More
Latest Travel News
Secure HOTEL RESERVATIONS
FULL
LIST. THAILAND
Asia
Hotel Bangkok, Chateau
de Bangkok Serviced Appartments, Holiday
Inn Crowne Plaza Bangkok, Hotel
Plaza Athenee Bangkok, Imperial
Impala Hotel Bangkok, Imperial
Queens Park Hotel, Imperial
Tara Hotel Bangkok, JW
Marriott Hotel Bangkok, Merchant
Court Hotel Bangkok, Novotel
Bangkok on Siam Square, Novotel
Bangna Bangkok, Novotel
Lotus Bangkok, Peninsula
Hotel Bangkok, Riverfront
Residence Appartments Bangkok, Royal
Orchid Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Sheraton
Grande Sukhumvit, Sofitel
Central Plaza Bangkok, Sofitel
Silom Bangkok, The
Landmark Hotel Bangkok, Zenith
Hotel Bangkok, Asia
Pattaya Beach Resort, Novotel
Coralia Rim Pae Resort Rayong, Kamala
Bay Terrace Resort Phuket, Novotel
Coralia Phuket, Phuket
Island Resort, Ban
Kaew Villa Samui, Chaweng
Regent Beach Resort Samui, Mercure
Resort Koh Samui, Peace
Bungalows (Bophut) Koh Samui, Poppies
Hotel Samui, The
Imperial Boat House Hotel Samui, The
Imperial Samui Hotel, The
Princess Village, The
Whitehouse Hotel Samui, Rayavadee
Premier Resort Krabi, Imperial
Golden Triangle Resort Chiang Rai, Imperial
Lake View Hotel & Golf Club Cha-Am, Sofitel
Central Hua Hin Resort, Imperial
Mae Ping Chiang Mai, Novotel
Chiang Mai Hotel, Imperial
Phukaew Hill Resort Petchaboon, Imperial
Tara Mae Hong Son, Hotel
Sofitel Raja Orchid Khon Kaen. PHILIPPINES
Atrium
Suites Manila, Bayview
Park Hotel Manila, Citadel
Inn Makati, Holiday
Inn Manila, Hotel
Inter-Continental Manila, New
World Renaissance Makati Manila, Pan
Pacific Manila Hotel, Peninsula
Manila Hotel, Primetown
Tower Makati, Imperial
Palace Suites Quezon City, Badian
Island Resort & Spa Cebu, Maribago
Bluewater Beach Resort Cebu, Golden
Peak Hotel Cebu, Pearl
Farm Beach Resort Davao. VIETNAM
Caravelle
Hotel Saigon, Hotel
Sofitel Plaza Saigon, Novotel
Garden Plaza Saigon Hotel, Omni
Saigon Hotel, Renaissance
Riverside Saigon Hotel, De
Syloia Hotel Hanoi, Hotel
Nikko Hanoi, Melia
Hanoi Hotel, Sofitel
Metropole Hanoi, Sofitel
Plaza Hanoi, Sunway
Hotel Hanoi, Century
Riverside Hotel Hue, Novotel
Dalat, Sofitel
Dalat Palace, Novotel
Coralia Ocean Dunes Phan Thiet, Anoasis
Beach Resort Long Hai, Furama
Resort Danang. CAMBODIA
Sunway
Hotel Phnom Penh, Sofitel
Royal Angkor HONG
KONG Century
Hotel Hong Kong, Century
Harbour Hotel Hong Kong, Century
Inn North Point, Eaton
Hotel Hong Kong, Grand
Plaza Hotel Hong Kong, Grand
Tower Hotel Hong Kong, Great
Eagle Hotel Hong Kong, Harbour
Plaza North Point, The
HongKong Hotel, The
Marco Polo Hong Kong, The
Prince Hong Kong, The
Salisbury YMCA of Hong Kong, The
Wesley. SINGAPORE
Century
Roxy Park Hotel Singapore, Hotel
Rendezvous Singapore, Novotel
Apollo Singapore, Raffles
Hotel Singapore, Royal
Plaza on Scotts, The
G@llery Evason, The
New Otani Singapore, The
Royal Wing. INDONESIA
Hotel
Atlet Century Park Jakarta, Hotel
Ibis Mangga Dua Jakarta, Hotel
Ibis Tamarin Jakarta, Mercure
Residence Puri Imperium Jakarta, Imperial
Century Hotel & Country Club, Century
Saphir Yogyakarta, Hotel
Ibis Malioboro Yogyakarta, Novotel
Hotel Yogyakarta, Melia
Purosani Yogyakarta, Bali
Melita Villa, Melia
Bali Hotel, Novotel
Benoa Bali, Pansea
Hotel Bali, Century
Mabisa Inn Bali, Century
Saphir Bali, Novotel
Coralia Lombok, Novotel
Hotel Batam, Novotel
Coralia Toraja (Sulawesi), Novotel
Coralia Bukittinggi (Sumatra). MALAYSIA
Century
Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Melia
Kuala Lumpur Hotel, Park
Plaza International Kuala Lumpur, Hotel
Century Manado, Century
Mahkota Hotel Melaka, Promenade
Hotel Kota Kinabalu, Mercure
Ace Johor Bahru, Sofitel
Palm Resort Johor Bahru, Avillion
Village Resort Port Dickson. CHINA
Century
Run Hua Hotel Jinan, Sofitel
Silver Plaza Jinan, Novotel
Peace Beijing Hotel, Hotel
Sofitel Zhengzhou, Novotel
Hia Hua Hangzhou, Novotel
Atlantis Shanghai, Sofitel
Hyland Shanghai. KOREA
Novotel
Ambassador Kangnam Seoul, Novotel
Amabassador Toksan, DUBAI
Admiral
Plaza Hotel Dubai, Al
Maha Desert Resort, Dubai
Marine Hotel, Dubai
Marine Beach Resort, Emirates
Towers Hotel Dubai, Four
Points Sheraton Bur Dubai, Le
Meridien Mina Seyahi, Le
Royal Meridien Beach Resort & Spa, Metropolitan
Hotel Dubai, Rydges
Plaza Hotel Dubai, Sheraton
Dubai Hotel & Towers, The
Ritz-Carlton Dubai. LONDON
Chelsea
Green Hotel. (we are working very hard on this section, adding
hotels all the time so do keep checking back).
