Between the private beach and butler service, a new resort on Rhode Island's shore promises to be among New England's most luxurious when it opens in June.
The original Ocean House was a post-Civil War resort destination for the rich. The 1916 silent movie "American Aristocracy" with Douglas Fairbanks was filmed at the towering Victorian hotel, known for its yellow facade and striking ocean views. But the 135-year old hotel, in need of extensive repairs and upgrades, was closed in 2003 and razed.
Now a group of sentimentally attached investors — led by mutual fund magnate Charles Royce — is taking a $140 million gamble, building an upscale replica of the hotel in the seaside enclave of Watch Hill. They want the new Ocean House — with its 49 rooms and 23 condos — to compete with rival destinations in places like Newport, Nantucket and the Hamptons.
Royce, who owns a summer home in Watch Hill, said he was dismayed by the prospect of losing the hotel, where guests, socialites and local residents converged for grand celebrations or simply drinks at the bar.
He bought the property from a developer who planned to build large homes on the site.
"The world doesn't need more McMansions, especially in (place of) something that was such an important part of the community," Royce said. "The sole purpose was to make certain that this very important community asset could be preserved."
Royce, founder and president of the Royce Funds, assembled about a dozen investors with ties to Watch Hill. The investors received a short-term $60 million construction loan and expect to repay it by the time the project opens, and say the balance is their own money.
Of course it's a risky time to open a luxury boutique hotel with $600-a-night rooms, especially in Rhode Island. The state has among the highest unemployment and foreclosure rates in the country. The local economy has been hammered by the credit crisis and vanishing manufacturing jobs. Ocean House will also be competing for visitors against East Coast destinations with instant name recognition.
Nationally, room occupancy at luxury hotels is forecast to fall to 61 percent this year, down from about 68 percent last year, with the average daily room rate sliding to $240 from $289, according to estimates from PKF Hospitality Research.
Friday, November 6, 2009
Northwest pilots appeal license revocation
The Northwest Airlines pilots who overshot Minneapolis by 150 miles are appealing their license revocations with the National Transportation Safety Board.
The appeals were filed late Wednesday, said board spokesman Ted Lopatkiewicz. He said that appeals typically are heard by an administrative law judge with the board within 120 days.
The Federal Aviation Administration revoked the licenses of Capt. Timothy Cheney of Gig Harbor, Wash., and First Officer Richard Cole of Salem, Ore., last week. The agency said the pilots put the 144 passengers of Northwest Flight 188 in serious danger on Oct. 21 when they failed to communicate with anyone on the ground for 91 minutes despite repeated attempts by air traffic controllers and their own airline to reach them.
Cheney and Cole told investigators they lost track of time and place while working on crew scheduling on their laptops. They said they didn't realize their situation until a flight attendant contacted them on the intercom to ask when the plane would be landing. By then, the Airbus A320 was over Wisconsin at 37,000 feet. The pilots turned the plane around and landed safely in Minneapolis.
Attorneys for the pilots declined to comment.
The incident raised national security concerns. Senior White House officials were notified by the White House situation room during the incident. Fighter jets in two locations were moments away from taking off to track down the errant airliner when contact was re-established.
FAA and NTSB investigators were in Colorado Wednesday, where they interviewed controllers at FAA's en route center in Longmont. FAA investigators also spoke with military officials at the North American Aerospace Defense Command, spokeswoman Laura Brown said.
The U.S. military would have launched fighters if it had been notified sooner. Gen. Gene Renuart, who heads U.S. Northern Command, has said he learned of the incident just four or five minutes before FAA regained contact with the pilots. The delay has raised questions about whether controllers complied with procedures put in place after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Two bills were introduced in the Senate Thursday to ban nonessential electronics, including personal laptops, from the cockpit.
"We simply want to ensure that, with all of the electronic distractions available these days, flying the plane remains the one and only focus," Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., the author of one of the bills, said in a statement.
£2.4 million to drive tourism to England’s Northwest
The Northwest European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) Programme is pleased to announce £2.4 million of funding to support a unique programme of marketing activity to boost the region’s visitor economy over the next three years.The campaign aims to increase visitor spend across the Northwest through focused promotion based on the key themes of Industrial Powerhouse (industrial heritage-based), Adventure Capital (outdoor activity) and Gardens of Distinction (horticultural heritage).
The total value of the programme is £4.8 million, with match funding being provided through the region’s tourist boards, museums and attractions.Each theme will focus on a particular sub-region and will be led by one of the region’s tourist boards; Marketing Manchester will steer the Industrial Powerhouse theme, Cumbria Tourism will lead on Adventure Capital and Visit Chester and Cheshire will coordinate the Gardens of Distinction theme. All three campaigns will build on the success of previous work by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and the tourist boards to drive up visitor numbers from national and international markets.
The marketing activity will be supported by three full-time coordinators who will work alongside industry partners to deliver the programme and aims to provide a significant economic boost for the Northwest’s tourism industry.Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), said:“Building on our work with the tourist boards in these areas, this marketing activity will highlight some of the region’s key strengths and will raise awareness of the Northwest as a world-class visitor destination.
The three themes of industrial heritage, horticulture and outdoor activities appeal to a wide range of people and with targeted marketing we can boost their economic impact on the region.”Cllr Flo Clucas, member of the ERDF Programme Monitoring Committee, added:“The Northwest has so much to offer the visitor and we have learned how important it is to market our attractions to the world to attract people to our fantastic region. This project, with funding from the European Community will enable us to attract visitors and bring jobs and investment. It is a most welcome initiative.”
Space hotel ready for 2012
Galactic Suite have revealed that plans to open the first hotel in space are on schedule and The Galactic Suite Space Resort will be open for business and accepting tourists by 2012.
