NEW YORK, January 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 8, 2014, The United States International Artists Association (USIAA) officially issued its list of the Top 10 Influential Artists of Contemporary Ink Painting in China for 2014, which includes the contemporary ink painting masters with the most artistic influence in China, and provides a specific benchmark for reference for the development of China's contemporary art market. The honorees on this list are as follows: HUANG YONGYU, LIU DAWEI, YANG XIAOYANG, WANG MINGMING, FAN ZENG, SHI QI, TIAN LIMING, CHEN LAOTIE, HAN MEILIN and CUI RUZHUO.

Each artist's inclusion on this list proves their top influence and signifies their artistic achievements obtained in the aspects of academic influence, market influence, governmental influence and international influence in the field of China's contemporary ink painting. See below for more details on each artist.

USIAA Releases Top 10 Influential Artists of Contemporary Ink Painting in China. (PRNewsFoto/United States International Artists Association)

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will bring its world-renowned hospitality to the highest region on earth with the debut of a 289-room urban retreat in Tibet

BEIJING, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Few places in the world are as magical as Lhasa, the administrative capital of Tibet. Set on a plateau soaring 3,650 metres above sea level, the city is encircled by the fabled Himalayan mountains, glaciers and desert-like landscapes. This intriguing destination will become home to Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' newest property, the 289-room Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa, which will open on 17 April 2014.

Welcoming travellers from afar, Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa will be a luxurious home base for those wishing to explore dramatic scenery and some of the world's most culturally significant Buddhist sites, including World Heritage Sites such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka Palace. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance to Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace.

Shangri-La introduces its worldly renowned hospitality to the Himalayas

A Warm Welcome Awaits

Guests will approach the hotel through a grand entrance gate, which opens onto an expansive plaza and is inspired by traditional Tibetan architecture, as is the hotel's exterior. The unique Tibetan culture was the reference for the property's harmonious, contemporary interiors -- the heart of which is Lodgers Lounge.

The focal point of the lounge is a dramatic 6.5 metre bell-like chandelier draped in flowing red fabric which is reminiscent of a prayer wheel. Dressed in warm tones and earthy colours drawn from Thangkas (Tibetan paintings), high ceilings and windows surrounding the lounge let in light and fresh air, and guests can enjoy snacks and beverages inside or on the outdoor patio. To the right of the lounge is the Front Desk, where a floating cloud installation behind Reception creates a dream-like space. Signifying unity and strength, the ancient Tibetan symbol of swirling clouds are made into a contemporary work of art by using hammered oxidized bronze.

Paradise on Earth

The Shangri-La brand was inspired by the mythical paradise found in James Hilton's novel, Lost Horizon. True in spirit to that imaginary Shangri-La, the hotel offers guests Shangri-La's heartfelt hospitality and a full array of facilities and luxurious comforts, from a range of dining venues and recreational facilities, to spacious guestrooms and elegant meeting and event spaces.

Potala Palace

The hotel's Horizon Club Lounge caters to the full range of travellers' needs, providing destination information, arranging tours and transportation as well as offering business services.

Visitors to Lhasa are advised to acclimate to the high altitude before exploring widely. To refresh and assist guests in doing so, the hotel has built the first oxygen lounge to be found in a hotel in Lhasa. Guests can relax and enjoy reflexology treatments there while overlooking the hotel's landscaped garden. Two stunning pavilions built by Tibetan craftsmen using bronzeware, lacquer, murals and carvings anchor the landscape. In addition to the oxygen lounge, a spa, fully equipped gym, an indoor swimming pool, and a complete clinic with professional staff are located onsite.

Deluxe room at Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa

Among the hotel's 289 contemporary guestrooms are 10 long stay apartments. Guestrooms, some of which offer views of the Potala Palace, start from 42 square metres and are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access. The rooms' modern decor is grounded in neutral colours and accentuated with the earthy reds, deep blues, and vibrant greens that are seen in traditional Tibetan dress. Traditional Himalayan accents such as turquoise stone, decorative metals, floral patterns and auspicious symbols complement the contemporary design.

In-room services will include authentic sweet tea served in Tibetan pots and turndown gifts such as hand-woven pouches made of yak fur.

In-room authentic sweet tea served in Tibetan pot

Room decor with traditional Himalayan accents

The hotel's signature outlet is Shambala, a tapas bar and lounge. It pays homage to the region by featuring authentic Tibetan cuisine. Signature dishes will include Roasted Lamb Ribs marinated in Tibetan yoghurt and Baked Bacon wrapped in Tibetan cheese. Guests will also find a variety of traditional Yunnan dishes on the menu. The cosy interior of the restaurant is low lit by lights reminiscent of oil lanterns carried by monks, and the walls are draped in Tibetan handcrafted carpets. Other Tibetan influences include decorative metal fixtures across the low ceiling beams and the repetitive use of the auspicious endless knot. Guests can opt to enjoy drinks and food in one of three areas: the lounge, dining room or outdoor tapas bar where they can take in views of Potala Palace.

The all-day dining restaurant, Altitude, serves international fare and also has an outdoor dining area. Guests can enjoy a theatre of cooking due to the open kitchen layout. Shang Palace, a Shangri-La signature restaurant, will serve authentic Cantonese and Sichuan specialties in a contemporary setting and in the restaurant's 10 private dining rooms.

For destination meetings and events, organisers will find ballrooms and function spaces starting from 81 square metres. The 1,215-square-metre Grand Ballroom is the largest in the city. The eves of the ballroom are inspired by Jokhang Temple, while the ceiling is covered in wallpaper using a gold brush technique. The breakout area at Level 5 leads to the Outdoor Terrace, which overlooks Potala Palace and the surrounding mountain range, making it an ideal space for a pre-event cocktail.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa is a 40-minute drive from Lhasa Gongar Airport and a 10-minute drive from the world's highest railway station.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000. Over four decades, the group has established its brand hallmark of 'hospitality from the heart.' The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom. For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at http://www.shangri-la.com.

To access digitised pictures of the group's hotels, visit http://www.shangri-la.com/imagelibrary.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts will bring its world renowned hospitality to the highest region on earth with the debut of a 289-room urban retreat in Tibet

HONG KONG, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Few places in the world are as magical as Lhasa, the administrative capital of Tibet. Set on a plateau soaring 3,650 metres above sea level, the city is encircled by the fabled Himalayan mountains, glaciers and desert-like landscapes. This intriguing destination will become home to Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts' newest property, the 289-room Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa, which opens on 17 April, 2014.

Welcoming travellers from afar, Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa will be a luxurious home base for those wishing to explore dramatic scenery and some of the world's most culturally significant Buddhist sites, including World Heritage Sites such as the Potala Palace, Jokhang Temple, Sera Monastery and Norbulingka Palace. The hotel is conveniently located within walking distance to Potala Palace and Norbulingka Palace.

A Warm Welcome Awaits

Guests will approach the hotel through a grand entrance gate, which opens onto an expansive plaza and is inspired by traditional Tibetan architecture, as is the hotel's exterior. The unique Tibetan culture was the reference for the property's harmonious, contemporary interiors - the heart of which is Lodgers Lounge.

The focal point of the lounge is a dramatic 6.5 metre bell-like chandelier draped in flowing red fabric which is reminiscent of a prayer wheel. Dressed in warm tones and earthy colours drawn from Thangkas (Tibetan paintings), high ceilings and windows surrounding the lounge let in light and fresh air, and guests can enjoy snacks and beverages inside or on the outdoor patio. To the right of the lounge is the Front Desk, where a floating cloud installation behind Reception creates a dream-like space. Signifying unity and strength, the ancient Tibetan symbol of swirling clouds are made into a contemporary work of art by using hammered oxidized bronze.

