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Qantas Launches New Travel Resource

November 18th, 2008 Posted in Airlines | No Comments »

Qantas today launched the latest addition to qantas.com - Qantas Travel Insider.

Qantas Group General Manager Sales and Distribution, Mr Rob Gurney, said Qantas Travel Insider was a unique and comprehensive online resource that would help travellers plan the perfect trip.

“Qantas Travel Insider combines stories by respected travel writers from our popular award-winning inflight magazine Qantas The Australian Way, together with the opinions and insights of Qantas Frequent Flyers, Qantas Ambassadors and our most regular travellers - our pilots and cabin crew,” Mr Gurney said.

“In a first for Australia, we have developed a platform that allows Qantas Frequent Flyers to share their travel experiences with others and provide unique first-hand reviews of destinations, accommodation, restaurants and bars, entertainment, shopping and other activities, in a user-friendly, searchable format.”

Qantas Travel Insider launches with more than 500 quality articles. City Guides will also help travellers with all they need to know about a destination including addresses, phone numbers and websites to attractions, venues and restaurants.

Qantas Frequent Flyers have been given exclusive access to the site so they can submit their comments and reviews in time for the official launch to the general public later this month.

The site also has an RSS feed that customers can subscribe to.

“Qantas Travel Insider further reinforces qantas.com as a truly comprehensive one-stop travel site,” Mr Gurney said.

With the very best travel advice from Qantas Travel Insider, and easy online booking for flights, hotels, travel insurance, cars, activities and experiences, qantas.com enables travellers to plan and book every aspect of their trip with ease and confidence.

To celebrate the launch of Qantas Travel Insider, Qantas is giving travellers the chance to be a guest travel writer and win one of 12 unique weekends away for two people to write about an Australian destination. Further details on the competition are available at qantas.com/travelwriter

To introduce Travel Insider, a short promotional video is available at http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=4bMmfpOUn7A


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Australia Ranked As World’s Top Country Brand

November 15th, 2008 Posted in Destinations | No Comments »

Australia was awarded the coveted spot as the world’s top country brand for the third consecutive year, according to the 2008 Country Brand Index (CBI).

Rising from its sixth place ranking last year, Canada is recognized second and the United States rounds out the top three country brands in the 2008 study.

Other countries making the top 10 include Italy, Switzerland and France. The CBI examines how countries are branded and ranked according to key criteria, and identifies emerging global trends in the world’s fastest growing economic sector – travel and tourism, which accounts for US$5.9 trillion of economic activity worldwide this year and more than 238 million jobs.

2008 CBI Top Country Brands

1.  Australia, 2.  Canada, 3.  United States ,4. Italy, 5. Switzerland,  6. France, 7. New Zealand , 8. United Kingdom, 9. Japan and 10. Sweden

CBI, now in its fourth year, is a comprehensive study of approximately 2,700 international business and leisure travelers from nine countries conducted by FutureBrand, a leading global brand consultancy, in conjunction with public relations firm Weber Shandwick’s Global Travel & Lifestyle Practice. This year’s index includes rankings and trends as well as travel motivations, challenges and opportunities within the worlds of travel, tourism and country branding.

Rising Stars

The CBI also identified China, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Croatia, respectively, as the top three “rising stars” – those likely to become major tourist destinations in the next five years. Also making the list this year are Vietnam, India and Cuba. In addition, this year’s CBI includes an in-depth report of how China fares post- Beijing Olympics.

“In this our fourth year, it is exciting to see many countries embracing the idea of brand. However, we still feel this is a largely underdeveloped category with most countries continuing to promote and market themselves in ways that are not differentiated. Particularly in the coming years, country brands must improve both their strategic orientation as well as their delivery,” said Rina Plapler, senior executive director, FutureBrand.

This year’s CBI touches on a variety of topics relevant to travelers and tourism professionals including: intergenerational travel (represented by countries such as the U.S., Canada and Japan), medical tourism, mainstream luxury (represented by countries like Japan and Spain), ‘stay’cations and a rise in the off-the-beaten-track trips. Other notable trends this year focus on niche travel opportunities and the changing destination landscape.

“With the current state of the world— economic turmoil, political unrest and global warming—it’s always fascinating to see which countries come out on top in branding themselves, generating global recognition and fueling the travel and tourism industry,” said René A. Mack, president, Weber Shandwick’s Travel & Lifestyle Global Practice.


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September sees Big Drop in International Flight Traffic

November 1st, 2008 Posted in Airlines | No Comments »

Istanbul - The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global international traffic results for September. Passenger traffic declined 2.9% while cargo traffic dropped 7.7% compared to the same month in 2007. International load factors tumbled by 4.4% percentage points from August to 74.8% in September.

