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  • News: Azerbaijan gets set to host AITF 2013

    The 12th Azerbaijan International Travel & Tourism Exhibition, AITF, will manifest on the Baku Expo Centre from 4-6 April 2013. This year, the fair will gather over 200 companies and organisations showcasing over 60 destinations.

    Over three days, quite a lot of destinations and services can be presented on the show, displaying their latest offerings to eager visitors. Services include: airlines and aviation agencies; tour operators and travel agencies; hotels, health spas and corporations specialising in adventure holidays, luxury tourism and environmental tourism.

    AITF 2013 will see 19 national groups on the event, eight appearing collectively for the primary time: France, Hungary, Iran, Montenegro, Malaysia, Morocco, Thailand and Tunisia.

    International airlines also will exhibit within national group stands, in addition to individually. Turkish Airlines, China Southern Airlines, Air Astana, Adria Airways and Azerbaijan Airlines will all present themselves individually.

    In response to the demands of the Azerbaijani tourist, the show will feature specialised sectors, including the vacation in Azerbaijan sector; the considerably-expanded Medical Tourism sector, and the new Real Estate Abroad sector.

    Maria Badakh, Event & Sales Director, ITE Group plc, comments “Over the past 12 years, the development has reflected the region’s travel and tourism trends, and has continued to be a key influence inside the regions tourist industry. AITF 2013 is determined to reconfirm its status as a high-quality meeting place where tourism professionals and travellers can find out about exclusive travel offers, new routes and the proper prices.”

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  • ITB Berlin: Holidays make one healthy and happy

    Holidays benefit people’s health and allow them to get over the strain in their day-to-day lives. a contemporary study has now confirmed what many travellers regularly experience. Dr. Jessica de Bloom, a piece and organisational psychologist on the University of Tampere in Finland, has examined how holidays benefit people’s future health and are available to a few fascinating conclusions from which the tourism industry can profit. She presented her findings at a workshop organised by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Tourismusforschung at this year’s ITB Berlin Convention. In keeping with the study, holidays not just benefit people’s health but cause them to happier in addition.

    These latest research findings concerning personal happiness confirm that folk who spend their money on concerts, family trips or short breaks are happier than folks that acquire material objects reminiscent of jewellery, clothing and electronic devices. The explanation, in step with Dr. Jessica de Bloom, is they can’t be compared. “One can compare a designer suit with a pricey watch, but not one’s diving holidays at the Red Sea and a colleague’s city break in Barcelona. What’s more, experiences don’t wear out through the years.”

    Switching off to close out stress
    Taking a break from everyday routines also benefits one’s health. Scientists and doctors conducting the Framingham Heart Study found that folks who don’t go on holiday for longer periods are at greater risk of changing into ill or maybe dying just before those that regularly go on breaks. Frequent breaks instead of extended holidays are crucial to maintaining good health. All sorts of holiday examined by the study, whether a brief break or a 3-week hiking trip, produced evidence of comparative benefits to people’s wellbeing and fitness. Dr. Jessica de Bloom compares this with the consequences of sleep: “One cannot postpone one’s sleep or relaxation requirements. One long summer holiday cannot catch up on an entire year of exertions and overtime.“ So one can remain healthy the key is to chill frequently, she added.

    Freedom to make one’s own choices on holiday helps one to relax
    Whether or not a vacation is relaxing and remembered as such is dependent upon numerous factors. In response to de Bloom’s study, 17 per cent of individuals feel worse once they are on holiday than before they went. One of the reasons are negative events corresponding to travel stress or a sudden illness. Her study also confirms that, crucially, here’s influenced less by the kind of holiday activities people undertake than by them having the liberty to make their very own choices. Activities should satisfy people’s needs and it’s the holidaymakers who needs to be capable of choose them. In other words, with the ability to make one’s own choices when on holiday is the main to an excellent break. Actually, activities play a good greater role as they influence people’s perception of the way long they were on holiday. Time simply flies for those that undertake quite a few holiday activities. Afterwards, they remember having had a protracted holiday, not like folks that spend their time within the hotel or at the beach. The last day on holiday can well decide how people remember their trip: “Packing suitcases and other unappealing activities are best treated an afternoon before leaving to confirm the last day on holiday might be enjoyed to the full“, advises de Bloom.

