CV Travel is expanding the choice of boutique and exclusive, smaller, family run hotels featured in its European hotels brochure. Notable additions for 2010 are properties in Umbria, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Cyprus and Italy’s Amalfi Coast, offering exclusive and original accommodation in spectacular settings, including a former Medieval abbey, a 21 room hotel on the Amalfi Coast, a former farm and a creatively converted cluster of old stone village houses in Cyprus. Prices from £576 per person, based on two sharing, including return flights and breakfast.

Former medieval Abbey in Umbria creates serene boutique hotel
The 16 rooms and suites of the Hotel Abbazia are housed in an ancient building, formerly a medieval Benedictine Abbey, in a magnificent setting poised upon the green hills of Umbria. The hotel’s walls are still adorned by the frescoes of the period, one of the many features that contribute to the marvellous atmosphere of long-established peace and tranquillity. There is a certain sense of being a guest in a private home, with period artworks, wrought ironwork and antiques offset by contemporary facilities such as free Internet access, TV and soft modern fabrics. Each room is a masterpiece of tasteful arrangement against a backdrop of vaulted or beamed ceilings. The beautiful gardens overlook glorious views, while a delightful, heated swimming pool enjoys a perfect setting amidst green lawns.

5 nights from £576 per person based on two sharing a panoramic double room, including flights and breakfast. CV Travel 020 7401 1045, www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/Italy/Umbria/Umbria–Tuscany-Borders/Accomodations/Pages/Abbazia-San-Faustino.aspx

Cluster of Cypriot village houses creates 11 room boutique hotel
The newly opened 4* Apokryfo hotel is small, (11 room) family run boutique hotel that was created out of a cluster of old stone houses hidden away at the edge of the village of Lofou, in the foothills of Mount Olympus in Cyprus. It lacks nothing in contemporary comfort, with king-size beds, satellite TV, DVD/CD player, WiFi Internet access, central heating and air-conditioning, while emphasizing the classic beauty of traditional Greek village architecture.

A 7 night stay costs from £1,117 per person based on two sharing the Pomegranite suite and including flights from London and half board. www.cvtravel.co.uk, tel 020 7401 1026

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/Cyprus/Lofou/Accomodations/Pages/Apokryfo.aspx

Colonial 7 room hotel on a beachfront in Sri Lanka
Reef Villa Hotel is a 7 room boutique hotel on the edge of the Indian Ocean in the seaside hamlet of Wadduwa, Sri Lanka, and is the imaginative the creation of a British architect. Enormous, high ceilinged bedrooms with sitting areas are all air-conditioned and feature punkah-ceiling fans, fine Colonian furniture and four poster, canopied beds, opening onto shaded teak verandahs with views of the ocean and the gardens.

A 7 night stay costs from £1,434 per person based on two sharing and including flights from London, return private airport transfers and breakfast. www.cvtravel.co.uk, tel 020 7401 1050

From rural Moroccan farm to unique boutique hotel
‘Les Terres M’Barka’ is a unique boutique hotel 25kms south west of Marrakech, created from former farm buildings, with a working farm at its heart with traditional livestock and producing organic produce to supply the ingredients for hotel’s kitchens. The village style hotel has 15 rooms, created from small, separate buildings housing the bedroom suites which open off a winding alley. A central courtyard gives access to shared spaces such as the restaurant and its dining terrace, bar and library, the local organic produce shop and hammam, while a beautiful swimming pool in the shape of a khetara, or ancient irrigation basin, looks on to a dramatic view of the magnificent Atlas Mountains.
The accommodation combines rural simplicity with subtle luxury – beds are extra wide, extra long, and have memory-foam mattresses and the finest linens. Fireplaces add an extra appeal to interiors that feature local fabrics and stylish furniture.
5 nights from £692 per person based on two sharing a suite, including flights from London, transfers and breakfast. CV Travel 020 7401 1045, www.cvtravel.co.uk

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Africa/Morocco/Marrakech/Accomodations/Pages/Terres-MBarka.aspx

New boutique hotel on the Amalfi Coast
The innovative Relais Paradiso is the newest member of the prestigious Ragosta Hotels Collection. The twenty-two spacious guest rooms and suites are set in gated grounds, complemented by panoramic terraces, a profusion of suspended gardens and a beautiful outdoor swimming pool and solarium. The Hotel is located at Vietri sul Mare, one of the most beautiful and interesting towns on the Amalfi Coast and overlooks breathtaking views of the exquisite Bay of Salerno.