Paradise on Earth

The Shangri-La brand was inspired by the mythical paradise found in James Hilton's novel, Lost Horizon. True in spirit to that imaginary Shangri-La, the hotel offers guests Shangri-La's heartfelt hospitality and a full array of facilities and luxurious comforts, from a range of dining venues and recreational facilities, to spacious guestrooms and elegant meeting and event spaces.

The hotel's Horizon Club Lounge caters to the full range of travellers' needs, providing destination information, arranging tours and transportation as well as offering business services.

Visitors to Lhasa are advised to acclimate to the high altitude before exploring widely. To refresh and assist guests in doing so, the hotel has built the first oxygen lounge to be found in a hotel in Lhasa. Guests can relax and enjoy reflexology treatments there while overlooking the hotel's landscaped garden. Two stunning pavilions built by Tibetan craftsmen using bronzeware, lacquer, murals and carvings anchor the landscape. In addition to the oxygen lounge, a spa, fully equipped gym, an indoor swimming pool, and a complete clinic with professional staff are located onsite.

Among the hotel's 289 contemporary guestrooms are 10 long stay apartments. Guestrooms, some of which offer views of the Potala Palace, start from 42 square metres and are equipped with complimentary Wi-Fi Internet access. The rooms' modern decor is grounded in neutral colours and accentuated with the earthy reds, deep blues, and vibrant greens that are seen in traditional Tibetan dress. Traditional Himalayan accents such as turquoise stone, decorative metals, floral patterns and auspicious symbols complement the contemporary design.

In-room services will include authentic sweet tea served in Tibetan pots and turndown gifts such as hand-woven pouches made of yak fur.

The hotel's signature outlet is Shambala, a tapas bar and lounge. It pays homage to the region by featuring authentic Tibetan cuisine. Signature dishes will include Roasted Lamb Ribs marinated in Tibetan yoghurt and Baked Bacon wrapped in Tibetan cheese. Guests will also find a variety of traditional Yunnan dishes on the menu. The cosy interior of the restaurant is low lit by lights reminiscent of oil lanterns carried by monks; while the walls are draped in Tibetan hand-crafted carpets. Other Tibetan influences include decorative metal fixtures across the low ceiling beams and the repetitive use of the auspicious endless knot. Guests can opt to enjoy drinks and food in one of three areas: the lounge, dining room or outdoor tapas bar where they can take in views of Potala Palace. 

The all-day dining restaurant, Altitude, serves international fare and also has an outdoor dining area. Guests can enjoy a theatre of cooking due to the open kitchen layout. Shang Palace, a Shangri-La signature restaurant, will serve authentic Cantonese and Sichuan specialities in a contemporary setting and in the restaurant's 10 private dining rooms.

For destination meetings and events, organisers will find ballrooms and function spaces starting from 81 square metres. The 1,215-square-metre Grand Ballroom is the largest in the city. The eves of the ballroom are inspired by Jokhang Temple, while the ceiling is covered in wallpaper using a gold brush technique. The breakout area at Level 5 leads to the Outdoor Terrace which overlooks Potala Palace and the surrounding mountain range, making it an ideal space for a pre-event cocktail.

Shangri-La Hotel, Lhasa is a 40-minute drive from Lhasa Gongar Airport and a 10-minute drive from the world's highest railway station.

Hong Kong-based Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of the world's premier hotel companies, currently owns and/or manages more than 80 hotels under the Shangri-La brand with a room inventory of over 34,000.  Over four decades, the group has established its brand hallmark of 'hospitality from the heart.'  The group has a substantial development pipeline with upcoming projects in Mainland China, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Philippines, Qatar, Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.  For more information and reservations, please contact a travel professional or access the website at http://www.shangri-la.com.

For digitised pictures of the group's hotels, please go to http://www.shangrila.com/corporate/press-room/photo-library/.

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Visits to Boston are even better with the ability to earn rewards at the Copley Square Hotel, the newest addition to VOILA Hotel Rewards worldwide network. Located in the vibrant heart of Boston's Back Bay, the Copley Square Hotel is VOILA's first hotel in New England and exemplifies the program's enduring expansion in 2014.

"Boston is known as the epicenter of American history and a perennial favorite of travelers," said Peter Gorla, VOILA's managing director. "Offering rewards in Boston is essential as we continue our growth across the United States and around the world."

The 143-room Copley Square Hotel was a forerunner to the current booming boutique hotel scene in Boston. Since undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation in 2008, the hotel has earned a reputation for providing travelers with world-class luxury and personal, intuitive service. Ideally located, the Copley Square Hotel provides a perfect starting place to explore the surrounding city of Boston and all of its rich history and cultural attractions. Fenway Park, Boston Common, the Museum of Fine Art, premier shopping and dining on Newbury Street, and many other historic attractions are within minutes. The hotel also boasts three signature outlets offering casual dining, inspired cocktails and lively entertainment as well as intimate space for smaller meetings and gatherings.

"Copley Square Hotel provides a one-of-a-kind travel experience blending history with modern convenience and the personalized service travelers want," said John Burnham, General Manager of Copley Square Hotel. "As the demand for boutique hotels grows, we realized we needed a way to reward our recurring guests' loyalty and gain worldwide exposure for our hotel. VOILA Hotel Rewards reputation for proven success in launching independent hotel loyalty programs made them our first choice."

VOILA Hotel Rewards (http://www.voilahotels.com), the world's number one independent hotel loyalty program, continues to offer its members a world of options throughout the United States and around the world. Since the Copley Square Hotel is now part of the VOILA network, members can earn and redeem points for stays immediately.

"Providing rewards at independent hotels in the world's most popular travel destinations is one of VOILA Hotel Rewards' fundamental missions, and the hotel's historic charm and prime location in Boston make the Copley Square Hotel an exciting addition to our worldwide network," continued Peter Gorla. "As VOILA Hotel Rewards expands its global footprint, we strive to provide members with incredible, independent hotels that align with the way they travel so they can continue to earn rewards whenever and wherever they want."

NASSAU, The Bahamas, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Baha Mar Ltd., which is developing the $3.5 billion Baha Mar integrated gaming resort project in Nassau, The Bahamas, today announced that Gregory Djerejian, Executive Vice President, will head the company's new Asia business development operations to be located in Hong Kong.

"Baha Mar is truly a global development, and Greg has been an integral part of the team since the project was first conceived more than 10 years ago," said Sarkis D. Izmirlian, Baha Mar's Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.  "In his expanded role, he will oversee Baha Mar's Asia development interests, including travel and tourism partnerships; working with our gaming partner Global Gaming Asset Management on developing Baha Mar's Asian clientele; as well as with our other brand and strategic partners in Asia."

Tom Dunlap, Baha Mar's President, said: "This is a strategic move for us, and it's a natural part of Baha Mar's development as we build toward opening in December 2014. Greg's skills, passion, and experience, combined with his long tenure with the company, make him uniquely qualified for this new role."

Greg Djerejian, Baha Mar's Executive Vice President, added: "Chinese and Asian outbound tourism will be one of the defining industry trends of our time. We are extremely keen to establish Baha Mar as a 'China- and Asia-friendly' destination in close collaboration with our many hospitality, governmental and strategic partners active in the region."

As part of this initiative, and with its expanded presence in Hong Kong, Baha Mar will be locating its new offices in Jardine House located in the heart of Hong Kong's central business district.