The news follows hard on the revelation that an anonymous billionaire space enthusiast has granted $3billion to finance the project.
But it’s not a bargain stay. The Barcelona-based architects of space resort say it will cost 3 million euro ($4.4 million) for a three-night stay at the hotel, with this price including an eight-week training course on a tropical island before the trip.
There are considerable doubts about the cost and time frame of the project but more than 200 people have expressed an interest in the trip and 43 have already made a reservation.
Xavier Claramunt, CEO of Galactic Suite believes space tourism will become common place, “If you find out about the technology that already exists and the advances that have been made, it’s quite normal to think that your children, possibly within 15 years, could spend a weekend in space.”
“When the passengers arrive in the rocket, they will join it for 3 days, rocket and capsule. With this we create in the tourist a confidence that he hasn’t been abandoned. After 3 days the passenger returns to the transport rocket and returns to earth,” he said.
Galactic Suite hopes to start its project with a single pod in orbit 450 km (280 miles) above the earth, traveling at 30,000 km per hour, with the capacity to hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots. It will take a day and a half to get there and there will be no staff.
The news follows hard on the revelation that an anonymous billionaire space enthusiast has granted $3billion to finance the project.
But it’s not a bargain stay. The Barcelona-based architects of space resort say it will cost 3 million euro ($4.4 million) for a three-night stay at the hotel, with this price including an eight-week training course on a tropical island before the trip.
There are considerable doubts about the cost and time frame of the project but more than 200 people have expressed an interest in the trip and 43 have already made a reservation.
Xavier Claramunt, CEO of Galactic Suite believes space tourism will become common place, “If you find out about the technology that already exists and the advances that have been made, it’s quite normal to think that your children, possibly within 15 years, could spend a weekend in space.”
“When the passengers arrive in the rocket, they will join it for 3 days, rocket and capsule. With this we create in the tourist a confidence that he hasn’t been abandoned. After 3 days the passenger returns to the transport rocket and returns to earth,” he said.
Galactic Suite hopes to start its project with a single pod in orbit 450 km (280 miles) above the earth, traveling at 30,000 km per hour, with the capacity to hold four guests and two astronaut-pilots. It will take a day and a half to get there and there will be no staff.
Miss World wows at Abu Dhabi F1
Miss World met participants and performers at the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix ahead of her appearance at the Grand Final of the World Travel Awards in London on Sunday.
She will be joined by 120 Miss World contestants at the Awards, before flying back out to Abu Dhabi for a fashion show at the Yas Hotel.
All 120 Miss World finalists will also be making a special guest appearance on the second day of World Travel Market, which takes place in London next week.
The Etihad Airways-sponsored F1 event saw world champion Jenson Button secure third place to Red Bull’s Sebastian Vettell, on Sunday.
The three-day event, which began on Friday, included a host of celebrities and Middle Eastern royalty and US Secretary of State, Hilary Clinton.
Beyonce returned to Formula 1 after her appearance in Singapore, and was joined over the next few days with performances from Kings of Leon, Aerosmith, the Wailers, Jamiroquai and Timbaland.
Sports stars included England cricketer Andrew Flintoff and American basketball legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, as well as F1 legends Damon Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart.
The final fixture of the F1 calendar took place at the purpose-built Yas Marina Circuit, in Abu Dhabi, over the weekend.
New 21c Museum Hotel to open in Cincinnati, Ohio
Building on its mission of engaging the public with contemporary art and supporting the revitalization of American downtowns, 21c Museum Hotels will renovate and restore the former Metropole Hotel—an historic landmark in downtown Cincinnati—to its original purpose as a hotel and a centerpiece of the city. 21c Museum Hotels was launched in 2006 by Laura Lee Brown and Steve Wilson, philanthropists and arts patrons with a vision for bringing contemporary art into daily life and fostering urban vitality. The 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville was recently selected as the #1 hotel in the United States and #6 hotel in the world in the prestigious Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2009.
The new 21c Museum Hotel in Cincinnati will be located adjacent to the Contemporary Arts Center and across the street from the Aronoff Center for the Arts. 21c Museum Hotels is working with the Cincinnati Center City Development Corporation on the restoration, scheduled to begin next fall. The total expected cost for the project is $45 million.
21c Museum Hotel in Cincinnati will offer 160 rooms, an 8,000 square-foot contemporary art museum open to the public free of charge, and a Proof restaurant and bar serving contemporary cuisine made with locally grown ingredients. The 21c team will restore the Metropole building, recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places, following federal standards for historic rehabilitation.
Presenting a full range of changing special exhibitions and arts programming, 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville is located in the West Main Street Historic District and plays a key role in the life of the city and has helped to further raise national recognition for Louisville’s arts and theater district.
“With the success of 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville, we saw the opportunity to enliven the cultural and civic life in urban centers across the country,” said Steve Wilson, Founder and Chairman of 21c Museum Hotels. “21c is a catalyst for art and civic programming and the response from the public has been tremendous. We look forward to being part of Cincinnati’s downtown revitalization.”
M&C sees change in fortunes
Despite a third-quarter, pre-tax profit slump, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels has suggested that the worst of the downturn in the hospitality sector may be over as its decline in revPAR slows and bookings show some positive momentum.
The chain is opening a hotel in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is looking for sites in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. The company was the first to announce hotel plans for Iraq.
M&C, which operates 120 hotels across the world, revealed revPAR dropped by 17.7 percent in the third quarter compared with a fall of 21.3 percent in the second quarter. That trend continued into October, with RevPAR down by 12.8 percent on last year.
Pre-tax profit fell to £21.9 million in the quarter, down from £30 million at the same time last year.
