ΔΙΕΘΝΗΣ ΕΛΛΗΝΙΚΗ ΗΛΕΚΤΡΟΝΙΚΗ ΕΦΗΜΕΡΙΔΑ ΠΟΙΚΙΛΗΣ ΥΛΗΣ - ΕΔΡΑ: ΑΘΗΝΑ

Ει βούλει καλώς ακούειν, μάθε καλώς λέγειν, μαθών δε καλώς λέγειν, πειρώ καλώς πράττειν, και ούτω καρπώση το καλώς ακούειν. (Επίκτητος)

(Αν θέλεις να σε επαινούν, μάθε πρώτα να λες καλά λόγια, και αφού μάθεις να λες καλά λόγια, να κάνεις καλές πράξεις, και τότε θα ακούς καλά λόγια για εσένα).

Τετάρτη 31 Μαΐου 2017

Το αεροδρόμιο της Αθήνας αλλάζει!



Πλήρης αναβάθμιση των περιοχών Εντός & Εκτός Σένγκεν
με έμφαση στη λειτουργικότητα, στην άνεση και στο σύγχρονο σχεδιασμό

·         Λειτουργικές και αισθητικές αλλαγές στις 2 περιοχές, έκτασης 9.000 και 15.000 τ.μ.
·         Κεντρικός έλεγχος ασφάλειας
·         Τριπλασιασμός χωρητικότητας ελέγχου καρτών επιβίβασης
·         20% καλύτερη απόδοση των σημείων ελέγχουασφαλείας
·         Ταχύτερη μετεπιβίβαση

·         Νέες μονάδες και προϊόντα για τον επιβάτη
·         Ενιαίος χώρος αγορών, φαγητού και αναμονής
·         Εμπορική περιοχή έκτασης 11.000 τ.μ.
·         Επιπλέον καθιστικοί χώροι 2.000 τ.μ.
·         126 καταστήματα (64 retail, 34 εστίαση, 28 υπηρεσίες)

 
Το αεροδρόμιο της Αθήνας παρουσιάζει τη νέα εικόνα του!

Με έμφαση στη λειτουργικότητα, την εξυπηρέτηση, το μοντέρνο σχεδιασμό καιτη σύνθεση ελληνικών κλασσικών και σύγχρονων στοιχείων, οι περιοχές εκτός Σένγκεν (9.000 τ.μ.) και εντός Σένγκεν (15.000 τ.μ.) άλλαξαν, με την ολοκλήρωση ενός έργου συνολικής αναβάθμισης της εμπειρίας του ταξιδιώτη στο αεροδρόμιο.Το έργο σχεδιάστηκε «παρακολουθώντας» τις σύγχρονες ανάγκες της ταξιδιωτικής διαδικασίας και εμπειρίας και προσφέρει στους επιβάτες ανανεωμένους χώρους, άνεση, και περισσότερες επιλογές.

Κεντρικός Έλεγχος Ασφαλείας

Η πρώτη σημαντική αλλαγή αφορά στη δημιουργία 2 κεντρικών σημείων ελέγχου ασφαλείας στις εισόδους των περιοχών εκτός Σένγκεν (διαβατήρια – ασφάλεια) και εντός Σένγκεν (κάρτες επιβίβασης – ασφάλεια).

Σε σχέση με τον αποκεντρωμένο έλεγχο που ίσχυε πριν από το έργο, η νέα διαρρύθμιση διαχωρίζει πλήρως τη λειτουργική δραστηριότητα από την αναψυχή στο αεροδρόμιο. Επιτρέποντας στους επιβάτες να «αφήνουν πίσω τους» εξαρχής τη διαδικασία του κεντρικού ελέγχου, τους δίνει πλέον την άνεση να περιηγηθούν στις νέες, αναβαθμισμένες διαδρομές  και χώρους των εντός και εκτός Σένγκεν περιοχών, χωρίς πίεση χρόνου. Με το νέο κεντρικό σύστημα, η απόδοση των σημείων ελέγχου έχει αυξηθεί κατά 20% σε σχέση με την προηγούμενη υποδομή, ενώ, παράλληλα, σημαντική είναι και η βελτίωση της διαδικασίας μετεπιβίβασης, καθώς οι  transfer επιβάτες φθάνουν στην πύλη αναχώρησής τους 10 λεπτά ταχύτερα.

Μετά τον έλεγχο:«Αγορά – Στοά / Δρόμος – Πλατεία»

Αφού ελεγχθούν κεντρικά, οι επιβάτες -και στις 2 περιοχές-εισέρχονται στους αναβαθμισμένους χώρους,που,με ανανεωμένη αισθητική και μεγάλη ποικιλία προϊόντων, ανταποκρίνονται στις σύγχρονες τάσεις και προσδοκίες των Ελλήνων και ξένων ταξιδιωτών. Με νέα ταυτότητα, περισσότερες ελληνικές αναφορές και στόχο μια ξεχωριστή και άνετη εμπειρία, έξυπνα σχεδιασμένες διαδρομές υποδέχονται το κοινό σε ένα περιβάλλον που προσκαλεί για γνωριμία και εξερεύνηση!