“The deterioration in traffic is alarmingly fast-paced and widespread. We have not seen such a decline in passenger traffic since SARS in 2003,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO. “Even the good news that the oil price has fallen to half its July peak is not enough to offset the impact of the drop in demand. At this rate, losses may be even deeper than our forecast US$5.2 billion for this year,” said Bisignani.

Passenger

- This is the first time since the SARS crisis in 2003 that global passenger traffic has shrunk. Capacity cuts were not able to keep pace with the fall in demand. September load factors in all regions fell compared to August.

- For September, all major regions reported that passenger traffic shrank, with the exception of Latin American carriers which saw an increase of 1.7%. Even this is shockingly down from the 11.9% growth of the previous month.

Up to August, the drop in international passenger traffic was isolated to Asia Pacific carriers. The economies of the region’s two major growth markets - China and India - slowed and Japan saw industrial production drop 5% in August. The sharp downturn in world trade disproportionately impacted Asia-Pacific carriers with a 6.8% drop in traffic in September.

- The steady 5% international growth of North American carriers turned into a 0.9% contraction.

- European carriers saw traffic drop from last year (-0.5%) as the region’s economies head for recession.

- After years of double-digit growth, passenger traffic by Middle Eastern carriers turned to a negative 2.8%. While the region’s oil-based economy remains strong, the large portion of transit traffic exposes the region’s carriers to the global economic weakness.

- African carriers posted the largest decline in traffic (-7.8%), a continuation of the previous month’s trend.

“The industry crisis is deepening - along with the crisis in the global economy. Airlines, like all other businesses, are facing enormous challenges. But unlike other companies, they are denied some basic commercial freedoms - access to markets and to global capital - that could help them manage their business in this difficult time,” said Giovanni Bisignani.

The web of 3,500 bilateral air service agreements that govern international air transport denies market access until specifically agreed. And the ownership clauses that are contained in these agreements preclude mergers across borders.

“Look at what the banking industry is doing. They are taking government handouts. They are accessing global capital. And we have seen mergers without anybody asking to see the investors’ passports. Airlines are not asking for handouts. But today’s crisis highlights the need for airlines to be able to run their businesses like normal global businesses,” said Bisignani from Istanbul on the eve of the Agenda for Freedom Summit.

IATA has taken the extra-ordinary step of facilitating a discussion among 15 progressive governments on the future regulatory structure of international air transport. IATA circulated a paper among these governments examining solutions within the bilateral system that could be quickly implemented to expand opportunities for access to markets and to global capital.

“I hope that the Agenda for Freedom Summit will conclude as a successful discussion that sparks a process of change by governments. We are not asking for anything other than the basic freedoms to do business that other industries take for granted,” said Bisignani.

Source: IATA Press release


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Luxury Travel Still on the Rise: Exotic Locales Draw Guests for Holiday Getaways

October 1st, 2008 Posted in Destinations, Holidays | No Comments »

Raquel Baldelomar, a hospitality industry consultant and the official spokesperson for Luxury Travel & Living (www.LuxuryTravelandLiving.com), finds that exotic locales will continue to draw top guests and prosper during the current economic slowdown. While medium-priced hotels and discount lodgings may experience a drop in bookings, both in the United States and abroad, premium destinations will remain a major draw among the world’s elite travelers.

Phoenix, AZ (PRWEB) October 1, 2008 — Raquel Baldelomar, a hospitality industry consultant and the official spokesperson for Luxury Travel & Living (www.LuxuryTravelandLiving.com), finds that exotic locales will continue to draw top guests and prosper during the current economic slowdown. While medium-priced hotels and discount lodgings may experience a drop in bookings, both in the United States and abroad, premium destinations will remain a major draw among the world’s elite travelers.

“Niche luxury markets have the ability to transcend the current economic slowdown because they offer unparalleled attractions and first-rate accommodations. Travelers who visit these places are not motivated purely by price - cost is a more significant factor among middle income families who plan to stay within the United States - and these elite guests want a high quality vacation,” says Raquel Baldelomar.

Notable destinations include:

* Brazil

* Tanzania

* Australia

* The Maldives

* New Zealand

* Bora Bora

According to recent statistics from Luxury Travel & Living, the average online booking rate for luxury hotels has increased in 2008 from the prior year. “The average online booking rate for the Luxury Travel & Living web site increased from $550 per night for 2007 to $795 per night for 2008. This shows how, even during these economic difficulties that some people face, luxury hotels are continuing to prosper,” declares Baldelomar. Households earning $100,000 or more have been taking a larger share of hotel rooms since 2000 and now account for about a third of hotel stays, according to D.K. Shifflet & Associates in McLean, Va.

