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SCMP Reporter

American Airlines will discontinue service between Taipei and San Jose, California from October 1, in response to drastic financial losses and a sharp reduction in passenger demand following the September 11 hijacking tragedy, the carrier said. However, American's cargo division announced that it will continue to accept interline cargo through China Express. American also announced recently that it plans to operate 80 per cent of its former schedule, discontinuing or reducing service in other international markets.

www.im.aa.com

Fewer links:

Continental Airlines will reduce the number of flights between Hong Kong and New York City. Continental operates a daily non-stop air service between Hong Kong and New York's Newark International Airport. It is cutting the number of weekly flights to four. Under the new schedule from October 2, flights will depart Hong Kong every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, arriving in New York on the same day. Return flights to Hong Kong will depart Newark every Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, arriving in Hong Kong the following day.

www.flycontinental.com

Japan jaunts

The Westin Tokyo in Japan has special rates at 36,000 yen (about HK$2,400). This includes a room upgrade, American breakfast, evening cocktail, city calls and access to fitness centre. Offer is valid until December 31. Kobe Bay Sheraton Hotel & Towers has rates from about 20,250 yen which includes complimentary breakfast and access to the fitness centre. This special offer is valid until December 10.

www.starwood.com

Silk additions

SRS-Worldhotels, a hotel marketing and representation consortium, is expanding with two new hotels on the Silk Route in Uzbekistan. Hotel Afrosiyob Palace and Bukhara Palace bring to three the number of hotels represented by the group in the Central Asian state. Hotel Afrosiyob Palace is a five-minute drive from the excavations of the historical town of Afrosiyob. It has 260 rooms, and 15 suites and apartments, all equipped with satellite television, telephone, mini-bar and safe. The Bukhara Palace Hotel is a 10-minute journey from the airport. It has 210 rooms, 13 suites and conference facilities for 300.

www.srs-worldhotels.com

Airline affair

Vietnam Airlines has signed a code-sharing agreement with Thai Airways International for flights between Vietnam's Danang city and Bangkok. The agreement, a 50/50 partnership, takes effect on October 28 and aims to boost tourist activity between Vietnam's central region and Thailand, Vietnam Airlines said. Each airline will sell tickets under its own name but the flights will be operated by Thai Airways. There will be three flights a week on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday using 149-seat Boeing 737 aircraft. Vietnam Airlines also said it will discuss with its Thai partner efforts to increase flights on this route, using Vietnamese aircraft.

Hotel honour

Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London has been recognised by Conde Nast Traveller  magazine readers as the Best Business Hotel in Britain. The 200-room luxury hotel in Knightsbridge was also voted within the top 100 best hotels in the world, taking seventh position with an overall score of 92.59 per cent. Sister hotels in Hong Kong and New York were also highly rated. Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong was named in the top 100 list and The Mark in New York was nominated in the Best Overseas Business Hotel category. This follows a string of other awards including: the Gold Ribbon Award by RAC Hotels; voted the hotel's Foliage as Hotel Restaurant of the Year 2000 by Hotel & Restaurant  and Square Meal  magazines; the Best Day Spa of the Year at the Health & Beauty Awards for its luxury spa - The Spa at Mandarin Oriental; Conde Nast Traveller  in the US voted it one of the top 20 European hotels; and The Evening Standard  voted Mandarin Bar one of the top 10 bars in London.

www.mandarinoriental.com

All at sea

Cruise vacations continue to be one of the hottest and best travel bargains around, with discounting flourishing as cruise lines need to fill the increasing number of berths available, according to AAA. 'This summer there have been two-for-one sales and thousands of dollars in savings on a vast range of sailings and cabins. Even luxury cruise lines, which normally are exempt from such discounting, have been offering incentives such as free business class airfares,' AAA Travel vice-president Sandra Hughes. Ms Hughes cited a seven-day cruise to the eastern Caribbean for select October to December departures on Holland America Line, which begins at US$579, a 35 per cent saving on the brochure rate. That same cruise increases to US$899 next February and March.



Route dropped