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  • Global travel habits are changing says WAYN

    A recent travel survey of over 38,000 members of leading travel social network, Where are you currently (WAYN), has revealed some interesting changes in how its users opt to travel. 

    The introverts guide to travel The implications suggest that travellers increasingly seek solitude when on holiday, with the general public – 33% – claiming that they might decide to travel solo. The second one most well liked travel companions (26%) are friends, as opposed to partners or spouses.

    Independent Travel vs. Tours Traditional guided tours look like falling from favour with 49% of travellers opting to make their very own sightseeing plans instead of join a selected tour.  Travellers appear to trust social media and other web research tools to arm them with enough detail to devise their trips, without the will of a guide.

    Luxury or less WAYN members prefer budget and mid-range accommodation to luxury hotels, with most members claiming that cost often is the only thing that might deter them from visiting the region: crime and disease weren’t considered deterrents.

    Setting new standards in South America The survey, which serious about questioning travellers about visiting South America, showed that WAYN members are clearly an adventurous bunch.  Brazil was the most well liked country within the continent with 49% of respondents saying it might be their first choice in South America, while a perfect break would combine city and beach.  90% said they might travel widely while on holiday, visiting a variety of cities and countries to benefit from having travelled to the continent.

    Peter Ward from WAYN said: “We believe the net accounts for a majority of these changes with increased amounts of obtainable and relevant information empowering travellers to travel alone, stay in additional diverse accommodation and plan visits to previously unconsidered destinations. I’m a major advocate of independent travel and our site gives users a chance to make friends at home before they travel so even when they do like to go solo, they’ve got a virtual friend to explore their destination with.”

    WAYN is the brainchild of Jerome Touze and Peter Ward who came up with the basis after arriving from backpacking in 2002.  It’s currently the world’s largest travel and lifestyle social media platform with 21 million members in 193 countries.  The main target of WAYN is to help people with making essentially the most out of life by discovering where to head, what to do and who to satisfy.

  • News: IHIF: Johannesburg Tourism arrives in Berlin

    Joburg Tourism is at it again. With a purpose to promote tourism investment opportunities within the city, MMC Ruby Mathang is leading a delegation to Berlin where the town of Gold may be participating inside the 16th International Hotel Investment Forum.

    “As the city’s leadership, we recognise that tourism is a major economic growth imperative and an amazing catalyst for building a colourful city.

    “We also appreciate our role to create an enabling and supportive environment during which the personal sector can thrive and feel confident to speculate inside the tourism sector and create new and plenty-needed jobs,” explained Mathang. 

    “The City of Johannesburg’s leadership is therefore committed to offering a favourable climate for investors, creating opportunities and offering incentives with a view to make this city an enticing destination for them.”

    Following on from the International Hotel Investment Forum, the Joburg Tourism team will then be participating within the annual ITB, one of several world’s leading travel trade shows, that allows you to be going down in Berlin from March 7th-9th. 

    Joburg Tourism’s participation in international trade shows forms portion of its technique to maintain and increase Johannesburg’s market share in both the business and leisure travel arenas. 

    “As ITB is likely one of the largest global platforms for the leisure travel market, we can again be presenting Joburg’s position as a colourful, cosmopolitan all year round destination for business, leisure and lifestyle, using the chance to launch our Autumn Campaign, entitled “Explore Experience Enjoy Joburg q4,” added Phelisa Mangcu, acting chief executive, Johannesburg Tourism.

  • IHIF: Ernst & Young: Capital remains major focus for hospitality

    Ernst & Young has released Global Hospitality Insights: Top thoughts for 2013, its annual outlook for the global hospitality industry.

    This year’s publication highlights several key trends more likely to impact hotel development, financing and operations over the following three hundred and sixty five days.

    Among one of the most crucial for the industry, in step with Ernst & Young:

    Finance: For the hospitality industry, 2013 can be shaped by an emphasis on controlling costs in any respect levels of the business in addition to maximizing capital. This may mean continued deferral of overdue maintenance spending and the scaling back of capital improvement projects, as owners decide where best to speculate limited resources.

    Hotel companies also are watching how one can restructure and reposition for tax purposes, with some again contemplating IPOs for REIT transformation which will both reduce the general tax burden and in addition unlock value of their real estate. At the investment front, despite increased regulatory hurdles and constrained capital in certain markets, global private equity and sovereign wealth funds will find lots of opportunities inside the sector.

    Cities: Increased infrastructure spending by city governments, especially in rapid transit to facilitate the movement of travellers from airports to downtown locations, seems to be paying off, as a brand new class of stylish travellers flock to statement-making urban hotels, many offering luxury and upper tier amenities to guests.

    Development: While access to financing continues to be difficult in lots of markets around the globe, new project announcements have risen to the top level in 18 months, reflecting cautious but growing optimism among investors and hotel brands within the trajectory of the worldwide economy.

    Look for brand new hotels to rise in both emerging markets and prime downtown urban locations. New construction is additionally expected in all market segments, particularly inside the upper end of the market and among select service brands appealing to the worth conscious traveller.