Mr. Djerejian has long experience across a spectrum of diverse business matters and holds a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Columbia University's Graduate School of Business, as well as a Juris Doctorate from the Georgetown University Law Center. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and is a graduate of Phillips Academy Andover.

MANCHESTER, England, Jan. 8, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Two new appointments announced for World Route Development Consultants

2014 promises to be an exciting period for ASM with the New Year bringing the announcement of new staff joining the company.

Mike St Laurent joins ASM in February following a distinguished career with Air Canada where he was a leading figure within the Scheduling, Network Planning and Revenue Management functions. Known to many across the route development community, Mike will be based at ASM's Head Quarters office in Manchester and as a Senior Consultant will support the company's global client base. Mike commented: "I am thrilled to be joining ASM. This is an exciting new opportunity for me, and I'm looking forward eagerly to working with the ASM team to deliver positive results for our clients worldwide."

In addition to the recruitment of Mike St Laurent, ASM are also announcing the appointment of Yuliya Crane as a Senior Consultant. Yuliya has been part of the Routes and ASM business since 2006, providing expertise across the CIS market as well as supporting globally based clients for ASM.

ASM's Managing Director, David Stroud, said: "We are absolutely delighted with our two new appointments in 2014.  Mike brings a wealth of airline practical experience and Yuliya is a true rising star within the company, our global clients will benefit greatly from their expertise and enthusiasm. Airports and stakeholders are very much entering a new era of route development, the new team we have assembled in ASM ensures we are best placed to service our client's needs and deliver them real results".

ASM's business grew dramatically in 2013 and the prospects for continued expansion in 2014 look very strong. In addition to the above appointments further staff recruitment is underway and the company's network of Licensee's continues to expand.

PERTH, Australia, January 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AirlineRatings.com (www.AirlineRatings.com) the world's only safety and product rating website has announced its top ten safest airlines for 2013 from the 448 it monitors.

Top of the list is Qantas which has a fatality free record in the jet era (since 1951). Making up the top ten with seven stars for safety and in- flight product are in alphabetical order: Air New Zealand, All Nippon Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Emirates, Etihad Airways, Eva Air, Royal Jordanian, Singapore Airlines and Virgin Atlantic.

AirlineRatings.com's rating system takes into account a number of different factors related to audits from aviation's governing bodies and lead associations as well as government audits and the airline's fatality record.

Of the 448 airlines surveyed 137 have the top seven-star safety ranking, but almost 50 have just three stars or less.

Over its 93-year history Qantas has amassed an extraordinary record of firsts in safety and operations. In 2008 in its successful defense, to the British Advertising Standards Association, of its claim that it is the world's most experienced airline, Qantas was able to list almost 30 notable industry leading achievements.

These included the war time operation from Perth, Australia of what was then, and still is, the world's longest air route by elapsed time from Perth to Colombo, Sir Lanka giving passengers an award dubbed "The Order of the Double Sunrise."

This service, using Catalina Flying Boats, took about 28 hours non-stop and was performed in radio silence to avoid the Japanese. When the flights ended on July 18, 1945, the aircraft had made 271 crossings and had carried 858 passengers more than one million miles without a single accident.

According to AirlineRatings.com editor, Geoffrey Thomas, Qantas has been - and still is - a leader in the introduction of a host of technologies for the cockpit.

"There is no question that Qantas stands alone in its safety achievements and is an industry benchmark for best practice," said Mr Thomas.

However while Qantas led the way, a number of airlines still only achieve one and two stars for safety on AirlineRatings.com. These include with one-star: Kam Air, Scat and Bluewing Airlines; and two-stars: Afghan Airways, Daallo Airlines, Eritrean Airlines, Lion Air, Merpati Airlines, Susi Air and Air Bagan.

For more information contact:
Geoffrey Thomas
+61 41 793 6610
Geoffrey.thomas@AirlineRatings.com

Reinforces Global Lead with Openings and New Hotel Signings in All Corners of the World, in Mature and Emerging Markets

Company's Nine Design-Led Brands, Distinctive Hotel Portfolio and Quality Pipeline are Stronger than Ever

STAMFORD, Conn., Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) announced it opened 74 new hotels in 2013, representing approximately 16,200 rooms in 22 countries, strengthening its global lead and expanding its footprint particularly in developing markets.  The company signed 152 new hotel agreements in 2013, marking the fourth consecutive year of increased signings and the highest number of new hotel deals signed since 2007. Starwood expects another strong year of global growth in 2014, with hotel openings and deal signings across all nine brands in more countries than ever before through organic growth.

"There is a global travel revolution underway, and the secular trends of rising wealth, rapid urbanization and increasing digital interconnectivity make us as confident as ever about demand for high-end travel," said Frits van Paasschen, President and CEO of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "As the largest high-end hotel company in the world, with a penchant for innovation, an unmatched portfolio of design-led brands, global properties, and a valuable pipeline, Starwood is well positioned to benefit disproportionately from these seemingly unstoppable growth trends."

Starwood signed more new hotel deals in 2013 since before the global economic crisis
In 2013, Starwood signed a total of 152 new hotel management and franchise agreements, which represents an increase of 16 percent over 2012 signings levels.  The company also signed 75 contract renewals, up nearly 34 percent from the previous year.

"Consistent, sustainable high-quality portfolio growth in both mature and emerging markets led to another strong year of openings, incremental hotel agreements and the highest number of contract renewals in our company's history," said Simon Turner, President of Global Development for Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. "Our highly sought-after brands, backed by the collective strength of our global platform and experienced, local teams continues to give us an advantage and sets us apart from the competition, allowing us to deliver unmatched value to our hotel owners."

Starwood has the largest high-end hotel portfolio of any of its competitors outside the United States, with nearly twice as many rooms as Marriott or Hilton, and nearly four times as many rooms as Hyatt in emerging markets. In line with macroeconomic trends, nearly 75 percent of the company's development pipeline and 60% of the 2013 signings were in fast-growing markets, including Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Colombia and Saudi Arabia.

van Paasschen continued, "Globalization continues to spur economic growth, infrastructure development and, for us, footprint expansion. 2014 already looks to be shaping up as a better version of 2013 with a number of key milestones for us, including the opening of our 200^th Westin, 200^th Four Points by Sheraton, and more Le Meridien hotels in any one year since we acquired the brand in 2005.  We have a balanced approach to development, with continued focus on growth in the world's fastest growing economies, and we are also seeing significant opportunities in established markets where conversion momentum continues and record low supply and growing demand are driving growth."

Approximately 40% of Starwood's 2013 signings were in developed markets, with 13 conversions that signed and opened within the year. Conversions will continue to fuel growth in North America with increased momentum in Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Europe.

Turner added, "We continue to look for the right partners, creating the right properties, in the right places, and our agile development approach allows us to adapt our growth strategies based on specific geographies and brand needs for both new development and conversions.  Last year, we signed the most conversions in any one year since 2006, showing the increased demand for our brands and our flexibility, enabling our partners to maximize the value of their assets quickly and cost-effectively."

Starwood is also seeing an increased interest in adaptive reuse projects, particularly for its Aloft brand. The company opened three such projects this year: Aloft Orlando Downtown, Aloft Tulsa Downtown and Aloft Miami -- Brickell, in addition to signing Aloft New Orleans. Starwood will open another three adaptive reuse Aloft hotels in 2014 with Aloft Liverpool, Aloft Detroit, and Aloft Tampa Downtown, as the company continues to look for opportunities to use this approach across its brands in cities throughout the world.