“I believe that the industry is moving in the right direction. The rate of decline of our global RevPAR has slowed quarter-on-quarter and this trend has continued into October,” said Chairman Kwek Leng Beng.
“While it is too early to predict with accuracy how markets will behave in 2010 we are encouraged by these improving trends which suggest that the worst may be behind us,” he added.
U.S. Travel Industry to Add 90,000 American Jobs in 2010
The U.S. Travel Associationtoday announced that projected modest 2010 increases in leisure, business andinternational inbound travel will enable the industry to add nearly 90,000American jobs. Leisure travel is expected to rise 2.0 percent, business travelis projected to increase by 2.5 percent and international inbound travel willincrease by nearly 3.0 percent. These job gains come on the heels of 400,000combined travel industry job losses in 2008 and 2009.
"The travel industry shares President Obama's goal of putting Americans backto work. Our industry is uniquely capable of adapting to economic upswings andquickly adding tens of thousands of jobs," said Roger Dow, president and CEOof the U.S. Travel Association. "What we announce today is based upon modestincreases in travel. Given its immense potential, we call on theAdministration and Members of Congress to build a plan for economic recoverythat drives significant increases in travel."
"The travel industry shares President Obama's goal of putting Americans backto work. Our industry is uniquely capable of adapting to economic upswings andquickly adding tens of thousands of jobs," said Roger Dow, president and CEOof the U.S. Travel Association. "What we announce today is based upon modestincreases in travel. Given its immense potential, we call on theAdministration and Members of Congress to build a plan for economic recoverythat drives significant increases in travel."
United States Claims #1 Spot For First Time as World's Top Country Brand
The United States earned the coveted spot as the world’s top country brand for the first time in the fifth annual Country Brand Index (CBI), rising from the third spot in 2008. Canada, host to the 2010 Winter Olympics, held on to the second ranking as Australia, always a perennial favorite, slipped from the premier ranking to number three. Other countries making the top 10 of the global 2009 CBI study include New Zealand, France, and Italy. CBI is a comprehensive study of approximately 3,000 international business and leisure travelers from nine countries.
It examines how countries are branded and ranked, and identifies emerging global trends in the world’s fastest growing economic sector - travel and tourism, which accounted for US$944 billion in international tourism receipts in 2008.This year’s index, conducted by FutureBrand, a leading global brand consultancy, in conjunction with public relations firm Weber Shandwick’s Global Travel & Lifestyle Practice, includes rankings and trends, themes in nation building and marketing issues, as well as more in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Top 10 country brands and a look at the "Next 10," those top country brands ranking 11-20.
Additionally, research was expanded to cover 102 country brands, which allowed a breakdown of regional rankings to be included. Other new topics include: the political and economic sides of country branding; discrepancies between perception and reality of a country brand; and "A New Focus on Value," which speaks to one of the chief motivators in travel and tourism this year.
"This is the fifth year we have been able to continue to innovate around country brand thinking, methodology and findings. This category remains one with tremendous potential not only for tourism but investment, trade and policy. Even with the global economic circumstances facing many nations, the need to maximize opportunity and present a cohesive identity is critical," said Rina Plapler, senior executive director, FutureBrand.
"It is interesting to note that America has risen to the number one country brand this year. It’s logical to assume that the shift in the political climate and renewed optimism surrounding the election of President Obama was a key influencer in the U.S. topping the list," said Rene A. Mack, president, Weber Shandwick’s Travel & Lifestyle Global Practice. "It will be very interesting to see the U.S.’s performance next year and understand if this was a halo effect of a new president, or if the country can actually capitalize on this opportunity to better create a strong brand."
This year’s CBI also touches on a variety of topics relevant to travelers and tourism professionals including: how small nations can compete with much larger countries; the different ways destinations can communicate value; and the year’s best and worst country brand marketing. Other notable topics focus on the use of social media in country branding and how icons, national companies and sports drive the development of country brand image.
It examines how countries are branded and ranked, and identifies emerging global trends in the world’s fastest growing economic sector - travel and tourism, which accounted for US$944 billion in international tourism receipts in 2008.This year’s index, conducted by FutureBrand, a leading global brand consultancy, in conjunction with public relations firm Weber Shandwick’s Global Travel & Lifestyle Practice, includes rankings and trends, themes in nation building and marketing issues, as well as more in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Top 10 country brands and a look at the "Next 10," those top country brands ranking 11-20.
Additionally, research was expanded to cover 102 country brands, which allowed a breakdown of regional rankings to be included. Other new topics include: the political and economic sides of country branding; discrepancies between perception and reality of a country brand; and "A New Focus on Value," which speaks to one of the chief motivators in travel and tourism this year.
"This is the fifth year we have been able to continue to innovate around country brand thinking, methodology and findings. This category remains one with tremendous potential not only for tourism but investment, trade and policy. Even with the global economic circumstances facing many nations, the need to maximize opportunity and present a cohesive identity is critical," said Rina Plapler, senior executive director, FutureBrand.
"It is interesting to note that America has risen to the number one country brand this year. It’s logical to assume that the shift in the political climate and renewed optimism surrounding the election of President Obama was a key influencer in the U.S. topping the list," said Rene A. Mack, president, Weber Shandwick’s Travel & Lifestyle Global Practice. "It will be very interesting to see the U.S.’s performance next year and understand if this was a halo effect of a new president, or if the country can actually capitalize on this opportunity to better create a strong brand."
This year’s CBI also touches on a variety of topics relevant to travelers and tourism professionals including: how small nations can compete with much larger countries; the different ways destinations can communicate value; and the year’s best and worst country brand marketing. Other notable topics focus on the use of social media in country branding and how icons, national companies and sports drive the development of country brand image.