·       Με έμπνευση από την κλασσική Ελλάδα, στην περιοχή εκτός Σένγκεν δημιουργήθηκαν 3 διακριτές εμπορικές ζώνες, σε μια διαδρομή που ξεκινά από την «Αγορά», θυμίζει εμπορικά καταστήματα της Αθήνας καθώς διασχίζει την ενδιάμεση «Στοά» και, στο τέλος της «βόλτας στην πόλη», ολοκληρώνεται στην «Πλατεία» (κομβικό σημείο για τις πύλες αναχώρησης), που συνδυάζει αγορές, φαγητό και αίσθηση χαλάρωσης πριν από την πτήση.


·       Αντίστοιχα, η περιοχή εντός Σένγκεν, η οποία μόλις ολοκληρώθηκε, χαρακτηρίζεται από μια ενδιαφέρουσα εναλλαγή ελκυστικών προτάσεων, εικόνων και εμπειριών.Παραπέμποντας σε μια «βόλτα στη σύγχρονη πόλη»,οι επιβάτες ξεκινούν από την «Αγορά», διασχίζουν τον πολυσύχναστο «Δρόμο», περιηγούνται στην «Ελληνική Γειτονιά» για να καταλήξουν στην  «Πλατεία», όπου έχουν την ευκαιρία να εξερευνήσουν την γαστρονομική ποικιλία με έμφαση στις ελληνικές γεύσεις, απολαμβάνοντας και δίνοντας ξεχωριστό χρώμα στο χρόνο παραμονής τους!

Study: Holidays are the number one choice for European consumers

chart
In a pan-European survey of consumer buying habits in some of Europe’s larger economies – Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and the UK - holidays are revealed as the top choice for discretionary spending. In a poll of more than 8,000 adults in six countries on behalf of TUI Group, research institute YouGov has asked Europeans about their spending habits. In spending discretionary income, Europeans all agree: holidays are first. In the UK, 43 percent would invest their money in a holiday. 39 percent of French and Belgians, 37 percent of Germans, 35 percent of the Dutch and more than one a quarter of all Swedish adults (26 percent) would most likely spend any additional income on a vacation. 
Holidays are the number one choice for European consumers. The next most favoured item is home improvements. 22 percent of French and German people, 20 percent of Belgians, 18 percent of the Brits and 17 percent of the Dutch said they would spend free cash on improving their apartments or homes, with the Swedes rather choosing to invest in clothes (20 percent). Only 13 percent of Swedes would invest their spare cash in home improvements. In third place in most countries are investments into electronic items (e.g. laptop, tablet, TV), whilst in Sweden these are near the same level as home improvements (12 percent).
More than one third of the respondents are willing to spend at least 1,000 euros (1,000 pounds in the UK) annually on a holiday. 34 percent of the Brits would spend more than 1,000 pounds, in Germany 39 percent of consumers would spend at least 1,000 euros. Also in the Netherlands (36 percent) and Belgium (37 percent) more than one third is willing to spend minimum that amount. In France the share is 32 percent. 

Ryanair Launches Massive Autumn Seat Sale

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Ryanair Launches Massive Autumn Seat Sale

Ryanair, Europe’s No 1 airline, today (31 May) launched a massive autumn seat sale with up to 25% off a million seats on over 500 routes, for travel between September and November, allowing customers to book an autumn break on the lowest fares.

These amazing autumn seat sale fares are available now starting from just £9.99 but must be booked before midnight Thursday (1 June) and can only be found on the Ryanair.com website.

Ryanair’s Robin Kiely said:
“We’ve had record bookings this summer, and to celebrate we’ve launched a massive autumn seat sale with up to 25% off a million seats on over 500 routes to Europe. Fares start from just £9.99 for travel between September and November and this amazing offer will end at midnight Thursday, June 1st, so customers should log on quickly and book these autumn specials today.”

Emerging local destinations 2017 by trivago.co.uk

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για wareham dorset
Wareham
DUSSELDORF - trivago.co.uk reveals 2017's emerging local destinations as part of their annual Global Summer Trends research.
Using exclusive price data from the past two years on trivago platforms around the world, trivago has identified the destinations that have seen the largest increase in local popularity over this period from UK users.
Wareham, Dorset is the number one emerging destination for British holiday makers in the UK. Wareham is the destination that has seen the largest increase in searches on the UK trivago platform.
Three of top ten towns are in Yorkshire, making it the most featured region in the results; Bridlington, Thirsk & Kingston-Upon-Hull are in fifth, sixth and tenth place respectively.
Norfolk is the second most featured region, with Hunstanton (fourth place) and Cromer (ninth place) both seeing great increases in popularity.
The Welsh town of Barmouth, the only destination outside of England to feature, is the third local favourite.
Over the channel, France’s top local destination is Chessy, well known as the location of Disneyland Paris, whilst Ibiza’s neighbouring island, Formentera, takes the top spot for the Spanish.
Top 10 Local Trending UK Destinations
1. Wareham
2. Ludlow
3. Barmouth
4. Hunstanton
5. Bridlington
6. Thirsk
7. Minehead
8. Bideford
9. Cromer
10. Kingston-up-Hull
Eleanor Kutylowski, External Relations: "These results will be a breath of fresh air for travellers seeking to beat the crowds; holiday makers can head to one of our top ten to explore the UK’s emerging gems over the established tourist hot spots.
Yorkshire really is the place to be this summer, with three towns making it to the top ten. This includes the UK Capital of Culture for 2017, Kingston-Upon-Hull.
With eight out of the ten results being coastal, there are some perfect options for sunseekers planning a summer staycation.
Global results highlight the location of Disneyland Paris as well as the beautiful Spanish island of Formentera as local favourites; an impressive comparison for the British top 10 towns!
With increasingly more people favouring local and authentic travel experiences, this is a great resource for those yet to book their summer holiday, helping Brits pick out a trending destination that has been tried and tested by locals."

