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Category: News

  • News: FIFA World Cup: Brazil plays catch up just before 2014

    Headlines inside the recent increase to the FIFA World Cup in Brazil next year has been decidedly mixed of late.

    While the 2022 competition in Qatar had raised more ire among sports fans world wide, Brazilian authorities can’t has been impressed with images of violence marring the preparations.

    Most recently police were forced to take advantage of tear gas and smoke grenades to wreck up clashes between fans waiting to purchase tickets for the inaugural match in a stadium built for the area Cup.

    Fans had queued overnight at a ticket office within the north-eastern state of Bahia, but fighting broke out once it opened. Officials on the Arena Fonte Nova stadium, which cost over $300 million ($50 million greater than budgeted), had didn’t separate queues of fans, resulting in unrest.

    Perhaps more seriously, the inauguration date of rebuilt Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro have been repeatedly delayed.

    The stadium, set to host the overall next year, was originally as a result of reopen in December 2012, but its first match is now scheduled for April 27th.

    Embarrassingly, Rio mayor Eduardo Paes was also recently forced to shut the João Havelange stadium, which was getting used to host major football matches rather than the Maracana and was scheduled to host the athletics for the 2016 Olympic Games, after it engineers warned of structural deficiencies.

    Elsewhere, the president of Corinthians, the Brazilian club in control of building the Itaquera stadium in Sao Paulo, recently admitted its construction can be stopped for loss of cash.

    Unless extra money is located there’s a risk of the stadium failing to be ready on time for the contest.

    That stadium is because of host the outlet match of FIFA 2014.

    With these problems piling up, FIFA have been remarkably sanguine, a minimum of in front of the cameras.

    “It is all a matter of trust and confidence,” FIFA president Sepp Blatter told reporters last month after a gathering of the area Cup organising committee. “They would be ready since it is the area Cup and nobody can afford to not be ready for the area Cup.”

    However, FIFA secretary general Jerome Valcke recently visited Recife to ascertain on preparations on the Arena Pernambuco, which remains incomplete despite promises it’d be ready by the top 2012.

    One further infrastructure worry is the progress in upgrading the national airport network.

    Many guests will see flights as essential in one of these large country, where there’s no established rail network.

    But, of 13 terminals being upgraded, ten are unlikely to be completed by June 2014, a central authority-backed Institute for Applied Economic Research report said earlier this spring.

    image[1] align=’right’ border=’0′ style=’padding-left:10px;’ alt=” border=0 >
    The recently completed Arena Fonte Nova

    Tourism

    So, many challenges. But what does all this mean for the international traveller In brief, not likely greatly.

    While the sporting infrastructure is clearly vital to the success of the tournament, the non-public sector has quietly been looking after the preparations essential to welcome the 600,000 international visitors expected within the country for the development.

    Some 200 hotels are currently under construction, while another 170 hotels are slated to open in the next three years in Brazil, in accordance with consultancy Lodging Econometrics, with many designed for the sports tourism market.

    Many more also are taking an extended view, catering to an emerging middle class, with investors looking to avoid the pitfalls seen after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, when many hotels saw a pointy drop in occupancy after the development and not recovered. 

    Hilton and Grand Hyatt are both opening new properties in Rio, but budget-conscience offerings from as Novotel, Ibis, Holiday Inn, Super 8 and Tryp also are in development.

    Among the foremost exciting projects is the classic Copacabana Palace, which enters its 90th year in 2013. Having recently completed a $20 million renovation, the valuables now offers a lighter, airier atmosphere, with completely redesigned rooms.

    Moreover, while the issues may create headline, other stadium projects are proceeding rapidly.

    In the most recent update FIFA released photos the recently completed Arena Fonte Nova.

    Despite the ticketing teething problems, the Salvador stadium joins the Castelao and the Mineirao in readiness for the FIFA Confederations Cup test event later this year.

    The clock might be ticking, by Brazil has an excessive amount of to lose if it runs out of time.

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  • News: WAYN reveals dream destinations for travellers

    WAYN has revealed the head seven dream destinations on the planet as chosen by its 21 million users worldwide.

    The destinations will fight it out for pole position in a user vote this month.