Hotel Reviews Hotels
in Bangkok, Hotels
in Phuket, Hotels
in Koh Samui, Hotels
in Manila, Hotels
in Cebu, Hotels
in Jakarta, Hotels
in Bali, Hotels
in Hong Kong (Island), Hotels
in Hong Kong (Mainland), Hotels
in Hanoi, Hotels
in Saigon (Ho Chi Minh), Hotels
in Singapore, Hotels
in Dubai, Hotels
in other countries.
THAILAND - General
Bangkok - Hotels
in Bangkok, Bangkok
International Airport, Bars
in Bangkok, Calypso
Cabaret Bangkok, Restaurants
in Bangkok, Transport
in Bangkok, Shopping
in Bangkok, Chatuchak
Market, VAT
refunds for purchases in Thailand, Things
to do in Bangkok, Internet
Cafes in Bangkok, Pictures
of Thailand.
Koh Samui
- Hotels in Koh Samui, Bars
in Koh Samui, Restaurants in
Koh Samui, General
Information on Koh Samui, Map
of Koh Samui, Diving in Koh Samui,
Pictures
of Thailand.
Phuket - Hotels
in Phuket, Restaurants
in Phuket, Special
Offers, Pictures
of Thailand.
Vietnam - Hotels
in Hanoi, Hotels
in Ho Chi Minh, Beach
Resorts and Inland Resorts in Vietnam, Transport
in Vietnam, Bars
in Vietnam, Restaurants
in Vietnam, Special
Offers, Pictures
of Vietnam.
Hong Kong Hotels
on Hong Kong Island, Hotels
on Hong Kong Mainland, Hidden
Hotel Costs in Hong Kong, Bars
in Hong Kong, Using
a Mobile Telephone in Hong Kong, General
Travel Information on Hong Kong, Ocean
Park Hong Kong, Transport
in Hong Kong, Special
Offers, Pictures
of Hong Kong.
Indonesia Hotels
in Jakarta, Hotels in
Bali, Bars in Jakarta,
Melia Purosani
Hotel Jogyakarta, Special Offers.
Philippines Hotels
in Manila, Hidden
Hotel Costs in manila Hotels, Restaurants
in Manila, Bars
in Manila, Pictures
of Manila, Money
and Exchange Warning in the Philippines, General
Information on Manila, Hotels
in Cebu, Restaurants
in Cebu, Pictures
of Cebu, General
Information on Cebu, General
Information on Palawan, General
Information on Boracay, Transport
in the Philippines, Special
Offers.
Singapore Singapore
Hotels Reservations, Singapore
Hotels Reviewed, Changi
Airport review, Hidden
Hotel Costs in Singapore Hotels.
Dubai - Shopping
Festival 2000, Hotels
in Dubai, Bars in Dubai, Restaurants in Dubai,
Golf in Dubai, Pictures
of Dubai, Pictures of Dubai
May 2000, Special
Offers, Visa
Requirements.
Other Country Tips - Paris,
Singapore, Japan, Korea
Many hotels and tips not covered above.
General Travel Tips - Planning
you trip, Arriving at
the destination, At the
hotel, During your
stay, Using e-mail on the road,
Cutting the stress of
travel, How to avoid Culture
Shock, Beat Jet Lag, Internet
Security.
Travel AWARDS - 1999 Premier Travel Awards,
2000 Premier Travel Awards,
2001 Premier Travel Awards,
Vote now
in the 2002 Premier Travel Awards.