Expedia.com Eliminates Travel Booking Fees for Phone Orders
The world’s leading online travel agency, today announced that it has eliminated all phone-based booking fees. Expedia.com will not charge phone booking fees for any flight, car rental, hotel or cruise reservation booked by phone (1-800-EXPEDIA). The change to Expedia.com’s service policy is immediate.
This is the latest example of the meaningful steps Expedia.com is taking to drive down the cost of travel and to put travelers first in everything the company does. Expedia.com is now the only major online travel agency to offer fee-free telephone booking for air travel. By comparison, some online travel agencies charge as much as $25 per ticket to book via phone. Many airlines also apply as much as $25 in fees, per ticket, to book by phone.
The company eliminated online air booking fees and change fees and cancel fees on all hotel and car rental reservations in May 2009. Cruise change and cancel fees were also eliminated in May 2009 and cruise booking fees were eliminated in October 2009.
"Expedia.com is proud to stand up for the rights of phone-using Americans," said Tim MacDonald, senior vice president and general manager, Expedia.com. "In recent years, travel fees -- for baggage, gas, parking and the like -- have had a tendency to rise in unexpected and unpleasant ways. Expedia.com has chosen to move in a different direction. We expect that this decision will be well received by the millions of travelers we serve."
More travelers trust Expedia.com than any other travel site. Expedia.com delivers the most travel options in the world, which allows travelers to mix and match those options to book the trip they desire for a great price.
Expedia.com also provides an easy and convenient booking experience with features including the Fare Alert tool that delivers bargain fares for flights directly to a computer desktop, a Seat Guru service offering expert advice on the best airplane seats, the Deal Finder tool that delivers attractive destination deals to a Google home page, and a Traveler Opinions feature that provides the inside scoop and user ratings on hotels from people who have actually stayed there, and more.
SC high court says gov's ethics probe is public
South Carolina's Supreme Court ruled Thursday that an ethics investigation into Gov. Mark Sanford's travel must be made public, clearing the way for lawmakers considering impeachment to review a report on the probe.
Sanford's lawyers had tried keep a report on a criminal investigation by the State Ethics Commission from being released to the House of Representatives as leaders there decide whether to move forward with impeachment efforts.
The commission's investigation was launched after Sanford returned from a five-day rendezvous with an Argentine lover in June that prompted investigations by The Associated Press into his travel practices. The AP found Sanford used state airplanes for personal and political purposes; used pricey commercial travel despite a state low-cost travel requirement; and didn't report private plane trips given by friends and donors.
Sanford's spokesman and lawyers, as well as Ethics Commission Director Herb Hayden, did not immediately respond to questions.
The governor said shortly after the investigation began that he would waive confidentiality rights, but his lawyers later argued he only intended to allow the scope of the investigation to be released. Attorneys wanted Sanford to have a chance to respond to the report before lawmakers saw it.
However, the court found the Republican governor had waived rights to confidentiality unconditionally in an Aug. 28 letter to the Legislature. The letter also said Sanford was "fighting for transparency," and that travel documents would support his frugal record.
That indicated "his intent was to waive confidentiality without limitation," the high court said. The court said Sanford's confidentiality waiver means nearly everything generated by the commission will be public.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell has said lawmakers will not move forward with impeachment discussions until they review the investigative report.
"It looks like now we will have access to this reporting of the facts," Harrell spokesman Greg Foster said.
Sanford's lawyers had tried keep a report on a criminal investigation by the State Ethics Commission from being released to the House of Representatives as leaders there decide whether to move forward with impeachment efforts.
The commission's investigation was launched after Sanford returned from a five-day rendezvous with an Argentine lover in June that prompted investigations by The Associated Press into his travel practices. The AP found Sanford used state airplanes for personal and political purposes; used pricey commercial travel despite a state low-cost travel requirement; and didn't report private plane trips given by friends and donors.
Sanford's spokesman and lawyers, as well as Ethics Commission Director Herb Hayden, did not immediately respond to questions.
The governor said shortly after the investigation began that he would waive confidentiality rights, but his lawyers later argued he only intended to allow the scope of the investigation to be released. Attorneys wanted Sanford to have a chance to respond to the report before lawmakers saw it.
However, the court found the Republican governor had waived rights to confidentiality unconditionally in an Aug. 28 letter to the Legislature. The letter also said Sanford was "fighting for transparency," and that travel documents would support his frugal record.
That indicated "his intent was to waive confidentiality without limitation," the high court said. The court said Sanford's confidentiality waiver means nearly everything generated by the commission will be public.
House Speaker Bobby Harrell has said lawmakers will not move forward with impeachment discussions until they review the investigative report.
"It looks like now we will have access to this reporting of the facts," Harrell spokesman Greg Foster said.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Top 5 Destinations For Travelers On A Budget
A week on an island paradise sounds great right about now, doesn't it? But the economic crisis has forced a lot of people to rearrange their priorities and that winter get-away has dropped way down the list.
If you can't shake the travel bug, there are a few affordable destinations. They may not be that island paradise, but they'll take you away from it all without breaking the bank.
"We're looking for places that offer unique events, such as cultural festivals," explained SmarterTravel editor Anne Banas.
No. 5: Vilnius, Lithuania
Some travel buffs are now calling this the capital of European culture and many of the events there are free. Banas says there's also an added incentive for bargain hunters. "They are not using the Euro as their currency, which tends to make the city and other destinations in the country more affordable."
No. 4: Lima, Peru
According to Banas, you can find hotel rooms as low as $5 per night. Seasoned travelers Silvana and Alan Clark know first hand that it's a great city for families to explore.
"You've got the nice central core with restaurants and the museums and the shops," Silvana explained.