Air passenger traffic and air transport demand grow in the first quarter of 2017

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Air passenger traffic and air transport demand grow in the first quarter of 2017
Airports Council International (ACI), the trade association of the world's airports, announced that an overall strengthening of global economic conditions and the continued drop in the cost of air transport through lower fares has helped bolster air transport demand in the first quarter of 2017. Accumulated passenger traffic grew 5.6% year-over-year for the first quarter and for the month of March.
While all regions posted solid gains during the first quarter of 2017, Asia-Pacific stood out in terms of its overall increase in domestic traffic. The region as a whole saw growth of 8.7% year-over-year for the first quarter of 2017. Air transport demand across Chinese airports remained robust. Besides strong first quarter gains at Beijing (PEK; 6.8%) and Shanghai (PVG; 7.6%)—two of the country's largest airports—Guangzhou (CAN), Chengdu (CTU) and Kunming (KMG), major airports serving the Chinese domestic market, saw passenger traffic jump 12.2%, 10.5% and 14.5% respectively. Many Indian airports also experienced double digit gains in passenger traffic. Delhi (DEL), the country's major hub, saw traffic increase 15.8% for the first quarter of 2017.
European airports continued to maintain a strong recovery on major routes from Asia to Europe despite terrorist attacks in the region during 2016. On the whole, European airports posted a gain of 7.1% during the first quarter of 2017.
Improvements in business confidence, economic outlook and global trade have helped revive air freight volumes in the first quarter of 2017. Overall freight volumes increased 8.3% year-over-year in the first quarter of 2017 and 10.9% for the month of March. This increase has coincided with an increase in export orders and inventory build-ups in key markets. At a regional level, growth was led by Africa (+15.6%) and Middle East (+15.5%), followed by very strong results from Europe (+13.7%) and Asia Pacific (+13.0%). North America (+5.9%) and Latin America-Caribbean (+4.7%) also posted robust growth for the month of March 2017.

Tourism Village – A novel concept to provide better facilities to the travelers!

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Tourism Village – A novel concept to provide better facilities to the travelers!

Tourism villages have paved the way in developing tourist facilities across Indonesia. As expected, the government is showering more and more attention to this novel concept, training and educating village residents to become competent hosts and tour guides and developing more villages with attractive tourist spots as tourism villages.

To quote Arief Yahya, Tourism Minister in a statement on Tuesday (30/05), ‘we will help open 20,000 new homestays this year, 30,000 in 2018, and 50,000 more in 2019.’ Tourism Awareness Groups, or Pokdarwis, operating under the Tourism Ministry’s deputy for tourism destination and industry development provide hospitality training to the village residents. Arief singled out Pulesari, or Dewi Pule (“Pule the Goddess”), a tourism village in Sleman near Yogyakarta. Once the villages used to be only known for its salak, or snake fruits.

To quote Arief, ‘but the [local residents] have become smarter in developing new attractions for their village.’ The government has supported the village with its One Homestay One Toilet, or OHOT, program which was initiated by the village’s own Pokdarwis. The Pokdarwis gave village residents Rp 2 million ($150) to create new toilets for few homestays. The ministry further explained that the concept of tourism village is a perfect example of tourism management from the people, by the people and for the people.

International Health Plus – a leader in medical tourism

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για International Health Plus – a leader in medical tourism

International Health Plus is at the leading position of the medical tourism industry whose popularity has increased immensely over the years.

London-based ‘International Health Plus’ was founded by Dr. Dabeer Salaria in 2016 for applying his extensive knowledge and experience to the market. International Health Plus successfully supports patient journeys in the Middle East, UK and other global destinations.

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για International Health Plus – a leader in medical tourismWith more than 20 years’ experience, Dr. Salaria (MBBS, MRCOG, FRCOG), along with his wife Dr. Sabah (MBBS, MRCOG, FRCOG), have built relationships and created a vast network with many specialists, consultants and doctors from various fields of the health sector.

The UK office located in West London has a dedicated team with a patient co-coordinator. International Health Plus specializes in IVF and fertility.
However, IHP also caters to a range of other services including, but not limited to, obstetrics and gynaecology, general surgery, oncology, plastic surgery and orthopaedics.

