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  • West Ham to take Olympic Stadium in 2016

    West Ham United have once more been awarded the appropriate to make the Olympic Stadium in east London their home from the beginning of the 2016/17 season.

    The decision, announced earlier, potentially brings to an in depth the arduous negotiations over the way forward for the stadium that have rumbled on because the end of the Games.

    Having been bound by strict confidentiality agreements imposed upon them, the club at the moment are set to embark on an in depth, independent supporter consultation process to assist make sure the Stratford stadium matches the high standards Hammers fans would expect from their new home.

    Vice-chairman Karren Brady said: “I am delighted that we have got been confirmed today because the anchor concessionaire for the Olympic Stadium.

    “I commend my two chairmen for his or her passion and commitment.

    “I am delighted this have been rewarded now that their ambition to peer the Club they love enjoy a bright future on the Olympic Stadium was realised.

    “It was important to me that we struck a deal that may stand the test of time that represented the best deal for West Ham United and our loyal and patient supporters.

    “The consultation we’ve got promised them will now begin and we can’t wait to work with them to create a gorgeous new home that befits the pride, passion and tradition that the area associates with West Ham United.”

    The move was made possible after the national UK government agreed to install an additional £25 mullion toward the prices of converting the venue.

    The additional money takes the contribution to around £60 million.

    In turn, West Ham agreed to extend their very own funding of the project by £5 million, to £15 million.

    Conversion of the stadium is probably going to price anything as much as £200 million.

    Under conversion plans, the roof may be extended and the seating capacity reduced from 80,000 to 54,000, with a retractable system allowing the venue to be converted from an athletics arena to football stadium within days.

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  • News: Tauck announces two new riverboats launching in 2014

    Tauck has disclosed the names of the 2 new riverboats it would launch next year, and announced that the ships will each be considerably longer than the four sister-ships that currently comprise the company’s fleet. The hot ships, the ms Inspire and ms Savor, will both be 443 feet long, in comparison to Tauck’s existing ships which every measure 361 feet. Despite being 23% longer, the 2 newbuilds will only accommodate 130 guests each, or simply 10% greater than its current ships.

    “Our existing riverboats – what we’re now calling our Jewel Class vessels – have already got the bottom passenger-to-ship-length ratio on Europe’s rivers,” said Tauck CEO Dan Mahar. “The two new riverboats – our Inspiration Class vessels – actually raise the bar even higher.”

    To illustrate his point, Mahar cited other leading river cruise lines whose premier class ships also are 443 feet long; the similar length as Tauck’s newbuilds. “When our Inspiration Class ships launch next year they’ll each have just 130 guests aboard, whereas other major lines carry as much as 190 guests at the same length ships,” said Mahar. “That’s an extra 46% more passengers aboard ships of exactly the same length. You only can’t deliver a similar relaxed, intimate atmosphere in the event you put nearly 50% more passengers into an analogous space.”

    INDUSTRY-LEADING GUIDE-TO-GUEST RATIO

    Even though Tauck’s newbuilds may have far fewer guests aboard, the ships will nonetheless be staffed with more service personnel than another river cruise line, in accordance with Mahar. “Each Inspiration Class riverboat can have a Tauck Cruise Director and 3 Tauck Directors aboard to take care of guests’ needs and supply exemplary service,” noted Mahar. “By contrast, other ships carrying way more guests are frequently staffed by only a single cruise director.”

    The Tauck Directors may also accompany shore excursions, in accordance with Mahar, where they’ll divide guests into small groups of not more than 25, with each group personally guided by a neighborhood expert. “River cruises offer incredible opportunities for authentic, in-depth explorations of every destination, so we place tremendous emphasis on ensuring that our shore excursions – all of that are included in our cruise prices – are absolutely world-class,” said Mahar. In contrast, noted Mahar, other cruise lines will routinely have groups of 100 or more led by a single local guide.