Starwood Doubles Luxury Footprint in Six Years
As wealth rises around the world, so does the appetite for luxury hotel accommodations in all corners of the world. To meet this new global luxury demand, Starwood has doubled its luxury portfolio over the past six years, lengthening its lead in the luxury space. Today, Starwood has more than 160 luxury hotels operating under its St. Regis, The Luxury Collection and W brands, with more than 90 percent of the luxury pipeline in fast-growing markets.

Starwood opened six luxury hotels in 2013 including its first W ski retreat with the W Verbier, and its first W hotel in mainland China -- W Guangzhou. Other luxury openings included The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, the brand's second hotel in the Emirate and third hotel in the Middle East, and three properties under The Luxury Collection brand in Athens, Greece; Koh Samui, Thailand; and Cusco, Peru.

In 2014, the company will open 10 new luxury properties, making debuts in four countries. Key openings will include W Bogota, marking the W brand's entry into Colombia; W Beijing, furthering the W brand's footprint in strategic Chinese destinations; The St. Regis Istanbul and Chengdu; and six new hotels under The Luxury Collection brand in destinations including Odessa, Ajman, Dalian and Hangzhou in China, and Broumana in Lebanon.

Starwood's Upper Upscale Brands Make Strong Gains
Starwood opened 30 hotels and signed 60 new hotel deals in the upper upscale segment in 2013, under its Sheraton, Le Meridien and Westin brands. The iconic Sheraton brand continues to serve as a growth leader for Starwood, paving the way for growth across the company's other brands. This year, Sheraton will debut in numerous new markets including Samoa, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan, and re-enter Iraq with the opening of Sheraton Dohuk Hotel.  Building on its first-mover advantage, the Sheraton brand is on track to open its 500^th hotel in 2016.

Le Meridien signed more new hotel deals in 2013 and will open more new hotels in 2014 than any other year since Starwood acquired the brand in 2005. While conversion opportunities make up a significant part of the brand's growth momentum in developed markets, Le Meridien brand is also continuing to expand its presence in less established regions around the world in 2014 with planned openings in markets such as India, Bangladesh, and Thailand.

Propelled by the worldwide success of its distinctive wellness positioning, Westin is poised to open its 200th hotel worldwide this year, as well as its 20th in China. Key Westin openings this year include The Westin Zhujiajian and The Westin Qingdao in China.

Starwood's Mid-Market Brands Build on Strong Growth Momentum
Building on significant deal signing momentum in 2013, Starwood's mid-market portfolio, or what the company refers to as its specialty select brands, including Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element, has grown nearly 80 percent since 2008. These brands are gearing up for another strong year of growth, on the heels of 37 openings and 77 new signings in 2013. Four Points by Sheraton, Aloft and Element account for approximately 40 percent of the company's development pipeline and nearly 45 percent of expected hotel openings worldwide in 2014, reflecting the appetite for affordable and reliable global hotel brands in both major metro and secondary or tertiary markets around the world.

The Four Points by Sheraton brand will reach its 200th hotel milestone in 2014 fueled by increasing demand in markets worldwide with more than 20 new hotels openings. The brand had a record year of signings and boasted the most openings and signings of any Starwood brand in 2013. Aloft Hotels, the design-led, tech-savvy hotel for the next generation of traveler, had the strongest signing year in 2013 since pre-crisis. This year, Aloft will open its fifth hotel in Latin America -- Aloft Guadalajara, and make its debut in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Suwon-city, South Korea; and Liverpool, England.  Starwood's eco-innovation lab, Element Hotels, had its strongest year of signings in 2013 since pre-crisis, and will open four hotels in 2014, including one in Frankfurt, marking the brand's entry in Europe.

Starwood Preferred Guest Continues to Reinvent Customer Loyalty
Just as the company's footprint has grown significantly, its most valuable guests have also increased their loyalty to Starwood around the globe. Despite the global economic crisis, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) active membership has grown by 56 percent over the last five years. On any given night, more than half of Starwood's guests are SPG members. Not only are there more people enrolled in SPG than ever before, the program makeup has shifted. In 2008, nearly two thirds of SPG members were U.S.-based, while today that number is only 47 percent. Membership in emerging markets has grown fivefold in that time. China has catapulted to Starwood's second largest SPG market and fastest growing, followed by India, UAE and Brazil.

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, Jan. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunway International Hotels & Resorts is pleased to announce the appointment of Albert Cheong as Group General Manager of Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, effective 2 January 2014. In his new capacity, Cheong will be responsible for the hotel operations, leading the teams to continually be people passionate and deliver operational efficiencies at the 1,234-room multiple hotel development, located within Sunway Resort City, in Greater Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Mr Albert Cheong, the newly appointed Group General Manager of Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa

Cheong brings with him more than 35 years of international hospitality management experience, specialising in Corporate, Operational and Sales & Marketing Management. He spent close to 30 years with Shangri-La Hotels & Resorts, one of Asia's most dynamic hotel management companies. Cheong has vast experience in managing hotels in diverse operating environments, having served with Shangri-La in Malaysia, Hong Kong, China (Shenzhen, Wuhan and Beijing), Singapore, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. Prior to joining Sunway Resort Hotel & Spa, he was the Area General Manager for The Landmark Lancaster Hotel Group, a Thai hospitality company with hotels in Bangkok and London.

Cheong graduated from the Hotel Management School of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA following the completion of a General Manager's Program as well as the Professional Development Programs.

CHONGQING, China, January 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd. (NYSE: CCSC) ("Country Style Cooking" or the "Company"), a fast-growing quick service restaurant chain in China, today announced that Adam Zhao, the Company's CFO, will be presenting at the 16^th Annual ICR XChange Conference on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 at the JW Marriott Orlando Grande Lakes in Orlando, Florida. The presentation will begin at 2:30 PM ET.

Investors and interested parties can access this presentation by visiting the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.csc100.com.

About Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd.

Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd. (NYSE: CCSC) ("Country Style Cooking") is a fast-growing quick service restaurant chain in China, offering delicious, everyday Chinese food to customers who desire fast and affordable quality meals. Country Style Cooking directly operates all of its restaurants and is the largest quick service restaurant chain in Chongqing municipality, home to Sichuan cuisine, one of the best-known Chinese regional cuisines. Additional information about Country Style Cooking can be found at http://ir.csc100.com.

Contact:

Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd.
Adam Zhao
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: +86-23-8866-8866
Email: ir@csc100.com

ICR Inc.
Bill Zima
Phone: +86-10-6583-7511 or +1-646-328-2520
E-mail: bill.zima@icrinc.com

MUMBAI, India and DUBAI, UAE, Jan. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Elitecore, the global provider of 24online Hospitality Internet Access (HIA) management solution, announces successful deployment of its HIA solution across 350 hotels. The deployment includes Hotels in APAC, ME & Africa, Australia etc. 24online HIA solution offers internet billing, bandwidth control, authenticated user access, customized plans, guest management, voucher management, seamless roaming and many more features highly demanded in the hospitality segment.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130226/599701)

Says Mr. Nikhil Jain, COO, Elitecore, "The current hospitality market demands a solution which helps in manageability, optimization and monetization of un-managed and unsecured networks. 24online HIA solution plays a vital role in enhancing guest internet access experience, quality of service offered by the hotels and winning customer satisfaction."

Adds Mr. Samiksh Aggarwal, AVP, Sales Data Networks, "Hotels may offer free or paid internet access, but in both cases the network should be properly managed. Offering unsecured access to the internet without any authentication process gives easy access to anti-social elements, resulting in cybercrime or data theft. 24online HIA solution is developed to support all types of hotels and addresses all the needs of the hospitality segment, like access management, quality of services, regulatory compliance and enhanced guest satisfaction."