Holiday Getaways: Exoticism and Leisure:

For luxury travelers, many top international attractions reflect a perfect sense of intimacy for the holidays. “Some of the most exotic locales - particularly throughout Australia and the South Pacific - are ideal getaways this Christmas, combining superb weather and the very best accommodations. These locations are unforgettably beautiful and discreet,” states Baldelomar.

Contact Information
Lewis Fein
Raquel Baldelomar
http://www.LuxuryTravelandLiving.com


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IATA: Airlines to lose US$5.2 billion in 2008

September 7th, 2008 Posted in Airlines | No Comments »

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) recently announced a revised industry financial forecast that would see the global airline industry post losses of US$5.2 billion in 2008 based on an average crude oil price of US$113 per barrel (US$140 for jet fuel):

“The situation remains bleak. The toxic combination of high oil prices and falling demand continues to poison the industry’s profitability. We expect losses of US$5.2 billion this year,” said Giovanni Bisignani, IATA’s Director General and CEO.

Fuel

“While there has been some relief in the oil price in recent months, the year-to-date average is US$113 per barrel. That’s US$40 per barrel more than the US$73 per barrel average for 2007, pushing the industry fuel bill up by US$50 billion to an expected US$186 billion this year,” said Bisignani. Fuel is expected to rise to 36% of operating costs, up from 13% in 2002.

Demand

IATA also announced industry traffic data for July which showed a continued slowing of demand.

July year-on-year passenger demand growth fell to 1.9% - the lowest in five years. Capacity increased by double that - 3.8% - indicating that service cuts are not keeping pace with the fall in demand. This pushed the load factor for the month to 79.9%, a drop of more than 1% compared to July 2007. The surprise of July was a 0.5% drop in passenger demand by Asia-Pacific carriers partly attributable to a change in Chinese visa requirements but also showing that economic weakness is spreading to previously robust economies.

Cargo demand in July contracted by 1.9% compared to 2007. Asia-Pacific carriers - the largest players in the cargo market - were hit hard with a 6.5% drop in demand.

As a result of the weaker economic outlook IATA significantly revised downward its traffic forecast for domestic and international markets combined. Passenger traffic is now expected to grow on average by 3.2% (was 3.9%) and air freight volumes by just 1.8% (was 3.9%).  This is only half the pace of expansion seen in 2007 and is boosted by the stronger growth seen at the start of the year. Strong traffic growth allowed the industry to partly absorb the rise in fuel costs from 2003-2007.  This is no longer the case.

2009

IATA announced its initial outlook for 2009.  The difficult business environment is expected to continue.  Most economies are expected to deliver even weaker economic growth next year, which will negatively impact air travel and freight. With an expected oil price of US$110 per barrel (US$ 136 for jet fuel) and continued weak growth (2.9% tkp), industry losses are expected to continue at US$4.1 billion. The 2009 fuel bill is expected to rise, as hedging offers less protection, to US$223 billion comprising 40% of operating expenses.

Change

“While we expect the bottom line to improve by about US$1 billion next year, the industry will be US$4.1 billon in the red,” said Bisignani. “This crisis is re-shaping the industry in more severe ways than the demand shocks of SARS or 9.11. When fuel goes from 13% of your costs to 40% in 7 years with an increased cost implication of US$183 billion, you simply cannot continue to do business in the same way. Fundamental change is needed,” said Bisignani.

“Airlines have reduced non-fuel unit costs by 18% since 2001. Airports and air navigation service providers must join the effort. Efficiency gains are critical but cannot fully absorb the impact of skyrocketing fuel prices,” said Bisignani.

“This crisis is highlighting the need for greater commercial freedom. Airlines are facing enormous challenges. To be successful and continue providing jobs to 32 million people and supporting US$3.5 trillion in economic activity, airlines must be able to do business like any other business,” said Bisignani.
IATA states in a recent presss release

“More airlines have gone bust in 2008 than in the aftermath of 9.11. To cure the structural sickness of the industry, made all the more obvious by the high price of oil, we need a strong dose of liberalisation. The US-EU talks later this month are one opportunity to address ownership restrictions in an important market. And IATA is taking the unusual step of facilitating a global dialogue on an Agenda for Freedom next month in Istanbul. Simply weathering the current storm is not an option. We must take the opportunity of these extraordinary times to facilitate extraordinary change to strengthen the industry with normal commercial freedoms,” said Bisignani.