    The seven global hot spots are Indonesia, Fiji, South Africa, Dubai, India, Brazil and Turkey. 

    The nominated destinations (both cities and countries) were selected by employing a mixture of market research data and tracking user engagement on WAYN.com.

    “Most recently, India saw a rise variety of interest, both for business and leisure travels in destinations corresponding to Delhi, Punjab, Uttrakhand and Kashmir,” said Jerome Touze, co-founding father of WAYN.com.

    He added: ‘’Brazil was also voted favourite destinations in Latin America, with 40% of respondents from a panel of 38,000 users saying it’d be their first choice in South America.

    “It can be interesting to work out which destination will achieve the tip spot on the subject of our user vote but being nominated within the top seven is already a very good recognition of the work these destinations are doing.’’

    Dubai is in an awfully strong position with over ten million tourists having travelled there in 2012, its highest ever annual visitor figure.

    The department of tourism and commerce marketing revealed a 9.3 per cent increase within the variety of visitors to the Emirate in 2012.

    WAYN’s 21 million users may have the danger to vote for his or her favourite destination inside the next two weeks, out of the seven listed, with prizes up for grabs if you vote.

    Additionally, each nominee will receive US$70,000 of selling promotion globally, out of a US$500,000 marketing contribution from Where Are You Now

    Touze said ‘I’m extremely serious about this campaign.

    “We are in a completely unique position whereby we’ve data on over 21 million users in over 193 countries who communicate regularly with each other about their trip plans – where on this planet they need to move and what they need to do once they get there…

    “Going forward, we intend to roll out more leading award recognitions for the travel and tourism industry, so watch this space!”

    WAYN has developed an exclusive microsite for the campaign, which fits live today.

    The nominated destinations will receive exposure on WAYN, media coverage and additional market research insight for his or her destinations.

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  • Hilton expands footprint in Vietnam

    Hilton Worldwide has announced the hole of Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi, the award-winning, focused service brand’s first property in Southeast Asia.

    Located in Hanoi, Vietnam, the 11-storey hotel with 86 rooms and well-equipped facilities lies right inside the heart of Hanoi, and is the second one Hilton Worldwide property in Vietnam.

    “Today’s announcement not just celebrates the 1st Hilton Garden Inn property in south-east Asia but additionally the growth of our footprint in Vietnam,” said Martin Rinck, president, Asia Pacific, Hilton Worldwide.

    “Backed by our strong owner, Hoan Kiem Tourism & Trading Company, and our 93 years of international hospitality experience, we’re confident that Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi shall be a popular choice for local and international travellers in search of quality yet affordable accommodation in Hanoi.”

    Located near the intersection of Phan Chu Trinh and Tran Hung Dao streets, Hilton Garden Inn Hanoi occupies a premium location within the business, cultural, and leisure centre of the town.

    It is within a brief distance of Hoan Kiem Lake, the Ministry of Finance, numerous embassies, government organizations and institutions, museums, shopping centres, and is just 40 kilometers from Noi Bai International Airport.

    The hotel is supplied making sure that each guest can sleep deep, stay fit, eat well, work smart and treat themselves while at the road.

  • News: easyJet celebrates its first successful year at London Southend

    easyJet, the UK’s largest airline, has celebrated its 365 days anniversary at London Southend Airport today – Tuesday 2 April with passengers, staff and youngsters from the local people who were invited to take part in a paper plane ‘origami master class’ and competition to mark the occasion. 

    A huge easyJet orange, origami paper plane (2m x 2m) was unveiled within the check-in area by easyJet’s UK Commercial Manager Hugh Aitken and London Southend Airport Managing Director Alastair Welch.

    Hugh Aitken, easyJet’s UK Commercial Manager, commented “There was a pretty good atmosphere on the easyJet check-in desk – our origami plane was certainly eye-catching! The ambience was exactly what we would have liked to create for all our passengers to assert thanks for his or her continued support.”

    easyJet launched at London Southend on 2 April 2012 with 10 popular holiday routes across Europe. Throughout the airline’s first year it has continued to take a position within the airport by launching an extra five routes, bringing more choice and outstanding value to its passengers from Southend and the encompassing areas. The entire variety of easyJet destinations from London Southend is now 15, and can soon include links to additional business and leisure hubs consisting of Edinburgh (May), Berlin, Krakow and Newquay (June).  Also in June, this investment can be strengthened by the advent of a fourth aircraft to be based at London Southend Airport.

