or call the Anantara of your choice.

Terms & conditions:

*Available for bookings and stays from 1st October, 2010 – 19th December 2010
*All rates are subject to service charges and applicable government and local taxes
*Offer is subject to availability at each of the resorts
*Offer is not combinable with any other promotion
*Promotion not available over Christmas and New Year holiday period
*Different length of stay applies to Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Maldives – please check anantara.com for full terms and conditions
*Bookings must be made 14 days in advance of the check-in date

The One&Only Cape Town is offering three nights for the price of two, complementing its new ‘Winelands Tour’ of the region’s premier wineries.

Until 30 September 2010, the rate of R5,100 a night is discounted to just R3,400 with the additional night promotion, including breakfast. From 1 October – 19 December 2010 the discount reduces the high season rate of R5,950 a night to R3,960.

Situated on Cape Town’s fashionable Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, with panoramic views across to Table Mountain, One&Only Cape Town is one of the most luxurious hotels in this region of South Africa. Wine lovers can now benefit from a new Winelands Tour bookable through the resort, with prices starting from R3,000.

The magnificent scenery, award-winning wines and gourmet cuisine of the Western Cape Winelands is an experience not to be missed. The Winelands stretch from the outskirts of Cape Town to the semi-desert plains of the Little Karoo and most notably include the wine farms of Stellenbosch, Paarl, Wellington and Franschhoek (all between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours by car from Cape Town). No less than 560 wineries in the Western Cape region pay testament to South Africa’s appreciation of fine wines. This area is also renowned for its distinctive Cape-Dutch architecture, which dates back to the early 18th century.

The full day experience starts with a visit to Waterford Estate in Stellenbosch to enjoy the unique flavour and blend of dark and milk chocolate paired with Waterford Estate Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Natural Sweet wines. This taste sensation is then followed by a visit to Rustenburg’s wine tasting centre nearby, a family-owned gem that upholds traditional values as a modern player in the global wine stakes.

Guests are then taken to Graham Beck Wine Estate in Franschhoek – acknowledged as one of the great sources of fine wine from the Cape. Here the interior could most aptly be compared to a chic wine bar or cocktail lounge and represents a state-of-the-art setting to showcase the latest of the Graham Beck range of ultra-premium Cap Classique and wines. Established in 1983, the family run business is now entering its third generation.

For lunch, guests enjoy a legendary feast of culinary delights at La Petit Ferme in Franschhoek, voted a ‘Top 10’ restaurant by South Africa’s leading publication, Wine Magazine. The food reflects the creative energy and raw talent of a dedicated team of staff with an abundance of fresh local ingredients.

Tune Hotels, already a growing success in Asia with its 5-star beds at 1-star prices, will open its first hotel in the heart of London at Westminster in August 2010.

Tune Hotels Westminster will be the first of 15 locations scheduled to open across the Greater London area by 2017, creating an additional 1,500 rooms and representing a total investment of £150 million for the capital’s hospitality sector. Globally the brand is aiming for 100 hotels in its portfolio by 2015.

As with low cost airlines, guests are encouraged to book online and well in advance in order to enjoy exceptionally low prices, typically from £35 per night with promotional rooms regularly available from as low as £9 per night. Online booking is now available for stays between 30 Aug 2010 – 30 April 2011.

In addition to that, Tune Hotels released 200 room nights priced at 1 Penny each at 12.01am, Tuesday, 13 July 2010.

Savor your stay at the historic Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel Chicago this summer with a unique dining experience on the 95th Floor of one of the tallest buildings in the US.

Featuring captivating views of the city from 360° floor to ceiling windows, the John Hancock Tower is a must-see in downtown Chi, offering visitors Chicago’s most dazzling skyline view of the city and Lake Michigan.

Guests who book The Skyline Package with the Millennium Knickerbocker will receive:
Overnight accommodations in a Superior guestroom
$50 dining gift card to the 95th Floor Signature Room at the John Hancock Tower
A chilled bottle of wine upon arrival
Evening turndown service
The Skyline Package starts at $199. Interested guests can contact the hotel directly at (312) 751-8100, or book online at www.millenniumhotels.com/knickerbocker with the code SKYLINE.