7 nights from £1006 per person based on two sharing a standard room, including flights and breakfast. CV Travel 020 7401 1045, www.cvtravel.co.uk

Essential Italy are delighted to offer a 15% discount on this amazing villa which sleeps 6-7 deep in the Tuscan countryside for the Easter week 3rd – 10th April, 2010. A saving of £320.

Casolare de Noattri (sleeps 6-7) - http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casolare-noattri.php

This private villa offers all the best of Tuscany. With views across the surrounding fields this house is very secluded and yet just a few minutes from the town of Volterra.

With three bedrooms (one en-suite), a lovely living room with fireplace, plus dining room with access to the wonderful terrace which overlooks the pool and fields beyond – this really is a holiday haven. The large pool has plenty of space to spread out and take in the sun and views and a cook can be arranged to prepare meals.

Location: Volterra 8kms, San Gimignano 30kms, coast 35kms, Pisa 60kms, Florence 75kms, nearest restaurant 1.5kms, nearest shop 4 kms

Price: Easter week 3 – 10 April, 2010 just £1810 for the week. Usual price £2130 per week.

Essential Italy are pleased to add this charming apartment in the ancient part of Siracusa (Ortigia), Sicily to their portfolio.

Casa Luisa / Ortigia, Sicily http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casa-luisa.php

(Sleeps 2)

Casa Luisa offers pretty and simple accommodation in the heart of the ancient part of Siracusa. This charming and romantic ground floor apartment will make you feel like you are one of the locals from the moment you arrive.

Casa Luisa is in an impressive sea-facing building with a majestic wooden gate leading into a courtyard. The apartment is found at the back of the building and the more than stylish design and décor makes up for the lack of sea-view. There is a super outside terrace that sits between the tightly packed old “palazzi” of Ortigia where you may enjoy breakfast, lunch or dinner and enjoy the warm air day or night!

The location of the apartment means you will find yourself in the middle of Italian life with an easy stroll to the local bars or to the archeological sites, shops, restaurants and sea-front as well.

Location: Catania airport 65km, Taormina 120km, Ragusa 78km, Porto Palo 60km, Trapani airport 375km, Palermo airport 290km

Prices: From £515 – £630 per week depending on season

On Thursday 4 March, Copthorne Hotel London Gatwick and Copthorne Hotel Effingham Park both received an award at the region’s most prestigious business event, the Gatwick Diamond Business Awards 2010. The Gatwick Diamond Awards celebrates the best of businesses and people who have shown innovation and inspiration in their work, and have demonstrated a real commitment to the sub-region.

The award in the category of “Commitment to Developing People and Skills” recognises commitment to the development of staff at the heart of the organisation, and recognises that developing people in business will drive business forward.

Judging the entry, Russell Strutt, Principle of Central Sussex College, commented that the Copthorne Hotels “manage to wholly engage its workforce to achieve its business objectives through a comprehensive review process, a commitment to personal development and incentivised recognised programmes. Peer training champions in each of its departments help to drive and deliver development and training linked to organisational objectives, with targets translated into meaningful milestones for staff at every level. In an industry renowned for transient employment, this company has a stable staff with an amazing 43% of them in a post to which they have been promoted, proving that talent identification and development really works.”

Heinz Skalnik, General Manager at both hotels, commented: “We are incredibly honoured to receive this prestigious award which demonstrates that effective staff development can have a dramatic impact on the performance of a business, and this is fundamental to supporting our success at the Copthorne Hotels.”

Do you have an heirloom in your attic, or a treasure in the shed?

If you think there’s a chance your car boot bargain might turn out to be a valuable antique, find out on a special holiday break featuring Antiques Roadshow expert, Eric Knowles.

The special ‘Antiques with Eric Knowles’ Experience Break is happening at warner Leisure Hotels’ magnificent Thoresby Hall Hotel & Spa, on the edge of the Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire, on April 5th.