    Reducing stress factors and encouraging happiness
    The findings of this study on holidays and relaxation can be of practical use to the tourism industry. In step with de Bloom, travel agency sales of holiday tours could improve a customer’s holiday experience, providing travel agents are responsive to the positive effects and the way to scale back stress. What’s more, tourism products must be further improved to make certain tourists enjoy maximum satisfaction when on holiday.

    Dr. Martin Buck, Director of Travel & Logistics, Messe Berlin: “These latest research findings give us a deeper insight into the desires of today’s travellers. They provide valuable inspiration for creating innovative tourism products and provides companies the decisive edge in a hotly contested travel market.“

  • News: Un-Cruise Adventures adds two theme cruises

    Un-Cruise Adventures has added two theme cruises on Active Adventure sailings in Southeast Alaska this summer. The 60-guest Wilderness Adventurer welcomes guest experts on board for a photography theme on June 8 and an Alaska Insider theme on July 13.

    “Our guest experts offer additional insights to enhance our own expedition team and adventure activities,” said Tim Jacox, executive vice chairman of sales and marketing. “It’s an additional advantage for sailing on these two dates.”

    Photography with Amy Gulick
    On the June 8, 2013 Eastern Coves adventure, nature photographer and author Amy Gulick joins the trip to share photography tips, lessons and methods she’s learned over time as an award-winning photographer and writer. Gulick is a founding Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers and her images were featured in premium publications consisting of Outdoor Photographer, Audubon, National Wildlife and Nature’s Best Photography. Guests will receive an autographed copy of her book “Salmon inside the Trees: Life in Alaska’s Tongass Rain Forest.”

    The weeklong Eastern Coves itinerary sails from Juneau to Ketchikan, Alaska while adventuring through Tracy Arm Wilderness, Frederick Sound, Thomas Bay, Behm Canal, Misty Fjords National Monument and a half-day port call in Wrangell, one in all Alaska’s oldest towns. Rates in this date begin at $3,195 per person, double occupancy. A $200 per person travel credit is available.

    Alaska Insider with John and Jan Straley
    On the July 13, 2013 Western Coves adventure, longtime Alaska residents John and Jan Straley board for per week of storytelling—fact and fiction—on all things Alaska and insights on humpback and killer whales. John, a poet and author of detective fiction, has won awards over time for his novels set in Alaska. John has worked as a secretary, horseshoer, wilderness guide, trail crew foreman, millworker, machinist, and personal investigator. Jan Straley, a marine biologist, is easily-known for her extensive studies of humpback and killer whales. She is assistant Professor of Biology on the University of Alaska Southeast and affiliate faculty at University of Alaska Fairbanks, School of Fisheries and Ocean Sciences.

    The weeklong Western Coves itinerary sails from Ketchikan to Juneau, Alaska and explores wilderness areas including El Capitan Passage, Chatham Strait, Frederick Sound, Stephen’s Passage, Endicott Arm and Fords Terror, and a half-day port call on the Tlingit village of Klawock. Rates in this date begin at $3,195.

    Both Active Adventure sailings include wildlife and whale watching, kayaking, hiking, skiff excursions exploring the coastline, glacier viewing, rise up paddle boarding and a guided tour in Klawock or Wrangell. Snorkeling and overnight camping ashore can be found for a fee.

    Un-Cruise Adventures also recently confirmed six theme departures on Luxury Adventures aboard the 86-guest Safari Endeavour in Alaska. Themes include photography, marine biology, ornithology and wine from two prominent Northwest wineries.

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  • Choice Hotels International checks in to new global headquarters

    Choice Hotels International, Inc., one of the crucial world’s largest hotel companies, has completed its move and officially checked into its new state-of-the-art global headquarters at 1 Choice Hotels Circle in Rockville, Maryland inside the heart of Rockville Town Square.