Elitecore HIA addresses manageability issues for hotel admin through comprehensive features like integration with most of the industry-leading property management systems (PMS) like Micros Fidelio, IDS, Shawman, WinHMS, Protel. Bundled with user authentication system, zero configuration, customizable captive portal capabilities for mobile & laptops, SMS & Payment gateway integrations, customizable internet plan creation, prepaid internet vouchers, room & guest management, DNS & DHCP, Firewall & walled garden, and extensive reports to comply with the legal compliance of local government bodies.

24online HIA can be deployed locally or centrally to support multi-location networks for a chain of properties.

SYDNEY, Jan. 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Sydney Festival 2014 opens today in an explosion of exceptional theatre, dance, music, visual arts, film and more that will bring the harbour city to life from January 9-26.

Sydney Festival 2014 is comprised of 106 events, 21 of which are free. With 372 performances across 33 indoor and outdoor venues, Sydney Festival 2014 features 722 artists from 80 companies across 17 countries, in 10 world premieres, 4 Australian premieres and 13 Australian exclusives.

View the multimedia assets at: http://www.multivu.com/players/English/63912-sydney-festival-2014/

Sydney Festival 2014 (credit Prudence Upton)

In Sydney's famous outdoor venue The Domain, two fantastic free events are set to delight, kicking off with Chicago's R'n'B, soul and disco diva Chaka Khan on the opening weekend, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra performing Gustav Holst's astrological suite The Planets, conducted by Hamburg State Opera Artistic Director Simone Young, in Symphony in the Domain.

Against a backdrop of some of the world's greatest theatre and dance, new Australian works of magnitude and cultural importance dominate this year's theatre program. The world premiere of Black Diggers (directed by Wesley Enoch and written by Tom Wright) unfolds the untold stories of 1000 Indigenous soldiers who fought in World War One, whilst Michael Kantor and Tom E. Lewis' indigenous re-working of King Lear in The Shadow King has recently premiered to a rousing reception by audiences in Melbourne, Australia.

A highlight of the 2014 program is Henry Purcell's romantic tragedy Dido & Aeneas in Sasha Waltz's wondrous reimagining of the great opera, featuring stunning choreography, a prologue performed in a giant fish tank underwater, and celebrated Baroque orchestra Akademie fur Alte Musik Berlin.

Internationally acclaimed choreographer Shaun Parker returns to Sydney Festival with the world premiere of Am I, whilst Halina Reijn performs the lead role in the retelling of the 1927 monologue by Jean Cocteau in La Voix Humaine. Philip Glass presents a live score to Godfrey Reggio's Visitors following its premiere at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival, and after a five month sell out season on London's Southbank LIMBO returns to heat up the 1920s Speigeltent in the wildly expanded Festival Village.

In Parramatta in Sydney's west, the favourite free event Parramatta Opening Party is back with free music and festival fun, and everyone's favourite yellow friend Rubber Duck is back too!

To view multimedia content, click here.

sydneyfestival.org.au/

CHIBA, Japan, January 10, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Governor Kensaku Morita of Chiba Prefecture will visit Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, from January 21 (Tuesday) to January 26 (Sunday), 2014.

With the slogan "Do you know Chiba, Japan?" the Governor will spread awareness of Chiba Prefecture and its location, and introduce the many things Chiba has to offer, including Narita Airport and the Tokyo Bay Aqualine, beautiful scenery and shopping, and delicious food and various experiences to try.

(Photo: http://prw.kyodonews.jp/opn/release/201401107444/)

Outline of itinerary (planned)

January 22 (Wednesday)
Afternoon: Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Malaysia

• Meeting with Malaysian Minister of Tourism and Culture Nazri Aziz.

January 23 (Thursday)
Morning: Perdana Leadership Foundation

• Meeting with former Prime Minister Tun Mahathir bin Mohamad to exchange views on interchanges between Malaysia and Chiba Prefecture.

January 24 (Friday)
Morning: Bluebird Hotel

• Meeting with Mr. Nagahisa Oyama, CEO of the AEON retail group's ASEAN business, and Ms. Mary Chew, CEO of AEON Malaysia.
• Visit the Chiba Fair, an event at the AEON Malaysia Mid Valley and Bandar Utama stores to be held for 4 days from January 22 (Wednesday) to January 25 (Saturday), selling sweet potatoes, peanuts, and strawberries grown in Chiba Prefecture. The Governor will visit the Mid Valley store.

Afternoon: Japanese restaurant "Ten"

• Kick-off events for "Sweets Fair": With the cooperation of "Ten," one of the best Japanese restaurants in Malaysia, a fair offering sweets made with strawberries and sweet potatoes grown in Chiba Prefecture will be held for six days from January 25 (Saturday) through January 30 (Thursday).
• In conjunction with the "Sweets Fair," the governor will hold a press conference for members of the press and bloggers in Malaysia, who will also be invited to try the sweets. Malaysia's top model, Ms. Amber Chia, who visited Chiba Prefecture in October 2013, will also appear at the event.

Schedules and content of events are subject to change depending on future adjustments.

Contact:
Masayuki Sakurai
Press and Public Relations Division
Chiba Prefectural Government
Tel: +81-43-223-2265
Email: kouhou05@mz.pref.chiba.lg.jp

- GVK Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2 symbolizes India's global future, while celebrating the country's heritage

MUMBAI, India, Jan. 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, along with visiting dignitaries and representatives from the private developer, GVK, inaugurated Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport Terminal 2, the stunning new air hub designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM). Located in the heart of India's financial capital, the new hub adds 4.4 million square feet of space to accommodate 40 million passengers per year operating 24 hours a day. By orchestrating the complex web of passengers and planes into a design that feels intuitive and responds to the region's rocketing growth, the new Terminal 2 asserts the airport's place as a preeminent gateway to India and underscores the country's status as an international economic power.

According to Mr. G V Sanjay Reddy, the Managing Director of GVK Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (MIAL), "The new Terminal 2 at CSIA is a monument to the beautiful spirit of Mumbai and its people. This terminal will make CSIA a gateway to the city of Mumbai and India with international and domestic passengers. We are happy to work with SOM, who helped us translate our dream and vision into reality."

The new terminal combines international and domestic passenger services under one roof, optimizing terminal operations and reducing passenger walking distances. Inspired by the form of traditional Indian pavilions, the four-story terminal stacks a grand "headhouse," or central processing podium, on top of highly adaptable and modular concourses below. Rather than compartmentalizing terminal functions, three symmetrical concourses radiate outwards from a central processing core and are therefore easily reconfigured to "swing" between serving domestic flights or international flights.

Just as the terminal celebrates a new global, high-tech identity for Mumbai, the structure is imbued with responses to the local setting, history, and culture. "We designed an airport that is intimately connected to its surroundings," explains Roger Duffy, FAIA, Design Partner at SOM. "By subtly incorporating regional patterns and textures at all scales, Terminal 2 resonates with a sense of place and serves as a spectacular symbol for India and Mumbai." From the articulated coffered treatment on the headhouse columns and roof surfaces to the intricate jali window screens that filter dappled light into the concourses, Terminal 2 demonstrates the potential for a modern airport to view tradition anew.

A Gateway to India

All international and domestic passengers enter the terminal headhouse on the fourth floor, accessed from a sweeping elevated road. At the entrance, the lanes split, making room for wide drop-off curbs with ample space for traditional Indian departure ceremonies. From the moment of arrival, the terminal embraces travelers. Above, the headhouse roof extends to cover the entire arrivals roadway, protecting passengers and their guests from Mumbai's heat and unpredictable monsoon weather. A 50-foot-tall glass cable-stayed wall—the longest in the world—opens to the soaring space of the check-in hall. The transparent facade also allows accompanying well-wishers, who must remain outside of the terminal due to Indian aviation regulations, to watch as their friends and family depart.