Services are currently available in Bahrain, Dubai and the UK. However, with some treatments only available in a specific country, the dedicated team at International Health Plus will do its best to match your requirements to your desired location, and even arrange international appointments.
The locations also pose as ideal holiday destinations, giving you the opportunity to relax on holiday while receiving outstanding healthcare.

Federal Pointe Inn, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member, Wins Hotel of the Year Award

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Federal Pointe Inn, an Ascend Hotel Collection Member, Wins Hotel of the Year Award

Choice Hotels International, one of the world’s leading hotel companies, awarded Federal Pointe Inn, an Ascend Hotel Collection member in Gettysburg, Pa., the prestigious Hotel of the Year Award. This charming inn is owned and managed by a third-generation hotelier, Pete Monahan.

The Hotel of the Year Award recognizes a hotel for its outstanding customer service and operational excellence, and is selected by the Choice Hotels Owners Council. Nominees are all top rated hotels within their hotel brand.
  
“The Ascend Hotel Collection is the world’s first and largest global soft brand. The Monahan family and their Federal Pointe Inn were recognized for this achievement because of their commitment to excellence,” said Janis Cannon, senior vice president for upscale brands for Choice Hotels. “Once an old schoolhouse, the rich history and local charm of this beautifully restored historic inn in the heart of Gettysburg captures the essence of the Ascend brand.”

Pete Monahan is a third-generation hotelier and has been a Choice Hotels owner since 1995. In 2012, Monahan converted what was once the Meade School in 1896 into Federal Pointe Inn, an Ascend Hotel Collection member. The 23-room boutique hotel is located in the heart of the historic district of downtown Gettysburg. The award-winning property features a pub, a fitness center and meeting space. Complimentary amenities include parking, Wi-Fi, bottled water, a daily newspaper, morning coffee, as well as afternoon tea and scones.

“We are so humbled to receive this distinction from Choice Hotels and to be recognized by our peers,” said Pete Monahan, owner and general manager of Federal Pointe Inn. “We’ve been a Hotel of the Year Finalist three times, so we’re thrilled to be awarded the top spot. Federal Pointe Inn is truly a special place and we are so proud to share this honor with our staff.”

This hotel participates in the award-winning Choice Privileges loyalty rewards program, rated no. 1 in USA Today’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards list. Members can redeem points towards free nights, airline miles and more while staying at any of Choice’s 11 global brand hotels, including the Ascend Hotel Collection, Cambria, Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Sleep Inn, Quality, Clarion, MainStay Suites, Suburban Extended Stay Hotel, Econo Lodge, and Rodeway Inn .

Profits under pressure in European hotels

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για European hotels
Corinthia Hotel Budapest
A unique report by HotStats, which polled the performance of hotels across key European hotel markets overthe last ten years,revealed that in a number of locations, profit levels have not grown since 2007.
The hotel markets which have faced the biggest challenges over the last ten years are those which were at the top of their cycle as the global financial crisis hit in 2008, such as Vienna and Prague.
For hotels in Prague, the impact on top line performance of the global economic downturn and untimely additions to stock, coupled with a rising cost base, meant that hotels in the Czech capital recorded a profit per room of €51.85 in 2016, whichwas 16.1% below 2007 levels (€61.78).
The research highlighted that the biggest pressure on profit comes from Payroll, which ranges from as low as 23% of total revenue in Prague, to as high as 46% in Paris and revealed that hotels across Europe face severe challenges in containing their cost base.
In addition to the problems around payroll, there continues to be an inescapable trend towards the rising cost of demand, as the proportion of roomnights derived from high commission Online Travel Agents increases at pace.
This was particularly noteworthy in Berlin, where Rooms Cost of Sales (a HotStats measure of Travel Agent’s Commissions, Reservation Fees, GDS Fees, Third Party Fees and Internet Booking Fees) has increased by 320% in the period from 2009 to 2016, compared to a RevPAR increase of 36.6% during the same period. As a result, profit conversion in the rooms department at hotels in Berlin has gone backwards over the last ten years.
However, some markets in Europe have thrived over the last ten years, with the largest margin of growth in profit per room recorded in Dublin, at 218% which was on the back of a 60% increase in TrevPAR in the period from 2009 to 2016. But there was room for further improvement with the average hotel in the sample having forgone €340,000 of non-rooms revenue compared with levels achieved in 2009.
Pablo Alonso, Hotstats’ CEOsaid of the results “There is a particular challenge for hotel owners and operators alike who seek ways to enhance the value of the properties they own or manage. With further compression in yields unlikely across key European hotel markets, it is essential that valueis driven by profit growth.”
He added “Clear potential exists in focusing on non-rooms revenue, which in turn can enhance bottom line growth.There is also ample opportunity to deliver accretive, cumulative and significant gains by fully understanding the cost landscape and implementing operational benchmarking techniques and work towards best in class performance.”