The TV presenter and author will join the four-night midweek holiday for two days when he will be available to give you a valuation on your treasures, answer your questions and present a talk about the fascinating world of antiques.

The break coincides with the Newark Antiques Fair, Europe’s biggest antiques and collectibles event where you can browse around as many as 4,000 stalls offering a huge variety of furniture, architectural pieces, porcelain, pottery, silver, jewellery, paintings, books, maps, prints, and toys. Transport to the Antiques Fair and the entrance cost are included in the price of the Experience Break.

Grade I listed Thoresby Hall is the perfect setting to be inspired by historic art and culture. Dating back to 1875, the beautiful stately house was designed by Anthony Salvin with gardens by Sir Humphrey Repton and parklands landscaped by Capability Brown. The extraordinary Great Hall which rises through three storeys is steeped in history, and legend has it that Robin Hood exchanged vows with Maid Marion in the nearby church of St Mary. During your stay the full story of the mansion will be brought to life by the Thoresby Players.

While the hotel may be historic, the quality of its four-star accommodation and level of service with superb facilities on site is of the highest contemporary standards. There are three outstanding restaurants to choose from and a wide range of leisure facilities including a leisure centre with swimming pool, sauna, steamroom, bubble pool and fitness room, plus a state-of-the-art spa and a full programme of evening entertainment.

Prices for an Ambassador Room start at £314 per person including three-course dinner, bed and hearty breakfast. There’s an £85pp supplement for the Antiques Experience with Eric Knowles. For more information visit www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk or ring 0800 1 388 399

EASTER ESCAPE TO 15th CENTURY SWAN HOTEL AT LAVENHAM, SUFFOLK

Escape this Easter to the beautiful 15th century Swan at Lavenham, a country retreat in the heart of Suffolk’s rolling countryside. The historic hotel is offering two night Easter weekend breaks between 2 and 5 April from £240 per person including a delicious three course dinner in the two AA rosette Gallery Restaurant and a full Suffolk breakfast both days.

The special Easter offer is based on two sharing an enchanting double or twin classic room; guests staying a third night on Good Friday or Easter Monday can enjoy dinner B&B for just £60 per person.

Steeped in history, the Swan has served as a hostelry for nearly 600 years, ancient oak beams and inglenook fireplaces blend with rich furnishings and modern luxuries, while outstanding food is served in the restaurant, informal lounges and the historic Old Bar, which boasts a wonderful collection of World War II memorabilia.

To book call the Swan Hotel at Lavenham on 01787 247477 or email bookaroom@theswanatlavenham.co.uk; details can also be found on www.theswanatlavenham.co.uk.

According to top villa holiday company, CV Travel, France is back in vogue for British holiday-makers. The company reports bookings to France for 2010 to be on the increase as more clients opt for self-drive or rail and car-hire over and above flying through Europe’s busy and security-impeded airports. Driving down or taking the train also gives holidaymakers the chance to enjoy the journey, as much as the destination*.

In line with the greater interest in rail travel and holidays to France in 2010 CV Travel has come up with its top six French villas most easily accessible by rail, either Eurostar to Lille, transferring onto the TGV to Avignon, Aix-en Provence, Nîmes or Cannes and hiring a car, or taking a car through the Eurotunnel to Calais and driving south.

(Calais to Aix-en-Provence: 9 hr 20 min, Avignon: 8 hrs 45 mins, Cannes: 10 hrs 30 mins)

1. Make the most of France’s markets
19km from TGV terminal
French markets are a real draw for Francophiles and foodies and one of the joys of holidaying in France, especially for self-drive holidaymakers who can load up the car and feast on local produce. The Provençal town of Aix-en-Provence has typically French food markets on a Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and just 4kms from the town, amid an estate of 25 acres of lavendar, olive trees, orchards, oak and cypress trees, is the magnificent and majestic Notre Dame du Val, an elegantly furnished house with a lovely large swimming pool, tennis court and gym, with beautifully appointed accommodation for up to 14 guests.
Notre Dame du Val can be rented for up to 14 guests from £10260 to £15330 per week, (excluding travel), book through CV Travel 020 7401 1044 www.cvtravel.co.uk

How to get there by train / road :-
Notre Dame du Val is 19kms from Aix-en-Provence TGV station, direct from Lille and hire a car, or self drive from Calais (approx 9 hours 20 minutes).