Once inside, travelers enter a warm, light-filled chamber, sheltered underneath a long-span roof supported by an array of multi-story columns. The monumental spaces created beneath the thirty mushrooming columns call to mind the airy pavilions and interior courtyards of traditional regional architecture. Small disks of colorful glass recessed within the canopy's coffers speckle the hall below with light. The constellation of colors makes reference to the peacock, the national bird of India, and the symbol of the airport.

The check-in hall leads to a retail hub—a common space that allows passengers to shop, eat, and watch planes take off though expansive, floor-to-ceiling windows.  Centrally located at the junction of the concourses and the terminal core, these commercial plazas provide a focal point of activity in close proximity to the gates. Within these spaces and throughout the concourses, culturally referential fixtures and details, such as custom chandeliers inspired by the lotus flower and traditional mirror mosaic work created by local artists, ground the traveler to a community and culture beyond the airport. Regional artwork and artifacts are displayed on a central, multi-story Art Wall, illuminated by skylights above. The prevalence of local art and culture, coupled with the use of warm colors and elegant accents, elevates the ambience of terminal beyond the typical, often unimaginative airport experience.

Although the terminal is four stories, interconnecting light slots and multi-story light wells ensure that light penetrates into the lower floors of the building, acting as a constant reminder of the surrounding city and landscape. At dusk, illuminated from within, the terminal glows like a sculpted chandelier.

A Flexible Footprint

The construction site of the new terminal building was located in close proximity to the existing terminal which had to remain fully operational during construction. This site requirement inspired the elongated X-shaped plan of the terminal, which could both mold around existing structures and incorporate modular designs to accommodate rapid and phased construction. This innovative form also allows for the consolidation of important passenger processing, baggage handling, and retail/dining functions at the center of the terminal. On each floor, radiating piers permit the shortest possible walking distances from the center of the terminal to boarding areas, while also maximizing the terminal's perimeter for aircraft gates. 

The terminal's roof—one of the largest in the world without an expansion joint—ensures further terminal flexibility. The long-span capabilities of the steel truss structure allow for the spacing of the thirty 130-foot columns to be far enough apart to not only give a feeling of openness to the large processing areas below but also to allow for maximum flexibility in the arrangement of ticket counters and other necessary processing facilities. 

A Hub of Energy Efficiency

Terminal 2 uses a high-performance glazing system with a custom frit pattern to achieve optimal thermal performance and mitigate glare. Perforated metal panels on the terminal's curtain wall filter the low western and eastern sun angles, creating a comfortable day-lit space for waiting passengers, and responsive daylight controls balance outdoor and indoor light levels for optimal energy savings. Strategically-placed skylights throughout the check-in hall will reduce the terminal's energy usage by 23%.

At Terminal 2, modern materials and technologies are used to powerful effect. But while cutting-edge strategies set a new standard for sustainable, modern airport design, the terminal is as much a showpiece of the history and traditions of India and Mumbai as it is an unprecedented structural and technological achievement. Rising from the Mumbai cityscape, Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport celebrates both India's rich cultural heritage and the country's increasingly global future.

NEW DELHI, Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

- Maintaining its position as South Asia's leading B2B travel trade event, SATTE 2014 has recorded ground breaking numbers of quality exhibitors and buyers enthused about the event

SATTE has always been a vital part of the Indian tourism industry and is recognised as the most sought-after B2B travel and tourism event in South Asia. This year, SATTE has recorded an overwhelming participation of several Indian and global players, each visiting the event with high expectancy from the event and its offerings. Buyers and sellers continue to flock in, with their enthusiasm and support, fuelling a surge of first-time visitors and exhibitors as well.

To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: http://www.multivu.com/mnr/64181-SATTE-2014-power-packed-year-for-travel

Dubai - Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) has gradually built their presence at SATTE and continue to expect larger inflow of buyers. Carl Vaz, Director (India), DTCM said, "SATTE is a must attend for Dubai and we are pleased to be associated with the event over the last seven years." Manoharan Periasamy, Director, Tourism Malaysia, believes SATTE is the right platform where the tourism board can update and equip the travel agents in India with all the relevant information they need to market Malaysia to their customers.

Echoing his sentiments Jay Gray, Vice President, Global Partnership Development, Brand USA said that they are confident that their participation in the event will make a constructive and long-term impression. Brand USA will also develop a series of activities during the travel fair to further strengthen tourism marketing efforts in the region. At SATTE 2014, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is looking forward to building business relations with prospective buyers and partners. "SATTE is one of the best arenas for buyers and sellers to mingle and discuss business opportunities. We are looking forward to have a long-term association with the event," said Runjuan Tongrut, Director, TAT New Delhi.

A number of SATTE's key exhibitors including Kerala, Goa, Maharashtra, Turkey, Seychelles and Bhutan, Kenya, among others, have increased their stall size considerably, reiterating SATTE's importance as a great B2B platform. "Participating at SATTE has always been a very important part of Goa's marketing and promotional plans. We see the tourism event as an opportunity to network with international clients as well as domestic tour operators and travel agents," opined Dilip Parulekar, Tourism Minister of Goa. Jagdish Patil, Managing Director, Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) views SATTE as the perfect platform to educate international buyers and increase footfall to the destination. "We want to showcase the various facets of our state to the international market and SATTE is a great channel through which we can educate the trade," he stated.

For the first time, VisitBritan, Zambia, Bangladesh, Lavasa Corporation, Gold Coast Tourism, Taiwan Tourism Board, Singapore, Sri Lanka, among many others will showcase their tourism profile in India through SATTE. First-time participants VisitBritain have placed their faith in SATTE and hope to yield excellent results post the event. Lavasa Corporation, who will also be participating for the first time, plans to position Lavasa as preferred weekend and MICE destination through SATTE. "We are looking forward to SATTE in January and are very keen on meeting quality buyers who will help us leverage the business. Through the travel event, we want to be the leading destination among the domestic market," said Rajiv Duggal, Senior Vice President - Tourism, Hospitality & Leisure, Lavasa Corporation.

SATTE also continues to receive the support of international organisations and governing bodies, including World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and leading tourism associations of India such as the Travel Agents Association of India (TAAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI), Enterprising Travel Agents Association (ETAA), Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), IATA Agents Association of India (IAAI) and Outbound Tour Operators Association of India (OTOAI), to name a few. Taleb Rifai, Secretary-General, UNWTO commends SATTE for providing an indispensable platform for the global tourism and travel sector to network, exchange views and impressions on current affairs, and to strengthen their business ties. "SATTE acts as a tourism driver for the Indian travel and tourism industry," Rifai added.

Sharing similar sentiments, Subhash Goyal, President, IATO opined, "Over the years SATTE has given the Indian and Asian tour operators, hoteliers, State Tourism Boards, airlines etc. a unique opportunity to showcase their products to foreign and local buyers."

According to Iqbal Mulla, President, TAAI, "SATTE has been a game changer for the Indian travel and tourism industry. We are very pleased to be associated with a show of this stature and will continue to support SATTE." Naveen Advani, President, ETAA, further shared that, through SATTE, the travel industry has benefitted in a large way as the quality of participants, be it buyers or sellers, keeps getting better as each year passes. "SATTE is the largest and most well organised travel trade fair in South Asia and has brought enormous benefits to the members of ETAA," Advani said.

SATTE Mumbai, the companion event that caters to the Western region of India, will be held at Nehru Centre Mumbai on 3-4 February, 2014.

