Looks like things are opening up for Cubans (at a price). According to Fox News, new president Raul Castro's governemnt is allowing them to use hotels previously reserved for tourists. That adds to other new freedoms including being able to use a mobile phone and buy a DVD.
The downside: according to Fox, Cubans, like fellow guests, will be charged in hard currency worth 24 times the Cuban pesos which state employees are paid in.
Martin Couzins, online editor
How ridiculous that Flybe was on the verge of hiring actors to fill seats in order to avoid a £280,000 penalty because it had not filled 15,000 seats in a year on its Norwich to Dublin service. It was only 172 seats short - maybe a bit of compromise on both sides may have been sensible?
Martin Couzins, online editor
Five days in and Heathrow Terminal 5 is still struggling - today's cancellation tally is 27 domestic and short haul flights. Long haul seems to be okay.
Last week I wrote that we shouldn't make long-term assumptions about Terminal 5 based on its shambolic opening, and while I stand by that, there is still plenty to say about how poor BA's preparation, customer service and crisis management have been over the past few days.
My brother made an outsider's diagnosis: BA had shown 'no concern for the infantry'. Our own stablemate Xpert HR said that Terminal 5 'will crop up in every change management training programme for years to come', and aviation union Unite is now urging both BA and BAA to 'listen to Terminal 5 workers'.
That is more or less what you would expect a union to say, of course, and to talk about the fortunes of BA's workers while holidaymakers are stranded is a difficult course to steer.
But the two are inextricably linked. Poor orientation and training of staff means a poor experience for passengers. If Terminal 5 workers can't find the car park, the terminal will open understaffed. If Terminal 5 workers haven't been properly trained, the baggage system will go into meltdown.
Machines and systems are one thing; as The Times wrote on Saturday, the logistical problems at Terminal 5 are 'dismaying, but fixable'. If anything should worry us in the long term, it's BA's apparent failure to get the 'people stuff' right.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Interesting piece in The Guardian on Krasnaya in Russia which is set to become a major ski resort thanks to the fact that the 2014 Winter Olympics are being hosted at the resort of Sochi (40Km away). Krasnaya will host some of the events.
Here's a list of current, discontinued and demonstration Winter Olympic sports. Whatever happened to the ski ballet?
Martin Couzins, online editor
As disruption at BA's newly-opened Heathrow Terminal 5 continues, all-business class airline Silverjet has released this subtle piece of email marketing:
Kicking a guy while he's down? That's just mean. I like the trend for quick-turnaround topical advertising though - see also Classic Collections' Fabio Capello thingy.
And of course it isn't the first time Silverjet has referenced British Airways in its advertising...
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Here's CNN reporting on the environmental campgainers who descended on the new terminal in a 'flashmob'.
Nice bit of agitprop (even if flashmobs are sooo 2006, daahling) but I think it was the least of BA/BAA's worries...
Nathan Midgley, web producer
We've covered the sensational side of Heathrow Terminal 5's chequered opening: flights cancelled, bags left in the terminal, and BA and BAA playing pass-the-buck as the media pack scents blood.
Crowing over cock-ups is the British way. But as the dust settles we need to brush ourselves off and at least act mature about it.
This is a PR disaster, but it comes after an operational move of great size and complexity (look at the figures we posted earlier this week) and one which had to be carried out in a few hours overnight.
Yes, the fact that things aren't working on the first day is ugly, disappointing, and - most importantly - miserable for those who are supposed to be flying off on holiday.
But it is fundamentally not all that shocking, and it certainly isn't evidence of 'terminal decline', as a Financial Times headline facetiously put it.
On the Today programme the team juxtaposed the promises made by British Airways with the reality on the ground yesterday. Fair enough; falling flat at launch is one of the hazards of building 'buzz'.
Launches are fleeting, though, and Terminal 5 will be around long after these few days of disruption have died down. There is no reason to assume it cannot deliver on all BA and BAA's promises when it is past what the airline has called 'teething troubles'.