    Markets: Africa may be the next major focus for global hotel brands, as more investors target sub-Saharan nations rich in natural resources reminiscent of Nigeria, Gabon and South Africa, for expansion. Globally, most markets experienced steady growth in 2012, with the notable exception of Europe, where economic challenges has been, and remain, the best.

    Commenting at the report, global hospitality services leader Michael Fishbin, said:
    “Hospitality companies continue to judge the capital agendas and concentrate on the very basics in their businesses – maintaining stability and creating operational efficiencies.

    Owners, investors and executives of hospitality assets who sufficiently addressed their capital needs and the changing preferences of guests witnessed an improvement in operating fundamentals over the process the year; in this case, those companies shall be inside the strongest position to further capitalize at the upturn available in the market.”

  • Grenada: the spice of the Caribbean

    From its position on the far southern tip of the Windward Islands chain, Grenada offers visitors a particular, off-the-beaten path experience in addition to a mix of activities, attractions, and historic sites which are hard to search out in every other port of call.

    The Grenada experience begins when a cruise ship pulls into port and passengers get their first glimpse of the Caribbean’s most pretty natural harbor, that is accented by the colourful red and orange rooftops of the island’s 300-year old capital, St. George’s. The Port of St. George’s can accommodate large cruise ships, capable of berth as much as two vessels simultaneously on the Melville Street Cruise Terminal. a 3rd vessel can berth on the northern end of the major quay, and a fourth can anchor within the outer harbor, with passengers brought ashore in tenders. Located at the downtown waterfront of the capital, the Port provides excellent bus and taxi transfer of passengers to waiting tours.

    Passengers can walk in the course of the Sendall Tunnel to go into the center of St. George’s, a city overflowing with history and architectural treasures. Stroll along the famous Carenage, the oldest and most picturesque component to St. George’s, and examine the Christ of the Deep statue. Exploring the quaint cobblestone alleys; visiting the craft shops, boutique stores, and art galleries; and experiencing authentic Grenadian cuisine at one of several many cafes and restaurants in St. George’s is an ideal method to spend the day.

    Known because the “Spice Isle” for the myriad exotic spices that perfume the island, passengers can walk over to the Market Square, that is only a block inland from the cruise terminal. Visitors could be enchanted by the scents of nutmeg, ginger, peppers, cinnamon, turmeric, and a number of alternative spices fresh from picking and processing.

    For the active visitor, Grenada offers everything from snorkeling and diving to hiking and more. Snorkel or dive the world’s first Underwater Sculpture Park. Dive a multiplicity of shallow shipwrecks and colorful reefs. Trek into the island’s lush rainforests or visit considered one of Grenada’s extinct volcanoes within the Grand Etang Forest Reserve and Lake. Travel back in time by visiting one of many island’s active plantation estates or take a guided tour to at least one of the rum distilleries and the Gouyave Nutmeg Processing Station.

    For beach lovers, Grenada offers 45 pristine beaches which can be absolute to fulfill the necessity for an afternoon inside the sun. Passengers can take a fifteen-minute water taxi ride to the area famous two-mile-long Grand Anse Beach and luxuriate in loads of water sports, absorbing rays at the white powder sand or liming at one of many beach bars.

    The Grenada Discovery Train, a little bit trolley inspired by a 1960s steam locomotive, takes visitors on a 35-minute tour during the narrow streets of St. George’s creating a total of 6 stops along the best way. Visitors can get off at historical landmarks inclusive of the Roman Catholic Church, Fort George, and others. The train provides passengers with free admission to a couple attractions before the tour ends on the cruise terminal.

    Senator Hon. Brenda Hood, Parliamentary Secretary within the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and Culture, and Ms. Nicole Moultrie of the Grenada Board of Tourism (GBT), can be representing Grenada in Booth 3206 on the Seatrade Cruise Shipping Convention in Miami, March 11-14, 2013.

    Recognized because the “Spice of the Caribbean,” Grenada boasts the various Caribbean’s most lovely beaches, delectable cuisine and spices, a tropical rainforest, and quite a lot of fun-filled activities corresponding to diving, snorkeling, hiking, fishing, and sailing. Romantic, natural, and authentic, all of nature’s best gifts are available in Grenada.

  • News: American Airlines applies for extra service to Brazil

    American Airlines today filed an application with the U.S. Department of Transportation for the suitable to fly additional Usa – Brazil frequencies beginning in 2013 and 2014. American will use these frequencies so as to add one new daily round trip service from its L. a. and Chicago hubs to Sao Paulo, expanding the airline’s Latin American network footprint to produce even greater choices to its customers.

    Pending government approvals, American proposes to start new service between La and Sao Paulo in late 2013 and Chicago O’Hare and Sao Paulo in late 2014.

    “American is committed to expanding its presence throughout Brazil to check customer demand during this vitally important and growing market,” said Chuck Schubert, American’s Vp – Network Planning.  “With these additional frequencies, we shall offer more options to travel between Brazil and the usa enabling our customers to attach through our growing global network.”

    American currently serves Brazil from Miami to Belo Horizonte, Brasilia, Manaus, Recife, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador and Sao Paulo; from Big apple Kennedy to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo; and from Dallas/Fort Worth to Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.

    American offers greater than 800 weekly flights to 49 cities throughout Latin America, including Mexico, Central and South America.