  • Autograph Collection set to debut in Germany

    Autograph Collection will debut in Germany later this year with the hole of the 87-room Hotel am Steinplatz in Berlin.  Celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, the historic icon will re-open following an intensive renovation after first opening as a hotel in 1913. 

    Hotel am Steinplatz joins multiple Autograph Collection properties currently scheduled to open in Europe this year, helping expand the collection’s current portfolio to 15 hotels in Europe and greater than 40 hotels worldwide.

    “We are thrilled that the historic Hotel am Steinplatz is joining Autograph Collection, marking the collection’s debut within the German market,” explains Amy McPherson, president and managing director for Marriott International in Europe. 

    “We continue to peer fantastic growth and appetite for Autograph Collection in Europe as travellers continue to hunt enriching experiences shaped by these unique properties.” Adds McPherson.

    The boutique property, uniquely located within walking distance of West Berlin’s main attractions, offers 84 stunning guestrooms, three suites, restaurant, and classy lobby lounge & bar.  Other features include a spa, fitness room and meeting space.

    With the unique building having first opened its doors in 1907, Hotel am Steinplatz has an attractive history as an exclusive meeting point for artists, writers, philosophers or even aristocracy.  It was designed by renowned architect, August Endell, who also designed the famous Hackesche Hoefe in Berlin.  With its heritage listed façade and wonderfully recreated interior, the hotel offers a potent mixture of historical charm and modern sophistication, making it a main destination in Germany’s historic capital.

    Considered Germany’s most vibrant and inventive city, Berlin is renowned for its diverse architecture, art scene and nightlife in addition to remarkable offering of museums, orchestras and festivals.  The town is scattered with parks, gardens and lakes, making it a gorgeous and popular holiday and weekend getaway destination.

    Autograph Collection launched in 2010 as a chance for independent hotel owners to succeed in millions of travellers through access to Marriott International’s network of worldwide consumers. Autograph Collection also provided Marriott International entry right into a new segment of the hospitality market, capturing both leisure and business travellers who sought more unique and independent hotel experiences. The gathering comprises a stunning array of lovely and iconic properties reminiscent of Boscolo Budapest in Hungary and The Algonquin in Ny city.

  • Maldives moves to outlaw bottled water

    Whole World Water announced earlier Maldives president Mohamed Waheed will celebrate World Water Day by signing the entire World Water Referendum for Clean & Safe Water.

    The referendum encourages the hospitality and tourism industry to switch branded bottled water with filtered water sold in recycled, reusable glass bottles.

    The plan also sees tourism operators donate ten per cent of the proceeds to the entire World Water Fund.

    The Referendum shall be signed during an on-air Google+ Hangout.

    The Whole World Water Google+ Hangout will highlight how governments can work with the personal sector to drive positive, sustainable change.

    Considered a top tourism destination by many, the Maldives is likely one of the most vulnerable of the small island states to the effects of climate change, and faces acute development challenges equivalent to a shortage of potable water.

    With 28 per cent of the GDP coming from tourism, this industry has a vital role to play in helping to mitigate these challenges.

    “What our world urgently should achieve sustained development would require significant changes in what we produce, and the way we consume our resources,” said president Waheed.

    “It is my hope that by endorsing this initiative, all hotels and resorts within the Maldives will join Whole World Water and that the Maldives will function a worldwide example of the way governments can work with the personal sector to drive positive, sustainable change for all.”

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  • News: Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living to exploit TACSnet

    Grosvenor House Apartments by Jumeirah Living, the splendid hotel residence on Park Lane, London has announced it really is now using TACSnet: the automatic online commission payment system for agents.

    As the definitive online resource for Travel Agencies and Suppliers, this internationally-accepted system shall be implemented by Grosvenor House Apartments to cope commission payments to travel agencies, and to maintain track of any incoming and outgoing commissions.

    Grosvenor House Apartments joins other prestigious hotels and properties in enabling payment to multiple agents easily and quickly, and so continue to construct strong relationships with travel agencies.