So enjoy the media circus while it lasts, but let's wait for 'business as usual' before we pass judgement.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Here are some left-field cruise ship stats. When fully stocked, the Emerald Princess, which carries 3,110 passengers and 1,200 crew, holds:
The opening of Heathrow Terminal 5 been a PR disaster, with flights delayed and cancelled and baggage handling all over the place. Here's a look at how the mainstream media tackled it.
"Terminal disgrace" - Daily Mail
"Terminal 5 shambles brings holiday chaos" - The Times
"'Making history? It is memorable, but for all the wrong reasons'" - The Times
"Heathrow's big day is terminal embarrassment" - The Independent
"Passengers fume in the chaos of Terminal 5's first day" - The Guardian
"Terminal 5 opens in chaos as baggage system collapses" - The Telegraph
"Day one at T5 and terminal decline sets in" - Financial Times
Zam! Kapow! and so forth. There's a more reasonable approach we could take, of course - I'll follow up later (update: I'm as good as my word...).
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Consumer watchdog Which? was quick to issue a statement on the Heathrow T5 problems.
The thrust of the statement was about knowing your rights as a passenger when flights are delayed or cancelled. So, useful stuff for those passengers stuck in T5 without a flight.
Not heard of the European Union Denied Boarding Regulation? Well, check out the Which? guide to your flight rights.
Martin Couzins, online editor
So, Ryanair's fuel costs are about to soar as their hedged fuel price of $68 a barrel comes to an end next week. With oil current trading around the $100 a barrel mark, the low cost airline is going to get hit hard on fuel costs.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary is already taking action by cutting executive bonuses and has said he will have to cut costs elsewhere as the airline does not charge fuel surcharges.
Could this mean the end for some of of the carrier's less profitable routes?
Martin Couzins, nline editor
At 11pm tonight British Airways begins the three-mile move to Heathrow Terminal 5.
TW Blog has received some key statistics, so here's a quick look at what will be on the convoy:
On top of that, a not-inconsiderable 2,500 customer service and baggage staff will be starting work at the new terminal tomorrow morning.
The move itself will require 250 staff (including 150 specially-trained volunteers) and leave Heathrow's south runway closed for five hours.
There's no room for error here: with Heathrow just shy of full capacity, BA can't just take a day out and do the move at leisure.
And once the move begins, Terminal 5 needs to be up and running quickly. Its first arrival hits at 4.50am tomorrow (March 27), and its first departure is scheduled for 6.20am.
Let's hope it all goes according to plan. The alternatives aren't pretty...
Nathan Midgley, web producer
It's all about travel agents' specialist knowledge these days, so we thought we'd share this nugget with you:
On Easter Island, pulling the ancient statues to bits can result in a jail sentence.
What... you knew?
Someone should have told Finnish tourist Marko Kulju, who faces prison after apparently yanking an earlobe off one of the stones.
Personally I think Easter Island residents should be invited to Finland to pull bits off various things that are dear to Mr Kulju, but I guess the threat of imprisonment will have to do.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Regular contributor Brian Hordon (Silversea Cruises UK) looks at the Tories' proposed review of domestic tourism marketing...
I tend not to get involved in the political side of travel and tourism, because I invariably do not understand the thinking behind politicians' proposals.
But I am about to change, to the benefit of all political parties involved. I am prepared to share my wisdom achieved over 50 consecutive years in tourism.
The March 21 issue of Travel Weekly recently reported, under the headline 'Maketing needs change', that "the Tories could hold a review of the UK tourism market structure if the party wins the next election".
Some of the quotes in the article jump so high off the page that they could be worth a flutter in the Grand National. For starters, the Shadow Minister for tourism believes funds are "spread too thinly across a number of agencies" (no reference to the miserly funds that are currently available).
Between them, the two parties talked about "concerns about regional agencies"; "concern that we are losing out to competitors and need to look at the domestic market"; a "need to close the current UK tourism deficit"; "a challenge for the tourism industry to see how it can increase domestic tourism".
We cannot blame the politicians. We should blame their researchers, who are simply reviving the same old comments politicians always make when they have to enter the tourism arena.
My advice is to revisit previous reviews, and look at what was actioned, what worked, what did not work, and why.
