Aleksandr Shatskih, Author at Argophilia

Heraklion-Crete Get Charter Flights from Kazakhstan

2014-05-09 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Air Astana, the national carrier of Kazakhstan, has just launched charter flights to a number of European tourist destinations including Rhodes and Heraklion, on Crete.

Booking.com Releases “Best of Booking’s Best”

2014-05-09 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Booking.com just revealed their “Best of Booking’s Best” – the accommodations according to some 20 million real, relevant and recent customer reviews. The list provides summer travelers with more insight into the best places to visit and stay in the world.

Ritz-Carlton Announces 15 New Hotels Worldwide

2014-05-09 by Aleksandr Shatskih

In news from the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, plans to open 15 new hotels by 2016 promise to expand on the chain’s already worldwide footprint to equal 100 hotels and resorts. Cairo to Bali, upcoming hotels in the luxury chain are set to engage guests with new experiences and destinations.

Turkish Airlines Offers TourIstanbul Services Between Connections

2014-05-08 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Voted Europe’s best airline, Turkish Airlines will highlight the TourIstanbul service for passengers at the Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2014.

Bulgaria Sees Drop in Early Bookings On Ukraine Unrest

2014-05-08 by Aleksandr Shatskih

According to the President of the Association of Bulgarian Tour Operators and Travel Agents, Bayko Baikov, Bulgaria has seen a 20% decline in western European bookings. According to Baikov, tourists form Germany, Britain, and Scandinavia just aren’t aiming to travel to the country this Spring.

Oktogu.ru Reveals Top Russian Traveler Destinations for May

2014-05-07 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Russian online hotel reservations service Oktogo.ru has announced the most popular CIS cities for Russian travelers for May holidays. The top cities, Minsk, Tashkent, Almaty, Baku, Kiev, Yerevan, Kishinev, Astana, Bishkek and Lvov beat out Georgia’s Tbilisi.

Norway Hotel Workers To Strike Monday

2014-05-07 by Aleksandr Shatskih

In Norway, unionized members of the hotel- and restaurant branch have decided to walk of the job next week. A general strike that will affect nearly 70 hotels there is scheduled just as the country prepares for Bicentennial celebrations.

Germany’s Steinmeier Warns of War in Ukraine

2014-05-06 by Aleksandr Shatskih

The situation in Ukraine has the world on pins and needles as chaos prevails almost nationwide there. Germany’s Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier has gone so far as to warn that the crisis may turn into war in eastern Europe.

Aegean Airlines Reports Passengers Up 26% for April

2014-05-06 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Total passenger traffic for AEGEAN and Olympic Air was up by 26% for April 2014, climbing to 751,347 passengers, 153,443 more than the total for both companies during the same period in 2013.In April, AEGEAN and Olympic Air operated 7.933 flights improving the load factor by 9 units, reaching 76%.

Estonia’s Tallink Grupp Reports Shipping Traffic

2014-05-06 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Cruise passenger traffic by Estonia’s largest passenger shipping company AS Tallink Grupp increased more than 9% in April over last year, according to the company. Tallink Grupp transported some 709,931 passengers, and 79,932 vehicles even with one vessel out of service for 11 days.

Bad News For Croatia Tourism: Dead Last Economics

2014-05-06 by Aleksandr Shatskih

In Croatia, not many people or officials could have predicted finally achieving EU member status would find the country worse off. This Reuters report shows the ugly side of today’s European Union economics, Croatia and other states wallowing at the bottom of the coalition’s heap.

Delta Air Lines Expands Europe Flights

2014-05-06 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Delta Air Lines has just announced their expansion of daily service from JFK in New York to Zurich, Rome, Paris, and Amsterdam.

TripAdvisor Adds Tripbod to Acquisition Spree

2014-05-06 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Tripbod, a travel community that lets travelers connect with local experts, has been acquired by TripAdvisor.

Greece PM Certifies €500 Million Yearly for Tourism Growth

2014-05-05 by Aleksandr Shatskih

Prime Minister of Greece, Antonis Samaras has announced Greece will invest €500 million euru in tourism infrastructure per year over the next six years. Last month, at the 22nd annual general assembly of the Association of Greek Tourism Enterprises (SETE), Samaras outlined the funds from the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF), as well as private sector investment.