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  • Britons will spend a normal of £40bn this year on holidays alone

    A new study conducted by a web independent cruising travel agency has revealed that the typical Briton spends £1,024 on holidays within the average year; collectively spending £40 billion on holidays within the average year as a nation.

    With many Britons already venturing off to their summer holiday destinations, an independent online cruising travel agency has conducted a survey to delve deeper into Britons’ budgets on the subject of holidays;  taking a better investigate how much Britons collectively spend on holidays within the average year.
    The study, conducted by www.BonVoyage.co.uk, polled 1,367 Britons aged 18 over from around the UK as component to research into holiday budgets and spending. Respondents were asked questions on the subject of their holiday spend over the last one year.

    The study initially asked respondents, ‘Have you been on holiday some time past year, either within the UK or abroad’ to which the overwhelming majority, 62%, of respondents said ‘yes’.

    These respondents were then asked to estimate how much that they had spent on their holidays during the past 365 days per person (bearing in mind all holidays, accommodation costs, travel and food expenses etc). After taking the entire answers from respondents into consideration, the effects showed that Britons spend a normal of £1,024 per person on holidays in an ordinary year.

    Using official figures released by the Office of National Statistics, the united kingdom has a population of 63.2 million people. According to this figure and taking this further, with 62% of Britons venturing on holiday last year and claiming to spend an ordinary of £1,024 per person on holidays, Britons collectively spend a typical of £40,124,416,000 on holidays within the average year.

    Respondents were then asked to specify which aspect (s) in their holidays usually cost them probably the most. In line with the result of the study, ‘transport’ appeared on the top of the chart because the costliest holiday cost, with 38% of the vote. 34% of respondents also stated that they spent the vast majority of their money on ‘food and drinks’. Only a fifth, 21%, stated that their ‘hotel/ accommodation’ was usually among the largest costs, whilst 17% pinned ‘souvenirs/ gifts’ for family and friends as a significant holiday expense.

    Furthermore, respondents were asked in the event that they felt that they spent an excessive amount of on holidays, to which most people, 55%, said ‘no’. When asked why, over a 3rd of the respondents, 34%, explained that they saved money specifically for holidays and so could afford the spend; whilst most of the people, 44%, claimed that holidays were what they ‘look forward to the most’ each year.

    Steph Curtin, Cruise Development Manager of BonVoyage.co.uk, spoke in regards to the findings:
    “To see what we Britons spend collectively on holidays annually is a whopping amount of cash – but it surely appears we’re a nation of holiday lovers! Despite the present hot spell, we’re usually cursed with bad weather that the majority would rather escape from to sunnier climbs; and is the highlight of many people’s years. i myself consider those who don’t wish to reduce their holiday budgets. Holidays are ordinarily one of the most only times of the year you could reap the benefits of your exertions and completely enjoy your money by spending it on what you like. Obviously there’s nothing wrong with attempting to get a chit in your hotel or flights or bagging a late deal bargain, but when cashing in on your holidays means spending a piece greater than you always would then I say opt for it. In any case, we only live once!”

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  • Anantara expands operations into Qatar

    Minor Hotel Group has continued with its strategic expansion inside the Middle East with the announcement of its first hotel in Qatar. 

    Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa is a 141 key five star resort inside the Arabian Gulf, just off the coast of the country’s capital Doha, and should open early in 2014.

    Minor Hotel Group is partnering with the Qatari owned company Al Rayyan Hospitality for its first property within the country.

    Qatar is rich in oil and natural gas reserves, with the world’s highest GDP per capita and is currently experiencing a big boom within the real estate and hospitality sectors.

    The new property would be portion of the internationally renowned Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas portfolio, known for its luxury experience and discovery-led hospitality, that’s already well established within the UAE with three properties in Abu Dhabi.

    Located on a 13 hectare island, the hot resort shall be accessible by speedboat from Doha’s downtown area and from The Pearl, both journeys taking between 20-half-hour.

    Anantara Doha Island would be the sole off-shore escape for both Doha residents and visitors alike, representing an exclusive getaway from the hectic business city.

    The new island resort will offer an infinite range of facilities and an expansion of accommodation options for the range of guests that it’ll attract.

    With a complete of 141 rooms, the 96 guest rooms, 34 pool villas and 11 two- and 3-bedroom over-water pool villas will offer guests a large selection of room types during which to spend their break.

    There might be four restaurants and bars, including a modern Japanese restaurant and an Arabic beach club.

    A total of 4 pools shall be spread through the resort’s lush grounds, including a massive lagoon pool, directly accessible from a number of the family guest rooms, a surf pool with wave machine and hydro exercise pools.