Then present a new proposal on tourism marketing. But this time, do it alongside some of the many very talented people working in the domestic tourism industry.
Brian Hordon, director of training and development, Silverseas Cruises UK
Strange but true. An Australian entrepreneur is building a replica of Stonehenge, according to Yahoo News.
Ross Smith hopes to open the attraction in time for 21 December summer solstice in the southern hemisphere.
It will be built on his property in the Margaret River region of western Australia.
And yes. Visitors will be able to play on the stones.
Martin Couzins, online editor
This was a real pre-flight safety demo that was 'performed' on a Capetown to Johannesburg flight. Something of the Abigail out of Abigail's Party about this.
But did the attendant keep their job?
Martin Couzins, online editor
I redeemed a friend's Eurostar vouchers against a group booking this weekend (four days in Ghent, since you ask) and two things about the process baffle me:
Vouchers shouldn't dictate how I book or require me to post them anywhere. If they do, a wad of cash marked 'spend this at X' begins to look like a kinder gift. And if that happens, Eurostar has gone from a guaranteed booking to one that's merely quite likely.
One voucher for all sales channels, please, and redeemable by a unique code. Comme John Lewis.
All that said, I'm still a big Eurostar fan: the full fare was less than £100 per person return, the lady who made my reservation was a pleasure to deal with, and for northern France and Belgium it blows flying out of the water.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
The Guardian's Vicky Baker is travelling around south America using people she meets in social networking sites as her guide. What I found interesting was that this week she managed to hook up with someone through A Small World, which is a networking site for the rich.
That was some feat to get in there - unless Vicky is loaded.
And there are other similar sites too, such as Yacht6. It would seem that the long tail of travel, Travolution's ongoing project, is a wealthy one. Mercedes-Benz, for example, has just signed up to A Small World as a commercial partner.
Stewardess comedy act Pam Ann is on tour so thought I'd take the opportunity to link to one of her routines.
So, is she a good or bad thing for cabin crew?
Here are some commnents from flight attendants posted on the video . . .
As a former stew and a pilot today, even in the eastern part of Europe, it is sooooo true! And like the best comedies, it's all on the basis of all our (let's call) interesting attitude among passengers...
I'm a flight attendant too...and alwayas sooo busy ;-) but I don't make some sign to the galley...I normally scream to my colleagues in the galley.
As a career flight attendant, I find this absolutely hilarious! Even when I travel on other airlines it still holds true. Perhaps it's industry specific and doesn't translate to the general public? I can't believe that. She's a total gas! What a scream! Love it.
Martin Couzins, online editor
Not wanting to miss out on the buzz surrounding the announcement of this year's Apprentice hopefuls, TW Blog is happy to see a former travel industry employee has made the programme.
According to the Unreality TV blog, Claire Young laims to be the only convent-educated girl to have survived three summers in Magaluf for Club 18-30.
Her motto - JDI - means “just do it”. Let's hope she does :-)
Catch up BBC - its Apprentice site has yet to list the new candidates.
Martin Couzins, online editor
The Tracking Tourism Blog has a provocative post about tourism after 'peak oil' (i.e. when global resources are no longer sufficient to meet demand).
The party could soon be over and Peak Oil could start to radically upset our current notions of travel and tourism. As costs rise, the world will become smaller again - although there will nevertheless still be opportunities.
It's not a comfortable thought. We would, as TT points out, be forced to travel more locally. Where might this leave agents?
There is certainly potential for earning commission in the domestic market, but if overall choice dwindles and the product itself becomes more familiar, what will the role of the trade be?
You might see a difference in kind, where agents focus on organisation and perform a concierge-type function. Or you might see a difference in scale, where the role remains the same but the shrinking market can sustain fewer jobs.
Or both?
Answers on a postcard in the comments section please...
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Heathrow Terminal 5 will feature state of the art British Airways 'Galleries' designed by Davies and Baron...
The six lounges - called 'Galleries' - will seat 3,000 people in total and will cover an area equivalent to three times the size of Old Trafford.
The lounges will feature spas, steam/shower spa pods, private cinema, wine 'galleries', champagne bar, and hand and feet re-energisers to name but a few features.