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Hundred Things To Do Before You Die Man Dies…

August 29th, 2008 Posted in Travel Industry | No Comments »

…before completing his list.

It is rather ironic that the travel writer Dave Freeman, co-writer (with Neil Teplica) of The 100 Things To Do Before You Die who started a publishing phenomenon died Aug. 17 from a head injury caused by a fall in his Venice, Ca. home.

He was only 47.

Freeman was originally an advertising executive who travelled alone to fit more adventures into his schedule but only visited half the places recommended in the best-selling 1999 book. His marketing skills prompted a miriad of literature designed to stimulate readers’ sense of their own mortality and the constraints of time.


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BA: “Terminal 5 is working”!

August 26th, 2008 Posted in Airlines, Airports, Travel Stories | No Comments »

British Airways has been running a campaign to prove that their new Terminal 5 at Heathrow Airport in London is working:

A reportage style will be adopted for the campaign, which signals a move away from the airline’s traditional approach. The 24-hour turn-around production times will also be a first for British Airways and unusual in the advertising world.

The campaign focuses on the customer experience. It will demonstrate how the terminal is working through indicators such as the length of time it takes customers to get through security, flight punctuality, baggage arrival times or simply how quickly a person can get from the plane to the arrivals hall. These details will be illustrated through photography of real customers during their journey through Terminal 5 captured the day before the ads appear in print.

The overarching aim of the campaign is to produce an accurate portrayal of how Terminal 5 is performing, demonstrating that it is now working effectively and helping to dispel any remaining negative perceptions.[...]

Katherine Whitton, British Airways’ general manager for marketing communications, said: “This campaign isn’t about making big promises. The terminal has now been open for 131 days, more than six million people have travelled through it and it has been performing very well for some time. We are letting it speak for itself and reflecting genuine customer experiences on the aspects of the journey that research tells us are most important to them.

“The aim of the campaign is to communicate to the travelling public in an open and factual way that Terminal 5 is now working well. The campaign will show that Terminal 5 is a fantastic building that provides a high-quality travel experience and will encourage travellers to try it for themselves.”[...]

Source: British Airways Press Release, dated 4th August 2008

I happened to walk past one of BA’s billboard adverts earlier today and was rather surprised to read that “Terminal 5 is working”, which prompted me to a Google search and submit this post. I don’t fly much these days but I had assumed, like most people, that most if not all of the initial problems had been resolved since the media had stopped reporting any.

In addition, some rather complimentary posts have recently been made on the Professional Pilots Rumour Network (www.pprune.org) among other sites.

So it is a little bizarre that BA felt that they should initiate this rather unusual marketing campaign for a service which after all should by default be “working”. I can’t quite envisage or recall any other quality airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic, advertising something which should be, really, de facto.

Further Reading

What did go wrong with at Terminal 5?, BBC News, 30th March 2008

Bags of Terminal 5 embarrassment for BA, Times Online, April 1st 2008


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Eco Driving Gathering Momentum

August 26th, 2008 Posted in Roads, Travel Stories | No Comments »

‘Eco-safe’ driving will be included in the UK driving test from this autumn as part of the government’s campaign to cut carbon emissions. From September, candidates will be assessed on how green their driving is - including not accelerating or braking sharply, and knowledge of other tips such as checking tyre pressures and avoiding unnecessary baggage in the back.

Nobody will be passed or failed on the issues, but research has shown that ‘eco-driving’ can save between 5 and 17 per cent of fuel - and so emissions - and is safer, too, says the Department for Transport. The DfT estimates that, if all drivers in the UK followed the tips, CO2 emissions from cars could be reduced by 8 per cent - or more than 5.5 million tonnes of CO2 a year, saving motorists more than £2bn a year. In the Netherlands, specialists believe fuel use could be cut by up to one third.

In the EU, the eco-driving campaign is organised and co-ordinated by a consortium of organisations which are partners to the ECODRIVEN project. A total of 9 countries which are members of the European Union take part in the campaign.

The consortium is assisted by an Implementing Expert Committee to which the representatives of multinational and umbrella organisations and associations from the automative industry and the transport sector are nominated. The committee serves as an advisory and supporting body and supports the development and implementation of the campaigning activities and materials.

According to the project workplan the campaign itself will last for one year (between 2007 and 2008). The rest of the time will be used for the preparation, monitoring, and evaluation of the campaign activities and their impacts.

During the campaigning period, end-users will be regularly informed about ecodriving activities within their familiar social environment, which will stimulate them to reflect on and optimise their driving behaviour in a safe and energy-efficient manner.