Post event tours fill as buyers sign up to The Meetings Show

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Post event tours fill as buyers sign up to The Meetings Show
Post event tours to Brussels, Bristol and Bath are already full as hosted buyers see the benefit of combining time at the show with direct destination and supplier experiences.
As part of their attendance hosted buyers have the opportunity to visit destinations across Europe and the UK as part of a programme of post event tours highlighting leading conference and meeting destinations.
“Our buyers have made it clear that a key reason for their attendance at the show is to source new suppliers and gain product knowledge from our exhibitors – a fact that has been clearly demonstrated by the speed the tours have filled this year,” comments Steve Knight, Event Director of The Meetings Show.  “The post event tours are the ultimate way to understand a destination as they provide first-hand experience and the opportunity to truly comprehend what is on offer.  The destinations offer a truly varied conference and meetings offering – meaning there is something here for everyone.”
Less than two hours from London by train Bristol and Bath offer unique experiences, from dinner and drinks at The Roman Baths to dining on board the first luxury liner - Brunel’s SS Great Britain.  Whilst Brussels, which is legendary for hospitality, history, diverse cultures and traditions, offers attendees the chance to wander through its local areas.  They can sit on bistro terraces, explore “villages” by tram, stroll between Art Nouveau facades, rediscover nature in the parks and gardens, and taste its many delicacies. Travelling via Eurostar the tour will take in all the city has to offer meeting and event buyers.
Bristol and Bath were amongst the first destinations to become involved in the initiate as Kathryn Davis, Head of Tourism from Destination Bristol explains: “We are using this opportunity to promote Bristol and Bath as destinations for MICE events, highlighting ease of access from London, national and international connections, along with promoting the closeness to each other allowing for cross city itineraries and events.  There are also a considerable number of new venues and experiences, including those of international importance.”
Organised by Centaur Live (a division of Centaur Media Plc), The Meetings Show is the premier event for the UK inbound and outbound meetings industry, taking place 13-15 June, 2017 at Olympia, London. Organised by meeting professionals for meeting professionals it is focused around a large exhibition, networking opportunities and professional education.

Delta launches flights between Berlin and New York-JFK

berlin brandenburger night

After six years, Delta Air Lines has taken off again from Berlin marking the start of the U.S. carrier’s daily summer seasonal service to New York-JFK. Celebratory events included a cake cutting and ribbon cutting at ahead of the flight’s departure. Customers on the flight were also given toy bears – the symbol of Berlin – as they boarded as well as cupcakes.
“With this flight, Delta now flies to five cities in Germany, which is more than any other European market,” said Nat Pieper, Delta’s senior vice president Alliances. “We have a history in Berlin and are pleased to be back in the capital this summer rounding out our network in the country.”
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Engelbert Lütke Daldrup, CEO of the Flughafen Berlin Brandenburg GmbH: "Welcome back to Berlin! Delta Air Lines restarting its service from Berlin to New York-JFK after six years will generate a positive response among the passengers in our region. The metropolis at the Atlantic Ocean is a popular destination for U.S. travelers, business customers as well as city hoppers. Berlin on the other hand is very attractive for New Yorkers. Our city will profit from the additional visitors from the U.S. We wish Delta Air Lines always happy landings!"
Customers flying on the Berlin service have a choice of more than 60 convenient onward connections from JFK throughout North America, Latin America and the Caribbean. Delta has invested heavily in Terminal 4 at JFK facilitating more same-terminal connections and further improving the customer experience with more retail and dining outlets.
“Berlin is one of five new routes we are launching in Europe today,” said Dwight James, Delta’s Senior Vice President Transatlantic. “Delta is committed to building a network in Europe and beyond that supports our customers’ business and leisure travel needs”.
In 2016, the United States was the third biggest source market for Berlin with more than 1.1 million visitors, a 4.5% increase on the previous year, according to data from Visit Berlin.
Delta’s Berlin services operate as follows:
Flight DL222 - Departs Berlin at 12.55 p.m. - Arrives New York-JFK at 15.45 p.m.
Flight DL422 - Departs New York-JFK at 8.18 p.m. - Arrives Berlin at 11.00 a.m. (+1 day)