They will also include, and I quote:
"Specially commissioned dynamic lighting and an extensive chandelier collection sourced from the finest in the craft grace [sic] all the lounge ceilings."
And what about those horse sculptures with lampshades on their heads?
Martin Couzins, online editor
Singapore Airlines' A380 superjumbo landed at Heathrow about two hours ago, completing the first European commercial flight for Airbus's behemoth.
Photos are starting to come in from the PR agency - I'm updating an A380 at Heathrow gallery on the website.
What we really want, though, is a look at one of the certificates the passengers received for being on the 'historic' (bit strong?) flight...
Nathan Midgley, web producer
TW Blog hopes readers had an enjoyable St Patrick's day. But unless you're based in Chicago you'll have missed one of the most iconic celebrations: on Saturday the city dyed its river green, as it has every St Patrick's Day since 1962.
Here's a time-lapse video from Youtube (WARNING: contains 'fancy' editing). How much would you like to be piloting one of those boats?
Jaunted has some speculation on the composition of the green dye, which is presumably harmless to people and wildlife.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
It just gets worse for the US dollar. According to a report on the BBC it slid to its lowest value yet against the euro this morning.
Great news for travellers from Europe, eh? Well... kind of.
As the dollar continues to weaken, investors are placing their money in commodities, contributing to the sharp rise in oil prices. Sweet crude oil climbed to a new high approaching $112 a barrel.
The market giveth, and the market taketh away.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Having posted on funnel-shaped hotels in Dubai and Russian islands shaped like, er, Russia, TW Blog feels compelled to share this spectacular Fosters and Partners project in Abu Dhabi. Via Trendhunter...
Green Luxury Building at Al Raha Beach - Abu Dhabi World Trade Center (GALLERY)
Not to be confused with Dubai, Abu Dhabi is on a building binge of its own. This is the World Trade Center to be built on Al Raha Beach, the spectacular spit of land for the waterfront east.
Everything that can be housed in a city building will be in this spectacular piece of architecture by Fost… [More]
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Darren Phillips, of Darren Phillips Travel, South Shields, celebrates victory in the higher and lower quiz at Travel Weekly's dynamic packaging roadshow in Newcastle. What a celebration - could this set the standard in agent celebrations when winning a prize? Many thanks to all the agents who made it along and a big thanks to our sponsors.
See also: travel agents get spiritual and travel agents talk dynamic packaging.
Martin Couzins, online editor
Update: we have some official photos from the Heathrow Terminal 5 opening over on the website.
This virtual tour of Heathrow Terminal 5 is a good few months old, but it's a decent substitute if, like TW Blog, you'd rather be attending today's opening than sitting at your desk.
This morning a BBC reporter asked Willie Walsh whether it's fair that BA is being 'gifted' the terminal.
He said yes, of course, pointing out that it brings most of BA's Heathrow operations under one roof, a situation other airlines already enjoy.
Still... look at Terminal 5. Then look at the other terminals. Does it still look completely fair?
Predictably, Virgin Atlantic is among those who don't think so. Here's director Paul Charles speaking to the BBC:
It may be a wonderful new piece of infrastructure and architecture, but it doesn't do anything for most of the airlines that operate at Heathrow. This is a gift for BA.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
This is another side to the Travel Weekly dynamic packaging roadshows. No, the agents who attended our Cheshire event at Mere Golf and Country Club last night were not put in a trance. They were in fact being entertained by magician/comedian Dom Moses.
Another busy evening and lots of agents brushing up on the latest supplier developments. Off to Newcastle for the last roadshow of the week . . .
Martin Couzins, online editor
UPDATE: the horse lost but - guess what?!?! - Ryanair did it anyway.
Ryanair will be glad that the Cheltenham Festival is back on after the bad weather - the airline has a horse in the Ryanair Chase at 2.35pm today.
If its nag wins, Ryanair says that it will release one million free seats ("no taxes, no charges, zip, nada") for travel in April. The offer will run until midnight on Monday.