To achieve this, in each country, the campaign activities will be organised in collaboration with car dealers, fuel stations, touring club consumer stores, drivers’ associations and driving schools as well as local actors such as municipalities, SMEs and hauliers.

In addition to the common campaign format, specific local collaborations in each country may be used to reinforce the common campaign messages.

For this reason, each participating country may use country-specific campaigning activities, tailored to different national audiences, and depending on their current level of ecodriving implementation. Their overview may be found here Country-specific campaigns.

The overall campaign goals are following:

  • At least 2,500,000 drivers of passenger cars, delivery vans, lorries and buses in 9 EU-countries have been stimulated to drive in a safer and more energy-efficient manner.
  • Until 2010, 0.5 Mtons of CO2 emissions have been avoided, as well as significant amounts of other emissions deriving from road transport (e.g. NOx and particulates).
  • ECODRIVEN has led to the establishment of a European-wide network of local and regional collaborations between local actors, relevant local departments and outlets of national and international companies and organisations.
Further Reading

Take the Eco Driving Quiz on the Energy Saving Trust website

BBC News article


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Medical Tourism Boosted by European Directive

July 17th, 2008 Posted in Medical Tourism | No Comments »

The EU Proposal for a Directive on patient’s rights in cross border healthcare provides an added stimulus to the already growing number of medical tourists who seek hospital treatment elsewhere in the European Union.

The Directive will create a formal framework and remove obstacles for UK patients wishing to travel for treatment in other EU countries. In some circumstances, patients will be able to travel to other EU countries for treatment and will be able to reclaim the cost of treatment from the NHS. Patients will have to pay their travel and accommodation costs, plus any top-up fees if charges in the foreign hospitals are higher than the NHS cost.

The Directive proposes the following developments in cross border healthcare:

  • A legal framework for the reimbursement of treatment where it takes place elsewhere in the EU
  • Common principles in terms of guaranteeing patient safety and ensuring quality and continuity of care
  • Stimulating greater European cooperation on healthcare including the establishment of “European Reference Networks” which would create a concentration of expertise, training and resources for specific diseases and health issues
  • Establishment of a European network for the assessment of new medical technology
  • Establishment of standards for e-health, in particular the transfer of patient information and treatment records between member states

Last year, around 100,000 “medical tourists” left the UK for treatment. Their experiences were resoundingly positive with 97 per cent of patients willing to travel abroad for treatment again, according to Treatment Abroad’s recent medical tourist survey.

Read more:

Malaysia in world’s top five medical tourism destinations (eTurboNews)

Medical Tourism: Seeking Affordable Healthcare Overseas (Nuwire)

The Challenges of Medical Tourism (BBC)

Medical Tourism - The Impact (BBC)

Israel Courts Medical Tourists (BBC)


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Escape To Alcatraz

June 27th, 2008 Posted in Accommodation, Visitor Attractions | No Comments »

“The United States National Park Service, which operates ‘The Rock’, is planning to convert part of the prison into a hotel so that visitors can enjoy a fuller experience of the island.

Overnight guests would not, however, sleep in the cell blocks that once housed notorious criminals such as Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly or “Birdman of Alcatraz” Robert Stroud.

Instead the hotel would probably be housed in another part of the infamous penitentiary, Building 64, which housed the guards and boasts impressive views across the San Francisco bay.

Alcatraz Prison, San FranciscoAlcatraz Island is one of San Francisco’s most popular draws, attracting more than 1.4 million tourists a year to its cellblock tours. But the National Park Service is keen to let visitors explore the rest of the 12-acre island, with its unusual scenery and wildlife, as well as areas currently closed to the public, such as the prison cinema.

“People are constantly saying they want to see more of the island,” said Rich Weideman, a National Park Service spokesman. “A hotel would be the ultimate experience in visitor access.”

Alcatraz, which became a military prison in 1861 at the start of the Civil War, was a federal prison from 1933 until 1963. Officials claimed escape was impossible because of the strong tides and cold temperatures of the surrounding waters – and there were no successful breakouts.

Alcatraz has featured in several films including 1979’s Escape From Alcatraz starring Clint Eastwood and The Rock, with Sean Connery, which was released in 1996.”

Source: Daily Telegraph

Alcatraz Island, sometimes informally referred to as simply Alcatraz or by its pop-culture name, The Rock, is a small island located in the middle of San Francisco Bay in California, United States. It served as a lighthouse, then a military fortification, then a military prison followed by a federal prison until 1963. It became a national recreation area in 1972 and received landmarking designations in 1976 and 1986.

Today, the island is a historic site operated by the National Park Service as part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and is open to tours. Visitors can reach the island by ferry ride from Pier 33, near Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco.


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