U.S. Virgin Islands Gets Sports Tourism Boost

paradisejam
The United States Virgin Islands is now an approved destination to host National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I teams and, in addition to hosting basketball, volleyball and swimming events, the Territory can facilitate the participation of soccer, lacrosse and other NCAA-sponsored sports during the summer months.
Governor Kenneth E. Mapp said the new designation represented a huge boost for sports tourism opportunities in the Territory.
"With all 24 NCAA Division I sports teams now able to travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands for summer tours, we look forward to being part of the growth of the Paradise Jam competitions and to the possibility of hosting other NCAA sporting events," the Governor said, recognizing the potential for a significant positive impact on the Territory's economy.
"This is an amazing opportunity to expand our sports tourism portfolio and our facilities."
The USVI and Basketball Travelers have partnered to bring five men's college basketball teams to the Territory as early as this August now that the USVI has been approved as an international or foreign tour destination for Division I colleges across the United States.
There are 340 Division I universities in the United States, each with approximately 25 sports with 50 potential teams (men and women combined) that can now visit the islands.
Three U.S. Division I schools, James Madison University, the University of Northern Colorado and Vanderbilt University, will visit the Territory this August for the Paradise Jam Summer Tours, along with Canada's Carleton University and Brock University.
"This partnership opens doors for new business in the summer and fall, with the potential to host more basketball teams and athletes in other areas," Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson-Doty noted. She added the Tourism Department has been hard at work developing marketing strategies specifically for college and university audiences.
The Commissioner said sports teams comprising 15 to 20 visitors are being encouraged, explaining that Paradise Jam, through its basketball competitions in the fall, currently produces $2.4 million in direct economic impact and more than $6 million in media exposure. "The event has a 22:1 return on investment for the U.S. Virgin Islands, so we are looking forward to this opportunity to have many more types of these sporting events as we build our sports tourism network."
The Paradise Jam Summer Tours, which allow visiting teams to experience the natural beauty of the USVI while playing competitive out-of-season games against international opponents, will feature basketball games on St. Thomas, and for the first time, on St. Croix.
In addition to the five teams traveling to the Territory, the USVI National Team will compete in the summer tours, marking the first time in 15 years the national team will compete in the islands. The team's first faceoff will be the opening game of the Paradise Jam Summer Tours on August 13, on St. Croix against Vanderbilt University.
Assistant Commissioner of Sports, Parks and Recreation Calvert White, who is working directly on the initiative, said that in light of the unprecedented success of the Paradise Jam Basketball Tournament and the growth of the sports tourism market, the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation looks forward to strengthening its partnership with the Department of Tourism and Basketball Travelers.
For more information about Paradise Jam and Basketball Travelers, visit paradisejam.com and basketballtravelers.com

Hotel development in Africa keeps on growing – despite challenges

Hotel development activity in Africa is still rising in the face of the continent’s economic problems, showing a 13 per cent increase in 2017, according to the annual survey by W Hospitality Group, generally acknowledged as the most authoritative source on the sector’s growth.
The ninth edition of its Hotel Chain Development Pipelines in Africa has 36 international and regional contributors reporting almost 73,000 rooms in 417 hotels. The figures have grown each year, more than doubling since 2009.
This year, bragging rights are shared; Marriott International, boosted by its merger with Starwood, comes top of the table in terms of number of rooms planned. But AccorHotels continues to lead – just – by the number of hotels in its pipeline. By country, Egypt is in first place with the highest number of hotel rooms in the on-site construction phase.
Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Hotel development in Africa keeps on growing – despite challenges
The report, along with all the challenges of developing new hotels in Africa will be discussed by industry leaders and government officials at the seventh Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) in Kigali, in October. AHIF is the highest-level gathering of hotel investors and developers in Africa.
Many African countries faced a challenging 2016, with lower prices for oil and other commodities, devalued currencies and other negative factors. That may have affected confidence in the short-term, as the number of deals signed was 86, down from 121 in 2015.
Despite the slowdown, some countries benefited from cheaper oil imports and there was increased activity in southern and east Africa. In addition, more hotel chains established development offices on the continent, to address the fact that Africa is still massively under-provided with rooms.
Growth is expected to be more muted in 2017, and financing and bureaucratic hurdles remain, but an increasing number of deals are coming to fruition on time: from only 26 per cent opening their doors on schedule in 2014, to 47 per cent in 2016.
Some key findings:
The results show that investor confidence is returning to North Africa after several years of turmoil and uncertainty in countries such as Egypt and Tunisia.
The top ten contains four of the five North African countries, with several deals signed in 2016, including 12 in Egypt.
In the ranking by number of hotels, AccorHotels has two brands in the top five positions – Ibis Styles and Grand Mercure, both pipelines primarily in Angola. When ranked by the number of rooms, the Hilton brand displaces Radisson Blu from last year’s top slot.
AccorHotels continues to lead the ranking of the chains – as opposed to individual brands - by number of planned hotels, 84 vs 83.
But Marriott International leads in terms of rooms, 16,393 vs 13,286.
Nigeria has the most hotels and rooms in the development pipeline, but Egypt has the most rooms actually under construction, almost 75% of the total.
Marriott, AccorHotels, Hilton and Carlson Rezidor Group retain their position as the top four hotel chains by pipeline status.
Based on the hotel deals signed by the chains at the time of the survey, their anticipated opening years are shown in the table below. A hundred new hotels are expected to open their doors this year and 117 next year, although expectations are often over-optimistic, as noted above!
W Hospitality Group managing director, Trevor Ward, said: “Several countries in Africa have suffered severe economic problems in the past couple of years.
“But there are encouraging signs that we are turning a corner in 2017, and whilst growth is more muted, there is definitely an acceptance of the “new normal”, with a desire to move forward again in a climate of lower-valued currencies, less government spending and lower GDP growth.
“The world in 2017 is a very different place to when we started this survey in 2009. But Africa is still rising, at least as far as the development activities of the hotel chains is concerned.  Whilst the chains do not, generally, build or invest in the hotels they brand, at the other side of every deal there is an investor eager to do so.”
Matthew Weihs, managing director of Bench Events, concluded: “With many more rooms in the pipeline and a much higher proportion being built on time, one has to recognise that hotel development in Africa is becoming an increasingly serious business.”