No. 3: Kansas City
If you don't want to deal with the hassle of international travel Kansas City is a great choice. The SmarterTravel website says the city has invested billions to put itself on the map as a tourist destination. "Some of the things they have… is the power and light district which is 9 blocks of entertainment and food venues," Banas explained.
No. 2: Vancouver, Canada
It's not exactly that island paradise but it is the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. "It's getting ready in the year 2009 with a lot of different events and they're even building a train that connects the airport right to downtown Vancouver," said Banas. Visit in February and March and you can take advantage of a variety of free dance, art and music events.
No. 1: Riviera Nayarit in Mexico
According to Banas, it's an affordable hot spot on the Pacific coast. Visitors can go golfing, visit colonial villages and enjoy all kinds of water sports. It's about as close as you are going to get to that island paradise without the big price tag. Some of the hotels in this resort community are as low as $60 a night.
Whichever destination you choose, Banas says start researching your flights now, and book early for the best rates.
If you can't shake the travel bug, there are a few affordable destinations. They may not be that island paradise, but they'll take you away from it all without breaking the bank.
"We're looking for places that offer unique events, such as cultural festivals," explained SmarterTravel editor Anne Banas.
No. 5: Vilnius, Lithuania
Some travel buffs are now calling this the capital of European culture and many of the events there are free. Banas says there's also an added incentive for bargain hunters. "They are not using the Euro as their currency, which tends to make the city and other destinations in the country more affordable."
No. 4: Lima, Peru
According to Banas, you can find hotel rooms as low as $5 per night. Seasoned travelers Silvana and Alan Clark know first hand that it's a great city for families to explore.
"You've got the nice central core with restaurants and the museums and the shops," Silvana explained.
No. 3: Kansas City
If you don't want to deal with the hassle of international travel Kansas City is a great choice. The SmarterTravel website says the city has invested billions to put itself on the map as a tourist destination. "Some of the things they have… is the power and light district which is 9 blocks of entertainment and food venues," Banas explained.
No. 2: Vancouver, Canada
It's not exactly that island paradise but it is the site of the 2010 Winter Olympic Games. "It's getting ready in the year 2009 with a lot of different events and they're even building a train that connects the airport right to downtown Vancouver," said Banas. Visit in February and March and you can take advantage of a variety of free dance, art and music events.
No. 1: Riviera Nayarit in Mexico
According to Banas, it's an affordable hot spot on the Pacific coast. Visitors can go golfing, visit colonial villages and enjoy all kinds of water sports. It's about as close as you are going to get to that island paradise without the big price tag. Some of the hotels in this resort community are as low as $60 a night.
Whichever destination you choose, Banas says start researching your flights now, and book early for the best rates.
Jan 4 is World Responsible Youth Day
Asking for peace is likely to win you a crown at a beauty pageant. But it's the act of "giving peace'' that will really make the difference in these turbulent times. This philosophy, propagated by members of Rotaract, the youth wing of the Rotary Club in Mumbai, will find concrete expression this Sunday in a first-of-its-kind peace tour across the length of the city.
Taking a decision to declare the first Sunday of every year as World Responsible Youth Day-responsibility in youth being almost mythical today-Rotaract District 3140, which covers the Mumbai region, will launch its mission on Jan 4. Four hundred club members atop a truck and in four cars will undertake the day-long peace tour from Marine Drive to Navi Mumbai, halting at Dadar, Andheri, Ghatkopar and Thane before finally reaching Chembur. The tour will be dotted with musical performances and street plays, enacted by the club members of HR and SIES colleges, in an effort to coax their contemporaries into action.
At each halt, the head of the host club will field socially relevant extempore questions from the crowd such as how to file a public interest litigation. "We are even trying to get RTI activists for the rally,'' says Shrenik Gandhi of the Ghatkopar Rotaract club, adding that the peace tour is one of the biggest district projects of the club so far. The members will be joined by the Rotary, Innerwheel and Interact movements.
This event is the second step the Rotaract movement is undertaking towards this cause after a panel discussion called The Summit that was held on December 14 last year. The preparation for World Responsible Youth Day, says Yaman Banerji of Thane club, began at a panel discussion in November. "We had earlier decided that the theme for 2009 would be `Go green', and had based our material on the same, decrying the use of firecrackers and the like.''
But 26/11 changed their plan and shifted the focus from the bombs that clog the lungs of kids in Sivakasi to those that left lasting scars on the city in November. "We have collated information from different resources to present an honest account of what happened on 26/11,'' says Jigar Mehta, another member of the Ghatkopar club. "We want peace,'' he adds, as an afterthought, hoping that every day will be not just Sunday but also a responsible youth day to boot.
Taking a decision to declare the first Sunday of every year as World Responsible Youth Day-responsibility in youth being almost mythical today-Rotaract District 3140, which covers the Mumbai region, will launch its mission on Jan 4. Four hundred club members atop a truck and in four cars will undertake the day-long peace tour from Marine Drive to Navi Mumbai, halting at Dadar, Andheri, Ghatkopar and Thane before finally reaching Chembur. The tour will be dotted with musical performances and street plays, enacted by the club members of HR and SIES colleges, in an effort to coax their contemporaries into action.
At each halt, the head of the host club will field socially relevant extempore questions from the crowd such as how to file a public interest litigation. "We are even trying to get RTI activists for the rally,'' says Shrenik Gandhi of the Ghatkopar Rotaract club, adding that the peace tour is one of the biggest district projects of the club so far. The members will be joined by the Rotary, Innerwheel and Interact movements.
This event is the second step the Rotaract movement is undertaking towards this cause after a panel discussion called The Summit that was held on December 14 last year. The preparation for World Responsible Youth Day, says Yaman Banerji of Thane club, began at a panel discussion in November. "We had earlier decided that the theme for 2009 would be `Go green', and had based our material on the same, decrying the use of firecrackers and the like.''