    After greater than 40 years based in nearby Silver Spring, Maryland, the move reflects the company’s continued growth, the strong appeal of its hotel brands—which include industry icons Comfort Inn, Comfort Suites, Quality, and Econo Lodge and the newer upscale brand Cambria Suites, and the original and upscale Ascend Hotel Collection membership program—as well as Choice Hotels’ like to remain rooted within the Montgomery County community.

    Choice Hotels worked with top level developers, architects, designers, project managers and sustainability consultants Foulger-Pratt Companies, WDG Architecture, VOA Associates, rand* construction corporation, AtSite, Inc. and Clear Real Estate Services to develop and manage the graceful new facility. The 135,000 square foot global headquarters maintains the texture of a hospitality company incorporating hotel elements comparable to check-in desks at reception, a trendy great room lounge, and a business center for visitors that helps to support tasks reminiscent of checking email or printing boarding passes. Featuring a large open, contemporary design, the theory helps to encourage innovation, efficiency and collaboration.

    Today greater than 400 headquarter employees moved in to their new offices at 1 Choice Hotels Circle. Innovative technology and connectivity ensure associates and guests can work and relax through the building and outdoors on greater than 3,500 square feet of patio space which offers an inviting open fire pit and outdoor living furniture in addition to cafe tables. Non-conference room meeting and gathering spaces on every floor were created knowing great ideas come from everywhere.

    Choice Hotels International selected Rockville, Maryland-based Foulger-Pratt Companies from a prestigious group of prominent owners and developers within the Washington Metropolitan Area to be the landlord, developer, and general contractor of its new global headquarters. Now celebrating its 50th year of operations, Foulger-Pratt is behind other notable real estate projects which includes the Park Potomac luxury residential and retail development and the Washington, D.C. Mormon Temple located in Kensington, Maryland for which it served as design consultant and general contractor.

    “We chose Foulger-Pratt to develop, own and be the final contractor for Choice’s new world headquarters due to their excellent history of developing and constructing successful and prestigious commercial office and mixed-use real estate projects inside the Washington, DC area,”  said Stephen P. Joyce , president and CEO of Choice Hotels International. “Foulger-Pratt was exceptional to work with throughout this process.  From the onset, they assured us they’d develop and construct Class A commercial offices that might meet all of Choice Hotels’ requirements, on time and within budget.  And so they did.  They were even sooner than schedule.”

    Designed to fulfill the ideas for certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the facility’s sustainability features include water consumption that was reduced by 40%, locally sourced building materials and controllable lighting and thermostats. Energy consumption would be further offset through Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) sourced from wind power. Foulger-Pratt and building designers WDG Architecture are pursuing a LEED Platinum certification for the general facility.

    The Choice Hotels workspace on floors four through nine was designed by VOA Associates, the architecture firm behind Choice Hotels’ offices in Phoenix, Arizona which function the company’s global technology hub. Just like the Rockville headquarters, the Phoenix facility was in keeping with an open design to assist foster innovative ideas and teamwork. Other parties involved with this project include: rand* construction corporation, because the general contractor for the alternative Hotels workplace; AtSite, Inc. as project manager and LEED consultants; and Clear Real Estate Services as project manager.

  • News: New app lets travelers book airport shuttles

    The GO Group, LLC has launched an updated app that permits travelers to book a GO airport shuttle from their iPhones.  The hot version stores users’ personal information, which accelerates the booking process.

    To make a reservation, iPhone users simply access the app and enter their flight, arrival and/or destination information. The app will automatically access the user’s previously entered personal information, and make allowance them to simply make a reservation to and from any of the greater than 50 airports served by GO Airport Shuttle.  The app could be downloaded on the Apple app store and by looking for the phrase “go shuttle.” 

    “Mobile devices increasingly becoming the booking approach to choice for travelers, so this app allows one-stop purchasing for all travel needs, allowing anyone to book ground transportation quickly from any location,” says John McCarthy , president of The GO Group, that is made from 43 ground transportation companies, serving 52 airports within the Usa, Canada and Europe.

    The mobile application was developed by The Hudson Group, a Lawrence, Mass. reservation systems technology company. The app must be available for other mobile devices later this year.

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