Will the law of diminshing returns ever start applying to these offers? Or will Ryanair just take on Chris Anderson's 'free is the future of business' theory (which Tracking Tourism has been thinking about in a travel context) and cut out seat prices altogether?
Mossbank is the name to look out for. It's running at number five and wearing maroon and white.
Whether you look out for it to cheer it on or will it to come last is up to you...
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Earlier I flagged up a BBC feature on ideal airport design - all part of the run-up to Heathrow Terminal 5 opening.
Not three hours later Holiday Which? issues a press release with good things to say about the new terminal...
Clever signage and floor zoning makes the terminal easy to navigate, while large windows and high ceilings give a great sense of space and views of the runways. Baggage reclaim is also impressive, with inventive lighting to make it feel light and airy.
Let's hope Terminal 5 delivers on that promise. Heathrow passengers - not to mention BAA - sorely need it to.
(Thanks to Kev at Travolution for the spot.)
The BBC website has an interesting feature on airport design, talking to experts on signage, architecture, transport links, queue management and retail.
A nice quote:
What would be fantastic for a passenger is to fly from London to Hong Kong, and find the same pictograms, colour coding and nomenclature. Airports like to be different but signage should be in harmony.
Someone should tell whoever did the bottom pictogram in the photo above. What's going on there?
Anyway, articles like this always attract interesting comments. Readers' ideas include allowing passengers to check in baggage at the car park, adding more fountains and plants, and, er, bringing back smoking rooms.
As for which airports they like, Orlando, Kuala Lumpur, Dubai, Singapore Changi, Copenhagen and Amsterdam Schipol come in for praise.
The hook for the feature is the opening of Terminal 5, which will of course make Heathrow the peer of any of the airports above. *Koff*.
Here's our own Terminal 5 preview.
Update: Holiday Which? is waxing positive about Terminal 5.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
This week Travel Weekly is hosting three travel agent roadshows on dynamic packaging and last night saw the first one at the Regent's Park Marriott in London.
There was a great turnout with around 90 agents quizzing suppliers on latest developments. Travelweekly.co.uk was there to tell agents about our plans for the future.
Once the 'speed dating' element of the night was over, agents took part in a panel discussion. had some interesting chats with agents including one with Tony Manning from Buy Your Leave who said tailor made business is really strong so far this year and in particular golf trips to France.
We are off to Cheshire tonight and Newcastle on Thursday.
Here are ten reasons to sell dynamic packages.
Martin Couzins, online editor
China's Qinghai-Tibet Railway Corporation is set to launch a super-luxurious train service between Beijing and Lhasa in Tibet (Yahoo, AFP).
The train will be decorated 'like a five-star hotel', and carry only 96 people in 12 cars. Do the math: that's eight people per carriage.
A ticket for the five-day journey will be 20 times the normal fare, which is about £140 - so in the area of £2,800.
That's pricier than journeys of a similar duration on the Orient Express, but it's in the same ball park.
The service launches on September 1. If you're an agent and manage to sell it, drop us a line.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Yesterday I was at The Brewery in London to give a talk to Canadian suppliers attending Spotlight Canada.
Whilst resarching my talk I thumbed through the British Travel Industry Guide To Canada 2008.
A couple of things leapt out:
Martin Couzins, online editor
Metro today reports on the fantasticable between Pietrapertosa and Castelmezzano in the Italian Dolomites which will enable tourists to get between the two villages more quickly. So, you pay up to £20, depending on time of the week, and ride a metal cable at up to 90mph 500m above the valley. Not for the faint hearated, then.
There are other fantasticables, such as this one in Morzine, France.
Martin Couzins, online editor
Travel quote of the week? Has to be from backpacker Novon Mashiah, who was unaccountably surprised when a saltwater crocodile he had been teasing attacked him in Australia's Northern Territory.
The Telegraph has the spectacular pics.
Hit the link - you need to see the rest of these...
"I was shocked," said Mashiah. "The animal clearly wanted to kill me."
Quite. Who could have foreseen that happening?
Here's what the BBC's science and nature pages have to say about 'salties':
The estuarine crocodile deals with large vertebrate prey by overpowering, drowning and finally dismembering them...[it] is the species responsible for most crocodile attacks on people. They often attack boats (which they may regard as rivals or as prey).