Hotel Indigo opens in Warsaw, Poland

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Hotel Indigo opens in Warsaw, Poland
InterContinental Hotels Group announced the opening of Hotel Indigo® Warsaw – Nowy Swiat, centrally located on Nowy Świat – or “New World” – street, one of the main historic thoroughfares of the city. Nowy Świat street is one of the most recognizable, fashionable and entertaining areas in Poland. It connects the two elements of the capital – the historical and the contemporary, leading straight to the Old Town area.
Hotel Indigo® Warsaw - Nowy Swiat provides an ideal base to explore the sprawling city. Guests can easily access the boutique shops, cultural venues and amazing dining options the district has to offer. For business travelers, the financial and business centers are also nearby, with the diplomatic district a walking distance from the hotel.
The rebuilding process of Warsaw after the Second World War left this district with an enviable blend of architectural styles; immaculately restored gothic creations and neoclassical palaces sit alongside Communist-era concrete towers and sleek modern skyscrapers. These contrasting styles are reflected in Hotel Indigo® Warsaw – Nowy Swiat, where guests will find slick contemporary rooms dressed in dark grey shades alongside crisp white rooms decorated with ornate mouldings and elegant columns.
hotel indigo warsaw building
Just as no places are alike, no two Hotel Indigo properties are the same. Every Hotel Indigo draws inspiration from the local culture and popular trends in food, drink and design to create a warm and vibrant atmosphere for guests to enjoy together. The 60 guest rooms have been individually designed with unique décor, contemporary furnishings, and high ceilings. The inimitable atmosphere of each room is complimented by high comfort; each room includes luxurious plush bedding and beautiful spa-inspired bathrooms.
Guests and locals alike can enjoy the hotel’s contemporary restaurant offering, Florentine, where Middle Eastern flavors and cooking techniques are paired with local Polish produce to create exciting and eccentric dishes. For visitors wanting to enjoy a selection of whiskey, the hotel’s ‘old fashioned’ inspired Bourbon Lounge Bar offers a wide assortment of unique whiskey concoctions.
Grażyna Kania, General Manager of Hotel Indigo® Warsaw – Nowy Swiat commented: “We are looking forward to opening our doors and welcoming guests and locals. Hotel Indigo is the perfect fit for thus location. Our hotel showcases the best of the local neighborhood as well as acting as the perfect base to explore it.”
Tom Rowntree, IHG’s Vice President of Brand Management for Hotel Indigo, Europe, commented: “Boutique is the fastest growing segment in our industry, and with tourism to Eastern Europe continuing to rise, it’s an exciting time to be opening our second Hotel Indigo in Poland following Hotel Indigo® Krakow - Old Town. This year is an exciting one for the brand. We’re expanding into new neighborhoods including The Hague, London Aldgate and Cardiff and have just signed a new hotel to open in London, Leicester Square.”
There are currently 21 Hotel Indigo properties in Europe and a further 18 in the pipeline*. Hotel Indigo® Warsaw – Nowy Swiat will operate under a franchise agreement with Budizol.

Air Transat Launches Summer 2018 Programme And Doubles Winter 2017 Flights


Air Transat has launched its Summer 2018 programme and is doubling capactiy on its Winter 2017/18 flights.
The Canadian carrier will offer direct flights from Glasgow to Toronto five times a week and a weekly Vancouver service in Summer 2018, along with a range of connecting flights to Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver.
In addition to unveiling its 2018 programme, the airline has also announced its also doubling its Winter 2017 season flights through to April 2018 from Glasgow to Toronto from once a week to twice weekly.

 
Lesley Kane, Sales Director UK & Ireland at Air Transat, said: “We’re thrilled to be able to meet the growing demand for flights to Canada from Glasgow Airport – both with an additional flight each week in our winter schedule, and the early release of our 2018 summer programme.

 
“Releasing our 2018 flights early means our passengers can get a head start on booking their next trip to Canada and secure their seats at a competitive price.”

 
Steven Marshall, Head of Airline Marketing & Development at Glasgow Airport, said: “We are delighted that Air Transat celebrates 25 years of flying to Glasgow by doubling its winter schedule to Toronto.

 
“The twice weekly flights will help facilitate business travel and winter city breaks. This increase in capacity helps further reaffirm Glasgow Airport’s position as the leading long haul airport for Scotland.”


Source:- Glasgow Airport

Two in five millennials travelling abroad uninsured

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για Two in five millennials travelling abroad uninsured

A quarter (25%) of holidaymakers travelled abroad uninsured in the last year according to new research for ABTA, an increase from 2016 when 22% did so. Millennial holidaymakers were the most likely to travel abroad uninsured with a large increase doing so in the last year. Two in five (40%) people aged 18-24 and 38% of people aged 25-34 travelled abroad uninsured in the 12 months to May 2017. This represents a rise from the previous year, when 31% of both age groups travelled abroad uninsured.

Of those who travelled abroad without insurance, over a third (36%) simply thought they did not need it. One in five (22%) stated that travelling uninsured was a risk they were willing to take.