But 26/11 changed their plan and shifted the focus from the bombs that clog the lungs of kids in Sivakasi to those that left lasting scars on the city in November. "We have collated information from different resources to present an honest account of what happened on 26/11,'' says Jigar Mehta, another member of the Ghatkopar club. "We want peace,'' he adds, as an afterthought, hoping that every day will be not just Sunday but also a responsible youth day to boot.
Bank customers forced to disclose travel plans to cut fraud cost
Under a "zero-tolerance" policy taken by some banks, accounts are frozen the moment a card transaction is attempted in another country unless advance notice has been given.
The move is designed to prevent the heavy losses some banks are incurring due to card cloning, when a counterfeit card is created using details stolen from a genuine card.
Thousands of pounds' worth of payments can be made to foreign retailers on fake cards before the owner of the original card checks their bank statement.
However, some customers have expressed frustration that under the new scheme, having been given no prior warning, they can find themselves unable to pay bills in shops and restaurants after arriving in a foreign country.
A spokesman for Barclays told The Times that customers could register their travel plans through its online banking services.
A spokesman for HBOS said that it advised customers travelling outside Europe to inform it of their plans, adding: "If people are going to Africa, South America, we like to know. Also, we like to know about people going to Eastern Europe."
Lloyds TSB told the newspaper that customers should provide it with a mobile telephone number so that it could check suspect transactions.
More than 40 per cent of losses on cards - £301 million in the first six months of last year - came through fraud overseas. Fraud is rising in most countries while it falls in Britain thanks to the chip-and-pin system making it more difficult for criminals to use cards successfully.
Fraud in the US on cards issued in Britain has risen by 118 per cent in the past three years - reaching £24.6m last year - making it the worst place for theft on British cards.
The move is designed to prevent the heavy losses some banks are incurring due to card cloning, when a counterfeit card is created using details stolen from a genuine card.
Thousands of pounds' worth of payments can be made to foreign retailers on fake cards before the owner of the original card checks their bank statement.
However, some customers have expressed frustration that under the new scheme, having been given no prior warning, they can find themselves unable to pay bills in shops and restaurants after arriving in a foreign country.
A spokesman for Barclays told The Times that customers could register their travel plans through its online banking services.
A spokesman for HBOS said that it advised customers travelling outside Europe to inform it of their plans, adding: "If people are going to Africa, South America, we like to know. Also, we like to know about people going to Eastern Europe."
Lloyds TSB told the newspaper that customers should provide it with a mobile telephone number so that it could check suspect transactions.
More than 40 per cent of losses on cards - £301 million in the first six months of last year - came through fraud overseas. Fraud is rising in most countries while it falls in Britain thanks to the chip-and-pin system making it more difficult for criminals to use cards successfully.
Fraud in the US on cards issued in Britain has risen by 118 per cent in the past three years - reaching £24.6m last year - making it the worst place for theft on British cards.
On never having to travel at all
How far does one have to travel to say sorry? When hot-headed Huan Tsin was a young novitiate he thought he had once offended his teacher by
calling him an unenlightened buffoon who had no right to teach. He had left the monastery at once and gone on to live his life the way he reckoned most others of the world do. Over the years, however, his remorse grew inside him till a day came some ten years later when he left his wife and family and travelled five hundred miles back to the monastery. He knelt humbly before the old master and said he was sorry for what he had done and begged for forgiveness. A lot of us also need to make similar journeys in order to right old wrongs but the immediate business of life keeps us too busy to undertake them. So every day appears more and more like no wrong was ever done — especially not by us — and, thus, the thin layer of forgetfulness hardens into a thick skin that memory cannot penetrate any more. After that, even infrequent introspection and honesty is not able to break through such a convenient and comfortable shield. And, all along, the further and further we move away to other cities and down the years from the once and original hurt we had caused, we fail to realise the journey is just getting longer by the day. But now, how far does one have to travel to accept an apology? This is a far less arduous expedition because it can be accomplished instantly or never at all. Either way, though, it requires hardly any extra courage to carry it off since one is always under the impression one had nothing to do with its perpetration or continuity. And the travel time is, in fact, measured only in the waiting. We who think we’ve gone out of our way to forgive someone should actually be wondering about all the time that’s been exhausted for it to happen — no matter how redeemed we appear to be feeling afterwards. Huan Tsin’s teacher, on the other hand, was astounded. He said he couldn’t understand why the pupil was sorry since he himself hadn’t been offended at all and if Huan had understood that in the first place he wouldn’t have wasted such a lot of time and space to move his life away from where it had been. So, finally, we have to ask ourselves how far had the teacher travelled? He hadn’t moved at all. Or if he had, he had moved a few mountains in the process.
calling him an unenlightened buffoon who had no right to teach. He had left the monastery at once and gone on to live his life the way he reckoned most others of the world do. Over the years, however, his remorse grew inside him till a day came some ten years later when he left his wife and family and travelled five hundred miles back to the monastery. He knelt humbly before the old master and said he was sorry for what he had done and begged for forgiveness. A lot of us also need to make similar journeys in order to right old wrongs but the immediate business of life keeps us too busy to undertake them. So every day appears more and more like no wrong was ever done — especially not by us — and, thus, the thin layer of forgetfulness hardens into a thick skin that memory cannot penetrate any more. After that, even infrequent introspection and honesty is not able to break through such a convenient and comfortable shield. And, all along, the further and further we move away to other cities and down the years from the once and original hurt we had caused, we fail to realise the journey is just getting longer by the day. But now, how far does one have to travel to accept an apology? This is a far less arduous expedition because it can be accomplished instantly or never at all. Either way, though, it requires hardly any extra courage to carry it off since one is always under the impression one had nothing to do with its perpetration or continuity. And the travel time is, in fact, measured only in the waiting. We who think we’ve gone out of our way to forgive someone should actually be wondering about all the time that’s been exhausted for it to happen — no matter how redeemed we appear to be feeling afterwards. Huan Tsin’s teacher, on the other hand, was astounded. He said he couldn’t understand why the pupil was sorry since he himself hadn’t been offended at all and if Huan had understood that in the first place he wouldn’t have wasted such a lot of time and space to move his life away from where it had been. So, finally, we have to ask ourselves how far had the teacher travelled? He hadn’t moved at all. Or if he had, he had moved a few mountains in the process.