Picture Gallery Phuket,
Koh
Samui, Chaweng
Cove (Samui), Bangkok,
Koh
Samui (Jan2000), Bangkok
(Jan 2000), Bangkok
(May 2000), Pictures
of Chatuchak Market, Pictures
of Temples in Thailand, Pictures
of Bangkok International Airport, Pictures
of Changi Singapore Airport, Hong
Kong Night Life, Hong
Kong Government House, Hong
Kong, Hong
Kong Harbour, Hong
Kong (Jan 2000), Ocean
Park Hong Kong, Pictures
of Manila, Pictures
of Cebu, Dubai,
Dubai
(DFS), Pictures
of the ATM 2000 in Dubai, Dubai
(May 2000), Paris
France, Paris,
France (March 2000), Pictures
of the Press, Hanoi
Vietnam, Pictures
of the Euro Coins and Notes.
Airlines - Tips
on getting upgraded, Flying without
the frills, Tips on using Airport
Lounges.
Travel Trade Shows ATF,
ITB, ATM,
Pictures of the
ATM 2000, WTM,
Calendar of Shows.
Latest Travel News - ASIA
travel news, reports and articles. Add
Latest Travel News to your site.
|
|
British Airways
to take part in iris recognition trial
A five-month trial using
latest iris recognition technology to help speed up arrivals at
Heathrow has begun at the airport this week.
The trial, run by the UK Immigration Service, British Airways, Virgin
Atlantic, BAA and EyeTicket, is designed to allow up to 2,000 invited
passengers who travel frequently as visitors to the UK with Virgin and
BA through passport control in the blink of an eye.
The trial uses EyeTicket’s JetStream product and this will be the
first time that iris recognition technology is tested at a UK airport.
Passengers taking part in the trial, which aims to expedite the
arrivals process and maximise space in the immigration hall, will be
approved in advance by the UK Immigration Service.
At busy times passengers can face queues before clearing passport
control, but trial participants should gain clearance in a matter of
seconds.
BAA Heathrow’s Managing Director, Mick Temple said: "Heathrow
is always looking at new and innovative ways of improving passenger
journeys through the airport. With this trial we hope to establish
that iris recognition technology can prove to be a safe, effective and
highly accurate means of ensuring passengers on arrival are legitimate
entrants to the UK.
"Although this particular trial is about simplifying a
passenger’s progress through the airport, we will also consider
whether in the longer term this sort of technology could have wider
security benefits."
Home Office Minister Lord Rooker said: "These are unprecedented
steps. Biometric technology offers many new possibilities. This is an
excellent example of the Home Office working in partnership with other
stakeholders to make the most of science and explore secure and
improved passenger clearance at Immigration control."
Stewart Mann, Chief Executive Officer of EyeTicket Corporation, the
US-based company supplying the technology said: "Both of our
countries have a strong reputation for innovation, and building the
best products from the best technologies. EyeTicket is proud to
provide the UK with the first opportunity to use JetStream for
passport control."
Mike Street, Director of Customer Services and Operations for British
Airways said: "British Airways is delighted to support the trial.
It is a major step forward as it offers our US based frequent flyers
swift and automatic clearance through immigration controls and adds
value to the British Airways arrival experience."
Sir Richard Branson, Chairman of Virgin Atlantic said: "We are
delighted to be involved with the project. Virgin Atlantic is renown
for taking a lead in technological advances and we are always looking
at ways of improving the passenger experience, so we will await the
results of the trial with interest."
The trial was set up through IATA’s (International Air Transport
Association) Simplifying Passenger Travel Interest Group which
includes airports, airlines, immigration authorities and technological
suppliers worldwide.
The automated iris recognition stations have been placed in the
immigration halls of Terminals 3 and 4 at Heathrow from where Virgin
and BA operate their north Atlantic routes .
Passengers will undergo an initial enrolment process, including
identity checks by an immigration officer, before being able to use
the equipment. JetStream enrolment stations are at Heathrow and
planned at New York’s JFK and Washington’s Dulles airports.
Enrolled passengers will still need to carry their passports on each
trip to the United Kingdom.
How JetStream works
JetStream is an iris
recognition-based passenger processing service that positively
identifies travellers and simplifies and expedites transactions. To
enrol, the passenger looks into a special video camera that takes a
close-up image of the iris.
Around 512 bytes of digital pattern data is extracted from the image,
digitally encoded, sorted and later compared with the person’s iris
on entering the immigration hall. The system relies on the fact that
every person has a unique iris pattern.
Once enrolled, passengers can simply glance into a camera about 10
inches away and have their identity verified in seconds each time they
arrive at Heathrow Airport.
The iris pattern is compared with the stored digital code and if the
details match, a ticket is printed and a barrier opens, allowing them
to enter the UK.
The whole procedure takes only a few seconds and is as safe as being
video taped. It is also considered the highest accuracy, single-factor
identification method in the world. There is no contact with the body,
and no laser or other potentially harmful light source is involved.
The data is also separated from all other passenger information held
by immigration or airlines and is maintained in a secure database.
|