Nathan Midgley, web producer
I'll play my Canada card against your Brazil card. Yes folks, you can now play tourism trumps courtesy of Visit Britain.
The card game forms part of the publicity around British Tourism Week, which kicks off on Monday.
There's a new travel start-up every day, but Zicasso is worth flagging up because it exploits the expertise of - gasp! - travel professionals.
Zicasso takes your trip requirements, pings them off to pre-approved agents and tour operators, and hits you with up to four costed itineraries. The whole thing takes a day or two.
Earlier this year I asked Travolution readers how small travel agencies with limited technology resources can sell their expertise to customers who can't or won't go along to a shop (here's my pick of some of the responses).
A service like Zicasso clearly isn't the whole answer, but couldn't it help?
(Via the Dot Tourism blog.)
Nathan Midgley, web producer
We report today that live music promoter Ibiza Rocks is to open a hotel in San Antonio, Ibiza.
It's a sensible brand extension - competition between event promoters is cutthroat in San Antonio, so having holidaymakers in its pocket will give Ibiza Rocks a big marketing advantage.
Hotel residents get guaranteed ticket availability and live music every night, and packages are being sold through bedswithease.com, Holiday Brokers and Broadway Travel.
Ibiza Rocks even offers gig cancellation cover as part of its travel insurance package.
The Travel Weekly me nods approvingly: this is clever targeting of what is essentially a traditional, uncool package holiday.
Meanwhile, the music-loving me reads 'brand extension' and 'gig cancellation insurance' and wonders what Joey Ramone would say.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Berlin has launched a new ident - Be Berlin. Not sure what it means and neither do tourists, as this great quote from USA Today reveals.
"I don't want to be Berlin. I wanted to come here to see the galleries."
Martin Couzins, online editor
Following the success of last year's awards, TW has launched its 2008 agent achievement awards.
The awards are regional - covering the Midlands, Southwest/Wales, Northern and Southeast - and include 10 catgories. New categories for this year are most innovative agency and best business travel team. Find out more at the awards website.
Martin Couzins, online editor
Interesting point on whether menu options on web sites will soon disappear . . . and how search will develop on travel web sites.
Keep up to date with Travolution blogger's live blogging from Phocuswright at ITB.
Dropped in on Westminster yesterday to join the VisitBritain team who were getting the country’s MPs to sign a pledge supporting British Tourism Week, which starts on Monday.
Once the Government’s secretary of state for culture, media and sport Andy Burnham (pictured top) and Tory shadow tourism minister Tobias Ellwood caught sight of the travel trade’s favourite read, they simply couldn’t put it down again.
Edward Robertson, reporter
Features reporter Janine Kelso has a very light brush with fame...
David Beckham lookalike Paul Mansley made travel agents look twice when he was special guest at an industry event last week.
Working as a body double has given Paul the chance to travel to 24 countries – from Japan to South Africa.
Spotted at a club in Leeds a few years ago, Mansley has since attended numerous public events – he was even mobbed by thousands of screaming fans in Tokyo where Beckham was attending a press conference. Mansley arrived first, fooling the crowd.
But the dashing imitator hasn’t let fame go to his head. He wants to be a photographer and is chuffed the money from the job has helped to put him through university.
Travel Weekly fielded a team at the annual Tourism Ireland media pub quiz last night.
We came fifth, but managed to score the only perfect 10 of the night (I'd love to tell you it was the geography round, but in truth it was film soundtracks).
That's the scoreboard, with TW team members pointing at our glorious 10. (Note: this is how 'pointing' looks after several pints of the Irish-owned Porterhouse's fine Oyster stout.)
Cheating is normally discouraged at pub quizzes, but Tourism Ireland and its PR company BGB provided each team with a glossy brochure, which we were not exactly discouraged from using during the Ireland and Northern Ireland rounds.
You've never seen a bunch of journalists do their research so fast.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
This week is show time in Berlin with the huge travel show ITB and its integral travel technology conference Phocuswright.