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/France/Provence/Aix-en-Provence/Accomodations/Pages/Notre-Dame-du-Val.aspx

2. A week in Provence at a 17th Century Provençal house
20km from TGV terminal
St Bonnet-du-Gard is an authentic Provençal village with an impressive 12th century church, a few kms from Le Pont du Gard with its 4th Century aqueduct, while nearby Uzes is popular for its lively Saturday market selling truffles, olives and an abundance of garden produce. Up to six guests can experience the age-old lifestyle of the local French towns and stay at the lovely Mas de la Pousterle, a beautiful 17th century Provençal Mas with its own courtyard swimming pool, restored using traditional materials and furnished with authentic local antiques.
Up to 6 guests can enjoy a week’s stay at Mas de la Pousterle from £2500 to £2735, (excluding travel), available through CV Travel 020 7401 1044, www.cvtravel.co.uk

How to get there by train / road :-
Mas de la Pousterle is just 20km from Nîmes rail station and 25km from Avignon, direct from Lille via TGV, or self-drive from Calais (approx 8 hrs 45 mins to Avignon).

3. Cycle to a lost Roman city, farmhouse for 6
25km from TGV terminal
Roman scholars will enjoy the extraordinary Roman remains of France’s lost city of Glanum, a pair of monuments and an excavated Roman town on a site dating from the 4th century BC; beside Saint Remy-de-Provençe. Guests at the lovely Provençal Mas d’Isabelle can cycle or drive to Glanum from the farmhouse along the ancient road Via Aurelia. Further afield Avignon and Arles are testimony to the area’s Roman past. Mas d’Isabelle is 12km from St Remy, of which Lawrence Durrell said ‘I know of few villages more benign and indeed more beautiful for a prolonged visit’ and only 1km from the pretty village of Molleges.
Up to 6 guests can share Mas d’Isabelle from £2530 to £3545 per week, (excluding travel), book through CV Travel 020 7401 1044, www.cvtravel.co.uk

How to get there by train / road :-
Mas d’Isabelle is just 25kms from Avignon rail station, direct from Lille via TGV, or self-drive from Calais (approx 8 hrs 45 mins).

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/France/Provence/St-Remy–Surrounding-Areas/Accomodations/Pages/Le-Mas-dIsabelle.aspx

4. Making the most of the Côte d’Azur
20km from TGV terminal
For a house that is close to the magnificent beaches and buzz of the Bay of Cannes, as well as the vibrant city of Nice, Beaux-Rêves provides a touch of glamour and a taste of the highlife for at least a week of the year. This lovely air-conditioned house is set in a private residential domaine and has amazing views out across the surrounding mountainside to the sea beyond, with its own freeform swimming pool. A week’s rental costs from £5545 to £6175 for 12 sharing, available through CV Travel 020 7401 1044, www.cvtravel.co.uk

How to get there by train / road :-
Beaux Rêves is just 20km from Cannes, direct from Lille via TGV, or self-drive from Calais (approx 10 hours 30 minutes).

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/France/Cote-dAzur/Bay-of-Cannes–Surrounding-Areas/Accomodations/Pages/Beaux-Reves.aspx

5. Teenagers’ heaven with a feast of creature comforts
20km from TGV terminal
The traditional shuttered Villa Jasmine on the Bay of Cannes is equipped with the kind of creature comforts that will make it appealing to families with older kids, including a huge TV with satellite channels, Playstation, broadband Internet access and Bose sound system, a pool table and a karaoke machine. Not surprisingly for its elevated location above the Bay of Cannes the house also has stunning views, a private pool, poolside terraces with comfortable seating and a hammock.
Up to 6 guests can share Villa Jasmine from £1510 to £3985 per week, (excluding travel), book through CV Travel 020 7401 1044, www.cvtravel.co.uk

How to get there by train / road :-
Villa Jasmine is only 20km from Cannes, direct from Lille via TGV, or self-drive from Calais (approx 10 hours 30 minutes).

