Best Holiday Lettings

Author: Alicia

  • UK visitor numbers increase to New Zealand

    Tourism New Zealand says UK visitor numbers in thefirst half 2013 were up 3.3% compared with the identical time last year. Globally, there was a robust increase in international visitor arrivals, setting an effective base for the winter season.

    “When we glance on the first six months of the year we see a robust picture for arrivals -with total arrivals up 5.8 per cent against the identical period last year and holiday arrivals up 10.0 per cent,’ says Justin Watson, Tourism New Zealand’s acting Chief Executive.

    “This puts the industry in an amazing good place earlier than the 2013 ski season which has already seen a pretty good start – with record levels of snow to all ski-fields and Australian arrivals up 17.0 per cent for the month. We anticipate seeing further growth over the arriving months.”

    For the primary six months of the year holiday arrivals are up across Tourism New Zealand’s top six markets: Australia 6.0%, China 30.9%, US 20.7%, UK 3.3%, Japan 7.8%, Germany 2.9%.

    “It is encouraging to determine this growth from our traditional long-haul markets after what was a tough few years for the industry.

    The US has become the third-largest source of tourists to New Zealand.

    “The underlying growth from the long-haul markets further supports the positive impact seen from the investment in marketing New Zealand’s association with the Hobbit trilogy.

    “Our 100% Middle-earth, 100% Pure New Zealand campaign continues to realize its objectives – providing the extra motivation and reason to transform interest in a vacation to New Zealand into an exact booking.”

    Figures also just released report overall international arrivals up 5.6 per cent for June 2013. Total arrivals were unchanged year-on-year, because of 2012 being boosted by the Rugby World Cup, but up 5.0 per cent in comparison to year ending June 2011.

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  • Growth continues for Small Luxury Hotels of the sector

    There is nothing small concerning the first quarter results for Small Luxury Hotels of the realm, that’s maintaining its outstanding success in 2013 with steady business growth.

    Following the right year in SLH’s 21 year history in 2012, the logo has reported a year on year six per cent increase in room nights booked and has added properties everywhere to its outstanding portfolio.

    Over an identical period, the common room rate has fallen by four per cent year on year to £213 per night as SLH customers continue to demand value for money from their luxury hotel experience and remain careful with their spending.

    There has also been fantastic growth in membership to The Club and with a brand new Chinese website launching this summer, the variety of Club Members is anticipated to extend even further.

    “In 2012 we had a whole lot to discuss – to have our most successful year so far in the course of a world recession is not any small feat,” commented Paul Kerr, chief executive, SLH.

    “The team this year has lofty goals, and that’s to construct at the success of 2012.

    “Fortunately, we’re reaching those goals, mainly as a result of our guest recognition club.

    “The Club, with a 3 tier structure including Special, Loved and Honoured levels, gives members fantastic benefits the more they stick with us.

    “We have welcomed over 19,000 Club Members in quarter one this year; a 52 per cent increase on last year bringing us to a grand total of over 216,000 Club Members.

    “Reservations from members have also grown by 11 per cent from last year, that’s remarkable,” he concluded.

  • Improvements to Heathrow Airport

    For 60 years, Heathrow has been the main UK airport connecting people across the globe and today has the title of the world’s busiest airport. Over the last 12 years, £11 billion has been invested to improve existing terminals and facilities for passengers, creating jobs and supporting economic growth in the UK. In order to improve the transportation of luggage within the airport, £900 million pounds has been spent on an integrated baggage system, allowing travellers to become re-united with their luggage quicker on arrival and making sure luggage continues its journey onto the correct plane for transit passengers.

    The architecturally stunning Terminal 2 with its spacious concourses was opened in 2014. Over the past few years, improvements have been made to the check-in areas of Terminal 3 with the creation of new self-service kiosks and investment has also been made to the search and security area. Travellers using Terminal 4 will notice improvements to the facade, allowing more light into the terminal, with the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows. Work is still to be completed on improvements to the passport control areas. In 2008, Terminal 5 was opened to the public. With its large, glass panels overlooking the runways, passengers can enjoy spectacular views of the airport, whilst waiting for their own flight to depart.

  • I am due to fly out to Sharm el Sheikh. Is it safe to do so?

    If you are due to fly out to the Egyptian tourist resort in the next few days, then you will need to follow Foreign Office advice and recommendations carefully and make sure that you are up to date with current news.

    At the moment, tour operators and holiday companies have been told to delay all in-bound and returning flights into the resort, until British Security experts have had the opportunity to assess the security and safety procedures at the airport. This decision has come about due to the downing of a Russian Airbus over the Sinai Desert on October 31st which is thought to have now been caused by an on-flight bomb on board. The Foreign Office currently advises against all but essential travel to Sharm el Sheikh Airport. Many tour operators, like Monarch, have cancelled all flights until November 12th and will await further advice. For those scheduled to leave the resort, British tourists have experienced chaotic scenes and lengthy delays, some as long as 2 to 3 days, before they have been allowed to proceed through security to board returning flights.

    If you are thinking of cancelling your holiday, you will need to be aware that your travel operator is only obliged to refund all payments if the Foreign Office officially advises against all travel to an area. Some airlines or travel companies are offering refunds or alternative arrangements but they are under no legal obligation to do so as yet. You would be well advised to contact your tour operator or airline for advice on travel.

  • Location of a new UK runway

    By the end of 2015, the government is due to announce the construction of a new runway at a UK airport. The Davies Commission has recommended that this expansion take place at Heathrow. However, this week, Lord Alan Sugar has questioned this recommendation and suggested that Stansted Airport would make a viable location for airport expansion due to its easy transport links to the the centre of London and the fact that it has the capacity to expand.

    Stansted Airport is in Essex, almost on the border with Hertfordshire and just 30 miles north-east of the centre of London. It has been operating as a commercial airport since the mid 1960s. Since 1997 passenger numbers increased dramatically with the rise in popularity of low cost budget airlines. In 2007, passenger numbers reached a peak of 24 million. Although numbers have waned since then, there was an 11% annual increase last year (2014) when nearly 20 million passengers used the airport.