    For spa lovers, the resort will offer both an Anantara Spa and an in depth Wellness & Holistic Centre, plus a 24-hour fitness centre and tennis court shall be available for those wishing to maintain their fitness regimes.

    The island can also be home to a marina accommodating as much as 50 boats.

    An extensive choice of family activities could be available including a kids club, a dedicated family beach with access to beach volleyball and water sports, a nine-hole golf putting course, a 10-pin bowling alley and a cinema.

    An off-shore reef is likewise being developed and the resort would be home to a reef conservation centre, giving guests the chance to plant their very own coral and learn more in regards to the underwater environment.

    In addition there’ll be a totally equipped diving centre.

    For business guests, the resort will offer a ballroom accommodating as much as 250 people for a banquet. There’ll even be two meeting rooms for as much as 50 delegates and an out of doors event space with a capacity to host as much as 100 people.

    When the hot resort opens early next year, Qatar would be the second country of operation for Minor Hotel Group within the Middle East.

    Dillip Rajakarier, chief executive, Minor Hotel Group, commented: “We are very excited to announce this new resort in Qatar in partnership with Al Rayyan Hospitality, who we’re already successfully working with within the city of Doha with our Anantara Spa on the recently opened Souq Waqif Boutique Hotels.

    “The Middle East is a key strategic area of development for Minor Hotel Group and we’re actively watching opportunities to grow not just Anantara but in addition our AVANI and Oaks brands within the region in addition.”

  • News: Qantas to explore LATAM three way partnership

    Qantas Airways has revealed it’s examining a likely partnership with newly created South American giant LATAM Airlines.

    The Australian flag-carrier, which currently has a code-sharing agreement with LATAM, is now exploring the possibility of a three way partnership with the South American airline.

    “It will be great but we might must exercise session what’s the art of the prospective,” Qantas International chief executive, Simon Hickey, said.

    There could be regulatory difficulties following the merger between LAN and TAM to form LATAM, which was finalised earlier this year.

    The Australian carrier can also be expecting a robust boost once code-share partner American Airlines completes its merger with US Airways.

    A recent take care of Dubai-based Emirates has also recently boosted its fortunes.

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  • Malta Tourism Authority announces superyachts seminar

    The Malta Tourism Authority has announced it’ll host a seminar entitled ‘Malta: a more in-depth Destination for Superyachts!’ on Wednesday September 11th on the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta.

    It stands out as the third within the biannual Malta Superyacht seminar series, devoted to the yachting industry.

    The event is organised by the publishers of ‘Yachting in Malta’ Wilfred Sultana & Associates.

    The content discussed will relate to superyachts actually and the Malta yachting industry.

    It will another time have the endorsement and cooperation of the International Superyacht Society, who won’t only provide speakers for the day but give Malta’s local yachting activity global exposure through their esteemed marketing network.

    Chris Cardona, minister for the economy, investment and small business, answerable for maritime affairs may be the main speaker on the September Seminar 2013.

    A programme highlighting the subjects to be presented and the respective speakers is to be announced shortly.

    A new concept on this year’s seminar might be a 30-minute open discussion by a panel of 3 experts who could have the chance to provide their topic related points immediately following lots of presentations by guest speakers.

    The main sponsors of this third Yachting in Malta Seminar are Kirton & Co, Medcomms, Melita Marine Group, Palumbo Malta Superyachts, S&D Yachts, the International Yachting Management, Professional Yachting Association, The Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association, Transport Malta and the Grand Hotel Excelsior.

    Malta is one of the best yachting destination with its unrivalled geographical position, within the heart of the Mediterranean Sea.

    Boasting one of the most largest natural harbours on the earth and state-of-the-art marinas no wonder this can be a natural choice for yachtsmen world wide.

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  • News: IAG completes Vueling purchase following board agreement

    Vueling, the Spanish low-cost carrier based in Barcelona, is to become component of International Airlines Group after the vast majority of its shareholders accepted IAG’s cash tender offer for the airline, following recommendation by the Vueling board.

    IAG’s subsidiary Iberia already owns 45.85 per cent of Vueling’s shares and Iberia’s board agreed to not tender them within the offer.

    The Spanish National Securities Market Commission (CNMV) has announced today that 82.48 per cent of the rest shareholders have accepted IAG’s offer of €9.25 per share.

    Therefore, the IAG group will own 90.51 per cent of Vueling.

    The cost of buying the Vueling shares is €123.5 million.

    Vueling would be a standalone company within IAG with its chief executive Alex Cruz reporting into IAG chief executive Willie Walsh.

    Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: “Vueling is a good airline and may be a welcome boost to IAG where it is going to enjoy the group’s financial strength.

    “We plan to retain Vueling’s current business model and management structure and its strong base in Barcelona.”

    The acquisition can be completed on April 26th, 2013.

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