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/France/Cote-dAzur/Bay-of-Cannes–Surrounding-Areas/Accomodations/Pages/Villa-Jasmine.aspx

6. Follow in the footsteps of an army
10km from TGV terminal
Explore the scenic route Napoleon travelled in 1815 on his march from the Mediterranean to the French Alps, from Golfe Juan to Grenoble. It now takes rather less time than the marching army, around 8 hours by car, or cover sections of it on a pleasant cycle ride, with plenty of scenic stopping off points and places to stop for a glass of wine. Convenient for walking, cycling, following in the footsteps of Napoleon’s army or enjoying the coastline of the Côte d’Azur is Villa Bellevue, set into the hillside with 200 degree spectacular views over Grasse and stretching across to the coast of Mandelieu and the Estérel Mountains, just 7kms from the coast and with its own private pool and gardens.
Up to 6 guests can share Bellevue from £2425 to £4675 per week, (excluding travel), book through CV Travel 020 7401 1044, www.cvtravel.co.uk

How to get there by train / road :-
Bellevue is only 10km from Cannes, direct from Lille via TGV, or self-drive from Calais (approx 10 hours 30 minutes).

http://www.cvtravel.co.uk/EN/Destinations/Europe/France/Cote-dAzur/Bay-of-Cannes–Surrounding-Areas/Accomodations/Pages/Bellevue.aspx

* TRAVEL BY TRAIN
En route to the south of France the TGV glides past some of France’s beautiful agricultural countryside and most celebrated vineyards, following the natural path of the River Rhône as it too makes its way south from its source in the Swiss Alps to the glistening Mediterranean Sea. The train speeds through the hills of Provence over dramatic bridges and viaducts, and, for those bound for the Côte d’Azur, the track runs along the coast past yacht-filled harbours, rocky inlets and breathtaking villas. Take a bottle of wine with you (there is no rule against this on the train!), put your feet up and enjoy the ride!

* TRAVEL BY CAR
Driving from Calais to the South of France is made considerably easier by the high quality of the French autoroutes, and the diverse scenery makes the journey interesting. Avoiding Paris, take the autoroute from Calais to Reims, and onwards through the undulating countryside towards Dijon, whizzing past sleepy villages. Onwards, the famous names of Burgundy vintages beckon, Gevrey-Chambertin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, with Beaune or nearby Chagny both proving enjoyable places to stop. Then onto the famous A7 known as the Autoroute du Soleil – the motorway of the Sun, through the stunning Rhône Valley. If travelling to Provence or the Côte d’Azur, the autoroute passes famous towns such as Avignon, Aix-en-Provence, onwards to Saint Raphaël, Cannes, Antibes and Nice, with all the stunning inland towns and villages of this glittering part of the coastline, home to many CV Travel villas.

Enjoy the journey as much as the destination!

Press contact Mary Stuart-Miller, mary@mstuart-miller.co.uk, 01403 738844

Top tips for the Cheltenham Festival are promised by the Dormy House Hotel near Broadway in the Cotswolds at an evening in aid of St Richard’s Hospice on Tuesday 9 March, starting at 6.30pm.

Race expert Jim Lewis, owner of Best Mate and patron of St Richard’s will give his top tips for the forthcoming festival alongside trainers Alan King and Richard Phillips and jockey Paddy Brennan.

Tickets for the event cost £25 for a traditional meal of slow braised beef, followed by spiced apple crumble tart, with all proceeds going to the hospice.

The Cheltenham week is the busiest of the year for the Dormy House which sees the hotel running at break horsepower. The hotel remains a firm favourite retreat of commentator John Motson who says: “racing at Cheltenham and early evening at the Dormy House, Broadway, simply the best hotel in the world for me. I like the accent on good old fashioned service. Nothing is too much for the staff”.

Casa in Collina / Tuscany (sleeps 12)
http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/casa-in-collina.php

10% discount for stays from 5th – 19th June in this lovely large villa that sleeps 12. Located in the hills above the Val di Chiana and yet close to charming villages and towns, Casa in Collina offers considerable privacy and the accommodation is of a high standard. The views from the pool are wonderful.