This year Phocuswright includes a Bloggers Summit featuring panel discussions and sessions.
Basically, Europe's travel bloggers are in Berlin to look at what they do and how they see things developing. There is an impressive list of bloggers taking the panel slots and we at TW Blog are proud to say that Kevin may at Travolution is representing the UK.
Here are other panellist bloggers:
Jens Thraenhart - Tourism Internet Marketing (Germany/Canada)
Klaus Hildebrandt - FVW (Germany)
Annalisa Ballaria - Reflections (Italy)
Claude Benard - Les Explorers (France)
Stephen Joyce - Travel and Tourism Technology Trends (Canada)
Dr Klemens Waldhör - Blogs in Tourism (Austria)
Yeoh Siew Hoon - The Transit Cafe (Singapore)
Henri Roelings - Hospitality (The Netherlands)
Ram Badrinathan - Phocuswright (India)
William Bakker - Wilhelmus (The Netherlands/Canada)
Vicky Brock - Tracking Tourism (Scotland)
Joe Buhler - Travel Marketing In The Age Of Web 2.0 and Beyond US
Jens Oellrich - Tourismuszukunft.de (Germany)
Karin Schmollgruber - Fastenyourseatbelts (Austria)
Darren at Travel Rants is also attending the conference. Looking forward to seeing what gets discussed . . .
Martin Couzins, online editor
Scottish tourism body VisitScotland has had to destroy footage of three naked surfers which it planned to use in a promotional film (via The Daily Record).
The footage was taken for a web video promoting outdoor activities, but locals on Barra, where the segment was filmed, proved hostile to the idea.
VisitScotland was contacted by a local priest and backed down.
Should VisitScotland have stood its ground? Or should local people have a decisive stake in how their region is presented?
More importantly, who thinks three fully naked men wobbling around ten centimentres from the freezing sea is in any way appealing?
Nathan Midgley, web producer
There's a story in the Metro about plans to crack down on drunken Brits in the Polish city of Cracow.
In particular, the city is looking at punishing bars and cafes which serve 'under-dressed Britons'.
While I sympathise with Cracow - too many cities have seen tourism gains from low-cost flights offset by consistent abuse of their hospitality - this plan will only force business owners into direct confrontation with patrons. Drunk ones. In crowds.
It's a difficult problem to solve. You can't artificially inflate the price of drinks to keep people away, and there are benefits to low-cost air traffic that cities such as Cracow will not want to forego.
So what's the solution? Do you push for a cultural change in Britain? Do you lobby for harsher travel limitations on those who misbehave abroad?
I don't know. But I'm pretty sure refusing to serve bare-chested people is not the answer.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Amazing footage of an attempted landing at Hamburg International Airport on 1st March. According to Flightglobal, the airport was being battererd by hurricane Emma and the aircraft suffered a wing-tip strike before aborting the landing.
Martin Couzins, online editor
Fed up with queueing at the gate? As you may have read in the Observer, nuclear physicist Jason Steffen has come up with a formula for the most efficient way of getting passengers onto an aircraft.
...each passenger is given a specific queuing position; they board window seats first; and they do so with an empty row between themselves and the next passenger
All based on the Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm, obviously.
The only problem is that it requires more organisation at the gate. Currently all airlines ask of us is to wait until the broad group of rows in which we are sat is called.
And even that, as anyone who flies knows, resembles herding cats. So good luck with making this happen:
...passengers would board by filling up seat 40A, then 38A, then 36A and so on to the front; then they fill 39F, 37F, 35F, to the front; then 39A; 37A, 35A to the front; and so on...
Hmm. BAA is going to be 'reading this paper very carefully' - and joking aside, TW Blog hopes it can be made to work.
Nathan Midgley, web producer
Brits believe that breakfast in bed will be extinct within the next ten years, according to the latest Travelodge survey.
The survey of 2,500 Britons cited the following reasons for no longer experiencing the joys of brekker in bed:
Lack of time
Breakfast should be eaten at the table
Crumbs in the bed
It feels lazy
It’s not romantic
Travelodge had not posted the press release at the time of writing, but should appear soon on its site.
Martin Couzins, online editor