Three new sustainability projects in the region to benefit; four additional hotels join the program

SINGAPORE, Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Hilton Worldwide today announced the expansion of the Carbon Offset Program in Southeast Asia with three new renewable energy projects receiving support for 2014. The Mungcharoen Biomass Project in Thailand, the Musi Hydro Project in Indonesia, and the Song Ong Small Hydro Project in Vietnam will join the Borneo Rainforest Rehabilitation Project in Malaysia as beneficiaries of the program.

Initiated in October 2012, Hilton Worldwide's Carbon Offset Program in Southeast Asia measures carbon generated by meetings and events held at Hilton Worldwide properties in the region, and, at no cost to customers, offsets this through the purchase of carbon credits. Hotels use the company's proprietary LightStay™ Meeting Impact Calculator to calculate carbon emissions, and the program supports the ‘Living Sustainably’ pillar of Hilton Worldwide's global corporate responsibility strategy, Travel with Purpose™.

As of January 1, 2014, four new hotels joined the existing 13 already taking part in the program since its launch. The new hotels are DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok, Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok in Thailand, and two hotels in Vietnam - Hilton Hanoi Opera and Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi.

"In the first 12 months of the Carbon Offset Program in Southeast Asia we offset 7,200 tons of carbon emitted from events held in our properties," said William Costley, vice-president, Operations – Southeast Asia, Hilton Worldwide. "This well exceeds our initial carbon offset target of 6,000 tons, and is a credit to our hotels, team members and customers."

The 7,200 tons of carbon offset in the first 12 months of Hilton Worldwide's Carbon Offset Program is equivalent to 758 economy class flights around the world.

"As we expand this program to include new sustainability projects and more hotels in Southeast Asia, we stay committed to creating shared value both for our business and society," said Costley.

Participating hotels in the Hilton Worldwide Carbon Offset Program in Southeast Asia are:

• Conrad Centennial Singapore
• Hilton Singapore
• Hilton Kuala Lumpur
• DoubleTree by Hilton Kuala Lumpur
• Hilton Petaling Jaya
• Hilton Kuching
• Millennium Hilton Bangkok
• Conrad Bangkok
• Hilton Phuket Arcadia Resort & Spa
• Hilton Pattaya
• Hilton Hua Hin Resort & Spa
• Conrad Bali
• Hilton Bandung
• DoubleTree by Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok
• Hilton Sukhumvit Bangkok
• Hilton Hanoi Opera
• Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi

Hilton Worldwide is one of the first major multi-brand hospitality companies to make sustainability measurement a brand standard and require performance against sustainability goals. In 2012, the company registered US$253 million in utility cost savings through a 12.8% reduction of carbon output, a 12.2% reduction in energy use, a 24.9% reduction of waste input and a 10.2% reduction in water use.

Supporting resources:

Learn more about Hilton MICE in Southeast Asia

Learn more about the Hilton Worldwide Carbon Offset Program in Southeast Asia

DELHI, India, Jan. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group, one of the world's largest and most dynamic hotel groups, has reinforced its position as the leading and fastest-growing international hotel company in India, following an exceptional year of rapid development. With 16 new deals and five hotel openings in India in 2013, Carlson Rezidor remains the number one international hotel operator in this market by number of hotels. Carlson Rezidor begins 2014 with 65 hotels in operation and 36 under development in India.

"We have established our leadership in this market over the last 15 years. By focusing on building strategic partnerships with hotel owners, we have accelerated our growth to deliver a record number of hotel signings in 2013. Our sustained growth in India will ensure our continued leadership in this important market," said Simon C. Barlow, president, Asia Pacific, Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group.

Carlson Rezidor can also expect further injections of new hotels as a result of its partnership with Bestech Hospitalities Pvt Ltd (Bestech). As part of their agreement, six hotel management agreements have already been executed in 2013 alone. From now to 2024, the partnership will deliver an additional 43 new generation Park Inn by Radisson hotels in north and central India, which will provide an added boost to Carlson Rezidor's portfolio growth. Carlson Rezidor is currently also in the process of seeking a second strategic partnership to leverage multi-platform growth in India.

At the same time, India is also the focal point for the roll-out of the next generation Country Inns & Suites By Carlson brand. This growth is managed through Country Development and Management Services Private Limited (CDMS); a joint venture between Carlson and Chanakya Hotels Private Limited, which has successfully pioneered the brand in India.

The Carlson Rezidor team in India is led by Raj Rana, chief executive officer of Carlson Hotels (South Asia) Private Limited, and K.B. Kachru, chairman and the founder of Carlson Rezidor's hotel business in India. Together, they have more than 40 years of hospitality experience.

"Our partnerships have put us on a path of phenomenal growth and we will continue to invest in our relationships with hotel owners and in our people to ensure that we leverage our momentum and capture the emerging opportunities in this market. We have in place a strong India team comprising 50 local talents who have excellent local networks and an in-depth understanding of the operating environment to take us to the next stage of growth. I am confident the progress we have made over the last three years will allow us to further broaden our footprint in India," added Barlow.

CHONGQING, China, January 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd (NYSE: CCSC) ("Country Style Cooking" or the "Company"), a fast-growing quick service restaurant chain in China, today announced preliminary fourth quarter 2013 results.

The Company currently anticipates slightly beating the top range of its previous revenue guidance of RMB325-335 million ($53.2-$54.8 million), compared to RMB296.5 million ($47.6 million) in the fourth quarter of 2012, representing year-over-year growth of at least 13%. Same store sales growth in the fourth quarter of 2013 is expected to be in the mid-single digits. The Company also expects to report improved year-over-year operating profit and net income in the fourth quarter of 2013.

For the fourth quarter ended December 31, 2013, the Company opened 20 restaurants, bringing the total net restaurant count to 293, compared to a total restaurant count of 256 as of December 31, 2012. The new openings include 15 restaurants under the brand name "Country Style Cooking" and 5 under the brand name "Mr. Rice." For the full year of 2013, 59 new stores were opened.

Country Style Cooking plans to report its fourth quarter and fiscal year 2013 results in late February.

About Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd.

Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd. (NYSE: CCSC) ("Country Style Cooking") is a fast-growing quick service restaurant chain in China, offering delicious, everyday Chinese food to customers who desire fast and affordable quality meals. Country Style Cooking directly operates all of its restaurants and is the largest quick service restaurant chain in Chongqing municipality, home to Sichuan cuisine, one of the best-known Chinese regional cuisines. Additional information about Country Style Cooking can be found at http://ir.csc100.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

This announcement contains forward-looking statements. These statements are made under the "safe harbor" provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "will," "expects," "anticipates," "future," "intends," "plans," "believes," "estimates" and similar statements. Among other things, the outlook for the third quarter 2013 and the new restaurant opening plan for full year 2013 contain forward-looking statements. The Company may also make written or oral forward-looking statements in its reports filed with, or furnished to, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, in its annual reports to shareholders, in press releases and other written materials and in oral statements made by its officers, directors or employees to third parties. Statements that are not historical facts, including statements about the Company's beliefs and expectations, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties. A number of factors could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking statement, including but not limited to the following: uncertainties regarding our ability to open and profitably operate new restaurants and manage our growth effectively and efficiently; risks associated with changing consumer taste and discretionary spending; uncertainties regarding our ability to maintain and enhance the attractiveness of our restaurants and our brand and image; risks related to instances of food-borne illnesses, health epidemics and other outbreaks; uncertainties regarding our ability to respond to competitive pressures; and uncertainties associated with factors typically affecting the consumer food services industry in general. Further information regarding these and other risks is included in the Company's reports filed with, or furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Country Style Cooking does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement, except as required under applicable law. All information provided in this press release and in the attachments is as of the date of this press release, and Country Style Cooking undertakes no duty to update such information, except as required under applicable law.