World Travel Guide & Diary 2009 Published by S&M Publication
A unique guide for travel professionals; World Travel Guide & Diary 2009 is published by S&M Publication.
World Travel Guide & Diary is a great guide for tourism industry professionals.
World Travel Guide & Diary 2009 includes;
* All International Travel Trade, Incentive and MICE Industry exhibitions, Congresses, Conferences and Workshops calendar, with information about their location and contact addresses.
* Contact information of Tourist Offices, Travel Agent Organizations, Major Travel Publications, Embassies & Consulates, and Turkish Tourist Offices in more than 50 countries.
* 60 Major World Travel Trade Associations with contact addresses.
* 2009-Year Planner and Weekly Desk Agenda.
World Travel Guide & Diary 2009 is 40.-YTL or Euro 20.- (Includes Tax and post )
World Travel Guide & Diary is a great guide for tourism industry professionals.
World Travel Guide & Diary 2009 includes;
* All International Travel Trade, Incentive and MICE Industry exhibitions, Congresses, Conferences and Workshops calendar, with information about their location and contact addresses.
* Contact information of Tourist Offices, Travel Agent Organizations, Major Travel Publications, Embassies & Consulates, and Turkish Tourist Offices in more than 50 countries.
* 60 Major World Travel Trade Associations with contact addresses.
* 2009-Year Planner and Weekly Desk Agenda.
World Travel Guide & Diary 2009 is 40.-YTL or Euro 20.- (Includes Tax and post )
Kingman Museum presents "Seven Wonders"
Although the mighty Colossus no longer looms over Rhodes and seafarers no longer look to the great Lighthouse of Alexandria for guidance, these and other marvels of the ancient world are still open to exploration thanks to 21st century technology.
Kingman Museum will present the second production in its new planetarium beginning Friday and running through Feb. 20. "Seven Wonders" takes audiences on a visual tour of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the universe, many of which have never been seen by modern man's eyes.
"The film explores the wonders like the pyramids, then some that we don't see anymore," said Museum Educator Jennifer Sellers. "So you can see what happened, what destroyed them and from an archeological standpoint, what they've found out about them."
Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, only the Great Pyramid of Giza is still standing. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes and Lighthouse of Alexandria were all destroyed by man or natural causes.
The film also pairs the ancient world with the outer world, highlighting wonders of the universe such as black holes and fluorescent, jellyfish-like nebulae.
"I think the most interesting thing about it is it first introduces you to words you have heard of but don't know the meanings behind them, then combines that history with a study of the stars," said Chief Executive Officer Sara Ann Briggs.
Kingman staff and board members had high hopes for the museum's new state-of-the-art planetarium system bringing in more visitors more often. A little more than a month after its public debut, Briggs said they haven't been disappointed.
"Except for one Friday when we were snowed out, it's going really good," she said.
Besides opening day and last Saturday, which had more than 200 and 70 attendees, respectively, Briggs said about 45 viewers visit the shows each day. Planetarium shows are given four times per day each Friday and Saturday, whereas they were only given monthly with the previous planetarium system.
Although it's difficult to gauge how much of an asset the new planetarium has been to the area's tourism so far, Calhoun County Visitors' Bureau President Dwight Butt said it has brought the museum back on radar.
"We've certainly had an increase in inquiries on Kingman and their hours and I know a lot of people are going and interested in it," he said.
The museum has several other events planned for January. In conjunction with their "Safari Africa: Changing Perspectives" exhibit, Tom Funke, Michigan Audubon Society's director of conservation, will give a free lecture about his African explorations on Jan. 6.
Kingman Museum will present the second production in its new planetarium beginning Friday and running through Feb. 20. "Seven Wonders" takes audiences on a visual tour of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the universe, many of which have never been seen by modern man's eyes.
"The film explores the wonders like the pyramids, then some that we don't see anymore," said Museum Educator Jennifer Sellers. "So you can see what happened, what destroyed them and from an archeological standpoint, what they've found out about them."
Of the seven wonders of the ancient world, only the Great Pyramid of Giza is still standing. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Statue of Zeus at Olympia, Temple of Artemis at Ephesus, Mausoleum of Maussollos at Halicarnassus, Colossus of Rhodes and Lighthouse of Alexandria were all destroyed by man or natural causes.
The film also pairs the ancient world with the outer world, highlighting wonders of the universe such as black holes and fluorescent, jellyfish-like nebulae.
"I think the most interesting thing about it is it first introduces you to words you have heard of but don't know the meanings behind them, then combines that history with a study of the stars," said Chief Executive Officer Sara Ann Briggs.
Kingman staff and board members had high hopes for the museum's new state-of-the-art planetarium system bringing in more visitors more often. A little more than a month after its public debut, Briggs said they haven't been disappointed.
"Except for one Friday when we were snowed out, it's going really good," she said.