Location: Nearest village Vitiano 1kms, Castiglion Fiorentino 5kms, Arezzo 15kms, Cortona 15kms, Florence 90kms. Nearest Restaurant 1km (walkable), nearest supermarket 2kms

Price: From £1490 – £2680 per week

I Limoni / Tuscany (sleeps 10)
http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/i_limoni_10plus.php

10% discount on all weeks booked for stays up to 8th May, and then for weeks 26th June – 3rd July, 10th July – 17th July, 14th August – 21st August.

I Limoni is an old farmhouse which has been restored with great attention-to-detail and skill. It is located within easy access of many towns and villages and offers very comfortable accommodation, with wonderful gardens and a spectacular pool, ideal for families and groups of friends. Beautiful views over the Val di Chiana towards Montepulciano.

Location: nearest village Valiano 5kms, Montepulciano 15kms, Cortona 15kms, Arezzo 30kms, Siena 50kms, Florence 80kms

Price: From £1490 – £2595 per week

Cipressetto / Tuscany (sleeps 10)
http://www.essentialitaly.co.uk/villa_cipresseto_10plus.php

10% reduction on any bookings until 28th March and then for weeks 7th April – 1st May and any bookings from 11th September, 2010 onwards

Villa Cipresseto is located within easy access of many towns and villages, offers comfortable accommodation and a wonderful garden and pool, ideal for families. The garden is surrounded by cypress trees and from the pool there are views over the Val di Chiana towards Montepulciano. The grounds are on one level, making it an ideal house for families with young children. The pool enjoys lovely views across the valley and is well equipped with sun loungers and a gazebo. The owners also have a collection of vintage cars available for rent. Nearby is a vineyard open to visitors.

Location: nearest village Valiano 5kms, Montepulciano 15kms, Cortona 15kms, Arezzo 30kms, Siena 50kms, Florence 80kms

Price: From £1240 – £2470 per week

Tune Hotels.com, part of the Tune Group, the private investment group of Tony Fernandes, founder and Group CEO of low cost airline AirAsia and Team Principal of the Lotus F1 Racing team, has entered into a strategic partnership with London-based Queensway Group Limited to invest in, develop and operate 15 Tune Hotels.com hotels across Greater London by 2017.

Under the terms of the strategic partnership, Tune Hotels.com’s limited service concept of a ‘5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price’ will be rolled-out across approximately 1,500 hotel rooms, representing £150 million of investment into the London hospitality sector. The roll-out will commence with the launch of Tune Hotels.com-Westminster at 118 Westminster Bridge Road in Q3 2010.

Queensway Group Limited is a UK-based private investment group owning and operating hospitality assets in the UK, Europe and United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.com, said: “We believe Tune Hotels.com will significantly boost London’s hospitality sector. While this city’s global reputation as a leisure and business destination will be enhanced by the Olympic Games in 2012, sterling’s current weakness works in London’s favour in attracting overseas visitors and spend, and in times of continuing economic uncertainty, superior value for money remains key.

“We are pleased to be working with organisations such as Visit Britain, Visit London, Think London and Visit England; and believe our dynamic pricing model will provide a strong call to action that will be hard to ignore.

“Our limited service concept encourages guests to spend less within the hotel itself, driving more spend outside the hotel, within the local business community.

“More consumers are demanding a ‘5-star sleeping experience at a 1-star price’ so that they can spend their hard-earned income on shopping, dining and recreational pursuits outside the hotel. Tune Hotels.com creates a multiplier effect, growing overall tourism spend throughout the locations we establish. Understandably, our expansion requires strategic collaborations with solid local partners who share our vision and we’re delighted to have found the right partner in Queensway Group Limited for Greater London. “

The fast developing economies of Asia, with their major populations and innovative regional low-cost carriers such as Tune Hotels.com’s sister company AirAsia, have fostered significant increases in travel activity. Tune Hotels.com has leveraged this by embracing the limited service model used by low cost airlines, passing on savings from eliminating costly, yet underutilised facilities like conference rooms, food & beverage facilities, swimming pools and gyms, directly to its guests.

Tune Hotels.com focuses only on the high quality basics of great beds with ensuite Power Showers; implementing a pay-as-you-use system of optional add-ons for energy-consuming amenities. It encourages guests to book early online to enjoy exceptionally low prices, with rooms available from as low as £2 per night in its Malaysian and Indonesian hotels.