Contact:

Country Style Cooking Restaurant Chain Co., Ltd.
Adam Zhao
Chief Financial Officer
Phone: +86-23-8866-8866
Email: ir@csc100.com

ICR Inc.
Bill Zima
Phone: +86-10-6583-7511 or +1-646-328-2520
E-mail: bill.zima@icrinc.com

SHANGHAI, January 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Dianping.com, a leading local lifestyle information and trading platform in China, received more than 3.5 billion page views monthly through its website and mobile devices during the fourth quarter of 2013, of which, over 75 percent originated from mobile users, according to data just released on January 8. The company's mobile apps have more than 90 million unique users.

In addition, Dianping.com CEO Zhang Tao disclosed in his 2014 new year's message to the firm's employees that in the past year, Dianping.com has shifted from an information-only platform to a dual-platform strategic architecture as an information and trading platform and restructured the organization into a series of business units.

Mr. Zhang said that the restructuring into business units helps to clearly define what Dianping's businesses are: horizontal product lines divided into information platforms such as merchant information, user comments, and merchant promotions, as well as trading platforms such as group-buying businesses, reservations, and takeaway, making it the only company that can fully meet demands of both merchants and users. The company also plans to make forays into new verticals, with the wedding and hotel sectors on the roadmap for 2014, in addition to its traditional business lines in restaurants and entertainment.

Mr. Zhang believes that O2O (online to offline), which was a hot keyword in China's online world in 2013, will continue to grow even more important in 2014, as the next big online trend in China will be the continued transformation of offline services by the Internet and especially by the mobile Internet. The next Internet giant is certain to emerge from the O2O arena.

Successful strategic transformation relies on strong support at the business level. As a representative illustration of a successful O2O application, Dianping.com's group-buying business has developed rapidly, not only by taking the No.1 position in the group-buying marketplaces in tier 1 and 2 cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou, but by also strategically (and effectively) subduing its rivals. In 2014, the company expects to continue the huge lead it has against its rivals in tier 1 and 2 cities, while rolling out their full agenda in tier 3 and 4 cities.

Additionally, the Reservation Business Unit had a breakthrough in the online restaurant booking service. As of the end of December 2013, over 1.2 million restaurant reservations had been booked online through Dianping. Of those, one million of those bookings occurred in Q3 and Q4, demonstrating how the business has moved into a stage of explosive growth. The head of the business unit estimates that total bookings online in 2014 will hit the 30 million mark and that the number of bookings per month is expected to catch up with or surpass that of OpenTable, a U.S.-based listed company that is presently the world's leading restaurant reservation service provider, by the end of the year.

Furthermore, in identifying the huge potential of the hotel booking and wedding markets in China, Zhang has already undertaken several initiatives, with the aim of becoming the "Tripadvisor" of China and of building the country's No.1 wedding brand, in an move to further enhance the quality of life for its users.

Both the company's strategic transformation and its business developments have been well reflected in the data, which is one of core values at Dianping.com. As of Q4 2012, the firm was receiving more than 1.4 billion page views monthly through its website and mobile devices, while its mobile apps had more than 54 million accumulated unique users. These figures increased by 150 percent and 36 million - equivalent to the entire population of Canada - to 3.5 billion and 90 million, respectively, in Q4 2013.

Zhang added that Dianping.com plans to build on its passion and take an even more aggressive stance in 2014, in great contrast to its previous low-profile, practical image, leading to higher expectations from the industry. At the same time, he expressed his desire to hire the best that the industry can offer and even disclosed the contents of the email of the person in charge of recruitment in his new year's message for recruiting talented people.

Contact:

Ying Chen
Tel: +86-21-53559777
Email: ying.chen@dianping.com

PERTH, Australia, January 14, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- AirlineRatings.com the world's foremost safety and product rating website has announced the selection of Air New Zealand as its Airline of the Year for 2014.

www.AirlineRatings.com celebrates and promotes excellence in the airline industry and the pinnacle of these efforts is its Airline Excellence Awards.

Air New Zealand is being honoured for its in-flight innovations, financial performance, operational safety and motivation of its staff that have stamped the airline an industry trendsetter.

The editorial team, one of the world's most awarded and experienced, lauded Air New Zealand's commitment to a young fleet and its continual focus on the environment. The airline also won Best Premium Economy Class.

Airlineratings.com Editor Geoffrey Thomas said, "AirlineRatings.com editorial team took special note of Air New Zealand's comprehensive long haul offering which has two multi-award winning products in the Skycouch and Spaceseat for economy minded passengers."

"Quite simply Air New Zealand is an airline of first choice. And given the airline's location and the country's size its performance is even more remarkable."

Air New Zealand's Chief Executive Officer Christopher Luxon said, "These awards are a great way to kick off 2014 and reaffirm the hard work of more than 11,000 Air New Zealanders across our business, including airport and lounge teams, flight and cabin crew, cargo, operations and ramp staff, contact centres and corporate staff who all work tirelessly to deliver a consistent customer experience."

Other winners in the Airline Excellence Awards are: Emirates, Qantas, Jetstar, Singapore Airlines, Silk Air, Cathay Pacific, Swiss International, Air Canada, JetBlue, Norwegian and flydubai.

Scooping three awards Emirates, one of the industry's leading lights, has been awarded Best First Class, Best IFE and Best Long Haul Airline based in the Middle-East and Africa. The editors noted that Emirates is consistently amongst the finest in the industry across all aspects of service delivery and operational safety.

The Qantas Group also picked up three awards. Qantas was awarded Best Lounges and Best Economy Class, while Jetstar was named Best Low Cost Airline in Asia. AirlineRatings.com editors praised Qantas' domestic economy class product stating that it was clearly the world's best while the airline's domestic lounges are outstanding.

The Singapore Airlines group picked up two awards: Best Regional Airline for subsidiary Silk Air and Best Long Haul Airline based in Asia/Pacific. The editors said that Singapore Airlines is another industry standout that has consistently set the industry agenda.

Cathay Pacific picked up Best Business Class and the award adds to a string of accolades the airline has won for its business class offering.

For value and safety in the Low Cost Airline sector the editors selected JetBlue for the Americas, Norwegian in Europe and flydubai for the Middle-East/Africa. The editors noted that these three airlines and Jetstar in Asia are clear industry leaders in innovation and bringing people together.

For excellence in Long Haul the editors selected Air Canada for the Americas, Swiss International for Europe as well as Emirates for the Middle-East/Africa and Singapore Airlines for Asia/Pacific.

AirlineRatings.com has also announced its top ten airlines for 2014.

Heading the list is Air New Zealand followed by Emirates, Cathay Pacific, Singapore Airlines and Qantas making up the top five. The editors also recognised Etihad Airways (6th), Royal Jordanian Airlines (7th) Swiss International (8th), Virgin Atlantic (9th) and All Nippon Airways (10th).

About AirlineRatings.com

AirlineRatings was launched in June 2013 and safety and product rates 450 airlines using its unique seven-star rating system. It has been used by hundreds of thousands of passengers from 207 countries. It has become the industry standard for safety and product rating. The editorial team is arguably one of the world's most experienced with almost 40 international and national awards. They have also authored or co-authored more than 27 industry books.

For more information, contact:

AirlineRatings.com Editor Geoffrey Thomas +61 41 793 6610 (24/7)
Email: Geoffrey.Thomas@AirlineRatings.com