Besides opening day and last Saturday, which had more than 200 and 70 attendees, respectively, Briggs said about 45 viewers visit the shows each day. Planetarium shows are given four times per day each Friday and Saturday, whereas they were only given monthly with the previous planetarium system.
Although it's difficult to gauge how much of an asset the new planetarium has been to the area's tourism so far, Calhoun County Visitors' Bureau President Dwight Butt said it has brought the museum back on radar.
"We've certainly had an increase in inquiries on Kingman and their hours and I know a lot of people are going and interested in it," he said.
The museum has several other events planned for January. In conjunction with their "Safari Africa: Changing Perspectives" exhibit, Tom Funke, Michigan Audubon Society's director of conservation, will give a free lecture about his African explorations on Jan. 6.
Orchid Hotels to continue looking for acquisitions
The year 2008 has been full of challenges for the Indian hospitality industry. The global recession negatively impacted foreign tourist arrivals, which grew in the range of merely 1.5-2 per cent in September-October compared to 10-11 per cent growth witnessed in August. Travel advisories against India that were issued by foreign countries in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks last month, made a dent in the peak holiday season about to begin. However, as a silver lining, Indians have not lost their love for travel yet. Travel within India by domestic tourists is still vibrant and the travel industry feels that there is more potential to it.
In light of the above, Mr Chender Baljee, Chairman and Managing Director, Royal Orchid Hotels, tells Business Line in an e-mail interview how 2008 panned out for the hospitality industry and what is in store from 2009:
How would you describe the year 2008 for the hospitality industry? 2008 was a year of transition, from the boom times to the bad. It ended on a sour note with the terror attacks in Mumbai.
What are the expectations from 2009?
We expect the effects of the recession to sink in, leading to some subdued leisure and corporate travel. However, we have prepared ourselves for the same. We are also hopeful of opening several new hotels this year, including Royal Orchid Suites, Whitefield and Royal Orchid Central, Ahmedabad.
2009 is also going to be the election year. As part of the industry what are your expectations from the new Government?
We are hopeful of getting infrastructure status for the hotel industry.
Apart from unforeseen incidents such as terror attacks, what are the other challenges that the hospitality industry needs to brace for in the coming year?
The economic slowdown will affect us all, and we need to gear up for it. However, there are positives as the market for talent has eased considerably and we are able to find good talent at reasonable costs now.
What were the corporate developments that took place in Royal Orchid in 2008 and what does the year ahead hold for you in terms of expansion, diversification, acquisition (if any), marketing etc?
In 2008, we acquired a beachfront resort in Goa, and rechristened it Royal Orchid Resort. We acquired a beachfront property in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, marking our international foray. We acquired properties in Jaipur and Hyderabad for the development of 5-star hotels. We acquired a property in Ahmedabad for the development of a four-star hotel.
We acquired the Royal Orchid Central hotel in Bangalore. Finally, we also signed a partnership with Parsvnath Developers for the development of 10 hotels over five years. This has been a year of hectic deal making, where we grew to 12 operational hotels and cemented a pan-India presence. We have been awarded the Best Regional Hotel Brand award by Galileo-Express Travel World, the Oscars of the travel industry, and we are happy that our achievements have been rewarded.
The year ahead is one of further development activity, where we will continue to look out for acquisitions. We are also focussing on management contracts, and expect to make significant announcements on this front soon. Our sales offices, many of which were opened in 2008, are likely to help us grow our presence nationally and internationally. Finally, we would be looking at a nationwide corporate ad campaign towards the end of the year to build brand awareness.
In light of the above, Mr Chender Baljee, Chairman and Managing Director, Royal Orchid Hotels, tells Business Line in an e-mail interview how 2008 panned out for the hospitality industry and what is in store from 2009:
How would you describe the year 2008 for the hospitality industry? 2008 was a year of transition, from the boom times to the bad. It ended on a sour note with the terror attacks in Mumbai.
What are the expectations from 2009?
We expect the effects of the recession to sink in, leading to some subdued leisure and corporate travel. However, we have prepared ourselves for the same. We are also hopeful of opening several new hotels this year, including Royal Orchid Suites, Whitefield and Royal Orchid Central, Ahmedabad.
2009 is also going to be the election year. As part of the industry what are your expectations from the new Government?
We are hopeful of getting infrastructure status for the hotel industry.
Apart from unforeseen incidents such as terror attacks, what are the other challenges that the hospitality industry needs to brace for in the coming year?
The economic slowdown will affect us all, and we need to gear up for it. However, there are positives as the market for talent has eased considerably and we are able to find good talent at reasonable costs now.
What were the corporate developments that took place in Royal Orchid in 2008 and what does the year ahead hold for you in terms of expansion, diversification, acquisition (if any), marketing etc?
In 2008, we acquired a beachfront resort in Goa, and rechristened it Royal Orchid Resort. We acquired a beachfront property in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, marking our international foray. We acquired properties in Jaipur and Hyderabad for the development of 5-star hotels. We acquired a property in Ahmedabad for the development of a four-star hotel.
We acquired the Royal Orchid Central hotel in Bangalore. Finally, we also signed a partnership with Parsvnath Developers for the development of 10 hotels over five years. This has been a year of hectic deal making, where we grew to 12 operational hotels and cemented a pan-India presence. We have been awarded the Best Regional Hotel Brand award by Galileo-Express Travel World, the Oscars of the travel industry, and we are happy that our achievements have been rewarded.
The year ahead is one of further development activity, where we will continue to look out for acquisitions. We are also focussing on management contracts, and expect to make significant announcements on this front soon. Our sales offices, many of which were opened in 2008, are likely to help us grow our presence nationally and internationally. Finally, we would be looking at a nationwide corporate ad campaign towards the end of the year to build brand awareness.
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