Tune Hotels.com’s healthy occupancy figures confirm it has hit upon a concept that resonates with today’s modern traveller. Until recently, much of Asian travel activity was intra-regional. However, with the AirAsia-X launch of low-cost, long-haul flights between Kuala Lumpur and London in 2009, there is now a truly affordable bridge between a key Asian hub in Kuala Lumpur and a Europe-American hub which can be found in London. Tune Hotels.com therefore see it a logical step to enter the London hospitality sector with a limited service product that has already been embraced by over half a million guests in South East Asia, in addition to the expected customer base from the United Kingdom and Europe.

Nick Jivraj, Managing Director of Queensway Group Limited, said, “We’re extremely excited about partnering with Tune Hotels.com to develop the London market. Their association with AirAsia, AirAsia-X and Lotus F1 through the Tune Group provides a unique platform for marketing synergies, and their strong brand and marketing expertise in generating room nights online aligns with trends revealing the internet as the prime channel for travel purchase decisions.”

He continued, “Queensway Group Limited views Tune Hotels.com’s brand presence in Asia Pacific as positive for the medium to long term as we expect Asia Pacific to become a major incoming market into London. In addition, we appreciate the strong match of cultures and values fostered in both teams – highly entrepreneurial, people-focused companies for which the Customer is King. By leveraging on Tune Hotels.com’s proven brand, team expertise, and operational model, Queensway Group Limited expects that our investment into the brand will present significant growth in the near future.”

Despite the challenging global economic environment, the partnership with Queensway Group Limited forms only a part of Tune Hotels.com’s aggressive expansion plans. Mark Lankester, Group CEO of Tune Hotels.com, says, “By 2015 we will have invested in over 100 hotels in key cities across the world.”

The global roll-out involves recent strategic partnerships in India and Thailand. On 11 September 2009, Tune Hotels.com announced a strategic partnership with Apodis Hospitality Group to invest in, develop and operate 20 Tune Hotels.com hotels across India by 2012. Under the terms of the strategic partnership, 5 Tune Hotels.com hotels are targeted to be operational in India by December 2010 with a staggered roll-out of the subsequent 15 hotels to be completed by the end of 2012. Initial hotels are likely to be located in and around Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Chennai, Delhi, Goa, Hyderabad, Indore, Jodhpur, Kochi, Mumbai, Pune, Pipavav, Raipur, Thiruvananthapuram and Tiruchirapally.

On 17 December 2009, Tune Hotels.com announced a strategic partnership with Evolution Capital PCL, a real estate investment advisory firm listed on the Stock Exchange of Thailand, to franchise a roll-out of 44 Tune Hotels.com hotels across Thailand, China, Bangladesh, the Philippines, and Indonesia. Under the terms of the strategic partnership, the first 24 Tune Hotels.com hotels are targeted to be in development by early 2010 and operational by 2012 with staggered roll-out of the subsequent 20 hotels to be completed by 2013.

Tune Hotels.com employs a self-service online booking system similar to low-cost carrier airlines that encourages guests to book as far in advance as possible on www.tunehotels.com to enjoy exceptionally low prices.

All Tune Hotels.com hotels feature space-efficient, streamlined rooms focusing on high-quality basics: 5-star beds and powerful hot showers. Though minimally priced, the strategically located hotels still provide housekeeping services, electronic keycard access into rooms, extensive CCTV systems, and no access into the main lobby without a keycard past midnight. Through Tune Hotels.com’s ‘Less Waste, More Earth’ pay-as-you-use system of add-ons for air-conditioning, laundered towels and other energy-consuming facilities and amenities, Tune Hotels.com aims to help guests conserve both their funds as well as the earth’s resources.

Since Tune Hotels.com was first launched in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in 2007, more than 500,000 guests have stayed in one of its properties, currently totaling 9 hotels located in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, KLIA-LCCT Airport, Penang, Danga Bay, Johor and Kota Damansara in Malaysia and Kuta – Bali and Double Six, Legian – Bali in Indonesia.

For bookings made between 3-12 March 2010, Tune Hotels.com is offering promotional rates from less than £3 per night across its network of Asian hotels for stays between 1 November 2010 – 31 January 2011.

Bookings can be made online at www.tunehotels.com.