    Mr Aitken added “It’s been a monumental year for us; we’ve flown greater than 700,000 passengers and feature increased the destinations we operate to by greater than 50%. We’ve made travelling easy for the 150,000 people of Southend and the encircling areas across Essex and East London with affordable flights from as low as £26.49. Plus we have now ensured our customers are the happiest at London Southend Airport out of all our bases securing an outstanding 92% satisfaction rate. We’re fully committed to London Southend Airport and feature demonstrated this by investing heavily in new destinations. We’re keen to continue adding more varied routes to our schedule and over the arriving week’s we’ll see inaugural flights to Edinburgh, Berlin, Krakow and Newquay take-off. Ultimately our long-term aim at London Southend Airport is straightforward; to expand our network, bring more competition and lower fares in addition to opening up new markets to both our leisure and business travellers.”

    To further celebrate the landmark anniversary, easyJet invited local children from Little Havens Hospice to return along to the airport to participate in a paper plane making master class, hosted by world renowned origami artist Mark Bolitho.

    Little Havens cares for kids from across Essex who’ve been diagnosed with a life-limiting illness and likewise offers support for his or her families. Art and crafts play a significant part inside the sensory therapies provided by the hospice, giving children with serious illnesses an inventive outlet to precise themselves.

    Participants then entered a paper plane throwing competition to win return flights for a family of 4 to either Amsterdam – the nearest route served by the airline from London Southend – or Faro, the furthest route served from London Southend by easyJet.

    The prize was scooped by 9-year-old Connor Sergeant from Shoeburyness who won flights to Faro.

    Passengers were also treated to complimentary #1 shaped birthday cake and fizz in the course of the day.

    London Southend Airport Managing Director, Alastair Welch, says “It have been a pretty good first year with easyJet for each of the team at Southend, and as recent figures showed our busiest ever. We expect our unique promises to passengers – that they ought to wait not more than four minutes to move through security and that, on arrival with hand baggage, they may be at the rail station platform within quarter-hour of leaving the aircraft – is what’s driving increasingly more passengers to make your mind up London’s newest airport. Because of this we’re currently extending the terminal with the intention that we continue to deliver these high standards of shopper service because the airport grows.”

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  • Travelodge slims down operations in UK

    Following the successful completion of its financial restructuring and CVA in October 2012, Travelodge was working with the landlords of 49 hotels to spot new operators.

    Further to this process, Travelodge today announces that it has signed a brand new franchise contract for seven hotels with Moto, the UK’s largest provider of motorway service areas.

    In addition, Travelodge has also signed franchise contracts with individual operators for 13 other hotels.

    Under the terms of the franchise agreements, the hotels would be transferred to new owners but will remain operated and managed by Travelodge.

    The new owners shall be liable for fully refurbishing these properties based on Travelodge’s new room design and refurbishment programme which was launched earlier this year.

    Travelodge also announces today that it has transferred 18 hotels and the vast majority of staff to new operators; together with: Best Western, Ibis and Metro Inns. 

    Existing bookings at these hotels have either been transferred to adjacent Travelodge hotels or might be honoured by the hot operators. 

    Four of the properties under new ownership might be re-opened as new businesses.

    Two properties are being converted into student accommodation and the opposite two properties are being converted into an events and meeting rooms venue and staff accommodation for JCB.

    Travelodge will continue to work closely with the landlords of the remainder 11 hotels to locate suitable new operators and meanwhile these hotels will continue to function under the Travelodge brand as normal.

    Commenting at the announcements, Travelodge chief executive Grant Hearn, said: “It is excellent news that we have got been capable of finding new operators and introduce franchise contracts for almost all of those hotels.

    “We were always confident that we might secure a future for these properties and the deals that experience taken place just demonstrate the massive strength of the Travelodge brand and the success of our operations model.”