Ahead of the summer holidays, ABTA is again urging holidaymakers to ensure they take out travel insurance to avoid potentially costly medical bills should something go wrong.

Mark Tanzer, ABTA Chief Executive, commented: “Every year we see cases of people falling into difficulty due to travelling without insurance. Often their families have to raise thousands of pounds for their treatment or repatriation and that’s why it is so worrying to see an increase in younger people travelling without insurance. Rather than having to resort to the kindness of strangers, holidaymakers should make sure that they have the right insurance in place. I would urge all holidaymakers to make sure they take out an insurance policy this summer.”

Susan Crown from the Travel Aware team at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office said:  “We want people to enjoy their holidays but our research shows young people are risking thousands of pounds in medical bills by travelling without an insurance policy that covers them for everything they want to do abroad. The FCO cannot pay medical bills if you are hospitalised abroad nor can we fly you home. Take out an appropriate insurance policy and make sure you know what it covers you for. It may feel like an added expense but it’s very worthwhile if you compare it to what you could end up paying if something goes wrong on holiday”.

American travelers express greater satisfaction with airport security compared to last year

Αποτέλεσμα εικόνας για American travelers express greater satisfaction with airport security compared to last year
NEW YORK - While airport security officials announced a more "comprehensive" physical screening for some airline passengers in March, findings from Travel Leaders Group indicate Americans are growing more content with airport security. Nearly 68% of those recently surveyed stated they are "satisfied" and only 14.9% said they are "frustrated" with airport security. The data also revealed a significant decrease in individuals aggravated by airport security wait times compared to one year ago, and there is a growing percentage of travelers enrolling in trusted traveler programs such as TSA PreCheck and Global Entry. The survey was conducted April 3 to April 30, 2017, and includes responses from 2,854 consumers throughout the United States.
"There were plenty of lessons to be learned from last year's struggles with extremely long security lines. Based on our newly released survey data, increasing TSA checkpoint personnel and encouraging more travelers to enroll in TSA PreCheck or Global Entry have had the desired impact," stated Travel Leaders Group CEO Ninan Chacko"Our travel agents have been at the forefront of assisting travelers in understanding the latest security measures and taking appropriate actions – from packing tips to advising how early to arrive at the airport. Travel Leaders Group also continues to work closely with the Department of Homeland Security on this topic.  Balancing the safety and security of travelers with their comfort and convenience is not easy.  But it appears the system is working better today than it was one year ago."
Key Findings:
Airport Security Satisfaction: When asked, "What is your level of satisfaction with airport security today?" 67.7% indicated they are satisfied and 17.4% stated they are neutral about today's security measures – which is an improvement over last year.
 20172016201520142013
Satisfied67.7%63.6%65.8%64.2%62.2%
Neither satisfied nor unsatisfied17.4%19.4%22.6%23.3%19.8%
Unsatisfied14.9%17.0%11.6%12.5%18.0%
Overall Airport Security Wait Times: When asked, "With regard to how long it takes to get through airport security, are you…" nearly 52% of consumers polled are "OK with the amount of time it takes." There was a significant drop in the percentage of those stating they are frustrated with how long it takes to get through security; just 4.7% of respondents noted frustration, compared to 13.9% in 2016.
 2017201620152014
OK with the amount of time it takes51.5%52.3%44.4%39.6%
Wish it was somewhat quicker43.8%33.8%44.5%46.3%
Frustrated by the amount of time it takes4.7%13.9%11.1%14.1%
Trusted Traveler Programs: When asked whether or not survey participants have enrolled in …
  • Global Entry – 21.9% said "Yes" up from 18.6% in 2016.
  • TSA PreCheck – 39.3% said "Yes" an increase from 32.4% last year.
  • CLEAR – Only 2.1% indicated they have enrolled in CLEAR.
Expedited Screening: When asked, "Regardless of whether you have TSA PreCheck or not, do you think expedited screenings have made a significant difference in wait times at U.S. airports?" the percentage of those polled answering favorably has continued to steadily increase.
 2017201620152014
Yes, I use it all the time24.5%20.3%14.4%7.6%
Yes, it's reduced wait times for regular screening34.6%24.0%26.1%17.6%
No15.2%11.1%14.5%13.1%
I don't know25.7%44.6%45.1%61.7%
Eliminate One TSA Security Measure: With regard to TSA security screening at the airport, when asked, "Which of the following TSA security measures would you most like to eliminate?" the top responses were: "removing of shoes" (27.3%), "none, do not eliminate any security measures" (20.8%), "extensive pat-down" (19.7%) "limiting liquids in carry-on baggage" (19.2%), and "laptop removal" (6.0%).
  • Shoe removal has been the top response the past four years in a row.
  • Airline passengers who qualify for Global Entry and TSA PreCheck do not need to remove shoes, computers or 1-quart bag carrying liquids at 160 airports throughout the United States.
Through the years, Travel Leaders Group has built a reputation for gathering extensive travel trends data from its vast network of travel agents, in addition to American consumers and travelers. This is the 9th consecutive year for the consumer travel survey.