Etihad Airways and Alitalia will be offering enhanced connections between Abu Dhabi and three of Italy’s biggest cities next year, with the combined double-daily flights to Milan and Rome, as well as a new daily service to Venice.

The two airlines signed a major codeshare expansion this week, which subject to government approval, will result in Etihad Airways placing its ‘EY’ code on Alitalia’s new daily service between Venice and Abu Dhabi, as well as the coming daily service between Abu Dhabi and Milan, both launching on March 29 2015.

Crowne Plaza Queenstown has been voted New Zealand’s Best Ski Hotel at the second annual World Ski Awards in Kitzb√ºhel last Saturday November 22, at a glamorous black tie Gala Ceremony.

Eichardt’s Private Hotel was another winner at the awards night, taking out the title of New Zealand’s Best Ski Boutique Hotel, the third gong in as many months for the hotelier, with votes coming in from ski bunnies across 127 countries, as well as leading ski tourism professionals.

Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) has announced it has been accredited by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) Travel Accredditation Scheme (ATAS), providing an extra level of recognition and validation to its service.

ATAS accredits travel agents against strict criteria to ensure they meet certain standards, and demonstrate themselves to be a reliable, well-trained and professional business. The accreditation means the organisation must also meet high standards of business discipline, training and compliance within Australian Consumer Law and a strict code of conduct.

Hong Kong’s five star Harbour Grand Kowloon is offering up to 40% discounts on room rates for Australian travel industry staff from now until March 31 2015.

The deal is available to employees of airlines, travel industry, hotel and media staff, and is located within close proximity to popular shopping, dining and entertainment precincts at Tsim Sha Tsui.

The offer is limited to five night bookings, with rates starting at AUD$162 per room per night. Interested parties can book here.

South African Tourism and South African Airways (SAA) recently whisked 39 of SAA’s top performing agents on an incentive prize winning mega famil to South Africa.

The 39 agents were split into four appropriately named groups – the Baboons, Leopards, Warthogs and Springboks – to cover various areas of the country and discover what experiences it has to offer, from spotting the ‘Big Five’ and wine-tasting at Cape Town’s Table Mountain, to swimming with seals and Great White Sharks.

InterContinental Hotels Group has announced the launch of its new IHG Rewards Club Global Redemption Catalogue, offering members of the loyalty program an enhanced online catalogue, and retail redemption choices tailored to over 200 countries.

IHG’s loyalty program offers benefits such as free guest Internet for all IHG Rewards Club members, value-priced Reward Nights with fewer restrictions, no blackout dates on Reward Nights, no cancellation penalties, and now, the ability to personalise rewards to suit individual needs.

The new redemption catalogue will also give members the new ability to add items to a personal wish list and to use their IHG Rewards Club points to send gifts to friends and family.

Three lucky travel agents have arrived home following a luxury Kenya safari courtesy of Kenya Tourism Board and Wildlife Safari, with the agents winning the prize at Magical Kenya Workshops held around Australia earlier in the year.

Kenya Airways provided flights to Nairobi, while Wildlife Safari and Serena Hotels took care of all the land arrangements, including luxury accommodation, game viewing activities, meals and transport.

Located in the heart of Aspen, Colorado, the Limelight Hotel is preparing for another snow season with a complete guest room upgrade scheduled for completion November 24, with all 126 guest rooms being fitted out with new carpets, drapery, and furniture.

The hotel will also feature three new outdoor adventure offerings for guests, including a powder cat ski/ride day, grooming snowcat rides and last tracks with Aspen Ski Patrol.

At the recent International Congress of Relais & Ch√¢teaux in Paris, it was announced that Mara Plains Camp, Kenya, has been accepted on all standards as a member camp based on its experience, fine cuisine, hosting and accommodation.

This is the third camp to become a Relais & Ch√¢teaux member, with Mara Plains reopened in August 2013 after undergoing a complete rebuild to become one of Africa’s finest ecological camps.

Mara Plains Camp has seven, expansive tents, each with views over the classic savannah grasslands of the Maasai Mara ecosystem, and joins its sister property ol Donyo Lodge as East Africa’s only other member property.